TS, SMT ERAT NAAR RN TY Fa hwo TE

charges against the Camp
Trek leaders!

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VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1936

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VOL. II, No. 7

WORK AND WAG

A6 Camp Boys Held For -
“Stealing Gov't Trucks”’

Foreman States Boy a

Undermining Au-
thority

SPURNS COMPLAINTS

Arrested on a charge of stealing
four government trucks, 46 Camp
workers from Camp 212, Hope, now
held in Gakalla Jail, came up for
trial on February 26th.

Guarded by i5 Provincial Police
these men were herded into court
in Wew Westminster for prelimin-
ary hearing for their alleged
“corime.’*

Gordon Grant, counsel for the
Canadian Labor Defence League,
who appeared for the men, stated
that these men were law-abiding
citizens and should not be classed
as criminals. He asked that they
be allowed out on their own recog-
nizance; however, the Magistrate
H. S. Johnston did not agree with
this and set bail at $100 each.

The men preferred to stay in jail
rather than allow the C.L-D.L. to
post bonds for them. Their trial
has been set for March 4th at New
Westminster.

The series of incidents leading up
to the arrest of these workers, show

“clearly the intolerable conditions
under which camp workers are still
compelled to live, in camps under
the administration of the Depart-
ment of Wational Defence.

. The day before leaving camp, two
of the arrested men approached the
visiting doctor with a view to ask
ing his help in having certain
grievances rectified. They pointed.
out to him the dilapidated condi-
tion of the buildings in the camp,
which in their view was responsible
for the prevalent sickness.

Stating that he would not see
any delegation, the doctor intimated
that he would have the two men

_ fired, and Jater in the day the fore-

Man told the men that they were
fired for undermining his authority
in the camp.

As is usual in such cases, the po-
lice were quickly called in, but
with the backing of the rest of the
boys, the two discharged men man-
aged to stay in camp over night.

Wext day a meeting was called

“at which no definite decision was
reached. ‘The issue was decided by
the police assuming a threatening
attitude.

Bitterly resenting the injustice of
the doctor and the foremen in dis-
charging men who were acting
purely in the best interests of all
in the camp, fourty-four men de-
cided to quit in sympathy with the
two who were being evicted.

District Superintendent Irvine
provided trucks to transport all the
men out, and upon reaching Chilli-
wack the trucks were held up by
the police and the 46 were arrested,
and held for stealing government
property.

From QOakalla jail theprisoners
were able to get in touch with the
Canadian Labour Defence League,
who are conducting their defence.

Communist Senator
Is Elected In Paris

PARIS, Feb. 23.—Jean Clamamus,
member of the Communist Party of
France, was elected senator today
from the Seine district. The elec-
tion of Clamamus filis a vacant

. seat and adds to the party’s strength
in the senate.

Marcel Cachin, the other Com-
munist senator, was elected in the
last elections held during the week
of May 5 to 12, 1935.

A tiacked

Mass protests from thousands
of members of France’s People’s
Front were the answer to an un-
provoked attack on Leon Blum
(above), Socialist leader, by Roy-
alist fanatics. Blum was not badly
hurt.

Chamber of Deputies
Ratifies Soviet Pact

PARIS, Feb. 27.—Driven by
threats of war from the outside
and forced by the powerful Peo-
ple’s Front from within, the
©hamber of Deputies today rati-
fied the Franco-Soviet Pact of
mutual assistance, Dy an over-
whelming niajority.

Eggs Way Up;
People Suffer

VICTORIA, Feb. 25.—Fresh eges
are about unobtainable for a thou-
Sand families here who are on re-
lief because of the latest raise of
3 cents a dozen, bringing up the
price to 35 cents a dozen. This is
13 cents a dozen higher than the
price obtaining last year at this
date. When it is realized that the
unemployed have to work for their
relief, it can readily be seen that
intense suifering is the lot of the
unemployed.

