INSIDE
EDITORIAL ........................   Pago     2
SPORTS     .............'............. Page     4
WOMEN'S SOCIAL ..........  Page     7
CLASSIFIED ........................ Po3o     8
COMICS  ............................   Page     9
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Dedicated  to  the  Progress of   the North
WEATHER
Ctoudy with occasional showers. Mostly cloudy with a few aftei-noon showers Tuesday. Winds light. Low tonight and high in Prince George 45 and 67.
Phone  LOgan 4-2441
Vol.  3;  No.   158
PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, MONDAY, AUGUST  17,   1959
EDITORIAL Asleep at the Switch
It's too bad Dearie Finlayson is a politician. Too bad because it means people of other political affiliations will ignore his statements even when he focuses attention', as he did last week, on an inequity which affects every person in the district, regardless of their politics. We refer to his comments on the price we pay for natural gas here.
It is ji sad commentary on our public and .semi-public bodies here that it takes an outsider to focus attention on one of the major barriers blocking the path of Prince George progress. The city council, the board of trade, the industrial development commission are all boriips which should be expected to take leader? shin in lighting for a fair gas rate for, this community but to date there has not been even the faintest protest from any of them.
The facts about natural gas arc well known to everyone in the city. It is a subject widely publicized last year. .Nine months ago the voters in a referendum rejected the terms of a contract to grant a franchise for Inland Natural Gas to supply this city.
What happened then? The public utilities commission, with cavalier disregard lor the expression of public opinion registered at a referendum, stuffed down the collective Prince George throat an unwanted contract. It is only natural that people should wonder whether the purpose of the public utilities commission is to protect the individual or the vested interests. Certainly it was the vested interest which came off best in this deal.
But what is to stop the cabinet�or its mouthpiece, the public utilities commission � from running any kind of a dictatorship it likes? The city council had a clear mandate from the voters to protest this action with no holds barred but there was not a single murmur of protest from the council chamber.
The board of trade and industrial development commission arc semi-public organizations supposedly dedicated to the advancement of Prince George. To permit this outrage to be perpetrated on their community in silence they displayed complete dereliction of their publicly-avowed responsibilities.
If the public has lost faith in these bodies, it is with, every justification because they all failed shamefully to fUe ^strong and effective protest when the democratic rights of Prince George voters were wilfully violated.
In Prince George where property owners have been burdened with taxes to a stage beyond all reason, it should be the duty of every public-spirited organization to rise in protest to protect the public from being fleeced by greedy monopolists operating under the protection and with the blessing of their tools, the provincial cabinet and the public utilities commission.
It is not surprising the general public is curious about the shroud of silence drawn over the gas deal forced on this city by the public utilities commission � a silence so deep it is impossible to deny those who suggest sinister motives on the part of those who pretend to represent the community.
A few weeks ago when the cabinet met here there . were any number of briefs presented covering a wide variety of subjects � but not one word said about the fact that Prince George had just been sold out to the McMahon gas interests by the public utilities commission.
WHY?
WHY did  the city council not protest? WHY did the board of trade not protest? WHY did the industrial development committee not protest?
We put this question "WHY'.'" to those three civic bodies and challenge each of them to make a public statement and explain, if possible, their silence.
And unless they are prepared to stand up and fight for the interests of the people of Prince George, we further challenge them to step aside and make way for others who are willing to serve their community and not the interests that are out to bleed it.
Prince George is a city with the brightest future of any city in Canada today but it will never realize it as long as it Has leaders who are asleep at the switch.
The proposed development of the Peace River has given birth to hope that we may one day have cheap power in this area. This is a possibility, but it is still in the development stage. If it goes through, it will still be 19GG at the earliest before any power is produced on the Peace River.
Why should we postpone progress seven years or more to wait for cheap power from the Peace Rivet? We have cheap power here now in the form of natural e ;idded to the entry fee.
Anyone wanting information regarding entries, phone l.o l-.~>0fil or write to P.O. Box !.'.>.�>, J'riiice George.   �
Entries have already been received from Bert Long in Me-Bride and from the -1-H Club at Burns  Lake.
Besides the agricultural exhibits and displays at the Fair, there will also be plenty of fun.
The oommHtee has planned horse-racing with Rarl Mutuel betting, on Saturday and Monday afternoons.
Wagon races are scheduled for
Gas Explosion Burns Three
Three district residents were rushed to Prince George and District Hospital Friday night alter being burned in a household accident.
.Mike Thatcher, 28,; and two neighborhood boys, Wayne and Arnold Slavely, are reported to be in good condition today.
The two boys received minor burns in the accident and are being held  for ob-
Freak
A four-month old baby seriously injured in a freak Saturday afternoon.
Dead is Clifford D. Sutherland, son of Mr. ami Mrs. Alfred Sutherland of Rose Lake, which is about 50 miles west of Vanderhoof on Highway 1(1.
Mrs. Sutherland is in serious condition in Vanderhoof hospial.
.Mrs. Sutherland and her young son were on the way home when the accident occurred about 20 miles outside of Yanderhoof.
According to Vanderhoof RCMP, the truck ap-uarcntly went out of control and plunged off the highway into the ditch. Both Mrs. Sutherland and young Clifford were thrown out of the vehicle while it was still moving.
The baby was thrown clear of the truck but died ol head injuries before reaching hospital:
.Mrs. S u t h e rl a u d was thrown under the truck and was run over by the rear wheels. She is suffering severe internal injuries but is reported to have spent a fairly good night.
was killed and his mother accident outside Vanderhoof
Airs. Sutherland suffered a lacerated liver and kidney and a ruptured spleen, wheih was later removed.
servation. Thatcher \v a s more severely burned on the hands and feet.
The accident occurred about 9:50 p.m. Friday at Thatcher's home oh the Hart Highway.
The trio were cleaning and painting and using gasoline for the cleaning. Gas fumes apparently became ignited by the pilot light on the stove and exploded.
RCMP are still investigating cause of the explosion.
Thatcher is employed by B.C. Equipment Co. Ltd. in Prince1 George.
Friday evening, starting at 0:30 p.m., and Saturday and Monday, after the horse racing?
The Ci ay land Shows will be presenting rides and shows for the children.
The midway will be In full swing from Friday afternoon until the end of the Fair,
The Fair will be open to the public on Friday at I p.m. with all rides for the kiddies being half price.
The Official Opening will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. ill front of the Grandstand where the Hun. Newton Steacy will officially open the fair.
Platform guests will be Mayor Carrie Jane Gray, Kay Wlllistoh and Gus Henderson, local M.I'. for the Cariboo.
The Fall Fair President, Mr. J. It. Morrison, will be introducing the guests.
Dancing School Starts Sept. 1
Mis Arlene Ballantyne of the North West School of Dancing reports that the new dancing season will open on September I.
However, evening classes for the housewives and business \romen, have already started.
These classes are open every Wednesday  from  7  until 8 p.m.
The classes for the younger children will be operating from Monday to Saturday at   1 p.m.
Miss'Ballantyne has over 100 students enrolled  in  her classes
'nod boxers developed here In the past and there is lots of po-tentially good material available
ml lias not been developed because of the lack of facilities. This project is looked upon as an excellent opportunity to provide recreation and training which will do a great deal in the development of youthful minds and bodies.
Prince George Lions Club tins week gets started on its most ambitions youth development program with start being made on renovation of the basement of the Civic Centre into a gymnasium for the Lions Amateur Athletic Club.
The club have in the Civi< Centre basement 3,SO0 square feet of space which they will convert into training gym, locke. and change rooms. They will als-build an indoor stairway to lead to showers which are also to lie installed.
Target date for opening of the club has been set   for Oct.   1.
It is estimated cost of renovations  will  be about  �5,000.
Initially, club activities will center mainly around boxing but these will be expanded to include wrestling, tumbling and other gymnasium training as soon as facilities permit. AM, SET
The Lions Club last week completed arrangements with the civic properties commission for use of the quarters. Club mem hers gave their stamp of approval to the plan at their meeting Friday night.
Heading up Hie athletic club
committee is Itill Kidd. One of
liis     committee     members     is
Harry IiOllia.V, who is also boxing commissioner For northern
IJ.C. and  Will  l>e  a  key  figure
in   the   promotion   of amateur
boxing in  this area.
Lions anticipate an immediate keen interest in the project with about 200 expected, in initial registration, There were 180 registered with the boxing commission when it was operating here about two years ago.
Local enthusiasm for boxing was indicated a couple of weeks ago when more than bOO turned out for a boxing card.
Several volunteers as. instructors'''are nlready available but more will be required and Lions are combing the community for volunteers with boxing, wrestling or gym experience to help with the new project.
The club is tackling the project with all-out enthusiasm because there   have   been   a   number   of
DON DOUGIjAS New Sci'Vicc Station Don Douglas, native of Prince George, dealer manager opened the new "4th and Victoria" Essp Service Station recently. Don is well known in the district, married with two children and a member of the Ki-wanis Club. He recently torn-pleted a dealer-management course with Imperial Oil in Vancouver. The nt'\v station, opposite Super-Vaki is staffed by fully competent, service men. They plan a big official opening in September. In the meantime Don and staff are ready to serve you, from (! a.m. to midnight.
Prince George Cadets to Attend Sea Island Camp
Among the 575 Air C Station Sea Island Cadet nine cadets from the Prince
The cadets under the leadership of Flight Cadet. Bruce Jack left, last  Saturday afternoon.
Cadets from Geraldton Out., in the Pacific ami Yukon, arc currently attending the last of lour  two week  Cadet   Camps.
This camp, one of the three camps across Canada, serves all cutlets in Western Canada, including North Western Ontario and the  Yukon.
The cadets travelled in all modes of transportation: from Penticiqh by bus, by air from White Horse, by rail and TCA from Geraldton, from Vancouver Island by bus and boat, as wejl as by bus and by train from Western and Coast centres.
The cadets, ranging in ages from   1-1   to   IS.   will   be   under
ulets  to attend   the  RCAF Cam))    in    B.C.    will    be George Squadron.
constant supervision by their own squadron officers under the command of WV.C .1. S. Niven of No. 1 Wing, Vancouver, I i.e.
The training program is flexible, ranging from academic subjects, such service information handicrafts in the hobby shop, Tours, sports and overall station activities will occupy the greater portion of the cadets' time. All will receive two periods of flying in a RCAF twin-engined lOxpeditor aircraft.
Excellent messing facilities have been provided for Hie cadets, including night time snacks before lights put*
RCAF Station Sea Island Vancouver International .Airport, and is under command of W/C .1. V. Watts, DSC), DKC. i'\).
R es t c a s y fellows, prices in Prince George.ls barbel' emporiums will remain the same�at least for the present.
This-quell? rumors that local barbers would follow their lower mainland counterparts in boosting their prices from 81.25 to si.,".0 lor a haircut.
Members, of the local barber's union today stated that they had not considered raising prices and did not plan to consider the question in the for-seeable' future.
MIX-UP was Fixed-Up, but not after a little sweating was clone, after a car went off the road Sunday afternoon at the Fraser Bridge. The car apparently came out of a nearby trailer court and took the wrong approach
road to the bridge. The driver of the car attempted to turn around and went off the side of the road. The Mix-Up was fixed by Al Holley and his wrecker. .
�Vandervoort Photo.