Page Two

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

' Scandal of $40 Pensions

“MIGHT AS WELL CLUB ACED
TO DEATH” — Congress Brief

Three out of four of Canada’s

old-age pensioners are virtually!

destitute, according to figures
published by the Department of
National Health and Welfare.

Labor Research, issued by the
CCL, has issued a comprehensive
summary of what amounts to the
national scandal of Canada’s $40
a month pension at 70 years of
age, Here are extracts from the
brief:

“If you are young, 65 may
seem too far away to think
about.

“But when you consider ap-
proximately 45 out of every
100 average Canadian men and
women starting out in life at
25 are dependent at 65, you
will realize the importance of
making provision for your old
age without delaying another
day.”

The Congress is informed that
these particular figures may be
out of. date. It believes, how-
ever, that in general the state-
ment, holds good.

This is amply borne out by in-
formation already provided to
this committee. At September,
1949, of a total of 265,372 Cana-

dian old-age pensioners, 194,551
or.73.3 percent were receiving the
maximum pension available un-
der the Act.

The latter figure would un-
doubtedly be higher but for the

unduly strict interpretation of ;
the regulations under the Act by’

the Maritime Provinces.

Age 70 is thus too high in
terms of employment opportunity
and the degree of indigence or
near-indigence among the aged.

It is also too high by compari-
son with the retirement age of
comparison with the retirement
age of countries comparable to
Canada in industrialization and
modes of living.

The maximum pension payable
under the Act is $40 a month.
The Congress does not propose to
Jabor the point that this sum is
not enough to maintain life in
comfort and decency.

It cannot be justified by any
standard of justice, humanity or
social welfare. It is an outrage-
ous pittance to offer to Canadian
citizens at a time when the na-
tional income is nearly 13 billion
dollars and when Canada’s pro-
ductive capacity is higher than

CTORIA BUSINESS

GUIDE

Phone Garden 4012

Victoria, B.C.

SASH — DOORS — FRAMES and CABINETS
Builders’ Hardware

BUILDERS SASH AND DOOR LIMITED
(A 100 percent Union Shop)

MODERN SHOE COMPANY
SHOES AND BOOTS FOR MEN
1300 Government Street (Corner Yates Street)

350 Garbally Rd.

Phone_Empire 1821

Pioneer Hardware
& Furniture

Sports, Equipment, Guns and
‘Ammunition, Fishing Tackle

Campbell River, B.C.

CAMPBELL RIVER BUSINESS GUIDE

CAMPBELL RIVER
GARAGE CO. LTD.

Chevrolet and Oldsmobile
Dealers
General Motors Parts & Service
Imperial Oil Products

PHONE 161

LAKE C@WICHAN BUSINESS GUIDE

ANDERSON’S MEN’S WEAR

MADE TO MEASURE SUITS AND TOPCOATS
— Branded Work Clothing —

LAKE COWICHAN, B.C.

Victoria Street

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS GUIDE

COMMODORE CAFE
Kamloop’s Leading Restaurant Since 1927

Kamloops, B. C.

MacGREGOR’S
MEN’S WEAR

For Everything a Man Wears
WORK, SPORT or DRESS

We can afford to Sell the
BEST for LESS

Phone 1600

PORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GUID

WOODWARD STORES
(PORT ALBERNI) L7D.

“Your Family Shopping Centre”

“Closed Wednesdays All Day” —

MacDONALD'S PHARMACY
Prescriptions, Drug Sundries
___ First Aid Supplies
istered Optometrist
Argyle Street Port Alberni

Hours: 9-5:30

at any time in her national his-
tory.

It might be far more humane
to club our aged to death, as
in more primitive cultures,
than to condemn them to the
barren existence of miserable
back rooms, shabby clothing,
bad food and indifferent care.

What makes the present pen-
sion Act all the less defensible is
the means test attached to the
eligibility requirements. It is not
enough to have survived to 70
or to have made a useful contri-
bution to Canada’s well-being
over a long period of years. In-
digence must be proved as well.

Over and above the $480 maxi-
mum allowed by the Act, the
pensioner may be in receipt from
other sources of not more than
an additional $120, making a to-
tal of $600; for a couple on pen-
sion, pensions and private means
may total $1,080. .

The conclusion is inescapable
that, far from encouraging thrift,
the present Act is an inducement
either to save no more than will
produce an income of $10 a month
or to employ devious means for
hiding private income above the
$10.

Although there is only the sin-
gle federal Old Age Pensions Act,
its application varies from prov-
ince to province and has resulted
in marked inequities between the
pensioners of one province and
another. The document on Can-
nada’s Old Age Pensions Pro-
gram prepared by the Depart-
ment of National Health and
Welfare makes this clear. The
following comparisons are taken
from it:

Values placed upon free board
and shelter for purposes of Cal-

culating income (single .pen-

sioner) March,. 1950.

Alberta . -$180

British Columbia . 180

Manitoba .. . 125

New Brunswick . 210

Nova Scotia . 210 or less

Ontario .. . 300

Prince Edward Island 300

Quebec .. - 830

Saskatchewan . 180

Yukon .... . 800

Newfoundland . 240
Similar variations exist with

regard to assesing the. income
value of real property and in
other regards.

