Economic collapse seen unless wages raised, says CCL report - OTTAWA—Canadian wage and salary earners have experienced cuts in their real reductions this year unless wages are raised and wages since 1944, and face further sharp price-increases checked, the Canadian Congress of Labor said last week in a survey of Tt a TT economic conditions in Canada. The report, prepared by re- search officials of CCL unions and the. Congress itself, told the story of what has happened to the pocketbook of the average Can- adian in the past two years and what is likely to happen to it in the. months ahead. The research workers reached the conclusion that true consumer demand must be stepped up to keep pace with the country’s ex- panding productive capacity: The alternative was an economic col- lapse. The present trend was _ to- ward reduced purchasing power, increased production and higher profits. Unless a market was found for the goods which Can- adians can now turn out in great- ly increased quantities, collapse was inevitable; ang the chief mar- ket was that provided by Can- adian workers, farmers and small business men. In the face of these conditions, the report attached particular sig- -nificance to the fact that wage- earners in Canadian manufactur- ing industries in December: 1946, received eight per cent less in rea] earnings: than they did in December 1944. The amount of “money required to level out this difference ; would represent ‘only seventeen per cent of profits be fore taxes in manufacturing. “With the abandonment of - price control on the majority of commodities and the Clear ; in- dication that the government intends to abandon the remain- ing ceilings shortly, real wages will fall sharply in 1947 unless - ' furthér wage-increases are ob tained,” the report said. The report went into detail to explain the position Canadian “workers and consumers’ find themselves in. It would take an increase of 186 per cent in “weekly earnings to bring real wages in automobile and parts ‘plants back to the December 1944, level. : et : Comparison of the ‘real earn- ings’ for the two dates was made by taking into consideration the increased living costs as reflected in the government’s official cost- of-living index, although the re- port said the index fell far short of showing the whole story of higher living costs. Other figures showed the net profits of over one hundred com- panies which have so far reported to be 30 per cent higherin 1946 than in 1945. : The labor economists found aT “strong indications of a growing unbalance in the Canadian econ- omy, pointing the way to a fall in. the purchasing power of the mass of the people, and in turn to inevitable collapse.” : “Prices are still rising and ap- parently will continue to rise even faster,” the report said at another point. It went on to quote Gra- ham Towers, Governor of the Bank of Canada, as saying a levelling of Canadian prices with the levels in effect in the United States was inevitable. Such a step the report said, would mean a twenty per cent increase at the wholesale level. “On the other hand, the profits of industry before taxes: were higher in 1946 than in 1945 in spite of material shortages and of disruptions in production which industry itself provoked by its re- fusal to negotiate in good faith on the workers’ post-war de- mands,” the report continued. “With the present level of pro- duction 1947 will certainly be a much more profitable year for Canadian business than 1946 or 1945.” An increased labor force and an expanded productive capacity would be turning out peacetime goods on a scale far beyond any- thing experienced before or dur- ing the war. “Consumer purchasing power must be greatly increased above the wartame level not only to provide more employment anq to assure a market for increased quantities of consumer goods, but also because increased. prices have already cut the value of | each wartime consumer dollar and further increases are con- tinuing to cut it,’ the report noted. topic tending the provincial convention of the B.C. Parent Teachers As- sociation. This organization performs an excellent service in acting as a coordinating unit between the home and school. Membership is open to any adult interested in the welfare of school children. There should be one of these as- seciations connected with schools in every community throughout the province. Not only do the members in- terest themselves in endeavoring to improve ‘conditions for chil- dren, but raise money in their various communities to -supply many additional comforts for the children of the school to which they are connected. In some schools, the PTA has bought a piano for the scholars, or a movie projector, furnished a sick room for emergency cases at school, and installed lunch rooms. Ad- ditional equipment for sports and A charge of 50 cents for each insertion of five lines or less with 10 cente for each additional line is made for notices appearing | in this column, No notices will be accepted later than Monday noon of the week of publication. ‘ DOOOOODOOOOOOH OS! ODO OOOCOO OOOOH OOOOOHOHOOOS Dance, Clinton Hall— 2605 East Pender, Dance every Saturday night. Modern and Old-Time. Viking’s Orchestra. Hall is available for rent, HAstings 3277. Rf NOTICES Oldtime Dancing to ALF. CARLSON'S ORCHESTIA — Evecy Wednesday and Saturday Hastings Auditorium 828 East Hastings Phone HAst. 3248 MODERATE RENTAL RATES socials, weddings, meetings, G.K. Hair Restorer— for etc. OK hair restoring method from weakest fuzz or hair roots, Results from first free trial. No order by mail. Case must be diagnosed separately. 671 Smithe. Meetings— ; ’ Swedish Finnish Workers’ Club meets last Friday every month, 7:50 p.m., Clinton Hall. ( Croatian Hall— Available for Dances, Socials, Weddings, Banquets, Meetings, Reasonable rates. 600 Camp- bell Avenue, HAstings 0087. FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1947 ASH BROS. CARTAGE Moving — Transfer ‘ 'Dump Trucks _ 2289 Cambie Phone FAir. 0469 WHAT'S DOING House Social— Bear the opera. “La Bohenic” on Sunday April 6 at 8 p.m. No. charge. Auspices ' Commercial Drive LPP Club. Refreshments. Attention !— Easter concert at Clinton Hall, 2605 East Pender, April 4 and 6, starting at 7:30 p.m., both nights exceptionally fine pro- gram. Sponsored by. B.C. Dis- trict Finnish Organization. Whist Drive and Social — At 1081 West Sixteenth Ave~ nue, Friday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. Entertainment, games and mu- sic. Auspices Fairview Club. Proceeds Pacific Tribune. Youth problems to be at PTA meet By MAYME E. MacDONALD On April 9 to 11, those persons most actively. engaged in work to improve the welfare of British Columbia’s school children will meet in Victoria to map out a program for ex- tended activities during the coming year. They will be at- number of important resolutions ‘|high schools to teach young peo- playground activities have been secured in many cases, and sub- scriptions to leading magazines and periodicals have been pur- chased for the school libraries. Little publicity is given the work of these groups, but they are per- forming a service very necessary to the community, and performing it well. - District Councils of the PTA are in existence throughout the province, Each council deals with matters of general importance to the whole area which it serves. For instance, it sends resolutions to the local school board or pro- vincial education department on matters to improve educational services in the district. ( At the Victoria convention, a have been handed in from a num- ber of the associations for ,con- sideration. There are several re- solutions concerning offenders in statutory cases. These men are only given light sentences by the law, after which they are left to prey on children. One resolu- tion requests that these offenders be given care and treatment by a psychiatrist, physician or surgeon. Another resolution requests that they be given sentences commen- surate with their offence or equal to that meted out for robbery. A request that a committee of parents, teachers and government. officials be set up to review the present system of report cards, has been made in a resolution to the convention, which claims that} the present system is unsatisfac- tyry. One resolution which requests that a course be initiated in B.C. ple how to drive has been pres- ented to the-convention. It notes that “young people under 21 have five time as) many fatal accidents] as any other age group.” — In addition to the resolutions, there will be much important dis- cussion pertaining to the better- ment jof education and improve- ment of our schools, Among the many speakers that will address the delegates, will be the noted educational authority, Dr. S. R. Laycock. HIGHEST PRICES PAID. for DIAMONDS, OLD GOLD Other Valuable Jewellery : STAR LOAN CO. Ltd. EST. 1905 the tally for remaining points.. | RAISED = _ CLUB Quota Donations Subs Grandview, 6:63) 6.600... sco 375.00 162.81 64.20 Bast Mind, NOP ee es kok 615.00 28.28 40.70 Wagt-vEndy (No. 2° 2s. sce Aas 380.00 25.00 52.80 Georgia ........ A Ag cena 450.00 9.00 FCGOLER atone be seek Ae 245.00 37.39 Moberiywevut 2 ee 180.00 37.00 14.00 Notduay Cts eect eines 155.00 » 12.85 South Hill ...... Ray ci 105.00 : ( 25.25 Renfrew vig ee 100.00 20.40. 34.15 Wests Campbell. 2852.52 140.00 715 15.39 Oreste sPnoducts wna 315.00 { 16.50 Victory Square .............. 675.00 35.00 32.90 Seave Shore niyo shea oy tte 325.00 i 61.75 Maritime ences wh ee 180.00 51.50 7.85 Building Trade .............. 150.00 12.80 7.85, Mainivetirlichy sc sani seek ee 300.00 50 121.10 Civyicidndustrial i. 3.6. 135.00 30.35 Metal Workers ............... 75.00 . 6.7U West sland) 1 ite wine 280.00 69.44 50.00 - Wngishohay. 22 oak. 330.00 115.50 24.35 | Commercial. Drive... ....5... 185.00 86.78 120.25 Hastings: Bast osdpon 330.00 22.80 31.70 Seamen & Longshoremen 3.00 2.00 Kitsilano 20 ee 365.00 62.70 24.00 Fairview ee See ces 175.00 74.58 21.30 Mount Pleasant ............. 200.00 25.50 7.60 Niflo Makela of. . h4 105.00 4450 ' 32.75 OW ssi eee te ee Oy 150.00 104.50° 65.20° Ginger Goodwin .............. 15.00 11.40 BE Jonas iepeenin OF eke Oe eet ae 45.00 é 2,00 Paulemtobeson sas sites sos 75.00 5.50 Students, No. 2 ...... Ps Stee 40.00 52.95° Students; No: 4-408 5 37.00 18.00 37.10" North Wait! A" ys Os) | 835.00 71.05 126.35° Capitolediille nee. aes ee 150.00 4.00 51.45 » Vancouver Heights .......... 125.00 21.00 17.05 Sonuthwsurnaby. a5 nes tes 90:00 8.00 41,35 Hast= Burna bys cuter sie 90.00 3.70 Central Burnaby ............. 135.00 4.00 9.39 Wm. Hreherchuk ..... ioe 1000.00 12.50 | 375.60 Vittorierste te eects asi ae 475.00 51.60 144.85 New Westminster ........ eee 295100 13.50 58.95 VANCOUVER ISLAND TALLY Alberni and Port Alberni 300.00 2.65 21.85 Quathiaski ....... eran Sai ae 45.00 2.50 Gampbell River. < e03. aoe 100.00 10.00 5.00 Courtenay). cn. =. Po ane 225.00 10.70 Cumberlands) cs. 3. ee tenes 15.00 50 18.85 INanaimonei 246 i a ese eae 300.00 15.00 28.70 Fixtension es. te ee 75.00 6,00 South Wellington ............ 30.00 Tadyantith tse. s) Mb ina oe 75.00 « 10.00 5.00 OUNCE RE sere ce somite: 75.00 14.50 2.00 Cowichan’ Lake ............. 200.00 83.00 54.10 a: : ei kl? Stake : 719 Robson St. —— MAr. 2622 ‘Tribune drive lagging, | ‘let’s get busy now’ — By IVAN BIRCHARD Well, folks, we’re just about one-third of the way 7] reaching our objective in the Pacific Tribune drive—witt | Just one month to go. The grand total raised to date stands | at $4,619.53, leaving $11,381.00 still to come. Broken dow? | this means that we have got $1,945.63 in donatidns and $2,673.90 in subs—that we have still to get $8,055.00 1) donations and $1,326.00 in subs, Seems in order here to | sound a warning and say, LET’S GET BUSIER STILL ON THE TRI- BUNE DRIVE. | Ki ee William White, president | of the Vancouver Labor Council and: president of Local No. 1 of the Marine Workers and Boilermakers’ Union says, “Today, more than ever before, labor needs a fighting paper such as the Pacific Tribune. It is one of the few papers in Canada presenting labor’s viewpoint on all issues, I heartily endorse its appeal to all trade unionists for Support, since in essence, it is their paper also.” WILLIAM WHITE Pres.: Vancouver Labor Council | * * * $s Our tally jumped up last week with a big donation and 4 flock of subs from Steveston, putting that little club over the top on both counts. The West Einders and English Bay accounted for $50.50 and $35.50 respectively. Commercial Drive club came in with $42.28, while the Marine Workers turned in $50.50, the P?@ ceeds from a very fine film ‘entertainment. : Our Ukrainian friends gave a $20.00 donation as a token Of their esteem,.and the East Eng clubs No. 1 and 2 have made big contributions. Our star salesman Bill Hreherchuk is nearing the halfway mark in his one-man campaign for one thousand bucks We need a few more lads like Bill on the job. : é We print below the standing of Vancouver, New Westminster Victoria and Island points, which will be followed next week A SPECIAL MAY DAY EDITION IS: BEING PRE-| — PARED AND WILL BE OFF THE PRESS APRIL 28. | ORDER YOUR BUNDLE NOW: Individual greetings are invited for this historic issue at $1.00 each. Send in your bundle order and _ your greeting now! ee —_ 4 | PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 6