U.S. FOREIGN AID BILL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28926, 20 June 1959, Page 13

U.S. FOREIGN AID BILL

House Cleared But Big Cuts

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON. June 18.

The House of Representatives tonight passed a 3,542,600,000dollar Foreign Aid Authorisation Bill, which represents a; whittled down and partly re-directed version of President Eisenhower’s programme.

The bill was cut 366.800,000 dol-‘ lars below Mr Eisenhower’s recommendation.

In a surprise move today, the House voted to knock out 100 million dollars in loan authorisations. Even without this added economic aid, the bill slants foreign aid more toward economic, and less toward military assistance. And it provides for a powerful new office, outside the Foreign Aid Administration, to keep a sharp watch against any waste or corruption in the programme. The bill will not go to the Senate, where a different version has been put together by the Foreign Relations Committee, but not yet acted on by the chamber itself.

Unemployment in Australia.— The number of unemployed persons registered with the Commonwealth Employment Service dropped by 1954 during May. The Australian Minister of Labour (Mr McMahon) said employment continued to improve in the manufacturing industries.—Canberra, June 18.

Pilot’s Escape.— A Navy pilot escaped unharmed when, his helicopter made a spectacular 150foot plunge into Sydney Harbour today. The nilot, John E. Stanwix, clambered from the cockpit seconds before the helicopter sank in 50ft of water. He was picked up by a press launch.— Sydney, June 19,