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The People’s Advocate

Western Canada’s

Leading Progressive Newspaper

LL No. 171.

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Published Weekly

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 1938

Single Copies: 5 Cents

VOL. IV., No. 15

\ctive In

ten)

=Lompany Decides )n Mass Dissmissals

‘LUBBER BAY, BC, April ?3—Charges that the proyin- police, under direction of jor Sutherland and Corporal g#2eney are hiring men’“for Pacific Lime plant here, that the company is cease- (ite provoking its employees ) talking strike action before sboard of conciliation sits, have 1 forwarded to Hon. G. S. Pear- minister of labor, by union ‘§-ials of the International Wood- tewikers, after receipt of reports “$2 local union officials. —s ith the object of forcing the fe before the personnel of the tration board had been chosen, im Officials declare that the com- RY decided on mass dismis- @ and that 21 men have arrived 3lubber Bay; 12 by the Union Tmship line, and the rest picked at Gibson’s Landing, Sechelt other points. It was also re- med that the police had taken finitiative in this regard. must Monday, nine Ghinese who | been in the company’s employ

(continued on page 6) See PGLICGE

| Liles Will

Demonstrate

ive Thousand Single Inemployed In City

mgle unemployed will parade m2 Powell street grounds at 1 ®. Sunday, April 24, through _city to win public support for mc demand that the federal and vinecial governments abandon =f present do-nothing policy and moediately implement a public Mek program. @ccording to John Matts, unem- Ged leader, there are approxi- tely 5,000 young men near desti- on in the city. “While a num- of men are canvassing with framing sheets” from house to se, due to their complete lack gneans,”’ he stated, “a large num- of men are existing on deferred vouchers for work done on the #2stry projects.’”’ These youch- will have all run out about the Siond week in May, and then ire will be an enormous problem, added.

he Advocate learned that unem-

Byed canvassers were generally

wil received throughout the city,

@i that thre was a universal feel- for a public works program

ich will pay wages to those will- to work.

OLICE AID IN VIOLATION OF ACT CHARGED

et

Weir A

ALL & Sai

. . . of Toronto, whose broadcast over the CBR network on ‘Whither Democracy?’ was postponed by the commission last week. He will be heard over CBR here this Sunday at 7 p.m. PST.

Affiliation Is Favored

Teachers Consider Question Of Union

VICTORIA, BE, April 2i—(Spe- cial)—Important among many pro- Sressive measures under discussion at the BC Teachers’ Federation which convened here Wednesday is the report of a specially-appoint- ed committee, favoring affiliation of the federation with the Trades and Iabor Gongress of Canada. Condemnation of the Quebec pad- lock law will come before the con- vention for endorsation in the fol- lowing resolution:

“Whereas, in the opinion of the BC Teachers’ Federation, the pad- lock law is of a nature incompat- able with the judicial and demo- cratie customs and practices of Ca- madian people; therefore be it re- Solved that we protest the act strongly, and urge its repeal or dis- allowance.” i

Representation of the federation in the newly formed Civil Liber- ties Union was favored in another resolution to be presented. The padlock law resolution was en- dorsed by the Ladysmith-Chemai- nus District Teachers’ Association, and the Central] Vancouver Island Eixecutive.

Present membership of the fed- eration is 2900, an increase of 250 over last year’s reported enrol- ment, and the membership objec- tive for next year is 3200. Between 600 and 700 teachers from all parts of the province are attending the convention. i

With 261 teachers incapacitated, great anxiety was expressed by the Convention when it was announced that the Teachers’ Pension was ac- tuarilly unsound, there being a re- serve of only $12,000. Seven years ago the fund stood at $132,000.

| fon Film Award

sture Digest, “Peter the First”

fhe picture is a most unusual

®, the Digest reviewer continues, id I would have missed a great nerience if I had failed to see Brom an acting and directorial wpoint it is superb; the photog- johy ranks as good as the best /m Hollywood.

‘Jikolai Simonov, who portrays i: title role, reminded me strange- ,of Charles Laughton, in fact the *e of Peter is one that Laughton Id have played to perfection. mionoy does a Magnificent piece ?work and his performance alone ‘worth the price of admission.

cannot say that I cared for ja Tarasova, as Catherine, the evant girl who rose to be Em- SS of Russia; the role did not 2m to ring true. Nikolai Cherkas-

'y contributes a memorable per-

Tmance as Peter's son, Alexei, a

Peter The Great’ To Be Shown In City May Day

Next to Disney’s “Snow White,’ says the Canadian Motion

(which will be given a midnight

syiew at the Globe Theatre here Sunday, May 1, prior to its ening run a week later) will probably be considered the most usual production of the year.

bitter opponent to his father’s re- forms. N. Zharoy as Menshikov, W. Tarkanov as Sherementiey and K. Gibechman as Buinossoy do ex- cellent work and the rest of the east are uniformly good.

