INSIDE
PICTURE   PAGE   .................. Pqgc 2
SPORT    ................................ Page 6
WOMEN'S   SOCIAL   ............ Page 7
CLASSIFIED ........................ Page 8
COMICS................................ Page 9
WEATHER
Cloudy and remaining cool. Froit tonight with winds light. Low tonight, high tomorrow, 25 and 48.
Dedicated to the Progress of the North
Phone LO 4-2441
Vol. 2; No. 210
PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER  12,  1958
PRICE   7   CENTS
BY CARRIKK
SBc PER
Dramatic Statement By General Manager
VICTORIA (CP) � H. Lee Briggs, general manager of the B.C. Power Commission today charged the provincial government with  "prostituting  the  80,000  customers of the commission to fulfil political promises." At a dramatic, emotion-charg-
ed press conference he appealed at the public to step over the heads of the government and slop it from forcing the power commission to re-finance some of its loans so that Premier Bennett can claim by I960 that he has paid off the direct debt of B.C.
The B. C. Power Commission lias over 5000 customers in the Prince George area.
Mr. Briggs charged that the financial plan will cost the commission $215,000 a year and this will have to be paid by its customers. SK.VNATIONA I.   I XTKItVl K\V
It was one of the most sensational interviews ever given by a public official in the history of the province.
As he neared the end of reading his 3000-word statement Mr. Briggs broke down, turned and looked out the window of his office. He wiped tears from his eyes and took control of himself and resumed the conference.
Ho   announced   he   does   not
8 Million Horsepower
From 'Peace'
VAN(.'>':-/i:Jj. (C^ � More than 8,000,000 horsepower can be generated by a huge, earth,-filled dam built on the Peace River in northern B.C., W. C. MainvVarlrig said  today.
Mr. Mainwaring, newly ap-pqlnted president of Peace River Power Co. Ltd., made the announcement in a prepared statement.
He said: "Engineering already completed indicates a dam yielding 4.000,000 horsepower can be built on the Peace River for the same costs as a dam yielding only 2,000,000 horsepower near Mica Creek."
"Another 1,000,000 horsepower can be developed even more cheaply on the Peace River as a result of the initial dam," he go mm en led.
/ Mr. Mainwaring retired last month as president of Western Development and Power Ltd. and as vice president of B.C. Electric. APPOINTMENT
His appointment as president of Peace River Power was announced today at a press conference.
Mr. Muinwaring said preliminary engineering studies indicate Peace River power delivered at Vancouver will be cheaper than power delivered from any other hydro development in B.C. because of the large amount of power made available in one installation.
Transmission lines from the damslte to Vancouver, about 550 miles long, will traverse many miles of prairie and light timber country and for that reason will not be subject to other than usual maintenance costs, he said.
J5k;<;ijst uvioii
"If continued engineering studies substantiate early findings, as we expect they will, the biggest power project in the world will result," he said.
Variable cloudiness with a few snow flurries tomorrow in the Prince George, Bulkley Valley and Cariboo regions. Little change in temperature. Winds light.
In the P'eace River region, variable cloudiness, intense fog in the northern regions tomorrow morning. Little change in temperature. Light winds.
LOW, HIGH TEMPERATURES
Prince George and Ques-nel 20 anil 40, Smithers 25 end '10, Grande Prairie 20 and 40.
intend to resign his post which he took four years ago but if he is fired he will make a non-political tour of the province to tell the people the "rancid things" that go on in electric power matters.
Mr. Briggs said that power commission customers are already bearing "certain improper casts" as a result of the fiscal practices of the government.
"1 will not stand idly by while those charged with the administration of the financial affairs of the province prostitute the 80,-000 customers of the B.C. Power Commission to fulfil political promises," said Mr. Briggs in his statement.
Strike Vote Held In Southern Interior
Less than half of the southern interior sawmills will be thrown out of operation if the International Woodworkers of America decides to call a strike.
