William Kashtan, Canadian Communist Party leader, will commence a national speaking tour in B.C. in mid-November. On Monday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. he will address a banquet, together with B.C. party leader ‘ Nigel Morgan in Vernon's Oddfellow’s Hall. Tue. Nov. 19 he will speak in Mission; Wed. Nov. 20 in South Surrey; Thur. Nov. 21 in Port Alberni; Fri. Nov. 22 in Campbell River; Sat. Nov. 23 in Nanaimo, and _ Sun. Nov. 24 in Vancouver. He will also make a number of broadcasts

while in B.C.

COMMUNISTS URGE ACTION IN FALL SESSION

‘Hold the line on ren

A call on the provincial govern- ment to “take firm and decisive steps to hold rents down” was voiced by the provincial committee of the Communist Party meeting in Vancouver last weekend.

In a letter to Premier Barrett signed by provincial Communist leader Nigel Morgan, the com- mittee noted that action was particularly necessary following moves by corporate landlords who were threating tenants with illegal 20% rent increases and the NDP government with strike.

“It’s unthinkable that the NDP government should meet and adjourn without taking a number of decisive steps in the housing field,”’ Morgan declared, especially when the future of this government is threatened by the lawlessness of these landlords and especially when galloping inflation is cutting deep into the living standards of the people and when close to 15,000 woodworkers are

’ jobless.

“The people of this province are looking to the fall session of the Legislature — opening November 1 — for action on a number of pressing questions — despite Premier Barrett’s plan for a two to ten-day meeting.”

Morgan emphasized that if the landlords were to carry through

Ban on South African liquor—blow against racism

Responding to a lengthy cam- -paign waged by the trade union movement and other groups, and as a means of marking United Nations Day last Thursday, at-

torney-general Alex Macdonald -

announced that South African wines and liquors will no longer by appearing on Liquor Contorl board shelves. after present stocks run out. :

The trade union movement in the province. has long advocated the removal of the products as a -protest against the apartheid policies of South Africa. Several other, groups, including several

_ organizations active in the peace

movement, the Communist Party and the New Democratic Party also supported the boycott. The Southern Africa Action Coalition; organized some two years ago, waged an intensive public cam-

paign to have the products taken off LCB shelves.

BURNABY

Cont'd from pg. 3 - formula to remove those taxes from local taxpayers.

The organization’s school board program calls for continued reduction in class size, particularly in the elementary grades, with no class in the district to exceed 25 students, professional develop- ment programs for teachers and improvements in curriculum to provide instruction in local history and the labor movement.

The BCA has stressed in its

program the need for improved

-medical and dental services to students, with particular emphasis on preventive dentistry. While limited dental services are available to elementary students, they are subject to extensive waiting periods — often as long as three years — making the present facilities of little value.

BCA candidates have also called for an increase in the number of school trustees from the present five to seven, so that more board members can be available to the community.

Macdonald said the decision to stop listing the products was a protest against racism in South Africa and pointed out, “South Africa practises abhorrent policies of racial segregation and denial as an integral part of its legal system.”

ee ee eg

- Office workers at Cominco’s operations in Trail, members of the Association of Commercial and Technical Employees, reached agreement on their contract dispute with the company this week, thus paving the way for both Steelworkers and office employees to return to work.

Although their strike was settled two weeks ago, Steelworkers at Cominco had refused to take up their tools again until the Company reached agreement with ACTE workers.

The settlement brings to an end the months-long shutdown of Cominco operations, during which time the Trail unionists won the respect of organized labor throughout the country for the unity and cooperation shown in the strike. :

The agreement came only days, however, after the Trail Times — known-for its advocacy of company views —. published a front page editorial specualting that both USWA and ACTE members were pawns in a bigger game that was ‘Tun by a hierarchy in the U.S.

Steelworkers Local 480 president Marv McLean called the editorial “gutter journalism” and said that “every decision during the Steelworkers strike was made locally, including the decision to

New phone

no. for PT The Tribune now has a new telephone number. For those readers who wish to make note, it is 685-8108.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1974—Page 12 > __

wines,

stay out until Cominco gave its office workers a contract.

their threat of 20% rent increases that such an increse would be blamed on the government — with disastrous results.

“Labor and progressive forces should press for legislative action to keep rents down,” Morgan said, “and convince the provincial government to tackle housing as an essential public utility, cooperating with the federal and municipal governments to assemble the land and funds necessary to launch a massive housing program. Finally, the government should move to protect tenants’ rights by enacting

Strict controls and collective

bargaining.”

Morgan pointed out that the housing crisis “‘ties right in” with the need to get the wood industry

‘province wide campaig® support for this progra

moving again and to provi for the-thousands of uneM woodworkers. :

He added, ‘‘alongsid

~ measures, the people have

0!

waiting for tax reform, promise of which th government was_ eleclé includes the removal of the® education from homes al@ farm. “There is only one Way’ the housing crisis and sg by profiteering landlor® provision of more housing” cost, low rental housing: . 4 of the sales tax from f materials would also be stantial help.” Morgan sl@ The Communist he mobilize its entire resoure

m of@

McEwen to speak

Peoples Cooperative Bookstore Association will hold its Annual

_ Meeting Friday, November 1 at 8

p.m. in the Board Room of the Fishermen’s Hall, 138 East Cor- dova Street. Featured speaker will be Tom McEwen, whose new book “The Forge Glows Red’? has just been published.

Other business includes

discussion of plans for the

bookstore for the coming period and the election of a Board = of. Directors. Coffee will be served.

LAYOFFS

Cont'd from pg. 7 stumpage rates will do nothing to solve soaring unemployment. The only cure, he said on the program, Capital Comment, was financial help to the housing industry through lower interest mortgages.

He said the lumber companies made high profits when the market was buoyant during the first of this year and in 1973 and it is only fair that they now should pay the full royalty on trees cut. By reducing stumpage rates to the province, the forest industry would subsidized by British Columbians without helping unemployed forest workers, Munro said.

The forest companies, whose high profits resulted in pushing lumber prices toan all-time high in recent years, were major con- tributors to the present housing crisis in Canada. Now these same corporations, in order to maintain their high profits, have mounted a province-wide campaign with backing by the big business media, to pressure the NDP government to abandon its legislation which was aimed at getting a larger return to the province from its natural resources.

The B.C. Federation of Labor, which now represents about a quarter of million B.C. workers, is expected to beam in on the issue of layoffs and housing at the con- osha which will meet November

Downtown housing urgé by Eastside residents

Downtown Eastside Residents Association president Bruce Eriksen lashed into Vancouver city council Tuesday night for their inept approach to housing in the Downtown Eastside.

Eriksen appeared before council to urge them to use a ‘provincial government refund owing on the building of the new courthouse at Main and Cordova to rehouse the people of the area.

Eriksen said that in 1971 more than 400 people were displaced from their dwelling to make room for the court houses which have

cost city taxpayers more than $6 million.

“After all that,” Eriksen said,

“the future use of the building is in limbo. It seems to be a story of unmitigated disaster. Using the provincial government refund for a

rehousing program woul one mitigating act. We - get every cent you call provincial government @ ask the tax payers to au

to spend the refund ona? program.”

Eriksen had strong alderman Harcourt whi committee has held struction of senior a dwellings in the Downto F side. Eriksen has © assurances from federal of urban affairs Barney that both federal and P money were available projects. pe

The only hold up 15 Vancouver, Eriksen S@ land needed has been. city’s rezoning depart months but no decisio® made.

wort

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