NANONVER’S OUTLOOK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17428, 15 March 1917, Page 6

NANONVER’S OUTLOOK.

In the . “ Algemeen Handelsblad ” (Amsterdam) an interview is published with a Hanoverian farmer, in which he said that the outlook for the winter was very bad in his country. “Not only the food rations were very limited, but another drawback for the country people is that they have no ga3 or electricity at their disposal for lighting purposes, whilst petroleum and candles are also lacking. Owing to the scarcity of fodder, the stock of cattle lias been diminished by 50 per. cent or more (this is- an exaggeration, as m Hanover the number of cattle has •bee.' 1 fairly, maintained). - “The fattening of pigs continues to decline rapidly. There are practically no fowls- left-, partly owing to the shortage of fodder, aiid large numbers have been killed in order to meet to some extent the shortage of meat and fat., The results of home slaughtering are very poor, as most poor people have no clianco to feed a pig for six weeks owing to the lack of fodder. “ The condition of shopkeepers is also very unfavourable ; and -many shops which used to he m'a flourishing state Have now nothing to do. The number of empty' houses is very large ,in the. towns and larger villages. Some trades have come entirely to at standstill, as, ior example, the textile industries and bootmaking. The making of clogs, however, is larger than ever; Innkeepers in tlie country districts might just as well close their businesses, as beer and brandy are no longer Certain kinds of beer are still to be sold, but they are of a. very bad quality, and do not deserve the name of beer. The outlook with regard to clothes is also very bad. There is only one prevailing wish—a speedy and an honourable peace.”