Labor News Highlights CKMO Sunday, 9:45 a.m. The Peoples Advocate Western Canada’s Leading Progressive Newspaper Labor News Hishlights CKMO Sunday, 9:45 a.m. —— FULL No. 157. <== Published Weekly a.thy ie VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1938 Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. IV, No. 1 Union Is Application Of Granted Twenty-Four Fishermen Claim Deductions From Earnings Were Illegally Made. ACT THROUGH UNION _. Salmon Purse Seiners Says Investigation Will Reveal Many Further Claims. - Investigation of the books of the Canadian Fishing com- pany has been ordered by the Supreme Court of BC for Mon-, day, January 31, when legal counsel for Salmon Purse Seiners of the Pacific union will have full opportunity to fo into company records and ' to ascertain the nature of the com- pany’s defense against the union charges of alleged infractions of the Workmen's Compensation Act over a number of years. The Supreme Court has ordered * . . ali books, papers, letters, ' copies of letters and other writing and documents in possession of T EK Milne, accountant of Ganadian Fish company, containing any in- formation or memorandum relating to matters in question in the action, to be produced.” Twenty-four fishermen have laid elaims against the company through their union, some claiming illegal compensation deductions for one ' year others for three years. ‘pany has already admitted liability by reimbursing one member to the amount of $22.48, one year’s illegal Geductions, and that examination Gf the bocks will show that more Men have similar claims oyer a mumber of years. Ganadian Fishing company em- ploys around 350 fishermen and Owns between 50 and 60 seine boats, i Wages being paid on a share basis. Approximately 242 per cent of net income of each man was levied last year, union officiais claim. a In a statement to the PA, } George Miller, union secretary, de- elared he was confident the coming investigation would establish claims of his members. ALBACETSE, Spain, Jan. 13.—E. Gecil-Smith, former city editor of the Daily Clarion, has been appoint- i ed commander of the Mackenzie- Papineau Battalion in Spain. The union claims that the com-| leading figure in the Communist party in Alberta and a former editor of the Clarion, Toronto Laber daily, who is now in Van- couver. Im his address tonight (Friday) at the opening rally of the Communist party's provincial convention Morris will deal with recent political developments in the prairie province. City Union Leader Dies James Pittesdrich Was Secretary Of Street Rail- waymen’s Union In Van- couver. One of the citys most popular trade unionists, James D. Pit- tendrich, of 257 East 44th avenue, died in Vancouver General Hospi- tal Wednesday. Pittendrich, who was 41 years old, leaves a-wife and two children. For the past five years Pit- tendrich was secretary of Division 101, Street Railwaymen’s union and in this capacity was voted the most efficient in the entire history of the division. Blacklisted for his union activi- ties in the Winnipeg strike of 1919, he came to Vancouver in 1921 and for 16 years was a staunch union man in the employ of the BC Electric. 2 Funeral services are being held today (Friday) at 1:30 pm at Nunu and Thompson funeral parlors. Ewen, Morris To Address Meet Communist Convention be Opens In City Friday People’s Movement in BC,” at yaaa hada ve an, _ Im view of recent developments in Alberta great interest has been, aroused in the visit here of Leslie , Morris, former editor of the Daily 4 Glarion and now a leading figure in the Communist party in Alberta, who will represent the central com- mittee of the party at the conven- tion. Morris will speak at tonight's meeting in place of Norman Freed, ‘ Gommunist party leader, who was expected to be in Yancouver this week, Freed wired that a change 6f plans would prevent his attend- mance. Highlights at the Saturday and Sunday sessions of the convention to be held in the Labor Temple, 805 Bast Pender street, will be the trade union report to be given by Charles Stewart, provincia] executive mem- ber of the Trades and Labor Con- gress of Ganada, and the organiza- tional report of Fergus McKean, provincial organizer of the party. In an interview with the PA this week McKean stated that Satur- ‘day’s sessions would be open to the public. “We are extending an invitation to all who wish to see how Commu- nists really work, the manner in which the partys policies are dis- cussed and formulated, to attend the Saturday sessions. They will see there employed and unemployed, farmers and fishermen, miners and loggers, representatives of almost every industry, realistically tackling the many problems which face the people today.”’ Sunday's sessions will be open only to members of the party. Vancouver citizens are expected to pack the Victory Hall auditorium tonight (Friday) to hear Tom Ewen, provincial secretary, give the main political report, “For a Progressive the opening public meeting of the provincial convention of the Communist party. Leave F or Convention Seamen’s Representa- tives To Vote For Forma- tion Of United Seamen Of America. Hn route to San Francisco this week to attend a history-making convention of seamen on January 17 are Jim Maskell, Bill Lovey and Hugo DeNicole, Vancouver, and G. N.. Coe, Victoria, all accredited delegates instructed by rank and file to vote for creation of the United Seamen of Worth America, which will embrace the Pacific Coast, Great Lakes, Atlantic Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Philippines, and Alaska. These four BC delegates will at- tend a preliminary conference of the Inland Boatmen’s Union, of which they are members, in San Francisco. In a statement to the PA, Maskell spoke of the importance of the big convention. “Should a united union of sea- men be evolved, most of the present difficulties will disappear, and, what is more, it will prove the most pow- erful union on the continent; able to give a real lead in the struggle against war and fascism,” he said. Matthews Laughs At Radio Reports Fascists Never Near Teruel, Says Correspondent MPANY’S BOOKS ORDERED OPENED ARCELONA, Spain, Jan. 13.— Wild fascist radio reports that General Franco’s troops had re- captured Teruel, strategic provin- cial capital on the eastern front wrested from fascist control by a surprise loyalist offensive last month, induced Herbert Matthews, outstanding New York Times cor- respondent, to abandon his car and walk two miles through the snow when he visited the battlefront. Actually, while radio stations at Burgos and Seville were an- nouncing that the loyalists had been driven out of Teruel by heavy fascist reinforcements and that the city was again completely under fascist control, government troops were consolidating their positions and last fascist defenders besieged in Asuncion hospital and Santa Clara church were sur- rendering their arms. Back in Barcelona last week Herbert Matthews laughed as he entered the cable office. ‘Never again will I place the slightest belief in the radio reports of the fascists,” he declared. “Those reports had so impressed me that I dared not drive my car into Teruel. Leaving it two miles away, I walked the rest of the distance.” When he got to Teruel, Matthews said, government militiamen laughed when he told them of the fascists’ radio reports, He found government forces in complete pos- session of the city and the fascist offensive weakening. “Teruel remains firmly in goy- ernment hands. The fascists did not reach the city and, in fact, never at any time got nearer than four miles from it.” Several companies of the Mac- kenzie-Papineau and Lincoln bat- talions rushed to the battlefront aided government troops in forc- ing back fierce fascist counter-at- tacks backed by artillery and planes. Fighting amid driving snow, both loyalist and fascist losses were heavy. Thousands were re- ported to have died from exposure. Fascist losses, in particular, were enormous. General Franco, in his desperate attempt to regain the city, spared neither men nor muni- tions. In the struggle for La Muela mountain, strategic point dominat- ing Teruel, fascist planes were sent over to bomb loyalist lines. Because of the blinding snowstorm the bombs fell short, exploded on™ the hillside, ripped huge craters in the snow and earth. Government soldiers, camouflaged in white, moved ahead, occupied the newly— made craters. When the fascists launched their attack the loyalists ~ withheld their attack until the ad- vance line was almost on top of them, hurled them back with ter-= rible slaughter. Tariff Changes Fought Nation = Wide Cam-= paign Organized To Save Fruit Growers From Ruin. EQUALITY ASKED KELOWNA, BC, Jan. 13.