PAGE 2, THE HERALD, Tuesday, August 16, 1977

Dope convictions on the rise —

Commions order paper more.

OTTAWA CP - Marijuana
and hashish convictions in
1976 increased 21 percent

1975 while known users
the drugs rose three
nt,” figures released
ay by the federal
th department show.

Use and convictions for
nar 3, hallucinogens
and "Other illicit drugs

dropped in the same time
period, said the depart-
ment’s bureau.of dangerous
drugs, rvaponsible for ad-
ministering the Narcotics
Control and Food Drug Act
under which illicit Drag Act
under which illicit drug use
The bureau sald 33,261
people were convicted of

marijuana and hashish
cannabis offences in 1976,
5,914 more than the previous
year. The department also
recorded 20,640 new can-
nabis users in 1976, com-
pared with 28,767 in 1975.

The department's files oa
known cannabis users,
maintained since the 1930s,

But none of them seem |
to make sense-NORML —

- VANCOUVER CP - Roger
Jatko, director of the,
National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana
Laws NORML in Canada,
says marijuana laws are
enforced arbitrarily and
impose unfair penalties.

- Jatko, who spoke to about
$00 young people at a public
rally here Sunday, said in an
interview afterwards that
wealthy marijuana users
who do their smoking in
private are less likely to
face charges “than the kid

who’s caught smoking

penalties should be removed
private possession of

‘ marijuana for personal use -

including casual non-profit
transfers of small amounts,

and the “hideous minimum

sentences” for those .im-
porting marijuana also
should be removed. ;
The minimum sentence of
seven years for importers is
‘unfairly stiff compared with
penalties for crimes in-
volving violence, said Jatko.

‘are lawyers.

“We're not crazy and
we're not ideological about
it,’ said Jatko, noting that
all four members on
NORML’s board of directors
Jatko is a
criminal lawyer in Van-
couver.
the

Among group’s

demands is a plea that.

marijuana be removed from.
the Narcotic Control Act and
placed under the Food and

_ courts,

‘to doctors, drug

‘health

Drug Act in the same
category as depressants and ~

amphetamines. 7

URANIUM CARTEL ;

Canadian price-fixing

in public’s interests _

her prices. I don’t know

NASHVILLE, Tenn, CP -
A U.S. congressman said
Monday. that Canada’s ef-
forts to raise uranium prices
are “quite understandable."

In an interview after
chairing a congressional

here on the effects
an international uranium
cartel had on U.S. utilities,
Representative Albert Gore
Dem. Tenn. sald the
Canadian Boye beat
coeds — DARE 16 Rate
ec aa te people - by
seeking higher uranium

res.

Documents made public

at a June congressional

ng showed that the
Canadian government
encouraged the formation of
the cartel in 1972 and
pressed uranium producers

Canada to participate.

Gore added, however, that
“a distinction” must
be made between the ac-
tions of a foreign govern-
ment and the actions of
private companies who are
subject.to U.S. anti-trust
laws. .

He: questioned testimony
made in June by officials of
Gulf Oil Corp. and its
Canadian mining sub-
sidiary, Gulf Minerals
Canada Ltd. GMCL, who
said GMCL was forced to
join the cartel and that
neither GMCL nor Gulf Oil
had any choice.

‘““The role of the Canadian
government in coercing
Gulf has been vastly over-
stated by Gulf," Gore said,
noting that documents

depict GMCL as at least .

once inviting a Canadian
official to direct it to take
actions related to the cartel.
The congressman said that

House of Representatives
investigations sub-
committee, which has been
holding periodic hearings on
the cartel, hopes the
Canadian government will
fulfil its request for” an
explanation of whether
companies like GMCL were
in fact compelled to join the

cartel.

He said the hearings have
led him to believe that U.S,
anti-trust laws should be
greatly toughened to deter
companies from such cartel
activity and that “oil
companies should not be
allowed to explore com-
pe sources of energy.
* At Monday’s hearings,
witnesses from the Ten-
nessee Valley Authority
TVA and Duke Power Col of
North Carolina described
bow during the cartel period
they had ordered 40.3

ion tons of uranium
from cartel members - 38.2
million tons of its from
Canadian companies.

