Evening star., 1942-11-08
Canada a Year Ahead of u. S.
In Stabilizing Of Living Costs
Most of Provisions in Byrnes Economic Program
Find Parallel in Dominion Policies;
Manpower Control frightened
By B. T. Richardson.

keb which leaves the export field undis-
tufbed by the price ceiling.
When Canada was pioneering price and
wage control in North America, during
the past 10 months, the question re-
manned unanswered whether the ceiling
could be held. The evidence is clear
enough now that it did hold, with only
two-point fluctuation in the cost Of living
during the summer of 1912. That in
crease was blamed on seasonal factors.
such as fresh vegetables, lamb and soms
other meats. The fact that the cost Of
living has settled down frac,ionally this
fall indicates that this thesis is right. 4.
The drastic American program of con-
trolling imitation, most Canadians think.
will make it certain that their own CELL
ing can be held. They would have gone
ahead with 1t alone, in any case. But
they know some of the problems the
price controllers and people OF the United
States will encounter. Only recently has
the problem of black markets appeared.
Drastic enforcement measures have been
taken in 500 cases.
Prosecutions have brought stiff fines to
meat dealers who ignored the ceiling, to
restaurant owners found raising the price
Of meals, to stores found charging higher
prices than the law allows. Donald Cor
don, chairman Of the Wartime Prices and
Trade Board, has estimated that SO per
cent Of Canadians are in favor Of tho
controls. He seems to be right.
Curtailment In Industry.
Ruthless curtailment Of non-essential
civilian trade and industry also has been
ordered by the Canadian government, in
order to release every available man
and woman, as well-for military service
or essential war production.
Aside from the replacement Of men by
women, both in factories and in non-
combatant military jobs, the remaining
reserves of manpower In Canada, in
which there is now no unemployment,
exist either in agriculture or in nom
essential industry. Loathe to endanger
food production by drawing more labor
away from agriculture, Canada is plan
ming to withdraw 1000 workers from an
estimated pool Of 100000 persons en-
gagged in services and production for the
civilian front.
So far decisions OF policy and pro-
cedure are still in the formative stage,
but the average Canadian faces the cer-
tain prospect that his daily living stand
ie ~ ct, t,, tIa A,,t
few months. What James L. Ilsley, fed
eral minister of finance, promised as long
ago as last June In his annual budget
speech, is beginning to come true. He
said then that Canada could no longer
maintain its standards Of living for civil
ians and meet the costs and sacrifices Of
war as well.
Crack Down on Manpower.
Under Robert F. Chisholm, director OF
the industrial division of the War Prices
Board. plans for pruning down civilian
industries are being organized within
each industry itself.
Shortage of manpower, growing stead
lily more acute in Canada. is behind the
policy of combing out all unessential
phases of civilian production. Canada S
manpower boss, Elliott Little. served no.
tice on non-war industry the other day
in these words:
I'm the reallocation Of industrial man
power, basic surgical steps will have to
be taken in the national interest. We
have been told repeatedly during the last
couple of years that our way of life must
be changed and our standards OF living
reduced.
I'VE are now at the stage where we no
longer have any choice but must forth
with set out to reduce our civilian stand
ard Of living to the bare minimum neces-
sary to maintain health and efficiency.
From this time on, the nation will see q
progressive, planned pruning Of indus
tries which are not necessary to that
minimum standard OF life"
To show how drastic change in poll
icy this means in Canada, one needs
only recall that hitherto civilian demands
have enjoyed the maximum amount OF
goods and services that could be pro-
vided, after war needs were satisfied. All
critical materials and strategic metals
! have long since disappeared from civilian
production, or appeared only in greatly
curtailed volume.
Absolute Minimum.
But now the government has called on
its experts to figure out the absolute
minimum of goods and services on which
the civil population can exist at an eff
cient level, and everything else will be
diverted to war production. 1t is nc
longer question Of saving materials and
metals for war, but Of diverting every
able-bodied man and woman who can
be spared for war work.
The machinery for cutting down civil
ian production is already in existence
Under the program OF "simplified prac-
tice," organized by the War Prices Board
every important industry in Canada has
operated under an administrator and an
advisory committee named by the in-
dustry, to work out individual problems
created by the price ceiling, by wartime
import restrictions. These administra-
tors have sought to equalize the sacri-
nee.
British Students Will Get
Awards for Study Of U. S.