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i 14, No. 37
PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 1932
J
ing
Would Suspend All Public Works in the Province
Committee' Makes Scath Denunciation *of Policy of Government
HITS OUTSIDE DISTRICTS
They Are Charged with Mileage in the Projection of th<� s Main Highways
There is" no public document which has made its appearance,, in British Columbia within recent years which has created the general public interest attending the publication of the report of the KMd commission. The members of the commission assumed a very large task, and attempted to dispose Of it within a very short time. Their report will admittedly be of very great value to the taxpayers of British Columbia, even though it becomes necessary to reject many of the recommendations contained in it. So great is the interest ui the report that The Citizen feels called upon to publish a synopsis of its salient parts:
Party politics, patronage and self-interest are largely responsible for British Columbia's present intolerr.b)e load of taxation, its mounting ctebi. and its gross extravagance in n;ost branches of government, according to th? report of the Ki&c business men's committee.
When we cor.Vtdvr all the circumstances constituting t*v� financia-. position of our pr'oviuw, the pio;ar'� is an alarming one. It is certain 1K�at an-ji.er unbalanced buJrfot is already in sight and that no economies of a suf- { ficiently drastic character are being effected to compensate for the de-' nciericy." '
To meet the present situation, the committee, consisting of^.George Kidd, W. L. Macken, Austin Taylor. A. H. Douglas and R. W. Mayhew, makes a lengthy series of recommendations covering every wing of government. Its chief plans already have been pub-lishd�a" legislature of twenty-eight members: a six-man cabinet; shutdown of operations on the P.G.E. if the line is not sord in the nine months; lopping $6,000,000 off the provincial budget: merging of all departments into five; a non-partisan committee to administer unemployment; tightening up on all expenditures and no more laru'e borrowings.
Cutting the Service
In addition, the committee proposes heavy cuts in the cost of education by reduction of school services; an immediate stoppage, of all' public works; a halt in the increase of social services; closing of the University of British Columbia if the government is. forced next year to discontinue its $250,000 grant and the institution can not be carried on efficiently; scholarships to provide for the attendance of able students at other universities, if the B. C. University is closed; policing of British Columbia by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police except in Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria. which should have �their own metro- j Pplitan forces; reorganization of the government liquor business; a highway commission if it can be kept free ofj Political domination. .
The committee definitely proposes economies which would Teduce the to- 1 Jw provincial budget by some $3,500,-��0 but suggests many others without flng the possible savings. Alto it want? $6,000,000, or about ^five Per cent cut off the annual cost of government. v� savin8s which it specifies are: J-.ooo.ooo from the cost of education; ~0,000 by r^uction of the executive i; $55,000 in the expenses of the tu $7 b
Five Cents
Premier Tolmie Declares in Favoij ^ of Coalition with Liberals to Secure Non-Party Admistration of Affairs
Deficits Average $2,400,000 For
Says Trend of Thought Throughout the World is that Governments Should Include Men Able to Render Best Service to the State Regardless of Other Considerations
That for the Current Fiscal Year
May Exceed Any In The
History of Province
THREE SMALL SURPLUSES
Cumulative Deficit Estimated at
#50,000,000^ Exclusive of
Relief Disbursements
Intimates he Will Make Further Statement) Within a Few Days
Names oi Members of New Cabinet Will be i Made Known and Appeal Taken to Electors
The report of the Kidd commission i on the financial position of the pro- ! vince is admittedly startling., and al- � together out of joint with the predictions and statements issued by the ; �several ministers of finance in their � budget statements; which should call for something in the way of an ex- , planation when the legislature meets. Now that the disclosures have been made there will doubtless be much complaint that the several ministers of finance were not more candid in their statements, but the fact cannot be lost sigh of that the expenditures which have contributed to the cumulative deficit were' forced upon the ministers and legislators by the business interests which are now raising the greatest hue and cry. The humble wage-earner had little to do with the expansive highway program of the several administrations, or with the university commitments which have contributed so largely to the unsatisfactory condition of provincial finance, the situation is bad enough, but the picture may not be so black as the members of the Kidd commission have painted it. There is another circumstance worth keeping in mind and this is the period under review covers four years of the world war, and four years of world depression, during which government revenues suffered quite as severely as those of private industry and trade.
Provincial deficits have totalled more than $40,,000,000 and surpluses hardly more than a million dollars during the past nineteen years, according to the report of the Kidd commission. To this total, the report predicts. $6,500,000 will be added for the year ended March 31st last, while the probable losses this year will bring it up to $50,000,000 for the twenty-cne year period, thinks the commission.
"The excess of expenditure over income, as shown by accompanying figures is so outstanding and covers so (Continued on Page Six)
GARRETT SCHENClT HAD NO PART IN LINBERGH KIDNAPPING CASE
Washington. Sept. 7�The department of justice in the federal government is as much in the dark to who were the perpetrators of the Lindbergh
kidnapping as when first committed J.
the crime was Edgar Hoover,
eglslat
chief of the bureau of investigation of the department of justice, -said today the most searching investigation had failed to connect up Garrett Schenck with the crime. Schenck is a fish peddlar and was held for several weeks t f th
yre; $750,000 tty salary cuts in! as the suspected go-between of the
J"e "^service; 4200,000^ by reduction J government agencies; $95,000 by 0 *m5 of B.C. House and marketing e^mzati�n in London; $40,000 by the,
sels at tS ? SPeClal P"**"*111* w,!: tnak; $198,000 by the r�
kidnappers.
izati ""-*"� *n�o,uuu Dy me reorgan-tu'-e� t� the dePart�ent <>f agricul-dm� f � by reorganization of the Apartment of mines.
Th
Plan
Th ,f
hi* ^Jeme of general reorganization senfn �Ut the merging of the pre-
senfn �Ut th
follows: Depart-
of T' M * presenf: depart" sent ? att��y-general, as at pre-
take'ftv ftment of;r*>cial services to vie, 11% edUcation and aUlideial ser-Zf "�W hi"��died/bv several de- m�St of lt ln the Provincial i, \ Partraent: department of of natura! * M ** present: department Allure 1 ^UrCes to take over aBri-pcsitiOn fneS" lands and water- T1� froe of n�rjPrinie. minister would be au departmental duties so that Continued.ori Page 7)
CHICAGO BANDITS SHOOT UP BANK FOR
$3,000 IN LOOT
Chicago, Sept. 7�Four apparently nervous bandies today terrorized ten employees of the Lake County bank. The bandits shot and wounded a girl and one of the male employees of the bank and made their escape with $3000.
RUDY VALLEE S "ONLY
GIRL" SAYS SHE STILL
LOVES THE CROONER
Reno. Sept. T^-Mrs.. Rudy Vallee in an interview here today said the story she was seeking a divorce was all a mistake. She says she still loves her husband, that they have had no disagreement, and that she is returning to him.
VICTORIA, Sept. 8�Premier Tolmie issued the following statement yesterday: "Realizing that the trend of thought throughout the world today is that governments should in-elude those men who, regardless of other considerations, appear to be able to render the best service to the state, I have �fter enreful consideration and discussion with many responsible citizens of the province decided to adopt this principle."
"My statement, which will shortly be issued, will include a clause favoring the establishment of a union government composed of such men, along the lines of the National Government in England, as the best methods of meeting the present conditions. I trust and believe that the men who are called upon to co-operate in this movement will be prepared to throw aside personal ambition, and will be ready if necessary to make some personal sacrifice, and thus assure success for British Columbia."
The following are mentioned as likely to be asked into the non-party government:
CONSERVATIVES�-Hon. S. F. Tolmie, Hon. R. H. Pooley, Hon. J. W. Jones, Hon. R. W. Bruhn, Hon. S. !.. Howe, Hon. Joshua Hinciiujcfe and W. J. Bowser.
LIBERALS�T. D. Pattullo, Wells Gray, G. S. Pearson, Dr. J. J. Gillis, all members of the present legislature; J. W. DeB. Farris, former attorney-general, and Dugald Donaghy, former M.P. '
Mr. Pattullo is withholding comment until Premier Tolmie makes his additional statement.
Barbecue Proved Drawing Card at Nukko Lake
Victoria. Sept. 8�Premier Tolmie and Hon William Atkinson, minister has broken his long silence on the Of agriculture, and from this it is pre-political crisis.which faced him on his' sumed they are the members of the return from Ottawa, and which open- j cabinet who resisted the coalition pro-ly divided the members of his cabinet,! posals, which were well under way and has declared himself in favor of i wniie Premier Tolmie the creation of a coalition govern- Ottawa.
ment. The announcement was not al-� There fe no telling what the division together unexpected after the publica->js ]lkely to be in fcne Uber&l partV- f h Kidd t hih re
tion of the Kidd report, which pre-
D Pattullo, the leader of the
j j^on^^ D Pattullo, the leader of the
pared the people of the province for Liberal opposition in the legislature, i dfiit I ncing
two staggering deficits. In announcing his decision Premier Tolmie points to the benefits secured in Great Britain through the formation of its national government, and intimates there is every chance to believe like benefits would attend coalition in British Columbia, with the elimination for the time be;ng of the usual recognized political divisions. Premier Tolmie purposes to extend to outstanding members of the Liberal party an invitation to join with him in the creation of a coalition government, as he is convinced it is only in this manner that British Columbia can face the financial difficulties which confront it, and which have been more or less truly presented in the finding of the members of the Kidd commission. Premier Tolmie envisages a coalition government composed of men who will be prepared to submerge personal ambitions and party advantages for the advancement of the welfare of the province as a whole, and who will be prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to bring this about.
There is much speculation as to what the outcome of Premier Tolmie's appeal will be, as the analogy between conditions in Great Britain and those in British Columbia is not very close The .financial difficulties of the province are great enough, but the ranking men in the two political parties are not agreed the remedy will be found in coalition. The political situation in Great Britain at the time of the formation'of the national government, was that of a r.nlemate, whereas In this province the Tolmie government, has ari overwhelming majority in the legislature. On the Conservative sido Premier Tolmie's cabinet is said '.d be about evenly divided on the issue of coalition, but the party caucus is sa:d to be strongly epposed to surrendering Its hold upon provincial administration, and there1 is said to be a prospect a. convention of the party mav bee ailed and repudiate the action of the premier.
There~iS~tlie suggestion the members of the Tolmie cabinet-who-wilLfie. ,%sk^ ed for their resignations; will include
and minister of lands in the last Lib- j eral government, has been definitely j opposed to coalition. The same is also |
Farmers in the Lakes District
Entertained 400 Guests
on Labor Day
EVERYBODY EATS BEEF
Scores of Visitors Witness Their First Roasting Before the
Big Open Fire
, ____________ j i
The barbecue �l Nukko lake, which, was put on by the res: dents of the-several districts in thz vicinity of Chief. Lake, on Labor Day, proved a big attraction for Prince George citizens, and for settlers as far west a3 Isle Pierre. The weather at Nukko lake was all that could Le desired, the sun came out strong, and the great lake expanse glistened like a jewel in its setting of forest covered shore line. The guests commenced to arrive about: nine o'clock in the morning, and from then until one o'clock there was a steady stream of automobiles and horse-drawn vehicles, and upwards of four hundred persons were gathered on. the grasy slope "on the Allen farm, ready for the great feast of barbecued beef.
The farmers of ihe d'strict were astir early in the morning. The weather had been threatening for several days, and it was impossible for them to estimate the number of guests they would be c-alled upon to entertain, but their preparations were ample. They had two beeves dressed and quartered, and held a prime' veal in re-serve should it be required. They put their hearts into their work. The fire for the barbecuing was started against a hill, around which had bean erected a huge oven composed of sheet-iron. In front of the fire a farmework was thrown Tip, so arranged that a heavy timber carrying four quarters of beef could be advanced to the fire or removed as the barbecuing, process demanded. Each quarter was suspended on swivel chains so as to admit of independent turning of the quarter, and under each quarter were pans to catch the grease and permit of the desired basting.