Gore told the hearing that
the testimony provided
fut er evidence that cartel

pants are wrong
asserting that their ac-
tivides. did not influence
U.S. uranium prices.

Gulf witnesses sald in
June taht cartel rules for
rigged bids specifically
excluded the U.S. market

The U.S.
however, did not prevent
U.S. companies buying
foreign uranium in an-
ticipation of the 1974 an-

nouncement that the em-

bargo, would be removed.
When in effect, the embargo
prevented only use. in the
US. of foreign uranium.

Subcommittee counsel
Patrick McLain told the
hearing thata survey of U.S.
utilities showed that they
bought about 47 million
pounds cf uranium from
‘oreign suppliers in 1972-75.

T A ordered 17 million
pounds from Rio Algom Ltd.
of Toronto, plus 1.2 million
pounds from Uranerz, a
‘West German company that
operates a Saskatchewan
mine with GMCL. Duke
bought 20 million pounds
from Rio Algom.

Both the T A and Duke
witnesses, anticipating
possible lawsuits against
thelr uranium suppliers,
were reluctant to state
directly that cartel ac-
tivities did drive up prices
paid by U.S. utilities, But
after sharp questioning
from Gore, representative
Andrew Maguire Dem. N.J.
and subcommittee staff,
they agreed there had been
some such effect,

Jack Gilleland, T A
assistant manager of power
came closest in his initial
presentation to saying the
eartel increased U.S.
prices:

“It is extremely difficult
for TVA to determine the
effect, if any, that the cartel
had on either the foreign or
domestic price of uranium
at any point in
Time...However, if the
alleged cartel reached
agreement on selling
uranium only under market

ice type contracts, the

yers under
tracts have been damaged
in the short term and may
be damaged in the long term
because without the
producers’ agreement
presumably prices would

ye been quoted on some
other basis...

“Such contracts would
have resulted in sub-
stantially lower prices to the
buyers than the market
prices in effect today.”

Documents made public
at Monday’s hearing showed
that cartel members began
by setting minimum prices
for each year, then switched
to having sale contracts call
for the sale price to be the
world market price two
before delivery.

TVA Chairman Aubrey
Wagner said of the cartel:
“It could have resulted in

these con- -

hi
whether it did or not in
fact.”

Wagner and Gilleland said
there were many
other than that involved in
pushing the price of
uranium to today’s $42 from
$6 a pound in 1972, But both
agreed eventually that the
cartel was definitely a
factor.

Gore and Maguire said
they have found many U.S.
utilities: reluctant to make
étatements on the matter
ie hae fear of

pardizing future uranium
supplies or prejudicing
litigation.

Human Rights
can’t be applied

VICTORIA CP
doubtful that the Human
Rights Code can be applied
to the admission policies of
independent schools,
Kathleen Ruff, human
rights branch director, said
Monday.

Ruff was commenting on
statements made Friday by
Education Minister Pat
McGeer during detailed

‘ debate on the government’s

Independent Schools Sup-
port Act.

McGeer, in response
opposition charges that the
bill to provide financial
support for private schools
would give government
backing to
said legislation should not
attempt to deal with ad-
mission policies because
that would lead to the

erosion of the independent
school system the
province.

- It is

to

na

now hold more than 160,000
names,

Federal health officials
stress that this information,
gathered from police, the
- government
departments, pharmacies,

hospitals. and addiction.

research groups, is con-
fidential and not released to
law enforcement agencies.

Itis occasionally given out
treatment
centres or parole boards,
since drug ‘use, sometimes
violates parole regulations,
icials said.

However, these statistics
are mainly used to indicate
the extent of drug abuse,
drug abuse trends, and to
help the health department
develop adequate programs

to ‘ight this abuse, they

added.
A total of 1,658 new nar-
were reported to the
department in 1976, down
from the 2,046 reported in
1975. There was.a decrease
in new known heroin. users
to 900 in 1976 from 867 in
1975. Almost all were in
British Columbia. .
Of the 30,520 people
convicted for . simple
on of cannabis, 1,259
were imprisoned. A bill that
would have -abolished such
sentences by moving
jurisdiction over cannabis to
the legs harsh Food and

Drug Act died on the

‘factors .

t

than two years.ago.

