p An lnJep�ndent Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interest of Central and Northern British Columbia 48 They'll Learn the Highland Fling Prince George, B.C., Thursday, November 25, 1948 10c per Copy; $3.00 a Year Jr. # . �j� : X*- '�* ffl Hydro Work Stopped As Bylaw Defeated Weather Forecast Cloudy and cold with snow flurries today and Friday. Clear tonight, light winds. Low temperature in Prince George 10F.. high tomorrow 30F. Maximum temperature during the week was 40.8F, Monday, minimum temperature occurred ] last night when the mercury fell ! to 15F. �,� PRO-REC CHILDREN pose for a picture in the High School Auditorium. Equipped with softball , Swedish clubs, handballs and baseballs, they look as though they mean business. Pro-Rec classes are I held in the High School each Saturday for boys and girls from grades one to six. Mrs. Chuck Thomas authorized by the Provincial Pro-Rec to direct these classes, the first of this nature ever undertaken ice George. Over 150 children are toking part in the classes which feature group dancing, highland ond gymnastics. Experienced instructors have volunteered their services. To date, volunteers are JGuile and Gerry Knight. The organization has the support of the Civic Centre and the P.T.A. as well as �Provincial Pro-Rec. Classes will be conducted all winter with a display in the spring, proceeds going to >ic Centre. Pro-Rec shields will be issued to the children for efficiency. This is the first time that of this nature have been organized in Prince George. �Photo^courtesy Wally West Studio. o.T. Urged to Watch terests of Farmers Town Planning, Low�r Fire Losses, Credit Bureau Werehant*' Association and Many Other Possible Fields of Activity Arc Listed By Visitor i of Trade members should take a greater interest Irmers in tRetrMaf Did they look after their parking ns, provide any place where they could gather and rest . ,n town? Were they looking after youth on the tarmsr' [These were a few of the pertinent questions raised by Ecroyd, visiting Regional Representative for Western oof the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in an address Board of Trade at the regular monthly meeting on ay. Ecroyd kept his large nee amused during a speech, warned listeners, would _Jit_three'-quarlers of an His talk, interspersed with frous anecdotes, only one of an old chesnut, was one of Inost polished heard In the �for some time. r told of the history of the fi of Trade. How the Board in England, a Government U whose activities stretched 'an.-ula and resulted eventu-in the Dominion of Indepen-1 boards. There are 578 "tors of the Board of Trade, f them in B.C., belonging; to i organization, he said. The National organization binds together all boards of trade and chambers of commerce. "The main object of the Chamber of Commerce is to obtain board of trade views on national aims, secondly to assist local boards of trade." PGE EXTENSION There were, he said, 37 B.C. boards of trade represented at the recent great national convention in Vancouver. The~PG.E. extension resolution, came before the convention, but delegates felt that the resolution did not contain enough background and it was re-(See BOARD OF TRADE. Page 5) $12,500 Sales Tax Windfall For City Information that the city of Prince George will receive a sum of approximately $12,500 as an nterim rebate on the Provincial ;ales tax agreement was received his week from the Minister of Finance, Hon. Herbert Anscomb, m a letter to the city council. The figure stated by Mr. An scomb in his letter was only a tentative one and would be subject to possible adjustment when the sales tax accounts were totalled. P.G. Police District Will Be Enlarged Importance of Prince George as a fast-growing administrative centre is likely to be recognised in the police reorganization planned in Victoria, a special "Citizen" correspondent reveals. Under the new set-up, it is probable that the area of the District Police Chief will ,il>e considerably enlarged, bringing in many communities now outside the District. The Districtwill then become a full police division instead of a sub-division, with an inspector, instead of sub-inspector in charge. Planing Mill To Supply City Power Prince George will soon commence purchasing additional pov-t from private industry. Reports to the effect that the city has been negotiating with private concerns were confirmed at the city council meeting last night, when W. G. Praser, city clerk, read a draft of an agreement between the city of Prince George and Prince George Planing Mills Ltd. under which the city could obtain 900,000 Kilowatts per year. Cost to the city for this power will be four cents per kilowatt for the first 500,000, five cents for the next 400,000 and three cents for each additional Kilowatt. The contract had first been contemplated by city officials as a stop-gap measure until the hydro plant was in