sing the * Unemployed Joint council. 1H ig h Costs | i Work New | Hardships Committee Hears Plea Of Unemployed Zoint Council Demands for an immediate increase of 40 perecent in pres- ent relief allowances and ex- tension of the Municipal Im- provements Assistance Act to employ able-bodied men were placed before the city council’s 7) social services committee Mon- day by a delegation of two women and a man represent- recently established “We can’t live on this miserable ) pittance any Jenger,” stated Mrs. = J. Power in pointing ouf to the ij) committee that present relief rates @; 2re altogether too low in view of the increased cost of living. “The unemployed want worl and wages to live decently,” she continued, asserting that mal- nutrition and tuberculosis is pre- valent among the city’s unem- ployed children. Supporting this viewpoint, Mrs. Ellen Near charged that “an epi- ) demic may break out at any time | among the unemployed due to the conditions under which they live.” | She declared that higher relief al- lowances were imperative to off- set the higher living costs. Ald. G C. Miller, committee chairman, contended that govern- ment figures on living costs even now were lower than in 1938. However, it was agreed that the provincial government would be asked to open up works programs, although Ald. Miller opined that there did not seem any likelihood that such action would be taken by government authorities. - Oscar W. Berquist, who with his wife and small son was arrested March 29, on charges of obsttruc- tien following his refusal to desist from tin-canning, was again re- manded for one week by Magis- trate MacKenzie Matheson in po- lice court Wednesday. Refused relief at Ocean Falls, where he worked 10 years for Pacific Millis, and shipped baclx and forth between the upcoast town and Vancouver, Berquist be- came desperate and resorted to tin-canning in order to provide food for himself and family. Following his remand on April 8, he accepted provincial relief au- thorities’ offer of transportation to seek employment He went to Chemainus and applied for work at a mill, only to be informed that the night shift had been laid off. He next asked provncial police if he could get relief there until work opened up. Informed that he would not be given relief he was told that relief officials in Vancouver were ‘passing the buck.’ Berquist is willing to accept transportation to Fort William, but can give relief authorities no definite assurance that he will not become a public charge in Ontario, although he has reasonable assur- ance that he can obtain work. The Canadian Labor Defense League is defending the case, ‘Peg Labor Hits Arrests WINNIPEG, Man. — Winnipeg Trades and Labor council, by a majority vote last week adopted a resolution protesting arrest of John Weir, editor of the Mid-West Clarion, and William Tuomi, Edna Shumaman and Bertha Smith of the paper's staff, under the De- fense of Canada regulations. The resolution, recommended by the executive, read: “In view of the fact that this council has widely protested the Defense of Canada regulations, therefore we protest to the attorney-general of the province of Manitoba the the arrest of those in connection with the Mid-West Clarion as victims of the Defense of Can- ada regulations whe were exer- cising their democratic rights which they are supposed to have under the existing democratic state.” City Jobless Seek Increased Relief The ADVOCATE FOR PEACE, PROGRESS AND DEMOCRACY VOL. 6. No. 13. Full No. 274. VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1940 SS: 5 Cents STREET RAILWAYMER ASK FOR ARBITRATION Haddrell Will Head Mine Union Union Conference Protests Against War Measures Act Appointment of C. A. ‘Ace’ Haddrell as British Columbia organizer for International Un- ion of Mine, Mall and Smelter Workers to fill the post ren- dered vacant by resignation of Tom Forkin has been recom- mended to the union’s interna- tional executive in Denver, Colorado, following a meeting here of the British Columbia board of the union. Forkin was appointed BC or- ganizer last August following the international convention at Den- ver. In tendering his resignation, Forkin said we did not feel that he had the qualifications neces- sary for the position and his re- commendations that Haddrell, ex- ecutive member of Pioneer Miners’ union, be appointed in his place, Was accepted by the board. By other board recommenda- tions for changes in Vancouver District Miners’ union, Forkin will replace George F. Price as secre- tary, and will edit a provincial miners’ bulletin. The meeting, attended by dele- gates from Trail, Pioneer, Zebal- los and Bralorne, expressed regrets that Vice-President Ora L. Wilson, who was in Vancouver to attend the board meeting, was forced to return immediately to the US where his family was involved in a serious automobile accident. ASK AMENDMENTS Approval was given to a propos- ed amendment to the Workmen's Compensation Act, as proposed at a silicosis conference in Vancouver last August, with the addition that when a worker becomes ‘dusted’ (contracts silicosis) he be granted $60 a month for life, and if un- able through this disease to obh- tain work, that he be regarded as totally disabled and paid a full pension. It was also agreed that acid and zine poisoning and lead- ing should be recognized as indus- trial diseases and the victims compensated. Left in the hands of the sec- retary to draft were amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to be forwarded to board members for their ap- proval and subsequent presenta- tion to the provincial cabinet. The