TURMOIL PREVAILS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1936, Page 5

TURMOIL PREVAILS

FRENCH STRIKES FURTHER OUTBREAK OCCURS. (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright; PARIS, June 9. The general strike of coal miners in North France has begun, but the employers and workers are conferring tomorrow. The police' have issued summonses 1 against 215 shopkeepers in Paris } for raising their prices, despite warnings, during the emergency. The employers have issued a statement that, in view of the new social order being established, the consequences of which cannot be foreseen, the Government must accept all responsibility. The most serious feature of the day was the further extensions of the strike to the provinces. A strike of coal miners in the Nord and Pas de Calais districts became effective and 150,000 surface workers joined the miners. The big stores at Bordeaux did not open this the managers deciding to lock the workers' out, rather than allow the threatened occupation. Paris itself to-day presents the appearance of an English Sunday. There are no taxi-cabs in the streets. The big departmental stores are still oc- j cupied. It may be several days before there is a complete general resumption. Individual employers in many indus- i tries are holding out against the na- j tional agreement, which it is estimated benefits eight million workers.

FRENCH DEFENCE SERVICES. CONTROL REORGANISATION. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) PARIS, June 9. The Government has announced a significant regoranisation of the French defence services, removing considerable control from the military chiefs and vesting it in members of the Cabinet. The Ministry of National Defence has entrusted the co-ordination of land, sea, and air defence in the Supreme War Council, placed 'under direction of the Minister.

STRIKE SETTLEMENT. STREAMING BACK TO WORK. (Received this day at 11 a.ip.) PARIS,' June 9. The strikers are streaming back to. work. Trade unions describe the -settlement as the greatest victory in the history of French labour, and consider the income of workers, allowing for the forty hour week, and rise, will average thirty five per cent. Employers do not share the enthusiasm and contend the increases place a heavy burden on French economy. M. Blum’s problem is now to reconcile his opposition to devaluation with rising costs of production. The strike settlement will necessitate Right interests, formerly bitter opponents to .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 if he rejects devaluation, lie must turn to tariffs, quotas, and exchange regulations, turning France into a very totalitarian state, which M. Blum ha s elected to combat.

At present he is relying on short term borrowing, which has reached the unprecedented total of £280,000,000. He presumably intends to continue borrowing until the market will lend no longer.