A Candidate To

Page 12 — May 26,

1945

2 _» By FRED WILMOT

[N 194], a group of courageous women, representing the
farmers of Saskatchewan, purchased one-way tickets and
boarded trains for Ottawa, to press for increased farm

grants from the Government.

instrumental in achieving gains
for the small farmers of the
prairies, came to be known as
the “One-Way Campaign.”

Minerva Cooper, British Col-
umbia’s only woman federal
candidate, and Labor Progres-
Sive candidate for the constitu-
ency of  Vancouver-Burrard,
acted as spokesman for that
group. During the course of this
campaign she worked tirelessly,
travelling throughout the prov-
ince speaking to meetings of
small farmers. She spoke ‘to
over 200 meetings of the farm-
ers, and organized 30 confer-
ences on the question.

Minerva Cooper’s interest in
the problems of the people
stems from a close association
with their problems. In 1934
she courageously settled in a
jumble of swamp, rock, scrub-
iby spruce, and barren waste-
land, and.set about hacking a
home out of the wilderness in
northern Saskatchewan. She
worked, with her family, under
almost overwhelming difficult-
ies, until the whole project had
to be given up. Her plans to
build a home in the northern
prairies collapsed, and in spite
of government assurances that
the area was “suitable for
settlement,” the homestead had
to be abandoned.

e@

TARLY in 1943, Minerva

Cooper came to Vancouver.
Here, in the booming industrial
activity of the war-busied city
She interested herself in the
problems of the
She threw ‘herself
paigns for

community.
into cam-
improved housing

This campaign, which was
for war-workers, met with
groups for the purpose of
achieving playground facilities
for children of the war-workers,
took an outstanding role in the
drive for better quarters for
the nurses at Vancouver Gen-
eral Hospital. Here she realized
the need for an extension of
housing and recreational facili-
ties im the densely populated
Burrard area of the city.

Due largely to the pressure
brought to bear by the public,
work was commenced on the
nurses’ residence. Recognition
was made of the part that Min-
erva Cooper had taken in this
campaign by the nurses and
staff doctors of the hospital.
One letter, received from a staff
nurse, commending Minerva on
her radio addresses, stated:
“You can imagine just how
thrilled I was to hear your talk
tonight over GCJOR. It was per-
fect, and no one could doubt
your sincerity and crusading
spirit. Every word was true.”

A doctor, commenting on the
broadcasts, said simply :“I’ve
been waiting to hear that for 25
years.” 2

S
ONTRARY to the practice
With many aspirants for

political office, Minerva Cooper
has not satisfied herself with
grandiose and expansive state-
ments about what is needed.
She has instead made a detailed
study of the area.in which she
is running for office. She has
covered the area on foot, speak-
ing with the householders, see-
ing the children playing in the

“The children of the nation are a national asset and
the responsibility for providing recreational facilities is the

sovernment s.”’

“Considering the cost of maintaining habitual criminals, which is in the region ¢’
25,000 dollars per year, the ten dollars per boy per year granted for establishment ¢

boys’ clubs is hopelessly inadequate.”

streets, inspecting playground
and recreational facilities, talbu-
lating the needs and require-
ments of the area.

“Tt is amazing to see the
courage with which the mothers
of the area continually struggle
to keep their children safe and
clean,” she said. “The area has
very poor facilities for children,
and what little has been done
is hopelessly inadequate in the
face of what is needed.”

“The area has many sites
that would be ideal for play-

‘grounds. It would require ade-
quate grants to cover landseap-

ing of some of the sites, the
building of recreational facili-
ties, and the employment of
qualified and full-time staffs.
But the returns in health and
satety would more than pay the
cost.”

“The active efforts of the
Fairview Labor Progressive
Club has aroused wide public
interest in an attempt to extend
playground facilities for
children of Burrard. At present
there are two boys’ clubs in
operation. The only other recre-
ational facilities are those of-
fered by church clubs and
organizations,” Minerva Cooper
continued.
eredit is due to public spirited
citizens who have made these
facilities, as limited as they
may be, available to the child-
ren, but much more is needed.
Considering the cost of main-
taining habitual criminals,
which is in the region of $25,-
000.00 per year, the ten dollars
per boy per year that is at
present granted for the estab-
lishment of boys’ clubs is hope-
lessly inadequate.”

“The children of this nation
are a national asset, and the

responsibility for providing
recreational facilities is the
government’s. The need is

there, and the unimproved fa-
cilities for adequate play-
grounds are also there. The
government must make suffici-

the ;

“A great deal of

Support... .

ent grants available to establish
planned recreational facilities
throughout the Burrard area,
fully staffed with competent,
full-time staffs.”

A® part of her keen interest

in community problems,
Minerva Cooper ‘has _ strong
feelings about present housing
standards throughout her con-
stituency. Here, less than a
block from one of Vancouver’s
main thoroughfares, workers
are compelled to live in old and
hopelessly dilapidated . homes.
Minerva Cooper feels that it is
not enough to speak of improv-
ing the homes, but rather that
wherever possible, new housing
projects, including low-rental
apartment dwellings, and plan-
ned housing should be under-
taken, immediately.

“The Burrard area alone
needs a minimum of 2,000 new
homes to relieve congestion, not.
to mention a slum clearance
program. The area around the
West Coast Shipyards and in
the Second and Fourth Avenue
districts within a few blocks of
Granville Street Bridge are dis-
graceful, and constitute a real
menace to the health and wel--
fare of the people who live
there.” :

In her personal conversations
with householders in the area,
she has found them more than
willing to unburden their
troubles. Sheer necessity has
driven many workers into hous-
ing that would shock the pub-
lic, if the living conditions were
made known to them, and as
there is little new building car-
ried on, there is little hope that
unless some specific move. is
made on the part of persons
directly concerned with the wel-
fare of the workers living in
that area, their condition will
not be, substantially improved.

“There is a large working
class population in this area,”

B.C?s only woman candidate

stated, “and it is in this area

that very little in the way ol

new construction of homes 0:

apartment buildings is car:

ried out. We must be con

cerned about low-rental hous

ing for the people in thik |
aréa, and we must make |
available decent housing a |
one-fifth of the monthly in

come, such as has been pra

posed in Winnipes and othe

cities confronted with similal’

housing problems’?

@

VENEBVe Cooper feels th }

in any projects undertak:
to benefit the people, one cann
ignore the important place th —
national health occupies. Ti
poor state of the nation |
health was clearly demonstra }
ed. when over one-third of 0 |
Canadian youne men we |
found unsuitable for militay~
seryice. These findings are
reflection of the poor livin}
standards of Canadian familic 7
and the deplorable lack
health facilities made availab
to working class families.

There is a crying need i |
the establishment of pre-nat
clinies, infant clinics, sche |
health services, and publ
health programs, and the € #
pansion of those already exis |
ing. This can be done only —
health programs are institutt
by the federal government, —
bring health services within t! ¥
grasp of the low-wage earn
Day nurseries have proven —
be of inestimable value
mothers who have taken wa
time jobs. These should
maintained and extended to ¢ |
children of mothers who ¢o
work. There is also a ery
need for nursery schools pr |
vided on a basis which wou
ensure adequate care and trai
ing of children, with compete
and experienced supervision:

Minerva Cooper feels th
the Family Allowances Bill ~
a start in this direction, a.
scores the Tories for their