PEOPLE’S REGISTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1939, Page 7

PEOPLE’S REGISTER

* DECREED IN GERMANY POPULATION FROM SEVEN TO SEVENTY. SQUEEZING THE LAST DROP OF EFFICIENCY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. BERLIN, August 9. A decree issued by the Ministry of the Interior provides for a “people's register” of i lie ent ire civil populat ion be--1 ween t lie ages of seven and seventy. Millions of cards are being distributed, demanding the citizen’s reply to a host of searching questions regarding occupations, talents, hobbies, physical condition and family affairs. ■ The register is intended to supplement the police information dealing with national service in 1 wartime, especially enabling the regimentation of women. An official declared: “We are squeezing the last drop of efficiency from the nation, which already has attained an impressive degree of competence. In the event of an emergency every man, woman and child would be allotted the most suitable post.” While British coal exports were 1.000.000 tons above those of last year, and the German exports were down by 3,500 000 tons for the five months ended May 31. German production, nevertheless. increased almost as much as Britain’s. The total coal imports increased by 16 per cent, largely from Britain. Armaments are making the heaviest calls on the German coal trade. The appointment by Field-Marshal Goering of Dr Walter as special commissioner for coal production has been made because of the urgent need for increasing the output.