THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1924. THE ELECTIONS IN GERMANY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19350, 10 December 1924, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1924. THE ELECTIONS IN GERMANY.

The general elections in Germany seem to indicate no important change within the last six months in the political opinions of the majority of the German people. The elections to the Reichstag in May last showed a majority of Germans to be in favour of a “policy of fulfilment,” of acceptance of the Dawes Report, and of the maintenance of the Republic. A similar verdict has been recorded at the polls this week. The supporters of the Republic have again won a victory over the forces of reaction and monarchism. This means that the policy pursued by Dr Marx’s Government, as regards the attitude of Germany towards her neighbours and the furtherance of the Dawes scheme, will be continued. The last Reichstag, dissolved in October, had a life of but five and a-half months. The decree for its dissolution stated simply that parliamentary difficulties made the preservation of the existing Government or the formation of a new Government on the basis of foreign and domestic policy hitherto observed equally impossible. The Cabinet of Dr Marx came into office a year ago, when it succeeded, or rather amalgamated with, the Stresemann Government. During its term of office there was a complete reform of the German finances, while the reparation problem was advanced a stage considerably nearer solution by the adoption of the Dawes scheme. A two-thirds majority of the Reichstag was required for the passage of the Dawes Report, as an alteration of the Constitution by denationalisation of the railways was involved. The Nationalists in their election campaign had steadily opposed the Dawes Report, and being returned in increased strength argued that they were entitled to a share in the government of the country. For the passage of the Report their support was secured by a promise made by the Stresemann, or People’s Party, that they should be given portfolios in the Cabinet at the earliest opportunity. The Democrats were, however, no'party to the bargain, and declined to be bound by it. In the negotiations prior to the dissolution in October the decision was placed in their hands, since a coalition of Nationalists, People’s Party, and the Centre could have no chance of survival if opposed by Democrats and Socialists. The Democrats refusing to take any part in a coalition which would include the Nationalists, on the ground of the grave danger that would result in the arena of foreign affairs, there was nothing left for the Chancellor blit to ask for a dissolution. Following this development the Nationalists made their aims clear by issuing the proclamation: “Our party remains as it was, Monarchist and Nationalist. Our aim’s are German and national. Our will is firmer than ever to create a Germany free from Jewish and French domination, free from parliamentary cliques and the domination of capitalism—a Germany in which we and our children again proudly wish to do our duty.” The Nationalist newspapers were prompt to declare that there was only one main question before the elec-

torate—the choice between a monarchy and a republic. Nationalist organisations following the banner of Ludendorff and Hitler issued an appeal for “all the Christian and Nationalist portion of the people” to combine in the electoral campaign against the “unGerman sections of the people which are always ready to please foreigners, and are either without religion or actually hostile to religion.”

The returns in connection with this week’s contest, provisional though they are as published, may doubtless be accepted as a sufficiently reliable guide to the strength of the various parties in the new Reichstag. That Germany is a hotbed of political organisation is indicated in the statement that twentyfive parties submitted lists of candidates. There is obviously a great deal of overlapping in these party organisations, the differences between some of which cannot amount to much more than a difference in title. In the last Reichstag a dozen different parties were actually represented, and the position will be much the same in the new Parliament. The Social Democrats, it is made apparent, have increased their strength, and have a more pronounced numerical superiority than previously over any other individual party. The Nationalists, as distinct from factions of strong Nationalistic.proclivities but of more distinctive designations, have something more than maintained their position, and the Centre, the People’s Party, and the Democrats are in a like situation. The Communists have not been able to repeat their performance of May last. Their following has dropped from 62 to 44. One of the results of the recent dissolution was the abolition of the immunity of members of the Reichstag, and a consequent scuttle from Berlin of most of the Communist ex-deputies, against whom warrants of arrest had been issued on various charges. Quito a number of these will now be unable to return without risk. It is evident that the four-party coalition of Social Democrats, Democrats, members of the Centre and of the German' People’s Party, hitherto in control of the National Legislature, will be in a position to reassert itself. Even so the multiplicity of parties must he inimical to stability, on the part of the Government. There is a favourable significance, doubtless, in the circumstance that the National Freedom Party,' of which Ludendorff is leader, has fared badly at the polls. The elections indicate that moderate opinion in Germany has well held its own, and that is important from the viewpoint of her economic recovery and the fulfilment of her obligations.

