Japanese people want end to US occupation A Canadian seaman just returned from Japan told the Pacific Tribune this week some details about life in the land of Hirohito and MacArthur. . : “Economic conditions are deplorable,’ he said. working greatly below capacity and of course the people are suffering. Clothing is scarce and in the ports workers scramble around foreign sailors trying to beg or buy worn- out dungarees. “In some smaller towns the med- ‘ieval system of sewage disposal still exists. Under the most favorable conditions a horrible stench’ arises “Factories are profits from it. Certainly the exis- tence of two currencies, the Jap- anese yen and the American script, opens the door for a wide-open black market in currency, which operates to the benefit of certain elements within the American oc- cupation forces. . “A Canadian visiting Japan for LPP riomination meets slated to begin soon Nomination conventions within the next few weeks will name Labor-Progressive candidates to contest three B.C. federal con- stituencies, Nigel Morgan, pro- vincial LPP leader, announced this week. Burnaby-Richmond, Vancouver Center and Comox-Alberni will be contested, said Morgan. Nomination meetings are ten- tatively slated for March 2 in Burnaby-Richmond and March 8 in Vancouver Center, Oppose Franco regime aim of new B.C. body | A new organization named Fr iends of Free Spain has been set up in Vancouver under the chairmanship of John Goss, with Rosaleen Aims of the o Ross as secretary. rganization are to supplement the work of the Spanish Refugee Committee and to press the Canadian government to ‘strive through the United Nations:for complete sever- ance of all diplomatic and econo- mic, ties with the Franco regime. Membership in the new organ- ization can be obtained by sub- scribing a minimum of one dollar to the Friends of Free Spain, 641 Granville Street, Vancouver. Bulletins containing the latest tion on military preparations of Franco, At the present time 62.5 percent of the Spanish budget is devoted to military’expenses. In contrast, only 1.4 percent is set aside for social -welfare expenditures. The average salary of a Falang- ist leader or an army officer in from the open sewage drains which | the first time gets the impression Shain : run along each side of the roads. _ ot nue elpeadd pat We news on the \situation in Spain, oO ee a ie oe the ee under the thumb of a ruthless i ‘ F aaa ; ; , a universi rofessor draws 4 “Both men and women, clad in occupying force which is making aS SU eee Bee haere pen Oped spe une Cerca at rae only 12,000 eas * | rags, worked a 12-hour shift in the| very little atempt to ease the a : will be sent to members from time : hold of our ship. unloading cargo.| economic distress of the people (Communists woh 35 seats, asS|to time, together with information In April the case of Franco ee no union protection; by rehabilitating industry. cchaibar ayat pa the previous gov-| 4, _the organization's plans. and|Spain will again come before the q “I was in Kobe during the recent cae . activities. United Nations. Friends of Free * “Soap cannot be obtained ashore, | elections and the amount of in- “The main slogan of the pro- First report published by the Spain will conduct a campaign to 4 which leaves the average Japanese | terest was very concretely demon-j} gressive forces is, ‘Peace, Liberty é svete : urge Canadian representatives to 4 worker at the mercy of the black| strated by the crowds of people}and Independence’ The _ broad | 0%Sanization}contains factual mat- U market. There is a flourishing black | milling around the election head-| masses of the people want neither | erial on such questions as health, > to oppose any attempt to ad- oe. market, and if what we heard from | quarters of workers’ candidates. |Hirohito or MacArthur and would| education, production, wages and|mit Franco into the council of - _ the people is true, the American Undoubtedly the progressive forces|be very wel! pleased to rid them-|living costs in fascist Spain; as| nations. Postcards will be issued ae occupation authorities are reaping | had a program that met with very] selves of both.” well as some interesting informa-/ outlining the views of the organ- ae ; ization, and Canadian citizens will i i be asked to mail them to all MP's | : : and UN representatives, eS | | ta A oe 7 ; -|Labor f i ; oa ~|Labor forum will ra LE SUES ER Ra Ra 2 ge Rn Ree " . Sey examine Bill 87 | : a i t o ay e “What Is Wrong With Bill 87” a a YF i la tens will be the topic under discussion 4 ARP at the next Labor Forum meeting he = SN in Pender Auditorium, Sunday, ‘. << 5 Se 8 ‘ February 20, at 8 p.m. Jack sf : Phillips of the Civie Workers Union will introduce the subject. | At the opening forum last week Bill Rigby of the Fishermen's Union led a spirited discussion on “The LPP and the Unions.” On March 6 “What the Marshall Plan Means to B.C. Labor” will be handled by a panel consisting 60 seamen sentenced — toa total of 67 years! | Sees eee @ DENIED THE RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURY UNDER THE | a CANADA SHIPPING ACT. |Research bureau wins claim against IWA _ Trade Union Research Bureau a last week won a $1,364 judgment : against the International Wood- workers of America. : @ PROSECUTED BY SHIPPING COMPANY LAWYERS. | @ FORCED CSU TO SPEND $50,000 IN LEGAL FEES. For the bureau, Emil Bjarn- son and Bert Marcuse claimed the money as due for services rendered to the IWA. The union consented to the order made by Mr. Justice Coady. se M. Murphy, engineer for Canada Steamship Lines, shot and wounded five sea- mea. “Pretty good shooting, winging five out of six," said Capt. Reoch, Canada Steamship Lines manager. Murphy was acquitted of all charges. The five sea- men he shot were jailed! boo ie This is @ DEPRIVES SEAMEN OF THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS REE CST UNE “BOSS” justice— | ? |Port Alberni oes 24 HOUR SERVICE UNION TAX}! @ ENDANGERS THEIR LIVES. ; . Phone: 13725... kg i aes E ¥ @ AND ALSO THREATENS YOU! | ge es ee Be ee ee ! . : EAST END Y help FREE Jailed $ our $$$ can help F ailed Seamen! TAXI a : : " l UNION DRIVERS Your $$$ can help protect YOUR rights! HA. 0334 : : 4 Fully 24-Hour as : . i Service National Seamen’s Defense Committee, ee ee ean 113 Parliament St., Toronto, Ont. 5 ; Coal | - . a BRE ares Be hes ts VAMP ER Boo asi te ens ces ONG Wood | RES ohne as va sss AS My contribution to freeing seamen jailed by Sawdust — “BOSS” justice. ; ; : UNION d 4% : (This is the first in a series of advertisements prepared by the National Seamen’s Defense Committee) , Sasigss é FA. 7663 EE ES PACING CEIGUNE -— FEBRUARY 18, 1949 — PAGE 6 iv CETTE TROT TT SCTE RST