‘the 20,000 - 25,000

e

What Vancouver
elections showed

By MAURICE RUSH

HE results of Vancouver’s civic
election have given the Tory-
Liberal Non-Partisan Association
little ground fgr jubilation. Al-
though hailed by the press and
radio as an NPA sweep, and in-
deed the NPA did retain all ‘posi-
tions, the more sober big business
circles are not enthusiastic about
the outcome. This was expressed
by the Vancouver Sun the morn-
ing after the election in an edit-
orial which said: “Ratepayers at
yesterday’s election showed they
haven’t too much confidence in
the present regime.”

The concern expressed by the
Sun over the election results has
firm foundation. The near defeat
of the vital money bylaws (which
came within three percent of be-
ing turned down) was a sharp
public denunciation of the NPA.
Most citizens who went to the
polls knew the NPA would con-
tinue to dominate the city hall
since there appeared no other
united alternative strong enough
to oust it. The many thousands
who voted against the money by-
laws actually expressed their dis-
trust*of the NPA machine at the
city hall.

The small vote of 52,600 out
of 171,882 eligible voters, or 30.6
percent, one of the lowest in
many years, was itself a sharp
criticism of the NPA.

Thousands of people stayed
away from the polis on election
day because they coudn’t stomach
the NPA. These voters saw no
real united alternative to the
NPA and therefore didn’t think
it important enough to vote.

The real anti-NPA strength in
the city cannot be estimated by
votes cast
against its candidates. To that
must be added many thousands
more who stayed away from the
polls in disgust. There can be
no doubt that a larger vote this
year would have been more
strongly anti-NPA.

The anti-NPA support in Van-
couver continues to show great
strength, although disunited, and
despite voting regulations. which
are definitely disadvantageous to
the working class sections of the
city. The hitherto limited fran-
chise, the 7 p.m. closing of polls,

the poor notification given by
the city to voters, thus forcing
them to rely on NPA notices
which are delivered to each home,
all these have strongly favored
the wealthy NPA.

Next year, for the first time,
the universal vote will come into
effect giving the franchise to all
residents over 21 years of age.
The labor and progressive move-
ment will have to take effective
steps ‘to see that all eligible vot-
ers are registered when the new
voters list is drawn up.

By far the most significant feat-
ure of this year’s civic election
was the commanding position
held by progressive independents
who have emerged in the last two
elections as the major challenge
to the Non-Partisans’ civic mono-
poly.

In the aldermanic race, Effie
Jones polled 11,652 votes, win-
ning sixth place, despite confusion
caused by the manoeuvre of en-
tering another candidate named
Jones. This year, 22.1 percent
of the electors voted for Effie
Jones as compared to 23.3 per-
cent in the much wider vote last
year, as indication that she is
holding her position of strength.

In the school board contest,
the anti-NPA candidates also
showed considerable support. An
independent, Dr. Blumes, was
runner up to the NPA, receiving
34.4 percent of the vote as com-
pared to 38.7 percent of last year’s
wider vote.

The election this year, more
strongly than last year, confirmed
the fact that the CCF is not con-
sidered an alternative to the NPA
by Vancouver voters.

Last year some CCF aldermanic
candidates ran very close to Effie
Jones, one eventually leading her
by 104 votes when the final fig-
ures were announced. This year
however, the closest CCF candi-
date was 2,400 votes behind her.
The highest CCF aldermanic can-
didate showed a six percent drop
in votes as compared to the high-
est CCF vote last year.

This year’s results will further
deepen the crisis of CCF civic
policy, which is to reject unity
with other progressive anti-NPA

~candidates and enter a full slate

of aldermanic candidates.
The main responsibility for the
split vote against the NPA rests

with the CCF’s anti-unity policy. .
It is widely known that strong
forces inside the CCF opposed
the nomination of a full slate.
But anti-unity forces won the
day over strong objections and
to the detriment of thé working
people of Vancouver.

It is also noteworthy, that the
only red-baiting in the election
campaign was done by a CCF
candidate for parks board, Cliff
Greer, who apparently thought it
would improve his chances if he

assumed the role of “anti-com-
munist.”
°

The only aldermanic candidate
to bring forth the real issues in
this election was Effie Jones.

Campaigning around a program
to “Make Vancouver Great,” Mrs.
Jones showed how trade with
China, the British Commonwealth
and other countries could lead to
the city’s growth and develop-
ment as Canada’s gateway to the
Pacific. She showed how a policy
of developing local industry in-
stead of sending our raw mater-
ials to the U.S. could provide
bigger payrolls and help head off
the threat of depression.

