FEWER FATAL ACCIDENTS RECORDED
Progress made in war against drinking drivers
The
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Citizen%
Wednesday, May 31,1978 Vol. 22; No. 105 Prince George. British Columbia
VICTORIA (CP) — The British Columbia government’s program to combat drinking drivers is paying off, government and police spokesmen say.
A spokesman for the government’s 1500,000 Counter-Attack program attributed a reduction in the number of fatal accidents during the past year directly to the program, which includes a massive advertising campaign and use of 15 BAT-mobiles (breath-alcohol testing vans) throughout the province.
The program was announced a year ago.
The spokesman said the latest figures show there were five per cent fewer accidents in January, 1978 than in January, 1977,26 per cent fewer fatalities and 11 per cent fewer injuries.
However, he said this has to be attributed partly to the use of seatbelts, now compulsory in B.C., but he did not know to what degree.
RCMP Inspector Bob Rivers, officer in charge of traffic for the province, said the 24-hour roadside suspension provision incorporated in the Motor Vehicles Act in the mid-1960s has also been very worthwhile.
“It is hard to say statistically how many accidents were prevented, but we are sure in our own minds that there has been a considerable number,” Rivers said.
Under Section 203 of the act, a police officer may suspend for
a period of 24 hours the drivers’ licence of a person he believes to be impaired.
“This empowers the police to take the borderline impaired driver off the road for 24 hours,” Rivers said.
He said 20,000 such suspensions were issued in 1977.
Rivers said police had noticed that motorists were much more aware of the hazards of drinking and driving as a result of the Counter-Attack program.
He said that statistically it was too early to show the effectiveness of the program “but as far as we’re concerned, it is certainly a very worthwhile program.”
The Counter-Attack spokesman said the effectiveness of the program was demonstrated in the increase in the number of roadside suspensions, increased number of charges for refusing to provide a breath sample, more convictions for impaired driving and a decrease in the projected number of fatal accidents.
He said his group had compiled a computer model which showed what should be happening at any given time based on what had happened during the last several years.
“We then measured this against the number of fatal accidents which actually occurred, and came up with a steady gap between the two,” said the spokesman.
He said that during the first six months of Counter-Attack “we should have had about 390 fatal accidents—we actually had only 327.”
The spokesman said the reduction in the level of average readings recorded on breathalyzers was also noteworthy.
He said the average blood-alcohol level during the last several years had been fairly constant at .17 or a little more than double the legal limit of .08 per cent.
"By December, that had dropped to .13 per cent which is a very, very big difference when you keep in mind that charges are not laid Until consistent readings of 1.0 per cent are recorded to compensate for machine error, temperature fluctuations and what have you.”
The spokesman said that a survey by the Ministry of Transport conducted in Victoria during September and January found that more than 90 per cent of the people surveyed were aware there was an operation against drinking drivers.
“That figv-e is so high it is almost suspect,” the spokesman said.
Attorney-General Garde Gardom said the program had created a high level of public awareness, and a high degree of acceptability by the public, and that he was cheered by the results.
Warsaw Pact arms buildup 'very serious'
OTTAWA (CP) - Canada must clearly state its reaction to the Soviet arms buildup by announcing its plans to support NATO and by taking a stand on the alliance’s acquisition of the controversial neutron bomb, Progressive Conservative MPs said Tuesday in the Commons.
At the same time a party spokesman announced that Conservatives are opposed to deployment of the bomb.
Deputy Prime Minister Allan MacEachen replied by saying that Canada views the military strength of the Warsaw pact countries as a “very serious” matter and that NATO will continue to perform as an “absolutely indispensable deterrent” to Soviet aggression.
However, MacEachen declined to clearly define the Liberal government’s policy on the issue of the neutron bomb.
The comments came as Prime Minister Trudeau attended a NATO summit meeting in Washington held to chart a long-term policy towards defence by the western heads of state.
For the second consecutive day the Conservatives led off the daily Commons question period by seeking clarification of defence policy statements made by Trudeau.
Opposition Leader Joe Clark said the prime minister’s comments this week contradicted the stated policy of U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Clark said a document prepared for the NATO summit meeting and supported by Carter shows the West’s over-all military lead over the Soviet Union has been reduced.
