Page Four
THE FISHERMAN
™E FISHERMAN
Published Every Tuesday except the last Tuesday of each month by The Fisherman Publishing Society at 138 East Cordova St., Vancouver, B.C. Telephone MArine 1829. EDITOR: WILLIAM RIGBY
Subscription Rates: One Year, $1.50; Six Months, 80c. Make All Payments to: THE FISHERMAN PUBLISHING SOCIETY Advertising Rates on Application.
Justice A Casualty In Government Order
We now have the full text of the federal government's order-in-council PC 9384 establishing what is to be called the Wartime Wages Control Order, 1943. All the recent inspired releases about instructions that have been issued to have future government orders written in plain, understandable English are disproved by the test. To understand why the government would prefer to have the ordinary layman throw the thing away in disgust after the first paragraph one has only to read the following incisive comment of the Canadian Congress Journal, whose editor as a matter of duty, read the order-in-council to the bitter end.
The Trades and Labor Congress of Canada does not object to including the bonus in the basic wage rate providing that the cost of living is not increased and that it does not cost too much to keep down the cost of living. However, we did request at the War Labor Board inquiry that the full cost of living be added to all. This is not contemplated in the new Order. So, we presume this injustice on the lower paid is now made permanent.
This new Order provided that wage increases can only be granted where "gross inequalities or gross injustice exists." This is really one of the gems because the "gross inequality and the gross injustice" will just have to be put up with if the employer hasn't the ability to pay an increase without raising the price of his goods or services. Who ever heard of the boss admitting his ability to pay more wages? It is the screwiest line of reasoning as to why justice and equality should be forgotten that we have ever heard of. There are a number of other reasons why wages might be increased even in wartime, such as workers participating in the benefits derived from lower production costs but no provision is made or allowed for any increase in wages outside of where they are grossly unjust or grossly unequal and these can only be adjusted if it doesn't cost anything.
There was another matter that this Congress urged consideration of before the War Labor Board inquiry and that was the need of Labor being consulted prior to the introduction of Orders in Council affecting labor. We could not have made much of an impression because there was none at all before this Order was proclaimed. Then we pointed out the need of more labor representatives on the various boards. The answer to this in the new Wage Order is to water down the labor representation on the War Labor Board itself from the basis of one labor representative on a three-man board to one labor representative on a six-man board. Over and above this it is called to every one's attention that while a labor representative is to be appointed he will not be an official representative. In other words, while one is wanted he is not wanted to be very strong. Then just to cinch it, three of the board constitutess a quorum and a majority of the members sitting is final. This means any two of the board can make final decisions. The labor representative will have to attend every session; otherwise there will not be any labor representation. It's a dandy set-up for putting things over.
Eliminating the cost of living bonus and adding it to the basic wages on the face of it looks alright. It means the computation of overtime on a higher rate and under normal conditions would be an improvement but one has to take it into consideration with the rest of the Wage Order, such as the difficulty or impossibility of securing increases. It does away with the claims that the bonus did not fairly represent the actual increase in the cost of living. It removes the issue of bringing the bonuses to the full level for all. It does away with the contention that the bonus portion of wages should be free from taxation because it represents only a subsidy to take care of increased cost of living. It leaves the worker taking the risk of absorbing the increases in the cost of living.
There is no question that the new Wartime Wage Control 1943 is a far greater infringement on the liberties of the people than any of its predecessors. In fact it is a straitjacket for labor. However, when one gets to the other end of it that is where the poison is—like the hornet the sting is in its tail. And, you find under the caption of Additional Powers of National Board, Sections 35 and 36, an absolute disregard of the basic principle of British law that one is innocent until proven guilty and a substitution that the burden of proof to prove his innocence is on the accused.
There is no question that we do not desire and will do everything possible to avoid strikes in wartime. We have to maintain production and deliver the supplies to those fighting on our behalf for freedom and democracy, otherwise they cannot win and then we all lose. However, to say the least, it is hard to harmonize what we are waging a war to protect with what is being imposed upon us in this new Order in Council that disregards the existence of gross inequality, gross injustice and the rights of being innocent until proven guilty. The finish of this Order, Section 41, is appropriate: "This Order shall have full force and effect notwithstanding any Dominion or Provincial Statute or law." One might add to this "or recognized principles of freedom and justice."
SHIP CHANDLERY
The Home of Commercial Fishing Supplies: Ship's Cable, Ropes, Twine, heavy or light duty. Net-Cilling, Trolling and all other twines. Lauson Air-cooled Marine Inboard Engines. Anchors, Winch, Windlass, Complete Ship's Chandlery.
• Full lines Oilskin Clothing.
• Famous Kingfisher Marine Paints.
• Midco Lighting Plants and Pumping Units. Manufacturers of General Canvas Goods.
See Your Local Dealer Handling These Brandt
MANUFACTURERS and DISTRIBUTORS
Established 50 Years
NAVY FISHERMEN GAIN HONORS
Acting Lt.-Cmdr. R. Roberts, master of an R.C.N, minesweeper was included in the New Year's Promotion List of the Navy. Owner of the halibut vessel Allaverdy, when the war broke out he took the vessel into the Fishermen's Reserve and later transferred to the regular navy. During the Spanish civil war he was skipper of a 10,000 ton freighter which ran the Fascist blockade.
