Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

RISING FROM THE RUINS

Monsieur A. ; F. J. Nihotte, who arrived in Melbourne recently to assume duty as Vice-Consul at the- Belgian QiorisuiateGeneral, is a. firm believer in the ultimate recovery of his country from tho crippling effects of the German invasion. M. Nihotte is a great admirer of tho Australians. "Everybody in Belgium is thankful for what the Australians did for her," ho said 'in an interview. "The Australians | are well liked throughout Belgium." ■M(_ Nihotte said that the spirit of the Belgian people was excellent. The reconstruction of the devastated areas was proi ceeding rapidly. In order to contniie this I work, however, additional funds would bo: necessary, and Belgium was awaiting thei German, reparation, payments. "Great Britain seems to be giving away her. part," ho remarked. "We will not give away ours.: .\Ye s need_ the, money. 1 I "Financial and'lndustrial problems a-re ! impeding the' pYo&ress' of the country," said M. Nihotte, "but the workers are anxious to produce more goods. Taxation is very heavy, and..the cost of living, which has. increased' more 'in Belgium since the Armistice than in any other I country, is still very,high, and is not being- reducejd to any extent. There is much : unemployment. Wages are high, and German competition is felt keenly. _ A new tariff bill'-and. anti-dumping legislation' ■ haW been passed'with the object of making German goods more expensive. Tho Belgian workmen are', renowned all over, the world. The Germans destroyed a. great deal of our machinery, but we have renewed it in tho most modern way. The spirit of our workmen is excellent, and 'it is responsible .for the ■ steady improvemesnt hi • our position. The people want' to save money, and the relations between employers'and employees are excellent." •'■'•■'■ . ■ , Reconstruction would occupy many years, M. Nihotte said. Some of the devastated buildings were still in the condition in which tho Germans had left them. It would bo impossible to restore) many. Belgium did not have tho money to reconstruct quickly; that was why she was anxious to receive the German payments. The architectural beauty of sev- j era.l of (the most famous buildings would nevor^ bo restored. No decision had been reached,'in regard to Ypres. One section of tho. people which had.tho sympathy of the British public was anxious that the ruined city should be preserved in its present state, but" another section, urged that it should be reconstructed. The Cloth Hall at Ypres would never be rebuilt. The library would be restored shortly,' owing to financial assistance frpm the nations. Plans for the reconstruction of the University library at Louvain .had been..made by Mr. Warren,i the great American architect.' "In Belgium there has been much talk about the Australian'tariff 1 Question," M. Nihotte continued. "The Belgian public hope to obtain the benefit- of the intermediate tariff. Belgium buys from Australia about five times as much as she 6ells to the Commonwealth. She is a good customer of Australia in all kinds of primary produce, hides, and ores. The Belgian people consume a Jaxge quantity of Australian canned goods. If we wore not plaoed under the intermediate tariff, the effects wilt be bad for both countries. .Negotiations have already been, commenced to achieve this end. A* statement recently appeared in tho Australian press that Belgium, had been responsible for tho introduction of German steel to Australia. This is entirely' wrong. Oour goods must be accompanied by a declaration of "origin, and besides, we are competitors against Germany. Of course, we trade with Germany. We must. Belgium lives by . exporting- manufactured articles." M. Nihotte referred to tha great increase in Belgian shipping tonnage since the war. One company, tho Belgian Lloyd, owned 600,000 tons, but the question of freights was as acute in Belgium as in, Great Britain, Australia, and the United States. Great. improvements - would be made to the port of Antwerp, which was likely to become the first port on the Continent. The city of Antwerp had been only slightly damaged during the German occupation, although some of tho suburbs near the fort 3 had been shelled. The universities, which were closed during the war, had been reopened, and were overcrowded. In Louvain there .were more than 3000 students. Industrial and technical- schools had been re-estab-lished, and education was compulsory up to the ago of 14 years. Tho activities of tho country were turning to a great extent on the Belgian Congo. A colonial institute had been established at, Antwerp,, with the object of. teaching all that was necessary in colonial service. "Tho only difficulty for Belgium," M. Nihotte added, "will be the German payments. For the rest, there is no doubt that Belgium will recover the place she held in the world before tho war."

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19220306.2.18

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 54, 6 March 1922, Page 3

Word Count
786

RISING FROM THE RUINS Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 54, 6 March 1922, Page 3

RISING FROM THE RUINS Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 54, 6 March 1922, Page 3