8 Potato Growers Claim New Prices Below Cost Of Production CLOVERDALE, B.C —During the past week, meetings of potato growers have been held in the different vegetable prowing districts of the Fraser Valley, protesting against slashing of potato prices by the Wartime Prices and Trade Board by $13 a ton. From these meetings a delegation was elected to confer with Tom Reid, MP, and to take the question up with federal authorities. In the meantime, growers are standing pat their potatoes, and have ordered the board to hold those already shipped to board warehouses. Growers maintain that the price set by the board was $48 a ton was not out of line, and that the cut of $138 a ton means a return to the farmer below cost of production. Production costs have been greater this year than for many years, particularly labor costs. Po- tato pickers this year were paid in many cases from 30 to 40 cents a sack compared with as low as 10 cents a sack in previous years. Unrest among farmers over short- age of labor for farm work was evidenced by a large turnout to the Farmers’ Institute meeting at Clo- verdale last Friday. Because of the drain on farm labor caused by many farmers’ sons joining the armed forces, and the exodus of “stump ranchers’ who formerly en- gaged in seasonal farm work to the shipyards and other war industries many farmers are being forced to eut their seed planting for next year to a minimum, despite the prospect of a shortage of farm pro- duce. The Institute forwarded a reso- lution to the B.C. Federation of in refusing to nip | Continued, Shipyards tended by two delegates from each union holding an agreement in the shipyards, it was decided to give full support to the Hamilton Bridge men and proceed immediately to settle inter-union disputes so that a closed shop agreement could be negotiated in West Coast. Federal Labor Representative F. E. Harri- son was requested to arrange an early meeting gvith officials of both companies, after Amalgamat- ed representatives had agreed to withdraw their men from Hamilton Bridge. A committee representing all unions, meeting with Harrison and managers of both plants in the offices of the Hamilton Bridge company, reached agreement that the men return to work pending negotiations. After this meeting union officials were able to proceed to the West Coast shipyard where the men were waiting for a decision, meet with the joint shop stewards’ com- Agriculture asking that conditions | in the Fraser Valley be brought to the attention of the federal govern- ment. Price Protested By Poultrymen CLOVERDALE, B.C. — Poultry- men throughout the Fraser Valley are incensed at tne recent action of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board in ordering a reduction of egg prices to producers under pres- ent conditions, according to John Bowles, secretary of Pacific Coast Poultry Producers’ Association. Association President Clem Wil- lingale has wired Minister of Agri- culture J. G. Gardiner: “British Columbia Poultrymen as- tounded at autocratic and arbitrary action of Wartime Prices and Trade Board in ordering reduction of ege prices without consultation of pro- ducers and ascertaining local condi- tions. Suggest you immediately ap- point representative to meet pro- ducers for fullest investigation.” This is the season of year when production reaches its lowest point, and a reduction of around three cents a dozen on the few eggs the Pune im... HAROLD PRITCHETT Independent Candidate for Alderman CJOR — 7:45 - 8:00 p.m. — Friday ade MVirs. EFFIE JONES Independent Candidate for School Trustee CJOR — 7:00 - 7:15 p.m. —— Thursday mittee and inform them that Mc- Laren had agreed to open negotia- \tions. The shop stewards’ decision to return to work while negotia- tions proceeded, was conveyed to the men over the loudspeaker sys- tem. average poultryman has to market hits producers hard, Bowles claim- ed. He maintained that a price of 47 cents for Grade A Large was not out of line under present con- ditions and. that the Wartime Prices and Trade Board had acted without consultation with producers or knowledge of local conditions. Berry Growers Win Demands MISSION, B.C.—Prospect that the recently organized Berry Growers’ Protective Society will be success- ful in its campaign to obtain bet- ter terms for growers who have leased berry farms formerly worked by evacuated Japanese was held out by society officials at a meet- ing held in Canadian Legion Hall here this week. Changes in leases proposed by the society, it was stated, are ex- pected to be accepted by the Cus- todian of Enemy Property. A new strain was placed on existing unsatisfactory relations- ships between producers of es- sential airplane spruce on Queen Charlotte Islands and their em- ployees when operators last week- end abruptly terminated negotia- tions after an interim agreement had been prepared for signature. As a result the dispute will now come before an arbitration board which will commence