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Vol. 4; No. 45 ,
PRINCE GEORGE. BRITISH COLUMBIA, FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1960
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"Stupid, ridiculous and nauseating" was hospital administrator Cordon Townend's reaction today to a Citizen itory Thursday disclosing hall' the administrational staff of the Prince George and District Hospital either has resigned or is resigning.
Board chairman John Powers shed no light on the situation, saying he had not heard of the quittings nor any problems at the institution which would provoke them.
The administrator, asked what problem had prompted Assistant Administrator Ben English and five other administratiohal staff members to resign or consider resigning, said:
"Why don't you find out what the score is before you print such tripe? 1 have no comment to make. 1 have nothing to say; you'll only misconstrue the facts. All I want to say is no comment, no story, no nothing."
Answering an inquiry from Vancouver, Mr. Townend is quoted as saying: "The Report is all tripe�a tempest in a tcacur raised by our local rag. I will treat it with contempt. It is obviously stupid, ridiculous and nauseating."
Mr. Powers asked what the ad-
� ministrator had to say of any,
problem, claiming he had been at
the hospital Wednesday and
"didn't hear anything about it."
"I know nothing about it; it's up to the administrator to comment," lie added.
The chairman said also that Mr. English's resignation was not necessary. Me had been hired only on a temporary basis while the move was made from the old to the new hospitals, said Mr. Powers.
The assistant administrator and the accounts receivable clerk left the hospital Monday, following et,rlier rcsi.miji.ion >i# iiie hospital accountant. Two other adminis-trational personnel have turned in resignations to become effective March 11 and another is "seriously considering" quitting.
NECHAKO RIVER has crept back to its banks following flooding yesterday which created scenes like this one at offices of Prince George Planing Mills Ltd. Water reached depths of 2V2 feet before the river
retreated to its regular watercourse. New flooding is feared as the two-mile-long ice jam hampering water flow holds solid. �Hal Vandervoort Photo
The local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been disbanded due to lack of support.
Only 10 persons attended the annual general meeting out of an active membership of 48. An eleytion of officers was scheduled to be held.
I "If this is all the support we KU'c able to obtain from the citizens of Prince George, we feel fully justified in this action." Bill Tidy, president of the SPCA, told The Citizen today.
"I will not say the SPCA is dead in Prince George. If there is any group of people who feel they are able to give time to this cause I'll give every support and help in any way possible to re-form the SPCA," Mi-Tidy added.
OTTAWA (CPi � Preliminary discussions are taking place on ii second, northerly route for the Trans-Canada Highway in Western Canada, Prime Minister 1 iiefenbaker said T h u r s d a y nigh'.
Ho jfave no details of the route being discussed nor of the parties involved. There .has been agitation for several years now
for a route passing through Saskatoon,' Edmonton and via the Yellowheat! Pass to Vancouver.
"We said we would push the Trans-Canada highway to completion and then consider a second possible Trans-Canada route across the' Prairies an'd tne Rockies," he said in a television broadcast.
The main route now is being
Gunderson Denies Roll
on
HOLLYWOOD (AP) � Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, television's most popular married couple, are in the divorce courts today, victims of too much success.
The red-haired comedienne, often called the greatest feminine clown, sued her Cuban tycoon husband in nearby Santa Monica Thursday. Her charge was the usual Hollywood complaint � mental cruelty.
Her action confirmed a tact well known in the movie colony for months. In her suit, she said the couple separated Feb. 26, 1959, after 19 years and three months of married life.
VANCOUVER (CFI�-Eihar M. Gundersbri, executive vice-president of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, lias denied Vancouver reports concern ing competition between a proposed Wcn-ner-Gren railway ani^ the I'd 10.
Mr. Gunderson said in a release: "Misleading headlines and erroneous statements in an interview with me have undoubtedly caused some people to think that the new railway will
iC Herring indisslry Loses Fight lo Peru
VANCOUVER (CO � A dramatic and sudden entrance by Peru into the world herring market has knocked the pins from British Columbia's once lucrative herring industry.
