> Se i t a Lt Sa | | '} | i THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER nPIOe Hes Les VS 38,000 copies printed in this issue Seri | Caitiad MN | f oA AS i | Gx\ ee OMe Sisif VyOT (< 9 | Published once monthly as the official publication of the INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA Western Canadian Regional Council No. 1 Affiliated with AFL-ClO-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 inaccordance with convention decisions. Subscription rate for non-members $2.00 per year. G@RCADWAY PRINTERS LTO. EDITORIAL THE GIFT OF LIFE yrs that time of year again. Inside " the stores, which have all advertised Superstar Christmas Miracle sales, hordes of people are thronging from counter to counter frantically grabbing the right size hockey socks for Cousin Bobby or a rare blend of Transylvanian pipe tobacco for Uncle Boris. In the past five minutes you've bumped into ten or eleven Santa Clauses of every imaginable size and shape. They’re all patting padded stomachs and ho-ho-hoing until you think your bargain basement headache will explode. As you begin to feel the early but excruciating symptoms of “department- - store-floor-feet,” you like to imagine the children at home are tucked snug in their beds watching sugar plums dance in their heads. But you know they’re playing Christmas politics — a seasonal game you can win only by giving the exact right gift. From store to store you search, and in the midst of all this rush, you happen to notice a Red Cross poster asking you to give blood during this holiday season. Or perhaps you hear an appeal for blood donors on the radio, or see a Red Cross television commercial asking you to help. Each appeal urges you to remember the hundreds of people who will need blood during the holiday season because only people like you, who take half an hour from their busy Christmas schedules to give blood, can help. You know Christmas can mean more than crowded stores, tired feet, and finding the right size. You like to give and enjoy sharing with friends and family. The holiday season is what you make it. So when Red Cross asks you to give blood, what will you do? During this holiday season, a time of rush and ex- pectation, of excitement and fun, a time of life, you can give the greatest gift of all — the gift of life. lt may mean the differ- ence between life and death for someone in need. So why not give blood? You may be giving someone a Christmas present they'll live to be thankful for! Central Mortgage and Hous- ing Corporation, the national housing agency established by public funds, earns annual profits in the millions of dollars from hard-pressed taxpayers who purchase homes. The CMHC earned an after- tax profit of $7,432,105 in 1971 and $8,919,826 in 1970. Profits are channeled into the federal government to finance day-to-day operations and other programs. CMHC’s profits, as well as financial policies, are an important factor in keeping up interest rates on residential mortgages, according to union sources. _ Borrowers of CMHC loans, ‘including persons funded through the National Housing Act, could have saved 3 per- cent on interest charges in 1970 and 1971 if the excess profits had been directed to reducing interest rates. Approximately 261,856 Canadian families obtained either an NHA or a conven- tional mortgage in 1971. Central Mortgage and Hous- ing is larger than any single development company in the private sector. It is among the largest corporations in Canada. This federal agency has _enormous assets in the field of insurance. CMHC insures against default on mortgages and for home improvement loans and rental guarantee loans made by approved lenders. Local 1-217 President Syd Thompson has called for the provincial government to ban the export of logs for six months to overcome the re log shortage. ; Bh a wire to Resources Minis- ¥ Robert Williams, Thomp- said: presen oing on 2 foxelee leaves much to be desired. The price of logs in the open market has skyrocketed, partly due to the shortage. Large companies with timber holdings under whatever legislation have a tremendous advantage over the small independent sawmill and shingle companies totally dependent on the open market for raw materials.” In 1971 the corporation’s lending activities added $33,028,690 to its total reserves, raising them to $321,660,814. Claims paid out and legal costs amounted to less than one- tenth of that amount — $3,176,045. The existing reserve fund contains enough capital to meet claims for more than 100 years. ea ae It ain’t them danged mountains that scares me .. . it’s drivin’ on th’ highways wit’ all them tail gaiters! The Editor: I wish to point out an error in your report from the Regional Convention contained on page 3, October issue of the Lumber Worker. I. quote: ‘‘The convention also recommended that the Regional Negotiating Com- mittee investigate the possi- bility of negotiating a clause into the new pension plan which would give the indi- vidual member the option to make additional personal contributions to build up his benefits for retirement”’. This resolution carried a recommendation of concur- rence from the Resolutions Committee, however, the recommendation was defeated on the floor. I take personal credit for the defeat of the recommendation which was done for very con- - structive and valid reasons. Yours, A. T. Jones, Camp. Chairman, Rayonier Holberg Operation, Local 1-71. HOUSING Municipal Affairs Minister James Lorimer and some of his staff are visiting Saskat- chewan, Manitoba and Ontario to get ideas on the development of low rental housing plans for LOOK SEE British Columbia. In Regina, Winnipeg and Toronto they are looking at subsidized housing schemes for senior citizens and other low rental projects. — Service Centre Need banking service? We've got it...plus over a hundred years of experience, and branches right across Canada. For the sort of service you want, see the service centre—the Commerce.