NG PLAYGROUNDS;
CHILDREN INJURED
ON CITY STREETS

VANCOUVER, Feb. 25.—Several

children have been injured by col-
lidine with trucks and cars while
taking advantage of the recent fall
of snow to go sleigh-riding on the
eity’s streets, and only the quick
thinking of the drivers of these
vehicles averted fatalities.
Having no playgrounds in which
to play, the children take to the
streets, none of which are reserved
for their amusement, and closed to
motor traffic.

The city fathers have not dis-
cussed this question, the problem of
whether Mr. Barrett-Lennard, ac-
countant should be paid $10,000 for
his work or whether he should re-
ceive this amount yearly, gives
them an excuse to wrangle with one

another in the absence of the mayor.

Boss Loggers Blame Workers
For Accidents; ‘Carelessness’

RELIEF MOTHER
WITHOUT AID

HOPE, BC, Feb. 22. — Labor
pains apparently mean nothing to
Dr. Henderson of Chilliwack, who,
aithough called by telephone by Mr.
John Ray, refused to attempt the
trip here to assist Mrs. Ray with
delivery of her child.

Five cars had passed through on
their way to Chilliwack and snow-
plows had left both towns to clear
the roads which were not consid-
€red impassable.

Ray is a relief recipient, and this
may have had something to do witn
the doctor's refusal to attend the
case. Relief for a man and wife is
$16.00 per month and for four
months prior to the birth of the
child this couple were receiving an
extra $5, bringing their allowance
up to $21 per month, but since a

baby has been born to them the

VANCOUVER, Feb. 24—Loggers
are to blame for the vast majority
of accidents which have resulted in
Many fatalities last year in the
woods on this coast, according to a
statement issued by EF. B. Brown,
president of the B.C. Loggers’ As-
sociation.

No blame was assumed by the
Loggers’ Association for the speed-
up in the camps, which is the
primary cause of ninety-five per
cent of the accidents.

Giant posters will be displayed in
conspicuous places this week, bear-
ing slogans of “Stand in the Clear.”
“Don’t Lake Chances,’ etc. This
may help some, but the Taumber
Workers Industrial Union’s plan for
camp committees would assist in
abolishing many of the causes of
accidents, such as contract work
and speed-up.

A strong, well organized union in
every camp operating in the inter-
ests of the men at work is the best
Suarantee against accidents.

relief has been reduced to $20 and
now $5 has been decked for doctor's

SOVIETS TRUST
CUSTOMERS AT
HELP-SELF SHOP

MOSCOW, Feb. 4.—Store No. 13
of the Batman District Food Trad-
ing Organization actually has a
counter which does not require the
services of a salesman or a cashier,
and at its present rate will have
a turnover of 1,500 rubles per
month, while the average turnover
per salesman in the other depart-
ments is 700 rubles a month.

On the counter are cigarettes,
candy bars and boxes, canned goods,
matches, jars of honey and jam,
oranges, tangerines, bars of soap,
and bottles of sunflower seed oil,
each item with sa neat price tag
attached.

A cardboard box containing the
eash is placed on the counter for
the convenience of customers to pay
for their purchases and make their
own change.

In the four days of operation the
store has only lost one ruble and
28 kopeks, but on the whole the
experiment is a decided success, in
that it releases two salesmen who
can be used elsewhere.

Ivan T. Budanovy, director of the
store, was queried regarding mis-
placed trust in customers, replied
that “We haven’t had a case of
stealing yet. If someone tried, he
would probably be stopped by social-
minded citizens in the crowd.’ The
small loss was attriputed by Buda-
nov to customers making mistakes
in counting their own change.

JOBLESS WELFARE
SOUGHT BY CCF.
AND COM'NISTS

PRINCE GHORGH, Feb. 23. —
Joint action Has been reached in
this city by the Prince George Glub
of the Go-opérative Commonwealth
Federation and the Communist
Party. on the question of medical
and dental services for unemployed
people. jay

A statement. bas been issued
jointly explaining that no affilia-
tion or amalgamation has taken
place between he two oreanizations,
and while thére still exists some
olitical differences, both parties
are agreed that to have a healthy
city, then thei needs of the unem-
ployed must not be neglected...

