Evening star., 1947-08-10

constructing a new building in
IreIund.)
OSLO.
~ DUNG Americans in Norway
" today are seeing first hand
the vigor, wealth and hap
-. piness that a freedom-lov-
ing people have achieved through
socialized democracy.
Soon IL American Youth Hostel
ers, part of a group Of 225 young
sters bicycling and repairing build
ings in Europe this summer, will be-
gin construction work at Mjoifjell,
mountain village in Western Nor
way. Meanwhile, we are guests Of
the Norwegian Youth Hostel Associ-
alton in Oslo.
A hundred visual impressions
have attracted our notice in this
prosperous capital city. First, the
joyful citizens who greeted us from
their homes by waving shirts and
pillowcases as our student ship, the
s. s. Marine Jumper, progressed
through Oslo Fjord.
A Healthy Nation.
Then the tall, blond beauty Of
these Nordic people. Healthy, we'll
dressed children peering into toy
shops and laughing in the parks.
Streetcar conductors who recog-
nized us as Americans and gave us
smiling, informal salutes. Men
and women leisurely drinking beer
and wine in outdoor cafes. Streets
clean and free Of hurrying crowds.
Store windows Allied with reason
ably priced supplies Of food, cloth
ing and furniture. And In the
suburbs, dozens of individually de-
signed homes, some with grass
roofs and each with a small garden
and plot of land.
In view of this relative prosperity.
one can't help asking the question: :
How Is 1t that Norwegians, so
recently freed from five years Of
Nazi occupation, torture and i'm
prisonment, have taken such long
strides toward the return of a peace
time economy?" OF all our i'm
pressions, this seems most signifi-
cant.
Norway,s industries were not Sc
verely crippled during the war. This
is one important reason for her we'll
being today. But for a complete
answer to the question, one must
look to the history of Norway, to
the character of her people, the
produce of her land, and to the
present-day workings of her labor
government.
The character of these Northern
people and the produce of their land
are closely related questions; Norwe-
gian terrain has done much to mould
the personalities of its inhabitants.
Both earth and people are sparse
and hardy.
If the peninsula Of Norway were
swung around its southern cape and
over europe, the northern end would
extend south of Venice. Yet over
this extensive area barely 5000, 900
people dwell and only Is per cent OF
the land is fit for cultivation.
A Strong, Stubborn Race.
As q result, Norwegians are q
strong and stubborn race. Through
fighting determination and a So
cialistic democracy, dedicated to the
social solidarity of the whole nation
they have attained one Of the high
est standards of living in Europe
One needs only to examine Norway's
industries to see that the people
have labored hard in their noun
famous land. Before the war the
country was self-supporting in dairy
products. Valuable forests cover
one fourth of the country and fish.
cries here are the worlds richest
Mining and the manufacturing Of
textiles also are important sources
Of income.
Socialism, we have learned, has
accomplished notable reforms in
Norway. Through these reforms
the people have been assured great
er happiness, security and a more
even distribution of wealth. Among
them are: State control of all fac
tories, free medical treatment and
free meals for school children;
State control of public utilities in
cluding railroads, telephones, radio
and telegraph; consumer co-opera-
tives; establishment of a labor court
to judge all disputes over the inter-
probation of labor agreements and
law making public mediation obli-
gatory before labor strikes.
Also obligatory is the cession Of
land in the interest of soil cultiva-
ton. Thus big land owners are moi
able to leave arabic soil unused.
Farmers are protected by per-
sonal membership in a national
board which regulates the prices
and profits of their produce. It is
interesting to note that the Labor
government came into power in 1885,
with the support Of the Farmers
Party.
Postwar Problems.
Individual incomes are much
lower in Norway than in America
however, it Is completely erroneous
to compare living standards in the
two countries by comparing average
incomes. Purchasing power is much
higher in Norway than in the
United States and the distribution
of wealth Is more even. There are
no slums in Norway, nor are there
many respondent mansions. A
norm has been reached which ap-
pears to assure every one a decent
living and generally men are
respected first for their ability, not
their wealth.
1t is interesting to note, too, the
successful way in which Norway has
met many of her postwar problems
In areas where the housing shortage
is most acute, owners of large homes
are compelled by law to rent rooms
to the homeless. The rationing o1
food and clothing Is still in effect
Prices are far higher than they
were before the war, and, like most