ROBIN SMITH -in Van. South CHARLES CARON .in Van. East BOB McLAREN .in New Westminster Communist candidates named in B.C. ridings After Secretary ‘Caron last Vancouver East federal riding, nominating conferences in two more constituencies have named candidates to carry the Communist Party banner in the June 25 election. naming City Charles week in In Vancouver South, Miss Robin Smith, 23 years of age, was named to contest the seat now held by Minister of Northern Affairs Arthur Laing. (See statement on her candidature on page 12). In New Westminster riding a nominating meeting last Friday night named prominent civic leader and spokesman for the Communist Party, Bob McLaren as candidate. (See statement on page 1zZ) Further Communist Party conferences are being held on Vancou- ver Island and in the Okanagan - Kootenay area this weekend to consider nominations. The Communist Part, — the party of Canadian socialism — will work in this’ election campaign to bring to Canadians the idea for a fundamental. change in Canadian affairs. At the same time the party sees as the central issues of this election that of peace, Canadian independence, sover eigntvy for Quebec, democratic control of the monopolies and the advancement of the economic and social needs of the people. VOL. 29, NO. 21 Bill 33 must go! VOTERS REJECT SOCRED POLICY By NIGEL MORGAN, = B.C. leader, Communist Party Voters in Vancouver South Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected the anti-labor, anti-education and anti-democratic policies of Premier W. A. C. Bennett and the Socred government in this traditionally strong Socred riding. It wasa crushing vote of non-confidence in the [ and a call for new policies. The byelection was called by Premier Bennett immediately following the provincial session of the legislature to win public endorsation for the government's anti-labor Bill 33, the new school act (Bill 86), the government's restriction on spending for social needs, and the resources giveaway program. When the election date was first announced by the Premier he said this byelection would show where the public stood on the government's policies. The entire Socred cabinet moved into the riding, including Premier Bennett. to sell the program to the voters in an area which for years has elected two sitting Socred members. Now the government has got its answer. That answer is clear and unequivocable! The voters of Vancouver South spoke for ihe people of B.C. They want an end to compulsory arbitration and anti- labor policies. They want an end to the school freeze and restrictions on education. They want an end to the rovincial government giveaway of the province's natural resources. They want relief from the growing burden of municipal taxes. They want better ‘social services, more schools and hospitals. They want an end.to the arrogant and undemocratic policies of Premier Bennett and the-Socred government. Premier Bennett accepted the challenge over Bills 33 and 86 and his Labor-Education Minister, Leslie Peterson. acknowledged repeatedly during the campaign that they were major issues in the campaign. Undoubtedly the campaign of the B.C. Teachers Federation against undermining of education standards, and labor's campaign against anti- labor laws (even weak as it was). played a major part in defeat of the government in this major test. Extent of the Swing against Socred policies can be seen by comparing figures for this constituency in the 1966 provincial election. Socred Loffmark topped the poll with 12.259 votes: Bates (whose death precipitated the byelection) was second with 11,740. Levi, the NDP candidate who won vesterday got only 9,067 two years ago. and his running mate 8.843. In yesterday's bvelection. with 2,036 less voters turning out (59°; compared to 68° in 1966) the NDP boosted their vote to 10.146 Thus. while the NDP got 1.079 more votes, Socred support plummeted by 4.044 votes. The Socred vote dropped from 44.6°c in 1966 to 33%. Noteable is the fact that the NDP won 78 polls: the Socreds only 14 and the Liberals 23 Another important feature of the byelection returns was the fact that the electors did not turn to the Liberals. as had been predicted in earlier stages of the Campaign. The Sun's editorial call to the voters to extend the Liberal victory in Point Grey and vote for them as the sane alternative to the Socreds. and help set the pace for the June 25th Federal election. met little response. Obviously the voters Saw the NDP. and not the Liberals as the alternative to Bennett's reactionary and arrogant policies. Rejected also was the fact that Liberal candidate Sandy Robertson. came out in favor of Bill 33 With the Socred majority in the Legislature cut to 12. the voters threw their Support to the NDP as the alternative to Socred mismanagement corruption and arrogant attitude. See SOCREDS, pg. 12 THE PROVINCE, Saturday, May 18, 1968 eeees Test for Bill 33 looms — seve, Sexi By ALEX YOUNG in Tuesday's byelection Eany: fhe ~