= PACIIC ADVOCATE

OPSCQUOTESSIESSULIZECCOCCEGEROCESOLCSEOLEO BAEC LCRECAEEECECSOSEPEDEASIUAUBEAE

PEOPLE’S VOICE FOR PROGRESS

Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com-
Bany, Room i104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia and printed at East End
Printers, 2308 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British
Columbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2; six months $1.

Editor Phene
©. A. SAUNDERS MA rine 5288

lrresponsibility

"THE Progressive people of British Columbia will face a

united coalition when they go to the polls on October 25.
They go to the polls with divisions in their ranks. Because of
this a victory for the Hart-Maitland coalition seems assured.

In spite of all appeals the CCF have persisted in their
isolationist stand. The major trade unions have appealed to
them in vain, to meet and discuss a basis for unity, so that
labor could throw its weight behind one progressive candi-
date in each riding. In most cases their communications have
been ignored. The appeal of the B.C. Federation of Labor was
answered through the columns of the daily press, without
even the courtesy of a direct reply. Constant appeals from the
Labor-Progressive Party to meet and discuss a basis for unity
have met with rebuff and insult.

The result of the Manitoba elections shows plainly that
the majority of the people do not see the CCF as an alternative

to the coalition of reaction. The people wish to defeat the
Tory Liberal coalition.

# united front of all progressives would have attracted
hundreds and thousands of voters who recognise the embrace
of the Tories as the kiss of death for thé Liberals and the dom-
inance of big business interests over the life of the province.

The labor movement has demonstrated its desire for
unity.

The labor movement must give its answer at polls by
casting its vote in favor of unity. The labor movement cannot
support the anti-unity isolationist stand of the CCF.

Vote Labor-Progressive, the party that consistently stands
and fights for unity.

IIsley’s Budget

PESANCE Minister Ilsley’s budget brings little relief to
the wage earner while it offers substantial reductions in
taxation in the profits of big business corporations,

“During the war” said Mr. Iisley in his budget speech,”
there has been built a system of taxation which is discouraging
to investment, to enterprise and to consumer expenditure’.

The budget proposals entirely relieve 1200 firms of the
excess profits tax and reduce the payments of large businesses
by 60 percent.

It is true that the income taxes are reduced by 16 per-

cent, but taxes on consumer goods remain much the same as
before.

Labor’s demand for exemption for married people with
incomes lower than 1500 dollars per year and for single per-
sons with incomes lower than 1,000 dollars per year, a pro-
posal included in the election program of the LPP, has been
entirely ignored.

The budget emphasises rather than relieves the unequal
burden of taxation. Under the pretence of stimulating indus-
try it grants substantial cuts to big business while at the same
time it fails to lift the burden from the lower paid workers.

The principle of taxation according to ability to pay is
brushed aside. It is definitely a budget for big business. It re-
flects the influence of monopolies and corporations on govern-
ment policy. It emphasises the road a Tory dominated govern-
ment will travel.

PACIFIC ADVOCATE — PAGE 4

-This We

LEETERS have poured into the Provincial Of-

fice this week from a number of logging
camps and fishing villages up the coast, as
well as from a number of interior and northern

communities, indicating hundreds and thousands

of citizens have been dis-
franchised in the forthcom-
ing election, by being denied
the opportunity to register.
In some cases no deputy reg-
istrar was appointed, while
in others either no registra-
tion forms, or an insufficient
number, arrived in time to
complete the jobs of. listing
these desirous of exercising
their democratic Tight to
vote. :

The indifferent and cal-
lous attitude displayed by
the Deputy Provincial Secretary, Mr. Walker
(speaking on behalf of the Tory-dominated ¢o-
alition government) reveals auite frankly the
administration’s earelessness, which has led to
the nullifieation of this basic democratie right.
‘Tt was a sheer impossibility to reach some of
the more remote places,” he is quoted as say-
ing, adding that after all “it was not a legal ob-
ligation on us to supply the forms” (for regis-
termg). “We appointed 500 deputy registrars
and between 5,000 and 6,000 provincial elec-
tion commissioners, and we feel that the country
has been PRETTY WELL COVERED.”

So the Coalition government’s spokesman
thinks the country has been “Pretty Well Coy-
ered,” and they have actually appointed 500
deputy registrars. A very comforting thought
indeed for the hundreds of citizens entitled to
vote, but now unable to because the Coalition
government failed to provide forms, or to the
loggers in the camps where there was no regis-
trar at all. ; ‘

Some of those denied the right to vote are
returned veterans who served in this war, but
servicemen or not, they are citizens and have
certain rights in a democracy—and thousands
—yes, millions—have died during the last six

Around Town »

Toe week a section of organized labor took
the first step toward bringing progressive
government to Vancouver. :

At its Tuesday meeting, the Vancouver
Trades Council agreed that labor should sponsor
two labor candidates in this :

‘year’s civie election.

