en Largest Circulation of Any Semi-Weekly Newspaper in British Columbia Vol. 36; No. 16 Prince George, B.C., THURSDAY, February 26, 1953 $4.00 per year 5^ per copy [Bumper Budget Presented Here Maiden Speech 100,000 'Break1 On Costs New Government Formula Boon To City As confusion and uncertainty reigned in municipal circles throughout British Columbia today concerning the govern-fment's proposed new system of dividing education costs, one I brilliant facet of light was beamed clearly on Prince George . . the city will be saved $100,000 this year by the controversial formula. , For Prince George at least, [which has been saddled with one [of the heaviest education cost burdens in the province, the proposed solution would prove | bountiful. instead of paying $210,000 towards school operating costs this ROTARY GOVERNOR ARRIVES FRIDAY Natural Gas Here in 1955 If Westcoast Gets O.K. Making his initial tour of clubs in District 151, Rotary International, Governor Harry Heal of year as it would have done under Bellingham,, Wash., will arrive the previous system,- Prince here by train early Friday morn-George will have to find out of ing. taxation only $110,000. The retired banker will attend Despite an Increase in total the regular noon luncheon meet-estimated school expenditures ing of Prince George Rotary Club of over 100 per cent to a new high of $1,234,847, the city would pay about $17,000 less this year than it did last year. While other municipalities in L. L. KING, MLA B.C., notably the larger ones such as Victoria and Vancouver, are fighting the new system tooth and nail, Prince George's delegates to an emergency conven- on Friday and that evening will be the main speaker at a club dinner and assembly in the Prince George Hotel Cafe starting at 7 p.m. On Saturday Mr. Heal, accomp1-anied by a party of city Rotar-ians, will motor to Burns Lake where a number of leading businessmen have applied for permis- tion of the Union of B.C. Munici- sion t0 organi?e a club, palities being held Saturday in Governor Heal will attend a Vancouver will support the gov-1 meeting of Smithers Rotary Club j eminent move. For the first time they will; find themselves defending a de-; sirable position in the school cost structure against municipalities which for years have been enjoy; ing such a position while Prince �George1 ~attd-iT�tb^^coiiti3W^tto?''t faced crippling education bills and paid them. City Clerk B. T. Williams. Raid here today. that using the previous school cost formula, Prince George would have had to put up as its share of the (See SCHOOL COSTS Page 4) on Monday. Planners To Rule On Millar Addition Store Town Planning Commission will consider an application made to city council recently for. construction of a store building in Block 235 in the Millar Addition. The application was made by Mrs; William Bexon, Prince George, and would see a two-store building erected near the corner of Queen Street and Patricia Avenue. Inasmuch.as the area is currently zoned for residential purposes only, council decided to turn the problem over town planners. If of distributors and officials of they approve the application they King Features PGE In Maiden Speech �Extension of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway into B.C.'s Peace River area should not necessarily follow the shortest possible route, but "the route which will extend it to the most people and to the best potential resources," Lew L. King M.L.A. told the legislature in the first backbench Social Credit speech late last week. The Fort George M.L.A. dwelt at length on the needs of his constituency, emphasizing in connection with the P.G.E. that the Interior wants the railroad linked with Vancouver before extending it farther north. He told the house that from 19 to 29 hours could be cut from the present Vancouver to Prince George P.G.E. schedule if the line were built to a North Vancouver terminus. . sdrthe^CenjKalJnter- Prince George householders will be burning,, natural gas from the Peace River within two years if Westcoast Transmission, a subsidiary of Pacific Petroleum, wins approval of its application now pending before the U.S. Federal Power � Commission in Washington. Five weeks of the hearings will be spent on engineering and, gas, reserves "testimony, and some weeks on marketing and financing. Three pipeline builders, West-coast Transmission, Northwest Natural Gas Co. and R. G. Fish and Associates, are seeking rights to serve the densely populated Pacific Northwest. A decision is expected "some time before June," according to a Washington observer. Westcoast has a permit to export gas from Alberta and B.C. Northwest Natural Gas has yet to secure an export permit from any field, while the Fish interests have applied to export gas from Texas and the San Juan Valley in New Mexico and Colorado. . The board is hearing evidence on behalf of the three companies from a battery of lawyers, financiers, geologists, engineers and technical experts. ; On hand are Frank McMahon, president of "Westcoast-Pacific Pete; Lloyd Gilmore, whose New York firm underwrote the $100, 000,000 it will take'to build the pipeline through the Pine Pass; D. P. MacDonald, a Calgary lawyer, and Dr. Chas. Hetherington, mathematician for West Coast. Also on hand are more than a hundred "experts," retained by (See NATURAL GAS Page 4) olice Favor Meters fo Enforce Parking Royal Canadian Mounted Police ere would sooner see installa-ion of parking meters than con-inuance of the present 60-minute egulation on