Hospital employees return VICTORIA (CP) - Nonprofessional employees returned to their jobs at five of six British Columbia hospitals today but a major pocket of resistance remained at Vancouver General hospital. An estimated 3,800 members of the Hospital Employees Union complied with a government back-to-work order and 21-day cooling off period, although the union said they would be on the picket line again if they don't get their contract settled in that time. The balance of about 2,000 employed at Vancouver General were called to a special membership meeting today to decide what they will do. Although the Vancouver General pickets also laid down their "on strike" signs' about 6:30 p.m. Thursday 6 xk hours after the government order was announced spokesman Ray McCready said they are still on strike until after today's meeting. Constable Frank Henley tests radar set for weekend patrols. PART-TIME BUILDERS BLAAED FOR INCREASE City has entered era of the $10,000 building lot by TOM NIXON Citizen Staff Reporter A 40-per-cent jump lh city lot prices caused by what officials called "irrational" and "impulse bidding" by "part-time builders" will end up taking another slice off the consumers' thinning pocketbook. Lot prices will remain above the $10,000 level even after sales later this year take the pressure off the demand. House prices will also have to rise to pay for increased land prices even though existing house values will not immediately reflect lot price increases. Both city treasurer Chuck Schattenkirk and home builder Art Creuzot agree lot. prices will not return to the $8,000 level they were before Thursday's panic, Creuzot, president of the local chapter of the Housing and Urban Development Association of Canada and manager of Central Homes and Development Ltd., said prices should drop to about $10,000 by next July. He blames the increase on an unnecessary panic by "part-time builders" who bought lots Thursday on "impulse" rather than sound business judgment. "It's alarming to me that this happened because it will push the price ofa single-family dwelling beyond the reach of the average buyer," Creuzot said. "We said before (his sale that our members shouldn't worry, that there really js not a shortage of lots this year. "There's a shortage at this particular time but within weeks the pressure will be off. "The established builders didn't buy yesterday, at least not the ones who knew what was going to happen and were prepared. There's lots of land available and very little mortgage money so the established builders stayed out." Creuzot said the small builders, who construct one to three houses a year and holdfdown other jobs as well, could be in trouble by the time they get their houses on the market because their prices could be too high. Radar is watching Three persons died and eight were injured on Prince George area highways during last year's Victoria Day weekend and police will try to prevent similar accidents this year. "We will have four radar sets operating during the holiday and every available man will be on traffic duty," said RCMP Sgt. Sandy Fraser today. He feels the Victoria Day long weekend is a dangerous one because many motorists are taking their first long trip of the year and many are towing boats for the first time since last fall, Sgt. Fraser said recent statistics showed Prince George area residents have become more safety conscious, but he warns that police Gov't game branch against Hydro dam VANCOUVER (CP) - The provincial fish and wildlife branch has filed as an official objector to British Columbia Hydro's proposed $1 billion power project in Revelstoke in eastern B.C. It is believed to be the first time that a provincial government agency has objected to the granting of a water 1 icence to the Crown corporation. Howard DeBeck of the water rights branch, water resources service of the provincial department of the environment, confirmed the move. "We objected on the basis that the needs of the fish and wildlife in that area are not looked after in the proposal," said Ed Vernon, deputy minister of recreation . B.C. Hydro proposes to build a dam three miles north of Revelstoke. ANALYSIS "They don't understand the conditions now, the mortgage conditions, the availability of lots and they're going to take their lumps later this year." He said the rise in prices has killed the Assisted Home Ownership Program of the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation because it prices single-family homes beyond the $36,000 maximum allowed by the program. Last year VIH jjj . -f Citizen Photo by Dave Mllnel will charge anyone disregarding safety rules. "Turn on the lights when you drive, observe the speed limit and make sure the vehicle is in good condition," he said. He-also said that those towing boats on trailers should make sure the hitches are securely fastened and that a safety chain is used in addition to the hitch. There's always the chance a hitch will break. If that happens and the trailer breaks loose someone could get killed," he said. He explained that extra chain would hold the boat or trailer until the driver can stop. Fraser also warned about drinking and driving. "Anyone who drinks and drives during a long weekend whenjhe roads are crowded is even more irresponsible than at other