GERMANY’S CONDITION

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 52, 25 November 1926, Page 13

GERMANY’S CONDITION

IMPRESSIONS OF MR. B. TRIPP

Mr. Bernard Tripp, of Canterbury, who has been on a prolonged tour of several European countries, including Germany, and who returned this week, stated that, while in- Germany, he noticed that the people were working hard, but there seemed to be much unemployment throughout the country. The number of unemployed was estimated to be about two millions. Wages were lower than in England, and strikes were prevalent. The visitor did not notice any unusual display of wealth. .All the good motor-cars to be seen in the German cities and towns- appeared to belong to foreigners, chiefly Americans. Germany was gradually getting on her feet/ The exchange trouble was over, the mark now approximating the shilling in value. The paper money had disappeared, and those who had speculated in that direction at the time had suffered severe losses. I Asked whether lie had noticed any signs of the former militarism, Mr. Tripp replied that the only soldiers he came across were here and there, where a guard was being changed. Prussian officers were taking any billets they could get, as guides or anything else. The reduction of the army had caused a lot of the unemployment. The German people were most friendly towards Britishers. The cost of living was about the same as in England, and prices in Berlin were on the same Mr. Tripp referred to the difficulty in summing up the political situation in Germany. There was a Socialistic Government in power with Hindenburg as President. It seemed certain, however, that the majority of the German people had no wish for the Kaiser’s return. His manner of exit, when the war was lost, had not increased the prestige the Monarchy formerly held in Germany.