PROBE MAY BE ASKED

They pointed out that the
cost of bringing oil to the
Coast from Alberta hac been
reduced since completion of
the Trans Mountain oil pipe-
line. In view of the fact that
there had been no reauciion
in the price of gas since the
pipeline went into operation,
they wanted to know why
the oil companies nad now
increased their price.

(In the House of Commons

last week, Justice Minister

Stuart Garson, replying to a
question placed by A. M.
Nicholson (CCF, Mackenzie)
said the combines investigation
branch had been taking note
of petroleum price increases.
But whether this would lead
to a federal inquiry he add-
ed, “is a matter which is not
known at the presen’ time.”)

The gas price increase in
this province and elsewhere
in the country coincided with
increases in the U.S. where
the big oil monopolies are
under ure from many quar-
ters for seeking to exploit
the oil crisis caused by block-
ing of the Suez Canal.

Production costs were cut for Imperial Oil’s Ioco refinery
(above) and other refineries along Burrard Inlet when the
Trans-Mountain oil pipeline from Alberta was completed.
Why then, asks the B.C, Automobile Association, has the

price of gas been increased?

Greedy oil magnates’ assailed
for exploiting Middle East crisis

NEW YORK

Efforts by the U.S. oil in-
dustry to make huge profits
out of Europe’s oil crisis were
condemned last week by the
New York Post as “a grim
story of greed and irrespon-
sibility.”

In an editorial headed “Gov-
ernment by Oil” the paper
said the United States must
decide how long it would be
governed by the oil interests.
It added:

“The major American oil
companies have hit Western
Europe, desperately short of
crude oil since the closing of
the Suez Canal, with a 12 per-
cent price increase.”

“This move is equivalent to
raising the price of bread dur-

ing afamine. It not only soaks
the American consumer, but
also-may wreck the NATO al-
liance more effectively than

any scheme Communists could
devise.”
4.

The paper said that neither
President Eisenhower nor In-
terior Secretary Seaton had
protested against the price in-
crease.

“The price of oil domination
of the government is not meas-
ured alone in dollars and
cents,” it continued, “It is
measured in terms of political
integrity, tax equality and re-
sponsible foreign policy.”

U.S, government officials
have been talking of action
to increase crude oil shipments

to Europe. But they are ham-

-pered by the fact that there

is no government power over
such bodies as the Texas Rail-
road Commission, which con-
trols output in the nation’s
richest oil-producing state.

Assistant Interior Secretary
Felix Wormser has said that
shipment to Europe can be in-
creased if the amount of US.

oil used by domestic refiners
is reduced.

It was estimated by a trade
publication that an extra 200,-
000 barrels of oil a day might
be made available if home re-
fineries reduced their demands,

But this would still fall
short of the 500,000 barrels a
day target of the oil lift.

Unions take injunctiol\
Oil companies asked fight to legislature

why gas price hiked

Oil companies in British Columbia are to be asked by the B.C. Automobile As-
sociation to explain their recent one-cent increase in the price of gas. This was decided
at a meeting of the association's directors on Thursday last week.

In making their announcement, the directors hinted that they were considering
action to bring about a federal investigation of the increase.

By TERRY PETTUS

With the strikes of two Seattle unions smashed
injunciions, the labor movement is carrying the fight to

ington state legislature.

Two bills have been. introduced prohibiting such | is
interference and guaranteeing bargaining rights to thousal

of public employees.

The measures are House Bills
241 and 242, introduced by
Representatives Max Wede-
kind and Chet King. They out-
law the use of injunctions, spe-
cifically grant bargaining
rights and prohibit strikes only
to policemen, firemen, militia-
men and those performing
purely “governmental” func-
tions.

Both Wedekind and King
are leading trade unionists.
Wedekind is an official of the

Inlandboatmen’s Union and
King of the International
Woodworkers.

The bills have been sent to
the House labor committee, of
which Representative - Clyde
Tisdale, a founding member of
the International Woodwork-
ers, is chairman. Prompt and
favorable action is expected
from the committee.

The strikes smashed by King
county superior court injunc-
tions were those of the street-
car union against Seattle Tran-
sit Commission in November
and warehousemen of the

Fight for control of
Montreal behind law.

By JOHN SWITZMAN

When Mayor Drapeau refused to sign city council mil
recently municipal affairs in the country’s largest city
thrown into uproar and confusion. J

Drapeau’s refusal prevented, for the moment, at eu
bringing into being what would be virtually a rival city &*

tive to that headed by the
mayor who came into office
on a landslide vote in 1954.
The executive No. 2; - offi-
ially called the “Sanitary
Housing Bureau,” from which
the mayor and his supporters
are excluded, came about at a

special council meeting held.

on January 15 as a result of
a special law, Bill 27, rushed
through the Quebec legisla-
ture with little debate.

Bill 27 empowers the “Sani-
tary Bureau” to carry out the
“Dozois Plan,” to borrow and
spend money, sign contracts
engaging the city’s credit, call
city council meetings and com-
mand city officials to carry
out its decisions with prior-
ity over the official city exec-
utive,

_ According to Premier Mau-
rice Duplessis, his unprece-
dented action was intended to
do away with obstructions to
the will of a majority of the
city council and the need to
carry out the Dozois Plan.

The Dozois Plan is for slum
clearance in downtown Mont-

FEBRUARY 8, 1957 —

‘tivity, abolished the
Squad, and lined up with ¢
trade union movemeMg

SEATIV
by cow
Wi

i
International Longshoremel! :
and Warehousemen’s j
against Seattle Port Commi
sion last month. In both #
stances the court issued aE
manent injunctions which
now on appeal to the sta :
supreme court. ;

The transit workers W
seeking to negotiate a W
increase and the adjustme
of long standing grievaly
over working conditions. —

The Warehousemen W&
seeking to compel the #
Commission to pay the 16-088
an hour wage increase ré 1 a
ly negotiated along the ™@]
Pacific Coast. ay

In issuing the injunctid! Ve
the court made is clear = ai
such workers have no barg®™'
ing rights. j

“It may be a harsh nt
the court said in the ‘
case, “but public employ{
are dependent upon et
opinion to give them wh#
due them, and often it
behind the standards in i

ye
is the teaching professio™ —

MONTRE™

real. It was first conceived bs

1952 by a member of thé’

selin-- Houde administra”

as one means of-getting ©)

re-elected. But Jean Drei
backed by reform-minaé ae
zens and trade union 1e#”
was swept into office. |
While its program did’
embody any radical prope

the Drapeau-Desmarais ad
istration has shown itself
enable to public preg '
From the viewpoint ® i
trade union movemenly
ceased persecuting and ne
fering with its organizing gy
t

such issues as the traml”
increase.

When it became cleat}
the Drapeau adminis"
was not going to play
with Duplessis and hts
in city council organ
opposition began to oe
It has now taken shape 4
the Dozois Plan.

f
PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PA®