down town streets, .Merman R. W. Hilton, chairman f the city's traffic committee, old city council on Monday. The meters would simplify the roblem of enforcing restricted arking and would probably demand less police personnel to ac-omplish enforcement. Shell Distributors Guests At Parley A two-day business conference officials of they approve the application they Shell Oil Company of Canada J will have to recommend a change Ltd. came to an end in the Mac- in zoning status. Donald Hotel here yesterday. Presiding at the meeting was Harry P. Estlin, Shell's northern sales representative, and company officials were F. R. Smith, B.C. credit manager; J. P. Secofd, interior district manager; M. G. Roberts, operations manager; T. A. Robertson, assistant treasury manager, and H. A. Beck. Northern distributors attending the conference were V. M. Morgan, Prince George; G. E. Williams, Burns Lake; W. S. Silver, Vanderhoof; Bruce Russell, Fort. St. James; K. W. Thibaudeau, Quesnel, and S. C. Pigeon, Williams Lake. Highlights of the meeting were a dinner at the MacDonald Hotel and a social evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Estlin. Hunting Expeditions End In Police Court McBRIDE � John Jenson, Jr., of Lamming Mills was fined $100 1 and costs or in default 30 days in jail when he pleaded guilty before Stipendiary Magistrate G-. T. Holdway to a charge of shooting a moose during the closed season. Clarence Martin and Ronald Brown were each fined $50 and costs or in default 30 days for hunting during the closed season. The guns in each case, were ordered confiscated. Game Warden W. M. Hicks prosecuted. "Not Excessive! Says Official Giant Aluminum Undertaking Claims 49 Lives In Two Years Vancouver; Feb. 26� The Alcan aluminum development has been responsible for 49 deaths-^-directly or indirectly� since work began in March, 1951. Twenty of the deaths occurred on actual work at Nechako and Kemano and another 29 persons were killed in plane crashes while going to or leaving the project. C. E. Elliott, controller of Mor-rison-Knudseri po. of Canada Ltd., which is contracting overall work at the Kemano hydroelectric area, said: "While the death of any workman is deepOy regretted, 20 fatal accidents on a project employing up to 7,000 in extremely difficult is not unduly excessive light of previous exper- terrain in the ience." Mr. Elliott charge made by Bob Strachan (CCF-Newcastle) was discussing a in the Legislature that there had been 40 deaths at, only 15 feet from the shore the Kitimat site. Elliott ,said the charge was "fantastic." Mr. Elliott said six of the Kemano deaths were of displaced persons who through language difficulties were perhaps unfamiliar with safety regulations. ket of B.C." and told of the rich agricultural lands of the McBride area which would be fully developed with completion of the Northern Trans-Provincial Highway. Mr. King tempered a plea for hydro power in the Interior with a statement that fisheries must be protected. Weather, Caffndar M QfGea? King Sol will bring spring-lik weather to Prince George today and Friday with only a few clouds called for by the weathe office. Temperatures will remain "fair ly mild, with a low tonight of 20 and a high tomorrow of 40. Winds will be light. Roine Rink Ihird in Province Piay-Ofts The Thelma_ Roine rink of the Ladies Curling Club brought fame to Prince George Wednesday night when they placed third in the provincial playoffs at Kam-loops. Connie Hatch's rink was in the consolation playoffs, but the third rink from here to attend the three-day bonspiel, Lil Green, failed to cop any prizes. The lady curlers will now take part in the Kamloops Bonspiel, which continues until Saturday. In the Roine rink were Flo Gustafson, Helen Smith and Irene Arnett. In the Hatch rink were Edith Dingwall, Marj Inglis and Gladys Geddes, while � in the Green rink were Ev Baillie, May Croft and Marg Cristall. DAYLIGHT SAVING STARTS APRIL 26 VICTORIA, Feb. 26�Daylight saving Hme will start- in British Columbia this year Sunday, April 26, and remain in effect until Sunday, September 27. Limits for the fast time were fixed Wednesday by the provincial government. ' v\ore Needed Reef Cross Canvassers To Blanket City in Campaign Dozens of men and women are ready to comb the city when the Red Cross here opens its onnual drive for funds Monday with an objective of $4500. Halting of North Road )Nork Under Fire in Legislature VICTORIA, Feb. 26 � George Hills (CCF-Prince Rupert) Wednesday demanded an explanation from the government why work was stopped on the northern trans-provincial highway near Prince Rupert last October. Works Minister Philip Gaglardi was out of the Legislature at the time and no Social Credit member ventured to answer. Mr. Hills referred to a reply by Mr. Gaglardi on the Legislature's order paper that more than $400,-. 