DARK DAYS IN FRANCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1926, Page 7

DARK DAYS IN FRANCE.

SLUMP OF THE FRANC.

PEOPLE MAY BE RATIONED.

GREAT BANK'S GOLD RESERVE

(By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.)

Received 1.30 p.m.)

PARIS. June 7. The renewed slump in the franc is likely to lead to something like -wartime rationing in France, according to the newspapers" interpretation of the Government's decision to restrict imports in order to improve the balance of payments. The "Journal" says the bakers will be ordered to close their shops once weekly, and the butchers twice weekly. Bread carts nw even be instituted, ■while means will be devised to prevent the speculative purchase <5f crops in pfance by countries with a high rate of exchange. The newspaper "Matin" says the plan to restrict consumption will probably affect wheat flour, anthracite coal, petrol and sugar, and certain public works may be suspended. The statement that the Government contemplated using the gold reserve of the Bank of France to support the franc has been officially denied, but the newspapers declare it hoped to negotiate a loan with American banks, even if the gold reserve of the Bank of France was not employed as security.— (A. and N.Z.)