In a strike vote held yesterday by the IWA 16 mills voted for a strike, 15 against. The other two mills were not polled.
As all mills have separate contracts, only 1G mills would be affected, though the overall vote was 1424 in favor and 829 against a strike, according to unofficial reports.
In a telephone interview with The Citizen this morning, A. D. Macdonald, secretary of the ILMA, explained the contrast between numerical and mill-by-mill count with the fact that the larger mills recorded a heavier "for" vote.
"The unions have concentrated their promotional efforts on the large mills," Mr. Macdonald said.
The next step is up to the union, Mr. Macdonald said.
"Mainly, the vote was taken by the union as a club to hold over the ILMA's head," he asserted.
He saicl that according to his information the IWA had scheduled a meeting for today in Vancouver.
Strange Sight In Prince George
THIS STRANGE VEHICLE aroused a ]jt of attention Sunday and many curious city people were shown "the works." The truck is pulling an air-boat which is propelled by a rear-mounted 185-h.p. engine coupled to an aeroplane propeller. The boat is owned by Ivan Stewart, an Anchorage photographer, who is driving it to Alaska after buying it in Minnesota. He says it can float in six inches of water �apparently an asset in the shallow and rock-strewn waters around Anchorage.
Qvu^Battle Plan Will Help Beat Winter Lay-Offs
A preliminary "battle plan" for an all-out attack on winter unemployment will be mapped out tomorrow night by local government, business and union representatives.
Stepped-up winter activity, especially in home construction, will he 'the aim of the Winter Employment Committee, meeting to elect a chairman and lay the groundwork for their campaign.
For the first time, the National Employment Service's annual
"fight winter unemployment" drive will be supplemented by a parallel union appeal under the heading "support local industry."
The committee's task is to organize business and unions in a concerted effort to push ahead with work usually left for the spring. It will also be informed of the city's efforts to take part in a national scheme under which the Federal Government pays half the labor costs of all work undertaken by the city outside its normal program.
The committee will consist of
four businessmen, two lumber operators, two Joint Labor Council representatives, one from the Joint Services Council, three Contractors' Association delegates, a city representative, a publicity chairman and two or  three  NES   representatives.
Besides organizing the campaign, the committee will also promote projects by supplying expert advice, through NIOS, as to how and when work can best be done.
A   committee  spokesman   this
See BATTLE Page 2
Number Of Sealers Has Increased Tenfold
Experienced sealers, once the most sought-after men in the growing forest industry, have increased tenfold within six years through personal initiative and government-conducted courses.
More than 300 sealers hold licences in the Prince George Forest district today.
"In 1952 wo couldn't lay hands on ."10 of Cliem," said Harry Layton, inspector of licenced sealers.
Mr; Layton gave this estimate
after release of the examination results in last month's long scaling course, directed by the B.C. Forest Service.
The practical and theoretical course, held October S to October 10, produced 2S new licences out of 107 registered for the classes. In addition, 33 others took the exams October 24 and 23. Four of these passed. 80 SEW SCALBUS
Combined with 57 licences issued when the course was introduced last May, the Forest Service can uoast So new sealers as result of tne courses.
Encouraged by these figures, the Forest Service is already making plans for a new course next May.
Mr. Layton said that eventually every major settlement in the district will have at least one course a year to satisfy the industry's need.
"Despite the tremendous success of our classes, we find there is still a shortage of ' sealers. Many of them, taking advantage of their bcttcr-than-averagc training, advance to higher paid positions, leaving more vacancies than can be filled."
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SEVERAL THOUSAND people attended yesterday's    the parade route. This picture was taken in bright sun-Rembrance Day celebrations at the Cenotaph and lined    light during the two-minutes' silence.�Orr photo.
Dief Visits
With. The Pope
VATICAN CITY � Prime Minister Diefenbaker had a private 15-minute audience with Pope � John this morning and; left ^ith.pi-alse fpftJlie "affable, kindly" personality of" the"new head of the Roman Catholic Church.
