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An Independent Semi-Weekly Nowspaper Devoted to the interest of Central and Northern British Col�mbir^
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5ection>) Fri"ce George, B.C., THURSDAY, April 7,.1955 * $4.00 per ytxjr g *
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P.
Red Cross Tops Quota
. With $5,584.91 collected to date, Prince George branch of ' the^Red Cross Society has gone well overHJtje top in its current month-long fund raising campaign. \
Objective for the Prince^ George district was $5000. o><
The district contribution is ex-, pected to be even higher when complete results are received from rural areas. i
Because of the prevalence of bad weather and flu during the past month Prince George, along with other centres in British Columbia, was forced to postpone its deadline date for the month ong compaign, which got underway on March 1.
Despite unfavorable conditions, however, British Columbia finished the March campaign in second place among Canadian provinces, with nearly two-thirds of its quota collected.
Mrs. C. 0. Albins, president of the Red Cross Society here, was chairman of the local drive, assisted by George Baldwin.
Some 150 canvassers in the city and rural areas braved inclement weather to make the collections.
i memorable-occasion in Prince George's history took place ere lost week when the above assemblage of British Columbia Power Commission officials, city dignitaries and guests litnessed the first delivery of commission-generated power ere. In the background is the $86,000 diesel-generating nit which was purchased and installed by the Crown Cor-orotion. In the center foreground is Mayor Gordon Bryant, nd to his-left, (wearing dark coats) Dr. H. J. McLeod, commissioner, and Lee Briggs, new power commission general jnonoger'" Standing to Mr. Briggs' left are the two members If the city's power committee, Alderman Percy Williams,-Chairman, and Alderman R. S. Ferguson. At the extreme light stands city powerplant superintendent Jimmy Hodgson, (rtio, will oversee operation of the commission installation.
�Wally West Studios
tocial Credit Members Share Platform Here
Every seat was occupied in the Elks Hall on Monday night
\ii people were standing up to hear some sharp criticism of
federal government by B. R. Leboe, Social Credit MP for
riboo, and a resume of legislation passed by the Provincial
Jivernmcnt during the last sitting, of the Legislature by Hon.
(Williston, Minister of Education and MLA for Fort George.
12 Percent Power Rate Cut In Effect Here Immediately
New light and power rates reflecting a 12 percent overall reduction are in effect today as a result of a provincial order-in-council passed a few days ago.
The new reduced rates will not show up on municipal utility accounts until bills go out covering
the month of April.
This is the second reduction in city power rates in less than a year and will probably be the last until B.C. Tower Commission hydro output becomes available.
Net return to the city on the new scale of rates, will be about ...evalua �
|Mr. Lei..... devoted most of
f'.spcci'ii to .the unemployment
|uaiion in Canada and the fin;m-nveihod.s n[ the Liberal goy-iniom in (utawa.
�He slated that unemployment
l.iiot seasonal uv of a local na-
six per. cent pp tion of approximately .$1,000,000�. This is almost a general standard for North American 'utilities: �-.-Difference between the new rate reduction and the 1954 cut is that the present one^will represent a minimum saving of around 12 per. cent. .JLastT year's reduced rate schedule^was based on a 12 per cenfoverall reduction in revenue and was hardly noticed by
have caused this �' as people will lc problem," the
hiic
>v:ts doomed necessary Uivt cy World War Two 5.;made financially possible. �en so nuirii of our production for non-consumer goods, the vas able to control
llati
uiiupuispry certificate:
personal income iavings, war sav-and price con-
nine of Irons. ('Those i Miiaioiv K Ldm
v iv.;.,!
tharjrc Ithcver
's to hav
er method was the ra-lVi(id through ratioq
iwisurcs managed to control inflntion." ' .-:iid that cmploynient ' "tinanciallj' possible" 1 ihat "automation is ; "i replacing the lab-
'""i' without funds 1 a consumer. But, we �.'"lisuinofs. Therefore,
distriftute purchasing iqnu-tizing our surplus
totalling $5,500,000,-
peake
distrlbution of accomplish-
^0C!AL CREDIT, Poge 3)
$100,000 Apartment Would Cater To Large Families
A $100,000 apartment house designed specially to accommodate families with children will be erected in the Millar Addition if city council wijl amend its zoning bylaw to suit. Financing tnc new venture will
be the wife of a. city theatre owner, Mrs. H. G. Stevenson.
