inspectors of the permanent fiscal commission. A decree dated August 20, 1936, required that any inhabitant who participates in any way in the production and distribution of wealth be required to join a syndicate operating under a national bureau of syndicates. An Executive decree of December 21, 1936, created a Government petroleum monopoly.

Canada.-Judgments were rendered by the Privy Council in London, January 28, 1937, on a number of Canadian laws. The Farmers Creditors Arrangement Act was upheld by the council, as was section 498A of the criminal code which provides penalties for the granting of discriminatory discounts, rebates, and allowances. The Dominion Trade and Industry Commission Act was upheld in part, but no appeal was taken from decision of the Supreme Court of Canada which had held invalid section 14 providing for price regulation and production control by the Dominion Government. The Natural Products Marketing Act which had provided for agricultural agreements, the Employment and Social Insurance Act, the Minimum Wages Act, Limitation of Hours of Work Act, and the Weekly-Day-of-Rest-in-Seven Act, were held invalid, and beyond the power of the Dominion Parliament under the British North America Act which reserves to the provinces control of trade and industry within their borders.

The Combines Investigation Act, 1923, was amended on April 10, 1937; the law will now be administered by a commissioner under the Minister of Labor. A report was made by a royal commission, dated February 3, 1937, on importation and distribution of anthracite coal in the Dominion. The antidumping provisions of the Customs Tariff Act were amended in 1937.

China. In December, 1936, a national foodstuffs distribution and transportation bureau was opened at Shanghai, to put foodstuffs under national control and to effect an adjustment between supply and demand in order to prevent local shortage and speculation in price.

Colombia.-Under an act approved in 1936, the Government may acquire utilities that are considered of public and social interest. Å new land-ownership law effective on December 30, 1936, provided that all rural lands shall revert to the state unless continuous possession or economic exploitation is shown for 10 years.

Czechoslovakia.-In order to forestall an increase in prices after devaluation of the crown, a decree issued in October 1936 directed local authorities to watch the prices of daily necessities, raw materials, intermediates, and other production materials, and to report. to a newly created price advisory board in case of unwarranted price increase, speculative buying, curtailment of production, and any measures tending to increase prices or result in profiteering.

A decree dated July 23, 1936, provided for organization of all textile producers into a syndicate, under regulation of a board authorized to issue licenses and determine problems of production and distribution. A decree dated July 8, 1936, amended the national defense law of May 13, 1936, defining war industries and providing strict control for all of the industries and trades named therein. The wheat monopoly law was extended to June 30, 1940. Compulsory labor exchanges were introduced in October 1936; strikes and lockouts are not permitted.

France. The Price Control Act, passed on August 19, 1936, provided for governmental committees to survey wholesale and retail prices, determine a normal spread between cost and sales price, and to prohibit unjustified increase in price. The Monetary Act of October 3, 1936, included a provision against alteration of the price level. A decree of November 25 provided for a bureau to make inquiries and recommendations toward a reduction in production costs. A law passed February 15, 1937, declared illegal all price increases on foodstuffs, merchandise, and services of prime necessity, above the level of August 1, 1936, unless justified by a rise in the price of raw materials or an increase in service charges. A national price-surveillance committee was provided to fix prices, in agreement with wholesalers and retailers.

A decree issued on July 1, 1937, forbade an increase in prices or service charges above those in effect on June 28, 1937.

The Coal Act, passed on August 18, 1936, empowers the Minister of Mines to fix the prices of coal and to grant subsidies to mines that are inadequately exploited. A national wheat board was created by a law, August 15, 1936, to control production, fix prices, apportion sales to millers, provide credit, and grant export subsidies when necessary. The board will have a monopoly of the import and export trade in wheat, flour, and cereals. The export credit insurance law was amended August 25. Other laws passed in 1936 provided aid and credit for small-sized commercial and industrial enterprises, gave temporary assistance to agricultural projects, and authorized delay in payments by merchants, industrialists, and artisans. The 40-hour week was established in 1936, and a law dated December 31, supplemented by a decree on January 16, 1937, provided that all collective labor disputes in commerce and industry must be submitted to conciliation and arbitration. A national committee has been appointed to assist in enforcing orders to restrict to specified regions the production of wines bearing certain regional names, and to prohibit the shipment of such wines without an official certificate.

