REPARATIONS PROBLEM.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15313, 14 August 1923, Page 8

REPARATIONS PROBLEM.

REICH BANK CLOSED.

CURRENCY SUPPLIES EXHAUSTED

CROWD FORCIBLY DISPERSED

Australian aud N.Z. Cable Assn. BERLIN, August 11

The strike of State printers has been settled, and the printing ot banknotes has been resumed. The Reichstag reopens on Saturday after a most remarkable Friday. The building- was beset in the morning as usual by a crowd of messengers from State and Municipal departments, banks, factories, and offices, armed with every kind of bag, sack, and portmanteau. These apparently, were endless. The firstcomers were told that they could have only a proportion of the amounts of their cheques, and must take part in million mark notes and part in 10, 20 and 50 mark notes, which are practically worthless when an’ evening paper costs 10,000 marks and a tiny coll of bread 12,000 marks.

After an hour the cashiers announced that they were at the end of their resources and the doors of the bank were closed. The crowd burst into fierce arguments until it was dispersed by horse and foot police. At lunch time the strange sight was witnessed of people with 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 mark notes frantically trying to obtain change in order to pay for a modest meal. The municipality received the Government’s permission to utilise old paper money, adding .figures to increase their value. Great manufacturing firms are beginning to pay their workmen in emergency money which co-operative stores have agreed to accept, the firms undertaking redemption at the earliest possible moment. Owing to the absence of wages at many places lightning strikes occurred and some ugly incidents were reported.