The Fisheries Association of B.C. says the discovery and development by Peruvian fishermen in the last four of their potential deep-sea gold mine was the direct cause of the collapse of the industry here.
Peru has for more than a century been a major source of guano, the fertilizer that comes from the droppings of seabirds.
Countless millions of birds feed on the anchovies and bonito that thrive in the warm Hum-boldl Current, and their guano became valuable harvest.
Recently Peru has realized it is much less wasteful to harvest the fish at the ocean source, and convert them to oil and fertilizer, than to harvest the bird droppings, most of which fall into the sea.
be competition for, the PGE. This is definitely not so."
Suggestion was made in the newspaper that some shippers might send freight by water to Stewart. B.C., thence over a highway under construction east from Stewart to the Cassiar country, then connecting with the Weiiner-Gren railway at the rail-highway crossing in north-central B.C.
"1 indicated no such thin;-,'," said Mr. Gunderson. "In the first place, the Stewart-Cassiar Highway has not yet been built. In the second place, it would be a most extraordinary thing for anyone to send freight over such a long and round-about route. when it could go direct, bu a much shorter route, over the PGE and then the new railway.
Mr. Gunderson said the Wenner-Gren agreement with the provincial government was. that in addition to the use of local and Canadian labor on construction of the new line, anything in connection with construction needs will be shipped over the PGE.
Now Hear This...
News of flooding Nechako Itiv-' er burst forth in a big flash bulletin over radio PG at (i p.m. yesterday. But PG listeners remained calm. They'd heard all about it two hours earlier over CKCQ Qucsiicl . . .
A complete story was in The Citizen published at 2 p.m. . . .
Citizen Photog Hal Vandervoort often provides as much news as he covers. Hal's in bed today with a sore back, which he picked up this lime after a nasty fall on the ice when he was photographing the Nechako River flood . . .
Could bd news In next few
days of when construction will begin on Safeway's proposed $500,000 development here. The properly deal covering almost an entire block fronting on Victoria is near settlement . . .
Tossed salad we've beard of, but what's with this "tossed up" salad listed on a city restaurant's menu? . . . I5est taped dart team at the Legion are the Norman Dukes ...
Several red flags have been placed close to the scene of the recent Nechako drowning. They are supposed to be safety measures, but no one could say whether young children have been irislruclecf Id that effect ; i ;
carried to completion. "In the meantime, preliminary, discussions are taking place concerning the northern route in the Western part."
Mr. Diefenbaker said Canada is on the verge of a trc.inondoj.is increase in demand for the products of her northland�metals, oil and gas and sources of energy.
'^Progress is certain, but it will not be without its difficulties, disappointments and occasional setbacks." . In such circumstances, bis desire and inclination is "to give the fullest possible measure of government assistance at such times."
Mi'. Diefenbaker spoke on the CIH"s free-time political series. The Nation's Business.
Regarding employment, lie said the problem is to provide more jobs for an increasing population. The answer was to speed up development of na liorial resources.
lames Eden
LONDON (AP)�.Labor Leader Hugh Gaitskell claims Sir Anthony Eden plunged Britain into the disastrous Suez military operation iivinjJO, while in the grip of an emotional obsession, and that American leaders realized this with alarm at the time.
Eden's memoirs, published in book form this week, have revived the whole Suez controversy, one of the bitterest in recent history.
Gaitskell and Eden were principal actors in the drama. All during the autumn of that year Gaitskell bitterly assailed Eden's policies. In the end Eden, his health broken, r e s i g n e d as prime minister.
An old-timer of the Shelley area, Andrew lverson. died Thursday in Prince George Hospital. He was 74.
A native of Norway, he came to Shelley during the early railroad .construction era. He farmed there until two years ago when he moved to the city.
There are no known relatives in Canada. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday from Assman's Funeral Chapel.
