Doris E. Bechtley 1158 Melville St. B.C.
Dec6-57
Red Tape Blocks�t_ocal Farm Settlement
While civic and community groups devote hours of - their time to building up industry in the Prince George area, Provincial Government inaction and "red tape" are doing everything possible to make their efforts futile.
While an agricultural market worth millions of dollars yearly lies open here, and while thousands of acres of suitable land lie idle, agriculturists are unable to bring the two together because government agencies designed to assist and aid development are "snowed under" by lack of help and antiquated procedures.
The consumers' market in the City of Prince George is now importing from outside this area 70 to 80 per cent of its food requirements. Local farms supply only a fractional part of the butter, eggs, milk, poultry and similar food products consumed
here.
At the same time farm experts have stated there are 300,000 acres of good agricultural land "immediately adjacent" to Prince George which could be put into production.
The reason they aren't is simple, according to farmers who have attempted to back the nightmare of regulations governing purchase of land from the provincial government. It just Lakes too long.
"You would -be an old man before you ever got any action from them," one disappointed applicant told The Citizen.
This informant claims more than one potential farmer and producer has left this district after vain efforts to obtain government land which is supposed to be available for purchase, be-
cause "they can't afford to wait a year or two to get started."
Crux of the situation is the long, drawn-out procedure required by the department of lands before applicants are allowed to make any tenders for Crown property..        : �
A ruling instituted last October 1st requires all government land within 10 miles of Prince George to be sold by public auction. This was established'to prevent speculation in land values, and is not opposed by local parties.
What does bother them is the fact it appears almost hopeless .to attempt to have such land" put up for sale within a reasonable period of time.
Such lands must first be inspected and assessed by a provincial �  (See RED TAPE BLOCKS, Page 2)
Prince George Citizen
�     An Independent Semi-Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the  Intercut of Cental and Northern British Columbia
THE WEATHER
Variable cloudiness Friday. Not much change in temperature. Winds light. Low tonight and high tomorrow, 47 and 70.
Vol. 40;  No. 53
Prince George,  B.C., THURSDAY, July 4, 1957             (Three Sections, 20 Pages)
7c per copy
MONKEYS are no different from hurnans when it comes to ice cream on a warm summer day. That's what this monkey owned by Jim Walsh, 574 George Street, demonstrated yesterday for 10-year-old Eilleen Isabelle, 315 Douglas Street, who stood 'treat for the unusual pet. Monkey, a female, goes by the name of "Chuck" and owner Walsh remains undisputed in claiming it's the only one in Prince George area. See story Page 4).
34,000 Idle Tomorrow As Strike Hits B.C. Coast Forest Industries
VANCOUVER (CP) � Thirty-four thousand woodwork-era in the coastal forests of British Columbia will go on strike tomorrow morning.
The lumber industry, a $500,000,000-a-ycar business, provides more than half the province's annual income. Other   strikes   and   threatened
strikes may idle another 41,000 more workers in B.C. this summer in what observers say could be the worst year In the province's labor history.
British Columbia's second big-Best industry�salmon fishing� lias been crippled by a strike for more than a week.
Also threatening is a strike of 17,000 civil servants which, if it materializes, will be the first strike of civil servants in Canada at a major level of government.
Joe Morris, district president of the International Woodworkers of America, issued the strike announcement Wednesday night after five days of last-ditch negotiations to head off a. stoppage in the forests.
The strike, set for 10 a.m. PDT Friday, was called, Mr. Morris said, because it was "not possible to reach an agreement suitable to the union" in negotiating with Forest Industrial Relations Limited, bargaining agent for 157 lumber operators in the coastal area
of B.C.
In a separate statement, Forest Industrial Relations said "as a final means of settling the dispute" it offered a general wage increase of five per cent, effective Juno 15.
This was rejected by the 1WA which has been seeking a 20-pcr-cent boost from the present ra^e of $1.59 an hour. The woodworkers voted 1)0 per cent in favor of strike action last month.
One small company employing 13 men in North Vancouver decided Wednesday to pay what the union wants. It is not covered by Forest Industrial Relations.
Owner .1. G. Mimio said his operation couldn't last through a strike. "I figured the strike would last three months and that it would cost me $1,500 a month to close my mill."
The operators and the IWA broke off wage talks last month and the latest series of behind-closed-door   discussions   followed
(See  LOGGERS  IDLE,  Page 4)
Canada's Inflationary Trend Slowed Says Ottawa Expert
OTTAWA (CP) � Living costs may continue to creep up during the next few months but some federal officials feel the heavy wind has been taken out of Canada's inflationary sails.
A [trade department expert said Wednesday there are now more sign's ^of an easing in inflationary pressures than there have been in the last two years.
While the over-all econoriry'was strong arid continuing to grow, some industries were, reported to be working at less: than full capacity. House construction has declined, bo has wbrld demand, for Canadian wheat '4n<3 \mpber.
'Citizen' Carrier Delivery Gets Off To A Flying Start
City-wide carrier delivery of The Citizen went into effect. Tuesday �when more than 4000 copies of the paper were distributed  throughout the greater  Prince  George area by a force of some 75 paperboys. Institution of organized carrier
City Co. Accepts Offer
New Gas Deal Details Bared
Woman Injured As Truck Runs Wild
A loaded lumber truck careened down nil-port hill on High way �7 last night with its brakes gone and only th� skill of driver Gordon Mathcvrs saved other cars from being involved in a bad smashun. Mat-hews' wife received a broken collarbone in the accident.
Muthews swung past several cars on his mad plunge down the hill before' taking to the ditch lit titoiwttoin'of the gra�le. The truck' rolled over and scattered its loud Of lumber along the l'GJB right-of-way.
Mrs. Mathews was thrown f 1*0111 the truck and part of the load   fell   on  her.
Damage to th truck was considerable. A broken hydraulic brake line was blamed for the accident.
delivery of The Citizen is designed to ensure that readers never miss a copy.
The entire city has been sectioned off into compact routes for the carriers, and persons not already getting The Citizen can arrange for delivery by telephoning 67 and asking for the Circulation Department.
A telephone call to the same number will also remedy any failure to deliver the current issue of the paper. A special complaint crew will undertake immediate delivery of a paper if a subscriber is missed.
Carrier boys will collect from
readers once each week and the weekly rate for the paper will be M cents. Commencing September 3 when The Citizen becomes a daily paper with issues Monday through Friday the price will be $1.35 per month for home delivery.
Circulation Manager Ian French stated today that as soon as all kinks have been worked out of the carrier system in Prince George his department will commence the task of setting up routes in such communities as Willow River, Giscome, McBride, Shelley, Vanderhoof and Fort St. James.
Engineer Dies After Gas Well Blast In North
PORT ST. JOHN, B.C. (CP); � An American oil engineer was burned fatally and -two co-workers were severely injured Wednesday in a wellhead gas explosion at an isolated drilling site near Mile 95 on the Alaska Highway.
W. E. Walton, 31, of Madill, Okla., died on the plane that was taking him and the two others to hospital at Edmonton, a 350-mile flight south and cast. Earl Miller, 32, and Sandy Rcise, 30, both of Fort St. John, suffered third-degree burns.
The blast occurred early Wednesday when wet gas from the ti,200-foot level scoped up to the wellhead and ignited.
The $1,000,000 drilling rig and other equipment was destroyed and the fire was still burning uncontrolled late Wednesday night.
Hudson's Bay Oil & Gas Co. flew two helicopters from one of its camps at Mile 51 on the highway to take the Sinclair men to hospital at Fort St. John, about 80 miles south.
Later, Pacific Petroleums Ltd., equipped one of its company aircraft for the 350-mile flight to Edmonton.
� ISM
Westcoast Prexy Makes Overture
Prince1 George Gas Co. Lid. is prepared to negotiate a contract with Frank M. McMahon, president of West-coast Transmission Company, for the construction of a natural gas distribution system here, Mayor John R. Morrison announced this morning.
The suprise announcement came following disclosure that Frank; McMahon, in a letter to Premier Bennett, has .Offered _..to .build, the. distribution.--.ej^6,tem.,. -Qrvs-�Jte,rms- that would permit its purchase at cost by either Prince George Gas Co. Ltd. or Inland. Natural Gas Company Ltd., whichever is- tho victor in pending litigation over rates.
Molotov, Malenkov Are Purged In Surprise Kremlin Shake-Up
LONDON (AP) � The Soviet Union's Communist Party today announced the firing of four Kremlin leaders �V. M. Molotov, Georgi Malenkov, Lazar Kaganovich and D. T. Shepilov�from high party jobs.
News of the dismissals, which took place June 29, was given in a communique broadcast by Moscow Radio and monitored  here.
