LETTERS \yulonccmacecrma ‘No cruise’ says OAPO Hamish MacKay, steward and provincial board member, Jid Age Pensioners Organiza- tion, writes: The B.C. Old Age €nsioners Organization has, for the second year in a row, Moved in the direction of world Peace. At the annual convention June 13-16, the OAPO Unanimously endorsed a resolu- tion which read: _ “Whereas, the cruise missile 1Sa new and dangerous weapon in the nuclear arms race and a threat to all peoples and nations Of the world, therefore be it Tesolved that we urge the federal 80vernment to take immediate Concrete action to stop or cancel any agreement concerning the testing of the cruise missile on adian soil.”’ I can remember when peace Was a very dirty word — times are changing. There were many other good Tesolutions passed at this Storic convention pertaining to the immediate interests of old age pensioners and senior citizens, _ On federal issues, a resolu- ion submitted by Branch 46 (Courtenay) urged that the OAPO protest in the strongest Possible manner the six-and-five Percent restraint program and Tequest that a review of the old age pension be done as soon as Possible. _ On provincial issues, resolu- Hons called for: * Reinstating the dental plan that was discontinued recently by the provincial government; © Lifting the sales tax on cer- tain items pensioners need; ® Reinstating rental grants; * Pressuring the government for legislation favorable to han- dicapped people; * Ending large expenditures °n provincial government Vertising, and more funding BRITISH COLUMBIA _ government. The fast began last weekend. GVRD vote angered Socreds (This column was written prior to legislation tabled Thursday by municipal affairs minister Bill Rit- chie abolishing the planning powers of the regional districts.) On June 29 the Greater Van- couver Regional District (GVRD) voted down a demand from Dawn Development Corporation for a zoning change that would allow it to use 239 hectares of South Delta farmland for speculative commer- cial and industrial development. In 1981 the provincial government overruled the Agricultural Land Commission, and over the protests of thousands of citizens, took this land (the former Spetifore proper- ty) out of the agricultural land reserve. Spetifore was a well known supporter of Social Credit. Had the GVRD knuckled under “the Dawn developers, it would have undermined the whole regional plan of the GVRD and opened the door to developers to for hospi destroy the whole concept of elias agricultural land reserve. JOIN THE GREAT EAA For any of your travel needs, big or small. Let Globe Tours find the best way for you! Hawaii @ Mexico ®@ Fiji Las Vegas @ Reno ® Calgary Montreal @ Paris @ London GLOBE TOURS 2679 East Hastings Street 253-1221 Vancouver, B.C. V5K1Z5 The vote came as a surprise to the developers. They thought they had a majority of the GVRD board of directors safely in their hip pockets, following an intensive lobbying campaign. Involved in the issue were millions of dollars in easy and speculative profits. One of those highly incensed by the vote was Social Credit MLA for Delta, Walter Davidson. He called the vote a ‘‘Communist-socialist conspiracy’ by ‘“‘faceless elected members.” Harry Rankin It was a false, stupid and ig- norant charge. The GVRD board of directors is appointed by municipal councils. Socialist- minded directors are a small minority — the large majority are openly identified with the Liberal, Conservative and Social Credit parties. The vote in the GVRD was 40-28 and those opposed to the developers included members and supporters of the Social Credit par- ty. Davidson’s charge that the vote was ‘‘a straight division with the communists and socialists on one side, and the private sector on the other”? only demonstrates his own complete disregard for the facts. But what was more significant than the stupidity of his remarks was his follow up when he boasted that ‘‘a Communist-socialist con- spiracy is not going to stop this goverment.” What this remark revealed was the collusion of in- terest between the developers and the Social Credit government. And he followed it up with a threat that the Social Credit government would bring down legislation which would overrule the GVRD, take away its planning functions and let the developers have their way. “Tt’s coming, it’s coming,’’ he declared. This remark also violates the role of speaker of the legislature, which Davidson holds. The speaker is supposed to be impartial and neutral; he does not attend Social Credit caucus meetings and is not supposed to know the specifics and details of legislation to be introduc- ed: But Davidson apparently has a good idea of what is coming up and has publicly assured his developer friends that they will get their way. If there is any conspiracy involved in this whole unsavory business it is clearly a conspiracy between Social Credit and the developers to subvert the public good and the desires of the citizens of the region. There is no doubt at all in-my mind that in the current session of the legislature the Social Credit cabinet intends to bring down legislation which will emasculate the planning functions of the GVRD, allow municipal councils that are in the pockets of the developers to rezone farm lands to give developers a free hand, and give the cabinet powers to override municipal councils and the GVRD any time they fail to comply with the demands of developers. We'll have to fight like hell to save whatever dutonomy and powers the GVRD and municipal councils have left today. RANKIN & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors 4th Floor, 195 Alexander St., Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1N8 682-2781 Offers a broad range of legal services including: @ Personal Injury and Insurance Claims e@ Real Estate and Conveyancing e Divorce and Family Law e Labour Law e Criminal Law @ Estates and Will TRIBUNE PHOTO — DAN KEETON PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JULY 15, 1983—Page 7 Classified Advertising COMING EVENTS JULY 18 — Hear delegates from the Prague peace conference. Rob- son Square Theatre, Spons. by B.C. Peace Council. JULY 23 — DERA 10th anniversary fundraising dinner. Ten course Chinese meal at the Park Lock Restaurant, 665 Main St., 6 p.m. Tickets $22, tax receipt issued for $10. Deadline for reservations July 18. Ph. 682-0931. JULY 24 — Salute to the Moncada. Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Bar- racks. AUUC Hall, 805 E. Pender St., 3:30 to 8:30 pm. Games, Cuban film, musical program, refreshments, lucky draw. Dinner served 5:30 p.m. Tickets $4, children $2. Auspices: Canadian Cuban Friendship Assoc. Tickets 255-6443. JULY 24 — Third annual SAM music festival featuring Puelche, Peter Dent, Tom Hawken, Steve Gidora and more. Speakers: Van. ald. Libby Davies and Prague peace conference delegate Bette Pepper. Bring-your-own-meat barbecue. Adm. $5, OAP. and students, $3. From 12:30 p.m. at 12715 — 66 Ave., Surrey. Ph. 594-0539 or sede (If rain, moved to July 4s AUG. 14 — Hold this date for the annual Golden Ears picnic, Webster's Corners. Spons. by CPG: AUG. 20 — Housewarming party for Donalda and Ray Viaud. From 2 p.m., barbecue dinner served 4:30 to 6:30 at 9434 — 124A St., Sry. For directions, 254-9836 (days) or 589-3163 (eves.). COMMERCIAL GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete printing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. Special rates for the progressive movement. A union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Van. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 12 noon to 5 p.m. 733-6822. ROOF REPAIRS — New roofs. Reasonable. Ph. 277-3352. DIRECTORY COMMUNIST PARTY OF CAN- ADA offices located at 102-2747 E. Hastings St., Van. Ph. 254-9836. For information on political issues or assistance in political activity. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reserva- tions phone 254-3430. WEBSTERS CORNERS HALL — Available for banquets, meetings, etc. For rates: Ozzie, 325-4171 or 462-7783. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CUL- TURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pen- der St., Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Ph 254-3436. phillip ellen rankin bond paul mcmurray Barristers & Solicitors 157. Alexander St., 2nd floor, Vancouver, B.C. V6A1B8 682-3621