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Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4008, 4 February 1938, Page 3

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SIGNS OF PROSPERITY IN GERMANY. PROFESSOR’S RETURN. “Germany has a remarkable appearance of prosperity,” said Professor T. Easterfield formerly director of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, on his return by the Awatea after nine months abroad.

Professor Easterfield spent most of his time at Cambridge University, where he was engaged on chemical problems indirectly connected with agriculture. He found time, however, for a visit to Europe and also spent a holiday in Cornwall.

Everyone in Germany was employed, he said, because it was a crime to be otherwise. Intensive cultivation of the land and big development work in the way of roads, canals and so on provided work for all, industries were thriving and money was freely spent. How deep were the foundations of prosperity it was impossible to say. The internal price level,

compared with Britain’s, was low and a low rate of exchange encouraged visitors to spend freely, provided this was not used as an excuse for buyingin Germany goods which would nor mally be bought in the visitor’s own country.

On the political situation in Germany, Professor Easterfield said he did not feel competent to express an opinion, but he could bear witness to the universal respect and admiration for Herr Hitler. It struck him as a feeling somewhat different from that entertained toward the former Emperor. There was little doubt that Herr Hitler was regarded by most Germans as the saviour of the country. Growth of Cambridge. Professor Easterfield spoke of the

growth of Cambridge University since the close of last century as exemplified by the inc lease in the number of undergraduates from 2000 to COOO. As a former lecturer in the Agricultural School, he was specially interested in its growth from a single building 300 feet in length, where the students once numbered 12. The school was now twice the length and two large wings had been added. So great was the number -of students at the present time that it was doubtful whether they could all be absorbed, though in the field of animal husbandry, where stock diseases needed intensive investigation, there was plenty of work for experts.