February 1, 1951

B.C, LUMBER WORKER

Page 15

CONFERENCE REPORT

“WE'RE HAPPY TO SERVE”

By ELSIE GRAY

Sunlight streaming through the
glass roof of the Crystal Gardens
ballroom in Victoria spread a
golden aura over a band of women

‘ouped beneath the ferns. They
Raneae aniieatiict their loyalty

the union, to report on past
chievements and to draft a pro-
gram for the future.

From all over the province they
came — living evidence that the
spirit of brotherhood which ani-
mates the men of the IWA burns
with equal intensity in the hearts
of their wives. With energy,
courage and devotion they have
built an organization which is like
a second hand to the IWA—the
‘Women’s Auxiliary.

The tone of the meeting was set by
Sister Kay Wood, President of the
W.A., Local 1-217 IWA, when she
said: “In the event of a strike, you
may be sure that we are right behirid
our men. Although we are house-
wives, not full-time workers, we will
do all within our power to aid and
assist them.”

it Makes Them Happy”

‘his loyalty to the objectives of the
union was not a mere mouthing of
words. The willingness of the Auxil-
iary members to sacrifice time and
energy for the good of individual
union members has been nowhere bet-
tec demonstrated than in their regular
visits and contributions to injured
woodworkers in hospitals throughout
B.C. Particularly noteworthy in this
respect is the work done by the ladies
of the W.A., Local 1-217 IWA.

They do not regard this service as
a sacrifice. Sister Wood, addressing
the IWA convention, stated: “We en-
joy the hospital work particularly be-
cause we know it makes the men

happy.”
z Reports

Under the capable chairmanship of
Sister Wood, and with Warden and
Press Committee Member Elsie Gray
of the W.A,, Local 1217 IWA, act-
ing as secretary, the delegates made
their reports.

Secretary Anne Webley of the W.A.
Sub-Local at Ladysmith told of the
work in that district, including the
complete redecoration of a hospital
room. President Jean Ouellette of the
same branch stated: “It is eecatial to
put all our energy into working in our
‘own Locals," *

This point of view was strongly
supported by veteran member Hilda
Lidberg, President of the W.A. to
Local 1-363 at Courtenay, who
asserted: “We should not revert back:
to the.conditions which existed prior
to the split.”

The story of how the W.A. to Lo-
cal 1-85 at Port Alberni took over the
Paul Bunyan concessions on a percent-
age basis for 1250 people, was related
by Sister Doris White. She also re-
ported on the raising of $200 for a
‘Christmas party by the raffling of a
cedar chest, : a

Secretary Pearl Smith of the New
Westminster W.A. to Local 1-357
IWA described the difficulties involved
in starting from scratch and outlined
their present activities,

Sales of work, Bingo parties and
other projects were used by the W.A.
to Camp 6, Youbou Sub-Local of
Local 1-80 IWA, to raise money for
various purposes, it was reported by
Sister Evelyn Smythe. This W.A.
branch holds one regular meeting and

cot olaibed in a private home each

Hospital visiting in this metropoli-
tan area is a big task, it was revealed
by Vera Wild of the W.A. to Local
1-217 IWA. In addition to regular
weekly visits to the three large hos-
pitals, the Hospital Committee must

arrange for visits to smaller hospitals
where there are occasional IWA pa-
tients.

More publicity on the work of the
W.A. was asked for by Chairman Kay
Wood. She appealed to the delegates
from all Locals and Sub-Locals to send
in regular reports to the Lumber
Worker and thus keep all IWA mem-
bers informed of W.A. activities.

DELEGATES |
“WELCOMED

Upon the singing of O Canada,
and the pronouncement of the in-
yocation by Senior Captain W.
Ratcliffe, Salvation Army Citadel,
Victoria, the proceedings of the
IWA District Conyention were
formally opened by President R. J.
Fleming, Local 1-118 Victoria, host
Local Union.

sUpon welcoming the delegates on
behalf of Local 1-118, President Flem-
ing said in part: :

“It is our duty, now as always, to
protect and improve the economic con-
ditions of our IWA members but,
since the IWA is the largest trade
union in British Columbia, we must
use the power and prestige of the
IWA with wisdom and boldness to
protect the economic well-being and
democratic rights of all working peo-
ple in Canada.

