PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Friday, August 26, 1977 —(the herald) Publisted. hy Sterling Publishers Ltd, ‘ a Terrace - 635-6357 Kitimat - (632-6209 Circulation - 635-2877 PUBLISHER... W.R, (BILL) LOISELLE: MANAGING EDITOR... ALLAN KRASNICK KITIMAT.... CHRIS HUYGENS = __ CIRCULATION MANAGER... JACK JEANNEAU Published every weekday at 3212 Kalu St. Terrace B.C. A ‘=; member of Varified Circulation, Authorized ad second class mall, Registration number 1261. Postege pald In cash, return postage guaranteed. fs ; : ' NOTE OF COPYRIGHT : The Herald retains full, complete and sole copyright In any advertisement produced and-or any editorial or photographic content published In the Herald. Reproduction Ls rot pareitted without the written pefmission of the r. ; ‘ \.. Propaganda, | not information The newly-revived B.C. Government News is obscene. In its first edition under the present Social Credit government , there are four photes of Premier Bennett, two of Provincial Secretary Grace Mc- Carthy, and hundreds’ of smile buttons.: The op- position is mentioned under a. parliamentary directory. ' Its blatant political nature would be laughable were itnot such a grotesque misallocation of public ___ With costs for printing, mailing, and writing of : this 20-page, 875,000 ¢ tion magazine un- : doubtedly in the multi-thousands of dollars, this : “hold-the-line” government is proving once again : that its actions need not be consistent with its : words. There's been a constant call for restraint, a : plea backed up by higher taxes, yet Bennett makes . =a mockery of his own stated philosophy with this :incredible waste of money. : Surely he doesn’t think the people of B.C. will be : fooled by this propaganda masquerading as in- ormation. : How is it misleading? Well, besides all the self- i serving stories about new government programs, :federal-provincial agreements, and jobs for : students, there are excerpts from ‘‘ourside com- : mentaries”, like, for example, the American : business publication Barron's. .: Under the leading, “‘And now, the good-news,” ‘are excerpts from an article lauding the per- | formance of the Socred government. > Here’s part of the article: “ICBC, the provincial ‘ auto insurance agency, created by the previous ‘government which showed losses in its first two . years of operation totalling $185 million, has been ‘turned into a self-sustaining, profit generating ‘enterprise. The raising of insurance rates that this ‘entailed was not, Barron’s notes, particularly _popular but hardly anyone could argue now that :such a raise was not absolutely necessary.” “ First of all, that just is not a true reflection of public sentiment in the province. And secondly, :and more important, what place does such a commentary have in a newspaper that is supposed ‘to be designed to give people straight information ‘about government programs. . : The Government News goes on to claim that :B.C.'s economy has rebounded. Ask the 20 percent. ‘of Terrace’s population who are preseatly unem- ‘ployed whether they feel reassured by that boast. - The newspaper, then, is classic p waganda: the ‘facts are in no way intended to get-in the way of : good politics. , : ‘There's no commitment to balance, not even to * honesty. ’ Surely there are more socially meaningful ways : to spend public funds than just to help an unpopular _ Zovernment push its political message. HERMAN BINT? Ustvarial Prow lyadiiate ‘You can't be expected to gat it right first time!” AFRICA’S NEWEST. BATTLEGROUND ‘Warriors fight over arid wastes: Assoclated Presa correspondent Richard Tomkins has been with a group of Western correspondents who toured Africa's newest battleground, the southern Ogaden region in southeast Ethiopia, where there was hard fighting last month between Somali rebels and the Ethiopian army. Here is his first report from the region. By RICHARD TOMKINS WERDER, Ethiopia AP - Sand, rocks and scrub brush make the semi-desert Ogaden region in southeastern Ethiopia and inhospitable land and an unlikely ize for men to fight over. But for 3% days, the Somali tribesmen who inhabit the Ogaden demonstrated for the barren land to Western reporters and here in Werder, the reporters were shown Ethiopian army bases captured by the insurgents of the Western Somali Front during heavy fighting last month. The Liberation Frontis believed to have — between 3,000 and 6,000 guerrillas fightin, to ‘free the Ogaden from Ethiopia an annex the territory to neig Somalia, with which the nomadic . boring population has historic, ethnic and economic ties. To demonstrate their successes in the last four weeks of fighting, the front took a small gro a tour of Col. Mengistu’s military junta in Addis and showed them evidence of their fight to Ethiopian “Hasdhao down with Mengistu Haile, Mariam!” “Unite all Somalis!” These chants of the villagers and the nomads rang through the now-placid settlements visited during a 45 mile trek through “liberated” zones free .it from’ want to be free!” of the southern Ogaden. In the towns of Warar, Kalafo, LGode rule. ‘ ‘We upot Western correspondents on ie area, Ababa contends that Somalia’s army is fighting alongside the rebels, but. the Somali government admits only to giving the Liberation Front arms and other supplies. The correspondents saw no Somali army troops during their visit. Setting out in Land Rovers from Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, we entered Ethiopia at Fer-Fer, a border post which the front said it captured in a surprise attack on July 15. Travelling over dirt- . track