operation. However, as the Monday polling eliminated the possibility of hydro for some time, the council decided to approve the scheme as an additional power source for the electricity-hungry city. The contract with Prince , George Planing Mills is for two (years, with the option of renewal by the city after the first year. The additional source of power will necessitate the city closing the army power plant until such time as the power needs of the city absorb the output stipulated in the contract. Tense Scenes in City Council Chamber as Ballot Reveals Majority Against Project "I BOW TO WILL OF MAJORITY"-^ ICHOLSON. All work has ceased on the Willow River hydro project. This statement was made by Mayor Jack Nicholson following Monday's dramatic decision of citizens against the proposed Hydro By-Law No. 590. Votes for the by-law to authorize the borrowing of $30,000 for preliminary survey and drilling work on the Willow River hydro project were: against 356; for 290. Majority against, 66. A sixty per cent vote in favor would have been necessary for the by-law to go through. Waterworks By-Law Passed By-law No. 591, authorizing the borrowing of $60,000 for major renewals of the waterworks system, was approved by 525 votes to 131 in the poll held on Monday. Jaycees Will Help City Publicity Rudy Kaser, J.C.C. president, stated on behalf of Jaycees, at the last Board of Trade Meeting, that the Junior Chamber of Commerce would welcome collaboration with the Board of Trade in the production of new tourist publicity matter. More Women Prisoners For Prince George Jail A batch of 15 more girl and \yo- Jall shortly, reveals Sub-Inspector George H. Clark. They will bring the total inmates to approximately 30. Influx is due to overflow conditions in Oakalla. N-TROTTING EX-DETECTIVE, FLIER, BOXER, SETTLES IN CITY years of practically con-globe-trotting came to an Gently, when Collin Grif-steppea from the car in h he had hitch-hiked from *>u\"er\ onto the soil of Prince ge. h� "Adventures of Collin" with his enlistment R.A.P. in 1940; his job . eless operator took him P l<> Iceland and then to Ca-�*� A rapid battery of conn-followed�India, Burma, |� and Sumatra, and eventn-jEngland at the end of hos- stayed in England some �nths working as a private jve in London, but the "Pri--ye'1 business palled, so Col-ffit out for New York aboard rican tramp steamer. The . deposited him upon the P of that great city in pos-H of $1.50, waning confl-P and a desire to get to Ca- Ur rounds in the boxing ." of a small carnival with the ^ad-man brought In a much-*a 540 and so Collin left the at vhite way" and came north Montreal. In Montreal Collin discovered that his banking instructions had gone awry and the money lie had sent there from England had gone to Vancouver. A message to Vancouver brought enough money to bring him to the west coast where he went to work in a Vancouver office. The office was fine but Collin yearned for the great out-doors and so he next signed on as timekeeper in nn island logging camp. A desire for Americana took him again to the States where names like Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Reno flash by like stops on a bus terminal signpost. VARIED OCCUPATIONS In these places Collin worked at anything that came his way, in a Reno gambling club, as short-order cook, hod carrier, mason, rough carpenter, and eventually as a crew member of a San Diego fishing boat, which landed him in Mexico. Collin lived in Tiajuana for three months absorbing atmosphere, which he state? "was rather rank/' and then returned to the U.S. A course in psychology and philosophy at the University of California then attracted Collin, and although he had neither the funds nor entrance requirements, he began attending lectures in the course of his choosing. At the end of the third month a university official asked his name and the jig was up. However the officials were "rather decent" about it Collin says, and although they told him he could not write the exam at the end of the seme-(See GLOBE-TROTTER, Page 5) Lady Curlers Hold First Get-Together The Lady Curlers held their first meeting at the Club Cafe Tuesday with over 30 members present. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mrs. H. Hatch; Vice-President, Mrs. H. Kennedy; Secretary-Treasurer, Mrs. T. Richardson. Executive, Mabel Nellson, Mrs. T. Wlnton, Mrs. G. Sales, Mrs. W. Kelly, Mrs. Tom Austin. Anyone wishing to curl, please phone Mrs. Harry Kennedy, number 106 before December 15. The prices stated in the contract compare favorably with the city power costs from their own installations. His Majesty Delays Australian Tour A circulatory ailment In his legs has forced the King to postpone the royal tour of Australia and New Zealand planned for 1949. A bulletin issued by attending doctors said "A defective blood supply to the right foot causes anxiety." The 52-year-old Sovereign, on medical advice, will fill no public engagements for at least six months. News of King George's" illness came as a surprise. An official Buckingham Palace announcement said the ailment "only recently, has become acute." The king's doctors said his general health, including his heart, "gives no reason for concern." PROPOSED TOUR The King ascended the throne in 1936 and will be 53 on December 14. He was to have sailed with Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in mid-January of next year on a tour of New Zealand and Australia. The Royal Party was to have travelled in the battleship H.M-S. Vanguard by way of the Panama Canal. Decision to postpone the tour was made after Commonwealth discussion. The Prime Ministers of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand agreed with the doctor's decision. The proposed hydro by-law wis one of the most controversial measures voted on in Prince George for some years. As polling day approached excitement was intense. His worship the Mayor, followed by John Steward, City Electrical Engineer, and City Engineer Charles East, broadcast in favor of the bylaw on Saturday evening. During the morning pamphlets against the by-law, issued by a body of ratepayers, appeared in the streets of the City. BROADCAST Mayor Nicholson reiterated his belief that the bylaw was in the best interests of the City. The power shortage, now and envisaged in the future, had to be met. Hydro was the answer. Citizens had already given tacit approval to go ahead with the survey in, last year's plebiscite, he said. Purpose of the present poll was A batcti oi id more gin aim vyu- .to raise funds to enable the ne-. men prisoners from Oakalla are cessary preliminary investigations due at Prince George Women's into tne project to^ be made. Opponents of the bylaw con* tended that hydro would not provide cheap power and, that $30,000 was no good for a .$!, 300,000 project. They asked for information as to the full amount spent to date from current account on hydro and said to vote only $30,000 was a waste of money. First man at the polls on Mon-lay was W. G. Fraser, City Clerk. Polling was fairly heavy. CITY HALL SCF1VE8 Charlie East. City Engineer, was available at the City Hall, to give information on hydro to voters. His services were later supplemented by two members, representing a body of ratepayers, who also attended in the City Hall. The atmosphere at the counting of the poll on Monday evening was dramatic. Mayor Nicholson, Charles East, a number of aldermen and the City Clerk were there. Counting of the votes for the hydro and the waterworks bylaw took place in Gets Ready For More MISS BESSIE MAYBEE, matron in charge of Prince George Women's Jail, looks over inmates' record sheets, as more arrivals are notified from Oakalla. two different rooms, the box (See HYDRO BYLAW, Page 5) Jaycees To Ask City Council To Hold Public Meeting Before Aldermanic Election The January visit was to have been the third Commonwealth Royal tour made by King George. In 1939 the King and Queen made a triumphant month-long tour of Canada.ln which they visited all of its larger cities and many small communities. �C.P. The City Council may be asked to hold a public meeting to give an accounting of their stewardship, before the Aldermanic elections December 16. A motion to request the accounting was passed at the regular meeting of the Junior Chamber of Commerce held in the Club Cafe last night. This motion was passed after a discussion arose on the defeat of the hydro by-law. The general feeling of the Chamber was that the city did not give the by-law enough publicity before the plebiscite was held. Ron Hatch spoke on the Get Out and Vote Campaign, stating though they were not fully organized for the by-law plebiscites, that they will again have cars available for the civic aldermanic elections. Further plans have evolved for | the proposed Welcome Arch to bo built over the main highway lead-Ing into Prince George. A committee is to be formed to approach other organizations which may be interested. It has been suggested that it could be built of various kinds of timber milled and exported from this area to add publicity to our resources. The Jaycees have made donations of $15 to the Willow River Community Hall and a further $75 to the Civic Centre. They will also supply crests for the J.C.C. girls' basketball team which had been supplied with uniforms by the board last year. Last night's meeting was a Prospective Members' ni^ht, and some 15 new faces were there to help crowd the Club Cafe's private dining room to capacity. A Past Presidents' Club has recently been formed to give guidance and to which the Jaycees can direct motions for decision. This consists of W. L. Armstrong, oldest past president and chairman of the club, Dr. McArthur, Wilson Muirhead. H. A. Moffat, George Hadden and Hartley Faw-cett. immediate past president, as secret a ry.