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Two substantial changes in the
NDP government’s fiscal
policies emerged this week in the
budget debate in Victoria —
Education Minister Dailly’s
plan for a 3-stage reduction in
classroom sizes in B.C. schools,
and Mines Minister Nimsick’s
proposal for recovery of in-
creased royalties from our
mineral resources. Neither of
the changes go far enough;
although they both represent a
significant step in the right
direction.

Just as with the Land Act
amendments a year ago, a lot of
wild charges are being levelled
by the mining tycoons.
Estimates by some company
spokesmen of what the new
system is going to cost the in-
dustry, jumped the first night
from $20 million to $70 million;
the following day to $140 million
and now to $153 million.

The big mining monopolies,
like the land developers and real
estate sharks, are trying to whip
up a hysterical campaign to in-
timidate and paralyse the NDP
government — twisting the facts
and crying crocodile tears for
the “‘poor little prospector,’’ the
“little guys’’ who everyone
knows they have cheated and
robbed for years. The real fact is
that Nimsick’s new mining bill
means that the big giveaway-is
finally being brought out into the
light of day, and for the first
time a substantial royalty is go-
ing to have to be paid to the peo-
ple of B.C. for their mineral
deposits by companies that are
reporting record-high profits.

All the government is propos-
ing is that those mining, and
therefore depleting a non-

replenishable resource that

belongs to the citizens of this
province, make a modest return
of 242% on the net value (smelter
return after transportation
costs) for the first year, with the
royalty increasing to 5% for the
following years. And secondly, if

A ee

By NIGEL MORGAN

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INTERNATIONAL
WOMENS DAY
Speakers, singing,
folkdancing

refreshments -
March 8 — 8:30 P.M.
Grandview Legion Annex
2220 Commercial Dr.
$2 admissison
tickets at the door

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1974—PAGE 12:

the net value increases more
than 20% above the basic price
(as is happening with gold today)
50% of such increase shall ac-
crue to the people through the
government treasury.

What could be fairer than that?
Unless it is to bring the mines
and other basic means of produc-
tion under public ownership and
democratic management so that
all the profits will be returned to
the people. The Communist Par-
ty believes that is the only final
solution, and while supporting
NDP measures to increase the
‘people’s return, works to that
goal.

* *e *

The cutback in classroom sizes
represents an important victory.
for half a million B.C. elemen-
tary and secondary students and
their parents. It will cost money
it is true, but not nearly as much
as the present inadequate school
facilities and overcrowded
classrooms. The estimated 4.5%
reduction in class sizes
(estimated to average about 30
students across the province,
leaving aside certified teachers
involved in administrative
duties) represents an important
advance.

The adding of a thousand ad-
ditional teachers to the school
system in the next year and three
to four thousand over the next
three years, is an important ad-
vance that will pay big
dividends.

Increased returns from
‘natural resources can make
more such advances in educa-
tion, health, pension and other
services to people possible. The
NDP government is moving in
the right direction. Public
pressure needs to be mounted to
maintain that course and
accelerate it. That’s what the.
voters want and what they
deserve.

FISHERMEN

Cont'd. from pg. 1

As long as the UFAWU re-
mains outside the jurisdiction of
the provincial labor code, the
PTA could also be used to do the
same in other strikes in the in-
dustry. ‘‘What the PTA is
doing,’’ Federation vice-
president Bill Stewart charged,
“is finding a way around the
collective bargaining process.”’

After several meetings with
King, telegrams were sent to the
federal government emphasizing
the inflammatory effect of the
injunction and urging definitive
establishment of jurisdiction.
While a joint telegram signed

by both the UFAWU asnd labor ©

minister King was initially
agreed upon, King would not
accept responsibility to take
over jurisdiction for fishermen,
and called on Ottawa to relin-
quish jurisdiction to the
province.

The UFAWU insisted that the
responsibility lay with the
province and added that even a
negative answer by the federal
government left responsibility in
the hands of the province.

A meeting with the executive
of the Federation was being
sought at Tribune press time, to
discuss further action on the
issue.

Longshore parley backs fight
for sovereign union movement

A militant program aimed at
policies to end the economic
crisis in this country and ad-
vance the campaign for Cana-
dian trade union autonomy
highlighted the Canadian Area
Convention of the International
Longshoremen’s and
Warehousemen’s Union which
would up in Vancouver February
15.

Some 69 delegates to the third
biennial convention — represen-
ting 3,400 members — also out-
lined efforts made over the last
two years to bring closer work-
ing cooperation between the east
coast International
Longshoremen’s Association and
the ILWU.

Several meetings have been
held with the blessing of both in-
ternationals as well as the CLC
and a resolution in the conven-
tion endorsed continued action in
that direction. Already a
national committee has been es-
tablished on a permanent basis
which meets to discuss common
problems.

