CIVIC CLUB.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 141, 15 May 1940, Page 5

CIVIC CLUB.

ADDEESS ON DENMARK. The Feilding Civic Club commenced its 194.0 -session yesterday when at the luncheon the speaker was Mr H. L. D. Somerset, who spoke on Henmaik. Mr Somerset visited Denmark three years ago in order to study iolk nigh schools and the co-operative plans pertaining to the marketing of dairy, pig and poultry products. At the outset the speaker referred to the occupation of Denmark by Germany, and stated that a highly developed typo of democracy had been overrun by Nazism. He recalled the defeat of Denmark by Germany in 18(54, after which the system of farming was changed from that of growing gram to dairy production. England until the last tic* pression was Denmark’s best customci, but during and immediately following the depression trade with Great Britain fell off and .Denmark turned to Germany for a. market. During the past few years Germany had a strangle-hold oil Denmark economically. A great deal of economic penetration had taken place by Germany, so that the actual occupation was comparatively Many people questioned why the Scandinavian countries sought to observe neutrality, but the speaker pointed out that there was no other way, for the reason that the countries veie dependent, upon both Britain and Germany. “It depends entirely on the result of the war as to whether the Democratic principles worked out will be lost for good,” continued the speaker. In many ways Denmark was similar to New Zealand in that it depended, entirely on primary products for its wealth, and that wealth of foodstuffs was now at the disposal of Germany, which could derive at least 25 per cent, of her requirements from Danish sources. Other phases of Danish life were dealt with by Mr Somerset, who possesses much material relating to Denmark.