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ALL € REDEROP
piL_DiINc———

RENT STRIKE CONTINUES. Photo shows a tenant picketing Wall &
Redekop offices during a recent protest against higher rents. Tuesday
night 22 tenants faced eviction action in Small Claims Court brought
against them by the landlord company-Ald.Harry Rankin is defending

the tenants.

A call for greater united action in B.C. to beat back the offensive rte
monopolies came last weekend from the meeting of the provincial committee ©

Communist Party.

The meeting of leading
Communists from all parts of
B.C. heard a report by provin-
cial leader Nigel Morgan, who
outlined the growing attacks by
‘big business on labor and
people’s standards. He pointed to
the growing anti-monopoly fight-
back by all sections of the com-

munity.
A resolution adopted by the
meeting, entitled ‘‘Anti-

monopoly unity — B.C.’s urgent
need,” warned of the threat to
B.C. posed by-the alliance of the
monopolies — represented by
the Employers Council— and the
Socred government. It pointed
to the sharp turn to the right by
the Bennett government at the
last session of the Legislature.
The resolution warns: ‘‘The
most serious problem facing the

Fraser industrial pollution
exposed by students report

By MABEL RICHARDS

Every man, woman and child
who can read should get a copy
of the Fraser River Report,
published by SPEC and selling to
the public for a pittance.

The report does not pretend to
be a scientific, in-depth study of
pollution in and along the banks
of the Fraser. It is, rather, the
observations and conclusions of
a number of dedicated and
concerned students whose ability
to snoop out sources of pollution
are as keen as a fox sniffing out a
rabbit’s burrough.

Many people live on top of
pollution and do not see it. It
becomes an old story — the
streams running beyond their
door dark with the filth of indus-
trial or domestic-type effluent.
Still others accept as a matter of
necessity the methods of effluent-
disposal used by small industry
along the Fraser. Still others
believe that efficient and safe
facilities to process sewage are
beyond the means of the average
small community.

These problems are dealt with
in the Fraser River Report, not
in the language of the engineer
who has spent years with text-
book and drawing board, but in
the down-to-earth words of
young men who believe there is a
practical answer to most
problems of pollution, given the
desire to do something about it.

As an example, in the chapter
headed Recommendations, the
students write: ‘‘Richmond
intends to incinerate the sludge
from its proposed treatment
plant on Gibert Road. Compost-
ing . . . disposes of sludge at $2
to $4 less per ton than incinera-
tion. It provides the best
fertilizer possible . . . con-
taining all the trace minerals
necessary plus the organic
material essential for building
up topsoil.”’

Pointing out that Germany has
a composting plant which is
very successful, the report says
that reseeding on open-pit mine
sites is a possible market for
such fertilizer, as well as market
gardeners who presently have to

buy imported sewage compost
from the U.S.

And they add satirically:
Don’t we take enough shit from
the U.S... .-.?

The report is the work of 51
students and supervisory
personnel who took advantage
of a Labatt grant of some $39,000
to make the study of pollution in
the Fraser. From Prince
George, through Williams Lake,
to Chilliwack, Coquitlam, New
Westminster, Burnaby, North
Surrey and the Fraser’s North
Arm, Lulu Island, Ladner and
the South Arm the students
spread out. With persistence,
they questioned industrial
heads, municipal officials,
workers and anyone else they
hoped would help them to find
out just what is happening, and
has happened, to the Fraser.

Some followed waterways
that empty into the main river;
some explored backwaters,
swamps, creeks. Others investi-
gated sewer lines outlets which
dump millions of gallons of
untreated sewage into the river.

In so doing, according to
Project Supervisor Derek
Mallard, they found ‘‘actual
problems caused by pollution

the symptoms of
environmental degradation and
the absence of positive action by
governing and administrative
bodies to prevent further
deterioration. The students also
experienced a lack of co-opera-
tion from many federal and pro-
vincial departments and
Organizations.’’ And, the
students added in individual
reports, an almost total lack of
co-operation from any of the
industries situated in the survey
areas.

. ‘“‘Most industries were
extremely reluctant’ to
complete. our questionnaires.
Those that were cajoled into co-
operating often were less than
candid and usually provided as
little information as possible.”’

Citizens living in the Greater
Vancouver area would do well
to study this report, for it names
the industries and the muni-

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY JUNE 25, 1971—PAGE 12

cipalities which are polluters of
the worst sort, and which are
doing little or nothing about it.
Burnaby residents concerned
with the environment around
Burnaby Lake, for instance,
might be interested in what is
happening there, and to the
Brunette River.

The young students traced
pollution to its source wherever
they could find it. Many citizens
will doubtless be surprised to
find out just how many of our
small industries are guilty of
reckless disregard for the com-
munity.

But all B.C. citizens are guilty
of apathy and of neglect where
the Fraser River is concerned. It
is possible had we raised our
voices a bit more loudly months
ago the powers-that-be would
have been forced to act.

