~ (Reprint from

i - 2
Sonverting Canada's

er subject. Yet,

| Position
Reconversion

‘he war in the’ Pacific
"2 problems of reconver-
‘dustry to provide peace-
's has come sharply to
: Already, only a few
‘y V-J Day thousands of
“fin our shipbuilding, air-
7-4 subsidiary industries.
| ffs. :

e ndustries created here
“he war are in immedi-
ser. For the welfare of
ince and its population,
*se steps must be taken
these industries.

i

35
E

»s emergency, which af-
ery household and the
prosperity of our com-
f, the Labor-Progressive
» oposes:

yiehat every worker being
at be granted one month’s
_ every year of employ-

} hat the Federal Govern-
- mediately act..to reduce
= hours to 40 per week
_ deductions in, pay- This
| rovide more jobs.-—

© hat an immediate three-
nference of government,

conversion .
+ Jobs Or Pr

‘being written and spoken about reconversion than
if we look beyond

fits?

ULE. NEWS)

economy to peacetime needs:
these days.

said, and examine what is being
done, it is immediately apparent
that the basis of every move 15
primarily a preparation for post-
war profits—and post-war em-
ployment takes second place if. it
gets into the picture at all.
Early this year the govern-

White Paper tabled in the House
cf Commons. In that document
the King administration clearly
laid down as its guiding prin-
ciple ‘‘a high and stable level of
employment, with rising living
standards.” ;

So . far,
applied. :

‘A recent survey of all import-
ant industrial concerns shows
what changes have taken place
during the war years as regards
‘their financial set-up and earn-
ings. While- net profits remain
stable’ during ‘the war, gross
profits jumped 200 to 300 per-
cent. Although a sizeable portion
went into excess profit taxes,
this in the main is refundable. In
somie cases it will be applied as
tax credits; but, some is being
made immediately available: it
can be used to purchase govern-
ment owned plants now at prices
considerably below cost!

This is not the only tax grab
‘sought by -industrialists. Excise
taxes on many commodities in
tke consumer’s goods class have
been handed holus-bolus to the

this has not been

= ment and labor be con-
9 work out details of re-

son: with the least dislo-

= n industry.

© ‘hat an immediate session

4 provincial Legislature be
-:o deal with the problem
“ng our industries. This
-nost urgent question fac-
‘and Victoria must act

n Labor-Progressive party
». all sections of our popu-
| labor, busines men, farm-
= diall organizations and
odies, to.act NOW. Organ-
soor—CCL and AFL—must
ico take the ‘lead to meet

manufacturer by raising the
ceiling prices!

On the other hand, no one has
heard of any measures.of tax
relief for the low-income group,
for the workers. (Nor can civil-

dollars compulsory savings on,
say, the purchase of a jeep!)

In examining the records, one
easily sees what a farce is the
demand of industrialists that
they need tax relief to be able to
meet expansion and give added
employment. In practically every
ease they have moved far in the
direction of writing off fixed as-
sets—and in some cases have

what is being Bs

ment, through jReconstruction
Minister C. D. Howe, made pub-
lic its proposed policies in* a|s

jans apply their few hundred

completely done so. There re-

mains not the slightest doubt but
that expansion could be financed
without government aid.

Nor is there any doubt why
they raise such a clamor: the
purpose is to better -enter the
scramble for post-war markets—
and at the some time duck the
responsibility for financing need-
ed social security measures! Let
that burden be transferred to the
backs of the workers!

Remember, the government’s
andlysis which emphasized the
need for “high and stable levels
of employment, with rising liv-
ing standards” is still correct.
Yet every move points to profits
rather than jobs; to profits ra-
ther than high wages. Where,
then, has Canada got off the
course? :

The responsibility rests square-
ly upon the Cabinet. They have
given way to pressure groups of
industrial and financial interests.
They have ignored the counsel
of Labor.

A deaf ear has been turned to
the demands of the trade union
movement for full participation

tin government boards, in apply-

ing and drafting policies to as-
sure full employment and decent
standards of life. Undoubtedly
the people will pay a heavy price
for the lack of real planning and
consultation with Labor, unless
the Cabinet. can be convinced to
turn back before it is too late!

And it is the job of the trade
unions to convince them!

