DEMAND FOR REFORM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18468, 6 August 1934, Page 7

DEMAND FOR REFORM

POLITICS IN CANADA MINISTER’S CHARGES SENSATIONAL PAMPHLET (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Tress Assn.) NEW YORK, August 1. The New York Times’ Ottawa correspondent says: “A sensational pamphlet was issued to-day by the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mr. H. H. Stevens, which alleged that unscrupulous ■financiers and business, men had exploited Canada’s consuming public, starved producers, sweated workmen, and left the country facing the alternatives of reform, dictatorship, or revolution.’ ” . . The statement, which daringly mentioned personal friends and business associates of Mr. R. B. Bennett, the Prime Minister, is regarded here as possibly the beginning of a campaign for a “new deal” in Canada. After the issuance of the pamphlets, which were printed by the Minister s own department, Mr. Stevens escaped the brewing storm of resentment by departing for a holiday trip. Several of the persons concerned have uttered threats of libel suits.

Mr. Bennett confiscated 1000 copies of the pamphlet which remained in Mr. Stevens’ office. Observers generally believe that Mr. Bennett will soon demand Mr. Stevens’ resignation. - In the pamphlet itself Mr. Stevens alleged that thousands of skilled workers received as little as four dollars a week, and that members of a board of directors “milked” a certain Toronto concern of 20,000,000 dollars, meanwhile selling employees 2,000,000 dollars of worthless stocks. The pulp paper industry had been “gouged” of. 30.000.000 dollars, Mr. Stevens declared.

“I will never rest until something is done to remedy it. No economic or political system that can tolerate that can survive without either a revolution or a dictatorship.” He urged the Conservative Party to reform, basing their policies first on the well-being of agriculturists and then industrial workers.