U.S. INDUSTRIES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1933, Page 5

U.S. INDUSTRIES

A REORGANISATION

APPROVAL OF THE PREMIER. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Received this clay at 11.4 a.ni.) WASHINGTON, July 12. With President Roosevelt’s signature attached to the so-called cotton textile code, .approving of /a voluntary system fo r fair .competition, and agreed upon by members this industry under the provisions of the Industrial Recovery ,Act cabled on June 13, with its comj: Rented nnaohinery -for regulmrasation of hours and conditions of labour in the chief manufacturing trades in America, i,s believed to bo finally in operation. The textile code comes into- force on fdly 17 and abolishes -child labour, establishes a fo.rty-hour week, fixing the minimum wage at thirteen in the north, and twelve in the south weekly. Seventy-seven per cent. of the cotton textile industry comes under the .regulations, and the remainder must accept or it will bo licensed and forced to accept it, It is computed that the code enacts an average mill wage increase of .thirty *>er -cant., and twenty-five per cent, reduction in hours. It is hoped that only a moderate increase i n prices to consumers will -result, and that one hundred thousand more persons than at the peak in 1929 will be employed in that industry. The c-otton textile code is expected to be a model Tor the remaining 70C0 industries which are to come under control.

The timber trade code submitted yesterday, will probably be the second to receive Presidential .approval. It

provides for a reforestation undertaking. with a reduction in the maximum week from forty-eight to forty-fours, .and the minimum wage 221 to' 42 cents an hour.

The hitumous coal industry has a,greed upon a five dollar day wage, but its docle is not yet ready for submission to the President. New York City .needed trades. The most important 'of thq country have completed the-ir 'codes, providing for thirty-five to one hundred cents an ihour wage, and -a forty hour week, and they will probably;.shortly be submitted.

There are under process of drafting, at the present time /'piles for such diverse industries and trades as steel, toV-cco,, pctroV/um, fur, retail grocers, optical goods, cercahiics, jewellers, chemist shops, lamp makers, printers, and paper makers.