These long week-end holidays
‘always get me tangled with a
bunch of woodworkers who's abil-
ity to take it certainly exceeds
mine. Every time I try to keep
up with these young huskies, I
eventually find myself slipping in
some strange land of reverie. So
be it, that I find myself coming
to Vancouver harbor on a pas-
senger boat crowded to the gun-
nels, The harbor is crowded with
boats of all description. Hundreds
of Indian canoes loaded with
braves are landing on the beaches.
When we dock, everybody is mak-
ing a beeline for eastern-going
trains. Baggage is coming off by
sling loads. People are scrambling
“ everywhere, it’s a stampede. I
can’t understand what’s going on.
Everyone seems cheerful, so it
can’t be an enemy invasion. I
finally ask a stranger what's the
excitement all about. “Why,” says
he, “have you not heard the news?
A new government has been elect-
ed in Saskatchewan. They have a
Socialist government out there!
Everybody who is nobody is leav-
ing for the promised land, Look
at the headlines in our papers. B.C.
being evacuated! Population leav-
ing for Saskatchewan! Highways
blocked with cars and trucks go-
ing east!”

I manage to battle through its
excited crowd and make for Hast-
ings street. It’s nearly deserted.
Small business places are closed
up. A few beer parlors are still
open. I slips in one and to my
surprise there are only a few pat-
rons around. The boss is serving
beer himself. I hardly sit down
when somebody comes to my table
and says: “Hello, old-timer. How
are you, and where have you
been?” Behold, if it’s not Harvey
Murphy, the organizer for the
miners. His eyes are all bloodshot,
he has been weeping for a long
time. Says I, “You do not know how
glad I am to meet someone I
know, Tell me what's all this evac-
uation about? I just came in from
the north. I was looking after a
flock of penguins on the coast of
the Bearing Sea. I just heard
about the new government in Sas-
katchewan.” “Why certainly, old-
timer,” says Murphy. “Everybody
is leaving B.C. for the land of
promises. All my miners left, I
have no one to organize. They
told me they would not have to
dig gold in the new land. They
say they are going to make capi-
talists work or get off the horse.
It’s a panic. It's worse than when
Moses led his people to the land
of Canaan. You know, Moses said
unto his people, ‘Pick up your
shovels, load your asses, mount
your camels and follows me to the
‘promised land.’ Well, here the cry
is, ‘Lay down your shovels, sit
on your asses, light up a camel

run to the land of promises.’
is having special
CNR is even giv-
a few days it
fares and
spoke in the

THE B.C.

LUMBER WORKER

VANCOUVER, B.C.—“The labor
movement must remain united and
go on to happier and brighter days
and challenge the future as our
boys and girls overseas are chal-
lenging the enemy overseas. And
it must be challenged with a min-
imum of loss and maximum of
gain for the Canadian people,” de-
clared Pat Conroy, secretary-treas-
urer of the Canadian Congress of
Labor in an address deliver be-
fore the Vancouver Labor Coun-
cil which brought him a standing
ovation from delegates who later
presented him with a meerchaum
pipe and tobacco pouch as a me-
mento of his visit to Vancouver.

Conroy paid a warm tribute to
the growth of labor organization
on the Coast, which he described
as “phenomenal,” mentioning in
particular the International Wood-
workers of America, as having
made the most outstanding gains
of any union in the entire Dom-
inion.

Citing figures reflecting the
growth of CCL membership Con-
roy told delegates that in a little
more than three years the CCL
had grown from 50,000 members
to 300,000 members in_ locals
stretching from Victoria, B.C., to
Cape Breton, N.S., and composed
largely of workers who had never
been organized before.

Dealing with the progress of the

wheel is that the Aberhart gov-
ernment in Alberta will not give
$25 bonus to B.C. people going
through. Old-timer, you tall about
Arthur Evan's trek to Ottawa—
its nothing in comparison.”

Says I, “Tell me, is the war
over?” “No,” says Murphy. “The
war is raging, the second front has
been opened in France. The Soviet
summer drive is howling like thun-
der, But that’s only inside page
news. The big story is this trek.”

Just then a big logger comes in,
lays his pack and sickle down. He
is giggling all over. He plunks
himself down at our table. “Boys,”
says he, “the time has come and
I am going to Saskatchewan where
there will be all kinds of bushel
work. No more side hills, no se-
lective service, no union steamship,
and no beaches for the Japs to-in-
vade.” 3

I looks around for a glass of
beer and behold the manager is
right by me with a big pitcher of
beer. “Drink down boys, from now
on it’s free beer in Vancouver.”
The shock is too big for me. The
chimera fades away. I rubs my
eyes and wakes up on the floor

of my old cabin, So long, boys!

Conroy Calls For Unity —
To Win War, Secure Peace

war and the assistance which the
labor moyement must render the
army overseas, Conroy said:

“We know the issues of this war
are not casual. The outcome of
this conflict will decide whether
humankind will go forward to post-
war peace and prosperity or be
enslaved by Hitlers abroad and at
home.

“This is a people’s war,” he
emphasized, “and we have proven
what production possibilities lie
ahead for Canada if the correct
governmental policies are pursued
towards the future and the peo-
ple. The labor movement, which
has shown unprecedented records
of production and self discipline,
could do much more but it de-
mands that our government
change its position and take labor
more into the leadership of the
war and the planning of the fu-
ture.

