URGENT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21819, 23 November 1940, Page 7

URGENT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Italy Faces Difficult Winter British Official Wireless (Received November 22, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, November 21. The economic situation in Italy although giving no justification for the Impression that the country would immediately collapse certainly suggests that Italy faces a number of urgent problems. Italy can supply herself more or less with the vegetarian staple diet of the country—and three meatless days are no special hardship on the population. The wheat harvest is seriously insufficient but the maize harvest is exceptionally good and a loaf can now generally be made of a mixture which although rather poor in quality is not rationed. The potato crop is normal. Fats are rationed and coffee when procurable is “black." The markets are very expensive. Civilian soap is rationed and is of poor quality while there is a great shortage of clothing the quality of textiles being very bad. Warmth in the winter is going to be a special problem, civilians being allowed 20 per cent of last winter’s requirements. Heating is not to start until December 1 and a decree has been issued that the temperature of a room must not be higher than 61 degrees. The Italian coal supply of 12,000,000 tons annually must come by land from Germany "ceding roughly 70 trains daily, whereas in peace time 8,000,000 tons of this amount came from Germany by sea. Feeding stuff for cattle and fertilisers are scarce and for these Italy has to compete with Germany. The effect there of bad bread, poor soap, and cold rooms may at least be discouraging to the population whose enthusiasm for war is not thought to be remarkably high.