Delegates expressed strong
support for the struggle of Cana-

TENANTS

Cont'd from pg. 1
is evidence of the pressure on
him.

Later in Committee with Mac-.
donald, Rosemary Brown, Peter
Ralston, Emery Barnes and Roy
Cummings, the nature of the law
reform proposals and the basis of
the BCTO’s fear came out more
clearly. ‘‘They have proposed
that tenants be forced to pay for
a rentalsman who will have no
appreciative control over rents.
The whole concept of a ren-
talsman is diametrically opposed
to your election program,”’
Yorke said.

The rentalsman would be a
government appointee who
would collect and hold security
deposits, and last month’s rent,
and arbitrate grievances
between the tenant and landlord.

“The main question is
representation,’’ Yorke said, ‘‘It
is an insult to ask tenants to
finance such a scheme and have
no input into the decision mak-
ing. It is a reactionary idea.”

The tenants offered their own

proposals, and the NDP election,

proposals, as alternatives to the
Law Reform Commission
proposals: ‘‘Collective bargain-
ing rights and rent review boards
with the power to adjudicate and
enforce the act is indispensable.
It is not rent controls as such, it
simply means giving tenants
some economic muscle to par-
tially equalize the landlord’s ad-
vantage in the market, and
would deflate an inflationary
situation which is just about out
of hand.”’

Neither Macdonald or any
other government member
would make any commitments to
the BCTO delegation. Ernie Hall
told Frank Izzard and the group
lobbying him that the majority of
the cabinet were displeased with
the law reform commission
proposals. Peter Ralston reveal-
ed in the Committee meeting
that they were now preparing the
sixth draft for legislation.

“If we don’t like it, we’ll be

- back,’’ said tenant’s leader

‘Bruce Yorke.

‘dian members of International
unions for autonomy. The Of-
ficers’ Report said. ‘‘We fully
support the objective of a
sovereign Canadian trade union
movement. We also want to see a
united trade union movement
with’ all unions in Canada
associated with one central labor
body.”’ -

Pointing to unemployment and
inflation in Canada, and to the

drive by U.S. and Japanese —

multi-national corporations to
keep Canada “as a supplier of
raw -materials Bes the
delegates called for construction
of new port facilities, a Canadian
merchant marine, a steel
smelter for B.C., secondary in-
dustries to process B.C.
resources, and low cost housing.

Delegates also called on the
government to extend the Cana-
dian oil pipeline to eastern
Canada, to impose price controls
on oil, natural gas and gasoline,
to curb oil exports to the US.,
and asked for public ownership
and development of Canada’s
northern oil and gas reserves,
and steps to place the whole gas
and oil industry under public
ownership.

On political action, delegates
welcomed the NDP governments
progressive legislation on
welfare and social issues, at the
same time they resolved to join
with the B.C. Federation of
Labor in its opposition to
retrogressive features of the
labor code. Delegates in discus-
sion made it clear that the union
should maintain an independent
position in BiG. welcoming
progressive legislation and
strongly criticising bad legisla-
tion such as the labor code.

The convention also expressed
support for the land claims of the
native peoples and demanded
that federal and provincial
governments negotiate a fair and
reasonable settlement. The
Canadian Area officers were in-
structed to submit a resolution
‘on the issue of native rights to

the May convention of the Cag
dian Labor Congress.

On international affairs |
delegates greeted the sea in
down of U.S. aggression in Vie:
nam and steps towards dete:
in Europe. They urged
Canada recognize ft
Provisional Revolution
Government of South Vietna
and called for the long-dela:
recognition of the Germa
Democratic Republic. Also
ed was support for the |
resolution on the Middle Ras

Calling Canada’s recogni
of the military junta in Chile
crime against the people of Chil
and an insult to Canadians,” ¢h
convention demanded tha
Canada’s ambassador }h
withdrawn and fired, and ple
ed readiness to join with
dian and world labor ‘‘in taki
effective action to rest
freedom to the Chilean worki
class and trade unj
movement.”

Other resolutions called
freedom for the Carabanche]
in Spain, and urged the CLG
take concerted action to “+h
our South African brothers

FOREST GIANTS

Cont'd from pg. 11
a cost-of-living escala
allowance written into
agreements. The industry «
well afford such a’ settlem
along with a shorter work
and improvements in the
benefit package.

There is no doubt that the
panies will plead poverty a
holler “‘blue ruin.’”’ But if
workers are united and det
mined, and if they get the ki
leadership required in a sit
like this, the I.W.A. will eo
through with the kind of set
ment the members need and
pect. —
Stastistics and skilful ba
ing tactics have their pla
negotiations, but in the
analysis, the workers will g
much as they are able to com

t