P= SA, PACIFIC ADVOCATE

“MFOMEDARESAUSEOUGHOUNCOUSSSUTOOudCcaRevsUcueytcecaeeiscersessebesaeryase2nt39004

PEOPLE’S VOICE FOR PROGRESS

Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com-
pany, Room 104, Strelly Building, 119 West Pender Street,
Vancouver, British ~ Columbia and printed at East End
Printers, 2303 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British
Columbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2; six months $1.

Editor Phone
Cc. A: SAUNDERS MA rine 5288

Look at the Record .

BB ACH returning troop train serves to emphasize the seri-

ousness of the housing crisis. Already over 2,400 veter-
ans have sought relief through Emergency Shelter Regis-
tration, and this only gives a glimpse of the picture, for this
does not include the Seaforths and artillery men welcomed
home this week, or the hundreds crowded into emergency
quarters.

The welcome given these men was an expression of ap-
preciation by the citizens of Vancouver. But after the ‘shout-
ing and the tumult die’ and the realities of living a civilian
life have to be faced, Homes and Jobs are the need—“bread
and circuses’ will not substitute.

\

And what is the record of the coalition government on
these vital problems? What have they done to meet the pres-
ent housing crisis for instance? What is their policy on
housing?

This is One problem that did not sneak up on them. It
has been evident for years and has been a problem right
throughout the war. ,

The Hart-Maitland coalition has submitted a document of
promises to the electorate of British Columbia. But it includes
mo concrete proposals to build the 25,000 homes needed to
cope with the emergency situation in the Province alone.

the provincial governments responsibility. So far there is no
mention of what they are prepared to do in the field of labor
legislation. The Wartime Emergency Act will soon be sus-

is their policy? Let them tel] the electorate in concrete terms,
not vague promises replete with ifs and buts.

of the people.

Traditional Role

T is noticeable that the British labor party does not figure.
very prominently in the election propaganda of the CCE
these days. The policy of Bevin. is not good propaganda

for a party to present to the veterans and workers of British
Columbia. It is especially bad for a party which presents its
Program as one of socialism. i

Not that there are any differences between the leadership
of the CCF and the'leaders of the British Labor party.
The anti-Soviet policies of the Bevins and the Citrines,

Bevin and Labor Party Chairman Laski have carried on
a policy of disrupting the working unity of the leftwing par-
ties in the liberated countries opening the way for reaction
to regain a foothold.

eron, and George Weaver. Witness theip policy in this election.

By refusing all appeals for unity, by insistence on an
isolationist policy, the CCE: catries into this election the
traditional role of Social Democracy.

PACIFIC ADVOCATE — PAGE 4

3 in r assing By C. A. Saunders

Cc rallies always seem very damp squibs to

me. They splutter and fizzle, throw off a
few desultory sparks and then subside without
even one little bang to justify the expectancy
of imminent fireworks with which they open.

Maybe it is because they fail to touch on
the really vital issues of the day, preferring to
play around with wisecracks and threats a-ia-
conventional election rallies.

Like the rally they held at the Vancouver
Hotel last week for instance. The candidates
were lined up on the plat-
form, Tom Alsbury was in
the chair and Colin, Cameron
and Harold Winch provided
the oratorial entertainment.
And it was all very~enter-
taining. A bunch of good
fellows who knew all the
answers.

But they protest they are
a labor party—in fact they
say they are the political
arm of labor — and yet
throughout a two = hour
meeting they never
referred to the “life or
death” struggle in which
labor is playing the leading
role today.

Listening to these “leaders of the working
class,” there was no Ford strike—no Maple
Leaf Garden rally of over 10,000 people—no
B.C. delegation to Ottawa—in fact there was no
labor movement apart from the people om the
platform. .

Or perhaps it is the attitude of people like
Colin Cameron which grates so much.-+ Appeal-
ing for a collection he asked for money “. . . to
persuade the thousands of stupid and ignorant
people who do not vote CCF.” Well, it’s not im-
portant perhaps—but as a voter [ would not

Ar ound Town By Cynthia Carter '

[48st night little Joey Hokaluk, who lives
three doors around the corner, went without
his goodnight glass of milk. It was a hot day,
and even though Mama Hokaluk set the milk in
water, it went on the turn, and so—what do you
mean “refrigeration? Did you ever live in
somebody’s converted third floor attic?

