MORE PRODUCTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 235, 4 October 1937, Page 7

MORE PRODUCTION.

Modification of 40-Hour Week Planned. FLUCTUATIONS OF THE FRANC. PARIS, October 3. In order to ensure increased production the Cabinet has authorised the Prime Minister, M. Chautemps, to issue decrees modifying the 40hour week. The Cabinet has appealed to workers and employers to refrain from illegalities, especially sit-down strikes. Also the Cabinet has approved of the tightening up of the surveillance of foreigners and of very severe action against foreign agitators in view of the attempted seizure of a Spanish submarine on September 19, and the bomb outrages in Paris and elsewhere. The franc fell to 152 to the fl during the Cabinet's meeting, but later recovered to 150. Expectations of a week-end Cabinet crisis, linked with the weakness of the franc seem to have been premature in the light of a reported overnight agreement at a meeting between M. Chautemps and M. Blum and other Socialist Ministers, who prepared a declaration refuting the scare allegations on the Bourse, on which, in the morning, there were excited dealings, the franc relapsing to 147 J. The Cabinet resolved to oppose exchange control. It will adhere to its peace policy in , collaboration with Britain and will speed up production. A communique declares that there is no justification for speculation in French currency. The Budget is balanced and resources are available to meet obligations.