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MAYOR SEES JAPANESE ‘SUDETEN’ QUESTION ; IGNORES REAL ISSUE —

FASCIST INFLUENCE IS REAL PRO

By HAL GRIFFIN

JAPANESE “Sudeten” problem ‘that may
have to be solved by war.” This is the
gloomy picture of British Columbia’s future
painted by Mayor George Miller in an inter-
view with T. G. Lytle published in the Toronto

Star.

Pointing to Europe, where “national minori-
ties are demanding more and more rights,”
Mayor Miller declared, “I have no panacea...5
doubt if anyone has. but I do know that some
day we may have to face the problem of
‘Sudeten’ Japanese in Canada, a problem that

may have to be solved by war. Right now we
face a problem very similar to that
Czechoslovaliia.”’

That there is a Japanese problem in BC no
one will deny,
Mayor Miller’s distorted prevision. It will be
found instead, in the alarming inroads made
by Japanese capitalist interests into British
Columbia’s natural resources without gsovern-
ment let or hindrance. It will be found in the
Japanese fascist agents active among the Japa-
nese population. It will be found in the po-
litical and economic influence exerted by the
representatives of the Japanese military-fascist

controntins

but it is not to be found in

ruling clique, both official and unofficial, in

this province.

Intimidation and discrimination are
weapons used by the Japanese consul, H. Ne-
michi, and Japanese fascist agents against the
Japanese people in BC. Through the medium
of Tairiku Nippo, the big Japanese daily news-
paper in Vancouver, a constant stream of pro-
fascist propaganda is disseminated.

The Japanese-born are naturally more sus-
eeptible to this poison, but even second-senera-
tion Japanese are not permitted to remain im-
Only recently the Japanese consul is
reported to have called certain Japanese stu-

«

mune.

THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE

VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1938

Jack Taylor
Appointed To
Head Friends

Six Thousand Attend
Ontario Carnival In
Honor Of Returned

Volunteers.
RAISE $1200

TORONTO, Ont., Sept. 8.—
Jack Taylor, until recently rep-
resentative in Barcelona, Spain,
of the Friends of the Macken-
zie- Papineau Battalion, tas
been appointed national secre-
tary of that organization, fol-
lowing the resignation of Beat-
rice Colle, who will. however.
continue to act on the national
committee.

Both Jack Tayior and Miss Colle
Stressed in their reports to the re—
cent meeting of the committee the
need for building the rehabilitation
fund in order te provide mainten-
ance and medical attention for yvol-
unteers invalided back from Spain.

Monthiy cash donations will in
future be sent to Paris for purchase
of supplies for volunteers, as this
has been found to be the most ef
ficient method. Local committees,
however, will continue to forward
parcels from friends and relatives.

TORONTO, Ont, Sept. 8. — At
tended by 6,000 people, the grand
carnival staged by the Friends of
the Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion
at Eldorado Park in honor of 26 re—
turned Spanish veterans was a
sreat success. Twelve hundred dol-
lars for the rehabilitation fund was
raised.

Declaring that “believers in de
mocracy should do more than talk
about it,’ loggers at Chamis Bay
this week forwarded $33.75 to the
Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau
Battalion’s Vancouver office.

Another donor in Victoria sent
pwo dollars, stating that she was
jividing her contribution between
he Mackenzie-Papineau Battalion

and the Highth Route Army in
shina. ‘
Other donations received this

week were: Joe Keenan, $3; L. LL,
30; West End branch, Communist
marty, $2.10; Gibsons Landing, $2.30.

>

TOWN HALL
Ballroom
‘Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
4 OLD-TIME DANCE
Wednesday, MODERN DANCE
The most beautiful balircom
in VYancouver.

Excellent Music Admission |

Housing
Issue At

Federation Meet

Will Be

Coming

By ROBERT LEALES
The final report of the National Employment Commission
recognizes the desirability of a governmental housing policy to
provide accommodation for those unable to afford an economic

rent.

