BACK TO WORK

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12885, 11 June 1936, Page 7

BACK TO WORK

FRENCH LABOR’S GREATEST VICTORY IU.P.A. by Klee. Tel. Cn yV'/gllt). PARIS, June 9. The strikers are streaming back to work to-day. The. traile unions describe the .settlement as the greatest, victory in the history: of French labor, and consider that the income of the workers, allowing for the 40-hour week, will risei by an average of 35 per cent. The employers do not share in tho enthusiasm, and contend that the increases will place a heavy burden on French economy. The problem of the Prime Minister M. Leon Blum, now is to reconcile his opposition to devaluation with the risiag' costs of production. The strike settlement will necessitate the "Right interests, formerly hitter opponents of devaluation, now becoming the strongest advocates of it. Even the Popular Front is becoming uneasy at M. Blum's insistence on the sanctity of the franc. Critics point out that if NT. Blum rejects devaluation he must turn to tariffs and quotas and exchange regulations. turning France into tire very totalitarian state which M. Blum was elected to combat. M. Blum is at present relying on short-term borrowing, which has reached the unprecedented total of £280.000,000. Presumably, be intends to continue borrowing until the market will lend no longer.

ANOTHER VIEW 01“ VICTORY

tU.i’.A. by Eieo. Toi Ood.v:ufht)

LONDON. June 9

The Paris correspondent of The limes says the raising of wages in France to a level more elowly approaching tlie Western European standard illustrates the danger of trying to achieve social progress in a country where the currcnev is seriously overvalued. Iho Trades Unions have won a sweeping- victory, hut have not got. much more than tlie British working man has .received foe. years. French workers for years have been employed ■in premises which British factory inspectors would not tolerate. The wage advance ha-s been won only after years of constant agitation, and sullen acquiescence in life on a sub--i'Stanee level.

Yet. despite the bitterness of the struggle, the strikers maintained perfect order, sweeping the factories, painting the floors . repairing the phimbins and even taking up collections for the repairs of a plateglass window which was accidentally broken. No outsiders -were allowed to intervene, 170 women strikers in a one price store -repelling with a. fire hose number of young Fascists who attempted ail entry.

The Manchester Guardian’s Paris correspondent says it is difficult for outsiders to realise the enormous effect of Monday’s agreement on the working class. The truth is that the hulk of the employers for the\ first time agreed to. sign. a. general agreement with qualified .rcprese/itative'S of the entire, working class, the patrons thereby, in the eyes of the workers, abandoning their sacred, prerogatives and) placing themselves; on a tooting of equality with the proletariat. •