Guest Editorial PEARLY GATES? A hig who ardently desire to have their bodily re- mains carted out of this world in something less elaborate than a luxury liner on wheels will be vastly ie by the latest developments on the funeral ront. Clergymen of three major American faiths are de- manding some limits on what they call the “paganism” of modern funerals and “corpse worship.” The National Council of Churches in the U.S. is starting a study of the high cost of burying. Its aim: to return to simple rites, inexpensive burials. One outspoken cleric, Canon Johnson at the Cathe- dral of St. John the Divine in New York says he sees no sense in the paraphernalia of “gracious dying” and will settle for a pine box “without upholstery” when his time comes. He is against embalming. He wants caskets kept closed. Similarly strong protests are being made by a number of Canadian clergymen. This assault coincides with the new book by Miss Jessica Mitford “The American Way of Death.” She re- ports — without admiration — the punchy sales promo- tions of “Ko-Zee slippers, hostess gowns, brunch coats, _ Bra-Form, Post Mortem Form Restoration and the Beauty- rama Adjustable Soft-Foam Bed.” Each man, let-it be granted, has the right to decide with how much ceremony, pomp and expense he wishes to draw up at the Pearly Gates. But for those who want to avoid a plushy departure by way of the modern “slumber room”, there is a quick way out. Dr. T. S. Leeson, chairman of the University of Alberta’s anatomy department makes the pertinent point: “Many of our pledges of bodies for the medical school are coming from people who frankly admit they want to avoid burdening their families with funeral bills and, at the same time, perform a service for hu- manity.” —FINANCIAL POST SE ! The Attorney-General of Manitoba says that no con- sideration is being given to introduction of legislation that -would force Winnipeg stores to remain closed on statutory holidays. The request for action was made on account of one of the new department stores being open for business last Labor Day, when all the other stores were closed in recognition of the statutory holiday. He said that the action of the store in opening up on a holiday, was a moral rather than a legal matter, and that if people objected to a store being open, they could refuse to patronize it. The employees of the store, who do not belong to any union, were paid time and a half for the hours they worked. Sa NEW FOREST FIRE DETECTION Revolutionary methods of fire fighting, including the use of radar and infra-red rays, were described at the 1963 Western Fire Weather Met- eorologists Conference in Editor . - REGI President . J ist Vice-President ....... end Vice-President .. 3rd Vice-President ....... Secretary-Treasurer .. FRED FIEBER, Subscription Rates. . ized as Second Class ApERATeE and for Payment Publication date of the next issue of th LUMBER WORKER is October 3. September 26, and for news copy September 27. i waneeeale Ny Bot UM ES Published Twice Monthly on the First and Third Thursdays by INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (AFL-C1O-CLC) Regional Council No. 1 . Grant MacNeil International Board Members . Address all communications to: 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. TR. 4-5261 - 2 Advertising Representative Mail, Post Office Dept., Ottawa, 27,500 COPIES 'PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE Portland recently. Planes equipped with infra-red in- struments are valuable in de- tecting small fires and map- ping big ones. The rays pene- trate smoke and clouds. e WESTERN CANADIAN Deadline for ad copy is >’ waste. Jack Moore .. Jack MacKenzie .». Jack Holst ws .... Bob Ross se . Fred Fieber “Joe Madden, Walter F. Allen OFFICERS: Sécretary-Treasurer $2.00 per annum . G. A. Spencer of Postage in Cash, National New Democratic Party Leader Tommy Doug- las, who cut a European trip short to attend the [WA In- ternational Convention in Vancouver, stated in his ad- dress to the Convention that because Sweden has been able to plan their economy, auto- mation is not a subject to be feared by the workers. He told the packed Conven- tion Hall that while Europe is living in the 20th Century, the North American contin- ent is still under a 19th Cent- ury economy of “grasp, and every man for himself.” “Social democracy is on the march in Europe,” he said, “and Sweden is showing the way.” “During my recent trip to Sweden I saw social democ- racy in action, and it works,” Douglas said. “They have three things we need —a steadily rising growth in eco- nomic production, full em- ployment, and development of what is probably the finest social security scheme in the world.” He pointed out that there were three alternatives fac- ing North Americans today: ® To live in a society of security without freedom. ® To live in freedom without security. ® To live in a society with both freedom and security. He said the first alternative was too terrible a price to pay for economic security. North America today is living the second alternative with one third of its society suffering drastically. Sweden, he said, was show- ing the world how to live under the third alternative. iT A SWEDISH WOODWORKERS’ CREST is presented to TWA Regional President Jack Moore by T. C. Douglas, Federal Leader of the New Democratic Party on behalf of the Swedish Woodworkers’ Union. Douglas was asked by the Swedish Woodworkers during his recent trip to Sweden to present the crest to the IWA in British Columbia as a token of their esteem. Office of Education Mooted for Canada The federal government, which educates Indians, Esk- imos, and members of the armed services and their fam- ilies, may establish a federal education office. Prime Minister Pearson said he thought the idea a good one, but added that he’d do it only if all 10 provinces agreed. The Canadian Home and School and Parent-Teacher federation put the suggestion forward during the presenta- tion of its brief. The Canadian constitution says that education is a mat- ter for the provinces, and Quebec in particular has al- ways resented federal interest in this field. The brief suggested that a federal education office could keep in touch with other countries, co-ordinate federal educational efforts, stimulate and conduct research, and be a clearing-house. The chances of Quebec’s agreement are less than slim. The industrial composite index of employment in June was 127.2 or three per cent more than in May. The index is based on 1949 equalling 100. ALL BOILS DOWN TO A QUESTION oF KNOW HOW ... and Pierre Paris & Sons have KNOWN finest HOW for nearly 60 years. It was then, and still is now, the logging boot that )) money can buy. UNION-MADE IN B.C. PIERRE PARIS & SONS 51 West Hastings Street Vancouver 3, 8.C. Family Teamwork in Craftsmanship since !907