Gas pipeline vital to
B.C. says Morgan

Outcome of the battle over the handling of British Golumbia’s newly-discovered natural
gas reserve will affect hundreds of communities and have a profound bearing on the future of
this province, LPP provincial leader Nigel Morgan told delegates attending the 10th convention
the Labor-Progressive party, held in Pender Auditorium here

of the B.C.-Yukon section of
last weekend.

“There is no disagreement over
the need for a pipeline to tap the
fabulous Peace River reserve, esti-
mated to be one of the largest:in
the world,” said Morgan. “The big
question is by whom it is to be
developed and for whose benefit.

“This new, source of natural gas,
of cheap power, could provide a
tremendous stimulous to the -in-

NIGEL MORGAN
‘Re-elected LPP provincial leader.

dustrial development of B.C., lay-
ing the basis for new industries,
new job opportunities and, at the
same time, reducing the cost,
lightening the task, and more ef-
ficiently heating our homes.

“But there is a powerful con-
spiracy afootsto deprive us of the
full benefits which belong to the
people of our province. A group
of financial promoters in the
southern U.S. are spending a small
fortune in a campaign against the
development of an all-Canadian
pipeline, directly aimed against
B.C. being linked to the  trans-
Canada system. :

' “Their aim is to get this rich

prize diverted south (as they
have already done with two-
thirds of our crude oil supply)
and gain absolute control over
this resource for the future.

“Scientists predict that natural
gas (of which there is a known
reserve of four and one-half tril-
lion cubic feet in B.C.’s Peace
River area) will account for two-
thirds of Canada’s energy in 1960.

“Our country needs a nation-
ally-owned natural gas: pipeline
stretching from coast to coast
to bring cheap, efficient natural
gas to Canada’s industries, nat-

ural resources and homes; we

need it today as urgently as
Canada needed her own trans-
continental railway system a
century ago.

“Completion of this great nation-

building project in B.C. is the key
issue around which the people of
this province can be rallied to
struggle for national independence
and break the shackles of U.S.
domination.
, “It is an integral part of the
national fuel-power policy needed
by Canada — coal, hydro, oil, gas
and atomic energy — to develop
our provincial and national econ-
omy.”

Morgan spoke of the successful
and impressive “Pipeline Caval-
cade” through the Fraser Valley
recently and urged that it be fol-
lowed up with more demonstra-
tions, interviews with civic 1241
provincial officials, and MLAs.

The convention endorsed the
speaker’s. proposal that the LPP
launch a campaign around a sim-
ply-worded petition for 100,000
names calling for B.C. gas and
water power to be used for the
benefit of the people of B.C. The
petition will be presented to Pre-
mier W. A. C. Bennett at the open-
ing of the next session of the legis-
lature. .

Morris states only political
solution to nation’s problems

“There is no economic solution
to the problems facing Canadians
today — there is only a political
solution,” said Leslie Morris, LPP
national organizer, in his address
to the convention of the B.C.-
Yukon section of the Labor -Pro-
gressive varty here last weekend.

“We support every economic de-
mand of the workers,” Morris con-
tinued, “but if we simply stick to
these and fail to go to the Cana-
dian people with our Put Canada
First program, we won't save the
future of our country. |

“Our country is in greater
danger from U.S. imperialism than
most of us realize. If we fail to
build a national democratic front
in time, we will be subject to all
the violent and brazen interfer-
ence suffered by the people of
Guatemala. Nothing distinguishes
us essentially from the position
Latin-Americans find themselves
in today, with respect to our rela-
tion to Yankee imperialism.”

Morris, who had just returned
from a visit to Mexico, vividly de-

LESLIE MORRIS”

“Our country is in greater danger
from U.S. imperialism than most
of us realize.”

TUNE IN /

Nigel

Morgan

PROVINCIAL LEADER |

LABOR PROGRESSIVE

PARTY

Build the Gas

: Pipeline Now
CBU AND NETWORK STATIONS
MON., OCT. 25, 10.15 P.M.

scribed the brutal policy of the trol of the St. Lawrence Seaway
U.S. government in that country is

and other Latin-American coun- | question of-our national sovereign-

‘| for the capitalist class, the farm-

j tries — “a policy of installing,

wherever they can, military juntas
which are creatures of the Penta-
gon,”

“Reactionary circles are plotting
a coup d’etat in Mexico,” he said,
“but many signs also point to the
policies of struggle in the tradi-
tion of the great Mexican revolu-
tion of 1910. For this great nation
of 27 million people today finds
itself frustrated and stagnant, un-
able to move forward until it wins
freedom from domination by the
United States.”

Canadians and Mexicans must
develop solidarity, for our mu-
tual survival as independent na-
tions, Morris stressed, and told
of a Mexican worker who put
the necessity for unity in these
words: “Let us try to make a
sandwich out of Wall Street be-
tween Mexico and Canada.”

Morris said the battle for con-

|

“fundamentally the greatest

'ty that we have faced for many
| generations, for it embraces the
right of a people and government
to decide what happens on its!
own. territory.

