Page 4 — Saturday, November 18, 1944 SOSA SSUYTAAUESCUSUSATESAYNSOLEL EATEN ALATA COEALACERUSSEUSSIUISIEESSTAIEYELSSIITE gw PACIFIC ADVOCATE ASUSUYESEASAUUNESEATANSSSSCNSSUVSUAUALOUCOLISERT CPE IAAESELELACR ESET LUtstOYa STONE PEOPLE’S VOICE FOR PROGRESS Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com- Dany, Reom 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street, V ancouver, British Columbia and printed at East End rinters, 2303 Bast Hastings Street, Vancouver, British olumbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2, six months $1. Editor Cc. A. SAUNDERS Associate Editor MYER SHARZER . Givic Elections "THE CCF have again nominated a full slate for civic office in Vancouver. Looking over the slate we fail to see the name of anyone who has been connected with the burning civic issues of the past’ year, such as housing, city. ownership of the transportation system, adequate schooling, hot lunchés in schools, increased park and playground facilities, and so on. Indeed the CCF have become notorious for their studied avoidance of any participation in the public campaigns on these issues. . = It is admittedly a partisan slate, with no chance of gain- ing control, and no intention of being anything but an oOppo- sition, thorn in the side of any civic administration. Citizens rightfully resent the introduction of party poli- tics ito civic affairs, especially by a party which almost totally ignores city problems from December to December. Obvi- ously it is a case of playing federal politics at the expense of city ratepayers. ~ Nomination of Mrs. “I’d Vote for Norman Thomas’’ Steeves for Parks Board, a provincial MLA, exposes more fully the phoney position taken by the CCF provincial executive in refusing to accept the nomination of H. W. Herridge for the federal riding of West Kootenay on the basis of pledges to Provincial voters. Apparently they are convinced that the tinre Dorothy Steeves puts in on the School Board would be no loss to the provincial House. That may be so, but we believe our citizens are entitled to a better deal. There are people in the field whose interest and active Participation in city affairs has earned them consideration on balloting day. We refer to such people as John McPeake who has led the fight on the housing question. McPeake’s long and cour- ageous struggle has earned him the admiration of Vancouver citizens and he right to contest one of the aldermanic vacan- cies. : ~ John Goss, who has made a tremendous contribution to the cultural life of the city can serve its people admirably on the Parks Board; whilst Effie Jones -is well known for her activities on behalf of Vancouver’s citizens, “ These are the kind of people we must support on voting day. People who have consistently fought for the welfare of our city and its citizens. People who can be relied on to carry the fight in a constructive manner, into the city council and loosen the Tory hold on civic affairs. Not those candidates that arise from nowhere on elec- tion days, and disappear for another year when election day Native Brotherhood Ae HE demand for a Royal Commission to draw up a new, = just and progressive Indian Act will recéive the support of labor and all progressive people as a measure long overdue. The request for Native Brotherhood representation on such a commission is not only just, but necessary to the successful carrying through of the work. ‘One of the first steps must be the granting of full citizen- ship rights, including the franchise. It is significant that the Maoris of New Zealand have not only the right to vote but run candidates and are represented in the Legislature. Long years of neglect have worked tremendous hardships on the Indians, who, forced to live in poverty, have deteriorat- ed in health, with a high rate of tuberculosis making steady inroad. Special measures are needed to rehabilitate the Indians, including medical, health and housing facilities. These should be immediately undertaken, as a belated recognition of past neglect, with the objective of restoring the Indian to his rightful place as a full Canadian citizen, without loss of special privileges granted as a poor recompense for ex- propriated land. Organized labor attending the convention has assured the Native Brotherhood of full support. A united Native In- dian movement, supported by the trade unions and all pro- gressive citizens, can and must see that the Indians are justly treated. : This QR2 of the most serious political crises in Gan- ada’s history has finally matured on the issue of conscription. Thousands ‘of Canadians have innocently expressed their support for the im- mediate implementation of the authority granted the federal government for the introduction of compul- sery overseas service with- out realizing the political = implications involved in such a decision. : The issue of compulsory Overseas service for draftees of Canada’s home defense army has been very skilfully developed to the point where it’ has become a national political issue which could well split national unity and create a condition of politi- cal chaos. Ts failure of the federal government to im- plement the mandate given them by the Gana- dian people in 1942 for compulsory military service at that time, has been skilfully utilized by Canadian reaction, not because of any con- eern for reinforcement of Canada’s overseas army, but in: order to defeat the government and seize control of political power. Consider how the issue developed to its present proportions. First Major Connie Smythe returned from the Western Front and spectacu- larly announced that reinforcements were being sent into the Ganadian lines in Belgium without proper training. Ontario’s reactionary Premier Drew, who