Gov't taxation, labor policies under fire by CCF, labor lobby VICTORIA, B.C.—The 1948 labor lobb from the capital this week with convincing urgent demands is through election of a C Eighty-nine delegates came from all over the province in te demonstrate before the legis-, lature their opposition to the’ sales tax and Bill 39. A score of housewives joined the _ trade unionists. : i 1 They saw a gulf between the big business government and la-| bor so wide that the cabinet did not even meet with the labor spokesmen, They saw the CCF fighting for tabor’s demands in the House. VLC critical of lebby ‘walkout’ disruption Two main questions of legisla- tion and wages occupied the at-, tention of delegates to the Vancou- ver Labor Council at its Tuesday sessions. Dissention over the con- d@uct of the labor lobby and the presentation of labor’s demands on the vital issues of Bill 39 and the sales tax occupied a good deal of ' the Council's time. While considerable criticism was voiced against the lobby banquet speech made by IUMMS represen- tative Harvey Murphy in Victoria, resulting in a vote of censure be- ing carried by a small majority, it was pointed out that the “walk- ing out” of delegates of the VLC ‘was “detrimental to the Labor Council and its membership, and could only serve to make the Coal- ition happy at any rifts in labor’s ranks. Delegates pointed out that if those who walked out of the ban- quet had any legitimate com- plaints or charges against Murphy, these could have been properly placed before the VLC. By ‘doing so the lobby would not have been ‘disrupted by the precipitate action taken by a handful of lobby dele- gates. , Delegates from metal miners and lumber workers reported on re- cent wage conferences and the wage objective of a 35c per hour increase set by both unions, when new contract negotiations open. Charges that the press state- ments alleged to Alex McAuslane, CCL vice-president, in which he is reported as saying that the “wage pattern set by the CCL will be for a 14 or 15¢ wage increase —with a policy of winning this objective without. resorting to strike action’—were detrimental to the unions entering negotia- tions were made by delegates. - y of the B.C. Federation of Labor returned evidence that labor’s only road to winning its CF government, pledged to fulfil those demands. response to a short notice call They saw the government let loose a tirade of red-baiting as the prelude to new attempts to smash free trade unionism in B.C. And they saw the political pow- er of labor reflected in the fact that seven Coalitionists bolted to join with the CCF and Tom Up- hill in voting for the House La- bor Committee to meet and do business. This resulted in an 18-24 division which was the nearest thing to government de- feat in years. Labor proclaimed its simple de- mands in tags worn by all dele- gates and placards . demonstrated on the doorstep of parliament: “Amend Bill 39! ‘Oppose 3% Sales Tax”. Through the victori- ous 1947 strike struggles, in meet- ings and demonstrations and conventions, with thousands of letters “and wires and petitions, the people of B.C. have shown that they stand behind these slo- gans. While no. official interviews took place, labor, the CCF, and the government all said what they wanted to say in language that was unmistakable and understood on all sides. Labor proclaimed its aims too, when it refused to buttonhole and cajole in the corridors the enact- ors of Bill 39, as was done before the act was passed. Instead the labor’ delegates crowded the House galleries two full days, preparatory to return- ing to organize their unions and communities for the defeat of the red-baiting, union-busting, sales tax government they saw at work. While they watched the CCF and government put themselves on record in the House. The government brazenly in- troduced its sales tax bill on the first afternoon the galleries continued to fight almost every item in the sales tax budget. While the new ICA act had not yet reached the floor, the lines were clearly drawn on the government’s attitude to labor. In the CCF motion to call the House Labor Committee was im- plied repudiation of the present contemptuous brushoff reserved by the cabinet for labor delega- tions. The government tried to say there was no need for the Com- mittee to meet because “we have the Labor Relations Board”. The latter body, with its “acceptable labor” representatives, is widely considered to be chiefly a shock absorber for the government. It was on this vote that seven Coalitionists broke ranks. The battle flared anew when Herbert Gargraves (CCF-Macken- zie), charged that Gordon Wis- mer was not a fit man to be labor minister and demanded that administrative functions be re- moved from the Labor Relations Board. Wismer’s reply was a roaring, red-baiting blast in which the chief argument was that Gar- Coalition gives labor 5 minutes on health Recently a joint health insurance committee delegation consisting of President bor Council (CCL), executive Vancouver, New Westminster and Council, and Mrs. Doro thy Steeves, former CCF MLA, pres- ented a comprehensive 8-page brief on health insurance to. Pre- mier (Boss) Johnson and his cab- inet. ‘On this all-important issue of health with which organized labor Soviet film hits A special double-feature pill, Secret” will be showing in the State with a midnight show Sunday, April week. © “Stone Flower” “Stone Flower” and “Military Theatre, Vancouver, beginning 18 and continuing for one George Home of the Vancouver La- member Sam Shearer of the District Trades and Labor is vitally concerned, the delega- tion was allowed exactly five min- utes of the cabinet’s time to state their case. Jim Bury, secretary of the Vancouver Labor Council com- emented thus: (‘Our delegation was unceremoniously ushered in and ushered out, without even the courtesy of pretending to listen to labor’s case for a genuine bill of health insurance.” Despite the fact that a Health Act has been on the B.C: statute books for a decade it has been conveniently ignored by successive soalition governments. The Johnson- Anscomb government is now con- templating another “Health Act” which it hopes wil! be acceptable to the medical fraternity and it has only five minutes at its disposal to listen to labor’s opinion on what a provincial health insurance act should be, as set forth in a splen- did brief—which the cabinet “did- nt have time” to discuss with labor. As another trade unionist put it, “the cabinet has the time (10 years) but it all depends on whose ‘health’ .is involved.” Marxist classes open The summer term of Marxist classes has been announced this week by Minerva Cooper, LPP pro- vincial educational director. Courses in the following subjects will be given: Marxism and the Trade Unions; Marxism and Social ‘democracy; Foundations of Lenin- ism, and Public Speaking. These classes will begin Monday, were packed by labor. The CCF | obviously miners made of the strike, which won for the at 62. grave’s view was similar to that of the lLabor-Progressive Party. His claim that “certain” groups would oppose everything the gov- ernment did was taken in the gal- leries as clear indication that the government had no intention of granting any of labor's de- mands. His assertion that these “groups” would “perish by the sword... of public opinion” was taken as clear warning the gov- ernment visualizes further police state measures in Bill 39 and perhaps elsewhere. One group of housewives was financed by Lake Cowichan busi- ness men to fight the sales tax and did see Premier Johnson. He told them nobody hated the sales tax more than he did, but social security and all such things had to be paid for. “The old run- around”, was the pithy comment of the women. BCFL president Danny O’Brien sounded the warning. “If we want to save democracy let’s not fold our arms and let them get away with the first steps towards the police state”. ‘ Secretary - Treasurer Harold Pritchett stated, “In one year the wartime excess profits tax took $46,000,000 from big busi- néss in B.C. and everybody knows profits are way higher today. This could finance the finest social security and edu- cation system in the world. In stead the government is pilfer- ing $12,000,000 through a nui- sance tax from those least able to pay.” SO OO LQLQQPOQOOPKPOOH CLASSIFIED SOO OOO DODO" 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 Monday noon of the week of publication. 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Antonuck method of hair restor- ing based on the scientific prin- ciple of feeding the scalp with the hair roots, A free consul- tation on your particular _prob- lem without obligation. 671 Smythe St., Vancouver. FILM SHOWING “IT HAPPENED IN STALINGRAD” | Adapted from Simonev’s great book, “Days and Nights” Also short subjects and comic cartoons Silver collection in aid . of Pacific Tribune Press Drive SPEAKER — TOM McEWEN Sunday, April 18th, 8 p.m. Croation Hall, 600 Cambell Ave. Auspices of Grandview Club, LPP Swedish-Finnish Workers Club meets last Friday of every month at 7.30 p.m. in Clinton Hall. COMING EVENTS For expert workmanship in lay- May 3 in Room 211, 119 Wi aes ing mastic floors and all types Pender St., and will continue for is being shown in Vancouver for the Dance— first time is a fast moving spy thriller with lots of action and |a period of six weeks. Registra-| of cement work, phone Sam} Come to Tribune Benefit Dance, s Both films are produced in the Soviet Union and have | tion of students is now under way| Allan, BAyview 4686, between| Swedish Park, Saturday, April complete Erglish titles. at this address. 6-8 p.m. 24th. Prizes — Admission 50c. . PACIFIC TRIBUNE—APRIL 16, 1948—PAGE 3