THE TRADE BALANCE

We commented yesterday on the export returns of the dominion for ten completed months of the year, the figures clearly foreshadowing that the value ot the exports for the whole year will be greatly in excess of that for any preceding year. It is estimated by Sir Harold Beauchamp that the balance of exports over imports will be £13,000,000 for the year. This estimate is based on the assumption that the imports will represent a value ot £45,000,000.* It is probable that Sir Harold Beauchamp’s estimate is a conservative one in relation to both exports and imports. For the ten months ended on October 31 the imports were valued at £40,220,094, and it seems unlikely that they will not amount to more than £5,000,000 in the concluding months of the year. One _of our Northern contemporaries, the New land Herald, regards the weight of importations as a disturbing feature ol the trade returns. The imports for the year will certainly be greater than in any other year with the single exception of 1919, when there was importation on a scale that seriously affected the finance of a great many commercial houses in the following year. We would not suggest that the lesson which the experience of 1919-1920 should have imprinted in the minds of all importers has already been half forgotten, but it may be gravely questioned whether importation is not being carried on at a rate that is not entirely justifiable and whether the tendency towards an expenditure on luxuries is not being unduly exhibited. It is pertinent to observe that in the ten months of the year for which details are available as many as 15,283 motor vehicles were imported and that the value of these imports was nearly £1,000,000 in excess of the value of the imports of the same class of goods in th® corresponding period of last year. A large increase in the importation of wheat was unfortunately necessitated by the inability or neglect of the country to supply its own requirements, and an increase of considerable magnitude in the importation of electrical machinery may clearly- be attributed to the development of the schemes for extending the advantage of a supply of electric light and power throughout country districts. But an increase of over four millions in the imports for ten months, as compared with the imports for the first ten months of last year, is spread over a great many lines, including several which it would he difficult to class as essentially necessary. For all that, there will be a substantial balance on the right side when the trade returns for the year are finally compiled. The weight of importation is a disturbing feature in the sense that it will prevent the dominion from exhibiting a trade balance of a nature so favourable as it would have been able to submit if the country had been a cautious buyer.

It has been decided by the Government ba dall for applications throughout the British Empire as well as in New Zealand (reports our Wellington correspondent) for the position of chief mechanical enIfineer of the New Zealand Railways, which has been rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr E. E. Gillon. The salary offered is £1137 per annum. Pending’ the appointment of a successor to Mr Gillon, Mr R. P. Sims, assistant chief mechanical engineer, will have charge of the mechanical side of the department. It has been reported to the Otago Motor dub that a slip has occurred on Kilmog at the foot of the steep incline. The slip has been fenced off, but the barricade is projecting on the road, and should be passed with caution by traffic passing north. His Honor Mr Justice Sim has granted probate in the estates of the following deceased persons:—Gilbert Buchanan (St. Leonards), Andrew Turnbull Anderson (Dunedin), and Elizabeth M'Kinlay (Port Chalmers). Letters of administration have been' granted in the estate of Mary Jane Porsson (Hyde).

It is considered in well-informed circles that the price of butter at Home will fall after the New Year, and that the price paid for butter-fat at this end for December and January will automatically drop to Is 3d or Is 4d, .as the exportable surplus will be large, and can only be expected to meet depressed market conditions in London. The overseas delegation of the Dairy Control Board will return to Wellington about January 4, and will present its report to a meeting on January 15; tot nothing can be done to regulate this season’s marketing.

