How would you like to move

into a new home? Maybe you’d rather have an apartment. Perhaps you are asking only for a couple of clean, warm rooms: Well, I can’t tell you of any va- cancies. But I have something-

Dys

to offer. Ive got some facts. Facts for the thousands of Van- couver people ~zho desperately want living accemmodation.

As you probably know, a few weeks ago the Labor-Progressive. Party launched a national cam-

_ paign for housing. We want the Dominion government to raise $1 billion, by means of a public loan like the Victory loans. With that money there would be built 50,000 homes every year, for five years—houses that could be

over, spread over five years in- stead of three?

Take the lumber situation. They say the necessary lumber cannot be found to build 50,000 homes each year. What are the facts? From the official reports of the Honorable ©. D. Howe we get this startling fact: In the year 1944—in one single year— Canada produced enough lumber to build more than 400 thousand homes.

bought or rented at a price with- in the reach of ordinary people.

This campaign is winning mass support all over the country. But what happens? Wealthy build- ers, contractors, lumber men and real estate promoters — people like that — are protesting that our plan is not practical.

Fifty thousand homes a year!” they say. “Why, it’s impossible. _ Lhere’s a critical lack of build- ing material. We can’t even fin- ish the homes we’ve started!”

Now, do you believe this story? I’m going to show that from beginning to end it’s noth- ing but empty propaganda!

[ets So after the facts. We

are asking for a billion-dollar housing scheme, spread over five years. Take note of this. In just three years, the government Spent well over a billion dollars on construction alone—450 mil_ lion for military buildines, 700 “tnillion for factories! Is it im-_ possible to do that much con- struction now, wtih the war

Port Alberni Supports LPP Home Campaign

PORT ALBERNI — Port Ai- berni city council has endorsed the LPP drive for homes. En- thusiasm for the housing cam- paign is growing in this center where homes are a major prob- lem. The lead given by the LPP program is greeted as the first practical lead produced for a solution to the critical housing shortage which is one of the pro- vinces main problems.

Democratic Unity To Oust France

PARIS—An.~ important move toward complete unity of all Spanish Republicans was achiev- ed recently when the Spanish Communist party joined the Democratic Alliance. The decision followed parleys in Madrid last month between delegates of the Communist party and of the Democratic Alliance, which in- cludes Republicans, Socialists, and the CNT (National Gonfed_ eration of Labor.) The Supreme Junta of National Union which formerly led guerrillas inside Spain has been dissoived and 2 single underground movement within the Democratic Alliance has been constituted. j

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 6&6

It sounds hard to believe. But in five years, our lumber in- dustry cut and finished 25 bil- lion board feet of lumber. That quantity of lumber is enough to build 2,400,000 homes!

So much for wood.

Those who oppose the LPP housing plan have another fav- orite alibi. “ook,” they say. “Suppose you do get the houses built. You couldn’t move in be- cause there wouldn’t be any elec- trie lights. There isn’t enouch electric wiring and fixtures to equip 50,000 homes!”

So there’s a shortage of elec- trical equipment? Let’s ask the government again. Yes,- during the war, our factories turned out 45 million dollars’ worth of elec- trical equipment. That’s enough stuff to supply ten times more homes than the housing cam- Paign calls for.

© last the opponents of pub- lie housing think they’ve got us.

| And

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(cation tells us

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“So we could get the lumber,” they admit. And we could get the wiring. But how are you going to live in houses without furnaces, without stoves, with-

out plumbing and bathtubs and basins? It’s impossible to make enough of those items to finish 50,000 homes a year!”

Phis is supposed to be a clinch- ing argument against the LPP’s housing campaign.. Can it be answered? fll leave it to you.

on Carter Asks:-

Everybody has seen a furnace. a stove. And bathtubs, wash basins. Anybody who has worked will tell you that it’s a lot hard- er, a lot more expensive, to make a big artillery shell, than it is to make a simple household item like a basin, or sewer pipe.

You’ve guessed it. The zovern- ment says we made 110 million heavy artillery shells. And we’re asked to believe that 50,000 sets of plumbing couldn’t be pro- duced!

As for furnaces, or stoves — in the war years we turned out 700,000 transport trucks. Why, even the body of an army truck costS more, and is harder to make, than a home furnace or kitehen stove!

And just in case you've heard tories about a shortage of door knobs and water taps, here’s one final fact:

An official government publi- in a rather boasting way—that Canada made enough revolver bullets to fire two shots into every man, wom- an and child on the face of the earth; Surely, if we found enough metal to kill everybody in the world twice over, we can make door knobs and water taps for just 50,000 Canadian families each year!

Now, what are we going to do about it? We demand that our government—which got gi- gantic quantities of war mater- ials by means of planning and priorities—can get all the neces_ Sary materials for housing now. We believe that our nation — which spent $18 billion for war — can spend $1 billion for hous- ing.

You want a better place to live. We all do. Acting together, the people can solve the housings: erisis. But we'll have to do more

than complain and hope. We'll have to take action!

“We Have No Material!”

