CSU Meet

To Discuss
Program

Delegates from the Canadian
Seamen’s Union are expected to
leave Vancouver this week to
participate in a history making
convention in Montreal, which
will bring together for the first
time seamen from every port in
the Dominion.

Delegates are expected to be
in attendanee from the east and
west coasts and from the great
Jakes to formulate their pro-
gram of action for the coming
year.

“This will be the first conven-
tion of the GSU since the out-
break of war’, said “Digger’
Smith, district secretary of the
GSU, “with the growth of or-
ganization among the seamen
they will be able to take their,
place with other organizations in
the country wide struggle for
decent wages and conditions.”
Maintenance of a Canadian
merchant Marine, the eight hour
day for all seamen and a mini-
mum wage of fifty cents per
hour will be among the main
points considered at the N. ation-
wide meeting.
Vancouver delegates include:
Digger Smith, James Thompson,
H. Sykes, George Daniels, Frank

Fisher, Robert McQuillan A.
Josephs, A. Lock, and Allan
Anderson.

Burnaby Council
Backs Housing

A resolution urging the Burn-
aby Municipal Council to
inaugurate a low-rental housing
scheme, assisted by senior gov-
ernment subsidies, in order to
utilize municipally-owned pro-
perty for home sites, received
the endorsation of council this
week after the need for low-
rental housing was impressed
by Councillor Harry Ball. Point-
ing to the effects of Jack of
adequate housing on the health
and welfare of the community,
Ball was successful in gaining
majority support for the meas-
ure, although the resolution re-
ceived opposition from Reeve
Morrison, who indicated that
thle implementaion of housing
plans was a provincial govern-
ment matter. 4

The meeting also tabled a
motion, presented by Council-
lor Beamish and supported by
a delegation of ward three rate-
payers, calling for extension of
bus service supplied by the Ne-
ville Transportation Company,
pending outcome of the meet-
ing of the council with trans-
portation companies supplying
service to the community.

Demand for provincial gov-
ernment assumption of one hun-
-dred percent cost of education
Was also raised at the meeting,
which gaye futher consideration
to {the implementation of ‘the
Cameron report. It was pointed
oub in a resolution from the
Langley Municipal Council that
present provisions would still
place the burden of taxation on
the Jand-owner. The resolution
was adopted by the Council.

Gouncillor West introduced a
motion to have the much-used
Marine Drive made a primary
highway which received unani-
mous . endorsation from the
Gouncil.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 2

‘out that His Worship,

nection with the

Their first big. meeeae will
be. next Thursday, Pear
“when they speak jointly
LPP auspices in both thes
Vancouver ballroom and the Pen-
der Auditorium. Their subject
will be “The Battle of Housing,”
dealing with the LPP’s proposals
for the setting aside by the fed-

Nielsen-Carter Meetings
‘Highlight Housing Drive

Two. of Canada’s best known figures—Dyson
and Dorise Nielsen—will arfrive in Vancouver nex
for a series of speaking engagements on the Coast

Labor-Progressive Party s nation
paign for a low rental housing program. :

Typical of spirit in Bloomfield, N.J., where striking mem-
bers of United Electrical. Radio and Machine Workers (CIO)
have the whole town behind their wage fight.

Vancouver

eral government of one billion
dollars for construction of 250,-
000 low rental homes during the

next tive years. The two speak-

ers will appear at both meetings.

Both Dyson Carter and Dor-
ise Nielsen are well known to
audiences. Carter,

Real

Estate Racket E

xposed

“Tt’s no use your coming

turned vets!”

the Nelson Branch of the Canadian Jegion,

tional Representative of the

a meeting of the City Council here last nig
Ltd. would be asked immediately to build fifty houses fo

urgent need of homes.

That amounts to about three
fifths of a house per veteran.
Mx. Allan said later that he per-
sonally would mot like the City
to build fifty houses when they
might only need forty.

Suspectinge before they started

and at
least one Alderman, were deeply
involved in the real estate rac-
jket, the delegation expected
little co-operation, but hardly
anticipated being told toe go to
hell, which is practically what
happened. With the exception of
Alderman Affleck, the attitude
of the Council was evasive and
reactionary to the extreme.
- President Newell expressed re-
egret that the Council had not
“answered our question as to
whether the City weuld contract
with Wartime Housing for build-
ing o£ 50 houses for low rental
to ex-servicemen as recommend-
ed by the Rehabilitation Com-
mittee. We take it from your
reply that the City will not do
so, and we shall proceed on that
understanding unless a contra-
diction is received .. .”

Vir. Newell was referring to a
letter from the Council which
had advised him of latest devel-
opments on the situation, includ-
ing a report on a meeting of the
Council Committee with the
representatives of the Citizen’s
Rehabilitation Committee and ex-
servicemen, and Mr. Davidson,
of the newly-formed Central
Mortgage and Housing Corpor-
ation, resulting in drawing up of
a questionnaire to be submitted
to housing applicants. =

In his letter, Mr. Newell said
that in dealing with Mr. David-
son, “you are not dealing with
Wartime Housing. the statement

that Wartime Housing has ceas-:

ed to exist is untrue. As evidence
of this, a telegram from B. K.
Boulton, President of Wartime
Housing Itd., Toronto, clearly
indicates it is still functioning.

