B.C. LUMBER WORKER 1st Issue, August SMALL RESULTS _By CLIFFORD A. SCOTTON OTTAWA (CPA) — The second session of Canada’s 22nd Parliament was prorogued on July 28 to the thankful sighs of the faithful group of MP’s who had stayed on to the end of what was the second longest continuous session, and probably the most climatically uncomfortable session, since Confederation. If the 1955 session of Parlia- ment is remembered by any par- ticular hapening, it will probably be noted as the second longest (140 sitting days) since 1867, which included one of the record sittings (16 hours 50 minutes) and one of the lengthiest speeches (4% hours). The 6965 pages of Hansard required to record the official business of the House, however, are not a good guide to the amount of construc- tive legislation approved during the session. Few major changes in existing laws were made and no very significant new legisla- tion was enacted. Unemployment and Insurance The domestic legislation which affected most Canadian wage earners, was perhaps the changes in the Unemployment Insurance Act to allow higher and extend= ed supplementary unemployment benefits and the more extensive amendments to the Act affecting regular benefits and dealing with administration, Changes in supplementary benefits acclaimed by all parties, were introduced during a month when unemployment jumped from 362,700 to 569,600. As the unemployment situation worsen- ed and finally reached the post- war high of 632,913, CCF Leader M. J. Coldwell asked that the business of Parliament be set aside to discuss this “matter of urgent public importance”. A lengthy discussion on unem- ployment and its relationship to falling farm income ensued with Labor Minister Gregg claiming that the situation was improved compared with 1953 while oppo- sition members called on the government to implement its 1945 full-employment policies. This discussion was continued when the major U.I. Act changes were presented to the Commons The B.C. LUMBER WORKER TET titi iii LONG SESSION, Opposition members met with Some success when the govern- ment agreed to revise its inten- tion of cutting maximum unem- ployment benefit periods to 30 weeks from 51. The maximum was finally set at 36 weeks. Benefit rates were raised. Efforts by CCF mmebers to have certain groups not now covered brought under the Act were unsuccessful. Government speakers opposed proposals for the voluntary re- vocable check-off of union dues and equal pay for women. Social Security The one bright feature in the field of social security legislation was-the passing of the Blind Persons Act giving pensions, un- der certain conditions, to blind persons over the age of 18. Im- provements were also made in the allowances paid to war vet- erans but opposition members criticized the inadequacy of these changes. The Liberals found an ally in the Conservatives in opposing the CCF demand for a national health plan. Both Conservative Leader Drew and Health Minis- ter Martin raised constitutional isues as barriers to implementa- tion of the plan. CCF Leader Coldwell noted that this had not stopped old age pension legisla- tion from being introduced and becoming effective. CCF resolu- tions calling for increased family allowances and the removal of the 3% floor on income tax de- ductibility of medical expenses were opposed by the government. 1955 Budget Finance Minister Harris, in presenting his first budget, show- ed himself to be the orthodox finance minister he had earlier claimed to be rather than the unorthodox minister forecast by many commentators. Mr. Harris proposed no sub- stantial measures to combat the severe unemployment situation but, instead, reduced corporation and income taxes. In the case of the latter his presentation was deceptive in that he described the cuts as ranging from 13.39% in the lower income brackets to 2.8% for the upper brackets, In fact the reductions were a straight 29% across-the-board. Corporation tax reductions were made retroactive to January 1 OFFICERS, LOCAL 1-206, Blairmore, Alberta are installed in a ceremony conducted by District President Joe Morris. while those for individuals ap- plied only from July 1. External Affairs The most significant item of foreign affairs legislation before Parliament was Canada’s con- sideration of the Paris Agree- ments for the re-arming of West Germany and ending the Allied occupation. Cautious and some- what hesitant approval for the measure was given by all except 12 M.P.s—all CCF—after one of the most thorough debates of the sessiono. As tension heightened over the off-shore islands in the Formosa Strait, CCF Leader M. J. Cold- well warned against the dangers of U.S. interference in the in- ternal Chinese conflict. Relaxation of international tensions had their manifestations for Canada in the visit to the USSR of Fisheries Minister Sin- clair and the acceptance of an invitation to Russia by External Affairs Minister Pearson. Trade with the Soviet satellite coun- tries — particularly in wheat — aroused the ire of the Conserva- tives but Prairie farmer M.P.s hailed the deals as being valu- able to the Western Canadian economy. Defence Production Filibuster An 11 day ‘filibuster’ took place when the government sought to extend the Defence Production Act for an indefinite period. The Act gives the Min- ister sweeping powers to direct industry in work for Canada’s defence. Tory speakers made 73 of the 106 speeches during: the debate protesting that the powers under the Act, which rightly. belonged to Parliament, were being given to one man—the Minister of De- fence Production. Following con- care, technical skills and Abramson & Use, Abuse and Age Inadequate glasses can cause headaches. Your eyes change with use, abuse and age. A thorough examination by your optometrist will detect any need for a change in your present lens prescrip- tion, Your precious eyes merit the professional struments offered by optometrists, OPTOMETRISTS the finest scientific in- Hollenberg ciliatory proposals by CCF mem- bers, Conservatives and Liberals reached the compromise of a three-year time limit on the Min- ister’s powers under the Act and an immediate review of any reg- ulations passed under its terms. Senate Reform Attempts during the session at obtaining reform of the Senate were unsuccessful. CCF speakers proposed that the Senate be ab- olished completely since it was a _non-elected body which was given powers over the democra- tically-elected House of Com- mons, As the session ended, however; Prime Minister St. Laurent an- nounced 13 new Senatorial ap- pointments to fill some of the 23 vacancies. Disregarding tradi- tion, ‘the Prime Minister ap- pointed one Senator who is a known Conservative—and also a close, personal friend of Mr. St. Laurent. House Committees For the first time in the his- tory of the Canadian Parliament a committee was established to review the spending of. certain government departments. The estimates of four government de- partments were placed before a 26-member all-party committee in an attempt to allow a more thorough study of those depart- ments than was previously the case. Since the government used the committee on one occasion as a means of parliamentary strategy Some members reacted coolly to the idea. Finance Minister Harris said the Estimates Committee was “an experiment” and he urged members of the House to take a “cautious approach” to the innovation. The government’s evaluation of its work will prob- ably decide whether the commit- tee will be reconstituted at fu- ture sessions. Senators and MPs studying corporal and capital punishment and lotteries had still not pre-- sented their report as the session ended, The investigation has been in progress since the Crim- SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, etc. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitscases, Radios, Watches and’ Rings Expert Watch Repairing UNREDEEMED Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale MAIL ORDER 52 West Hastings Street inal Code was revised in 1954. The lengthy hearings conducted by the committee have been com- pleted. Evidence will be sifted and recommendations — believed to include a changed method of execution, a ban on corporal pun- ishment and tighter lottery laws —will be made when the recon- stituted committee meets at the next session, One of the best examples of inter-party co-operation in the Commons.during the 1955 session was provided by the committee on procedure. This all-party com- mittee reported on ways of cut- ting the length of debates, and its recommendations, which were adopted, include time limits on speeches and certain debates and various other procedures to speed the work of the House. ROYAL CITY UNIT SENDS © SEVENTEEN Seventeen delegates and five alternates to attend the ap- proaching International Conven- tion of the-IWA were elected at the last membership meeting of Local 1-857 IWA, New Westmin- ster. They were: Rae Eddie, Mike Butler, Joe Madden, Bill Russell, Stuart Alsbury, V. Dore’, Law- rence Vandale, Henry Switzer, Andy Smith, R. Bruneau, Leo Stadnyk, Wyman Trineer, Jim- my Abrams, A. Rymer, Jimmy Vallance, Albert Rose, Daniel McBride. Alternates: Norman Kelly, Es- telle Watson, F. Hoffer, J. Cox, L. Landry, S. INTERIOR SENDS THREE Southern Interior delegates elected to attend the IWA’18th and 19th Constitutional Conven- tion in Milwaukee, Wis., August 20-25th, are as follows: . Local 1-405 Cranbrook, Elec- ted, Elmer Atwood; Alternate, Paul Betenia. Local 1-417, Salmon Arm: Elected, Pete Wright; Alter- nate, W. J. Thompson. Local 1-423: Elected, Donald Lawson; Alternate, Jack Wel- der. Bob MacDonald Anyone knowing the pre- sent whereabouts of R. J. (Bob) MacDonald, who for- merly worked at Minstrel Island, is asked to contact his mother, Mrs. M. J. Mac- Donald, 151 Bole Ave. East, Chilliwack, B.C. or the TWA District Office, 45 Kings- VANCOUVER, B.C, way, Vancouver, B.C.