VITAL COMMODITIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 257, 31 October 1939, Page 7

VITAL COMMODITIES

GERMAN SHORTAGE

OUTSTANDING WEAKNESSES REVEAUED l [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Oct. 29. The vital part which a nation’s economic strength must inevitably play in the present conflict gives special significance to an article in the Economist surveying the present economic position obtaining in Germany. The article says: "In general, the first measures of Germany’s new war economy, although they have shown a remarkable talent for comprehensive, centralised organisation, have clearly revealed Germany's outstnding weakness. There is a shortage of fats, metals, minerals, and textile fibres, for supplies of which Germany normally relies upon imports to a large extent from enemy countries. "Over one-third of the Reich's total fat supplies are now quite inaccessible, the article continues. "Most severe restrictions have been imposed on the textile industry. In 1938 threequarters of the total supply of textiles and raw materials came from abroad; now much of this is cut off. "The outstanding problem which faces the directors, of the German economy arises from (he fact that Germany is dependent upon imports for two-thirds of her total annual consumption of iron ore. This fact dominates the whole situation in the heavy industry.” Reduced Iron Supplies. Statistics which the newspaper then gives reveal that Germany obtained 79 per cent, of her imports of iron ore in 1938 from Sweden, Norway, i Luxemburg, and Spain, and 21 per I cent, from France. The position of Ihe German pig iron and steel production is no better. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the Saar pig iron and steel outputs, which represented

11.4 per cent, and 9.8 per cent, respectively of the total in 1938, have been lost, at least temporarily, because of the fortunes of war. "Germany has planned to make an appreciable increase in her output of | synthetic textile fibres," the writer 1 says. "The output of rayon, which j was 65,000 tons in 1939, is to be 80,000 tons in 1939-40. The output of j celwood, which was 150,000 tons in 11938, is to be doubled in 1939-40. Even 'it this is done, there will be a shortage of over 50 per cent., compared with the total supplies available last year. "There is a drive to grow mors food. A 25 per cent, increase in the potato production is aimed at for the next year. Hitherto Germany's successes in agricultural self-sufficiency have depended largely on the very high consumption of fertilisers and it has now been decreed that the total consumption of fertilisers must be reduced to the level of 1936-37. Compared with 1938-39, this is roughly a decrease of 17 per cent. During the Great War the consumption of fertilislers decreased by roughly 50 per cent., i with disastrous results." POLES PERSECUTED NAZIS’ DRASTIC DECREES Received Oct. 30. 7.25 p.m. LONDON. Oct. 29. The Riga correspondent of The Times states that Herr Himmler, Director of the German colonisation of Polish territory, with evacuees from Esthonia and Latvia, has begun his duties. He is assisted by three confiscation commissioners. Onerous and discriminatory restrictions have been enforced on the remnants of the Poles not yet expelled. Schools and hospitals have been closed arid the Poles must surrender all their valuables and foreign currency, while ; Germans whose property is suffering | are being compensated with Polish i property. Destitute Poles receive no support, and no consideration. POLISH GOVERNMENT REMOVAL FROM PARIS Received Oct. 30. 6.5 p.m. ' LONDON, Oct. 29. The Polish Government will move this week to Angers, in Anjou, where the French authorities have com--1 mandeered a chateau and several leadI ing hotels for the personnel, states the ■ Paris correspondent of The Times. ’ The Premier (General Sikorski) will remain in Paris with the military mission. All the Government formerly diplomatically represented in Warsaw, except the German, will be accredited to the new Government. BAN IN INDIA IMPORT OR EXPORT OF GOLD. | British Official Wireless I - Received Oct. 30, 5.5 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 29. The Government of India has prohibited the import or export of gold coin, bullion, or ingots, whether relined, by sea or land to or from British India (with the exception of Burma), except on authority of licence granted by the Reserve Bank of India. There is no truth in reports that the Supply Department of the Government of India has decided to purchase silver in large quantities. The Government of India has no need or intention of purchasing any silver; on the contrary, it has of late been selling it at its Bombay mint.