Mrs. Jones came out for a bold
program of higher taxes for big
business and lower taxes on
homeowners. Pointing out that
the federal government is spend-
ing $2% billions each year for
war while more than $50 million

of federal property in Vancouver
is tax-free, she demanded less
expenditures on war and federal
aid to municipalities through pay-
ment of civic taxes on federal
properties.

She also took up the fight for
low rental housing, development
of port facilities, civic democracy
and against the present gouging
of the public by the B.C. Electric
and B.C. Telephone monopolies.

These are the real issues which
will remain before the people in
the coming year, and around
which she is bound to gain in-
creasing support.

@ N

The addition to the NPA-con-
trolled council of Donald McTag-
gart, big time lawyer and author
of the new city charter with its

@ “Make Vancouver Great” —
for-her people. This was thé
essence of Effie Jones’ calm
paign against the still domit

ant Non-Partisan clique at the

city hall. Fighting monopol¥’
dictated taxation policies, she e
called for a program of trade
and industrial development

provide jobs for citizens.
ne

many reactionary features, and
George Cunningham, owner 9 a
large drug store chain and dire™
tor of the B.C. Electric,

strengthen reaction at Vanco™
ver’s city hall. :

In the ciosing days of the elec
tion both indicated support £0
a city manager plan, long sous “it
by big business circles in ¥ to
couver. Both can be expected
serve the Tory-Liberal forces ©
hind the NPA. Labor and PIO
gressive forces in the city there
fore, will have to be on guard
against reactionary schemeS ~
the coming year.

This year’s election rest
prove ‘beyond any doubt that ©
NPA can be ousted provided att

is wider participation of the
movement in civic affairs;

vided the anti-NPA forces 2
united and the splitting vi ‘

of the CCF is rejected; an¢ rind
big job is done in registet
working class voters and 8© at.
them out to the polls next ¥&
This is the path along Wo
the labor and progressive ei
ment can end big business “_y,
ination of Vancouver civic ao

ernment and elect men ie ip

men who will work for a mel

troduce policies that will in@®™
make Vancouver great.

Jack Cornett (NPA)

ALDERMEN

(First four elected)
Ada Crump (NPA)

31,133

Anna Sprott (NPA)

George Cunningham (NPA) ._..

30,742
27,832

Donald McTaggart (NPA)

Halford Wilson (ind.)

25,622
20,753

Effie Jones (ind.)

11,652 -

James Sutherland (CCF)

9,256

Margaret Eckland (CCF)

9,107

Norman MacLean (CCF)

8,714

George Jones nd.)

6,695

Harry Klassen (CCF)

6,296

Don Guise (Ind.)

4,612

Albert Dunn (ind.)

3,812

Reginald Atherton (NPA)
Fred Sharp (NPA)
George Rogers (NPA)
Joseph Blumes (Ind.)
Agnes Murphy (ind.)
Mona Morgan (Ind.)
Elgin Ruddell (Ind.)

William Calder (NPA) .
Norman Carmichael (NPA) _............... bas
Alfred Swencisky (NPA)
Cliff Greer (CCF)
Sidney Wybourn (CCF)
George Clement (Ind.)
Charles Stephens (Ind.)
E. S. Woodward (ind.)

SCHOOL BOARD
(First four elected)

PARK BOARD
(First three elected)

How Vancouver voters cast their ballots

ae
MONEY BYLAWS
(All carried)
37,739 ms AS
sees Five-year plan (for $26.2 million) 25,189 14,996
Rejects 1,086
29,561 . (62.68 percent in favor).
28,943 School Referendum \ 16
18,139 (for $19.6 million) .............. 32,280 7,90
15,720 Rejects 783
11,473 (80.3 percent in favor)
10,451 Civic Auditorium : 10
(for $2.75 million) .............. 25,439 «15,18
Rejects 853 :
(62.7 percent in favor) :
; “3 60 percent favorable vote needed for passa8®
30,019 irport Plebiscite (on sale to ’
federal government) .............. 38,684 12,37
24,263 Rejects 1,541 ; .
23,123 (75.7 percent in favor) ' >
eed VOTING SUMMARY :
13,298 Total: Moles kee ee ee 52,600 fit
13,172 Total eligible to vote ..... 171,88?
8,883 Percentage of eligible vote 00.000...

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — DECEMBER 18, 1953 — PAG

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