— (Special). — Convinced that BC fruit srowers are “faced with something little short of ruin” by rumored cuts of fifty to sixty per cent in imperial preference, the British Colum- bia Fruit Growers Association at-its forty-ninth annual convention here last weekend reiterated the stand teken by a special conference ealled by the association last De- cember and demanded an end to present uncertainty by a definite statement from the federal govern-— ment. The conyention urged that the fruit industry be not victimized. Stirred by reports that a new trade treaty, being negotiated be- tween Britain and the United States, will kill the United Kingdom pref- erence on Canadian fruits, the fruit growers of the Okanagan are wag- ing-a vigorous campaign to prevent such an eventuality, A. K. Lloyd, Kelowna, and GC. A. Hayden, Ver- non, president and secretary respec- tively of the BCFGA being especi- ally prominent in the campaign. A resolution to this effect has been circulated to provincial and federal government leaders, daily and weekly newspapers, agricultural publications and many organiza- tions. “Our fruit, vegetables and allied industries will face disaster if there is a reduction of imperial] preference and drastic curtailment of dump duties, as forecast widely in the ,American press and substantiated by unofficial information from Ca nadian sources,” declares Lloyd. Claiming that since the adoption of imperial preference in 1932, BC and Nova Scotia have captured and held the SBritish market, Lloyd stated that the apple industry alone gave an annual purchasing power of $6,950,000 and that BC exports 45 per cent of her apple crop to Great Britain. Pointing out thatit requires seven years to grow a commercial apple tree, in a statement to the press Lloyd forecasted that by 1940 the apple crop here will have increased by 1,000,000 boxes. “Fruit growers are not outrageous in their re- quests,’”’ he said, “but they ask that they shall not be selected for sac- rifice.’’ ; The Kelowna resolution states that the Canadian Horticultural Council’s committee which endeay- ored to interview Prime Minister Mackenzie King and his cabinet, found it “impossible.” The resolution also asks that all Ganadian industries bear an equit- able burden in any policy decided upon by the government. Attacks Farm Slum Conditions NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, Jan. 1i3—Slum conditions on the farm, under which, he declared, farmers make the miserable sum of eight or ten cents an hour for their labor while their women and children go about in rags, were hit by J. B. Shimek of Mission at the meet- ing of the BC Coast Growers Asso- Ciation here last weekend. Shimek described conditions on many farms as comparable only to those existing in sweatshops and slums. Editor In Spain Major Umberto Galleani (centre, facing camera), editor of the anti-fascist NY Italian paper, La Stampa Libera, is back at his post as staff officer of 15th (Int'l) Brigade. Committee Formed n Vancouver Will Furnis Medical Aid F Thousands Of Chinese Dying Because Medical Supplies Lacking, State Reports. LEAGUE CAMPAIGNS Peace Conference At Na- naimo To Hold Tag Day For China Fund Satur- day, Jan. 22. NANAIMO, BC, Jan. 13.—The recently -fermed peace confer- ence here has received permis- sion from Nanaimo City Council to hold a tag day Saturday, January 22, for medical aid to China. Suffering and privation of thousands of Chinese soldiers wounded in defense of their country against Japanese im- perialists invasion have aroused the sympathy of Ca- nadians everywhere. In Vancouver this week plans are being completed for formation of a Medical Aid to China committee on which many prominent citizens have already signified their desire to sit. This committee will work in conjunction with the Canadian League for Peace and Democracy here and with the American Medi- cal Bureau in supplying medical aid, food and clothing to assist the Chi- nese people in their fight for free- dom from Japanese tyranny. Recognition of the excellent work already accomplished by the pro- vincial office of the League for Peace and Democracy is made in issuance this week of a statement by the Chinese Benevolent Associ- ation that it recognizes the league as the only authoritative body in organization of collections and sup- plies. “Appeals have already gone out for funds, new and used clothing, medical and surgical supplies and Sheets and pillow-cases for band- ages,’ Mrs. Kay Heathcote, pro- yincial secretary of the league, told the PA this week. ‘According to advices we have received large num- bers of Chinese are dying every day for lack of supplies and expert at- tention. Tetanus and exposure are taking a terrible toll of lives.” Tom Ewen provincial secretary of the Com- munist party who will give the main political report, “For a Pro- gressive People’s Movement in BC,” at the public rally in Victory Hall Auditorium tonight (Friday) which opens the provincial con- vention of the party. Union Signs With Doctor Hospitalization Contract For Miners, Dependents Made By Ymir Local Of MMSW. (Special Correspondence) YMTR, BC, Jan. 13—Contract covering complete