INDUSTRIAL CODES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22067, 25 September 1933, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL CODES

THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT MR FORD'S SILENT PROTEST (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) DETROIT, September 22. It is understood that Mr Henry Ford's employees will work a 32-hour week from next Monday, conforming with the automobile code, which, however, permits 35 hours. Mr Ford's schedules hitherto have been 40 hours. The minimum wage is 60 cents an hour. There has been no move on Mr Ford's part to sign the code. He intimated that he will conform strictly to its requirements, but will register a silent protest against features distasteful to his economic theories.

OFFER TO FARMERS. HUGH GOVERNMENT OUTLAY. WASHINGTON, September 22. (Received Sept. 24, at 9 p.m.) Further hearings of the newspaper code were held and editorial representatives of several publications insisted that writers should be granted National Recovery Act privileges instead of being exempt as "professional men." The original code for the publishing interests insisted on the right to employ newsboys for limited hours of work. In reply to the objection against child labour the representatives present said that the boys function as " young merchants " and the work indoors does not injure their health or morals.

Apparently coming to the conclusion that the industrial recovery pro'grammo has advanced too rapidly at the expense of the primary producers, President Roosevelt to-day made a sensational offer to the cotton fanners to lend them 10 cents per lb on cotton now held in exchange for agreements to reduce the acreage of next year's crop up to 40 per cent, and in 1935 to 25 per cent., the price for spot cotton being practically below 10 cents. If all the planters accepted the offer it would mean that the Government outlay would; be about 400,000,000 dollars. Following yesterday's announcement of the Government purchase of food and clothes for the unemployed, requests were made for similar purchases of coal for distribution among the needy. It is thought by Administration leaders that the subsidising of producers through purchases and loans will 'make currency inflation unnecessary, or at least quieten for the time being the demands therefor. As a further counteractive to the inflation proposals the President plans a more liberal lending policy to many banks which have been closed since the March crisis, in an effort to liberate the .deposits. . The President is represented by his friends as being so adamant against currency inflation that he will not even consider the matter until the National Recovery Act codes have been given a thorough testing and every known means has been exhausted to supply business producers with the necessary credit. It is believed that recent protests from farmers that the National Recovery Act was forcing them to pay higher prices for the goods they consume prompted President Roosevelt to enlarge his agricultural price-raising programme. Mr Wallace commented: "We don't want the farmer to get hooked in the next two or three months." The Agricultural Administration also announced to-day that it would impose a two cents processing tax on hogs and at the same time continue the campaign of buying up slaughtering pigs, and also that, to relieve maize farmers whose products largely go to feeding hogs, bonuses will be paid to them for curtailing the acreage of 1934-35.

Fifty thousand Ford employees were officially notified to start a 32-hour week on Monday. The new wage scale was not revealed, but it is said that it will certainly not be less than 50 cents an hour, and in most cases more. Regarding hours, it is explained that with six or eight weeks a • 40hour week will be resumed temporarily with a view to maintaining an average of 35 as prescribed. The National Recovery Act spokesman said that Mr Ford had no intention of violating the code, but there is no indication that he intends to sign it. .;

SUPPORT FOR FARM PRICES. WASHINGTON, September 23. (Received Sept. 24, a,t 9 p.m.) An . extension of the United States administration plan for supporting cotton prices of 10 cents pound to other majot farm products is the immediate objective of the Government's efforts for lifting farm purchasing power quickly to keep pace with industrial prices. The programme will take the form of a gigantic effort to place " a bottom" under farm prices through the extension of the credit system wherever it can be definitely coupled. with the productive control, which is regarded as an insurance for Government loans.

CODE FOR UNEMPLOYED,

NEW YORK, September 22. (Received Sept. 24, at 9 p.m.) The National Recovery Act code for unemployed was submitted to the Recovery Administration to-day by the Federation of Unemployed Organisations. It requests a grant of 14 dollars a week for all unemployed, with 3.50 extra for each dependent, and a minimum wage of 50 cents an hour on such emergency work as is available. The code demands the abolition of all discrimination because of race, religion, and political affiliation, and requests the privileges of " collective dealing" with unemployment relief agencies. Owing to the illness of General Johnson the codification of industry has come to a virtual standstill.

FARMERS FAVOUR A STRIKE.

DESMOINES (Iowa), September 22. (Received Sept. 24, at 9 p.m.) The National Farmers' Holiday Association to-day voted to declare a farm strike on all products and ask the cooperation of Labour if its demands embodied in the National Recovery Act codes are not complied with by the Administration.