Page Siz THE PEGPHPLE’S ADVOCATE Recovery Main Ele > Housing Question Pressed Council Orders Further Probe Of Experimental Plan While her fellow - aldermen wriggled uncomfortably in their chairs, Alderman Helena Gutteridse showed her inten- tion of carrying on the fight for low-rental housing at Monday’s building and civic planning committee by having a thor- ough explanation of the scheme read out by the city clerk. Presenting each alderman ‘with 2 Mimeceraphed sheet containing excerpts from a speech by Profes- sor W. A. Clark, federal deputy minister of finance, setting out advantages of such a scheme, Miss Gutteridge asked that it be read aloud. ‘Need we . 2” began Alder- man Miller plaintively. “Yes, it should be read,” Miss Gutteridge persisted. “I have had this specially prepared so that ev- ery alderman can answer ques— tions put to him by the public on the question of low rental hous- ing.” Professor Clark’s speech, given at the Wational conference on Housing this February, described the Housing Act as “an innova- tion and what many would regard as a radical innovation in Cana- dian legislation.” “The responsible initiative for Clark declared, “must come from the authorities and citizens of the municipality, who recognize what their own housing problem is and are willing to take concrete steps toward its solution, who have reached the stage of demanding that an end must be made to sub- standard housing conditions in their vicinity and who are prepar- ed to work out, with Dominion financial assistance, the solution which is appropriate to the pres- ent circumstances and the prob- able growth of the particular municipality.” “J am convinced,” the statement continued, “that in most if not all municipalities where a slum prob lem exists, there will be found 4 group of business and community leaders who will respond to the challenges offered by this lepisla— tion.” Aldermen decided to instruct their special committee and the Housing Association to investigate further the proposed “experiment- al project” and report to counc:l. Nine Qualify Under Act OTTAWA, Ont—Nine commun- ities in British Columbia have qualified for tax payment bene- fits under part 3 of the Dominion Miousing Act, which provides for tax assistance during a three- year period to persons who build for their own occupation low-cost homes not exceeding a total cost of $4,000. Assistance provided amounts to 100 percent of the real estate and school taxes levied on the new house for the first year in which it is taxed, 50 percent on the sec- ond year and 25 percent the third year. Aitogether 115 communities in the Dominion have qualified for this assistance. Another 52 muni- eipalities have indicated interest in the scheme. eee ee eee ee The Coming Election and Hew To Influence The Peopie So Soviet Athletes Demonstrate = WOMEN OF AZERBAJDZHAN march through Red Square in the parade of picked men and women athletes from the 11 republics of the USSR. ; ss Unions Cooperate In Negotiations With Companies Organizational drive of the trade union movement to enroll new members and close agree- ments with manufacturing plants was given impetus this week by North Island Trollers Cooperative Association and Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Union when an agreement was signed Tuesday between Jew- elry Workers’ Union and R. Gibbs, maker of trolling spoons. Tnsistent demands by L. H. C. Phillips, NITCA president on pehalf of the membership, and the PCFU members for union-made trolling spoons had its effect when R. Gibbs, trolling spoon manufacturer, signed a contract for the year ending Sep- tember i, 1940. Wages will be in- creased according to skill in each bracket among the i2 employees. An agreement was signed last week with Bert Clendon, manufac- turer of the ‘Wonder’ spoon for a two-year period ending October i, 1941. Jewelry Union officials are nego- tiating at present with Pressed Metal Products for a union agree ment; in this they have the as- sistance of PCEU members. Demands of unions for union but- tons, gear and other tools of the trade manufactured in Vancouver has played a big role in assisting the Jewelry Workers’ Union gain closed shops. Report Soviet Loan For China CHUNGEING, China. — Chinese government officials reported here this week that the Soviet Union in- tended to make a loan of 700,000,000 rubles ($140,000,000) to China. JOHN STANTON Barrister, Solicitor, Notary 50S Holden Building It would help to achieve the elec— tion of a majority of progressive candidates in the coming Federal Filection in BG if the pamphlet “ACT NOW” by the Dean of Can- terbury were widely distributed in all Ridings. It would not be diffi- cult to distribute sixty thousand copeis, if a few thousand citizens would share the task by selling a few pamphlets to their neighbors. The price of this 62-page pamphlet is only Ten Cents, and it is easy to sell five or ten copies. This is a simple method by which those who desire progress can do something that will help achieve a mighty vote on the side of progress. Five pamphlets mailed post-iree for Fifty Cents. NEW AGE BOCK SHOP 50a EE. Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. Mail orders. Rm. 25, 163 W. Hastings 16 BE. Hastings St. Trin. 4464 READ ‘THE FISHERMAN’ The Only Trade Union Paper in the Fishing Industry Published every other Tuesday by Salmon Purse Seiners Union and Pacific Coast Fishermen’s Union. Rates: $1.00 Year — 60c Six Mos. 164 East Hastings Street Se te see™ BAKERY High. 3244 71G East Hastings Street 4968 EE. Mastings Street 1709 Commercial Drive QUALITY PRODUCTS MODERATE PRICES 160% UNIGNIZED Trolling Spoon Manufacturer Signs Union Agree ment Spanish Children Seeking Foster Parents In Canada A hundred boys and girls, from four to 14 years of age, are looking for foster par- ents in Canada. They are Spanish children whose par- ents were listed either killed or missing in the Spanish war, now living in a colony established by the Interna- tional Children’s Office on an island in France. In sending out an appeal the Canadian Committee to Aid Spanish Refugees says: “Rive dollars a month will feed, clothe and educate a child. We have photographs of each one of them. Will you adopt a child? Will you write to him once in a while? We will translate and for- ward letters. Then he will feel that there is someone who loves and looks after him,” Address the committee at 95 King Street East, Toronto, Ont. Continued High Discussing the Arrow lake high- way, Oxenford pointed out that there is already a road between Welson and Nakusp. There is also a road from Revelstoke to Arrow- head. Between Arrowhead and Wakusp there is a gap of some 30 miles, with roads already con- structed part of the way. A road runs some five miles out of Galena Bay, across the lake from Arrowhead, and there is a similar stretch of road out of Na- kusp. Linking of these two roads would bridge the gap, with estab- lishment of a ferry between Gal- ena Bay and Arrowhead, he said. At the present time the CPR operates a boat service on Arrow lake from Arrowhead to Wakusp and Robson. Gonstruction of the Arrowhead - Nakusp highway would break this monooplistic hold over transportation, provide struggling farmers with ready access to markets in Okanagan and Kootenays. COMMUNIST PARTY BROADCAST Every Friday CKMO . . 9:45 P.M. — This Week — W. RIGBY Member Dominion Gommittee “CANADIANISM AND COMMUNISM” : ly threatened to Continued Labor Law tion of new one to represent the men’s imterests. Learning of the men’s desire the company alleged- close the mill for two months unless the com- mittee’s action were upheld. Plant manager E. B. Ballantyne and Gharies Readhead, committee chairman, it is charged, went throughthe plant intimidating em- ployees to endorse the committee. At first unsuccessful, securing only nine or ten signatures to the list, it is asserted that later the threat of closing the plant was used to intimidate employees into signing the company document, Readhead is Known in, the plant as a former provincial policeman employed at Powell River during the longshore strike of 1935. Ballantyne is reported to have threatened to fire all members of the new committee as soon as he can obtain their Dames. At a meeting Sunday employees decided to affiliate with Interna- tional Woodworkers of America following eeletion of a temporary executive. Plans were laid to have International President Harold J. Pritchett instal the local union charter at the next meeting, Aug. 26, in Labor headquarters. To Confer | placed on corporations whose pro- “McKean. On Fares Reporting that he had been in touch with Dr. W. A. Carrothers, chairman of the provincial Utilities Board, concerning BE WBiectric fares, Alderman Walford Wilsen tola the civic harbors and utilities committee Monday that the beard had announced its willingness to call a meeting as soon as the city was ready. “We intend to go over to Vie- toria soon,’ said Wuson, “to get their advice as to the best way for the city to proceed.” Remarkng that Board could be of tremendous help tea the eity, Corporation Gounsel McTfag- gart seemed dubious as to whether euch help could be obtained. “My impression is that we have to en- gage our own experts, whico wilt entail a lot.of expense,’ he re- miarked. Absent at the previous special ecmmittee meeting, Alderman HH. L.. Gorey expressed disappointment that the city coulad not ger more than a 4 percent increase in pay- ments from the company- “You weren’t any more disap- pointed than we were,” ruefully ¢x- claimed Alderman Bennett. Ask Foreshore For Park Use Demand that the city-owned fore- shore from Stanley Park to Bur- rard Bridge be turned over to the Park Board for conversion intGc a public park was made by the Eng- lish Bay Improvements Association Monday night. : Support of the plan, it was re ported, had been promised by Hon. Tan Mackenzie, minister of defense, experts | August 11, 1939 ry ction Issue Communist At City Ral Leader Outlines Program ly Communists fired the opening gun in the federal election campaign Monday night at a meeting in Hastings Auditorium when Fergus MacKean, provincial secretary of the Communist party and Labor candidate in Kootenay East federal riding, out lined the main points in the party’s immediate program. The meeting marked the ea ing of the party's two-day provin- cial committee sessions. Declaring that big business was on a sit-down strike and scormg inaction of the King fovernment, McKean stated that the urgent need was for legislation “to put capital back into circulation and Canadians back to work.” In urging a program of national recovery for Canada the party leader stated that such a program should include such projects as forest conservation and reforesta- tion, highway construction, cheap hydro electric power development and a comprehensive building