OTTAWA (CP)�Canadian living costs declined in January for the third month in a row,* dipping by one-fifth of one per cent mainly under the pressure ol lower food and clothing prices.
The bureau of statistics reported today thai the consumer price index declined to 127.2 on Feb. 1 from 127.5 a month earlier.
That made a three-month clrpp of more than a full point from 128;3 on Nov. 1, bill the decline offset only part of last year.'s rise. A year ago the Feb. 1 index was 125.7.
The yardstick of living costs ! i;; based on 1949 price levels equalling 100.
e's
Are Being
VICTORIA ICP) � Labor Minister Wicks, in his little-known capacity as provincial railways minister, assured the legislature Thursday night that all necessary precautions to protect the people's interest will be taken in the private construction of a railway north from Prince George.
Under intensive and at times bitter questioning by the CCF opposition, the minister said the company backed by Swedish industrialist Axel Wenner-Gren, which is to build the line, have been in touch with him.
He said the principals were "taking the normal procedures required under the Railway Act" and had been informed of the requirements of the act. RIGHTS PROTECTED
"Every precaution will be taken that is reasonable and proper and right with respect to protection of the people," the minister declared.
Beyond that he would not. go despite insistent questioning by CCF leader Strachan, Gordon Doweling (CCF-Burnaby) and Randolph Harding (CCF-Kaslo-Slltuan). Ttieir questibhs (delay-
ed the passage of the minister's estimates for a full hour.
Tlie CCF demanded that the company be made to post a substantial performance bond.
It was Mr, Dowding who brought the matter up at the night sitting.
Mr. Dowding said under the Railway Act the Alwegg Railway Company of B.C. � the Wenner-Gren backed company that proposes the line � must file plans with the government. The line was supposed to be started by April 1, which gave the government, little time to look over the plans. PLANS COMING
Air. Wicks said the plans were "on the way."
Mr. Dowding asked how they could be on the way when the company was apparently not yet formed.
The minister said his reply did not mean "they're in the mail tonight."
Mr. Harding wanted to know why Einar Gunderson, a vice-president of the government-owned Pacific Great Eastern Railway, should be associated with the private line and pushing it. tie asked ii' the government
would seek a performance bond.
Mr. Wicks said every precaution would be taken.
Mr. Strachan traced the history of private promoters who came into the province ;is long as .SO years ago with railway-building plans. The people had been left holding the bag. CHARGES GIVE-AWAY
Mr. Harding said the history of the past is a mirror of the future. The government was giving Wenner-Gren interests not only control of a railway, but control over power, timber and minerals in the rich Rocky Mountain Trench as well.
"You are giving away the economic control of a tenth of the province of British Columbia," ho shouted across the floor.
"Nonsense." shot back Attorney-General Bonner and some of his cabinet colleagues.
William Assclstine, who represents the northern riding of Atlin for Social Credit, said 500 mile's of the proposed 700-mile line would be in his constituency.
In that 500 miles the railway would cross one road and�amid laughter � he appealed to the government to make sure it was a high-level crossing.
One of three lumber planing mills forced to shut down when the Nechako River burst its banks here Thursday in the city's industrial district was back in operation today as the unpredictable stream retreated to its regular course.
Norman M. Smith Ltd. put its 17-man crew back to work at 8 a.m. today, after flood water forced the mill to shut clown ibout 3 p.m. yesterday when the river spread a foot-deep blanket of water in the area.
Two other operations. Prince George Planing Mills Ltd. and Albert Stekl Lumber Co. Ltd., said today they won't attempt operations until next week. RIVER DROPPED
The river dropped back to its regular course about 11 p.m. last night after apparently pushing a gap in the two-mile-long ice jam that forced it to jump it banks. Although about seven feet above normal the ice-choked river had not risen over the banks again at noon today. However, lumbermen in. the area known as Planer Row are anxiously watching the Nechako, fearing the jam will once again cut off flow of water and the flood will be on again.
