Page Siz THE PEOPLE’S AD VGCAT E Shippers B S BCFGA Calls For Secret Ballot On Central Selling newly constituted United Distributors Cooperative Association to assist in any effort to establish central selling has forced the Central Selling Committee of the BC Fruit Growers’ Associa- tion to submit a ballot to all growers on their attitude to the plan. The Central Selling Committee, set up by the last conven- tion of the BCF'GA to produce a plan of voluntary central selling, has met with unremitting opposition from shipper in- terests and is submitting a secret ¢, Wholesale ballot to growers in order to avoid lone and costly litigation in the eourts. United Distributors Cooperative Association states that Central selling powers does not rest within the competence of the BC Natural Products Marketing Act and will fight any effort to establish the plan. The plan in brief provides for selling through the growers’ own agency, the BC Tree Fruits Ltd., with a general manager in charge and with a board of directors who will be selected with geographical representation by the directors of the BCEGA. The Fruit Board will operate with revised functions and revised remuneration. A sub- central is proposed for Creston. jobbers in Winnipeg are out to fight the Central Sell- ing plan to the finish with a plan of cash buying. For many years the wholesalers have sought to fan control of the fruit market by variouS means such as. ad- vances on carlots, and have estab- lished a veritable monopoly in the Qkanagan. Now they are prepared to pour money into the Valley in order to defeat the central selling scheme of the growers. Hon. K C MacDonaid, Minister of Agriculture, has given the BC EGA tentative assurance that he eonsiders central selling can be backed by law, while the Provin- Cial Marketing Board and the Fruit Board have given some as- surance the plan can be upheld. Eyewitness Tells Inside Story Of Madrid “Putsch’ Special to the Advocate PARIS, France—An eyewitness account of the Madrid putsch which installed a group of capitulationists into the Madrid “defense council” and paved the way for surrender of the city to General Francisco Franco was given here this week Valley People Oppese 7 New Library Tax Special to The Advocate LANGLEY PRAIRIE, BC, Mar. 30—Replacement of a $i land tax} by a straight per capita tax of 75 cents by the municipal council for the maintenance of the Fraser Valley Union Library has raised -econsiderable controversy and will not be paid by a large number of | people. The per capita tax is levied on all persons between the ages of 21 to 60 irrespective of whether they are taxpayers or not, and in many instances will run high for some families. Residents claim this is an attack on the library which covers the valley with a library van and has branches in a2 number of the towns, and have indicated they will not pay the new levy. A movement is gaining ground in the Valley to refuses to pay any more than 60 cents when the collector calls round. Sponsors of ¢he 60-cent tax feel that the costs of maintaining the library would be more equalized. 7— ) Dr. J. M. Campbell Waturopathic Physician Short wave diathermy and other electro-therapy measures for re- lief of illness. Thorough exam- jnation before any treatment is bezsun. e SEy. 5790 227-3 Vancouver Blk 736 Granville St. —— S LAKES & NINNIS Purnace Repairs and Sawdust Burners 952 Commercial Dr. High. 2250 | 24 Service Imperial Oil Products HASTINGS & DUNLEVY Miechanic on Duty | Dxin. 1940 Hour Leo Mogensen This Year Rennie s Fa Have— TENDER FRESH AND RENN ENJOY YOUR GARDEN BEAUTIFUL FLOWER BEDS A FINE, SMOOTH LAWN E SEEDS LTD. to Harold Jefferson, Inter-Contin- ent WNews correspondent, by James Shand, an Englishman who had been working in the Madrid radio station for two years. Shand’s story, underlining Anglo- Erench complicity, made extremely clear the connections between Colonel Casado and General Fran- co. He, with other Britishers, were taken from Spain by the British destroyer Icarus. Two American journalists, John Muller and J. Worman Schmidt, are still in Val- encia in grave danger, as the Bri- tish destroyer refused to take them aboard. They were told: “We're not taking people who are not Bri- tish for Mediterranean joyrides.” Shand was broadcasting a news bulletin when the