EUROPE'S PERIL

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 39, 15 August 1919, Page 8

EUROPE'S PERIL

LABOUR & FOOD SUPPLY MR. HOOVER'S SOLEMN MESSAGE DANGER OF DEADLY CHAOS. tUNITBb PSBSS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.) • (AUKRAMAK-NBW • ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received August 15, 1 p.m.) ■ :•: -J ■';-: ~- ~ ; "iONBW,. 13th' August. Mr. Herbert Hoover, the United States Food Controller, in an article in the National Food Journal, states that fifteen million families in Europe are receiving unemployment allowances in one .torni: or. another.''" ■• The population of Europe is a hundred millions greater than can be supported without imports. The proper and insistent demand of Labour for higher standards.of living is unfortunately impregnated with the theory that • limitation, of effort will increase the total employment. Unless productivity is rapidly increased, political, moral, and economic chaos will result, finally interpreting itself in a loss of '■■■ life on a scale undreamed, 0f.... The entire surplus productivity of America, Mr. Hoover states, is totally incapable of meeting the European deficiency. No economic policy can bring food to the stomach which does not secure the maximum production. The practice of raising.funds by the inflation of currency must cease. ; ■■'■■• Mr. Hoover suggests the abolition of the great bureaucracies which control .prices and distribution, and which are unnecessary now that the world markets are open. AH' attempts at an international control of prices with a view to benefiting Europe will produce a- retrogression of production abroad. A decrease of 20 per cent, in the American wheat crop would not strave -America,; but it would starve Europe. Unless there is more work 'in; '.Europe,';:,and]';saner. .statesmanship, America cannot go on feeding Europe on credit.