FRENCH POLICE DEMONSTRATE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28536, 15 March 1958, Page 13

FRENCH POLICE DEMONSTRATE

Claim For More Pay And Danger Money (N.Z. Press PARIS,' March 14. Key French Cabinet Ministers will meet today to discuss yesterday’s demonstrations by thousands of Paris policemen which provoked an uproar in the National Assembly and caused its adjournment. About 7000 policemen, plainclothes men and clerks, blowing whistles and police car horns, demonstrated outside the Prefecture, demanding more pay and danger money in their fight with Algerian terrorists. A body of them marched to the National Assembly and blocked the roadway, causing a monster traffic jam.

Angry Deputies described the - demonstration outside as “the bigigest scandal of the Fourth Republic.” Some said they would demand the resignation of the Interior Minister, Mr Bourges-Maunoury. The Federation of the Policemens’ Union said it would meet next Tuesday—the day fixed for a statement in Parliament on their claims—and would consider further action if necessary. ROYAL AIR JOURNEY Criticism Of Qantas LONQON. March 14. Qantas may be criticised for ( failing to complete the journey carrying the Queen Mother to London, according to a “Daily Telegraph’ air correspondent today. Another Qantas . SuperConstellation had been waiting at London Airport since Monday and could have been flown out to some point along the route at the first sign of trouble, he said The correspondent said that it ■had not been explained why a British Overseas Airways Britannia “got there first.’” The correspondent said that the blow to Qantas prestige was considerable. Apart from the honoqr. the stamp of the Royal warrant had a beneficial effect in encouraging air travel. However, Qantas sales might be adversely affected by the failure to complete the journey. The “Daily Telegraph’’ diarist said that there would inevitably be discussions on future policy for overseas flights by members of the Royal family. Some people thought 8.0.A.C. and B.E.A. should undertake all the flights. Commonwealth authorities and the Ministry of Transport had an ■ interest in arranging such flights. * But the diarist, said that he ’ understood that ultimate respon- ’ sibility rested on the British Prime Minister. “Stuck To Crew’’ > The “Daily Mail’’ commented: t “The Queen Mother is a wonder- • ful and plucky Woman. How t many of tis, travelling across the ‘ world in an aeroplane which had » suffered two mishaps, would not gladly hop into the fine, modern I machine sent specially to bring • us home? “The Queen Mother refused. ' She stuck to het Australian air- ‘ craft. ’ “Anyone who knows the disr turbing effect of anything wrong . in the air knows also that it ; takes courage to carry on as she * did,” said the “Daily Mail.” , “The decision rose naturally from her innate kindness and t consideration for others. She t would not upset the Australian i crew by leaving them because 5 they had run into trouble. 3 “That she was unable to comf plete the journey with them was . not her fault.”