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BRITISH COLUMBIA’S PROGRESSIVE HOME NEWSPAPER

FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY

oneeenm rern(eeree

- FULL. No. 231.

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1939

ZS ® 5 Cents

Sockeye Season Opens June 25

‘Little Ships’ And Union Men Head For Salmon Ground

By AL PARKIN

On Sunday, June 25, at 6 pm a signal gun will be fired from government fisheries patrol boats in Rivers and Smiths Inlets and before the echoes have died away in the timbered hills, several thousand gillnet fishermen, already impatiently lined up for the signal, will haul back on the throttles, give the wheel a twist, and break across the boundary into fishing territory to open up the 1939 sockeye salmon season.

Saimon fishing is actually unders to wealmess

way now—has been since June 7

when the trollers went out after-}

the bluebacks in the Gulf ef Geor- gia. But the big run really begins with the sockeye at “Rivers and Smiths” to continue for six weeks. And gillmetters have been prepar— ing for the opening for several weeks overhauling gear and boats, mending nets, with hun- dreds of them even now ready for the passage north te the grounds and the hoped for big season.

‘There’s justification behind the hopes for a good season this year, too.. For the first time in many years, fishermen will be able te fish instead of starting out by fightine the canners for @ fair price. And hand the cre— dit fer this situation to two fighting unions — the Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Union and the Salmon Purse Seiners’ Union, _Federal Eocal i4i.

Over three weeks ago both these erganizations concluded two year agreements with every major can- ning company operating on the Coast covering increased prices, union recognition and the check— off system or dues payments. 5

Qn. the sockeye run alone. these egreements will bring fishermen an increase of one cent per fish Over last year—which adds up to plenty when the season is fin- ished—in fact, may help to make the difference between a winter stake and the relief line.

The important fact behind the wictory on prices lies in the possi- bilities opened up in the way of organization and future stabiliza- tion of the industry.

The last few years of continu- ous struggle on prices, of strikes forced in most cases by the operators, is traceable directly

ef organization. 'Perhaps the cannery operators have realized this at last. In any “case, the achievements of this year have swung the door wide open toe a union organization drive which fishermen are con- fident will change the entire picture in the industry, stabil- ize prices and employment, make possible;~greater investments in improved -equipment, and per- haps niore important still, force through 2 more commonsense system of fish conservation, one oi the vital questions facing both workime fishermen and

Canners, though the latter are apparently not yet aware of the

As to the: tmportance of all this to British Cohimmbia’s people—just giance for a Moment at the mag- nitude of this basic industry.

Fishing on the Coast-employs in the neighborhood of 17,000 men and women, with about 9000 actually engaged on the grounds and the remainder in Canneries and relat- ed activities. When the -season has ended, these 17,000 people will have caught and canned fish worth some $19,000,000 (figures for 1938) 4 while the value of the “ditferent) salmon varieties—sockeye, cohoe, springs, chums and pinks—runs around $14,500,000 alone. Alto- gether, the British Columbia catch is almost equal some years to the total production for all the rest of Canada.

Then take the amount of gear involved—some 8000 trolling and gilinet boats under five tons, and worth approximately $3,000,000; some 300 vessels, mostly seiners,

(Continued on Page 5)

See LITLE SHIPS

Pearson Refuses To Aid Discriminated Single Men

Refusing to alter his former decision with respect to the un- employment situation aifecting single men, Hon. G S. Pearson, minister of labor, this week held out his government’s previous

offer to provide 80 percent of the relief costs for single provin- Cial jobless but refused to assist @meeting but thereis nothing fur-

transient men.

There are at present some 200 Single men who have been denied entrance to the summer camps, which have been opened up as an extension of the winter relief scheme, and aiso refused direct re- lief.

Mayor Telford is apprehensive that unless the government takes s50me steps to alleviate the distress among the single men some unto- Ward action may be precipitated on the first anniversary of Bloody Sunday, June 19—the date when Single jobless men were forcibly driven from the Post Office by RCMP with tea gas and riot sticks

Remembrance of that occasion seems to have no effect on the labor minister who states the mayor will have to arrange a

ther to discuss on the question.

A request from the Relief Pro- ject Workers’ Union for a tag day to support the discriminated men got no further than Ald. Gut teridge’s motion which found no supporters. However, the men were permitted to hold an unofficial tag day Wednesday.

Representatives of the RPWU have sougyit Mayor Telford’s aid in getting an audience with G. 8S. Pearson in order to refute asser- tions which will be made by the labor minister when the mayor and a number of business men meet him to discuss the situation.

But they have been given to understand that the business men do not want them there since there is a feeling of enmity and a desire ot break up the organization rather than deal with the problem of un-

employment.

