CRITICAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 5

CRITICAL

STRIKE POSITION IN BELGIUM 400,000 PEOPLE IDLE GRAIN AND FLOUR SHORTAGE FEARED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) BRUSSELS, 28th June. Over 400,000 are on strike. The situation is critical on account of harbour stoppages leading to fears of shortage of grain and flour. A conference between coal owners and employees continued throughout the day, employers contending that a 40-hour week would be disastrous to the industry.

COMPROMISE SETTLEMENT BRUSSELS, 21st June. The strike of Antwerp dockers, which started an epidemic of holdups, has been settled after a- compromise on the minimum wage question on the intervention of the Premier, M. Van Zeeland. Employers and workers in the principal industries, including the coal ' miners, agreed to an increased minimum wage, a six days paid holiday, and freedom to form trade unions. It is expected the workers will resume after the week-end. The institution of a 44-hour week has been left to the Government’s initiative. The strike in East Flanders has spread to the motor transport ’ of food, building and chemical industries. Troops with machine-guns behind barbed wire are in position at numerous points throughout the country, but the Minister of the Interior reports there is calmness everywhere.

LES CROIX DE FEU DECREE NOT TO BE RECOGNISED PARIS, 20th June. General de la Rocque, the leader, declines to recognise the decree dissolving Les Croix de Feu. He instructed members to continue to wear their badges.