BELGIANS' STRIKES TAKE GRAVE TIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1936, Page 7

BELGIANS' STRIKES TAKE GRAVE TIN.

ARMS FACTORY RAID

Labour Unrest Reaching

The Capital.

EMPLOYERS GIVE WAY. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 10.30 a.m.) BRUSSELS, June 17. At Liege the general strike took a grave turn when strikers attempted to raid the arms factory. Police drove them off and arrested 15. Gangs attempted to stop the traffic in the city and interfered with pedestrians, necessitating repeated police charges.

Strikes are spreading elsewhere and all transport services, with the exception of the railways, are threatened.

The trouble is nearing the capital, 500 metallurgical employees in the suburb of Ruysbroeck having ceased work. The authorities announce that foreigners participating in the agitations will be expelled.

Liege resembles a beleagured city. Tram and taxi services have stopped, and tlie use of bicycles is prohibited in order to frustrate speedy assemblage of strikers. 'At Client 12,000 textile workers quitted their looms, factories in Vervicrs area stopping.

- Heavy industries at Cluirleroi are at a standstill.

A conference, under the presidency of the Prime Minister, Dr. van Zeeland, between the employers and trade unionists agreed upon a minimum wage and six paid holidays annually.

Eventually the employers conceded even the question of a 40-hour week, and resumption of work is expected 011 Mondav.

UGLY IN MARSEILLES.

Clashes Between Opposing

Factions,

GARDES MOBILES INTERVENE

(Received 2 p.m.) MARSEILLES, June 17. The situation has taken an ugly turn owing to the assumption of a political complexion with the intervention of the Jeunesses Patriotcs and other Right organisations. Numerous clashes are occurring with the Front Populaire.

Youths of Right and Left parties, wearing tricolour cockades or red brassards. marched, shouting war cries, along the Cannebiere. Reinforcements joined both sides and lighting began. Passersby left trams and public vehicles to join in, holding up all traflic. Gardes .Mobiles separated the combatants, but the bands reformed elsewhere and resumed hostilities.

Rightist rioters took refuge in a disreputable gambling house, six of whose habitues barred the gate and prepared to defend the building with revolvers. Members of the Front Populaire attacked the premises. Gardes Mobiles intervened, but the crowd exchanged missiles and refused to disperse.

WORSE IN PLACES

SITUATION - IN FRANCE. (Received 12 noon.) PARIS, Juno 17. The Senate passed bills permitting indemnities to civil servants exempting ex-servicemen's pensions from taxation and granting paid holidays to workers.

Metropolitan strikers still idle number f)0,000 to 150.000. The situation is nil better at Marseilles, and is worse at Lyons, St. diamond. Angers, La Roclielle, Le Havre and Mulhonse.

The Fierv Cross organisation. of which little was heard during or since the elections, has re-entered the politicalfield. The leader, Colonel de la Roque, has issued a manifesto stating that

"now that French unity is endangered wo declare ourselves a political body above parties and factions described by Germany as effervescent, and by Russia as revolutionary." Europe is unbalanced it says, and in the face of immediate perils the public weal must be protected.

The manifesto does not indicate the nature of the action to be taken.

AT CASABLANCA

SUGAR STRIKE SETTLED. (Received 12 noon.) CASABLANCA, June 17. The sugar workers have resumed, but the metal works and paint works are still idle. The Council of. National Defence approved Resident-General Perron's establishment of an eight-hour day with a minimum wage for native workers.