"VOli. 16. No. 8
PRINCE GEORGE, B. C. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1934
W. 1. Hornsby New President Board of Trade
A. B. Utfoffat Gives the Hornby
Land Settlement Plan His
Unqualified Approval
BOARD FEES REDUCED
Decision Reached Organization
of Greater Benefit With an
Increased Membership
W Iit'Hornsby was named president of the^jpi'ince George board ol trade I at- the-'annuiil meeting on Mondavi evening. :V; Mr. Hornsby had filled the' office Cif 3vice-president last year and . his advancement was' in accordance j witih the:,settWi practice of the board , The election cf officers was the first order Off business after the reading of j the annual reports of the retiring j president, A. B. Moffat. and Secre- \ �tary-Treasurer J. O. Wilson. : In his annual report President Mof- , fat made a brief reference to the j Interior Creamery which has been in \ successful operation in Prince George i throughout the year 1933. largely as i tine result of the activities of the ( board in 1932. He was pleased to be able to report that Alfred Miller, the' owner of the creamery had made a j success of his venture from the -.start. '� and that the creamery had proven of ( great 'benefit to the farmers in the \ surrounding districts.
The two major subjects deal'- with I by Wle president in his report were | WiRHomby land settlement policy and the securing of an export freight, rate for the lumber mills along- ths line' of the-. O. '~N.. R. Dealing with the Hornby settlement pol:cy President Moffa* gave it his unqualified approval, holding it to be the most promising of all the settlement policies put into effect)'since the closr> of t-nV^vrar. It-contemplated group settlements^^ 100 British families in a given area. Ihe settlers being brought to the province"} a!> the expense ol the British government and given a five-year course of instruction in farming under competent supervision. The settlers were i~> be adequately financed during their entire period of instruction, and when in a position to take up lands outside the settlement area in their own right would toe assis'ed by the settlement authority to the extent of $1000. The I plan further contemplated than any who proved unsuited as settlers would] be returned to Great Britain at the j expense of the- settlement authoriy. He. gave it as his opinion the Prince George area lent itself to this settlement plan, and should secure at lea-st one of the settlement units. The board had been co-operating with General Hornby to this end. and lie was convinced it should cont'mie to give every .support in the carrying of I the scheme through to a successful \ issue. '
While there were none who would question the importance of the agricultural industry in the development of a district .such as surrounded Prince George it must be admitted thai development along this line had been ' retarded during the past few years by tiie lack of a local market and this Would come soonest through the reopening of the twenty-odd sawmills .. along the line of the C.N.R. The situation at present was that with a much greater area under cult'vat ion the fanners had for some time lost the very desirable market which the activities of the sawmills had supplied. Other factors which had contributed to the curtailment of the market for farm product* had been the reduction made in the tic contract's and the reduction in public work expenditures toy the government, but the chief trouble had come through the stagnation, in the lumber industry.
The executive of the board of trade had been of the opinion for sonic time that aside from the closing of tine United States market excessive freight rates constituted the greatest handicap of the district sawmills and its members welcomed the opportunity of co-operating with the millmen in their efforts to secure an export rate on lumber to Vanco\iver to permit their sharing in the waterborne export trade. He was pleased to be able to report this move of the millmen had been fruitful cf a reduction in the average prevailing ordinary rate of 52 cents to a rate of 22 cents for export via Vancouver. T'his evidenced the readiness of the railway officials to help out. and would enable the loco! millmen to make the necessary trial (Shipments. There was much confidence this concession will result in the building up of a very considerable business for the local mills, but if it should be found still further concessions are necessary the board should (Continued on Page Five)
PROMISE OF INCREASE IN EXEMPTIONS IN THE TAXABLE INCOMES
Victoria, Feb. 21�The speech of W. N. Whittaker in moving the address in reply to the speech from the throne today was notable for the promise it gave of an easement in the income tax. The formal deliverances of government supr-porters en the motion to adopt the speech from the throne are not very often omplcyed to make kne-wn the intentions of the government, but an exception was made today. Mr. Whittaker, the man who defeated Premier Tolmie in Saanich in the general election, pave something in the nature of a premise of an easement of in-ccine taxation for tho.se in the lower bracket. If it happens, as M.r. Whittaker says it will happen, th? existing- exemption of S500 allowed to married taxpayers will be increased to S1000, and unmarried taxpayers who have had no tax exemptions will be given an exemption of S500. This arrangement it is believed will yield the largest measure c-f re'ief with the least loss of revenue to Ihe ffcve.rn-ment. It v/ill have the effect of dicppinjr a large number from the income tax rolls, but their contributions to the government revenue-; did nr�t amount to much in t he a ffgregate.