had been ostensibly touring the battlefront in France to safeguard the interests of Ontario soldiers, then reiterated Major Smythe’s charges. The tory press across Canada then took up the ery for immediate conseription in order to provide ample trained reinforeéments for the Canadian arniy. Following .on this came the resignation of Defense Minister Colonel Ralston and his re- placement by General McNaughton. i overwhelming majority of Canadians agree that if insufficient reinforcements for Can- ada’s embattled army cannot be supplied by vol- untary enlistments, conscription for overseas service will be necessary. | eek by Fergus McKean Issue of Compulsory Sery Utilized by Canadian Re What most commentators fail to sir / ever is the possible results. of the intr of conscription at this time, = = When conscription was introduced dy first world war it resulted not only i7 sale desertions but im=riots in the lari of Quebec. Since that time at least th fascist political parties have come into Quebee and the sentiment against con. is even stronger in Quebec today than j Veterans of the last war will candid that the introduction of conscripts into ¢ line not only created dissatisfaction in ~ resulted in open distrust and- demoraliz: must be remembered that. reinforcements scripts are not introduced as self-contain but distributed to each division, battalic pany and platoon thus introducing an ele Suspicion- and distrust throughout fhe army. ; : N° evidence has been advaneed to shov greater number of reinforcements > made available through the introduction seription than through the medium of de: education and appeal: Certainly the 1 morale would be considerably worse. Discrimination practised by reaction: elements among the officers of the ¢ army to foree draftees to go active has opposite results. General McNaughton’s for cooperation to secure reinforcements ocratic educational methods is certainly of support as a weleome change in army j Many progressive minded individua ever, including several Liberal M-P.s hay into the tory trap of demanding immedi scription. There is much more at sta than reinforcements for the army overs: whole question of national-unity is at st [EZ IS to be hoped that when parliam venes on November 22 the members — be stampeded into any ill considered act could weaken Canada’s war effort, dis: tional unity and pave the way for a Vi reaction in the coming federal election. The M.P’s will have the responsit formulating a policy that will best SE interests of achieving an early vactory war, at the least cost and pave the = democratie progress in Canada. City Aff airs By Elgin Ruddell e [eee year in the civic election: somewhat over 100,000 names were on the voters list. Of this number about 29,000 actually voted. Indications are that this year more people will take a hand in determining our elected representatives. This is due chiefly to the added interest centered around the mayoral contest and the money by-laws. The question of “setting out to vote” in previous years has been left to a little publicity of the Junior Board of Trade. While they con- duct their campaign on a general appeal basis it does not have much response from the progressive and labor voters. ~ Here is an opportunity for the trade unions through their Political Action Gom- a mittees to explain the issues in the election and to: mobilize a heavy vote for those candidates and policies that serve progress and reform on a democratic basis. AS predicted in this column the CCE have nomi nated a candidate for mayor. In commenting on their decision to run a candidate they boast of their “partisan” policy. This kind of partisan- ship should not be confused with the world popular conception of “partisans,” a la Tito. Yugoslavia’s partisans are the broad patriotic democratic majority of the population: ‘Tito’s “partisan” government contains many shades of political opinion, social ideologies and economic Stratas. This is the exact opposite of the narrow, party advantage, stand of the CCF in refusing te come in and participate with other progressive groupings. Democratic coalition in the city. is Mobilize a Heavy Vote For the Civic Elections possible around issues such as housin power, transportation, school needs, etc: [Aus week Effie Jones, well-known in fb circles, became a contender for ‘Sche- service. She contested several previc paigns with a large measure of support | on one occasion better than 14,000 votes Mrs. Jones has made her home ~ Vancouver and has been recognized over of years by her neighbors and friends < worker in community and labor endeav is especially true of issues that affec workers, housewives and children’s wel | Among her other contributions is th ship she gaye while provincial Organize | Housewives’? League in campaigning ag flationary prices for consumers goods. beén a member of the Labor-Progressi Since its formation and serves on the Couneil of its provincial committee. — [XN relation to school board problem | Jones is well qualified to be a candi addition to haying been a teacher be} marriage, she has taken a constant im new methods of teaching, extension of for practical instruction, and vocation ing. She is a strong advocate of more 2 school buildings, extension of cafetal) hot-meal facilities and greater public sibility for the physical care and healt children. \. Sa The school board stands: to hbenefii electors see fit to endorse Mrs. Jones, she will be able to bring the viewpoint ing mothers and fathers to every prob fronting the board. And in turn will position of encouraging labor support | creased educational services and faeilit school board needs help and guidance 1 a solution to its many problems. Hffie” well qualified to help solve these proble.