One result of this is that two
pensioners in similar circum-
stances may receive substantially
different amounts solely because
they live in different provinces.

This is manifestly unfair and

inequitable. Another is that
there have been set up eleven
jurisdictions in a matter of na-
tional concern where there
should be only one.

An analogous situation would
be to permit the provinces to es-
tablish their own standards in
the determination of right - to
benefit under the Unemployment
Insurance Act. A

There is no need to go into
further details about the opera-
tion of the means test.

It all amounts to this: that the
Act is_a modern equivalent of
the old poor laws; that there is
an undesirable stigma of indi-
gence attached to the recipients
of pensions; that would-be pen-
sioners and their children are
subjected to a sort of security
which is demeaning, intrusive and
damaging to self-respect; that a
lifetime of honest if not lucrative
toil is rewarded by a pittance
hedged about with encumbrances;
that many who need assistance
are prevented from getting it.
To call this “old age security”
is a misnomer of the worst sort.
,. The Congress’ policy therefore
ist

(a) A federal public, univer-
sal, non-contributory pension of
$50-a month at age 65.

‘ (b) a eee obey contribu-
ory scheme with graduated con-
tributions and benefits,

(c) Private pensions jointly

administered by employers and
unions, e .

(a) Publie assistance where the

_ Pulp And Paper Model F.
IWA Maintenance Clause

Maintenance of membership clause proposed for the
Master Agreement is modelled on the standard labor
the pulp and paper industry in B. Cc. Here is the app
extract from “Section 2, Recggnition”, of that contract,

“The company will co-operate with the Union in obtair
and retaining as members, the employees as defined in ¢}
agreement, and to this end will present to new employees
defined in this agreement, to all supervisors and foremen,
policy hereon expressed. % v:

“Any employee who is now a member in good standing, or
who becomes, or is reinstated as a member of the signatory
Union shall as a condition of continued employment maintain
such membership in good standing throughout the term of the
agreement, subject to such procedure as may be mutually satis.
factory to the International President of the Signatory Union
as the resident manager. penta ‘

“In the event of a Local Union intending to suspend a mem-

ber for non-maintenance of membership, the signatory com-
pany shall be notified by the Local in writing at least seyen days
before such suspension. ‘ :
“No employee shall be subject to any penalties against his
application for membership or reinstatement, except as may be
provided for in the constitution and bylaws of the International
Union.

a
oe

pensions are for any reason in-
adequate.

Old age security is one of the
most urgent problems confront-
ing the present Parliament. It is
a problem which must not be set | by assuring a safe and contented
aside. Its solution must not be j future for its citizens in their old
delayed. lage.

DUNCAN BUSINESS GUIDE

Cc. & D. TAXI
Phone 756
DUNCAN, B.C.
"We appreciate Woodworkers’ Patronage” '
RAN

For Personal Service
Quality Merchandise
and Where Your Credit is Good

HUDSON’S
HARDWARE LTD.
FURNITURE & APPLIANCES

Phones: 100 & 1000
Duncan, B.C.

Neither government nor Par
liament should allow itself to be
frightened by the magnitude of
the task. Canada can show no
greater faith in its future than

VOGUE CLEANERS

Truck calls at
Mesachie Lake, Cowichan Lake,
Crofton and south to Shawnigan

Hats Cleaned and Blocked
Press While U Wait

Phone 360 Duncan, B.C.
SEDATE

THE GREENHAVEN
Where Loggers Meet

and Eat
We specialize in servicing the
DUNCAN, B.C. Cowichan Lake area,
De ae ST
Sa
KYLE TAXI J. LINDSAY LOUTET
DUNCAN (C. Bradshaw & Co.)

INSURANCE
& REAL ESTATE

DUNCAN, .131 Jubilee Street
LAKE COWICHAN BRANCH:
Paul's Building
eee

165 Station Street

Four, 5 and 7-pass. cars
AMBULANCE BUSES

Q.C.A. Reservations and

Ticket Office COMPLIMENTS
2 Phones: 102 or 103 THE ODEON THEATRE
ANYWHERE - ANYTIME Phone 11
Duncan British Columbia

CITY TAXI
Tel. 703 DUNCAN, B.C. Tel. 703

Owners: Eddie Abercrombie and Dean Johnson, both former
Joggers and strong supporters of the IWA.

WELCH'S
FOUNTAIN LUNCH

Home Cooking
That You Will Like

Duncan, B.C,

FLORAL ART SHOP
281 Craig St., Duncan, B. C.
“Flowers For All Occasions”

CLIFFSIDE FLOWER
SHOP

SEEDS — BULBS — PLANTS

KIRKHAM’S
DUNCAN GROCERY LTD. |
Your Red and White Store |

Bouquets and Floral Designs E DELIVERY
Bedding Plants and Corsages TELEPRONE 190: oe
Tel. 232 Duncan, B.C. Duncan, B,C.
Phone a y Phone
7, Rob TAXI
puncan MODINSON $ pUNCA

Next to Bus Depot
"CALL US
WE WILL PICK YOU UP ANYWHERE
Plane Reservations Made — All Lines or Charter

GUARANTEED SERVICE—DAY OR NITE _