MANY PROBLEMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18208, 2 October 1933, Page 5

MANY PROBLEMS

U.B. RECOVERY PLAN MORE LABOR TROUBLES FIGHT AGAINST UNIONS EMPLOYERS STAND FIRM (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) NEW YORK, Sept. 30. It was a day of mixed fortune, hut of continuously furious' activity, for the American plan to-day. Probably the most revealing development was the opening of a battle of the first order on an organised labor movement that promised to force a decision on labor’s right to organise, and provide a crucial test of the N.R.A. Whereas the signing of the coal code on September 21 had apparently settled the coalmining situation, a troublesome and unregulated sphere remained in the case of the coni mines owned 'by large steel companies, where strikes, accompanied by violence, continued.

’ From’llyue Park, Where the. President is spending--his vacation, came word-that the Federal .relief programme, shorn .of red ..tape, (ill .the'interest of feeding, clothing and . providing , forl the* (needy during ..the'; Conlifig-' winter/’Willr be' put into''effect within a AVeek. • The’.Federal Government will contribute £66.000,000. which,--with State and.ldeal funds, will bring the relief expenditures contemplated to £140.000,000. The aim will lie to provide shelter, warmth, adequate raiment,,' and a balanced diet OPPOSITION TO UNIONS

. Mr. Roosevelt- announced that an agreement oii hours and wages lias been worked out and . signed by him earlier in the day, bringing the minps owned by the iron and steel companies of Western Pennsylvania under the bituminous code. Mr. Roosevelt expects the pact to bring about the return, of some 75,000 miners to the pits on Monday. Despite Mr. Roosevelt’s announcement, it appeared that the steel companies, while accepting the code, declined to accept a feature calling for negotiations on an agreement with the United Mine Workers’ Union. The steel companies intimated that they considered the step as entering a wedge towards the unionisation of the steel industry itself. While General Hugh Johnson to-day worked desperately to compromise the issue between disputants, 25,C00 striking miners in Western Pennsylvania on a poll declared their refusal to return to work on Monday. The United States Steel Corporation issued a statement declaring their readiness to pay higher wages, maintain favorable hours and working conditions, and observe all provisions of the N.R.A. code applicable to them, hut remained adamant on the unionisation issue.

Evefits are moving rapidly towards a crisis in the American Federation ■of Labor itself, in connection with serious jurisdictional disputes and strikes which threaten to weaken and undermine its prestige and influence and obscure its future course of action.

RELEASE OF CREDITS The carpenters and ironworkers are engaged in a bitter struggle concerning the jurisdiction of publio building, namely, which shall haye to install certain kinds of equipment. The dispute has reached a point where the Government mediators are to be called in, Furthermore, blame is move and more being attached to unions for the wave of strikes which has hit the country. .Mr. William, Green, president of the Federation of Labor, to-day issued' a statement of admonition calling upon labor to be patient and mediate in disputes. The right to strike involves so many serious considerations that it ought to be utilised only as a last resort. The Reconstruction Finance Corporation announced that it will, within 24 hours, arrange to extend to business and corporations the necessary credit by means of loans to banks and financial institutions, on the latter’s preferred stock. The funds so provided could then be re-loaned to businessmen and those needing credit, at 5 per cent, for short term and 6 per cent, for long term loans, the intermediary banks and financial institutions receiving 2 per cent, commission, and the borrowers merely signing notes bearing the endorsement of banks and financial institutions. This is expected to aid the desired large scale credit expansion.

DOUBTFUL OF SUCCESS MR. FORBES’ COMMENT (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. ‘Judged by our own standard, one would be doubtful ui__ toe success of the American plan, but when you are in a desperate position you have to do many things you Would not do otherwise,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, at a welcome tendered by the people of Cheviot on Saturday evening. His visit to America had been interesting. At the same time, it was very difficult to see how they were going to make a success of their big campaign. It all depended upon, tho expenditure of money. Ho had discussed the matter with several prominent men in America, and they had told him that the plan had got the markets moving, whereas there had been stagnation before.