ateermehs ~

Around the
Slipways

By Charles Saunders

HAVE come into possession of a list of rules and regu-

lations which female employees of the North Burrard
Shipyard are asked to sign. I understand that there should
be a certain amount of concern over the employment of
women in what is, as far as this country is concerned; an
entirely new capacity, but it is difficult to see the purpose
of some of these regulations. Those which refer to safety
measures, such as the headdress and the wearing of jewelry,
are understandable, but why all these regulations aimed.
at segregation?

One rule specifies women must enter and leave by special
gates; another, they must eat in special quarters provided.

Such nonsensical rules could never arise in such countries
as the Soviet Union, where women have taken their place
in practically every part of the life of the country. They are
workers and as such ask no special consideration, only to be
treated on a real basis of equality.

I must hasten to say here that the women in the yard
resent these rules as much as anyone. Imagine if the woman
skipper of the Soviet ship which visited here recently had
been told to enter and leave by a special gangway, and eat
her meals in seclusion! Has it come to this, that Canadian
men and women are not to be allowed to eat together, or to
enter and leave work by the same gates? What is the in-
sinuation? Most of the women rightfully regard such regu-
Jations as an insult. The provision of a lunchroom for women
is okay, but let the women use it or not, as they please.
There is and could be no compulsion for male employees in
this regard, and we in the trade union movement must see
that such restrictive measures are not forced on the women.

As for makeup, etc., what the devil is wrong with people
who think it necessary to frame such rules? Let us under-
stand that these women enter war work in all seriousness.
They have enough common sense to govern themselves in
this regard. The next thing will be a rule that all women
seeking work in the shipyards must be over fifty and as
ugly as Cinderella’s sisters. Or else that they must wear
parkas and welders’ helmets at all times.

If we carry this thing far enough, we will have all of the
office workers traipsing around in masks and ankle length
dresses, for you can’t tell me that the wolves only howl in
overalls.

I like the rule which refers to mothers of young children.
It says they will be required to produce satisfactory evidence
that adequate care is provided during the mother’s absence.
I agree 100 percent. I like the solicitude shown. I like it so
much I would like to see it demonstrated in a practical way.

There is no doubt that many more women would be
working in industry today if it were not for the problem
of providing adequately for the welfare of their children.
The answer is obvious—nursery schools centralized in each
district. If these were provided under competent supervision
they would become increasingly popular. Some women are
prejudiced against nurseries, but this would soon disappear
when they found that children could be well cared for in this
way.

e

BELIEVE that most of these rules were framed in all

sincerity, with the good and welfare of the employees
in mind. This just is not the way to do it. The clause re-
ferring to medical examination is resented by some of the
women. Also the nature of the lectures delivered to them
during lunch hours. Instead of making rigid rules, why not
let those women who wish bring certificates of health ‘from
their own physician? There is a certain allowance for the
yard doctor for each examination. It would not be difficult
to turn this over to the private doctor. We demanded the
presence of ‘a physician in the yards, but the main idea be-
hind this was to have competent people on hand in case of
an accident, and to give examinations to such people as
welders and spray painters who are likely to develop occu-
pational diseases. The doctor and nurse are always there
if the women need their services while on the job. That is
sulficient.

The segregation rulings may be innocent, but they give
rise to suspicion. When the men and women mix they talk
union. The women get a chance to understand the meaning
of the union, how much protection it can offer them. The
men get to know what wages, ete., the women are getting
and the principle of equal pay for equal work gets a chance
to function.

The appeal followed an unsatis-
factory interview with jocal ration-
ing board officials, who intimated
that unless the fishermen dropped
their campaign for necessary food
supplies to cover such emergencies
as shipwrecks or breakdowns at
sea, the WPTE would probably
“cancel the use of form RB 21 al-
together.”

Fishermen, who resent this high-
handed attitude, point out that the
necessity of a better rationing sys-
tem for fishermen and loggers in
United States has been recognized
for some time now. According to
A. J. Krauss, OPA food rationing

expert, “fishermen far from a sup-
ply base and without access to
fresh foods and vegetables, de-
pend upon processed foods almost

Dance Ticket

Prize Winners

Ist Prize—No. 12911, G. A.
Curnow, 1119 Hornby Street.
nd Prize — No. 11431, May
Rauvala, B.R.1, New West-
minster.

Srd Prize — No, 6608, HE. Vainio,
1172 Renfrew Street.

4th Prize — No. 1046, A. Tolmie,
4149 Sophia Street.

5th Prize — No. 382, L. Caruso,
7203 Dumfries Street.
6th Prize: — No. 10041, Mrs.

Deschner, 1219 East 12th Ave.
tth Prize — No. 900, M. Milko-
vich, 757 Union Street.

Sth Prize — No. 6682, Donna
Arola, 1835 S.W. Marine Dr.
9th Prize — No. 6108, IL Me-

Leod, 2195 Grant Street.
10th Prize — No. 102, W. Porlier,
4505 Napier Street.

lith Prize — No. 5855, Jack
Hill, R.R.1, Steveston.
12th Prize — No. 6533, Mark

Krupsaw , Hingston Hotel.

Wage increases, applied for by
International Woodworkers of
America, have been granted em-

ployees of Allan, McDougall But-
ler Mil at Ruskin, BC, according
to word received this week from
the Regional War Labor Board.

papa hihi hbbhbhoooboooesd
SOSSCSCSSCSCSCCSCCIVOVVYVY” ;

4 Honored by the Presence of ¢
-H. E. The Governor-General¢
of CanadaandH.R.H. {

the Princess Alice

bobo

Russia's Greatest Singer, the

world-renowned star of Met-

ropolitan Opera Co. and of
Covent Garden.

