Formation Of U.S. Labor Committee Mooted AT COHEN ‘’s concern for the aopolies ,is a mar- to behold. Minister of Finance ‘at the government ‘reduce the excess >» 60 percent of the ts — allowing for i ete—he went on xe 100 percent war- rofits tax “serious- he stimulus toward int of capital and ‘operation of. enter- jis is just the start. cut, if adopted, is -terim step toward abolition of the tax. 39 a look at one of sates” he is so wor- ;kers is a sprawling colossus stretch- dney, Nova Scotia, linois in the USA. to its distributing, mery, poultry and ts it also owns a ubsidiaries. One of ‘illiaam Davis com- -1 owns another five j anada Packers was with fixed assets 3. This figure ex- cifling” sum of $5,- ch was put aside vague category_ of appraisals.” 's later fixed assets ($21,745,047. In this the company salted -6,417 in deprecia- 2xcess profits affec- ive industrial -behe- et profits were $1,- h the shareholder 1 or 101 percent on re of $7.20. et profits were $2,- i shareholders’ re- keted to $12.35 per . percent. 441 —— the last year aX was applied—net re ~=—s $2,160,028. The received $10.80 or on his original share. a couple of years. after excess profits ed, the net profit of ‘kers—minus depre- 3 6$2,187,586, givine Ider $10.94 or 150.2 is share. > words: Canada rofits managed to _ high level after ex- as before. The re- fhe tax is just more sn up the company’s s profits tax did not weaken” ued on Page 10) ‘ADA PACKERS the enter- ¥ mA Australian soldiers who were prisoners of the Japanese until British re-entered Singapore watch their former captors dig trenches in the broiling sun—and enjoy the turnabout. Soviet Labor Role Stressed MOSCOW—Several signs in- dicate that the trade unions, which have always held an im- portant place in the Soviet Un- ion, will now play an even more important role. One reason for this is that with the war over the Red Army no longer cen- ters all: national energies, which will now turn to the rapid boost- ing of production of goods for peace. The success of the Paris world labor parley in establish- ing the World Federation of Trade Unions after the top diplomats failed to reach agree- ment in London also raises the prestige of the trade unions in- ternally. Vasili V. Kuznetsov, chairman of the All-Union Central Coun- cil of Trade Unions, who returned from Paris after having helped achieve the WFTU, was immed- iately nominated by the trade unions to membership on the el- ection committee handling ar- rangements for next February’s national elections to the Supreme Soviet, highest legislative body in the country. Kuznetsov forth- with became not only a member cf this committee, but also its chairman, while the vice-chair- man, secretary and three: other members—a total of six of the 16° committee members—are di- rect trade union nominees. The place the trade unions take in the present drive for in- creesed production of consumer goods is shown by ‘the double column stories appearing daily in Trud, AUCCTU daily organ, reporting various banner awards and premiums given to plants and factories in all parts of the Soviet Union for excellent pro- (Continued on Page 16) See SOWIET LABOR J. CURRAN Soviet Sirengthening Of Ties Facilitates World Peace MOSCOW .—Formation of an American-Soviet Trade Union Committee was proposed here this week by Vasili Kuznetsov, chairman of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions, and accepted by CIO leaders at a mass meet- ing in the Hall of Columns in honor of the CIO delegation now touring the USSR. Kuznetsov proposed the committee to erican and Soviet working classes”’ the ‘friendship between the peoples, to support world peace. Endorsing the proposal, CIO vice-president Joseph Curran, who is also president of the Na- tional Maritime Union, declar “We will ardently support the idea for establishment of an American-Soviet Trade Union Committee. I am told to assure you that the CIO will always work hand in hand with Soviet trade unions.” CIO secretary- treasurer James B. Carey, de- claring that he could “hardly be- lieve I am in Moscow,” told the meeting of Soviet trade .union- ists: e “When I visit your plants I feel that I am in our own Am-|] erican establishments. When I speak here I feel as if I am speaking in my own country. All this bespeaks the fact that we and you have one mind, the same aspirations, the same community of interests. Both of our - great countries can work together. We shall exert all efforts so that in the period of the peaceful de- velopment of our countries, the of the Soviet and working class. will grow stronger.’ CIO vice-presi- dent Alan S. Haywood declared that “the difference between the friendship American Australians Support Indonesian Strikers SYDNEY.—The Australian Labor government took an unprecedented diplomatic action this week by allowing 702 striking Indonesian seamen and political internees to return to the Netherlands Indies in the British ship The action followed representations from Australian Bay.”’ trade unions and other labor supporting the Indonesians in ation of Dutch colonial rule. The Indonesians are officially subject to Dutch authority and since they walked off their ships they are also prohibited immi- grants under Australian law and should technically be held in jail till they are handed over to Dutch authorities. The Austral- jan government demonstrated an apparent lack of confidence in Dutch colonial rule by providing the Indonesians with passage on the British ship to ports in® Su- matra, Java and Timor chosen by the Indonesians. An Austral- jan representative will accom- pany the Indonesians home to ensure their safety. “Esperance and liberal bodies who are their fight against the restor- The government’s action . in returning the Indonesian strikers leaves Dutch ships without crews. A boycott by Australian dock workers of all Dutch ships, in effect for several weeks, has pre- vented the loading of cargo, which it is charged would be used to suppress the Indonesian independence movement. Before the “Esperance Bay” sailed from here this weekend, the Indones- ians held a meeting at the Syd- ney Town Hall to thank the Australian people officially for “magnificent aid to our strug- gle.” “facilitate establishment of close contact between Am- and as a step to strengthen which is so necessary American and Soviet govern- mental’ systems cannot hamper unification of the trade unions of both countries. In greeting the CIO delega- tion, the first American trade union delegation to visit the Soviet Union since 1927, Kuz- netsov. declared that Soviet la- bor has always watched Ameri- can labor developments, partic- ularly the growth of the CIO, which he described as “Ameri- ca’s most progressive organiza- tion.” The interest of Soviet workers in the United States, he said, is “not accidental. The two |ereat nations located on dif- ferent continents have much in common in their development. The CIO has consistently pro- moted the idea of a union sol- jdifying all democratic forces led by the United States, Britain and the USSR. The CIO has made an enormous contribution toward strengthening the international solidarity of the workers.” Curran declared that “in the course of our brief sojourn in Moscow we have managed to sense the greatness of your spirit which made your country sco great. In the course of four years of war you have shown what a free people of a free country can do when fascist ag- gressors attack.” Discussing the visits of the delegation to Soviet factories and children’s homes, Curran continued: “We've seen how much you have done in order to beat the fascists and are doing now for reconstruction. We heartily hail the heroic Army, the Soviet trade unions, the entire Soviet nation for all they’ve achieved under the great and wise leadership of Comrade Stalin. We promise you that we in America will do everything to make our friendship firm and lasting. We laid the foundation for this cause at the London and Paris (world labor) conferences. The strengthening of interna- tional unity among the working class by joint efforts will create a world free from discrimination and exploitation. Everyone will have his rights.” peacetime Red _