Hunger in Hungary. Scene in Budapest where thousands scratch in the market place in search of food. Scenes like these are prevalent in many of the liberated coun- tries, and the need for food to combat the menace of famine is vitally urgent. Across the menace of hunger falls the sinister shadow of the “great engineer’ Hoover, adept at the art of utilizing hunger to shape policies and governments acceptable to “atomic” imperialism. Harvester Trust Gets The Farmer Coming and Going - _ the following article by Alfred C. Campbell, noted authority on agrarian prob- . lems, is first in a series of, three which will deal with monopoly control in Canada and the policies which must be followed by the labor and farm movements to defeat price rises and monopoly control of agriculture. Jz is exactly one year since James S. Duncan, president of the Massey-Harris Company, re- turned from Great Britain and launched into a speaking tour de manding decreased wages, strong- er tariff protection and the con- tinuation of monopoly prices. He has addressed numerous gather- ings of capitalists. e im speeches plentifully sprink- led with unsought advice to workers and farmers to be “thrifty” and “austere” in their living habits, Duncan poured into the ears of his fellow monopolists the need for “lower costs” if Can- ada is to trade in the markets of the world at ‘competitive prices.” By lower costs Duncan meant lower wages to his employ- ees and monopoly industrial prices to farmers. O28282826782820 28.8.0. a.e.ecace Pacific Tribune with ON Al. THE Parkin AIR ‘Behind the Headlines’ “ . . Surely David Lewis, CCE national secretary, can- met seriously expect Cana- diam labor to support the British government's imper- ialist foreign policy. For if he does, then it’s as certain as death and taxes that Mr. Lewis will find himself re- pudiated by the working people of this country.” MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY -.. Daily Over... C.K.W.X. 980 On Your Dial at G p.m. jo 8eBlasele PACEFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE i06 Dunean, as bank director and director of steel, through his Many companies wields tremen- dous influence upon the economy and government policy of Gana- da. When he speaks the small fry in the capitalist skin-game listen attentively. . It should have occasioned therefore no surprise when Dun- can’s speeches were rewarded not only with a place on the di- rectorate of the International Wickel Company but with recent increase of 12% per cent in prices for implements : Whose Ox .. .? | the granting of government favors a great deal depends upon “whose ox is being gored” and the farmers of Canada wit- nessed the spectacle of Finance Minister J. L. Iisley despite pro- tests from the farm organizations defending the price increases to the implement comfanies. When the labor movement asks for increased wages Mr. Tsley can, by juggling a lot of figures, Zive the impression that wages have risen but prices only slight- ly. But when the manufacturers ask for higher prices, that’s dif- ferent. The prices and costs (read wages) -have soared tre- mendously. Therefore price in- creases are justified. By the false use of averages— stretched to the limit—Mr. Isley can prove a case for price in- creases to manufacturers and no "Wage raises for workers. Wages in the implement industry, he Said, had increased 28% per cent Since 1941 and 33 1-3 per cent in the case of Massey-Harris. In the Same period, he went on, the price of farm implements had gone up only three per cent. Strange indeed is the logic of the “Red Parlor” politicians. Mr. disley knows very well that when war broke out Canadian agricul- ture lay in a state of depression. - Harm prices remained fixed at below cost of production levels while the price of industrial goods, including Massey-Harris farm implements, began to soar. It was only through the mass ac- tion of the farmers that farm prices began to rise in ’42 and ’43. - And the workers of Massey-Har- ris have never been highly paid. The percentage which Tisley quotes for Massey-Harris when contrasted with the pre-war Wages is small indeed. IN a feeble defence of his action, lisley stated the manufactur- ers were dissatisfied. They had Sent him wires demanding fur- The Price — Racketeers! Profit- Hungry Monopolists Coin Profit : From The Hungry Of Europe increases but he, stout fel- low, intended to hold’ the against “inflation.” In one form or another these firms have all received bounties, bonuses, sub- ventions and steel drawbacks at the expense of the workers and farmers even before Confedera- ther tion. Hidden through budget ma-_ nipulations are scores of conces- Sions on duty and tariff to the favored manufacturers. Permis- Sion to raise prices is only one form of government assistance. Government protection to the Steel industry in Canada is older than Confederation itself. As early as 1859 Isaac Buchanan of Hamilton, Ontario, formed the Association for the Promotion of Canadian Industry and induced Inspector-General Cayley to im- pose tariffs