ROOSEVELT PLANS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1933, Page 5

ROOSEVELT PLANS

HELP POE LABOUR CRITICS CONDEMNED. (United Prees Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, September 21. Mr W. Green, President of tire (American Federation of Labour, lias issued a statement denouncing the critics of the National Recovery Act labour clauses. He says: “The Act does not prevent the closed Union shop—that is, the shop in which there is a Union—by an agreement the workers and employers, the Act gives the workers their freedom to organise. The critics of the Act are dismayed because the wage earners are no longer under the necessity of paying tribute to the com-, pany.”

Favourable analysis WASHINGTON, September 21. What is described as a highly favourable analysis of the wage rate increases and the shorter working week lias been made, ' indicating the success of the National Recovery Act. The analysis iis official.- It shows that the average hourly earnings have been increased from the 42,7 cents per hour during the period from June loth to July 15th. so that the average rate was 58.5 cents per hour for the period from July 16th to August 15th, At the same time the average hours of work per week dropped from 42.3 hours to 33.6 hours. Changes have ocurred in eighty-nine industries. The modified industries would' show a striking contrast, the most outstanding .being that of cotton texiles. The wage 'increase in this has been from 23.22 cents an hour to 36 1 cents, and the hours decreases has been from fortynine to 36.5 hours per week. FOOD AND CLOTHES ROOSEVELT’S LATEST DECREE WASHINGTON. September 22. President Roosevelt lias authorised i the Agricultural Adjustment Administration to buy upwards of seventy-five million dollars worth of surplus food and -of clothing supplies for distribution among the unemployed, this action of his is his direct reply to the critics of the American system who have noted the paradox in a wealthy n'oi'Tif-y while millions go hungry, laud ill-clad. The, policy affords adequate assistlance for 3,500,000 families that are on the relief rolls.

NEW AGREEMENT IN THE COAL INDUSTRY WASHINGTON, September 21. The Northern Coal Control Association npd thp Smokeless Coal Appalachian . Group, representing more than seventy-per cent, of the United States soft coal tonpage, to-night signed a labour contract with the United Mine 'Workers in America. The chief N.R.A, development at Washington to-dny, was the submission of the Retailers’ Cede for public consideration. The price fixing and control features include immediately produced the anticipated storm of protests. It is expected final action will he deferred for at least aweek.