UGLIER TURN TAKEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1936, Page 8

UGLIER TURN TAKEN

IN Rim STRIKES.

CONTROL LOST.

Workers Squeeze Employers For Better Terms. WAGING GUERILLA WAR. United Tress Association. —Copyright. (RecelYetl 2 p.m. 7 PARIS, June 11. The good impression created by Sunday's settlement is slowly evaporating. The number of new strikers exceeds the number of those resuming work. Thousands marched down the boulevards cheering and waving red flags. Others careered round in taxis, shouting defiant slogans. The Trade Union Council's authority is not as strong as the leaders supposed it to be, as the workers are ignoring its decrees and, instead of returning en bloc and consolidating the advantages won, are taking up collections and exhausting middle-class sympathy by waging a guerilla war in order to squeeze the utmost from their individual employers. Continuance of strikes in mosfr unexpected quarters suggests that many workers feel they must take advantage of the situation before it is too late. Seesaw strikes and settlements continue, with 10,000 workers and nonunionists possessing no clear plan of action. Thousands of Parisians went without breakfast ow-ing to a strike by waiteis and butchers. There is renewed alarm, not only because strikers refuse to resume in spite of generous terms, but because the strikes, hitherto models of discipline and good humour, are taking an uglier turn. The Minister of Defence, M. Daladier, announced arrests of numbers of armed agent provocateurs. Strikers are organising street demonstrations in Paris and elsewhere. There is a danger of these demonstrations becoming unmanageable, especially as the Prime Minister, M. Blum, said he would not use force against strikers. This is regarded as a blunder even by friendly critics. Also there is a possibility of counterdemonstrations by members of the Croix de Feu (Fiery Cross) and less | peaceful bodies. I

Spreading to Country. - The strikes have extended to firstclass Parisian restaurants and hotels. Factories were rendered idle at Bordeaux, where shipyard workers took possession of the liner Cap Padaran. A boatbuilder at Marseilles who, in anger at his striking staff, fired a revolver at them, was arrested after wounding one. Rouen was paralysed owing to occupation of the port "by striking dockers. Workmen engaged in construction of the eastern fortifications "downed tools." The strike movement is spreading to Marseilles, which is without taxis or newspapers. The franc continues to sag but the exchange market is' inert. M. Reguard, formerly Minister of Finance, M. Eollin, formerly Minister of Commerce, and other critics are strongly opposed to the 40-Hour Week Bill. During a discussion of the measure by a Parliamentary Commission M. Jaubert, a Radical-Socialist, reserved his opinion, which is regarded as significant, for the Radical-Socialists were expected to support the bill. The Prime Minister, defending the measure, contended a 40hour week woiUd accelerate currency rhythm and promised vigorously to support the weaker industries.