FORTUNES MADE

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1946, Page 6

FORTUNES MADE

SMUGGLERS ACTIVE ON FRENCH BORDER CUSTOMS OFFICERS’ STRIKE LONDON, Sept. 22, Smugglers yesterday made fortunes in France because there was no one to hindei- them as a result of the Customs officials’ strike. The Paris correspondent of the Sunday Express reports that smugglers poured across the French frontiers into Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain, and

brought back food, wine, and clothes which cannot be bought in France, and sold them to the highest bidder. Tobacco alone worth £lO,OOO was brought in from Belgium. Striking Customs, officials stood smoking on France’s frontiers, watching housewives bargaining for smuggled foods. . it is estimated that the strike is costing the French Treasury £lOO,OOO a day. ■ Reuter’s Paris correspondent says thait the French policemen’s trade union announced that it intended on September 25 to join the strikers and had already appealed to its members not to act as strike-breakers. ' Bank and stock exchange employees in the north of France have

decided to strike to-morrow for higher wages. The general strike situation is causing the French Government grave anxiety. Temporary pay increases up to £ 14 are sought by 100,000 treasury employees, tax collectors, and Customs officials. The Government is reported to be sending Mobile Guards to replace frontier officials. The French Assembly, by 537 votes to 1 2, approved a declaration by the Prime Minister (M. Bidault) that the Government could not consent to furthex- wage increases for fear of imcerilling the franc. ... M. Bidault appealed, to the workers, as patriots, to stay at work or, if striking, to return to work.