The New Zealand Government is offering a bonus of £IO,OOO for an efficient, practical, and economical method of exterminating the blackberry pest otherwise than by cultivation or farm management methods such as seeding, tree planting, or live stock manipulation. Certain conditions and stipulations are laid down and applicants for the bonus must prove to the satisfaction of a committee (to be appointed by the Minister of Agriculture) by actual trials on an area of blackberry not less than on© acre in extent that their methods fully comply with these conditions. As a result of the recent action of the Dunedin City Council in letting a contract to a military defaulter, and following on a deputation from the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association to the coun-. oil, Mr Eric Anderson, at the meeting of ■ the association last night referred to the matter. He said he thought they should ask headquarters to furnish a list of the names of all defaulter* appearing in the Gazette, to be supplied to all Returned Soldiers’ Associations in New Zealand. He would move in that direction. Mr W. F. Forrester seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Anderson then moved that headquarters be asked to endeavour to have section 13 of the Expeditionary Forces Act, 1918, widened in order that independent contractors might be placed on the same footing as employees, in respect to dealings with the Crown or local bodies. Mr H. H. Walker seconded the motion, which was carried. It was also decided to accord Mr E. Anderson a vote of thanks for the manner in which he had taken up the matter before the City Council. A deputation from the committee,, appointed in Balclutha to help in working up an exhibit from the district at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition waited upon the South Otago Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday. The deputation, which consisted of Messrs S. V. White (Mayor), Walter, Algie, and Russell, pointed out the board the desirability of having a South Ofago bay at the Exhibition. Mr Jasper Clark (a member of the board) stated that the Bruce people were favourable to the idea that the exhioit should be a South Otago one, and not merely a. county affair. . The chairman (the Hon. A. S. Malcolm) said the members had that day discussed the matter informally, and ho would suggest that a meeting of delegates from Bruce and Clufcha be held at Balolutha next Outha County Council day, When the matter could be fully discussed with representatives from all parts of South Otago. Mr White embodied this in a motion, which was carried. The mover added that ho would make the meeting a public one, so that anyone interested could attend and give the meeting the benefit of his suggestions. The deputation then thanked the board and retired. A poll on the question of bringing into operation the Honey Control Act of last session will bo token by post on Tuesday next. A roll of the persons who are entitled to vote is now open for inspection at tne office of the Department of Agriculture. Our Lawrence correspondent states that Mr Peljett, Curator of Clinton Fish Hatcheries, has just returned from Roxburgh after placing 26,003 rain bow trout fry in Lake Onslow. A portion was also put in the dams around Roxburgh, The work has been done by the Otago Acclimatisation Society -at the request of the local Anglers’ Club. William Henry Smith, who appeared before the court on Monday charged with disobedience of a maintenance order, made application to Mr H. W. -Bundle, S.Mt, at the City Police Court yesterday for a re-hearing.—-Mr 0. J. L. White, who appeared for applicant, stated that since the man had been sentenced to a. term of imprisonment ho had secured additional facts. Applicant’s wife had oome to him and stated that she did not want her husband to go to gaol.—The complainant said her husband had paid her 50s and was going to pay her £7 by the end of the month. She was surprised when he had been arrested, and did not want him to goto gaol. . —The Magistrate adjourned the ease sine die on condition that applicant paid £5 10s by December 31, and £7 on or before January 31; also that he reported wee Ely to the police' The District Engineer of Public Works (Mr J. R. Marks) has received the following telegram from Mr F. W. Furkert (Under-Secretary Public Works Department) : —“ln view of the construction of the Waipori reservoir by the City Council, it is probably now possible to devise a minor scheme to deal with- floods in the lower Waipori. This matter was discussed vith Mr Sadd when ho was in Wellington recently. Please arrange for a survey to enable an approximate estimate to be made.’’ It is understood that the survey will be put in hand in the near future.

Rabbits are more numerous in the Lawrence district at present than they were at this time last year (states our correspondent). This is attributed to the vary mild season that has prevailed in the district. Another factor that assists the rabbit is that no heavy rain has fallen to flood out the burrows This used to be quite a usual occurrence. An expert rabbi ter states that on a block of country of a little over 1000 acres on which he operates, with dogs, trap and poison, .he has accounted for 19,000 rabbits for the 12 months. This area is partially wire-netted and is adjacent to country where there is not so much anxiety to exterminate the pest. The high price of skins may help to keep the pest within bounds, but the only sure and efficient way to cope with the rabbits, is to net the land. Tht farmer then, if he is anxious to eradicate the post, can operate on his own farm, whilst he is safe from invasion from outside territory. The financial membership of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was reported, at last night’s meeting of the executive of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association to stand at 5870. Of this number 1550 were members of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association. The third gas cooking demonstration was given in Kroon’s Hall yesterday afternoon by Miss M. E. Todhuntor, when there was a crowded attendance of women. Practical tests were given in the use of cookery stoves and grillers and meat pasties, short cake, and fancy pastry were turned out to perfection. The American waffle iron having come to hand a number of waffles were made. Several questions ware' answered at the conclusion of the demonstration. At the Tapanui Magistrate’* Court on. December 5, before Mr Dixon, S.M., two leading citizens of Tapanui and Bdievalo were fined £lO and £2 respectively for shooting trout with a rifle, the two rangers of the district prosecuted. The dominion receipts and expenditure for the past eight months were available last night (says a Wellington Prose Association message). The revenue to November 50 was £15,260,600, and the expenditure £16,474,400. The principal increases in revenue were Customs £150,000, railways £163,000, and land tax £214,000.