A old timer whom I had almost completely forgotten since the belt-tightening days of the Hungry 30’s called the other day to exchange some reminiscences and leave some fine ideas on how to beat the Trudeau belly-robbing inflationary belt-tightening racket. Especially as this Trudeau- Benson starvation gouging applies to old age pensioners and thousands of other low pension fixed-income brackets, whom that gang, misnamed a government, have fixed indeed.

In his youthful days during the Hungry 30’s this old timer used to serve at what was known as a Block Organizer. That is, he would be assigned a city block by the Relief Workers Committee and proceed to organize all the homeowners, tenants, etc. against starvation, which covered a wide range of evils. Adequate relief or welfare for families in need, mobilize ‘the block community to fight eviction, and there were lots of the latter. To make all unemployed, married or single, and all Senior Citizens of the time (there were no pittance old age pensions then) part of a nation-wide struggle of the people for survival.

This old timer’s descriptive language anent the Trudeau- Benson-Bennett hijackers was somewhat short of being complimentary, but it was very much to the point. As I recall he wasn’t given to polite palavers in the old days, but he got results, other than political inflationary or other hogwash, which counted then— and what counts today.

“Do you ever listen to those b...... explaining their so- called white paper? Their yarn is that the inflation they

themselves and the exploiters they speak for have created, can only be cured by voluntary belt-tightening, by more unemployment. That’s the price we have to pay, says this ersatz statesman cynically, the while sucking away at his pipe, knowing damn wellhe will never pay the price demanded of the working people of this country.

“And in the same breath, the old age pensioners don’t get a red cent more to meet steadily rising prices for food, clothing, shelter or health needs. Not a penny, and the hell of it is with scarcely a squawk out of the OAP’ers themselves.

“Do you know why? I’ll tell you. For far too long OAP organization, such as it is, has been in the hands of Tory, Liberal and Socred political hacks, building up illusions as to what these parties will do for the OAP’er if they just had the power of government. They fill the OAP’er up with the bull that the government, (whichever it is), is trying very hard, but the OAP’ers must be patient, and regard all such governments, a la Bennett, as having a direct plug-in with the Diety himself, so watch your language and political P’s and Q’s, otherwise you’ll wind up worse than you now are — if that’s possible. Unfortunately too many OAP’ers swallow this Trudeau guff.

“What is needed today as never before, is a great deal

more fighting organization and punch in the ranks of the OAP’ers. A lot of them I know from the old days of the 20’s and 30’s were good fighters, and while it is admitted that old age strips the body of it’s one-time vigor, it doesn’t necessarily strip the spirit and the will to fight— unless one wishes it that way. “The Trudeau-Benson excuse for a government, plans to ‘solve’’ inflation in Canada by doubling and trebling unemployment in Canada, that the senior citizens and other fixed-income pension groups are expendable, and can be hurried into a premature grave by the Trudeau-Benson funeral undertakers who make up this excuse for a government of, by, and for the people.

“All you OAP’ers of today require,’’ said the old timer as he bade us ‘tata’ is a bit of the old vim, vigor, unity and organization. Then together with the organized working class you can send Trudeau and his gang of yes-men on a long holiday for keeps.”’

EDITORIAL working people, who each year

35 YEARS FIGHTING

The Pacific Tribune campaign for $18,000 to keep our presses rolling this year is now underway. We must raise that amount by June | to ensure our continued publication.

This year marks the 35th Anniversary since the Communist press was launched in B.C. In all those years the PT and its predecessors have been in the forefront of the struggles of the people.

It has been the devotion and self-sacrifice of thousands of

Donate now fo the PT’s

SSS SSIS sees

donated generously out of their meagre’ incomes, which has enabled the PT to survive and keep on fighting while many other papers fell by the wayside.

Working people have con- tributed generously throughout the years because they saw in our paper their own needs expressed. We have been their voice in the struggle for peace, democracy and a better life. The PT has been the spokesman for the rank-and-file of society fighting for security. That is why they have identified with us and

APRIL 3, 1970—Page 2

The housing | scandal

By ALD. HARRY RANKIN

We all know that housing costs have risen beyond all reason in the past few years. But here are a few facts that may still startle you. They apply to the ten year period between 1959 and 1969.

The average price of a home in Vancouver rose by 80 percent, from $12,968 to $23,301.

The cost of building lots went up by 175 percent.

Interest has risen by over 135 percent. - :

In the Hastings East area of Vancouver, building lots selling at $3630 in 1959 sell for $10,000 today. :

A 1200 square foot, five room bungalow that was priced at $16,734 ten years ago costs $27,100 today.

When you buy a $27,100 house today and take out a 20 year mortgage at 10 percent, you will pay $54,939 for the house by the time the mortgage is paid off and you can call it your own.

All this information and much more is contained in a brochure entitled ‘““‘The Housing Scandal’”’ just published by the Vancouver and District Labor Council. It was prepared by the Trade Union Research Bureau.

