An thdependent   Semi-Weekly   Newspaper   Devoted   ro   tho   Interest   of   Central   and   Northern   British   Columbia
fol. 37; No. 53.
(Two Sections)
Prince George, B.C., THURSDAY, July 8, 1954
New Power Rates In Effect From July 1
New power rates which will save-city consumers from 10 M 30 percent on their power utility accounts went into effect Pjtly   1   but this  fact  did  not become  known Were until   late
^Monday.                   .                 I '-----------------;-------------------:�
^Rford was received at city hall
BHt   an   order-ln-eouncil   approv-
3$ft|r 'n(-' city's new power schedule
ns passed by the provincial cabi-
Jgft on June 30/
HHThe bylaw providing for the �Bf rate schedule was worded to, Be the new rates start on the Hn of the month immediately �Howing the month in which the $8S|er-in-council  was received.
.�he new rates will not show up S accounts    mailed    out    this foftth because   the- city operates its utility :i() days in arrears. IjaBut billings sent^out in August 'jfl!&!�~J u\y accounts will show sub-l  reductions in most cate-|es.                              \.
llphlights of the new schedule  extending    the   prompt-lament   discount   to   consumers
erfson-Phillips
let Sidewalk Work
municipal   rnntrnr>t   fnr   fNhis.
year   was  given   first
reodingxby city council  Monday nightSv
Although sc^me categories are reduced, the-nevKhylaw Increases cost of some cla.sse&\pf licences 100 per cent or more.
feet oT concrete curbing an engineering Investigation
on the curbing varied wide-irlth Robertson-Phillips bidding ',604   and   Dezell   Construction J.900. Both were far abbve^clty imates.                  �-'�.�?.. >-~;y4t
fAmount of sldev/ak to be built the city this year will depend the response to local-improve-pnt petitions.    _
Alderman W. D. Ferry, vmpjn-troduced the bylaw, said he pects increased revenue will be abouL, $7000,, .. -Trade- lie�nses monies -for-H-he^finrtr^t>r"nT6rfLfis of the year amounted to $11,522.
Council must give the bylaw reconsideration and final reading before it comes into effect.
A second bylaw dealing with professional fees was also given first reading.
Trade licences and fees are paid every six months,
Under the new profession fee bylaw, lawyers, physicians and others engaged in the treatment
of Illness, veterinarians, chartered accountants, engineers,-land surveyors, dentists and other professional men will each pay a fee -of S15 every six months.
Under the previous licensing bylaw, s^ch persons paid, �10. In ddiU,- in a 'partnership, the  firm must now pay $15 for the flrsKpartner and $1� 'or each ad-dltiontfKjjartner. Previously the S10 fee covered a firm.
Victoria Approves ^66,000 On Centre
Just 575 days since the electorate of Prince George firmly asked the city to take over ownership of the Prince .George Civic Centre and complete it, authority to make a $66,000 expenditure on the building came from Victoria on Tuesday.
The sum of money will not corn-
Outwardly Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Eisenhower are as friendly:as^cm
be-in this picture taken a few days ago at the   White House sr.ows, out inwardly each knew
x^he-iozthcpjnmg^Ll^^                                            of Red China to the United Notion^.�'J'atrida Avenue. f3aBe claimed the fire hall building located immediately cast of the city hall was misplaced in the first instance and that a,.great ITMlhy people did not want it there when the move was made some  years ago.
 The Prince George Town Planning commission, he went on, has several times discussed the possi- bllJty of relieving" Winchester .Street .traffic congestion from the growinp: west end by\ extending gi            Avenue to Palricia Avc-
and   completing   the   latter  thebhsQ of Connaught Hill connect iwith the ..already-built Irtion   which lies along the nor-?rn boundary of the, Millar Ad-
IKK ADDITIONS
X. feel that:, once any money is ni on enlarging this firehall have now it will merely pave 1 way for more additions later," remarked.
I"I  believe if we tan get away Ithout spending any money, on I now *ve can relocate It.     ... -. ("The fire hail  is rirht in the dle of Patricia Avenue and if build Patricia /ivenue then it |ust go. I feel thaj< w will have open   Patricia  Avenue befalre *ny years have gone by." us an-alternative to extending fire hall In order to acebmmo-c vohinteer firemen the mayor :>posed   that   a   nearby   house lich the city is negotiating for converted to a volunteers' dor-rtory   and   recreation   facilities
when Its purchase has been consummated.
He pointed out tlia^ the house Is less than a block from the fire hall.
Alderman Gabrlele replied that the house would not be suitable if It was a. half block removed from the fire hall. He' explained that the entire purpose of a dormitory in the fire hall was>-io Gee MAYOR BREAKS, Page 6)   -
of doing willful damage to two churchii area.  ._
William Bristol, Edwin Mann and Roberta, Arlitt, all of Vander-hoof, were sentenced following a party.jon May fr-which resulted in about : $1000 damaRe � r-d* S t. George's Anglican Church fire miles east of Fort Fraser and St. Mary's Church  at Fort  Fraser.
In addition to the fine Mann was instructed to pay costs n-mounting itr-SrF-12 inciTrreur�,"   Inspector   lice   em*
At the present time one regular' police car patrols rtie disti-ieUffe^ for 18 hours every tlay^K'
However, main traffic problems occur within Prlmfe George itself, the Inspectpr'indrcatcd. Fie said there hjai^becn a tightening on traffic; control in the city since .February and an increasing number of traffic prosecutions have been made since that time.
He said no additional control would be imposed along First Avenue as a result of two accidents at the 'week-end/which cans-od the death of one man and in-Jury to another.
fhfs is not strictly an RCMP problem he said, but one which the city must take up with the provincial government.
Sunny Friday
Prince George residents can expect another warm clay tomorrow, according to the airport weatherman.
Forecast notes a few clouds tonight but sunny tomorrow morning, becoming cloudy about hooh.
There will be Httje change In temperature, with low and high readings expected in Prince George tonight and tomorrow 45 and 75.
esir
in thV~Va
Car Theft Charge Results In Remand
Reginald S, Coornbe was remanded for preliminary hearing when he appeared in police court yesterday charged wkh'tlie theft of an automobile.
Coombe we* arrested on July 1 While driving, an automobile alleged to have been stolen from Riverside Garage.
A-vfine of $75 was imposed on the accused at an earlier hearing on Juiyj? when he was convicted by Magistrate P. Moran of driving while impaired and driving- without a license.
plete the building in all its as-)ects but it will" complete almost everythlngbut the stage.      '
A contract for $16,000 towards completion of the- building has already been let to Dezell Construction Co. Ltd.
But before work can start the City council must give the centre mprovement bylaw a final read-ng.
This will take place on Monday and�its passage Is deemed cerain.
An official of Dc/.rll Construction said this morning that his ' company is prep'urrd to start work on the initial con-tract just as .soon as final reading is given to the bylaw.
Intention of the cbuncil . ^s to get the work completed by fall so that the entire building can be put to use this winter.
A large part of the initial contract covers construction of a spacious addition to the front of the building. The addition, in a basement and on two storeys, will make provision for club-rooms and will contain ticket booths, cloakroom, washrooms, entrance foyer, banquet or meeting room, kitchen and supply room.
The contract also embodies WQ_r.k__to the_main_ part of the building   and           i
Seating system.
a $52,000 expemtHumr and to jt was added tho unspent $14,000 left over from 1953.
Approval Ui spend $(J(>,()00 on the centre this year came in the form of an ottler-ln-councU on Tuesday.
' -Only council opposition to the program came from Alderman Carrie Jane Gray who contends tnat Prince George Curling Club occupancy of the basement of the building constitutes an Infringe; mont of public rights. She 'lias suggested that the curling club vacate the civic  centre.
City To Open Two Blocks Of Ninth
A-petition   to  city  council  to openup the unbuilt western por tion ofNNinth Avenue will be ac ceded toNn part, council decld on Monday>\
Alderman Frank Clark, chair man of the city works commmit-tee, told council he fiad^ inspected he�sttc�trf�the~-uflbu4ft^vpart�of-Ninth Avenue and decldedxthat two blocks of it extending east *com Central -Avenue could be constructed at little cost.       "^
He^ald. the nature of the ground at$ha_t point ia such that no gravel wilPrwive to be hauled to construct the cw^o blocks of "street. The -right-of-wih readv been clashed-to a w 12 feetx .
The original petition froin west end l>e^idcnts asked that Ninth AvenueMje opened as far east, as Prince, Georce & District Hospital, a distance or 10 blocks.
Alderman Clark explained that opening of the street fcitv two blocks would give a numberxpf residents living east of Central Avenue shorter access to a general store located at the Ninth and Central intersections.         _
City Electrical Inspection Under Fire From Contractors
City council Monday night ogreed to again consider strong recommendations from local electrical contractors that the city get out of the electrical inspection business and turn such authority over to a provincial government department^
In a now petition the contractors charge-tn;it municipal inspection causes confusion, delay and duplication.
Tiie brief also, states that tho local electrical inspector is not available when needed and it adds; "a natural tendency for, local inspectors is to iTiticise^Hie type of construction, even, though
it is passable." � Tho contractors claim there
 are
"continual differences in opinion with city Inspectors and the electrical association in the interpretation of the (electrical) code." .. 'The contractors' main point is that provincial "inspectors use a standard approach.- to all installation^ and their rulings are not subject to variance, between one inspector and another.
Presenting the brief on behalf of eight local electrical contractors was R. E. Ferguson, of Ferguson Electric Ltd.
pect'ion authority in- a municipality.
He then went on to outline the advantage!? of provincial over municipal Inspection systems. /He said a municipality is not committed to retaining provincial inspection once it has arranged to do so and that any agreement between th.e. provincial department and, a municipality could'be terminated at any time after giving adequate notice.
