Page 2 — May 26, 1945 Seamen’s PAC Issue Special Election Bulletin In a special bulletin, issued by the Political Action Com- ‘mittee of the Canadian Seamen's Union, merchant seamen serving on ships covered by the union’s agreements have been informed of election procedure regarding seamen. Official confirmation has been received by the union from Ot- tawa that merchant seamen will be allowed to vote, regardless of where they may be at the time of election. in the same way as members of the armed services. Seamen are informed, however, that in order to vote they must make special efforts to register as they will not be permitted to vote unless registered. “As Canadians, as trade unionists, as seamen, “the text of the PAC statement reads, “we must go to the polls de- termined to elect a govern- ment that will carry out poli- cies of full employment for all. and those social reforms needed to give full opportunity, to our workers, our youth, and security to the aged and de- pendent. A government that will. voice labor’s aspirations for national unity and the unity of the United Nations for world peace and friendly relations with all countries.” “We issue a Sharp warning, the statement continues, “that election of a Tory Government (Progressive-Conservatives in al- laance with Bloc Populaire and Union Nationale representatives from Quebec, or conservative sections of the MLiberal Party) -would be disastrous to labor.” “Ti is plain-that no one party can command the entire support of the people, and it: is likely that no one party will have a ma- jority of the seats in the next parliament. Therefore, Canada’s next government must be a coali- tion government. In line with the recommendations of the Trades and Labor Congress Political Action Committee we recommend that all Liberal and labor-minded people, prepared to work togeth- er on a program satisfactory to labor. We welcome the develop- ment of electoral agreements to ensure the defeat of Tory candi- dates—and we urge support of all Unity candidates who are willing to participate in a demo- cratic coalition government for progress.” “Tt is regrettable that the poli- cies of the CGF leadership are serving to divide rather than to unite labor around a common electoral program” the statement warns, “The refusal of the CCF to recognize the Tories as the main threat to labor and the welfare of the people is causing confusion amongst honest trade unionists who desire to see a large bloc of labor members in the next government. This is best illustrated in Windsor, Ontario, where the Liberals and Labor- Progressive party have agreed to support the labor candidates put forward by the trade unions, but the leader of the Ontario CCF, EF. B. Jolliffe, has refused to co- operate to ensure the election of such trade unionists.” A leafiet issued by the local office of the CSU states that all seamen should “make efforts to find out who the labor candidates 23 are in their constituency and make sure they cast their yote for these Jabor candidates. La- bor demands a voice in govern- ment and can only get this if the workers vote for labor - candi- Gates. A vote for any other is Imemorate this a vote for the return of the “hungry thirties.” Don’t be led away by reaction who will prom- ise you anything that Hitler promised labor before he de- stroyed the labor unions in Ger- many.” Detailed.iustructions as to the method for seamen to use their franchise are included im the leafiet. . Merchant seamen “qualified to vote may cast their votes before any commissioned of- ficer designated for that pur- pose by the commanding of- ficer of a Canadian Naval, Air Gr Military unit. Seamen will be permitted to yote at any Navy, Army, or Air Force voting place during the period between May 28 and June 9. Regulations prescribe that the polling station must be open for at least three hours. between nine am. and nine p.m., daily during the advance polling dates. Merchant seamen will be per- mitted to vote at regular advanc- ed polling stations providing such stations are within the are of their regular place of residence. No provisions haye been made for setting up of voting places in Manning Pools. Merchant seamen who are at sea during period of advanced poll and upon whose ships no provisions haye been made for voting will lose their vote as “St is assumed that a ship at- sea on June 9 next or after that date will not offer the mecessary facilities for its personne] to vote as War Ser- yiee electors and to have their vote transmitted to the ap- propriate special returning -of- ficer in time to be counted.” places will be estab- the Navy, the Army and the Airforce in the United Kingdom and other Allied the- atres of war where service elec- tors are stationed. Red Lake LPP Member Mourned Sincere condolences were ex- tended to the family of Thomas Hardy, LPP member in Red Lake, B.C., on his death recent- ly, by the provincial executive of the LPP. Text of letter sent to Hardy’s family read:— Voting lished by “The party has suffered the loss of many gallant members such as Tom in this last few years, but have learned to take their loss as a challenge to us all to carry on the work they have started and thus build a living memorial to them. We Imow the comrades in Red Lake will do just that and will com- comrade’s. pass- ing by resolving to tackle the work before our party with re: newed vigor as he would have wanted you te do.’ As the European war came to an official end, buglers sounded the and the world rejoiced. Here, crews stand by their giant 244-mm. guns in the US38- Army sector of the western front. “Cease Fire” orde'; Cd E | E | and the necessary materials manpower. speculative builders be contin- gent upon the issuance of a permit establishing the law- ful ceiling price for such dwellings. to the Greater Vaneouver Citizens’ Rehabili- tation Council, a semi-public body which includes repre- sentatives from every leading organization in the city, the ‘above program has already been endorsed by two key la- bor bodies. Two Trades In addition weeks ago the AFL and Labor- Council de- manded immediate action on a housing program, warning that failure to do so might create the danger of riots similar to those in Halifax on V-E Day. This week the €CL Vancouver SLabor Council, after hearing Harold Pritchett, union represen- tative on the rehabilitation coun- cil, report on the housing ¢risis. unanimously endorsed the de- mand for 5,000 homes and swung the weight of its 30,000 affiliated members into the campaign. SITUATION URGENT “The need ‘for all “possible -pressure centered on both the City Council and the federal gov- ermment was more urgent than most Vancouver people- imag- ined. For this month the housing shortage, a day to day and week to week problem ever since 1941, suddenly assumed menacing pro- portions with the cessation of var in Kurope and the prospect of some 40,000 servicemen being without accommodation for them- selves and their families when they begin arriving home. According to the best available information, Vancouver provided accommodation, some of it on a low. standard, for 235,000 people at the war’s outbreak. Present population of Vancouver is 309,- 000, and this number will be swelled by at least 40,000 when ell servicemen have returned home. -.Yet some 18,000 homes must be built right now, exclus- ive of the expected influx, before hcusing needs can in any way be met, and even this figure leaves out of consideration the natural population increase due to the birth rate. A complicating factor is the number of servicemen from other parts of Canada who are expect- ed to come to Vancouver to. live upon discharge. At the end of the Jast war twice as many veterans took up residence in the city as The sale of houses erected by | WINNING TICKETS IN DRAW, P.A. DANCE MAY 11, 1945 2 , Hazel Ainsworth, Alberni, B.C. Second prize, No. 40415, Jack Wider, 2646 Yukon Street City. Third prize, No. 19230, John Harris, 785 Hastings E., City 7108, J. Crynich, Cobalt Hotel, City. Fifth prize, No. 3948, Pat Cheus, Box 402, Prince Rupert. Sixth prize No. 15534, -H. Wi Maddin, 1152 Granville, City | Seventh Prize, No. 13496; F. Axnold-Smith, Lynnmour aS Highth prize, No. 195, G. Sawyer, Kelowna, B.C. — Ninth: prize, No..14050, A. Lanes Herd, R.R. Tenth prize, No. 15643, S. Westerlund, 1616 Nelson St, City First prize, = So, 817 _ Fourth prize, No. Holders of these numbers please send or present yeur ticke stubs to the Pacific Advocate, Room 104, Shelly Srolame. 185) Pender, West. 2, Kelowna. Labor Council On Library Committee The CCL Vancouver (epee Council, while endorsing the aims of the newly-organized Friends of the Public Library, this week shelved a request for financial assistance in the drive to estab- lish an improved library service “until such time as labor in gen- eral and the CCL in particular is granted adequate: representation on the executive of the library organization. > 2 Reporting on his attendance at a recent meeting of the Friends" of the Public Library, council secretary John Turner stated that in the elections to the execu- tive board of the “Friends,” only two labor men were chosen, both enlisted from here. There is every indication that this situa- dion will be repeated in 1945, per- Laps to an even greater degree. This week the Vancouver City council endorsed that section of the rehabilitation council’s pro- eram dealing with the conversion of the Vancouver Barracks. But that’s only one step. Of far greater importance is the recog- nition of the basic principle of the housing question—the build- ing of homes on a mass seale under federal administration and with civic cooperation and assist- ance either on a low rental or government-financed ownership basis. The City Council has to date “ot only refused to accept this principle but has actively opposed it. The job of changing its posi- tion in the matter is as much the responsibility of organized labor ‘as any other section of the com- munity. Labor owes that to its fighting partners now returning from the battlefronts. Ask Place | Gen. Dwight D. Hisenhower, © | of them from AFL unions, onl | his request for CCF represe ation was turned down. “Labor fully endorses the ic ef improving Vancouver’s libre service as a Step long everdu } Turner said. “But until the ganization sees fit to recogn Gur body. which speaks for so | 30,000 organized workers, [ lieve we should withhold act en giving our financial support: }) Several delegates reported | the proposed use of Hast Ind seamen, at present in the M |} ning Pool waiting for ships, local industries, particule | shipbuilding and in the sawm: } These men were paid only ab | $8 monthly when at sea, ¢ | fears were expressed that if t] were employed here, attem would be made to work them ~ sub-standard wages. Affiliated locals were noti to be prepared to fight for = trade union rates for. these < | men should they be employed local lege re Loe NEW. YORK.—In a messagy 200 leading New York CIO | cials representing 600,000 m bers, this week stated: “ ™ know we voice the sentimen' ; the entire American people | applauding your insistence the Nazi High Command other high German officials = treated as the war criminals murderers they are.” The Ger leaders, the méssage said, be subject t6 “Swift punis for the most mhuman slaug in the world’s history.