4 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER ON LIFE IN THE NORTH STU HODGSON, former Financial Secretary of Local 1-217 IWA, Vancouver, and for the past twelve years Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, was the guest speaker at the Local's meet- ing February 10, at Woodworkers’ House. Group from left Doug Evans, Local Financial Secretary; Syd Thompson, Local Presi- dent; and Stu Hodgson. COMMISSIONER HODGSON “4 ADDRESSES LOCAL 1-217 MEET more trained people to im- 3 said, the 4 Members of Local 1-217 IWA, Vancouver, were treated to a highly interesting and in- formative address when Stu Hodgson, former Financial- Secretary of the Local Union and for the past twelve years Commissioner of the North- west Territories, was guest speaker at the Local’s meeting February 10th, at Wood- workers’ House in Vancouver. A veteran of the Second ‘World War, Stu returned from overseas to work in a mill in the Vancouver area. He quickly became active in the Union and played a major role in helping to defeat the at- tempted Communist takeover of the IWA in British Columbia in 1948. In the Local’s elections of 1949, Stu won the office of Financial Secretary and re- tained that position for the next sixteen years through his ability and popularity. In 1965, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the _ MARKETING "AGENCY PLANNED ag | PRINCE RUPERT .— United States fishermen will likely form a marketing agency with- in two years to circumvent anti-union legislation, Larry Cotter, Alaska council presi- dent of the International Long- shoremen’s and Warehouse- men’s union, said recently. Here to attend a meeting of Alaska and British Columbia fishermen, Cotter said in- an interview that US fishermen are considered small business- men by the Internal Revenue Service and are forbidden to form a union by anti-trust legislation. The Americans initiated the three-day conference to talk about labour organization with B.C. union representatives and to survey the structure of the United Fishermen’s and Allied Workers’ Union which repre- sents B.C. fishermen. BORN FREE In spite of all our present strife Our workers lead a decent life. The reason for it is quite clear We fought for it, year after year. Another reason has to be The title says it, ‘‘We’re born free.” But piece by piece and day by day Our freedom’s being stripped away. While Bennet says ‘how much he cares” He taught his colleague millionaires To disregard the workers’ ‘plight And strip them of their basic right. . It’s guys like him and Pat McGeer That think the working man is queer. They think of us as working ants, Their pockets bulging in their pants. They’ll treat you like that little pest, They’ll step on us, ‘‘you know the rest’. They don’t care if the workers bleed, Cause they have everything they need. So come elections, do your part, Let’s show them that we’re just as smart. Don’t hesitate, vote NDP. And once again, we'll all be free. Cause if you don’t, you best behave You’ll be like Alex Haley’s slave. The only thing that then remains, They’ll have us all tied up in chains. Northwest Territories and in 1967, Commissioner. His appointment, Stu told the meeting, was accepted by him with mixed emotions. It was a difficult decision to leave the Local after so many years, he stated, but the challenge of working in the North was too great to refuse. In talking of the North, Stu left no doubt in the minds of his listeners that he holds a strong love for the country and its people. This is also shown by his notable accomplishments during his twelve years as Commissioner. He stated that when he first assumed office he had six gov- ernment employees and an annual budget of ten million dollars to look after an area larger than British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba combined. The native people, he said, lacked education, proper housing and medical facilities. His first job, he stated, was to fight for a bigger budget and Territories. SPAIN PLANS CONTROLS BARCELONA — Following its refusal to enter into serious talks with labour on the economic situation, the Span- ish government is proposing to unilaterally introduce an 11% ATTENTIVE MEMBERS of Local 1-217 showed keen interest in Stu Hodgson’s vivid description of conditions in the Northwest prove conditions. Today, he Territories has an annual budget of three hundred mil- lion dollars and_ thirty-five hundred government em- ployees. The children are re- ceiving an education, the people are more adequately housed and are getting more of the amenities that we in the more developed areas of Canada accept for granted. He concluded by saying that in his opinion, the most im- portant task in the North now was to ensure that the native people retained their culture and not be degraded as have been so many of our Native Indians. Stu is leaving the North in a few months to take up a full- time position as Chairman of the International Joint Council. This is a highly prodigious job anda challenging one. There is little doubt that Stu Hodgson will face it with the same vigor he displayed in the North.