COMICS BY RADIO

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 154, 2 July 1945, Page 5

COMICS BY RADIO

MAYOR BROADCASTS

LaGuardia Helps "The Kids" In New York Paper Strike N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. NEW YORK, July 1. As the delivery workers' strike paralysed the distribution of New Yoz'k's Sunday newspapers, Mr. LaGuardia, the Mayor, in his weekly broadcast over the city-owned radio, read comics and volunteered to do so until the strike, ended. Addressing ".the kids," Mr.> LaGuardia said: "If you can't get the papers I'll read the funnies to you." Mr. LaGuardia's reading of the comics was one of the most spectacular in the history of his unusual broadcasts. He whispered, chuckled and shouted and when he extricated the last hero from the last predicament he said: "I want a daily programme of funnies. If you can't find someone in a hurry who can read them so that the kids will understand them, I'll do it myself." Mr. LaGuardia, for further entertainment of the youngsters, conducted a hillbilly band, called for squad dance tunes, waving his arms and at intervals shouting "Yipee." Strike For Higher Pay

The distribution of five New York Sunday newspapers, with a combined circulation of approximately 8,000,000, virtually halted on Saturday night by a strike of 1700 members of the Newspaper and Mail Deliveries' Union. The strike had been scheduled to begin at midnight when the current contract expired.

The New York Times and the Herald-Tribune arranged earlier publication hour's , to enable all deliveries to be effected before the strike commenced. The Times' first edition appeared at 6 p.m. on Saturday, but the strikers,,when asked to report for work at earlier -hours, acting upon grape-vine instructions, reported sick and said they could not work. Consequently no deliveries were made, the only sales effected being over the counter of newspaper offices.

The strikers had demanded higher pay, stating that they, only received 128 cents an hour, compared with 174 cents of the average newspaper worker. They also demanded severance of pay, overtime, compensation and the United Welfare contribution.

The publishers offered an annual holiday of a fortnight, six holidays a year and other concessions. They contended that the " men were already receiving the maximum allowable under the Little Steel formula.

While the strike continues most of the newspapers will print editions but not attempt deliveries. Copies will be available at individual newspaper offices.