Page 2—P. aXe Features

‘ower |

The closest possible unity between all for-
ward looking elements must be established
throughout the province in order to assure

effective public ownership of power projects
Vital to postwar industrial development.

[2 WOULD 20t ms
"Present propaganda
around its program

By Albert Dettman

the point gréatly to assert that the
— drive” of the B.C.Electric, centered
f. postwar expansion and modern-

ization, issues trom th - basic fact that what is now tenta-

tively proposed represents critical communit

yeats standing.

That this is not community
leadership needs little empha-

Sis, Since it is so belated aS to

suggest a blind and tenacious
resistance to the needs of the
people as they arise. That this
is not even enterprising busi-
ness leadership is glaringly il-
lustrated when viewed in the
light of one of the fundamental
principles of business in demo-
cratic society: which is to
anticipate wants.

The political “temper” of the
times, as a reflection of our
needs, is the significant factor
behind the whole program and
its widespread publicity. Peo-
ple have begun to think in
terms of a publicly-owned and
operated BC Uydro Blectric
System ... and the stir this
thinking is creating has awak-
ened the daytime residents of
St. James street and it’s ad-
joining alley, Garrall. But how
do these gentlemen react on
“awakening”? True to type,
they offer promises and bribes
-. - but not a cent off the Kilo-
Watt-rate!

Since the
province-owned

for a
operated

demands
and

-BC Hydro, and a municipally=

owned and operated street-rail-
way system will not be quieted
Short of- their realization: and
only “‘‘moderated” by a drastic
downward revision of the entire
rate-structure of the BC Elec-
tric, the present seems an ap-
propriate time to consider a few
of the vital aspects closely con-
nected with the problem of pub-
lic-ownership of utilities.

‘The almost unlimited de-

=mands of the war for shipping,

weapons and munitions, and the
products of industry, generally,
has resulted in the overcrowd-
ink of our urban centers to a
degree unknown here-to-fore.
While, simultaneously, the ur-
gent need for even more hous-:

= . 3

si

ing accommodation Has neces-*

Sitated the hurried construction
of additional shelter’ facilities
for the workers and their fami-
lies in the outlying regions of
most of our big towns.

With this great and sudden
increase in the population of
our urban-industrial centers
however, no adequate provision
was made to extend and aug-
ment existing mass transporta-
tion facilities. Hence the seri-

ous overcrowding, delays and
frequent temporary break-
downs of the street railway

System during “rush” periods.

Hence, too, the ever more
frequent proposals for public-
Ownership of the street railway
System as part of the growing
desire to find a solution for this
ever-present and acute problem
of inadequate mass transporta-
tion facilities.

How far public-ownership of
the street railway system can,
by itself, solve the problem of
inadequate and too expensive
transportation’ for the workers
and their families, we shall now
proceed to examine. But, first,
let it be made absolutely clear
that. public-ownership in the

sphere of utilities is not social-
ism .

- OF even an “instalment”

y needs of many :

S

towards some future socialist
society. Nearly every Western
country has a long history of
publicly-owned utilities which
often parallels the growth of
capitalism itself.

In England, telephone and
telegraph communications, as
well as municipally-owned gas
and electric plants; in Sweden,
Switzerland and Germany
State-owned railway Systems;
while in Canada the biggest and
most efficient hydro-electric sys-
tems are provincially-owned and
operated.

@
(pee advantages of publicly

owned and operated hydro-~

electric and transportation Sys-
tems are many and real: and
the most important among:
these is the fact that such utilic
ty systems are infinitely more
amenable to democratic control
by those who use them, through
the medium of their elected re-
presentatives, than any form of
private ownership can possibly
be.

In such circumstances the
problems associated with the
utilization, re-allocation, exten-
sion, modernization and cheap-
ening of services become ques-
tions for consideration by all.
But ‘effective public ownership
of utilities presupposes a keen
civic and political consciousness
on the part of each and every
citizen. Otherwise, publicly-
owned utilities plus shabby
politics become a means where-
by the community can be milked
of its current and future tax
receipts in the Tterests of the
contractors, great corporations
and their agents who trade in
building materials, steel, roll-
ing stock, generators, transmis-
sion line equipment, etc.

