f f i i Vancouver, modation, suitable Civic Center. AN EDITORIAL JP Ast week Vancouver witnessed the -openins of the new Hote admittedly one of the finest on the continent. now ranks with metropolitan areas three times the size in hotel accom- something our citizens- could be proud of except for one glaring drawback — the lack of a For several years various civic This city organizations and public men have stressed the need for a Civic Centre for Vancouver. The City Council has discussed the question, on numer- ous Occasions estimates have been made, but always the project has been dropped on the grounds of pro- hibitive cost. Yet today Vancouver fronted with the opportunity of se- curing one of the finest buildings for the purpose in the city — we refer to is con- years. It is understood that, according to the agreement with the joint CNR- CPR management, the old hotel can- not be used as a hostelry. The City Council meanwhile seems mainly concerned with the $200,000 rev- enue which the property has been Paying to the city in taxes. MAKE OLD HOTEL VANCOUVER A CIVIC CENTER' the old Hotel Vancouver, standing vacant, ready for use, and actually faced with demolition within three Inadequate The glaring fact is that Vancou- ver needs a Civic Center. it is an absolute necessity if the cul- tural and recreational needs of our citizens are to be met. public library could be housed there; dramatic and musical activities of all kinds could be brought to the peo- ple, and a great center for the Pro- Continued on Page 2 — See CIVIC CENTRE In fact, Our present and almost obsolete we worrs aes nnenerrwnnns BRITISH COLUMBIA’S PROGRESSIVE HOME NEWSPAPER FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY FULL No. 229. VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1939 s Ss © 5 Cents ‘Speedup’ ‘King Government ‘Seen Planning For Election Will Coordinate Work of Unions, Organize Others NANAIMO, BC, June 1—Van- couver island unionists advanced another step towards organizing the unorganized when 21 dele fates representing some 4000 trade umion members pathered in the United Mine Workers’ Hall bre last Sunday and estab- lished the Upper Island Central Labor Council. The council will operate along Similar lines to other Trades , and Labor Councils in British _ Columbia and while it was _ agreed that it was inadvisable at | present to apply to the Trades _ and Labor Congress of Canada _. for a charter, the council pledged | its wholehearted support to this 4 organization and to the Trades / and Labor Councils at Vancou- ) ver, Victoria and Prince Rupert. | Most observers believe only some outstanding international crisis or Seneral war will force an election postponement in which case Pre— imier Kang may decide to stall off the issue until 1940. Vancouver constituencies are al- ready witnessing pre-election ac- tivity, with returning officers busy Putting election machinery in or- der. Enumerators are also busy in Some sections, and polls are beng selected. It is seen unlikely that such werk would be put under way unless some sort of information regarding a quick eelction had been sent out from Qttawa. Two factors are believed to be influencing those government mem- bers favormng an immediate elec- tion. First is the possibility that Chamberlain’s policy in opposition to anti-aggsression pacts with the Soviet Union may be decisively re- jected in the near future, leading to ceneclusion of an Anglo-Soviet treaty and its consequent stimulus to the progressive movement in Canada as in other democratic countries, a stimulus much to be feared by Premier King. Second is the belief that Mac- kenzie King boosted his popularity through travelling with Their Ma- jesties through Canada on the Royal tour. One development in recent weeks which will have -to be watched closely by progressive groups is the rumored emergence on the election scene of candidates backed by McCullagh’s Leadership League. The Advocate has learned that some political maneuvering by MecCullagh’s aides is already un- der way in at least two consti- tuencies, where it is said both the Liberals and Conservatives are prepared to unite behind a MeCullagh candidate. This would indicate that Mc- Cullagh’s proposals for a Wational government are viewed sympathe- tically by at least part of the Lib- eral machine. Union Float Wins Honors As Trail Greets Royalty (Special to the Advocate) TRAIL, BC—Citizens of Trail, though not honored by a visit from King George and Queen Elizabeth of England, celebrated the royal visit to Canada here last Wednesday with a monster 2arade—and the