“As further evidence, the let-
ter continued, “the Minister of
Veteran’s Affairs last week
made the announcement that
thres organizations, one of which

International

By Myrtle Hawkey

down here about once a week and yapping about your re-
That was Alderman Allan’s shouted reply to S. J. Newell, President of
when he and William Langmead, Interna-
Woodworkers of America, appeared before
ht seeking assurance that Wartime Housing
r 78 returned vets who are in

DYSON CARTER

is Wartime Housing, will in
future report to the Minister in-
stead of to three different Min-
isters as at present. Possibly
this is what Mr. Davidson had
in mind.

“Briefly, the view of our ex-
servicemen is this: The Federal
Government fully appreciating
the lack of homes for rent
throughout the country, and the
|hardships ‘which confront the

provided for it by setting up
Wartime Housing Ltd., to con-
struct low rental homes for
these men and for families of
men killed in action.

“The houses are paid for by
public funds and the City is not
asked to bear any cost. The Le-
gion takes the view that neither
the Gity nor anyone else has the
sight to prevent these benefits
from reaching the ex-serviceman.

“The City of Nelson should be
expected to at least apply to
Wartime Housing Itd., to con-
struct these 50 low rental houses
for our men. Other cities have
done so to a much larger extent.
Refusal to de so would indicate
a lack of sympathy im the wei-
fare of the veteran. E

exserviceman on that account has.

“The Legion is now taking di-
rect action in this matter, and
they will spare no effort to see
that these low rental homes are
provided in accordance with the
wishes of a Government which
has acknowledged the plight of
the veteran with regard to
housing.”

Mayor Stibbs made the en-
lightening remark that a week
ago the Citizens Committee and
the Council had decided te send
the Legion a letter “acknowledg-
ing yours, and stating we had
the matter in hand’, but were
unable to give anything definite
because “we are waiting for
certain information.” —

“You are comparing Nelson
with other cities in B.C.,” he con-
tinued, “but there isn’t one town
that you can show me that has a
house ready for occupancy. In
this statement he was warmly
supported by Alderman Rosling,
who stated that he had just re-
turned from Penticton, Kelowna,
and Kamloops, and that there
was not a single house that
would be ready before the First
of April.

Mr. Langmead reminded the
Council that this was a long
way ahead of Nelson’s expecta-

tions, and- that lumber which
should be used for building
houses here, was still being

shipped out of the City. Green
Jumber, he assured the Mayor,
could be utilized in the initial
construction of homes, which in
itself, would go a long way to-
ward assuring the veteran that
his case at least was being con-
sidered. j

“We want low rental homes at
$22.56 to $30.00 a month.’ He
asked if private-enterprise could
provide housing at that rate
without Government subsidy.
Alderman Allan stated that he
would not like to see the City
erect 50 units when they might
only need 40.. Mr. Langmead
said he had yet to see the city in

Canada. that was overstocked by
ten homes. :

who has made an interna
reputation aS a writer on)
entific and -social subjects |
whose books and pamphlets: ~
sold more widely than any ov
living Canadian author’s, spi.
here last in 1943 to an overt |
audience at . the Vancouv:,
Forum. One of Canada’s best le:
turers, he will deal in his co
ing visit with some of the s
entific and technical aspects
housing. =
Dorise Nielsen, former M.
for North Battleford, and ne
national legislative director ~
the LPP, is now on a nation
tour, haying spoken in eve’
province from Nova Scotia wer.
ward in the past three weeks «
the problems of housing. Fiollo:
ing her meeting here next Thuz
day, she will speak in Port #
berni at the Eric Graff Memc
jal Hall, Friday night, Februa
ae.
Both Mrs. Nielsen and Dys
Carter wili also speak togetl
over Station CKWX on Thu
day night, February 21, at 7 |
p.m. She returns to Vancow |
for a banquet in her honor
the Hastings Auditorium, 3S
urday €vening, February 23.
Dyson Carter also speaks
Victoria in the Hmpress H*¢
ballroom, . Wednesday, Febru:
20, at 8 p.m.

DORISE NIELSEN

:

VLC Condemns
MacInnis Spee:

British foreign policy can
for seyere eriticism at the
ecouver Labor Couneil this ~
when a motion condemning
position taken by Angus §
Innis, CCF M.P., on a rp
broadeast was unanimously —
dorsed by the delegates.
Innis launched into an
Soviet tirade and backed §
policy of Bevin in Greece #
Indonesia according to the ©
gates. }

On a further motion a |
will be sent to the CCF exe
asking if the opinion expr
by MacInnis is the official
ion of the CCE. Expressr
Sympathy with the strug
eolonial peoples the counci
also petition the governme
cease granting loans to ge

ments carrying on wars f¢
subjugation .of any. people;

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 {