Jcseph A. Harris, the mnn who
^defeated Hen. J. W. Jones, finance
minister in the Tolmie government
in South Ok'.inaffan, seconded the
motion to adept the address.
Belgians Mourn' Sudden Death of King Albert
War, Killed in a Fall from Rock
While Climbing Few Miles
Out of- Brussels
Prince George to Press Claims for Federal Building
Completion of Northern Highway to Alberta Boundary Will Also Be Urged
HORNBY PLAN BOOSTED
Body ^Discovered by Searchers
in Short Time After Alarm
Had Been Given
Brussels, Feb. 20�The body of the late King Albert was viewed by thousands ol his former subjects today a.s it lay in state in the royal palace. Tht- funeral has been set for Thursday and will be attended by representatives of all the toyal houses of Europe and of the republics.
The .sorrow of the Belgians ever the death of their king is manifest throughout the nation. King Albert was the victim of an accident. On Saturday he started out with his chauffeur from this city to indulge in his hobby of mountain climbing. Leaving itic chauffeur in the car some miles out from the city, he instructed him to await his return. As the time passed and I'*" king did no: return i he chauffeur became alarmed and a �.;eairh was instituted. The body of the king was found at the foot of a small precipice. The king had been instantly killed in a fall from a rock face. Beim: an Alpine climber of feme experience it is ciiffoult to understand the accident as the place where the fatality occurred presented no difficulties.
� The late khv-y enjoyed great popularity amoiw his subjects. He was a.s different from his father, the former Kins Leopold of Congo notoriety, as a son could be from his father. Thoroughly democratic he had an intense love for his country and his people. During the world war he placed himself at the head of his troops and shared with them the hardships of the campaign when they were pushed out of Belgium and into France by the advancing German army. It is also recorded of Kins Albert that in entering his son in the Belgian army lie insisted that the crown prince should bepcin at the bottom of the ladder, and serve first in the capacity of a private. The crown prince succeeds hi.s father, and will rein as King Leopold IIT.
Washington. Feb. 20�The army department wa.s badly handicapped by unfavorable flying weather on Monday when it was scheduled the department should take over the carriage of airmail on 21 routes over an aggregate of 41.000 miles. Weather conditions on Monday were so bad that regulations prevented the airmen from taking off. Conditions improved somewhat today and a number of the machines took off. several of the fliers bettering their schedule time despite weather conditions. It is predicted that within the week the service will be just as efficient as was under the cancelled air-mail contracts.
British Government Reported "as
Having Given. Legislation
Its Second. Reading
Several matters of major importance to Piince George and vicinity were dealt with at the meeting of tfhe beard cf trade on Monday evening: One of these .was a move to secure the election cf a federal government building in the ci:y for the proper housing of the several government cervices .such as the post office, customs office, department of Indian affairs, department of fisheiies and other services for which no provision is made. The resolution was moved by A. B. Moffat-., calling upon the federal government to proceed with the erection cf the building a.s part cf the public works program to be initiated. It was .seconded by William Bexon and adopted;
A second resolution called for the completion of the highway to the Alberta boundary as part of the federal relief program. This received the hearty support cf Karl Anderson, who con:ended the completion of the highway would bo the most important piece I of work that could be undertaken in tliis section of the province. As this j work would probably be proceeded with on an understanding between the provincial mid federal governments it was decided in adopting the resolution to hj?vo copies ol the scirnp forwarded .o John A. Praser. M.P., and H, G. Perry, M.L.A.