On the opposite bank of the river, in the North Nechako area, Mr. and Mrs. Gerry La Fleurc and their two children evacuated their cabin .home last night as water crept over the river's north bank. Albert Roseholm, their next door neighbor, hasn't moved but the water has reached his yard.
There's not apt to be any more trouble in this area as homes, planer mills and small businesses in the area are on higher ground.
As lumbermen along River Road watch the river, millions of dollars worth of lumber stands piled in water up to 2.V� feel deep. COAT OF ICE
Little ,damagc can be done to the lumber but the flood water, all of which has a heavy coat of ice, has got into dry kilns at Prince George Planing. That mill and Norman M. Smith Ltd. have taken out all electric motors and other equipment that might be damaged if the river floods again and water level around planers increases.
About 90 men are out of work at the two dormant mills but office staff was back at work today.
Water, in a 200 foot wide flood tide, poured into the milling area for eight hours Thursday in a .stream about six inches deep at its maximum. At last report the river had dropped about a fool and a half from flood stage yesterday but lumbermen feared the river was only resting for a new onslaught.
Some water had gone into lumber piling at Caine Lumber Co. Ltd. but caused little trouble. DISCOUNT DYNAMITE
Dynamiting has been discounted as a means of solving the problem. The floe ice which formed the ice jam is now solidly frozen and blasting al (he head of the jam would not move all the ice.
in past years water has reached depls of four feet and more and inundated the CNR main line in flooding in the area.
Minister Defends Rail Plan
VICTORIA !CF) � The CCF Opposition renewed its charges of government give-away of provincial resources in the vast mineral-power-timber rich Rocky Mountain Trench area of north-central B.C.
The charges came as Labor Minister Wicks, in his little-known capacity as railways minister, assured the legislature Thursday night that all necessary precautions to protect the people's interests will be taken in the private construction of a railway north from Prince .George.
Under bitter questioning from the CCF benches, Mr. Wicks said the principals involved in Alwegg Railway Company of B.C. � the Wenner-Gren backed company that proposes to build the line� were "taking the normal procedures required under the Railway Act"' and had been informed of tiie requirements of the act.
"Every precaution will be taken that is reasonable and proper and right with respect to protection of the people," Mr. Wicks
Carol Heiss took her fifth world figure skating-crown in Vancouver Thursday. Canada's Don Jackson was nine points out of first in the opening figures of the men's competition. � . . .
* * ir
The 40th Annual Prince George Curling Bonspiel, with the Kelly Cup as the big prize, opens at the Curling Club Monday morning.
� * *
Montreal clinched their third consecutive NHL title with a 5-1 win over Toronto last night. Chicago edged Boston 2-0 in the other game, Bobby Hull getting a goal and an assist. . . ,
"K" �" T>T FULL SPORTS COVERAGE ON PAGE 4
Exact Toll In Quake Never Be Known
AG A D 1 R, Morocco (AP) � Weary refugees streamed away from Agadir today as pestilence threatened to sweep the quake-shattered city.
Amid the stench of death, rescue workers continued searching for survivors who might be trapped in the ruins.
All hope of finding survivors was abandoned in much of the native Moroccan quarter, where the quake crumblltd flimsy structures into dust. Bulldozer teams today were levelling the ruins.
But hope was still held that in the modern European quarter some persons might still lie alive in pockets created by fallen beams or girders. DEATH TO 1/1/
The Moroccan government announced that 2,OG1 dead had been buried in graves hastily dug in the rubble of the Atlantic resort. Hut that .figure did not include uncounted iTumbers of graves filled during the confused hours, following the two earth-quakes and a tidal wave Monday night.
Moroccan officials fear 0,000 of the city's 10,000 residents may have died in the disaster, hut it now is apparent that the. exact toll will never be known.
At least .'{,200 persons were injured. 1,200 of them seriously.
Some estimates of the injured ran to 3,000.
