The Manawatu Daily Times French Ferment

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 268, 15 November 1934, Page 6

The Manawatu Daily Times French Ferment

It would be difficult to exaggerate the unrest which is i'clt everywhere in France. Sometimes it is represented that Paris is particularly excitable and that the provinces are calm. No longer can that be said. French public life is uneasy, and almost daily throughout the length and breadth of the land there is some incident which denotes a desire for change.

When M. Gaston Doitmerguc, the ex-President, who is looked on with respect by the French people, was induced to come out of his retirement in February, and to form a Cabinet of National Union, it was hoped that tranquility would return. Those hopes have not been fulfilled. There are rival movements which clash with each other, and there is above all a general sense that all is not well, says one of the most accurate of European observers, Mr. Sisley Huddleston.

it is against the French Parliament that anger is particularly directed. France feels it is badly governed, and that the politicians are interested only in trivial personal affairs. The authority of M. Doumcrgue sufficed for the 'declaration of a party truce in the Chamber. The politicians realised the danger, and, alarmed at the temper of the public, became subdued. They gave special powers to the Prime Minister, and for a few months did little to thwart him in his task of maintaining order.

History was repeating itself. The politicians always appear to be chiefly engaged in intrigues, in preventing the Government from governing, in upsetting Cabinet after Cabinet, until a crisis is reached. Then when there is a complete mess, they suddenly see the peril, and will permit any mail of real authority to take command for a longer or shorter period.

A lurid light was thrown on public affairs in France by the events of February. There was an exposure of scandalous conditions in which ministers, deputies, lawyers, police, magistrates, financiers, and swindlers were involved. Incredible accusal ions were made, and some of them turned out to have substance. When the manifestants congregated in the streets they were fired upon. There were many casualties. Indignation reached a tremendous height. It is probable that had M. Doumergue declined to come on the scene the risings would have developed into a revolution, and that, with the abdication of Ministers, a new regime would then have been set up.

Since then Cabinets have risen and fallen, and ever since Mr. Huddleston penned his warning just a month ago another Prime Minister lias resigned. The noted English journalist concludes on this significant note: “Examples of unrest could bo multiplied to infinity, and they could be taken from practically every region in France. There can bo rio doubt of the widespread discontent, and of the excitable state of the population. No wonder that there is real anxiety. 1 The agitation often appears to be without purpose, but it is far more than sporadic. Never, in my long experience of France, has there been such continuous and widespread commotion. What does it portend V

At the Magistrate’s Court at Timaru yesterday, fines totalling £55 were im-posed-on two Waimate men for breaches of the Gatning Act. John Joseph Ryan was fined £ls and costs on the first charge and £lO on the second; and Richard Yesberg was fined £2O on one charge and £lO on another.

Seven years ago a committee was appointed to discuss the simplifying of the income tax forms in Britain. It. has not reported fully yet.

Mrs. Blanche Ware, who was subpoenaed as a witness, but who refused to attend at the Supreme Court at Wellington on Tuesday afternoon, to give evidence in divorce proceedings, was in imminent peril of spending the night in the cells. She was brought before the Court yesterday morning ou a Bench warrant issued by Mr. Justice Heed. She was warned and released from custody.