Application to have a change made in the municipal zoning bylaw to permit construction of an apartment house ctn>-Queensway close to its. intersection with Patricia Boulevard, came before city council on Monday. Mrs. Stevenson owns five lots in Block 235.
She has proposed a building which would incorporate the most up-to-date in contemporary design. ; ;t would enclose its own park and playground on three sides, and a feature of it would be a supervised nursery for the children of tenants. '
Interior finish of the building would be specially designed to withstand .the wear, and tear attendant upon having small children in the apartments. ' Upon presentation of tha appli-
taper Bares Tax Fraud; (ounterffeit T4 Slips Sold
VANCOUVER, April 7 (CP)�The Vancouver Sun says
in British Columbia face prosecution in a widespread
f
fraud.
.'vpi'l)('i' says
�result
been arrested, the � and hundreds of J�n-o.sts will be made as investigation Into
x,hi ,
income,' tax fraud saw hundreds of from Van-
the
, cinpioyeo;
hc Sun
a statement-of <1 eductions pre-- employer and given
R 6i
V- quoted the police forgcry racket' lias tor weeks and will
and
federal
n and th6 federal thousands of- dcdlars.
Ludger Tasse, 50, was arrested and charged with fraud.
The Sun: story said'the men, mostly loggers laid off during the winter, were being charged 50 cent by dealers who cashed
per
tax rebate claims. b
casnecl
in this manner were
One dealer was quoted as saying he handled $30,000 in income tax claims. / .
Forgers made out fake T4 slips for men seeking illicit rebates, charging between $5 and $20, the newspaper explained to Canadian Press.
cation for a zoning change at a city council meeting on Monday, Mayor Gordon Bryant asked that it be given full consideration.
Council dealt with the matter by asking Mrs. Stevenson to submit sketch plans of, the building.
A nursery would be situated on the top floor of the apartment house and a nurse would be in attendance.
Mrs. Stevenson is the wife of M. G. Stevenson, president and managing director of Trans-West Theatres Ltd.. The company operates the Strand, Princess and the Stal'time1 Drive-in theatre here.
High Water Hits Civic Centre Area
Boating, duck hunting and fishing were added to sports associated with the Civic -Centre today as wavelets lapped at the shore of a large area surrounding the Centre building.
The Little' League, baseball diamond is completely ini^undatcd and at one point the water is more than two feet deep.
The miniature lake, fed ,by melting snow banks and seepage from the shallow water table, ex' tends 400 yards south, covering the Pony League" diamond and the outfield of the senior diamond.
Last month's heavy snowfall followc'd by ten days of extremely mild weather is blamed for the flooding in a section of the former. Connaught Hill slough..
The water is still rising at the rate of two inches daily, and may eventually cover the- entire_area.
Meantime water Has risen to a depth of 12 inches in the front basement of the Civic Centre. A battery of pumps was rushed into action but failed to halt tire flooding and WcTter is still seeping through the. cement floor of the basement- '
� . - v
some types of consumers.
Most of the savings under the newest schedule come from a 10 per cent increase in the prompt-payment discount,-which will now amount to 20 per cent.
When new untility bills are prepared by the city they will show an example of how accounts are computed so that individual consumers can check the costs them-selvesfTfn^tKe past it: has "usualVy been necessary to have a utility employee explain the complicated procedure by which the end amount was arrived at.
Average residential rate throughout the city under the new schedule will be about 4.6 cents per kwh compared with a previous, average of 5.3 cents.
Commercial consumers will pay an average rate of 4.7 cents, down from 5.4, and three-phase secondary power customers will pay an average of 4.9 cents compared with a former overage of 5.9 cents.
Primary power consumers will get power at an average cost of 4.7 cents per kwh, compared with a previous figure of 5.9 cents.
The new rate schedule will reduce the city's gross power utility revenue by approximately 14 per cent and total estimated revenue will'be about $541,000.
Rites Tuesday For Former City Teacher
Funeral services were held in ^orth Vancouver on Tuesday for
native daughter of South Fort reorge who taught school in several Central B.C. communities before her marriage.
Margaret Auld Rayner.died on Saturday in her 39th year and was buried in Capilano View Cemetery following services conducted by Rev. Dr. H. Stewart Forbes.
Mrs. Rayner_was_the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Forbes, former residents of Prince George who now resides in Coquitlam.
She attended Pnnce George schools and later "was a teacher in schools at Strathnaver, Pacific $ prior. Id
council the utility head had only two words available, "No comment";
It was learned later, however, hat Mr. Jack was approached be-ore his resignation came to coun-il and was asked to reconsider.
