Rally Asks Freedom For India Freedom for India now, re- lease of Indian leaders from prison, and enfranchisement of East Indians in British Colum- bia were demands made in a resolution unanimously ap- proved by an audience of 2,000 at a meeting held last Sunday in Orpheum Theatre, under auspices of the Khalsa Diwan Society. “Many people insist that India should not be given her freedom until all her people agree on the kind of government they want,” Elmore Phillpott, News-Herald editorial director, told the meeting. “But if Canadians had ‘waited until they all agreed before they won self-government, the Family Compact would still rule Canada. Only one small part of the Moslem people opposes self-rule in India, just as a certain section of the Liberal party in Canada opposed the young radical, Laurier. _ “Not long ago we held similar meetings protesting the shipping of Canadian scrap iron to Japan. We were told at that time that the government knew what it was doing. Today our government tells us that the Indians ‘aren’t bright enough’ to manage their own af- fairs. They argue that only three per cent of the Indian population can read. Well. since Britain has had control of India for over 150 years, it will take her a few thous- and more to teach the other 97 per cent’ Harold Winch, MILA, summariz- ing his views of the Allied govern- ment’s attitude to the Indian de- mand for independence, declared: “We boast of civilization, and practice hypocrisy. We boast that we- stand for democracy, and preach racial prejudice,” he stated. “We are at war for the right to solve our own problems in our own way. Yet we offer India ‘pie-in- the-sky promises.” That the idea of freeing India now was far from “subversive” and would, on the contrary, unite the people of India among themselves and with the United Wations, thus increasing her war effort from the present “drop in the bucket ’to the vast effort of which she is capable, was the contention of Darshan Singh Sangha, main speaker of the evening. “At the present time the men in the Indian Army feel that they are fighting to preserve a system they no longer want. If the Indian peo- ple felt that their independence were at stake, they would fight to the death to preserve it against fascism.”’ He asserted that the blame for the defeats in the East should be laid at the feet of the “good chaps who feared an armed people’s army more than they feared the Japanese. AJl India now asks in permission to conduct her own de- fense against the Axis. India has always been anti-Nazi, and under the leadership of the National Con- gress supported China against Japan, Spaln against Franco, and Ethiopia against Italy. The In- dian people look forward to unity with the United Nations, without whom they cannot find salvation.’ Mrs. Dorothy Steeves, MLA, pledged herself to continued sup- port of all efforts to win the fran- ehise for the East Indians and the Chinese in British Columbia. Other speakers were, Nagindar Singh Gill and Hazara Singh Gar- cha, who both pointed out that India can produce many important war materials in quantity. Harold Pritehett acted as chairman. The entire collection of $871.81 was turned over to Canadian Aid to Russia, all expenses of the meeting being paid by the Khalsa Diwan Society. direction of N. Malanchuk. Ukrainian Choir To Be Heard At SRT Canadian Aca a Soo ee ae Pictured above is the Ukrainian Choir and Mandolin Orchestra which will be heard at Beacon Theater in a program of Army songs, music of the United Nations and folk dancing this coming Sunday night. The program is sponsored py Ukrainian Canadian Association, an affiliate of Canadian Aid to Russia, in conjunction with the January campaign to 1 a national quota of $1,000,000 to supply medical aid and warm clothing for Russian civilians. To Russia Rally The orchestra is under. That was the beginning of a campaign among B.C. fishermen which will result in the largest single donation yet to be handed into provincial Canadian Aid to Russia when, at the rally this coming Sunday, a check for well over $5,000 will be presented to the chairman by Bill Burgess, secretary of United Fishermen’s Union, Local 44. After the crew of the Seabiscuit made the original contribution, crews of twenty-nine seine boats donated over $2,000 and challenged gillnetters and the pilehard and herring fleet to top their donation. Gillnet fishermen at Sunbury raised $530 from the sale of fish caught before a union call to stop work had been received during recent price disputes, while a further $1,000 was turned over to the New Westminster Canadian Aid to Rus- sla by fishermen there. When the herring fleet tied up for Christmas, crews on 14 boats donated $100, from each boat, and donations from fishermen not work- ing during the drive are pouring into