Page Six © THE B.C. LUMBER wont October 4, 1943 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR . SAY WHAT YOU PLEASE Greetings From Scotland Hello, Boys: Been quite a spell now~since getting anything like a letter from you. I believe I did answer your last letter and the cigs you sent, but I’m not sure of that. There was a period when a lot of mail was being sunk. I get the “BC Lumber Worker” quite regularly, but have missed some copies, I’m afraid. Received a long letter from Archie McNeil, twenty pages on both sides. I have been wondering ever since getting it how to answer. It would take me nearly a week to write that much. However, it is methodically written, like a newspaper, headings, sub-headings and all, The news was varied and very interesting. Tell him to ex- pect a letter soon, if not sooner. I also received six hundred cigs from Hagenson at Campbell River, which I certainly appreciated. Bill Findlay got a transfer to 13 Coy, C.F.C. It is close to his home. In fact it is only three miles from his home town. Bill is pegged to get hitched soon, I understand. That will be news to some of the boys who know Bill. There certainly isn’t much more timber in Scotland to cut. It is getting to be a barren looking place now. If I can get some films T intend to send you a few snaps. If suitable you could use them in “The B.C. Lumber Worker”. I also got a letter lately from George Maynard. He appears to have become pretty active again! The big B.C. lumber barons are a hell of an outfit to convince it seems. Hitler surely would enjoy their company. Maybe it was these big bosses that put Herr Ribben- trop wise to his advanced methods for suppression of trade unions. It was rumored that he was at one time working in the woods in B.C. Typical Fascist attitude with few exceptions those 42 operators take who endorse the QCI refusal to sign a union agreement. Makes us wonder over here just what this democracy we're fight- ing for means anyway? Quite a change must have taken place back around Vancouver since I left. Soon be two years now. I don’t believe the war in Europe will last out another year. It ap- pears that it might be close at hand to us not on the inside. But the Churchill-Roosevelt combine is at the political game in dead earnest to see if they can’t control the victory that is fast coming. Churchill is flitting around the globe again to Canada, and Roose- velt, too. Mackenzie King don’t seem to have a lot to say. Nothing at all original or brilliant about that man! As for myself, I’m still working at getting out the round stuff over here. I'm kind of a “side-rod” now. Did you ever hear of a dry land tight line? I was asked by the major to rig up some way to do away with the cats as they were breaking down so damned much. Up until just lately the yarder was used for cold decking and cats for swinging to the loading role way, with apron to buck the full length trees into logs. Now the road is made into the timber. Spar tree raised at one end of apron and a small gas fake ‘tight lines trees across the apron to be bucked up. Hence the dry land tight line. We get about an average of 400 short and small logs a day. Not bad considering everything. Most of the big stuff is gone at this show now and we are in small stuff, most likely be there until the end of the war. Overlook the stationery, it is corny, but the paper is easy to write on and I haven't joined the Salvation Army yet, but think I will next war. The stationery is issued free and a guy in the army over here can’t afford to buy writ- ing paper and whiskey, the price it is now. But we do get liquor and beer over here, no such a thing as a pub closing down on a fellow because the beer barrel went dry. We are getting some Algerian wines now at eight shillings a quart, Well, I have been at this letter writing all day and am developing a definite writer’s cramp, so will have to end at bottom of page. Well boys, I do get lonesome for the big sticks of the B.C. woods at times, By next summer I hope to be back there, if I get back at all, so just drop me a line or two. So long for now. K30047 LCpl. R. M. McDONALD, 16 Coy, C.F.C. Canadian Army Overseas. Boss’ Idea Well, I guess its not often you receive anything from this camp for publication. Maybe the reason is there’s never much taking place. Lately, however, something mighty good has taken place, too good I think, to keep out of the news. Recently Mr. Beech, the Man- ager of the Keystone Shingle Co., was here and before he left he made a speech to us one morning in which he asked us to co-oper- ate with him and help him to reduce our standard of living. He said in his speech, “You know boys such things as canned fruits, milk, meats or ham and eggs aren't good for you and costs a lot of money; co-operate with me by eating mush, bologna and beans. Its better for you and costs less. Ig you boys don’t co-operate the price of board will have to be raised. The camp here is very old. The floors in the cook house and the bunk houses are pretty well worn out and daylight is showing through the floors in places. Most of the men here are union men but there is no action. This is all for this time and 1 trust you will find space in your paper for this publication. Respectfully yours, CARD NO. 4115. | Enjoys Paper Editor, As a worker who has worked in sawmills on the Pacific Coast for the last twenty years, it is with appreciaton that I accept your paper from the Union representa- tive twice monthly, and read its columns with interest. I feel it an obligation to write and express my thanks to your paper and your union for the good that it has done for the wage slave in the lumber industry in improv- ing wages and conditions. This is a company town and none of us feel very independent. It's like being on probation in a strange land. In this operation I don’t believe there are many mem- bers of the IWA, but in every ad- vance that is made and every con- cession and victory that is won, I believe we all feel stronger, more confident and secure for the future. Here's hoping that the IWA will come soon. In eager anticipation, Iam Yours truly, Central Lake Mill Worker. Good Meetings Editor, The Lumber Worker: Camp 7, VL&M, Fanny Bay Sub-Local 363, held their monthly meeting Friday night in Tweedie’s Hall. There was a very poor turn} out, but as the hunting season oe ened next morning and most of the boys left for the hills Friday night we couldn’t expect to be crowded. To top that the Victoria Lumber and Manufacturing Company gave their employees one day’s holiday with-pay at the employee's regular rate of wages to celebrate the cap- itulation of Italy. But we had quite a lively meeting at that. President Olkavick had to call the meeting to order a couple of times when a discussion took place over the skidder crew getting or not get ting more or extra money for work- ing in burnt logs. The company doesn’t seem to think it is worth anything extra. I would say they should supply soap anyway. Did any of you fellows ever see what damp ashes (the ingredients of lye) can do to a pair of calk boots? That is to be taken up again at the next meeting. So all you black face beauties turn out and have your say! We are organized 99 percent (there is still one diehard) and the union meeting is the place to voice your grievances. That is all I have to say this! time. % D. KEMSHAW. Recording Secretary. Fanny Bay, Sub-Local. LONDON — Income tax eet super-tax on the largest incomes in Great Britain take 97% pen cent of the gross income. Only 80) people in Great Britain now have an income, after taxes are paid, of more than £6,000 (about $26,000). To ‘Speed T Loan. We are each of us going desperately needed to buy the and more is needed now that $120,000,000 Needed he Victory’ The people of British Columbia this month are going to be asked to subscribe $120,000,000 to Canada’s Fifth Victory to be asked to do our share by lending a part of our earnings, a portion of our savings, to produce the sinews of war to finish the job this year. Money is ships, planes, tanks and guns; we are on the offensive. Re- member, we are bing asked to LEND, not give, and there is no safer investment than Victory Bonds. By purchasing Victory Bonds, we are agreeing to “put on deposit” our producing power to the end of the war when consumer goods will be more plentiful; thereby helping to combat inflation. To wage a suc- cessful war against fascism requires manpower, highly trained and fully equipped with the weapons of war, as good, or better, than the arms of the Axis. And when we think of those whose very lives are at stake in the battles waging in Italy, on the Russian front, in the Aleutians, the Far East, or what those whom we are asking to open up a second front.are up against; surely there is not one of us who will begrudge doing our part. Forward To Victory In this struggle, thousands of | brave union men and women are | giving their lives. The Interna- tional Woodworkers of America is therefore glad to have this oppor- tunity to be associated with this Fifth Victory Loan in the struggle for a free world. Hundreds of thousands of trade unionists are in the armed forces. The Allies are on the offensive today, but there is no room for blind optimism. The enemy is still strong. The success of the Fifth Victory Loan directly affects the success of this war. Our life, our freedom, our right to determine our own form of government, our right to think and worship as we wish— these are the things you and I are fighting for. You would not have one of them in Germany today. You would not haye one of them in the “New Order” Hitler plans for this world. Trade unionism would be ban- ished, union contracts outlawed, wage standards reduced, social leg- islation torn up; if fascism should become victorious. That is the choice before us today, and it is a very intimate and personal! choice. It has nothing to do with | whether we like the government's record or not; whether we have | grievances with our employers or not. It has nothing to do with whether we like this or that offi- cial. It has nothing to do with whether we are militaristically in- clined or not. Do we want to be free or don’t we want to be free— that is the question which we have to answer. _ In this fight, the future of labor, and the right to maintain and im- prove our standards, are at stake. As the courageous Russian, Chin- ese and British people fight; so must we — determinately, consist- ently and unselfishly, month after month. To our fighting Allies and their families, there is no com- promise, no surrender. They are dying by the thousands to destroy fascism and all the misery, suffer- ing and bloodshed that word means. We owe them a debt. Their courage is a fighting weapon for us. As good union men and women, let us give our full support to the Fifth Victory Loan and keep the planes, tanks, ships and guns flowing. Let us demonstrate to the gallant people of Russia, Britain and China we are standing by their side, working, fighting giving—un- til fascism has been destroyed and victory is complete.