al 71 To t New Boat + Members baal ete _ Carrying forward the impo: iaion made at our Annual Meet- ing, to immediately establish a Boat Fund to enable Local 1-71 to secure an additional boat for the Loggers’ Navy, the organizers on the “Laur Wayne” will be equipped with all material for the collection of dona- tions for this purpose when they visit the camps on their first trip out this year. In urging our members to give full support to this campaign, we again wish to impress upon you the urgent necessity for our Local to acquire another boat as speedily as possible if we are to thoroughly cover the immense territory under the juris- diction of our Local. Owing to the distance away of the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the numerous large camps in that terri- tory, it requires a boat to be kept there practically continually, Last year, the “Laur Wayne” spent two- thirds of the time in that area, with the result that many of the coast camps were not visited at all during the whole year. We ask all our delegates, and other union members in the camps to start now to make preparations to gain every support for collections of this fund, and to give the organ- izers your fullest cooperation when they visit your camp. John McCuish, President, Ernie Dalskog, Secretary. OPPOSES WAGE PEGGING ORDER * ‘Telegram From P. Conroy, Vice- President, District 18, United Mine Workers of America, to Mrs. Dorise Nielsen, MLP. “Received copy of proposed Order-in- Council from Charles Millard. Order-in- Council to take effect at an early date. Tt has to do with wholesale regulations of wages and working conditions for the period of the war, and shows definite tendency to set up a superstructure by government regulation that will be defin- __ itely harmful to trade-union organization, District 18 of the United Mine Workers of America is definitely opposed to any further development of government by regulation that will tend to eliminate proper functions of trade unions, and suggest that the proposed order-in- council is a definite trend towards elim- inating labor movement for the duration of the war. We ask that you use your influence to counter proposed order-in- council.” HORSESHOE BARBERS 102 East Hastings St. ‘There is more to a haircut than cutting off the hair. ,.. Try the Horseshoe Barbers for an up-to- date stylish haircut, UNION SHOP es THE B.C. LUMBER WORKER Page Three An official cost of living index for Canada has been released (Oct. 1940) by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. This new index will reflect changes in the cost of a fixed budget covering retail prices The Battle For Freedom A COMMENTARY by HAROLD J. PRITCHETT Secretary, Vancouver District Labor Council (Canadian Congress of Labor) Vancouver and surrounding districts were privileged recently in hear- ing Mrs. Dorise W. Nielsen, M.P., speaking on a subject, “freedom,” that is dear to the hearts of the common people. Presented in a positive and eloquent manner to 2300 people in the Vancouver Auditorium, she thrilled of certain commodities, services and shelter costs, This fixed budget is based upon a family living expenditure survey made in Canada over a year ending Sep- tember 30, 1938, the audience with definite proposals for a People’s Movement. Hearkening back to the days of Confederation she built a complete word picture of the political and economic structure of this great Canada, showing how the industrial worker, the dirt farmer and the middle classes through sweat and toil, misery and privation, had made Canada, this nation of ours, a fit place to live in. The workers had gone down to the sea in ships, into the mines, forests, shops and mills and had tilled the soil to produce an enormous wealth which today is totally channelized into powerful monopolies, cartels and finance holdings through such powerful companies, controlled alike by Canadian, British and American capital, as the C.P.R. and Herbert Holt interests, etc. The result of this centralization of power and wealth into the hands of a few brought about the economic collapse of 1929 following the World War No. 1, which was fought to save the world for democracy—so we were told. She hearkened us to the days of un- employment, hunger and despair; farmers forced into bankruptcy; whole municipalities driven into receivership; reduced wages; de- nial of the workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively; tremendously increased taxation and economic uncertainty facing every one who toiled by hand or brain. All this while the youth of the nation, who are now called upon to give even to the supreme sacrifice, were riding the boxcars looking for work in their attempt to provide the three immedi- ate interests of life, namely, food, clothing, and shelter, The heroes of today were an unwanted generation of yesterday. The people finally awoke to the realization that if this nation is to go forward in fulfilling its destiny the task of our generation is to destroy this colossus, monopoly; and the pulsing democracy of the nation could be felt in the cities and towns, in the farm movement, in the trade union