MUCH POVERTY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 127, Issue 127, 9 July 1941, Page 6

MUCH POVERTY

EVIDENCE OF PRIVATION IN BERLIN HOPE FOR EAI.LY PEACE So little is known of actual living conditions in Berlin that even such information as is available must be accepted with the strictest caution, ft is, however, interesting to read an article in the Swiss newspaper Die Tat from its Berlin correspondent. He says: "There is prevailing a mood among the German people de> scr-ibable as, exceeding irritation. Householders aucuing up are probably the loudest in their grumblings and vent their ire without bringing serious consequences on themselves. Rations; are unexpectedly shorter this summer, which is> attributed to the necessity for laying in stocks to tide over a long period. Nobody knows why. "Many people are only kept going by habit, for their privations began so long before the war tlifit the youth of Germany does not know any higher standard of living than the present one. Everybody is trusting that the war will end this year, as Hitler promised. From the humblest workmen to the big-scale employer all cling to and talk of this prophecy. "Among the of the people mftny faces are sallow with privation. The poorer classes are beginning to look ragged, as the cloth rationing system docs not cover the barest needs, and the quality of the ersato materials has deteriorated."