INDIANS VICTIMS Shocking conditions at Manitoba mine TORONTO Indian workers, unpaid for two months, are living under “unbelievable conditions,’ at the operations of the New Manitoba Mining and Smelting Company near Lac Du Bonnet, 2 northeastern Manitoba town, a short four-hour drive from Winnipeg. The shocking conditions in this new lead and zinc mine have been brought to light by William Kennedy, vice-presi- dent of the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union. Writing in the last issue of the union publication, Mine- Mill Herald, Kennedy des- cribes how the company has “by one means or another brought in 26 Indian workers who are employed on surface operations in the main. They work 12 hours a day, and are paid, or are supposed to be paid, the miserable sum of $125.00 per month.” His description continues: “This would amount to less than 40 cents per hour. They are doing the same -type of work as white workers who are paid a minimum of $1.24 per hour. These Indian fel- lows are refused the use of the bunkhouses and don’t eat their meals in the mess house as do the other workers. “They live in tents with very little bedding and no toilet or - sanitary facilities. They have to cook their own meals in their tents and it seems that their only cooking utensils aré a cople of gal- vanized pails. “It is- almost unbelievable that a company would allow human beings to live in such conditions. The weather goes below freezing point almost every night and these men have to sleep without ade- quate bedding, no toilet facili- ties, no sanitary facilities, and* are expected to perform a 12- hour shift. “About a month ago they protested to the company and “such refused to go to work because of their living conditions and were virtually starved into submission. “Although they have been working for over two months now they inform us that they have not yet received any money in the way.of wages. It seems that some arrange- ment was made prior to their being brought in from the reservation, which we are in- formed is 250 miles distant, that they would be paid at some later date. “In talking with these In- dian workers, it is obvious that they are anxious to join the union and have their con- ditions corrected. However, the law of the province again proves a stumbling block. The workers have no money. They have not drawn any wages, but the law says the union must collect the full initiation fee or a month’s dues before they can be recognized as members of the union. “Here we have a situation where the company effective- ly_blocks off and prevents the organization of all the workers because the Indian workers constitute a substantial per- centage and cannot be repre- sented by a union because of the necessity of having to collect money from them which they don’t have. “Surely the voice of our union and all right thinking and decent’ people must be raised to eliminate forever such conditions which permit horrible treatment for the senior citizens and the original owners of this great country.” UE convention urges Labor-Farmer party TORONTO Approval of the idea “that would lead to formation of a Labor - Farmer party” was given by delegates attending the 21st annual convention of the United Electrical Workers. Delegates urged “a labor- farmer party to which unions, organizations could extend support, based om their demo- cratic participation in formu- lating aims, program and poli- cies of such a party.” Cc. S. Jackson was re-elected to his 21st term of office as president of the 25,000-member Canadian UE. Jean Pare, vice- president, George Harris, sec- retary - tredsurer, and Ross Russell, director of organiza- tion, were also returned to of- ‘fice for a further one - year term. The four - day convention stressed the need for strong action by all levels of govern- ment to curb present critical unemployment trends. Trade with all countries and the building up of the manufactur- ing industry in Canada were among the positive steps gov- ernment could take to pro- vide jobs and greater security for the people. ST FOOTE TT | CPPS) aT xT Pager AT AS Teen an % The US. Stae Depart- ment’s travel ban on Paul Robeson, world renowned singer, has been relaxed to allow him to visit any coun- try in the Western Hemisphere which does not require a U.S. passport for entry. As a result, Robeson can now visit Mexico and the West Indies and a num- ber of Central and South Am- erican countries, as well as Canada. Robeson (above) has announced that he will make a brief concert tour of the West Indies between now and mid-January and make sev- eral appearances in Mexico City. 7 Strong hails two sputniks TORONTO “Tt was a good thing for my country and for all of us that the first satellite was launched by the Soviet Union,” US. author, lecturer and journalist Anna Louise Strong told a Massey Hall meeting here celebrating the 40th anniver- sary of the Russian revolution. Hailing Sputnik II, Miss Strong addressed the 900- member audience’ as “fellow earthlings on our way to other planets.” The meeting was sponsored by the Toronto chapter of the Canadian - Soviet Friendship Society. “What we need now is peace,” she said. Soviet