76 HOW TO PAY FOR THE WAR

completely unaware how far-reaching is theFrench control over wages and the conditionsof labour.

By a series of official decrees culminating inthat of November 16, 1939, a complete officialcontrol has been established over wages and theconditions of labour, more far-reaching in themunition industries and less so in the others. Inthe non-munition industries wages must not bechanged from their pre-war level by collectiveagreement or otherwise without the approval ofthe Minister of Labour. In the munition indus-tries wages are fixed by the Minister of Labourand the Minister of Munitions (or other servicedepartment); employers are prohibited from pay-ing wages in excess of a stipulated maximum (ingeneral the pre-war level); employees may notleave their present employment without permis-sion and may be moved by the authorities atwill. Thus any tendency towards a rising wagelevel has been legally inhibited at the out-set.

In addition to this a fund has been establishedcalled the National Solidarity Fund out of whichwill be met any special expenditure in the civiliansphere due to the war, including, I think, anylosses arising out of official measures to keep downthe cost of living. Into this Fund there will bepaid the proceeds of an excess profits tax and ageneral levy on wages. The levy on wages consistsof:

(a) 15 per cent of the wages of workers who areliable to military service, but have been exempted