But the Canadian loader expressed disappointment that there was no pictorial record of the event. Through a misunderstanding, the official Vatican photographer took no pictures of the meeting in the frescoed papal apartments.
"I see now why they elected him pope," Diefenbaker said. "He is so affable, so kindly, so paternal that he immediately wins the heart of anyone who has the good fortune to come in contact with him."
CANADIAN' PKELATJB
The prime minister and Mrs. Diefenbaker, who wore a black dress and veil, were accompanied in the audience by Msgr. William Carew of St. John's. Nfld., a prelate in the Vatican secretary of state's office.
Speaking to reporters of his impressions of the Pope, Diefenbaker said:
"He has a very benign, amicable personality and his dedication is to peace. He is a man of peace and deep humility "and tolerance ..."
The prime minister said their discussion, carried on through an interpreter, dealt with Canada and with world affairs in general.
TALKS   POSTPONED
The Canadian leader was scheduled to have a 45-minute talk with Premier and Foreign Minister Amintore Fanfani following the papal audience but a special meeting of the Italian cabinet forced postponement of the discussions until early afternoon.
The Canadian prime minister and his party planned a sightseeing trip of Rome afterward before leaving for Karachi on the next stage of his world tour.
Results
Keith Moffat took top honors in the Prince George Curling Club's mixed Bonspicl held last week.
Moffat's rink defeated Bill Carmichacl in the "A" Event final.
Playing on his rink were lister Williams as third, Chuck Williams as second, and Mrs. K.  Moffat as lead.
Mrs. W. Carmichael, third, Jack Lamont, lead, and Pete Peters were members of Bill Carmichaels team.
Carmichacl came back to defeat Bailey and win the "B" Event.
Hugh Blackburn defeated Gary Wray for the "C" Event title.      �     l
To Avoid
City council has made an eleventh-hour bid to avefid (1 u j) I icaTicTh of n a t u ra I giTs 'distribution system s* in Prince George. . Council passed a resolution Monday night calling on Inland Natural Gas Co. Ltd. to hnvc "further formal contact" with Prince George Gas before duplicating the S5-block system.
Inland will be given permission to instal the complete system only if the company supplies written evidence of formal negotiations over purchase of the Prince George Gas system.
The resolution reads:
"Inland's request as per registered letter for permission to instal a complete system lie granted conditional upon Inland supplying written evidence of a further formal contact with Prince George Gas Co. Ltd. on a new basis to reach agreement prior to duplication of the exist-
ing system."
ng system."    �                     f    , ?;ov. 10 to avoid duplication;
it was proposed by Aid.: Cbn;i.      n   was   alao   tajjleil- by 'Aid. ^raiiston ,any �Ali'J:- CVansto/i- ii*;iti. scii.uir{lc(-l--�/y ;iA1U.
Cruhi
Hurry Loder.
A second resolution called on both companies to Supply written evidence that negotiations are underway in good faith from
Ken Jack
Acting city engineer Bill Jonos was authorized to give Inland the, elevations of streets and lanes in writing.
NECHAKO. CONTRACTORS HOPEFUL
Contractors working on homes in the PTccluikp Heights subdivision may not have to cra.se operations bftau.se of ii snarl-up in registration of the  land  titles.
George Cruciso't, president of the Prince Georges Contrac-tor's Association t was confident today the .situation lias been   straightened' out.
Last w e e k contractors threatened to close down projects in tlie area if Central Mortgage jiml Housing Corporation    progress    payments
didn't conic through soon.
The trouble was traced back to tin* Bit). Power Com-mission which li.nl not registered casements for underground wiring in the area.
Central Mortgage woulil nnt make payments for eon. si ruction on property which is  not  property  registered.
IE QMHC pay in tuts are delayed ,mhI there is still no assurance of them coining (hrough within two weeks the contractors oven then have to close   down.
A SMART contingent from the USAF Radar Base at Baldy Remembrance Day ceremonies at the C enotaph. They were drilled Color Party.
Hughes attended the led by this precision.-