—Tass photo CANADIAN YOUTH HELPED IN USSR. Photo shows Edgar Reiprich of Toronto, helped by an _ artificial wheeled walker, exercising in the corridor of the Leningrad Plenov neuro-surgical hospital. Soviet doctors are working to help him recover use of “his legs after hope was given up for him by Canadian doctors. His medical attention is being given free of charge, and doctors are optimistic about the treatment. On the right is his mother Stephanis Reiprich and on the left a leading Soviet doctor. With debate by the 2,500 delegates in attendance at the 10th annual convention of the Canadian Labor Congress taking longer than the convention organizers ex- pected, the question of in- ternational affairs was still to be discussed at Tribune press time. A policy statement on _ in- ternational affairs was, however, issued to the delegates and the statement is being looked upon by the delegates as an advance over previous statements issued by the Congress. In its opening paragraph, the statement summarizes many of the issues facing the world today and says: ‘Since our last convention world developments have been marked by certain tentative steps away from armed conflict and towards peace. The negotiations taking place in the Middle East may be seen as one of these tentative steps. The easing of tensions between the major nuclear powers is another step which gives some breathing space to the forces of world peace. CLC delegates hit profiteers Cont'd from pg. 1 give us any effective means of dealing with the problems of working people. “What the Congress should be doing is organizing a national campaign to roll back prices,” he declared. He cited the three point anti- inflation program initiated by the Common Front in ‘ Quebec comprising the Quebec Federation of Labor, the Confederation of National Trade Unions and the Quebec Teachers Corporation — and said “that’s the kind. of campaign the Congress should be initiating — on a‘national scale.”’ Shane also criticized those NDP MP’s — notably David Lewis and Surrey MP Barry Mather — who had hinted acceptance of some form of wage restraints. The report also came into question for its pessimistic tone in stating that ‘“‘the prospect of solving the predominant economic problems by the time of our next convention is not very bright’ because ‘‘inflation is world wide.”’ Fishermen’s Union delegate Homer Stevens, whose union, along with the United Electrical Workers, was seated in the CLC convention for the first time in 20 years, debunked the idea that inflation ‘is world wide’ and pointed out that it does not afflict the socialist countries. George Harris, - sécretary- treasurer of the United Electrical Workers, also spoke of the lack of a decisive Congress program to fight inflation and told delegates that “this report deals only with the effects of economic problems, not the causes. “The Canadian Labor Congress has to provide leadership beyond the bargaining table,’’ he stated, ‘and move into the broad political arena.”’ Pointing to an imminent federal election and the clamor of the Conservatives for wage and price controls, he warned that ‘“‘if long john Stanfield is elected, then this Congress is going to have to lead the trade union movement into broad political struggle.” Several other delegates, in- cluding Alberni alderman George McKnight, delegate for the In- ternational Woodworkers of America, emphasized the need for the Congress to lead a campaign to combat profiteering by the major corporations. “If we fail to take’ this up on behalf of working people in this country,’’ McKnight war- ~ned, “‘we will be looked‘upon as a paper tiger.” e Scores of delegates were still queued up at the floor microphones when the question was put to adopt the economic policy report and the vote — signalling endorsement by only a small margin — indicated that many delegates were con- cerned that the Congress was not giving voice to the demand for independent political action. Congress secretary Bill Dodge’s insistence that ‘this report is a total indictment of the present economic situation’ only un- derscored the lack of an action program. The statement on energy policy, also introduced on Tuesday’s session, while declaring - that Death stalks B.C. woods Seventy-five woodworkers were killed in B.C.’s forests last year in industrial accidents, says the recent report from the Workmen’s Compensation Board. This amounts to an increase of 21 fatalities in the forest industry over the previous year [1972]. The. total number of job fatalities for all B.C. industries in 1972 was 191, a rise of 21 deaths for the year. The forest industry accounted for 25.6 per cent of all accidents, followed by the construction in- dustry with 16.9 per cent. In their mad dash to accumulate profits, many big companies have been violating WCB regulations which resulted in the Board having to impose sanctions against various companies in the form of fines. However, this does not compensate for the pain and suffering caused to hundreds of working class families in B.C. as a result of industrial accidents and fatalities. “Canada needs a comprehensive energy policy’’ and militating against a continental energy policy, also left many of the same unanswered questions and equivocated on the issue of nationalization. The policy statement advocated the creation of a national power grid, the construction of new pipelines under public ownership and planned development of energy resources. It added that “the most critical element in the development of a comprehensive national energy strategy will be the degree to which the public sector is willing to assume the burden “of management and planning. Correspondingly, the role of private enterprise must be reduced.” Of particular concern to delegates was the failure in the report to take into consideration the domination of energy resources by huge multinational corporations which had artificially contrived the energy crisis in order to amass greater profits and spur the ex- ploitation of new resources. As well, some delegates were dissatisfied that several resolutions — which called for the nationalization of oil and gas resources and the establishment of an east-west pipeline and power grid — would not bé debated by the convention but would instead be referred back to the committee which had already stated its op- position to many such resolutions. In the debate which saw the joint report adopted and later recon- sidered for discussion at a later session, UE delegate Tom Davidson told delegates that “if we're going to talk about the Canadian people having full and democratic¢ control of ‘energy, then we're going to have to talk about nationalization.” He called on the Congress to take the lead in campaigning for an energy policy which would meet the needs of the Canadian people. Ninety million people in the Soviet Union, of a population of almost 25 million, have deposits in Savings banks. In 1940 the number was a little more than 17 million. The amount of their- money deposited in savings banks exceeds 60 billion rubles. The entry‘ of China into the United Nations is a stride towards the universality of the U.N. and again towards the easing of conflict situations. “This rather significant trend towards peace is marred by the ‘unpeace-like’ ceasefire in Viet- nam where thousands continue to be killed every month despite the so-called ceasefire. The continuing military takeovers and destruction of democratically elected governments in Latin America and elsewhere continues to disturb workers in Canada.”’ The Congress document also makes note of the need for further exchanges and increased relations between trade union bodies in other countries. Under the heading “International Activities’’ the document suggests, ‘“The Congress also plans a travel and exchange program designed to prepare our membership for a more active role in the world trade union movement. This program will need the full cooperation of all affiliates. It will be oriented towards building up union solidarity across geographical and _ ideological Woodworkers unity he around key 1974 demdll A meeting called by the Wood Bureau of the Communist Party last weekend in Nanaimo reviewed two important developments in the lumber and paper industries: How to exert maximum pressure on the employers in negotiations to get a satisfactory settlement by contract expiry date (June 15); and progress in the struggle for Canadian autonomy in light of the vote for an independent Canadian union toward the building of one union in wood. 5 The consensus of opinion at the one-day gathering was that there could be no backing-off seven key issues in this year’s contract negotiations. Namely, (1) a one- year contract; (2) a “COLA” (cost of living escalator) clause for protection against continuing price barriers. In the coming se program hopes to bring a workers into contact with vet in Europe; including BLN Eastern Europe and he Union, with workers | cluding Japan and China. The statement is also ose the isolation policies Prat the trade union organ United States and say: hope that the AFL-CW reconsider its position ici outside the ranks of the aif In dealing with the que te South Africa and its i scot policies, the Congress f recommends: ene e The abrogation of Bag monwealth Preferenti@ ric Agreement with South BY od e The withdrawal 0 = Gt trade commissioners 0% Africa. Fe e The governmet reiterate its position i e Namibia (South West ici country illegally occuP™ Africa; should 4s Canadian i Namibia and cul legitimacy of the stu people of this country: