RUSSIA AND GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22714, 29 October 1935, Page 8

RUSSIA AND GERMANY

FEW SIGNS OF PROSPERITY VIEWS OF AUSTRALIAN VISITOR (Pee United Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 28. Diverse impressions from visits to Germany and Russia were given by Mr J. M. Dunningham, Minister of Labour and Industry in the New South Wales Cabinet, in an interview on the Moriowai to-day. Mr Dunningham is on Ms way back to Sydney after representing his State at the Empire Parliamentary Union Conference in London. ' "As for Russia, I would say to those who advocate Communism t na t it has nothing whatever to offer them," he remarked. "While it may seem all right to the Russians, who are already living under a Communist regime, T am quite convinced that Communism will never find a place in a British community." Mr Dunningham found that the workers in the Russian factories were employed under what he termed a "most vicious system of piecework." The general standard of living was obviously lower than that of any other country he visited in the course of his tour, and the people were most poorly clad and shod. In Germany, industry and employ-, nient were being strongly but artificially stimulated by the Government's rearmament and land development programme. About 2,000,000 men had been called up, half for military service and half for a "laud army," and their many requirements gave employment to about 2,000,000 workers. The whole effort wa« being temporarily financed by the equivalent of Treasury bills, which would be converted later into long-term compulsory loan bonds. The bills were mostly underwritten by the banks, and the plan could only produce a vicious circle of depreciation. Germany had reached no actual measure of recovery through internal or external trade, Mr Dunningham said, and the present stimulation must eventually bring more trouble upon her. Nevertheless, the visitor was much impressed with the " land army," which he saw on parade in Berlin and also in camp. The appearance and spirit of the young nien were excellent. Every hutment bore the motto of the organisation, " Work Ennobles." He asked one official how long it would take to convert the land army into a military force. The answer he got was, "Just as long as it takes to exchange a spade for a rifle."