ALEXANDER

hIPM

with

Audrey Mildmay

of Glyndebourne Opera

>.
SOUS S ITV VY VV YY

SOV OSSS COSC V SVT VV VV YY YY
te be dn be bn be btn bole ty rte oO

v
GPHOOSSOOO COC I OVI VV VV VV

VV EVERY TTY

taking part in operatic duets.

pahrhrhbi trina trintatrltrteotoooe

Fishermen Appeal To Gov
For Inereased Rations

Fishermen’s Union officials appealed this week to WPIB| These men must have food t

chief Donald Gordon for extension of the use of requisition | duce food, and canned. tisk”

form RB 21 (which allows extra rations for men in deepsea

fishing boats) to cover fishing vessels operating along the coast.
subsistence, and we
have to see they get enough to
carry them through their normal
fishing season with allowance for
emergency of storm or wreck. ...
Because of the long hours ane
hazards of the Alaska fishing : f
banks, the food is allotted on the | !7& and particularly in Tee

entirely for

me

major item in feeding our
forces, lend-lease and Civilic

In a lengthy letter to tl)
tioning board, Fishermen’s —
secretary William Burgess i]
that “there is 2 striking ce
between the attitude of Ca™
and American authorities: tt)
the problems of commercia.

rationing.”

basis of six servings per day.

an appeal for $4,000 issued six
veeks ago, When the fishermen,
who have encountered seasonal dif
ficulties, bring in their contribution
shortly as they promise they will,
the total will exceed $8000 —
200 per cent of the original ob-
jective.

Boosters in Vancouver and
throughout the province have
watched with admiration and
amazement City Committee raise
more than four times their original
quota; Ol’ Bill came through with
his best performance yet; all the
shipyards go over the top; and the
national groups in addition to sup-
porting their own press find time

Drive Fund Nears 200!
Total Stands At

By MINERVA COOPER a
Demonstrating in unmistakable terms their determi
to build the circulation and extend the influence of the
press in British Columbia, supporters of The People ha
ready turned in the magnificent sum of $7,735 in respo

and energy to oversubseribe their
quotas for The People most gen-
erously.

The last day of the drive “the
Ukrainians turned in $250 and
the Russians, working quietly, but
most effectively, marched in at
the last moment with 125 per cent
of their quota and the announce-
ment of a dance on Saturday night
which was to net The People an-
other $50. The throngs of people
who attended the big May Day
dances at the Croatian Hall and
Hastings Auditorium swelled the
final total substantially.

Be sure to read next week’s issue
of The People for a more detailed
account of the steHar performances
of committees in Vancouver and
outside points and more specific
information on returns. Watch
next week, too, for announcement
of the date of The People’s Prize
Night. Public tribute to outstand-
ing achievements of individuals
and committees in the presence of
their fellow workers will provide
a fitting climax to the most sucess-
ful press drive in the history of
the labor press in Canada.

You'll Enjoy Our

HOME COOKING

at the

Shelly Coffee Shop |
121 West Pender

Ast. 0240 7166 E. See)
Hastings Steam Baths

Vancouver, B.C.
Always Open — Expert Masseurs
in Attendances

$7,73

Drive Receif

3
City Press Com. 12904
Croatians .-.-----*-- 18L£
Ukrainians .--------- 328.6
Russians ..---------- 1592
North Burrard .-.--- 959%
South Burrard -.--- Sate
Salvage .-.------+-=- 5714

WwW. Coast-Ham. Bridge 5323
357.)

Loggers -----------*-
Transportation-—
Electricians -.-.--- 198:
Building Trades ..--- 1L78=
AITCLE fhe we ea ee 102.
AFI, (Misc) --.------ ebES
O Bill -.22 eae 380.
New Westminster ... 21
Fraser Valley .------ 30.
Fernie-Michel .----- 47
Salmon Arm ..------ 44.
Princeton ..--------- 27

Courtenay-Cumberland 92
Prince Rupert (including
$15.00 from Ukrainian

Group -:-.-------=- 9.
Sointnla <=2---.>---- 78
Victoria --.-------:-- 456
The Albernis -------- 7

Serbian Group ..---- 94
Lettish Workers’ Club 34
Finnish Victory So. 6¢
Jewish Progressive

Club 40
White Collar Group 38
Trade Unions By
General Miscellaneous 201

Winner of the draw!
Lenin Selected Works
Bill’s quota in the pre
was ticket number 156, —
Tiny Davis, 314 Pende

aS ES

Communist-Labor
Total War Committee .

RADIO

BROADCA

Every Thurs
at 7:15 P.M.

Station CK

bd
Tune in weekly on this:
the same time for upt
ute comments on waging

8 am. to 11 p.m.... 40c and 5B0c
‘ ro)

a.
049 $OO66494649-600OFO0060060064600666060000006000

>| * EE
> . 2
> 4 t ae
Thursday, May 133

<
s Tickets Now Selling at Kelly's, & p R ° W e A | e Cc U R R Y
PAcifie 3351

> e ENTIS
p International Celebrity Concerts % D T =
, (ee $| | 207 West Hastings Street Tel. PAt
q Met. L. J. Laverock >