THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER THOMPSON REPORTS: SOCREDS CUT MEDICAL EXTRAS Local 1-71’s 1st Vice-Presi- dent Ben Thompson who has served for years as an em- ployee member of the Board of Directors of MSA, reports that an order-in-council of the B.C. government has cut in half the para-medical ex- tras which were put into force in 1968. He states: “Tn 1968 the provincial gov- ernment announced that effec- tive July 1st, 1968, B.C. would participate under the Federal Medical Care Act. (The fed- eral government pays half the medical costs of the medically required treatment.) At the same. time the provincial gov- ernment also announced that certain additional benefits not cost shared with the federal government would be includ- ed in B.C. for British Colum- bia residents. The benefits provided by all carriers (MLS.A, C.U. & C., B.C. Med- ical Plan) are identical and - under direct orders of a three man government Commission. “On July 16th, 1970, an or- der-in-council very quietly cut in half the ‘extras,’ the para-medical services provid- ed by medical coverage in B.C. The revised coverage now only provides: “1, Canadian Red Cross So- ciety — approved outpost ser- vice calls under instructions of physician and surgeon — $2.00 office visit, $4.00 house visit. “2. Chiropractic limit $25.00 per patient per year, $50.00 per family in any one year. “3. Naturopathic Physicians — limit $25.00 per patient per year, $50.00 per family per year. “4. Optometry — one test per patient for test of visual acuity limited to one such payment every two years. BEN THOMPSON “5. Orthoptic Treatments— limited to $25.00 per patient in any one year, $50.00 maxi- mum per family. “6. Osteopathic Physicians —limited to $25.00 per patient in any one year, $50.00 maxi- mum per family. SCIENCE COUNCIL SCORES FOREST INDUSTRY SPENDING The Science Council of Canada has heavily scored the forest industry for the recent decline in their expenditures on research and development. The Council in a report en- titled ‘‘Seeing the Forest and the Trees,’”’ also stated high priority should be given by industry to reducing ‘‘the unacceptably high” air and water pollution. The report said not enough attention is being given to forest land recreation, en- vironmental quality, fire control and use, products utilization, engineering, economics and _ products marketing and forest genetics. The Council pointed out that contrary to popular belief, Canada has a short-lived super-abundance of forests which must be used more extensively and for a diversity of purposes. The Council expressed concern over the future of forestry in Canadian univer- sities, which it said were un- der-staffed and under-funded. It called for federal financial support for a minimum of 10 years to put the forestry faculties on par with the others. The forestry faculties were also urged to undertake. substantial, relevant research programms to attract their share of bright students. The Council concluded its report by suggesting the set- ting up of a national co- ordinating committee on forest resources research; increased forward planning by research agencies; increased measurement of cost- effectiveness by the Canadian Forestry Service; the strengthening of forest resources research activities in provincial governments; development of forest research laboratories and institutes at universities;. and more em- phasis on woodlands research by industry. Cooper Tool and Die Co. Ltd. 1750 East Kent Vancouver 15, B.C. Phone: 327-4629 @ EXPERT CHAIN SAW BAR REPAIR SERVICE @ FLAME HARDENING @ STELLITE ENDS @ GENERAL REPAIRS FAST SERVICE — SATURDAYS INCLUDED “7 Physiotherapy — on re- ferral by physician and sur- geon up to $25.00 per patient in any one year, $50.00 maxi- mum per family. “8. Podiatry — limited to $25.00 per patient in any one year if not referred by a phy- sician and surgeon, $50.00 maximum per family. “9. Special Nursing — for special nursing of a registered nurse where deemed advis- able by a physician and sur- geon, maximum $40.00 per pa- tient in any one year. “10. Victorian Order of Nurses — services of a mem- ber of the V.O.N. acting un- der or with an attending phy- sician at a rate of $2.00 net per visit to a maximum of $40.00 per patient per year. “The Commission has set a tariff of fees which will be paid by the plans for the above services. “While there may be argu- ment pro and con regarding the inclusion of any of the above services, the govern- ment’s inept decision to make the new rules effective almost immediately was and is bound to create some hardships. “The new rules do not af- fect the basic medical cover- age; office, home, hospital, la- bratory, X-ray, etc. that is provided in the province by all carriers under the direc- tion of the Commission.” The Government has acted to stop the potentially dangerous practice of lethal “free samples” being left in. mailboxes accessible to children. Under the Hazardous Products Act, the department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs has made it unlawful immediately to leave household cleaning agents in mailboxes. Sample packages must be delivered by hand ‘‘to a person of responsible age in the home,’ under the new regulation. The Act gives the depart- ment authority to ban, or regulate the importation, advertising and sale of goods designated hazardous to public health or safety. Eye glass frames with SHOES THAT REALLY FIT! ARE NO ACCIDENT! DRESS SHOES for example GOVERNMENT HALTS FREE SAMPLES IN MAILBOXES cellulose nitrate, a highly flammable substance, also were banned under regulations proclaimed in November: Highly flammable sweat shirts and berets, both im- ported goods, were also ban- ned. Metal polish containing cyanide salts, which are toxic, will be banned immediately. Labelling regulations on non- toxic polishes come into effect in June. The department also has drawn up what it calls “sweeping new regulations”’ governing toy safety. The object, said federal consumers affairs minister Ronald Basford, “‘is to eliminate booby traps in the toy field.” Toxic paints and_ flammable materials on dolls and the like were banned immediately. can be stylish, hard-wearing and supremely comfortable wh FITTED ’ PROFESSIONALLY-TRAINED SHOE-FITTERS. A SERVICE THAT COSTS a Won but does a lot more for your foot comfort and foot health. NO OTHER SHOE STORE HAS BEEN ABLE TO OFFER COMPARABLE SERVICE FOR OVER SIXTY YEARS That is why whole families get into the habit of wearing only FITTED SHOES at PIERRE PARIS & SONS 3 British Columbia’s UNIQUE Famil Shoe St Next to Woodward's at 51 W. Hastings St. in the ce of Dovel Vancouver