TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 18817, 10 May 1920, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Curiously enough, according to statements by an Italian banking company, Italy’s population is larger than it was before the war, notwitlistanding that the losses were reckoned at 500,000. Of course, against reai increase of population must be offset the gain, some 2,000,000, comprised in the Trentino and Dalmatia, but even with this deduction, the figures are startling. Thus, Spezzia and Taranto are examples. The first had a population in 1914 of 75,000 and it now has one of 180,000. Tlie second 10 years ago was a city of some 8000 people, while to-day it has 100,000. Milan’s jtopulation has increased from 600,000 to 750,000, and Genoa has the almost incredible increase of 250,000. Naples, for 1000 years a human ant heap, had a population when the war began of 670,000, and now has 800,000 inhabitants—and no doubt continues to grow. Probably the industrial centre gained the most, for we are told that Terni, some GO miles from Rome, in 10 years has grown to a city of 54,000 of to-day from one of 9500, or 500 per cent. For all these great gains, however, it would be interesting to know what is the state of the agricultural regions in Italy, for it is largely an agricultural country. The war drew heavily on the peasant and small farmer, both in blood and money, and it seems but probable that the above increases are anything but normal.

While new republics are engaging attention, a very old one continues living its life in northern Spain and seemingly well enough content to remain comfortably hidden in the Pyrenees. Covering perhaps 100 square miles of fertile valley among the mountains, a census of the republic of Andorra would number no more than 5000 persons, many of whom make matches; to buy those matches in Andorra a purchasing agent of the Y.M.C.A. journeyed from Paris during the war, and his account of the adventure in the pages of ‘"Travel” introduces the little republic to the readers of that periodical. Charlemagne, one learns, gave the Andorrans their liberty something over 1100 years ago, and there they have remained ever since, too small and at the same time too inaccessible, presumably, to have their liberty taken away from them. The bridge still stands, arching a mountain stream, on which the ancient Andorrans are believed to have signed their treaty with Charlemagne in 810. A “picture-book country',” says the seeker for matches, and enumerates ‘‘black mountains with real caverns, mined towers and bridges, peasants in scarlet and green and tam-o -shantcr caps, driving pack mules and herds of sheep along the mountain roads.” A contented little republic, apparently, where all that the people ask of the outside world is that it buy their matches and other native products, and otherwise leave them alone.