n August 30th, 1972 British Columbians in their majority voted for the “‘end of an era’’ by electing a New Democratic Party-(NDP) government. They surprised themselves and everyone else, including the NDP by doing it. But that’s what the ballots totalled up. So it’s now ‘‘Hail and Farewell’’. Hail to the new NDP- elect starting out on a great new path of shaping the destinies of British Columbia to conform to the needs and aspirations of its common people. And ‘‘Farewell’’ to W.A.C. Bennett and his ‘“‘holier-than-thou’’ Socred regime, which, for twenty long years forgot or brushed aside the needs of the people in its anxiety and readiness to serve the sole interests of big monopoly, foreign and home-bred. At the moment all the pundits who hold forth on “‘hot- lines” and other media sources are on a speculation binge on “how it happened, what caused it,” what the future will be and so forth. Numerous political soothsayers have been rounded up to unburden themselves of ‘‘opinion”’, but there’s not much wheat among all the chaff. Among the many ‘“‘programmes’’ of the various contending old-line parties handed out to the electorate at their homes or on the hustings, there was little or nothing to differ from either. As a plug for the contending candidates he (or she) was invariably portrayed as “‘one who cares”. Even those who for twenty years warmed a Socred seat in several legislative Sessions, and who by their actions couldn’t have ‘‘cared less’’, was so enshrined. Remarkable as it may seem, some NDP candidates — and successful ones at that, were projected as fairly loaded with “care’’ while any and all references to “‘labor’’, ‘‘socialism”’ and/or class differentiation, was carefully ommitted from policy and platform materials— probably as a safeguard against anti-socialist cannard. Anyway at the starting post of a new era it will be action rather than wordage which will indicate the course of the new NDP government. So far there has been no media or other chatter anent the ‘“‘flight of capital’ from B.C. as happened in Manitoba and Saskatchewan when the NDP-CCF beat out the old-line incumbents in these provinces. A well-entrenched monopoly, in an area where rich resources grabs have been relatively easy, are not going to be frightened off by the first ‘“‘free enterpriser’’ who lets outa loud squeak about NDP “socialism.” Particularly since that objective doesn’t even exist for the NDP, nor could the ‘‘give- awayer’’ Bennett and his Socred— monopoly consortium convince any British Columbian that it did. When labor moves en masse to asset its rights and wage demands, as it did in Quebec early and throughout the past summer, there was a well-staged scenario on the ‘“‘flight of capital’. They even gave us a TV show of big trucks loading-up at the banks and carting the filthy lucre off. Mostly a well- staged “‘flight’’ in an effort to frighten the hungry and destitute and jobless of La Belle Province that they would be still more hungry and destitute if they persisted in their “‘unreasonable’”’ demands. But monopoly capital still has a stranglehold on the economy of Quebec as it has on B.C. (by the grace of ‘‘God”’ and Bennett) until decisive action, vastly different from a professed ‘‘care’’, terminates its stranglehold and cuts its resources umbilical cord. That operation will require all the unity a strong NDP government and a powerful labor movement outside of Parliament can muster to successfully perform. ; The Communist vote didn’t stack up very well in this historic turnover, but then Socialism, not even NDP “socialism’’ was on the agenda this time around. The people voted in their majority for a change, away from the old-line spell-binders, away from traditional politicking, away from Socredia, away from more of the same. The NDP fitted into the ‘‘alternative’’ vacuum with an almost perfect precision and flair— and came out on top. How much of a change only the future will indicate. Suffice it that today the victory belongs to the people. They voted for change— now they will expect it. FOR ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS Contact: GLOBE TOURS 2679 E. Hastings St., Vancouver 6, B.C. 253-1221 254-2313 S2BRSEIDI9 Hicw Moidw es 55207 c 2092. PAGIFICTRIBUNE-—FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1972—PAGE 2» TO AID MUNICIPALITIES Rankin outlines reforms NDP gov't should adopt By ALD. HARRY RANKIN The people of B.C. made history on August 30, when they voted out Social Credit and voted in the New Democratic Party. The defeat of the Bennett-Peter- sen-Gaglardi administration and 11 of its 15 cabinet ministers was richly deserved. We are now entering a new era in B.C.’s