‘owing emergency.

cers’ Union, Local
2 plan to call a mass meet-
51 a public park, to which
‘oe invited representatives
the shipbuilding companies,
‘rious trade unions, govern-
= labor department, and the
al public,” stated Bill

2
oe

‘s

;

E

the ‘meeting, we will pre-
a program for adoption by
aeetinge and press for imme-
measures to prevent mass
‘ployment following the ces-
n of hostilities in the Pa-

.

cording to trade union lead-
sthere is a grave danger that
immediate steps are

lip Union Plans Mass Meeting
1 Coast Shipbuilding Future

-econversion, the number one problem already confronting the trade union move-
, will form the basis for a mass meeting called by the
No. 1, William White, President of

Boilermakers’ and Iron Ship-
the Union, has informed P.A.

employment “problem that will
follow the termination of war
contracts. While it is felt that
this is not completely inevitable,
planning along realistic lines
will have to be undertaken with-
out delay to prevent its occur-
rence.

The union foresees cooperation
from employers, as it is pointed
out-that the employers have as
big a stake in the future of the
province’s industry as have the
workers.

To this end, the Boilermakers
have already questioned the
statement of a spokesman for
the Canadian Pacific Steamship

BIC ADVOCATE — PAGE 3

Lines that building to replace
the C.P. fleet will take place in
Great Britain. To forestall such
a move, the union is prepared to
demand of the government that
all ships of Canadian registry,
operating either in coastal or
foreign trade, be built in Canada
and that such ships be manned
by Canadian seamen.

As a means of acquainting the
public with the problem of recon-
version and the steps taken by
the union in this regard, as well
as presenting labor. news and
views, the Boilermakers have in-
stituted a weekly newscast. The
program will be heard each week

over Station CKWX, at 7.45 p.m.

Hydro-Electric Power.

Means New Industries

By C. W.

In the interim report of 1943,
944,.compiled by the
Commission of the Provincial Government of B.G.,

report of 1

CARON

and the supplementary
Postwar Rehabilitation
informa-

tion of great importance was gathered as to the necessity of
immediate action in order that the present employment, level

be maintained; as well as the
utilization of the manpower re-
sources for the development of
the material assets of the prov-
ince. :

In the introduction to this re-
port, Hon. H. G. T. Perry points
cut “There can be little argu
ment as to the necessity of pre-
paring outlines of what can be
studied and planned for. broad
policies on immediate post ‘war
problems. It is necesary to do
this before demobilization occurs
and before war industries and
the jobs directly and indirectly
dependent thereon, cease to exist.

This statement places before
the Boilermakers’ Union a grave
responsibility of coming forward
in joint participation with gov-
ernment and industrial owners
towards the implementation o* a
program to take care of dis-
charged personnel from the
armed forces, as well as those
who will have to be re-allocated
in other industries. The develop-
ment of hydro-electric is a ques-
tion directly affecting our union
jnasmuch as one of the problems
of industry in this province is
the high cost of production under
present electric power facilities.

Considerable discussion has
taken place concerning the de-
velopment of a steel industry. In
the Commission’s report the
committee states, “It is evident
that the successful perpetuation
of the shipbuilding industry in
B.C. depends largely upon the
establishment of an iron and
steel industry in the province.
The continuation of this war in-
dustry is essentially the Domin-
ion’s responsiMility in regards to
finances. Nevertheless this prov-
ince_is intensely concerned as to
what progress is being made and
what action may be expected
from the Dominion -government.

The development. of hydro-
electric power would ‘facilitate
greatly the establishment of a
steel industry and from there
ymany subsidiary industries could

be established if cheap electric
power can be provided.

Many sites’ have been investi-
gated for development, and it has
been found that if utilized would
provide millions of horsepower.

The proposal submitted by the
government committee is that
the provincial government should
undertake the development of all
water power and the distribution
of electric energy. Several other
provinces of the Dominion have
entered into the public owner-.
ship field. Among these are:

(1) The Quebec Streams Com-
mission, : i

(2) The Nova -Scotia Power
Commission,

(3) The Manitoba Hydro Com-
mission.

All of these are subsidized by
the government.

The province of B.C. has a
bottleneck on this issue because
of the monopolistic ownership of
the B.C. Electric Co., and other
private companies.

We maintain that the benefit
of hydro-electric power in the
province has far-reaching conse-
quences and should not be left
to the whim of private enter
prise, such as the BCElectric,
but should be publicly owned.

Figures can be given showing
the relatively high cost of elec-
tric energy in B.C., compared to
cther provinces, but it is suffic-
jent to state that the BCElectric
has made no attempt towards
providing cheap elecric energy in
this province; and further, no
attempt to provide improvement
of its transportation or, assist in
the development of subsidiary
industries.

We therefore propose as an
immediate task for our union a
campaign for public ownership
of the BCElectric property, as
well as the further development
of hydro-electric power, so that
opportunities will be created fer
the establishment of industries
in the province to provide em-
ployment for all of our people.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1945