Recalls ‘Ol Bill’

Harold Malyea, Campbell River,
B.C., writes: For those of us who
rode the freights back in the dirty
thirties the memory of Ol’ Bill lives
fresh as if it all happened
yesterday when we read his “‘Short
Jabs” in the B.C. Worker’s News.
Many are the leaders in the
progressive political ranks today
who are the richer in knowledge of
the class struggles because of Ol’
Bill who had a way of imparting
wisdom that carried appeal and
conviction.

Iam writing to tell Trib readers
of something that occurred in my
home just a short time ago,
something that spurs me to relate
this experience to others.

While cleaning out a seldom used
cupboard I came upon a large
autographed photo of Ol’ Bill that
had gone missing some 14 years
ago. I was thrilled to behold those
smiling yet determined features
looking up at me as if demanding to
know ‘‘what the hell have you been
doing these many years since the
days of Riot Act Gerry McGeer and
his Cossacks?”

Maturity comes later in some
than others, in my case it was one
of the former, and nothing would
please me more than to be in a
position to offer my apologies to OI’
Bill in person. Now it is too late to

compare notes with that grand.
I well recall

Marxist teacher.
having coffee and sinkers with OI’
Bill on several occasions, each and
every one of which was an ex-

perience. Those were the times”

when a beefsteak dinner could be
had for well under a dollar, still
even at that price few of us who
window shopped Skid Row could
dig up the price of steak.

Despite his usual seriousness
and conviction Ol’ Bill was not
without a display of wit when the
occasion called for it. There was
the time that a blown-up wheel
from the Vancouver Sun returned
from a trip to the Soviet Union and
reported that he had witnessed
hungry Russian children watching
tourists partaking of more splendid
food through a certain Moscow
hotel dining room window. Ol’ Bill
paid a little social call on this
prevaricator in his Vancouver Sun
office and asked him to repeat the
statement that hungry children

had watched tourists through the’

hotel dining room window while
they ate. Whén the story was
repeated Ol’ Bill simply suggested,
“T know that it’s damn unusual for
you birds to tell the truth, the

dining room is on ace senon floor

of that hotel. I’ve eaten there
myself so those children that you
claim to have seen all had necks
like a giraffe.”

I shall treasure my picture of the
stalwart who wrote and spoke for
us and when visitors inquire’as to
the identity of the person in that
portrait they will hear a few stories
based on facts that come so readily
to mind.

Caulked boots

Ernie Dalskog, Vancouver
Island, sent the following letter
which appeared in the Courtenay
newspaper:

As one who has earned his living
for decades in B.C. wearing
caulked boots, I would like to make
a few comments on the column in
the March 26 Island Star by
“Caulked boots philosopher.” I
think his caulk boots must be a size
too small and pinching, judging by
his presentation in favor of

.Western Mines and the industry in

general. First, he implies that the
Western Mines shareholders have
an investment of six billion, one
hundred and nine million dollars. I
would like to know. How did this
come about? By splitting of
shares? The bland statement
leaves too many -questions not
answered. So, yes, I would like
those Price Waterhouse tables you
promised to send anyone.

An average annual return of 10.2
per cent over eight years is not a
bad investment. Don’t forget that
mortgage rates of 10.2 per cent are
highly inflationary. .Mr. Caulk
Boots, you have overlooked the
fact that according to government
figures, Western Mines made five
million, five hundred and thirty-
three thousand, nine hundred and
twenty-six dollars profit in 1973 and
paid no income tax.

The Philosopher does not
mention that in just the fourth
quarter of 1974 alone, the mining

companies made $431 million in-

profits, so his preliminary tax
estimate for 1974 of $97,072,000 will
indeed be at a much lower rate
than that which a working person,
in or out of boots, hobnailed or
caulked, will be paying on his 1974
income. After all, the mining in-
dustry must have made profits in
the other three quarters of 1974.
And, also let us not forget that their
profit figures are usually quoted
after taxes, and provision for
contingencies have been deducted.

And another thing, eight years is’
a very short period in the life of a

North Fraser CP

meets in

The membership of all clubs in
the North Fraser Region of the
Communist Party met on Sunday,
April 4 to discuss the years work,
priorities for the coming period
and to elect a new regional com-
mittee.

Regional organizer, Rod Doran,
said in his annual report ‘‘that our
experience over the last year and_
particularly the federal election
campaign has borne out the
necessity of having a_ regional
organization on the north side of
the Fraser. In the one year since
the formation of the new region we
have fielded three candidates in
the federal election, participated in
municipal elections, held a very
successful series of lectures at
Douglas College, anumber of large
social events.