times. There will be no roadside suspension. Everyone will be charged. If . we feel the driver is impaired, it will be a trip to the station for that person," he said, 331 homes were built here under AHOP. City treasurer Schattenkirk said today Thursday's auction disturbed him very much because bidders seemed to be playing a game. "I think they were inexperienced and got carried away,"he said,"Itwaslike a game. "Instead of bidding up slowly from the upset price, they'd immediately bid The 15c Copy May Day: something for everyone A full day of festivities is in store for Prince George Monday as the city joins the Elks Lodge in celebrating May Day. And you'll need a schedule and a lot of stamina if you want to take in all the sports events in town this holiday weekend, Monday's activities begin at 10 a,m. when the annual May- Day parade leaves Woodward's parking lot. The parade route will follow Victoria Street to Third Avenue, along Third Avenue to George Street, George Street to Fifth Avenue, Fifth Avenue to Dominion Street and along Dominion to the Civic Centre, When the parade reaches the Civic Centre the Elks Lodge will present a $35,000 cheque to the city as a final commitment to the Elksentre on Hart Highway. The centre is in the final stage of construction. The traditional maypole dance will be held at the Civic Centre and other maypoles will be placed throughout the city. At 1:30 p.m. Snowbirds, the Canadian Armed Force's precision flying team, will demonstrate aerobatics over Prince George, The M. F, Wagner carnival will be at the exhibition grounds all weekend along with display booths, dancing, concession stands and games. Full details of the weekend 's sporting events appear on pages 14 and 15. But the lineup is as follows: There is NASCAR stock car racing at the PGARA speedway Sunday and Monday afternoon. Time trials are at 1 p.m., with racing at 2 both days. The Prince George Motorcycle Club will hold a two-day trial near the Willow River bridge, 20 miles east of town on highway 16. Bikers begin competition at noon Sunday and Monday. The 17th. annual Northern Hardware Isle Pierre to Prince George canoe race goes Sunday afternoon. ' Paddlers'leave Isle Pierre at 12:30 and are due at the Hudson Bay slough finish line between 3:30 and 4 p.m. The Northern Interior High School track meet in being held at Lakewood Junior Secondary School today and Saturday. Heats are this afternoon; the finals are from 10 a. m, to 6 p.m. Saturday. $11',000 for a $8,00 lot just because the previous one went for $12,000." Schattenkirk agreed the price rise killed AHOP single-family homes. He said the only thing that could have prevented Thursday's rush on lots was jf there had been more lots for sale. If there were enough lots for both the small home builder and the estabished building companies prices wouldn't have been driven up. Schattenkirk said it's difficult for the city to be prepared for a demand like Thursday's. "We have to plan everything for a short construction period and at least a year in advance. So there's going to be a rush in spring Citi Friday, May 21, 1976 Vol. 20; No. 100 'INFLEXIBILITY1 CITED for the builders who want to build during the summer." College Heights Developments manager Bob Flitton said the panic was not necessary because there are more than 1,000 lots to be sold to builders before fall. He said the city has about 400 lots, College Heights another 400 and other developers at least 200 more. College Heights will be selling75 lots within a week, another large block in July and the balance in September. "The problem is the long winter which holds up development and construction and causes this demand in spring," he said, "and there's little the city can do about it. "Builders have to realize that if they want to build in the spring they have to buy the lots in the fall." Flitton said Thursday's sale is not any disgrace to the city's land policies. "You canot have a fairer way to sell lots than the city's-auctions," he said. "And the city's policies have kept lot prices far below other cities. There's not a city of Prince George's size where you can buy a lot for less than $18,000." Realtors say the price rise will not be reflected in house prices for at least a few months. The market here still makes the buyer pay the seller's price or the house Is not sold, so prices are bound to rise; they say, even though there as a surplus of units on the 1 market: Prince George, British Columbia Air strike looms as talks delayed OTTAWA (CP) Chances of a national air strike loomed larger today as negotiators for the country's 2,200 air traffic controllers called for a recess in contract talks until May 25. They said that the federal treasury board has been inflexible on money issues. The controllers have given their national executive a mandate to call a strike at 11:59p.m. May 31 unless an agreement is reached. , . . A strike could half'all commercial air traffic In 'Canada. Jim Livingston, presidentof the CanadianAir Traffic Control Association (CATCA), said in a statement that treasury officials had been "inflexible!' on their wage offer of 9.5 per cent. . The controllers want an increase of 11 per cent or $2,400, whichever is less, in a one-year settlement. But Mr. Livingston quoted .Transport Minister Otto Lang as saying