Anyway, -there was no milk, and the corner
store is three blocks away, and Mama Hokaluk
admits frankly that she was too darned scared
to go out.

Mama Hokaluk:is a big, strong woman, but
the walk along three gloomy, unlighted Campbell
Avenue blocks, where black
shadows (and maybe other
things) lurk in narrow alley-
ways, is no pleasant pros-
pect. Then, too, during this
last week there have been
stories passed down the
hallways and over the back
fence, that do little to allay
fears. The lady down: the
street was attacked a couple
of nights ago as she went
out to her woodshed.in the
dark, and only her husky
right arm and salty vocabu-
lary beat off the assailant.
Little girls coming home from school have told
mothers of strange men who offer babies money,
and yesterday afternoon 4 middle-aged man was
seen enticing two dogs away up a lane. A

couple of kids found one of the dogs hidden in

the bushes the next morning.

So, all in all, our neighborhood isn’t exactly
pleasant after dark. There are street lights
only at intersections. And, try as we may, none
of us can remember having seen a policeman
patrolling anywhere near.

Council is laying off 35 policemen, hired tem-
porarily during the war, to bring steff down
Yet Vancouver has a
greater population and higher crime instance
than ever before,
sense.

|- I were a write a column each week about a
single one of the social agencies in Greater
Vancouver which is supported by citizens’ Com-
munity Chest donations, I could continue
throughout a whole year without repetition,
The amount of help provided by these agen-
cies is sometimes underestimated, but never

Somehow, it doesn’t make -

i
be greatly persuaded by this z
intellicence—and certainly wou.
to disprove it by easting an in:
peoples’ unity. (

And so it went on—throug]”
—ineluding a speech from a
main point was that votes dic,
tion was far more important.
already listened to Colin and Th
have been well taken at that.

Carrying out the “We’re al]
fellows” attitude Alsbury int 3
resistance” Winch as the Sabi
right.” : Sok:

Winch labored hard and Jong!
that the meeting was missing |

Something had to be done,

So, breathing fire and brimy 4
of the opposition, dragged forth
. gary speech, and proceeded to Te
embellishments. a

E:

For a while I thought there
at least.one little bang.

But everybody had heard a
It fizzled. a |
Still it made good copy for |

QNE thing Harold Winch mad”
perfectly willing to play 3 ©
Coalition. They say the issue i

Coalition and the CCF —he agr
No mention of labor unity—
the struggles of the workers—{ -

mention of the Labor-Progressiy, —

A very damp squib; they- bad]
vital powder of working class uni

underrated, of course, by those
have benefitted. The attitude”
that Community Chest means
much outdated.

£

cies would be greatly curtailed, br |!
ent day when government social}
so backward and - insufficient the
need for the volunteer nurse, th
social worker who specializes in’ {
hundred and one “social workers? +
combat juvenile delinquency and ~ |
worthwhile projects such as B.C4 4}

The Community Chest drive has {
ed its objective: Door-to-door cat ft
that there is a feeling among pe =
proach that “times may be getting
be able to spare the money jug:
this, they point out, is only great
supporting Community Chest. 4
tainties of unemployment, andj;
threats to family security, greater
ever may be made on Communit 4
ices. : 3

GPEAKIN Gof the City Council
wants to—it’s interesting to nC! 4
day’s council meeting once more ce ve
with the housing question, but, a 4
very negative manner. os
The council began, constructive) §
criticizing an insurance company’s 7. a5
rental” ($35-$45 monthly) housing, §
pointed out that when the Council
rental housing it refers to rentals i #
bracket. 136
And the aldermen had a solutic z
materials to the insurance come |
build homes with lower rentals? §
Don’t build any homes for rental at
materials, suggested the mayor, sO 3
individuals can build their own hg
Then the mayor suggested thai 7
sent to Ottawa telling the governme —
can build better homes here than t-
of the Government corporation ¢ #
home buildimg program for B.C: ~
Well, if we can, why don’t we?
ing up progress? Why isn’t som #
done? Why has the council maint &
past that a local building scheme 7
sible? And why don’t Mayor Gor &
Non-Partisan yes-men make up th |
minds? :

SATURDAY, OCTOB