Thomas Austin, of Prince George, was the chef. He it was who superintended the building of the oven and was absent' in \ provided the materials for the same, and he had George Baurle signed on as bull-cook, keeping the fire goiny. For those who preferred their beef cooked In an oven Mr. Austin had provided a huge range, in which great joints of beef were roasted to a turn under the direction of Mrs. Austin.
This was the scene which greeted
true of A. M. Manson, K.C.. the sit- ! ****� A- B- Taft' President of the Wit-
ting member for Omineca. and attorney-general in the last Liberal administration. These two have been so outspoken in their opposition to coalition that it hardly appears open to PremierJTolmie to invite them to become members" of a coalition cabinet, as an invitation would probably result in a refusal; and thus increase the premier's difficulties. Yesterday's developments are said to offer an explanation of the premier's recent visits to Vancouver, �. search for cabinet material. Report has it that the Liberals who are more likely to be invited to join the coalition cabinet are J. W. deB. Farris, a former attorney-general during the Oliver administration; A. Wells Gray, the sitting member in the legislature for New Westminster; Dugald Donaghy, the Vancouver lawyer who wrested one of the federal seats from the Conservatives, and G. S. Pearson and Dr. J. J. Giliis, sitting members in the legislature for ttana-imo and Yale respectively.
The coupling of the name of W. J. Bowser with a coalition cabinet, of �vhich Premier Tolmie would be the head, creates a remarkable situation 'hen it 's remembered it was Hon. S. F. Tolmie who dispossessed Mr. Bowser from the leadership of the Conservative party in British Columbia at the memorable Kamloops convention. Mr. Bowser sat awaiting in the Hotel Vancouver for several days for the development which came yesterday. For days the politicians wore a path to his room. He listened to what they had to say. but for himself he was no more talkative than a sphinx. Those close to him question whether the old war horse has sufficiently forgotten the scars of battle to consent to fuse with those who inflicted them.
Premier Tolmie's statement yesterday is looked upon in some quarters as in the nature of a feeler. An expression of his willingness to coalesce, but also an intimation he must have
men's Hospital Auxiliary, when she; and her corps of assistants arrived, on the ground to take charge of the feast. There were four large tents on lfr.c-ground in which the picnickers were served with their meals, but scores of them elected to organize little parties of their own, and established themselves on convenient timbers scattered about the grounds. It looked for all the world as If a circus had hit Nukko lake. There were great tubs of peel-ad potatoes, carrots and beets arranged around the commissary tent ready to go on the range, scores of fame".* eager to do any chore which offsr d. and not a few city residents, just r;s excited as the farmers, anxious to break into the proceedings whene*,at the opportunity offered. What enlivened the day as mach as anything was the great gathering of youngsters, who stood around the fire and watched the great joints cooking, more beef t^an they had ever seen at cne time ou' -svde the butcher shops and all to be eaten during the day and even'.p;;.
E. ,O. Peterson was the hanly 'nin tnnong the farmers. He quartered Itbd Liieves ready for the fire. . It was a; new role for him but he. went at the job as if he were quartering a' moose for division among his neighbors and produced the right number of quarters from each animal. Other residents or the district who were busy as bees throughout the day in catering to the entertainment of their guests were Martin and John Schafer, W. Ferguson
Ed.
�he ::vt Allen bo-/>. IFved, G i^ C:Vcic and Frank, ^ Schjou. M H. Engwe'ller. A. Biedemian. Gus gturmer and Mr. Kuner. Then there were a number ot quasi-faimers in the persons of Irving Wilson. Ernie Thonp-son, J. B. Lambert, George Henry, A. B. Moffat. who may not know very much about farming but proved themselves very proficient as barbecue entertainers Irving Wilson had a hand in every department of the/ show. Ernie Thompson says he lojt twenty pounds
ed for their restgnauonsj win inciuae someone co�coalesce wren, a Hon. N. 3. Lougheed, minister of lands; j ' ,(Continued on Page Five)
someone�to�coalesce�with; arcft^ ftThe~hacTho lise~far-in-bB^ting_the beovis
(Cont'nued on Page Throe)