INDUSTRIAL MISSION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1927, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL MISSION.

SPEECHES OF MEMBEES. AUSTEALIA ’S DIFFICULTIES. BY CABLE—TRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. NEW YORK, May 19. During a tour of the New England States, Messrs Valentine and Mclnnes, members of the Australian Industrial Mission, in their speeches, indicated a strong support of compulsory arbitration, which the American Federation of Labour opposes. The tone of the speeches is ! important, because the mission next ;week considers its report. Mr. Campbell, who advocated piecework, is the only employer to indicate any of his views. Genearlly the employers are apprehensive of the preparation of the report, believing that the Labour members will concede very little which affects organised Labohr in Australia. As chairman for the week, Mr. MeInness, speaking at Worcester, Boston,. and Providence, indicated his belief that the great, success of American industry was due to efficient management, which frequently changed the processes of manufacture to meet the world’s competition. Mr. Valentine believes that one solution of Australia’s difficulties is a greater population, saying that the most strenuous efforts are being made in all sections of the Australian community to attract migrants. He urged Americans to .invest capital in the Commonwealth for, notwithstanding criticism, Australian workers were not all loafers. While he recognised the efforts of America to increase production, he believed that success had been filched to a large extent by excessive rent. Mr. Campbell, also a speaker, could only endorse -Mr. Mclnnes’s remarks relating to the hospitality of the Americans, but supported the invitation to invest capital in Australia. Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Providence, Mr. Mclnnes said that it was impossible _to alter the principles of the arbitration system in Australia, the definite view being to retain arbitration to adjust al grievances. The mission had only one day at Boston. It inspected the Hood Rubber Company’s works and spent an extremely interesting afternoon at the Brown, Sharpe Company’s works in ft Providence, makers of fine machinery ■ and tools, where 200 apprentices are regularly trained. During the inspection, one Labour Mission member spoke critically regarding the lack of apprentices. The manager, replied that the Americans enjoyed liberty in industry. ,