On Tuesday the friendly electrical superintendent told The Citi-zeh^that he would consider re-easing-details of his resignation over the following 24 hours.
"But yesterday^ he' said the city council's power committee asked him for a full reporbon his � reasons and that he would nbtvdivulge any details at least until that^re-port is in the hands of the com-, mittee chairman. This much at least is known:
1. Mr. Jack is not contemplat-ng any other position at the moment.
2. His resignation came some two weeks after a closed power committee discussion which was concerned with "friction" between city powsr personnel and British Columbia Powej1 Commission officials working in installation of a commission-financed die-sel generating unit in" a power-plant annex adjacent to the city iowerplant.
3. The "friction" is known to be partly, the result of alleged shortcomings in the actual power commission installation. Charges have been made that the unit is not efficiently mounted and that the exhaust system is laid but in such a manner that peak effic-
ency of the unit is impossible.
Placing the resignation before city council on Monday, Alderman
'ercy Williams, committee chairman,, said Mr. Jack did not tell
lim what prompted it and that he did not know. .
He still did not know the reasons when interviewed by a reporter on the following day, and
presumably will not know until
her marriage to Robert Henry Rayner.
She is survived by her husband, a son, Ronald, and a daughter, Patricia.
A brother, Barrett Forbes, lives in Vancouver.
City Lumberman In Vancouver Hospital
Martin Caihe, pioneer city lumberman, is a patient in Vancouver General Hospital where he underwent operations last Friday and Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Caine went to Vancouver ten clays ago to attend a district conference of Rotary Clubs, following which Mr. Caine consulted a specialist regarding an ailment of long standing.
His condition today was reported as "good".
Residential Site Shortage Alarms Real Estate Agents
Shortage of medium-price residential building sites in Prince George is causing alarm among the city's real estate agents and will probably bring about a backlog of unfinished homes when the 1955 building season draws to a close next
fall.
In a brief presented to city council on Monday night, the Cariboo-Real Estate & Insurance Board has urged the city "to make, available to the public as soon os possible, good building sites which may be purchased for $1200 or less."
The brief states that establishment of a 150-homesite land assembly project here where sites will cost an average of $1800 each will provide no relief for people with limited means who want to build modest homes, or for people who don't happen to like the area \vher# the development is to take place.
Neither will the land assembly area offer any incentive to persons who intend to build without NHA assistance and who must consequently pay cash for their homesite.
council by Ken Luttrell of Car-michael & Luttrell Agencies Ltd.
Mr. Luttrell said that while there are a number of building sites available in Central Fort George for $800 or less, builders seem prejudiced against the area, and in any case want lots in the $800-to $1200 category.
"in reply to a question from Mayor Bryant the real estate ^rent said that leaving the paved streets and sidewalks out of the land assembly project and charging about $1300 for sites there would, be pfs considerable help.
He s^iid a substantial number of buyers are interested in an area in the southeast corner of the city where no municipal services exist at the present time.
Mr. Luttrell advised against the city concentrating on the development of one single area because
The real estate agents' brief I such a move would deprive pros-
also points oul that a prospective builder planning an investment of $10,000 to $15,000 for a home is entitled to a choice of location.
It claims that there are no sites in AA residential zones available at the present time except from private owners at prices 50 per cent-greater. tharL sixLmanihs_agQ..
"Present plans -are hot likely to help very materially in the construction program for at least two or three months. This cannot now be helped but it Is hound to leave a large backlog of building when autumn comes."
The brief was placed before the
pective builders from choice of location.
He said that_ few homes are built under NHA provisions today for less than $10,000 to $12,000 and that a person making stlcli an. investmcn^would want a ' good site.' Thcy~migh't not, however, like the area overlooking the Ne-.chaXfl. River where the land as-
sembly-project is destined to be developed.
Mayor Gordon Bryant thanked the I'cal estate agents' spokesman for the brief and his" verbal pro
sentation and said that immediate
City Holl Bombtfietl
Reasons
Committee Awaits Report Of Details
Unexpected resignation of City Electrician K. A. C. Jack landed like a bombshell at City Hall on Monday*
Circumstances surrounding the surprise move on the part of the city's power chief are still shrouded in secrecy.
In an interview with a Citizen reporter on the day following acceptance of his resignation by city
the city electrician files his report.