Among other things, it also shows that the cost of on-site labor on house construction is only 7 percent of the actual cost of a house today. In fact, the cost of building a 1200 square foot, five room bungalow (and this includes wages, materials and the contractor’s profit) has increased by only 30 percent in the past 10 years.

These figures effectively knock on the head the propa- ganda that labor is to blame for the high cost of housing. The real culprits are the high cost of land, high interest rates and the government who do nothing about either.

The sollution is obvious — we need low cost housing. But efforts to provide this run up against corporate interests who profit. from our outrageous housing scandal, and_ this includes banks, land speculators,

see our survival as their own cause.

We must now again appeal to that same deep sense of loyalty and devotion. We need every dollar ‘we can get to keep printing. Our paper is more urgently needed today than ever before. The gang-up against working people by Federal and provincial governments and the big monopolies makes it more urgent than ever that our voice not be stilled. If anything, it must be louder and clearer than ever before.

Realizing this, the Editorial

FOR

real estate interests and the governments who serve them.

There is no reason why a government which can spend $1.8 billion a year on defence, much of it wasteful and unneces- sary, cannot grant low interest loans at from two to four percent to people who want to build their own homes. 35.

Secondly, «city-owned should be eased at a small, nominal fee to prospective homeowners. The City should end its policy of selling such land to private developers. By the time they get it on the market, it’s out of reach of the average citizen.

Third, the city should take advantage of existing legislation to-build low rental housing with

land.

McEwen to be honored

time Communist leader B.C. week.

McEwen, who eightieth year last month, was one of the nine imprisoned with

Tim. Buck for political activities in

Provincial Executive

member of the Central Committee of the Communist Canada and its B.C. Provincial | chairman. ¥

The banquet will be held in the A.U.U.C. Hall, 805 £. Pender St.,

will be hea@table quests at the | banquet. : '

—

provincial and federal financial: assistance. Building 2500 such units a year for the next 10 years — -would- not only provide new. ‘accommodation ~at half the

‘price people pay. today, it would help to bring: down all rents and housing costs.

reached _ his : g:

A banquet to honor the Pacific] ~ Tribune's retiring editor and long-|.~ Tom] ae McEwen, was announced: by the} * this}

1934 and was for many years a}.

Party of |

Sunday, April 19. A number of | — old-time members of the party |~

Fourth, the city should make -

land available to non-profit —

organizations who wish to take advantage of housing legislation to build low rental suites for senior citizens.

Royal City

Tenants

want rental board

New Westminster Tenants Council sent a delegation to

their city council last week.

urging them to establish a Rental Review Board.

The Council brief, presented by Bruce Yorke, spokesman for the group, pointed out that such a board should be given sufficient powers to enforce certain rental. regulations in addition to those contained in the provincial Landlord and Tenant Act, and to make public recommendations with regard to the level of rents.

The Tenants Council recom- mended that such a Board should include one representative of the tenants, one for the landlords, and an independent chairman.

The city fathers were reminded that it is clear beyond doubt that municipalities have the power to set up such Rental Review Boards. In 1954 the provincial government repealed the Leasehold Regu- lations Act and in its place substi- tuted the Rental Control Act

which gives every municipality

the authority to adopt the provi- sions~ in that ~ Act, and~ the authority to revoke, amend, oF substitute for any of the regulations. ;

Consequently, the brief stated, all council had to do to set up 2 Rental Review Board is to pass 4 by-law.

It is a common misconception that tenants have no stake in the community, that they are trans- ients only, the Tenants Council brief states:

~~ See ROYAL CITY, Pg. 11 Ose ES SS eeeeeeeeeneeneeeeeesseesee ete eeeee eee eeeeaenenae The Canadian Tribune, from which we reproduce 8 pages each week, experienced some technical difficulties in their printshop this week with the result that they had to reduce

the size of their edition. The PT

therefore made up its centre spread this week with some important reprints from the U.S. Daily World, to whom we, hereby express our thanks.

THE PEOPLE

Board has decided that starting April 17 we will add an additional page of B.C. features each week until mid-June. The cost for this is not included in the present $18,000 objective. To pay for it we are counting on our supporters going over the top on the drive objective.

Some of the boys from Pacific Press, now in dispute with the big business media, told us the other day that the PT is the only “honest paper” in B.C. “If you want to get the truth there’s only one place to find it,’’ one of them said. They should know!

We on the PT realize that this is a difficult time for many workers. The government § austerity program, rising prices: rents, and now growing unem- ployment, have added to the

economic difficulties of out

readers and supporters.

But we have found from experience that in times like these workers realize more tha? ever the need for a fighting labo" paper.

HELP KEEP IT ALIVE. WE

NEED $18,000! WE KNow YOU —

WILL NOT FAIL US!

35th Anniversary Fighting Fund

New Westminster city