THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE August 25, 1939 a uemeerenpes srowing Yesire For jieasure ‘Three Unions Add _ Weisht To Trades 7 Council’s Action *“ hree fishermen’s unions, Emon Purse Seiners, United jierinen and Pacific Coast Miiermen’s Unions - have added #yr voice to that of Hotel and taurant Employees and Bar- filers’ unions in demanding fe -incial health insurance. solution passed at a recent fang of the trades and labor cil urged that body to exert =) 7 effort to bring forcibly to the @e:tion of the provincial zovern- @= the fact that organized labor Binds the government’s health Seance legislation be put into *% without further delay. giile 148.218 electors had decided ' vor of the measure at the 1937 encial elections, as compared »=2 opposing vote of 98,948, the $dian Manufacturers’ Associa- sand Canadian Medical Associa- s had been successful in bring- Pesufficient pressure to forestall =peration, it was stated. © the doctors refuse to act, as = have intimated they will do,” &d the resolution, “it should be Si here that hundreds of good Bors have come to this country (ie recent months from coun- » cobbled up by Hitler, and these % ubtedly would be available.” ited Bishermen and Salmon B= Seiners’ Unions will urge the ® convention of the Trades and Pr Congress meeting in London '>ptember 25 to press for federal Bation requiring all imports = the country of origin stamped aly on the container. resolution to this effect, aim- Ss pecifically at Japanese canned fmports, is being drafted by the ms 'toria Protest Pts Further ap Shipments ) *TORIA, BC—wNo further at Ss have been made to move iron from this port, a tribute Pie strength of the embargo i ment here. st Sunday a meeting was held _ctoria West park, while another Sing is now being planned for t= Day weekend. bcther messages of congratula- § for its recent militant action -alting scrap shipments have received from New Work, San B cisco and Portland. ‘TUESDAY - ICISL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITY FOR ALL Advocate Writer Visits BC Sudeten Refugees By JAMES MacPHERSON : EDMONTON, Alta. — Peace River folks have taken the Sudeten refugees to their hearts. They go out of their way to make them feel at home. They welcome the refugees who have been forced to flee-from Hitler’ Ss terror, to make their home in this famous North Alberta farm area. A farmer will ask “Have you seen the Sudetens? How are| they getting along? I hear they’ ve been given some pretty poor land by the Canadian government. If that is true then I think it’s a shame, after what they’ve suffered.” These are the senti- ments of the majority of people in this district, great sympathy for the refugees and indignation against any further capitulation to the madman who plundered their brave republic. it was therefore with great de-_ light I accepted an invitation last Sunday to accompany a carload of friends bound for Swan Lake to see a footbali match between the new arrivals—the refugees—and their Canadian neighbors in Grande Prairie. Swan Lake is located about 400 miles northwest from Edmonten, and, although in the Peace River district, is over the line in B.C. territory. A casual announcement over the Grande Prairie radio station brought many farmers and rail- road section workers from all over the Peace River district. Who ever heard of farmers travelling i50 miles to see a small-town football game? Yet this is what happened at Swan Lake out on the fringe of the farthest Peace River settle- ments. Most of the Sudeten refugees at the Swan Lake are young — in their “teens and twenties. I met wery few over-.thirty years of age. When one watched them at play with their sun-tanned athletic bodies, one felt glad that they had- escaped the cruelties of the Nazis. The game between the refurees and the Canadians was a lively ene. What the Canadian players jacked in experience and knowl- edge of the game they made up for with a determined struggle to win. They put their best foot behind the ball, but the Sudetens’ football skill was too much for them. Result of the game was 5-1 for the refugees. CHEER CANADIANS. As soon as the final whistle blew a member of the Canadian team Shouted “three cheers-for the Su= Getens” and three lusty “hurrahs” rent the air, sending wild ducks on the lake scurrying for cover. Then a member of the Sudeten team shouted in broken English, “three cheers for the Cannadienes,” with the same result. After the game the Ganadians and Sudetens mingled in friendly conversation. The Peace River farmers wished to know just why the Sudetens left Czecho-Slovakia, and what they thought of their new homeland The refugees were eager to tell. With grim expression they recounted their recent terrify- ing experiences when their country was betrayed into the hands of Hit- NHIST - GAMES - FUN at 8 PM. — EVERY THURSDAY cp Floor, 130 W. Hastings 2 SATURDAY Adm. 10c AUSPICES DAWN SOCIAL CLUB Only Shoe Repair Store in Vancouver with a Signed Agreement with the Union NEW METHOD SHOE 2freshments } A Swell Time from 9 P.M. Onwards! 