“At the present time, our country
is entering upon a wartime economy.
‘We deeply regret the necessity for
this, However, we fully agree with
the Canadian Congress of Labor in its
support of the United Nations. The
Government at Ottawa has asked ‘Ca-
nadian citizens to accept greater bur-
dens because of the international situ-
ation. We believe in a fair distribu-
tion of duty and sacrifice in any such
national emergency. We are unalter-
ably opposed to policies which place
the additional burdens upon the work-
ers of high prices, exorbitant, taxes
and inadequate wages.

“We ate justifiably proud of our
record of leadership and patriotism in
past times-of world crisis. But we
emphatically repudiate dollar patriot-
ism, that lucrative patriotism so dear
to the hearts of those profiteers of the
recent war years and- the still more
heartless profiteers of today.

“It is my earnest hope that during
‘our coming deliberations, you will
keep these points in mind. In view of
our added responsibilities as the lead-
ing trade union in B.C. and because
of our own urgent problems, we can-
not afford to waste any of our valu-
able and limited time here.

“Let us have serious consideration
and full “debate. But Jet us avoid
acrimonious debate tinged with per-
sonalities, irrelevant remarks and
needless repetition of arguments pro
and con, in order that we may devote
our full energies and intelligence to
the formation of a constructive pro-
gram of action, The task of construct-
ing a program designed to promote
the health, happiness and well-being
of our members will not permit us the
questionable luxury of factional squab-
bling, which we know, from past bit-
ter experience, will prove detrimental
to the organization as a whole.

“And now, may I remind the dele-
gates that, when you leave this con-
vention, your job will not have been
completed. Your task is to carry back
to the membership the results of your
deliberations here, to, make them
known and understood ‘and to get the
full co-operation and support of the
rank and file membership.”

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FRATERNAL
DELEGATES

- SICK

General Hospital |

Sisters Vera Wild and Kaye
Swidrowich, of the W.A., Local
1-217, IWA, visited the General
Hospital on Jan. 16 and Jan. 26
and distributed copies of the
Lumber Worker and cigarettes to
the following patients:

Bro. Gates, Eburne—Appendix
operation; discharged.

Charlie Turner, Comox Log-
ging—Feeling fine and’ cheerful;
progressing.

Nandor Nelson, Powell River
— Operation next day; coming
along fine.

John Pitula, Hope, Local 1-71
—Progressing quite nicely.

Joe Koenig, Eburne—Progress-
ing favorably.

gressing and quite cheerful.

C. Westerlund, Rock Bay —
Feeling quite well.

Bro. Wolsuk, Alert Bay—Much
improved from back injury.

Chester Grandstrom, Campbell
River — Having physiotherapy;
feeling fine.

E. Ingstrom, Q.C.I.—Leg in-
jury; still in cast; feeling better.

Walter Tucker, Allison Harbor
—Toe amputated; feeling quite
well. lA

Walter Felix, Bowen Island—
Back injury. 7

Trefle Boyer, Englewood, Camp
B—Feeling better; expects to go
home soon,

William Morris, Lakers—Dis-
charged.

Patients in Wards D and E at
the General Hospital were visited
by Sisters Kay Wood and Rossie
Cummins on Jan. 9 and cigar-
ettes, copies of the Lumber
Worker and candy bars were dis-
tributed to the following:

A. Rawlner, Western Plywood.

George Sanders, Eburne Saw-
mills—About the same,

Vic Vickstrom, Jordan River—
Broken rib; doing fine.

W. W. Hunt, Main River —
Head injury.

Oscar Johnston, Nelson, B. C.