Casado putsch occurred. He and others were im- mediately arrested by a Left Re- publican who declared: “You're finished here.” Tater they were able to get away. For the next few days there was fierce fighting in Madrid between those loyal to the Repub- lic ad the GCasado men. The loyal forces held the major part of Ma- drid for many days and were fin- ally defeated only through the close military cooperation between Branco and Casado. As soon as the revolt began, Eranco attacked those sections of the Madrid front where there were troops loyal to Premier Negrin and in particular where there was a large proportion of Communists. This made impossible any troop withdrawal to fight the capitula- tionists, who were able to withdraw whole divisions from the quiet part of the front. When Franco bomb- ers came over there was no resist: ance from the Casado batteries and they attacked only the quar- ters held by the Loyalists. On several occasions Franco and Gasado’s planes attacked in re- lays. From the first days of the uprising, Anarchists and Left Re- publicans left Spain, while the Communists were jailed. It was evident Casado had bar- gained with Franco for the lives of his friends agaist the heads of the Gommunists and other staunch anti-fascists. The Franco offensive was so long delayed to allow Gasado to complete his “cleaning up.” MONTREAL, Que—Fines of $20 each were imposed on Mrs. Stan- ley Ryerson, wife of the Quebec provincial secretary of the Com- munist Party of Ganada, and Mrs. Connie Morgan in Recorder’s Court for soliciting subseriptions to the Daily Clarion, Toronto progressive paper, and La Clarte, Montreal Plant mous Seeds VEGETABLES SO??? SS MASSES OF ROSES Workers in the city of SOVIET FOLK DANCE | native folk dance. Gomel, White Russia, perform a NIGEL MORGAN FOR IWA POST $9999 0O449F0-0060009906 5 VANCOUVER oS VICTORIA, BC, March 30—Ni- gel Morgan, well known here in labor and progressive circles, has accepted an appointment as vice president of the BC Coast District Couneil, International YWoodwork- ers of America, and will leave for Vancouver this weelzsend to take up his duties. A native son of the Lower island city, Morgan at present holds office in numerous organizations, being district secretary of the CCE and a provincial councii member, an executive member of the Democra- tic Book Club and the League of Wations Society, and delegate of the IWA on the Victoria Trades and Labor Council. Be is better known, however, in the youth movement, having been responsible for organizing the Ad- vanced Youth Club, the CCF Youth Club and the Victoria Youth Coun- cil, being president of the latter for two years. More recently he has been active in the Embargo Council movement, and has also acted as Victoria cor- respondent for several Coast labor papers, having been parlafentary correspondent for the People’s Ad- | vocate and the Pederationist. As a result of this activity he is widely known and his work in the Vancouver offices of the TWA will be watched with interest by num- erous friends in the capital city. CHINESE ARMIES HALT JAPANESE CHUNGEING, China. After days of heavy fighting Ghinese de- fense forces succeeded in stopping the advance started by Japanese troops to the west along the Lung- hai railway in the direction of Chengehow. A Japanese detachment number ing 1000 men which had crossed the Kiantanes river on March 20 was surrounded and destroyed by Chinese units. In the northern part of Kiangsi province, the Japanese are attempt-— ing to surround Nanchang and in- terrupt communications between Wanchange and Changsha and en- circle the Ghinese troops there. In the central part of Hupeh province, the anti-Japanese move— ment among the Chinese who were forcibly mobilized into the army of the invaders has intensified. On March 21, Chinese soldiers of one of such detachments killed their Japanese commanders and went over to the partisans. Another detachment of 500 men revolted in the district east of Mankow and joined the Chinese troops operating in the rear of the Japanese. According to information for- warded by the Chinese ministry of education, losses of cultural insti- tutions in China as a result of the barbarous bombings of Japanese aviation run into $184,000,000. Cul- tural institutions in Kiangsu, Shan- si, Hopeh, Kwangtung