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THE FISHERMAN
January 10, 1958
CCF Backs Union Demand
Tories Giving 'Serious Study
Rupert UFAWU Calls For Trade Now With China
A call from the Prince Rupert Shoreworkers' Local for immediate action to initiate trade with China has met with varying degrees of support from federal parliamentary leaders with only CCF leader M. J. Coldwell and Skeena MP Frank Howard expressing unequivocal support for the proposal.
Acting minister of trade and commerce J. M. MacDonnell has indicated the federal government is exploring trade possibilities while Socred leader Solon Low indicates satisfaction with steps being taken while minimising trade possibilities between Canada ;ind the People's Republic of China.
Former Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent merely had his secretary acknowledge the letter from the Prince Rupert UFAWU membership.
UFAWU Northern representative Ray Gardiner wrote to state that "our members feel that immediate action is required to ease the economic situation now developing in this country and to solve the threatening unemployment problem. Our organisation feels that the impetus of renewed trade with China would go far toward giving our present apparently lagging economy a needed boost at this critical period."
Replies are published in full on this page.
JOHN DIEFENBAKER Prime Minister of Canada
I wish to acknowledge and thank you for your letter of November 20 in which you advise me of the resolution which was passed by the Prince Rupert Local of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union on November 17 "respectfully requesting the federal government to immediately initiate the opening of trade with
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JOHN DIEFENBAKER .thank you for your interest.'
the so-called Peoples Republic of China."
I have read your comments on this resolution with interest and am passing a copy of your letter to my colleague, the Honorable Gordon Churchill, M.'P., minister of trade and commerce.
Thank you for your interest in this important question, and with kind regards.
/. M. MACDONNELL Acting Minister of Trade and Commerce
The Prime Minister has referred to me your letter of November 20 in regard to the resolution adopted by your Union requesting the government to initiate immediately the opening of trade with the Peoples Republic of China.
You will be interested to learn that the department of trade and commerce is giving serious study to this matter and that recently Mr. C. M. Forsyth-Smith, Canadian government trade commissioner, Hong Kong, visited the mainland to investigate trade possibilities.
His first report indicates that it is not possible to give an accurate idea of the trade potential, al-
though it appears that prospects are quite good and that with some effort, Canadian trade could be increased substantially. Unfortunately, there is a general lack of knowledge in China of Canadian goods and further efforts will have to be made to acquaint the Chinese with what Canada has to offer.
It must be remembered that Mr. Forsyth-Smith was only in China for a limited period of time, most of which he spent interviewing the some 16 Chinese State Trading Corporations who handle the import-export trade of the country.
While there have been some inquiries about such Canadian products as woodpulp, paper, fertilisers, aluminum, rayon yarn and staple fibre, and cellophane, there is little interest in food products. The only fisheries product named was dried salt herring and the interest in this is extremely slight and the possibility of sales resulting is negligible.
GORDON CHURCHILL Minister of Trade and Commerce
In the absence of the minister of trade and commerce, who is leading the Trade Mission to the U.K., I wish to acknowledge your letter dated November 20 in which you bring to the attention of the minister the resolution passed at Rupert Local of the United Fisher-the regular meeting of the Prince men and Allied Workers' Union held November 17.
The minister, on his return to Canada, will give careful consideration to the possibilities of initiating trade with the Peoples Republic of China.
In the meantime, I am sure the minister would want' me to thank you for informing him of the views of the members of the Prince Rupert Local, (per Richard B. Hatfield, executive assistant).
M. /. COLDWELL National Leader, CCF
I certainly appreciated your letter regarding the urgent necessity for opening trade with the mainland of China.
J certainly share your views in
Axel Anderson Says Thanks, Wishes Well to All Friends
Old-time packer skipper Axel Anderson was in the office of The Fisherman just before Christmas to express his good wishes to all his friends in the fishing industry.
In addition, Axel, who lost his1 right arm in an accident at Prince-Rupert a year, ago, wanted to extend his special thanks to the people who rallied to his aid with a special collection which brought in something like $200 for him.
Axel didn't expect anything like that and wanted the folks to know the gesture was very much appreciated. An earlier gift of $50 from the Prince Rupert fishermen and shoreworkers was also received with appreciation.
The accident which cost Axel his arm took place while the packer "Melvin E" was being unloaded at Prince Rupert just over a year ago but the old timer is now feeling pretty good, outside of recurring pains in his other arm.
He extends his best wishes for a Happy New Year to all his friends in the industry.
this matter.' As a matter of fact my colleagues and I have been urging upon the government the necessity of Canada's recognition of the communist government of China, as if we intend to qxpand bur trade with the mainland of China, it is certainly important that we recognise that government. To my mind, the present situation cannot long be supported. It seems to me that there is little hope of developing further trade with China until Canadian traders obtain the facilities and that protection that would come with Canadian recognition of the government of China.
When I raised this question in the House of Commons, I was challenged on this point by the Prime Minister, who argued that the United Kingdom's recognition of China meant little as far as expanding trade was concerned. I was, however, able to point out that United Kingdom exports to China have more than tripled in the last six years.
Knowing that the present unemployment situation is most serious in British Columbia, I can fully appreciate your anxiety about developing additional trade outlets. You may be sure that our group in the House of Commons will do all that is in our power to make sure there will be wider opportunities for Canadian trade to China.
While we may not meet with success, you may be sure that our voice will be heard.
M. J. COLDWELL certainly share your views in the matter."
LOUIS ST. LAURENT National Leader, Liberal Party
Mr. St. Laurent has asked me to thank you for your letter of November 20 informing him of the resolution adopted at the last regular meeting of the Prince Rupert Local of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union, held at Prince Rupert on November 17.
Mr. St. Laurent extends to you his kind regards and best wishes, (per Pierre Asselin, executive assistant and private secretary.)
SOfCW E. LOW, MP Nafional Leader, Social Credit I acknowledge the receipt of yout letter of November 20 from whi h I note that your Union has ado ited a resolution requesting the federal government to initiate immediately the opening of trade witl the Peoples Republic of China.
I ^understand that the Canadian government has already sent a tratfc mission from Hong Kong intaf the Peoples Republic for the purlose of permitting trade. I feel! certain that everything will be fone to initiate the utmost of mutually satisfactory trade with that country. At the present time the amount of trade that is possible between these two countries seeris small but there would appear to be opportunities for expansion in different lines.
FRANK HOWARD, MP for Skeena
I have for acknowledgment your letter of November 20, wherein you make reference to a resolution regarding trade with China.
May I say first that your Union is taking the correct attitude on this matter and I hope that we can not only expand our trade with China but also grant her formal and diplomatic recognition.
Practically all of the M.'P.'s from British Columbia think alike on this matter but unfortunately so far we have been unable to convince the Prime Minister.
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