CCF Provincial Parley Scheduled Here June 23

Seriousness of the international situation with its threats of war holds the spotlight at the forthcoming seventh annual con- vention of the CCF scheduled to get underway Friday evening,

June 23. A resolution recommending that the National Ex- >of the delegates.

ecutive hold its convention this year will come before the delegates,

according to Herbert Garprave, provincial secretary The national convention has

only been meeting every two years, but this year it is felt that an an- nual convention should be held in wiew of the gravity of the situation in Europe.

Rescinding of a motion passed at the Kamloops convention last year which prohibits a member

from holding two public offices is likely to meet with the approval

z

Jews throughout the world

SCENE IN the court of the Rehavia Gymnasium in tested Britain’s plan te establish the Jews as a pe

XS : je > Sa nae

{JEWS PROTEST AGAINST BRITAIN’S LAW

Jerusalem as Jews of Palestine pro- rmanent minority in their “promsied land.”

have charged Britain with betrayal and failure to live up to

the terms of the Balfour agreement.

McKEAN TQ RUN IN E. KOOTENAY

Fergus McKean, BC secretary of the Communist Party, has accepted nomination as candidate in the Gast Kootenay constituency for ithe coming federal election.

Announcement to this effect was Mmiade last weekend by Robert err, party organization secretary, who revealed that Mr. McKean had meceived.<@ .mnumber -of _ requests from voters in the riding to allow his name to go forward.

The seat is held at present by ton. H. H. Stevens, one-time leader ef the Reconstruction Party and now right-hand man of Dr. R. Manion, M.P., Tory leader. Stevens will not contest the seat in the next election but will leave the field open for Dr. R. McKinnon, Con-

FERGUS McKEAN

servative candidate. Liberals have not yet nominated.

McKean, who has been secretary of the Communist Party in BC for the past three years, has a lengthy record of service in the labor movement to his credit.

A trade unionist of long standing, he was chairman of the original Lumber Workers’ Industrial Union in the Barnet mill, and up to 1935 was engaged at different periods as sawmill organizer for that union, being a neycecutive board member.

Later he was active in organiz- ing work among Vancouver sea- men, and during his residence in Burnaby became well known for his work on behalf of Burnaby’s unemployed citizens.

A fourth generation Canadian of Wova Scotian stock, Mr McKean has resided in the Greater Vancou- ver area for the past 20 years.

A great deal of controversy on this question has been raised since Dr. Lyle Telford was elected mayor while at the same time retaining his seat in the legislature for Yancouver East. Other resolutions of importance favor an embargo on shipment of war materials to aggressor coun- tries and a boycott of goods com- ing here from the warring nations. Delegates will be entertained at a reception and tea Friday after- noon (today) at the Palomar by the

Women’s Central Group.

Garland Choice For New Westminster

NEW WESTMINSTER, June 15. —E. J. Garland, CCE national or- Sanizer, was chosen this week to represent the New Westminster federal riding at a nominatins con- vention in the Edmonds CCF club- rooms.

Forty-two delegates present from elubs in the constituency plumped heavily for Garland, giving him 38 votes and Robert Cormack 4, while George Weaver did not poll a single vote.

Cormack asked that the vote be decared unanimous.

Union Submits Proposals To Settle Bakery Strike

Confectionery Workers’ Union,

Following a short meeting Justice Manson’s chambers be- tween both parties to the dispute; ait was agreed the hearings would be postponed pending submission of a new agreement to terminate the seven months’ old strike.

Thursday Business Agent John Humphreys met with Secretary P. R. Bengough of the Trades and Labor Council and later submitted the union’s proposals for a strmke settlement to Mr. Justice Manson.

The union proposes that all former employees be reinstated within 14 days and that both sides

agree to meet within a month to negotiate an agreement based on existing agreements in other bak-

ery plants.

Tf these terms are acceptable to bakery manager J. C. Brault, the union will undertake to assist the firm in re-establishing its business, almost wrecked by the strike, by boosting the bakery products.

Tf Brault disagrees, the trials will proceed next Tuesday.

The strike was called by the union when the management failed to implement the unanimous dc cision of a government arbitration board award which gave the em- ployees an upward revision in wages and other concessions.

Since that time the bakery, thorugh its counsel, IT. P. Elder, sought an ex-parte injunction which was blocked by union of ficials and then later an interim injunction, this too was disallowed. Then the counsel applied for an injunction restraining members of the union from picketing the prem- ises and also asked for damages.

PROJECT STRIKE

WINS DEMANDS

SHAWINIGAN LAKE, BC, June 15.—Settlement of a strike on a compromise basis was effected at Project Camp 5 when i2 men dis- charged for picketing the mess hail in protest against Lorne Travers, one of the crew, were reinstated.

The men in camp by a secret yote of 79 to 12 demanded the transfer of Travers to another camp because of his disruptive tactics among the union members, and when the re— quest was refused picketing started. The pickets were fired, which led to the entire crew striking in sym- pathy.

Relief Administrator EB w. Grif fiths and other camp officials at— tempted to escort Travers through the picket line with threats against the men that assault charges would be laid if Travers was touched.

Travers, who was in the news last winter over his attempts at disrup- tion, was moved from the mess table of the men objecting to his presence to the foreman’s table.

Hearings on a picketing injunction and damage claim being sought by the Woman’s Bakery against the AFT, Bakery and +

held in Supreme Court before

Justice Manson, was adjourned Wednesday until Tuesday, June 20, pending further negotiations.

in >

[INT'L EMBARGO

MEET CALLED

Word was received in Vancouver this week by A. M_ Stephen, BC secreary of the Pacific Northwest Embargo Committee, that a con- ference of delegates from all states and provinces bordering on the Pacific from Alaska to Mexico will open in San Francisco on July 1.

This gathering, which will at- tempt to press on the governments of Canada and United States the urgent need of ending the traffic in war materials with Japan, has been called partly in response to a statement issued by the Chinese Republie to the effect that the war in the Far East “would be over in 18 months if aid from this coast and scrap iron shipments from Pacific ports could be stopped”

The proposed conference will as- semble delegates from Alaska, BC, Washington, Oregon and California and representing some 450,000 peo- Ple affiliated to the Pacific North- west Embargo Committee

Delegates will deal primarily with the embargo on war materials to Japan, the boycott of Japanese goods, and methods of counteract- ing Japanese propaganda in Can- ada and the US

Preliminary arrangements are in the hands of the California Com- mittee Against War Shipments, which was appointed by the San Francisco Church Federation and enlarged to include other religious, civic, women’s and labor groups

/ ORGANIZATIONS

—§

SEEK START ON

City Council Will _ Deliberate Issue In Friday’s Meeting

Representatives of a number of organizations will attempt to induce the City Council Friday (today) to take advantage of the provisions of the Dominion Housing Act wheréby $1,328,- 000 now lying idle*in the fed- eral treasury would provide wages for Vancouver tradesmen and re- lief housing congestion in the city,

The Civic Housing Committee will again bring the question for-— ward and recommend the city’s ac- ceptance of Part Two of the act, which has been the stumbling block in previous discussions in the Council. The main objection of the epponents of the scheme is that a privileged class of taxpayers would be created because of the low rates payable on the total cost of con= struction.

But the champions of the scheme have been gathering facts and will present a strong case for its adop- tion. Ald) Helena Gutteridge has a number of instances to prove that the city would benefit from the project, :

Social service, fire and police costs would be greatly reduced if the “city would take a bold step and abolish entire blocks of slim dwellings replacing them with low rental homes, according to the woman alderman.

Tax sale lands which have pro- duced no revenue since they re— verted back to the city would not only provide homes for workers in the low income brackets but would increase the property value of the

| eCity. Organizations supporting the civic housing committee are:

Trades and Labor Council, Build- ing Trades Council, Greater Van- couver Youth Council, Local Goun- <il of Women, in each case having

@ number of affiliated groups, the Canadian Housings Association, Waneouver branch, and 2 number of religious and fraternal organ-= izations.

The call for delegates to appear at the City Council giving support te the scheme was sent out by the Housing Association. Last weelz the Trades and Labor Gouncil re- iterated its stand on the question when the association asked en- dGorsement of the clause and in- vited representatives to support the recommendation when brought up in the Council by the civic housine committee.

While the plan has been shelved on Frevious occasions there is 4 feeling that with strong representa- ition the opposition will fade.- Bitterest opponent of the scheme “is Alderman John Bennett.

Park Symphonies Again Inaugurated

Commencing Sunday, June 25, concerts will be given every Sun- day afternoon in the Music Bowl, Stanley Park, at 3 pm until the end of August.

Imaugurating the outdoor series of concerts for the benefit of Van- couver citizens, who take advan- tage of the park during the sum- mer months, will be the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra under Allard de Ridder.

Pioneer Miners Apply For Arbitration Board

international Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers after reject- ing a company union setup, the miners were faced with their first fight when the management dis- charged one of the most active unionists. District President Tom Forkin was immediately called to the scene and advised local union officials to apply for arbitration under the provincial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Vote on the question found 159 in favor and 59 opposed or a 72 percent majority. Wot all of the 250 men eligible voted, since many union members were away on holidays.

Conciliation Commissioner

Special to the Advocate GOLDBRIDGE, BC. — WHardock miners in Pioneer, key gold producer in the Bridge River district, will apply for arbi- tration in a dispute over the discharge of an employee for union

activity, as a result of a ballot taken by the crew this week. Recently organized into the CIO.

>James Thomson has been called jin to take charge of the arbitration hearings:

After dealing with other matters relating to union work, Forkin left for Trail on Thursday where he will confer with union officials there On the development of the union campaizgn in Trail, now re ported to be meeting with increas ; ing suppc#t by the several thou- sand smeltermen employed by the CPR-controlled Consolidated Min-= ing and Smelting Company

The international union has al- ready applied to the company for permission to take a vote among the smeltermen to decide between the Workmen’s Committee and the

union.