A. resolution endorsing the Hornby settlement plan was moved by A. B. Moffat and seconded by A. S. Bair'd, after pome discussion in ihe course ol which i! uv.s stated the plan had progressed in the British house of com-, nions to the stage of Recording the' bill Its second reading. It was decided to transmit a.co'py of thi.s resolution' to H. G. Perry, M,KA., with the request 'hat- he press for favorable con-side-ration on the part of the provincial j governmeiii,
On the radio .situation a resolution was adopted favoring come interior j I'loin' ior the establishing of the now i broadcasting station rather than Van-couvcr. tii.e argument being advanced I that a station in the interior would give better ;-ev-vicc throughout the province than one on the coast. This was moved by A. B. "Moffat and seconded by W. j, r.unan.'- There was some comment on the servief being given by the commission throughvCR CV at Vancouver, in the course of which the cphvon was expressed the chief trouble with the .station is insufficient power.
There was some correspondence before the -board respecting the holding of mining lectures in ihe city under the auspices cf the department of mines. There was a let er from Doug- j las Lay. resident mining enginsei. in which he advised his time in lecturing will be taken up at Hazelton, and | that if the lectures were to bo given ! '.i Prince George it would be necessary 1 to secure the services of a lecturer, it j Was decided to take the matter up ! with the department of mines and j ascertain if the services of Mr. Lay j cannot be made available for the I lec'ures as they are considered of inestimable value.
Karl Andersen made the suggestion that the board .should interest itself in the .securing, of a survey for a direr, highway between Prince George and Barkerville, the same to be stalled from the end of the Buckhorn Lake road and. continue up ihe valley of the Willow River. Such a road he ?aid would greatly cheapen the cc�t of mining operations and would give Prince George a larger .share of the business arising in the mining camps; It was decided on motion of A. B: Moffat. seconded by C. C. Reid to refer ;he suggestion to the transportation committee for report.
Railway Company Gives The Millmen Freight Rate Gut
Concession made to Enable them
to Share in the Growing
Overseas Business
PROSPECT IS IMPROVED
Revival in Sight if the District
Mill Product Meets The
Export Requirement
The Canadian National Railway lias met the request of the mill-men of thi.s section fcr an export frcig-ht rate which .will give them
make good their contention that with die granting of a freight rate they will be able to share in the export market. It will be an entirely new market for the district millmen, and it remains to be determined whether they can secure the desired hold upon i!. If they do their future will be more or less assured, as aadeel to the praire market when it returns tihey will have a more extended shipping season. The difference between the rate given by the railway company and that asked for by the millmen wiil not amount to more than 04 cents per thousand upon the greenest lumber to be shipped, and should it develop that this stands in the way of the
g j lhis ^ands , (he wa Qf u ^
a chance to compete Sor- a shah:. -ht cf the n mark t b ,h �
in the export trade with the Uni- tP,,or mj)ls ^ere h { ^
ed Kingdonv the Brit sh_d�rnin- believe a further adjustment of the
inns and the Orient. This information was cc.nve.ved to the membf-r.s cf the icc-cil board of trade at their annual meeting in the city hall rn Monday t evening Jyy the retiring- 'president, A. B. Moffat.
YViUi the closing of the United
rate will be secured.
Should the district millmen bo able to establish themselves in the export market it will be the most favorable development in the history of the sawmilling industry of the interior, as spruce lumber is said to be superior to
States market by the imposition of a | fir and cedar of the coast sec ion for
iff of $3.00 per thousand upon
softwood lumber, and the drying up the prairie market ar> the resul
many purposes, and the export lum i
ber market gives much promise for permanency. The success of the mill-
ci the break in wheat prices, the lum- j m.en in tni-s venture will mean much berrrien of this district were badly | to Prince George and the districts hit. There came the prospect of re- surrounding it. the closing down of lief with the opening cf the British the -sawmills having been the' chief export market, but the millmen found : contributing cause of the depression the door closed to them in the existing ! of the pa t three years, freight rate to lidewater at Vancou- The export rate which the Canadian ver. The rale was around 52 cents I National has cffeied. the millmen is per 100 lbs:, but after some negotiation j 21 >\\ frcm Snowslioe, 22', frcm Bend with the railway officials they were ! and Penny. 23 from Lcngwbrth; Hilt-advised an export rate of 32 cents might be made itvailafcte. Even this concession would net be sufficient', and the-good offices of the local board
ton. Sinclair Mills, Dewey and Ois-
to the rate of
of trade were eill'sted to ojtahi a better rate. The millmen asked for a
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE IN CANADA EXCESSIVE
Sir Henry Drayton made a startling-statement to the Brandon board of 1rade on Friday when he told them the ccst of federal, provincial and municipal government, in Canada has reached the staggering figure of $920,-000.000. and that in 1931 it went to $1,500,000,000, an amount in excess of the total value of all the primary products of the dominion, and when the assessable incomes totalled but $815,-714,626.
