DECREE LAWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1938, Page 7

DECREE LAWS

M. DALADIER’S INITIAL BATCH SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN TAXATION STRICTER CONTROL OF ALIENS By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. PARIS, May 3. The Prime Minister, M. Daladier’s first batch of decree laws provides for a uniform increase of 8 per cent in direct and indirect taxes, and also for a special supertax on profits from war industries and an increase of 2d a gallon in the duty on petrol. A national defence loan will be issued later.

Other decrees provide for the stricter control of aliens. The price of foreigners’ identity cards is being raised by 30 per cent.

ARMED FORCES HEAVY ADDITIONAL OUTLAY PROVIDED. FIGHTING SHIPS AND PLANES. (Recd This Day, 9.55 a.m.) PARIS, May 3. A decree provides for appropriation of £29,450,000 for an exceptional armaments programme, including £14,000,000 for air, £6,500,000 for the navy and £4,000,000 for the army. The decree authorises a start on the construction before December 31, 1939, of two .battleships, one cruiser and seven submarines, beside fast coastal patrol ships and auxiliary vessels totalling 24,000 tons. All the above are additional to previous authorisations. The decree further -authorises the expenditure of £31,250,000 within the years 1938-1942 for naval building and supplies, also for increasing the naval personnel from 69,500 to 72,500, increasing the Air Force strength from 44,000 to 52,500 and increasing the Colonial forces.