Coal imports
from U.

hit

BLAIRMORE, Alta.

oe

The crisis confronting the coal industry in Canada was discussed
by miners, businessmen, coal operators; MLAs and..other interested
parties at a meeting held here March 14. The parley was sponsored
by sub-district 5, United Mine Workers of America.

Mayor William Gray of Blairmore chaired the meeting, and speak-
ers were Sim Weaver, secretary-treasurer of Michel local; Ed Boyd,
secretary- treasurer of district 18; and Sam English, president of Michel

local. :

Weaver reported on the UMW
delegation to Ottawa last Decem-
ber and declared that “larger dele-
gations should be sent this year.”
He spoke strongly against imports
of U.S. coal while Canadian miners
are idle. — ‘

“In 1939 there were 1,750 min-
ers employed on Vancouver Is-
land and today there are less
than 300,” said Ed Boyd. A simi-
lar situation prevails in northern
Alberta, where mines have been
shut down and miners forced to
abandon their homes and com-
munities to seek jobs elsewhere.

__. “Coal miners’ problems are not

separate and apart from the prob-
lems of tens of thousands of Can-
adian workers who are suffering
because of U.S. interests,” declar-

xz Tribute to
Taras Shevchenko,
Bord of the Ukraine

GRAND
CONCERT

@ Folk Dancing
@ Mixed Choir
@ String Orchestra

@ Vocal Solos -
Duets - Quartets

@ 200 Performers

_ HASTINGS -ODEON
THEATRE

SUNDAY
MARCH 21

8 p.m.
Admission by |
invitation only
obtainable at
PEOPLE’S CO-OP
BOOKSTORE
_ ’ 337 West Pender
UKRAINIAN HALL
805, East Pender
. Auspices of
Association of United
Ukrainian Canadians

ed Sam English. He spoke of areas
in Canada where huge deposits of
iron and coal were in close prox-
imity and where smelters and steel
mills could be located.

The meeting adopted a motion
Protesting to the Canadian gov-
ernment against imports of U.S.
coal to this country and declar-
ing that the interests of the Can-
adian people should come before
those of Wall Street.

It was also decided to set up.a
committee of local union represen-
tatives, coal operators, businessmen
and others in the Crows Nest Pass
to draw up a program for presen-
tation to the federal government
and. the B.C. and Alberta provin-
cial government, in an effort to

improve the situation in the coal

mining industry. First meeting of
the committee is scheduled for
March 20.

Manitoba LPP
calls for trade

WINNIPEG

“There is a growing awareness
among the farmers of the need to
change the trade policies of the
Canadian government,” W. C. Ross,
Manitoba Labor-Progressive party
leader, told delegates to the ‘tenth
annual provincial convention of the
LPP in his keynote address.

Soviet offer to buy a whole list
of Canadian products “including
wheat and butter,” Ross said, “has
aroused keen interest in western
Canada. It has made it difficult
for Trade Minister C. D. Howe and
the Canadian cabinet to ignore the
growing demand for trade relations
with our northern neighbor.”

The report denounced the Mani-
toba government for its “gross dis-
regard of the plight of the farm-
érs in this province.”

| LABOR

BRIEFS

During 1953 there were
strikes in British Columbia involv-
ing 113 employers, 8207 workers
and a loss of 260,335 man working

36

days. There were 16 strikes by
AFL unions, 17 by CCL unions and
two by independent unions.

* x *

Following strong trade union
protests, Vancouver City Council
this week denounced Ottawa’s ac-
tion in slashing the price of grain
moved through eastern ports and
called on the provincial cabinet and
Vancouver Board of Trade to join
in petitioning for a return to form-
er price levels. :

Rejecting Trade Minister C. D.
Howe’s argument that the action
Was necessary “in order to obtain
a normal movement of wheat with-
in Canada,” Ald. Anna Sprott point-

ed out that “the prosperity of Van-|,

couver as a port is at stake.”

‘ * * *
Zero Tide in The Fisherman
quotes a New York Times dis-
Patch telling how a skunk raised
a stink when he crossed-a picket
line. Rewards of $700 have been
offered for information on , the
person who threw a live skunk
through a window of the strike-
troubled Appomettox Garment
“Company. The skunk wandered”
through the plant in fury after
-being tossed through the window
and spread his scent over $300,-
000 worth of textile stocks. Even
‘a skunk. ...
* * aes
More than 200 representatives
from Lower Mainland trade unions
will gather in Victoria as soon as
the Socred «government tables
forthcoming labor legislation, it
was announced this week by R. K.
Gervin, secretary of the Vancouver
Trades and Labor Council (AFL-
TLC). The joint delegation will
study the labor bills and then
lobby the cabinet on proposed
changes.

x x *

Some 70 workers at/A. P. Madsen
Furniture Ltd., 1122 Southwest
Marine, walked off the job Wednes-
day this week over the dismissal
of 12 upholsterers who were de-

|manding a pay increase.

National rights

upheld in brief

MONTREAL

A fully documented impeachment of the Duplessis government as
the chief instrument of the U.S. trusts in Quebec was presented on
March 12 by the Quebee LPP in a 100,000-word brief to the Tremblay
Royal Commission on Constitutional Problems.

In addition to its indictment of
Duplessis it provided a _ serious
critique of nationalism in French
Canada and a broad program of
unity and action directed to the
national and social redemption of
French Canada. :

The brief traces in detail the
growing hold of the U.S. trusts
on the natural resources and indus-
tries of Quebec and shows how the
Duplessis government has assum-
ed the role of spokesman and de-
fender of U.S. capital.

