NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16214, 27 April 1916, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

♦ GERMANY'S NEXT HARVEST. The next harvest will.be of great importance to the belligerent countries but more particularly to the German Empire, which is practically cut off from communication with tho outside world, except its Austrian, Bulgarian, and Turkish vassals. Tho German Socialist newspaper Vorwaerts, in pointing out several defects in German- agriculture, says:—" Nobody believes now in the fantastic imports from the East. Germany will have to depend chiefly on her own production. Our agriculture is not in such a favourable position as people would have us believe. If the Jesuits of the last harvest are considered, it will be realised that it is impossible to make the weather accountable for everything. The cultivated area showed a decrease in extent, while numbers of fields were inadequately cultivated. True, many farms lacked the necessary labour, whilst those at the head of affairs in many cases were in the army, so that the farms had to be entrusted to inexperienced hands. There was also a lack of draught animals everywhere, the horses having been withdrawn from labour. Added to this was a shortage of seed and artificial manure, because the railways could not transport these essentials fast enough to where they were needed. There is, however, sufficient labour in Germany, but it is not adequately utilised. Organisation alone can bring about an improvement." . THE PROBLEM OF GERMANY. "We have discovered with a shock of dismay," says Professor Morgan, "that the comity of European nations has harboured a Power which is European in nothing but in name, and is more completely alien to Western ideals than the tribes of Afghanistan. A hybrid nation of this type which is intellectual without being refined, which can discipline its mind but cannot control its appetites, which can acquire „the idiom of Europe and yet retain tho instincts of Asia, or rather of some pre-Asiatic hordo, presents tho greatest problem that has ever perplexed the civilisation of man. It is like an intellectual savage who has learnt the language- and studied the dress and deportment of polite, society, but all tho while nurtures dark atavisms and murderous impulses in the centres of his brain. The subtle danger of the presence of such a nation in tho European comity is that it uses tho language of that international society, and yet all the while means something different, and that with every appearance of solemn subscription to its forms and treaties it is making mental reservations, and 'economies' which strike at tho very root of them.' PROSPERITY OF CANADA. The new Canadian Budget contains several features of interest. The Ministei for Finance, Sir Thomas White, pointer out that the predictions a year ago, thai special taxation would result in a, revenue of £30.000,000, had been more thai realised. By the end of the fiscal yeai he anticipated a total revenue 0 £34,000,000. During the past year nc new public works had been initiated, aiH the result was a decrease in capital ex penditure of £1,400,000. The policy oi economy followed resulted in a decrease of ordinary account chargeable to revenue of £2,600,000. There had been a financial improvement in the position of the Dominion outside war expenditure, amount ing to £11.400,000. A measure would br introduced for further war expenditure, which totalled £31,600,000. Tho general position of the finances was such that, while revenues were increasing and ordinary and capital expenditures decreasing, war expenditure was mounting rapidly. As tho result of the successful flotation of the £20,000,000 domestic loan it had been possible to place £10,000,000 to the credit of the Imperial Government in payment of munitions accounts in Canada. Since the beginning of tho serious decline in sterling exchange last June the Govern ment had been able to finance all war expenditures in Canada without the assistance of the Imperial Treasury. Sum marising 'he financial situation, Sir T White said that outside war expenditure tho Dominion had a surplus of £9,000,000 At tho end of the year the National Debt would stand at £116,000,000. an increase during the year of £25,200,000. The Minister remarked on the striking economic development of the Dominion during the year. The bountiful harvest, combined with the demand for war material, supplies, and munitions, had given a great stimulus to trade and industry in the Dominion, which, notwithstanding the war, was experiencing a high degree of prosperity. The adverse trade balance three years ago of £60,000,000 had been translated into a favourable balance of £40,000,000. In tho coming year Sir T White said the Government will continue to make all possible reductions in ordinary and capital expenditure. He thought thai in tho coming year they might count on a surplus of £7,000,000. which would b.-» applied to war expenditure, leaving £43,000,000 It. be borrowed. GERMANS IN BULGARIA. Much discontent is reported to prevail in Bulgaria owing to the increasing dearness of almost all commodities. Early in February butter cost 4s, olive oil 3s, meat 2s, coffee 4s lOd per lb. Bread is not dear, but it is made in three qualities, Tho quality made entirely of wheat was difficult to obtain; the third quality, which is black, was unpalatable, 'the exportation of cereals to Germany and Austria continues, but must soon come to an end. All expressions of popular feeling are rigidly suppressed. The press censorship' is exercised with the utmost rigour. Since tho last bombardment the fortifications of Varna have been con siderably strengthened. There- are now German submarines and two seaplanes in the port, and heavy German guns a.<> mounted in the forts. Three battalions of Gorman infantry, two regiments of cavalry, and a largo number of artillery men are in the town. Altogether the'ro arc two German divisions in Bulgaria one of which -s at Shumla, the German headquarters, while the other is scattered in detachments throughout the country, Thwe can be little doubt that a permanent occupation is intended, owing to the importance of maintaining control over the route to Constantinople.