‘ } WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER : of Free Enterprise Welfare Services Starved For “Glamorous Budget” By OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT VICTORIA—Political trends now apparent in the pres- ent session of the Legislature require analysis by organized labour to provide the answers to two questions. Is the Social Credit government committing itself again to anti-union policies? Does this session provide the trade unions with the necessity to register measures? The following are the outward indications that the Government has chosen to ignore representa- tions made through the B.C. Federation of Labour. Throne Speech The Throne Speech gave some consideration to almost every section of the community except organized labour. No consider- ation was given to amending legislation required to relieve organized labour of restrictions FOR MAXIMUM CHAIN SAW PERFORMANC emphatic opposition to anti-union shown to be unfair and pro- vocative of labour unrest. The general tone of the Premier’s budget speech was indicative of impatience with trade union views. The IWA strike, 1959 was referred to simply as offering interference with plans for increased output. In his prognostications, the Premier said, ‘Most British Columbians have made it abund- antly clear that they believe in free enterprise, and wish to pre- serve the creed of the individual who prefers equal opportunity in a creative progressive and cultured society to a regimented existence; the individual who welcomes competition and who is anxious to preserve his right to work with freedom of choice in contrast with a _ controlled labour. force.” Election Year Both the Throne Speech and the budget address have given every indication that 1960 will be an election year. If so the campaign is designed for sec- tions of the community other than the great majority of in- dustrial workers. Business _ in- terests will be pleased that there has been no increase in taxes, and that millions are about to be appropriated for new capital construction. A twenty per cent increase for the needy dependent will please that section, although the increase per capita is not as great as it has been made to appear. ; The great mass of civil ser- vants have been ignored. Salary adjustments are mainly for those in the higher brackets, as for instance economic advisor Fisher in the Premier’s office gets a $2,500 increase to $17,500. Deputy Ministers get pay hikes of from $1,400 to $2,400 to $13,- 300 and $14,400. For the most part, increased appropriation for the civil service will apply only to annual increments which have been pending for some time. The Provincial Government Em- ployee’ Association will have good reason to protest some features in the departmental estimates as now tabled. Home-Owner’s Grant The increase of $22.00 in the home-owner’s grant, ($50 in- stead of the former $28.00) will take an additional $6 million, and is viewed with suspicion by many of the beneficiaries. The general consensus of opinion ap- pears to be that the value of the rebate is more than offset by increased assessments and taxes. No corresponding aid has been tendered the large number of people whose payment of taxes is concealed in their high rents. CASTROL 2-STROKE MOTOR OIL pints | quarts | screw top quarts Specially manufactured for the roughest chain saw service, these CASTROL lubricants will ensure the maximum efficiency of your saw — regardless of weather or working conditions —- and CASTROL costs no more than ordinary oils and greases. ms CASTROL OILS (CANADA) LTD. MO © TORONTO @ VANCOUVER CASTROLEASE CASTROL CHAIN CASTROL CHAIN SAW SAW GEAR OIL © EXPRESS GREASE in pints with CHAINLUBE 8 oz. tubes 2-way spout l-gallon cans LEARN HOW TO CUT MORE, SAVE MORE: WRITE FOR YOUR _ FREE COPY OF THE CASTROL CHAIN SAW MANUAL TO CASTROL OILS (CANADA) LIMITED 1540 LAKESHORE ROAD, TORONTO 14, ONTARIO Gentlemen: Please send me a copy of your Chain Saw Manual 7. A point that the workers can- not afford to overlook in any appraisal of the present budget is that social welfare and health services were starved over a period of years that a pre-elec- tion budget might be glamorized. Debt Free The Premier as Minister of Finance in his budget has gone to extraordinary lengths to make it appear that the pro- vince is “debt-free.” The book- keeping devices to which he re- sorts cannot be understood, either by orthodox economists or by the ordinary man on the street. When he assumed office the net debt of the province was $165,000,000, and the contingent liabilities were a mere $30,000,000. Now he claims that the net debt of the province has been entirely wiped out, but that the contingent liabilities are $543,220,604: os The accepted definition of a contingent liability is one that is self-liquidating. A direct debt is one that would ordinarily be paid from the general révenue of the province. Curiously enough, last year’s and _ this year’s estimates disclose larze grants in aid of supposedly self- liquidating projects, such as the school debt (50% of which is by statute chargeable to general revenue) the Toll Highways and Bridges Authority, the B.C. Power Commission, and _ the P.G.E, This reveals that such projects are not entirely 100% self-liquidating, as claimed. (To be Continued) Sick List. Sisters Alberta Wright and Mildred Creelman of the LA Local 1-80, IWA, visited the following patients in the King’s Daughters Hospital February 17, distributing candy, cigarettes and copies of the B.C. Lumber Worker: Bachan Kaur, Lake Cowichan. T. R. Heck, Duncan, E. Klitzaard, Duncan. I. Stove, Shawnigan Lake, A. VanHuisen, Duncan. Ladysmith General Financial Secretary Ed. Linder of Local 1-80, IWA, visited the follow- ing patients in the Ladysmith General “Hospital February 18, dis- tributing candy, cigarettes and copies of the B.C. Lumber Worker. Mr. Adam Fourmeaux, Ladysmith, B.C.; Mr. Oke Axelson, Ladysmith, B.C.; Mr. Ray Foot, Lidysmith, B.C.; Mr. Ted Earwaker, Ladysmith, B.C.; Mr. Chris Bredenberg, Ladysmith, B.C.; Mr. Jimmy Harris (Boy), Ladysmith, B.C.; Mr. Gilbert Inkster, Ladysmith, B.C.; Mr August DeClarke, Ladysmith, B.C. Printers of The Western Canadian Lumber Worker LIMITED PRINTERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS 944 RICHARDS STREET MUtuel 1-6338 - 6339