wee ine Movcseettres peter cnsrewer/ eats Sema gewceswcsrzes EE == 22E 2 on BRITISH COLUMBIA 7S PROGRESSIVE HOME NEWSPAPER FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY FULL No. 226. VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1939 SPEAKS HERE SUNDAY SEEKS AID FOR CHINA REFUGEES Enthusiastic audiences have attended the appearance of Miss ¥Y. Ching Lee, pretty Chinese girl fiyer, who landed her “Spirit of Wew China” monoplane at Sea island airport this week to keep a speaking engagement at the Lyric Theater on Sunday, May i4, at 3 pm.- i The intrepid flyer is making a 20,0GG mile tour of the United States and Canada to raise funds for the relief of China’s war re fugees, who number more than 13,000,000, and has met with con- siderable success throughout the US. Colonel Roscoe Turner, famed American airman, few the plane irom Kansas City and presented it te Miss Lee to use in her merey tour. Mass Isee is an accomplished aviatrix, having been trained at the aviation school in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Boeing School of Aernoautics in Oak- land, California. She is the only Chinese member of America’s ex- elusive “Caterpillar Club” and the only woman member of the Shanghai Municipal Air School. During the defense of Shang- hai by the Wineteenth Route Army, Miss Lee was engaged in attending the needs of the wounded soldiers and civilians. More recently she made a fying tour of the battlefields of China and with her actual experiences in the theater of war, will be able to give a vivid account of the re— Sistance which the Chinese troops are offering the ruthless Japanese invaders. Miss Lee’s appearance here is Sponsored by the Chinese Bene- volent Association. A collection will be taken up to aid the war refugees who have been driven frem their homes by Japanese bombers. > City Housew ‘Meatless W CCF, Socred MP’s Protest Move To Speed Prorogation RISING PRICES FORCE WOMEN INTO ACTION Reject Attempt By Master Butchers To Stall Movement Thousands of Vancouver housewives will carry their shopping bags home tomorrow minus the Sunday roast as “meatless week,” organized by Vancouver Housewives” Ieeague to compel retail butch- ers to bring down meat prices foes into effect Saturday, May 14, and continues for one week. Twenty-seven women’s Sroups will support the League, whose cam- paign is meeting with wide ap- proval on all sides. Hundreds of women who have no connection in any way with the organized move— ment have declared in favor of ob- serving the boycott. One Housewives’ League member told the Advocate Thursday she had recently visited her mother in Winnipeg where retail meat prices are at least 10 percent lower than Vancouver for the same grade of meat, although no grading act is established in Manitoba. She ad- mitted that fish was much dearer in Winnipes than in Vancouver, but added: “fish is a BC product, and we intend te eat it at least three times next week, and round out the rest of the meals with eggs, salads and other substitutes for meat.” Faced with the knowledge that the “meatless week’ has gained wide support, the Master Butchers’ Association attempted to head off the movement this week by trying to reach an understanding with of- ficials of the League. Meeting with League representa- tives in Hotel Georgia, Association members attempted to prove that the strike was “misdirected,” but were informed that the boycott would go on as scheduled. Mrs. M. E. Norton, League sec- retary, declared again that the strike was not directed against the Beef Grading Act but against those retailers who are taking advantage of the Act by raising prices and displaying only Grade A meats. Nearing the Top! Returns im the press drive reached $2339 at press time Thursday and indicates that British Columbia will be the first province in Canada to fulfill its pledge to the People’s Advocate Clarion maintenance fund. OTTAWA, May 11.