against British and American steel. The steel indus- try and the railroads, basic in- vestments in the birth of Cana- dian capitailsm, have always had @s board directors those very elose to the government treasury. A. €. CAMPBELL “. . . fleecing the farmers” Amassed Huge Profits [7 “Is because of this very fa- | vored position that in many lines of manufacture where steel is heavily used, Canadian capi- talists have always been able to amass huge profits and com- pete with the United States. With their feet steadily stuck in the government pork barrel these boodlers of Big Business are also the most energetic in fighting progressive labor legislation and in refusing to mnegotiate with unions. They are the descendants of the Toronto “Red Parlor” protec- tionists who supplied the tories with election funds and received it back in tariff and bonus fa- vors from the budget. They faith- fully follow the advice given by Sir John A. Macdonald: “Tell the government what protection you require,” he ad- vised, “and the government will carry your wishes out to the best of its ability.” Railroads, steel mills and im- plement companies—chiefly Mas- sey Harris—have been the favor- ites of every succeeding govern- ment. Tron and Steel Bounty Act of 1899 was passed to help the two steel plants at Sydney, Nova Scotia, and Sault Ste. Marie, On- tario, before the latter was even built. Millions of dollars were paid out of the government treas- line. ury. Along with that, legislation Was passed guaranteeing that all rails for Canadian roads be made in Canada while a heavy duty was imposed on American rails- _fhere was no steelworkers’ union or United Automobile Workers’ Union in those days. The slightest talk of union or revision in wages upwards meant - instant dismissal. The steel and implement workers never shared in the guaranteed high profits of the steel barons and implement tycoons. Wages were much low- er then; working conditions un- bearable. It has been revealed in 2 num- ber of Royal Commission and Sundry investigations that the agricultural implement centres in Qntario, located at Hamilton, Toronto and Brantford, amassed huge fortunes for the Massey- Harris, Cockshutt and Interna- tional Harvester Co. steel bosses. Presidents of these companies are always advisors to the gov- ernment as well as directors of various banks. When James S. Dunean says that in order for Canada to compete in the inter- national. market costs must be reduced, he has in mind the tra- ditional practices of the Massey- Harris Company- These include high tariffs, government subsidies, steel draw- backs, lower wages to workers and monopoly prices for farm implements to Canadian farmers. Through such practices Massey- Harris is able to sell Canadian binders and other farm machin- ery in England, Australia’ and Argentina at much lower prices than in Canada. The home mar- ket is corralled for them by tariff manipulations while under other clauses they may, on proof of export, receive a certain percent- age of duties paid on raw ma- terial. There is more than one way of skinning a cat and certainly with nearly a hundred years’ experi- ence finance ministers and steel bosses can pad a budget te hide a lot of steel drawbacks. Paid Low Wages IW-it suits Massey-Harris, Dunean tells the farmers through Carefully plunked ad- vertisements and statements that the costs of labor “are respon- sible for the high prices ef ma- ehinery. On the other hand he _tells the workers that lack of markets and government price controls which gives cheap ma- chinery to the farmers are rspon- sible for low wages. In the past year, Massey-Harris has not only been able -to lay aside funds for huge plants but has also made five million dollars net profit. The workers have not fared so well in the implement plants While Massey-Harris Made huge profits during the depression years of the “Hungry Thirties” not one of its workers—even the most highly skilled (aside from executives)—made over 56 cents per hour- Moulders, machinists, &rinders, drillers and others were paid approximately 50 per cent below trade-union rates operative in other industries for similar work. Implement Cartel |) ESSE AEE knows all the angles of what might be termed scientific methods of speed up, minute cutting, and other means of piece work. What is known as “organie capital” plays a big role in the accountan- cy department of Massey-Harris which in 100 years has become 2 ereat implement cartel. The jug- gling of accounts have deprived the workers and also the govern- ment of large quantities of wages and revenue. The farmers and workers of Canada are getting wise. Strike scene at the International Harvester plant in Chicago, where the tions to meet rising living workers demanded wage restora- costs. The Harvester Trust promptly moved for a boost in prices in the USA and Canada to keep up their high profit levels, and got it. King’s price boost gave the farm machinery trust a break, but the Canadian farmer and the Canadian worker got scant consideration. ERIDAY, MAY 3, 1946 extension of |