beautifully decorated float entered by the In- rnational Union of Mine, Mill andsfrom Evans smelter Workers won first prize rom the committee of judges at Sutier Park ; Hntered by A. H Evans, union wrganizer, the float represented a iuge royal crown covered with 2urple lilacs, the balance of the ar being covered with maple leaves ind other flowers. Equipped with a sublic address System, music was dayed as it proceeded on its way. Entry of the float in the parade aet with considerable opposition rom a2 number of reactionary in- lividuals apparently acting at the Mehest of the Consolidated Minine = Smelting Company, who claimed hat Organizer Evans’ intention vas to “put over propaganda for he CIO.” Receiving assurance that the union was only expressing a desire to take part in the welcome to Their Maj- esties, the mayor and other mem- bers of the parade committee over- ruled objections and extended a cordial welcome to Mr Evans’ entry. Opinion expressed after the pa- rade was to the effect that “there was no other entry like it.” Union Holds Big Meetings in Rossland ROSSLAND, BC.—Despite a cold rain and muddy ground, several hundred people turned out to a (Continued on Page 5) See UNION FLOAT | WHERE JAPANESE FOR KULANGSU Island (upper left), which a Japanese force withdrew and bluejackets. the international settlement in the harbor of Amoy, from after the landing of American, British and French marines BUCK CONTESTS EAST HAMILTON TORONTO, Ont.—Tim Buck, gen- eral secretary of the Communist Party, will stand as a labor candi- date for the federal constituency of Hamilton Hast in the coming Do- minion elections. The announcement was made this week by Norman Freed, executive secretary, who stated Mr. Buck had reached his decision after con- ferring with several delegations of Hamilton workers and in response to many requests from the con- stituency. E The question was first broached some time ago when, after Buck had spoken on the coming elections, @ proposal was made from the floor that he contest the seat. Labor-progressive circles con- sider that with the Communist leader in the field, a winning cam- paign can be organized to win the riding. East Hamilton is one of the big- gest industrial constituencies in Canada, populated by the workers who man Hamilton’s big steel mills, textile plants and other industries. As one of the outstanding men in the Canadian labor movement, Tim Buck is expected to receive the backing of those thousands of voters now turning their backs on the Liberal and Conservative ma- chines and determined to hold Canada for progress. Raw Log Exports Scored by Neill OTTAWA, Ont. — Sale of large tracts of BC timber to Japanese was scored in the House by A. W. Weill, MP (Comox-Alberni), during discussion on reforestation meas/ ures. Angus MacInnis, MP (Van- couver East), when speaking for @2 more adequate plan stated the best timber would soon be gone at the present rate of cutting. Nazis Buy Vets’ Land OTTAWA, Ont. Charges that Wazi settlers had been able to pur- chase farm land from the Soldier Settlement Board at less than Ca- nadian veterans owed was aired in the House this week by Hon. Grote Stirling (Conservative, Yale). He stated feeling against the oc- eupants of these farms is growing very strong Japanese ‘Run Amok Over Severe Setbacks In China SHANGHAI, China.—Observers of recent developments in the Chinese war this week predicted that the Japanese mil- itarists, stung to the quick by the smashing defeat handed them by China’s defenders in Hujeh province, will resort to des- perate acts. Aldermen Balk At Boycott Vancouver Falls Behind Conservative Toronto on Stand Vancouver, generally regarded as one of the most progressive cities in the Dominion, took a back seat to the traditionally conservatyve Toronto this week when members of City Council refused to officially sanction a boycott on goods made in fascist countries. Toronto has already taken its Stand opposing the purchase of commodities from one of the axis powers—Germany. The action was made official by the City Council several weeks ago, and Labor Alderman Stewart Smith of that city has already given notice of two further motions to ban the purchase of Japanese and Italian goods. The issue was raised in the Vancouver Council on Monday With receipt of a letter from the Relief Project Workers’ Union requesting aldermen to okeh a ban on goods made in Germany, italy and Japan. The letter point e€d to the fact that purchase of fascist-made goods made possible the continuance of wars of ag- Sression and aided these coun- tries in maintaining their