CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 14

CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. CFiioiL Ora Own Correspondent.)

'AUCKLAND, February 6. J

In the course of an interesting interview, | Mr H. J. Mahon, of the Auckland Gram- | mar School staff, who has just returned from a visit to Germany, and who is a Geiman scholar, gave some information of a sociological sort, which should be of interest to those living in this happy land of social experiments. Mr Mahon was asked to what the defeat of the Social Democrats in Germany was to be attributed, and, in reply, he said: " I think it was due to the realisation by the people that the Government already does much for the public weal, and that the Social Democrats could not do very much more. They demanded, however, the reduction of the military and naval expenditure, the reduction of municipal taxation, the acquisition by the State of industrial undertakings of public utility, the shortening 1 of the term of compulsory military service, and the abolition of the church tax. In the course of conversation with military men, I was soon undeceived as to the prevalence of Anglophobia. I found nothing resembling the hatred of England which is supposed to bs general in Germany. I was treated well everywhere, and nowhere did I hear England or Englishmen spoken of disrespectfully, and I covered a good deal of ground in South Germany and in Prussia. When one sought fo • an explanation of the increased naval expenditure, it would be found that the Germans, realising how rapidly their mercantile fleet and their trade overseas were growing, felt that to protect them their navy must be sufficiently . powerful and effective ; but any idea of aggressive measures being adopted towards England was laughed at as ridiculous whenever I referred the question to men competent to give an opinion, although it was recognised that th-p entente cordiale between England and France was a matter requiring careful etudy and thoughtful considera tion. With regard to the reduction of military service, I would say that the | university men I met at Jena, who served a year only. looked forward to this servioo vith the greatest pleasure and enthusiasm. The Germans of all classes are intensely and sanely patriotic. There is no doubt about that. The Social Democrats sought to diffuse their ideas through the army by carefully grounding a large number of young men in their doctrine. These young men, who were called ' the Young Socialist party,' would be called upon for military service, but the 6evere diecipline of the German would render any Socialists' propaganda among the rank and file extremely difficult, if not abortive. " Now, let me toll you of some of the things the German Government does for tha people. Let us take its system of State insurance and pensions There are three kinds, which I will designate A, B, and C. A provides for the sickness of or accident to the worker, who pays two thirds of the contribution, and his employer one-third. B provides for old age and for those invalided by accident and the workmen injured by. accident that could have been avoided by precautions iaken by the employer, and all contributions are paid by the employer. The workman who is sick gets paid full pay for 13 weeks out of the sick fund, with all medical attention, drugs, and appliances free, and should he be incapacitated beyond that period he is supported out of trie funds which I have designated B and C. When the workman is permanently incapacitated by accident ha receives a weekly pension not exceeding two thirds of the average pay that he would be receiving at the time of the accident, but the amount also depends upon the nature of the accident and the extent of the injuries. The liability of the employer ceases when the workman receives more than 2000 marks a year — equivalent to, say, £100. He is supposed with this salary to have made provision for hirrself." What do you think would bo the equivalent of 2000 marks in New Zealand— what would be its purchasing power? " I should say that a workman receiving 2000 marks a year in Germany would be as well off as a workman receiving at least £150 a year in New Zealand." Have you * anything to say about the "cheap law of Germany?" " You refer, perhaps, to the right of the poor to the law. That is a great privilege, which the German people have, and they use it freely too. In the case of poor litigants the judge first looks into their case, and if he thinks it a fit and proper one for litigation he appointe an advocate, who is entitled to no other remuneration for his services than actual out of pocket expenses for, say, 6tationery and stamps. It is, however, a point of etiquettewith the profession never to apply for

their remuneration, so that the poor litigants are represented in the courts free of cost to themselves and to the State. Plaintiff and defendant, prosecutor and accused, each has his right to the law, and the right is respected. A person can 6imilarlv carry an appeal from the judgment of a lower court to a higher court, and I believe cases have been taken by poor people to the highest court in the land. You can see for yourself in these two instances (provision for old age, sickness, and aoident, and the right to free law) that the German Government has already done much for the people — much that social students would desire to see in other and equally enlightened lands. " The population of Germany is increasing 6O quickly that it must find room somewhere, and depend upon it room will be made for it. I was surprised at the prosperity of the German rural population. Labour is very scarce indeed, and Poles and Italians have to be engaged for certain work -in certain seasons. With the exception of some large estates in Pommsrania and West Prussia the holdings are small throughout Germany, but they are all freehold. I thought of our great tracts of tintouched land in New Zealand, and I thought, too, of the beautiful wastes outside of London. That is where Germany will succeed. She will sco to it that she always has a 6trong agricultural population to recruit from. " The efforts made by the Social Democrats to thwart the colonial policy contributed much to their undoing. I was out a great deal and travelled muoh, but I assure you that in no part of Germany, oither in the country or in big towns like Berlin, Dresden, Munich, and Liepsic, dad I see any beggars. There was nothing at all of that sordid life, so painfully visible in London, and I was much impres-ed by the clean, healthy, and prosperous appearance of the German people. In the big cities and towns there are no loafers lounging about. The authorities eather them up, and send them to social colonies, where they are forced to work. When one asks a German where the beggars are he replies, 'we have none they don't exist.' "