THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER < WORKER 38,000 copies printed in this issue. _ Published twice monthly as the official publication of the INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA Western Canadian Regional Council No. 1 Affiliated with AFL-CIO-CLC 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. Phone 874-5261 Editor — Pat Kerr Business Manager — Fred Fieber Advertising Representatives — Elizabeth Spencer Associates Forwarded to every member of the IWA in Western Canada in accordance with convention decisions. Subscription rate for non-members $2.00 per year. Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post.Office Department, and for payment of postage in cash, caapn? EDITORIAL LOWER AUTO RATES? ee findings of the Wootton Royal Com- mission on B.C. car insurance rates has the powerful insurance industry up in arms over the criticism and threat of government intervention contained in the Report. The commission harshly criticized the industry for its lack of competition by stating that while there might not be a case that justified action under the Com- bines Investigation Act, there was a re- markable similarity between rates charg- ed for various types of car insurance by individual firms. The Report left little doubt what it thought of B.C.’s private insurance rates after comparing them with those of the Saskatchewan scheme. It lauded the Sas- katchewan plan’‘s good basic coverage at reasonable cost and it’s no fault system in determining payment of benefits. It also left the very clear implication that B.C. motorists were paying through the nose for the dubious distinction of be- ing insured by free enterprise companies. While stopping short of recommend- ing a government-run insurance plan, the Commission did propose the setting up of a@ government-appointed B.C. Auto Insur- ance Board to control price gouging by the private companies. SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS HEAD ae RE Wan a The board would also set maximum rates annually for the basic policy. It would keep its own statistics and. actu- arial studies and presumably would be given the powers necessary to ensure competition between private firms offer- ing supplementary coverage on a volun- tary basis. The Commission believed that such a board would significantly reduce the motorisi’s insurance costs provided the private insurance companies co-operated. However, if this co-operation was not forthcoming, then would be the time for the government fo take over in the auto insurance field. The interesting question now is, will the government implement the Report or bow to the obvious pressure the insurance industry is bound to bring, to have it shelved or modified? Considering the government has con- stantly turned down the New Democratic Party’s advocacy of a government. insur- ance plan, it’s highly unlikely to imple- ment such a measure now for fear that some of the credit might rub off on the NDP, especially now that the Socred’s political stock is at such a low ebb. ACTION NEEDED CANADA TO PREVENT RACIAL TROUBLE Canada faces the prospect of serious racial troubles un- less positive action is taken try if black, red, brown or yellow people have the same employment opportunities oth- sources that would enable In- dians, Eskimos, negroes and other Canadian minorities to THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER ° e : WELL START RE-PILIN’ ‘EM. . . | CAN’T HAVE YOU JUST SITTIN’ AROUND ... 4 NEW BOARD MEMBER THANKS HIS SUPPORTERS The Editor: Thru the medium of the Western Canadian Lumber- worker I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all those members who voted for me, as International Executive Board Member, in the recently concluded Re- gional Council No. 1, Refer- endum Ballot. I will continue my endea- vors, as I have done in the I past, to work in the best inter- est of our great organization. ~< To one and all I say Thank You. 4 Fraternally yours, SAMUEL A. MUIR, International Executive Board Member. e- THE WORST BIGOT The worst bigot in our society is not the loud mouth who goes about spewing prejudice against people of differ- y ent color, national background or religion. The worst bigot is the “gentleman” who believes that Canadian ¢ society is bigotry-free. Typically, he moans about bigotry in Mississippi, South Africa or elsewhere. He turns out to Brotherhood dinners. Even says some of his best friends are of other colors or religions. And then because he won’t face the facts of himself, or our society, goes about his to meeting existing situations, George McCurdy, Human Rights Administrator of the Federal Labour Department, Ottawa, stated. Mr. McCurdy was a speaker at the annual convention of the British Col- umbia Federation of Labour. “There is a real sense of urgency about racial. injus- tices in our country today,” he said. “Racial discrimina- tion, prejudice and poverty are constant companions in our society. “The tools are available if we but use them to change these social realities, to bring a full measure of human dig- nity and genuine equality of opportunity to all Canadians, irrespective of race, colour, creed or national origin,’ he continued. “I speak of the kind of effort that would re- move every vestige of second- class citizenship from the Can- adian scene. “We won't have to specu- late on the grim prospect of racial disorders in our coun- er people have in our society; if they have the same educa- tion opportunities, if they have the same decent housing, if they have the’ same kind of social acceptance and are treated with the same dignity and respect as all other citi- zens.” Mr. McCurdy dealt with the federal Fair Employment Practices Act which,-he said, had served effectively to bring about appreciable assimilation or integration of Canadian minorities. He continued: “Canada’s Fair Employment Practices Act does not, however, articu- late on the more profound stage of human rights, which reaches beyond the strict pro- tection of legal rights. This results in our playing more or -less a catalystic role, to speed up the process of racial justice — by encouraging Canadians to beceme involved in indi- vidual and collective affirma- tive action to combat these basic and pervasive social problems by provision of re- turn freedom into an equal life and full participation in Canadian society.” [ee ee en ee = CANADIAN IMPERIAL subtle ways as a practicing bigot. Growth Savings Certificates a plan to help your savings grow BANK OF COMMERCE —The Windsor Star