GOING TO PIECES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1922, Page 3

GOING TO PIECES.

A NEW ZEALANDER’S IMPRESSION’S. Mr. Herbert Hall, “architect, of Timaru, writing to a friend in that town, says:— “I have just returned to London after several week’s visit to the Continent. I travelled through France and Germany and the bordering countries —-Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, and Holland. Primarily the object of my journey was to study the architecture; but I was so shocked by the slate of affairs—financial and economic—that I stayed longer to get a first-hand impression, especially in Germany. The true position is little known in England, and less in New Zealand. All the signs are evident in Germany that it will follow Russia and Austria. The people are cowed and bewildered, and moist of those I spoke to told me that they were simply waiting for the end—whatever it might be.

‘“The railway system is in chaos—trains are dirty, late, and like cattle transport. So disorganised is railway finance that they will carry you first class all day for Is. On the Baltic ferry they charge 7d for three hour’s steaming, and then pay the Swedish Government Railways" 13s 6d for the work which they do for them. A workman works h&lf a day for a. pound of margarine. Sugar is rationed, tea is not to be had; the food generally is very bad. “I did not see a single soldier nor any merchandise on the railways. There was not one motor car on the country roads in the whole length of Germany. Most of the harvest was being reaped by hand—much <of it by female labour. There is not a reaper and binder in the country. Berlin is dirty and the people shabby; it is the bargain-counter of Europe, and most of the shops have nothing except the window display. “The Government was issuing 10,000,000,000,10'00 marks a week wfiile I was in Barlin. 'There were food riots in the city markets; murder and shooting was rampant in Berlin; one dare not take a cab at night. I was told that Bolshevik propaganda was being carried on in Labour circles on an immense scale.

“The whole atmosphere and appearance of the people and country is one of dejection and bewilderment. In business circles in Sweden and Holland the general opinion is that Germany will before long repudiate and turn Communistic. Sound business men hold this view. There are no /healing forces at work in Europe. I met many Americans in Germany, and they all shake their heads and say the thing has gone too far to put right.”