N.R.A. REVIEWED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1934, Page 7

N.R.A. REVIEWED.

STILL NECESSARY.

Roosevelt Urges Shorter Hours And Higher Pay. CRITICS RIDICULED. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph-Copyright) WASHINGTON, March 6. President Roosevelt yesterday addressed several thousand members of the National Recovery Act code authorities, who have assembled in Washington for a three-days' review of their activities. Ho proclaimed the necessity of the N.R.A. for economic rehabilitation, and at the same time flouted fears that it would prove to be the forerunner of Fascism or Communism. "Every examination I make leads me to the inescapable conclusion that we must now consider immediate co-opera-tion to secure an increase in wages and a shortening of working hours," said the President. "We must set up every safeguard against erasing small operators from the economic scene. "The first task of industry to-day is to create consuming power. It is the immediate task of industry to re-employ more people at 'purchasing wages' and to do it now. "I am a little amused at those few who proclaim tearfully that either we are now committed to Communism and collectivism or to Fascism and dictatorship." 30-Hour Week Bill. A bill for a compulsory universal 30liour week was reported favourably by the House of Representatives' Labour Committee to-day. The bill, which was given unanimous support by the committee, establishes a 30-hour week in all industry, but provides exemptions in emergency cases. It prohibits wage decreases from the present hour levels, and a worker being employed on "side jobs" which would increase his income. The committee members said that they would make a drive for an eartv passage by the House. In view of the President's N.R.A. speech the bill will win wide support. Others, however, doubt the passage in the present form of the bill. General Hugh Johnson, chief administrator of the N.R.A., tentatively proposed to the industrial members of the code authorities that working hours under all codes be reduced by 10 per cent, and that this be accompanied by a 10 per cent increase in wages. The United States Supreme Court yesterday gave a decision upholding the right of New York State to fix minimum prices for milk. This is interpreted as an indication of the legality of similar Federal price-fixing under the N.R.A.