between their rates and the men's, Governmental circles in France, both in the UDR [the late President Pompidon's party| itself and in the other Government parties, know that the political situation in France can change sharply following the death of Pompidou. There is clearly a division, a fragmentation, of the right in the face of the Communist Party-Socialist Party-Left Radical alliance in the "Union of the Left' In thus situation the candidate of the Union of the Left, Mitterrand, clection - perhaps even on the first ballot.
UNSOLVED PROBLEMS Nose of the problems which have come to the fore in France since the March 1973 legislative elections have Assembly discussed a draft law on abortion but had to put it to one side hecouse of divisions within the Governmental majority on the queslion. Then the Fontanet Plan" fo: the retorm of secondary education led to demonstrations of schoel stucents, just es the Debre law on Red Weekly 19 April 1974 Pege 4 Women workers on strike last week at the Lentheric perfume factory in Tottenham, North London. They succeeded in halving the difference military service had the year before.
Other problems (pollution, the speed limit, etc) also led to discontent.
The middle class layers, small shopkeepers and peasants, whom the Govern-at ment had tried to please, remained dissatisfied. There was also dissatisfection and malaise in the army and the police Not a diy las gone by without demons tration on one subject or anottior.
everyone knows that the perspective is sombre. Inflation is well under way.
Enemplovment is not yut a mass tarcat has a very good chance of winning the losster with the shock crouted by tho certurn towns, indestries and Tums. This, petrol crisis means that the population is nervous and no-one in Governmcotal ar einployurs circles will make any predictians bout the les of caployment in Th Gavurnmont xavs that 1 lis :
Programme process worten wal been resolved, Last April the National leist prevent them rising more mpich than in neighbourine countres. Bat in reality ihe Coversiont is operatio on Air hes tred to buy polot at a chuap price, berst bas har no sundes in this de unpern toi de rechen econois is little to prevent employers from classifying women's jobs in the lowest paid grade of the scale-even after the women's grade as such is abolished. The lack of training and apprenticeships for women bus prevented them getting skilled jobs throughout the industry and will relegale the vast majority to the "semi-skilled" grade.
also certain terms and conditions of F employment-including overtime The Act not only covers pay, but