2 : At the City Hall Council Apathetic On Utilities Deal By Cynthia Carter Sess PUBLIC ownership of the provincial electric power, gas and transportation systems, now largely owned by the B.C. Hlectric, and their administration as one unit by the provincial government —long advocated by labor here and wxritten into the Labor-Progres- Sive Party’s provincial and civic programs—will become a reality in the near future. A commission will be set up to administer the affairs of the B.C. Electric Railway Company, including its 14 subsidiaries, as soon as it is taken over by the government, ac- cording to an announcement made by Premier John Hart this week. Hart’s announcement climaxed weeks and months of discussion and negotiation on the part of provincial and municipal sovern- ments—and literally years of agitation on the part of the public, which was in favor of placing ownership of the utilities in the Sovernment’s hands. A special committee of Vancouver City Coun- cil was set up to consider the question, and this committee met with representatives of 21 Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island municipalities, all of whom were concerned with the problem. Little was done, however, until Premier Hart offered a sug- gestion to the municipalities. Let the provincial government take over power production, leaving the distribution to the municipalities concerned, he proposed. Mayor J. W. Cornett called his committee of mayors and reeves together to consider the premier’s offer. Before the scheduled meeting, however, Cornett let the eat out of the bag. The provincial government, he told the other mayors, would be prepared to take over the whole concern, including electric lighting, transportation and gas production, if the mayors and reeves decided against municipal participation in the scheme. This had been disclosed, said Cornett, in a meeting between the premier and a special subcommittee in Victoria. Hart, in an- answering statement, evinced Surprise that “Mayor Cornett had presumed to discuss government policy before mayors and reeves had dealt with the utilities purchase question.” “Tf the mayors and reeves are not interested,” said Hart, “then the government to do but to proceed with the idea of a commission of the people as a whole.” The mayors and reeves were not interested. Keeping in mind Cornett’s hint that the buck could easily be passed to the provin- cyal goveriimment, they turned thumbs down on the plan. Too many headaches, they decided, were involyed in Premier Hart’s plan, which presented the problem of which municipality should take. over what portion of the services. Mayor Cornett believed that the government’s’ hydro-electric commission could take over the BCER’s entire utility empire without disturbing the continuity of administration. Tater on, he said, if it were found that municipali- ties could give better management in a particular service within their own boundaries, arrangements might be made for them to _do so. “The original policy of the government was based on the under- standing that the cities and municipalities were desirous of owning ead controlling the services within their own boundaries,” he de clared. According to reports from Victoria, members of the Public Utilities Commission will be given no part on the proposed board of directors. Observers believe that the commission, headed by. Dr. W. A. Carrothers, will be shoved into the background by the new, bigger plan. The Carrothers board may be left temporarily with jurisdiction over small companies operating throughout other parts of the province until their absorption into a province-wide power scheme. i Mayor Cornett Reflects Narrow View RELUCTANCE of Mayor Cornett and Vancouver City Council to take any of the burden of administration of a public utility has been apparent since the issue was first raised. That Cornett could be described as “appalled” by the thought of such a prospect is in- diecation in itself of the narrow viewpoint typical of the council. Cornett’s main objection to municipal ownership of the B.C. Electric Railway system also appeared to be weak. The provincial This suggestion is hard to swallow. In the first place, the aim of the Hart administration in proposing public Ownership is ob- viously to provide cheap power for our industries. This is a trend in Liberal policies noticeable throughout Canada, from Quebec, where the Godbout government made headlines with a Similar I Cheap power for our industries iS necessary to make possible the extension and growth of industry - in our province which will in some measure equalize the economic development of both Hast and West. Tf in Vancouver, a large and prosperous municipality, we had a PLOLTessive Civic administration, arrangements could have easily tion of the B.C. Electric Railway. a “cost basis”—always providing, of course, that profits be turned will no doubt arise, for possession of the B.C. Electric is a new Or e | 1 itis only unfortunate that the municipalities, which have been able to cooperate on such questions as water supply and town planning, failed to take their fair share of the responsibilities public ownership will involve. Labor Supports Roosevelt's Policies Rejects Republican Overtur ‘CHICA GO.