The story, by Alexei Tolstoy, traces the career of Peter from the time of his defeat at the hands of King Charles of Sweden at Warva in 1700, to the birth of his son by Catherine, *taking in his regeneration of the Russian army, his subsequent defeat of the Swedes, his humiliation of the church and the nobles, his found- ing of Petersburg and the flood of that city.

The direction of Vladimir Petrov is largely responsible for the ex- cellence of the picture and his handling of the mob scenes is as fine as any I have seen.

2

Conciliation Board Sits Saturday

Island Miners Seeking Wage Increase

UMBERLAND, BGC, April 21.— Wews that the conciliation board, adjourned since July 1937, will reconvene on Vancouver Island early next week was received by the United Mine Workers’ local last Monday from the district office. Jubilant miners declared their de- termination to win a wage increase from CGanadian Collieries Limited.

Local residents are convinced that the company can well afford to grant an increase, after revela-

tions made in the McDonald probe.

The conciliation board is the Same one set up by the federal de- partment of labor last August, mem- bers of which are: Chairman, L. W. Brockington, KG, of Winnipeg; company. representative, George Kidd, former president of the BC Blectric Railway company; Angus J. Morrison, representing the men.

At the meeting in 1937, the con- ciliation board arranged for the miners and companies to appoint

committees, following recognition of the union by operators, to study the wage question in Island mines, and attempt to work out their own solution.

At this time it was stated by the chairman, the~board would adjourn until further negotiations were earried out by committees.

Following intensive study of mining conditions, especially re- garding wages, the union commit- tee prepared an extensive brief,

presented to the officials of the op- erators on Hebruary 2 last, in Na- naimo. Operators asked for one week in order to study the report presented by the men.

At a later meeting operators turned down demands of the union, stating it was impossible to meet them.

Pat Conroy, vice-president of Dis- trict No. 18, will prepare all evidence which he will present to the board on behalf of the Island locals of the union.

INTERPRETATION

DISPUTED

“The government demands

“and that is where recognition In-a letter to Premier T. D

wished to boycott the AFL, and clear and fair interpretation of

>

Wismer, Pearson At Loggerheads On Act

Present Methods Make Possible Rapid Growth Of Many Company Unions

Division among members of the provincial cabinet on the right of trade unions to be the bargaining agent in labor disputes under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act was disclosed by Secretary P. Bengough at the Trades and Labor Council meeting Tuesday ,in reporting that a meeting of union officials with the government was being arranged.

Attacking clause five of the new labor act, which has been interpreted by the Hon. G. S. Pearson, minister of labor, to mean that a majority of employees in a given plant can be the only bargaining medium, to the exclusion of the trade union move- ment in all disputes, Bengough declared this ruling-to be “a wonderful set-up for company unions.”

that our unions register their

officers and give other particulars,” the council secretary stated,

ends.”

. Pattullo, Bengough had stated that organized labor was not yet convinced that the government

requested a meeting to establish various clauses in the act.

Morris Raps Item In Fed

CCF, Socred Relations Not Correctly Shown

Recently arrived from Saskatche- wan and Alberta, Leslie Morris, member of the dominion committee of the Gommunity party, yester- day commented here on a news story in the Federationist stating that Premier Aberhart rejected a CCF proposal to co-operate with Social Credit in the Saskatchewan elections, declaring he would vote Liberal in preference to CCE “if it came to a showdown.”

“This matter has been thoroughly discussed in Alberta and Saskatche- wan,’ Morris said, “and it is not correctly pictured in the Hedera- tionist. The fact is that Premier Aberhart denied having any official interview with Macauley of the CCF when the latter visited Edmon- ton, and, when Saskatchewan’s CCF leader George H. Williams publicly denounced Social Credit leaders, Aberhart denied the statements at- tributed to him.

“In any case, the CCE cannot expect a formal agreement with Social Credit in Saskatchewan, par- ticularly as it has been the chief eritic of the Social Credit govern- ment instead of hammering at the Alberta reactionaries in the Peo- ple’s League and the Gray Liberal machine. There is every evidence in Saskatchewan that in a number of constituencies unity will be reached by the progressives, regard- less of formal agreements. This is so already in Regina, Saskatoon, and now reportedly in Wilkie.

