BIASED PRESS REPORTS.

Grey River Argus, 16 April 1927, Page 5

BIASED PRESS REPORTS.

CHECK IN U.S.A. By Australian Labour Men. NEW YORK, April 14. Following on opposition to the pre sence of the press at the Conferences which developed after Mr Grayndler'y arrival, the Australian Industrial Mis sion has now passed a resolution to exclude the representatives of the press from all the meetings between the Mission and the representatives oi American industries, when a questionnaire is submitted for information to be elicited, and also at meetings with the Union leaders. It is understood Mr Ludowici am. Mr Guy supported the resolution, fear ing a split if Mr Grayndler’s request were not acceded to. Cables passed between the Mission and Mr Bruco (Australian Premier) since the meeting at Buffalo, when Mr Grayndlei and Mr Mclnnes threatened to retire from the official programme unless thq, press were excluded. It is understood Mr Bruce reaffirmed That the press should receive all facilities to obtain information. The interpretation from the messages was'•that the press should be excluded only fropi the meetings when the Mission discussed its report THE BIAS IN EVIDENCE.

It is apparent that the position o- <v the employees’ representatives was based on political grounds, Mr Graynd ler’s chief complaint being that the Labour press was not represented, and that the Australian public are only re ceiving the employers’ views. As a matter of fact, several of the Labour members are writing for Labour papers. Mr • Grayndler himself takes little interest in the inspections of induatries or - in the conferences with the employers. Ho maintains a firm be. lief that the Mission’s inquiry is mere ly a superficial one. Mr Campbell and Mr McNeil, of the Mission, opposed the resolution, bui they did not record votes against the employees, fearing a split. It is easy to recognise the political hand of Mr Grayndler in making no effort to deepen the inquiry. zVftei refraining from visiting several industries at Niagara, Mr Grayndler left the Mission at Schenectady, spend ing several days in Canada. Immedi utely on rejoining the Mission in New York, Mr Grayndler attended a meet ing and bitterly opposed the presence Of the press. He succeeded in secur ing the passage of a resolution against the press. Before leaving Australia the press was promised every facility by the Government. Presumably the members of the Mission were inform ed of the position, because they inter viewed Senator Pearce.

One employer says Mr Grayndler, as the chief objector, should have refrained from coming to America, rather than raise objection at the moment of arrival.

The restrictions seriously hamper the press representatives, because practically all the information is ob tained then through the conferences Several of the employer members bo Jieve that the information obtained 19 contrary to Union principles advocal ed in Australia, and that the en> ployees’ representatives are afraid of publicity. The nett result of the re' solution is that the Australian press will be excluded from any further conferences of the Mission.