for Alcan workers’ health

KITIMAT, B.C (CP) —
A medical expert
relained by can
Smelturs and Chemicals
Ltd. to evaluate a wnion-
funded health study of
workers in the company’s
aluminum smelter here
says he na in-
formation not contained
in the published study to
complete his report.

The comments of Dr.
Ralph Buncher, professor
of epidemilogy and

biostatistics at the
University of Cincinnati,
were contained in a letter
to the company's health
officer released by Alcan

y.
The $180,000 study,
funded by the Canadian
Association of Smelter
and Allied Workers,
found that 30 per cent of
the 1,-200 workers studied
had reduced ilung
capacity and that many
had skeletal disorders.

Hydro rates

said unfair

VANCOUVER (CP) —
British Columbia Hydro
eharges condominium
owners higher rates than
owners of single-family
homes because of higher
costs, a Hydro cial
said Wednesday at a B.C,
Energy Commission
hearing into alleged dis-
crimination by the
company.

The hearing is in-
vestigating a complaint
by the Strata Title
QOwners’ Association that
Hydro discriminates by
charging strata title
owners a higher elec-
tricity rate than it
charges owners of single
family dwellings.

The owners’ complaint

is supported by the B.C.
Rental Housing Council.
George Barnett,
m er of rates and
costs for Hydro, said the
utility has calculated it
cannot make a profit by
chargin residentia
rates for the shared areas
of condominiums.

“The residential rate is
not designed for large
volumes,” he said. “T

| Brewery

NANAIMO, B.C. (CP)
— Fourteen members of
Local 300 of the Brewery
and Softdrink Workers
Union employed at the
Nanaimo warehouse of
Central Island
Distributors Ltd. went on
strike Wednesday, cut-
ting off draft and bottled
beer deliveries to central
Vancouver Island
communities,

The areas affected
include Duncan,

; Workers,

residential rate is not
profitable after 2,400 kilo-
watt hours.per month.”

In answer to a question
by commissioner F. E.

alden, Barnett said
duplex owners pay the
residential rate, even
though there might be
shared uses such as a
furnace fan.

Hydro has argued that
condominiums have a
variety of common areas
unlikely to be found in a
single family home, such
as extra. stairways,
elevators, lobbies and
saunas.

Dennis Pavlich, a law
professor, who is the
main spokesman for the
condominium owners,
explained that 8.C,
Hydro _—scharges a
residential rate for each
suite, but the shared
areas are billed at
commercial rates. -

Pavlich said the
association calculate the
yearly Hydro bill for each
unit is 28 per cent higher
than the equivalent
amount of living space in
a. single family home.

vt

t

Parksville and Port Al-
berni.
A spokesman for the
union said today that the
local was unhappy with
contract proposals that
have been made by the
company. The workers
have been without a
contract since April.
The spokesman said
talks are to resume in
Vancouver today in an
effort to settle the
dispute.

More groups

oppose

mining

of uranium

VANCOUVER (CP) —
Two more groups today:
joined the growing o

ition to the esta
Ishment of a uranium
mine near Clearwater in
the British Columbia
Interior. :

The B.C. Federation of
Labor announced that it
has sent telegrams to
Premier Bill Bennett and
Mines Minister Jim
Chabot calling for a
moratorium on uranium
mining until a judicial
inquiry has been held into
health and environmental
impact. -

Meanwhile the B.C.
Medical Associatio:
announced that it has
appointed Dr. R. F.

ollard of Clearwater to
monitor the situation on
behalf of the association.

Association president
Dr, F. W. Tysoe said the
group is keeping an open
mind on uranium mining,
but is concerned about

tential radioactivity

zards.
. “Our concern is the
protection of the en-
vironment and of the
health of people touched
in any way by the
existence of such a
mine,” says Tysoe. “The
Clearwater proposal has

rticular importance, as

t may be just the first of

several other ap-
plications to establish
Uranium mines in our
province.”

