“There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Ommited, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and miseries.’’ (Shakespeare) peculation on and about when this or that election S may take place is always an interesting topic of discussion. ‘‘Her Majesties’ Loyal Opposition,’ wherever and whatever that may be, chew it over avidly, then chew it over again and again, seizing upon every little piddling ommission of the party in power, and prate on how much better they would do — if elected. The fact that they have been in power several times since Confederation and didn’t do one damned bit better sits lightly on their minds and in no way detracts from their - avid chewing. In this they are sustained by the knowledge that working people have short memories, politically that is. You remember back in the 30’s when ‘Iron Heel’ Bennett bought the leadership of the Tory party, and in the purchase, promised to ‘‘cure unemployment in 30 days?’’ Your ‘‘friendly undertaker’’ Bob Stanfield doesn’t make such rash promises - today, contenting himself and his Tory followers by seizing onto every little’detail of Trudeau ommissions in office, thereby leaving the political impression that if ‘‘Old Underwear” was at the helm, the decks would be cleared for ‘‘action”’ in no time flat! At numerous $100-dollars-more-or-less a ‘‘plate,’’ the million more-or-less jobless unemployed, with countless other thousands slated for the industrial scrapheap, get ‘‘honorable mention’ at these gastronomic feed-ins, but nothing more. That is understood of course. The Tories need the money to get themselves elected to perpetuate the farce that Tweedledee will be an improvement over Tweedledum, and the people, missing the tide, find themselves back in the “‘shallows and miseries’ of political and economic bankruptcy. This speculation on and about coming elections also brings in its wake ‘the emergence of a right-wing social democratic administration, with ‘‘economic planning’’:as its central theme, and embodying ‘‘the best’’ of both old-line political philosophies. In short, it aims to run ‘‘capitalism better than the capitalists do.’’ And no harsh words such as ‘‘damn’’ agin the Trudeauites ... just the most polite highbrow wrist- slapping of the PET ommissions and emissions, plus a try-us just-this-once to cure all social, economic and political ills. And have no fears anent our Wafflers, we’ll hold them in check. Idle speculations, like unforseen events ‘‘often cast their shadows before.”’ In any coming election the prime job of the people is to get ready, rather than speculate on the when and where. To project a program that measures up to the needs and issues of the times— and get it into the hands and minds of the greatest number of people — a program that gives expression - to the unexpressed needs, desires and aims of the common people. Getting set to move when the political ‘‘tide’’ is in flood, and thus avoid the “‘shallows and miseries’ of a low-tidé embarkation. Not a ‘‘program”’ on the differences between Tweedledee and Tweedledum nor one eleaborating in high-flown semantics how much better rightwing social democracy can do (?); the annals of working class betrayals are loaded with such “‘programs’’, but one that will correspond to the needs of the people and time, and provide John Q. The best program ever written won’t win elections by itself. It requires a lot of leg-work, inspiration, and above all unity; not just the much-abused phrase of ‘‘unity’’, but a political class-consciousness, plus the knowledge that together, every last bastion of exploitation, poverty, war and pillage can be scattered like useless and outword debris before a hurricane; a program that moves millions of people in unison to do just that. No, we don’t believe in miracles, nor do we believe in the tub-thumping platitudes of aspiring politicians of the “‘kettle- and-pot”’ vintage. We’ve had more than our fill of both. But we do believe with Dickens that ‘‘A long pull, and a strong pull, and a pull altogether”’ will get this incubus of many decades off the peoples’ backs. So, let’s go— while the tide runs high. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY and COMMEMORATION 50th ANNIVERSARY Ukrainian Women’s Movement In Canada (A.U.U.C,) SUN. MAR. 19, 1:30 p.m. 805 E. Pender .FILM — “You Don’t Have To Buy War, Mrs. Smith’. .SPEAKERS — Hannah Polowy ‘‘50 Years of the Ukrainian Women’s Movement.” Bridget Moran “Poverty, Welfare & The Family.” ; .SALE OF INTERNATIONAL BAKING — ,Tea — Admission $1. Auspices B.C. Women’s Committee For World Friendship PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1972—PAGE 2 University Endowment Land — By ALD. HARRY RANKIN The annexation of the Uni- versity Endowment Lands (UEL) by the City of Vancouver is once again up for active consid- eration by City Council. In- volved is an area of 2433 acres (excluding the U.B.C. Campus) of which 1694 acres — is undeveloped. The developed areas include 454 private resi- dences and 20 apartment build- ings. The whole area is admin- istered by the provincial govern- ment. It seems to, me that the three basic questions involved in any negotiations for annexation are: (1) What would it cost the city? (2) What ‘would be done with the undeveloped lands? (3) What about the views and needs of the present residents? A survey made recently by the city indicates that the services. provided to the U.E.L. by the provincial government (sewers, water, electrical and fire protection) are consid- erably below city standards. Furthermore, the cost of upgrading them to city standards and of replacing the R.C.M.P. with a force of city police would cost between $1,349,500 and - $2,318,500. Who will pay for this upgrading must, therefore, be a major question in any negotia- tions aimed at annexation. Equally, if not more im- portant, is the future of the U.E.L. undeveloped lands. I suspect that any number of real estate promoters have their eyes on the 1694 acres of undevel- oped lands; their hands are just itching to get a piece of them. If Socreds extend reactionary attack to civic democracy By WILLIAM TURNER The Bennett government continues its assault on demo- cratic rights with its arrogant rule-by-decree, bolstered by a fat majority of Socreds in the House. Not since the reign of its pre- decessor, the Tory Anscomb government, have the people of B.C. witnessed such reac- tionary legislation. The Socreds have spared no sector of public life from attack. This week the Socreds intro- duced a number of bills in the legislature which attack civic democracy. One of their moves in this direction was to turn down Vancouver’s request for an amendment to the city charter that would grant tenants the right to vote on money by- laws. Instead, tenants may vote on these matters providing a two-thirds majority of city council approves. This undemo- cratic act gives council the sole right and power of the franchise affecting the majority of Van- couver citizens. , In a period of unemployment and rising living costs that face the poor, the Socreds have brought in amendments to the Municipal Act limiting welfare payments. Additional payments or any increases above the scale set by the government such as for hospital and other insti- tutional care must be approved they had their way the U.E.L. would become another West End apartment jungle. To prevent this, an overall plan for the development of these lands should be drawn up. It should specify how much of the area will be used for housing and what kind, how. much for parks and recreation, etc. Then public hearings should be held and only after the people have arrived at a concensus of opinion should any final development plans be adopted. Bitter experience has shown time and again that the devel- opment of Vancouver can’t be entrusted to City Council alone. It has ears only for/the real “a x i Cad <= vy Y ay “sy LS NEWS ITEM: Alderman estate developers. The people Vancouver must insist on the! right to participate in any m4’) decisions affecting their fully The annexation of the uv sity Endowment Lands falls ™ this category. th The present residents of | ‘ area also have views that “a be heard and considered. ie the upgrading of services © | undoubtedly bring with @) increase in taxes, the upgt i | will also increase property He. and provide better facillt’, The merger of the U.E.L. be Vancouver should bring Be term benefits, including for Bi dents a voice in deciding ~ future of their area. mila nil « q ue Nie M g q a) |i aT ; ( ‘h (RECIPIENT S235 \G Lp 4 Nt) * De) WF, a Farry Rankin said last week that Rehabilitation Minister Phil. Gaglardi is becoming B.C. welfaré dictator with his new Aill 49. by a two-thirds vote of a local council. The cost of any in- crease so approved would be passed on to the local taxpayers. The setting of rates for wel- fare payments are under the single authority and decision of Rehabilitation Minister Gag- lardi, who assumed dictatorial powers as the sole arbiter under Bill 49. The Socred government came under attack for decreeing that Int. Women’s Day rally on Sunday The 62nd annual celebration of International Women’s Day takes place in Vancouver on Sunday, March 19, 1:30 p.m. at the Ukrainian Canadian Centre 805 E. Pender St. : The film, ‘You Don’t Have to Buy War, Mrs. Smith’ will be featured along with a special tribute by Hannah Polowy on the 50th anniversary of the Ukrainian Canadian women’s movement (AUUC) which is being marked in 1972. Social worker Bridget Moran will speak on “Poverty, Welfare and the Family.” There will also be musical items, a sale of inter- national baking, a book display of special interest to women. Afternoon tea will round out the program. municipalities must use the per capita grants for amb du services, tourism, and att!) trial development. This "ij ference in the rights of ™ i palities to allocate pe! “ot grants based on their own of needs is a move by the 8° ment again to whittle dow" authority of local governmée at Following the perceh freeze on wages that hav gf ordered to apply under DY oy teachers and govel™ yi employees, the Socreds I moved to limit pay increa af municipal councils, may is, members of regional boa” | cy The assault on democl? : of H part of the Socred’s bag ofl aimed first at one sec! the wage-earners and then 4? off! Only through unity the kind af Operation that has a through as a feature © ii teacher’s fight-back, 1 cal with all sections of the Pay can the Socreds be for back down and retreat. + + + + HH HOF UBScRB Win a Valuable Coin Set ot + 4 + + tH HF Rie eK KK HK KK