2) |) SR Keep This Date Open! Monday, Sept. 4th HASTINGS AUDITORIUM 828 East Hastings Street : Union Orchestra a) Ra) 337 Carrall! St. 2S = 1 at Admission: 25 cents ler. Then we tried to explain to them that we common folks were met a partner to this crime com- mitted upon their homeland. TELL GF TORTURES. Asked why they had left Czecho- Slovakia, they answered that it Was not a case of just “leaving”. They had to flee from the Sudeten areas, lest they meet the fate of the comrades they had left behind, Many of their former neighbors, all of whom were anti-fascists, So- Cialists and Communists alike had been herded into concentration camps. Terrible were the tortures inflicted upon them, they stated. Just south of-Spirit Riyer there is a German settlement in the lo- eality of Bund River. This settle- meént is an old one: Wot so long aso much alarm was expressed by Gemocrats in Sprit River because cf the activity of Nazi agents among these German farmers. It was felt a year ago that these agents were achieving some suc- cess with their demagogic propa- ganda. At their picnics swastikas began to appear. With the arrival of the Sudeten refugees, contact was made be— tween these old German settlers and the refugees. The result has been phenomenal The refugees_ ere smashing all the iilusions of the German-Canadians regardine= Hitler’s policies. A decisive turn against fascism is taking piace in Bund River. The Grand Prairie radio station is now broadcasting a regular weelk-— ly program contributed by the ref- ugees. They have excellent accor- Gion players and violinists, and Singers. Almost everywhere you'll hear people as kon Monday even- ing: “Have you heard the Sudetens over the air?” Tihat is how popu- iar have they become. However not all is well with the Sudetens for the coming winter. When they were forced ta flee from Czecho-Slovakia they could take very little or no capital. Their homes, furnishings and even their clothes had to be left behind. Some clothing was given to them by the British government but not near enough: certainly not any suitable for the Canadian winter. Small one and two-room shacks have been built for them, these are almost un- furnished. They need cooking utensils, clothes and bedding. Al- ready 2 campaign has been begun in the province to secure for the refugees some of the things they need for the next winter. JOIN HANDS Witte US. Democratic Canadians will do ail they can to assist these unfortun- ate people, never forgetting that we also have hundreds of thous- and sof our own people who are also looking forward to next win- ter with grim forebodings. They also need clothing, bedding and the necessities of life. To the newcom- ers, we say, if you wish refuge even here in Canada, then join hands with us to fight the monster fascism, whose shadow is cast on our beloved country too. To them we also Say: we have nothing in common with the man who occu- pies the post of prime minister of Britain and who is responsible with his class for the rape of your mother country. Community Paper Commends Editorial In the Highland Echo this week the People’s Advocate is commended by A. Buckley, Echo columnist, for its recent editorial advocating es-— tablishment of a provincial oil in- dustry “developed for the benefit of the people and not that of mon- opolistie interests.” George Drayton Pritchett To Instal Charter New Local Formed Among Employes Of BC Plywoods NEW WESTMINSTER, BC. — Application of British Co- lumbia Plywoods’ employes for a union charter from Interna- tional Woodworkers of Am- erica was granted this week and will be installed by MInterna- tional President Harold J. Pritchett at a meeting in Van- eouver labor headquarters, Sunday. The new local, formed out of the struggle for higher wages and for an employees’ committee free from company domination and control, will be known as Plywoods and Veneer Workers’ Union, local 1-217. Organization of plant employees had made steady progress until late July when H. R. MacMillan’s man- agement reduced operating costs by sacrificing 50 experienced workmen to green youths under 21, This move was also to forestall a union drive in the plant and to create a division among the workers by in- ereasing keymen’s wages while wage rates of other employees re- mained stationary. Claiming a membership of 94, the new local is now enrolling new members to ensure that the union will be designated as the sole col- lective bargaining agency when a majority of workers desire a secret ballet be taken in the plant—a pro- vision included in the Industrial Gonciliation and Arbitration Act. IWA Local Calls Meeting In City Re-acting quickly to the call of the International Woodworkers of America for the 3rd annual consti- tution convention of LWA which epens October 18 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Local 71, TWA has called a meeting for Friday at 8 p.m, in Holden Buildinge’s fifth floor audi- torium to elect delegates. Hach local union is allowed two Gelegates for every 160 members and one additional delegate for every 300 members up to 1000. Vot- ing by proxy is not allowed. Organized less than three years ago, International VWVoodworkers has reoerded many gains during that period in Pacifie Northwest logging camps, has rolled up a membership of over 100,000. Many logging camps have renewed agree- ments granting union members wages considerably higher than these obtaining in BC logging camps. is being made in saw- Progress large measure of plants with a success. Campaign For East-West Busses Plans to establish a permanent conimittee to press for an east-west bus service were to be considered at a mass meeting of all community organizations in the area, called for Thursday night at Victoria Road community hall. The bus service, it is proposed, will relieve congestion during rush keurs on carlines now running north and south, and make it possible to eommute between east and west districts of the city without tray- elling to the city centre. If the proposal is not favorably received by the BCElectric com- pany, the committee intends to press for it to be presented to the Public Wtilities Board. More than a hundred organiza- tions of the eleven districts affected received invitations to send dele- Sates to the mass meeting. Speakers included Professor EF. S. Buck, chairman, and A. Walker, sec- retary, Vancouver Town Planning commission, Enrols 315 Members Agreements recently signed be- tween three major fishermen’s unions and Salmon Canners Operat- ing committee granting unions a checl-off system of dues collection is bearing fruit. Pacific Coast Fish- ermen’s union reported this week that some 315 new members have joined the union in the course of the season and final returns have yet to be made. On the Air... LABOR NEWS Sponsored by the People’s Advocate with Dr. R. I. Douglas in cooperation Hear GEORGE DRAYTON every TUESDAY and FRIDAY AT 35:45 P.M. City Population is Now 305,908, Directory Claims According to figures listed in the 1939 “British Columbia directory, population of Greater Vancouver, includ- ing Burnaby and New West- minster amounts to 359,291, almost half the total popula- tion of the province. Population of central Van- couver, including North and West Vancouver and the University area, is now 305,- 908. On this basis srowth since the last official Do- minion census in 1931 aver- ages 16 percent, or an in- crease of 40,646. Deny Child. Treatment NELSON, BC —Apparently set ting a special discriminatory rule against Doukhobors, Kootenay Lake General Hospital recently re fused admission to a four-year-old child until payment of $7.50 for treatment had been made in ad- vance, despite the fact that the hospital owed the child’s father over $36 for fuel supplies. : When the father, M. P. Hilcok- off, asked payment of the money so that he could pay for the child’s treatment, this was refused and cash payment demanded. Offers to raise the amount the following day were also refused. Eventually the child was taken home and the parents tried to manage as best they could there. Outlining his case, Hlookoff de— clared that the hospital’s refusal, even if he.were destitute, was con- trary to all human principles. “In this case,” he stated, “my money was already in the hospi- tal’’s hands. It had ample secur- ity. Simece then the security has increased, as today I received an order for three more. units of fuel. I think the hospital’s attitude in this matter calls for investigation by both the civic and provincial authorities.” Union Will Fight Cuts Ultimatum of Motion Picture Projectionists’ union this week to threats of Wancouver independent theatre owners. to close their pic- ture houses was that no union mem- ber would be on the job where the operating staff was cut. if these -houses are going to lay off one operator in each picture pro- jectionist room, stated FB. Guy Gra- ham, union business agent, then we might as well all be “out” “We have refused to accept any respnosibility for safety of the the- atve-going publie if theatre owners succeed in having legislation changed to dispense with one op- erator where two are now required by law. Bitter opposition toe any changes in the act was expressed by progec- ishermen Demand Govt. Action On Health Insurance ? BC Indians Campaign For Rights Will Enlist Public Suppert Here Before Presenting Demands LILLOOET, BC. — Members of the United Indian Tribes Council hope to gain the sym- pathy and support of all British Columbians to obtain recogni- tion of Indian rights from the provincial government. Meeting recently at many points in the Interior, various Indian tribes discussed plans for a dele gation from the United Tribes GCoun- cil, accompanied by Indian chiefs, to hold special meetings in Vancou- ver and Victoria to enlist support and sympathy of the general public before presenting their demands to the government. Wumerous petitions signed by Indians waiting for some action to be taken are already in possession of B. Falardean, chairman of the United Indian Tribes Council for presentation. A resolution signed by all Indian chiefs authorizing the united cam- Paign is already in preparation. Meetings between tribes will con- tinue to be held until complete agreement and an organized plan of action is decided upon by all the BC Indian tribes. Trail Voie Not Considered True Sentiment Of Men TRAIL, BC.—Workmen’s Cooper- ative Committee, dominated largely by Consolidated Mining and Smelt ing company, a CPR subsidiary, re— jected by a vote of 16 to 8 with 12 committee members abstaining, 2 Motion requesting the provincial department of labor to send a com missioner to supervise a secret bal- lot in the Tadanac-Warfielq plants to determine whether the commit- tee or the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers should be the sole collective bargain- ing agency for the workers. Results were not indicative of the true sentiment of smeltermen, since the 12 abstentionists were not def. initely opposed but withheld their decision due to intimidation, while several of the 16 who voted against the motion did so contrary to de- Sire and instructions of Ssmeltermen. This temporary defeat has not affected the organizational drive, but has spurred Organizer John Mc-_ Peake to sign up new members into the local, which was ranted a union charter last weelx 2 SSS ey JOHN STANTON Barrister, Solicitor, Notary 503 Holden Building 16 EK. Hastings St. Trin. 4464 tionists’ union delegates during an interview with Attorney - Generals Gordon Wismer in Victoria Tues day. Union officials contend thats two operators have heavy responsi Mew Trade Pact Said No Cbstacle bilities in handling projection ma 3 chines safely and minimizing ee yz. dangers. To Peace Front LONDON, Ene. Appeasement seelkers are attempting to make something of the recently-concluded trade treaty between Germany and the Soviet Union. It will be recalled that at the last meeting of the Supreme Soviet, Foreign Commissar Molotov speci- fically mentioned that commercial relationships with any country would not be an obstacle to biunild- ing of the peace front. The trade treaty with Germany does not alter the disposition of forces in Europe at all. In recent years trade between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union has been prac- HIGHLIGHTS ever tically reduced to a minimum. The 445 GORE AVE. SEymour 0308 Hotel East Specialists in Waving Fine White and Grey Hair 130 West Hastings St. PHONE = - SEymour 0241 BAKERY High. 3244 71iG East Hastings Street 4068 KE. Wastings Street 1709 Commercial Drive QUALITY PRODUCTS MODERATE PRICES i668