In line with the cry of Big Business for the removal of Price Controls, the slogan of higher wages means higher prices is advanced by the Cap- tains of Industry and by the government, as though it were & self-evident economic truth that cannot be contradicted. However, this assumption if given any thought, becomes quite clear. It is based. on two assumptions, 1, That profits, however high, cannot or must not be re- duced, 2, That the benefits of in- creased productivity, in- creased output per man hour of work must be used to swell the profits of in- dustry. ‘These assumptions may bé log- ical to Big Business, but from a national point of view it does not make sense, since the pur- chasing power of the people is essential if our economic system is to become stabilized without periodic depressions, Industry today is in a position to apply the rapid improvements in productivity made during the war to the production of peace- time goods. Industry is better equipped and more highly mech- anized than before the war, At the present time when Big Business is raising its voice in the plea for price increases, and that higher wages cannot be paid because costs are too high, they ignore the fact that at present they are only produc- ing a minimum of goods, and once they start producing in volume, costs will go down. If employment and wages are maintained at a high level, we will haye much larger markets, more use of our productive cap- acity and lower overhead costs than before the war. As a better supply of raw materials becomes available, the use of expensive wartime sub- stitutes will be eliminated and costs again will go down. The return of skilled workers to peacetime jobs will also ensure higher productivity and a bet- ter grade of material. Wage adjustments are needed now, if labor's take-home pay is to be maintained and if recon- version is not to be held up fur- ther by labor shortages in essen- tial but underpaid industries, such gs textile and building ma- terials. This country had much less of a price increase "in this war, not because the inflationary forees were any less strong, but because we had effective price control and a measure of con- trol over the production and the distribution of goods, During the transition period, while the supply of peacetime goods does not supply the de- mand for such goods, inflation ean still catch up with the peo- ple of Canada, unless price con- trols are rigidly adhered to. Big Business for a period of time, will be the only ones to benefit from the removal of price con- Cc. CCL Council Approves Gov't-Labor Committees The Executive Council of the B.C. Federation of La- bor (CCL), meeting in special session April 22nd, hailed the success achieved by labor and the people of B.C. in having enacted by the recent Legislative Assembly, by unanimous House Action, certain laws which are of direct benefit to the well-being of the Province of B.C. and which set examples for the rest of Canada. This action was taken by the meeting, called to discuss accusa- tions levelled against officers and members of the Government-La- bor Committee by certain CCF leaders and their representatives within the trade union moyement in B.C, after it heard a full re- port from its representatives on the Government committee. Laws passed by the assembly amended the Provincial Hours of Work Act, reducing the maximum working week from 48 to 44; set out 2 week's holiday with pay and amended the Workmen's Compensation Act to remove workers’ contributions from the law as well as provide for other benefits to labor. Statement of the Federation Council looked upon these laws as direct gains for Labor, won despite the violent and active op- position of organized employers in British Columbia and reaction- ary influences within the Legis- lature. It also paid tribue to the effectiveness of Labor's united fight for legislation; backed up by the Goyernment-Labor Com- mittee which, while endorsing such legislation as a progressive step forward, led the fight on the economic and political front for the 40-hour week, two weeks’ va- cation with pay and many other improvements of benefit to the workers of this Province. In a resolution, unanimously endorsed by the Council mem- bers, endorsation to the actions of its representatives on the Gov- ernment-Labor Committee was given and all labor urged to get behind this committee and its labor representatives to continue the fight for the attainment of labor's full legislative program. Reasons for not making known the decisions of the committee's sessions were that the labor mem- bers could not be sure that those recommendations were to be accepted by the government and thus were not able to get a definite statement from the govermnent as to the fate of those recommendations until they were introduced on the floor of the Legislature. It was also pointed out that trade union pro- cedure is such that labor nego- tlators do not reoprt any pro- Posals until they were introduced on the floor of the Legislature. It was also pointed out that trade union procedure is such that la- bor negotiators do not report any Proposals until they are defin- ite. Redeclaring organized labor's intentions, in its own welfare, not to, tie itself to any political party, officers of the federation, while respecting and recognizing the right of any of its members to belong to and hold any politi- cal views they desire, neverthe- less deplored infringement of the independence of the trade union movement for any political party. The resolution finally resolved that “We, the Federation Council, deeply resent the unmitigated at- tack by the Cooperative Common- wealth Federation (CCF) leader and other officials, against the trade union leaders and the en- tire trade union movement, obvi- pusly done for the purpose of advancing the narrow partisan aims of that organization. We suggest that the leaders of the CCF concern themselves with supporting the interests of the labor movement in all its many and varied economic and political struggles and refrain from at- tacking the elected leaders and the labor movement of this prov- ince in a manner similar and identical with the Canadian Ma- nufacturers’ Association. The National Film Board has released on its Trade Union cir- cuits a film entitled “A Place To Live,” which discusses Can- ada’s major problem—housing. The industries developed by electrical power in the St, Maur- ice Valley are the subject of a new National Film Board pr duction entitled, “Power Valley.” trol, while making large profits at the expense of the consumer, and especialy with the reduction of the excess profits tax. Unions all over Canada have chosen the method of extracting higher wages, higher output and lower prices, in an effort to have a prosperous Canada. Big Busi- ness loses no opportunity to tell the government what they want, and it is up to the people of Canada to make it clear what they want, through their or- ganizations, EARL 36 EAST HASTINGS FLORIST “Flowers For All Occasions’ Residence, MArine +3766 SYKES VANCOUVER, B.C. A Natural healing dis- covery with antiphlogistic properties. Promotes healing. Reliaves pain and inflammation. Ecxama, Burns, Bratue erd Rheamesio of Newrit Palas, AT YOUR DRUGCIST—91 a $2, LUMBER WORKER the explanation of the Act regarding Canadian citizenship. This will be done very soon but at the present time the subject of Price Control takes precedence over most problems and requires immediate action. Below is the resolution passed unanimously at the District Council quarterly meeting on April 14: WHEREAS: The Dominion Government has recently an- nounced the “decontrol” of prices on such essentials as furniture, steel, tobacco, certain foodstuffs, farm implements, ete., etc., AND WHEREAS: Despite repeated affirmations on the part of the government during the war and even immediately prior to their “decontrol” of prices, re the necessity of maintaining price controls in order to. maintain the purchasing power of the Cana- dian people and avoid disastrous inflation, the King government has nevertheless relaxed price controls on hundreds of articles with the false and hypocritical excuse that it was necessary in order to encourage production and/or assist industries otherwise making insufficient profits. AND WHEREAS: The workers of Canada who accepted a wage “freeze” during the war years in order to defeat the Fascist enemy are now pressing for wage increases so that annual earn- ings may be’ brought into line with the increased cost of living and so that they and their families may be ‘provided with a normal and decent standard of living. AND WHEREAS: These wage demands can be met out of the high profits of Canadian Industry, which Bank of Canada Statistics reveal to have increase more than 100 percent’ during the war years, and still leave Canadian Industry with ample profits, AND WHEREAS: If price ceilings were maintained these wage increases would serve to increase the purchasing power of the Canadian people, raise living standards and stimulate produc- tion and the whole economy. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: Thaht we, B.C. District No. 1, IWA, in quarterly Council meeting, urge the government to immediately reinstitute price controls in order to ensure the effective transition from a wartime to @ peacetime economy without endangering the living standards of the Canadian people and to provide through reasonable controls and the provision of adequate purchasing power an increasingly higher standard of living for the people of Canada, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That we will join with all other organizations and people In a campaign for the return and retention of price control. We urge all locals and sub-locals to pass resolutions to be forwarded to Donald Gordon, Price Control Administrator, War- time Prices and Trade Board, Ottawa; also write individual letters and resolutions to your members of parliament protesting this unwarranted attack on the cost of living of the working people, Our women’s auxiliaries have taken conerete action in this regard and have picketed the Wartime Prices and Trade Board in Van- couver. See Auxiliary News for details, ACTION IS NEEDED — NOW! EEE ETE LTT PETE, LOGGERS ROLAND A. THORPE and Auctioneer New and Used Furniture LUMBERMEN Phono 148 CJAV, Port Alberni, is now Kenneth St. — Dunacn on. broadcasting schedule || == 999000090001,00009000000, “Money loaned on men’s clotb- seven days a week. We'd like to know if you are hearing us wherever you are in B.C. Let us know what you like to hear ||| ing, sleeping bags, watches, and tell us how reception is diamonds and _ jewellery. where you are. 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