WAR ITEMS

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1943, Page 4

WAR ITEMS

WASHINGTON, June 5

The President summoned representatives of the American Federation of Labour, the Committee of Industrial Organisation, and the War Labour Board to a conference at the White House to-day. Mine operators and representatives of the United Mine Workers of America have resumed a joint wage conference, .although both groups notified the War Labour 'Board that they would obey its order not to negotiate contract issues while production remains suspended. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times” says: A.F.L. and C. 1.0. representatives asked Mr Roosevelt to establish a two thousand million dollars subsidy programme, designed to roll back prices to the level of May 15 last year the date whereon the cost of living adjustments for labour are now based. Messrs Green and Murray, the leaders, said they had conferred with Mr Roosevelt, who seemed, generally favourable to their viewpoint. They submitted figures showing that food prices had risen from 24 to 150 per cent, since January. They asked the President to instruct the O.P.A. to substitue action for talk in dealing with price control. NEW YORK, J'une 6.

The United States House of Representatives by 231 votes to 141, passed a compromise on the Anti-strike Bill, which would permit the War LabourBoard to subpoena Lewis and possibly make him liable to a five thousand dollar fine, or imprisonment. The Bill, which is now returned to the Senate would give the Board statutory powers, including authority to enforce witnesses’ appearance It provides for a five thousand dollar fine and one year’s imprisonment for all persons who aided operational interruption in war plants or mines which the Government had seized. It also provides 30 days’ notice, a secret ballot, and registration of LabourUnion leaders, before a strike could be called.

Mr Lewis stated that he expected i'-- Policy Committee to recommend the : . aers to return on Monday.