The report will beJn the power committee's hands before^the city council meets next Monday.\
Dealing with the resignation last Monday night, council first passed a motion accepting- it and then followed it with a motion calling upon the power committee to 'examine the power situation" and bring in a recommendation before steps are taken to find a replacement.
Mr. Jack came to Prince George in 1947 following his -discharge from the Royal Canadian Air Force. He first became a city employee in 1950 and waa.a lineman ufrtil^the following year when he left ,Prince George for a short period. \.
Returning latej the same year he returned to 'city employ, this time as wireman at the main pow-erplant, and in 1952 waVasked to become assistant to a new^etec-trical superintendent who had riot yet taken over the job.
But the new superintendent never arrived and later the same year Mr. Jack was asked to fill the position.
As the Citizen went to press today, a City Hall stenographer was at work.on the first draught of a lengthy report composed by the city power chief.
Stores to Close On Good Friday, Monday
Retail stores in Prince George will close on Good Friday and Easter Monday. *
Bruce Scholton, chairman of the merchant's committee of the Prince George Board of Trade, announces that all retail stores in the'eity will observe the Easter holiday on.April 8 and 11.
Redcoats Always Get Man But
Legendary tenaciousness and perserverance of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in dealing with criminals also extends to their attitude towards real estate, city council has found out.
At a council meeting on Mon-lay Mayor Gordon Bryant stated that all efforts to negotiate a trade with the RCMP for a block of land situated in a municipal hospital �eserve have failed.
The police farce obtained the block of land from the provincial overnment and wants to build 10 duplexes on it.
The city wants it for part of a new hospital site and is quick to point out that in any case the zoning bylaw prohibits the con-itruction of duplexes in that,area.
Several alternative sites " have been offered by the city but all have been rejected.
Monday's meeting saw a suggestion that the federal force be offered Block 111 a short distance away and out of the hospital reserve, but that turned out to be in.the non-duplex zone too.
Quipped Alderman Carrie Jane Gray, "It doesn't seem as if we have any control over whether they enforce our bylaws or where they build their homes. What's the matter with us?"
Mayor Brvant replied that the city certainly can prevent the police from contravening the zoning bylaw.
Alderman Clarh interposed with, "They are certainly very difficult to please, aren't they?"
City Clerk D. T. Williams said that officers of the force recently promised better policing as a result of building the duplexes because more, married men could be stationed here, but nobody explained why a married policeman is more effective than a single one.
"For a law enforcement body to try to set aside the law of this city is all wrortg," added Alderman William Ferry.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bryant has suggested still another alternate site and police will be sounded out on whether or not it is acceptable.
Total cost of the police housing project would be approximately $200,000,'but only half the buildings would be constructed in the first stage.
Off The WiresToday
(Canadian Press, Thursday, April 7, 1955)
Government Plans To Improve Social Status Of Indians
PORT COQUITLAM�-B.C. government plans new studies of the life of, B.C. Indians to give them a prospective place in society, Labor Minister Lyle Wicks told the Board of Trade here.
''Education isn't enough,' he said. "We have to find a place for them after they get schooling."
. Mr^ Wicks said too many girls end up on skid row because there is nothing for them when they leave school.
He -said many Indians are excellent artisans, and envisioned Indian nurses, doctors, lawyers and school teachers.
VICTORIA�Taxi driver Roy Edward Fisher was charged in police court with smoking while transporting passengers in a taxicab. Police say the charge comes under a 1949 taxicab regulation bylaw. Fisher was remanded for one week. .t
FORT ST. JOHN�Kentucky blue grass has found a new home alongside the Alaska Highway where plots have, been seeded. Several farmers are now under contract with seed houses to raise the grass commercially.
BURNS LAKE�Owing to a sudden heavy run-off, aggravated by three days of rain and snow, the court house here was flooded by 12 inches of water in the basement. Forestry and Public Works personnel kept the water down with pumps.
PORT ALBERNI�M. Mostilak, 52-ycar-old logger, was killed at the Sarita River operations ,of MacMillan and Bloedcl "Ltd. when struck "by o sopling_knQckecLovfir_byi_a_iaJiing tree. He had been employed os a foller for 20 years. , , _,,'���� . �/
VICTORIA�Timber cut in B.C. for the first two months of" 1955 was 713,349,000 board feet, compared with 467,172,000 boardfeqd in he same period last year, Trade Minister Ralph,Chetwynd announced.. Lost
consideration would be given to year marked a provincial record for lumber production when 4,233,106,000 opening up more residential land, board feet was sawru