Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 13, 1957, Winnipeg, Manitoba Page i i Winnipeg free press Friday december -13-. -1957 yugoslavs get Freedom with strings attached by Henry Tanner Belgrade special Nyht democracy and self govern ment these Are the big Brave words in which yugoslav communists describe the measures they have taken Over the past few years to mitigate and humanize their totalitarian regime. They can Point to a number of reforms. They have permitted the peas ants to leave the collectives. The communist party is far less prominently in evidence than it used to be. 9 the judiciary system has been overhauled. A citizen now May find Justice in court though not if his Case involves politics. Although most judges still Are party members some Are not. And i has happened that a defence lawyer was permitted to Call for he disqualification of a judge on the grounds of political Bias. 9 the police has been Moorgan Ted reduced in size and authority. I the Midnight Knock on the door no longer frightens people. If police Knock on your door at night you Tell them to come Back in the an anti communist re lated. And you know he added with wonderment in his voice they actually go workers councils have been introduced in All factories and Ether enterprises of the country s socialized Economy. Effected by an Assembly of the employees these councils of 20 to 25 members Are the Basic legislative body of the Enterprise. They elect a managing Board of five or six members. The Board which meets once or twice a week and of which the Plant manager is an sex offi Cio member is supposed to determine the commercial tech Nical and personnel policies of the Plant. Similar exists in schools hospitals and All other social and economic institutions. On the purely political Side Yugoslavia has a system of two legislative Chambers on the level of the commune District state and nation. Horl poll the first of the two Chambers is called Peoples committee on the local level Peoples Assembly on the state and National level. The second chamber the producers is elected not by. The voters at Large but by the i producers the workers and employees of state enterprises. Only producers Are eligible to serve on it. Professional people self employed artisans peasants and civil servants Are barred. Last month there were elections for the Peoples committees of the communes. There was Only one site. But in most cases the voters had a Choice Between two or More party approved candidates for the same office i the Legal requirement that More than one candidate must be r listed for each position though j was recently dropped with a pie explanation it would be embarrassing in some cases for the less popular of the two Candi for the first time in this elec Tion there were nominating conventions at which each eligible voter of the commune was free to propose the nomination of a candidate for the single slate. There is talk of a similar system of nominations from the floor for the National Assembly election next Spring. On paper thus Yugoslavia has developed some of the traits of a Western democracy. I in reality the regime has seen o it that the Power remains firmly in its hands. The following Are the principal restraints the party is beyond the stage where it has to dictate policies openly and to steer spontaneous popular feeling through rallies banners and inscriptions. But the official line is still being Laid Down with All desirable emphasis. Borba the party s newspaper prints it every morning. Reds choose if you have a morning appoint ment with a local bureaucrat you Are Likely to find that Borba is the Only paper on his desk. In fact you probably interrupted a meet ing at which tie and his aides their copies of the paper in hand discussed the principal articles in terms of guidance for the Day s work. The party moreover has Man aged to keep its men in All the positions that count. The self government bodies Are no obstacle. The method is simple everything is stacked in a myriad different ways. Fake the workers councils. Before the Assembly of the employees elects the Council the communists among the workers Convene in separate meetings and select their candidates. The other workers of course know who the communists Are. They think twice before opposing a candidate. Communist or non communist who has the backing of the party s repro the schools too Are kept close to Trie Lite of the Community by a number of committees and com missions drawn from various groups parents teachers associations and state appointed advisory boards. Here too there is a Safe mixture of elected and appointed officers the latter serving As guardians of the interests and safety of the Rigi Sci the manager of the Plant More Over is Likely to be a party Mem Ber. If it is not his principal aide is. Since they Are the professionals and since they advise the manag. Even apartment buildings Are ing Board on the technical prob lems of the Plant it is relatively easy