The maximum fine for
first conviction for
possession would have been

$500, with a fine of up to.
$1,000 for subsequent of-

fences. 7

Under the Narcotics
Control Act, fines of up to
$2,000 and imprisonment for
up to seven years can be

imposed for possession. At.

present, most first-time
offenders receive a fine of
between $200 and $300.

The stiff penalties date
from the 19508, when the
Narcotics Control Act was
drawn up as a deterrent to
the opium and heroin trade.
Marijuana, which wasn't in
wide use then, was included
almost as an after-thought.

The $4-million Royal
Commission, on the Non-
Medical Use of Drugs,
better known as the LeDain
inquiry, estimated in 1972
that more than 1.5 million
Canadians had smoked

ita report on cannabis in
1972 that criminal penalties
for cannabis possession be
‘dropped but that selling and
distribution of the drug
remain illegal. 7
‘US. President Jimmy
Carter said recently he

‘would support dropping.

criminal penalties for
simple possession of can-
nabis. eo

“anticipated it ha
‘Killed if it had not been for prompt action by firat aid

again.
Hydrogen sulphide is acolorless gas, widely used in ithe

_ and Alberta

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C, CP - The release of
dangerous gasses that killed one man at the Northwood
Pulp and Timber Ltd. mill Friday was caused by cir-
cumstances unlikely to occur agaln, a Workers Com-
pensation Board official said Monday, ;

Chris:Smith said the accident was caused by high
levels of hydrogen sulphide and “no one could have

Smith said several more workers would ‘have been

attendants,

Walter Langdon -Davies, 36, of Prince George was’
killed following the gas leak and another man remains in
hospital. Thirteen others were treated for gas inhalation
and released. a

leak in the washer and digester area while a main-
tenance crew was working there. The gas was caused by
reaction of chemicals used in the cooking and bleaching
process.

A company spokesman said Monday that operations
were to resume as soon as Northwood, the union and
WCB officials were satisfied the accident could not occur

pulp industry. In lower concentrations it smells
rotten eggs, and it can cause death in levels above 80
parts per million. | ;
Smith sald the level released in the accident was over
100 parts per million.
He said 23 people have been killed in British Columbia

uring the past 10 years by inhaling the gas.

proving Secreta
Sunday

the Chinese Benevolent
Association from attacks by
a faction’ of Vancouver’s

community.

luncheon for delegates of the
CBA's.
conference,

stated. they will
recognize the legality of res-
olutions passed at the CBA’s
conference.

At the _ luncheon,
McCarthy: told delegates it
is her personal philosophy
and government policy to
put trust in free enterprise
and the Canadian govern-
ment. The philosophy

VANCOUVER (CP) — not
Grace

fended

community. —
McCarthy, host at a_

fourth national
congratulated

' PUBLIC SERVANTS
PLAN STRIKE VOTE |

BR ANCOUVER CP ante British Columbia Government
ployees Union conduct a 5! vote beginning
Aug. 28 in a series of meetings around the province,
Lorraine Singier, assistant general secretary of the
union, said Monday.

Singler said provincial mediator Ken Albertini failed in
an attempt to bridge the gap between the civil servants
and the government. ;

She said the issues of short-term sick leave and long-
term disability are resolved, but the government s
wants to weaken or eliminate several clauses and the
union won't agree. tot Ld

One of the major ‘disputes is:pay, she‘said, : The union
has asked for an increase of six per cent this year, and

and price increases when the anti-inflation guidelines
end.
The government has offered 4 1-2 percent this year and

ur ed ‘the grou

three percent in the second year...

the association for “88 years
of community work” and

ticisms of the newly-
formed Committee of
Concerned. Chinese
Canadians.