But Trudeau’s statement Monday that he does not think the Soviets will step up the cold war was a contradiction of that document, he said.
West will probe African security
WASHINGTON (CP) - A number of Western countries are reported ready to give intensive study to Soviet influence in Africa and to prepare for an organized Western reaction, but Canada appears reluctant to get involved.
Richard O’Hagan, communications adviser to Prime Minister Trudeau, said today that Canada has not been invited and does not plan to at-
Russian fleet increases size
TOKYO (Reuter) - The Soviet Union is increasing the size and fighting ability of its huge Pacific fleet as it becomes more involved in Africa, informed military sources said today.
They said the Russian navy now keeps more than 20 ships permanently in the Indian Ocean, 70 per cent of them based at Siberian ports.
A North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) conference in Washington has concentrated on the Russian penetration of Africa.
Although technically outside the alliance’s geographic area of interest, President Carter said Tuesday that the 15 member states cannot be indifferent to Russian activity in Africa.
tend a meeting in Paris next Monday to consider African security.
His statement conflicted with that of Pierre Hunt, spokesman for French President Valery Giscard d’Esta-ing, who announced after a cabinet meeting in Paris today that six countries would attend, including Canada.
O’Hagan said Trudeau knew nothing about this announcement and had not been consulted.
During the two-day NATO summit here, Trudeau emphasized the need for new disarmament proposals while President Carter and other leaders raised fears about the Soviet and Cuban involvement in Africa.
External Affairs Minister Don Jamieson said in a television interview Tuesday that he was unaware of the proposed Paris meeting and declined further comment until he obtained details.
However, Jamieson said at an earlier news briefing that NATO leaders generally expressed concern about the Russian and Cuban activity in Africa.
‘‘I have no doubt either that throughout the remainder of the meeting this subject will be discussed and we are, I’m quite sure, going to come to some conclusion as to what action can be taken,” the minister said.
CITY SHOOTING
Cuddly friend
“Gee, it’s so soft,” says Michael Schulz, 6, as he gently holds a gosling to his face. Goslings, baby chickens and ducklings are hatching all over Prince George and the Schulzes have their share at their home on Cranbrook Hill. It’s a sure sign summer is coming.
FIVE YEARS AWAY
Private sales of wine?
They won't pay taxes
VICTORIA (CP) - Rafe Mair, consumer and corporate affairs minister, said Tuesday that he expects the sale of beer and wine will no longer be in government hands in four to five years.
The minister said in an interview there is a trend across North America for governments to get out of the liquor business, but he would not predict what type of outlets would be used in B.C.
“I would not be surprised to see public pressure for wine
MAIR
stores in general and we'll have to look at the economic viability,” he said. “It would probably involve the sale of beer as well.
‘‘If we had to start from scratch, I’d say let’s go to private distribution. But we’re so entrenched in this government business now with so much money involved, public servants included,that the disentanglement process boggles the mind.”
The minister said he doubted that privately-owned stores would mean lower prices.
SPALLUMCHEEN, B.C. (CP) - This municipality of 3,378 people, faced with a school tax levy increase of 41 per cent, has refused to pay its new assessment.
The community, 20 kilometres east of Vernon, B.C., owes the District 21 school board about $125,000.
The municipality is making payments to the district based on last year’s rate of $61,000. Under the new levy, Spal-lumcheen is supposed to pay $86,000 a month, back-dated to Jan. 1.
Murder attempt earns 10 years
Cttiaan Photo by Dong W.IWr
by AL IRWIN
Citizen Staff Reporter
A Prince George man was sentenced today to 10 years in jail for the attempted murder of his common-law wife.
Gordon Clark Price, 37, had pleaded guilty to the charge, laid after Diana Rose Wilson, 32, was shot four times Dec. 14, at a city residence.
After shooting Wilson, Price shot himself twice in the head.
The couple were found in a back alley near fifth Avenue and Quinn Street in the early morning hours.
Crown counsel Peter Ewert told the court Price “had done everything in his power to shoot her (Wilson) down like a dog.” She was shot twice in the stomach with a ,22-cal. rifle, then twice from behind, once in the back, once in the arm, as
B.C. wants U.S. to pay railway cost
VICTORIA (CP) - Premier Bill Bennett said today that it is up to Alaska and the United States government to carry the financial burden of forging a rail link between British Columbia and Alaska.
