NOT A HAPPY PARTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 June 1927, Page 5

NOT A HAPPY PARTY

* AUSTRALIAN MISSION TO

AMERICA!

(By Electric Telegraph-^Copyright)

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association)

WASHINGTON, Bth June. President Coolidge received .Messrs Guy, Campbell, Valentine and Munden, members ofthe Australian ; industrial mission,' and talked, pleasingly about Australia. The British Embassy intimated that the reception would be restricted to four members.

The majority of the members have made substantial progress in writing individual reports. No attempt will be made at Washington to co-ordinate them.

■Mr Grayndler’s attitude is disquieting, to hiis two colleagues especially. lie is leaving a fortnight earlier and may anticipate their views. Mr Grayndler maintains strong labour opinions, continuing the criticism begun at Detroit that the mission received wrong information by visiting open shops: Despite a resolution of the mission denying political , motives, Messrs Grayndler and Mclnnes gave a remarkable interview to the “Washington Labour Weekly,” boosting the Australian labour policy, declaring that compulsory arbitration had proved - satisfactory and describing Mr Bruce as a thorough-going reactionary. Mr Grayndler states: “There are only two political parties in Australia—Labour and Opposition. I say Opposition because it changes its name at almost every election and generally pretends to change its principles in an effort to snare.Labour votes.”

The interview covers three columns, and though the newspaper states .that it was a composite interview of the four Labour members, Messrs Munden and 'Valentine were not consulted, and informed Mr Grayndler before its. publication that they dissociated themselves from it.

The mission is dissatisfied with Mr Grayndler’s attitude generally., It, .is understood there is no intention therefore to disclose individual reports until Mr Grayndler departs. Mr Grayndler has not made any effort to assist in the mission’s report. The meetings at Washington are intermittent, but the individual progress of other members “indicates that Australia will eventually receive a valuable majority report.