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 {