Bill Karlichuk, B.C. Forest
Products, Youbou.

Jim, Cameron, Minto, B.C.—
Knee injury.

Gordy MacDonald, Englewood,
Woss Camp. est

Johnny Magee, B.C. Forest—
Leg and side injuries.
__T. Wiley, Parksville—Arm in-
jury. _~

H. Nathe, Cranbrook.

J. Phillips, Tidewater Mills—
Foot injury,
,_E. Clozza, Ocean Falls—Foot
injury.

Ollie Storr, Campbell River.
| Keith Toadmen, Tahsis—Hand
injury.

B. Eagle, Williams Lake—Pro- | B.C.

LIST

__E. Nyman, Empire Box—Hip
injury.

‘A. Morrison, Alaska Pine—In
for X-rays.

King’s Daughters’ Hospital

Brother Ed Linder, Financial
Secretary, Local 1-80,
visited the following loggers and

mill workers in the King’s

Daughters’ Hospital, Duncan, o
January 27, distributing com:
forts and copies of the B.C. Lum-
ber Worker:

Tom Cowie, Meade Creek —
Back injury.

Mike Benko, Harris Creek
Camp — Recovering from back
injury.

Roy Payne, Camp 6, Youbou,

Albert Fairweather,
—Iiiness.

Scotty Henderson. Meade
Creek—Knee injury.

Adolph Janke, Youbou, B. C—
Injured wrist and hip.

Chang Mow Kung, Honeymoon
Bay—Injured leg.

Gust_ Lindquist,
chan, B. C.—IlIness.

Lee Dorey, Port Renfrew, B. C.
—Illness.

St. Joseph’s Hospital

Sister Lidberg, W.A. Local
1-863, IWA, visited St. Joseph’s
Hospital at Comox, B.C., on
January 22nd and distributed
candy bars, cigarettes and the
B.C. Lumber Worker to the fol-
lowing:

O. Herrdin, Courtenay, B. C.—
Operation; cheerful.

L, Ryenal, Courtenay, B, C. —
Eye injury.

Carl Gustafson,
B. C.—Chest cold.

LOURDES HOSPITAL

Brothers G. McEntee, B. Wil-
son and Chas. Simson, Local
1-363, IWA, visited Lourdes Hos-
pital, Campbell River, and distri-
buted candy bars, cigarettes, and
the B.C. Lumberworker to the
following:

Carl Lidberg, Camp 8, Elk
River Timber—Wing broken off
vertebrae; badly bruised leg.

George Smyrl, Waddington
Channel—Sprained back.

Wm. Smith, Camp 8, Elk River
toe to be amputated.

Ron Campbell, Camp 8, E.R.T.
Timber — Three toes fractured;
— Compound fracture of left
shoulder; doing fine.
~ Bill Vander Est, Sonora Isle—
Sprained neck; doing fine,

Tony Hornby, Sonora Isle —
Hernia; doing fine,

Alice Lake

Lake Cowi-

Courtenay,

IwA, |

MRS. KAY WOOD, President,
Women’s Auxiliary, Local 1-217,
conveys greetings to the District
Convention and pledges that
Auxiliaries “will stand behind the
Union”.

YOU CAN BANK
BY MALL

with

IMPERIAL BANK
“ OF CANADA

Banking can be carried on
simply and safely through
the mails. Deposits will be
promptly acknowledged and
instructions carried out with
Proper attention to detail.

Miners and lumbermen in
out - of - the-way places will
find banking easy and con-
venient using Imperial Bank
mail banking service.

Address you letter to any
branch listed below and serv-
ice will follow promptly.

IMPERIAL
BANK
OF CANADA

Vancouver—Granville & Dunsmulr
Vancouver—Hastings & Abbott

Other Branches
In British Columbla:
Cronbrook . Fernlo Golden
Invermere Natal Nelson
Revelstoke Vancouver Victoria
and at :
wknife, N.W.T.

Yel