RAPID PROGRESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 October 1926, Page 9

RAPID PROGRESS.

♦ PROSPEROUS JUGOmSiLOVIA. BUDGET SHOWS SURPLUS. Jugo-Slavia. gradually is taking the place of old Austria-Hungary in the economic and political domain. A wave of prosperity is sweeping through the new kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. Everybody is getting 'prosperous. • Agriculturally, industrially and, financially, the country is growing at a phenomenal rate. People's deposits in tire banks have increased four-fold within the last eighteen months. 'Phis year’s government budget shows a' big su.rlpus. The crop promises to be one of the best in recent years. Foreign visitors have agreed that of all the Balkan countries, Jugoslavia seems the most promising. Something approaching political and social unity,iseems to have been achieved.

The country has been able to fund its debt of £12,770,000 to tihe United States, .and negotiations have been under way for an adjustment of its y a.r debts to Eng Land and France. Bitiding and reconstruction operations are proceedings on a tremendous scale. Belgrade’s population has increased from 90,000 to 225,000. From a small capital in 1913, the iSlav metropolis at the junction of the Save land Danube rivers has been 'transformed into a. city of broad Streets, splendid public buildings, fine homes, .comfortable hotels, and immense government structures.