“There is every possibility of such co-operation, but not if CCE leaders seek to place the Social Credit peo- ple ‘on the spot.’

“The issue in Saskatchewan is not Social Credit versus Socialism. It is squarely one of defeating the Gardiner-Patterson Liberal ma- chine by progressive unity in each locality.

“In this way the Saskatchewan people can avoid the errors made in the past in this and other provinces, and learn from the popular suc- cesses in Alberta, more particularly in the recent East Edmonton fed- eral by-election. I sincerely hope the GCF in BC will see the truth of this and not make things more difficult for the ‘poverty-stricken people of Saskatchewan.”’

Rejection by the department of labor of a request by Local 954, Glassworkers’ Union, for a concilia- tion commissioner, on the ground that employees’ names had been entered on the government ques- tionnaire by the union secretary, had been taken up by Bengough, who told the council that Attorney- General Gordon Wismer did not agree with the minister of labor on this interpretation of the Act.

“Under the federal Lemieux Labor Act, which has been in force for a number of years, such regu- lations are not required, but work- ers under the new provincial leg- islation have to fill in more than a dozen forms,’’ he said.

Delegate Bill Stewart of Local 28, Hotel and Restaurant Em- ployees, reported to the council of the unsatisfactory situation in the Chanticleer cafe dispute, claiming that had the union the legal right to direct action the four discrim- inated employees would not be walking the streets.

With the Hon. Pearson’s inter- pretation of the union’s position in such disputes, the act was not only futile but a hindrance, Stewart claimed, and he urged that an in- tensive campaign for amendment or repeal be launched by organized labor.

Osterhout CCF Choice

Three Candidates In Dewdney By-Election

MISSION, BC. — Miss Mildred Osterhout, former CCE school board member in Vancouver, received the CCF nomination in the Dewdney by-election, defeating Geo. Weaver, CCF candidate in Prince Rupert last year, on the first ballot.

The nominating convention was held here Thursday of last week.

Herbert Gargrave, provincial sec- retary, Arnold Webster, William Mandale district council secretary, and James Cameron, former CCF candidate in Dewdney, all declined nomination.

Liberal and Conservative parties have both nominated, the Liberals, D. W. Strachan, former MLA, and the Conservatives, Reeve W. A. Jones of Mission.

S

Thousands To Parade

Fishing Fleet To Join In May Day

Ten thousand Vancouver citizens will parade on May Day, and may- be more if the estimate of the May Day committee is accurate. “And its a conservative estimate,” CGC. Baas, a committee member, stated.

The floats and banners will be bigger, better and more numerous, the Advocate was told, and the presence’ of a Spanish delegation will make May i, 1938, a day to be remembered.

The committee reported last Sat- urdays May Day conference to be large and enthusiastic. Fifteen trade unions sent delegates, and there were six women’s organiza- tions and 21 mass and fraternal bodies represented — a total of 84 delegates.

Highty-four boats of organized fishermen, both seine and gillnet, will sail from Steyveston, Burrard, False Creek, to parade to the Lumbermen’s Arch, Stanley Park. Each boat will be gaily decorated, and a pipe band will be aboard the leading boat.

A rally will be held on Cambie street grounds at 1 pm, when the parade will be organized, with chil- dren in the lead. Parade marshalls will be ex-servicemen and young workers from the now closed for- estry camps.

People’s Front Unity Strong

Daladier Govw’t Pledges Respect People’s Will

By JOANNY BERLIOZ. PARIS, France, April 21—Though certain weaknesses have been re- vealed in its parliamentary repre- sentatives, the People’s Front move- ment has never been stronger throughout the country.

The new government, headed by Edouard Daladier, is certainly not what the country desired, but it rests upon the obligation of re- specting the will of the people.

Wational defense depends not only upon inflation and loans, nor upon strengthening of armed forces as such. It depends primar- ily upon unity of the whole people. That unity must be directed against foreign warmongers and _ their auxiliaries in France striving to split the country into two hostile camps.

An attempt was made to isolate the Gommunist party, which, how- ever, is too conscious of its mis- sion to be provoked by such ges- tures. The Communists will not ac- cept return to reaction under guise of “National Union.”

The reactionaries believe they have gained by the Daladier gov- ernment, but the people’s enemies are mistaking their desires for reality when they proclaim this is the end of the People’s Front. The People’s Front remains united. Pre- mier Daladier has affirmed his will to remain faithful to the great people’s movement of defense of the republic and social justice.