Unable as the’ unemployed are to
pay doctors’ and dentists’ bills, both
parties are in’ favor of these pro-
fessional people being compensated
for their serviwes, but that the ser-
vice to the Whemployed should be
free as it is in many of the cities
of this provin¢e, and in this effort
the aid of thé medical and dental
profession wall be sought by the
co-ordinating” Sroups.

The Soviet as eustomers are en-
thusiastic and here is some answers
typical to questions asked them:
“Just help yourself, pay, take your
change . - 00 waiting in line to
pay a cashier... swell’? One cus-
tomer added: “But the nicest thing
is the trust it¢’shows in us custom-
ers. Let someone try to steal here

and I'Jl how tam a thing or two!”

RELIEF CAMPS
10 CLOSE DOWN

OTTAWA, Feb. 26—The IWederal

the relief camps will be shut down
on July 1. This system of caring
for single unemployed men who are
passed ‘medically fit’ has not work-
ed out in the best interests and pur-
poses for which they were built in
19381.

In press releases from Ottawa a
few years ago, and which did not
find their way into the newspapers
of Canada, with the exception of a
few labor papers, the Department of
Wational Defence then looked upon
the relief camps as a potential re-
eruitine eround for soldiers in case
of war.

The aim of the Department of
National Defence went wild of its
mark, for when attempts were made
in some of the camps in B.C. to
institute military training the men
showed in no uncertain terms that
they were not having any war
trainings.

This is borne out by the number
of strikes, and walk-outs from the
slave compounds that have oc-
curred in this province in the last
four years, and is exemplified in
the mass walk-out of April 4 last
year.

The
mended that the camps
as relief camps, ‘‘in the best in-
terests of the state’ and also
brought in a recommendation to
pattern them after the C.C.C. camps
in the United States, where they
have an up-to-the-minute system
of exploitation.

Just what plan the King Govern-
ment has of taking care of the
single unemployed men has not been
announced yet.

Men in the relief camps objeci to
working for 20 cents per day, clear-
ing airports, and working on roads,
they wish to be as other citizens of
the country, to take their place in
society, and not be ostracized and
relegated to the side of a hiil on
the edge of civilization.

COLDWELL MOVE
TO NATIONALIZE
BANKS DEFEATED

Finance Minister Dun-
ning Favors Private
Control

Rigg Commission recom-
be closed

OTTAWA, Feb. 27—Proposals to
nationalize the chartered banks in
the interests of the people, as
moved in a resolution by M. J. Gold-
well (C-C_F. Rosetown-Bigear) found
four supporters in the Government
side of the house today.

“Monopolistic control of money
had given bankers a Sreater power
than was known to any of the
ancient kings,” stated Mr. Coldwell
speaking on the resolution.

Mr. Coldwell likened the present
banking system to that of a janitor

bill.

Who turned on the heat in the sum-

“Government today armounced that |

W oodsworth Launches Out
Against Unseating Of Men

oy

TORONTO, GQnt., Feb. 22.—(ALP)
—Clauses in the Unemployment Re-
lief Act of 1935, a provincial meas-
ure, are likely to have profound
repercussions throughout the whole
labor movement and to find echo in
the halls of the federal parliament.

J. S. Wodsworth, M.P., Co-opera-

diye Commonwealth Federation
leader ‘in thetouse, told the Asso—

ciated Labor Press today that he
and his colleagues would study the
wave of reaction that is sweeping
Canada and unseating Jabor alder-
men right and left because they are
“on relief.”

“The time has come,” the C.C.F.
lJeader said, “when Parliament must
define the rights of citizenship.”

Qn Friday in North Bay, Ontario,
Mr. Justice Battle unseated four
aldermen, two of them because they
had been receiving relief from the
town of Sturgeon Falls, where they
held office... The legal decision, un-
der which new elections were or-
dered, is based on the finding that
na contract exists between relief re-
cipients and the municipalities thus
rendering persons on relief inelig-
ible for office.

“That will have to be fought out
on the provincial field right now,”
Mr. Woodsworth said, “and it will
be a difficult question to raise in
the federal house because provinces
have jurisdiction in such matters.”

