ok oe 25 years ago... NO HIDING PLACE FROM THE H-BOMB Civil defence has no answer to ° a shower of radioactive particles or “fall-out” following an H-Bomb blast, Federal Health and Welfare Minister Paul Mar- tin announced Feb. 28. Such a “death ash” would re- sult not only in immediate injury but “work long-term damages to the human race”, he said. “These are questions for which final answers are not yet avail- able ... they pose much more than a mere threat to civil de- fence, for they represent in very truth, a peril to humanity.” Martn’s startling announce- ment was in direct’ contrast to concerted new efforts now under way to convince large metropolitan areas across Canada to undertake “civil de- fence planning” on a huge and expensive scale. The Tribune, March 7, 1955 FLASHBACKS FROM THE COMMUNIST PRESS 50 years ago... WOMEN’S DAY 1930 UNITE AGAINST WAR International Women’s Day, 1930, for working and poor farm women of Canada must be primarily a day of intense mobilization against imperialist war, a day of organization of all the forces of the women of the working class for the defence of the Soviet Union. International Women’s Day this year is taking place at a time when the world imperialists are busily engaged preparing for war... The whole capitalist world is facing acute economic crisis. The unemployed armies of the . world have reached enormous proportions. The sufferings of the working class grows in intensity ... The Worker, March 8, 1930 Profiteer of the week: A lot of people know Weston’s for their baked goods, but they also own a lot of other food companies and some in pulp and paper: McCormick's, Neilson, Donlands, Eddy Paper, Westcane Sugar with an 87% interest in Lob- - laws and 82% in B.C. Packers. You probably buy from George Weston Ltd., whatever your taste. You'll want to know the company had an after-tax profit for 1979 of $65,949,000. Figures used are from the company’s financial statements. NE Editor — SEAN GRIFFIN Associate Editor — FRED WILSON Business and Circulation Manager — PAT O’CONNOR Published weekly at Suite 101 — 1416 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. V5L 3X9. Phone 251-1186 Subscription Rate: Canada $10 one yr.; $6.00 for six months; All other countries, $12 one year. Second class mail registration number 1560 PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MARCH 14, 1980—Page 4 EIDITORILAL GOMIMUEINT? Mortgage rates hit homes” The rapid rise of mortgage interest , rates, which has brought many millions of dollars in profits into the coffers of banks and mortgage companies, threatens serious dislocation of social and economic life. So-called solutions which do not take issue with the effects of profit-gouging; the “rights” of corporations and the financial institutions to exploit the pub- lic; and the fatal dedication of the cor- porations and their governments to serv- ing the interests of the USA, are not solu- tions, but excuses. There have been assessments that some 200,000 Canadians face monthly payments increased by as much as 40% when their mortgages come up for re- newal this year at the new rates. As many as 10,000 may lose their homes; and 500,000 jobs are said to be in jeopardy directly or indirectly. A serious drop in home construction seems indicated by a Conference Board of Canada survey to which only 17% of respondents said they intended to buy a home. It was the lowest figure in 19 years, and down from 35% a year earlier! Housing starts in 1979 were 197,000. For 1980 the estimate is 175,000. A major reason is the vast leap in mortgage interests rates. Other factors, a decline in real wages, mass unemploy- ment, inflation, an increasing gap in in- comes between rich and poor, govern- ment handouts to corporations and squeezing of the workers, and an insati- able drive for profit by monopolies and multi-nationals, aggravate conditions. The Bank of Canada, a government department, now has a huge prime lend- ing rate of 15%. The Bank of Montreal ‘and Toronto-Dominion Bank put rates to customers up to as much as 14.5% to 15.25% mortgages. Outfits like Canada Permanent Mortgage Co. did likewise. They say they are forced to because the Bank of Canda did so; it raised them because the USA did it. And they have to ~ Equal pay in Some proponents of equal pay for work of equal value must have been astounded when a victory in this realm for five fe- male nurses became front page and prime time news. During years of battles on this front, equal pay for work of equal value had somehow never moved the big business media. But here was a break-through for the’ “free world”: the Treasury Board, pay- master for federal government employees, agreed in February, after 15 _ months of negotiations, to grant equal pay for the female nurses at a correc- tional institution and a maximum- security penitentiary in the Atlantic pro- vinces. Their pay would be upped to that of male employees doing the same tasks, but who had lower qualifications. The job description for the men also sounded more impressive. It is considered a break-through be- cause the federal Human Rights Act stipulates “equal pay for work of equal lend at higher rates than those at which they borrow, to stay profitable. On the other hand, no one forced the Royal Bank to make $78,555,000 after tax profit in three months! (Peroe ended Jan. 31, 1980). The Bank of Mon treal grabbed $62,009,000 in the same eriod; and Toronto-Dominiom 42,132,000, to name a few. aa In a year those enormous poe which add the killing by land develope? and building corporations, make the decline in house-buying understandable, Just as the ills hit both home buyers 4n@ by extension, tenants, so must the solu- tions relieve the burdens on both. The new minister of finance, Allan MacFEachen, with years in parliame™ and government, knows what could | | done by a government responsible tot P Canadian people. He says he'll “look # ) mortgage rates. Bod Of all the approaches to the crisis, only one puts people before profits, before banks, mortgage companies, land shatxs and construction corporations. Bulle 400,000 housing units a year, says the Communist Party, and price them or low and middle incomes. Put land for urban development under public ownership, so no private profits are drained off. Make such housing a public utility. a __ To make housing really affordable for the working class, Communists advocate nationalization of the banks and credit system. Instead of allowing profiteers © siphon off their “share” at every step the way, we could have adequate, com fortable, convenient and _ attractivé housing for low and middle income people. Public money, yes, but not for = _ private profit. That is the fight to be taken up by the working class, by all working people men and women, who are adamant that housing is a basic need which they will not forego toenrich the banks and trusts. ‘free world’ — value,” as does Quebec’s legislatiot, while Ontario and other provinces ate stuck with “equal pay for equal work, signifying the same job. g On acomplaint from one of the nursé inviélved, Leona Mollis, the Human Rights Commission achieved this result, which should, said Rita Cadieux, deputy chief commissioner of the Commission, smooth the way for eventual wage equal- ity throughout the federal jurisdication. What remains to be battled out by labor is- indicated by the fact that fewer than 10% of workers are under federal jurisdic tion. - What is disquieting is that such dis- putes have to be “won”, and on a piece- meal basis, rather than being an auto- matic right. Labor legislation in socialist’ countries, whose human rights stan- dards Canada’s ruling class criticizes, | make vigorous provision for such equa- lity. Still, in the “free world” such a victory - must be welcomed and expanded upon.