Mayor Gordon D. Bryant told Mr. Robson he was not familliar with ?the advantages    and .disad-
(See CITY ELECTRICAL, Page 3)
JAYCEES WIND UP 1953-54 SEASON
Final   meeting   of   the   Prince
He pointed out to council that  George Junior Chamber  of  Corn-
Monday night's nctition was the third of ihut nature which had hern presented.'to the city with "almost 100 per cent" approval in the trade.
Questioned by Mayor Bryant Mr. Ferguson stated that only one city contractor had refused to sign the petition..
Appearing before council with Mr. Ferguson was Lance Robson, an official of the provincial-electrical inspection branch.
Mr. Robson told aldermen that on several occasions local contractors had appealed to him for opinions on rulings made by a local electrical Inspector.
He said his opinions had differed! with those of the Inspector In some cases and that he had so advised \ the inspector by letter.
He said'it was not the policy of his department to make any overtures to a municipal council In order to secure electrical ins*
ever jdncc six years agoH^hen th>xHk�*leton of a w;ir-surpluH^nrniy^Mlrill hall was brought to Hl|e Seventh Avrnup centre site antrian.- and motorists the   matter   of, inconvenience dueMp  torn up streets; but said.
�actor  is   backfilling   as
tions permit>-x .He ex plained .that  after a .section of w'atermain is laid it must be pressure  tested for two days\ befool It Ctiii be covered.
"We are doing everything we can to hamper traffic and pedestrians as little as possible, but ^the work must be done and tills isStound to entail inconveniences.
m'crcc for the 1953-54 season took place at the McDonald Hotel on Tuesday.
New officers elected for the 1954-55 season were William Mc-Keigan, president; Alf Strom, first vice-president; Arne Oraya, second "VTCtrpresldent; Gordon Gram. Stewart Williamson, Andy Isa-belle and Maurice George, directors.
Guests present at the meeting were Ernie Hill of Hope, B.C.. Rev.' John Johnston of St. Giles Presbyterian Church, and Des Johnston, Prince George.
Main topic of. discussion was centered -around plnns_for joint sponsorship of a British Columbia products Fair with the Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce on August 1.
Adequate publicity for the new Jaycee-s'ponsored - tourifcL bureau at 133 George Street was also dis-cufised.
Off Th eWiresTqday
(Canadian   Press�Thursday,   July   8,    1954)
P.G.E. Work Starts Soon
VICTORIA�Pacific Great Eastern vice president Einor Gundefs,or>^an-nounccd Wednesday that tenders will be called Friday for construction of the first link of the soulhern extension. He said tenders will be for a seven-., mile  stretch  betVecn  Squamish  and   Britannia  Mines.
Gunderson aiso said the government is stepping up survey work for tho northern extension from Prince George. Four crews have been in *hj field since Jurie and two more are going out shortly. The surveys will determine whether the extension will go north via the Peace Poss or via the Pine Pass^
.    -                  $5000 Bail For Medico
VICTORIA�Chief Justice Gordon Sloon Wednesday set $5,000 bail for Doctor -Raymond Rush following formal notice of appeal against thj Vancouver physician's manslaughter conviction.                                                 '�
Rush has been in Oakolla Prison Form following his conviction on June. 23 on a charge of manslaughter arising out of the death of his wifj, Margaret, last November. He was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary.
Should Fine Parents
VICTORIA�Victoria Police Commission recommended Wednesday that parents of convicted juvenile delinquents be fined. Commission action fallowed a' suggestion from Mayor Claude Harrison that juvenile courts fine parents shown to be neglecting to give children proper discipline. Thj criminal  code gives the court  such  rights.
Death Car Traced
SAN 6lEGC>�California State Patrol said Wednesday that a passenger in an automobile which plunged into thto-Thompson River neor Lytton on July  1   may 'have been from Ketehtkan.......
The patrol said investigation of a licence number forwarded by Mount-ics showed the car was purchased by Maurice E. Fowler of Kctchikan during a visit to Alpine, California and it is believed ha was accompanied by his. daughter Mildred,   nine,  and  Arnold  Kindlcr,   also  of   Kctchikon.
The car is still submerged in 30  feet of  water near Lytton.
Now, How Did Mother Do It?
VANCOUVER�'Bread vanished from grocer^lsirTelvcs and housewives leafed through cookbooks yesterday os the Thursday deadline^ neored for a work stoppage in seven Vancouver ond Nanaimo bakeries. Operators have served notice they will lockout some 450 bakery workers ot noon on Thursday if 70 employees of McGavin Bread Company strike os scheduled today. The strike would cut bread production in Vancouver by two-thirds.   .
Government conciliation board spokesmen said attempts are still being made to bring operators ond employees together. The dispute revolves around a union demand for a thirty-five hour week instcod o( the present thirty-eight.