May 1, 1952

UNION’S B

INESS

Fire The PUC!

‘THE decision of the Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland
Labour Council to demand the resignation of the present
members of the Public Utilities Commission had a sound basis in
fact. Events have proven that the decision to grant the BCER
fare increases was made without proper consideration of the

evidence.

Since the fare increases were
made applicable, the BCER has
been granted a lowered corpor-
ation tax in a ‘
substan - /
tial amount. This
saving to the
“hea ged should
in all good faith
be now passed iG
along to the pat- .
rons of the tran-
sit system.

ogee pepnell
took the correct

sition in demanding that the
lecision be now rescinded.

It has also been made apparent
that the true facts with regard
to the financial structure of the
corporation were not bared. ‘Evi-
dently there was no intention
that this result should ensue from
the enquiry, for the BCER ex-
perts were not required to submit
to cross-examination.

Probe Necessary

One phase of the situation
should have been probed. The
public should know the exact in-
crease in operating costs which
result from increased wages and
reduced hours of work. The trade
unions have good reason to be-
lieve that this is not as great as
represented, especially as large
numbers of men have been laid
off.

This monopoly has been de-
manding a fair return on capital
invested. More light should be
shed on the origin and extent of
the actual investment claimed.
There is no good reason why the
ple should be required to pay
increased fares to maintain a
rate of return on watered stock,
or inflated values.

The Public Utilities Commis-
sion was established to police
these utilities. The work of a

" policeman is never effective un-
less he acknowledges fair and
-equitable standards of public jus-
tice, and fair-dealing.

“ELECT EDDIE”
COMMITTEE

Members of 10 trade unions
haye joined to form a repre-
sentative committee in New
Westminster which has as its
objective the election of Rae
Eddie, Business Agent of Local
1-357, IWA, as the CCF candi-
date in the riding.

The Committee formed at a
well-attended meeting of trade
unionists in the IWA Hall, April
27, will act as the co-ordinating
agency of the efforts of inter-
ested trade unionists, and for
appeals made to industrial work-
ers.

Many unusual campaign feat-
ures were adopted for the pur-
pose of bringing the name of
their candidate favorably to pub-
lie attention. Campaign head-
quarters have been established by
arrangement in the IWA build-
ing. Suitable signs have been
designed for cars, special and at-
tractive posters will be displayed,
and the candidate ‘will be pro-
vided with opportunities to speak
on radio programs.

COL Beaten

STOCKHOLM (CPA) — Real
incomes in Sweden have rose
sharply between 1945 and 1950.
Average cash incomes jumped
40% while the purchasing power
of Swedish currency declined only
10%.

During the same period there
has been only a slight increase
in real annual incomes in Canada.

Sweden has a farmer -labor
government with -policies similar
to those of Canada’s Cooperative
Commonwealth Federation.

INTERIOR INSTITUTES
DRAW RECORD CLASSES

Record breaking registra-
tion has been secured of stu-
dents anxious to attend the
Interior week-end Institutes
which commence at Kelow-
na on May 3-4,

A similar experience has
been encountered by CCL
and IWA officials planning
the Institutes at Kamloops
May 10-11 and Prince George
May 17-18.

Plans are already well ad-
vanced for the Institutes
which will be held on the

Lower Mainland and Vancou-
ver Island later in the ye:

Staff of instructors in-
cludes two IWA men, Al
Busch, Local 1-217, and Law-
rence Vandale, Local 1-357.
Accident prevention work
will be outlined by District
Safety Director John T. At-
kinson.

District Secretary -'Treas-
urer George Mitchell will
open the Institute at Kel-
wna, and District President
Alsbury will perform this
rite at Kamloops.

news copy May 9th,

_ Publication date of the next issue of the B.C, LUMBER
WORKER is May 15. Deadline for ad copy is May 8th and for

lent
tat President
2nd =]

Secret -TPOASUTED «0.00.

International Board Member
Address all communications to
GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer
45 Kingsway - Phone FAirmont 8807-8
Vancouver, B.C,
Subscription Rates..........§1.50 per annum

Advertising Representative... A. Spencer
Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept. Ottawa
28,000 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE

BCLunsesWorven

Representing the Organized Loggers eud Mill Workers of B.C.
PUBLISHED TWICE. MONTHLY BY
INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (C10-CCL)
B.C. DISTRICT COUNCIL No. 1. >

DISTRICT OFFICERS:

J. Stewart Alsbury
merrcecservereeee JOC Morris:

TL sneeematineerneeneeennemnnens StUATE M, Hodgson
Brd Vice-President ne cemneccerereceeeeee BOD Tieber

H. Mitchell
wrens William N, Gray

The Only
GENUINE

‘DRY-BAK’

ASK FOR IT BY NAME
AT YOUR COMMISSARY
OR LEADING STORES

The treatment by which canvas is made
water repellent to produce “‘DRY-BAK”
is a development and exclusive process of
Jones Tent & Awning Ltd., and is entirely
processed in our own plant. You should,
therefore, look for the name “‘DRY-BAK’’
on every garment as your guarantee of
obtaining the finest water repellent can-
vas clothing obtainable.
or without interlining.

Ask for it with

Vote ‘Yes’ Before June 10

Ballots which have now
been issued in the member-
ship referendum for
approval of a_ fifteen cent
increase in the District Coun-
cil per capita tax are return-
able June 10, it has been
announced by the District
Officers.

The deadlock reached in
present negotiations result-
ing from the operators’ de-
mand for a wage-cut is now
generally recognized ‘as com-
pletely vindicating the Dis-

FADLING
TO HEAD
DISTRICT 3

Political problems of the
workers in British Columbia
during the pending election
campaign were explained to the
delegates attending the Annual
Convention of District 3, Che-
halis, Wash., by District Presi-
dent J. S. Alsbury, fraternal
delegate from B.C.

He indicated that the nomina-
tion of four well-known IWA of-
ficers as candidates was proof
that the lumber workers were
completely dissatisfied with the
treatment of labor’s problems by
existing governments,

Unity within the International
Union was of paramount impor-
tance, he declared. Speaking for
the B. C. District he affirmed that
following the election of the In-
ternational officers, unqualified
support was being tendered them
in order to build a stronger and
better Union.

International Elections

He went on to say that he held

to the opinion that 30,000 IWA
members should be given some
consideration in the selection of
International officers. This did
not mean, he assured his audi-
ence, that the B.C. District en-
tertained any desire to dictate to
the membership of the whole
International. The B.C, District
had only one purpose in view, and
that was the building of better
wages and conditions for lumbet
workers.
., The former International Pres-
ident, James E. Fadling, was
nominated unopposed for the of-
fice of District President.

“Ym gonna sneeze.”
“At who?”
“Atchoo!”
8 &
“She plays quite a fair game
of bridge, doesn’t she?” i

cao quite fair, if you watch

trict Convention’s recommen-
dation for the strengthening
of the District’s finances.

It_is now apparent that
the Union will be required to
exert a maximum effort
through the District organi-
zation to make contract
gains.

|

Developments in the In-
terior resulting from the
present plan for assistance
has also produced results
which warrant the continued
effort which will be made
possible by the increased
revenue for the District
Council.

BANKING BY MAIL

The safe way to save your
money Is fo put it in a
bank. You can do this
best through any of the
branches of the Canadian
Bank of Commerce in
British Columbia. Get
some Banking by Mail
forms before you leave
town, or write for a sup-
ply to your nearest branch
of the Commerce.

BANKING BY MAIL is convenient, easy to do.

See for yourself—today.

THE CAN

IAN BANK

OF COMMERCE |

80 Branches in British Columbia