THE FALLING MARK

Southland Times, Issue 18974, 22 June 1923, Page 5

THE FALLING MARK

CAUSES DOMESTIC CHAOS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 2L (Received June 21, 10.40 p.m.) The Daily Express’s Berlin correspondent states that unbelievable chaos has resulted from the fall of the mark. Angry scenes occur in the markets, where the housewives are vainly trying to buy sufficient food for their families. A pound of meat costs a half-day’s earnings of the worker, and a pound of margarine equals twelve hours’ work, while a pair of shoes equals two weeks’ work, and a suit of clothes two years. Meetings of protest are being held everywhere. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent in Dusseldorf says that the falling mark has caused a panic, and that the shopkeepers’ prices have disappeared, as if by magic, from the shop windows, the mark being so low. The shopkeepers did not want to charge for the goods, and some in despair have closed their establishments. The restauranteurs have no compunction about raising their prices. A portion of a fresh salmon costs over 100,000 marks, and a modest meal with wine almost the same figure.