At the City Hall

Public Service
---Or Promises?

By Cynthia Carter

Y father had read Mark Twain when he was a boy. So one day

when he figured it was about time my brother took over the
job of rakine the lawn, he decided te try out the old- Tom Sawyer
fence-whitewashine trick.

My father picked up the lawn rake, and with assumed en-
thusiasm began to rake the autumn leaves into a pile.

ce “My goodness, this certainly is fun,” said my father with
forced cheerfulness. “I certainly do like raking these leaves.”

My brother, a modern child, looked up serenely.

“Well, dad, I’m glad you like it,? said my brother, “because
I sure don’t.” :

That incident came to my mind this week, after listening:
to Non-Partisan aldermen toss verbal roses at themselves, their col-
leagues, and the Non-Partisan Association, which they insist has
served the public unselfishly, wholeneartedly, and well during its
term of power.

last week, after aldermen had told each other what swell
fellows they were for giving in to public pressure to the extent
of allowing 100 homes for veterans +o be built, a fellow reporter
at the city hall press table leaned back in his chaiz in diseust.

“I’m glad those fellows are kidding themselves they're wear-
ing halos,” he said, “because they sure aren’t kidding tne public
any more!”

Slum Clearance Pledoed in 738

Hk Non-Partisans started in on their campaign of kidding the
public early in November, 1937, when the Non-Partisan Assoc-
iation was formed at an intimate little meeting of liberal and
conservative bosses, big industrialists, and smalltime local. re-
actionaries at Hotel Vancouver. The purpose of the new organ-
ization was declared to be: : :

“To develop a proper sense of civic consciousness and a due
sense of Civic pride on the part of the electors to the end that
worthy men and women shall be elected to the offices of mayor,
aldermen, school board trustees and park commissioners, and to
oppose introduction of party politics into Wancouver’s civie ad-
ministration.”

The Association was efficiently managed by a group of
businessmen who brought in Gerry McGeer’s old campaign man-
. ager as organizer, and before long the “Non-Partisans” had civic
polities completely in their grip. They became adept at making
elaborate campaign promises, which turned out to be as brilliant-
ly deceptive as a circus sideshow poster.

If the Non-Partisans had kept their election promises, Van-
couver would be a much happier city to live in. We would have
better streets, better housing, a better parks system, more public
playgrounds, and our slums would have disappeared a long time
ago. (Ald. George Miller promised us a large slum-clearance
program back in his election campaign of 1938. Now we have
Miller, but we still have slums!) Unfortunately, these promises
are quietly packed in mothballs after each election day, to be
unpacked and aired when election time rolls around the follow-
ing year.

“Something Else Beside Oratory”

HIS week civic employees await a Major decision from the
Civic Conciliation Board on the question of wage increases and

_ amendments to a civic Wage-setting brief which has been out of

date since 1939. The decision will mean a lot to the civic work-
ers, who are the lowest paid government employees in the
province. -

Monday I spoke to Ald. George Miller, a member of the
committee who is investigating the case. That is, the committee
which will investigate the case after it is formally set up at a
council meeting, which won’t be held until September, because
the aldermen are taking another month’s holiday. That is, the
committee which, after it “investigates” must make a report to the
civic conciliation board, which-will submit proposals to the city
finance committee, which will report back to the city council
at its next meeting, and then the city council will formally con-
sider the Civic Employees Federation demands. This is known
as “official council proceedure.”

In the meantime, the workers, are waiting. And they aren’t

too hopeful.

They remember that a year ago certain aldermen struck out
at the principle of the closed shop, and declared it fascist. The
Non-Partisan who was most vicious in his attack, Ald. Gharles
Jones, is 2 member of the “Investigatinge committee.” Ald, Miller,
too, has declared that any wage increases, no matter how justi-
fied, will “lead to wholesale demands right down the line,” des-
pite the fact that the employees representatives are makine con-
crete suggestions for salary adjustments which they do not plan
to increase.

' The Non-Partisans hate labor, and their attitude is obvious
in their treatment of labor in their own back yard—the workers
on the city payrolls.

But oh! Those election promises! Listen to this. :

“T have a deep-rooted interest in labor, in the right of worl
ers to organize for collective bargainine, And TI say this: the
man who fails in his duty to labor fails in his duty to the people
of Vancouver.” :

Believe it or not, those words were spoken by none other than
Mayor J. W. Cornett, campaigning for election in 1940.

The Non-Partisans, in short, talk a good fight. Which leads ~
_ us back to avery interesting election “promise,” made by Mayor

Cornett in the 1940 ecampairon.

“What we need in the city hall is something else beside
oratory,” said the mayor “Oratory may fool the people for a
while, but not all the time. To succeed, a civie administration
must try a little plain sanity, and a little less talk.”

Truer words, your worship, were never spoken!

Co-op Carries Fight to. City Hall

Renew Demand for Plant Permi

Emphasizing the important contribution of their fish liver oil plant to the econen
of British Columbia, members of the United Fishermen’s Co-operative Society, at
packed special meeting on Saturday, August 19, armed their tepresentatives with a ne
submission to the City Council for a permit to proceed with the building of a plant

the foot of Victoria Drive.

In a comprehensive resolu-
tion, unanimously adopted, the.
fishermen pointed out the im-
portant contribution being:
meade by the co-operative move-
ment, and its vital role in- de-
veloping: Vancouver as a centre
for the Pacific Coast fishing in-
dustry.

