I { I C L ) There they are _. . Canada’s babies. They “like milk and oranges, playgrounds and nurseries. Their mothers— you, Mrs.. Canada, are worrying how these necessities are to be found, with the price’ of milk and fruit and clothing and lumber, and all those things that make for healthy, happy children going up. Mr. King’s lifting ef price controls, plus Mr. Ilsley’s budget provisions, plus monopoly’s determination to keep wages far be- low prices. means less milk, less oranges, less nutri- tien, less happiness for our children. By Elizabeth Morton PRICES continue to sdear in Canada, Compared with the prices of June, 1939, the prices of June 1946 are away out of line entirely with any wage increases granted. For instance, in June, i939, rib roast cost 22 cents compared with June, 1946, when it costs 42 cents. This means a 90 percent in- - crease. Certainly wages have not gone up te the same extent In fact, a weekly budget of $27 in 1939 for a family of five now- re quires $37. And even in those days when prices were compar- atively low a family of five did not by any Means have a high standard of living. Certainly the average wages have not increased by $10 week- ly but living costs have. Every— thing has gone up. Rent, fuel, food, milk and everything else So necessary to assure an avyer- age family of a decent living— and normal health—has soared away in advance of wages. During the war when wages were at their highest peak, not because of hourly increases but because of longer hours’ overtime, the workers’ consumption of food increased. With the present price increases and reduced hours — which cuts down pay envelopes— Ottawa priority—hit PACIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 12 many things will be wiped off the table because of the inability of mothers to buy the required fruit, milk, etc., so necessary for good nutrition. The two cents increase in the price of milk falls hardest on those with big families. It means a decrease in the consumption of eggs, fruit, milk and vegetables. Income tied to food. COMPARATIVE tables show- showing the amount and kind of food eaten by people in low and high income brack- ets disclose how closely income is tied to food consumption. The people in the low-income brackets have a diet chiefly of starchy food while those who have the money and can afford it eat the more nutritious diet of fruits and vegetables. The present increase in prices will undoubtedly see a reduction in the consumption of nutritional foods. The increases in the price of furniture and bedding are eat- ing up the gratuities of the ex- servicemen. The prices of houses are exorbitant and the lack of housing was the subject of a huge protest meeting recently in Toronto. The payments on these costs of living such as frigidaires, furniture, ete., are so high that the children first! Children--inflation’s first casualties The Canadian people must fight back King’s attack on their standard of living. housewives are giving up in dis- THE working class have not gust. The result is that nothing is bought and the big manufac- turers are just as glad since their market is assured and they can hold out for a long time on strikes. War savings are quickly be- ing eaten up. And since in most cases the savings were laid aside to either build a little home, to buy furniture or 2 piece of land, everyone is dis- appointed. The circulars and advertisements by Labor Miunis- ter Humphrey revealed quite well the anxiety of the govern- ment on “the margin of profit.” The facts are, however, that Canadian capitalists made more profits and paid more dividends during the war years than any time in their history. On the picket line. . . fared so well. Hyery home is in need of some kind of re- Placements either in furniture or repairs. They can’t have it, either, because things are too dear or cannot be gotten at the present time. What are we going to da? Every housewife and every wor- ker must do everything possible to fight for higher wages and bring pressure to bear on the government to maintain genuine price control. it is perfectly clear the big Capitalist concerns intend to decrease wages and increase prices. Accustomed as they are to a very high rate of profit they have made up their minds to take it all. One year before the war ended the Canadian Tribune, in a feature article on J. S. Duncan, president of the Massey-Harris Company, Limit ed, warned the Canadian people what lay in store for them as regards prices and wages. Dun- can, who had just returned from Great Britain, said the Gana dian people must live in a more austere fashion. : Who suffers as a result? Well. we all do but particularly our children. Nutrition lacking QUE children cannot get the nutritional food nor the health-giving diets we all read about because we haven’t got the money to buy what they, need. But it could be bought. And we could have plenty of work for all if the big-shat Capitalists did not Sabotage our country’s future. And what hap- pens to our agricultural produc- tion? Because of the huge price increases which are covered up by a lot of pious statements by Labor Minister Mitchell ang Fi- nance Minister Tisley Cyho gave Massey-Harris Company a i234 percent increase) on the need of price control, some of us do mot realize how serious the price increases are nor where they are leading us. Retail food- prices| were up 50 percent in June, 1946, compared with June, 1939. The cost of living in general is up 35 per- cent across the Dominion, and we must act to save the situa- tion. Wages are down! Prices are up! Qur standard of living is be ing attacked! Every time we cut a loaf of bread it is brought home te us the serious rise in prices. We produce everything. We are entitled to live too and cer tainly we are going to fight te narrow the spread between prices and wages. Let's get together and do it! ‘Boiling Mad’ Ges SPOOD in the union office, face to face with By Rose Krehm “There’s something been botherin’ me Id like “Here, have a cigaret, Tom.” “Thanks.” “Well, what’s on your mind?” “You see, it’s this way, uh— that is, my wife and kids—” “Worried tomorrow's strike?” : “Yeah, I guess I am—you see, I was thinkin’—I mean—if some- thing happened—” “Afraid?” — “That’s right, Mac — Im afraid. Not for myself—but,—my family. If somethin’ happened to me—well; Nan’s in no condition to work. Just look what happen- ed to Yates and Sparks down at th’ Milburn strike last week— all battered up—packed away in the hoosegow—weren’t even call- ed up for trial yet.” “You can’t call that fair treat- ment.” “Naw—the dirty coppers—they don’t give a hang for anyone— about they—” “Who d’you think pays the cops ?”’ “Aw, the gover’ment—and the company does too — probably gives them extra bonuses for the dirty work they’re doin’.”’ “You satisfied with your pay, omz. “Are you kiddin’? — I don’t make enough for decent clothes for th’ kids—yeah, an’ even with the overtime I put in. This nine hours a day alone, is about breakin’ me. That’s a tough job I do. Leave early in the morn- ing—get home dead tired. Ha— by the time Tf get home, you’d think I'd be hungry enough to eat a horse—but no—not after workin’ at this all day—haven’t €ven got an appetite.’ “Is Harry Satisfied with the Fay and working conditions?” “No sirree! Why, he’s been Married nearly two years and still can’t aford to have a kid. Guess he makes just enough for him and Ruth—but a man should have a right to a fam- ily. Ha, he’s got the right to work alright—” “to. be exploited.” “Yeah, the right to be ex- ploited—we'’re free to be ex- ploited. What are the four free- doms now-—let’s see — freedom from want—that one’s a laugh— an’ there’s—freedom of worship —a-—slave all week for few the local’s secretary. totalk over.” measly dollars — then go te church on Sunday to pray for forgiveness—or maybe pray for @ raise in wages—as long as you don’t say anything to th’ bass. That one’s a card, too—but we know better—that’s why we vot ed for strikin’—it’s the oniy language the bosses understand. Now what's the other one—ob yeah—freedom of speech—that’s the one Yates got beat up for— all he does is give the men 2 pep taik—givin’ them courage to Stay on the picket line—and this rotten copper comes over and slugs him—from behind ‘too- Freedom—sure—but not for us —say, that’s only three—there’s still another—freedom of—of—” “freedom from fear.” “That's it—freedom from fear —y’know it’s funny — when © came in here, -T was afraid — afraid of gettin’ beat up or somethin’ tomorrow. But now, £ can hardly wait to get on that picket line. Now—now—well, Pm glad I had this talk with you, Mac—feel like a different per son now. Thanks a Iot.” 3 “Glad to help yeu, Tom— it’S my jeb, yknow.” FRIDAY, JULY 19, 1946"