CALLS FOR INQUIRY
Consolidated Rexspar
Minerals and Chemicals
Ltd., has proposed a $27-
million epenpit mine at
Birch Island, about 13
km, south of Clearwater.
The mine would operate
for between four and
eight years. Toronto-
based Denison Mines
Lid., active in uranium
mining in Ontario, is a
major shareholder in
Consolidated Rexspar.
Len Guy, secretary-
treasurer of the B.C.
Federation of Labor, said
his organization has
called for a judicial
inquiry because evidence
indicates higher-than-
usual rates of lung cancer
among miners at
Denison’s Elliot Lake,
Ont. mine.
“We are deeply.
disturbed that the
rovincial government
intends te open the first
uranium mine in B.C.
without any inquiry into
the potential risks,’’ he
said. "This is irrespon-
sible.
, “The citizens of the
area, and the workers
who will mine the ore
have a right to know the
dangers involved.”

The study linked the
heaith problems to work
in the smelter.

Buncher said he feels
the information published
by the union does not
support the conclusions
drawn, but that su
porting data may be
the union’s research files.

“This study has
produced tremendously
valuable information for
the good of all concerned
with alwninum
smelting,'” Buncher
wrote, but added that the
union. presentation of
findings ‘‘contains far too
little information from
which an objective re-
viewer can evaluate the
claims made by the in-

« yestigators.”’

LUNG PROBLEMS
CLAIMED
The union _ study,

carried out during the
last year by environ-
mental health experts
from the University of
Chicago, was released to
a membership meeting in
October. Alcan has with-
held comment onthe
report until its medical
consultants study the

findings.

Buncher said he had
‘never seen a_ report
‘roma major study, such
as this, which hag in-
aluded so little data from
he results.”

‘The company said it
1a5 contacted the union in
an effort to obtain the
naterial requested.

-Buncher said that on
the basis of what he had
3een, he felt a number of
“curious numeric
Jiscrepancies” in the re-
port need tobe accounted
ior."

The study also ap-

rently failed to account
for possible explanations
of abnormalities on the
basis of ethnic origin,
Buncher. said.

He suggested that the
union's claims of skeletal
disorders should be
tested by examining
medical files in the
community to see if
women employed outside
the smelter had similar
problems. _

The company said it is
still waiting for comment
from other experts it has
retained.

THE HERALD, Friday. December 16, 1977, PAGE 3

More medical study needed _ Single auto licence plates

nets 100,000 novelty order

MONTREAL (CP) — A
provincial government
decision to save $1 million
by issuing only rear
licence plates in 1978 has
launched two en-
trepreneurs into the
novelty plate market.

Len Shugar, 38,.. and
Gary Dingwall, | 31,
owners of Unimex

Promotions Ltd., got
started in October with
100,000 orders for the
novelty front plates.

Sales to date total about
$150,-000 a month, Shugar
said in a recent in-
terview.

If sales are any in-
dication, more than
500,000 of Quebec’s two
million cars will sport the
new front-end plates
early next year, he ad-
ded.
The plates bear slogans
such as “J'aime ma
femme” (I love my wife)
and “J'aime ca” (I like
it).

SELL FOR §1.99

Novelty plates are
made of the same
metallic material as
ordinary licence plates
and are priced at about

$2.49 each, although most .

- Urge Inquiry be re-opened

a ‘spokesman for" 10,000
man for 10,
Northwest British
Columbia union workers
and their families urged
Wednesday that West
Coast oil ports inquiry
commissioner Dr. An-
drew Thompson recon-
vene the inquiry im-
mediately in the new
year.

The recommendation:
put forward by Bill
orswill, consultant to a
joint committee repre-
senting North Coast labor
counci and an
organization known as
Victims of Industry
Chan ing Environment

I said the
committee wag formed 10
years ago by the Kitimat-
Terrace and district
Labor Council, the Prince
Rupert Labor Council
and the Pacific Nor-
thwest Labor Council
(Confederation of

Canadian Unions), and
represents the largest
single constituency in the
area that would be af-

fected by oil port
development.

- Commenting on
Thompson's decision to

recess the inquiry in-
definitely because there
is no active oil port

development proposal at
present, Horswill ex-

ressed concern that

ecisions
residents of the area wil
be made without consid-
ering them.

“It has been the, ex:

rience of the people o
the Northwest over the
years that neither the

senior governments (of

Canada) nor the - local
people in the area have
any real say in the eco-
nomic future of the
region,” Horswill told a

summary hearing of the

inquiry.
;“We are the-last to be
informed about plans, ‘let

alone be consulted.

