Evening star., 1934-12-16
Total Expected to Reach
10,3M,00 With Two
Millions Still Idle.
FRENCH FARMERS FORCE
DELAY ON PRICE CUTS
Powerful Associations Unimpress'
ed by Flandin Promise Of
Strong Policies.
Special pispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, December 15.-Cables
and radio dispatches to Business
Week give the following survey Of
business abroad for the week ending
today:
LONDON.-"More people will be
working in Britain between now and
Christmas than at any time before,
but there are still nearly 1000, 900
who are without work. Previous en-
ployment peak was In September, 1929,
when l0,300,000 persons were en-
ployed. The Christmas rush this year
is expected to push the employment
total to 10,340,000.
London entered q new phase Of
gayety with the royal Wedding, but it
is doubtful If the rest of the country
has yet reached the spending mood
which is evident In the capital. Re-
tail sales rose again In October more
than 8 per cent above the previous
month, making a steady rise for IL
months, expect for April. Women's
wear and hardware have done better
than the average, but furniture Is
easily the leader in the years advance
Note circulation has already increased
more than 100000 pounds above
the level for the same period last
year. Before Christmas It. is expected
to jump 10000. 1000 pounds above last
years figure"
Flandin Issues Threat.
PARIS" This Parliament now has
to choose whether it desires to solve
this crisis or not. This is a govern
ment which governs. This Is q
Parliament which makes laws. No
outside organizations, whatever they
may be, should be able to make it
draw back from its task
Trench parliamentarians were
properly impressed when tall, vigorous
Premier Flandin made this threat.
Not so the powerful French farm as
sociations. Before the week was over
they had made their influence felt on
their representatives in the French
Chamber of Deputies, and the Flandin
government had acceded TO their de-
nands to the point Of postponing the
date on which drastic price reducing
legislation was to become effective.
Until the last few years France
has never raised enough wheat to sup
ply home demand. Eager to be in
dependent Of foreign supply (espe-
c1ally for military purposes), French
wheat growers have been coddled with
a towering tariff wall which lifted the
internal price Of wheat in France as
much as three times above the world
price. Nature ruined the grandiose
scheme by providing bumper CROPS in
two successive years.
Cost to the government of main
tanning a minimum price guaranteed
to the powerful French farm electorate
has been enormous. Since last wear,
1t has been more than the purse
pinched Frenchman has been willing
70 shoulder in taxes. Various govern
ments have attempted to cut living
costs by reducing taxes. None, until
the present Flandin government came
TO ONCE. has had the courage to in
sist that France can no longer afford
this luxury Of homegrown wheat, at
least at present prices"
Reich Upturn Hailed.
BERLIN.-"AfteE the slight relapse
OF business activity during July-Sep-
tember, current indicators for October
and November are making a better
showing. A new upturn in the heavy
industries seems, in contrast to pre-
vious months. to make up for pro-
duction losses in consumers goods in
dustries caused by restricted operation
and measures imposed in order to save
raw materials. Despite these indus
trial gains, employment dropped 1000
in November. due largely to declines
in outdoor work, especially residential
building"