NORWAY’S PROSPERITY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1929, Page 8

NORWAY’S PROSPERITY

A WIN FOR COMMON SENSE. Norway to-day is one of Hie most prosperous small countries in Europe. Two years ago it went through a Labour crisis, largely fomented from Moscow, but Scandinavian common sense triumphed. Norwegian independence also asserted itself even among the Communists. 'I he Norse Communist party was split tip. One wing, the so-called native party, while holding to Communist doctrines, is both moderate in its methods and patriotic in its outlook. The other wing is a small remnant of Communists, ‘ taking dictation from Moscow, but without political influence. 'l'lie conservatism of the country is also guaranteed by the fact that twothirds of the population arc peasant*, wnile only one-third is industrial. “PEASANTS. ARE “SELF-OWNERS.” The peasants almost entirely are “self-owners,” by which is meant that- tin l ” own their land, while the fishermen, who also are of the peasant class, own their boats and tackle. A few may be mortgaged to the banks, but as a whole the Norwegian peasantry is independent, prosperous, and is not interested in the Communists’ revolution. In general politics they are Ibo most democratic people in Euroue. The monarchy is accepted for historic reasons, but the King is without rower, and retains his popularity'only by acting in everv respect as a private citizen. There is no Norwegian aristocracy and no privileged class. Wages and labour are high, according to the European scale. There has been an apparent drop since 1025. when the,high peak was reached, but this was due to the inflation of the kroner, according t-o Loret Vogt, secretary of the Norse Federation of Industries. "Wages, though lower in the

number of kroner t’o-day, arc really higher in purchasing power.

PURCHASING POWER IS HIGHER

The chief industries are paper and pulp, iron and engineering, and .shipping. Paper workers earn from 2.50 uoliars daily, but the purchasing power is much higher than American or Englih. -Weial workers earn cents per hour, and building workmen about 18.75 dollars weekly. There is practically no unemployment. Estimates vary between 50,C0D and 40,000 for the whole country. The discrepancy 1 i.s explained by the fact that statistics are incomplete and owing to the system by which men work, ip industry certain seasons of the year, and on farms or fishing other seasons, it is often' hard to decide whether to include individuals in unemployment or not.

The development of the electric chemical industry during the last couple of years has added greatly to Norway’s prosperity, Vogt said. Mon. than .30,000,000 kroner (5,000,000 dollars; has been spent in the last two year in the development of electri(hemicals and water-power, and this has reacted, of course, on building clothing, food, and other industries. Development of artificial silk also lias provided new markets for wood pulp and strengthened this trade, which was in a bad way a few years ago, but which is now, while not fully recovered, fairly prosperous.

\Y 11AL1NG FLEETS UECOXDITIONEI). Whaling fleets have been reeondi- ! tinned, new ships Imilt, and Norwcg- : inn ship-owners who used to go to EngI land and Germany for new ships are I now placing orders in their home f yards. ; Cheap coal from Poland is almost I driving British coal out of the marj ket, and lias also been a factor in j Norwegian expansion, but Britons are I now regarding the market as prices fall because of hotter quality and because ships carrying Norwegian food and exports to England offer low coal freight for return of cargoes. About half t|io total export of Norway, it is i estimated, goes to the British, who desire as much as possible from its best customer. Another threat to British coal is arising, however, in the development of the Norwegian fields ,of Svalbard, •which are now supplying about 250,000 ton sannually, or about one-tenth of the total consumption, and which promises to increase regularly year by year. FOB ETGX TRADE NEGLECTED. Had it not been for the intervention of the war Norway would have reaped the benefits of political independence. I’nder the union with Sweden ‘lie whole diplomatic and consular service was staffed with Swedes, and alfchough Norway’s foreign trade was far larger than the Swedish, it was nolp-tcd bv representatives abroad. This was the chief factor in the Norwegian demand for separation, and since it was obtained the feeling with Sweden is perfectly friendly. Xorwav now has an able and onor■retic foreign service, and is watching its home interests in all parts of the world.