“The government has not done
enough for labor and has kept
us on the doorstep of its offices
with our cap in hand pleading
with it to increase production and
introduce reforms for the people.
The government is keeping the
people out of the war effort by
its refusal to wholeheartedly take
the labor movement into its con-
fidence.

“However,” he continued, “there
is no ned to condemn for the sake
of condemnation. Considerable
pressure has been required and
the results have been slow but the
government has moved on a num-
ber of important questions. The
government has accepted the prin-
ciple of better labor-management
endeavors to improve production
and employer and employee rela-
tions and steps are being taken
to appoint labor men to positions
which will ensure greater produc-
tion and better relations.”

Turning his attention to labor
legislation, Conroy remined his lis-
teners that while the new labor
legislation had many unsatisfac-
tory features in its provisions
“much of its progressive features
would never have been passed
without the insistence of the labor
movement.”

Dealing specifically with the
federal labor code which recent-
ly aroused a controversy across the
Dominion in the interpretation of
its provisions, Conroy said: “We
need not throw our hats in the
air in jubilation over PC 1003 nor’
take our coats off to fight it. The
simple fact remains that its en-
actment was a victory for the
labor movement and the climax
of a struggle which has existed
for many years to obtain uniform
federal legislation.”

He pointed out that despite the
shortcomings of the federal code,
which can be improved upon later,
the labor movement had asked
recognition of the principle of fed-
eral legislation and this had been
granted.

Reminding his listeners about
the terrible conditions obtaining
during the thirties he described

See CONROY — Page 5

By NIGEL MORGAN

International Board Member and Legislative Director

Previously in this column emphasis was placed on the importance

of those interested in a sound social security program, giving seri-
ous consideration to the “draft bill” now being discussed by our gov-
ernment in Ottawa for Health Insurance. Certainly we can agree
the adoption of a government plan to guarantee proper medical and
hospital treatment for ALL. is a tremendously important step forward.
Such a scheme is long overdue; it will be of great benefit to the
Canadian people and as such should be welcomed by the labor move-
men. It is important we, as an influential organization, make our
voice heard, and drown out those reactionary influences who are
strenuously opposed to any and all democratic, social reforms, and
who even now are busy trying to undermine and upset the govern-
ment plan.

More than that, it is essential that we study the government's pro-
posals so that we can offer constructive, practical recommendations for
its improvement. A careful analysis of the Draft Health Insurance
Bill will reveal the following weaknesses:

INADEQUACIES: (1) The Bill makes no provision for cash bene- -
fits “to maintain minimum income during interruption of earning
power on account of illness.” (2) It makes no provision for getting
the large number of extra doctors, dentists and nurses required. Re-
ports of the “Canadian Medical Procurement and Assignment Board,”
as well as the “American Committee on the Costs of Medical Care”
clearly indicate the serious shortages of health personnel in the Do-
minion generally, and in certain provinces in particular, above all in
the mental hospitals and sanatoria. The extremely low salaries and
long hours of nurses evidenced in these reports also drives home the
urgent necessity of seeing that the nurses get their due share of any
funds provided under the proposed plan. (3) There is no provision
for the very large capital expenditures required for new medical
schools; general hospitals; hospitals for the incurable, the chronically
ill, convalescents and senile patients; mental hospitals; hospitals for
communicable diseases; and rural hospitals.

ADMINISTRATION: The proposed administration for the Health
Insurance scheme would be weighted heavily in favor of the doctors
and others providing the services, while the representation accorded
to the general public, those who would consume the services, and it
may be added under present arrangements, pay for them, is altogether
inadequate, We should join the demand made by the Canadian Con--—~ ~~~ ~
gress of Labor, that the consumer representatives be given a majority
representation. The integration of curative and preventive work, with
the emphasis on prevention, should also be strongly urged.

FINANCES. The proposed financing would be a complete viola-
tion of the principle of ability to pay. The flat rate contribution of
$12 per adult would be simply a head tax, with no relation at all to
ability to pay. The flat percentage income tax, especially with. the
maximum limit of $30 for single and $50 for married persons, would
be only less objectionable. The two together would only lead to gross
inequalities and injustices. True, the proposed Bill provides that needy
persons may apply to have the province pay their contributions; but
this might only impose an intolerable strain on the finances of some
provinces and even prevent them from adopting the plan at all. The
only fair, equitable method of raising the necessary finances to put
a genuine, worthwhile Health Insurance scheme on a sound basis, is to
meet the costs out of taxation based on ability to pay. Such a method
as well as being more equitable, would decrease administrative costs
and eliminate another “payroll deduction” like Unemployment In-
surance.

Such are the main weaknesses of Canada’s proposed “Health

Insurance” plan (without going into its many excellent beneficial
points), but nevertheless questions of vital concern to every Ca-
nadian worker! See that your Political Action Committee gives
them immediate consideration, and that the membership of your
Local, Sub-Local, Ladies’ Auxiliary, as well as all other labor, farmer,
fraternal and professional organizations are mobilized behind pro-
gressive, constructive proposals for its betterment. Make the po-
sition of the people of your community and constituency known to
your City Council, your M.L.A. and above all your Member of Par-
liament, the Federal Minister of Health and the Prime Minister of
Canada. .

Always remember, he loves his country MOST who tries to make
it BEST!

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