The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-03

foduY. unlike mony other
DO not talk of dnother war. T
ly relations with Russia as we
the United States. And will
hove oil but restored thei
country to its pre-wor corid
ton. a + u ! 4
Except that there is rationin.
severe rationing of almost ev.
cry commodity. While Denmark
has a. surplus of eggs, when
Norwegian home gets eggs, they
are in small quantity and with
no promise of future ration
But, thanks to Norway's fish
ing fleet and her production OF
whale oil, there is plenty to eat
The average Norwegian, though
ne grumbles a bit, thinks he is
much better off than after the
liberation. He can't understand,
Tor example, why -. il he can
get a suit of clothes and a pair
OF shoes under rationing-it is
impossible to buy shirts and
socks. But three years ago he
mad no assurance of getting
either food or clothing, "even if
you have the tickets" ~.
He is a little worried about
food for this winter, for 1947's
dry hot summer has reduced
the nations harvest by about IS
to 90 per cent That means less
bread. less meat, fewer dairy
products, all of which are scarce
already. And she is burning
wood from the forests to heat his
home. You see firewood stacked
up outside, all over Oslo, even
outside the hotels. Coal import
ed from Poland, the United
States and England is boarded
for necessary industry all
others burn wood.
What is the procedure with
this?" asked one Oslo bust
nessman, showing. him the ration
card handed me at the passport
control when l came through
customs. THAT" he said with a
grin, you will hand oyer to
me, because you don't need it.
No ration coupons are required
in the reStaurantS-the idea is to
attract tourist trade. You'd
use this only if you stayed III a
private home. I'd appreciate it
If -. well, it wofld help n,e'
out quite lot In my ratiof1s."
But even in restaurants, your
"coffee cream" is thin milk, and
often there is no sugar.
It is perhaps typically Nor
Wegiafi that there is practically
no black market. One reason is
that the six leading political
parties were able to agree on a
reconstruction program imme-
diately after liberation.
Another reason is the way the
Norwegians go about their con-
trolls. The procedure is affirm
alive rather than negative, as in
many other countries. For ex-
ample, on entering some nations,
the traveller is warned not to
change his money in the black
market, and that severe penal
ties will follow if he does.
AS you go through customs at
Oslos airport, you cannot miss
a. large sign, printed in several
languages, which tells You that
the bus into ( the %city does hot
leave for several minutes and
that you have plenty of time to
change your money at the gov
eminent office in the air termi-
nal. This is for your convent
ence."
Although the Labor party
comparable to the British La
Dor party came into power in
1885 and has met with rising
opposition since, the Conserva-
tive, Christian, Former, Liberal
and Communist parties were
able to agree with the Labor
majority (now about SO per
cent? on political truce
They speak of 1t proudly now,
for it made the present recon-
'struetion possible. But the hon
eymoon is over, and the Conser-
vatives now believe that their
own stars is in the ASCENDANT.
Communism has lost ground
according to the Labor party.
Badly needed building con-
struction lags, for lack of build
itg material, and young men
complain that their is no oppor-
tuhity for youth in business
the emphasis in the giving OF
federal imp@t license is on
restoration on industry destroy
ed during the war, and on the
development of export industry
ali others must wait. Dollar bal
ances owned by private individ-
nails who have money in Amer
lean banks are strictly control
led A private citizen with
money on deposit in the Unlteo
= Go