political history and I look forward to the future with optimism. I know that once a party is elected, its leaders tend to become more conserva- tive-minded and some regret the promises they made to get votes. But I also know that the demand for reform in this province is so great and the expectations of the people have been raised so high that they cannot be denied. My political interests, as you know, are mainly in the muni- cipal field. Based on the election platform of the NDP and the campaign speeches of its candi- dates, we have aright to expect ' reforms in the following directions: e Complete removal of the education tax from homes. e Action to compel land specu- lators and promoters to pay their fair share of taxes. (This will require steps to make sure that big commercial and industrial properties are assessed at their true market value, and the removal of the 10 percent limi- tation on increases in their taxes. ) e $200 a month pensions for senior citizens. e Free dental care for chil dren. e Low-cost government- operated car insurance. e Creation of new jobs through processing and refining of our natural resources right here at home, and the establishment of secondary manufacturing indus- tries in our province. e Reform and upgrading of our whole welfare system. e Dropping of. provincial government financial as sistance for the building of a Third Crossing that the people don’t want and instead, provid- ing funds for improving and upgrading the B.C. Hydro-owned bus system and the building of a rapid transit system on the Lower Mainland. o Removal of Bill 33 (the Mediation Act which provides for compulsory arbitration in labor disputes) and other anti- trade union legislation. We may take it for granted that big business in this province will fight such reform tooth and nail, and will use the mass media to whip up scares of all kinds. They will pressure the NDP government to go easy, to be more moderate, to postpone, etc. However, the people know that these reforms (and many mol are all quite realizable, ev within our — corporatio® dominated system. They m4 cut into the profits of vestel interests, but they will improve the quality of life. And whatty more important — the profits? | absentee foreign shareholde or the welfare of the people support any construct reforms introduced by the NDP government, while re ing my political independent constructively criticise where believe such criticism is ™ and necessary. a Ban nuclear Last week George Ignatieff, Canadian ambassador to the United Nations disarmament conference gave a valedictory address to the conference ending his 32 years of diplo- matic life. As is often the case with people who give a valedictory address, Itnatieff used the occasion to speak frankly about things he would be less diplo- matic about under other circum stances. Speaking about nuclear disarmament, he said the most urgent task is to develop a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty. Ignatieff said progress has been blocked mainly because of U.S. insistence for on-site inspection of national terri- tories, which, he added, the Soviet Union opposes. Ignatieff then said that Cana- tests urged dian studies showed that, 8) adequate seismological aol operation, most undergrn nuclear explosions ¢am inf detected through the exist! network of seismic stations:* In a reference obviously me for the U.S., he said it was le6 mate to ask whether the?! continued testing was greater than the risk 0 1 underground tests esc@P "| detection. 6 World scientists have for se now maintained that on inspection for nuclear tests longer» necessary andi “ke modern detection means™, it impossible to conceal evel ie smaller nuclear explosio® tiny earthquakes. i ta: urged a comprehensive stl | test ban treaty but has OPP ite . the U.S. insistence on 0” | — ) inspection. Must struggle for genuine change | Close to 200 people attended the Labor Day picnic at the Sampo Hall in Websters Corner on Sunday. A delicious meal, and O9724ERBLocK “Of course we're hitting North Vietnamese civilians . we treat them any better than we do the South Vietnamese?” 1 94 or: C aldsitisve . . Why should a program which nighlibh Finnish poetry, musi€ a irl address by Pacific Tribune © agi | lation manager Ernie CTS” ja) a visitor to Canada from" | opening up for the people ° since the defeat of the 4 Credit government. H many people believed ¢ voting for a party | iis considered socialist, view is obviously not § the business commut! Ve is quoted as saying they gover fear of Barrett’s N.D-F* ment. jos § He said that if parrett I Le the policies that Pr will! Sweden, Austria, 29° ash Brandts West Germany: