People in search
of disarmament
plan, states call

“While all ordinary men and

women hope and pray for peace,
the stockpiles of guns, tanks
and atomic bombs grow ‘to mon-
strous heights, filling the world
with fear, suspicion. and hatred,”
the call to the third British Col-
umbia Peace Conference, to be
held in Vancouver, April 19-20,
states in its opening paragraph.
It continues:
“Vast resources of natural
wealth and human labor are con-
sumed by our own five-billion-
dollar rearmament program and
by the rearmament programs of
other nations.

“These fantastic expenditures
on the devices of death are
impoverishing the people, deny-
ing homes to families, milk and
schools to children, and even

_ food and shelter to the aged.

“As we build not for peace, but
for war, the carpenter who might
‘build homes and the workmen
who might ,produce washing
machines and automobiles lan-
guish in unemployment. The
plight of the farmer ‘grows seri-
ous and the small businessman
faces insecurity.-

“These sacrifices are ‘being
made in the name of ‘peace

Haney audience
hears report
on USSR visit

HANEY, B.C.

An efhthusiastic meeting of 125
people in IOOF Hall here ‘heard
Pearl Wedro of the Fur and
Leather Workers Union report

on her visit to the Soviet Union
with a Canadian trade union dele-
gation last fall.

A. Cordoni, who introduced the
speaker, said that many workers
were not satisfied with the dis-

_ torted reports on the USSR given
in the daily papers and on radio
networks. For this reason, trade
unionists decided to send their
own delegates to visit the Soviet
Union and report back to Cana-
dian workers.

Miss Wedro told how the dele-
gation drew up its own itinerary
and was given every cooperation
by the Soviet government. She
described the comprehensive so-
cial services enjoyed ‘by people
In the USSR and emphasized’
that there is complete equality
of races and sexes, socially as
‘well as in remuneration for work.

“Unemployment is non-existent
and the more that is produced
the more the ‘people consume
through price reductions. Prices

‘have been substantially reduced
four times since the war,” said
Miss Wedro.

Stressing the intense desire of

_ Soviet people for peace, the
‘speaker appealed for ‘greater un-
‘derstanding between Canada and
the USSR and for more active

_ particjpation of the Canadian
“people in the struggle for peace.

through strength’ though in our
hearts and minds we know that
the feverish piling up’ of arma-
ments must, unless checked, lead
inevitably to war. History teaches
that efforts to solve international
differences by force always lead
in the end.to war. And simple
logic dictates that peace cannot
be achieved ‘by preparing for
war.

“Yet great and brilliant rays
of hope pierce the gloom cast by
the mushroom-shaped cloud of the
atomic bomb.

“Millions upon millions of men
and women the world over, in-
‘spired by the nobility of the cause
of peace, and confident of man’s
ability to banish war forever, are
proposing a solution and are
working heroically in its behalf.

“The way to peace, they say,
is throwgh some fair and prac-
tical form of disarmament. They
say, ‘Destroy tthe guns,. before
the guns destroy us”

“Disarmament has become the
central question in the United
Nations itself, resulting in the
establishment of a disarmament
commission. “

“The peopie themselves are in

search of a disarmament plan:

that would leave no country de-
fensively weak and at the mercy
of another country; a disarma-
ment plan that would safeguard
the national security of all coun-
tries while greatly diminishing
the present grave threat to world
peace. :

“Trade unions and. other organ-
izations are proposing that hand
in hand with any campaign for
controlled disarmament must go
an equally vigorous campaign
for the resumption of a free
flow of trade between East and
West.

“They say, ‘Let the nations ex-
change goods, not threats. Let
them ship abroad their manu-
factures, not their men. Such
trade will help the cause of peace,
and by providing markets for },
British Coiumbia’s products will
provide jobs for our people.’

“We, of the British Columbia
Peace Council, believe that the

‘people of our province must seek

their own ways of bringing an
end to existing wars, and to the
costly and dangerous armaments
race. We believe this can ‘best
be done through free and open
discussion, leading to eventual

agreement and common action. °

“To this end, we are convening
the Third British Columbia Peace
Conference For Disarmament
and World Trade to take place
at Pender Auditorium in Van-
couver, on April 19 and 20, 1952.

“We invite all organizations to’

send delegates or observers to
participate in the discussion on a
free and equal basis. All indivi-
duals are invited to participate as
observers, with full voice and
vote, or by ‘banding together to
send their own delegate. This is
to be a citizens’ conference open
to all who desire peace.

“Let us seek peace through
discussion, as eventually must
‘the leaders of nations.”

EDITORIAL

One

left-wing forces!

'tive ‘to Tory-Liberal policies:

ent pressing issues.

”

‘arm.

election day will be made.

labor unity at the polls

EGARDLESS of its final outcome, the mere fact that a good

number of trade unions rallied to the call of Tom Uphill,
Labor MILA, to discuss united labor political action at the
polls, is in itself an event of no small importance.

When Uphill’s call went out for such’ a conference, there
were numerous speculations on just what was aimed at.
Some OCF leaders gave wide publicity to the viewpoint that
the conference was directed against the CCE by “right” and

The Pacific Tribune published the conference call, prim-
arily because it provided that opportunity for all trade unions,
regardless of affiliation, to discuss the only possible alterna-

people’s unity on a constituency basis, and around many differ-
Such united political action on the part
of organized labor and the people, vitally essential for the
defeat of the old-line parties of big business, must be broad
enough to embrace the trade unions, the CCF, LPP, and
other progressive organizations.