DECISIONS ALREADY
MADE ;

“Instead, it inevitably
turns out that the plan-
ning decisions have all
been made in advance by
the (foreign)
national promoters of the
development — schemes.

"The Canadian
governments and the
public are left to react to
these proposals...”’

affecting

multi-

Horswill said it is to the
credit of the Canadian
government this time
that it set up the
Thompson inquiry “into
the advisability and
feasiblity of this U.S.-
conceived corporate
pipedream.”’

But he said that the
Kitimat Pipe Line Co.,
which withdrew its
proposal to build a ter-
minal for Alaska crude
oil at Kitimat and has not
said whether it plans to
renew it, has been ar-

rogant in dealing with the
inquiry.
“Their arrogance

suggests that little has
changed basically,” he
said. ‘“‘Likewise,’’ he
added, “Ottawa’s failure
to take firm action in
response to such an alf-
front to Canadian sover-
eignty hints — rathec
ominously in the same
direction, we fear.”

Thompson scheduled
three days ending today
for summary
representations
various participants in
the inquiry, He is to make
an interim report by
March 31, 1978.

Canadian Business Briefs

OVERPAYS
SHAREHOLDERS
TORONTO (CP) — The
antiinflation board has
ruled that National Trust
Co. Ltd. of Toronto
overpaid dividends by
two cents a share in 1976
and 1977, company
president J.L.A. Colhoun
said Wednesday.
However, he said the AIB
has accepted the com-
pany’s reports for 1976
and 1977 on the wunr-
derstanding that
fayments next year be
Imited to 88 cents a
share. It paid 83 cents in

VACANCIES IN-
CREASE

MONTREAL (CP) —
Vacancies in rental] units
have almost tripled in the
greater Montreal area in
the last year, mainly due
to departures, Central
Mortgage and Housing
Corp. said Thursday.
Gilles Vermette, CMHC
Montreal district
manager, said high
unemployment and
construction of new
apartment buildings
were also major factors.

PLANS PROJECT
CALGARY (CP)
Mobil Oil Canada Ltd.
has announced plans for a
$13-million pilot oil
recovery project in the
Lloydminster heavy ail
deposit. The project is
roposed for the Celtic
ield in Saskatchewan.
The company said it has
applied for assistance
from the joint federal-
Saskatchewan heavy oil

research fund.

—

EMPLOYS INDIANS
ELMONTON (CP) —

Syncrude delivered on its
promise to foster em-
ployment for Alberta
Indians by signing a ma-
jor cleaning contract
Wednesday with the
Whitefish Lake band. The
five-year contract, for the
cleaning and mainte-
nance of all workclothes
used by the 2,400 em-
ployees of the Syncrude
Mildred Lake project, is

estimated at $1.8 million.

UNITY HOLDS KEY

MONTREAL (CP) —
National unity is the key
to Canada’s economy,
Robert Davidson,
president of the Mer-
cantile Bank of Canada,
said Wednesday.
Davidson said major
financial institutions

contribute to the strength
of the country by allowing
a diversity of economies
and cultures to flourish.

by:

larger stores sel! them
for $1.99.

Quebec’s motor vehicle
bureau imposed only two
design restrictions—no
numerals, no obscenity.

“Novelty plates. aren't
new, they've been ex-
tremely popular in 19
American states where
only one licence plate is
required,’ Shugar said.

But Unimex is the first
Canadian company to
enter the field. ;

Unimex hired an artist
to create designs
reflecting Quebecers’
tastes, in addition to
selections submitted by a
Montreal agency.
CHOSE 25 DESIGNS

About 25 slogans in two-
color designs were

chosen. Most plates are
embossed in French, with
more English slogans
soon to be introduced.

The partners say they
produce 100,000 plates a
week, dividing the work
between two Quebec-
owned manufacturers,

Dingwall added that
sales are bound to in-
crease after the gov-
ernment plates are
issued—they go on sale
Jan. 9—and “everyone
learns they are only
getting one plate.”

“We predict our first-
year sales should total
about §1.5 million.”

Suburban St. Laurent
ordered 5,000 plates with
the municipal logo for
sale to its residents.

Will give warning

of ferry

VICTORIA (CP)
Recreation and Con-
servation Minister Sam
Bawlf said Wednesday he
would give plenty of
warning before  in-
creasing fares on the
British Columbia Ferry
fleet.

