Alberta peace mission
presses MLAs on tests

3 EDMONTON
The Alberta legislature on Friday last week was the scene of the first large peace lobby

in its history, when somé 70 delegates from Calgary, Edmonton and other centres interviewed

The peace mission, which was B il l 33 ‘goo d step’
but still falls short

initiated by Edmonton Peace
Council, included delegates from
_ Bill 33, the act passed at the last lession of the provincial
legislature making it an offense to discriminate in employment

| Morgan hits
Socred sellout

‘ NANAIMO, B.C.

“Making a sacrificial offering of the minister of lands

and forests will not make the Socred giveaway of the prov-
ince’s forest, hydro and gas resources any more palatable,’

Nigel Morgan, LPP provincial leader, declared at a public
Meeting held in the CCF Hall-here last week.

_ “Sworn affidavits containing
charges of bribery and corruption
\have been in the hands of the

many organizations which are
concerned with the effects of
nuclear weapons tests.

In their interviews with MLAs
delegates presented a resolution

ment for a new policy based

on development and fabrication
of resources within the country,

attorney-general since last De-| Morgan pointed out that it*was | stating: or trade union membership because of race, color or religious~
cember 7,” said Morgan. “Either| popular pressure:that brought | 4 4 i ee ; beliefs, is “a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t go far
Sommers is guilty or he is inno-| ®bout unanimous adoption of a Qused.. by Statements (On| enough.

This is the opinion of the Van-|
couver branch of the League for ;
Democratic Rights as expressed’ Where such practises exist, it
in the March issue of its bulletin, | will be difficult to get satisfac-
Civil Liberties Digest. * {tion under Bill 33.

atomic explosions issued at vari-
ous times by eminent scientists
that pollution of the atmosphere
by the accumulation of radio
active products is increased with

applicant not being qualified or

peace resolution by the legisla- suntatie Yor dhe sok.

ture at its recent session.
Turning to municipal affairs
“and the growing municipal taxa-
tion crises which places a heavy
burden on homeowners,” Morgan

cent, in which case his accusers
would be guilty of perjury. Both
are serious criminal offenses and
the Bennett government has a
duty to bring one or the other

to account.
bility that cannot be ducked.”

Morgan said the LPP was de-
Manding establishment of a judi-
cial enquiry into the handling

_ of the resources, department.

*“Valuable, irreplacable natural
Tesources (forest, hydro, gas and
mineral) have been handed out!
and we say the people of this |
Province are entitled to know
_ Whether these matters have been
broperly and fairly handled, and

Whether they have been handled
in the best interests of B.C.,” he

Said.

Urging citizens to maintain
their pressure on the govern-

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1

asserted that a new taxation poli-
cy was long overdue, where in-
dustry would begin to pay its
proper share.

He commended Ernie Knott,
Nanaimo aldermanic candidate
present in the audience, for his
consistent fight for tax relief
through federal aid for education
and development of industrial
sites.

Morgan also warned of a threat-
ening increase in electricity rates
in districts served by the B.C.
Power Commission, _ noting that
a special bill had been passed by
the legislature to allow an in-
crease. Vancouver Island’s power
requirements would be _trebled
by 1960; he said, appealing for
support of the popular campaign
for public ownership of the pro-
vihce’s power resources and dis-

4| tribution systems.

“The LPP has long been criti-
cal of the government’s apparent
i to private power mon-
ae the B.C. Electric,” Mor-
gan said.

“We say ‘the government should
take over without further delay
all power utilities in the province
— electric and gas — operate
them as public utilities and pro-
vide such essential ‘services at
cost. Public power at cost would
attract many new industries,” he
claimed. _

Morgan said the LPP was not
opposed to U.S. investments in
Canada, but “we are opposed to
handing over control of our nat-
ural resources to foreign mono-
polies such as Kaiser Aluminum.

“If Kaiser wants more power
to produce more aluminum, to

‘| supply ‘growing world demands,

let Kaiser come to Canada
peers of draining off our power
for a mere pittance. Let him
build his plants on Canadian soil
where Canadians can enjoy the
job opportunities and other bene-
os dopted a reso
The meeting adopted a -
lution calling upon the federal
government to use its influence
within the UN and with other
governments to obtain interna-
tional agreement. barring nu-
clear weapons tests.

every explosion of atomic or
hydrogen bombs; and knowing
that these explosions are con-
tinuing despite the solemn warn-

ings which have, been issued on
the gravity of genetic damage
that may result to future genera-
tions; ; .

“We, Alberta citizens petition
the Alberta legislative assembly
to pass the following resolution:

“That this assembly urges the
government of Canada to pro-
pose to the United Nations an
international agreement for

stopping any further tests of

nuclear weapons.”

‘Twenty-two members, includ-
ing one cabinet minister, were
interviewed, eleven Social Credit-
ers, six Liberals, three Conser-
vatives and two CCFers. Most of
those interviewed voiced support
for the resolution, although Lib-
eral opposition leader Prowse re-
fused to see the delegation, say-
ing he was “not interested.”

Provincial Secretary A. J.
Hooke indicated that he was
favorably disposed towards the
peace resolution, expressing the
view that bombs should not be
dropped anywhere in the world.

F. M. Baker (SC, Clover Bar)
agreed that the only way to solve
international issues was by peace-
ful means. His comment on the
resolution to stop the tésting of
atomic weapons was: “I don’t
think anybody would oppose it.”

M. Maccagno (Lib., Lac La
Biche) stated that he was against
all wars — atomic or conven-
tional.

N. Dushinski (CCF, Willing-
don) and S. Ruzycki (CCF, Veg-
reville) informed the delegates
that they were waiting for an

‘opportunity to place a similar

motion on the order paper.

Aim oi the peace lopby was
‘to have its motion brought be-
fore the legislature. Twelve of
the MLAs interviewed said they
would definitely support a re-
solution such as the one pre-
sented to them by the delega-

tion.

inal goal sought by the world
ae agement — peace through
disarmament — is in essence the
same as that of the Doukhobors,
Ray Gardner, B. C. Peace Council
chairman, said in addressing a
banquet organized by Vancouver
Doukhobors last Saturday in the
Russian People’s Home here.
. Referring to the disarmament
resolution recently passed by the
provincial legislature, Gardiner

asked, “Does it not take us at least

Doukhobors in city
give to Peace Council

a step closer to that ideal sought
by the Doukhobors when on St.

Peter’s Day, 1895, they burned all
their weapons -in great bonfires

throughout Russia ?”

About 200 people attended and
a donation of $100 was made to
the peace council. Master of cere-
monies was George Legebokoff
and the donation was presented
to Gardner by Mrs. Mabel Wasin-
kow.

Explaining the LDR position, |
the Civil Liberties Digest says: |

While Bill 33 is a step in the |
right direction, it doesn’t go far)
enough. : |

In the first place, the penalties |
for offending employers are too |
small and the procedure for pro- |
cessing a complaint is too cum-
bersom.

In the second place, the bill
covers only one aspect of dis-
crimination. That is why, while
welcoming such legislation, the
LDR will continue to press for a
comprehensive Bill of Rights.

The most common type of dis-
crimination in employment, in
B.C., is the hidden discrimination.

The applicant who belongs to
a minority group not in favor
with the particular employer is)
allowed to be interviewed, test-
ed and documented. Then, the
application is quietly pigeon-hol-
ed, ostensibly on the basis of the

,

LABOR

BRIEFS

When first meeting of the merg-
ed labor council is held here
early in May, the president’s chair |
will likely be occupied by Lloyd
Whalen, present head of Van-
couver Labor Council (CCL).

Formula for distribution of of-
fices was arrived at Tuesday this
week in a secret meeting of VLC

and TLC officials, and the prob-
able line-up will be:

President, Lloyd Whalen; vice-
president, Tom Alsbury; assistant
secretary, Vic Forster. A perm-
anent senior secretary will be
named by ‘Trades and Labor
Council (AFL-TLC). *

x * x

Strike of 182 union machinists
has shut down the world’s larg-
est integrated pulp and paper
mill at Corner Brook, Newfound-
land.

The union is demanding that
sulphite superintendent Albert
Roche be fired, and more than
1,000 other Bowater plant work-
ers belonging to four other unions
are backing up the machinists’
demand by refusing to cross pick-
et lines, ‘

* xs *

Labor Minister Lyle Wicks
has promised to discuss claim
for a silicosis pension by ex-
miner Jack Zucco with federal
authorities on his next visit back

®

\
« x *

Smelter workers at Trail are
forming a cooperative to run the
city’s bus system. sf

*k * *

The injunction barring strikers
from picketing the Grinnell Com-
pany at 1150 Saymur still stands.
Court of Appeal dismissed a union
appeal against the order this
week.

“MARCH 30, 1956 —

In this connection, civil lib-
erties groups, service organiza-
tions and trade unions can be
of great assistance in making
the law: work.

Wherever it is suspected that
a firm is practicing discrimina-
tion as defined in the act, volun-
teer groups can make pre-arrang-
ed applications for employment,
involving individual people of
equal qualifications and_ suita-
bility. The results can be tabu-
lated and accurate conclusions
drawn. Where there is sufficient
evidence to merit laying a cdém-
plaint, this can be done.

One of the most blatant forms
of discrimination in B.C. is in
the field of accommodation.
That is why so many people
were disappointed when the
government did not introduce a
Fair Accommodation Practices
Act. ;

Many hotels will not acconimo-
date a person whose skin is not
white. A number of beer par-
lors in Vancouver will not serve

‘mixed paries of Negro and white

people.

This situation cannot be squar-
ed with religious principles, with
liberal humanitarianism or with
the fundamentals of trade union-
ism, Legislation is needéd to out-
law such immoral actions.

There are those who, while
professing to be against discrim-
ination in any form, claim that
you cannot make the various eth-
nic groups in our society love
each other by legislation. 4

They miss the main point. Leg-
islation of this type is designed
to punish and make an example
of the person who’ commits an
act of discrimination against an-
other person, causing humiliation,
discomfort and harm to the of-
fended citizen. ;

The proper enforcement of such
laws will have both a deterrent
and educational effect on the
bigots and ignoramuses in our

society. ...

The enactment of anti-discrim-
ination legislation is the reflec-
tion of the deeply-held convic-
tions of the public. The legisla-
ture is not blazing a trail. It is .
slowly recognizing the morality
of the people.

The LDR will continue to work
for a comprehensive Bill of Rights
for British Columbia.

222292227

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PACIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 7