DENMARK FEELS STRAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23619, 1 April 1940, Page 5

DENMARK FEELS STRAIN

TAXATION AND RATIONING WOULD WELCOME WAR'S END [from our own correspondent] LONDON, March 8 Superficially there is little to be seen of the war in Copenhagen. There is enough food, there is street lighting at night, there are few marching soldiers to be seen, and there is no general postal censorship. But the war has brought radical and drastic changes to Denmark. Tho charge was levelled at Denmark during the last war that she was "making a good thing" out of the hostilities. This time things are different; Denmark is losing money. When tho new Budget proposals becomo law Denmark will be paying about twice as much in direct taxation as before tho war. Civil servants' salaries and the wages of other workers have been raised to 'meet the soaring cost of living. .Thousands have been thrown out of employment by-the war. Tea, cofl'co and sugar supplies aro rationed, although not very severely as yet. Coal and coke, when the supplies held up by ice actually arrive, are expensive and restricted. At tho climax of the wintry spoil an order was issued forbidding the use of domestic ' hot water systems, so there were no hot baths. Since even the restaurants and popular night resorts must close at midnight, tho Danes cannot drown their sorrows in gaiety; Denmark would liko the war to finish; it is frightening and impoverishing.