He held that under British law
citizenship “rights’” are not exist-
ant in Jaw, but are simply presumed
to exist. There are no hard and
fast definitions defining rights, as
there are under the hard-won con
stitution of France.

Mor. Woodsworth and other C.C_.F.
leaders, attending the annual con-
vention of the League for Social
Reconstruction in the Royal York
Hotel here, were interviewed by the
Associated Labor Press and all
agreed that this present issue is one
of the most important now facinge
the working class and progressive
movements in Canada.

“It is an outrageous situation,”’
the C.C.F. national leader declared,
“when a man can be barred from
public office because he is on re-

lief. It is bad enough to be out of
work without being insulted and
robbed of civil rights into the bar-
gain.’

“It used to be,’ he said, ‘‘that a
man on relief was looked upon as
little short of a criminal and in the
early days there were people who
would not work although jobs were
available. But today that whole
thing has changed. It is not true
today. Men simply cannot get
work.”

Graham Spry, editor of the “New
Commonwealth’ and head of the
C.C.F. provincial executive commit-
tee, held that immediate protest ac-
tien should be taken and a cam-
paign launched to have the danger-
ous clauses in the Act removed so
as to restore the right of holding
office to persons on relief.

Dr. Rose Henderson, C.C.F. school
trustee, agreed that the issue is of
vital importance and characterized
it as “advancing Fascism.’

mer and the cooling
winter.

Finance Minister Dunning an-
nounced some changes in owner-
ship and control but was prepared
to bring these institutions in line
With the needs of the citizens, say-

system in

ing the duty of the government
was to control, and not operate
business.

S” IN THRONE SPEEC

Eighteenth Legislature Opened;
Government Outlines Six Months

Program In Five Minute

Nothing Constructive, |G¢ONNELL MOVES

But Promises As-
sistance to Rich

C.C.F. WILL OPPOSE

By GEORGE DRAYTON
VICTORIA, B.C, Feb. 25.—No
ceremonies
the Parliament Buildings to mark
the opening of
the third session

ent tribute to the
ate King. The
jpeceh from the
shrone was brief

wernor entered the
House accom-
panied by his
gaides and a cor
don of medal-be-
Edecked military

officers until his

George Drayton exit was exactly
five minutes. In fact, it must have
taken the soldiers who fired the 17
volleys from the opening guns long-
er to shine the buttons on their
tunies than the whole sitting of the
House. The House sat for twenty
minutes.

Wihhilst the speech from the throne
very vaguely mentioned the posi-
tion of municipalities and halt
promised that the government
would consider them_in another sit-
ting to be held in the fall of the
year, it failed to even mention any
such urgently needed legislature as
the much discussed “health insur-
anee,”’ the great need for dealing
with unemployment, providing pub-
lie. works programs, for improving
the Compensation Act,“or for better’
educational facilities, or social legis-
lature to improve the living condi-
tions of the B.C. people.

It was intimated in the speech
that the present session will be a
short one, and whilst it referred to
the fact that the government would
assist the municipalities at the fall
Sitting, it is significant that the
City of Victoria in attempting to
balance its budget makes prom-
inent among its difficulties that
unemployment relief costs to the
city will be increased $55,000 this
year, due to the provincial govern-
ment’s policy to refuse loans for
municipalities for relief.

What applies to Victoria applies
to all B.C. municipalities in a
greater or lesser degree.

After the speech from the throne
the usual formalities were hurried
through and the House adjourned.

Text of the speech from the
throne is as follows:

“Mr. Speaker and members of the
Legislature Assembly:

“JT welcome you to the Third Ses-
Sion of the Bighteenth Parliament
of British Columbia.

“Last year was the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the accession to the
throne of His Gracious Majesty
King George V, and great was the
rejoicing of his people. With deep
sorrow we now record the death of
His late Majesty. In singular de-
gree he had won the devotion, affec-
tion and respect of all his subjects,
and the manifestutions of esteem
and regard from all parts of the
world bear striking tribute to the
character of His late Majesty.

