Evening star., 1933-05-11
A MACEDOINE. Sofia.-Reports
of serious student riots, not pub
liShed in the neWGpaDerS. have


IL reached Us from various sources,
and are supposed to include the
information and experiences Of several
witnesses.
At the University Of Zagreb, about
300 undergraduates barricaded them
selves in one of the buildings Of the
institution, and hoisted the flag Of the
Croatian Republic. These patriotic con-
tingents were then derided and threat
ened by a larger number Of chauviniSttc
Serbian students, who assaulted the
building in which these Croatian SYM
pathizers were lodged. Stones, cubs
and other missiles were freely ex-
changed, until the arrival of the police
with fixed bayonets. These last sue
ceeded in separating the belligerent
groups. and after driving the Serbian
assailants out Of the building, arrested
the ring-leaders Of the Croatian fac
ton.
In the course of q similar fracas at
Belgrade, q battle took place actually
within the university halls, the COM
batants hurting books, inkwels and
even chairs and desks at each other
Fortunately, all the participants were
able to avoid these more or less cum
bersome bombardments, and no one
was hurt, but the whole incident shows
some Of the salient features Of higher
education in these peculiar times.
Soaring Public Debt
Scored In Australia.
The Bulletin, Sydney.-Our hoat-
ing debt will reach 90 millions when
this last forced loan has been COM
pleted; and 1t can be safely said that
not one single million Of 1t Is earning
its own keep. For the most part, In
deed, the money has been required to
meet deficits; that Is, to pay cur
rent bills, for wages and salaries and
pensions.
This means, in plain language, that
we are employing more public servants
than we can afford, and paying higher
salaries and pensions and other bene-
fits, and are passing the bill on to our
children. Worse, we are not even be-
ing honest with ourselves; we are re-
ducing our deficits by transferring ex-
penditure to loan account, and putting
men to do unproductive relief work.
instead Of paying them . dole out OF
taxation.
State treasurers point-with what
they profess Is pride-to the wonder
full improvement In their finances. For
the first six months of this fiscal year.
New South Wales Premier Stevens says
his deficit was only two millions. 1t
Is to be hoped he does not believe it.
At any rate, the plain truth Is that
during this year another seven millions
will be charged up to q loan account;
and there is no question that at least
three-fourths Of this Is camouhaged
deficit.
Is it any wonder that the directors
Of the Commonwealth Bank, who are
merely trustees for the public whose
money they hold, were concerned over
the constant and continuing expendi-
ture by state governments on loan
works which are at best Of dubiously
reproductive character. and which may
constitute a heavy charge on govern
ment finances in the future?"
There never was time when an
excuse was not forthcoming for a loan
policy. There never was time which
was not different from all other times.
so that borrowing was justified If 1t
was never justified before. During the
war we borrowed and spent lavishly on
loan works because trade was disor-
ganized and 1t was necessary to pro-
vide work for men who might other
wise be idle After the war we borrowed
and spent lavishly because it was the
least we could do for returned men. A
little after that there was great dis
tress In England, and South Australia
and some others borrowed heavily to
open up country in order to absorb I'M
migrants. We have borrowed when
J money vas dear because our people