Pre OOF pT Ng r MOAR Mente. eR) al ea ip eae Pty : FULL No. 140. | _.__“Hardly a motion-picture projec- | Japanese People Don’t Want War By Wim. Purvis PAGE FOUR The People’s Advocate Western Canada’s Leading Progressive Newspaper Trades Congress And Unity By T. Ewen PAGE SIX = ——=7 Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1937 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. III. No. 36 Protest Against Phone Rates Increase 9,000 in City Sign Telephone Petition © speed up the campaign against new rates of the BC Telephone Company which are to be imposed about November i, organizers plan to install registers in a number of areas where the petition can be signed at leisure. With only 25 per cent of the Van-! couver area covered, nearly 9000 sig- natures have been obtained, state canyvassers, Dhat the backbone of this petition campaign isthe householder and small ratepayer is shown by the character of the organizations and movements that have endorsed and are working for it. Despite the plea of the company that some objectionable features, such as elimination of inter- exchange call charges have been made, the average phone-user is up in arms at the generally higher rates proposed by the company. As a glaring reason for the peti- tion campaign, 40 cents more a month is demanded under the new rate as against the $2.20 for house- holders on a two-part yline. Theatre Fire Hazard Increased By Ruling Strike May Close Every Labor Would Take City Theatre Pattullo Gov’t Seeks Belated Parley Tuesday MASS MEETING While the Provincial Cabi- net has offered to meet repre- Sentatives of the projection- ists on Tuesday next, the un- ion has decided that a show- down is needed. tion room in BC will be operatine on Monday September 20; and union men will picket the theatres unless there is a reasonable offer made by Famous Players to our union,” local officials of the Projectionists’ Union Preservation Of Labor Unity Is Congress’ Aim War Profits Out Of Nickel Industry OTTAWA, Sept. 16.—Declaring that it was “unalterably | Opposed to war,” and showing a deep concern for the need of unity in the ranks of Canadian labor, the fitty-third annual meeting of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada gave a lead to thousands of working people throughout the Dominion <. = t| A. A. MacLeod | E ! ae a 3 hr—r—1 of told the PA this week. With the deadline set for Satur- day, September 18, Pprojectionists throushout the proyince, tired of re- Deated conferences and delays, are demanding of their union executive that every preparation be made for strike action, and a meeting for this Purpese will be held Sunday even- ing, September 19. The PA was given to understand that while the question of wages enters into the dispute, the all- important issue is the threat by Famous Players to “let out’ 50 Per cent of projectionists in BC and replace them with apprentices. “Naturally we will fight to the last ditch to defeat this policy of the corporation,” said one official, “and aithough we are actually being ham- pered by our provincial government in this dispute, we will haye the people of BC squarely behind us be- fore we are through on this ques- Hien, which is really one of public safety,’ he declared. Fire Risks. Plans for the education of the Public on fire risks involved dur- ing the operation of projection ma- chines, were outlined by a group of union members to the PA. Copy of the November issue, 1986, of the union journal, Projectionist, gave startling figures of the risks run by the public when there is only one operator working on shift. In a scathing article it was shown that in August, September and October of last year, five pro- jectionists were fatally burned in the United States while on duty, that thousands of feet of film had ignited due to the hazards of one- man projection rooms. Projectionists stated that an oper- ators first thought is to prevent fire reaching the theatre audience and many a man has Jost his life by Sticking to his post to combat fire. Operators claim that it takes at} least four years to train a man in the technical and safety ends of the trade and that these questions are now being thrashed out in New York, where International Union officials, and all presidents of the Canadian locals, including Local 348, | Vancouver, are facing officials of | Famous Players Incorporated. National Chairman of the League for Peace and Democ- racy, who will broadcast over station CKMO here this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. 