During the afternoon, provincial
organizer Jack Phillips addressed

the conference and congratulated .

the membership for the exemplary
work done. He reported on the
growth in the Party and YCL so far

parley

this year and urged the region to
take advantage of the new con-
ditions and give priority to building
the Party.

Fred Wilson brought greetings
from the Pacific Tribune and
challenged the” members to
oversubscribe their quotas this
year by 20 percent and make this
year’s financial drive the most
successful in its history, which will
enable the paper to carry more
B.C. news, and to better serve and
meet the needs of the working
class.

Mike Gidora, speaking for the
YCL, said they are confident that
the YCL will attract more young
people as it has the only program
which really meets the needs and
answers the questions that youth
have about today’s society.

The newly elected regional
committee will face a challenge in

the coming year, directing and.

initiating the political work and
carrying through the proposals
‘made at the meeting by the
membership.

mine. I am sure that if a-six billion
one hundred and nine million
dollar investment in a mine
property took place, the potential
of the mine was thoroughly in-
vestigated for the return of the
invested capital. The mine won’t
be exhausted yet if the figures
quoted in the column are correct.

Now to answer the question: ‘If
you vote for Bill Bennett are you
voting Social Credit or Con-
servative?” I would say that if you
are a working person and you vote
for Bill Bennett you are out of your
mind.

Hypocrisy

Karl Ettinger, Port Alice, B.C.,
writes:

Readers of the PT will un-
doubtedly be as amazed as I was,
to learn that industry has become
concerned about their impact on
the environment.

Spokesmen for MacMillan,

Bloedel recently stated before an

incredulous public meeting in
Sayward, that they rejected Option
A of the Tsitika-Schoen Study,
“because it failed to give adequate
consideration to ecological fac-
tors.” Like many other of your
readers, I also was employed in the
logging industry, by this very
company, and never once did I
witness any manifestation of their
great concern for the environment.

Of course, Mac & Blo is not alone
in their approach to ecology.
Rayonier, Canada, (the word
Canada is just an unfunny joke)
express their ecological policy
daily, by dumping thousands of
gallons of effluent into local waters
from their pulp mill at Port Alice.
Utah Mines situated on the same
body of water employs a like ap-
proach to environment.

Also, these protectors of the
ecology are unanimous in their
concern of the high rate of
unemployment, and all have ex-
pressed a desire to take the lead in
the fight against this most chronic
of all capitalist ailments. M&B
moans that if-logging is restricted
in Tsitika-Schoen it will‘result in
the loss of 200 jobs. This from a
concern that busily exported jobs
to Brazil while B.C. loggers passed
a pleasant winter in some of the
longest unemployed lines in years.

B.C. Tel, on the same band
wagon, stated that should their
latest application for a rate in-
crease be refused, it would result
in a cutback in services on the
North Island and the loss of some
2,000 jobs.

A recent inspection of the Port’

Alice pulp mill by the WCB,
resulted in the closure of their
Wood Chipper Plant for a 24-hour
period, in addition to the closure of
a section of their dock and their
dredging machine. So much for
their much-touted safety program.
An inspection of the same premises
by provincial government en-
vironmental inspectors resulted in
the condemning of the washroom
and lunch room facilities of many
departments under the provisions
of the Factories Act.

The hypocrisy of industry’s
approach to these and other
problems is becoming increasingly
apparent, and correspondingly, is

the awareness that industry’s only,

concern is for the figures listed in
the profit column in their financial
report.

It has recently been demon-
strated to a minor degree, that
industry can be forced to move on
these issues, either through the
pressure of public opinion, or
through government edict. This
should serve to bring home to the
working class of this province, a
very basic but profound lesson.
When control of the means of
production rests in the hands of the
workers, then, and only then, will
the interests of the people be
served.

, CANADIAN CP WARNS:

U.S. seeks

to provoke

new Tonkin incident’

“Canadians should be alert to the
efforts of the Ford Administration
to step up military intervention in.‘
Indochina behind a smokescreen of
‘humanitarian’ help to refugees
and evacuation of U.S. citizens
from South Vietnam,” warns a
statement issued by the Central
Executive Committee of the
Communist Party of Canada on
April 14.