Today, with at least some of
the facts put before us in this
simple and worthwhile docu-
ment, we cannot plead ignor-
ance. The Fraser River Report
is worthy of much more atten-
tion, especially publicity, than it
has been given to date.

You can get your copy by
writing to SPEC, 44 West 6th
Ave., Vancouver 10, B.C.

| Anti-monopoly unity B.C.$
most urgent need says CF

oo

of the bi

anti-monopoly forces is their
lack of unity. In the face of a well
co-ordinated attdck by the big
corporate interests and the
government of B.C., the
working class and democratic
forces have not yet developed
the unity and cohesion needed to
beat back the attack and win the
popular demands of labor and
the people...”

Pointing to the key role
organized labor must play, the
resolution says that the mass
labor movement is potentially
the most important anti-
monopoly force in B.C. and is the
main target of the monopoly

attack. To play its full role sharp

divisions must be overcome.
“Jurisdictional disputes, raid-
ing, advancing of sectional
interests (whatever the
pretence) only serves to divide
the working class and play into
the hands of the monopolies.”’
The resolutions says:
‘“‘Today’s imperative need is to
find the way to rid B.C. of Bill 33,
unemployment, unbearable
high municipal taxes and call a
halt to big business domina-
tions of every aspect of B.C. life
. . . Anti-monopoly action on a
number of immediate issues,
around which the entire left, the
trade unions, pensioners,
farmers and progressive muni-
cipal forces can be united, offers
the surest chance of victory. . .
‘Discussions between these
forces to find a common basis of
agreement on action could open
the door to immediate solution
of a number of pressing

problems and to new and of ;
significant advances {oF 7
working class and progress

people of B.C.” ;

NDP & UNITY

The resolution warns
policies of the right-wing lea
ship of the NDP and atteme
push it further to the right ci
road blocks to defed im
monopoly and the Belly

by itself it ‘‘neither con
nor embraces all the #@
monopoly forces in the P
Many organizations i
movements, including
portant big unions, d0 no il
the NDP nor can they be &
ed to in the immediate fut =
: a
“The policy of rejectine ee
struggle, seeing the fight Catt
forward only through leg! dist |
action, and attempting 10 [ii
ciate the NDP from the a
union movement, stands ©
serious obstacle 10”
monopoly unity. es
The resolution cone a
“The Communist Party apr it
for united anti-monopOlY * i
now to curb big busines
compel repeal of Bill a
B.C. of unemployment; ©
the Socred government; a
the people’s demands Be
resources policies; t0 ™
relief for homeowner”
provide the pensions, CdUe
health and welfare a
this rich province shov™ =

Fishermen set date
for strike action

Salmon net fishermen from
the Alaska border to the 49th
parallel have voted 84.5 percent
in favor of strike action rather
than take what is offered in a two-
year proposed contract by the
Fisheries Association of B.C.

A strike deadline of 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 26th was set by
members of the United Fisher-
men and Allied Workers Union,
and the Native Brotherhood.

The union spokesmen said
offers from the Fisheries
Association would average out
to about 4.5 percent increase
over a two year period. At the

Tenants jam court
for eviction cases

The Small Debts Court on Howe Street was jammed with
interested spectators and tenants on Tuesday night when some
20 tenants of Wall and Redekop apartments who face eviction
for non-payment of rent were to come before Judge Gerald
Levy. The tenants involved are fighting rent increases through
the Tenants’ Council boycott and rent strike.

Judge Levy adjourned the cases until July 19, at 10 a.m. in
the Main Courthouse. He said there is a great deal of interest
in these cases on the part of city tenants and landlords and a
more spacious atmosphere is required for everyone concerned.

He directed the tenants to consolidate their cases so that
the trial could be expedited more efficiently.

Before court convened more than 50 tenants gathered on
the courthouse lawn, and following the adjournment they
gathered to hear Tenants’ Council secretary Bruce Yorke say
the boycott was still in effect. Rankin’s law firm acted for the
tenants; lawyer Thomas English for Wall and Redekop.

same time the companit
refused to put any offers
on important issues SU),
medical plan, payment
the Canada Pension plate
payment of workmen § : fishel
sation coverage for all ®
men.
“They have refused je? be
on rental rates for eit or
or on prices for salmon! extra"
the right of fishermen 1 patel
the roe and sell it sR rice
This despite the fact © ie
of salmon roe have TS. ihe
least five times the value '
ast 10 years.” nl
: Fishermnel say the com til
have jumped the cost of @ b 20
services to gillnettet® | veil

ercent over the same ©.
Soria, They have also I yi
the rental of gillnet ves® t,

ercent in 1971. et
: The companies adm st
fishermen face major 1) qime
in all operating costs: : pot!
higher license fees i
years. almom the

In all categories 0
spread between COME aan
price offers and union
is considerable. : F

Pn Cte aes WF

The union nee ion
committee is of the Ole ford
the companies can WE ne

meet the 1971-72 demam eves

have already bee? ont
during the past W970 wer
Company profits in 19 uFA )

an all time high.” ‘$4!
spokesman.