hear- ings on January 4 in the Court House here. On recommendation of a pre- vious conciliation board, the com- panies agreed to enter into an interim agreement with represen- tatives of their employees, cov- ering all points under dispute, with the exception of overtime provisions and union recognition. On behalf of operators it was agreed that F. R. Anderson should Sign this interim contract with Millworkers Will Meet NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Fraser Mills employees, it is ex- pected, will leave the management of Canadian Western Lumber Com- pany no ground for disputing the right of their elected committee to represent them in negotiating a union agreement when they meet in Edison Theatre here this coming Sunday to nominate and elect a committee. Right of the committee elected from a mass meeting of Fraser Mills employees a few weeks ago to bargain for the workers was questioned by the company, which doubted that it was representative of its employees. To eliminate any ground for dispute, the Internation- al Woodworkers of America, whose local 1-217 includes nearly all Fraser Mills employees in its membership, agreed to hold another meeting to elect a committee. Sunday’s meeting will hear Har- old Winch, while ex-Ald. Mott, can- OCI Deadlock Threat To Spruce Production | any representatives selected by their crews, but when the union sent a draft copy of the agree— ment to the men on the job, re- questing employees to authorize representatives in Vancouver to sign on their behalf, the com- pany refused under any circum- stances to sign any agreement except with the employees them- selves. “This right about face will not only breed unrest and discontent amongst the company's em- ployees, but will further obstruct vitally needed war production,” Nigel Morgan, International Board Member, IWA, stated. “Tt is a matter of public knowl- edge that spruce production is at least 50 per cent below what it should be, and this is due pro- marily to the lack of co-operation with which the employees and their representatives have been met throughout the fifteen-month negotiations the union has ried on. This is just anothel> ample for the need of the i ment of labor legislation w } would remove from our n hindering influences and rel — ing policies which are disruy § war production and also bloc” the provision of reinforcem - urgently needed by our ar 3 who are about to enter batt © ate a vast scale.” : Morgan appealed to the of Charlotte loggers, “In Spee the obstacles that have placed in the way of all-out © duction, we must not be like operators and forget that main fight is with the ha forces of Hitler, Mussolini Hirohito. The sincerity of efforts in _ that direction wil upheld and those responsible these gobstructive, -provocative # tions will be held in judgmer a 3 the Canadian people”” ir Agreement Reache | With Canneries At a recent meeting between the negotiating committee § resenting Fish Cannery and Reduction Plant Workers’ U Local 89, and the Committee of Cannery Operators, settle on conditions for steady cannery employees was reached ar” agreement drawn up covering general working conditions i 8] canneries. This general agreement will serve as a basis for individual agreements with each -company. Joint applications are being made by the union and each company in- dividually to the Regional War La- bor Board to institute the new wage rates provided for in the agree- ment. These applications will in- elude the request that the new wage and hour clauses be accepted as retroactive to November 1 of this year. A. meeting of union members in Vancouver recently en- dorsed the proposed agreement. The new agreement provides that companies shall maintain hot and cold’shower bath facilities in out of-town plants, as well as “clean, warm, well-ventilated living ac- commodations.” The companies shall also be responsible for two- way transportation, provided the employee stays the whole season. didate for mayor in the forthcom- ing civie elections, has been asked to attend in the capacity of ob- server in view of Labor Minister George Parson’s refusal to send an official observer. Each company, according to the agreement adopted at the joimt meeting, must also recognize a plant committee to be designated by the members of each plant. The agreement covers hou | work and minimum wages for § eraft. Employees are to be ployed on a monthly wage = Bight hours when not canning ~ and ten hours when actually | ning fish is to constitute one work, and every hour work § excess of the eight or ten period is to be paid for at toes lar hourly wage. Hamilton Rums For School Boar: CLOVERDALE, B.C. — Pre Sive candidate for Surrey s board whose nomination was nounced this week is Floyd ton, chairman of the Internat Woodworkers’ Sub-local 1-217. Born in Surrey, married, witl children now attending schor the municipality, Hamilton been active in the labor-progre movement in the Fraser Valle several years.