move- ment and among all of the producers whether industrial or intellectual. Even some of the more couragapus ministers of the gospel utilized the pulpits of the churches to enrich and strengthen this surge for democratic expression. One of the most heartening signs was when the youth forged a powerful Youth Congress movement to practice and preach the democracy they believed in. Then came the Second World War with the slogan, “EQUALITY OF SACRI- FICE,” which momentarily stunned the Canadian people in their struggle against their 50 families for a final and truer freedom. The introduction, by a reactionary government representing reactionary interests, of the Defence of Canada Regulations, one of the greatest attacks ever made against the liberties of the Canadian people was concocted in secret with the assistance of certain political and trade union bureaucrats, There is a need and a growing desire for unity among the industrial workers, farmers and small business men; in fact, all the highly discriminated sections of society. Dorise Nielsen's stirring call for unity of the people atound the immedi- ate questions of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, press, franchise and religion, against the anti-democratic forces, is timely. Living standards, education and culture of our people are being threatened in Canada every day by the same small powerful reactionary group that made possible the rise to power of Hitler and Mussolini in Germany and Italy. She proposes that we go on. We have the strength, we have the people, we have the desire to fight for those essential things common to all of us. "In short, she proposes 2 People’s Movement which, in my opinion, is long overdue. The urgency of the problems that face the people requires immediate action. The im- portance of a genuine People’s Movement is here and the means to establish it requires discussion. I therefore request your written comment. Address your communications to International Woodworkers of America, 504 Holden Building, ‘ and Stand Ask for “GEORGE” * WEST TAXI * 0445 9401 Vancouver, B.C. Meet Your Friends at MANITOBA HOTEL 44 W. Cordova St. Outside Rooms — Elevator Service Steam Heat — Reasonable Rates Centrally Located SEy. 8580 N, J. THOMPSON, Mgr. Reasonable Rates West Hotel, 444 Carral Street Cost Of Living Index Inadequate It must be firmly pointed out that this new index reflects changes in the cost of a fixed level of living. As yet no com- plete list of goods and services upon which the index is based has been re- leased. The last comparative figures are as follows: Total Index for the Dominion of Canada 1940 1939 % Increase 100.5 44 100.8 48 100.8 51 1008 , 5.6 103.5 34 103.8 3.9 5. 1038. 40 08.0 Sep.’39 100.8 TL aouaces “Official Cost of Living Index for Canada,” 1940. Dominion Bureau of Statistics, Ottawa. No City Index num- bers have been released as yet). It may be pointed out that the reason why the “Labor Gazette” indices have been inaccurate as to the true rise in the cost of living, is that they were not based upon any actual quantity and qua- lity expenditures of Canadian families; but merely based upon totals arrived at by taking certain commodities and pricing them, The survey upon which this index is based shows that the average weekly ex- penditure for an urban wage earner’s family was approximately $28.00. This does not mean, however, that the whole family earned $28.00, for due to credit buying, borrowing, ete., the expenditures exceeded the income. Again the survey was not restricted to workers’ families and therefore we can safely assume that the average ex- penditure of the Canadian working class family is much lower than $28.00. It has often been quoted in the United States that one-third of the nation is ill- fed, ill-housed, and ill-clothed. In Canada the proportion is much higher. Trade unionists should remember that though the index numbers reveal an in- crease in the cost of living this increase does not take into account such deduc- tions as the National Defense Tax, nor the lowering of exemptions for Personal Income Tax and the increased resulting taxation; the index probably ignores such items as the rise in price of cigaréttes, ete. It also ignores the workers’ inability to increase savings to meet higher “long- term consumer” expenditures for furni- ture, electrical appliances, etc. Again trade unionists must remember that where they have an agreement which takes into account the rising cost of liv- ing without Increasing the basic wage level that there can be no increase in their standard of living, merely a pegged level which generally is most inadequate to maintain themselves along certain minimum health and decency standards; and that the rise in wages follows months after the rise in the cost of living. Join the IWA and Help Boost Our Pay a Buck a Day! s § RAINIER HOTEL a 309 Carrall St., Vancouver { Phone: MArine 0639 Managers: John P. Vybiral ‘ Chas, Barry Saas ene nee nn nce ee ee kens on. sy EI i When In Vancouver! 4 i Stop at H és / COLUMBIA HOTEL : ' Licensed Premises u { 303 COLUMBIA AVE. / t Sey. 1956 : saeeeenneenncnnnenec nena’