“NEW ORDER” IN POLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 23861, 16 April 1941, Page 6

“NEW ORDER” IN POLAND.

In announcing the new pact with Russia the Prime Minister of Japan, Prince Konoyc, followed the Nazi example so far as to say that its object was to prevent the world-wide spread of the war. If there are any Liberals still loft in Japan they must have heaved a sigh of relief that he did not mention the “ Now Order.” That consummation of Nazi idealism is likely to Ciiuso more and more revulsion throughout the world as reports arc multiplied of how it is working in Poland, which was planned to provide the first demonstration of its glories. Food prices, according to information smuggled from that country, are today five times what they were in normal times. Meats, fats, butter, and milk aie virtually unobtainable by Poles unless they are bought illegally at what for most is a prohibitive price. The shortage of food is ascribed to shipment of large quantities to the Reich and reservation of the greater part of what remains for Germans. Clothing is rationed, and presents almost as great a problem as food. The most prized things in Poland, it is said, are garments and shoes. No one may buy new shoos who has more than one pair, and that pair must be badly worn. Wooden shoes arc the general wear, and leather may not be used in making repairs. Shelter is another acute problem. The Nazis destroyed buildings all over Poland, but have done practically no rebuilding. The large area which is now known as the Government-General had approximately twelve million inhabitants. With the influx of refugees from the other parts, turned out to make room for Germans, it has now eighteen millions. Warsaw's pre-war population was 1,300,000. Now, although 95 per cent, of the city’s buildings were damaged or destroyed and 25 per cent, reduced to debris that had to be removed, it houses 1,800,000. Of security there is none in Poland. On any pretext a German in uniform may enter a house at any hour, arrest the owner, confiscate property, or do both. Tho intellectual classes are arrested, as in Czecho-Slovakia, simply because they belong to that class. Only the Germans are designed to be a cultured people, while the others become hewers of wood and, drawers of water for their masters. Young people are arrested because tho Germans fear their opposition; working folk and peasants for forced labour in the Reich. Tho intelligentsia are not sent to factories or farms but to concentration camps or Austrian quarries. Unemployed number 80 per cent, of the population. Polish industry that serves the Reich is permitted, aud no other. The higher professions have almost ceased to exist, and education goes no further than the primary schools. Radio permits were so popular for the foreign broadcasts they provided—further circulated in small news sheets clandestinely printed —that their number was reduced to a point which does not leave even enough for Germans. The motto of the “ New Order ” might very well bo found in the scathing description of an ancient writer; “They make a desolation and call it peace.”

A representative collection of posters occupies the Hockeu Wing of the Otago Museum at the present time, and is attracting a good deal of interest. There are samples of the work of most of the well-known men in this hold, collected from Germany, Italy, Japan, and America, as well as England, Australia, and New Zealand. Some of them are quite well known, others are not, but all are striking examples of the art. Interesting are the “ fun maps,” of which there are several examoles, mostly originally displayed on the underground railways of London. Posters were loaned" by Dr S. L. Geerin, Mr J. H. Oliver, Dr Basil Howard, Mr G. B. Anderson, Mr L. M. Gurr, Mr A. Davidson, Mosers Whitcombe and Tombs, the Training College, and the School of Art.

Although the index of the three food groups rose only one point during February, the February rent index shows an increase of 11 points since August. 1940, and the clothing, footwear, and drapery index has risen 19 points since November. The allgroups index rose 6 points in January, and stood at a level of 68.2 per cent, above that for 191-4.

Although the day has gone when motorists took it as a mutter of course that any journey of considerable duration on New Zealand roads was accompanied by never-ending punctures and mechanical holdups, the chivalry which the motoring fraternity extended one to another in those days is still alive, as a certain Dunedin traveller has cause to remember. While on the road to Queenstown on Good Friday he experienced a blowout before reaching Palmerston. The spare was fitted, but luck apparently was not with- him that day, for another tyre gave ont_ when many miles from a service station in the Omakau district. . There wps nothing left to do but sit at the side of the road in anticipation of help from a passing traveller. The stranded party had not long to wait, however, neforo a Good Samaritan appeared, took in the situation at a glance, and immediately offered the use of his own spare. Fortunately both cars were of the same model. It says much for this man in freely surrendering his spare tyre, not even bothering to inquire as to. the stranded motorist’s name, but just leaving his telephone number so that the spare might be returned in due course.

