NO LABOUR TROUBLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 909, 28 February 1930, Page 1

NO LABOUR TROUBLE

HAPPY AND CONTENTED WORKERS IN YJ.S.A. ADVANCES IN RADIO ‘'America is working hard. The whole time I was in the United States I never saw or heard a reference to labour trouble. On the other hand, workers appeared to be happy and contented.” These impressions come from Mr. H. C. Walker, general manager of Harringtons, Ltd., who returned by the Aorangi from an extended trip abroad. He says that the conditions in the United States are not by any means bad. The big Stock Exchange crash last October has affected business much less than might have been expected. It is now realised that the crash was not caused by any depression or shortage of funds. Holders of stock during the preceding prosperous year had pushed prices up out of all propoi-tion to their probable yield. In New York slogans had been placed in prominent position to in-

form the public of what had happened and was happening after the slump. One read “Business is Good. Keep it Good. Nothing Can Keep U.S. Down.” The effect of these slogans was to restore public confidence. “Talking pictures have in no way waned in popularity,” contained Mr. Walker. “I visited several of the largest studios and found them in full production. The change over from silent to talking pictures has involved a large additional capital expenditure and set up numerous new problems which the producers seem to be meeting with great efficiency.” So far as radio sets are concerned, there has been little improvement—except in the equality of the valves. A five-valve set will now do all that is necessary and one of the best selling sets has only four valves. Another improvement that will greatly popularise the new sets is what is termed “Remote Control.” This will enable the owner of the set to operate the set from any point. The gramophone is also coming into its own again, but mainly as a combination with the radio set. “I was particularly interested in ascertaining what had been done with television. Although no television is being broadcast it is more than likely broadcasting will be general within 12 months. One apparatus will give a picture 12in. by 12in. and moving pictures can be shown with a clarity at least equal to 75 per cent, of the screen in the theatre.