jtober 21, 1942

THE PEOPLE

yemand that the provincial gov-
ment retain ownership of the
ific Great Eastern Railway until
th time as it can take its right-
“place in the transportation sys-
of the nation by its inclusion as
integral part of the CNR” was
je by the CCE in a statement
led last week.

ecognizine the importance of
snding the railway for defense
poses, the statement reflected
CG@E’s conviction that “arrange-
its can be made with the gov-
jiments concerned which would
2t the desired end without neces-
ting change from public to pri-
2 ownership.”

ext of the statement, issued by
sold Winch, opposition leader,
Frank Mackenzie, provincial
cetary, following a meeting of
CCF legislative group and pro-
cial executive, read:

The people of B.C. have a heavy
estment in the PGE. This must
protected. Private interests

ota se 2. yee

would not evidence interest in the
railway unless they could see strong
possibility of profitable returns.

“Even if this consideration were
not in the minds of possible purcha-
sers, the CCE considers it to be a
retrograde step to revert from public
Ownership to private ownership, as
private owners would only consider
services based upon financial re-
turns, whereas under public owner-
ship the general welfare and dev-
elopment of the province would
be kept in view.

“Should the railway be facing a
a period of prosperity, the province,
after so long a period of carrying
the loss, is definitely entitled to any
financial returns that may be pos-
sible under changed economic cir-
cumstances and probable future
development.

“There is no question but that the
interior and northern B.C. are due
for remarkable expansion. This
could be greatly assisted by a pub-
licly-owned railway, taking into

account not only its financial re-
turn, but, even of greater import-
ance, the return to the people of the
province by new development and
expanding industry, made possible
by railroad development.

“Should a road be necessary for
defense purposes, undoubtedly ar-
rangements can be made with the
governments concerned which
would meet the desired end with-
out necessitating change from pu-
blic to private ownership.

“The CCE maintains that the
Government of B.C. should re-
tain its ownership of the road;
should offer its full co-oper-
ation in seeing that the PGE is
fully utilized in meeting defense
requirements, and should stand
by the principle of provincial
ownership until such time as
the PGE can take its rightful
place in the transportation sys-
tem of the nation by its inclu-
sion as an integral part of the
Canadian National Railways.”

am.

WA Meet To Discuss
-ollective Bargaining

Asserting that establishment of collective bargaining and
ion recognition would strengthen production efforts in the
ising industry, B.C. District Council, International Wood-
ockers of America, has issued a call to an emergency conter-
ce to be held in Eagles’ Hall, Nanaimo, Sunday, Nov. 1, at

fain question under discussion
1 be collective bargaining in re-
‘on to lumber requirements for
war eifort and the present seri-
shortage.
he conference is being held, the
_ call states, because of “the
:d for stepping up Canada’s war
ort and especially our section of
+ lumber industry, which, accord-
to Munitions Minister C. D.
we, ‘faces the gravest shortage in
history,’ as well as the import-
ee of establishing labor’s right to
jective bargaining to obtain bet-
) results in the industry.”
Pointing out that negotiations are
der way in 22 logging operations
da Sawmills where employers are
aintaining their antagonistic at-
ude towards the union, the call
mamends the statement recently
ade by Hon. George Pearson, pro-
acial labor minister, to the effect
at most disputes arise from “re-
s of companies to bargain

with the properly elected rep-
resentatives of their employees, and
further, by the positive refusal of
some employers to accept union
agreements.”

“At this time,” the call states,
“when Canada is fighting for its
very existence, we cannot afford
to lose valuable hours of produc-
tion because certain employers
insist on maintaining their out-
worn opposition to legitimate
unions at the expense of the war
effort.”

The union is urging election of
two delegates from every camp and
mill in the province, organized or
unorganized, “so that we may be
in a stronger position to assist our
government and cooperate with
Management in providing the ma-
terial of war to open a second
front and to remove the menace of
fascism forever from the face of
the earth.”

:

ast Duteh Troops In Borneo
wurrender After Nine Months

MELBOURNE, Australia. — After

ding out for nine months against |
‘erwhelming odds, the last regular |
utch armed forces in Borneo have |

rrendered to the Japanese, the
etherlands Indies information
‘rvices announced this week.

Qn other islands of the Dutch
ast Indies, notably on Sumatra

and in the interior of Java, Dutch
forces are continuing the struggle
against the Japanese, according to
meagre reports reaching this coun-
try.

