COTTON CONTROL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12529, 15 April 1935, Page 5

COTTON CONTROL

CRISIS NEARING IN AMERICA’S PROGRAMME. BOTH OPERATORS AND EMPLOYEES DISSATISFIED. JAPAN THREATENS ACTION IF COTTON GOODS CURBED. (U.P.A. by Elec. TcL Copyright) (Rc.-\ April 13, 6.35 p.m) WASHINGTON, April 13 A number ol factors appear to be forcing a crisis in the Administration’s cotton control programme. Since last September’s strike, operators have complained bitterly that they wer© unable profitably to operate under the N.R-.A. wage schedule. At the same time a pay and processing tax is levied by the Agricultural Adjustment Administration. The employees are equally dissatisfied ann from time to time threatened to recall the strike. Meantime, according to the Millowners’ Association, scores of plants have been forced to close, claiming that ‘oppressive domestic policies have been made worse bv continually rising foreign imports of finished products, notably from Japan. Mr Roosevelt has boon requested t 0 place a virtual embargo on Japanese goods and revoke processing taxes, or if that is impossible,, pay farmers an outright subsidy from relief funds. Both requests,. Mr Roosevelt indicated, would be refused, while Mr. Wallace, Minister of Agriculture*, in a speech at Atlanta, today urged the South to defend its curtailment programme- against critics. There is no official comment today on a report from Tokio threatening reduced consumption of raw cotton if America curbed the sales of the finished products but considerable unofficial comment followed tlie publication today of trade figures show ng that raw cotton exports for the eight months ended March. 31 were 3,573,000 bales compared with 6,098,000 bales for the corresponding period of 193334. Administration critics are making the charges that the nation is well on its way to losing one of its most important world export markets.