000 was left at the end of the year for work on the highway. He quoted a Prince Rupert Daily News of Oct. 6 whicn in turn quoted an official as saying that no money was left to finish the. highway work. Mr. Hills said city groups had asked for an explanation for halting the work but none had been given. Earlier in the sitting Mr. Gaglardi denied charges by Frank Snowsell (CCF-Saanich) that he had held up road work so the government could save funds to help show a surplus in the first Social Credit budget. Mr. Snowsell later quoted the Hordes Drowned When Ice Breaks FRANCOIS LAKE�A team of seven-year-old horses drowned in eight feet of water in Ootsa Lake The horses, owned by Archie Radikoff, were being used to haul supplies across the lake. . The ice broke beneath them and they swam with their heads on the edge of the ice for more than an hour before they tired and drowned. Aug. 11 edition of the Prince George Citizen which said work had been stopped in that area but that officials would give no reason. E. S. Baptiste, 66 Buried At Armstrong President Mrs. R. B. Carter reported books have been distributed to almost air district captains, and have been sent to outlying areas. CANVASSERS NEEDED Although most of the organization is completed, Mrs. Carter emphasized a need for more canvassers. She pointed out that the areas have been cut in size this year so that each canvasser will have to spend only one or two afternoons collecting. Anyone interested in canvassing is asked to contact Mrs. Carter, or Mrs. N. Wqodhead. There are 40 districts in the canvassing - area of the-Prince George chapter of the Red Cross W. G. MacLean and Mrs. Wood head are co-chairmen of the drive, which this year is seeking $200 more than the objective last year. BLOOD National objective of the campaign is $5,310,600. Of this sum, 46 cents in every dollar is used for the greatest Red Cross work, the blood transfusion service. Now in its seventh year in b!c, the service has given 126,-588 patients transfusions. Each pint of blood costs $4.75 and is given free to patients. All blood collected is processed at laboratories at Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver. A travelling team of Red Cross members collected blood in Prince George at a two-day clinic last year and will repeat their effort here this year. The Vancouver Red Cross lab also provides free service to doc-ors by testing the blood of expectant mothers for the important 'h factor. Among other activities under-(See RED CROSS Page 4) Ski Heel Planned For Prince George Prince George Ski Club will ho.WJ a full scale junior and senior tneet liere oh the week-end of March 6 and 7, a club official disclosed this morning. Features of the two-day tourney will be the senior jumping and slalom events, both of which will take place in the heart of Prince George on Connaught Hill. A jump formed of packed snow has been built and distances up to 100 feet are obtainable on it. Skiers will be attending the meet from Burns Lake, Smithers, Vanderhoof, Quesnel, Wells, Jasper and Dawson Creek. Special children's and women's events will be held on Saturday afternoon, while junior and senr ior jumping and slalom will take place" Sunday. More details of the meet will _b_e released next week. City Firm Winner In Ham Contest Returning jubilant from Van- A pioneer of this district, Elmer j couver on Monday bringing with �m a second prize for all of BC S. Baptiste, died at his home near Armstrong, on February 19 in his 66th year. Mr. Baptiste was a former well known resident of the Isle Pierre district, having resided in or near Prince George since 1919. a second prize for all of B.C. in the annual smoked ham contest at the convention of the B.C. Locker Association was Jack Gosse, Gosse Cold Storage Ltd., 1395 Fourth Avenue. Two years ago Mr. Gosse won He and his family the Okanagan in 1947. moved to , a third prize for all of B.C. in the same event. His entry was a ham tenderlz- He served with the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and' ed, cured and smoked in Prince as a member of the Veterans' Guard of Canada during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Leona; son, Bryon; daughter, Audrey Quinn of Armstrong, also a son, Elwyn, and two sisters of Oklahoma City. The funeral under the auspices of the Canadian Legion was held on Saturday February 21, from the chapel of Sage & Pothecary Ltd., in Armstrong. Rev. A% B. Sharpies officiated. Interment was in the military plot of Armstrong cemetery. - Junior Hockey Tonight Prince George's Junidr Lumbermen, still unbeaten this seas-, on, will square off against Six Mile Lake Orangutangs in Civic Arena tonight for a scheduled intermediate league game.. Face-off will be at 8 p.m. George. The city meat specialist competed against more than 20 entries with his product. To obtain the finest flavor he uses special hardwood sawdust for the smoking process. SOFT ICE CANCELS WOMEN'S CURLING Balmy weather has resulted in cancellation of the Prince George Ladies Curling Club' draws for tonight. However, members are reminded that the draws scheduled for tonight will have to be played off. They will be rescheduled as soon as condition of the ice permits. The following is the schedule for tonight, Friday and Saturday. Thursday, February 26. Law-son vs Thome, 7 p.m. Farnsworth vs Roine, 9 p.m. Friday, February 27. Kennedy vs Lawson, 7 p.m. Saturday, February 28. Hill vs Sales, Peckham vs Dingwall, Kap-pahn vs Wallace, 7 p.m. Next Monday the knock-out round- of play for the Merchants Abrahamson and Club trophies will begin. Roads Serving Pr. George To Get 'Special Attention' VICTORIA, Feb. 26�Reconstruction of some of the worst stretches in the highway between Prince Rupert and Prince George is planned for this year,* Works Minister Gaglardi said Wednesday in a review of public works projects.. He also said "special attention" will be given to reconstruction of the Cariboo road south of Quesnel and between Quesnel and Prince George. Maintenance costs for the coming year include Atlin, $45,000; Cariboo North, $160,000; Cariboo South, $170,000; Fort George/ $195,000; Peace River, $245,000; Prince Rupert, $80,000; Skeena, $195,000.