and Shan- tung provinces suffered most from these bombings. ASTORIA, Ore., March 30:-— Portland Waterfront Employers’ Association are seeking to recover $37,000 damages from Chinese pickets and port authorities over the ie-up of serap iron destined for Japan on the Norway Maru. Authorities closed this port a few weeks ago to all further ship- ments of the scrap metal after longshoremen continually refused to pass Chinese picket lines. The waterfront employers are charging the authorities and Chi- nese with conspiracy to tie up the shipments, hMac-Paps Still Held By Franco Latest Report Shows SO Still Held Prisoner Word was received in Van- couver this week from the na- tional office of the Friends of the Mackenzie-Papineau Batta- lion that there are 80 Canadians held prisoner in Spain by Franco instead of 33 as previously ported. These Canadians served with the famous Mac-Pap Battalion, an integral unit of the 15th In- ternational Brigade, until demob- ilized in accordance with the de- cree of the Spanish government shortly after the Ebro offensive last fail. The ranks of the battalion, which numbered 1200 men, were decimated by nearly half through casualties in the fierce fighting at Jarama, Brunette, Teruel, Ebro and other battles in which the Canadian volunteers took an active part. Many of the volunteers were reported missing and believed killed in action or tortured to death by Franco’s Moors. With this news, people who have searched in vain among the returned volunteers will cherish hope that their friends are list- ed among the prisoners who may yet be released through the ef- re— forts of the British Foreign Office and the Canadian govern- ment. aa HEARST LOSING CHICAGO STRIKE CHICAGO, March 30—As nezgo- tiations looking toward the settle ment of the sixteen-week-old strike proceed between the Hearst man- agement and representatives of the Chicago Newspaper Guild, public opinion behind the striking Guilds men continues to hammer down advertising in the Evening Ameri- can and the Herald-Examiner. Media Records figures for the first half of March bare a 387,669 line advertising loss for the two Struck papers. Redia Records the unquestioned authority newspaper advertising. is on Since the strike besan, December 5 last, according to Media Records statistics, the two Hearst papers have dropped 1,670,731 lines of ad- vertising as compared to a similar period last year. Advertising reve nue loss is estimated at $668,292.40. Significantly, all other Chicago dailies gained during the first half of March. The Tribune increased 43,408 lines; the Daily News, 37.- the Daily Times 26,066. The strike last week was marked by another slugging. Locking his alto Friday night preparatory to entering Garfield Park Hospital where his wife, victim of a hit- and-run driver was to undergo an operation, © E. (“Pug’ Elliott, striking branch circulation man- ager, was knocked unconscious by two Hearst gangsters who attack ed him with chains. Elliott and members of his family have often been targets for Hearst hoodlums since the strike started. BOYCOTT JAPANESE GOODS Vi ctoria To Livers] Support NW Embargo Conference VICTORIA, BC, Special to the Advocate March 30.—Strong support for the forth- coming Pacific Northwest Embargo Conference was voiced by the Victoria and District Embargo and Boycott Council at its second meeting in the YMCA headquarters. It was reported that the Embargo ~ Council will stage a drive for peti- tions on city streets April 15, and 1000 volunteers from affiliated or-' ganizations have been asked to par- | ticipate. The committee also aims | to distribute 1000 postcards ad-| dressed to MP's in Ottawa. | During the past week members | of the Gouncil have been interview—| ing local growers of the Japanese Easter lilies, the bulbs of which are one of Japan’s export commodities. | The lilies have been put on the “we |} do not patronize” list and the Coun- eil has been assured that use of the plants will be curtailed next} year. Money was voted by Council for | publication of leaflets to intensify | the boyeott drive. Delegates to the Pacific Northwest Conference will | be elected at the next meeting slat-| ed for April 11. Gouncil officers elected at the initial meeting are as follows: | chairman, Dr. D. M. Baillie; vice—! ehairman, Fred Eaton; second vice-| chairman, Alan Chambers; secre- tary, Miss Sara Spencer; assistant secretary, Miss Ruth Kipling; treasurer, James McManus. QUEBEG, March 30-——vVotes for women were again rejected by the Quebec legislature’s public bills committee when the Women’s Vote Bill came before their first sitting. This province is the only one in Ganada that denies women the franchise. | BC Electric Shuts Off Haney Lichts HANEY, BG, March 30.—Dark- mess pervades the streets and roads of Maple Ridge Municipality since the BC FE#§lectric turned off the power on Monday night because a new contract had not been entered into by the municipality. The municipal council has no authority to conclude an agreement without the sanction of the rate- payers, according te Reeve Mius- sallem, and this power will not be granted council until after April 8 providing taxpayers pass the new street lighting by-law. Parliament Hill CANADA NOTTO CONSCRIPT FOR FOREIGN WARS Manion Follows Up Reactionary Example Set By R. B. Bennett OTTAWA, Ont. — The pres- ent Liberal government will never enact conscription for service overseas, Prime Min- ister Mackenzie King told 4 packed House of Commons ‘Thursday in opening the long- — awaited debate on foreign af | fairs. - “I cannot accept the view of some that repardless of circumstance this that Canada is prepared to suppcrt any action that may be decided upon by the povernment at West minster,” he declared. The premier reiterated, however, his former opinion in relation to Chamberlain’s “appeasement” pol icy by defending the British premi-— er’s ,stand over Czechoslovakia. though at the same time he paid warm tribute to Canada’s friendly relations with United States. Seining Restrictions Rejected by House A bill presented by Tom Reid (iib., New Westminster) opposing purse seinine operations in the Guilt of Georgia, was talked out in the Ottawa House Wednesday Fisher men’s unions on the Goast were dissatisfied with Reid’s bill ang would have preferred that he de vote his full attention to the fish trap question, A. W. Neill declared in opposing the measure. Bread, Coal Probe Government inquiry into the high cost of bread and. coal, under proyvi- sions of the Combines investiga- fiens Act, was mooted this week by Hon. J. A. Mackinnon. Both the bread and ¢Coal combines have been under fire in many parts of Canada during recent years. é . Iron Heel’ Manion RR. J. Manion, Tory leader, proved his right to inherit the policy of “tron Heel” Bennett when he gave fuil Support to a bill introduced by Wilfred Tacroix (Quebec-Montmor ency) urging a ban on Communist literature in the mails and the right of the postmaster-seneral to open all letters and parcels The measure was talked out after CCE, Social Credit and Liberal members had spoken in opposition. LANGLEY BRIDGES iN BAD SHAPE LANGLEY, BC, Mar. 30 — No less than 16 bridges. some of them fairly large, have been condemned in this municipality, accordins toe Reeve Cruickshank, who deciared they present a serious situation which calls for immediate govern- ment assistance in rebuilding, These bridges were built many years ago by the provincial Zov- ernment and have fallen into such a state that they have now been condemned. Detour signs are fast becoming a part of the road system and to de tour around a single block adds a distance of four miles. There are not many through roads and this adds considerably te an other- wise Short journey. The Langley Council is unable to rebuild the bridges and has done nothing to acquaint the public of the situation and win support in order to make representation to the government for some assist- ance. a PS Specials: Fruit trees, 2 and 3 years old, some of them will flower this spring. . 5 varieties of apples 5 varieties of pears 5 varieties of plums 50c BACH Rhododendrons, unnamed at 50c. Collection of flowering shrubs, 10 fcr $2.50. These Prices Are Cash & Carry Layritz Nurseries Ltd. Refreshments | Wednesday, April 5 130 West Hastings St. | Whist Drive — 8 to 9:3C | Helse Anderson’s Orchestra Proceeds to the Advocate-Clarion Press Drive Admission, 2Oc mas th att Ticked LAS ON estas amneate Niatanihs country must say here and now; oh no spa apa LR men ES mytienatieetalt oe ae tS IEICE are acer tenn mrmenemernete tater th EE a. Serre HOT iT) roe Boe email sud bate