The World We Live In

Northland Age, Volume 4, Issue 12, 21 December 1934, Page 9

The World We Live In

A IN RUSSIA Russia gives the visitor the impression that it is in the midst of a sweeping industrial boom, according to N. S. Reeder, Vice-President of the * Pressed Steel Car Company, of the V United States, who recently returned * from an observation tour of that f country. Moscow, particularly, is bristling with all manner of construction activity, with work on the new passenger subway being carried on twentyfour hours a day. The country’s railway facilities are congested, he told reporters, with the roads carrying . more freight and passengers than at any time in history. The most remarkable feature of the boom, he said, was the vast number of large manufacturing plants producing heavy products in contrast with the dearth of such plants formerly. Plants are not only working at high speed, but are turning out heavy tonnages of rolled steel, automobiles, trucks, machine-tools, air-planes and other equipment. All parts entering into motortruck production are being made in plants within Russia. “Russia still has a long way to go, of course,” the American business man said, “before its industry catches up with that of the United States. But the country is hard at work to make up fob lost time. Its progress undoubtedly will be interesting to watch.” * * * * CANCELLING FOREIGN DEBTS Bulgaria decides to cancel payment on its foreign debt. Premier Georgieff makes the announcement after a long Cabinet session and League Representative Chaysson leaves Sofia in protest. Bulgaria merely follows the demoralizing example of many of the larger nations. Even the United States went so far as to cease paying in gold on securities held abroad in which gold payment was specified. Little Finland, which alone has met its war-time obligations, probably feels its face growing redder than

ever.—lt must be embarrassing to a nation to have its simple honesty make it conspicuous. * * * * TEL AVIV’S POPULATION PASSES 100,000 MARK The inhabitants of the all-Jewish town of Tel Aviv, in Palestine, which 25 years ago was a stretch of sand dunes adjoining the old port of Jaffa, now number 102,000, according to a recent estimate. The “city on the sands” is thus approaching very close in numbers to Jerusalem which at the time of the 1931 census had 90,500 inhabitants and by now must number well over 100,000. Jerusalem’s population then included 51,222 Jews, who are now estimated to have increased to 64,000. The total Jewish population in Palestine is now estimated at 283,000 as compared with 174,610 in 1931 and 83,790 in 1922. After Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Haifa has the largest Jewish community—33,ooo. Tiberias has 6000 and Safed 2500. About 61,000 Jews are settled in the rural districts. * * * * CANADIANS TO FORM EAT-MORE-BEEF CLUBS With a view to inducing Canadians to eat more beef from the Dominion’s farms, members of the trade are organising in Montreal with the idea of emulating England and making beef permanently popular with Canadians. “Beef steak” clubs are to be organised in Canada such as have flourished in England for hundreds of years. Advancing appreciation of the value of Canadian beef, it is claimed, lends feasibility to the idea. Plans are being considered along the lines of the famous resorts of old London, great care to be taken to see that only Canadian beef was served. * * * * King Peter, the little boy of the Balkans, was called in from playing soldier to be made Commander-in-Chief of the Yugoslav Army. His coronation will take place when he is eighteen.