European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 31, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Redistributed to workers As bonuses. After several years of growth that put it at the head of the soviet bloc however the Economy showed signs of slowing in the late 1970s. The German Institute for economics research says last year s economic growth rate of 3.6 percent measured in terms of National income fell significantly Short of the target of 4.5 percent set by economic planners. It was East Germany s second lowest this decade. A harsh Winter last year and a drought this Spring Are hurting agriculture which employs about 980,000 people. Shortage was the dominating feature in the economic area said the West Berlin based Institute. Especially hard hit Are consumer goods outside major cities. Public dissent threatened to boil Over earlier this year when scores of East germans were arrested in crackdowns. Young people grouped under the Protection of the lutheran Church have been clamouring for More Freedom especially the Chance to travel abroad. The May Day Parade on May 1 brought out an unprecedented number of Security agents to prevent disturbances. Travel restrictions were eased temporarily. After the june disturbances near the Berlin Wall East German Security agents roughed up two West German television Crews. That prompted the West Berlin Morgen Post newspaper to suggest that the actions were a government organized attack and not an on the spot decision. The paper wondered whether Erich Honecker has t been overridden by comrades who see his course As being too  while the speculation continues the lutheran Church in East Germany keeps up its pressure. More than 80 percent of the population is lutheran and the Church remains a vital Force in this communist nation. We have to Start recognizing what is not right and then we have to go about starting to live in a new Way the Rev. Joachim Gauck a lutheran Leader in the Northern Region of Mecklenburg told a Church convention last june. Well want to stay Here once we re also allowed to leave he said referring to the thousands of East germans who have been denied permission to leave the country. Gauck also asked for More openness in East Germany an indirect reference to Gorbachev s political reforms in the soviet Union. He said that East German christians Are encouraged by soviet signs that a mistake can be called a  East Germany Berlin a sports teacher who is a member of a special team working on the preservation of castles and churches helps save the Market Church in Halle East Germany. Gaps in the living Standard by Kevin Costelloe associated Pressw Hile East Germany has a High Standard of living compared with other soviet bloc countries the wait for a new car runs 11 years and communist leaders have been acknowledging shortages of consumer goods. A growth spurt in the late 1960s and Early 1970s made East Germany s living Standard no. 1 in Eastern Europe. Now experts say Czechoslovakia shares the top honors. Lines of 20 to 30 people Are common to buy fresh fruit and vegetables in East Berlin and such produce often is virtually impossible to find outside major cities. Getting a Home Telephone can be a major Challenge in East Germany just As it is in other parts of Eastern Europe. The communist party sets guidelines for Telephone installations which give preference to people of sociopolitical  average East germans Are Quick to Point out the tiers of privileged classes within their nation. The party leadership has everything they want said a 40-year-old East Berlin House Painter who asked anonymity. He worked in the Homes of party leaders he said and they shop from the Neckermann Catalon West Germany s leading mail order House and have Philips to sets. They even have their own Hospital in East  More than 90 percent of All East German households have a washing machine and television but the demand for better Quality products is growing. Despite a big housing construction program getting an apartment can take years for citizens forcing Many Young married couples to live with relatives. But compared with other soviet bloc countries housing is one of Many areas where East germans Are relatively Well off. West Berlin s Diw German Institute for economic research said in a new study at 6.6 million the number of housing units in East Germany is almost As High As the number of households. The ratio is less favourable in other countries particularly in the soviet Union where a Large number of families still live in what is known As communal accommodations in which each family has a room to itself but has to share Kitchen and bathroom Diw adds. New housing units average a relatively spacious 96 Square Yards in East Germany. Slightly More than 40 percent of East German houses and apartments Are in private hands with half of them occupied by the owners and the other half rented out at state controlled Low rents the Institute says. The private owners receive the rent income. East German workers Lead the East bloc in monthly income the Institute says. Meat consumption is the highest in East Germany 207 pounds a year per capita. The soviets Are last with 133 pounds according to the latest figures available for 1984. Last year s economic growth rate As measured in National income was 3.6 percent the lowest this decade and far Short of the 4.5 percent goal. Heavy state subsidies help keep apartment rent and Public transportation costs Low thus allowing families to spend More Money on household items. East Germany has been successful with a comprehensive preventive Medicine program but there have been signs of discontent within the socialized Medicine system. East German sources speaking on the condition of anonymity said that anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 of the nation s 40,000 physicians Are seeking permission to emigrate to West Germany. The dissatisfaction caused in Large part by Low salaries provided by the state even sparked an Appeal from East Berlin s lutheran Bishop Gottfried Forck last Spring appealing to their humanitarian responsibility he asked the doctors to stay. The West German news Magazine Der Spiegel recently reported Many doctors Are simply fed up with shortages sloppiness and corruption in the socialized Medicine system above All in the provision of  East German communist party officials also have been acknowledging difficulties for Consumers in guarded terms. Kurt Hager a member of the ruling politburo told the communist party Central committee in Berlin for several types of products the need is currently greater than Industry can  Hager said the shortages included clothing furniture radios and even cosmetic products. Like the soviet Union East Germany has an alcoholism problem society wide and of the first rank As Friedhelm Mertchel an expert with the lutheran Church described it. Six percent of the adult population Are alcoholics he said and alcohol plays a part in 70 percent of divorces. Sunday july 31, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 17