VOTE AS YOU PLEASE, BUT VOTE !HE Dedicated to the Progress of the North Phone LOgan 4-2441 Vol. 3; No. 244 PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1959 B6C PER Electricity will be made available to residents in c immunities surrounding Prince George as a result of a program of assistance in extending service to rural areas announced the B.C. Power Commission today. BCPC Chairman Dr. Hugh.. Keenleyside and Premier Bennett j Hal cost on a sliding scale, start- i ttt th Keenleyse a said in a joint statement the publicly-owned utility and the government have devised a government � subsidized program which will make electrical service available to 3,000 hard-to-reach customers over a three-year period, beginning at once. 135 MU.KS OF � INE Officials in Prince George estimated there is a potential here of 135 miles of rural line which would carry power to some 350 homes. Likely areas which could be serviced include Chief Lake. Summit Shelley, Lake, Willow River, Mud River, Ottway, y, Beaverly, Pincvievv - Buckhorn Lake area, Isle Pierre, Reid Lake and Salmon Valley. "We will lake a look at the entire Prince George area this winter to see what is feasible to do," a BCPC spokesman said. $4 MILLION PLAN The plan, which will cost the commission an estimated $4,000,-000 to install services and a government subsidy of $200,000 a year to meet initial operational losses, provides for assistance where the capital cost of extending service is more than $800 and no* exceeding $1,600 per customer. For example, service costing below $800 to install will be put in by'frfe commission. Over�$800, the customer will have to contribute a percentage of the cap- g at about $80 and reaching $500 when the commission's cost hits $1,600. This ceiling may be exceeded only if the customer agrees .to meet costs over $1,600. 80 COMMUNITIES About 80 comunities are affected. Dr. Keenleyside said extensions will be undertaken only where, in the judgment of the commission, the economic stability and future prospects of an area warrant investment. The commission expects areas desiring service to set up a local committee which can deal with the customers and the power commission. Committees would sound out customers to see if they arc willing to enter the "self-help" program. This calls for cost sharing over $800, which can be contributed either in cash, labor or materials, on an agreed basis. Committees will handle most of the detail work, such as signing up customers, and the commission then will deal with committees. Liquor Outlets I leer parlors, cocktail lounges and clubs will reopen tonight at s, after, closing lor election day. Oanarlini,- election act p that all liquor outlets must close a puling day. Trustees of School District 57 aren't trappy with the meals served to students in the high school dormitory here. Although the dormitory food budget is wide open trustees said at their regular meet ing students are not being served proper meals. Much of the situation was pointed up by trustee Ken Melville, lie said he had conducted a "spot check" at meal time recently and found basis for reports the 41 inmates of the dorm weren't foil properly. Among other things, he said milk was never served and eggs and other staples were served only infrequently. "It's my feeling somebody is undermining the feelings of the board," he said. Most trustees agreed the matron was satisfactory. Some suggested the trouble could be blamed on the two cooks. Bob Range said a camp cook was the answer. "A cook has to be the type of person who knows what a healthy logger should eat." lie said the board should get somebody who "really knows how to boil up the spuds" and give growing children the*food they need. Mr. Range said there should be "one good heavy meal once a day, for sure." Chairman Kay Atkinson said "We want action." Mr. Melville said the food was available but the students were not getting it. The situation crops up periodically and he said the best way to cure the problem is "Put the grub up there and just sec that it's served." Problem lies not in lack of food�the matron is empowered to order anything desired�but getting good meals on the the table, he said. No motion was made on the matter but there was a general agreement among trustees that the dormitory committee look closer into the matter. And, there were suggestions that more staff and facilities could be some help. School Closes Friday is the last day of classes for 16 days for school students in Prince George and district. They leave school tomorrow for the festive holiday, not to return until January 4th. Some 5,431 youngsters leave 48 elementary and high schools in the city and surrounding area vacant for the Christmas-New Year holiday. SHOP BAHO/ MOM! I DO IT NOW i Shopping Days 'til Christmas BALLOT-BOX RIVALS this morning were the two mayoralty