meeting took a serious view of the curtailment of civil liberties by the War Measures Act and forwarded a strong pro- test to Justice Minister Ernest Lapointe in which objection was taken to enforcement of section 68 of the Act and to sub-sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Defense of Can- ada regulations whereby an or- (Continued on Page 2) See MINERS and Denmark. being used for imperialist ends. The immediate train of events which culminated this wek in ex- tension of the war to Norway was foreshadowed in Winston Church- hill’s statement made during a radio broadcast on March 29 that “an intensification of the struggle is to be expected.” Three days later, on April 2, Prime Minister Chamberlain ad- dressing the House of Commons “If we are to bring this war to a close with the least possible des- truction and dislocation of our common spiritual and material civ- lization we must deprive Germany of the material most essential to prosecution of her aggression pol- icy. The Allies are, therefore, de- termined to prosecute the economic war to the utmost in their power.” Prime Minister Chamberlain said further: “The most important of all the weapons of our economic war- fare is employment of our sea- power, and the Allies are deter- mined to continue to intensify the blockade in every possible way. His Majesty’s ships have already taken certain practical steps to interfere with unimpeded passage of German cargo ships from Scandinavia.” He added: “Other measures are under con- sideration. We haye not yet reached the limit of our effective operations in this region.” The Norwegian government ac- cepted Prime Minister Chamber- lain’s speech with reserve. In a press interview, Norway’s Foreign Minister, Halvdan Koht was asked that Norway would be able to maintain her neutrality. “Perfectly confident is too strong.” replied Koht. “We are confident, but while there is war there is dan- ger.” Extension of the war to Norway came swiftly after months of tension during which the Norwegian people fought desperate- ly to preserve their neutrality and prevent their country from Throughout the four months of the Soviet-Finnish war the Norwegian people successfully resisted all attempts by their own reactionary ‘Socialist’ leaders to involve them in plans for intervention in Finland. But signing of the Soviet-Finnish peace pact brought only a momentary lessening of the tension. after a meeting of the Allies’ Su- preme War Council, stated: “Out of respect for neutral rights our sympathy for the practi- cal difficulties of neutrals must not blind us to the fact that any aid they may give Germany might be carried far enough to render them in the end liable to the hideous fate which has overtaken previous victims of German policy. Sweden Sent Warning But if Koht felt confident, a sec- tion of the Norwegian press con- tinued to warn that far from hay- ing been lessened, danger of WNor- way being involved in the European war had been increased. Meanwhile, on April 1, the Swedish government had for- warded a note to the British and French governments warning that any attempts to seize German iron ore ships would amount to an invitation to Germany to cut off all Allied trade with Scandin- avian countries. On April 1, too, Germany threat- ened to take ‘suitable counter- measures’ if the Allies interefered with ore shipments from Norway. The question of the extent of the iron ore trade between Norway and Germany came under review when Foreign Minister Koht addressed the Storting on April 6. “T have stated publicly that peo- ple exaggerate the importance of the ore export. Circumstances have reduced this export to one-fourth during the war months and much more Swedish ore goes to England than to Germany,” Koht told the Norwegian parliament. Koht’s refernce was to figures (Continued on Page 2) See NORWAY Special Meetings To Be Held In I2 Cities Great Lake Seamen Take Strike Vote TORONTO, Ont—Great Lakes seamen, Members of the Canadi- an Seamen’s union, were prepar- ing for special meetings in 12 cities this week to take a strike vote on the larger shipping com- panies’ refusal to renew agree- ments providing for better wages and working conditions. Nearly 7,000 seamen are affected. Zero hour will be April 15, of ficial date for the opening of navi- gation. The CSU is asking for $15 monthly increase for its mem- bers, representing four cents an hour, to cope with the rising cost of living; three extra.-men per ship and a closed shop, president J. A. ‘Pat’ Sullivan said. Charging that the larger com- panies were “stalling and deliber- ately delaying the signing of agreements,” president Sullivan declared that “tthe companies’ at- titude constitutes a serious threat to the normal movement of in- jand shipping particularly at this time.” Deckhands on great lakes ships were paid $55 monthly for a 12- hour day or longer while Ameri- can seamen receive nearly $100 for an eight-hour day, he said. ‘Mespite the fact that grain rates have doubled within the past year, resulting in a tre- mendous surge in profits, the shipping companies have shown no desire to arrive at an agree- ment for moderate wage in- creases,” Sullivan stated. “We believe that the rise in the cost of living justifies our demand for a moderate wage increase. A closed shop is essential to sta- bilize the industry, and it is with this idea in mind we are seeking a uniform agreement. The extra men will give increased efficieen- ey and safety to the industry. during the coming season when the vessels are expected to carry Capacity cargoes and operate day and night. Im the event that all our