NEW FORD STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 230, 29 September 1933, Page 7

NEW FORD STRIKE.

PLANT SHUTS DOWN.

Picketing Results in Big

" Walk-out."

FEDERAL EFFORTS FAIL.

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 12.150 p.m.) EDGEWATER (N.J.), September 28. A delegation of 1500 strikers from the Ford plant at Chester, Pennsylvania, appeared before the same company's local plant following a night ride in 250 automobiles, and began picketing, resulting in a "walk-out" of 2200 employees here in sympathy with the strike.

Immediately following the Chester strike, Ford oflicials closed the plant. The efforts of the Washington N.R.A. Labour Board to mediate have failed.

Senator Wagner declared himself helpless. He says: "I cannot stop an employer from shutting down his plant if he wants to."

Strikes in several industrial centres of the United States gained added impetus yesterday, thus hindering production in a variety of lines, from motor bodies to bread. The workers' protests are based largely on, the charge that their employers do not wish to comply with the spirit of the National Recovery Act in its recognition of labour.

MILLIONS IDLE. Labour Advocates Higher Pay And Still Fewer Hours. FEARS OF COMING WINTER. (Received 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 28. The president of the American Federation of Labour, Mr. William Green, has announced that Labour will ask Congress to approve of a 30-hour week, unless the N.R.A. codes are revised to provide for shorter hours and higher pay.

The announcement came following a survey issued by Mr. Green to the effect that 815,000 persons returned to work in August, representing "a greater progress in employment than any month since the depression," but that 11,001,000 unemployed remained and "the relief needs this winter' will be greater than ever before."

It is estimated that possibly 4,500,000 families will require such relief.

SHIPPING SUBSIDIES.

Alleged Improper Conduct in

America

REVELATIONS AT INQUIRY.

WASHINGTON, September 28,

A committee of the Senate has been conducting a general investigation into the alleged extravagance of the Government in granting shipping subsidies, and into allegations of improper conduct by the officials who handle these affairs.

The committee revealed to-day that vessels belonging to the Federal Shipping Board had been sold to private lines at considerably less than the board had expended on them for repairs. It was stated that 18 ships were sold to the Export Steamship Corporation for 1,071,000 dollars after the board had spent 1,825,000 dollars in repairing them.

In regard to subsidies the committee stated that the money paid to the Export Steamship Corporation for carrying mails in the years 1931, 1932 and 1933 amounted to considerable more than the line had paid for its 18 ships.

During 1929 11 of the company's ships carried only a single pound of mail at a cost of 115,335 dollars, and from July, 1930, to June, 1931, carried 81b at a cost of 125,000 dollars a pound. During 1928-29 the vessels carried 31b at a rate of 243,000 dollars a pound.

It is contended in shipping circles that these figures do not give a true picture. It is explained that payment for mails carried is merely a legal pretext to permit of the payment of direct subsidies to the mercantile marine.