GERMAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 September 1922, Page 2

GERMAN NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. GERMAN PAPER MONEY. BERLIN, September G. Despite the fact that twenty-four thousand million paper marks have been issued iu Germany during this week, making a total circulation of 251 thousand million marks, there is an acute shorage of ready money" which continues.

The Prussian Chamber of Commerce reports that many factories wfl[ soon be retrenching, as it will he impossible to carry on, owing to the enormous amount of capital required to purchase raw materials and to pay the now abnormal wages.

GERMAN SHIPPING EFFORT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. (i. Germans efforts to build up a more powerful mercantile marine are eontinning. Following on reoeitt purchases of old vessels, ostensibly for breaking up, the ‘Times” states there is reason to believe that German companies have made definite offers to rebuy certain German liners, delivered under the terms of the Peace Treaty. In all cases the prices offer-ed-are substantially greater than those paid by the present owner to the Reparations Commissions to whom the ships were in the first instance delivered. The vessels are . required for services between Germany and America. British companies so far have declined to see. GERMAN POLITICS. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) BERLIN, Sept, (i

Maj ority and Indepeiultnt Socialist parties, a fusion of which is pending, have issued a joint programme expressing the determination to support the Republic, and to vigorously combat the Monarchist movement. They also favour the abolition of the death penalty, State participation in capitalist enterprises and a foreign policy of conciliation and reconstruction.

GERMAN GLUTTON TAX. UNITED BERVICE TELEGRAMS. (Received this day at S a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 0. The “Daily Mail’s” Berlin correspondent reports the Prussian Government has decided to levy a tax on gluttons, the proceeds to provide food for the poor. The tax will range from forty to one hundred per cent, according to the degree of gluttony, ami be paid on anything above a certain sum spent on food and drink in cafes, restaurants, and bars. It is left to the local authorities to decide how much shall he paid, before a man is accused of the deadly sin, and in this connection many difficulties are likely. Prices vary in restaurants, and the general opinion is that the tax will have to lte dropped, hut real gluttons are already planning to eat each course in a different restaurant.