J. T. Detweiler, skipper-coxswain in the Fishermen's Reserve was included in the list of Canadian naval personnel who received awards in the King's New Year's Honor List. He was made a member in the Order of the British Empire. Before enlistment he was skipper-owner of the packer San Tomas.
#You Have The Floor1
This column Is open to all readers, organized and unorganized. The Editorial Board requests all letters be signed. Signatures will be published unless otherwise stated. Letters should not be more than 200 words in length. Letters to the editor to do necessarily reflect the policy of
The Fisherman.
Porlier Pass Gets Good Fishermen
Three Mile Limit Extension Asked
SEATTLE—Early passage of a bill extending the territorial fishing limits in Alaskan waters from 3 to 12 miles will be sought by Senator M. C. Wallgren of Washington.
Wallgren s a.i d hearings were scheduled to open on the bill Jan. 20. Extension o f the limits would have the effect of eliminating the possibility of Japanese fishing again near the Alaskan shore, he said.
Prompt Answer Floors Manager
Reading a batch of newspapers received from Britain this week I particularly enjoyed this account by an eyewitness of a recent incident in a Tyneside shipyard.
It appears that the rivet-catchers (average age 15 years) decided to strike if they didn't get a raise in wages.
The yard manager came out to see them, asked what was wrong.
"We want more money," said the lads' spokesman.
"I suppose everyone does," replied the manager, 'I know I could do with a raise myself."
The rivet catcher shoved a grubby hand into his pocket, produced a dirty sheet of paper, handed it to the boss, saying tersely, "O.K., put your name on this petition."
Editor, The Fisherman: Steves-ton local has lost its president, Robert McKay, who has moved to Porlier Pass to settle there. According to what we hear from there it is the future ideal setting for a lot of fishermen. Gus Cogswell was in here the other day and he tells me that they have everything that Vancouver has, except the Non-Partisans League and chlorinated water, and a lot Vancouver has not.
I have formerly advocated that some of our fishermen who have been so often shown that they are not wanted in Vancouver should pull up and start over again in some other place. Well, if reports are true, Porlier Pass seems to be it. There is no housing shortage. Anyhow, most fishermen can build their own and material for everything required for a house is plentiful over there for the taking. I have seen some powerful men come from such cooperatively built houses in various parts of this world, so why not in Porlier Pass. Let the racketeers
When in NANAIMO visit . . .
THE
STEAM BATHS
at 326 WALLACE ST.
Uno Saari, Prop. Welcomes All Fishermen !
! Cummins Diesel Sales of B.C. Ltd.
Traders' Service
LIMITED
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LABELLED, STRAPPED and STORED FOR EXPORT
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Dependable Marine Diesel Engines 1832 W. Georgia_Vancouver
-'/
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1919 West Georgia St. MArine 3867 Vancouver
PERFECTION Fifteen Years of Experience Ask JAS. CAMPBELL to Fix It
WESTERN FISH CO. LTD.
Wholesale Fish Dealers
and Curers Exporters of Sea Products
N.H.B. Fish Dock VANCOUVER, B.C.
WE BUY ALL KINDS OF FRESH FISH
■+
Packers of
TODD'S SALMON
QUALITY PRODUCT
Brands:
Horseshoe Sunflower
Tiger I Cute
J. H. TODD & SONS LTD. Victoria, B.C.
Cable Address: "Nootka" Vancouver
Nootka-Banfield Company Ltd.
Packers of
CANNED SALMON AND PILCHARDS
Manufacturers of
FISH MEAL AND OIL
Yorkshire Building VANCOUVER, B.C.
WASHINGTON LABORATORIES
Producers of
VITAMIN OILS
We pay competitive top of market cash price for fish livers.
B.C. Agents
BLAINE MYERS & CO.
302 Alexander St. Vancouver, B.C. Seattle Ketchikan !
Gregory & Reid Paint Co.
"C-I-L" Marine & House Paints, Varnishes, Enamels
Brushes and Pure Linseed Oils
11 W. Hastings PAc. 982^
and Non-partisans have Vancouver. We can produce all we really need from vitamin capsules to good whisky, so why pay tribute any longer to those who only think they are our betters; most of them couldn't catch a fish in in the first place and would hardly know what to do with it after it was caught.
Steveston local is sorry to lose Bob McKay, but wish him well in his new place and we feel sure that when such men as McKay and Cogswell got together something is likely to start cooking soon.
OLE MARTIN Steveston, B.C.
STOP WASTE
In Your Cannery Retorts and Tanks
One Reduction Plant reports avoiding purchase of new boiler and saving 12 gallons of fuel oil per hour.
ARMSTRONG
STEAM TRAPS
... do the work and the story is told by . . .
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317 West Pender St. PA. 5932 Vancouver
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MOTOR & MACII
395 Alexander St. TRin
Belmont Hotel
Cor. Granville & Nelson
When in our neighborhood, drop in to see us. Rooms by Day, Week, or Month.
Reasonable Rates
BOB SWANSON - Manager
John Stanton
BARRISTER. SOLICITOR, NOTARY 508 Holden Bid*., IB E. Hastings MArine 5748 Vancouver
For the So
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much food and sk
McGa
1 IN MARJNE SHEET METAL WORK
W. A. THOM
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1779 WEST GEORGIA ST. VANCOUVER. B.C.
1 THE ANGLO - BR! PACKING
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