“To King Edward VIII, to Queen
Mary, to the Duke and Duchess of

ALBERTA LABOR
SEES ABERHART

EDMONTON, Alta., Feb. 20. —
(ALP) — Restoration of the rate of
mothers’ allowances, more severe

penalties for violations of the Mini-
mum Wage Act and suspension of
“codes,”’ until agreements had been
reached between employees and em-
ployrs with respect to wages and
hours of employment, were urged
when a delegation from the Alberta
Hederation of Labor presented reso-
lutions from the recent annual con-
vention to the provincial govern-
ment today.

After hearing the representatives,
Premier Aberhart stated these would
be taken under consideration.

When the delegation urged that
the age limit for pensions be re-
duced from 70 to 50, Premier Aber-
hart observed that this would be an
economic impossibility, because of
the extra cost involved. When it
was suggested that the province
would have to borrow more money
to Tinance such extra cost, Mr. F. J.
White of Calgary, who headed the
delegation, observed that the solu-
tion was not to finance by borrow-
ing but to make a new distribution
of wealth.

were conducted outside

NO CONFIDENCE

VICTORIA, Feb. 27.—(By Wire)
—Attachkine the speech from the
throne, Rev. Robert Connell and
the €.C.F. members swung into
action today, in the house at Vic-
toria, when they flayed the sov-
ernment for using Section 98 to
Seize labor and Communist litera-
ture from homes of workers in
Vernon, Nelson, Armstrong and
Corbin, Materials seized in these
places included copies of “The
Commonwealth,” “The B.C. Worlk-
ers’ News” and “The Worker’

Connell moved an amendment
to the speech froni the throne,
which took the position of shovw-

ing want of confidence in the
government. The amendment
read:

“This House feels in duty

bound io advise your honor that
if does not believe that the pres-
ent governnient has administered
the affairs of the province Wisely
and further this House feels as-
sured that the course which the
government has been pursuiny’
does not meet with the general
public approval.”

The speech from the throne was
full of empty promises and such
issues as Health Insurance were

} to definite conclusions,

either discarded or forgotten. Re-
lief budgets were so low as to
endanger the life of recipients.

DEFENCE ACTIVE
IN INTERIOR

KAMLOOPS, B.G., Feb. 18.—Brav-

ing the bitter cold weather a num
ber of residents turned out to hear |
two organizers of the defence for
the camp trekkers facing trial at
Regina.
Splendid response is being met
with by the two representatives of
the camp boys from the people in
the Interior. Especially welcome is
the support being received from
such people as the members of the
International Brotherhood of Rail-
road Engineers, and from the min-
ers, fifteen of whom collected over
$21.00 to aid the defence of the
trekkers.

The C.C.F. in Kamloops passed
two resolutions at their Open
Forum meeting and forwarded
them to Ottawa!

York, and to the other members of
the royal family, sincerest sympathy
is extended.

“It is a matter of profound erati-
tude that His late Majesty Kang
George V is succeeded by one who
in pre-eminent degree has been nur-
tured and trained for the high posi-
tion to which he is now called. 1
feel Sure that the same loyalty and
devotion which was extended to His
late Majesty will also be extended
to King Edward VIIT.

“While there has been a steady
improvement in business conditions,
the international situation is of a
very disquieting character. Situated
as we are upon this continent, we
are indeed fortunate, yet we cannot
but view With grave concern world
events of so great significance as
are now transpiring.

“During the year a Dominion gen-
eral election took place. and follow-
ing the elections the new sovern-
ment called a conference of the Do-
minion and the provinces of Canada
to discuss important problems of
mutual concern. The agenda cov-
ered a wide range of subjects and
Sood progress was made. All of these
important matters will be pursued:
and it is
confidently felt that it will result
in placing the provinces 2nd the
Dominion as a whole in more favor-
able position to efficaciously fune-
tion in their respective spheres.

“In every branch of the proyincial
Service during the past year there
has been exceptional activity in a
great variety of endeavor. Not only
have the various departments met
immediate matters in hand to the
full extent of resources available,
but the closest and most intimate
study has been made of problems
confronting us looking to future ac-
tion. In respect of some of these
matters legislation will be submitted
for your consideration at the pres-
ent session, but in respect of others
it is thought that it will be desir-
able to call a session of the Legis-
lature in the fall, when further in-
formation will be available which
will insure the formulation of meas-
ures to best advantage, including
measures to improve the position
of the municipalities.