hospitalization for miners and their dependents has been signed by a local doctor and local 300, International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Work- ers, which embraces all employed in the mines in this area. Unique feature of the contract is that the doctor will be answer- any complaints and at request of the union will visit mining camps to investigate and report back on health and sanitary conditions prevailing. able to the union in the event of. or China CCF Is Planning Mass Meeting In Support Of Japanese Boycott Next Wednesday. WEBSTER TO SPEAK One Thousand Boxes Of Unsold Jap Oranges Found In Basement Of City House. Announcement of a mass meeting at which city churchmen, trade unionists and CCE leaders will speak in support of the Japanese boycott, is made this week by the GGF provincial executive. The meet- ing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 19, 8 p.m. at Moose Hall, with Arnold Webster as chairman, and Dr. Lyle Telford, chief spokes- man for the CCF. Securing of an embargo on war material from Canada will be em- phasized at this meeting, which, it is stated, is one of many through- out the Dominion. South Vancouver residents greet- ed leaflet distributor A. F. Wilbee, sr. as he patrolled a stretch of Fraser avenue, with sandwich boards ad- vertising the Japanese boycott this week. Wever afraid to shout aloud his convictions Wilbee could claim many passers-by as one-time neigh- bors, having lived in that area for a number of years. “Stop this bloody traffic in Ca- nadian nickel to murder innocent children,” he shouted as he rapidly passed out the now familiar “bomb” leaflet of the Canadian League for Peace and Democracy. Sharp as a needle, Wilbee had found a cache of around one thou- sand boxes of Jap oranges stored in an old house, unsold Christmas stocks from various stores, and he informed the world while he called for an embargo of death-dealing nickel. He made it plain to listeners that the litle Japanese groceryman was innocent enough. “We refuse to help finance war by buying goods made in Japan,” he explained. Pearson Accused By Union Cafe Workers Forced : To Quit Membership In Legitimate Union, Say Officials. TEAMSTERS WAIT No information is available regarding appointment of con- ciliation commissioner by the provincial department of Jabor in a dispute involving Vancouver teamsters. ? Bert Showler, business agent, Milk Salesmen and Dairy Em- ployees’ Union, informed Trades and Labor Council three weeks — ago that application would be made for a commissioner in this’ dispute. : Ze ; Pearson, provincial minister’ of labor, is giving union-hat- ing employers an invitation to force employees into company- controlled groups and citing the present situation in the Chanticleer Lunch, city chain cafeteria as an example, of- ficials of local 28, Hotel and Restaurant Employees union, AP affiliate, declared to the PA this: week the union’s intention to arouse trade unions in BC against such.a ~ menace. es ‘ “Pearson's refusal to appoint a conciliation commissioner in: a dis- pute which showed glaring ele ments of intimidation as in the Chanticleer Lunch affair, has opened the eyes of thousands of British Columbians to the elastic- ity of this so-called labor legisla-— Gateman declared the depart- ment of labor could easily be con- vineed if, indeed, it wished to be convinced, that intimidation reigns ~ at this cafeteria, by the fact that employees have now withdrawn their application forms from Local 28 since their jobs appear to be at stake. Refusal by Pearson to recognize the union’ as the employees’ repre- considered an affront to legitimate trade unions. Cumberland Town; Nimsick Rossland Candidate. ; CUMBERLAND, BG, Jan. 13. — cil, representing organized labor and progressive organizations, has en— dorsed a full slate of candidates in the civie eelctions. San Wominees are: D. Bannerman, 4° dermen); Joe Watson (for parks board); Mrs. Annie Gatz, Sam Ro- bertson, A. J. Taylor (for school’ board). Lower light and water rates, 1m- proved street lighting and garbage collection and an adequate street surfacing progtam are among th council aldermanic planks: : ROSSLAND, BG, Jan. 13—Leo © the last provincial elections polled” 900 votes in Rossland-TIrai, is an aldermanie candidate here; Charging that Hon. G S. sentative, although a majority has signed a letter to this effect, is ~ Runs Slate Progressives Endorse Candidates In Minmg — The Economic and Industrial Coun= ~~ J. Taylor, George Shearer (for al-~ Wimsicl who, as CGF candidate aa” iy tion in the hands of Pearson,” Business Agent Bill Gateman ~~ stated. = 2