The only criticism one ,
can make of such a move
is that the Trades Council
didn’t word their resolution
to read “full slate’? instead
of “two labor candidates.”
This year four aldermen will
be elected, to replace men
such as Alderman Geor:
Buscombe, erstwhile chair-
man of the council housing
committee. Why not contest
all empty seats with labor
men?

It is to be hoped that the
other big labor group in this city, the Labor
Council, representing CCL unions, will join with
the AFL affiliates in support of mutually _ac-
ceptable candidates. A united labor movement
could defeat the Non-Partisans, who have stood
in the way of progress for the past ten years.

The “Non-Partisans” are not capable of solv-
ing the problems that beset Vancouver during
this very important period of reconversion, for
the simple reason that they have no intention
of listening to labor’s demands and suggestions,
or of serving any interests but those of local
big business.

The name “Non-Partisan” has lost all mean-
ing in civic polities. If the Buscombes and Ben-
nets use it as election ammunition they won’t fool
anybody, because Vancouver is wise to the worn-
out slogan, “Keep politics out of the city hall.”
Mayor Cornett and his pals have opposed. hous-
ing plans, union plans for reconversion—not out
of sheer perversity, but strictly in the interests
of the big boys in the CMA and the Contractors
Association.

After the labor council meeting Tuesday
‘night I began to wonder just how widespread
is the desire for a labor slate in the civic elec-
tions. The Trades Council resolution was ample
evidence of the opinion of organized labor, but
how about the wives at home? Do they agree?

The next morning I conducted my own pri-
vate poll of opinion—as represented by the peo-
ple who live in the neighborhood. Here are
some of the answers T got to my question, “What
Kind of civic government would you like to see

in Vancouver?”

ek By Nigel Morgan

_ unionists, appealed for labor a>

years for just those rights.
been denied the right to vote
this undemocratic, indifferent
ber 25—and give an emphatic 4
_ who have not only permitted
doned_ such a disgracefaj si
British Columbia’s next ¢ 4
give immediate attention to ag
Provincial Eleetions Act to proy —
arrangement for compilation o: {J
“and remove forever such a blot. |
Process. > |

HE Manitoba election has ¢
= Again the story of the urge
‘unity has been written in
Whatever satisfaction Harold
CCF leadership in B.C. may

tionary coalition government of
that labor fighters, through
won and used to champion a
One would have thought the r
tion, the Ontario provincial e :
would have provided ample obj -
alas, apparently nit.

In British Columbia, the By |
Labor representing some 60,

posal was accepted without « |
LPP, but the CCF flatly | rej.
even so much as agreeing to dis _
The experiences of labor the }
lessons of fascism’s ride to pov |
that only labor unity can def. i

The Labor-Progressive Par |
party which places labor unity —
needs above narrow partisan aj |
tion. We need unity more tha
today — but after October 25 w.
it just about ten times as muc! 3
vote for the CCF is to support ;
for, and admittedly fight agai j'
keep the record clear. Vote fo1°|,

Vote Labor-Progressive.

Cynthia Carter

A housewife with three kid §
one! I’ve been reading some of :
aldermen have been saying. about =
the matter with those fellows? ||
what's going on in the city? W4
haven’t got a roof over their }
nett just sits: there and does ni {§
_. A technical school student: '
that the city cowncil must he 1
years ago. At any rate, they
constructive for a long, long ¢ Fi

A storekeeper: “I’d like to se |
together and back a group of caf
could all support. Why don’t if
ourselves? The reactionaries in 1
Conservative parties have eneug ‘Ff
their strengths while we world 4
seem to agree. It’s time we bu:
ences, and showed our strengt! *}
rt)

i always an unpleasant surpr “4

reader of P.A. comments on ~- 4J
inine column. It’s particularly EF
a reader has a suggestion to t |
he’d like to see included becaus %
readers should know about it. :

The latest such suggestion : a
of those swell guys—a return {
who is taking a look at-a G }
changed a lot during his three ¢
war-winning.. a

Funmy thing is, this chap ©
servicemen agree that the great
notice is in civilians.

“Civvies seem to treat us i
that may go off any minute,’ he @
people have read too many ar”
being ‘psychological casés:? Qu:
clear of talking about the war s°
‘upset mentally,’ in spite of the
ean’t pull a curtain over the 14:
our lives. Our girls try so har
standing,’ we fee] like problem c.
will even get into an argumel
as not to upset our ‘balances §
means. i ig

“Look here,” he ordered. “You =
column that exservicemen are Dp
‘adjusting’ we're £

qj

home, and that the best way of
get our unpleasant experie: eS
a future with seme security %0

Maybe he’s got something 4
SATURDAY, OCT€