Job éAESS Cont.

ing offered jobs in mines. Riv-

eters are being offered jobs in|

th woods. Men are being shunt-
ed out of their proper classifi-

into employiment for which they ,

have no qualifications nor pre-
vious experience.

The general result of the “des-
peration policy” of the Employ-
ment Service is a growing re-
sentment on the part of the un-
employed at the inefficiency of
the service, and the developing
conviction that Unemployment
Insurance is working hand-in-
glove with anti-laber employers
and forcing men into lower-paid
jobs. This practice can only lead

to the breaking down of wage |

eonditions. 2

The mood of uncertainty and
resentment is also obvious among
workers in the shipyards. Men
who have built ships for the
duration of the war are prepar-
ing themselves to be bounced out
of their employment and added
to the growing number of un-
employed. With the prospect of
four thousand more shipyard
workers joining the ranks of the
unemployed within the next
three weeks, the unemployment
picture is becoming darker. Men
in the yards have not. enjoyed
the “high wages and soft living”
- that such spokesmen as General
Hoffmeister would have you be-
lieve. The high cost of living
during the war, plus heavy tax-
ation and voluntary subscription
to war savings and war services,
made heavy drains on the wages
of the average shipyard worker.
The overwhelming majority of
shipyard workers have little to
look forward to for subsistence
-but the meager allowance under
the unemployment insurance
benefit plan. With the Commis-
sion following’ its present prac-
tice, most workers will not be
able to look forward to even
these payments for long.

Bill White, President, (Boiler-
makers and Iron Shipbuilders’
Union, who has taken up a num-
ber of appeals for union mem-
bers, gave me some idea of just
what the practices of the Un-
employment Insurance Commis-
sion are in cutting unemployed
off of payments.

“The way they work it is this,”
Bill White stated. “They offer
_ @ man employment at his own
trade if it is available. If it
isn’t, then the man is referred
to employment at the same wage,
but in a different line. If this
job is not suitable, then the
“man is compelled to accept what-
ever employment is offered or
be cut off his payments.” White
has argued a number of appeals
against discontinuance of unem-
playment insurance benefits to
members of his union. It was
White who made the charge, re-
ported in this paper a few weeks
ago, that “Unemployment Insur-
ance, officials are using the
threat of termination of benefits
to assist the bosses in grinding
down wage standards.”

The City Council, under insis-
tent prodding by organizel la-
bor, called a meeting of joint
representatives of labor veterans,
public organizations, and indus-
try on Wednesday this week in
an attempt to map out further
reconversion plans to meet the
new unemployment crisis. The
meeting brought together repre-
sentatives who heard labor dele-
gates to the last reconversion
conference predict an unemploy-
ment crisis if nothing was done
by management and government
to plan for the closing down of
war industry.

Their banners protesting foreign suppression of Indo-
nesian fight for freedom, 177 Indonesian seamen who walk-
ed off Dutch ships rather than carry arms to be used against

Pressure exerted by the Labor
Progressive Party, in
with other organizations of la-
bor and progressive people in
Canada, this week forced the
federal government to back-track
and withdraw Clause “G” of the
much-disputed National Emer-
gency Powers Act, or Bill 15.
The disputed clause of the Bill
came under sharp fire from labor
and progressives, who conducted
mass metings and deluged Ot-
tawa with protest telegrams
urging thatthe Bill be redrafted
eliminating the objectionable
clause.

The Civil Liberties Union con-
ducted a mass protest meeting in
Boilermakers Hall last week,
urging the government withdraw
clause G, and a full roster of

concert

their people, march to surrender to immigration officers.

Dear General Hoffmeister:

On Nov. 27 at a Civic Action Association Rally you spoke on the present -unemploy-
ment crisis as it affects veterans. In the newspapers and throughout the City your state-
ments-have caused extensive discussions and in labor circles grave concern.

Iho Does Hoffmeister Serve?’
LPP Veterans Demand Reply

(AN OPEN LETTER TO GENERAL HOFFMEISTER)

Veterans in the Labor Progressive Party have considered
ask you a very important question, particularly important

stature in the eyes of fellow Ca-
nadians. _

Which side are you on, Gener-
al Hoffmeister?

Do you speak for big business
in Canada? Or do you speak for
the vast ‘majority of Canadians,
workers and veterans included,
now facing a reconversion crisis?
Perhaps such a question provokes
you, and so to prevent misun-
derstanding we should define our
terms.

The “side” of big business is
most clearly and frankly ex-
pressed by Mr. Victor M. Drury
while speaking to the share-
holders of the Canadian ‘Car and
Foundry Company on Sept. 11 of
this year. He said:

“The Party is over. Not only
will there not be enough jobs,
but wages will have to be
brought down to former peace-
time levels. If the employees
will not take a cut in wages
the plant will have to close
down. We can’t afford to have
our profits cut into by pay-
ing the high wartime wages.”’

That’s the “side” of big busi-
ness in the raw, General. Ruth-
lessly honest in -placing their
profits above the needs of full
employment, decent wages, and
veterans rehabilitation. And to-
day big business, those who own
and control, have launched a na-
tionally coordinated campaign to
create a reserve army of unem-
ployed, to undermine wartime
wages, and to smash labor’s war-
time gains.
side, General Hoffmeister? But
the LPP and labor generally are
concerned about some of your
omissions the other night. -As
manager at Canadian White
Pine Company and as a high-
ranking army officer you must
at least be familiar with labor’s
side.

@ Labor is firm in its opposi-
tion to the predatory drive of
big capital in Canada.

