CASTLEGAR NEWS. Published Every Thursday At “THE OF THE I ays” Member: Canadian Weekly . Newspapers Assn.’ * Ball, subscription rate to thy Castlegar News Js 33 per yeur, “she price by delivery boy {s ay cents a munth, Single copies’ art *10 cents. The Castlegar News is authorized us second- «flass mall, Post Office Department, Ottawa, and, is a member of he Audit Bureau of Cireulatigns? All (Should be Castlegar, B.C. LY. CAMPBELL . Member: Editor and Publisher B.C. Weekly Newspapers ~ Advertising Bureau ‘ue ‘Editor, Castlegar News, Drawer 490, Castle- gar, B.C. Letters for publication must ba avcom- panled ny the correct name and address of the + weiter, Pen names will be used on request, but the correct name must be submitted, The Castte- News reserves the right to shorten letters in the interests of economy of space, ; CASTLEGAR NEWS, Thursday, July 7, 1960 Out-of Work Looters Hike Up. Unemployment Figures In an editorial last week this néws- paper made a rematk or two regarding unemployment which met with some crit- icism. We agree that the subject is a touchy ‘one but at the same time it is one that should ’.be faced squarely and honestly, particularly. the aspect relating to unem- ployment insurance. ‘Unemployment statistics do not, in our : opinion, ‘any longer represent the actual situation, either. in the community. or the nation. This, we think,.is due to the whole- sale abuses that have crept into the unem- ployment insurance setup, and it'seems high time this department of government he given thorough investigation. Offhand, most of us can name off dozens of persons who are drawing bene- fits. to which they are not entitled. We know of women who ‘quit their jobs to marry high-salaried men and somehow be- come eligible. We know of men who quit jobs to marry women with good_ positions -—~ they draw unemployment insurance. We know of competent tradesmen whose ser- vices are in great demand almost every-, to obtain employment, if we are to protect the unemployment insurance system as.an “insurance” scheme we must alter the attitude of regarding the fund as a pan- acea for any and all kinds of. financial benefits and that aid be given to all persons who are not working, regardless of the circumstances that gave rise to their un- employment. The system was introduced to take the.stigma out of the’old “dole” or “relief” payments. But it has drifted a long way from its original purpose of providing tem: porary assistance to, needy jobless. It - becoming used all; too frequently as os» Was the life of tho | oaty., Preserving Free Enterprise System Much has been said about the necessity of preserv- ing our free enterprise system. But, in the final analysis, isn’t that the job of the system itself rather than‘of gov- er: ts or other outsid ies? Too many free en- terprises turn to governments for help. - Free. enterprise must prove its ability to compete successfully. It must do so by its productivity, the prices and quality of its products. Free enterprise carl, defeat itself by what might be termed “creeping socialism” from within. Free enterprise originated in a spirit of self- reliance and self-confidence. Those qualities are in- source of supplementary income, faaiee than a means of alleviating hardship for those who are unable to find work. We are not attempting to belittle the “unemployment situation. It is probably bad enough; but it.is cerainly not being helped by constant and wholesale abuse of the system meant to alleviate it. - It should be remembered that the fund. is maintained by regular premiums paid out of wages by all workers and sup- where, but who ed holiday at ‘How does’ this. all come about?. When nee was first,i ed’ some’ 18 ye ‘it was meéan’t” solely as temporary assistance for persons who were out of employment through no fault of their own. But now no less an authority than Richard D. Thrasher, parliamentary secretary to Labor Minister Starr, declares that the list of registered applicants is no longer a register of genuinely unemployed persons who are actively seeking work. Some, he says, are registered only for the purpose of obtaining benefits. Although it can be regarded ag a res- ponsibility ‘of the state to assist those who through no fault of their own are not able Overseas Competition Hitting . B.C.’s Sawn Lumber Market : British, Columbia's chances of Selling; more gawnJumber in the United. Kingdom *: than‘previously inthe face of stiffer than ever overseas competition would appear to he’ problematical, ‘says The Victoria Colonist. cae While such an’ -outlet would be in- valuable to the timber industry of'the pro- vince in view of the present ‘situation on domestic and American markets, in the long run. competitive prices will decide who gets'the contracts. Great Britain, ‘with a-more‘liberal import policy now, is un- doubtedly an expanding market for pri- mary supplies such as lumber; but also it has a considerable range of choice as to where it will buy to fill its onesie ‘Hie Co lonist continues. Within.the last 50 years British Co. lumbia has been in and out ‘of the U.K. lumber market several times in successive: waves, depending chiefly on. the surplus’ output which cannot be sold closer. to: the scene ‘of ‘Production,, At oné.time B.C. sold the bulk of its export lumber in-Great Britain, until a building, boom -in.. the ‘United States and brisk internal sales in Canada temporarily opened up more lucrative markets, The swing.to the American market. at that time cost this province ‘something in the trade conhections ‘it had “been at pains to build up. When’ Jater the situation changed and B.C.:-would have been glad of its former- U.K., sales, those conditions were gone and export markets had to be built up | all -couragement from "the provincial govern- -selves in a position to offer the standard their employers. It should be regarded as similar to fire.or accident i in- ‘surance company would last very long if it had to meet the accident claims of all and -sundry which were based: | Liguipt DETERGENT — ovae PPLE Lag plage Bie ‘for... --- $100 = MALKIN’S *. ROOSTER _-“ERESH ALBERTA GRAIN. FE GOV'T: INSPECTED