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. We'll appre- ||] Clothes are kept in mothproof
ciate that. Just drop a card storage while in our care.”
to: ene,

CJAV

San Francisco Tailors
52 West Hastings Street
Vancouver - -'- - BIC

Box 1140, Port Alberni,
1240 Kilocycles

LLAMA ETA eR

STEWART & HUDSON

Retail Lumber and Building Supplies

WE INVITE VANCOUVER ISLAND LUMBER
WORKERS TO VISIT OUR YARDS and WAREHOUSES
NANAIMO 5

2

VICTORIA e DUNCAN e =
pu RT CU
om |

HARVEY BOOT FACTORY LTD.
Serving the Loggers of B.C. for 45 Years |
with |

Cruisers and Work Boots

28 W. CORDOVA STREET VANCOUVER, B.C. |

Sta Ree a