OCR
- page two isthe increase in working hours in all armament industries. In the average, the working hours where now 12 hours per day. There was futithermore two to three weeks of paid holidays. With the increase of production, this now has been raised in the average industry to thirteen hours per day, while the paid holidays have been retuced from the previous level to one to two weeks per year. In those industries where the production quota could not be reached, az in Ozd and Borsod-Nadasd, working hours have been risen up to fowrteen hours and paid vacations abolished altogether. it is yet to early to say, what effect these drastic measures will have 3 butit is interesting to note, that in the opinion of our observers they probably will head to a drop in production, since the workers are in such a dangerous stage of exhaustion and in such poor health, that they will not be able to carry on, despite threats and putlishments. A best example for the well founded opinion of our observers comes from Várpalota, a strategic mines The local Roman-_ Caholic Priest, Rev. Antal Steismer, was arrested early September, publicly beaten and deported, because he had halped poor families of miners and had given other families medical supplies, thus "encou=raging those who do not fulfill their quota"e Though this was made officially in order to scare the workers, the result was exactly the oppositee Production in Várpalota has even dropped by almost ten percent since the priest was punishede¢ Hence, a few days ago, the mine had to change completely its tactic and to make attempts to get a better production not by threat, but by offering lavish fodd and cash premuims. A second important news is the fact, that from all over the country reports come in, that since the termination of the Har= vest the quantities of grains, fats und other foods requisitioned has by far exceeded the quota of last yeare All these requisitionsd fodés are hourded by the governement, mostly under the administration by the amy* Official stocking is therefore widely under way. In order to reach the quotas against widespread farmer resistance, the most drastic measures were and are taken, In fact jails are so full of famers, that in many places such as Battonya, TSrdékszentmiklos, Hajdwböszömény, Nádudvar enxiliary prisons in the forms of stockudes had to be opehed in order to accomodate the prisonerse The result of this governemental hoarding has been since early Sep= tember an ever increasing shortage of foods in the lain cities of the country. These shortages have given rise to numerous rumours, especially those that by November rationing woüd be re-intriduced. ( So far our observers are unable to tell, whether these rumours are accurate or not ). The result was large scale panic buying, which exceeded even those of the inflation days. The governement ha Ad,