RESIGNATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 252, 25 October 1933, Page 7

RESIGNATION.

FRENCH CABINET. budget division. proposal to Cut Salaries Cause Of Overthrow. SERIOUS DISTURBANCES. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 9.30 a.m.) PARIS, October 24. The French Government was defeated on the Budget in the Chamber of Deputies last night. The President, M. Lebrun, is busy seeking a new Ministry. M. Herriot, an exPremier, who was recently ill, is mentioned as a possible Premier again. The political confusion is now complete. The President's task of forming a Ministry is unusually difficult because the existing majority, as well as the Govern meat suffered a mortal blow. The Socialists' Wings are definitely divided, and tie breach is apparently irreparable between the Radicals and the orthodox Socialists. The Left majority, which swayed Parliament, seems to be irremediably broken. The urgency of a strong Government M recognised, but all forecasts are at present guesswork. The crisis docs not affect France's disarmament position at Geneva. M. Daladier's Plain Talk. M. Daladier, addressing the deputies before the fatal division, lost no time »nd minced no words. He said France already had devalued her currency fourfifths and now must keep it intact. "If you overthrow the Government," said the Prime Minister, "that will not solve the problem. The next Government will face similar obstacles. If you ■imash that too, what will happen?" After M. Daladier's speech the sitting was suspended. The temperature in the Chamber was feverish. The Socialists held a hasty meeting and decided by 55 votes to 45, with eight abstentions, against acceptance of the compromise offered by the Government regarding cuts in salaries. The prospect of .defeat, therefore, was increased. The Government fell on an amendment proposed by a Radical deputy, M. Lissalle, seeking to attract the Socialists by hitting lower salaries less and higher salaries more. M. Daladier announced that he accepted and would make the amendment a question of confidence. M. Blum (Socialist), with "tears in his voice," explained why the majority of the Socialists were obliged to vote against the Government, which had cut salaries, although they hated to do so. Heated Words Exchanged. Heated passages followed between M. Daladier and M. Blum, after which Toting began. The end of the debate was marked by excitement. The deputies realised that not Only the fall of the Government was, involved, but the break up of the Left cartel and the splitting of the Socialist party—a historic event. Finally M. Daladier and his Ministers were defeated by 329 votes to 241. The defeated Ministers drove to the Elysee to hand their resignations to the President, who will begin consultations later to-day. The new Government will be faced immediately with the same problem of balancing the Budget. Motorists' Demonstration. The Budget proposal which caused the sensational demonstration by the t&si drivers and motorists was the increase in the tax on petrol of 9d per gallon, making it 2/. The police were again summoned last night to suppress a demonstration in the suburb of Asnieres, where many taxj men live. A number of them for over an hour drove in a procession at high speed round the streets sounding honis unmercifully. The disturbances resulted in 184 arrests being made. The French civil defence authorities we planning anti-aircraft drills, including eJectri?ally-sounding sirens for the .extinguishing of lights, and a gasniasked Civil Guard consisting of firemen, policemen, telephone operators and civil servants to maintain order and shepherd the populace into bomb-proof and gasproof Shelters.

national government.

former MINISTER'S MOVE. ("Times" Cables.) LONDON, October 24. . The Paris correspondent of "The Times" states that the former Minister Propaganda, M. Franklin-Bouillon, opened a campaign in Bordeaux in favour of a National. Government. He **id the only safe policy was general eeoaomy applied firstly to the State itself instead of following the Government to inflation and ruin by crushing the people under uncollectable taxes and paralysing all economic activity.