Page Two
THE FISHERMAN
Friday, November 14, 1*4S
A Credit Union For Ex-Convicts
By JOHN N. PAGK
For a hundred years the penal colony of French Guiana was a disgrace to civilization everywhere in the world, but particularly to France, for She sponsored the hell-hole prison. Guiana, lying between Venezuela
and Brazil, is composed of three colonies — British, Dutch and French Guiana. Almost under the equator, its coastline is on the Atlantic, not the Caribbean sea. France has used her Guiana colony principally as a prison.
Devil's Island, lying some 20 miles off the mainland, was the main penal colony where thousands of persons were imprisoned during the century it existed. And even those who survived their prison term, were obliged to serve many more years in the colony as liberes. And should they live, almost naked, half starved and without medical care, for the required period as liberes, they were then confronted with the problem of getting away from Guiana, without funds and little chance of earning money. Among the famous men incarcerated and abused in French Guiana was Capt. Alfred Dreyfus of France.
For years prior to 1938, both in and outside France, efforts were being made to indue* closing of the inhuman prison. Newspapers and magazines in the United States published numerous articles focusing attention of the public on the horrid prison and urged its abandonment.
Finally in 1938 the French Chamber of Deputies passed the measure which would close the penal camps and rehabilitate the inmates. Due to the war it was not until late in 1945 that Governor Peset was authorized to end the existence of penal colonies.
Since then much has been written about French Guiana and its strides toward becoming prosperous through the development of its extensive sources. It is less than 20 hours from New York by plane. Americans are visiting the country to study its commercial possibilities.
James L. Tuck, in the Ausrust 31, 1946, 'This Week Magazine,' tells a lot in a very few words. In addition to much other interesting information, his article
ALBERNI
Shipyards
W. G. Osborne, Mgr. Boat Construction, - Repairs Marine Ways up to 70 It. Experienced Workmanship and Best Materials PORT ALBERNI, B.C.
tells what Governor Peset has accomplished with the aid of a credit union, which he sponsored, and whose officers and members are for the mos* part former prisoners of Devil's Island or other prison colonies in French Guiana.
The nine-man board includes seven former convicts, who loan money to the ex-convict members to go into agriculture, cattle ranching, prospecting, mining or any useful business that a member is qualified to undertake.
Tuck's article would interest the management of any credit union, and would probably shock the more conservative officers. He mentions a member, formerly convicted of embezzlement. Now free, and an experienced fish dealer locally, he wished to engage in exporting tropical fish. The loan approved, the ex-pr-.soner was soon doing a flourishing business with tropical fish merchants in the United States.
Another group who for years had worked together in the steaming jungles, their pardons granted, made a bee line for the credit union office, where they borrowed sufficient funds to close the purchase of five abandoned cocoanut olantations. Working for themselves the men applied their knowledge of cocoanut-raising with vim and vigor. The result—a bumper crop of cocoanuts, and a ready market-But the loan that would have stumped any but a credit committee of real optimists, was the one to 14 men, all former convicts, whose records since liberation included robbery and theft!
The loan was for the "provident or productive" purpose of financing a prospective trip for diamonds in the unexplored mountains of the back country.
It's difficult to imagine a loan that involved more hazards, yet three months later the men returned to Cayenne to register a large diamond claim, and incidentally stopped at the credit union office and paid their debt in full.
No, it is not that a credit union is a quick cure of criminal tendencies. The apparent honesty of these colonists is largely due to the fact that they have had to trust each other to create a new opportunity. A violation of the code of honesty among them would involve stern discipline.
Chrysler Marine Engines
Bui't to live on the water. We have for immediate delivery The "Ace", "Crown", "Royal" with a wide range of reduction gears, including the "Vee Drive."
— WE CARRY A COMPLETE STOCK — — CHRYSLER MARINE PARTS —
McLeod - Lumsden Motors Ltd.
865 Yates Street Victoria, B.C.
G, 1144
_ „ -a - This shot of fishing boats in Coal Har-
%->03.I M3.roOl bor was taken recently from the west side of Queen Charlotte Fisheries.
Swedish Co-op Takes Over Big Bulb Firm
STOCKHOLM (CNS)—The Swedish cooperative wholesale, KF, has bought the works of one of its largest private competitors, OSRAM.
This was a branch of the German electric bulb trust, taken over by the Swedish government and two firms applied for it. The bidders were KF and a national wholesale for four or five voluntary grocery chains. The government decided in favor of KF.
Albin Johansson, president of KF, told the Swedish press that KF's LUMA bulb factory will incorporate all of OSRAM's works and will make use of its trademark. The LUMA factory, considerably enlarged during the war, will have sufficient space for the new addition.
Q.C.I. Fine Homesite For A Fisherman
One of the choicest locations on Massett Inlet, 1J£ miles from Port Clements, Q.C.I. 70 acres almost level, good land, alder bottom, some big spruce, no rock or muskeg. Three-quarters mile waterfront, no cliffs. Best, deer hunting in B.C., ducks and geese. $30 per acre.
CHARLES WORMWALD Galiano Island, B.C.
iBalmoral Hotel
"Tht Pithtrmtn'i Home"
159 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C.
Xmas Trees Shipped Co-op Al] The Way
GREENBELT, Md., (CNS)— Shipment of a carload of Christmas trees from co-ops in Nova Scotia to co-ops in the Washington area has been arranged for by the Greenbelt Consumer Services.
The shipment is significant both as an example of International cooperation and as a producer-consumer relationship, states Sam Ashelman, general manager here. The trees can be sold at a reasonable price here and still produce a saving, to be divided between producers and consumers.
| What does good water mean to I I you? The recent government [ ■ laboratory test indie* les that i [ the water from our artesian well i ! which supplies the Sointula oil | I station is entirely free from all : : impurities. Drop in at Sointula : | and fill your tank with water : | that is REALL.T PURE. : And don't forget that'your \ j dollars go further when you '■ : make your purchases at a : | "Co-op."
! Sointula Co-operative { Store Association
SOINTULA, B.C. I General Imperial Oil 1
| Merchandise Agents \
Credit Unions in Canada
Membership Trebled In Past Seven Years
OTTAWA—A tremendous wartime increase in Canada's credit union development, with still no sign of abatement, is revealed in a report just released by the Economics Division, Marketing Service, Dominion Department of Agriculture. Figures for 1946 show that there were 2,422 credit unions (or caisses populaires) with a total membership of 688,639 and total assets of $187,507,303. This represents an increase of 1,255 credit
PACIFIC COAST FISHERMEN'S MUTUAL MARINE INSURANCE
COMPANY Now Located at . .
995 EAST CORDOVA ST., VANCOUVER Phone HAstings 5646
COME AND PAY US A VISIT
A TRADE MARK THAT SPELLS QUALITY
Lures and Tackle
Gibbs Lures and tackle have been consistent favorites with commercial fishermen for over 35 years. A Name To Remember In Fishing Tackle
Gibbs Tool & Stamping Works
VANCOUVER, B.C.
Navigational Charts, Nautical Instruments, Nautical Almanacs, Course Protractors, Log Books, Tide Tables
STATIONERS and PRINTERS
Clarke & Stuart
CO. LTD.
560 SKYMCT IK STREET
VANCOUVER, B.C.
Quality Pays Dividends
The Consumer demands highest quality for his money and in fisheries products quality is a prerequisite. Every branch of the fishing Industry must make quality its goal to ensure satisfied customers and increased fish consumption.
Provincial Department of Fisheries
Parliament Buildings
HON. LESLIE H. EYRES, MINISTER
Victoria, B.C.
REFRIGERATORS — RADIOS — WASHERS
General Electric, Leonard, Phllco, Crosley, Northern Electric, Thor and A.B.C.
Full Line of Floor, Table Lamps and Small Appliances
— SEE —
NORTHERN B.C. POWER COMPANY LIMITED
Phono 210
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. STEWART, B.C.
All employees are Union Members, affiliated with A.F.L.
DENT fish co. ltd
DISTR'BUTORS'
• WATHtfiSH- •; M0KED "~ CUBF.D FISH ■xh xr f-JI Sea food* .
unions since 1940, an increase of nearly half a million members and of more than $160 million in assets.
"As yet," the report states, "there is little indication of any falling off in the rate of increase in members and assets."
In most provinces there is some "slowing down" in the formation of new credit unions but the trend to strengthen the financial and membership figures continues in every province. The average share investment of credit union members was $41, while the average member's equity in the assets of his association was $272.
Credit Unions in 1946 issued $53,219,419 in loans to members for provident and productive purposes. It was revealed that since their inception (only ten years ago in seven provinces, 12 years for Nova Scotia, while Quebec has had credit unions since 1900) Canada's credit unions have made loans to members amounting to $330,654,751.
Total savings (shares and deposits) in all credit unions was $178,704,909 compared with $20,619,-701 in 1940. Average savings per member had risen from $102.52 to $252.07.
Compared with 1945 the statistics showed that in the first postwar year the number of credit unions had increased by 203, the number of members by nearly
97,000 and the assets by $41,449,-533.
Uncollectible loans were strikingly low. In Prinoe Edward Island they represented only one-fourteenth of one percent of all loans granted in the ten years since the first credit union was organized. The report comments, "When it is realized that credit unions in this province may make loans up to $200 with no other security than the note of the borrower the amount lost in bad loans is remarkably low." In New Brunswick, since the inception of credit unions, a loss of only $2,115.95 or one-fortieth of one percent was shown on loans totalling $8,000,000. Other provinces reported similarly low losses.
Between 1940 and 1946 Quebec easily led the parade of new credit unions, with 433 new organizations bringing their total to 996. Ontario was a good second with 237 new credit unions. Alberta and British Columbia placed third and fourth with 160 and" 157 respectively. Over 67% of the increased membership since 1940 took place in Quebec with an increase of 326.704 members. Ontario and Saskatchewan came next with increase of 49,356 and 25,769 members. Quebec also showed the highest savings per member In 1946, at $338.53; Saskatchewan was next with $151.6; while British Columbia showed $11226.
BINOCULARS
7x50 NAVY LENS (Coated) - Leather Case GOOD VALUE at $145.00
Pilman Optical House
605 W. Hastings
MArine 0928
FISHERMEN!
When In Northern B.C. Waters—Use Your Co-op Facilities
• Liver Oil Plant • Fishermen's Credit Union
• First Oa-is Bakery • Fish Cold Storage
• Fish Camps With Stores And Oil Station
• Large General Fishing Supply Store In Prince Rupert
• Fishermen's Settlement Service • Ice Plant
• Branch Office Pacific Coast Mutual Marine Insurance Co.
Prince Rupert Fishermen's Coop Ass'n
Phone: Store—760 - 764 Cold Storage Plant—Red 786
Office—763 Engine Room—Blue 786
Seymour & West End Cabs
"The Fisherman's Friend" MArine „. ,„
8818 5££
Office and Stand OOHO 441 SEYMOUR ST. Hastings & Seymour St
■ I fish and buy
Fishermen! cooperatively
Our Camps and Stores on the West Coast of Vancouver Island are ready to serve!
Kyuquot hollers Co-operative Association
Head Office, 1140 Government Street, Victoria, B.C.
Camps Only: Refuge Cove, Ucluelet Klaskish, Queen's Cove
Camps With Stares: Bamfleld Kyuquot Tofino. Winter Harbor
FISHERMEN!
Use Your Own Cooperative Facilities
Fish Handling Plant Fish Liver Oil Plant
Cold Storage and Ice Plant
Fish Camps With Stores: Fish Caaips Only:
Nanaimo Quathiaski Cove Pender Harbour
Porlier Pass Egmont Anderson Bay
Active Pass Owen Bay Reeve Bay
United Fishermen's Cooperative Association
Phones: Office, HA. 5333; Plant HA. 5082 Head Office: Vancouver, B.C. Night Calls, HA. 0691M
WOOL PANTS OILSKIN and RUBBER SUITS SCOTCHMEN'S BUOYS SLEEPING BAGS
F. JEUNE & BRO. LTD.
670 Johnson St. — — _ Victoria, B.C.
11.........IMIMM.....Mtiri*........
VANCOUVER, B.C.
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