2 From Page 1 WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER “Blank Cheque” were debated on every possible occasion, but the Government would not reveal its intentions. Hydro-Power Questions These questions were: How are the hydro-power resources of the province to be developed before a power “brown-out — on the Columbia, the Peace River, or both? How is the North to be opened up, by new railway construction, under whose ownership, at what public cost, and with what outlay by the people of the province? The session ended without any satisfactory answer from the Government on either of these questions. The CCF-Opposition charged that the Premier is pre- paring to go to the country, when he thinks the time is ripe, and ask for a blank cheque. Future In Balance As CCF members pointed out, these items involve hundreds of millions of dollars, with the whole economic future of the province in the: balance. Despite strenuous efforts by the Opposi- tion to lift the veil of secrecy with which the Government sur- rounded the issues, no specific information on Government in- tentions could be obtained. As one observer stated, “Either the Government intends to seek re-election without tell- ing the people what they are voting for on these issues, or else the Government itself is not sure of its policy on power and railway construction. Unseemly Haste Although CCF members pro- tested the unseemly haste in the transaction of public business during the fina] three weeks, and volunteered to sit longer if necessary, the Government set March 18th as the date of pro- rogation, and grimly held to it. The object, of course, was to tame the Opposition through sheer weariness, and thus re- strain their attempts to question estimates and new legislation. Some matters of direct inter- est to IWA members that were dealt with in the last hectic rush to clear the order paper were as follows: Attempts to amend the Trade- Unions Act (Bill 43) and restore rights formerly held by the trade unions, were defeated by a solid Social Credit majority. Bill introduced by Rae Eddie, MLA (CCF-New Westminster) was defeated 35 to 11. The Bill proposing three weeks vacation after five years service for all workers was de- clared out of order.. - IWA Members IWA members aired the prob- lems of the small operators in regard to public working circles in the forest products industry. Bill to ban racial discrimina- tion with respect to accommoda- tion, proposed by Arthur Turner, MLA (CCF-Vancouver East) secured a committment from the Government that a Bill to meet the purpose will be introduced. Opposition Leader Robert Strachan, MLA, gave the same undertaking. Two resolutions, proposed by Tony Gargrave, MLA (CCF- Mackenzie), one to improve the coast guard service for sea rescue work and another to secure verbatim reporting of the proceedings of the Legisla- ture, were promised considera- tion. Auto Insurance A trade union resolution pro- posing compulsory automobile insurance, patterned after the Saskatchewan plan, was also promised consideration, Charges that the Government was practicing political patron- age in the selection of enumera- tors for revision of the voters’ lists instead of employing registered unemployed workers were made but not answered satisfactorily by Cabinet Minis- ters. The modern girl’s hair may ; look like a mop, but that doesn’t worry her — she doesn’t know what a mop looks like. “DUNCAN BUSINESS | LOUTET AGENCIES LTD. INSURANCE AND Duncan Lake Cowichan HANEY PORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GUIDE *x WORK. SPORT or DRESS nnn WOODWARD STORES ‘(PORT ALBERNI) LTD. “YQUR FAMILY SHOPPING CENTRE” Closed Wednesdays All Day Phone 1600 J. Lindsya Loutet Gordon R. Loutet “HANEY BUSINESS GUIDE ESQUIRE MEN‘S WEAR (Graham Mowatt) Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing “THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS” MacGREGOR’S MEN’S WEAR For Everything A Man Wears < SUIDE 2 $3 REAL ESTATE 131 Jubilee St. S. Shore Road BRITISH COLUMBIA We Can Afford To Sell The... * BEST For LESS! Hours: 9 - 5:30 CLOSER VIEW of Totem Pole being treated at the Timber Preservers Limited, shows the protective wrap- pings and at the bottom, part of the vat in which the base of the Pole is sitting. As the Totem Pole will be sunk into the ground to a depth of ten feet this preservative treatment is essential to prevent rot. From Page 1 Newfie I[WA’ers Wooed Here is a sample of logger opinion, revealed in a letter from an east coast logger to the Canadian Labour Congress: “T have been a logger with the AND. Co. for about 20 years and this was the first time that I ever got a Xmas card from that company and I understand that every other logger did also]. and every logger whose name was on the books for the winter haul-off got a cigarette lighter, whether he srnoked or not. We loggers are well aware that this is not for goodwill towards us but just one of their tricks to try and get our goodwill towards them. “The company Officials and the company union heads hoast about the living conditions in the camps, It is true that the food is a bit better but they raised! the price of board to take care of that. It is also true that they raised the daily wage rate five cents per hour, but there’s no one on wages—it’s all piece work or contract. The price of wood was supposed to go up nine cents per cord but that was put on the budget price or what we loggers call the bluff price and we didn’t get that. “The company claims to have good relations with the BNWW. That’s true, but it only applies to its president Sterling Thomas, a man who the AND. Co. reared and nurtured in the town of Grand Falls, a man who wouldn’t strike or even threaten a strike against his parent . IWA Favored “Referring to a statement made by George Stoodley of the IWA, where he said that if there was a vote among the loggers, ninety percent weuld favor that union (the IWA), I wish to back up his statement. At the five camps here which represent about 300 men, all will agree with him too. You can tell by the poor reception given the BNWW delegates. Nobody is a member at heart. “How long will we be in bondage? Is there any hope of deliverance or a word of en- couragement to take along to my fellow loggers?” it Pays—For Advertisers The provincial government spent $92,355 advertising PGE bonds, Premier Bennett said in answer to a question in the legislature. He could give no figure of the value of bonds bought by B.C. people. Printers of The Western Canadian Lumber Worker LIMITED PRINTERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS 944 RICHARDS STREET MUtual 1-6338 - 6339 Interest Rates Bill Is “Talked Out” The credit unlons: have en- dorsed — in vain — legisla- tion to force finance com- panies to disclose true annual interest rates and _ other charges, The Credit Union National Association, meeting in the U.S., backed bills before the U.S. Sen- ate and the House of Commons, The Canadian legislation was introduced by CCF House ‘Leader Hazen Argue. Despite CUNA’s endorsement, the legislation was killed in ef- fect by the Conservative ma- jority in the Canadian parlia- ment. Conservative back- benchers “talked out” the CCF move and it will not come before the House again this session. “When credit granters can hide the true cost of credit, people pay excessive charges without realizing it, and econo- mic waste and hardship result,” CUNA said. “Such a law would help the millions of families who are still being duped out of a full week’s wages or more each year by unnecesarily high consumer credit costs ... “CUNA therefore favours the enactment of consumer credit disclosure laws and urges all other ethical lenders to join with CUNA in seeking the enact- ment of such laws,” the execu- tive council declared. Nothing wears like y REAL leather leather