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Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2038, 1 February 1922, Page 5

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CAN GERMANY PAY? NEW ZEALANDER’S VIEW OF TRADE CONDITIONS. IN AMERICA AND EUROPE. A most interesting tour of Amerh and Europe has just Been concludt by Mr G. Bush, of Messrs Thompso Bush, and Co., Wellington, who now on a short business visit to Pb morston North. Mr Bush is as wel known in the field of sport as he in the business world, and familiar many as an ex-Canterbury Rug rep., and as a boxing referee. Cht ting about his tour with a "Manawa Times” reporter yesterday, he sa that he/ found the United States li ing up to Its reputation for hsuy Wages were high, in some cases |H| icons, but there was a correspoß|f| level in the cost of living. lev d, and amusements were alliS>-| dear, and at the rate the the Lritcd States live there much ',u save of the average wo|^H/ weekly pay-roll. In mu-in worker is not a ci'.lu; ■. Go-slow tactics are unkHßv/ an] in a number of cases vv( re working overtime on the Saturday hall-holiday. unemployment in that course, but it was not as r ; it \vas in Great Britain. 1 . AsiHH mauui'aciurcr.s were trying toJHH tain the advantage they had olflH during the war in for their goHH|| their U\vn e.xeliyllge rate waM them. Tilings were quickly recovering from bad slump and a great unemployed had been ro-absorflHH the hard-hit industries their bet again. Regarding debts, Mr Bush declared was a distinct trend of public in favour of the mutual all Allied war < there was also an influential I , ; in favour a settling up. ■■ Conditions in Great spwuil quill another picture. the distress caused by men) was very n al. and obtijHßH| self on the nios I casual visi«HH|j lice. There was no doubt ma nufaei ur ing districts bam. Leicester. SSEBB ij aH ,r' ', Ida ■ ‘.fcSj ■■omii. tiiioii. The - ’V 'iiirn'ki >i out. t 'ne MBS fiifossi-' SBaH w. In;; V'Sk jr-itt; of I;*esi or• !iees leak cat. Toe u xti-Mj I. and ov/uts w- "if mills on ; time so iMHv ny of tn.-ir op- rat Ives possible. However, dospit^H#|Sa .■utlook. nuitte^Bg|M improve as time went on, even now on the mend. The of a great deal of trouble unemployment dole, which was 4IHp in principle, and when it was stopH there was a great deal of noise, remedy, as the statesmen said, la: in increased production, which coul only be developed after taxation ha been lowered. It was a commo sight to see old family mansions, hot in town and country, empty and ft sale.

Across the Channel, in France! everyone, was inspired by the reconl struction spirit, and the passiona* patriotism of the people made weß easily over seemingly InsurmoUntabß obstacles. The task of repairing war area and repatriating its inhatH tants was a mighty one, that take many more years yet to plete. In Lille and other towns, a great deal of stolen ’ mac|B nery had been restored, and by tember last the mills were opera*} to the limit of their capacity. In devastated areas round Ypres, brai, Albert, etc., the farmhouses the neighbourhood were being rebuff first. The Government was assisttH in the clearing of barbed wire afl other military obstructions of tH land, and Mr Bush saw a special del tachment engaged in the vicinity of the Messines battle collecting and ex-1 ploding “dud” shells. With this' wonderful spirit which was evidenjj everywhere, was another feeling bitter hatred and distrust of Ge many, and for both these sentiment thought Mr Bush, the French hat ample grounds. He found Germany to be the mo prosperous-looking country in Europ The only sign of the late war, wifte the Germans are supposed to hav lost, was in the Unter den Lindet the principal thoroughfare of Berlt where numbers of armless and legle ..C’ldiers were begging. There is i after-care for the German soldie Otherwise, in everv centre visltei everyone appeared to be happy, bus prosperous, and well dressed. Ka torles were going night and day, an American buyers could not get tl promise of delivery under six months! By cheaper production, Germany was] rapidly recovering her overseas trade,] if she had not already done so. JCgJ trade with Russia amounted prefiSß rally to a monopoly in the machinery businesses. German r|HS and railways had again been first -class order after the enfc|H|H neglect of the war period. Ea who was approached on the of Germany’s trade revival himself as satisfied with the sitllJßvfSl There was no feeling of ccpt towards the french The people themselves were not sH the least concerned about the repanfl tion payments—they left the worry 'fl that to the Government. Mr said it was the prevailing opinion British and French official circlß that there was a complete standing between the and the business people of and they were coma need that, talcs of bankruptcy, the were well able to meet their tions. “There is some plot, I 1 am convinced,” said Mr BuIBRI "for Germany to avoid paying the reparations if she can.” wfal