“From now on we Flan
to give indications well in
advance and not suddenl
spring things on people,’
said Bawlf, minister
responsible for the
crownowned ferry fleet.

Dog patrol

_ MONTREAL (CP) — A
fiveyear-old German
shepherd guard dog
patrols the downtown
offices of the Keable
commission evenings and
weekends.

“Well, we couldn’t very
well ask the Mounties or
the Quebec police force to
guard our documents,”
said a spokesman for the
commission, set up to in-
vestigate illegal police
activities.

_ The dog, called Carma,
is not an attack dog, the
commission spokesman
said Wednesday. ‘‘An
attack dog chomps any-

thing that passes. This -

one is controlled. He
needs an order (from an
accompanying security
guard) to dose.”
Carma and his han-
dlers were hired by the
Quebec — justice = de-
partment through a
private security agency.

Fightthe
lung
cripplers

Emph . Asthma, Tuberculosis,
Chronic Bronchitis, Air Pollution

anf

Christmas
Seals

increase

Bawlf, who tock over
last month from Tran-
sport Minister Jack
Davis as the minister re-
sponsible for the ferries,
was asked in an interview
if a spring ferry rate
increase hinted at b
Davis was still planned.

"I would like to
reassure the community
and all of the province
that we are sensitive to
their concerns about the
ferry rates,”’ Bawlf said.

Asked if this ruled out
an increase in the spring,
he said: “You can draw
you own conclusion.’’

Bawlf added he is in the
midst of an study of the
whole ferry system,
specifically on the
question of expanding the
service and it will be
several months before
major decisions are
taken.

Briefly
MANY WORDS ARE
GREEK

Twelve per cent of the
modern English vocabul
ry—the words we use

every day—come directly
from Greek roots.

NICARAGUAIS
LARGEST

Nicaragua is the
largest of Central
America’s republics,
with an area of 5,000
square miles.
SIBERIANS NOT
‘THIRSTY

Stretching 395 miles
long and nearly 49 miles
wide, Lake Baikal in
southern Siberia holds
nearly as much fresh
water as the Great Lakes,

WOMEN LEGISLATE

New Hampshire has
the highest percentage of
women _haldin,

legislative positions in
the U.S., 25 per cent of the
424 seats.

FINNING

JOHN MALOEN

Finning announces the ap-
paintment of John Malden as

manager of our Terrace opera- *
John replaces Carl ,;
Cederberg who has been ap-

tion.

pointed manager of Finning's
Whitehorse operation.

John joined the company in
Williarns Lake in 1976 following
seven years’ sales experience
with other industrial lirms.

Finning selis and services
Caterpillar and other products
throughout British Columbia,
the Yukon and the Mackenzie
Vattey, Northwest Territories.

Finning ad No. FA7?-43

H, F, HUFF
The appointments of

Company.

ANNOUNCEMENT
CANADIAN CELLULOSE COMPANY, LIMITED

Vice President, Pulp, and Roy W. Murphy as Senior
Vice President, Administration, are announced by
Ronald M. Gross, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Canadian Cellulose Company, Limited.

Mr. Huff was formerly Senior Vice President, Pulp
Marketing. In his new capacity, he assumes respon-
sibility for all aspects of the Cornpany's pulp business.

Mr. Murphy was formerly Vice President, Persan-

* neland Administration. In his newcapacity, he assumes
broad corporate administralive responsibility in the

Canadian Cetulose Company, Limited

R. W. MURPHY

Herschell F. Huff as Senior

~: There's more great taste
in every Gala Keg,

the naturally good wines
from Casabello.

The great taste of Gala Keg wines by Casabello
area natural complement to pood dining and goud times.
Naturally fermented and naturally aged, Gala Keg wines
offer you a smooth taste you'll find delightiully
rewarding.

Each Gala Keg hotds a full 3.75 titres, equivalont
to 5 bottles. And because no air is tra

the unique plastic finer your

wo will laste as good as the first.

reward you wilh greal taste,
And more of ib

and Medium Di
Cellar

Introduce yoursedt andl your friends
to Gala Kop, tive fine wines that qaturally

Available in Rich Red,
Cellar Red Di

ry;

hite and Sangria.

peel insicle
ast phass

casabello

WINES LIMITED