All For Victory

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 7

All For Victory

The Soul of France SIXTY-HOTJR WEEK AMD LIMITATION OF PROFIT? LONDON, Dec. 1. A decree-law instituting retroactively from November 1 a special war tax 6t 15 per cent, on the incomes of all men, with certain exceptions, of military age not serving with the forces, and another raising as from January J, 194 U, from 2 per cent, to 5 per cent, the general war tax on all incomes, were issued by the French Government today. The first decree lays down that ait male taxpayers shall pay the 15 per cent, levy on their incomes, unless tiiey are serving with the armed forces, police, merchant marine or fishing fleet in certain zones; unless they are not of military age (20 to 29); unless they are unfit for military service; or unless they have been demobilised. The first 7000 francs of the annual income thus taxed is exempt from the levy and the sum exempted is raised by 1000 francs for each child up to and including the fifth. Postal and Telegraph Charges. The 2 per cent, tax is payable by everyone. These special levies are oi course in addition to the usual taxation. Yet another decree published to-day announces increases in postal charges, telephone calls, money order chargee, and the tax on wireless sete. These latest decrees are symbolic of that wholeheartedness of the French war effort. The huge number and splendid quality of the French Army and the marvels of the Maginot Line have somewhat naturally, tended to overshadow the other two fighting services, although the achievements of the French Navy and Air Force are now beginning to be better known. The Personal Sacrifice. But the personal sacrifice involved by the mobilisation of 5,000,000 Frenchmen— 12.8 per cent, of the total population is not the only, although admittedly the greatest, of me Durdens assumed by the French nation. The sudden removal of such a vast body oi men from their civilian occupations called for nothing less taau the acceptance of a complete dislocation of normal life and activity in the early days of the war, and the manner in which the shock was faced is not the least ol the great achievements to the credit ol France. Everything had to give way and did give way to the needs of the fighting forces. And until the war is over, they will naturally continue to have the over-riding call on the nation s resources. Working Long Hours. What is remarkable, however, is the resilience w’ith which the country is adapting itself to a changed scale of life and to the needs of the moment. In industry, the 40-hour week is a thing of the past and many men and even women are working 60 hours and more, and the State has taken over the control of labour. Men who are mobilised sur place that is to say, skilled men of military age, who are kept working in factories as being more useful to the State in this capacity than as actual soldiers—receive only a soldier’s wage and a living allowance. Thus the disparity so painfully evident in the last war between the fighting man's meagre pay and the munition worker’s wages has been removed. Employees in the Government services, too, have now to face suppression of promotion until further notice and the abolition of overtime up to the 60lh hour of work in a week, while pensioners who have returned to work receive only the difference between their pension and the pay of their grade. In the financial sphere the burden is equally heavy. The French have always detested direct taxation; yet to-day, almost every wage-earner is subjected to a direct levy. Excess profits also are subject to taxation, and in the case of profits made out of war industry everything over 6 per cent, is flatly confiscated by tho State.