he was "not inflexible" on terms of an inquiry commission into aviation safety to deal with issues arising from the proposed introduction of bilingualism into air traffic control in Quebec. The bilingualism issue, which has split Quebec controllers from others in the country, is a major issue. "While we were prepared to suggest a number of areas where our proposals could be modified, it appeared that the employer's representatives were not provided a mandate which allowed them to reciprocate in any way," Mr. Livingston said. In the Commons, Mr. Lang said he was due to meet union officials later in the day but Mr. Livingston had called to say he could'not make it. BCR 'refused' to attend talks VANCOUVER (CP) - The Joint Council of Railway Unions said Thursday that officials of British Columbia Railway refused to attend a meeting aimed at ending the dispute which has closed the railway's freight service. The unions said the meeting had been requested by Labor Minister Allan Williams, BCR replied that it has reached an impasse in talks with, the United Transportation Union and was not planning to meet with the joint council or the UTU, Sec also page 3 . Spruce City Field is the site of the annual Major Men's Fastball Association tournament. Play begins Saturday at 2 p.m., Sunday at noon and Monday at 10 a.m. The final is at 2 p.m. Monday. The Interior B.C. karate championships are at Prince George Secondary Sunday. Competition starts at 10 a.m. Prince George Senior Secondary School's Community Recreation class Is holding a bicycle rally. Cyclists will start the event at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at PGSS parking lot. o The opening men's golf tournament of the season is at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. Golfers will play 36 hples during the weekend. MARTINEZ, Calif. (AP) -At least 26 people were killed Friday when a school bus carrying a high school choir'on a field trip crashed through a highway guardrail and plunged 30 feet to the concrete below, the California Highway Patrol reported. Hospital rate hike reduced VICTORIA (CP) The B.C. government has decided to increase extended care charges to $4-a-day, instead of the proposed $7. Health Minister Bob McClelland told the B.C. Legislature Thursday night the $4-a-day charge for extended care would be effective June 1. The only exemption will be for children 19 years old and under. Earlier this year, in the bud-getvspeech, the government had proposed to increase hospital charges to fl-a-day from $1 a day for acute care and to $7 from $1 a day for extended care. "There will be a $4-a-day charge for all people in provin-cially operated facilities extended or acute," Mr. McClel-Jarfd said. "It was brought forcefully to our attention, and certainly we miscalculated the number of people who were not in receipt of mincome payments and who would suffer very severe hardships because of the $7-a-day charge," the minister said. "Even dropping it at $4, however, we find that a lot of people who have young children in polio wards, palsy wards or who are retarded, are still faced with severe hardships," No paper on Monday In observance of the Victoria Day holiday, The Citizen will not be published Monday. Publication will.resume Tuesday with full coverage'of international , national , local news and sport. TODAY CARnage in the Prince George area Killed this week: Killed this year: To same date, 1975: Injured this week: Injured this year: To same date, 1975: FEATURED INSIDE ) 147 205 The abandoned Glen Shee apartment buildings on 1 5th Avenue are finally going to be completed, but there's a safety problem now. Page 6. Canada is going to have its own super stars competition. Page 13. Business, 8; Classified, 26-40; Comics, 21; Editorial, 4; Entertainment, 17-24; Home and Family, 42-43; Horoscopes, 23-24; Local and Provincial, 3, 6, 7, 16,22; National, 2; Sports, 13-15; Television, 19-20. THE WEATHER ) Clouds and showers were expected today as a moist Pacific air front moved into the Central Interior. The weatherman said little change is in sieht until Mondav whpn sunshine should return. The high today and Saturday, 18C; the low tonight, 3C. Thursday's hieh was ISO the. overnight low was 2C, 1 he high for May 21, 1975 was 13C; the low was 7C. ( NOW HEAR THIS ) Anyone heading to Vancouver this Victoria Day weekend and planning to take one of the B.C. ferries, better know he may encounter some delays, Ferry employees are following the example of BCR workers who are working to rule. Ferries to Naimaimo and Victoria have already been delayed today. ' The pupils of Aurora School for Handicapped Children got a free ride today in fact all the free rides thev could manage in three hours, The youngsters were the guests of the M. F. Wagner carnival, which is at the Exhibition grounds for the weekend. The carnival opened its gates to the children from noon to 3 p.m. and treated them to hot dogs, pop and midway rides. One buyer at Thursday's wildly-priced city lot sale repeatedly tried to inject some sense into the excited atmosphere when prices were climbing. When the bids on an $8,000 lot had risen to about $10,000, he would begin shouting "sold, sold". To no avail, however, the bidders just began skipping $10,000 bids and going straight to $11,000 or even $12,000.