A lumber shortage for build- ing purposes seems an absurd- hey ie Ae lumber-producing province of: British Golumbia. Yet this is one of the principal excuses from those who oppose government low-rental housing schemes.

What are the facts?

Officials of Vancouver pbuild- ing trades unions categorically

deny that a lumber shortage exists. They point to the ex- tensive construction work now

being carried on throughout the lower Mainland by such big firms as Smith and Wilson and Commonwealth (Construction as proof. Scores of big commercial building projects, such as new factories, additions +o factories, | and warehouses, are now in the course of eréction, with no lum-

AVDOVERCOUNXENEreneNtoiseT

ber shortages reported in any instance. | A similar situation prevails |

for other building supply limes. There are enough bathtubs, soil Pipe, inside bricks, water tanks |

and plaster materials on hand to construct anywhere from 40,- 000 to 55,000 homes in Canada right now. Government action to force the various manufac- utrers to increase their produc- tion would quickly provide fur- ther such materials for thous- ands more new homes.

Hivery survey of alleged ma- terial shortages only serves to prove that in general no such shortage exists: that where there is a lack of certain, ma- terials, there is nothing to stop the government from instructing the manufacturer to make up such a shortage and supply the housing program on a priority b Such as was done during wartime.

2 ke

For Advanced Styles LADIES’ PRESSES,

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Shep at Vogue Ladies Apparel 932 Granville St, — Vancouver, B.C.

CUO UPA Pea

erre RREECOESE

in a munitions factory |

‘ould You Like A New Home:

Housing In Cranbrook |

‘by Al Parkin. --- ®resident, Local 1-405, TWA-C

While every community in Canada is coordinating 14 efforts toward an all-out drive for proper housing, the pi ful and inadequate housing situation in Cranbrook cann}}

be passed by.

We have a town here that was constructe five years ago in the midst of a railroading and lumber

boom and since that time very few modern houses haye been built, the majority of those built could be called shacks, many of them without proper sanitary conditions or heating facilities.

At present most of our boys are back from overseas and are

finding it difficult to find suit- able living conditions, as yet there are very few war brides

here, but they are expected very shortly which will only agera- vate an already serious condi- tion. They will have to live with relatives or in garages and base- ments until someone dies, moves

away, or a decent plan for home |

construction is arrived at. One could. conservatively say that we need one hundred homes

in Cranbrook immediately to al- |

leviate in some measure the overcrowded conditions. Most of these would haye to be new houses of the five or modern type and could be within the prices range of $2,500,00 to $4,000.00 which is considered a moderately priced home in this area.

At least 30 percent of the ten- ants who are renting houses and

$18.00 to $85.00 a month have been asked by the owners vacate by May 1, or buy their dwellings for at least double the value of the houses they occupy. There have been yery few houses built since the war began in 1939. Last year some 13 small houses were built or in some cases reconditioned from old houses moved in from the now extinct lumbering town of Lumberton, although the son-in- law of one lumber baron was permitted to build last year a $7,000 dwelling.

One other thing that agera- vates the housing situation in Cranbrook is that approximately 75 employees of the CM&S Go. have been unable to find ade- quate housing in Kimberley and have for the past three years been living in Cranbrook and commuting to their work by bus. thus taking up living space in Cranbrook that should be the responsibility of the City of Kimberley. _

Relative to housing but out- side the housing erisis is the fact

34 TRANSFER

Courteous, Fast, Efficient Call HA. 6084-L

406 Alexander Street

NICK STOOCHNOV.

“MOVING-TRANSFER”

ASH BROTHERS CARTAGE

2239 Cambie PAir. 0469

d some fort:

that Cranbrook the Windermere highway whi ! has potential million dollar toi) ist trafiie this year and our toy cannot boast of one street th) is composed of presentable alg decent houses to the view of tourist. The tourist parks at @) (end of our town are a disgra- to any community and are ove crowded with families who w be evicted in May to make roc & for pay high prices for any kind | accommodation. :

to |

now | 2 | slu business section of town and 7

| B |

six-room |

{

| comment on. shacks with rent running from |

| lings : ments in Cranbrook are nothir ' | but fire and death traps, and = § | though our fire department i

|

| |

rogressive ousing in Cranbrook are:

mediately.

apartment houses.

blocks as close to the highwz as practical -so our people Wy | have at least several blocks | | presentable

situated

is

tourists who are forced

oth ay i.

labor peoples

plus plans

Organized

A minimum of 75 houses i

sized low

Two decent re:

The immediate renovation |

the now available space.

The 75 houses to be built

houses to pass ai

Our old buildings, both dwe } and business establis)

very high efficiency recox | m areas are very close to t. i

Continued On Page See HOUSES .

Z|

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| |

JOHN STANTON

Barrister Solicitor Notery Publie

502 Holden Bldg. — MAr. 574€ Night: Alma 2177-M a

|

eee)

“NEWS

RECORD *?.

With

Al Parkin

EVERY SATURDAY AT 7.45 P.M.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 194} p,