Outside the meeting,
about 60 committee

‘protesters marched with

placards condemning the
CBA for supporting the
Taiwan government and for
claiming to represent the
Chinese anadian
community. —

In addition, the committee.

has charged the CBA ‘with
failing to hold “free: and
democratic elections.”

A declaration issued by 17
of the associations and
societies on the committee

to ignore -

-adopted by the CBA is its

own business.

“Here in B.C., here in
Canada, we will not be
frightened. We will not be
intimidated, And we will not
be harrassed by those like
the people outside

McCarthy said

at this point and at other
es during speech
McCarthy's remarks were

‘drowned out by the applause

of the approximately 160

* delegates.

“ALL LIES"
> LamtFong; chairman: of.

- CBA;’gaid itt'an interview at

the luncheon that the
committee's charges are
“allies” and that all groups
in the community are
notified in adv ace of

He said that if it appeared

private schools were being

‘discriminatory in thelr.

discrimination, .

admission policies the

matter could be resolved

under the Human Rights
e.

But Ruff said section 22 of
the - code exempts
educational organizations
tna ae ang puch sckools

allowing 8 choo!
fo discriminate both in
teacher hiring and student
admission on the basis or
race, marital status, age,
sex, or place of origin.

She. said .McGeer’s
estion was a “ve

dubious area for ad-

ministration of the code.

“t don’t know if' there is
much jurisprudence on‘this
at all,” Rudd added, “... We
have not had much cause to
research this theroughly.”

Wallace must wait
for day in court

VICTORIA CP - A lawyer for provincial Progressive
Conservative leader Scott Wallace said Monday it will be at
least three weeks before the British Columbia Supreme
Court will begin preliminary hearings into Wallace's
eligibility to sit in the legislature.

Wallace has asked the court to rule on whether or not he
breached the Constitution Act by accepting about $200 in
expense money in 1978. Such a breach would lead to his

disqualification as an MLA.

in a telephone interview from Kelowna that he has been
told by Richard Vogel, deputy attorney-general, that
Vancouver lawyer John McAlpine will represent the Crown
inthe case when he has returned from vaction.

_ Ladner said the court action was launched Aug. 4.

Ladner said he didn’t think the. attorney-general's
ministry was purposely holding up the matter, and that he
there would be an early determination to the issue.

‘“The ball is in their court,” Ladner said, referring to the

government.

The government has already decided to ask a legislative
committee torule on asimilar matter involving three Social

!

4

io

_ benefits

_. NANAIMO, B.C. CP - The

+

“at wt

Rap ORR ae TT

Port of Nanaimo may! |

pe ened
estcan !

in Victoria last week. ;

_ Port . manager -. Lloyd’
‘Bingham said teday-taht he

has contacted -Rayonler:
Canada Lid. to see if it
wished to ship its products.
through Nanaimo until the:

Victoria facilities are’

ult. . a
‘Rayonler is the biggest:

shipper out of Victoria.

: McCarthy | lauds work -
of Chinese association .

~ MR. RETAILER! =|.
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exposed to the dynamic effect of
_ newspaper advertising. | |

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THE DAILY HERALD
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“Er have told Rayonier:
we are prepared to help out |
in any way we can, par-;
ticularly with the storage of ;
pulp,” said Bingham.-

He said the Nanaimo:
terminal was almost at.

its major customer,:
MacMillan Bloedél Ltd., but:
extra space gould probably ;
be found if necessary.

Pay ee Secon Ws cient eee ae)

elections and are invited to;

participate. 3
Bu committee: .
spokesman Andy Joe;
insisted ‘ that the groups’
were not told of elections. :
The. demonstrators:
ted a ‘petition calling:

elections,” demanding that!

calling

audit,

t the CBA;
“cease to promote the
mtea interests e af
lorelgn power, to wit,
Kuomintang government of
Taiwan, with our money and
assets.” n-
Asked about the CBA’s
political ference, Fong §
id, “Cer inly, we support
Taiwan.”’ However, ‘he
added, his group has taketi
noactions tohel the foreigh
overnin bat, escognizet

nada. ‘

He said the CBA building ;
displays a Taiwan flag ot 5
the roof because . off
tradition, not politics. «<7

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