candidates, Garvin Dezell and incumbent Carrie Jane Gray as they cast their votes within minutes of one another. Mr. Dezell had a big job � he had four sets of votes to cast, one his own, another as a landowner and two more for his business. Mrs. Gray, however, had only the usual one set. Polls opened at 8 a.m. and will close promptly at 8 p.m. Results of the aldermanic and mayoralty races are expected to be known by 10 p.m. �I lal Vandervoort Photo Eisenhower Hailed As District 57 TUNIS (AP)�Dwight D. Elsenhower returned today to a scene of his North African triumphs i n the Second World War, and was hailed as a fighter for peace. . � Thousands of Tunisians cheered the United States president and shouted "Yai hai long live Ike" on his arrival at sea-coast suburb of La Marsa for a three-hour visit with Habib Bourgui-b;i, pro-Western president of this former French protectorate. 1 Hundreds of buses and trucks Late Store Hours Announced in Cily I,ale store h o u r � for the Christmas and New1 Year season were announced this week by the Merchants' Committee of the Hoard of Trade. The following hours arc suggested by the committee: DATE: A.M. P.M. Friday, Dee. IS 9:00 to !>:(><> Saturday, Dee. 11) .Monday. Dee. 21 Tuesday. Dei1. -2 Wednesday, Dee. T.\ 0:00 to 9:00 Thursday, Dee. 2t 9:00 to 6:00 Friday, Christmas Sat., Boxing Day Monday, Dec. 28 Tuesday, Dec. 2!) Wednesday, Dec. 30 !) to 12 noon Thursday, Dec. :u !):()() to G:00 Friday, New Years Closed Saturday, .Ian. 2 !):()() to 6:00 9:00 to 9:00 9:00 to !):<)<) 0:00 to 0:00 Closed Closed 9:00 to 6:00 9:00 to 6:00 Cautious About Prince George motorists arc being cautious this year about the mixing of gasoline and alcohol. This was indicated today, the result of a check with RGMP who have had a mobile "sniffing station" on city streets for the past week. They'll be maintaining their vigilance for drinking drivers throughout the holiday season. Thus far, however, there have been no charges laid against any of the drivers checked. About 20 check-up slips have been -issued. These require the motorist to have his automobile safety-checked. Four Years To Re-equip PARIS im� Dclence Minister Pcarkes said today it will probably take four years to re-equip Canada's air division in Europe. The Canadian minister, here for Hie NATO conference, had told reporters Wednesday night that Canada would spend more than $100,000,000 in re-equipping the division. At that time several Canadian reporters understood him to say '"during the next two years." rushed in additional thousands to hail the pair when they | emerged for Eisenhower's departure. Because Eisenhower was not scheduled to eiit^r. this Tunisian- capital city-'itself the motto of the day was "Tunis will come- to him." UiSCTJSS KNUK1XION The anti-French rebellion in neighboring Algeria was high on the agenda for the talks fit-senhower and Bourguiga held after a lalnb chop breakfast at tin- Tunisian president's white-walled, Moorish-style palace in La Marsa. T U nisi a sypathizes \s- i t h the rebels and gives them bases on Tunisian soil to carry on their five-year-old war with France. This has strained relations with Prance, which Eisenhower visits next on his 22,000-mile goodwill lour. Problems of Western unity, African unrest and U.S. economic aid to Tunisia were others brought up in the high-ceiling-ed palace conference room. School District 57 will pay half costs of a medical plan for its teachers. The board of trustees moved at the regular meeting to follow this recommendation from the arbi--tt-ation board which awarded a salary increase of 4.89 percent. The recommendation was the only non-binding part of the board's ruling. But trustees moved to share in the medical plan after they bitterly agreed the Ij.C. Teachers Federation would put a "black mark" against School District 57 if the board failed to join in the plan. Harold Molfat said "They have us by the tail!" The trustees include the pro vision that the district's cost would not exceed $3(3.(50 per year per teacher. There arc about 215 teachers in the district. Men Remanded Four men charge;! with rape were remanded to Dec. 22 in police court, today. Safeway Options Canada Safeway Ltd. has optioned 16 lots on the west side of Victoria between Fourth and Fifth. Expiry date is May 30, 1960. Source of this report, in Vancouver, said this and other known options are indicative. ol the stepped-up retail development in Prince George. He said Loblaw Groceterias Ltd. and MeLeod's Ltd., as well as Woodward Stores and the T. Eaton Co. Ltd., are reported reliably to have conducted business and property surveys here during recent months. Demolish School School District 57 has moved to have the old Stone Creek school demolished. A contract is being negotiated to have the building ripped dowii and -removed within 30 days. It was replaced this fall