union headquarters. “A list of boats contributing to Canadian Aid to Russia reads like a roster of the Pacific fishing fleets,’ said Bill Burgess, “and men contributing come from almost every one of the United Nations.” Throughout the labor move- ment, union members are rallying in support of the fund. At Boeing Aircraft, workers at Plant 3 have challenged other plants in the raising of $756 each, that special figure being chosen in honor of their Lodge 756, Aeronautical Mechanics’ Union. Shop stewards will canvas employees this Sat- urday. Recently, the employees of the warehouse, factory and office of the Dominion Furniture Company, Lr FOR SALE Wew Hampshire Pullets and Baby Chicks JOHN BOWLES | Phone 61-M Cloverdale, B.C. Fishermen Raise $5000. For Aid To Russia Fund Last September,at the end of the salmon season, seven men who formed the crew of the fishin ghoat “Seabiscuit” walked into the offices of the United Fishermen’s Union with a suggestion to offer. They had noticed, they told union officials, that the whole province was uniting in a huge campaign to raise funds for Russian Aid. Believing that fishermen should do their part, they were willing to donate $10 each. Limited asked their management to deduct one day’s pay from each pay envelope to be donated to Rus- sian Aid. “British Columbia's campaign to raise a quota of $100,000 has re- | ecelyed the most enthusiastic sup- port from all quarters,’ according to Larry Webster, campaign pub- licity director. “Last Saturday a. group of young women, steno- | graphers from nearby offices, entered our headquaters, opened sealed pay envelopes and donated what amounted to a large part of their salaries to the fund. “A few days earlier an elderly man came in and placed a dollar bill on the secretary’s desk. Then, carefully emptying the pockets of his overcoat, took it off and placed it beside the dol- lar. We protested, knowing that he had a long trip to his home in Steveston, but he explaine? that some brave Russian needed it more than he did.” Webster particularly expressed his committee’s admiration for the work of various national groups in B.C. “The people of Canada realize what the Russians are up against. Qver three million have been wounded on the Russian front. In every village there are chil- dren suffering from frostbite, shock and starvation, which creates a@ particular need for medical sup- plies, for donations of sugical in- struments, and the money to pur- chase them,” A special appeal is being issued DANCE. EVERY SATURDAY in the CROATIAN Educational Home 600 Gampbell Ave. @ Ladies - - - - 25¢ @ Soldiers - - - 25c¢ @ Men in Civies - 35c LABOR YOUTH FEDERATION coke Journeymen Tailors, $25; * yer Printing Pressmen and F. McSween, Prince Rupe Cc. Clapp, Grand Forks; < Innis, Prince George; Ma, C. Gordon, Rossland; May 3. Skelton, Salmon Arm; W. T. Willson, Burnaby. Recent donations whick hleped to push the fund o $65,000 mark are: = 3 Projectionists’ Unior Retaid : ants’ Union, $15; Union, No. 279, $50; Interr Association of Machinist: to Canadian doctors, nurses, psy-|{jA Plumbers and Stean chiatrists, dentists, pharmacists | 7 ocal 170, $100; Russian O: and social workers, who can hand over to their (Russian colleagues the means of saving lives precious to both nations, and can under- stand how difficult it must be for medical people to work without drugs, hospital supplies, food and warm bedding for patients. Aid to Russia committees have been formed in appoximately 50 communities in British Columbia. Donations in larger centers can be sent to the following: Mayor V. B. WHarriosn, Nan- aimo; Mayor N. C. Stibbs, Nel- son; North Shore Press, North Vancouver; Lions Gate Times, West Vancouver; ©. K. Morison, 1288 Government Street, Victoria; Mayor G. H. Savage, Duncan; Mayor PB. Inksijer, Courtenay; Mayor W. C. Hamilton, Port Al- berni; Mayor G. R. Williams, Kamloops; Dr. H. L. Coursier, Vernon; Mayor G. A. McKay, Kel- owna; Reeve R. Lyon, Penticton; Mayor W. Hardman, Revelstoke; R. Laurie, Cranbrooke; Rev. W. John Stanton Barrister, Solicitor, Notary 603 Holden Bldg. 16 B. Hastings St. MAr. 5746 Church, $15; Vancouver Sec School Teachers’ Association International Brotherhood o binders, Local 105, $10. Men in Uniform . NEW ADVAN first issue of 1943 is especially for you ) “A POLISH SQUADR BOMBS BREMEN” A true story by one of the “ARE YOU COMING OY For men of the forces go England. : “BASIC AT BRANTEO] By a basic trainee. Picture story of 1943: ‘FROM DEFENSE to AT’ e New Advance Youth Magazine 10 Cents per Copy Bundle Orders: $1.00 per Room 38 - 2 Gould St Toronto, Canada t J TUNE IN the Weekly Labor with NIGEL MORG Newscast — ‘GREEN GOLD Station CJOR 600 Kilocycles Every TUESDAY — 7:45 p.m. AN as Your Reporter 6 Sponsored by the international Woodworkers of America (C