Germany-An administrative order, July 7, 1936, directed coordination of the regional economic chambers with the so-called groups of business; a reduction in fees required for compulsory membership of business firms in the groups; and the creation of special courts of honor connected with the regional economic chambers, and a central court of honor connected with the Reich economic chamber.

Under the second 4-year plan proclaimed in September 1936, further efforts will be made to make Germany independent. of foreign supplies of industrial raw materials. A decree issued on October 23, 1936, named 6 business groups that will participate in the plan, representing production of raw materials, distribution of raw materials, labor, agricultural production, prices, and foreign exchange. An order issued by the Minister of Economics, November 12, set out the Government plan for compulsory organization of industry.

In September 1936 warnings were issued with respect to advances in the price of food or rentals. Enticement of employees of a competitor by offering higher wages was denounced as an unfair method of competition. In October a new price commissioner was appointed, with authority to fix just prices for goods and services of all kinds. Several orders were issued prohibiting price increases in specific in

dustries, and on November 26 two decrees were issued, with an executive order on November 30, prohibiting any increase in the price of commodities and services, including rents, above the level of October 18, 1936. These orders did not apply to foreign trade which is under special rules issued by the import control boards.

Under a decree dated January 26, 1937, all private stocks of platinum, silver, copper, lead, tin, nickel, or zinc, must be delivered to a governmental board for sale at prices and under terms fixed by the board. The Government has effected a plan for control of the supply of skilled labor; work books are now required and a worker must obtain a permit before he may change his occupation. The Reich has divested itself of a number of participations in private enterprise undertaken during the depression.

A law dated September 30, 1936, authorized monopoly control of domestic production and importation of agricultural products to be named by further ordinances.

A law dated January 26, 1937, designed to prevent absentee ownership and speculative sales, requires official approval for sale or transfer of all agricultural property in excess of 2 hectares (5 acres).

Two new stock company laws were passed on January 30, 1937. In November 1936, the foreign exchange board announced that steps would be taken toward confiscation of foreign securities, and on November 19 a decree was issued under which securities to be named from time to time by the board should be delivered for confiscation, to the foreign exchange bank. The law against economic sabotage, passed in December 1936, provided capital punishment for persons who, in violation of exchange regulations, leave their property abroad or transfer it to parties abroad.

Great Britain.-A proposed enabling act to provide self-government in industry was introduced in the British Parliament during the past session but failed to pass. Regulation has been effected through the Coal Mines Act and the Cotton Spinning Industries Act, and some voluntary schemes toward dismantling of inefficient plants have been attempted through the reconstruction levy in the flour milling and shipbuilding industries.

Report of the Food Council to the Board of Trade, dated June 26, 1936, reviewed the schemes in operation for fixing maximum prices of bread, and a further report on December 3, 1936, covered the pigs: and bacon marketing schemes. Report of the Milk Reorganization Commission of the progress of the milk marketing boards, was presented in December 1936; and recommendations were made for creation of a permanent milk commission with authority to fix prices, disburse government subsidies, and direct the operation of milk marketing boards. A Marketing of Eggs Act was passed in Northern Ireland in 1936.

The Petroleum Transfer of Licenses Act of July 14, 1936, amends the Petroleum Consolidation Act of 1928. The Key Industries Duties Act was extended for ten years from August 19, 1936.

Greece. A committee was appointed in 1936 to present a plan for organization of production and economic development. The finance minister suggested a corporative system under which each branch of production should be united in a federation under State supervision, to determine all questions concerning trade, industry, and agriculture.

Hungary.-A decree issued on December 19, 1936, provided that a price-control committee shall supervise regularly the prices of staple goods, domestic and imported. The president of the committee may require reports as to the prices at which goods are sold; if these are deemed unjustifiably high, certain penalties may be imposed, favor granted regarding taxation and duties may be withdrawn, the firm may be excluded from public bids, its license may be revoked, or other means taken against the enterprise.

India.-Amendments to the Indian Companies Act, effective on January 15, 1937, further safeguard the interests of shareholders.

International.-A sugar agreement was entered into in London in May 1937, to be administered by an international sugar council. Basic export quotas were fixed for cane and beet sugar producers representing almost 90 percent of the world's output; and the contracting parties agreed not to increase their production during the 5 years beginning September 1, 1937.

An international coffee conference held at Bogota, Colombia, in October 1936, resulted in establishment of a Pan American coffee bureau in New York. Surplus stocks will be impounded. Further conferences were scheduled for 1937. In November 1936 the international tea committee fixed the export quota for the year beginning April 1, 1937, at 822 percent.