“Do you keep any racehorses?” asked the chairman of the Man Power Committee (Mr G. A. Maddison) when a farmer appellant appeared before the committee in Napier. “ Yes, I have a horse which I use about the farm as a hack,” replied the appellant. “ I thought so,” observed Mr Maddison. “ AVe have all lost a few shillings on it at various times.” Pursuing the matter further, the appellant explained that nobody lost anything the last time it ran, because it won the race. The appeal was dismissed.

The final appraisement of the 1940-41 wool season will be held on Friday next, when it is expected that a minimum of 0,000 bales will bo put up by the seven local brokers. The offering will comprise mainly straggler wool and oddments, with a small proportion of very late shorn clips.

Repairs to the subsidence of the railway track north of Port Chalmers which caused a dislocation of railway traffic yesterday and Monday were completed yesterday afternoon, in time for the express which normally arrives here at 4.18 to cross. The delay experienced by northbound expresses through the trouble resulted in the expresses from the north all running behind schedule, and the two timetable and one relieving train reached hero about an hour late. Services were almost normal to-day, some slight delay being experienced with goods traffic, but passenger trains were run on time. ,

The inadequacy of the present stipends of ministers and homo missionaries throughout the Presbyterian Church and the urgency of the need for raising them was stressed at a meeting of the Auckland Presbytery by the Ilev. T. W. Armour, of Christchurch, who is visiting presbyteries in his capacity as convener of the Assembly’s maintenance of the ministry committees. Stipends had not increased to meet the increased cost of living, said Mr Armour, and this fact was most serious in the case of the men on the standard minimum stipend. A sum of £214 30 years ago would need to be increased now to £360 to give a man access to the same services and facilities. The Assembly had felt the position to be so serious that it had determined to make uso of capital funds to help congregations to see that no minister should receive less than £3OO a year. The standard minimum aimed at was £330. Collections would bo taken from which it was hoped to reimburse the capital funds and to bring the minimum stipend up to £330. The total required to bring the ’stipends of ministers and homo missionaries up to the suggested standard was £10,650, said the Auckland representative on the committee, Mr W. Goodfellow. The deputation was assured of the support of the Presbytery. Similar support was given by the South Auckland Presbytery. As a result of a visit paid to Takapau by Mr G. .1. Hamblyn, fields instructor of the Department of Agriculture, Palmerston North, several farmers in the district have agreed to experiment with five-acre sections and try out the growing of linen flax. Mr Hamblyn set out what was required and the consideration the department would giant to those farmers who undertook the experiment. If the scheme proved a success the department would consider establishing a centre, for which about 1,400 to 1,500 acres would bo required. The Canberra correspondent of 1 Sydney Sun ’ says: “ Federal Cabinet will decide soon whether to close down the ‘ ABO Weekly,’ which has been losing at the rate of about £I,OOO a week. Serious doubts are held in responsible Government quarters as to whether continued publication can be justified. It was stated to-day that the printing contract expires at the end of May and that Cabinet was likely to consider the future of the journal before that date. The loss during the year ended June 30, 1940, was £54,482. In Federal circles it is believed that this loss probably has increased in the meantime to at least £60,000.” Detachments of troops of the next reinforcement left by the 11.35 express this morning for Trontham and Papakura camps. Larger detachments will leave for Burnham on April 22. There was no business to engage the attention of the magistrate at the Police Court this morning. An Association message reports that there were 17 registry office marriages in Wellington in Easter week this year, against seven a year ago, and 55 licenses were issued, against 76 a year ago. The drawing of “One Fcr Fun ” Art Union is tc' take place at the Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, to-morrow morning, commencing at 9.30 a.m. By the slow-moving stream sat an angler patiently watching his Heat. Along came the usual inquisitive person. “ How are they biting?” he asked sociably. “ Not at all.” replied the fisherman. “ Fact is. there aren't any fish in this stream.” “ Then why are you fishing here?” “ Because it, (inys mo. Look what I save in bait!” “So Anne married a Scotsman. How does lie treat her?” “ Reluctantly.” “ How long can a man live on his nerve?” “ I don’t know; how old are you?”