5 _No Canadians Being Held Returning US ~— Volun- teers Were Detained At Quebec “Coast press must have farbled the matter,’ wired T. C. Sims, editor of the Daily Clarion, in reply to a telegram from the PA asking for more information on press reports here this week that a number of Canadians had been refused re- admission to Canada on the grounds that they had fought for the Repub- lican fovernment of Spain. Sims stated that there were no Canadians in this position, but that 12 American anti-Fascist fighters have recently returned without diffi- culty to the United States, after be- ing: detained at Quebec by immigra- tion officials. > on P their families. War Shuts Mills | TOKYO, Japan, Sept. 16—(G*P)— Over 200 sik and textile concerns have stopped production in Japan because of the stoppage of exports | to China. Ex-Servicemen Ired Protest Patiullo’s Failure To Acknowledae Petition Protest was sent to Lieutenant- Governor Hamber last week by the Ex-Servicemen’s League against re- fusal of Premier Pattullo to ack-— nowledge receipt of a petition with more than 4000 sienatures attached sent by registered mail September 2. Accusing Pattullo of being dicta- terial in his treatment of yeterans, the protest stated that he signa-} and represented part of the mass ures were obtained at Vancouver Sentiment against the present goy- ernment policy toward ex-service- men. Fred Tyler stated to the PA that Lieut.-Goyernor Hamber replied im- mediately that he would take up the matter, questions that affect them and Driving through to one of the greatest sources of war profits in the Dominion, the Gongress called for a government monopoly on nickel deposits, urging that coun- tries buying Canadian nickel should first be required to prove its need for domestic purposes. A resolution coming from the Al- “berta” Federation of Liabor was adopted, which described “the ter- ritory contiguous to the province of Alberta’? as “one of the richest ‘known sources for the securing of radium,” and asked the Congress to seek to have the government ‘‘es- tablish its monopoly in the develop- ment of this source to make this mineral more easily available to the people of Canada.’ Labor Unity Although the executive's report avoided all mention of the C.1.0., sources close to the executive in- dicate that a new resolution would be drafted later in the convention, advocati.g labor unity in Canada on all questions of major im- portance. The voice of orpanized Jabor in Vancouver was heard on other im- portant questions. Vancouver Lodge Wo. 58 of the Brotherhood of Rail- way Carmen condemned the present practice of Canadian railroads of pooling train service over some lines, as “resulting in a reduction of employment.” Embodied in the resolution was a request that railway unions wage a vigorous campaign against any move that might be made to merge the CPR and CNR. Establishment of a six-hour day and five-day week in all occupa- tions, with no reduction in pay, passed unanimously and with little discussion. The rejection of a mini-_ mum wage resolution was recom- mended by Committee Chairman Robert Hewitt, who explained the objection was to the mention of 3 specific rate. The rejection by Con- gress was almost unanimous. During discussion and clarifica- tion of laws concerning picketing, company coercion, Premiers Du- Plessis and Hepburn were roundly denounced for their attitude to labor. Congress will press for further amendments to workmen’s compensation, to place entire costs On indusiry and to cover occupa- tional diseases. Order Bryce Trial Monday | Burns’ Strike Assault | Charge To Be | Heard Trial of Dave Bryce, Burns striker charged with causing grievous bod-| ily harm to a strikebreaker, has been | set for Monday, September 20, in Judge Matheson’s court. Bryce, remanded indefinitely fol- lowing his arrest on April. 45; “ap-| peared in police court September 10. | | Prosecutor Wasson asked a remand or the case to enable him to contact | J. R. Nicholson, P. Burns’ company | representative, now in England. Demanding to know what Nichol- Son had to do with the case, Gar- field King, CLDL defence lawyer in the case, also asked who was going to try the case under these circum- stances. Judge Matheson replied, “The crown of course,’ and set the trial for Monday. | | | | Expectant Mothers are SEAMEN REFUSE TO TAKE SHIP T US Volunteers in the Trenches Oe ee Members of the Lincoln Denied Aid Ninety Women Refused Assistance By Relief VON IS PRAISED Plight of over 90 pregnant women whose husbands were on relief rolls until the works projects were introduced by city relief authorities, was re- vealed at the PA office this week when a young woman, accompanied by her husband, stated her condition and de- clared that local relief offi- cials had washed their hands of any further responsibility in such cases. Gp until introduction of project work which actually reduced the in- come of all unemployed families of four and over, relief resulations pro- vided that a Presnant woman should set $5 a month after the fifth month of pregnancy and that Medical at- tention, children's clothes and other benefits should be obtained free. Application at the appointed time for the $5-pre-natal allowance at the relief office drew a request from the official that he produce his velief card, stated the husband. On stating that the city had Withdrawn his relief card before he worked on the city project, the re- lief official declared that he was no longer on relief as he had no ecard, but was now working for the city at wages. Care Abolished. Questioned by the husband, the re- lief official stated that all pre-natal care had been abolished in Vancou- ver and that there would be no more clothing allowances for expectant mothers. Next day, reported