Forty victims already this year Gaglardi warned gas deaths ‘may reach 100’ A 32-year-old city man, William Leonard Buxton, became Vancouver’s 40th victim of domestic gas when he died in a West Hastings’ hotel Tuesday this week after a safety device attached to.a gas stove apparently failed to function. The 1954 gas death total of 40 compares with 24 at this time last year. Ina LABOR BRIEFS Victoria’s 257 outside workers have given their union executive the nod to call a strike “at any time” and are all set to hit the bricks for their original demand of wage parity with Vancouver— which would mean a 19-cent hourly pay hike. * x x An exchange of letters between the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, the Native Broth- erhood and the Vessel Owners on the one hand and the Fisheries As- sociation resulted in renewed sal- mon price negotiations. First meet- ing was held Thursday this week. * * * Members of Mine-Mill at Blue- bell have voted 244 to 10 in favor of strike action — the first time in 30 years that a Consolidated ' Mining and Smelting mine and mill has been faced with the possibility of strike action. * * * Some 200 boilermakers in Vic- _ toria staged a walkout at the naval dockyard last week in protest over the suspension of seven men who refused to work on a job without payment of a “dirty money” prem- ium. Superintendent Commodore B. R. Spencer “suspended” all the boilermakers — but they are hold- ing firm. x ek Major-General Frank Worth- ington, Civil Defense director, was quoted in the papers as say- ing: “Radiation is like a hell of a big sunburn.” : “It would be interesting to note the effect of radiation on what must be the unusually thick hide of the good general,” comments Zero Tide in The-Fish- erman, \ 7 HUB HUMOR i Sk Pag “} want to hunt a good looking, redheaded six-footer!" Nn need to be shy in asking for FREE CREDIT at THE HUB. It saves you up to 10% on your ' clothes and furnishings. Drop in and see our big new stock. 45 EAST HASTINGS brief to Public Works Minister P. A. Gaglardi, the Vancouver Apartment and Rooming house Operators’ Association charges that “unless some major action is taken, there is every reason to expect that deaths by gas for the year 1954 will reach approximately 100 to 120.” , ‘Limiting the toxic content of domestic gas is one of the major which says: “Every gas customer of the B.C. Electric, upon opening an account, is obliged to sign a card of appli- cation which constitutes a contract between the customer and the com- pany. Therefore, in every case up to 1947, which means by far the greatest majority, the company contracted to supply a stipulated commodity (coal gas) if its cus- tomers would also sign a contract to use it. : “Without either the knowledge or consent of the user, this coal gas was completely changed. “Subsequently, Vancouver city authorities became aware that this substitution is a menace to the health and the lives of those who use it. They then decided that urgent protection (gas safety de- vices) must. immediately be pro- vided against that menace and passed a bylaw that this urgent protection must, under the sever- est of penalties, be provided, in- stalled and paid for by. the re- ceivers of the substitution and not the suppliers. “Completely unfair and illegal as this procedure is, it fails to pro- vide any workable answer to the serious problem of gas deaths. “The new blue water gas, with its increased carbon monoxide content of 20 to 24 percent, is a deadly, menace that kills in two or three minutes, and its manu- facture and distribution within any modern community should not be allowed.” _ The brief quotes an article in the American Journal of Public Health, listing gas deaths in New York City, and concluding that -}accidental domestic carbon mon- oxide poisoning “from illuminating gas constitutes a serious health problem.” The, brief notes that “the BCE is closing its Victoria Gas Works in September, 1954, and supplying Victoria and Greater Victoria with \imported propane or rock gas, which is non-poisonous, and which will mean that the BCE will bear the cost of changing every burner on every gas appliance through- out that entire area.” = Sections of the provincial gas act are quoted to prove that the city bylaw is illegal. The act states that no appliance may be sold or installed unelss it bears. the approval seal of a testing agency. The brief. asks consumer repre- sentation on a gas advisory board, or testing agencies, and demands that cost of installation of any safety devices should be the re- sponsibility of the BCE. REAL ESTATE — TO BUY SELL EXCHANGE Call MARSHALL JOHNSON GLen. 1891-R EM. 2167 CAMBIE REALTY LTD. Member Co-op Listing Bureau Vancouver Real Estate Board demands contained in the brief,| Selling the PT Send your orders now Dear Reader: Get those or@ers’in for our big, 20-page, two-color Canada Day is- sue! It will be off the press June 23, giving our supporters a full week for sales and distribution at plants and in working class areas. All press clubs are asked to order at least 100 copies, which will be sold to clubs at only five cents a copy. Now that the financial drive has been suc- cessfully con- cluded, we must plunge into the LPP to hold family picnic Canada Day Beach Grove park, near Bound- ary Bay will be the scene of a great “family picnic’? on Canada Day, July 1.. Organized by the Labor- Progressive party, the picnic will feature a short program which will include a speech by Nigel