for them in most cases to in a building and Only five Corn determine the Board s decisions. The same is True of the Peoples committees. There too the slate although ostensibly dominated by the voters subject to self government. There May be 30 non communist families Monist families. But you May be certain that the communists hold the posts of chairman or Secretary and treasurer of the tenants com Mittee which runs the building is pre determined by the party j decides what should be repaired members in special meetings. And land allocates heating repairs and just in Case an undesirable should actually slip in there is a further control. A state appointed commis Sion reviews All nominations and has the right to scratch out any there Are other organizations moreover through which the party exerts control labor unions peas ants co operatives women and youth organization. The police though overhauled remain one of the strongest pillars of uie regime. And the army which is fully communist since the Days of the partisan War is one of the largest in the world. Yugoslavia with its inhabitants has 30 divisions permanently in the Field. The United states has 18. Finally there Are the instruments of economic Power which remain in the hands of the re Gime As they do in any country where All economic activity is regulated by the state. In conclusion thus there is no doubt that the Tito regime has Given its citizens a measure of individual Freedom which is unus Ual for a communist country. At the same time the regime and the party remain in the Possession of All the instruments of Power they need to protect themselves against a population which is overwhelmingly against them. Each Concession is carefully hedged and counter balanced by safeguards which is the reason Why Yugoslavia s political institutions look like a crazy quilt Patch work of conflicting trends and ideas. New career London senior years after the second world officer of the Royal air Force will begin a new career As a Clergyman at Christmas it was announced thursday. Air vice Narborough h. Death 156, commander of Malta for three War will Start As a curate at a Little anglican Church in Crow Tome Berkshire. One Pound of sugar contains about calories. Chaco bldg. Material a hardware specials open Mon thru fit. . To 6 . To 3 . A Solti flour us Jekla for Lino and tile floor Gnu Klav for Lino and tile 3.so and Klav for Lino and tile 3.9 s off Trade Oak Walnut Grain Waul Board 4x8ivi 3.50 overhead steel Ioor and hardware 8x7 overhead steel door hardware Only 24.so Jerry cans for Gix and Oil. Ideal for boats 3.95 guaranteed paint outside and inside per 2.65 Chaco distributors bldg. Supplies 802 Archibald Street phone Chape 7-2s19 declare peace River a disaster area Low urges govt. Ottawa up social credit Leader Solon Low suggested thurs Day that the peace River Region has suffered a crop failure declared a disaster area. Xor. Low my for peace River said in the commons that pay sheets under the Prairie farm assistance act will fail far Short of averting widespread suffering in the Region. Prime minister Diefenbaker re plied that necessary action will be taken in co operation with Al Berta. He said the Federal government realizes the situation of grave discomfort and worse to people living in the area. J Bert. Lebec is Caribou whether this would apply the British Columbia Section of the peace River area. I or. Diefenbaker said wishes of . Government would have of be considered. I one of Ford of Canada s Fine cabs smooth in a bold new Way the magnificent 1958 meteor so smooth to look at so smooth to ride in so smooth to drive take a meteor out for a few smooth Miles. Watch How Heads turn in admiration and follow meteor s smooth sculptured styling until it s out of sight. head for a straight stretch of pavement. Experience the smooth tip toe response of meteor s All new tempest v-8 s or Canada s Thrift est six smooth useable Power for Safe Highway passing effortless Steep Hill climbing. Test meteor s smooth new Riding Comfort on an unpaved Road. Look for kind you used to avoid. Feel How meteor s improved suspension Rolls away front wheel balances Forward you Riding smooth and level this is meteor s new balanced in the Low Price Field Only by meteor s new air sus bold new concept in Riding smoothness. You re in for smooth going when you move to the magnificent 1958 new styling smooth new performance smooth new Comfort. Want to find out just How smooth arrange for a revelation ride with your meteor dealer soon. You la find it s a bold new Way. 58 meteor v-8 or 6 certain features illustrated or mentioned Are Standard on some models optional at extra. Cost on others ride tells meteor s Story at your nearby meteor dealer 211 235 main Street consolidated since 1 91 7 motors limited phone Whitehall 3-7485 where your new car is guaranteed Miles or 2 years National motors Ltd. Winnipeg s Mercury Lincoln meteor Mercury truck dealer 276 Colony at St. Mary phone Spruce 2-2416 ;