Tee ae ee

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

1st Issue, August

Items of Interest To
Labor In Capsule Form

India vs. South Africa Now
NEW DELHI.—The Government of India closed its High Com-
mission office in South Africa following a request for such action
from the Union government. In future, negotiations between the
two countries will either be made direct or through the respective |
High Commissioners stationed in London.

Atlee to Visit Canada
OTTAWA.—Former British Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee
will be coming to Canada immediately after Easter next year, CCF}
National Secretary Lorne Ingle announced. Attlee will make a
three-week tour during which he will visit various Canadian centres
and address meetings under the auspices of the CCF.

Steelworkers Get 12c
PITTSBURGH, PA. — The United Steelworkers of America|
(CIO) and the U.S. Steel Corp. signed a contract giving steelworkers
an extra five cents an hour and other benefits equivalent to another
Seven cents an hour. The U.S, Steel Corporation is the biggest
producer in the United States and employs 190,000 USWA members. |

Trade Unionists Selected
TORONTO.—A labor representative has been named to one of
the top transportation jobs in Canada with the election of William
G. Russell as chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission: Mr.
Russell beat out a bid by former Toronto mayor Allan A. Lamport
to take over the chairmanship left vacant by the death of William
C. McBrien. The new chairman, aged 63, is a member of Local 91
of the International Typographical Union (AFL-TLC).

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. Ask for it with
or without inferlining.

Rental Housing Planned

TORONTO.—A $16 million housing project which will accom-
modate 7,600 people is planned for the Toronto suburb of North
York, Toronto Metropolitan Area Chairman Gardiner has announced
Its 101 apartment buildings will comprise the biggest government-
sponsored project in the whole of Canada. The apartments are
planned for wage and salary earners in the $50-$77 a week group
and priority will be given to those with children. Rents will range
from $58 to $78 a month with an average of $68.

OTTAWA (CPA)—The number of Canadians looking

for work at mid-June had dropped considerably from a

$20 Million Paid to Jobless

OTTAWA. — May unemployment insurance benefits totalled
$20,709,106 paid out in respect of 6,575,003 unemployed days. The
Dominion Bureau of Statistics notes claimants on the live unem-
ployment register, who numbered 247,775 at the end of May, had
dropped sharply from 336,683 recorded a month earlier. At May

31, 1953, there were 143,083 on the live unemployment register.

living Costs Jump in May

OTTAWA—Living costs rose to a seven-month high during
May, according to the Consumer Price Index published by the Do-
minion Bureau of Statistics. A jump in the index from 115.5 to
116.1 (1949 prices equal 100) between May 1 and June 1 was the

biggest recorded for two and a half years.
Toronto Irked by Unemployment

TORONTO.—Toronto Board of Control has promised to ap-
proach the federal government in an attempt to get action to halt
growing unemployment. City officials, who will try to obtain the
backing of the provincial government, plan to visit Ottawa to urge
such action. The decision to visit Ottawa followed presentation of
a brief submitted by the Toronto and Lakeshore Labor Council

(CCL).
We Buy More Than We Sell

OTTAWA.—Canada’s trade balance with the rest of the world
ehanged by nearly $536 million during 1953 as more commodity
trade was switched to the United States market. Registering the
greatest swing between any two previous peacetime years, the trade
picture changed from a $325.5 million export surplus to a $210.2

million deficit last year, according to the Review of Foreign Trade.
The share of Canada’s exports to the U.S. increased substantially
during 1953 while imports from that country showed a marked

increase.

Wheat Shipped The Northern Route

OTTAWA.—British buyers are reported to have placed orders
with the Canadian Wheat Board for more than 9,000,000 bushels of
wheat to be shipped through the port of Churchill on Hudson Bay.
Shipments will start some time late in July and are expected to
comprise 25 cargoes. The price will be that prevailing at the time

of shipment.

Publication date of the next issue of the B.C, LUMBER WORKER
is August 19th. Deedline for ad copy is August 12th and for news
copy August 13th,

BCLowsentWornen

Reprevesting the Orponized Loggers avd Mill Workers of B.C.

Pu RS NTRS, gS BE Pens
International Woodworkers of America (C1O-CCL) =>,
B.C. District Council No. 1
DISTRICT OFFICERS:
exece Joe Morris
" Biunrt Ae Hodgson
Fred

Sei Bieber
Board ifember

Vice-President

‘H, Mitchell
‘Waiter F. Allen
Address all communteations to
GEORGH H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer
45 Kingsway - Phone FAirmont 8807-8

month earlier but still represented an increase of 116,500
from a year earlier, according to figures prepared by the
Labor Department and the Dominion Bureau of Statistics.
Applications on file at National Employment Service Of-
fices numbered 295,747 at June 17, a decrease of 62,300
compared with a month earlier, but 116,500 greater than
at June 18, 1953.

Decreases from a month earlier | ~
were noted in all regions. The Sixty-two had a ‘moderate’ sur-
reduction in the Quebec region,’ plus, against 21 last year; 41
compared with the May figure,’ were in ‘approximate balance’
was 23,100; Atlantic (12,100);

CCL URGES ACTION.

against 79; only one place had a
labor shortage, but there were
nine last year. In short, there
were 67 places this year with a
surplus of workers, against 21
last year, while 42 had a balanced
labor market, or a labor surplus,
against 88 last year.”

There is ample evidence
that unemployment is not sea-
sonal; the government is neglect-
ing its duty by failing to embark
on a large-scale program for full
employment.”

Prairies, 11,700); Ontario, 9,600;
and Pacific, 6,000.

Totals for all regions, however,
were up from a year earlier. On-
tario and Quebec had the largest
increases, 52,500 and 29,700 re-
spectively; Prairies, 17,500; At-
lantic, 9,500; and Pacific, 7,300.

: CCL Views

Canadian Congress of Labor
President A. R. Mosher, ‘com-
menting on the figures, noted
that: “While there has been some
seasonal pick-up in job opportuni-
ties, again it has been far small-
er than last year. The National
Employment Service report of
295,747 unplaced applicants is
65% above that for June, 1953.
The March figure was 39.7%
higher; April, 47.4; and May,
60.9.”

“Examination of the figures on
local labor markets further
proves that unemployment is still
serious,” Mr. Mosher said. “Out
of 109 local labor markets, five
had a ‘substantial labor surplus’
in June, against none last year.

See for yourself—today.

JIMMY RAY, former Chairman
of the Camp Woss Sub-Local,
and now Organizer on the Log-
gers’ Navy, Local 1-71, IWA.

wl

BANKING BY MAIL

The safe way to save
your money is to 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 supply to
your nearest branch of
the Commerce.

BANKING BY MAIL is convenient, easy tn do.