A revised tin-restriction agreement was ratified on January 5, 1937, effective for 5 years. Producers of iron and steel, in Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Rumania, Sweden, and Yugoslavia are parties to an international scrap-iron convention signed in the spring of 1937, under which a central office at London will purchase for all of the members according to quotas allotted and under uniform terms. Producers of cement in Great Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, Netherlands, Yugoslavia, and Scandinavian countries entered into an agreement in 1937 which deals with production quotas and determination of prices.

An international cartel regulating prices and terms of sale for sodium chlorate, was entered into on March 2, 1937, by producers in Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden. The international nitrate cartel expired on June 30, 1936, due to withdrawal of the Chilean producers, and a European cartel comprising producers of synthetic nitrogen was established.

The reciprocal tariff agreement entered into by the United States with Nicaragua on March 11, 1936, became effective October 1, 1936; that with Finland dated May 18, 1936, was made effective November 2, 1936. Further agreements were negotiated with Costa Rica on November 28, 1936, effective August 2, 1937; and with El Salvador on February 19, 1937, effective March 31, 1937.

Italy. Since devaluation, the policy of the Government has been to prevent price increase and generally to peg prices at the level of September 1936; but in order to permit necessary adjustments, a Royal ordinance dated October 7, 1936, provided for fixing of a maximum price by a central committee comprising Government officials and representatives of employers' and employees' federations.

Japan.-Under an Imperial ordinance of July 3, 1936, the law for control of important industries was extended for a second 5 years from August 11, 1936. Plans of the Central Raw Silk Association include control of production, price fixing, consolidation of

plants, restriction of speculation, financial aid, and international agreements for distribution and sale.

Latvia.-The law of industry and craft, of July 11, 1936, supplemented by an act of January 7, 1937, required all industrial enterprises (except electric-power undertakings) which are not owned and controlled by the state, to obtain a license from the Ministry of Finance, or in the case of dairies and abattoirs, from the Ministry of Agriculture. Conditions under which licenses will be issued may establish complete control of industrial production. A law dated January 20, 1937, established a central organization which will have monopoly rights in the purchase and sale of wool, rawhides and skins, and undressed furs. A law of January 23, 1937, provided for a central union to combine all consumers' cooperatives, and to assist the Government in agricultural plans.

Lithuania.-A law dated August 14, 1936, subjected exports to license requirements. A law passed on April 23, 1937, effective September 1, required the registration of all commercial and industrial enterprises for the purpose of regulating commerce and industry, preventing willful bankruptcies, unfair competition, and violation of

tax measures.

Mexico.-A law passed August 1936 required that merchants and industrialists shall be registered and organized into a confederation of chambers of commerce and industry. The expropriation law dated November 25, 1936, lists a number of enterprises that shall be deemed public utilities and therefore subject to expropriation proceedings.

Netherlands.-Following currency depreciation in 1936, an emergency price-control law was passed, authorizing the Minister of Commerce to prescribe maximum prices for the wholesale and retail trade and for some services. Prices and rents may not be increased, and large stores of goods may not be accumulated, without governmental sanction. A constitutional amendment bill proposed in 1936 would authorize_creation of public bodies for the regulation of industry, trade, and the professions. Laws have also been proposed to change emergency or crisis measures into permanent laws.

New Zealand.-The Industrial Efficiency Act of October 29, 1936, gave to the Government wide powers of control over industry and trade. Part 1 provided for a bureau of industry to investigate and report as to organization of industries, their capitalization, the rendering of assistance by way of subsidies, loans, grants, tariff concessions, embargoes, and other means; the adoption of uniform methods of accounting and costing; standardization of products, processes, or materials; the training of workers; marketing and distribution of products and the purchase of raw materials; and any matters relating to employment. Part 2 of the law provided for industrial plans to be prescribed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, upon advice of the Bureau of Industry. Part 3 covered registration and licensing of such industries as may be named by the minister. Part 4 required consideration and report by the bureau on applications for loans under the State Advances Corporation Act of 1936 and on grants and loans under the Employment Promotion Act of 1936. Upon recommendation of the bureau, orders-in-council may be issued by the Governor General covering the registration of persons and firms and the licensing of industries; reports to be required of industrial firms; fixation of prices or rates for any class of goods or services; rates of