espion- age and propaganda machines in Canada. “While I am in favor of citizens enforcing a boycott on articles from these countries,” declared Ald. H. L. Corey, “I don’t think (Continued on page 5) See BOYCOTT ® Japan’s provocations against the UWnited States, Great Britain and France in all leading coastal cities, known as “treaty ports,” can now have the most serious consequences. Internationally, the inereasing effectiveness of the Peace FE'ront, the brilliant role played by the Soviet Union, the weakening of the Tory appeasers, and the inner political and economic difficulties of the Rome-Berlin axis, are creat- ing consternation in Japanese rul- ing ranks. On top of this, the Nipponese Military rout in the key sector of the Han-Peiping-Hankow region has alarmed and comprised the military heads, with the result that (Gontinued on page 5) See JAPANESE SEEN AS WORK CAMPS REOPEN Mayor Threatens To Ship Discriminated Men to Victoria The first contingent of single unemployment men began moving out of Vancouver Thursday to summer work camps as the provincial gov- ermnment’s scheme to provide work for BC’s unemployed got underway. Five are now opened on WVaneouver Island and one at Peace Arch, on the Canada- US border. Officials of the Relief Project Workers’ Union stated to the Ad- vocate Thursday that the camps are not based on a much needed works plan but are similar in many respects to the work for relief camps in that the men will have larger deductions taken from their meagre pay checks to tide them over the winter months. Those who are being- sent out to not be the summer camps will eligible for re-admission to the camps late in the fall, according to relief department offiicals and this is interpreted to mean that larger deductions from wages would be made and doled out at the rate of four dollars a weelk when back in the city. Discrimination, which was rife during the early part of the week as the men went to register, is gradually disappearing, but there is still evidence at present that be- tween 100 and 200 will not be ac cepted) A number of local men have been told there was no need for them to go to camp as they could find jobs, but the prize ex= cuse given A. Tait was that he had werked too well in camp. The RPWU will*continue to press for a works program whereby the men will receive wages instead of the present work for relief plan; recognition of higher rates for Skilled labor, abolition of the de- ferred pay scheme and recoenition of the union as the collective bar— gaining ageney for the workers. On Wednesday the men took to the streets with tin cans appealing to the citizens to assist them when relief authorities refused to provide them with relief. Police did not in- terfere as there was a mutual un- derstanding between the men and the mayor that no seliciting would be done while the King and Queen were here. Mayor Telford was high in his (Continued on Page 5) See DISSATISFACTION - Soviet Union Balances | Budget; No Taxation preme Soviet of the Wmnion of Soviet Socialist Republics. With fiscal problems the first point to come before the highest govrening body of the Soviet Union, deputies heard a favorable contrast drawn between the financial affairs of their own country and those of other states, Particularly the Rome- Berlin-Tokio triangle 4Zverey declared that the war economy of the Fascist states, bur- dened by tremendous outlays for military aggression, was driving them into an economic morass. He pointed out that Germany's State debt had increased by ten bil- lion marks in 1938-39; Italy’s state debt by 12 billion lira, and Japan’s State debt by 65 billion yen. MOSCOW, USSR—The Soviet Union is the only major coun- try in the world with a balanced state This was the proud boast of Soviet Commissar of Finance G. Zverev in reporting on the 1939 Soviet budget to a joint ses- sion of both chambers of the Su-> budget. Zverey further said that Great Britain, France and the WUWnited States also have budget deficits and indicated that these would row because of the tense interna_ tional situation which compeis them to increase The stability of the Soviet ruble was cited by Zverev as proof of the Soviet Union’s growing economic prowess. Explaining that the budget of the Soviet Union includes the budgets of its constituent republies, Zvereyv cited figures on the fiscal stability of the Soviet state During the Second PiveYear Plan (1933-37), he Said, budget rey— (Continued on page 6) See SOVIET BUDGET sate aeewpebaeiars ‘DISSATISFACTION OTH AOE LTA SatrreeeEeT em estan HUrsE TA HiaTivyareeeraserrcerteemmrerry,