May 12, 1953
THE FISHERMAN
Page 3
GAFF Credit Union Has Healthy Surplus
The Gulf and Fraser Fishermen's Credit Union divided its 1952 surplus of $9,715.80 into three parts, $8,383.55 dividends, $150 to education, and the balance to special contingency reserve. Amount paid in dividends amounts to 2% percent. The annual meeting of GAFF,
as the Credit Union is referred to, heard reports which indicate the position of the organization is steadily improving, despite difficulties faced by the industry. Last year, it was reported by the board of directors through chairman Morgan Berg, assets increased by $125,000 to a total of $715,588.
It was also reported that 674 loans were made involving a total amount of $314,262, which brings total loans during the credit union's 12 years of existence to 3,031, .indicating the number who have been assisted by the credit union's existence.
Total sum loaned out during those twelve years is $1,523,796, no small feat for an organization which now numbers 1120 fishermen and shoreworkers and members of their families.
Incidentally, the gross surplus on 1952 operations was actually $12,144.75, but 20 percent or $2,-428.95 was set aside as a reserve as provided for by the Credit Union Act.
Three directors, Lawrence Dov-ing, Colin McKea, and Harold Wulff were elected at the March 28 annual meeting in Vancouver to serve for a three year term while Charlie Person was named to replace Gordon Baird, who had resigned, for a one year term.
Other directors still with terms to complete are Don Bentley, Morgan Berg, and Homer Stevens (two years) and Estella Gorden and Ed Ericksen for ofte year.
Harley Brown was elected for a three year term as a member
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of the Credit Committee and Val Christie for two years with May Sabin still having a year to serve in that capacity.
Leo Holthe and Julian Gorden
were chosen members of the Supervisory Committee for a three year term. Those already on the committee are J. W. Pye and Jack Nisbet (two years) and Lorna Hart (one year).
The meeting heard Gordon Holt-
by from Co-op Life outline the policies of this aspect of the cooperative movement and listened to reports from the main committees.
Q.C.I. News Notes
■By CHARLIE VALLEY
On May 6, the Skidegate Local of the UFAWU heard Homer Stevens report on the Native Brotherhood Convention held at Hazelton, B.C., during the previous week.
It Vas disappointing that out of the number of delegates who went there as delegates from the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, only one was given the floor for half an hour while Ritchie Nelson, president of the Fisheries Association and other representatives of the fishing companies had every one of their speakers outline company policy.
•However, Homer Stevens did submit a draft for joint negotiations for salmon price agreements with the Native Brotherhood to their General Executive Board.
It was felt at the Skidegate Local that the UFAWU had gone to a lot of trouble and expense to send delegates to Hazelton from Vancouver and Prince Rup-
AT APRIL 1
Frozen Salmon Stocks Down From Year Ago
Frozen fish stocks in Canada amounted to 34,093,000 lbs. on April 1, 1953—-31,663,000 lbs. were frozen fresh and 2,435,000 lbs. frozen smoked (estimates for. firms failing to report on time are included).
These holdings are below the
previous month by 4,221,000 lbs. frozen fresh and 76,000 lbs. frozen smoked.
Compared with April 1, 1952, they are higher by 5,654,000 lbs. frozen fresh and by 585,000 lbs. frozen smoked.
There was an "out" movement for all classifications in March of 1953 of 4.3 million pounds as compared with a similar movement of 5.3 million pounds during March 1952. (Estimates for firms failing to report are not included in analyses by species which follow.)
COD: April 1 stocks were 6,554,-000 Tbs. — 5,457,000 lbs. frozen fresh (dressed and fillets) and 1,097,000 lbs. frozen smoked. Apparent net decrease for March was 214,000 pounds, compared with an opposite movement of 740 thousand pounds during March 1952. Frozen in March 1953 — 2,076,000 lbs.
SALMON: Stocks (frozen fresh and smoked, dressed and fillets) on April 1 were 4,156,000 lbs. as compared with 6,713,000 lbs. a year ago and 5,874,000 lbs. the previous month. Apparent net decrease during March was 1.7 million pounds as compared with 2.6 million -pounds during the same month of 1952. Freezings in March 1953—32,000 lbs.
HALIBUT: April 1 holdings (all
IIIIIIIIH!!llllllH!!III!l!ll!!!!liii:illl!!!!llll
A deal with Russia covering' the British 1953 herring catch is about to be negotiated, reports the March 21 Fish Trades Gazette, a British trade magazine. This will be a barter arrangement, with Britain taking Russian canned crab meat in return. A Member of Parliament reporting on the prospects of Russia entering the British herring market, said: "The prospects are good and I have reason to believe the contract will soon be signed."
In 1952 Russia placed an order for about £750,000 (U.S. $2,-100,000) worth of herring, and Britain took Russian canned salmon in exchange. About 40,000 barrels have yet to be delivered on this order.
HIIIIIIBS
frozen fresh) totaled 2,385,000 Its. as compared with 3,787,000 lbs. a month earlier and 2,367,000 lbs. a year earlier. March 1953 freezings—53,000 lbs.
SEA HERRING: Frozen stocks (including kippers) an April 1 totaled 8,144,000 lbs. — 7,418,000 lbs. were fresh and 726,000 lbs. smoked—compared with 7,621,000 lbs. on April 1, 1952. Freezings in March—53,000 lbs.
WHO'S THE WORKWOMAN'S
BEST FRIEND?
The man who wants to try an experiment in State Socialism in British Columbia . . . who still thinks the ideas that backfired in Europe and have been rejected in Britain, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada can produce some kind of a Government - run - everything Utopia here in B.C. . . .
OR
... the man who can decide to expand or locate a brand new industry in B.C. . . . backed by the savings of investors who have many other places clamoring for their money . . . the man whose go-ahead signal can start earth moving; carpenters building forms, cement being poured, steel being fabricated, machinery installed, new contracts with companies, new jobs at high wages, new labor agreements being signed, new people to share the taxload of B.C.?.
One can't support and encourage BOTH of these people at one and the same time.
What's the logical choice between them?
Vote Free Enterprise 1-2-3
.B.C. FEDERATION OF TRADE & INDUSTRY
UP!
GOING
The Free Enterprise Vole in B.C. Provincial Elections
1945 1949 I95Z
ert. The important issue on this year's salmon prices should have been one of the important matters and every one of the Union delegates ought to have been heard. However, it is agreed that the Native Brotherhood will send delegates to Vancouver to sit in on joint negotiations for this year's prices of fish.
Brother Stevens gave some recorded facts on market conditions and the canned salmon carryover. They are nothing like or depressing as the operators would like us to believe. The American market was steady and good.
There is to be a joint conference of the Union, Fish Co-ops and the Farmers' Cooperatives. It will be one of the highlights looked forward to which will press our governments to get the British Commonwealth markets opened up and trade with other countries.
Spring salmon fishing is spotty. Few of the trailers are making fair to good catches—others report poor scratching.
Harry Martin, Skidegate troller, got 72 Springs in two days in Rennell Sound. The "Gregory D" delivered 2,300 pounds in Rupert a few days ago.
Three of the popular seine boats "Jessie Island No. 1," "Mary Chase," and the "Freeland" are pot fishing for crabs along the East Coast on Hecate Straits. The weather has been tough from the south-east. With a good streak of weather, the boys ought to do good. Last year, two American boats grossed some $60,000 in these waters.
The beam trawlers are making no money. They report poor fishing and the price is down.
The local halibut boats are about all rigged up and ready to start on the opening date.
Sointula Joins B.C. U/iion Body
The Sointula Local of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union voted at its May 3 meeting to affiliate with the British Columbia Trade Union Congress, formed last December in Nanaimo by a conference of delegates from B.C. trade unions affiliated with the Trades and Labor Congress.
The meeting also elected R. Aro, P. Emmerson, and W. Smith as a halibut committee to see that vessels leaving Sointula for the halibut grounds are up to date in their Union dues.
On the question of division of shares oh drum seiners, the Local went on record as favoring the present setup which provides 11 shares, four to the boat and net and seven to the crew.
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Racial Discrimination Studied at Labor Meet
Th'e third annual joint labor institute on race relations, held Sunday, April 26, in the YMCA, was the .largest and most success' ful so far with over 90 delegates present, mainly from trade unions, including five from Vancouver UFAWU Locals and one, Agnes Branter, from the Vancouver Women's Auxiliary. The institute which started with
a showing of three films on race discrimination at one o'clock, continued till nine o'clock in the evening with a banquet concluding the day.
Opening plenary session, chaired by R. K. Gervin, heard two speakers. R. J. McMaster spoke on democracy and the law, pointing out that law and democracy are two different things and that there is a danger in depending on law to protect democracy.
Dr. W. J. Rose, the second speaker, made the point, "The fitness of a person to do a job must be the only basis for choosing people to do that job."
Main business was carried on by four discussion groups into which all delegates were divided according to preference. They later reported to a further plenary session.
On The Responsibility of the Trade Union Movement, the following were among the points made:
Unions should elect anti-discrimination officers; they should be on alert for such evidences of discrimination as "All White Help" signs in restaurants; they should make sure union constitutions guarantee no race discrimination, and closed shop and union hiring should be instituted where possible.
It was also felt that anti-discrimination clauses should be written into agreements; advancements should be based on seniority and merit and not at whim of management; application for employment forms should exclude questions on race or religion; minority groups should be encouraged to apply for work where friendly unions exist where they have previously been refused and quit applying, and finally, the Joint Labor Committee to Combat Racial Discrimination should be contacted and its services used by the labor movement.
The second panel, on the Home and the Community, pointed out that children are not born with prejudice and that use of certain anti-racial- words should be avoided in the home which is important to development of the child.
All parents, it was felt, should be encouraged to join PTA's which do good work in this field; legislation and education are mutually important and both should be encouraged; press, radio, and films should help in this work.
Final point made was that all people are minorities in one sense or another and their object should be to prevent prejudices but if thev arise, to cure them.
Third group, on the responsibility of the education system, recommended that schools carry on more education on racial equalitv. It was also pointed out that in schools, discrimination can be economic, with children of various economic backgrounds tending to stick together.
Finally, on Responsibility of the Governments, these ideas were brought forward:
• On the civic front, efforts
should be made to get such laws as the Vancouver civic anti-discrimination bylaw passed.
• Prpvincially, fair employment practices legislation should be instituted. It is .in effect in three provinces at present. The power of public opinion should be used and legislation should be based on principle of conciliation and arbitration.
• Federally, Bill 100, federal Fair Employment Practices Act, was considered a Very good start. In addition, a planned immigration policy on the basis of ability to absorb in gainful employment should be in effect; newcomers should be integrated into Canadian life; government hiring policy on all levels should be improved and should serve as an example to other employers.
The banquet, chaired by Jim Bury, heard Aid. Halford Wilson speak on the work of the Civic Unity Council of which he is president. Aim of this group, he said, was to unify all sections of the community.
Main speaker was Rabbi Bernard Goldenberg, whose chief point was that racial prejudice begins in the home. The home, he said, should be the place where the child must be prepared to accept the idea of equality.
Stream Clearing' Drive Urged
Editor, The Fisherman:
Why don't the fishermen get out and fight to have some of the streams on this coast cleared up?
On this Island there are three creeks that a few years back used to spawn a few hundred salmon each year and now nil. A culvert caved in one and logs block the others so now we have a few less salmon in the chuck.
If you went of the coast you could easily find quite a few much the same. I can name a few more that I have seen while gillnetting especially where loggers are dumping logs into a mouth of a stream where salmon are just starting the run up. Such things are uncalled for. Give the salmon a start.
Get a bunch of men to start a drive on this and it would help a lot. Also have some good patrol men out in the spring when the spring fishing starts.
JACK MCCARTNEY Mansons Landing, .Cortez Island, B.C.
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