Prince

An Independent Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interest of Central ana* Northern British Columbia
[escued Arctic Mercy Plane Crew
Prince George, B.C.,   Thursday, February 10,   1949
10c Per Copy; $3.00 a Year
Big Luxembourg Pottery Firm Is Interested In Our Clay Deposits
>vbove are shown members of the R.C.A.F. plane crew who were recently forced down while returning from mercy flight to Baffin Land in the Arctic Circle. Front row, left to right, are A. B. Morobito, New West-linster, B.C.; C. G. Mattusch, Elmiro, Ont.; J. E. Clark, pilot, Mount, Man.; Ken Moore, Vancouver. 3ock row, F. L. Rowe, Vancouver; J. P. Rae, Regina, Sask.; A. A. Burge, Winnipeg, Mon.; and R. T. Heaslip, )shawa, Ont.
lopes Renewed For ailroad To Alaska
Seeks Information on Wages and Labor Conditions For Project Which May Employ 500 People Here
Enquiries as to labor conditions in  Prince George for a
IN  THIS ISSUE
Editorials,   Roving  Reporter
tile-making and pottery plant, which would employ 500 men jLe*ters *° the Editor .................   3
and women, have been made through the Ministry of Mines !An 0ld'Timer Recalls
and Resources, by a large Luxembourg firm.                                j Classified ........
A brief has been prepared and despatched by W. Forres-ter,  Unemployment  Insurance  Commission  head here.
Representatives of the Luxembourg company, it is understood, visited this district a year ago and the present detailed enquiries are a direct result of that visit.
The   Luxembourg firm,  whose name   cannot   be   revealed,   is   a long-established   undertaking  and enjoys a world reputation. BEST IX B.C.
They are interested in pottery deposits in the neighborhood which, according to a covering letter from the B.C. Ministry of Mines and Resources, are the best  1
Children's Page Women's Pages Sport...............
14,
 7  8  10  12 13  16  19
Millowners Fined For Wage Arrears
The first local prosecution under- the "Semi-monthly payment erf wages Act" came last week when Hans Anderson, James Jar-vis and Roy Jarvis, Isle Pierre sawmill operators, were each fined $25 and costs in stipendiary magistrate's court after pleading guilty to non-payment charges.
The salaries in arrears amounted to nearly $1800 for 13 employees. Charge against the three men read that they "Did unlawfully fail to pay employees employed in and about logging and sawmill operations, at least as often as semi-monthly."
Prosecuting on behalf of the Provincial Government was In-^ spector A. H. Erdahl, district in-* spector for Provincial Department of Labor.
In addition to the fine, Stipendiary Magistrate G. A. Hallett, gave the men 15 days In which to make payment of the accrued wages or face levying of all as-
in 13.C. The  trip of the pottery firm's
jepresentatives   here
Federal ments.
spon-
and   Provincial   Govern-
Beef Prices Expected To Drop Here Shortly
Beef prices have dropped in Vancouver from about 64 to 59 cents per pound. The Prince George storekeepers expect the prices here to follow suit in a "week or two.
Pork prices have risen recently in Vancouver, but there has been
wages, ox, face levyig sets' by <HsTress!"fo*i^rOVtrl^ ment. This means seizure of property and disposal through sheriff's sale.
If the negotiations mature the company will in all probability construct its own housing estate, which will be located near the deposits, well out of town. OLDTIMRR8 SAY
Oldtime residents here do not know of any such large deposits of pottery clay as would enable them to be termed "best in B.C." At the same time they admit that they have not the resources of the Ministry of Mines at their disposal.
Smaller deposits of pottery clay and of a clay which makes excellent firebrick have been located by.residents^* .   ,^_>. . .......  .
U.S. cattle buyers are now passing up the Canadian market, because they have a big supply themselves. Consequently, cattle prices in Canada have been following down the U.S. markets.
Nes Moves in Victoria and Washington Stress Urgency of Alaska Communications  Problem
Hopes for a railway via Prince George to the great north-id grew brighter-this week with reports of renewed interest ex-Premier John Hart in American proposals, a statement the Lieut.-Governor C. A. Banks on legislation for the de-Hopment of the P.G.E., and further moves in Washington.
rapped in Truck -is Frozen Feet
Thirty-six lonely, freezing nun-f hours in the cab of a stalled uck on a side road of the Chief |»ke highway resulted in frozen tet for John Whyte, 65-year-old ing camp cook.   Several toes ay have to be amputated* The truck, driven  by Frank loran,      mill-owner,      became late  Saturday , night   in Wfting   snow   when   he   and byte   were   making  for   the amp farther up the highway. In the poor visibility, Moran, bo knows the road well under l   circumstances,  took   a g turning, and some nine "lea from the highway the ve-lele   was    immobilized    in    a fcnowdrift. [Interviewed in hospital yester-
Kv Whyte  re<*He<i  the  ordeal Jth shivers.
fOTOR DIED
' "After we got stuck in the drift-
[* motor died and we couldn't
t it started again," he said.   "It
s very cold and I wrapped a
ce of blanket around one foot.
»e nad no matches, food or wa-
"Prank decided to go for help dawn but by that time my
!LW?re already ****** and I  walk.     Frank's   heels  frozen but he wan able to *alk a bit"
ye said on Sunday evening  fought his time was up, as D»Ung cold worked into  his sa,    \ kept my hands in the ets of my heavy coat and I
lf ^^P ^em from ***** thought sure it
"*     and  I al-
as the
l
 On Siu
 ni
ost gave ui
"h
"he
 truck!
(See
ih he spenjv Page 5)
John Hart, P.G.E. president, Je clareel in Victoria that if the pro- \ per approaches are made through j state channels at Ottawa, the P G.-E. Board will be glad to discuss : the idea of a rail link from Seattle J to Alaska, using the P.G.E. as part of the route. THE U.8. PLAN
The American plan would not extend the P.G.E. into the Peace Country but would take the line; north from Quesnel into Prince George and the Rocky Mountain trench and thence through the Yukon to Alaska. An eastward cutoff to the Peace River would still remain the problem of the B.C. Government.
Meanwhile in Washington re- j preservative Jackson (Democrat) j Washington, a member of the House Sub-Committee on Interior ; Department appropriations, has', asked the Department to start im- j mediate planning for a survey to j determine the cost of a railroad ' connection to Alaska.
SURVEY URGED
Jackson and Senator Magnu-son introduced bills directing President Truman to authorize the study of the route of the proposed railroad from Prince George to Alaska. Jackson said he planned to ask. funds for the survey to be included in this year's Interior Department appropriation.
"The need of railroad connections with Alaska is so urgent that I want the Interior Department and the Department of National Defence to have everything ready for the survey when it is authorized by congress," he said.
Lieut-Gov. Banks' reference to the P.G.E. in his speech from the Throne was brief, but he expressly stated that among legislative measures contemplated for the Parliamentary session just begun were those for the "improvement (See HOPE RENEWED,  Page 5)
PRINCE   GEORGE  CAN   BE  GREAT!
"Save us from falling into the arms of Alberta. Get behind C. O. Albins and his P.G.E. Committee"—this was the stirring call of George M. Murray, publisher of the Fort St. John "Alaska Highway News," in a special interview with "The Citizen" this week. Mr. Murray had broadcast earlier over CKPG. This tall, broad-shouldered champion of the  Interior said:
"I am a strong champion of Prince George. I do wish to see Prince George a populous and thriving metropolis because it is the natural gateway to the land beyond the Peace River, which is many times greater in area thon Newfoundland—and possesses many times the resources of Newfoundland plus a great oil field, a great natural gas field, widespread wheat growing areas—and the world's greatest reserve of uranium ores.
"We on the Alaska Highway are British Columbians and we wish to stay in British Columbia. But we are being driven into the arms of Alberta. Today we are building up Edmonton rather than our natural gateway, Prince George.
"We in the Peace River country were greatly thrilled when the Prince George Board of Trade recently sought to bring about a public meeting to urge extension of rail services north.
"Your committee headed by C. O. Albins is doing a valuable work. And I wish to say to him tonight and to his colleagues Mr. H. G. Perry, F. W. Dobson, A. M. Patterson, J. Mclnnis, L. S. Yates and Dr. Alward that we in the Peace are strongly behind them in their good work.
We are gradually being drawn   into  the  Edmonton  orbit.
Income tax for that part of B.C. goes to Edmonton.
Bank  credits are determined  at  Edmonton  or  Calgary.
Edmonton wholesalers service our stores.
Edmonton   is  the  shopping  centre.
Edmonton   lumber  brokers   handle   our   sales   of   lumber.