Mor- gan, LPP provincial leader, titled “Put Canada First.” Beach Grove is an ideal family picnic site, with a large beach where one can swim, dig clams or sunbathe. There is also an excel- lent open-air swimming pool and a refreshment booth on_ the grounds. Tennis courts and a golf course are available. For those people who cannot ar- range transportation by car, buses have been chartered. Return fare is $1.50; children under 12 years free. Buses leave Dunsmuir ‘bus depot 11:30 am. July 1, and the first return bus leaves the picnic grounds at 5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at Room 7, 9 East Hast- a ae To contest 35 seats ings Street. The Labor - Progressive party will contest at least 35 seats in Alberta in the next provincial election, it was announced bY Ben Swankey (above), LPP Alberta leader, following 4 meet ing of the party’s provincial com mittee. Swankey charged the Social Credit government with . “selling our rich natural re sources at fire-sale prices to U.S. oil interests.”- Seniority tender spot : job of circula- tion and selling subs. Provincial Club of the Month for May is South Langley; in the city, Advance press club was in top spot. Prizes have been mailed to these clubs. Finally, a note from Sam English asks me to please record the fact that Michel-Natal: reached its. tar- get in the financial drive—even if a bit late. Okay, Sam, I’m happy to oblige—and many thanks to all the press workers in your dis- trict. Rita Whyte ‘Mulligan, the Police Commission with Chief - By TOM McEWEN Ware not always treated as ‘such, “seniority” in trade union practice and usage, is a principle question. Almost as old as trade unionism itself, the issue of senior- ity in terms of length of service and merit, establishes the right of a worker to a given job. In the case of promotions to ‘higher job erial- appointments), seniority is in- variably the determining factor. In the present controversy on promotions between Chief Walter and the Policemen’s Federal Union (TLC), the principle of seniority classifications (other than manag:|. and merit in relation to promotions, Mulligan — as argued by the union’s reprer tatives, has been loudly p0° poohed by Mulligan and the Polieé Commission. This is probably oe to the fact that Mulligan hin is an appointee of the late Senatt G. G. McGeer; and that po considerations rather than sem!® ity were the determining factor his appointment. for The Police Union’s argument ily recognition of seniority is equé an argument in support of efficier organization, and against the Pile motion of dictatorial machine tbe in police circles. In that it has © full backing of organized labor 4 defense of a basic principle trade union organization. : CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING A charge of 50 cents for each insertion of five lines or less with 10 cents for each additional line is made for notices appearing in this column. No notices will be accepted later than Tuesday noon of the week of publication. NOTICES WHEN MAKING A WILL, you may wish to remember the Paci- fic Tribune, as a means of con- tinuing the cause for which you have worked during your life. For further information write the Business Manager, Pacific Tribune, Room 6, 426 Main Street, Vancouver 4, B.C. POSTAGE STAMPS wanted. Don- ate your used postage stamps, any country, including Canada, particularly values above 5c and perforated OHMS or overprinted OHMS or G. Stamps should not be torn or mutilated and are best left on paper, with perfor- ations not cut into in trimming. Resale proceeds go to Pacific Tribune sustaining fund. COMING EVENTS—CITY JUNE 12 SOCIAL — Saturday, June 12, 8.30 p.m. An evening of merriment with the “West Enders.” Don’t miss it. 1612 East 8th Ave. JUNE 15 Tuesday, June 15, 8 p.m. at 4022 Perry St. Commemor- ating Magna Carta Day. Speaker, John Stanton, Barrister. Original Chalk Talk by Fraser Wilson. Music and Refreshments. Auspices League For Democratic Rights. TTT REMEMBER THE JUNE 18 ROSENBERGS — Bring Justice For Morton Sobell. The VANCOUVER ROSENBERG MEMORIAL COMMITTEE will hold a memorial meeting at the Pender Auditorium, 339 West Pen- der St. Friday, June 18, at 8 p.m. Guest Speaker. JUNE 20 WHITE ROCK GAR- DEN PARTY—Sun, day, June 20, commemorating Magna Carta Day at Leo Brady’s, 1290 King George Highway. Speak- er, Music and Refreshments. Aus- pices, White Rock Branch, LDR. BUSINESS PERSONALS TRUNKS, BAGS, SUITCASES — 25% DISCOUNT. DUNSMUIR _ VARIETIES, 519 DUNSMUIR, Between Seymour and Richards. Phone PA. 6746. % TRANSFER & MOVING. Cour. teous, fast, efficient, Call Nick at Yale Hotel. PA. 0632. HAst- ings) 5794-L. HASTINGS BAKERIES DED? = 716 East Hastings . St., Phone HA. 3244. Scandinavian Prod- ucts a Specialty. - PACIFIC TRIBUNE — JUNE 1171954 PA GARDEN PARTY —; THE MOST MODERN CLEANERS Cleaning, Pressing and pyeiDé: Alterations and Repairs. East Hastings. HA: 0951. O.K. RADIO SERVICE. factory precision used. MARINE SERVICE, Pender St. West. TA. 101297 Be HALLS FOR RENT : RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for meetings, ™ dings, and banquets at ag able rates. 600 Campbell AY HA. 6900. } ——;, CLINTON HALL, 2605 E. Pende Available for Banquets, dings, Meetings, Etc. Phone 3277. 2 Latest FOR SALE a FOR SALE—Sewing Machine. Net Gas Camp Stove, Bicycle, Di gi? ; etc. Apply H. Elmore, ~~ East 8th. : icc a PENDER AUDITORIUM (Marine Workers) Z 339 West Pender LARGE & SMALL HALL? FOR RENTALS LULU AUER NH Phone PA. 9481 eet