string a rare moment of contrast, this ph ye olizes the enormous technological advances Net Union. The giant trucks are bei Toktogulskaya hydro power stati é —Tass photo oto from Kirghizia being made in the ng used in the construction of on on the Naryn River, now “No matter what names might be attached toit, what we’re facing is economic depression — unless the working people can. move together to shift policies in a dif- ferent direction from those which are presently being pursued.” The statement was made by William Kashtan, national leader of the Communist Party of Canada, speaking to a meeting of more than 200 people in the Grandview Community Centre Sunday night. It was the last of several meetings in the province and part of a national tour that will ultimately take him to various centres throughout the country. The tour was organized by the Party to win support for policies aimed at offsetting the current economic crisis and to open the drive for new members. In voicing the warning, Kashtan noted that U.S. president Gerald Fordhad effectively admitted that the United States was already in a recession. “It is a crisis of over- production,’’ Kashtan stated, “where workers are unable to buy back the commodities which they have produced. “Corporations are trying to solve that crisis by curtailing production and laying off thousands of workers. The serious situation in the lumber industry in both Quebec S"g completion. Peace parley to draft 1975 plan for action i fominent speakers. will tig, N® 2 panel discussion on t kind of policies Canada Pursue in the fight for ®e, when ,the B.C. Peace lence convenes in the ec Room of the YWCA this Vi panizers of the parley, "Sored by the B.C. Peace ie Said this week that UBC linn SO" James Foulks and aj’ Palmer, an SFU student hitpecmber of the central com- € of the National Union of Yea, uS> will be among the panel te .°tS- A representative from trade union movement is also ned to speak. ly, D2zley will be opened by Ald. Bg Rankin. The morning its Is expected to be taken up i 4 discussion following a panel " Peakers, and the afternoon will i) Yen over to hearing a report lyn oc activities in B.C. and a fh 4m for peace action in 1975. & message received from Nanaimo MP T. C. Douglas this week, he expressed regret at not being able to take part in the panel since he had already made a commitment for that day in Ot- tawa, but he expressed his “‘sin- cere thanks to the executive of the B.C. Peace Council for their in- vitation.” Colin Gabelmann, North Van- couver NDP MLA also expressed regret that he was unable to attend but ‘‘wished the Council every success in continuing its most valuable work.” Harold Steves, Richmond NDP MLA, said he had another meeting earlier in the day but hoped to attend if he gets away from the earlier meeting on time. Meantime, indications are that a large turnout of peace workers is expected, including representation from many provincial points, to take part in the peace parley. A number of organizations have elected delegates to the parley, including the Vancouver Labor ~Council Registration will start at 9 a.m. and the sessions will get under way by 9:30 a.m. Delegates will pay a $4.00 registration fee, observers, $2.00. A special half hour film of last year’s World Congress of Peace Forces held in Moscow will be shown. Plans are also going ahead in B.C. for participation in the Assembly for a New Canadian Foreign Policy being held in Ot- tawa on December 7-8. A number of delegates are expected to take part in the Ottawa meeting from B.C. In the call to the Ottawa parley it is pointed out that Canada’s present foreign policy was formed 25-30 years ago in a world which has very much changed. The meeting will examine the policies and practices of Canada’s foreign policy and promote dialogue about changes needed and how such -changes can be brought about. ‘New policies imperative to prevent depression’ and B.C. is living proof that we are victims of that crisis.” He emphasized that the economic symptoms of recession were not limited to the U.S. or Canada. ‘‘In virtually all capitalist countries, there is a downturn in production and a substantial in- crease in unemployment. “In fact, in Europe, there are two very sick men — Italy and Britain,” he said, ‘“‘and they’re getting sicker all the time.” Referring to the comments that had accompanied the onset. of the last depression in the 1930’s, that ‘prosperity is just around the corner,’’ Kashtan told the audience, ‘‘A lot of people are saying that again — that prosperity is just around the corner, perhaps in early 1975. But that is an illusion. There is no substance to such statements.”’ He pointed out that although capitalism has striven to prevent the recurrence of the financial crisis of 1929, it has already begun. — “Banks in both West Germany and the United States have collapsed. And in many cases, they are major banks with large holdings.” Keynesian economics, so much in vogue in the capitalist world since 1945, has also revealed its bankruptcy, Kashtan noted, and even its chief spokesmen are looking for ulternative methods to deal with the present situation. But he added: ‘‘While we can. take some Satisfaction from the demise of Keynes and his economic ideas, because we said that a long time ago, we can take no satisfaction whatsoever from the fact that working people are being made the victims of the crisis. “While there is not’ yet a recession like they have in the U.S. in this country,” he stated, ‘“‘we are still feeling the effects. There has been a considerable decline in our export trade, consumer spending is down and capital investment — the barometer of production — is down as well.” “What does the Turner budget — that is supposed to ‘confine in- flation and prevent recession’ — do in the way of providing a cure?”’ Kashtan asked. He pointed out that -Turner’s predictions of economic growth are contradicted by the considerably lower — and probably more realistic — growth figures projected by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. “Many people have also been taken in by the promises of tax relief in the budget,’ he added. “But the facts are that cor- porations will continue to get $500 million in subsidies while working people will have their deductions increased to only $150 from $100. “That amounts to about 90 cents a week — 90 inflated pennies,” he said. As a result of the economic crisis the old theory that “high wage demands cause inflation’’ has waned somewhat and has been replaced with another theory that “inflation is world-wide.”’ “Inflation is not world-wide,” Kashtan pointed out. ‘It is capitalist wide. In every aspect of our economy we can see the con- trast with the socialist world. Look at rents, for example. There has been no increase in the Soviet Union for the last 48 years. “‘Can we say the same about our rents?”’ he asked. Kashtan emphasized that the economic stability. of the socialist world and the contrast with the capitalist world underscored the value of detente. Far from facilitating the maintenance of the status quo, it has provided the basis for deep-going social change throughout the capitalist world. He condemned the Maoists for their denunciation of detente and for their claims that “the worse the situation is the better for working class struggle’ and their further claims that the maintenance of cold war tensions assists the revolutionary movement. “If those claims were true,” he said, “then the economic crisis in pre-World War II Germany would have brought social revolution. But it didn’t; it brought fascism and war.” - He stressed the need | to strengthen working class unity and cooperation with other political parties like the NDP in order to force Ottawa to adopt new economic policies. “At the same time,” he said, “our party sees that the only ultimate way to end recurring: economic crisis is to build a socialist Canada. There is a great need at this time for the Com- munist Party which will fight to prevent the working people from having to bear the burden of that crisis. He called on people to join the Communist Party and added: “Our aim is to increase the membership of the Communist Party — to make our program a powerful force in this country.” 2 L/P 12” records centres: Glinka, Lysenko, etc. $5.50. Verdi, Gliere & Donizetti $5.95. JUST ARRIVED! IDEAL XMAS GIFTS! by the Outstanding Soviet Ukrainian Arts who just completed a tour, of Canadian DMYTRO HNATIUK — Baritone — sings — Ukrainian Folk Songs, YEVHENIA MIROSHNICHENKO — Coloratura Soprano — sings — (Please send extra 50c to cover tax and shipping costs per record.) PEOPLE'S CO-OP BOOKSTORE 341 W. Pender St., Vancouver — 685-5836 Toys Gifts Home Cooking Afternoon Tea — Door Prize Kingsway Club, C.P.C. ANOTHER MINI - BAZAAR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 3365 Victoria Drive 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Books PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1974—Page 3