GERMANY TO-DAY

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 15

GERMANY TO-DAY

DESIRE FOR PEACE OBSERVATIONS OF DR A. S. MOODY The opinion that Germany, mow strongly united under Herr Hitler, desired peace, was expressed to an ‘ Evening Star ’ reporter this morning by Dr A. S. Moody, who returned to Dunedin last night after a seven months’ tour through Great Britain and the Continent. When asked for a comparison between Germany to-day and the Germany he had seen when he toured abroad in 1928 and 1930, Dr Moody said that between those years and the present the conditions in Germany had definitely improved. In the Central European countries, however, there existed an element of distrust as to the aims and objects of neighbouring countries. In this portion of Europe there seemed to be a feeling of one nation against the other, and it appeared as though this were due to the influence of the Press, which, in his opinion, was an evil one. It was necessary to gain knowledge by reading and speaking, and in Central Europe the people had to be very careful how they did speak. They were kept supplied with news that was simply doctored or fashioned to suit the political parties in power. In Germany, however, the situation was different. The people were well fed and housed, and there was in evidence a strong desire for peace. The stranger probably got a wrong idea of the number of soldiers actually under arms, as there were so many people in uniform. German youth deemed it an honour to wear uniforms, and in many cases paid for them out of their own pockets. It was obvious that the German air fleet was powerful, and there was a very strong line of fortifications between Dresden and Berlin. The object seemed to be a longing for national security, and there was no atmosphere of aggression. One could not help but feel that the average person in European States to-day did not want war; in Germany the people themselves were just as home loving and peaceful as anybody else., She was controlled by Hitler, and there was no doubt that he had done a great amount,of good in Germany. Conditions in Austria, however, were going from bad to worse. The people there were torn between two factions —those who desired to join up with Germany, and those who wanted to unite with Italy. Italy was building good roads towards the Austrian border, but at the same time Hitler’s roads into Austria were equally as good, if not better. Hungary was the poorest country he had seen, the living condition of the peasants there being pitiable. MOTORING EXPERIENCES. Referring to his motoring experiences, Dr Moody said that, in spite of adverse exchange, travelling was reasonably cheap in Europe,: and the roads were excellent all through, except in Belgium, where the pave was very much in evidence. Apart from the bad roads Belgium was the worst country in which to drive, because there was a good deal of recklessness, and motorists did not seem to have any idea of the rules of the road. In Germany motorists could travel at any speed they wished, but the rules of .the road were adhered to. In making visits to the different European clinics he had used a 17 horse-power English motor car, and had found it most comfortable and convenient.

In answer to a question regarding motoring in England, Dr Moody referred to the new speed limit, and said that the system had undergone a change. The chief trouble in England was that many motorists insisted ,on remaining in the middle of the road, and consequently there was a temptation for the average type of motorist to try and pass a vehicle on either side.