AN AUSTRIAN VIEW.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 27 September 1915, Page 2

AN AUSTRIAN VIEW.

PRIME MIx\ISTER'S STATEMENTS.

recently m Vienna, obtained' an later! view with the Austrian Premier (Count Karl Sturgkn; for the group of news? papers of New York, CiTicagb and San *rancmo controlled by Wiil lam Rudolph Hearst. It is the first newspaper SSST e. ver er n by the Aust™S lremier, who said: "Nobody can foretell the length of the war It takes two sides to conclude peace. In my opinion, its duration will depend, for the most part, on how »much Germany will demand from.England, feome expansionists have been rather extravagant in their demands and possibly tus is tending to prolong e however, I believe, the r<J sponsible German authorities will be moderate in their demands when those . come to be made.

'Regarding the iumor concerning the statement foretelling the end of the war before winter, f am certain that 1 ofl?ciall meUtS haVG nOt been made I "It would be impossible for anyone to predict when tLe war will end Economically, our Empire is well 1 able to stand a continuance of the war I Regulation of the food question, following in Germany's footsteps, has. com- , menced. Ihe strictures will only be enforced during the present harvest. Next year the whole German system of food control will be in operation; _ "England's efforts to starve the Central Powers have caused a tremendous economic revolution. The State is taking- hold of the regulation of the grain supply and is controlling it in every stage from the distribution of : seed corn until it is made into bread.1 It is confiscating the entire crop, fixing buying and selling prices, doling out rations according as they are needed, and is prohibiting speculation and cheapening the cost by straightening the road 1 from the prochicer to the consumer. . "There is no State monopoly as there is in tobacco, and the grain ia not subject to taxation. "Anew Government department has been organised under experts to enforce the regulation, and even the flour mills have been pressed into service. This new department is in no sense, bureaucratic. The system of j bread'cards insures that the bread is equally distributed. The statistics show how much bread is available. Accordingly we know just what we can do, there is no danger of famine, and we are always certain that there is enough bread for all.

"Whether all this system will be abolished after the war is still uncertain. This year's harvest has been very gratifying, especially that of Hungary. Thus the problem of feeding the nation is less difficult than it was last year, and there is less chance of starving us into submission.

"Moreover, there is plenty of feed for the animals and the weather. has been extremely favorable. I admit that meat prices are higher, due partly to the enormous demands made by the army, but there is no real.meat shortage.

"The financial situation is most favorable. The economic strength of the nation is surprising even to us^ "Our appeal to the'citizens to support the Government with their savings was a splendid success and inspired the Government with new confidence.

"So far two.loans have been necessary, amounting to more than seven billion crowns (1.400,000,000 aollars). A new loan is impending and its success is assured.

"Following the example of Germany, manufacturing of articles de- luxe in Austria-Hungary has ceased, there being no possibility of their exportation. "Everybody is employed and there is rjo change in everyday life. Trade is going on as usual."