INDUSTRIAL MISSION

Southland Times, Issue 20200, 10 June 1927, Page 7

INDUSTRIAL MISSION

MR. GRAYNDLER’S DLSQUIETNG REPORT. (Rec. 9.5 p.m.) New York, June 9. President Coolidge received Messrs Guy, Campbell, Valentine and Munden, members of the 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 their individual reports. No attempts will be made at Washington to co-ordinate them. Mr Grayndler’s attitude is disquieting to his two colleagues, especially as he is leaving a fortnight earlier and may anticipate their views. Mr Grayndler maintains strong Labour opinions, continuing criticism begun at Detroit that the Mission received wrong information by visiting open shops. Despite the resolution of the Mission denying political motives, Messrs Grayndler and Mclnnes gave a remarkable interview to a Washington Labour weekly boosting the Australian Labour policy, and declaring that compulsory arbitration had proved satisfactory, and describing Mr Bruce as a thorough-going reactionary. Mr Grayndler states that there are only two political parties in Australia, Labour and the Opposition. “I say the Opposition, because it changes its name almost every election, and generally pretends to change its principles in an effort to snare the Labour votes.” The interview covers three columns, and though the newspaper states that it is a composite interview of the four Labour members, Messrs Munden and Valentine were not consulted, and informed Mr Grayndler before its publication that they disassociated themselves from it. The mission is dissatisfied with Mr Grayndler’s attitude generally. It understood that there is no intention therefore to disclose individual reports until Mr Grayndler departs. Mr Grayndler has not made any effort to assist the mission’s report. Meetings at Washington are intermittent, but the individual progress of other members indicate that Australia will eventually receive a valuable majority report.— A. and N.Z.