A province-wide boycott of beef is being called by the B.C, Housewives’ .Consumers’ .As- sociation for two days, this Friday and Saturday, May 14 and 15. “This is a protest move so that people can express their resentment at the steadily- continuing rise in the cost of living as exampled by the rapid Parkin, Housewives’ secretary, told the Pacific Tribune, “The price .of .beef .will .go .even higher yet unless consumers force the government to do something about it.” “Buy No Beef” dodgers will be handed out in front of big stores throughout the province by members and supporters of the Association and union nN climb in beef prices,’ Marion auxiliaries. The Association announces that volunteers in Vancouver can get leaflets by phoning MA. 9965. The campaign has been en- dorsed by a large number of labor groups, including Van- ecouver Labor Council. .Dele- gate Hugh Clark told the coun- cil delegates, “It’s a good idea to let the public know the unions {are against unneces- sarily high prices.” Beef about beef---join Housewives’ boycott this week A statement issued by the Housewives’ Consumer Asso- ciation declares that “with the cost of living index at a new high, and the food index at 186.6, harassed housewives are finding it more and more diffi- cult to stretch the budget to be able to buy sufficient food to maintain the standard of nutrition essential to health. “The B.C. Housewives’ Con- sumer Association calls on the federal government to take immediate steps to stop the continually rising prices of meat, and asks the people of B.C. to protest these unwar- ranted increases by buying no beef Friday, May 14, and Sat- urday, May 15.” What’ s the hold-up? Patience of long-suffering citizens is rapidly nearing exhaustion as over-depreciated streetcars cause frequent traffic tie-ups like this one at Cordova and Carrall streets during the rush hour _ last Friday. In another mishap a local trolley collided with a police car. “Back up and hit him again,” suggested a wag amidst a chorus of ca‘calls from the crowd. Civic Reform bares B.C. Electric plot to break legal limitations on protits Strong demand that the Vancouver City Council prepare to defend the interests of the citizens all the way down the line against BCElectric plans for further boosts in fare and rates was registered this week by the Civic Reform Association. May Lemiczek and Elgin Ruddell took this position at a meeting of the council’s Harbours, Utilities and Airports Committee. Mrs. Effie Jones, Mrs. In a move that was ignored by all Vancouver dailies, Mrs. Jones revealed to the committee the contents of a letter received by the CRA from the Public Utilities Commission stating that the hearing by the PUC on BCElectric rates “will extend to rates for all services supplied by the companies, and will not be confined merely to transporta- tion fares.” Up tilk now the Commission had indicated the hearings were to be ‘held on the “interim” transit fare increase which was uncon- tested by the city council last Bill threat to all GLACE BAY, N.S. — A full page advertisement inserted in the Glace Bay Gazette here by District 26 of the United Mine Workers of - America (CCL), warned that passage of the La- Croix Bill would mean that “no trade union, no organization of the people, will be safe from sup- pression if this Bill is passed.” The UMWA advertisement urged the people of Nova Sco- tia to “back the CCF MP’s in their non-partisan fight to pre- serve the liberties of labor and ‘all others who really want to change things for the better.” fall. Public indignation at the 10 cent fare rolled up 19,000 votes for Effie Jones in the December mayoralty contest. The new revelation confirms earlier reports in the Pacific Tribune indicating the likelihood that the Public Utilities Commis- sion was preparing to accede to BCElectric president Dal Grauer’s ressed desire to break ‘he “present 5.3 percent legal limit on profits, (The 5.3 percent limit as legally defined includes only a small fraction of the gigantic profits rolled up by the company.) While aldermen present ap- peared taken aback by the letter some of those present wondered whether they were surprised at the news or the fact that the CRA knew what was afoot. It was recalled that the Council last fall agreed with the BCElectric on the “interim” increase weeks before it was made public. Ald. J. Cornett expressed the opinion that the company was not actually trying to utilize the hearings to break the 5.3 percent limit, but rather just to make each of its three branches of service (electricity, transit and gas) sulf-sustaining. On advice of the city’s legal council, D. E. McTaggart, KC, the committee referred the CRA submission to a_ special civic committee appointed to prepare the city’s case on fare siihbagos! Meanwhile, the CRA is prepar- ing its own case for the roll- back of single fares, return of the streetcar pass, and against increases in rates for any branch of service. CCL unions fight anti-la call for defeat of Socred * CALGARY. — Arouséd by the threat to labor posed by the Social Credit government’s Bill 91 — labor legislation weighted with anti-labor clauses similar to the B.C. Coalition government’s Bill 39 of last year and amending Bill 87 of this year—74 delegates from CCL unions throughout Alberta met here last week to map their campaign against the new act, Resolutions endorsed by the conference included one calling for defeat of the Manning provin- cial government and another sup- porting trade union political ac- tion. Delegates also voted to raise funds for a large-scale publicity campaign against Bill 91 and to seek the cooperation of other la- Nanaimo labor blasts red-baiting mayor By ALF DEWHURST NANAIMO, B.C.—Labor crusade of Mayor George Muir, Sunday with a mass public rally sponsored by Nanaimo and District Joint Labor Council (AFL-CCL) on the subject “Who Cham- The rally will be held in the Miner’s pions Democracy?” Hall. “Dollar-Forty” Muir, as_ the miners have dubbed the local chief magistrate, has promised to “rid Vancouver Island, once and for all, of the ‘communist’ elem- ent.” In this role he has the back- ing of all other anti-labor forces on the Island. His recent history sheds light on the reasons for his ill-starred campaign. on During the recent. Goal strike, paring to vote, Muir issu pany - inspired — counter - -p for $1.40. He arrogantly demand- ed that he be allowed to_ * this offer to a meniiy the men, “T believe there is ferous minority who want to tinue the strike,” he said, “but in my opinion most of the.men will return if they have a chance to ~ vote on this offer.” ‘ By a standing vote of 499 to 1, the miners replied to this strike-breaking manoéuver by rejecting Muir’s bid to attend their meeting. The Island Labor | Council (CCL) held a huge strike support rally addressed — by Harold Pritchett, B.C. Fed-— eration of Labor secretary, and » the strike was settled four days — later at 39 cents more than the mayor’s proposal. Muir's next move came April 18, when he chaired a_ public meeting for an individual named Dr. Zorkin, fascist political agsso- bor and farm organizations in the campaign. The resolution on political ac- tion was adopted with only three or four dissenting votes after long discussion. Drumheller delegates from UM WA locals stressed the fact that application of the national CCF policy of making the CCF the pol- itical arm of the unions, in the circumstances, would only result in the re-election of Gordon Tay- lor, anti-labor MLA. They em- phasized that unity behind a la- bor candidate was the only way to win this constituency. Calgary delegates pointed out that in Calgary the CCF was nominating only three candidates for five seats, leaving two seats efforts be made to wae PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MAY 14, 1018 PAGE 2| will reply to the red-baiting evening, May 23, ciate of Dr. Machek who, with Dragisha Cvetkovich, handed Yugoslavia over to Hitler and Mussolini March 25, 1941, The following weekend hund- reds of Nanaimo working people attended a meeting sponsored by the Nanaimo Pacific Tribune Committee to ¢dndemn Muir for this misuse of the office of mayor of a democratic Canadian city. Muir came back announcing he would call a public rally “to flush out into the open” what he called ‘the foes of democracy,” but fail- ed to meet a challenge of the Nanaimo LPP to discugs his ac- cusations on the public platform. _ Fearful of such open discussion, he has called a meeting in the tol Theater here after secur- the backing of the city coun- “such groups as the board of Trade and the Rotary Club. Nanaimo and District Labor Council has branded Muir’s meet- ing as an anti-labor meeting de- to deliberately provoke tion for his “crusade.” et issued by the Labor harges that Muir’s meet- e stacked in favor of because the number on tickets available to izations will be deter- he mayor himself. The phatic in declaring do not attend such ) labor is standing sol- | the Labor Council’s to contest. e unions contested 1 they said, there’ that conta ¥ union movement, — The resolution, as ed approyed the CCL. pe wards the CCF but left judgment of the unions various constituencies mine if nominat trade union candida’ best means of defeatir enemies, ’ The resolution ‘alent re ‘union candidate and sion in the labor vote.