On lumber weighing 2500 lb thousand this would mean : $5.75 io Vancouver,
While little information is avadl-
:.: e of 20 cents and the railway camel able a-s to the class of material de-uhrough with the offer of a rate of j sire_d:. or the price which cars ';:..- cb-virtually 23 cents, which is very much I taincd. mest cf the millmen have been closer to the meeting of their requests.!'heartened by thy change in their out-tlian the shippers are accustomed to | look:. W. N. Jaeck. of the Longworth receiving from railway officials. ! Lumber Company, who took sn active
I- is now up vo the lumbermen to part in the negotiation.-, with 'he -rl-
__________________ ' -��------:�... ' way company en the mitter of the
' export freight rate is apparen ly not sure that the rate offered by the railway company will peiaiit the' district millmen' '9 enter and hold the export market; but ;f it d �<�* they will find a way out of their present difficulties, as so far as ran be le-rned 'the Err Hi market will absorb p'(! of ! ihr1 lumber t':e lecal mil1- < n cut. Working on the single shift he Estimates the daily cut cf the local mills al �545.000 fee; en a nine-hour run. With a double shift the output-would � be virtually doubled. An export trade ; capable of taking the outpu' of a j sinclc shift frcm the local nrlls would I mean the moving of a -olid '.:-a;n to [Vancouver sneh-day. The direct labor fumi her! would cut the federal government's � unemplcymen' relief ox-i penditures by $15,000 )icv month, and ' by a considerable fur'he.- sum by reason o'f the indirect labor furirshed. He i figures the provincial government would benefit to the ex-ten* of an in-* crerfse of $1000 per day in the revenues I of- the forest branch between Prince ! George and McBride.
Secretary J. O. Wilson, in comment-1 :nv. upon ihe si uation, said there was : justification for gratification fiver the ! manner in which the railway officials had met the lumbermen on their request for an export freight rate, and he expre-.-??d the hope the future
Victoria'. Feb. ^0�The provincial leg- j would substantiate the expectations of islajure was duly opened today with j Mr. Jaeck. He wa.s of the opinion fitting ceremony. The first business that the members of the board of of the assembly was the selection of [-trade would be justified* in a further a speaker, the honor falling to H. G. excursion into the realm of freight Perry, the member for Fort George, rates. Due to changes in market
condition.'; it had become necessary for the district mills to reach out farther, and a revision of the freight rate on lumber from B. C. points to eastern Canada might be fruitful in results. He had been informed by district mill-. . men that in shipping lumber to east-
Last Game in the Play-CHLs Is j em Canad'an points the existing"-"rates
took two dollars out of every three received by the lumbermen from the sale of his product. The importance of the district sawmills to the prosperity of Prince George and vicinity could hardly be over-estimated, and if an extension of the market for the district mills could be brought about, through a review of the railway rates the board of trade in instituting such a review would be rendering signal service.
Q On motion of C. C. Reid it was decided to refer the matter of fre;s:ht rates on lumber consigned to eastern Canadian points to the transportation committee of the board when its personnel has been fixed by The president.
1ION, II. C\. FERRY
Speaker of t'he Legislature British Columbia
LEGISLATURE OPENKI)
PRINCE GEORGE TIED CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES WEDNESDAY NIGHT
y
Scheduled for Saturday on the Local Rink
The Prince George team evened up the playoffs lor the Cariboo hockey championship on Wednesday night when they took the second game at Quesnel. The outcome came as something in the nature of an upeet, as Quesnel having taken the first game in Prince George on Saturday night were counted upon to cinch the series with a win on the home ice.
The game Wednesday night was fast, but Prince George was in the lead after the first ten minutes play managed to keep Quesnel from (Continued from Page 6)