After makings a study of the low
rental housing plans of other coun-—
tries the commission recommended
an experimental plan. This pro-
posal has now been enacted by the
Dominion government in Part 2 of
the National Housings Act.

“In meking this recommenda-
tion the commission was influenced
by the fact that Canadian fovern-
mental bodies had expended some
$14,000,000 in 1936 to rent accom-
miodation for relief recipients, and
that in many instances such ac-—
commodation was unsuitable in
the extreme.” The commission was
of the opinion “that such a situa-
tion should not be allowed to con-
tinue in that it breeds conditions
tending to increase unemployment
by decreasing the employability of
workers, thus making it harder for
them: to secure employment.’

Prompt action was proposed by
the commission in the housing
field because its examination
of this problem showed that ‘in
the construction industry em-
ployment was still at an abnor-
mally low level and recovery was
lagging badly all over the coun-
try im relation to, that experi-
enced in other industries.”

Thirty million dollars has now
been made available by the Domin-
ion government to provide decent,
safe and sanitary dwellings for
families of low income. Loans at
the rate of $5.36 per person on the
basis of the 1931 census may be
made by a municipality. This
means that Vancouver is entitled
to a loan of $1,326,670.34.

Toans may be made to private
and public bodies, provided the pro-
ject has the approval of the muni-
cipality, and the Dominion Housing
Authority. The private body is re-
ferred to in the Act as a limited
dividend company because the divi-
dends on its shares are limited by
law to 5 percent annually. Public
bodies as municipalities and socie-
ties are known as local housing
authorities. The Dominion gov-
ernment yill loan 90 percent of the
cost of construction to a body
which is not a limited dividend
company at 2 percent per annum
payable half-yearly and 80 percent
at 134 percent per annum to a
limited dividend company. This
means that Vancouver's share of
the above loan would amount to
$133,677. :

A limited dividend company is

required to keep its average ex
L—

penditures for the building of each
family unit to $2400 per unit. A
local housing committee cannot
exceed an average of $2,700 per
unit.

ACT DEFINES RENTAL

Hiouses under the plan can be
rented to those families only whose
incomes are not large enough to
afford an economic rental yet are
sufficient to pay -the carrying
charges of the project. The econo-
mic rental is defined by the Act
to be a rental at 9146 percent per
annum of the cost of construction
plus an amount sufficient to pay
the ordinary taxes levied by the
municipality. If the cost of con-
struction is $2,000, the rental value
average would be about $20 per
month. Such a house or unit could
only be rented to a famliy whose
total income is equal to or more
than five times the economic rental
value.

This requires that the plan, to
be of the greatest value to the low
income people of Vancouver, will
have to conform to an average
cost of construction. of $1,500. Such
a family unit would have a rental
value of $17 per month and would
be available to people whose avyer-
age yearly income-is $1,020.
URGE USE OF PLAN

The municipalities haye certain
obligations under the Act. They
eannot levy taxes on the project
to exceed one percent of the cost
of construction and must not place
any taxes on the limited dividend
company.

The plan is experimental, and in
spite of shortcomings it should
be taken advantage of by all pro-
gressive organizations. The BC
Federation on Unemployment is
encouraging these organizations in
localities where housing conditions
are bad to work out a project and
apply through the muncipality for

2 loan under the Act.

One of the most important points
for discussion at the federation’s
conference on September 18 will be
a Vancouver project around which
it will be possible to rally all pro-
gressive people and organizations
for its fulfilment.
the above loan and the average
cost of construction unit beins
$1,700, Vancouver can build about
770 new homes, alleviate some of
the unemployment that exists
among the building trades workers
and make sanitary and safe dwell-
ings available to a greater number
of people.

—

“WOUNDED and have
RETURNED HOME

These six boys who have returned

from Spain NEED YOUR HELP!

It's Urgent!

ct5S

Send Your Donations to:

Friends of the Mackenzie-
Papineau Battalion

Room 43

615 West Hastings Street

WVancouver, B.C.

7 Specialists

In Waving
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Downing
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On the basis of §

City Unions’
Membership
Shows Gains

Twelve New Unions Have
Been Formed During
Past Year, Records
Reveal.

STEADY GROWTH

Commenting in its Labor Day
issue on the progress made by
organized labor in Vancouver
during the past year, the Labor
Statesman, official organ of
Vancouver Trades and Labor
Council, states:

“Iwelve unons have been chart-
ered in Vancouver since last Labor
Day and many other unions have
made splendid increases in mem=
bershp. A large,.number of agree-
ments have been signed without
necessity of strikes or lons drawn
out conferences.”

The 12 new unions are listed as.
Automobile Mechanies, Iocal 1382;
Automobile Painters, Tocal 1208;
Building Laborers, Local 602; Ce-
ment Hinishers, Local 779; Furni-
ture Workers, Local 1025; Glass
Workers, Local 954: Lathers, Local
207; Plasterers, Local 89; Pursers
and Chief Stewards, Local 130;
Shipyard Laborers, Local 126;
United Garment Workers, Local
190; Upholsterers, Local 306.

“The organized labor movement
in Vancouver continues its steady
Erowth and is keeping pace with
other cities in Canada and the
United States, where the movement
is also making great strides,’ says
the Labor Statesman.

The Teamsters’ Joint
composed of the General
Drivers’ Union, the Milk Sales—
men’s Union, the Bakery Sales-
men’s Union and the Taxi Drivers’
Union, increased its membershp by
463 in 1937-38. The Retail Clerks

Council,
Truck

Union recorded an increase of over

200 new members and the United
Fishermen and the CGivie Em-
ployees unions also added more
than 200 new members.

Other unions adding substantial-
ly te their membership were:
Painters and Decorators, Local 138
(125); Bakery and Confectionery
Workers (120); Machinists Lodge,
692 (117): WHWotel and Restaurant
Employees, Local 28 (100).

California Sends
Fruit To Spain

SAN MRANCISCO, Gal, Sept. 8.
—The Medical Bureau to Aid
Spanish Democracy will ship ten
tons of prunes from San Francisco
next week, to make part of the
cargo of the American Relief Ship
to Spain. When the Relief Ship
Sails from Ney York at the end of
September it will have on board
many other California products,
such as vitamin concentrates, dried
peaches and apricots, all high in
food value.

(7

>)
Leo Smuntam’s Band now at the

ALEXANDRA
-BALLROOM

Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
OLD-TIME DANCE
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
MODERN DANCE
For a good time be sure to visit
these dances. Best music and the
finest floor in Canada.
| ADMISSION 25e (except Sat.)

NS

7

Only Shoe Repair Store in Vancouver with a
Signed Agreement with the Union

NEW METHOD SHOE - -

33/7 Carrall St.

i

into his office
the

a rule employ

dents of the University of British Columbia

and placed the “official” Japa-

nese position before them.
What is the average Japanese to do? Except
in domestic work, white Canadians will not as

a Japanese. He must find em-

ployment among his own people, in Japanese
importing and exporting firms, in Japanese
mining and logging camps, in the fishing in-
dustry,’ in the retail trade or professionally,
serving the Japanese people- In every instance,
opposition te the “official” Japanese position—
in other words, opposition to Japanese military-
fascism—endangers his livelihood.

So, even though he does not believe the incessant propa-
ganda, even though he wants nothing of Japanese espionage,
of intrigue, of fascism, even though he realizes the ‘official’
Japanese position is foreing a sulf between himself and white
Canadian workers, the average Japanese is careful not to voice

his opposition.

Chauvinistic statements, such
as these made by Mayor Miller
in the Toronte Star, serve only to
aid the Japanese consul and
those others who are working
strenuously to weld the Japan-
ese people of BC into a powerful
instrument of Japanese military-
fascism. They serve, too, the
pro-tascist elements among white -
Canadians who use the Japan-
ese, the German and Italian fas-
cist movements in this country to
further fascism in Canada.

Every chauvinistic attack on the
Japanese widens the gulf between
Japanese and white workers.
Mayor Miller, however, not only
attacks the Japanese people with-

cut attempting to differentiate be-
tween the fascist elements and the
mass of the Japanese people, but
skilfully utilizes it to hide his owz
failure to assist the single unem-
loyed. His implication that Bri-
tish Columbia’s unemployment pro-
blem would be assisted, if not
solved, were it not for Japanese
occupying positions in industry and
farming which otherwise would be
held by whites, is the essence of
chauvinism.

“There's the picture,” the told
Lytle. “White men out of work—
Japanese working. It’s not pretty,
but there it tis. Economically
this province may eventually be-
long to the Japs.”

Japanese Not National Minority

The Japanese economic power
to be feared, however, is just that
which Mayor Miller ignores. it
is just that control over British

Columbia’s natural resources ob-
tained by Japanese interests re—
presenting the real owners in
Japan, aided and abetted by
Welson Spencer, the Conservative
leader, Col. Victor Spencer, the
minins millionaire, and others.
And it is precisely this danger to
which the provincial government

is deliberately blind.
The Japanese people of British

Columbia do not constitute a na-
tional minority in the ‘Sudeten”
sense any more than the other
large emigrant groups that go to
the making of the province's
cosmopolitan population. But be—
cause they and the Chinese have
long been subjected te chauvinistic
attacks, even violence, stirred up in
many cases by the same big busi-
mess interests which brought them
to Canada in the first place for
cheap labor purposes, they have
not proven so readily assimilable
as other emigrant groups. =

Japanese Fascism Utilizing Chauvinism

Now Japanese military-fas-
cism, seeliine Pacific domination,
is talking advantage of this anti-
Japanese feelings and endeavor-
ing to adapt it to its own ends.

When Mayor Miller states there
is not a Japanese on Wancouver
city relief he is incorrect. There
are 30 Japanese and 130 Chinese
heads of families on relief in the
eity.

Persecuted, the butt of every

politician trying to turn the Orien-
tal question to cheap political ad-

Stranglehold Must Be

vantage, the Japanese have learned
to cooperate. Their stores prosper
because they work through a cen-
tral system which provides them
with stock and credit. At the same
time, it must be admitted that
Some of the profit, at least, is fnd—
ing its way back to Japan to bol-
ster a tottering war economy.
Again, the urgent question is
that of Japanese military—-fascist
influence and the ned for break—
ing the economic hold it maintains
over the Japanese people in BC.

Broken

Mayor Miller believes “Canada is
producing a race of people who
don’t want to work hard. The
Japs,” he says, “are a good deal
like the early pioneers. They are
willing to work damned hard, to
make sacrifices to get themselves
established in a new country.”

But when he attacks the admit-
tedly lower Japanese living stan-
dard he ignores the fact that the
big industrialists of BC use un-
organized Japanese labor in pre-
ference to organized or even un-
organized white labor and are re—
sponsible for the maintenance of
just these low standards. The
Japanese consul and ~pro-fascist
Japanese interests, of course, are
equally anxious to prevent organ-
ization of Japanese workers in any
but organizations completely under

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their own control.

Gnce again the question is the
influence of Japanese military-
fascism over the mass of the
Japanese people. Not until this
influence is destroyed will the
intimidated Japanese people of
BC be free to express their oepin-
ions openly, to organize and rea-
lize their unanimity of interest
with white workers. Not until
then will they constitute, not a
group driven by chauvinism to
become a force Japanese wmili-
tary-fascism hopes to use for
aggressive purposes, but a force
for progress in the democratic

front of all Canadians fightine to
preserve and extend Canadian
democratic institutions against

the menace of fascism.

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