the husband, a VON nurse called and took the wite to VON headquarters on West Tenth volunteers, are shown here *publican offensive on the Battalion, one of four battalions in the International Brigade in Spain composed principally of American in action. Canadian, American and Latin American yolunteers played an important part in the Significant Re- Aragon front when the towns of Quinto and Belchite, southeast of Zaragossa, were captured from the Fascists. Farm Conditions Worsening Returns From CLOVERDALE, BC, in this district taught a culture, due to high their products, lave some clear ideas and plans for the alleviation of their lot. Talking to an experienced, hard- working farmer on the cost of feed, brought forth a pencilled list as follows: Dairymash (cow), per cwt., Wo. i, $1.95; No. 2, $1.75; chicken- mash, per cwt., 92.25; oatchop, per Cwt., $2.05; barleychon, per ewt., $1.90; screenings, $1.50 per cwt.; bran, $1.55; wheat, No. 6, per ewe; $2.15; shorts, per ewt., $1.75. Milk returns, after Paying these feed prices, were explained in the following manner: One ten-sallon can or 100 pounds of milk, will pro- duce 4 pounds of butter-fat at 33 cents a pound—assuminge that the milk is grade “A” and 4 per cent. On this basis returns are: Butter- fat, $132; skim milk, 20 cents; total, 1:52. But they are other expenses to come out of every can of milk: Rent of can from the dairy, 6 cents, freight 16 cents, revolving redemp- tion fund, 4 cents; total, 26 cents; leaving a net return of $1.26 on a can of 100 pounds of milk. All farmers the writer approached agreed it was impossible to get any sort of a living at these prices and a remedy was offered by one farmer who declared he had given much study to the problem. avenue, where there were 19 others in the same condition, cut off from | any pre-natal allowance. Despite the added burden caused | by the new regulations, the VON | stated that they would carry on and | assist these destitute expectant | mothers, meanwhile protesting to | the city about the new hardships. } The large eroup of expectant mothers in this situation has noth- ing but praise for over-worked VON fiurses, Stated this husband and | wife. Material for the layette is | provided by them, eyen to needles | and spools of thread, knowing, as | they do, the extreme poverty. or] these people. Attitude Rapped. | There were i2 girls from out Vaneouver in the group attended by | the VON, to which the PA informant | was attached, and she reported that the gloomy future of these expectant | mothers has aroused many to a| Tailitant state of mind while others are wholly dejected. Resentment was also expressed at the manner in which medical exam-— Imations were given in that a num. | ber of internes obtained practice and | experience in their profession from | | amons destitute expectant mothers. Contacting Alderman A. Hurry, | the PA was told by him that he was unaware of this situation and would look into the matter. Some of the women favor beseig- ing the relief office for a return of former benefits and sympathetic people are interceding for them to the relief authorities. PASSENGERS SIT DOWN. BROOKLYN, NY¥.—({FP)—One hun- dred passenze on the excursion Steamer City of New York sat down | until they sot their 50 cents back | When the boat went out of commis- | Sion and put in at the 69th Street | pier here without finishine the trap: | He suggested regulation, control, and commodity price fixing, the system now in force in New Zea~ land, which, he stated had eased the position of the farmers there con- siderably. In New Zealand, it was claimed, the control system adopted had rep- resentation of all in the industry in- cluding the producer and the con- sumer. In Canada, he said, legislation would have to be introduced guar- anteeing protection from the trusts. He suggested also a farm debt adjustment plan to Safeguard the interests of small, middle class farmers. On the question of taxation, he believed that a reduction of taxes should be made by introducing a plan of taxing the actual returms from land and buildings. Sugsestion that farmers should raise all these questions in the vari- ous organizations to which they be- long and organize separate mass meetings at which government rep- | resentatives should be present met with favorable response from the Majority of farmers contacted. Communists Aid Eviction Case Although admitting that Mrs. A. McDonald, mother of eight young children, living at 3390 Grimmer Street, Royal Oak, Burnaby, had been paying her rent regularly, the landlord obtained a court order at Wew Westminster which ruled that she must get out by September 30. Last Monday an eviction commit- tee was set up by the local branch of the Communist party and efforts will be made, through the relief of- | fice, to secure a suitable house for this family, Sept. PA reporter this week that not only are they fully aware of the worsening of conditions in agri- cost of feed and low but that they also. Products Dwindle As Costs Rise 16.