PACIFIC ADVOCATE — PAGE 2

@

ef

your statements. We wish to
in view of your recognized

@ Labor demands the 40-hour’
week with no reduction of take-
home pay. That would create
jobs for veterans at decent pay.

You must have forgotten that
point, GeneraL ;

@ Labor demands the mainten-
ance not the reduction of ex-
cess profit taxes to finance pub-
lic works.

You must have forgotten that,
General.

@ Labor stresses the need for
full unity of veterans and work-
ers in the fight for full employ-
ment.

You must have forgotten that
point, General.

@ Labor demands union se
eurity and seniorty rights to vet-
erans based on length of serv-

©O©O9 OG 909099 OOO 909 OOO COO OOOOH OOOO OOS SOOO OOOO8f

CLASSIFIED

©OODODOO OO 08 © 00909 0O00SO88

A charge of 50 cents for each insertion

of five lines or less with 10 cents for each
additional line is made for notices appearing
in this column. No notices will be accepted

later than Tuesday noon of the week ‘of
publication.

NOTICES

Oldtime Dancing
To Alf. Carlson’s Orchestra
Every Wednesday and Saturday
Hastings Auditorium
828 East Hastings Screet

Phone: HA 3248
Moderate rental rates for socials.
weddings, meetings, etc.

Dance—Clinton HBall—

2605 East Pender. Dance every Saturday

night. Modern and Old-Time; Viking’s
Orchestra. Hall is available for Rent;
HA. 3277.
Croatian Hall—
Available for Dances, Socfals, Weddings,
Banquets, Meetings. Reasonable rates. 600
. Campbell Avenue. HAst. 0087.
OK Hair Restored!—
By scientific method. Free advice. Get
results with the first free treatment. U.
Antonuck, 671 Smythe.

ice. Strange, General, you’ve
forgotten labor’s side alost com-
pletely, haven’t you?

Still and all I-agree with two
of your specific proposals: (1)
the right of veterans to city jobs;
and (2) preference to veterans.

But I differ sharply with your
proposal to give war workers
ditch digging jobs. I don’t know
about your family, but most of
mine were war workers, and I
am sure this applies to most vet-
erans. And just by the way, do
you include veterans of World
War 1 who were war workers in
your statement?

As a general, You will be a

(Continued on Page 7)
See HOFFMEISTER

©©OOOOO OOH O9OO OO OOOD OOO O4

Meetings—
Swedish Finnish Workers’ Club meets last
Friday every month, 7.30 p.m.; Clinton
Hall.

Situation Wanted—

Young woman with
tion, experienced. General housework.
Honest and reliable... Good home _ essen-
tial. Address, 1828 East 39th. Phone
AL. 1470-L.

child wants posi-

WHAT'S DOING?

Whist Drive—

Every Wednesday at 8p.m. Hastings
Audirorium, 828 Hastings. Auspices
Scandinavian Workers*’ Club and _ the
Swedish-Finnish Workers’ Club. Cash

prizes. Refreshments. Admission 25c.

Dance and Refreshment Social—
24th at 8
2303 East Hastings.
Whist Drive—

Every Friday might. 1332 Davie St.

8:00 p.m. Prizes. Refreshments. West End
Club. ;

Saturday, November

p-m.,
Olympia Hall,

North Burnaby Branch, LPP—

Will hold their Bazaar, Friday, Dec 14,
at Norburn Hall, 3884 E. Hastings, from

speakers,

including Ausi

against the bill, the City”
ence of the LPP passed
lution demanding the del
Clause G. Section 3.

The disputed section

Bill -was recognized by |
an anti-democratic piece
lation, designed to intim

leave the way open for

tion of labor -and’ pro
leaders. :
“Withdrawal oF Clause
tion, 38, ‘gives leear i
that the forces in Otta
support the placing of 1

books can be made to r
the face of mass pi. aklic-
The vigilance of labor
geressives in immcdiatel:
img the Bill and expos
the piubsic
ed by all who d2fend
cemoeracy and civil —

decision to delete the o
able portion of the Bill. |

erties Union told P.A. “T
Liberties Union expresse -

forced the government if

Fresident of the Mine, 7
Smelter-Workers Union,
rive in Vancouver Frida}
dress the 8rd Annual
Convention of the It
Robinson, a labor figut.
ternational standing, ¥
speak to a mass rally, }
the union, to be held in-:

day December 9.

Considerable inter
created in Robinson's |
coming visit. He has
returned from the Wak
labor-management 3
at which a complete bi~
veloped between the € ;
of Industrial ‘Orga
and President Harry *

turned from the Par
ference of the World
tion of Trade Unions,
extensive tour ofS the

tunity which -Vancour -
has had to hear Robins
and will mark the fi
meeting at which a * |
ident of the CIO has *+
the public in Vancouve!
HAstings 40d;
Night Phones: MA. 7067 - Fy
Active Trading
Importers - Exporters ~~
SCRAP STEEL CAS.
Metals -of all Kind
FOUNDRY SCRAP SUI

1 p.m., including whist and social -

8 p.m. Variety of .Christmas gifts find
toys. Games and fun. Afternoon tea will
be served with fortune telling.

935 East Cordov:

Vancouver, B.C.

FRIDAY, DECEMB

cist legislation on Canadi

Stated Austin De'’any, eo
ing on news of the gove-

A spokesman of the Gi

i

fication that public press!

Robinson also has rece- i

| Union. a
This will be the fiz! |

is warmly con

;
“B

4

sider the pasage of Ck
Section 8, of Bill 15”.

Public Meetit
To Hear Robii:

Reid Robinson, Inter’!

|
i
|
:

room, Hotel Vancouver, |