EXTRAVAGANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1930, Page 3

EXTRAVAGANCE

CHARGE AGAINST GERMANY

L United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

BERLIN, June 15

Drastic criticism of German finance is the keynote of Mr Parker Gilbert’s final report upon the reparations. He denounces as profligate the expenditure of public bodies right from the Government of the Reich down to the Rural Communes. This, lie says, is the most serious * danger threatening the country. Otherwise all promises well. The rationalisation of German industry has largely increased production. The standard of life lias risen, and a permanent credit balance has been established in foreign trade; but the future cannot lie faced unless the public finances are extricated from the chaos in which they have been plunged by years of spendthrift methods. Thus far, he says, there has been no effective recognition of the principle that the Government must live within its income. The current expenditure on the Army and Navy has risen to seven hundred million marks, this not including the pensions, as compared with only 459 millions in 1924.

Mr Parker Gilbert’s report coincides with, the issue of a Government scheme of Economics, which is accompanied by a threat that Clause 48 of the Constitution will be/resorted to unless the Reichstag passes economies. This clause would allow the President to act in any national emergency. ©