power and material resources plus those of the U.S. could pro- vide a bountiful life for all if turned to the arts of peace. But she warned about the dire consequences if the wealth of the world were directed to arms. Dr. Strong stressed that Soviet initiative in the field of opening a pathway to the stars was a positive boon to man- kind because of the Soviet Union’s’ dedication of its sci- ence to peaceful pursuits. She described as “utopian” those who believed that social- ism, after 40 years of incred- ible difficulty, with almost half the period occupied in wars or repairing the damage of war, could proceed without, making mistakes or provide the good life almost immedi- ately. Parties setting stage for an early election Getting ready for the next election is the main preoce! pation of all parties in the House of Commons these day* The government, while anxious to get a few pieces of populat legislation on the statute books, clearly feels that no great time should be lost in following up its advantage: and seeking through a new election to win a Conservative majority. The Liberals are distinctly on the defensive. They have before them the job of select- ing a new leader in January. Until then they are in no shape for an election. They are leaderless. The official leader of the op- position, ex-prime minister St. Laurent has hardly opened his mouth since his remarks on the Throne Speech in the first week of the session. Some other Liberals’ have opened their mouths too much — particu- larly. Jimmy Gardiner. His suggestion that the Liberals had they stayed in office would have brought in cash advances for western wheat farmers this fall, was hooted down. And he only succeeded in getting. himself into more trouble when he grandly sug- gested that after all the Tories are only in office because the Liberals had assured the gov- ernor-general that they would give the new government a chance to carry out its pro- gram. Gardiner has apparently not heard that his party lost an election on June 10th last. The most effective opposi- tion has to date come from the CCF which, on the pipeline is- sue, the western wheat crisis, pensions, and annual holidays, brought forward solid argu- ments in the interests of the workers and farmers. The weakness of the CCF position lies in their continued support of the discredited North Atlantic Treaty. Organ- ization, and the whole foreign policy based upon it. This policy indeed hangs like an al- -batross around the necks of all parties in the House. Diefenbaker has confirmed that he will personally repre- sent Canada at the next meet- ing of the NATO Council—a conference where a desperate effort will be made to shore up. the crumbling edifice. He is going along with the Mac- millan - Eisenhower plan to strengthen scientific coopera- tion between NATO countries in the production of still more terrible weapons of destruc- tion. Both he and Lester Pearson are calling on the United States to make atomic wea- pons available to all NATO countries. The Tories after their fine talk about new trade policies, and diverting Canadian trade from the U.S. to the United Kingdom, aré still failing to produce any concrete ideas for OTTAWA achieving these - objectiv® making it possible for Pea son to boldly assert that noth ing can be done at all to i” prove upon the policies follow ed by the Liberals for m0") than a decade. - But Finance Minister Fle ing was at pains to inform th House that the Tories never promised to accept ste™ ing in payment of Canad The two principal pieces ® | legislation so far dealt W by the House- raise old ast pensions to $55 per month, ap provide for cash —advall for farm stored grain. The have both been the subjet of long hard fought strugel® and action was long ove! Pe The government measures * both cases fall short of wha! needed. With respect to pensil the CCF, the LPP, trade ut” bodies, and many welt! organizations have long ee pointing out that to keep Pf” with inflated living ‘costs, P° sions should be established i $70 to $75 a month, The ; provisions do not even com F st up to the hopes aroused He spring when Diefenbak then. in opposition, suse that $60 per month wuold resent a reasonable figuté pensions. F On cash advances, the 10 plan fails to meet the dema” of Western farm organ tions. An advance of 50 on wheat, 35 cents on pate and 20 cents on oats falls she of their proposal that 2 Me ces should represent 59 cent of the initial price ' Even more important © point being made by af leaders in the West, a0” i the CCF in the Hous 14 cash advances, while hé Ai do not get at the basic Pit lems of high costs an@ — farm prices. gl No action will be take? 5 this session on housiné reply to an enquiry ig Claude Ellis (CCF, Reta Works Minister Green ay that it will not be possi bring in legislation 1 Pe vide loans with low dow? 0 ments to the great num prospective home ownel$ ii now earn incomes bel? $4,000. wil No lead will be forthe? trom Ottawa either ° iyi urgent request of MU" .j) bodies for representatioy the federal - provincial a4 cial conference at the ° this month. November 15, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE”