The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-09-15

Manchester, Vermont, Sept 1t--
Noting q substantial increase In In.
dustriai activity In New England
since March, President Henry y.
Sharpe OF the New England council
In q report at the opening session
OF tho councils thirtieth quarterly
meeting here today declared that
council research studies indicate
improved employment, reduced
calls on welfare rolls, especially IN
tho industrial states OF New Bng.
land, and significant increasos IN
retail sales. V,
"The New England councils In.
dex Of business activity which stood
at SIS IN March reached o3.3 In
July" he said. "This 10 the high.
est level reached by this index since
May OF 1880. Improvement was
noted In cotton and wool consump-
ton, shoe production. car loadfngs,
power production and employment.
Retail sales shwed o particularly
significant change from q point
we'll below the corresponding
month OF 1032 In the early part
OF the year to q point as high az
90 per cent above 1892 Tor the
month OF August In largo shopping
eentors such as Boston and Provi-
dcnce," Mr. Sharpe declared.
In a general review OF the recon-
struction program In New England,
President sharpe pointed out that
"the public works section or the
National Industrial Recovery act
has On yet had little direct effect In
tho way Of Increased employment
In New England. A conriderablc
number OF proposals. have been
submitted 10 the state Advisory
board for their consideration, some
OF which have been recommended
to Washington for favorable ae.
ton" he said, "but OF these only y
limited number have been an.
nouncod 40 approved"
Charactsrising the work OF the
Home Owners Loan corporation a.
I'm It's initial stages" Mr. sharpe
said that the experience OF this or.
ganlxation In Connecticut where TO
date seven loans have been made is
probably typical. From the federal
relief administration the six New
ENGLAND states have received sew.
erai million dollars, which they
have IN turn distributed 10 cities
and towns for welfare uses, no
pointed out. In this connection he
noted "a sharp decrease In the
number OF families receiving RELIEF
In the three Industrial states OF
MASSAGE husetts, Rhode Island ami
Connecticut" Tho decreases were
nine per cent IN Massa chusetts and
20 per cent In each OF the other
| two states. Tho total number OF
families removed from the welfare
rolls IN the three states was ap.
I'proximateiy $4,000, no stated.
"rhe value Of building contracts
awarded In New England during
August amounted to sie.fs?,ooo
which n the largest amount re-
ported for any month since october
OF 1891. The August figure 10 more
than twice the amount reported on
July and In s8 per cent greater
than August Of last year" he said.
Referring again 20 New England
council surveys, Mr. 6harpe said
that they Indicated that approx
imately half of New England's bus
mess machinery IN now operating
under rules laid down by the Ma
tionai Recovery administration"
Reviewing the extent Of the MIRA
program in New England, Prest.
dent Sharpe pointed out that ITO
date complete codes have been APP
proved by the president applying
to approximately 1000 New Eng
land manufacturing establishments,
which employ normally about 400,-
900 wage.ea This represents
more than one Nth OF the indus
trial plants in New England. and
more than one third Of New Eng
lands industrial wage earners." ne
said.
In addition, approximately $780,.
ing wages to about 100000 en-
ployes have signed the presidents
unemployment agreement. he point.
ed out. "As Il 10 estimated that
there are about 100000 workers
in New England who are potenti-
ally subject to the provisions OF the
presidents agreement. this means
| kAok mar rant at those