REPAIRING WAR DAMAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16454, 16 June 1921, Page 7

REPAIRING WAR DAMAGE.

REPARATIONS IN FRANCE

IMPRESSIVE FIGURES. By Telegraph—Press AMcciation— Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Receivodd June 16, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, June 14. Tho Baris correspondent of tho “ Morning Loucheur (Minister of Reparations) who said that Franco had already spent 22,000,000,000 francs in reconstruction work, plus 3,000,000.000 on repairing roads, railways and canals. Over 1500 miles, or 90 per cent, of the ruined railways had been reconstructed. 3,600,000 francs had boon spent on restoring factories, that is 18 per cent of the total loss has been made goodOf 4,700.000 people who inhabited the devastated areas 4,100,000 had boon returned. Out of 600,000 houses destroyed 250.000 had been rendered habitable. Eighty per cent of the land had been cleared of projectiles and was again under crops. 2,500.000,000 francs had been spent on restoring agricultural land. M. Loucheur considers that reconstruction should be done by the localities, under tho control of the central ■Government. Fortunately, prices of coal and labour are falling, so reconstruction is possible. It would bo a mistake to employ German labour, as it would be paid in foreign money which would be fatal. M. Loucheur is engaged in a series of conferences with Herr Rathens, German Minister of Reparations, which cro likely to have important results.