A Census of Millionaires

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10912, 1 June 1929, Page 2

A Census of Millionaires

OkIOIAM 'S RICH MEN

For the first lime since- the war a comprehensive l view of Germany s nuilmnau-es lias been issued hv the luin-ncial departinent of the statistical office. The time appears opportune, in now oi the discussion in Pans of tier many's ability to pay her reparations. debt.

The ! pessimists here are having it ail Limit- own way,., presuming, as one may safely do, that these figures are correct. Taxes on capital are assessed very carefully, and rise automatically with flip market value of land, the, price cif ' mortgages v or • decontrol of rents. The German millionaire was .of":course, a poor thing at the best of times, compared with the dollar millionaire,,and that most envied of capitalists, the very rich man in England. Me can achieve the proud title with a. capital of .£*>{l,ooo. The taxation figures for this and large Untunes are extraordinarily illuminating. It. is claimed officially that there are iu Germany to-day £,'235 people with a capital of 050,000 and over (pre-war figure 1>>,540). Of these there are 33 capitalists owning more than £50,000 (pre-war 229); 140 capitalists owning between £250,01)0 and £sUo,olilt, and 405 capitalists owning between £IOO,OOO and £250.000.

Berlin, possesses tlm largest per(cntage- of millionaires, with 290 of these £50,600 and higher fortunes among its taxpayers. Hamburg follows with 112, and Leipzig a bad thud with 55. Frankfurt and Cologne each possess 48 rich men respectively; Munich 42, Dresden 39, Dusseldorf 35, Stuttgart 26, Chemnitz and Bremen e-ach 21, Hanover 1,9. Essen 13, Breslau 12, and Wiesbaden 10.

Tins rather odd distribution cl wealth is brought about by the fact that Die rich industrialists rarely five on the spot whom their money has been made. The Ruhr industrialist i i kes Dusseldorf, J-he Saxon manufacturer loves Dresden. Jbe •great, shipping millionaire's do not willingly leav'J the ports. But. the largest' fortunes of all aro owned by the great .Junker-lauded proprietors, who form a large peroen'age ot the mulL-mark fortunes.

The Injures I lias best go to prove that- German private fortunes were lust duiker llie depreciation of euriieiicv are those cd the little man, the sma.!l ,t rad.csumn wlm lost his working. capital -and was forced to start all over again; ,(;75i) is the average m that the present-day tailor, i-utolicr, baker, in keeper, and shoemaker lias pu'. inti.i bis business.