efforts in this direction fail, the fault will lie wholly with the Shipping companies.” Extension Of Conflict Opens New Phase In War The ‘alternative’ front became a reality this week as the expanding torrent of the European war, dammed for seven months by the Maginot and Siegfried lines, was diverted to Scandinavia, engulfing neutral Norway Six days after Britain’s Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain had told the House of Commons that ‘other measures’ to cut Germany’s iron ore supply route through Norwegian waters were under consideration and one day after Norway's Foreign Minister Halvdan Koht, protesting the action of Britain in mining his country’s territorial waters, had charged that the Allies were seek- ing to “lead the war into Norwegian territory,” German troops on Tuesday occupied Denmark without resistance and tool possession of all strategic Norwegian centers in a blitzkrieg con- ducted by sea, land and air; involying the two countries in the war. Whatever scant prospect there may have been that Germany would keep its initial pledge not to use Norway as a base for operations against the Allies disappeared as Allied spokesmen de- clared that, regardless of what understanding ‘under duress’ was reached between the Nor- wegian and German governments, the invasion of Norway would be resisted. Even as these statements were being made British and German planes were fighting in the air above German- occupied Oslo while Allied and German ships battled off the coast. Anti-War Movement Widespread South African Labor Refuses War Endorsation LONDON, Eng. — The grow- ing strength of anti-war senti- ment in Britain and throughout the empire was indicated this weeks in statistics released here revealing that organizations representing millions of mem- bers are on record as demand- ing immediate peace. The list of labor organiza- tions whose anti-war resolu- tions have been published in the press includes: 103 local and divisional labor parties, 31 trades councils, 115 trade union branches, three national execu- tives of trade unions, five trade union district councils, three federated labor parties, and numerous smaller groups. The largest bloc on record is the vote of delegates represent- ing 1,320,000 cooperative party members demanding immedi- ate cessation of hostilities. Speaking for hundreds of thou- sands of members, the British Federation of Cooperative Youth, Cooperative Men’s Guild, Shop Assistants Union and the National Union of Clerks are among the largest organizations calling for peace. In Australia representatives of 650,000 of the 750,000 orga- nized workers have expressed condemnation of the war. The powerful Indian National Con- gress has demonstrated full op- position to participation in the war. CAPETOWN, South Africa, —Twenty-two delegates of the South African Trades and La- bor council voted their disap- proval of South African coop- eration in the war, 19 delegates abstained from voting, while 29 voted their approval of the gov- ernment’s war policy at the council’s annual conference here this week. (Continued on Page 2) See MOVEMENT Referendum Gives 3-1 Approval Victoria Will Hear i1-Man Car issue; Union, City Opposed Application for a board of conciliation under the provin- cial Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was made this week by representatives of the three divisions of Street Rail- Waymen’s union of Vancouver, Victoria and New Westminster following a three-to-one refer- endum vote. 3 This move was made necessary when the company refused to nezo- tiate further with the union’s ad- visory board for a new agreement unless demands for a 10 percent wage increase for conductors and motermen and a 15 percent boost for barnmen and trackmen in the lower brackets were dropped. A full two weeks’ holiday with pay in place of the present 8-day holiday is being sought. Representatives of Street Rail- Waymen’s union, Division 101 (AASER and MCE of A), Alderman Halford D. Wiison of Vancouver civic utilities committee were in Victoria this week to oppose BG Electric Railway company’s appli- cation to operate 19 one-man cars on the Fourth avenue- Grandview route. ; Street Railwaymen are strongly opposed to one-man cars on the grounds that employment would be greatly reduced. In this case 18 men would undoubtedly be laid off, and the travelling public’s safety endangered. Civic utilities committee on Mon- day endorsed Ald. H. lL. Corey’s mo- tion to oppose the company’s appli- cation on the basis that it is not conducive to safety, convenience, time-saving or employment. IBU Expelied B Trades Couneil y Inland Boatmen’s Union, CIO affiliate, has been expelled from Vancouver Trades and Labor council, it was learned Thursday. Ostensible ground for expulsion was that the union was three months behind in per capita pay- ments. IBU officials, however, declared the union to be only two months behind. Carpenters Aid Advocate Drives; Express Thanks Following letter was re- ceived by the editor this week: “Your communication re- ceived, and I was instructed to inform you that we appre- ciate the assistance and sup- port rendered by the Advo- cate, particularly where the dual movement was con- cerned, and it was felt that we would be remiss in our duty if we did not in a small measure show that we val- ued that help. “Wishing you success in your fight to maintain a pa- per that has been marked as the friend of trade unionism. “Our contribution of $5 is only a small return for good services rendered. “Jack Stevenson, “Business Agent, Local 452, United Brother- hood of Carpenters & Joiners of America.”