Bennett told a news conference on his return from a two-day meeting in Anchorage with Alaska Governor Jay Hammond, Yukon commissioner Arthur Pearson and officials from both federal governments that B.C. can’t be expected to pay for such a link.
“We’ve gone as far as we can,” he said. “The major thrust must come from the U.S. federal government and Alaska.
He also said the Canadian government must become involved in the proposal.
The premier said B.C. is most willing to lend to the U.S. its expertise and the fruits of its many studies into northern rail development, but that is all.
Hammond has said he would like to see a link from his state, through the Yukon and B.C. to the lower 48 states. He said Tuesday his state cannot afford such a project.
Bennett said the discussions were fruitful and all participants have agreed to meet again and study the situation. It was the third meeting between Hammond, Pierce and Bennett.
The premier refused to speculate on the total cost of such a project, but did say that if B.C. was to extend its now-stalled Dease Lake extension to the Yukon border, the cost would be between $200 million and $300 million.
she tried to get away, Ewert said.
Wilson suffered long-term injuries to her liver and lung Ewert said, and her spleen had to be removed.
Defence lawyer Denis Ar-chambault said Price had not been cold and calculating as described by Ewert, but was rather in an emotional turmoil over losing his wife.
The lawyer asked that treatment be stressed in the sentencing, saying a long sentence does not act as a deterrent to others acting during emotional turmoil.
In sentencing Price, Judge C.R. Lander termed the man’s action despicable, incomprehensible and to some extent premediated. The judge said the act could not be dismissed as strictly a matrimonial dispute. He said the relationship had been terminated prior to the shooting, and it was during an attempt by Price at reconci-lation, which was rejected, that Price shot Wilson.
Judge Lander said the concern for Price’s rehabilitation was outweighed by concern for the protection of the public.
The judge termed the act completely selfish, because Price had given no thought to the children of the couple, who would have been left homeless “had he been successful.”
In a doctor’s report read at the sentencing, Price was described as sociopathic, or suffering from a personality disorder that causes him to be aggressive when frustrated.
The judge speculated that if someone had intervened in the dispute, he too may have been hurt. And he said Price could also cause harm to someone else if thwarted not only in matrimonial circumstances, but other social situations.
He said he would strongly recommend Price serve his sentence at the Matsqui Forensic Center in the Fraser Valley, where he could receive treatment.
Only 4 MPs sit in House
OTTAWA (CP) — Commons attendance dropped to four MPs Tuesday as debate on the government’s budget legislation dragged into its third week.
The highest attendance in the 264-seat Commons, where Ottawa’s heat wave had more effect on the temperature than the debate, was 11. Under Commons rules a quorum is 20 MPs.
The legislation puts into law the government’s subsidization of provincial sales tax cuts and does such other things as provide oil exploration and research and development incentives.
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TV listings included in Mid-Week supplement.
• Fans will be able to go to Japan with the Mohawks. Page 13.
Bridge................................19
Business........................6, 10
City, B.C..........2, 3, t>, 25, 26
Classified.....................10-23
Comics...............................40
Crossword........................18
Editorial..............................4
Entertainment............40-44
Gardening column..
Internationa!............
Rolling Stone...........
The forecast for Prince George today and Thursday is for sunny skies and warm temperatures.
The expected high today is 21, the low 2. The high Tuesday was 18, the low 2, with no precipitation. On this date last year the high was 18, the low 6.
• It’s commonly known that chickens are not the brightest animals around, but this particular one in Prince George must take the cake. It’s been sitting for hatching purposes for at least two weeks - on a lightbulb. Could it be that the hen is being kept in the dark, because she’s never seen the light?
• Demolition workers staying at the Sandman Inn while they take apart the abandoned Glen Shee apartment complex certainly aren’t living up to their image. The staff tease them about being so quiet and ask when they’re going to start wrecking the place.
% Mixing metaphors can be confusing or amusing but sometimes an unmixed metaphor is equally as confusing. A worse than mediocre golfer looked at his three-digit score and commented, “Well, that’s about par for the course.”