Canadian Letter
ANDRAS, A.
Canadian Letter CCF Begins Sweeping Reforms in Saskatchewan, Labor Modifies No-Strike Pledge By A. Andras UTTA WA, Caimda.—-The legislature of Canada's first Socialist province ia now in...
...Its program for the most part seems to consist of anti-Semitism and anti-anythlng likely to keep Canada a united nation...
...Every extension of Socialism makes it easier to plan employment as a whole...
...The mod em economy is a complete one that demands control and direction if disaster and chaos are to be averted Well aware of the obstacles confronting any attempt of planning on a provincial scale, (theI government remains of the opinion that much can he done to plan in such a manner that the economic activities of the people of this province may be carried on more etti eisntly...
...social legislation was to be its accompaniment...
...It •lone can remedy it...
...It Is being asserted, though proof is lacking, that the Liberal Party is supplying the communists with funds for their campaign...
...Tie "Labor-Progressives" will have to look to their laurels as demagogues No...
...Further, it expresses the hope thst a free Indis will decide to remsin a partner in the British Commonwealth of Nations...
...For their needs and for those of the whole population "a governmental organization su/Rcient in scope to meet the needs of the post war society" was forecast...
...Althoagh declaring that strikes in Wartime were to be svoided ss much ss possible, the Congress refused to tie its hands completely...
...From the first day of the convention that the communists were out to oh tsin a withdrswsl of the CCF endorsement, and in general to water down the Congress' decisions in line with "Teheran" derisions...
...Treatment of Cut my CountTies On the defeat of Germany and Japsn sll necessary steps must be taken—military, political and economic— to put it beyond their power snd that of their satellites to revive their attempt at the domination of other peoples by aggressive means...
...In the making of peace there should not only be, so far as possible, restitution to their victims, but the social snd politics...
...The principle of majority rule should obtain in the proceedings of both bodies save where, in exceptional cases, provision is made for an alternative procedure...
...During the debate on the resolution on strike policy, it became clear that opinion was divided sharply between thone who follow the party line and the other delegates...
...The economic conditions which sow (tie seeds of Fascism, wherever they may be found, must be finally eliminated...
...To this end there should be as rapid a development as possible in the direction of an international police force, the international control of .ill armaments, snd the automatic, imposition of economic and, where necessary, military sanctions against any country declared guilty of aggression, or preparing for aggression...
...They improve the methods and reduce the cost of distribution in international trade...
...The communists (beg pardon, labor progressives) aia carrying on a noisy campaign in favor of a coalition with the present Liberal government...
...Wartime arrangements for bulk purchase, through State agencies, of foodstuffs and raw materials, should continue...
...The socialist nature of the government, however, was made clear in the following passage from the speech: "It is the fepling of (the) government that the day Is paat when it can be left to the forces of private entei prise exclusively to develop the resources of the com munity and to organize the business activity...
...The Commonwealth Manifesto TIIK conference of the Hritish Commonwealth Labor Parlies, which opened in London on September held its final session on September 27...
...institutions which permitted the emergence of Nazism snd Fascism must he destroyed...
...This is but one manifeststion of the dsrk forces assembling to gain control over post-war Canada...
...Ordinarily minimum wages legislation is solely within the jurisdiction of the province...
...The forces responsible for the rise of Hillerism must be destroyed for all time...
...The minimum wage under federsl wartime wage stabilization regulations i> 85 cents in war industry...
...the Congress policy on post war planning and on other important subjects is clear and clean-cut...
...The principal wartime financial controls should be maintained until more permanent and satisfactory arrangements can be made...
...Since last year the communists (alias labor-progressives now) have not ceased to snipe at the Congress' action and its PAC...
...A group of French-Canadian Quebec "independents" have organized a fresh political party which bids fair to outdo all others in appeals to prejudice, racial animosity and separatism (Quebec from the reat of Canada...
...The new world organization must have the will ahd the power to prevent aggression...
...To increase production and maintain purchasing power is the way to full employment...
...Legislation has been enacted whereby the government will be able to engage in various types ol enterprise...
...It called on both government and management lo co-operate in maintaining industrial peace in the interests of all-out war production, but the bad anti-labor record of the federal government made an unconditional no-strike pledge impossible...
...A choice, in other words, between CCF ' and either of the two old-line parties...
...At any rate, the attempt of ths rommunists to bed with the Liberals makes quits s spectacle...
...We must plan for peace as we have planned to win the war...
...At the time of writing, there Is a cabinet crisis ot this very question...
...It went be yond that and endorsed the CCF as "the political arm lsbor in Canada...
...F'unds available for investment should be brought under national and international control and direction, all with the view of ensuring full employment, higher production, and raising the standards of living- everywhere...
...The campaign is having no marked effect on any but the communists snd that to their detriment...
...It affirmt iff belief in the right of India to full itlf-government, snd it looks to the British Government snd the lesders of Indisn communities to cooperate for its achievement with the least possible delay...
...This is part and parcel of ths Teheran line which demands support of free enterprise snd of the political party through which they hope to see the forward march of the CCF halted...
...Insofar as organized labor is concerned: company unions have been outlawed, union recognition is man datory, the check-off and the union shop must be writ ten into the agreement if demanded hy the union...
...On the queation of the no-strike pledge the Congress adopted an attitude which marks it off from both the party-liners and the non-tommuniKts in the American labor movement...
...This is a summary of the main points from the manifesto: * • » Labor't Opportunity In every country of the British Commonwealth the Labor Movements are making great progress The important achieve ments of the Labor (iovernments of New Zealand and Australia, the tremendous contribution to victory made by the Labor Ministers in deal Kiitain, supported throughout by the strength of the Labor Parties, the Trade Unions, and the Cooperative Movements, have awakened the admiration of our peoples and have aroused confidence in the rapacity of Labor to govern...
...The minimum wage has been doubled from 17 cents to 35 cents and permission is lieing sought from the federal government to raise it to BO rents...
...Full employment and the raising of standards of living is the first condition of an increase in production and purchasing power...
...Because the active participation by each of the four Crest Powers is indispensable to the maintenance of peace, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, snd China should have permanent seats on the Council of the world organization, but other nations should also he represented on such a council and all member nations should have representation on the assembly...
...Only an international order built for collective necuritj and economic espanxions, ran be the final guarantee against future wars...
...The world organization shall build s Permsnent Court of International Law, create a strong and efficient in-ternational Civil Service, snd be provided with an ample budget...
...Indian Self-Govtrnmant The conference places on record its profound admiration for the contribution made by Indis to victory over the aggressors in this war...
...Traditionally the French-Canadians are opposed to conscription and as a resull the question is one not merely of military policy oi expediency but has been converted into one of racial discord—Quebec against the rest of Canada...
...The government intended to guarantee by appropriate legislation "at least a minimum degree of economic security for the ruial and urban people of the province...
...All States which form constituent psrts of arty world authority should themselves renounce war aa sn instrument of national policy, and settle sll their disputes by peaceful mesns...
...One of them is tin conscription issue for military service overseas, at pies ent on_a voluntary basis...
...Farmers are now protected against eviction in years of drought and crop failuie...
...Inasmuch as the communists ars already nominating in a number of constituencies, including those most likely to go CCF, the rumor may not b« entirely unfounded...
...The banks and other financial institutions should be made the servants of the community...
...As these sre destroyed, every effort must be made lo rebuild the lsbor, trade union and coopers!ive movements In the defeated countries...
...The endorsement of the CCF continues...
...i e ¦ e • LaST year the Canadian Congress of Labor, one of two major trade union congresses in Canada and counterpart of the CIO, recognized at its convention the neei: for independent political action by labor...
...1 in view of i new rival for that position...
...If politicians have their way, there fore, the next election may center around conscription when the war is nearing an end,-snd for another quarter century, as after the last war, French and English will see in one another irreeonciliable elements, (iiver the chance, the CCF can make national unity a reality It realizes and states, alone among the political parties that, economic inequality is the basic cause for this cleavage among the two great races in Canada...
...Subsequently a Political Action Committee was established which drew up a program of far-reaching social reforms, including socialization of banking and finance...
...The next parliament will be the body responsible for the post-war reconstruction measures which must be projected and the issue must become one of a choice of a return to the planlessness of private enterprise (modified, it is true, by some still nebulous promises of aocisl legislstion) or a new type of economy in which the stste will play an increasingly greater role, both as planner and administrator...
...The New World Orqonnation Akl.L peace-loving nations, both great and small, should have full, democratic voice in the new world organization...
...Both the national leaders and rank and file delegates united to give the rommuniiit line a thorough thrashing Of the non communist controlled unions affiliated to the Congress there is not one which is prepared to hand itself tied hand and foot to the tender mercies of the present government and, in the main, hostile management Viewing the American labor scene from this side of the border, and seeing the tensions which the no-strike pledge has created, the policy of the Canadian Congress of Labor may perhaps appear the wiser one...
...Among the latter is a lsbor relations act which is undoubtedly the most progressive of its kmd of this continent The speech 'from the throne made clear from the atari the CCF government's intentions...
...Canadian Letter CCF Begins Sweeping Reforms in Saskatchewan, Labor Modifies No-Strike Pledge By A. Andras UTTA WA, Caimda.—-The legislature of Canada's first Socialist province ia now in aoasion, convened by the CCF ffovornmont of Saskatchewan which waa elected in a landslide vote last June...
...The first charge on a crop is the maintenance of ttie fsrmer and his family...
...Full employment and a full standard of life require full trade...
...But the Communists were defeated by substantial majoritiea on every issue...
...It welcomes the creation of a preparatory committee for this purpose...
...the mortgage companies, I in hanks snd the insursnce rompsnies take seeond place A health commission has been established and the people of Saskatchewan may look forward lo the best health services in Canada as soon as the required organization has been set up...
...Naturally, an attempt will be made to inject torn porary issues to befog the situstion...
...In the short spice of a few vtcks the government has already initiated a number ajf signMcant measures: designed to improve the economic position of the farmers who are the chief ele a,,„t in the population, as well as others of a more genera) nature...
...rapidly as possible after victory, of s Socialist International in which it recommends that both the British Labor Party and the Dominion Labor Parties shall seek to play their full part...
...The responsible suthors of wsr crimes should be visited with swift justice...
...The new democratic world order must he built through unremitting struggle and international Labor and Socialist unity...
...Towards a Socialist International The Conference looks forward to the revival, a...
...The Liberal point would of course be to see the communists split ths vote in a maximum number of constituencies and thereby esse the Liberal government in once more...
...l\(tions, the saying goes, speak louder than words, There has been action...
...There should also be international arrangements for as much stability as possible in foreign exchange rates, subject to the need for full employment in the countries concerned...
...The record of the Ssskstchewsn CCF government will have definite bearing in the coming federal election...
...It was essentially a consultative conference "a meeting of minds' hut the measure of agreement was found to he so large over a wide field of world policy that It was decide rl to issue an official manifesto...
...The govern ¦jent's first obligation, the speech stated, was to the men and women in the armed services...
Vol. 27 • November 1944 • No. 46