with a new school building. A request from a Stone Creek group to use the old school for a recreation unit was turned down. Trustees fell the building was not By .1AIIVIS WIHTXNV In the good old days, getting to school was no picnic for rural youngsters. Blistering hot, unbearably cold � whatever the weather � they walked, often miles. Or. if they were lucky, Old Dobbin carried them through the mud and snow. lint, with the jet age, things have changed. They've changed so much that three children in the Prince George district now boasts that the railway stops at their door to take them to class. Nothing so old fashioned as a school bus. Each morning at 3 a.m. the Pacific Great Eastern, southbound, screeches to a halt in front of farmer Bill Buxton's place at Woodpecker. IIis three children. Linda, 16, Mary, 13, and Marlene, 9. lunches and books in hand, climb aboard. About 10 minutes, and seven or eight miles later, the engineer throws on the brakes at llixon. The three pick up books and lunches and climb down, just about at the school doorstep. The time lost amounts to only several minutes. This has been going on for some 10 days or more now, ever since School District 57 negotiated a contract with the railway, by which Hie district pays a total fare of 45 cents a day, under its transportation assistance scheme. The Buxton children, whose father was once a school trustee here, think it's grand. The daily trip on the PGE saves them a walk of 3' z miles. Until the system was worked out the youngsters had to walk that far to catch the school bus, and they had to get up earlier. The bus picked them up at 7:45 each day after their long walk. They still have to lake the bus home each day, and walk the 3':> miles home from the highway. There's no train northbound after school is out. PGE CONTRACT The contract with the PGE. according to school district secretary Bob Gracey, is "a continuing contract, subject to cancellation without notice if the PGE schedule changes." It wasn't possible for the young railroaders to take the train to school before a recent schedule change. And, if the schedule changes again the kids might have to forsake the iron horse and take to walking both ways again. It isn't always possible to have school and train times coincide so beautifully. Negotiations started last May to have the unusual agreement brought about. At that time the PGE high-balled past the Buxton farm on. its way south about 8 a.m., as it does now. But, the schedule was changed and the PGE wasn't in a position to help the young commuters. It switched back several weeks ago, the contract was completed, and the kids have a real, live train for Christinas. No cheap toy trains for that trio. While on the subject of the Pacific Great Eastern, another strange story about the controversial railway has come to light. Besides joining the current transportation company craze to coddle the customer � and in the railway's case, particularly the school district � the congenial chaps on the PGE are doing their bit for the hunter. Ken Melville, school board trustee*, relates a yarn to the effect the railroaders are dish-iiri out hunting information. He said he was walking along the PGE right-of-way near the Pine Pass several weeks ago, in quest of a moose. Hearing the mighty engine barreling along the tracks, he stepped to the side, silently cursing it for probably scaring off any of the lumbering beasts that might happen to be around. HELPS HUNTER To his surprise the iron horse lurched to a stop. The engineer leaned from his cab and confided that "There are two around the corner." Then, as passengers thumbed Mr. Melville onward to the hunt, the PGE continued on its merry way. He didn't say if he bagged one. So, it appears the Pacific Great Eastern is trying to set a precedent in unusual public service. About the only other railway in North America taken to such zany activities is the Alaska Railroad, which performs some equally unexpected services. on Early predictions are calling for a record GO per cent turnout of voters in today's elections. A steady stream filed into the Civic Centre since polls opened at S a.m. Traffic was considered heavier than past years. One-time mayor Gordon Bryant was the first to cast his ballot shortly after the poll opened ihi-: morning. Mayoralty candidates Garvin l>ezell and incumbent Carrie Jane Gray voted ;i lew minutes apart about 0 a.m. Voters have until S tonight to vote lor mayor, three aldermen and two city t'rutees to the district school board. They will also decide if the city will have a municipal manager and on a $-185.0000 school loan referendum Owner-electors, 4,075 of the voters, will vote on city money bylaws totalling $149;500. Previous record turnout of voters was in l!ir>7 when .Mrs. Carrie Jane Gray defeated the incumbent mayor, John Morrison. About 2,27(i