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WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER | ,

From Page 1

“SCOTT”

For one thing, it seems, not
many of the really big boys are
terribly. fond of our Premier,
either politically or personally.

Since he is their best—and perhaps
only—guarantee of maintaining a suit-
able climate of capitalism they’re in
the unhappy position of. having to
support him even more generously
than they supported the old-line
parties. Yet he disturbs and alarms
them repeatedly. This makes for some
exceedingly high level cases of schizo-
phrenia.

The Social Credit theory, itself, is
fully as repugnant to them as the
socialist theory. They view with deep
suspicion the majority of Mr. Ben-
nett’s followers who have adopted the
philosophy, in name, as a matter of
political expediency. They view with
even more suspicion those few who
genuinely believe in Social Credit
financing as a workable system.

This outlook puts them in the in-
vidious position of bank-rolling a
group they consider, rightly o
wrongly, to be made up of hypocrites
and nuts. Naturally this makes for
payola with tears.

Mt

Mr. Bennett, himself, gives them
precious little comfort.

They are appalled by his arrogance,
by the dark and troubling possibility
that he may be motivated not so much
by duty to free enterprise as bya
small town boy’s desire to play King.

After long years of financing reli-
able, true-blue upholders of the faith
they now find themselves financing
an unpredictable Trilby who might
just turn into a monster.

Whenever Mr. Bennett shows his
mystic side, his secret, intuitive con-

viction that he is destiny’s tot, a faint
tremor, it is said, shakes the citadels
of the mighty.

Because of this curious lack of
rapport the grubby, clandestine
mechanics of accepting money
from the bigger businesses has
come to be devoid of all that
warm camaraderie and bonhomie
that was once known.

In most cases, it appears, the trans-
action is accomplished through inter-
mediaries, to avoid embarrassment,
and the Socreds are ‘said to have
lackeys reminiscent of the old-fash-
ioned ward-heelefs, more popularly
known these days as public relations
men, who do the dirty work.

The job calls for engaging, back-
slapping, hearty types who affect an
air of loyalty to their chief and wry
cynicism about him when they’re in
the panelled offices of the major
donors.

They are the smooth, chameleon-
like middle-men of the subsidy sys-
tem, widely held in contempt but in-
eeeatle to such delicate negotia-

ons.

Mr. Bennett, himself, is said to be
splendidly aloof from it all, smiling
his Mona Lisa smile, content in the
knowledge that he needs to make no
commitments to keep the loot rolling
in effortlessly.

It is small consolation, of course, to

the union men except for whatever
‘comfort they may take from the
knowledge that the check-off on the
other side, though beyond legislation,
is not nearly as simple or serene as
the results alone might indicate.

—Courtesy Jack Scott and

he Vancouver Sun

Smythe, Zizac Attend
Ladysmith Annual Meet

President George Smythe of Local

1-80, IWA, and George Zizac 3rd |-

Vice-President, attended the Annual
Meeting of the Ladysmith Sub-Local
March 7,. where they gave a report
on the Wage & Contract Conference
held in Vancouver last February.

Following are the new Officers
elected at the meeting and installed
by President Smythe:

Chairman—Ed “Tiny” Ulaga,

First Vice-Chairman—George

izac,
Financial Secretary—James
Th

Recording Secretary—Cal Richards,
Warden—Ed. De Wilde,

Three Year Trustee—George
Simpson.

Sub Local Balloting Committee

Jack Ware,
Tom Dogherty,
Ed Yori,

Ed. Ulaga,
Jim Thomas,
John Tomczyk,
Sven Ell.

Job Stewards

Bernard Churchill,
Ed. Yori,

Ed “Tiny” Ulaga,
Johnny McNeil,
Jim Thomas.

Political Representative

Jim Thomas.

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ENJOYING A QUIET JOKE prior to the start of cite Coast ne & Contract Conference rabidaty’ 25, are clockwise Jack Holst,

President Local 1-424, Prince George;

Ross Inglis, Ist- Vice-President Local 1-424; Martin Hedman, member of Local 1-71, from

Camp Woss, Englewood; Bill Wilson, President Local 1-71; and Fred Fieber, Financial Secretary Local 1-71,

From Page 1

‘Procedures.

The Minister’s answers to these
quéstions were vague. He suggested
that the Conciliation Officer might
be requested to use his services, al-
though no provision for this is made
in the Act. There is no requirement
that the employers should consider
such a procedure.

After an exchange with the Minis-
ter, Eddie declared that it was now
clear that conciliation reached a dead

end. “We go back to the old days,
when no holds were barred”, he
claimed.

Gordon Dowding (CCF-Burnaby)
stated members of the legal profes-
sion, with whom he had consulted,
agreed with the CCF interpretation.
“We believe that those things which
the Act says the Minister may do
will become things the Minister shall

IWA Quoted

In deference to his amendments,
Labour Minister Peterson said that
they were designed to provide greater
flexibility. He quoted at length from
a brief submitted by the Federation.
He had been informed, he said, that
prior to the 1959 IWA strike, the
Union desired to by-pass a Concili-
ation Board, and consider recommen-
dations on part of the Conciliation
Officers.

IWA members of the Legislature
were quick to point out that the
IWA and Federation proposals con-
templated the consideration by the
members of definite recommendations
on the part of the Conciliation Offi-
cer. Never at any time, had the
unions asked that information relat-

(|ing to the possible area of settle-

ment should be withheld from the
membership. Under the amended
legislation, it was pointed out, a
union will be virtually forced to ask
for a strike vote on the original de-
mands. In such case all bargaining is

in vain

The Minister agreed that a strike
vote may follow, but that a member-

‘| ship vote must first be held. Super-

vision is required if the employers so
demand. The employers may keep
the union waiting eighteen days.
Employers Gain Advantage
A much quicker and simpler rou-
tine is available for the employers if

New Socred
Minister
Rumoured

Rumours are rife that Hon.
Leslie Peterson may be obliged to
relinquish either the portfolio of
Minister of Education or that of
Minister of Labour for the reason
that he is overloaded.

Quite obviously Herb Bruch and

east te pions pointed to a new

af ano false” answered
Premier Bennett, the man who

they desire to cause a lock-out at this
stage.

The Minister contended that em-
ployers are free to change the rates
in other provinces, when the parties
are deadlocked by an end to Congili-
ation. It was pointed out by the more
experienced trade unionists in the
House that in all cases a reasonable
period of protection against such
changes was provided for by pro-
vincial Statutes.

Said Alex Macdonald, “This
change in procedure is most danger-
ous. It provides an open season for
the employers to move in on the
workers. At this most critical time
they can fire job stewards and active
unionists as well as drastically change
contract conditions formerly in effect.
The employees lose the eighteen plus

seven days that formerly enabled
protection against damaging changes,
They must wait eighteen days for
advice re supervision of the strike
yote.

said, “This isa vital bread and
ae issue for the workers. The
Government is conspiring with the
employers against the workers at a
time when the workers have, a right
to demand a greater and more equi-
table share of increased productivity.
The amendment will wipe out all
hopes of amicable settlement in many
instances. It is an open door for
needless industrial strife”.

George Hobbs (CCF- Revelstoke)
said, “This Government iss stupidly
buying economic warfare. Experience
with legislation of this character in
the United States led to greater in-
dustrial strife. Why attempt by war
what is possible through peace?”

The division on this clause sup-
ported the amendment 28-19. The
Liberals voted with the CCF against
the Government’

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