EUROPE TO-DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 302, 19 November 1938, Page 11

EUROPE TO-DAY

RUMANIAN ESSENTIALS. A kingdom cf south-eastern Europe, it was long ago known as Dacia and Scythia Pontica, territory roughly defined by tlie great rivers Danube Theiss, and Dniester. To-day the kingdom is divided into seven provinces, and as a result of the Great War the boundaries of the country were largely increased so that from 74,000 square miles Rumania has now an area of about 123,000. The 1915 population of seven millions has been increased to 18 millions. The Government is that of a constitutional monarchy. The Legislative Assembly consists of a Senate of 56 members, and a Chamber of Deputies (the Camera Deputatidor) of 385 members. There is also a Council of Ministers for executive purposes. The soil of large areas of Rumania is one of the richest in Europe, and great crops of wheat, maize, barley, oats, and rye are grown. The vine and many fruits abound. The fertile plain of Transylvania produces grea.t harvests of cereals. Farming is not always easy, however, as there is fierce heat and intenso cold. The forests of the mountains cover nearly 18 million acres. The country is rich in mineral wealth including petroleum, salt, and mica. In the oilfields are thousands of workers Manufactures are in their infancy. Service in the army is compulsory. There are nearly 8000 miles of railway, but railway communication is yet awaiting great development. Tlie Black Sea ports are Sulina and Constantza. Bucharest has an air port. Bucharest is also the capital. It stands on the Dimbovitzam and has a population of 631,000 —(G)