The Japanese are also reported ta

|‘e meeti-g with increasing resis-

tance from the Indonesian popula-
tion in mary places.

John Meirte
Resigns Post
To Jom Army

John Meirte, editor of The Fish-
erman, weekly organ of United
Fishermen’s Union, Local 44, has
resigned to enlist in the active
army and is now assigned to ad-
ministrative duties in the 28th
Battalion, Anti-Aircraft, here,
union officials announced this
week. Prior to taking over editor-
ship of the UFEU paper a year
ago, Meirte was active in Hotel
& Restaurant Workers, Local 28.

At the same time, appointment
of William Rigby as editor of The
Fisherman was announced.

Army Takes Over
Wukon Railway

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The White
Pass and Yukon Railway, running
from Skagway, Alaska, to White-
horse, Yukon Territory, has been
leased by the United States Army
for duration of the war, the war de-
partment announced here this week.

The railway, now being operated
by the military railway service
branch of the U.S. Army, will link
the Alaskan coast with the new
Alaska-Canadian Military High-
Way, which passes through White-
horse.

Imerease Soviet
Piane Production

MOSCOW, USSR. — The Soviet
press reports that output of the
aircraft industry is growing. One
plant reports overfulfillment of its
plan for the first two weeks in
September by nine percent, the
Ordjonikidze plant by six percent,
Workers at the Ordjonikidze plant
have pledged to increase their pro-
duction 20 percent by the end of
October.

x

eae

Scenes Along The PGE —

B.C.’s provincially owned

pletion are implemented.

railway, often described as

‘the line that starts nowhere and goes nowhere, may now
become a vital defense communication if plans for its com-

Representatives of United

Canners Meet Union
For Negotiations

Fish Cannery and Reduction

Plant Workers’ Union and seven fish canning companies will
meet in Conciliation Commissioner James Thompson's office
this Wednesday to discuss several long standing grievances.

After repeated but unavailing at-
tempts to open negotiations with
the companies, the union applied
for conciliation, charging the com-
panies with having deliberately de-
layed negotiations so that the sal-
mon season would end without any
definite agreement being reached.

Asking for wage adjustments, im-
proved working conditions, hours of
work and union recognition, Busi-
ness Agent Bill Gateman said the
union felt that production of canned
fish, needed for Britain and the
armed forces, could be greatly in-
creased. But the arrogant attitude
of certain operators, taking advant-
age of the union’s declared policy
for uninterrupted production and
their refusal to negotiate legitimate
grievances, has tended to jeopardize
the supply.

Employees have now demanded
that their rights be recognized and
have asked that the government
take action to force the operators
to. bargain collectively with the
union.

Two special union membership
meetings have been called, at Stev-
eston this Thursday, the other at
union headquarters, 138 Hast Cor-
dova Street, next Monday, Oct. 26,
at which the union’s whole policy
and present relations with fish can-
nery operators will be reviewed.

Hearing
To Proceed

Hearing of the proceedings insti-
tuted by the International Wood-
workers of America against Ca-
nadian Western Lumber Company,
Fraser Mills, for refusal to bargain
collectively with its employees, will

resume this Wednesday in Police
Court here before Magistrate
Matheson,

Adjustment was requested by

Magistrate Matheson in the absence
of Magistrate McQueen on vaca-
tion, but in the interest of increased
production, the union urged that
the case proceed as soon as possible.

Acceding to IWA attorney John
Stanton’s request that the dispute
not be Jeft until McQueen’s return,
possibly the end of October, Mag-
istrate Matheson agreed to conduct
the case.

it is claimed by the union that
Canadian Western Lumber Com-
pany’s refusal to bargain with a
committee elected by its employees
is a violation of the Industrial Con-
ciliaton and Arbitraton Act.

EO

Fire

M BINNIE

REAL ESTATE

and

INSURANCE — Auto

1574 Paeifie Highway
(2 Miles South of Pattullo Bridge)

(cr = \ et
John Stanton FOR SALE
Barrister, Solicitor, Notary New Hampshire Pullets
and Baby Chicks
503 Holden Bldg.

16 E. Hastings St. MAr. 5746 JOHN BOWLES
Phone 51-M Cloverdale, B.C.
) é =}

New Westminster

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