Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1913. THE RICH RESOURCES OF THE BALKANS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXV, Issue 11786, 24 September 1913, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1913. THE RICH RESOURCES OF THE BALKANS.

Now that the devastating war in the Balkans has come to an end, and peace has been restored, at any rate.temporarily, in "the cockpit of Europe," it is interesting to turn to a .different, and, be it confessed, a somewhat novel aspect of that territory,—its aspect as a field for the trade competition of the Western nations, which in these days has a sufficiently close connection with political action. But to think of the Balkans from the peaceful standpoint of trade and commerce is really such a departure from settled habits of thought '•lat it is only by an effort that the average man can bring himself to do so. It is probable that very few people realise the enormous possibilities of industrial development presented in the south-east of Europe. Yet there is a territory, embracing an area of 211,000 square miles —one and a half times the size of Great Britain and Ireland, —■ supporting a population of over twenty millions, and possessing natural resources which, according to a well-informed authority, are not exceeded in variety or in richness by those of any other equal European area. It is true that the winters in some parts are very severe owing to the cold winds which blow across the steppes of southern Russia, but the soil is everywhere fertile, whilst a large portion of the exposed mountainous region is clothed with forests of valuable timber. *

Hitherto the industrial activities of the populations of the Balkans have been mainly agricultural. All the great staples are produced —wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize, millet, beans, and even rice. Before the" great expansion of the last ten or twelve years in wheat growing in Canada and in tho Argentine,

Rumania stood third amongst the wheat producing countries of the world, being preceded only by ; the Unitod States and Russia. Certain parts of the Peninsula have their own agricultural specialties in which they stand first in the "world; and to such products of the soil must be added as representing possibilities, though not bulking Very largely at the moment, wine, silk, wool, cotton, flax, hemp, olives, hides, and , meat j while the forests yield nearly all the valuable kinds of timber trees of Europe. But the mineral resources of the territory are probably not less remarkable than its agricultural resources.. Petroleum is already taking a position in the world's production of that increasingly valuable commodity. Coal, at one time thought to be non-existent, is being worked in Rumania, Bulgaria, Sorvia, and Greece; and although there lire no great fields comparable with those of some other parts of Europe, there appears onough of coal —lignite, brown coal, and anthracite —upon which to build a considerable industry. Iron is also worked, and is known to exist in large quantities; while pyrites, magnesite, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, mercury, manganese, tin, cobalt, sulphur, arsenic, chrome, graphite, gypsum, oil shales, and gold and silver are all found —in many instances, if not in all, in quantities to justify industrial exploitation. Manufactures are not yet on any extensive scale; but flour milling, petroleum refining, tanning, iron working, cotton and woollen manufacturing, carpet weaving, sugar production, wood working, and paper making have all attained a degree of * importance; and many other industries, including chemicals, glass, soap and candles, brewing and distilling, bootmaking, printing and bookbinding, are also in operation to an appreciable extent.

These facts relating to the commercial and industrial resources of the Balkan Peninsula, as we have said, will come as a surprise to those who have by long habit accustomed themselves to regard the territories in question solely as tho theatre of perennial internecine warfare. Under the circumstances, however, it is obvious that,with the restoration of peace, and the disappearance of Turkish rule from extensive regions of the peninsula, a demand must quickly make itself heard for better communications, involving the construction of roads and railways, and for modern facilities in the shape of tramways, electricity, gas, water, modern sanitation and harbour works. The new era will, therefore, in all probability, give a fillip to the engineering "trades, and in this direction notable opportunities should offer themselves for British enterprise. Already an important business is being done in engineering commodities with the countries in question. During the five years 1907----11, the Balkan States imported close on £10,000,000 worth of machinery. Of this amount no Jess than £4,544,000 worth came from Germany, and £2,040,----000 from Austria, whilst Great Britain supplied machinery valued at £1,771,----958, and tho United States secured business valued at £519,000. It will be seen that Germany, secured the lion's share of the business. It is well-known that Germany has most assiduously and successfully cultivated business relations with the Balkan States, not least in engineering productions; and it is certain that she will leave nothing undone to maintain and consolidate the position she now holds in regard to her engineering trade. On the other hand, Great Britain's share was a modest one, but it is stated that there is no country in the world with which the peoples of the Balkan Peninsula, embracing Rumania in the north and Greece in the south, are more . wishful to trade than the United Kingdom. Up to the present, the demand has necessarily been in the main for agricultural machinery, but there can be little doubt that during the next few years ample scope will be afforded-in most avenues of engineering enterprise.