Puzzled reader, Vancouver,
writes: Perhaps some of the old
China hands and the new
admirers of Mao can explain the
dangerous trip their hero is on
these days, but I cannot. I have
just read a recent copy of the
Peking Review which is filled
with more plain unadulterated
garbage than usual, and that is a
major achievement. As an
example:

“The Chinese government and
people consistently oppose
imperialism, expansionism,
colonialism and neo-colonialism
(they forgot to oppose genocide)
and firmly support all of the
people of all countries in their
just struggle in defense of their
State sovereignty and territorial
integrity and against foreign
aggression, subversion, inter-
ference, control and bullying
.. . Under the leadership of
President Yaya Khan, the
people and armed forces of
Pakistan have displayed an
admirable spirit of heroism in
this struggle...”

That is a direct quote from a
“Statement of the Government
of the People’s Republic of.
China.”

In my opinion the only differ-
ence betwen Yaya Khan, the
butcher of West Pakistan, and
Mao’s old enemy Chiang Kai
Shek is that: Yaya managed to
kill off more people faster than
did Chiang when he was trying to
annihilate the communists in
China. If the Yaya Khan’s of this
world are the friends of the
Chinese leaders, then I think it is
very, very difficult to see China
as the leader of the ‘‘third
world,’ whatever that may be,
or any other world.

* * OK

George Collins, Vancouver,

Qe FORUM

writes: Inspired politics is of
course what the Tribune is all
about. This paper gives great
emphasis on civic and regional
affairs where workers repre-
sent the urban mass.

Local progressives find the
question of the ward system of
high priority. Some people in
government politics are talking
“ward’’ but in a modified form.
They concede some change is
pending. To slow such a change
by the odd concession or two is
their function. We're speaking
here of Dan Campbell, provin-
cial minister of Municipal
Affairs.

We take it that with pending
change some other groups with a
different ‘‘window dressing”’
will take over from the present
NPA, and vested interests will
be lobbying behind the scenes to
back a ‘“‘watered down’’ version
of the ward system. Recently the
Minister ‘‘discovered’’ that
briefs presented on this question
mentioned ‘‘vested interests”
opposed to working class
interests. He took offense at this
at a recent meeting of con-
cerned citizens but the proof of
the pudding could not be given
for lack of time and citizens do
not pretend to be detectives
catching crooks in the act.

The real question is the institu-
tion of the ward system which
means increased democracy in
order that ‘‘crooks’’ do not get
into politics, or given less chance
to filter in. We feel the ward
system increases the confidence

_of workers to involve them-

selves more in civic politics. It is
this confidence that we look for
when we fight for reforms such
as fair assessment of personal
property, tenants rights, rapid
transit and more of the same.

| Announce P.T. awards |

By ERNIE CRIST
The Niilo Makela and the

' Fraser Valley Press Clubs won

the shield for the best all round
performance in the fight to
boost circulation of the Pacific
Tribune in 1971. The shields,
which are awarded annually,
will be presented shortly to the
two press clubs.

Both clubs picked up the vast
majority of expiries in their
respective areas; boosted circu-
lation between 60 and 80 percent
by winning new readers, and
Substantially boosted bundle
Sales over the previous year.

Other outstanding press clubs
which are singled out for honor-
ary mention are the Peter
McGuire and Victory Square
clubs in the city, and the
Campbell River club in the
provincial points.

There were a number of others
which contributed greatly to the
building of the PT; this was
Particularly evident in the
Winning of new readers, and
Paper sales. Broadway,
Nanaimo, Victoria and particu-
larly Victory Square were
Outstanding in these fields.

Individually the man of the
year is Steve Nickyforuk. As in
previous years Steve leads the
list for selling new subs as well
as street sales. He sold approxi-
mately 8,000 copies and dis-
tributed many thousands of

' Papers.

Despite the great effort of
Many clubs and individuals,
however, we were unable to

Increase circulation and were

barely able to hold our own. This
Was in essence because of the

failure of some clubs to pick up
the expiries in their areas.
However, we had some
important successes. Many thou-
sands of people received the PT
and were introduced to our
paper.

The accomplishments were
achieved by our friends and sup-
porters on a strictly voluntary
basis, without financial re-
imbursement. Time, car
expenses — all the effort needed
to visit readers and distribute
papers is paid for by our friends

and supporters themselves. The —

PT has no funds for fancy
gimmicks and _ expensive
promotions, so every new
subscription is the result of
painstaking and time-consum-
ing work by friends of the PT
everywhere. That we win two,
three hundred new readers each
and every year is a great tribute
to our supporters, and is a sign
not only of their generosity but
of their sense of responsibility
as well.

Nonetheless, our paper cannot
afford to stand still. We have an
important role to play, particu-
larly so in the coming year as
momentous battles are shaping
up. This will be accomplished if
we boost circulation, and circu-
lation is closely tied to income,
an area we simply cannot afford
to neglect.

We again extend our heartfelt
thanks to all PT supporters who
have worked so hard to main-
tain the PT and we call on them
again to help us not only to main-
tain our paper but to boost it by a
significant increase in circula-
tion.

CALL PUBLIC RALLY

Demand full investigation
of Russian Hall bombing

A rally attended by some 300
people representing a number of
ethnic groups met last Sunday in
the basement of the Russian
Peoples Home and demanded of
city council and the Police Com-
mission that effective steps be
taken to find and bring to justice
the elements responsible for the
bombing of the hall on New
Year’s eve.

The meeting was sponsored
by the Federation of Russian
Canadians who in a press
release following the meeting
appealed to democratic and
peace-loving citizens of the city
to take warning from the exper-
ience and to join in expressing
their revulsion at this gangster-
style attack.

The Federation points out that
their hall is used as a cultural
and recreational centre not only
for themselves but by the Parks
Board as an activity centre for
senior citizens and teenagers,
and by national groups such as
the Italian community, Port-
uguese, Chinese and others.

The attack is but another in a
series of ultra-right, fascist.
assaults that have been common-
place in the USA for some time
and are now _ apparently
beginning to spread to centres
like Toronto, Ottawa and now
Vancouver. These terrorists
openly boast of the tactics they
intend to use in order to try and
turn back the clock of history,
the Federation said.

“We are not unmindful of the
fact that a thousand sticks of
dynamite were stolen from the
Public Works Highway Project
in West Vancouver a few days
before USSR Premier Kosygin’s
visit to Vancouver and are still
unaccounted for.

“These criminal, gangster-
style assaults have got to be
stopped. If they are not exposed
and brought to justice they will
spread. This is the first attack of
this dimension in Vancouver.
Let’s make it the last.

“We of the Russian com-
munity have decided to rebuild
and would welcome support
from all those who are inter-
ested in the continuation of
cultural activities in Van
couver.”’

FINNS PROTEST

Meeting that same day, the
Finnish Organization of Canada
passed a resolution condemning
“the right-wing fanaticism
which spills over the border
where unfortunately it is becom-
ing commonplace.” They
appealed to all democratic
citizens and organizations to
condemn the terrorist bombing,
and strongly urged authorities
to uncover and bring to justice
the criminal elements respon
sible.

The Finnish group went on
record as extending the full free
use of their own hall to the
Russian Federation, and urged
that other community and civic
halls be offered for the needs of
any group of citizens deprived
of a centre due to the bombing.

Addressing the crowd in the
Russian People’s Home, Harry
Okolevitch said the bombing
was definitely not the work of
amateurs, but specialists. The
attack was made in the hope that
the membership would scatter,
he warned. ‘‘This is the work of

reaction; you are doing the right
thing in fighting back by rebuild-
ing and asking the support of all
progressive organizations in
your struggle.”

J.J.Verigen of the Grand
Forks Doukhobor community
expressed their support and sym-
pathy, pledging assistance in
every way possible.

George Legebokoff detailed
the many activities carried on
in the hall for the past 41 years—
the cultural programs which
included music, dancing, and
concerts; the recreational
activities for young and old
outside the Russian com-

munity; the social activities of
many other ethnic groups.
“When the Doukhobor youth
came to attend university, they
approached us for a place to get
together, and the hall was made

available with our organization
helping them to get estab-
lished,”’ he said.

Alderman Harry Rankin en-
couraged the people to make
sacrifices and build a better hall
to continue their community
work. He urged all cultural
organizations, trade unions and
democratic forces to lend their
support and to voice their oppo-
sition to acts of terrorism.

Other speakers included rep-

~ resentatives from the Polish,

Yugoslav, and Ukrainian organi-
zations who expressed their
solidarity.

-A public meeting is planned for
Sunday, January 23, at 2:00 p.m.
at 805 E. Pender, to which city
council, parks board, labor
council, cultural, church as well
as local MLA’s and MP’s have
been invited.

ASSESSING BOMB DAMAGE. Officials of the Federation of Russian
Canadians are shown examining the damage done to their hall by the

bombing New Year's Eve.

Classified advertising

COMING EVENTS

KEEP THIS DATE OPEN
SAT. JAN. 22 - 6:30 p.m. for
the annual BURNS NIGHT
CELEBRATION at the
FISHERMAN’S HALL SUP-
PER AT 6:30 p.m—SPEAK-
ER: ALDERMAN
GEORGE McKNIGHT —
PROGRAM — REFRESH-
MENTS — DANCE TO A
LIVE ORCHESTRA: RES-
ERVATION Phone 872-2150
or 939-0245. Tickets $3.75 each.

FOR SALE

FOR SALE — 1911—25 Calibre
Colt Pistol; 5 Gal. aquarium
with pump & heater; baby
buggy— like new. Ph. 985-0278.

BUSINESS PERSONALS

REGENT TAILORS LTD.-
Custom Tailors and Ready-to-
Wear, 324 W. Hastings St. MU
1-8456 of 4441 E. Hastings - CY
8-2030. See Henry Hankin for
personal service.

BUSINESS PERSONALS

DRY CLEANING
& LAUNDRY
Also Coin-op
LAUNDERETTE
2633 Commercial Dr.
879-9956

HALLS FOR RENT

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN
CULTURAL CENTRE - 805
East Pender St., Vancouver 4.
Available for banquets, wed-
Seat meetings. Phone 254-

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME
Available for meetings,
banquets and weddings at
reasonable rates. 600 Campbell
Ave. 254-3430.

CLINTON HALL, 2605 Eas:
Pender. Available for
banquets, meetings, weddings,
etc. Phone 253-7414.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1972—PAGE 11

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