Pump and Principle

Most controversial of the new French labor laws enacted two years ago by Socialist Leon Blum's Popular Front Government was a rigid 40-hour working week. To millions of French workers this meant less work, a general five-day week. To the French employer the law was anathema. To hundreds of thousands of tourists the law meant that banks would be closed all day Saturdays, that big Paris stores would not open Mondays.

When Premier Edouard Daladier took his new job two months ago, heroics were needed to solve French financial troubles, to help French industry. Employers demanded the end of the 40-hour week, but any inclination on M. Daladier's part to give in to capital's demands would have been checked by his Socialist supporters. Last week the Premier made an ingenious compromise. The principle of the 40-hour week remains, but it can now be computed on a yearly basis. The new decree allows 2,000 hours yearly, thus giving employers seasonal elasticity in arranging their working year, permitting workers to make up for time lost in strikes and holidays.

Also into effect last week went Premier Daladier's pump-priming recovery program. On rural electrification, slum clearance, irrigation, new roads and port facilities, $304,000,000 will be spent. The production tax will be modified and free ports for transit trade have been established. Also authorized by decree were defense loans up to $5,500,000 for France's African colonies, to $11,000,000 for French Indo-China. Minister of Colonies Georges Mandel explained these loans will be used toward starting a "systematic Empire defense plan."

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