— S| ae elected to the position. 2nd Issue November, 1968 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 3 IN LONDON, ONTARIO LABOUR MEMORIAL PARK TO HONOUR TOLPUDDLE MARTYRS To keep alive the memory of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, six men victimized in England in 1834 for union organization, the Executive Council of the CLC has agreed to assist the London and District Labour Council raise $10,000 to set up a Labour Memorial Park in | London, Ontario, where five ‘of the Martyrs settled. All CLC affiliates are being asked to contribute to this project. The following is a_ brief history on the Tolpuddle Mar- tyrs: George Loveless, James Loveless, James Hammett, Thomas Standfield, John Standfield and James Brine (the Loveless Brothers were local Methodist Preachers) were arrested at the Village of Tolpuddle, Dorsetshire, England, in February, 1834, and sentenced to seven years transportation for being impli- cated in the formation of an Agricultural Labourers’ Trade Union. They sailed on the con- vict ship “William Metcalf,” leaving England on May 25, 1834, arriving at Hobart Town, Tasmania (Van Die- man’s Land) on September 4, 1834. They were placed in irons, chained together with other convicts and subjected to the most severe cruelty, misery and wretchedness. This action caused a wave of indignation to spread over England; it had the opposite effect to that expected by the authorities; Trades Union ac- tivity was stimulated; large demonstrations took place in many parts of England; about forty thousand people, led by Robert Owen, marched to Whitehall, London, England with a monster petition signed by more than a Quarter of a Million people, singing George Loveless’s “Song of Freedom,” objecting to the conviction of these wonderful Peasant Saints. This agitation through- out England, very actively Sen eee eed ERICH EWERT GETS LOCAL APPOINTMENT Erich Ewert, Chairman of the Re- gional Safety Council has been appointed 3rd Vice-President of Local 1-217. IWA Vancouver. Erich’s appointment was made necessary by the untimely death of Gordon Paterson, who had been supported by Thomas Wakley in the House of Commons, finally resulted in the Six Martyrs being pardoned and returned to England, after serving from three years to four and one-half years of their sentences. George and James Loveless (brothers), Thomas and John Standfield (father and son) and James Brine later emi- grated to Canada and settled near London, Ontario. Their example to others, I consider it my duty to pass the sentence of seven years Penal transpor- tation across His Majesty’s High Seas to each and every one of you.” George Loveless, after being pardoned and returned to England stated as follows: "I believe nothing will ever be done to relieve the distress of the working classes unless they take it into their own hands: with these beliefs I left M.S.A. MEETING NOTICE The 28th Annual Meeting of MSA will be held December 9, at 8:30 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Bayshore Inn, Vancouver. IWA members are urged to attend this important meeting. Business will include election of one employer mem- ber, one professional member, and one employee member. ‘descendants still live in or near to the City of London. George Loveless, acting as spokesman for the Six Mar- tyrs, made the following state- ment as defense: “We have injured no man’s reputation, character, person or property, we were uniting to preserve ourselves, our wives and children from utter degradation and starvation.” The Judge’s decision was as follows: “Not for anything you have done, or, as I can prove, that you intended to do, but for England, and with these views I am returned. Notwithstand- ing all that I have seen and felt, my sentiments on the sub- ject are unchanged. Nothing but Union can ever accomplish the great and important ob- ject, namely, the salvation of the World. Let the Producers of Wealth firmly and peace- fully unite their energies and what can withstand them? The power and influence of the non-producers would sink into insignificance, the con- quest is won, the victory is certain,” BARNETT MAY WIN New Democratic Party offi- cials are confident that the Supreme Court of British Col- umbia will either declare for- mer NDP-MP Tom Barnett, a member of Local 1-85 IWA, the winner of the June federal election in the Comox-Alberni riding or void the election. A petition has been filed by the NDP in the Supreme Court of British Columbia un- der the Controverted Elec- tions Act, seeking this action. Argument for the petition alleges that a larger number of individuals cast ballots im- properly in the riding than the nine votes that the Liberal candidate led by in the judi- cial recount. Evidence was also present- ed alleging that the number of armed forces personnel who voted in the civilian polls were not by their declaration resi- dents of Comox-Alberni. Wi > rites LOCAL 1-367 IWA HANEY DELEGATES ATTENDING RECENT B.C. FEDERATION CONVENTION. DEFENCE FUND SET UP FOR SYD THOMPSON The Vancouver Labour Council voted at its meeting November 19, to set up a spe- cial defence fund to pay the $3,500 damage action brought against Local 1-217 President Syd Thompson by Teamster President Ed Lawson. zs Lawson instituted court ac- tion and won $3,500 damages following remarks made by Thompson after the Lenkurt strike which were alleged to have hurt Lawson’s reputa- tion in the trade union move- ment. Thompson is now appealing ‘the case. The B.C. Federation, which was active in aiding the Len- kurt strikers, is also commit- ted to sharing the initial court costs. SYD THOMPSON . . - Gets Support LABOUR HITS RAND REPORT A thousand delegates to the annual convention of the Ontario Federation of Labor held November 4, 5 and 6, seemed to be of one mind regarding the Rand Report on labor-management relations. It’s a time bomb planted under the house of organized labor. Upshot of the long, vigorous debate is that the officers of the half million member Federation will call a con- ference of the ranking officers of unions to discuss what. action can be taken to head off legislative action based on the Rand recommendations.