SNUB TO LABOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 19 (Supplement)

SNUB TO LABOUR

ROOSEVELT AND THE N.R.A. CONCILIATORY REPLY GIVEN. Tb the Labour leaders . who recently denbuheed Mn Donald Richberg, Administfatbr bf the N.R.A. as a tfaitb? to the cause of trade uhibnism* President Roosevelt to-day administered a snub. He said: “The. N.R.A. Board is responsible to the Presideht of the United States, and not to the president bf any Labour union.” Mr. Roosevelt intimated that he was hot satisfied that his chief duty consisted in helping self-appointed leaders to herd men into unions and collect dues from them. The presideht bf the American Federation of Labour, Mr. William Green, replied with a conciliatory declaration, namely: “President Roosevelt is bur hope and bur strength. Wte want to go ever to White House ahd show bur faith in him and discuss all Labour problems.” Some Congressmen continue their threats against the President’s £BOO,000,000 public works expenditure plan. Mr. Dewey Short, the lone Republican from Missouri, regrets that “this body (meaning Congress) has degenerated into .a supine, subservient, sopoHfict superfluous, supercilious and pusillanimous body bf nitwits.” Another difficulty ivhich the President has encountered ebheerns the scandal over the housing scheme for poor miners. The scheme was launched last year by the President’s wife. The sum bf £9200 was.paid for a West Virginian farm, and another £300,000 Was spent, but only 50 houses are ready for occupation. The scheme is said to be hopelessly burdened With debt. Typical miners’ houses were . erected, then tom dbWn and rebuilt, finally costing more than £2OOO apiece.