Signs Pact

Wm. Kennedy, owner of New Method Repair Shop on Carrall Street, is the first employer to date to sign an agreement with the newly formed Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union, Local 505.

TORONTO, Ont.—United Mine Workers here has opened a cam- paign to organize 10,000 workers in the Ontario chemical Industry.

* Leslie Morris

-.. central committee member of the Communist party who will speak at the party’s rally on Powell street grounds Sunday.

Drive Passes

$1000 Mark

Ravenor Praises Fine Trade Union Support

Qne thousand and three dollars has been received to date by the joint Advocate-Clarion press com- mittee in its drive for $3,000 to maintain the two labor papers, publishing of which necessarily is dependent on reader support.

Bill Ravenor, drive manager, states that this amount is a little over $100 more than was subscribed in the same period during the drive in October last, and is due mainly to the splendid work done by com- mittees of trade unionists in Van- couver.

“But don't get the idea that suc- cess of the press drive is a fore- gone conclusion,’ Ravenor warned. “Harmer-supporters are always caught at a disadvantage this time of the year, however, much as they would like to help, and it just means that industrial workers who see the need for bigger labor press circulation must take up the slack,’ he said.

Latest trade union support has come from fishermen and loggers.

ligns Himself With Progressives

‘Two Kinds Of People At Ottawa’

‘Those Who Desire Reforms And Those Who Would Prevent Them.’

YOUTH SPEECH

“In Ottawa there are two kinds of people—the progres- Sives and the reactionaries. The progressives sincerely wish to extend social legislation to the benefit of the Canadian people. The reactionaries, on the other

hand, are trying to prevent it.”

Dr. G. M. Weir, provincial secre- tary and minister of education, made this reference to the present struggle of big business and re- actionary elements in both old-line parties to prevent passage of un- employment insurance and other social legislation, in his address, ‘Kinks In Democracy’ to the sec- ond Greater Vancouver and New Westminster Youth Congress here last weekend.

“Democracy,” he told delegates, “is topsy-turvy and in some coun- tries the fools are on top.”

In what was obviously a pointed allusion to the Quebec padlock

|law, Dr: Weir stated that if the

activities of ‘radical minorities’ were to be curbed, he wanted to know “who will define the ism?” “Who is to be the legal censor?” he asked. “Compulsion under our democracy is carried on through the sovereign will of parliament and not through a MHitler or a Mussolini.”

“For further reports on the Youth Congress see page 3.

Foreign Policy Rally Issue.

Morris To Speak At City Meet On Sunday

War or peace! This question, the concern of people everywhere to- day as armaments pile up and the menace of fascism reaches out to every democratic country, will be fully aired at an open-air mass rally to be held on Powell street grounds this Sunday, April 24, at 3 pm, under auspices of the Van- couyer city committee of the Com- munist party.

Main speaker at the rally will be Leslie Morris, central commit- tee member of the Communist party, who will deal with the for- eign policy of the King government. A speaker from the CCF has been invited, and the chaiman will be Malcolm Bruce.

—

Overwhelming Vote

Ontario Unions Form Federation Of Labor

TORONTO, Ont., April 21—By overwhelming vote an On- tario Federation of Labor was formed last week at a representa- tive conference here of locals and council of the organized labor

movement.

With 140 delegates from i114 On-©

tario locals and 11 trades and labor councils at the convention the vote was 83 to 8 in favor of the federa- tion.

Ald. J. B. Salsberg declared that such a federation would be safe guard against anti-labor legislation, of great value in organization drives, and in defending labor’s in- terests.

From the beginning of the con- vention it was apparent that small group of delegates were determined te forestall the inauguration of the federation. Nearly four hours were spent in debate, with many out-of- town delegates rising to their feet to defend the suggestion and point- ing out its benefits.

An executive committee of nine was elected to carry on the federa-

tion’s work until the convention in Hamilton next January. The mem- bers are: E. G. Russell, president; A. Haessel, vice-president; J. WwW. Buckley, secretary; W. Dunn, treas- urer; Sam Lawrence, J. R. Patter- son, T. Church, F. Collins, J. White.

A number of outside union locals wrote the convention that they sup- ported a federation, and the Fort Francis and Peterboro trades coun= Cils sent money to complete their affiliation.

Two resolutions from the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers’ Union were passed, calling for the aboli- tion of privileges to the mining companies under the Industrial Standardp Act, and calling” for a campaign io demand investigation cof industrial espionage i= Worth-

ern Ontario.