Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1923, Page 2

Apropos of the plight of Germany, politically and financially, an exchange says Unit Germans of moderate political views, and some foreign observers of German affairs, have agreed in maintaining that tho Communists and the military party lire alike minority factions, regarded with dislike by the mass of tho nation. This may be true, but it offers no guarantee that one or other of these factions will not succeed in overthrowing the existing German Government and making an end of the Republic. It has 10 be considered that by the lie! pi ess immobility of the Cuno Government, the masses of the German people are abandoned without effective leadership. The debasement of the national currency and general economic disorganisation threaten to culminate in a catastrophe which would reduce the population to desperate straits. It is certainly in the interest of the Allied nations that affairs should take this course in Germany, or that the Republic should he overthrown either by the Communists or the military laity. Prospects, not only of collecting reparations, Imt of safeguard.ng European peace, alike demand that the Allies should endeavour as soon as possible to reach an equitable settlement with Germany. A settlement onto reached, her moderate political parties would 'be better placed than they are now to repress the extremist factions. As a result of the feeble policy ami evasive tactics of the Cuno Government, a donations economic and political upheaval in Germany is perhaps inevitable in any case, but Britain certainly is well advised in pursuing the policy best calculated to avert such a. catastrophe.

“Suer out of the mark is the keystone of nil resistance. If the mark gets loose again, all is lost.” These words were spoken in a public s|>ceeh uv Dr. llcin/.e. Herr Cuno’s Minister of Justice, says the “Daily Telegraph.” One of the financial papers admits to the prevalence on the Bourse of the view “that neither tile Government nor the Beichsbank knows by what methods it intends to reach the goal, which, thanks to their devious ways, still lies in the dim future.” A few lines further oil the same writer goes so far as to hazard the opinion that the Government is really convinced of the futility of its stabilisation tactics, a.nd is continuing them merely to pacify public opinion. Indeed, such scepticism is new almost everywhere admitted, and is the main reason why only agreement with Fiance can save the mark from following the rouble to vanishing point. “fjCgitimnto” business is, however, a mere trifle compared with the “Might from tho mark,” which is now taking place with unprecedented precipitancy. When Dr. Havensteiu showed the while, feather on April 18-lff he gave the signal for a general "same qui pent." Although lie tried to pull himself up in his course, the public, not having bis motives for arresting its flight, is still running, and will continue to run. Young and old, licit and poor, who have the opportunity of escaping from the troubled sea of the mark into the -till waters of the dollar or pound are utterly oblivious to the effects which sm h action may have on Germany’s national interests or on the. pockets of their fellow countrymen. While the gold loscrve is going cheap they intend to have their little bit.

I’oSTACiK charges have fluctuated interestingly in New Zealand during the bisl quarter of a century, a fact which is brought to mind by the recent announcement by the Postmaster-Gen-eral that penny postage for letters is to be resumed on October 1 of this year. A quarter of a century ago the charge for all ordinary letters (not exceeding loz. in weight) was 2d., buton .January 1. 1901, when Sir Joseph Ward was Postmaster-General, the charge was reduced to Td. within the British Empire, this partly roali-ng tho dream of the late Sir Hennikor Heaton. Freni that date until September 23. 1915, the letter postage charge remained the same, but that year the Government imposed }d. war tax, making the postage ljd. In 1920 tho Government, experiencing the effect of the big slump which hit everyone in the community, raised the letter postage charge to 2d., but on February 1, last it was brought back to lpl., owing to improved conditions and a brighter outlook. Thanks to more businesslike methods being introduced and rigid economy practised in connection with tho General Post Office, penny postage, absent for nearly eight years, is about to be resumed. Philatelists and others will be interested to learn that in all probability nil altogether new penny stamp "ill be used on October 1. No design has yet been definitely decided upon, but the stamp "ill be printed with pink-colour-ed ink—tho tint agreed upon for the penny stamp by the International Postal Congress.