voted in that election of a possible 3.S00 electors. Persons at. the,poll (his morning noted a steady number of voters filing past, the ballot boxes. There were fewer women voting than two years ago. iBut the biggest rush was expected after 1 p.m. when workers start to leave their jobs. lie-suits of the mayoralty ami aldermanic votes are .'expected to be tabulated by 10 p.m. There was an embarrassing moment at Tuesday night's school board meeting. It was asked if the Chant Royal Commission on eduaction had replied to an invitation to tour local schools, as it is doing in the Lower Mainland. Bob Gracey, school district secretary, said no reply had been received to the invitation "which trustees moved to send at their November 24 meeting. Ken Alexander, school superintendent, was asked when he had sent the letter of invitation. He said he hadn't Further discussion revealed the superintendent thought Mr. Gracey was to write the letter, while the board thought Mr. Alexander was instructed to take pen in hand. The superintendent promised to get an pronto. invitation in the mail Joint Commission Reaches Agreement WASHINGTON CPl � The Canadian and United States members of the International Joiirl Commission Wednesday reached complete agreement on a draft of principles to be used as the ground rules for negotiation of a two-country pact on development of the Columbia llivcr for power. While the commission gave no details of the agreement, it is understood there was unanimous decision on these points: � Downstream benefits in power development of the Columbia would be shared on a 50-50 basis by the two countries. Canada would undertake water storage and flood control; the U.S. would undertake power generation. # Canada would be paid in cash by the U.S. for control measures to prevent food danv age along the American part of the river. Officials estimated the payment to Canada might amount to $4,000,000 or $5,000,000 a year. # Canada would retain the right to divert waters from the Columbia for power development within her own boundary at some future date. The Columbia rises in the mountains of eastern British Columbia and flows through Urgently Need Full-Time Staff Member The need for a full-time John Howard Society staff member in Prince George is said to be "urgent." This is reported in the society's provincial newsletter for December. The publication said this need is "impressively evident," not only in Prince George but Kam-Ioops, Vcrnon and Kelowna as well. A recent tour of the province by president Frank Lewis and executive director Mervyn Davis discovered this need, said the newsletter. High praise was given to work of the local society members but the bulletin said "Without a full-time staff member they arc seriously handicapped." It said that besides "a strong group of community-minded volunteers" George Stewart, police court magistrate and past-president of the local John Howard Society branch, "is determined to give leadership in the development on the local level of an unexcelled magisterial and correctional program." the Pacific Northwest of the U.S. to the ocean. The accord was reached after nine months negotiation at the conclusion of a three-day meeting here headed by the co-chairmen of the IJC, Gen. A. G. L. McNaughton of Canada and Eugene W. Webber of the U.S. They said the meeting "resulted in agreement on a final draft of principles to be applied in the determination and apportionment of benefits from co-operative development of the Columbia River." Walk-Out Won't Afiect P. George A possible walk-out of plumbers and pipefitters <>n the lower mainland and other Ji.C. ten tics will not. affect Uie tl journeymen and apprentices in Prince George. Local 2I1S of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (GLC) signed a two-year agreement with 'local employers last month. A plumbers' union spokesman said in Vancouver Wednesday up to GOO men may be pulled off their jobs across B.C. unless employers agree to arbitration of grievances. Russel St. Eloi, the union's business agent, made the statement in an interview at Vancouver before leaving for Daw-son Greek. He said lie will tell 12 men in the Peace River community to strike over the issue unless they get. satisfaction. "If lliat. has no effect, 30 more will be pulled in .Vancouver soon, and if that does nothing it could he the whole union will be out on the street," St. Elbi said. Overload Warning Police recently warned School District 57 about overloading school buses. A 60 passenger vehicle hauling over 70 children to Bonnet Hill School was spotted by RCMP, who issued the warning. The bus had been stopping for children who were close enough to the school to walk but police said this courtesy was to be discontinued. .Cloudy with snow flurries, a Jittle milder. Winds southerly 15. Low tonight and high Friday 20 and 3�.