HERRIOT GOVERNMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1147, 22 October 1924, Page 12

HERRIOT GOVERNMENT.

CIVIL SERVANTS' DEMANDS. PREMIER ON HORNS OF DILEMMA. LONDON, Oct. 9. That the existence of the Harriot Government looks like being seriously threatened by differences which have arisen concerning the demand of the French Government servants for higher pay, is the opinion of the Times correspondent at Paris, who states that the Cabinet last night discussed the matter, but could not arrive at any decision. The correspondent points out that the French Government salary list includes over a million persons of all walks of life. Generally they are not particularly interested in politics, but having tried In vain for three years to get M. Poincare to listen to their appeal for better conditions, they decided last May to vote solidly for tHo Left Bloc. They were, indeed, mainly responsible for putting M. Harriot into power, and they are now awaiting for their reward.

HERRIOT’S DILEMMA

They are claiming a scale of payment based on a minimum wage of 6000 francs a year (at the present rate about £7O). If this is granted, the Finance Minister, M. Clemente], declares that it would seriously affect his Budget estimates. The Government has offered 5600 francs, but this they decline to accept. Harriot is placed on tbe horns of a dilemma. Either lie must offend the most powerful section of His supporters or else the agreeable aspect of M. ClementeTs Budget must be considerably modified.

M. Ciementel, himself, is opposed to any further concession, but tbe other members of the Cabinet take a different view.