The communique said the group "worked against the 20th Party Congress' and "tried to impose wrong ideas."
Molotov, Malenkov and Kaganovich, old time friends of the late Joseph Stalin, were kicked off the pfaesidium of the party's central committee.
Shepilov lost his job as a secretary of the central committee of the Communist Party.
If subsequently they are expell
ed from the Communist Party as well � and a strongly worded Pravada editorial indicated they might be � they no longer could hold any important jobs in the government.
NEW.YOBK   (AP)-tt  Soviet ta              bosa NikiU. S. Kru-
shchev may finally have succeeded in burying Stalin. If he has, it is a good omen fdr peace in our time.                                     i
The removal of Malenkov, Kaganovich, Molotov and others from the ruling: party praesidium and the makeup of tVie new membership, indicate a mighty Krushchev victory.'
They suggest the party itself has had its bellyful of Stalinism.
Those formerly humiliated by the Stalinists now will run the show. Those responsible for such (5m PURGE, P�f� 4)  ,
� Mayor Morrison said he will place tho proposed gas deal before city council at the "earliest possible moment."   :
Natural gas developments disclosed by the-mayor today indicate that: \
1.  Frank'McMahon, Westcoast Transmission      president,      will undertake   to. build   the   Prince George  distribution   system  this year.
2.   He  will also  undertake  to build the three-mile stub line to connect   the distribution system with the main line.
3.  The distribution system and stub line would ultimately be sold at cost to whichever of the two distribution companies is ..finally empowered to own  and operate them.
�1. Prince George Gas, currently in possession of a B.C.' Public Utilities Commission franchise to distribute gas here, would agree to these terms.
Along with his announcement this morning, Mayor Morrison released the contents of a photostat of a letter dated March 12 this year, addressed by F. McMahon to Premier W. A. C. Bennett, and received at the premier's office on May 14. It is understood that contents of the letter were released to Prince George Gas Co. by Hon R. G.' Williston, Fort George MLA and B.C. Minister of Lands. The letter follows:
"March 12, 1957. Hon. W. A. C. Bennett, Premier of the Province of British
Columbia, Victoria,  B. C. Dear Mr. Premier:
Construction of Westcoast Transmission Company's pipeline is ahead of schedule and I expect natural gas will be available for British Columbia somewhere between August 1st and September 1st.
Vancouver Is completing its conversion to natural gas and work is underway in all major communities, with the exception of Prince George, to ensure gas service this winter. The construction of the branch line and the distribution system in Prince George involves a great deal of preparatory work and, unless planning and the purchasing of materials is started immediately, Prince George and the B.C. Power Commission will not have ja supply of natural gas this wiinter...
In order to ensure that there
will not be a lengthly delay in gas
service in.Prince George; I am
prepared to make arrangements
to provide', the necessary funds
and the materials for the coa-
(Sft* GAS DCil* ?t�t 4)
2 Stores To Flout Shop Act
At least two grocery stores, one in the city and the other in South Fort George, plan to challenge the validity of the new government-imposed Shops Regulation Act which became effective throughout the province July 1.
Quccnsway Market and Royal Produce No. 3 both plan to remain open evenings beyond the 6 p.m. closing hour and the manager of the South Fort George store has announced that his store will remain open Sundays as well.
Intention of the storekeepers Is to close at 6 p.m. and then re-open a few minutes later to serve the public,
Hy doing so the merchants will strike at what has been regarded as a loophole in the new regulations that are now law under terms of the new Municipal Act.
For the time being at least the defiant storekeepers may be safe for as yet no responsible agency has been instructed to administer the regulations..
RCMP officers here, who will likely enforce the regulations, report that so far they have not received directives from Victoria.
Enforcement of the regulations may pose a problem for the government as merchants throughout the province, hard hit by the act, prepare to flout its measures.
In Gleiunorc, a community adjacent to Kelowna, at least three merchants are currently opposing regulations taking advantage of the loophole in the law which, says nothing about how long a merchant must remain closed after 6 p.m.
Because Prince George merchants failed to voice a decisive opinion, the new regulations went into effect here with scarcely a dissenting voice.
Queensway Market, located in the heart of the city's motel area, will remain open every night of the week, except Sunday, until 9 p.m.
Said owner-operator Bill Ma-hood: "This city wants to attract tourists but when we get them we don't want twelve tiiem any eer-