‘Blacktop’ gold-rush — ith “blacktop” rating high on the Socred political “bargain” counter and the $273,329,166-million and '24-cents now in Socred jeans from the Columbia River sellout to the U.S., some big deals to enlarge the area of Premier Bennett’s “empire” are already in the making. One of the first “Province” headlines following last week’s “celebration” of the Columbia steal, tells us that “Quebec gets $100-million of the dam(n) cash”. Very neat- ly put to say the least. Social Credit “stock” in that ban- ner province may now become a shade more “‘stable” than hitherto. But the really big play by the Socred buccaneers in recent days is one of “empire building”; to add the Yukon and the North West Territories to British Columbia, thereby greatly enlarging the Socred giveaway potential. In return for this “parcel” of real estate our Socred “Gold Dust Twins” Wacy and Phil, are ready to lay down $300- million of “blacktop” in the Y T. and N.W.T. In this “blacktop” ante it is not the Yukon’s 5,000 population or the N.W.T.’s 12,000 which counts, but the more than 1'-million square miles of rich mineral, water power and other resources, ready to be “sold” or traded off to U.S. monopoly for a fast buck return. A veritable un- tapped El Dorado of rich natural resources, just waiting to be swapped off for more Socred “prosperity”. In this ambitious “blacktop” deal the Alaska Pan- handle seems to have been overlooked. A very glaring omission, if the development of B.C., the Y.T. and the N.W.T. were being honestly considered in the interests of the common people of this vast area, rather than merely from the angle of a “fast buck” rake-in. Obviously, of course, the Socred “blacktop” deal has no such intention at attempting to correct this U.S an- nexation of Canadian territory, nor to restore this valu- able chunk of real estate to its rightful owners—the people of B.C. But that doesn’t alter the fact that the Alaska Panhandle “map-makers” in London and Washington back in 1903 “confirmed” the Panhandle, thereby barring the -Northern half of B.C. from its natural coastline and shut- ting the Yukon Territory off ‘entirely from direct access to the Pacific, this in face of widespread Canadian opposition at that time. Oliver asks for more (With apologies to Charles Dickens) Answer is still ‘No’ When B.C. Hydro put forward its demand for a transit fare hike which would boost bus fares to approximate- ly 25-cents a ride, widespread public opposition followed. Municipal councils, ratepayers’ organization, labor and other public bodies voiced strong opposition to any increase in B.C. Hydro transit fares. In recent days however, some sort of a “saw-off” on the fare hike issue seems to have materialized. Municipal councils which had hitherto opposed Hydro’s original fare demands began to talk “softly” about an “interim”? in- crease, perhaps a little short of Hydro’s figure, but still an increase. ‘This attempt to promote an increase was blocked by Vancouver ratepayers through their president, Mr. Harry Rankin, who threatened to fight any such increase through the medium of the courts. - On the other hand, B.C. Hydro locks somewhat ask- anse at this “interim” proposal, fearful no doubt that any “Gnterim’”’ hoist now, short of its 25-cent gouge, might be- come “permanent”; an obstacle to its ultimate pocketting of the whole two-bits fare. From long experience at the hands of the PUC-B.C. Electric on the issue of fare hikes, the organized ratepayers and the general commuting public have the answer— “no McEWEN ifty years ago the famed British “Daily Herald” was born, Conceived in struggle, this historic newspaper began life in its first editions as a “throw- away” sheet, defending the inter- ests of strike-bound printing tradesmen, __ From that humble and honour- able origin, the “Daily Herald” went forward to become the offi- | cial organ of the great British Labor Party and the British Trade Union Congress, By the middle 30’s the “Daily Herald” commanded the highest circulation of any newspaper in the English-speaking world, with well over two and three-quarter million circulation,. In its early twenties, as in the days of its birth, the *Daily Her- ald” breathed the message and ideology of Socialism and pro- gress — an organ of human en- lightenment and advance to mil- lions of British working men and women, On September 14th, 1964, the “Daily Herald” expired, writing its own obituary in its final edi- torial apologia for its untimely demise: “We came into existence half a century ago to do a job,” it told its readers, “Now that job has been done,” One may not argue with a corpse, but the current general elections in Britain, and the vital issues of peace and Socialism still unsolved for the British people, prove (if any proof is needed) that “the job” is still far from “finished,” The “Daily Herald” demise be- gan well over 25 years ago when the Sir Walter Citrines andother “nobility” of British labor steered the “Daily Herald” into“partner- ship” with the millionaire Odham printing monopoly, That was the beginning of the end, From then on until its official funeral a week fare increases, interim or otherwise, now or later!” ago, the slow anddeliberate strangulation of this once great tribune of British labor moved inevitably towards its end, Its “policies” reflecting the millionaire “Midas touch” of big monopoly, became indistinguish- able from the most backward Tory journal, and its readers melted away like snows in a hot sun, In its final deathbed rattle the “Daily Herald” editorial added five more words to its final obit- uary: “Now theSun takes over, , .” The “Sun” is one of Mr, Cecil King of International Publications Corporation’s (nee Odhams) £100 million printing projects, one of the. richest and most powerful monopolies in the capitalist world, The “Delilah” which sheared “Samson’s” locks, but good, and got him nicely tucked away—just a few. short weeks ahead of Britain’s most crucial general election, No wonder the British Daily Worker could observe that “If any tears are shed at its pass- ing, it will be because of what it was when it started,” rather than for what it had become in order to hasten its death, Of the “Daily Herald,” one- time fighting voice of British Labor, we maynow say *Requisat im pace,” but not forgetting that its final funeral dirge holds some powerful lessons for working men and women, in Britain and else- where, Any labor paper which sells itself—or is sold into any *part- nership” with Big Business, is promptly shorn of its usefulness to the workingclass movement which gave it birth, That much at least the *DH” funeral doubly emphasizes, With equal emphasis it can also be said that, even in our chang- Barry Goldwater has all ss wers and none of the solution® —OSCAR LEVANT, noted Am musician and social satirist. * Because we have different © tions of life, and different % ‘ the U.S. imperialists have 4” complex about the Cuban vid They are suffering from OF madness which is depriving iy tranquility and sleep. Appa do nothing but think and nine Cuban Revolution. It is unbel™” that such a small country show so much concern and fear tof ; of such a large country. —FIDEL CASTRO, Cuban in a recent speech. — * 1 know that he who hopét. universal in his art must plant x own soil. Great art is like a by grows ina particular place a"©” trunk, leaves, blossoms, boughs and roots of its own. The more native art is, the ™ belongs to the entire world °° taste is rootd in nature. Wher true, it is one with nature. This secret of primitive art and als? ™ of the masters — Michelangel® anne, Seurat and Rennoir. The d of my best work is that it is Me —DIEGO RIVERA, in autobiog “‘My Art, My Life.” * Joh United States President adee seemed happy on his first visit ada as chief of state. He pee r to be b he came ith summate a deal that ranks “ acquisition of Alaska as a smOV 1 of business -. . : We can understand President 4 sons’s smile and general affa ono! it’s hard to figure why Peals?” Bennett were so happy.-- — ; (Do) they see immediate 0 their political careers as 4 roe fat cheque which they hope w keep them in office? Whatever the reason, the Colum River scandal will be with oe long time and future generatio”” come fo realize the extent of i out and fo revile the politicia” perpetrated it. f ing world, any newspaper \ comes upon the scene “oe to reflect “all sides” of the” stratum without “fear oF isn’t likely to be, or ren mune from the disease fA finished off the one-time “8” Daily Herald, Its “all-side> ~ becomes “one side.” There is only one sure | not falling victim to this disease: by reading, sub: to, and building papers li “Pacific Tribune,” Such papers at least, - 2 aware of their responsibil their readers and supP? always avoid “partner which lead to an early dem jE ea Vancouver 4, B.C. of postage in cash. Subscription Rates: Canadian and Commonwealth countries (except the $4.00 one year. Australia, United States and all of?) countries; $5.00 one year. Authorized as second class by the Post Office Department, Ottawa and for pay Editor — TOM McEWEN Associate Editor — MAURICE RUSH Circulation Manager — JERRY SHACK Published weekly at Room 6 — 426 Main Street Phone MUtual 5-5288 — Australia ma! September 25, 1964—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PO? {oie ment ; a