roads, we were escorted by an of- ficer of the Liberation Front and an. af- ficial of the Somali foreign ministry. At Mastahel, a collection of mud and thatch huts perched on the bank of the Shebele river, two shots from a sentry concealed in the bushes brought hundreds of villagers into the village square. For nearly an hour, old men, women and children chanted political slogans and brandished rifles, meat cleavers and sticks in a frenzy of hatred for Ethiopia. Traditional dancing followed to celebrate thejr liberation from a nearby Ethiopian - garrison last month. “The scene: was repeated in seven ineguns and tangled wreckage a peat said has Been an F-5 jet fighter. He said the guerrillas destroyed four F-ssand two other planes during a 12- day battle. In Warar, a hilltop fort overlooking the almost -lush Wabeshebele valley 30 miles from the Somali border, the two-storey headquarters of the Sth Ethiopian Commando Battalion was a roofless, sand-colored shell in which the Liberation Front spokesman said 86 Ethiopians were burned to death. Quonset huts nearby were flatened. as similar in Werder, headquarters of the $rd Division’s 9th Brigade, where the’ villages and towns visited by the correspondents. Governed by the Christian Ethiopians since 1801, the Moslem Somalis in the Ogaden have a history ot sporadic ey resistance. Last month sustained campaign, apparently inspired pal ele who have taken by the Eritrean re! a . 5 \. bs > bes! ‘: \ “We must be getting close to the lake — my feet feel wet.” HORNER MAY GET WHEAT BOARD 7 Small cabinet changes seen Fall election or nat, Prime Minister Trudeau is ex- pected to make only minor alterations in his cabinet in ashuffle that will likely take place early next month. Ministerial aides and: Liberal party strategists say the only certain change is the ptomotion . of one time Progressive Conservative Jack Horner Donald who is expected to leave politics within a year or two. : Should Mac Donald ask to leave the ‘ eabinet: and Trudeau said earlier this summer that he does not expect him to the prime iminster might offer the fiannce job to: Trade Minister Jean Chretien, making the 43 year old chiasn of other ministerial changes. ; TOUTED AS CANIDATE Any change involving Chretien is complicated by the fact that the trade minister is being touted as a possible candidate for the - Liberal leadership. in. ebec. Trudeau might offer Horner, the Albert MP for norhtern development portfolio occupied by Warren Allmand and give Horner resposibility for industrial, and other development in the North. ‘Last month, Trudeau said he’ planned ‘to change his cabinet . before : Pariiment resumes in October, adding that he was unsure whether from his post as minister Shawinigan, Que.native the Crowfoot, responsiblity for the alterations would he without portfolio. first French . Canadian to the Canadian wheat board, extensive. — ’ Any maior changes, they hold the job. - held since 1968 by Transpor \ say, would edpend on the = That wouldopenthe trade Minister Otto Lang. Cabinet shuffle and late resignation of Finance and industry portfolio for .Or he could split the fall election speculation are Minister Donald Mac Horner, and could set off a combined Indian affairs and linked. VICTORIA: B.C.’S RETIREMENT HAVEN - Rootless pensioners aided by group ‘VICTORIA CF - The dream of sea, sunshine and the relaxed life of Canada’s West Coast sometimes loses its rosy tinge for elderly Canadians who move to quiet, quaint Victoria, the nation’s retirement capital. ‘They don’t complain about the beauty of Van- couver Island or the medern cultural facilities found in an urban area with a population of more than 167,000. But the families they left behind and the deep roots they pulled up may create psychological roblems the never oresay while con- templating retirement here. These tensions have prompted formation of an anization whichhelps the retireees overcome dif- ficulties by challenging their often highly develeped talents and re-creates a semblance of the family life they left behind. Situated in a community of about 9,000 persons, one- third of them retired, ‘the James Bay New Horizons Society has mushroomed from a gathering df 15 seniors four years ago to an’ organization of 1,008 members. They have published a book on balcony gardening, written another on the Statistics Spending Canada billion a year earlier. about $781 million. Tourist out go above income OTTAWA CP - Canadian tourists spent $1.2 billion more abroad during the six months ended June 30 than Canada earned from visitors, a sharp $273 million rise in the travel deficit from the comparable 1976 period, reported Thursday, by Canadians in other countries totalled $1.95 billion in the first half this year, up from $1.64 Most of Canadians’ foreign spending is in the United States. While Canadian tourists spent a total of $1.3 billion there in the first half of this year, U.S. visitors to Canada spent only $517 million, leaving a deficit of Canadians travelling to all other countries, spent $653 million, outstripping Canadian receipts of $188 million from fourists from these countries by $465 million in the'first half of the year. : histery of Jameés Bay, started an anti-litter drive. and helped create. crivic pride by awarding annual plaques to the best garden and the best landscaped apartment. building in the area. . ‘ ‘ “About 90 percent of the seniors in the New Horizons Society have relocated here from other parts of the country,” sald Mrs. Robert Pankowski, co-ordinator of the organization. ‘Their problems of adjustment are. very different