PROVINCIAL ACT WOULD PERMIT MONOPOLY CONTROL CONFE 50 Groups| Attend At City. Meet Housewives’ League Leads Compaign To Prevent Monopoly Control. HITS CONSUMERS By KAY GREGORY _ 4A resolution moved by a delegate from the Daughters of Engeiand, seconded by the delesate from the Orangemen, demandins repeal of Bul 89, the Commodities Retail Sales Act, was passed without one dissenting voice at the conference called by the Housewives League Oz British Columbia at the Hotel Georsia on Monday. Full import of the bill was ex plained by Mrs. G Greenwood, eGnvener of the league's research committee. The preambie to the Act, she Said, gave the impression that it Was in the interest of small re- tellers who could not compete @gainst “chain and depariment stores by offering ‘specials’ and ‘bargains.’ Weither the retailer nor the con- Sumer had any yoice in the settings O@f retail prices under the Act. This was left entirely in the hands of imanufacturers and producers. “Prices could then be raised to. highest point the market would stand,” Mirs. Greenwood stated. “The age-old protection of the consumer, competitive market- ing, would be abolished. Con- Sumers would be forced to pay these set prices or go without necessary commodities.” Mrs. Me Norton, secreta 4 Housewives' League, in outlining aims “and objects of the league, pointed out that as consumers their Grst consideration was to prevent mse in cost of living. Retailers and manufacturers were themselves or- Sanized to look after their own penents and it was up to the con- sumer to do likewise. LEAD TO MONOPOLIES. tt was also essential for the smiall retailer to realize how this Act would affect trade. Manufac- SGrers would set the prices con- annually higher and since high sriced goods could only be sold by mé€ans of high pressure salesman-— CE ASKS RE ;CONSUMERS’ INTERESTS PROTECTED PEAL Housewives’ League VICTORY for the Housewives’ League of SBritish Columbia was achieved last weekend by agreement of federal government officials to Jinelude two further grades in the new provincial beef refulations. Previously the regulations pro- vided four grades and entirely eliminated all cheaper meat from ‘local markets. Dairy farmers would have been unable to sell their cattle for Consumption on cheap markets, and consumers un- able to pay high prices for high Srade meat. a Following wide protest, interest- €d groups held several meetings to consider suggested changes in the regulations. At a final meeting held last weekend in the offices of the Retail Merchants’ Association, and attended by R. GC. Pearsall, chief of grading servict at Ottawa, and -SECURES M. VY. Campbell, dominion inspec- tor of beef grading, proposals were put forwara that two extra grades be included. These proposals will be effective imamediately upon ratr fication by Ottawa. : The present red and blie grades Will stand as “select” or fancy Srades and four lower grades, com- mencing immediately below the blue brand, will be added, to be known as A, B, GC, and D. The suggestion by the House- Wins Victory CHEAP MEAT GRADES wives’ League that sex grading be included was also agreed to, and cow beef must now be distinctly ‘Marked as “cow,” advertised and sold according to its designation. A small committee appointed at this meeting to consider features of the lower grades will report in a few days. R. C. Pearsall is confering with Hon. Dr. K C. MacDonald, min- ister of agriculture, on the points of the new grades. THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1938 Canadian people,’ Tyler stated the Advocate. the present time. or unemployed.” municipalities and this was leading inevitably to a breakdown of essen_- tial municipal services: “The recent Liberal convention at Kelowna recognized the fact that the municipalities must be re— hip and huge advertising schemes, Pain stores and department stores vould be the only ones able to af- ord such campaigns. in addition, Mrs. Norton en- mired, what was to prevent manu- 2cturers getting together and Sreeing that they would sell ali Reir goods at the same prices, liminating any possible chance of cmpetition, and consequently low- = prices, among themselves? This” Fould jead to more huge monop- lies, described by one delegate as against ali democratic principles.” “It is evident,” declared Mrs. jrTeenwood, “that even the mem- ers of the legislature were hazy s to the actual significance of this li or they never would have assed it. It is in the interests of > few people.’ Statins that “apparently we have ll been caught asleep at the witch,” King Edward Community lub delesate suggested that the ague should demand either a re- 2al or redraft of the bill at the sxt legislature. AS PRICE RAISED. Dr. A. F. Barton, president, Fed- ated Ratepayers, showed now riain companies, at the expense © workers and consumers, had massed huge profits, Ex-Lax, for Stance, a commodity costing 16 mts a hundred to produce and lliing to the public at a price uch in excess of a reasonable argin of profit, had made a ent of $27,000,000. Already, he stated, prices of 000 articles had been set under his Act and recently gasoline ad been raised 2 cents a gallon y authority of the Act. “Articles now selling at 35 cents,” said, “will be selling at 49 cents no time. We must demand a re- al in the form of a resolution r this conference here tonight.” “The retailers, instead of being Iped by this Act, will eventually smashed,” he declared. ‘Mer- andise will be forced upon them manufacturers at higher and Sher prices, until the market is xen away by such impossible ices, then the retailer will be left Iding the bag when manufactur-— 5 decide it is itme to bring down ices, with no come-back for mpensation.’’ Delegates from 50 organizations ended the conference, in addi- nm to an audience of some 200 ple. lieved of some social service costs,” Tyler stated. GIVES FIGURES The main problem was the care of able-bodied unemployed, he Said, pointing out that of $4,400 persons receiving aid in SBritisn Columbia last year 65,300 were able-bodied with dependents. Figures for 1937 showed that there were 105,117 persons in gain- ful employment in the province as compared with 11,903 able-bodied heads of families (excluding de- pendents) unemployed. British Columbia's payroll for the same year was $162,654,234 and the estimated total value of indus- trial products $450,000,000. Cost of maintaining the unemployed amounted to $5,645,378, while total relief and social service costs were 311,533,739. In addition, Vancouver charities alone expended $369,354 Tyler stated that the conference would probably set up a committee to examine these figures and, on the basis of proposals, formulate a scheme under the suggested Act for creating a special fund. MANY DELEGATES Among organizations expected to send delegates to the conference are: international Union of Operating Engineers; Bakery and Confec- Social Security Act Will Be Discussed At City Conference When delegates to the Conference-on Social Welfare meet in the Moose Hall here posed federal Social Security Act, to be outlined by Fred Tyler, president of the BC Federation on Unemployment, will be one of the main questions for their consideration. “The proposed Act, as we visualize It; but administered provincially as the Old Unemployment and this Sunday a pro- “I believe that the need for immediate improvement of social conditions is the most urgent of the problems confronting the this week in an interview with »will be federal in scope Age Pensions Act is at “Its purpose will be to shift the burden of maintaining able- bodied unemployed from the shoulders of the taxpayers to the values created by wage-earners in industry — to produce a planned approach to the problem and create a fund to provide for the social security of workers, farmers and others when sick The tendency of the provincial government, Tyler com- inented, was to place increasing costs of social services on the tionery Workers Union; Inland Boatmen’s Union; Shipyard Gen- eral Laborers Union; United Mine Workers of America, Nanaimo; Brotherhood of Railroad and Steamship Clerks; BC Coast Dis- trict Council, International Wood- workers of America. All ratepayers associations in Vancouver affiliated to the Feder- ated Ratepayers; and Renfrew Ratepayers) Windermere Ratepay- ers; Norquay Ratepayers. Disabled Veterans Association, Lynn Valley; British Imperial Comrades Association; Vancouver Ex-Servicemen’s League; Cana- dian War Remnants; Army and Navy Veterans; Provincial Com- mand, Canadian TLegion. Abbott House Association; Re- turned Soldiers Club; John How- ard Society; all affiliated to Van- eouver Welfare Association. All branches of the Workers Al- liance in Vancouver; Maillardville Workers Alliance and Women's Auxiliary; Relief Project Workers Union; Surrey Workers’ and Far- mers; Langley Workers and Rate- payers; Burnaby Civic Improve- ment Association; West Vancouver General Workers Union; Nanaimo General Workers Union. = Vancouver and New Westminster Youth Council; Old Age Pensioners Benevolent Association; Victoria Drive Community Association, Vancouver Mothers Council; Bri- tish Columbia Housewives League. Ukrainian Labor-Farmer Temple Association; Maxim Gorky Club; Finnish Organization. ~ ez TOWN HALL Ballroom Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday OLD-TIME DANCE Wednesday, MODERN DANCE The most beautiful balircom in Vancouver. Excellent Music Admission 25c | (7 >) Leo Smuntam’s Band now at the ALEXANDRA BALLROOM Monday, Wednesday and Friday, OLD-TIME DANCE Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday MODERN DANCE Hor a good time be sure to visit these dances. Best music and the finest floor in Canada. ADMISSION 25¢ (except Sat.) | a S Only Shoe Repair Store in Vancouver with a Signed Agreement with the Union NEW METHOD SHOE 337 Carrall St. Urges Park Plan R. ROWE HOLLAND Chairman, Vancouver Parks Board, who condemns logging operations on Hollyburn Ridge, seeks public ownership of the area. Alberni Head Lauds Motion Will Help To Relieve Municipal Burdens PORT ALBERNG, BGC, Sept. 15— Support for the resolution on municipal finances introduced into the recent provincial Liberal con- vention at Kelowna by H. G. Perry, MLA (Prince George), and carried by a big majority despite the dis- approval of Premier Pattullo, was forthcoming this week from Mayor W. C. Hamilton here. The resolution -adyocated that the province should assume all education costs in order to relieve the hard-pressed municipalities. Mayor Hamilton stated that Perry “hit one of the progressive nails right on the head.’ The resolution, he said, “if and when put into effect would remove an insufferable and grossly unfair burden from the shoulders of the municipal taxpayers and thus per- mit organized communities to get back to the sphere wherein they were originally intended to func- tion.” Patronize Our Advertisers! PARIS CAFE Saves You Money... This Week’s Brealcfast Special: Little Pig Sausage and 2 Eegees Fried Calf’s Liver and 2 EHgegs Toast, Potatoes, Coffee 433 W. Pender St, Vancouver Hish. 3244 716 East Hastings Street 4068 East Hastings Street 1768 Commercial Drive Quality Products at Moderate Prices We Deliver to Bast End and Grandview Homes @ “‘Thrifty Housewives Shop at Hastings Bakery!’ 100% UNIONIZED ‘| mor Benson of Minnesota at their Roosevelt To Aid Farmers Will Introduce New Farm. Legislation WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 15. — President Roosevelt will do every-— thing possible to raise farm prices, the US chief executive told Gover conference in the President’s Hyde Park home last week. Plans outlined by the President were: : A broadening of the wheat ex port program. Increased purchases of surplus- es, with emphasis on dairy prod- ucts buying. Probably increased wheat and corn loans. Governor Benson also reported that the President looked with favyv-— or upon action against the packing, milling, farm implement, and other trusts. spring Moreover—and perhaps most sig- nificant of all was President Roosevelt's expression of 2 strong determination to seek new agricul- tural legislation in the next Gon- Sress. It was in this connection that Governor Benson presented the Minnesota plan calling for guar— anteed prices at more than cost of production, mortgage re-financines and a tenancy program. Other concrete steps which Ben- son reported the President as tak-— ing immediately were purchase of 33,000,000 worth of cheese to aid the dairy market, as well as increased buying of butter. An easing of col- lections on» back feed and ‘seed loans because of low erop prices was indicated. Benson said that farm problems were getting more attention from the President than anything else. Chief point driven home by Goy- ernor Benson was that agriculture, Siven real purchasing power, could soon bring recovery to the rest of the nation. He pointed out that a prosperous agriculture would result in bring- ing prosperity to other groups as well, and that guarantee of prices above cost of production levels would redound in benefits to the entire country- At the same time, Benson praised the Roosevelt administration for the aid it had given to farmers. OF B ILL 89 Growers Lose On Apples Returns On Hyslops Show Deficit When Adoption Costs Are Deducted. — LOW PRICES — VERNON, BC, Sept. 15.—Al- though official BC Fruit Board figures show that an average of 40 cents a box for apples re- tailed at $1.65 was received by Okanagan growers last year, Norman Tucker, fruit grower here, declares that this figure is higher than that usually ob- tained by srowers. “It is only true of some varieties of apples,” he states, pointing out that growers this year will not re— ceive more than $12.50 a ton for their Wealthies after cost of boxes and selling Charges have been de- ducted. “Some of them,” he said, “will not even be sold at this price.”’ Amalyzing figures, Tucker shows that the following deductions will be made from the price of 60 cents. now received for Hyslop crab apples. Box, 15144 cents; selling eharge 15 cents; Tree Fruit Board levy, iis, cents; ¢ransportation to. packing house, 214 cents; label- ling, 1 cent. “Growers,” Tucker declares, “wall be lucky if they get 20 cents a box for their Hyslops, which is an excellent apple for making jelly or for cannins whole.” From this 20 cents an estimated 4 cents must be deducted for ir- rigation; 10 cents for picking, packing and lidding: 6 cents for pruning, fertilization, cultivation, fencing, planting and hauling the fruit from the orchard to the road, and taxes at $950 an acre. “In my opinion, the growers are losing on every box of Hyslops they grow,” he says. Growers are only enabled to re- Main in business by reason of the Small profits they make on some other yarieties, Tucker opines, and by doime much of the work for which they would otherwise em- ploy laborers. A minority of them receives incomes from other sources but the number of these has dwandled during nine years of de- pression. Costs, he believes, could be re- duced a cent or two by purchase of modern machinery, but this is out of the question for the average impoverished grower. ' New City Hall KAMLOOPS, BG, Sept. 15. — Ratepayers here will be asked to approve construction of a new city hail at the corner of Victoria street and First avenue within the next few weeks. It is proposed to de_ molish both the present city hali and the old courthouse which now Stands on the site of the proposed ARMS FOR SPAIN new building. TO THE FINEST BEER YOU CAN BUY Tuis advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia.