Condemned!
For Printing the Truth
A select handful of Prince George Board of Trade members have decided The Citizen has done this city great harm by saying nasty things about B.C.'s Social Credit government and the promoters of the Pacific Northern Railway.
This group yesterday voted a resolution of censure against the newspaper for daring to print stories and editorials criticizing the government or the railway, and for printing allegedly . pessimistic stories about Prince George.
Supporters of the resolution charged that this sort of thing gave the city bad publicity and could adversely influence the PNR backers.
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We noted, happily, that not all of the 42 members present, uut of a total board membership of some 220, saw fit to endorse the resolution, which was introduced by Harold Moffat and Alex Bowie.
Three free-thinkers voted against the motion, and six others refused to vote at all, probably preferring to remain aloof from a hastily-prepared resolution which in a brief lunch-hour meeting could be neither intelligently assessed nor properly debated in all its aspects. The Citizen has no quarrel with Mr. Moffat or Mr. Bowie. Both gentlemen have proved many times they have the interests of the city at heart, and are willing to work for the public good with untiring devotion and considerable skill.
Both should have known better than to drag the board of trade, which is supposed to be non-political, into a position of being unqualified supporters of the Social Credit Party.
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The story of this vote of censure, together with the comments of the two principals, and the frank opinions of some "ordinary citizens," are printed elsewhere on this page. The public will weigh the statements and draw its own conclusions.
But we shall present our side, which also the readers can judge.
The Citizen holds to the belief that if this railway is built, whether to Alaska or as Mr. Moffat said merely to Tactile River, and is followed by natural resources development of that area, then it will mean a great deal to Prince George.
This newspaper has consistently plumped for this railway to be built. But we deplore most strongly the manner in which the Social Credit government has blown up the publicity to such an extent that it had to force the railway company to start so-called construction before it was ready to do so, simply to fulfill a Socred promise to the electors.
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If this railway is to be built, it will have to be soundly financed. This has not yet been accomplished. For one reason the selling of this kind of investment � some $250,000,000 � in an age when jet aircraft are the talk of the world and railways are all running in red ink, is a tough job. Secondly, big investors every where -hav-e bftcoine mcvriiitotl   it. .A 'tti-vvspniMii*   that
/as   for   the. city   would   never ave  printed   those   things."
Asked if he didn't consider it
newspaper's duty to print the ood or the bad, Mr. Moffat relied: "Who cares if it's news not, if you can't say some-iiing nice don't say anything." NLY THE  GOOD
Mr. Moffat said "we don't /ant a community newspaper lat will print pessimistic stor-;s," and he added other city usinessmen were behind him on lis.
"We    can    do    without    The itizen," he said. How    can    we    sell    Prince (Continued  on  Pago !5)
The Man on the Street Approves Citizen Stand
"It's a good thing someone around here  prints  the truth."
This reaction was the consensus of a number of "ordinary citizens"  interviewed  Thursday.
They were asked the question: "Do you think The Citizen has overplayed the Pacific Northern Railway situation the last few weeks?"
Five of eight persons interviewed said they considered The Citizen had been truthful and objective, both in its reporting of the news and its editorials.
"It's a good thing someone around here prints the truth," said one man interviewed. Four others agreed  with  him.
Another thought The Citizen had probably failed to "get across" that the government had created the present situation and that the PNR people "are just trying  to build  a  railway."
The other two said they had no opinions on the way the news has been printed.
In    answer    to   the   question:
"What do you think of the PNR
ident for 37 years, and unemployed: "The whole thing is a big flop so far as I'm concerned.
EMILE BOURASSA, bulldozer operator: "It made a big start but there doesn't seem much hope it will develop into anything. I wish it would. I'd get some work  then."
GEORGE HARNING: "I think the government is just waiting for the next election before the railway goes ahead. It's just a political matter, used at the cabinet's disposal."
DENNY TONI, construction worker: "I don't know what to believe. One day the paper says one thing and the next day something else."
ERNIE HILL, life insurance underwriter: "Thinking constructively, the publicity has been premature. But the damage has been done and now it can't be undone. Because of it, too many people have come to Prince George looking for work. Conse-
quently   they're   telling   people
ART LEE, Prince George res-1 now to stay away.
QUIET AND PEACEFUL, the airport sits dozing under the hot summer sun, while lazy clouds billow up in the sky. The plane in the foreground, a DC-(>B, is waiting for a few stragglers before resuming its flight to Vancouver. The familiar, "four-engined aircraft may be.replaced by twin-engined Convairs soon. CPA is attempting to sell the larger aircraft and, if successful, will use only Convairs on Interior flights.                                        �Hal. Vandervoort Photo
CCF CANDIDATE CHARGES:
PNR is 'Farcical Nonsense
A CCF .spokesman ihere has ailed for an immediate Public J'ti'lities Commission meeting to ook into the government's ihahd-ivg of the Pacific Northern laihvay development.
"They should put a stop to lis farcical nonsense of playing t railway building," the.CCF andidate for tihe next provincial told
lection,   Ken   Rutherford tie Citizen  today. {REACH OK   FAITH
"A public utilities meeting hould ;be held Immediately so ye can  find out  what  kind of
deal the government is push-ig us into."
"The most noteworthy item i this .puzzling eipisode of the 'NR is the government's glnr-ig breach of faibh with the lilzens of B.C.," said Mr. Ruth-
WEATHER
Sunny with cloudy periods attirday. Not much change in jmperature. Light southerly inds.
Low tonight and high tomor'-)\v at Quesnel, 50 and SO; rince George, 50 ami 75; Smith's,   Id and OS.
Peace Itivcr llcgion
Variable cloudiness Saturday, howers tomorrow afternoon ml evening. Continuing warm, [ghi winds,
Low tonight and high tomor-j iw at Grande  Prairie,  35 and
Last 21
Prince George..
Quesnel   ..........
Terrace   ..........
Bmlthers  ........
Kamloops   .....
Dawson   Creek Fort St. John Fort   Nelson...". Whltehorse......
Hours
Lo Hi 50 72 50
I'rccip. trace
79 65 tiS
70 62
GEORGE  HARNING " . . . political matter"
DENNY TONI
. what to believe?"
ERNIE UILL " 4.. premature publicity"
EMILE   BOURASSA � . . not much hope"
ART LEE . a big Hop"
erford.
. "in the legislature Premier Bennett refused to divulge 'the plans of the Wenner-G>rcn group, Ho told enquiring members that plans would be made known a)t a hearing of the 'Public Utilities Commission 'before the railroad was  proceeded  with.
"Then,    apparently   'thinking t'ha't a loop-hole in the PUC Act
Huge Forest Fire Now Under Control
A forest fire that has destroyed over S00 acres of timber east of Quesnel is said to finally have been brought under control today.   .
Over SO men wltih 10 tractors are fighting the blaze that erupted Tuesday. The blaze is said tn have started from a burning sawdust pile at. a sawmill.
It was tlhought the 'blaze was under control Wednesday but it, got away from fire fighters again.
Thirteen other fifes arc burning in ilie Prince George Forest District but none are major.
Ligihtnirig is belio.vod respoiv slble for several  of the fires.
The lire hazard is moderate throughout most of the forest district. However, The Quesnel and Prince Geoj'ge ranger districts have tiigii ratings.
Ivad been found, (ho disregarded bis 'promise and .permitted  the PNR to make a token start in order  to meet a deadline. LEGITIMATE BEEP
"The city of 'Prince. George certainly 'has a legitimate complaint as do ,ithe (hundreds of workers guided here 'by the ballyhoo in connection with this most peculiar affair.
"The whole unsavory mess should foe laid'right on Mr. �Bennett's doorstep," Mir, Rutherford said.
Free Pork Given Welfare Cases Here
Persons on long-term social assistance here will bo given free pork next week.
The canned meal, is an accumulation of the federal government, find is being distributed in many centres across Canada.
Some 125 cases (2-1 cans to a easel will be handed out here through the civil defence organ-I ization.
Times will lie from l::t<> to I p.m. Monday through Friday at civil -defence hei'uluarlers in I lie Cariboo Health Unit building.
Number of cans given will vary according to the size of the family and other conditions. Social Welfare identification card should be produced.
A   1 year-old boy was admitted i to  hospital  here  Thursday,  the | fifth   city   resident   to   contract paralytic polio   in  the   lasi  two weeks.
He is Ignore Zoinhon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edi Zainbon. general delivery, Prince George. His case is described by �>:'. K.I.G; Benson, Cariboo Health Unit director, as "moderate."
The 'boy has mild 'paralysis of t'he legs and  was said  in "satisfactory' today'.
Like the other four polio victims, he had not received Salk vaccine.
LONDON (AP) � Nikita Khrushchev warned today the Soviet Union will consider "serious measures" against any powers which engage in "aggression" against the Congo.
In a .message to Congo government leaders broadcast by .Moscow Radio, the Soviet premier said:
"The Soviet government says hands off the Congo."
The message, addressed to'Premier Patrice Limuwnba said t'he Soviet Union would give tihe new republic "any assistance that might be necessary for the victory of its just cause."
CONDEMNATION
"The Soviet Union," Khrtlsh'-ohey said, "raises its voice of condemnation against the aggressors in the Congo and caHs for full sovereign rights for the people of tihe Congo.
"If aggression continues then the Soviet government will find it necessary to consider more serious measures.
"The Soviet Union will not lhalt 'before making determined efforts to stop aggression."
The broadcast described the message as a reply by Khrusn-chev to one he received from Lumumba and Kasavubu.
INTKKVJdNTION
The Soviet news agency Tass quoted tihe Congo leaders as caibling Khrushchev Thursday: "We will 'bo compelled to ask .for intervention iby the Soviet Union if the Western camp, doea not desist from aggression . . ."
K'hru.s'hdhev declared today the United Nations resolution on the Congo 'may not 'be enough. He said the Soviet Union, is ready to act "to hall 'the aggression" there "if those stales which are carrying on direct aggression against the Congo do not stop their criminal measures."
Khrushchev, of the UN resolution arranging for a UN force to o to the Congo, said:
"The Security Council did a useful filing in adopting a ire-solution calling fora withdrawal of itihe Belgian troops ifrom the Congo. If 'the aggression eon tin-ics in spite of tihis decision, the Soviet 'government declares 'that he necessity would arise for mlh l,he United Nations 'and those peace-loving states 'which lyinpathize wiOh the Congo lo ake more effective measures." �J2-MAN  FOKCE
The UN ihurrled a 22-man advance guard including Canadians o the Congo today and assem-)led an international African nilitary force to 'help 'restore M'der.
Ghana delivered a small token letaohmeni for the international nilitary force, the first to arrive.
Tension ncared the breaking )oinl Wednesday nig'ht when vhites at t'he Letlpoldville air->ort swarmed around Premier 'atrice Limiuba and one refugee truck a grazing punch at the 'ongolese lcadsr's chin.
The Belgians siiouted "Breiik icir necks" and "On your knees rturdereru" to Lumumba and 'resident Joseph Kasavubu.
Belgian paratroopers watched he refugees crowd around l.u-nuirVba and Kasavubu but made 10 move lo interfere.
Now Hear This..
Pickled csfis and peanuts have) line over heard in a  local  pub
been beer parlor staples for years, but genial National host Horace SltallaVd   had   a   new  snack   for , the    boys    yesterday:     Smoked condition in  hospital   ,,,ou|) and mighly tastV) loo     _ _
One shortage that hasn't yet struck Kilimat, according lo just-returned Ilciming Madsen, i:; that of housing. He said there arc at least 500 homes there just
17   Ill-JDS   IX   B.C.
VANCOUVER (CP) - The Communist, parly announced today 17 candidate;: have bee-n named  to contest the next, pro-
vincial   election, could  reach 21. They include:
Tihe   number
Nigel Morgan,
provincial leader, Vancouver East; Ernest Knott, . Saanich; Irving Mortinson. Nanaimo; Mark Mosfier, Alberni; Hjalmer Bergren, Cowicthan- Newcastle; Nicholas Klim, North Okanagan and Allan Warringlon; Rosssland-Trail.
ing for tenants
 Radio
boys still raving about a fabulous wrestling match between John Frcy   snd   Bob   Ilarkins,   some-
where out west
Highway 16
west still taking its usual toll, traveller from Smithers reports. He lost a hub cap and got a good-sized rock through the windshield . . .
Jake the Fake says the initials PNR stands for Point of No Return.   Other   efforts  along  this
last night included Put No Rails, Pretty Near Real, Produce Nothing Railway and Place No Reliance  .  .  .
Oh, oh, we must have offended somebody again. Just got a letter from the board of trade, to wit: It was duly moved, seconded and carried that a letter of censorship be sent to The Citizen deploring the publicity given by The Citizen to the inactivity of tiic proposed railroad. Must admit it's a bit confusing. We arc used to being censored, which means according to Oxford "examined." We had heard a rumor we were censured by the board, but that's what the letter said, censored. And it's something to hear the board of trade admit in writing there is inactivity at the railroad. It didn't say which railroad . , ,