—By a vote of 128 to 50 the bill setting the 1939 wheat crop price at 70 cents a bushel passed second reading in the House. Five western Liberals bolted from the government ranks and vyoted with the opposition. Spirited Effort Staged To Place Press In Clear : By W. RAVENOR With a number of press committees throughout the province staging a spirited effort to be in the running for the BC press drive trophy, the campaign was stepped up this week well past $2,200, or $700 more than reported in these columns last week. There is every prospect that the-@mittees drive will reach the objective of 32800 maintenance fund for the People’s Advocate and Clarion Weekly by May 20—the date set for concluding the campaign. During the past week eight press cemmiittees have oversubscribed their pledges while several others will reach their objective within the next few days. The commit- tees completing their pledges are: Cumberland, RPWU > committee; OY Bill, North Burnaby, Langley, TCOR, Grandview, Vernon and South Vancouver. Standings of Vancouver com- miuttees on Wednesday were: Grandview, Vernon and South Vancouver. Standings of Vancouver com- on -Wednesday were: Grandview with 108 percent; South Vancouver 101; Vancouver Centre 95; Hastings East 82; and Burrard 67. Worth Burnaby leads all subur- ban committees with 124 percent followed by North Vancouver with Ti. im the Fraser Valley the Lang- ley committee is far in the lead of all others with 109 percent; Mission 41- Haney 37; Matsqui 33; Surrey 32 and New Westminster 14.5. South Burnaby contributed $2.50 and Hope $1. Cumberland leads the entire pro- vinee with 167 percent; Nanaimo 77.6; Wictoria 542; Alberni 35. Ze- (Gontinued on page 5) See PRESS DRIVE eek’ ves To Open lay 14 (Special to the Advecate) OTTAWA, Ont. Yielding to the pressure of CCF and Social Credit members as well as the obvious fact that the business of parliament could not be dealt with in time to allow an early prorogation, Prime Minister Mackenzie King announced this week that House sessions would resume after the King and Queen leave Ottawa. There was no justification for the pressure the government was putting on members of the House to adjourn. By far the largest part of government business still remains to be done. And unless the House of Commons is© prepared to accept responsibility for failure to give adequate con- sideration to important business, there will be no adjournment. A great deal of business still remains to be done, and no form of government .pressure can obscure the fact that it physically impos- sible to deal properly with the lesislation in seven or eight days. Here are some of the items still before parliament: Four hundred million dollars worth of government estimates which have not yet been passed. The Official Secrets Act. The debate on defense estimates and Canadian external policy. De- fense estimates alone total $63,000,- ooo. Debate on the measure author- izing the government to raise $750,- Q00;000 to retire outstanding bonds and securities, and to finance pub- lic works. To receive the reports of the ma- jority of the parliamentary com- mittees, and give due consideration to them. Tne Sovermirent resolution to es- tablish a central mortgage bank. mm tablish a Salt Fish Board, with powers to investigate the market— ing of salt fish, and to esaablish terms and conditions under which it may give assistance to producers of salt fish for export. The Act to provide for the train- ing of young people to fit them for gainful employment. There are numerous other pieces of legislation still to be dealt with, but the above is sufficient to show that parliament could not adjourn on May 12, without a gross disre- gard for the public interest. Tf parliament does adjourn, and leaves the majority of the above— mentioned bills in abeyance, there is no doubt that the people of Can- ada will call the government to account. Weither the CCE nor Social Cre- dit groups was anxious to adjourn. The responsibility rested entirely with the government, which has control of the House procedure. All-night sittings can only be re- garded as a form of pressure upon dissident groups and individuals whe-—desire. to see the business. af the country done properly. Council To Decide Fate Of Civic By-Election polling stations. Mayor instal ex-Mayor George C. Miller, elected over ex-alderman Alfred Hurry, until the matter has been settied. The mayor contends that another election is necessary. The sentiments of the mayor are shared by the aldermen, who agree that even if the election is not challenged a new poll should be called. But this is held unlikely until after the royal visit. Final results of the city’s most freakish and badly conducted by- elections were: George C. Miller, 12,452; Alfred Hurry, 11,432. Alex Fordyce was out of the running with 915 votes while Peter McAl- lister polled only 