It.shows that the Duplessis re-
gime has pursued a policy basically
inimical to the survival and deve-
lopment of the French language
and of French-Canadian culture in
Canada and demonstrates that a
radical change of policy is neces-

sary to create the conditions for a

flourishing French-Canadian na-
tional life. ae 3

It shows the need for a positive
and dynamic conception of prov-
incial autonomy, and declares it is
the policy of the provincial govern-
ment which will decide, in the last
resort, the future of the provincial
State. Natd ros Ae

The LPP set forth the view that
two nations inhabit Canada, en-
dorsing the standpoint that Con-

‘federation was a pact between two

nations. It underlines the very ser-
ious limitations which the British
North America Act placed upon the
rights of the French-Canadian na-
tion. :

It proposes a new Canadian con-
stitution, which recognizes the bi-
national character of our country
and grants the French-Canadian
nation the right to national self-
determination.

An entire chapter is devoted to
the program of democratic liber-
ties in Quebec. It shows how the

growing restrictions of democracy,

which stem from the padlock law,
threaten the freedom and the wel-
fare of all the citizens of Quebec.

The brief recommends adoption
of a new labor code, repeal of the

padlock law, and the enactment of

a Declaration of the Rights of Citi-
zens, as recommended by the Civil

yi

| ULL | th a | |

fe

‘Poisonous gas
more profitable’

B.C. Electric must be compelled to install gas safety devices, Mrs.
Effie Jones said this week in a letter sent to hundreds of city organ-
izations urging pressure on Vancouver City Council to revise the

present bylaw.

The BCE should also be forced to produce a less poisonous gas,

and maintain adequate pressure to
from going out, said Mrs. Jones.

prevent pilot lights and low flames

Deploring “the shocking number of deaths due to domestic gas

poisoning,” she called for “immedi-
ate action.”

“The gas provided by the BCE
is among the most poisonous
types to be found anywhere in
Canada,” said the letter. “The
company started producing it in
recent years because it is more
profitable.

“Refusing to face up to their re-
sponsibilities the city council and
BCE have put the whole onus on
roominghouse keepers and private
users of gas> A bylaw has been
passed compelling these people to
install safety devices at consider-

able cost.

“This means that thousands of
individual safety devices will be
installed without adequate check.
It also means that many working

Quebec press

tries to ignore
brief of LPP

MONTREAL
The dishonesty of the capitalist

press in Quebec is such that it in-|-

variably takes people by surprise,
despite all previous experiences.

The arrest of a single member
of the LPP on a charge of dis-
tributing circulars invariably rates
a good head and the story will
contain a multitude of details. It
will be prominently featured in the

Montreal and Quebec City dailies. |

However, the appearance of the
Labor-Progressive party before the
Royal Commission on Constitu-
tional: Problems and the presenta-
tion of its carefully documented
brief, covering all aspects of Que-
bee life, was &carcely noticed by
those same dailies.

According to Montreal Matin, the
event never even occurred. This
paper named all the organizations
which appeared before the Trem-

blay Commission on March 12, but}.

neglected to mention the LPP. As
for. the Gazette, it was so shocked

to find in the 275 pages of the brief

a short quotation from J. V. Stalin
on the definition of the nation that
it could remember nothing else the
brief contained. As for Le Devoir,

which has given lengthy summar-:

ies and extracts of almost all briefs
presented to the Commission, it
achieved a near-miracle of report-
ing by condensing the 100,000
words of the brief into 35 words!

On this occasion, it was La Presse
which gave the most honest report-
ing, even if it required a magni-

fying glass to find the item. They].

declared: :

“The fullest brief:to be present-
ed before the Royal Commission on
Constitutional Problems was deliv-
ered this afternoon by the Labor-
Progressive (Communist) Party.

“The LPP: brief, a meticulously
prepared document, comprised 275
pages on legal paper, that is, more
than 100,000 words. :

“Drawing upon numerous state-
ments made by people of the high-
est authority, it dealt with the var-

ious fields of international affairs, |
national affairs, sociology, finances, |

and economy, and devoted two
chapters to the federal state and
the provincial state.”

people and old age pensioners may
be faced with higher rents. The
B.C. Electric which produces this
deadly poison, and which profits
from it, is being allowed to get out —
from under any responsibility what-
soever.

“The Civic Reform Association,
which has twice been before city
council on this matter, asks your
support for the following:

oa That representation be made
to city council asking that
: the bylaw be revised to com-
pel the BCE to install all
safety devices on gas installa-
tions. The total cost would
be a small fraction of the

' company’s annual profits.

That city council be urgéd to
compel the company to pro-
duce a less poisonous gas,
and that adequate pressure
be maintained to prevent
‘pilot lights and low flames
from going out.”

(At one time BCE gas had a
carbon monoxide content of only
6 to 8 percent, but today it is 25
percent or higher.)

RF Misi te ANO a LEMNOS Tein er al
McCARTHYISM
or 4
‘ CANADIANISM ?

PUBLIC ADDRESS BY
ROSCOE S. RODD, QC
National Chairman

LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRATIC
RIGHTS

STAN WILCOX

“prominent trade unionist
and others will speak

PENDER AUDITORIUM
SUNDAY, APRIL 4

d

4

8 p.m..

THE LIFEOF
~ EMILE ZOLA

@ A first-rate film produced in
Hollywood before the advent of
McCarthyism. Good entertain-
z ment with a powerful message
for those who cherish our demo-

cratic traditions and way of life.

\

Tobe shown. at reception
for Roscoe S. Rodd, QC, in
Lower Hall, Pender Aud-
itorium, 339 West Pender,
Saturday, April 3, 8 p.m.
Silver collection.

AUSPICES, VANCOUVER —
BRANCH, LEAGUE FOR —
| DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS

-
Ae |