—Discussion with farmers prices obtained for Many Join New Union At Vernon 300 Attend Mass here attended an open-air Jay the foundation of a union. experienced pickers working company property. | forward a number of volunteers and | many workers signed up immediate- ly in the newly formed Agriculturat Workers’ Union. further organizational meetings are planned by the committee. Hugh deLacey New WCF Head With the aim of “building a fen- ington Commonwealth Bederation convention held recently, endorsed | & ‘resolution which recognized simi-_ | jarity of aims in Labor’s WNon- | Partisan League, and called upon the two groups locally to work to- gether. Besides electine Hugh De Lacey to the presidency, the chose Earl Gunther, Capt. Fox, IBW and State Representative Tom Brown as vice-presidents; Howard Costigan as executive Ssec- Meeting To Hear Sirike Reports VERNON, BG, Sept. 16. — Three hundred field and orchard workers mass meeting on vacant city property to hear a report of the Belgian Orchard | Strike committee last Sunday and to Spokesman for the committee re- ported that the entire crew of 38 men were solid in their demand for 10 cents per orchard box as against the old price of 8 cents, which kept 10 hours a day to earn $2.40, and that Manager Heggie, who refused to ac- cede to this demand, called in the Provincial police to see the crew oft A request by the strike committee at this meetings for pickets brought uine New Deal party,” the Wash- | | | | pete and Bill Pennock as secre- | tary of the State Board. O ORIENT < rew Asks ar Bonus at Alberni IBU Appeals To Seamen Not To Sign On ~ Dalroy LINARIA RECALLED Appeal to all seamen not to sign on the Dalroy was issued through the People’s Advocate by officials of the Inland Boatment’s union here Thursday. “These men are fighting for de- mands which no thinking person would term unreasonable,” union officials declared after reading Press reports that efforts were he- ing: made to sign on a new crew . in Vancouver. Amone the 35 striking seamen are Art Garrison, Vancouver, and Harry Wilson, Victoria, PORT ALBERNI, BC, Sept. 16.—Repercussions of J apan’s undeclared war on China were felt here this week when 35 Seamen of the 4500-ton British Steamer Dalroy refused to work the vessel Wednesday after their de- mands for a war bonus of $75 each had been rejected. ; With Serst. G. J. Duncan and three provincial police watching the ship, Capt. D. Russell read the log- book to the men, action carrying with it loss of wages earned dur- ing the current voyage and placing of the men on the blacklist, but members of the crew remained ada- mant in their demands. : The Dalroy, owned by Campbell Bros., Newcastle, England, and un- der charter to the Ocean Shipping Company for the past seven months, was bound for Dairen, Manchukuo, with a Cargo of logs and lumber, She cleared New Westminster for this port last Sunday and was Scheduled to sail from here around noon Wednesday. Members of the crew, however, set noon as the deadline for answer to their demands. “The way I look at it, the ship’s covered by insurance. We're not. Tf were expected to risk our necks, then it ought to be worth a bonus, at least,” a member of the crew Stated to a PA representative in em- phasizine justice of the crew's demands. Linaria Case A Recalled James Maskell, Secretary, Inland Boatmen’s union, left Vancouver for Port Alberni Thursday morn- ing on IBU business. While in the port he will investigate the Dalroy strike in order to acquaint the trade union movement here with its full facts. IBU officials on Thursday were drawing a comparison between the Dalroy case and that of the Linaria. Members of the crew of the Linaria carrying a cargo of nitrates and to a Wascist-held port in Spain refused to work the ship in Boston and were brought to trial at Liver- pool, England, where their action was upheld by the court. Other Ships _ Tied Up At US Pacifie coast ports other vessels are tied up by refusal of their crews to work them unless paid a war bonus. The freighter Witchita, cargo of which includes 19 Belanca bombing planes destined for China, barbed= wire and scrap metal, is tied up in San Pedro awaiting settlement of the crew’s demands for a war bonus of $250 each. Complete tying up of the Am- erican Mail Line's fleet to the Ori-_ €nt loomed this week also follow- ing demands of the President Jef_ convention | ferson’s crew in Seattle for a $100 John | war bonus. In Hone Kong, Chinese hands of the Eimpress of Russia signed off rather than sail on the vessel to Japan. A new crew was signed on, it was reported. Miners Favor Conference NANAIMO: Sept. 16.— ull sup- port for the proposed Victoria Trade Union conference to be held before the legislature sits, to draft a trade union bill, was voted by Nanaimo local, United Mine Workers of Amer- ica jeateents meeting last Sunday. | Delegates will be elected later. Initiated by Victoria Trades and Nanaimo UMWA Endorses Labor Legislation Move @Lavor Council, a circular letter sug- gesting the conference has been sent to all AF of L affiliates in the proy- ince. Nanaimo local also decided to ask the provincial minister of mines to support the bill when it is brought before the house. cr eaB anche aly ce sree liners le hd igbdenndisoen tatoo: