CANADIAN AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1937, Page 10

CANADIAN AFFAIRS

THE HOPES OF ALBERTA

THREATS TO SALMON RUN

(From "The Post's" Representative.) VANCOUVER, July 6.

The residents of Alberta, 'Canada's youngest province, who had lost faith in Mr. Aberhart and his Social Credit principles, have now had it revived by two envoys of Major, Douglas, sent by him from London to report on the extent of the revolt within the ranks of the Social Credit Party, and how far it may affect the prospect of Mr. Aberhart implementing the new doctrine by legislation. One of_ these missionaries succeeded in closing up the gaps in the party by persuading the Premier to ask for a pledge, from supporters and opponents alike, to refrain from criticism while Major Douglas's investigation was under way. The pledge was forthcoming, and the investigator followed it up by a bold statement that the " institution of a Social Credit dividend of £5 a month for every citizen of Alberta over sixteen is now practicable. The dividend could be paid, he said, if unemployed worked two days a week on _ the natural resources of the province. Faith in Social Credit— "something for nothing," as the Liberals define it—is once more stirring the breasts of hopeful Albertans. SALMON INDUSTRY THREATENED. The salmon industry is being threatened in three ways. Manyyears of negotiation with the United States ended recently in calling a halt to the practice of using. fish traps in the American portion of the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Gulf of Georgia. Now the fish are being taken at sea by American fishermen, on the ground that they are international property. The second threat is in the construction of power damson the Columbia River in Oregon, and the . belief that the fish will not use the elaborate escalators built to carry tern over the dams. As the spawning grounds of the Columbia are in British Columbia, which is regarded as the most prolific of present salmon waters, it is felt that the "run" will be seriously affected. The third threat is in toe presence of a number of Japanese floating canneries outside the temforial limit on the Pacific Coast, where the salmon run is intercepted. The Canadian Government, in association with the United States Government, the Alaska salmon resources of which are also threatened by the Japanese] invasion, has appealed to the Japanese Government to respect, conditions which have prevailed in Canadian and American waters for two generations. HEALTH INSURANCE. The recent health insurance law, passed in British Columbia, and first to "be passed in Canada, was not proceeded with owing to the opposition of the Medical Association, winch contended that it was impracticable, as it did not make provision for indigents. At the general election held last month, health insurance was submitted as a referendum and was endorsed by a goodly majority, although the Minister responsible for introducing it nearly lost his seat. The principle is gradually being accepted in other provinces, but the difficulty pointed out by the doctors has not been overcome. The Government feels that a solution may present itself in time. The law will be implemented shortly. Under it employees receiving less than £350 a'year will be obliged to contribute 2 per cent, of their earnings.