Public ownership, as you see,
turns out to be a fickle mis-
tress indeed; requiring constant
but discreet watching and un-
ending vigilance. In return,
however, she can make life
more pleasant, less expensive
and even provide the nucleus
around which progressive and

responsible citizens can build a’

greater civic unity as a basis
for further achievement. Mean-_
time, we must stick our nose
into every government depart-
ment and keep it there if we
aspire to be good citizens. So
much for the general question
of public ownership: now for a
closer examination of the con-
ditions upon which it is usually

predicated within the frame-
work of our existing Canadian
pattern. 2

A® YOU probably already sus-

pect, the BE Electric will be
loath inded to part with its ex-
tremely lucrative enterprises,
such as its hydro developments,
transmission and distribution
networks and so on; while the
smaller profitability of its
transportation utilities is, very
likely, sufficient to enable the
company to await and prepare
for the opportune moment when
publie outery: coincides with an
incompetent or corrupt city or
provincial administration which
is willing to mortgage the city
and province’s future with the
twofold purpose of placating
public opinion and, simultane-
ously, to use this public outery
as an excuse for purchasing
from the BC Electric its least
profitable enterprises at a price.
far in excess of their real worth.
We, all of us, can and must
guard against just such an
eventuality by establishing the
closest possible unity with all
forward-looking elements
throughout the province in or-
der to assure city and provin-
cial administrations truly re-
presentative of our needs and
aspirations.

Hiffective public ownership is
deeply dependent upon such
genuine labor and progressive
administrations for many vital
reasons; not the least of which
is the fundamental necessity to
initiate and enforce the- pro-
gressive legislation which is
needed if the province is once
again to recover the ownership
and control of its water-power

resources;-and if the cities are-

to achieve that much needed
control of their streets and spe-
cial traffic arteries, upon which
is based the very elements of
town planning and rehabilita-
tion.

Further, such progressive
legislation is essential in order
to invest the province and its
municipalities with that autho-
rity which alone can guarantee
that any and all negotiations
will be carried out on a basis of
strict equality.

That the original cost of the
BC Hlectrie’s properties, in
toto, must form the basis of
negotiations, is elementary.
But from this must be deducted
the funds set aside for deprecia=
tioh which have not been used

to replace original building
equipment capital.

Also, we must be carefu
ascertain whether monies {
the depreciation accounts }
been used for purposes of 4
lute expansion; we must }

an estimate of mainten:
costs per representative
and compare these with sim
costs for private and munici |
ly (and provincially) oy
and operated systems <
where, weighting them for
inevitable but calculable
ferential which exists bety
different regions, and dem
the “scaline-dewn” which +]
considerations warrant.

In addition to all this, we
entitled to those funds, inf
that have been set aside
purposes of self-expan
(that postwar program),
which have been deducted a
before net profits are compt
To be suecessful in the fu
sense of the word, we must
chase at its real value ey
thine—lock, stock and barr
dams, generating plants, tr
mission and distributing
works ...as well as the n
transportation utilities. U:
no circumstances should
such thing as a eredit in
of further exploitation. of |
water pOwer resources of —
province be allowed the ¢
pany. ;

Upon the transference of ©
B€ Hlectrie’s properties to —
people of British Columbia,
bonded obligations should b
as short term as possible <«
sistent with our ability to ]
and should not bear interes: |
excess. of what the Fede
authorities are obliged to
on loans floated for the purt
of financing public works.

Public ownership and con
of these utilities can and she
result in extended and be
Services; a closer and more €
cient integration of these sé
ices into the life of the com!
nity, and an appreciable lov
ing of rates. Sagi

TALLY related to the fc
going must be conside
the question of civie plan :
policy. The present run-de
state of the street railway ro
bed in many sections of V
couver, Victoria, New We
minster and North Vancouv
along with the narrow, croo
and deplorably congested stre
in the downtown areas, po
—Continued on Pag.