INDUSTRY IN U.S.A.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18968, 5 April 1927, Page 9

INDUSTRY IN U.S.A.

THE AUSTRALIAN MISSION. A SPLIT IN THE RANKS. (3\ CABLE—V3ESS ASSOCIATION"—CGriTUOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.; (Received April -Ith, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 4. Messrs Grayndler and Mcinnes have threatened to withdraw from the official programme of the Australian Industrial Mission now touring the United States and make independent enquiries unless the Press is excluded from nil conferences between representatives of American industries and the unions. INFORMATION NOT PALATABLE. (acstkalia:: and n.z. cablb association.(Received April -Ith, 8.4-5 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 4. Since Mr Grayndler joined the Axistialian Industrial Mission at Detroit the employees' members have strongly opposed the Press attending conferences, but the Press would be seriously hampered if excluded during the questioning of employers. It Is apparent that tho chief objection to the Press hearing the discussions between the mission and the American Unions is that the information obtained is unpalatable to Australian unionists. This was especially noticeable at Niagara, when the Press was warnca to lie low and were not introduced to the Labour officials. The conference was terminated abruptly by Mr Grayndler when Mr Valentine was seeking information regarding the success of company unions and asking about the entrance fee to the Carpenters' T 7 "ion. Mr Grayndler declared the coiTorence was asking for information which was not the subject of the mission's enquiry. Mr Mcinnes also warned a union official when replying to a question by the "Mail" representative.

After the conference Messrs Grayndier and Mclnnes refrained from inspecting most of the industries nt Niagara" included in_ the mission's itinerary. At several inspections no emlilovees' representatives attended, only the employers completing the programme. The itinerary was first approved by the whole mission. No notice was taken of the apparent laxity of tho employees' members at Niagara, as it was believed that they required time to transcribe their notes after the strenuous programme, but Mr Grayndler had only been with the mission a week. The attitude of Messrs Grayndler and Mclnnes was fully understood at Buffalo to-night when they announced their intentions. Mr Mclnnes appears to have changed his views since his speeches at Detroit, in which he praised the captains of American industry. Mr Mclnnes told the mission that he obtained more information at Niagara by coing outside the mission's itinerarv. Messrs Grayndler and Mclnnes spent most of their time at Niagara with Labour officials, although a full opportunitv was available for . interviewing workers in the industries inspected. Jt is apparent that the majority of the employees' representatives are acting Miss Matthews, who nolds ctron<r. Labour views, is complaining that she is unable to obtain tho information she rennires. Tlip employers' representatives realise the seriousness of the situation, and Mr Bruce was communicated wifi 'nst week reiarch'np- the position of the Press, and it is understood thit a further communication is being sent.