“Our party led the fight for an
all-Canadian Seaway, but it is not
our cause alone — it is a question

ers, the workers—for everybody.”

He spoke of the great struggle
just beginning to shape up on the
question of natural gas.

“Canada is in the process tech-
nologically of changing. Natural
gas is the cheapest, most potent
fuel we have to develop industry.

“Canadians are a_ practical
people. They are too practical
to fall for McCarthyism. They
sense the great betrayal of our
ruling class, who are selling out
our country to the U.S., and
they are eager to work with us

Develop B.C. industries

Columbia’s natural resources:

@ Start construction immediate-
ly on a publicly-owned pipe-
line to bring the advantages
of natural gas to the populat-
ed areas of the province;
link B.C. with the Trans-
Canada line east from Edmon-
ton.

Launch a “Fraser Valley
Authority” to harness the full
potentialities of that mighty
river and provide thousands
of new jobs.

End the policy of exporting
aluminum ingots from Alcan
and place a penalty tax on-
every pound of aluminum in-
gots taken out of B.C. for
manufacture and fabrication;
on every ton of iron and as-
bestos; on every barrel of
crude oil.

‘Strike out at U.S.-imposed
trade restrictions, reopen our
traditional Commonwealth
markets and speak up for
policies of peace and trade
with all countries, the recog-

tion of full diplomatic rela-
tions.

Take over public ownership
of B.C.’s light, transit and

nition of China and restora-_

Penalty tax sought —
on aluminum, iron, oil

The keynote report made by Nigel Morgan, LPP provincial leader,
to the weekend convention of the B.C.-Yukon section of the Labor
Progressive party projected this program of action to develop Bri

tish

gas distribution systems
through the B.C. Power Conr
mission.

Move for revision of the fee
eral-provincial fiscal agree
ments to provide additional
provincial revenues for 4&
velopments of our province
and the health and educé
tional needs of its citizens

Reform the BC. tax system
¥o compel those using up the
province’s natural resources
to carry their rightful share
of the tax load and bring "©
lief to the home owner af

farmer from the present un
bearable municipal tax !oad
and sales tax. |
Enact legislation demanded
-by the trade unions and fart
organizations. : t

oO

Adopt a provincial Bill

Rights to end discriminatory

practices; to grant ®the UBr
versal suffrage in municip@
as well as provincial elections
at 18; to guarantee to our
young people the right f?
employment of their choices
and to our senior citizens $©
curity with dignity.

ALF DEWHURST :
170 new LPP members in six
months.

Reports on
LPP growth

Since the Labor-Progressive par-
ty held its national convention last
spring, 170 new members have
been recruited into the LPP in
British Columbia, delegates to the
10th convention of the B.C.-Yukon

Alf Dewhurst, the p
cial organizer.

Growth of the LPP was also ex-
pressed in the credentials com-
mittee report, which showed 54
-LPP clubs represented at the con-

arty’s provin-

represented. Half the clubs which
sent delegates were from provin-
cial points. . ;

bers of other mass organizations;
91 were men and 37 women; only
one delegate was a farmer.

Nigel Morgan, -LPP provincial
leader, was re-elected by acclama-
tion to the post he has held since
1945.

A new provincial committee of
36 members was elécted from a
list of 58 nominated at the con-
cluding session on Sunday after-

to defend our country.

noon.

section of the LPP were told by,

vention, and only four clubs not]

Of the 128 delegates present, 60|
were trade unionists and 66 mem-|

Scrap Kaiser |
power deal

‘says LPP

A resolution demanding that
“the present plan to store water
in B.C. for Kaiser power develoP”
ments in the U.S. be scrapped” W45
unanimously passed by delegates

| attending the 10th convention

the B.C.-Yukon section of
Labor-Progressive party here last
weekend, and has been forwarde
to Premier W. A. C. Bennett.

“B:C. power resources must Pé
developed to serve the interests ©
B.C. and Canada first,” said the T
solution, which charged the social
Credit government with followiné .
the Coalition in carrying forwa!
policies which have increasingly
placed our great natural wealt
under -control of U.S. trusts.

Stating that the government
plan to store Columbia Rive!
waters in this province for pow
development in the U.S. “const
tutes betrayal of the vital interes!
of B.C.”, the resolution conclude
by demanding the government livé
up to the recent pledge of Lands
and Forests Minister Robert So”
mers that “We are not going
provide storage tanks for the 4%
ericans.” . i

Another resolution endorsed
by the convention noted thé
great possibilities existing today
for trade with the Orient, whic
would give a spurt to shipbuild-
ing and subsidiary industrie>
here, and asked that the tra¢@
mission of Einar Gunderson, for
mer finance minister, to EuroP®
be extended to establish trade
with the’ people of China and
other Pacific countries.

-Other resolutions condemned the ©
unwarranted intervention by the
U.S. in the internal affairs of GU, —
temala; demanded the enactment of
a provincial Bill of Rights; calle
for release of all political prisonet®
who are victims of anti-democra!
laws in the U.S. and sent solidaril¥
greetings to the Communist. Party a

of the United States.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — OCTOBER 22, 1954 — PAGE 2