742. The aldermanic contest was overshadowed by the issue of daylight saving and while the sponsors of more daylight won with 12,660 as against 12,652, the eight-vote majority is considered insufficient to inaugurate it. Electors turned down the Ker- risdale Skating Rink but gave the park development and sewer by- laws the necessary to carry them. A special meeting of the City Council has been called for Fri- day morning (today) by Mayor Telford to discuss the election and its developments and Wednesday's poll may be declared invalid. The by-election can be upset and Miller unseated either by a City Council decision, by the city’s legal department or by Alfred Hurry, the CCF candidate. Winners at Embassy Dance Drawing ist, Miss EE: Carkmner, 1451 East 12th Avenue, VYVaneouver, B239; 2nd, WN. Zyleck, 535 East Georga Street, Vancouver, A8i0; 3rd, Jack Jarry, 6629 Toderick Street, Vancouver, C3722: 4th, B. W. Silk, 1218 Bur- naby Street, Vancouver, B4139; 5th, M. Kullander, Gibsons Landing, BC, A3714; 6th, Douglas Price, Youbou, BC, A286; 7th, J. Sengotta, Box 382, Vernon, BGC, B917; &th, A. Ganeff, 2963 West 23rd Avenue, Vancouver, A413: 9th, Robert Foster, Jr., 2361 Sprott Street, Burnaby, BC, C841; 10th. Mrs. Hijeldness, 681 Cambie Street, Vancouver, A4523. The Advocate learned that the winner of the first prize is unem-— ployed and can make good use of the winnings. Telford has refused to, A new civic by-election loomed as inevitable as a result of Wednesday’s fiasco which denied hundreds of citizens the right to exercise their franchise owing to a shortage of ballots at Fishermen Set Price On Salmon Canners Okeh Higher Prices, Union Contract The government resolution to es-@ Representatives of the Salmon Purse Seiners’ Union and the Pa- cific Coast Fishermen’s Union re- ported having reached an agree- ment with the Salmon Canners’ Operating Committee Thursday which will provide higher fish prices and union recognition to their members during the 1939 Salmon season. The agreements, subject to ratification by the members of both unions, provides a basic price of 4315 and 4814 cents for filinet sockeye in Rivers and Smiths Inlets and a higher price for seine-caught salmon. Last year’s price was 42%5 and 4734 cents, and was first laid down by the canners as the top price. Aside from prices, principal clauses in the agreements of both unions are similar, and provide for union recognition and the checkoff system for dues pay- ments. The contracts will run for two years, but can be reopened by either party at any time. Terms of the settlement are al- ready being submitted to some 20 PCET locals on the coast while the SPSU membership will vote on their contract immediately. Union officials are advising ac- ceptance in both cases. Meantime negotiations are deadlocked in the case of five other fishermen’s groups. Failing to reach an agreement, repre— sentatives this week approached Labor Minister Pearson to make application for a mediator. The application was refused. The group represents Indian and Japanese unions as well as the Vessel Owners’ Association. USSR Gives Stand On Peace Pact Anglo-French Offer Gives No Real Guarantee MOSCOW, USSR, (Special)— Clarification of erroneous reports ecireelated in Britain with regard to the British-Soviet negotiations is contained in a statement is- sued by Tass, Soviet news agency. The text of the Tass statement follows: “According to information re- ceived from london, Reuters- has broadcast a report to the ef- fect that the British reply to the proposals of the USSR contains the following basic counter-pro- posals: “1. That the Soviet Union must individually guarantee each state bordering on it, and “2. That Great Britain under— take to render assistance to the USSR should the latter enter in- to war ={S a result of the fulfil- ment of the guarantees it has undertaken. “Qn the basis of the informa- tion received from authoritative Soviet circles, Tass is in a posi- tien to state that this Reuter re- port does not fully conform to the facts. “On May 8 the Soviet govern- ment actually did receive the British government’s ‘counter— proposals,’ to which the Hrench government raises no objection either. : “These proposals do not state that the Soviet government must Suarantee individually each state bordering on the USSR. It is Stated in them that the Soviet gevernment must immediately render assistance to Great Bri- tain and France should they be drawn into military operations in fulfilment of the obligations undertaken by them with respect to Poland and Roumania. “In the British government's ‘counter-proposals,’ however, no- thing is said regarding any as- Sistance which theSoviet Union Should on the basis of reciprocity receive from France and Great Britain if the Soviet Union were likewise drawn into military operations in fulfilment of obli- gations it has undertaken with respect to some of the other states of Eostern Europe.” LAST GROUP OF SPANISH VETS ARRIVE SUNDAY Were Prisoners Of Franco; Tell Tales Of Terror, Brutality — Twelve members of the Mac- kenzie-Papineau Battalion who were held prisoners in Spain by the fascists will arrive in Wan- couver Sunday night via GPR, ac- cording to a wire received by the local office of the Mac-Paps. “Red” Walsh, who was severely wounded, will be with the con- tingent. Special to The Advecate TORONTO, Ont.—Cheerings erowds and a widely repre- sentative reception committee were on hand at the Union Station here Sunday to extend greetings to 30 returning vet- erans of the Mackenzie-Papi- neau Battalion, prisoners of Franco for the past 13 months. Under command of Robert Dickie of Kirkland, the men hail- from all parts of the country with a group of i3 from Vancouver. Majority of those from the West left the same day en route home. “seventy percent of the people of Northern Spain are opposed to Vancouver fighter, told press rep- resentatives in an interview. He Said the night before their transference to San Sebastian from the priscn near Burgos, the fas- eists broadcast appeals to the San Sebastianos to give them and their fellow members of the MInterna- tional Brigades a “proper” fascist reception. “Sound trucks announced our arrival,’ said Wilson, “and we were marched through the streets of San Sebastian for two hours. But they made the mistake of halting at every street corner and pronto, we started talking to the people, whe were most friendly and obviously anti- Franco. Before the parade had concluded we were marching arm in arm with the local young fellows and girls.” Mussolini and Hitler, not Franco, were running Spain during their confinement, Wilson said. Italians dominated the battle zones, Ger- mans the rear. “In the railroad station ‘Viva Mussolini’ and ‘Viva Hitler’ were displayed in huge block letters, with Eranco’s name usually ap- pearing in much smaller letters underneath,” he said. Wilson was captured, along with a large number of British volun- teers, by men of three Italian divisions on April 1, 1938—the day after Lord Halifax told the House of Lords that he could find no in- dication of Italian intervention in Spain. Robert Dickie was among =z batch of Loyalist prisoners who were transferred from SBilboa to San Pedro during the war period. At every station on the long jour- (Continued on page 5) See VETERANS Ottawa Assures Unions Voters Rights Protected rights for loggers, hardrock: miners, fishermen and seamen would be protected. “We received replies to our brief on the question from all Vancouver MP’s except G G McGeer,” Stan- ton told the Advocate. ‘None of these members oppose the yrin- ciple of full electoral rights to all occupational groups in the provy- ince and some actively support it. “In particular, communications received from Honfi Ian Macken- zie, Grant MacNeil, HW. H. Stevens and Angus MaciInnes, indicate that the point of view of the unions is generally accepted, and that it is mot the intention of parliament nor of those who have charge of the Campaign to retain the franchise for some 23,000 workers in British Columbia’s basic industries appeared to be successful this week as John Stanton, attorney for six unions interested in the question, received assurances from Ottawa that voting electoral machinery to disfranchise large groups of migratory work-— ers,’ he declared. The unions’ brief, supported by the International Woodworkers of America, Inland Boatmen’s Union, Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union and three fishermen’s unions urged the Standing Committee on Elections to clarify BC’s position regarding amendments to the Elec- tions Act which abolished absentee voting. To ensure a literel interpretation of the Act an official statement was secured from Jules Castonsuay, (Continued on page 5) See OTTAWA if TT “etpete