from those of people who retire in their ome towns.” She said the society is unique’ because it was started by seniors, is directed by seniors and ‘emphasizes . community service. . ; “Tf everything had been handed to us on a silver platter by the government, the wonderful group spirit we have just wouldn't exist and the seniors wouldn’t feel needed.” East European . Bank lures — poor customers the bush. unched a gunfire. VANCOUVER CP - A new Royal Bank branchina poor district of Vancouver has raised some suspicions about the bank’s motives, but the bank says it is an attempt to meet the poor on their own terms. The bank is hopeful this type of branch can reach some of the 20 percent of all Canadians - usually the poor - who never use banks. Martin Draper, branch manager, said about 80 percent of its customers have never used a bank before and one of the prime ose s of the branch is to exp nking. “We adhere to normal banking policy where possible,” said Draper. ‘any bank has the same services but the difference here is people don’t know or understand them.” Posters on the branch wall lain how cheques are ed cut, how bank books work and how interest is calculated. The atmosphere of the branch with its plants, posters and a children’s play. area is less in- timidating than stereotype of most banks. When the Royal decided last year to open the branch, Draper met representatives of 35 community groups to formulate an idea of what was needed and what the bank could offer. He said his prime task was overcoming the residents’ obvious hostility tobig business. Draper said just a public relations job, but not everyone is con- vineed. © Jean Swanson, Downtown East. Side Residents Association secretary, said the branch represents the same kind of rip-off that lecal residents meet every day, The bank indicated it wanted community interest in the branch, she said, but refused to let the com- munity set interest rates, ° “The idea was for the - community to choose the color of the curtains,” But Fumiko Greenway, : program director for the trathcona Property Owners and Tenants ’ Association, said.the branch has. been advisin customers on financial matters they need help'on. “But before, many people felt banks were inac- eessible,”” Draper sald that since opening last March, about s been deposited in 750 accounts “when everyone said.no one down here had any money.” — While most people in the area live on welfare or pension payments, draper said the staff urges people to deposit even a few dollars because, if nothing else, it helps establish a credit reference. He said the bank does not loan money for food or rent because “that will just make the problem worse next month.” ; Most loans are for §20 to $30 and because they are so low the -branch makes no money on them. Draper expects the branch to loose $50,000 this year. okesman sal were killed or captured or escaped into the . -placed it even lower. . continued to drop:. ° ~~’ d 1,800 Ethioplan troops Military buildings were flatened or burned. Some huts also were destroyed. The mosque was pocked by Officials of the Liberation Front sald _ over much of northern Ethiopia. ‘9.2192 Ethiopians were taken prisoner ‘in ' “The correspondents were shown cap- the towns the journalists visited and at tured U.S. mortars, least 202 were killed. . It will probably continue ‘ to lose money for several - . years, but Draper sees other - nefits outweigh the’ dollar logs. ad Mentioning a $15 load to a woman on welfare so she could pay a jaywalking fine,he said the alternative — to the loan would be her - spending the night-in jail _ and the cost to society would Me put man; le, in . “But many people, in- cluding some at the bank, are torn between whether .. that is what the bank should .. do or if that is none of its . business." Price rises — ‘stalled fation and soaring Wage ation and s wage increases ap “to have been heldinc in Briitsh Columbia during the first 18 . months of the federal anti- inflation program, says &- provincial government. study, 7 os The study -by Jerry. Meadows, a labor depart: . ment researcher, shows that both inflation. and wage: _have slowed sirice program began Oct, 14, 1975. . Under the program, the.’ set limits on employee wage. increases and company... profits. nister . Trudeau said last, week, there would be no early end) to the controls because the... Canadian Labor Congress’ ” has refused to participate in. a voluntary restraint © program. 3, e Meadows study found that wage settlements. averaged 17.8 percent 4 year in the 18 mionths before . controls. Since controls. were imposed, wage raises, before most b ordered , decreased, averaged 10.5 percent, ay Meadows found ¢ that before controls, wages in B.C. were rising at an average, of 14.2 percent ‘a, year. In the 18 months since © controle, the rate Groped b.. 7 percent yearly, te There is a lag in the’ Statistics Canada figures. used in the study. “At any. | given time, many: em-'. ployees were sill earning | the results of high Meets increases negotiated: months or yeara before. _. Inthe first quarter of 1977, . the average increase in, weekly earnings sl to. 9.8 percent a year. . Preliminary figures for the. past few months have. Meanwhile, prices in the” province increased ata rate - of 9.5 percent annually since _ controls, compared with the. 11,8 percent rise in prices in . the 18 months before con: ‘ols. wn Statistics show inflation” had hit a peak and was: dropping when the controls ° were imposed, and except for a spurt in the spring of 1976, the inflation rate 3” ‘eet oe vay Prime Minister. <-.