and housing plan—‘not the two-bit housing<«as provided under the Na- tional Housing Act where discre- tion for its operation is left te municipalities, but a real program started by the federal govern- ment.” “The Alaska highway would provide work for 5000 BC men,” McKean said, “while the St. Law- rence Seaway project would em- ploy thousands more. “hese and other projects must be under taken to build up the country, while providing ‘work for its citizens. If big business will not put the money into circulation, then the government must provide the credits.” E Readjustment of taxation where- by the heavy load now borne by those least able to pay would be fits run into millions each year was advocated by McKean. Old age pensions at 60 and a national system of health insur- ance were other points outlined by the party leader as an immedi- ate program. McKean called for defeat of Sir Edward Beatty’s 5-year trial plan of CNR-CPR cooperation. “If this were done, 2200 miles of mainline track and 900 miles of branch lines of the CNR would be scrapped while only 700 miles of CPR mainline tracks would be abandoned, thus at the end of the five years the CNR would be bought for next to nothing. “Whole communities, villages and towns across Canada would be de serted as a result of freight, ex- press and other railway offices being closed through Sir Edwar Ss cooperation plan. Some | 40,000: railway workers would lose their pobs in order to guarantee divi- dends to the bondholders,” declared Inaction of the King government was playing into the hands of Du- plessis, Hepburn, Manion and Drew, the four most outstanding reactionary figures in Canada to- day. These reactionaries were en= couraged by King’s inaction and division in progressive ranks. Speaking of his party in relation to the New Democracy, CCF and other groups, McKean declared, “The Communist party will not merge or lose its identity in Ccoop- erating with these groups, but will earry out its own political role- “The CCF stands to gain by co- operating with the New Democracy in the federal election and has nothing to lose. However, CCE candidates should be supported in a large majority of ridings as the CCF constitutes the largest pro- gressive party in B.C.” Much of the anti-unity attitude of the CCF, McKean said, was traceable to Trotskyites. “The Communist party is mot backing the New Democracy move- ment and is not building it, but Residents Ask Bus Service South Vancouver Delegation Urges Council Action Three determined women fac- ed city aldermen at Mondays meeting of the harbors and util- ities committee with a petition demanding bus service on south- east Marine drive. Signed by more than a hun- dred residents of South Van- eouver and Burnaby in the yviE cinity of Marine Drive, the peti- tion described how housewives, laden with parcels and often ac- companied by children, had to walk long distances before they could obtai ntransportation. The fact that there was no sidewalk and lighting was bad, the petition continued, consto- tuted considerable danger to ehildren and young people who had to walk home at night - “Often they had to depend on the generosity of passing motor- ists to give them a lift,” it wes stated. : “We've been to the BC Elec- tric company,” - remarked one member of the delegation, “but they told us they were running in the red. We gathered the com- pany was almost In the hands of the receivers. I told them if it was that bad, one more bus service wouldn’t make much dit ference.” Explaining that the city was preparing a plan of services for submission to the Utilities Board, Ald. H. D. Wilson told the delegation that a bus line to eover the area under discussion had been included. “We intend to ask for some service to connect with Victoria Road car line te Marine Drive and possibly one at the end of the Joyce Road carline,” he said. “Wow long will we have to wait before we know something about this?” queried one mem- ber of the delegation. “We mean business and we don’t intend to wait indefinitely!” Chairman Wilson assured them that some definite infor mation would probably be ready in a month. The matter was left until the city presents its case to the Utilities Board. ment,’ McKean stated sion, Malcolm Bruce, veteran Com- munist leader, in a review of inter national events, blamed the dile- tory policy of the Chamberlain national government in its negoti- ations for a peace bloc with the Soviet Union, described the Cham- berlain government as the miost sinister force in world affairs be cause of its habiliments of demo- cracy. Referring to Japan’s undeclared war on China, he called for a Sey- erance of Canada’s commercial Te lations with Japan, urged an em bargo on shipments of war mater- jals from this country to aggressor nations. Robert Kerr, the partys provin- in conclu- welcomes it as a progressive Move- SPECIAL! * WHILE YOU WAIT Men’s Half Soles and Rubber Heels Ladies’ Half Soles - - Empire Sh Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince and R. Rowe Holland, chairman of the parks board. -0© G5eé cial organizer, presided. * Le oe Repairs 66 East Hastings Street PURE FOOD PRODUCTS Rupert, New Westminster, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton Kelly Douglas Co. Ltd. | Vancouver : Canada : 4 valiaey ees act ila ee | ‘ oom Gls bodattonetoresasohed fiat X deca ie oe . SOR ee Sabid.puanemonnrenet ware Raper lp cipmmey atone — & Ce CS