“Reports of the various depart-
ments of my government will be
laid before you. The public accounts
and estimates for the year will also
be submitted for your considera-

tion.”’

Cheap Jibes At

Socialism
INSURANCE HINTED

VICTORIA, Feb. 26—‘Our institu
tions have stood the test of time,
our Government is flexible to the
changes of time and conditions,”
Stated Mrs, Paul Smith when she
moved the adoption of the speech
irom the throne today at the Sittin
of the B.C. Legislature. She drew
2 nanology regarding the present
depression to a storm at sea, ang
then went on to tell of the various
people who are ready to tell the:
captain what to do in the storm.
She likened these people to the so—
cialists who have many, economic:
fads,and took a crack at Soviet
Russia, when she told the house:
that if some of the socialists had
to live there they ‘would soon
change their minds.

to W. Duranty’s writings and
quoted from one of his tales of an:
experiment in socialism in ancient

times in China when a great leader~
called Wang tried it. It proved te-
have very adverse effects, rebelliom
ensued, Wang had to capitulate
and everything was as before. She
told the house that this was be—
cause Wang, who, while attempt—
ing to change the economic condi—
tions, did not take into considera—
tion the human factor.

To clinch her arpument she told
the members that the changes im
Russia—the planned economy—is
really a copying of the westerm
world.

Mrs. Smith intimated that the bilk
for state health insurance will be
brought down by the government.
and she emphasized the need for
sucha bill inthe interests of fae
ancial economy, She stated that 600
outdoor charity patients are treatee
every day at the Vancouver Gen-
eral Hospital. Of those who are in-
patients, she said that 68 per cent
do not pay their bills and so in-
dustry has to pay this enormous
cost. In her opinion then, the state
health insurance bill being intro-
duced is actually and fundament—
ally sound.

Three hundred women’s organi—
zations had participated in a con—-
ference last November in Vancou-
ver, stated Mrs. Smith, to discuss
proposals for amending the acts re—
garding social welfare in B.C. She
intimated that this method of
setting the opinions of a cross sec—
tion of large numbers of women
had been greatly beneficial and
some of the amendments would
eome before the house at this ses—
sion. Not only were these confer-
ences of women beneficial ta the
government and unique in embrac—
ing so many women but they
brought into direct interest in re—

(Continued on Page 2)

MOST POWERFUL
GAS VET KNOWN
KILLS CHEMISTS

BERLIN, Germany, Feb. 2 (By
Mail). — A number of chemists,
working under the immediate sup—
erintendence of the Reich Arsenaft
Bureau, have recently invented a
poison gas surpassing any other im
murderous effect. The special prop—
erty of this gas is that it renders
the best gas masks useless, as it
automatically penetrates the bind—
ing alloys of the solders.

The demonstrations of this gas
have satisfied the German generals:
to such an extent that large sums
have been allocated for its mass
production. The manufacture of
the gas has cost up to the present
the lives of new fewer than four
chemists, whose deaths were an—
nounced in the newspapers fron
“heart failure.” The first of these
deaths was that of the well-known
General Pschorr.

During one of his chemical ex
periments, Pschorr was poisoned
and died. His collaborator, Prof
Obermiller, was his successor im
life and death. While experimenting
in his laboratory, the soldered
mouthpiece of his gas mask fell
off. Obermiller ran out of the gas-
filled room, but the few seconds
had sufficed for the gas to do its
deadly work.

Obermiller’s successor, Dr. Erich
Buttner, also lost his life during the
experiments. His place was then
taken by Prof. Scharschnitt fron
Berlin Charlottenburg, who shared
the same tragic fate a few months
later. The death of these four
chemists gives an idea of what ex-
tent Hitler’s future war will be

like.

FULL No. 59

Oration

&
Liberal Members Make

To help her argument she went.

2iasayeeeoeny payne

neue

re
a