The statement says:

“The concentration of U.S.
warships facing the South Viet-
namese coast is not aimed at
evacuating U.S. citizens but at
landing U.S. Marines in Indochina
again. U.S. imperialism is striving
to create another Tonkin incident
so as to expand the war in In-
dochina.

“To prevent this, Canadian
public opinion and Parliament
must demand the immediate with-
drawal of all U.S. warships from

South Vietnamese _ territorial
waters.

“It should insist on an end to U.S:
interference in the internal affail®
of South Vietnam, the removal 0
25,190 U.S. military advisors wh0
are in civilian disguise, and a halt
to massive U.S. arms shipments
Saigon.

“Tt should call for the removal of
the Thieu Administration and the
establishment of an Administration
in Saigon prepared to uphold 2!

‘implement the Paris Peace

Agreement.

“Canada should recognize thé
Royal Government of National |
Unity of Cambodia headed by
Prince Nordom Sihanouk. a.

“It should recognize thé |
Provisional Revolutionary |
Government of South Vietnam. —

“This is the path to peace
concord and reconciliation in Sou
Vietnam. This is the way Canada
could finally uphold the Paris
Peace Agreement.”

Drive total:

The April 15 tally of the financial
drive shows us with more than
$11,000 turned in. =

Our appeal to our readers to give
more than ever before this year
has been answered. Contributions
of $100 and more are coming in ata
rate of one or two a day. Phone

Ten dollars
for every year of
the Communist press
in B.C

‘success.
’ dications are positive — so far wé

$11, 000

calls and letters from all over thé
province are requesting books ©
contest tickets. Events of all sorts —
have been organized ranging from

-house socials to film showings

banquets and dances. Mission has
already surpassed its quota.

This is the spirit that is needed.
We appeal again to our readers 10
work harder than ever, give more
than ever before, make our drive 4
While the early in-

are barely a quarter way towards
our goal. To raise the remaining
$30,000 will be far tougher.

What is the ‘‘400 club’? A new |
feature of our drive, this club has |
been established to offer special
recognition for those individuals
whose contribution is of an ex
ceptional size. Ernie Babuick is the
latest member of the club, having
already raised over $400 ‘for his
press club in Mission. He joins
Maurice Rush, Lorne Robson,
Dorothy Lynas, Peter Gidora, Rita
Tanche, Steve Nickyforuk, Barb
Stewart, Nigel Morgan and Dave ©
Werlin in the front lines of this
year’s press drive.

Send us your pledge to raise $10
for each of the 40 years of the

- Communist press in B.C. and your
_ name will be added to the ‘‘400

club’’.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

- 7

COMING EVENTS

WANTED

MAY 10 — SPRING ROUNDUP,
Saturday, May 10th 8 p.m.-on,
832 Calverhall, North Van-
couver. FILMS, FOOD,
BAZAAR TABLE, RAFFLE.
Adm. $1.75 Children 75c.
Ausp.: North Shore Press Club.

MAY 25 — Sunday May 25th AN-
NUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Horseshoe Tournament and Crib
Tournament. Refreshments at
the Gidora’s, 6714 - 148th St.,
Surrey. All welcome. Proceeds.

pee ive:

WANTED: Articles for resale. All
proceeds to Tribune Drive. |
Phone 526-5226.

BUSINESS PERSONALS

RON SOSTAD, writer-researcher-
Ph. 922-6980.

PTDRIVE
READERS in Burnaby area wh0 |
wish to contribute to Tribune
Financial Drive cash <=
contest tickets — banquet tickets
— please phone 526-5226.

BIRTHS

ARLAND — Dave and Karin are
happy to announce the birth of a
girl, Stephanie Linda. A baby
sister for Kevin.

FOR SALE

2 Holly Trees and 1 Horse Chestnut
Tree. Reasonable. Phone 594-
9371. Proceeds to. P.T. Drive.

SMALL Pines and Seedlings (one
foot to two feet) $1.00 to $2.00,
Arbutus $1.00. Place your order
at 327-5883 or Tribune office.
Proceeds to PT Drive.

HALLS FOR RENT

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN
CULTURAL CENTRE — 805
‘East Pender St., Vancouver 4.
Available for banquets, wed-
dings, meetings: Phone 254-3436.

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME —
Now available for rentals. For
reservations phone 254-3430.

WEBSTER’S CORNERS HALL |

Available for banquets,
meetings, ete. For rates, Ozzie, |
325-4171 or 685-5836. :

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 1975—Page 1