GERMANY TO-DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1921, Page 5

GERMANY TO-DAY.

VITALITY AND ACTIVITY. RECKLESS SPENDING. EVADING WAR DEBT. By Telegraph.—Preus Assn.—Copyright. London, October 1. Ur. Alexander Thompson, the special eorrevpondent of the Daily Mail in Munich. says that German vitality and activity is so astonishing that a mere un adorned photographic statement of the facta exposes one to the suspicion of being interested in purposeful exaggeration. Mr. Thompson says: “I arrived during the Industrial Exhibition, the Metal Congress, the Wagner Festival and the Annual Fair, which brought 150,000 people from ail over Bavaria. Inquiring how the peasants could afford costly new costumes, I was told: ‘Everybody knot’s that the peasants who were formerly the poorest, became rich during the war; all have lots of money now.’ I remarked that the whole crowd was well dressed. with plenty of money, and a business man replied: ‘That is one of the most alarming symptoms of our extraordinary situation. People formerly noted for thriftineae now spend all they can get, saying. ‘Why save money for the Government and foreigners to take in taxes and reparations’ It*is much better to enjoy oneself.’ That is the mental attitude of the German workman to-day.’

“Tn Bavaria especially proposals for expenditure on public works soar to heights only describable by the favorite word, ‘colossal.’ Munich lately built a large model railway station and an enormous sum ia being devoted to th? completion of a splendid new museum, though the city i» already incomparab'y rich in art galleries and cultural institutional*

Describing the extraordinary orgy of public expenditure, Mr. Thompson says: “Roads are being straightened, steep gradients abolished, and a vast scheme of electrical development projected to convert the water-power resources into national wealth.

“The most ambitious plan is one to connect the Rhine with the Danube so as to enable IiOO-ton vessels to sail from Bremen to the Black Sea, extending trade with the Balkans, and strengthening German influence in the Middle East. The essential basis of these projects is the financial co-operation of the financiers with the Government.”

The Daily Mail, commenting editorially. says: “Germany apparently has abundance of money* to spend on vast railway stations and electric plant. By sinking large sums in this manner she prevents the Allies from getting hold of the money for reparations. This development. may have a close relation to the rapid and mysterious fall in the value of the mark. By depressing the mark German millionaires may hope to kill two birds with one stone, using the fall as one more proof of poverty and the desperate financial position. It is part of the great economic offensive launched by Herr Stinnes and his friends against British and Allied trade, and provides a further reason why Allied diplomacy should be alert.”