To talk about united labor political action exclusive eS
or in opposition to the CCF, is to deny the possibility of the
unity required to defeat monopoly rule, and on a par with
the CCF leadership’s claim ‘that it alone is “labor’s political

The Pacific Tribune expresses the hope that there will
'be a good representation of trade unions at this conference,
and that the beginnings of a much-needed labor unity on

aim:

the promotion of labor and

Pearl Wedro tells

city Steel local
about Soviet tour

United Steel Workers, Local 3302, had one of its most interesting
gatherings in many years when 125 members met under “good and
welfare’ recently to hear Pearl Wedro of the Fur and Leather
Workers Union report on her trip to Europe and the Soviet Union
with the Canadian trade union delegation last September.

For many of the steelwork-
ers it was a unique experience..
For the first time since its
foundation as a Steel local a
speaker had come as a result of
an invitation of the member-
ship, who wanted to see and
hear with their own eyes
“someone who was there — a
Canadian who had actually
} visited the USSR.”

Union members listened with
great interest to Miss Wedro’s

story of her experiences and im- |

pressions, especially when she
told ef her visit to the great Molo-
tov works and described. the strict
attention paid by factory shop
committees and management to
the health and welfare of work-
men in the plant. A “poly-clinic”
is aiiached to each factory, also
cultural halls and theatres.

Miss Wearo held the attention
of her audience when she told of
‘Soviet machinery and technique,
and the methcds by which trade
union shop committees and fac-
toiy management set SORE COn
qi watas: y

Probably the most interesting
point of the wkcle address came
when the speaker cited facts and
figures on rents and food prices
in relation to the earning Cay
of Soviet workers.

‘Miss Wedro aiso spoke on the
question of freedom of religion
in the USSR anc told how one of
the Crchclic!delegates went and
wershipped one Sunday in the

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church of ‘his ‘aith in Moscow.

On the whole the gathering
was Satisfied that the Canadian
labor movement had done some-
thing well worth while in send-
ing the delegation to the Soviet
Union, and this fact was register-
ed by the hearty applause for
Miss Wedro when ‘she concluded
her address. An interesting ques-
jon and discussion period was
then held.

Trades Council
spurns BCER,
opposes boost

Delegates to Vancouver Trades
and Labor Council (AFL-TLC)
listened for nearly two hours as
BCElectric vice-president W. C.
Mainwaring and research direc-
tor Dr. H. L. Purdy attempted
to justify a proposed boost in
car and bus fares, then endorsed
a Fishermgn’s Union resolution,
expressing “outright opposition”
to any further. fare increase.

Harassed by beckling from the
floor, Mainwaring, in answer to
criticisms of overcrowding on
cars and ‘buses, snapped that BC
Electric would have to charge 20
cents a ticket “if. we threw
enough vehicles on the street to
give everyone ‘a Seat at rush
hours.”

The Tashennents resolution de-
nouncing ‘the proposed fare boost
had been tabled at a previous
meeting in order to give the BC
Electric an opportunity to state’
its case.

Civic union
hits council's
court action

Decision of Vancouver City
Council ‘to ask the Supreme Court
Board ruling ordering it to jom
to set aside a Labor Relations
a conciliation board over a com —
tract dispute with outside work
ers drew a blast from Vancouver —
Civic Employees Union, Outside
Workers, this week.

“We call upon trade unidn of
ficers and members to give US~
their full support by making ©
known to city council that they
‘are’ opposed to the 'bypa'ssing of
collective bargaining,’ said 4
union leaflet. “Free trade union —
ism is in danger. If city council —

| succeeds in getting away with —

this, and tthus becomes free tO —
make whatever settlement it sees —
fit, will be a blow to the basic |
principlles of trade unionism.”

The city’s contention that the
1951 contract is in. effect until
the end of 1952 because the union
“failed to signify within stipU-
lated time limits of its intention —
to reopen the walge clause” was
rejected by ‘Labor Relations —
Board. The LRB gave the city
five days to choose its nomineé
to a conciliation board. The
union has named Jack Ross, it
ternational representative of the
International Brotherhood
Electrical Workers, as its nom
inee.

CLASSIFIED

A charge of 50 cents for eaeke
insertion of five lines or less
10 cents for each additional lin¢é
is made for notices appearing i®
this column. No notices will
accepted li cer than Monday noo?
of the week of pubication. *

WHAT’S DOING

ALL NATIONS DANCE, Satur
day, March 15, 8.30 p.m. Rus
sian People’s Hall, 600 Camp
bell Ave. Pete Wollinsky’s OF
chestra. Modern and Old Tim@
Music. Admission 50c, Pro -
ceeds to Champion.

HELP WANTED

HELP CHAMPION: FINANCIAL
DRIVE! Donate your old junk,
rags, metal, beer bottles, me
tresses, etc. Phone TA. 3717 of

HA. 5943R. We Pick Up.

WANTED oe
SS

RAGS! RAGS! RAGS! We Want
Your Rags. Help the PT Drive:
Phone DE. 2174M. We collect.

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BUSINESS PERSONALS _

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JOHNSONS WORK BOOTS—L°
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HALLS FOR RENT —__

DANCE—Modern and Old Tim?
Music at Clinton Hall, 2605 Be
Pender St. every Saturday nigh!

9 to 12, Music by Clintones
Orchestra. Hall for rent.
3277,

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RUSSIAN PEOPLES HOME —
Availahle for meetings, weading®
gat hanquets at reasonable *
0. Camnhell Ave. . 690!
nhe ve.. HA 600)

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — MARCH 7, 1952 = PAGH 6