Pointing out that the produc-
tion of the vitamin oils is an
essential part of our war effort,
Co-op officials said that, if
Vancouver City Council would
not grant the necessary permit,
it would become necessary to
find a site at Prince Rupert.
While this would be a regrettable
move jn the development of
Vaneoucer as a major centre
for the fishing industry, the
Co-op would have no other al-
ternative if the city council
adopts the present recommen-
dation of its building sub-com-
mittee.

Co-op officials felt, however,
that as the question of objec-
tionable odor was the basis of
last weeks’ rejection, by the
buildings sub-committee, of
their application, the renewed
representations would clear up
any misunderstanding which
had arisen and clear the way
for the granting of the permit.
The officials were emphatic in
denying that there would be
any objectionable odor from the
new plant.

They cited the favorable re-
port of the City Health Depart-
ment and their own guarantee
to install the most modern de-
vices for elimination of odors.

In addition the officials de-
nied that the proposed site is
in a residential area. ‘“‘Actual-
ly,” a spokesman said, “the area
has been classified as ‘heavy in-
dustria? by civic town ~IJan-
ners.”

“The essential reason why
the city council should . grant
the permit still stands,” the
spokesman pointed out. “It
would be a serious blow to our
city’s future to lose the fish oil
plant now. The industry, while
it has already achieved a major
position in the vitamin oil in_

Drive Launched
For Playground

Residents of the congested
area bounded by Oak and Main
Streets between Broadway and
False Creek are urging upon
civie authorities the necessity
of building a children’s play-
ground in their district. The
campaign was instituted by
members of Fairview Tabor-
Progressive Party club.

“There are no parks in our
district, and no playgrounds,”
declared Mrs. Jean’ Mason,
member of the Fairview club.
“We have canvassed every
house in the area, and almost
without. exception householders
have placed their signatures to
a petition asking for immediate
construction of a park and play-
ground, to be followed by open-
ing of a community center.”

The campaign has the back-
ing of R. Rowe Holland, chair-
man of city Parks Board, who
met with LPP representatives
and advised them to continue
with their canvas and to send
a “strong delegation” to the
next Parks Board meeting. Hol-
land placed the case before Wm.
Calder, of the Parks Board sub-
committee on community acti-
ties.

dustry on the Pacific Coast,
shows definite prospects of be-
coming a permanent and valu-
able part of our city’s develop-
ment. Immediate plans already
eall for expansion of the pres—
ent manufacturing process,
and, in addition, the opening of

cold storage facilities and
fresh fish department. Su
plans call for every encourag
ment from our civic represe

tatives. We expect them
live up to their responsibiliti
as builders of Viancouver.”

Board Decision on Wages
Unacceptable to BCER Union

Street Railwaymen’s Union members will meet th
weekend to consider decision of the Regional War Lab
Board, handed down this week, and decide what ste
will be taken regarding what is termed by union officia
as an entirely unsatisfactory’ decision.

The decision gives all cate-
gories of employees on the
Lower Mainland a blanket in-
erease of 44% cents. This was
compared. by Charles Stewart,
union business agent, with the
original application for wage
increases ranging from 10 to 16
cents an hour and averaging
close to 16¢e for the majority of
the men. “I don’t think the
men will stand for it. Especial-
ly as the decision means a re-

DIR

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.

Branch Meetings

East End

LPP Branch meets every second
Wednesday at 8 p.m. and every
fourth Sunday at 1:30 p.m. each
month at 875 Hast Hastings.

Hastings East _

LPP Branch meets every second
and fourth Friday each month,
8 p-m., at Club roms, 2443 Bast
Hastines 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, 4ist Avenue and Fraser.

South Vancouver

LLP Branch meets every second
and fourth Wednesday of each
month at Norquay Hall, Kings-
way at Slocan.

West End

LPP Branch meets every second
and fourth Friday each month,
8 p.m. at 1332 Davie Street.

Anniversary Social—
Commemorating the first anni-
versary of the Labor-Progres-
Sive Party, Hastings Bast Club
will hold an Anniversary So-
cial on Saturday, August 26,
starting at 8:30 p.m. in their
hall at 2443 East Hastings. Re-
freshments will be served and
an interesting program has
been arranged. The public is
welcome.

=

A charge of 50 cents for each ~

See

duction in wages for part of 9
members, the bus operators
the Mount Tolmie Line in V;

_toria.”

Advisory Board of the Uni
met Thursday to consider ze
emmendations to the membe
ship meetings. Officials j
fused to make these recomme
dations public but there is ;
doubt that the War Labor Boa
decision will be rejected by @
membership.

Swing Shift Meeting

All Vancouver LLP membe
are urged to attend Swing-shi
meetings held on the second al

feurth Wednesday, 1 p.m
531 Homer Sireet.

T

NOTICES

Wanted to Rent—

Suite or rooms, furnished or
furnished, by September
Phone MA. 6929.

For Sale—

Spanish Guitar, almost ne
cendition; price $12 3; Phone MM.
4179:

Dancing every Saturday nish
9 p-m., throughout the season .
Seymour Park (Swedish Park
nerth end of Second Narroy
Bridge. Sponsored by the SD!

Canadian Aid to Russia Fun
Auxiliary No. 1, want sewe
and workers. Send used clothir
of all kinds te 835 West Pende
MArine 2744.

Oldtime dancing te Al Garlson
Orchestra every Wednesday ar
Saturday.
HASTINGS AUDITORIUM
828 East Hastings
Phone: HA. 3248

Moderate rental rates for st
cials, weddings, meetings, ett,

VACATION RESORTS

Spend a
PLEASANT VACATION
at
SELMA LODGE
Selma Park, B.C.
G. NEAL
Formerly of Shelly Coffee Sho

Phone BAy. 6430-Y
Hor Information