—Despite all the efforts of the Republican Party at its national convention here to enlist labor’s backing, the dis- eredited America Firsters, Bill Hutcheson of the Carpenters and John lL. Lewis of the Min- ers, remained as its only “labor” support. There was even talk of having Hutcheson as a run- ning mate with Dewey. But GOP strategists were convinced be- fore the convention was over that organized labor would have no part of their schemes to woo it away from supnort of Presi- dent Roosevelt’s policies. Even in the Carpenters and Miners unions there is a grow- ing number of locals that have endorsed Roosevelt. Neither Hutcheson nor Lewis has yet ventured out to get local en- dorsements for their candidates. Republicans hopes for an AFL split-off from Roosevelt also dimmed when William Green said the Republican la- bor plank was “disappoint- ings.” : Thus far, every AFL conven- tion in recent months, except for a couple where a non-parti- sanship tradition was in effect, has endorsed Roosevelt, - while the ClO represents a solid bloc supporting him. The section of the GOP plat- form titled “labor” will certain- ly not attract labor suport. It runs true to the big business: point of view which, as Wendell Willlie noted, has become a tra- dition. in the Republican Party. Whitehorse Citizens Ask Ottawa For Services WHITEHORSE, Y.T.,—Citizens of Whitehorse have petitioned Prime Minister Mackenzie King for immediate local improvements, including construction of a sewage and water systems, and hard surfacing of streets which in spring are deep in mud and water and in summer thick with dust. Over 500 residents of White- horse, representing all shades of political opinion, signed the petition, which was initiated by members of the Labor-Progres- Sive Party here. The Yukon Territory has no self government. There is an elective council of three repre- senting the centers of White- horse, © Daavson. City and Mayo centers. This council, together with a Yukon administrator ap- pointed by Ottawa, constitutes the government-of the Yukon territory. It meets annually for a short session. “From: all past experience, regardless of what the elective representatives may propose, and in the majority of! cases their ~mreposals are’ vetoed by Ottawa, the territorial govern- ment is in the hands of the fed- erally-appointed administrator. Particularly is this true where financial expenditures are in- volved,” Tom MeEwen, LPP organizer for British Columbia, who recently visited this city, commented. “With such a .caricature of government it is clear that even such elementary require- PCPPA Organize 13 Locals In B.C. CLOVERDALE, B.C. — Paci- fie Coast Poultry Producers As- sociation now has 13 active locals in British Columbia, in- eluding three on Vancouver Is- land, it is announced by the executive of that organization. Two thousand poultry men are expected to be enrolled in the association next spring, accord- ing to Glem Willingdale, organ- izer and first president. At a meeting recently at New- ton, over 80 poultry producers in the district formed a new local of the association. Officers elected were: W. J. Dwyer, president; Victor A. MacDonald, vice-president; and Charles Wright, secretary. ments aS sewage and water systems, streets and other pub- lic services have been disgrace- fully neglected in Yukon cent- ers and particularly in White- horse.” DIR A charge of 50 cents for each insertion of five lines or less with 10 cents for each additional line’ is made for notices appear- ing in this column. No notices will be accepted later than Wed- nesday midnight of the week of publication. NOTICES East End LPP Branch meets every second Wednesday at 8 p.m. and every fourth Sunday at 1:30 Pp-m. each month at 875 East Hastings. Hastings East LPP Branch meets every second and fourth Friday each month, 8 p-m., at Club roms, 2443 Fast Hastings St. North Vancouver LPP Branch meets every second and fourth Wednesday each month, 8 p.m., at 1320 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver. South Hill LLP Branch meets every Second and fourth Wednesday each month, 8 p.m., in Horticultural Hall, 41st Avenue and Fraser. South Vancouver LLP Branch meets every second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Nerquay Hail, Kings- way at Slocan. Swing Shift Meeting All Vancouver LLP members are urged to attend swing-shift meetings held on the second and fourth Wednesday, 1 p-m., at 531 Homer Street. West End LPP Branch meets every second. and fourth Friday each month, 8 p-m. at 1332 Davie Street. Its most poisonous passag phrases lifted from edi of the United Mine W, _ Journal. : Labor’s principle dem concerning the postwar p —a share in planning, a ance against open shop di assurance of a full-em ment and full-produ economy—all are ignere the GOP platform. Unions : Pla Protest Me VALLEYFIELD, Que.— ed Textile Workers of An _ and Munitions Workers Fy Union have anounced ¢ large trade union confe will be held here this wee The meeting has been : to protest the vandalism mitted recently, when the ¢ union hall was turned 7 shambles by subversive ments inspired and led b secret Order of Jacques tier. The meeting will be att by. textile delegates from parts of the province and ing trade figures from treal, and it expected that i demand a full public enqu’ the circumstances surrou the organized riot and pi ment of the leaders respor’ SS > =< Se TORY tory Square LLP Branch meets every s and fourth Friday each 8 p.m., at 531 Homer. Kitsilano : LPP Branch will hold a s) meeting Wednesday, July p-m. at Pime Hall; Bighil Pine Street. Subject, “The eral-Labor Coalition.’ Ope the public. : Social Saturday, July 29, 8:30 p. the Creation Hall Clower 600 Campbell Avenne. { sored by the Victory Glee - Dancing every Saturday r 9 p.m., throughout the seas Seymour Park (Swedish P) north end of Second Nai Bridge. Sponsered by the Canadian Aid to Russia E Auxiliary No. 1, want se and workers. Send used clot of all kinds to 835 West Pei MArine 2744. Oldtime dancing to Al Garl: Orchestra every Wednesday Saturday. HASTINGS AUDITORIU 828 Hast Hastings Phone: HA. 3248 Moderate rental rates for cials, weddings, meetings, ‘ VACATION RESORTS Spend a PLEASANT VACATION —at—= = SELMA LODGE Selma Park, B.C. G. NEAL Formerly of Shelly Coffee § Phone BAy. 6430-¥ For Information