Army and Airforce command, airways, post office inspectors and telegraph and radio centres ore centred at Edmonton.
AND OF COURSE OUR ONLY RAILWAY—the Northern Alberta—IS DIRECTED FROM EDMONTON.
"When we ship our cattle they go to Edmonton. They should go to Prince George and should be processed right here In B.C. You need this payroll  In Prince George.
"When we buy, we art forced to go to Edmonton or Winnipeg. We should buy in our own B.C. and Prince George should be the place where great warehouses, distributing ogencies and factories should be set up.
"Build the railway into the Peace and build payrolls along it at Prince George ond a doren other centres. Get behind Mr. C. O. Albins ond his committee. See that o conference is held here which will influence both Victoria and Ottowa—yes and Washington and London.
"Let us not be downhearted because in the past rash promises were mode by political leaders to build the railway from Prince George. Many old-timers in the Peace burst out laughing when you suggest that the P.G.E. will ever be completed. A new generation is coming up. They hove the courage and the vision and the money and the material.    Let us get behind them."
Meanwhile unemployment fi-pures in the City continue to rise slowly and on Wednesday totalled noo.
Rut Mr. Forrester is optimistic j as to the outlook.    He says there are many things in the offing 'or late  spring  and   summer  which will possibly more than eliminate | the present manpower surplus.      j
Hospital Convention Will Be Held Here
Plans are on foot for the holding of a big convention here of all hospital representatives between Prince George and Williams Lake towards the end of March.
There will be, it is expected about 15 delegates, including Dr. J. :M, Hecshey^ B-C. JEfospital Insurance Commissioner and Percy Ward, executive secretary of B.C. Hospital's Associations.
Mrs. Woodburn Loses Solitaire In Arena
Mrs.   E.   D.   Woodburn   lost
He thinks  the  Hart  Highway.«week.en(j
was    wearing    while    attending Kinsmen ice carnival during the
contract  for which was awarded to Arnett  Construction  Co.  Ltd., Princeton,  and  sub-contracted  to Tomlinson      Bros.      Contractors, j Winnipeg, will call for many men. i in March.                                      '
More than a thousand men were on  the  Campbell-Mannix  payroll; when they were working on the' h ighway.                                       i
Social projects, like those of the I Civic Centre, the St. Michael's Church Hall, combined with commercial projects like the planned opening of the South Fort George Packing Plant, not to mention P.G.E. developments forecast by Lieut-Gov. Banks in his Throne speech from the Throne and possible Bowron Coalfield moves may provide openings for many more men.
It is thought the solitaire may have caught on her mitt as she was withdrawing her hand and fallen to the ground.
If anyone should find the stone. Judge Woodburn would be glad to be informed.
Weather Bureau Out
No weather forecast is available this week as heavy snows have affected the teletypes at the Weather Office and they have not been functioning for 10 hours.
Maximum temperature during the week was yesterday with 28-8 F, minimum temperature wai> on Monday with —33.6 P. Colder tonight is the forecast.
"NO CONTEST" IS VERDICT OF LEAGUE PRESIDENT AFTER 2-2 TIE LAST NIGHT
Last night's rouqh-and-tumble 2-2 tie hockey game between Prince George Lumbermen ond Quesnel Kangaroos wos declared "no contest" by Northern B.C. League president, Clifford A. Warner, this morning. The statement came as o result of failure to play overtime after the customary sixty minutes of play ended in a deadlock with the score tied at two
goals apiece.
Although neither team was playing good hockey, from a spectators point of view it was thrill packed with fights and penalties and with neither team asking quarter.
In all, 17 penalties were awarded, nine to Prince George and eight to Quesnel.
Lumbermen coach Norman Bchnepf drew a match misconduct penalty in tbe third period after striking referee Vic Gas-pard on the chin during during an interchange on the justice of a penalty meted out by Gaapard to the Lumbermen.
The fracas started when Prince George   inadvertantly had  seven (See NO CONTEST. Page 5)
PRESIDENT  SAYS:
In a letter forwarded to team managers today, League President C. A. Warner explained the league has adopted Canadian Amateur Hockey Association rules. Rule 79 states that in event of a tie score at the end of three 20-minute periods, goals shall be changed immediately, and play continued for 10 minutes overtime. If at the end of this overtime period the score is still tied, the game shall be declared a draw.
"There was no one at the rink last night with authority to alter or Ignore this rule," declared the league prexy.