The government ordered Agadir evacuated in the face of the threat of pestilence. Several cases of typhoid already have been reported.
Moroccan troops surrounded the wreckage today. The ruined city has been sprayed with disinfectant. Its pungent odor was mixed today with the overpowering, sickly sweet smell of bodies buried in the rubble and decaying in the 95-degree heat.
II
Latest gift to Prince George and District Hospital was $(513, donated by management and employees to Sinclair Spruce Lumber Co. Ltd. to help furnish a four-bed ward.
The gift was made up of 5O-per cent individual employee donations and a matching company donation. It was presented yesterday.
Firemen Called
Firemen were called to the home of Frank Pearce, 1984 Twelfth, at 6 p.m. Thursday after a hot-air duct became overheated. Tliere was no damage.
Savage Snowstorm Hits Northeastern States
NEW YORK (AIM�The northeastern United States staggered today under the impact of a savage snowstorm and gaje-whipped winds, with no sign of letting up in some areas.
The snow began whirling down early Thursday from Virginia to New York, then roared into southern New England.
It. was part of a battering storm pattern which also hit the Pacific Northwest and most ol the continent east of the Ilocky Mountains.
More than (10 deaths were attributed to the weather, mostly traffic accidents or from heart attacks following snow-shovelling.
MOW VOKK FLOUX DISKS.
New York City caught nearly 1 I inches of snow before the fall tapered off early today. The metropolitan area was still floundering in the grip of para-yzing drifts.
Thousands of commuters were stranded overnight in Manhat-an. although many schools, factories and offices closed early in the day to give employees a chance to get home. There just weren't enough transit facilities to get workers to the suburbs.
Virginia had up to IS inches of snow and the fall was expected to last through the weekend. Most schools were shut down.
Airports at Washington, Philadelphia and New York practically gave up. At New York's
New Mining Firm
TORONTO iCP) � Dominion Securities Corp. Ltd. has announced that a new mining investment company called Lo-cana Mineral Holdings Ltd. lias been formed by British, South African, European and Canadian capital to invest in Canadian mining.
Of the initial offering, shares are being offered to the public and 900,000 have been subscribed for by the various mining and investment companies concerned, including, in Canada, Mclntyrc Porcupine Mines Ltd., anfcl VeiUureS LW.
Idlewlld Airport more than 200 flights were cancelled. WOKNT IN VIOAICS
Nearly two feet of snow- phis-tered portions of New Jersey, making it one of the worst storms to hit the state in years. Hotels were filled with stranded motorists and commuaters.�
New York City had a better outlook for public transportation today. Officials for the rail-roads, subways and buses said they expected facilities to be'in fairly good shape.
Crews worked through the night at the Lincoln and Hoi-land tunnels linking New York and New Jersey. The New York, bound lubes of the Lincoln tunnel were b I o c k e d f o r many' hours Thursday when a truck jackknifed across the roadway. The George Washington Bridge remained open to auto traffic but ploughing across it was slow and tedious.
WEATHER
A general warming trend for the entire province is in the off. ing as "disturbances move closer to the. Pacific coast.
Local forecaster says there'll be variable cloudiness Sat unlay with a few evening snow flurries. Little change in temperature is predicted and winds will remain light. Outlook for Sunday: little change.
Low tonight and high Saturday at Prince George and Ques-nel, 0 and 20; Smithers, 5 and 23.
Peace Kiver Itcgioji
A few clear periods tonigjit and Saturday. Little change in temperature; lighl winds. Low toiiighl and liigh Saturday at Grande Prairie, 0 and 15. Last -1 Hours
Lo Hi Preclp. Prince George.. -2 21 �
Terrace ............ 17 30
Smithers ........ 13 20 �
Quesnel ............ -G 2.'! �
Kamloops ........ 8 20 .12
Dawson Creek -1 15 .15 Fort St. John.. -6 15 .17 Fort Nelson ,.., -11 21 .05 Whitchorse...... -0 21 