VLC MEETING Recognize China, unionists demand ; Vancouver Labor Council placed itself squarely on record for recognition of People ; China and extended Canadian trade with that country when it unanimously endorsed a resolu ypetn ot = ‘ : tion from Marine Workers Union this week urging support for a motion to come before the \ legislature on this subject. lA Ld | feeran fa See 1 The motion, introduced by Leo Nimsick (CCF-Cranbrook) po! out that “China, due to its geographical position, is a natural avenue for trade with Bri Protest bus cuthack’ delegations tell city “No cutback in bus services,” was the demand voiced by a number of delegations appearing before city council. After being bombarded with protests, council decided to inform BCE and Ri Te Re PUC that the city is opposed to the proposed cuts. Charles Stewart, Street Rail- Columbia,” and calls on Victoria to press Ottawa to “give immediate diplomatic recognition 1 the government of the People’s Republic of China.” Bickering at Victoria members and supporters of sidetracks real issues stage a placard parade through By ERNIE KNOTT downtown streets advocating recognition of China.. The peace workers recently lob- VICTORIA, B.C.—There was plenty of talk but little ac ia the House this past week, with petty bickering between Socreds and CCFers preventing much being accomplished. bied the legislature on this issue.) Mayor Tom Alsbury will be waymen’s Union, said the ser- vice cuts would range from 15 to 50 percent. “Every time the transit ser- vice is cut we get into a Vicious circle — fewer riders, less service and still higher fares,” he said. John Intihar, BCE bus lines superintendent, said there was a drop of 3,000,000 passengers last year, and the company had to “tailor its services accord- ingly.” Mona Morgan, . appearing with Effie Jones on behalf of the Civic Reform Association, blasted the BCE proposal. “Just recently the Public Utilities Commission allowed the BCER a fare based on the allegation that adequate service could not be supplied without it,” she said. “Although there are points of legality involved, the public is paying the increases. “Almost coincident with this an increase in electricity rates was also allowed. ; “To propose a cut in service again is just too much. Since the BCER cannot provide ade- quate service at reasonable rates, the city should take over the system and operate it.” ; Enthusiastic LPP parley plans advances in 1959 One of the largest and most enthusiastic annual conven- tions in many years was held by the ,Greater Vancouver Labor-Progressive Party last ‘weekend in Pender Auditor- ium. The main report, reviewing work of the party over the past year and projecting plans for greatly extended activi- ° ties during 1959, was given by Maurice Rush, retiring secretary. Rush is leaving for Toronto this week: to take up duties in the LPP’s national office. He is being replaced by Harold Pritchett, well known trade unionist and former head of the IWA. Resolutions adopted by the convention called for full sup- port of striking lumber work- ers in Newfoundland; greet- ings to the heroic People’s Socialist Party in Cuba; an end ,to “closed sessions” of Vancouver’s administration board; Ottawa to cut its arms Eudget and pay the full cost of elementary and secondary education. Tune in Every Sunday 9:40 P.M. — STATION CKLG — 730 K.C. ‘THE LEGISLATURE AND YOU’ Reported by Charlie Caron A commentary by the LPP on the week's happenings in the B.C. Legislature increase asked to appear “before the next meeting of VLC and ex- plain why he supported secret meetings of the board of ad- ministration. ~ Council executive had rec- ommended “non-concurrence”’ to a request for support from Central Council of Ratepayers, which is preparing a brief op- posing the secret meetings, but delegates voted instead to table the motion and call Als- bury before the delegates to defend his position. xt x 503 Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s pre-election promise that ‘no Canadian would suffer through unemployment” if -he was elected is going to backfire on him. VLC is printing thousands of cards containing Dief’s mes- sage for distribution in local unions. The cards will be signed by members and for- warded to Ottawa, as a part o? labor’s campaign for action to curtail unemployment. et Se On motion of Bill Stewart (Marine Workers) delegates turned down an executive rec- ommendation to send VLC president Lloyd Whalen to represent labor on a B.C. Chamber of Commerce panel on “The Need for Industrial Peace.” Said Stewart: “Let’s arrange our own panels. Why fall into this bosses’ trap?” EYEGLASSES ON CREDIT Payments as low as — 50c Weekly Granville Optical | 825 Granville MU 3-8921 - Opposite Capitol Theatre The week opened with Op- position leader Robert Strachan rising to charge that Premier Bennett and his government members were impolite—nay, downright rude—in debate. It seems they don’t pay too much attention to Strachan’s criti- cism. By contrast, said the CCF leader, the former pre- mier was very polite and lis- ened seriously to criticism. Thereupon Premier Bennett rose and proposed a_ $5,000 yearly pension to former pre- mier Byron Johnson, who is holidaying .in California (and whose family immediately ob- jected and said he did not need the money). Big news of the week was the CPR’s announced © in- tion to end winter steamship service between Vancouver and Victoria this month. All MLAs had a field day roundly condemning the CPR for causing an emergency. But the government appar- ently did not view this emer- gency as seriously as it did when it used the Civil Defense Act to seize the ships when seamen struck for higher wages General Robert Bonner flew to last May. Attorney- ~ Ottawa and came back with vague assurances that the CPR would reconsider its decisio: One got the impression that the days of fruitless debate spent on ,the question were used to sidetrack attention of members from more Serio questions, such as municipal — aid, forestry and hydro policy, — and unemployment. The House standing commi tee on labor, which the Throni Speech said would hear s missions on unemployment and bring in recommendatio noted that few groups and dividuals had expressed am desire to appear before it. The only serious propos made to the committee to date — was.one by Rae Eddie ,(CCF — New Westminster) who pro-- posed diplomatic recognition 0 China and trade with thal country as a means of reducing unemployment. (Position taken by the 400- strong labor lobby that re cently visited Victoria is tha unemployment is a subject which should be the concern — of the legislature, and not be ~ left in the hands of a standing committee.) : a ONE NIGHT ONLY IN VANCOUVER - Miss Clara Kmitto Famous Polish Prima Ballerina of the Wroclaw Theatre of Opera and Ballet will be presented on SUNDAY, FEB. 22 - 8 p.m. INTERNATIONAL CINEMA 756 Granville St. — Everyone welcome — February 20, 1959 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE