GET-RICH-QUICK WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15900, 24 April 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

GET-RICH-QUICK WAR.

WEALTH FOR GERiMAN FIRMS. DARK PROSPECT FOR NEW TAXES. The Berlin correspondent of the Amsterdam Ttlegraaf, in lis latest letter to his newspaper, deals wjth the war from a point of view which 'late not hitherto been brought to public notioe. He says: ''For some business men the war has decidedly a peasant side. Many of the people are making big profits cut of the universal unrest, and are thriving, while millions are sacrificing themselves on the altar of patriotism. Factories that rarely or never yielded a- profit before are rolling in money. 'Thus an engineering concern at Dug. seldorf which never paid a single cent in dividends made a profit surplus of £75,000 during the firtit two months of the war. A good many mills, after writing off enormous profits and raising their reserve funds, are able to pay dividends of 15 and 20 per c*nt. Ear millers the war lias been an agreeable surprise. A hose factory in Berlin, which had not paid a dividend for the. lost six years, has during five mon.lhs of war made a profit of £7943, and has created a special reserve fund of £1250 and paid 10 per cent, to its smiling shareholders.

"Nor have private pcosons been left out in the cold. Thus the Muncliencr Post tells the storv of a horsivdeaJer who made a. profit of £100.000 on the sale of 5000 horse*. The Rchoeneberfrer Zeitung mentions a wholesale potato dealer who stored 68 tons of potatoes which he was willing to sell for 2s 6d a 1001b. When the Minister for Agriculture raised the price tho dealer Wild not sell them for less than 5s 9d a 1001b.

** Counting Chickens." " A livel-t discussion is going on in Germany regard the new taxes which will probably be introduced by Hw HelftVich. the Finance Minister. Without fresh sources of imtome the interest on loans cannot be naidV Some optimists are reckoning on Hie i'jnloinnitios which Germany will claim from 'her enemies on the conclusion of peace. But sensible people do not reckon on the proceeds from the sale of castles in the *iir.

"The raunic'pil Aaxos have already been increased from 20 to 40 per cent. When the Reidista" nirafn meets, Herr Hc'hV ridi will submit %is prngrnjnme, which 'rill cause mam- a "patriotic benrt to turn faint. The first' war loan of £200 000.000 odd rpnniros , p -11.25" 000 for interest, while in 1918-J9&9 the Treasury Rills have to bo redeemed.

Germany is now facing the second '.nan. It is M"'c!iowii yet. how much tin's iV-i» will yield, but svnposing it is £150.000 000 the Interest to lie paid will be another £7.500.000. 'Hie sums thus fur spent for till vuirnosv o of the war hnve not liepp published. When it is remembered that tl'n income of tho State has considerably diminished and that the import duties op ♦mrieultiiral products have dried ut>. it w'J! be readilv under- 4 stood how dark if th» future with regard to the prospect of tne new taxes."