H. H. Wright 1158 Melville St. VANCOUVER 1, B.C. 0ct4-57 Prince George Citizen An Independent Semi-Weekly Newspaper Devoted to the Interest of Cer.WoJ and Northern British Columbia THE WEATHER Sunny and a little warmer Friday. Light winds. Low tonight and high tomorrow at Prince George 35 and 70. Vol. 40; No. 37 Prince George, B.C., THURSDAY, May 9, 1957 (Five Sections - 32 Pages) $4.00 per ysar , 5c per copy Girl First 1957 Drowning Victim Here * * * * * • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BINGO MAY SAVE ARENA Police Dragging For Girl's Body Efforts of a plucky 15-year-old Giscome boy to save the life of an 11-year-old girl companion who fell into the- swollen waters of Bateman Creek 20 miles northeast of Prince George last night were in vain. Royal Canadian Mounted Police and employees of Eagle Lake Sawmills Ltd. are today dragging the roiled waters of the small creek for the body of Colleen Adams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colin Adams, residents of Giscome. The tragedy happened shortly before 8 o'clock last night when Colleen and an older friend, Diane NegarU, age 13, were playing oil the creek in two small boats. Stop Press Body Recovered Hody of 11-year-old Colleen Adams was recovered from the depths, of Bateman Creek shortly before noon today according to a report received from Giscome at press time. It was recovered just a short distance from the bridge where she was swept to her death. As the hoine-inartc craft nearcd a low bridge over the fast-flowing crock Diane climbed out onto the wooden structure, but Colleen was swept into the water. Jimmy Ross, age 15, leaped into the creek and managed to get hold of her, but was forced to relinquish his hold when the current became too strong for him. Colleen was swept under the bridge and out of sight. An unidentified man who was attracted to the scene also leaped in to save the drowning girl hut was overcome with cramps and had to crawl ashore. Bateman Creek is approximately CO feet wide due to spring run-off and is about 15 feet deep where the tragedy occurred. Mr. Adams, father of the district's first 1957 drowning victim, i.s a driver for Eagle Lake Saw-mils Ltd. and brought his family to British Columbia from Saskatchewan last winter. Dragging operations, being supervised by two Royal Canadian Mounted Pojice constables, will continue until the body covered. Three Merchants Robbed Overnight For the second time in as many nights Witt's Royal-ite Service Station, corner of First Avenue and Victoria Street was broken into and robbed last night. Wednesday night, smashing a window to gain entry, thieves made off with $87 in cash. Last night; using the ... same . methods and leaving a trail of blood behind, the thieves netted $15 in cash. The robbery was one of three overnight burglaries reported to police today. Also broken into last night was Clare's Super Service Ltd., Fourth and Dominion, and Cut-Rate Grocery, 1121 Third Avenue. In each case a trail of blood was left by thieves. The combined robberies caused property damages totalling over $300. \ quantity of cigarettes valued at about $70 was taken from the grocery store where the intruder entered through a transom. A door at the rear of Clare's Super Service was smashed in half when thieves entered the premises and removed an empty cash register. Police arc reported to be pressing an investigation into the robberies and an early arrest is an tlcipated. Major Transit Firm To Establish Here lower mainland's largest transportation companies announced plans here today One of the and equipment to establish offices in Prince George. W. J. McDonald, sales manager for Crown Cartage & Warehousing Co. Ltd., Vancouver, told The Citizen this morning that his firm plans immediate occupancy of offices here and subsequent construction of a warehouse and storage yard. Immediate plans call for the staging here of at. least 25 pieces of equipment including trucks and cranes. Mr. McDonald said it is likely that a labor force to man both offices and equipment will be Parks, Recreation Differences Solved Trial of three city youths facing a total of five charges opened in County Court, here this morning. The charges, ranging from as-.sauIt to breaking and entering, arose from an incident last February -.'5 when three youths allegedly "crashed" :i house parly at the home of ( . M. Shields, 475 Tucficld. On trial are Donald Gii'iin, Gene re- j Kicharil IJri'eker anil Louis I'eet-ers, nil nhoiit 10. Boys Must Pay For Window A! School Principal's Home Two boys who admitted smashing windows at the home and office of Senior High School principal Lome Downey April 27 were fined $25 each in juvenile court Tuesday. Aged 1G and 17, the youths are former pupils at Prince George Senior High School. Charged with causing wilful damage, they were ordered to make restitution of $78.50 for Mr. Downey's window, and for the school office window for which they were assessed a total of $18. In addition to the fines, the youths were subjected to a severe reprimand by magistrate S. RI. Carling v,ho told them that their actions "will not be permitted in our form of society;"', Each readily admitted to breaking the windows but had little to say in their defence. The boys were accompanied by their parents and appeared in the presence of'Mr. Downey and the school board secretary Robert Gracey, complainants. it was disclosed that the youths quit school voluntarily some time ago. Bennett Brings Bingo Bilking; Bad Business VICTORIA (CP) —A 10 -per cent amusement tax on all bingo games was announced Wednesday by Premier Bennett. The tax, similar to that on theatre admissions and other forms of entertainment, is effective immediately. Premier Bennett said the. tax-will be refunded if promoters of the game can prove it is staged for charitable purposes. The tax was asked for during the last session of the legislature by Bert Price iSC-Vancouvcr Bur-rard) as a form of control over the ever-growing same. drawn from among city drivers, operators and office workers, wherever possible. He said that negotiations are underway to purchase warehousing facilities in the city. At the same time he announced that the firm already has about three major hauling contracts in hand here. Offices will be temporarily located at the W. E. Robertson Construction Co. Ltd. offices, 1210 Fifth Avenue. In announcing establishment of the firm at Prince George the Crown Cartage official expressed confidence in the future expansion of the city. The firm, one of the longest Clashes Of opinion that for established In the City of Vancouver, engages in all types of trucking and transportation and is especially adapted to various tyjjcs of marine work in the ONE OF THE biggest rock crushing operations in this area is now underway at the site of the new Nechako River Bridge project on Central Street. Above is seen one of two crushers operated by Ben Ginter Construction Co. L.td. as it works on the huge lS5,000-ton pile of gravel on the south side of the river. The stockpile will be used by the Department of .Highways. the past I split the recreation two week s have parks board and commission into warring camps dissolved into amicable agreement following a meeting last night of representatives from the two bodies. The four representatives left the mayor's office in city hall and announced that they had reached full accord on a division of duties governing the administration and operation of the swimming pool and Civic Centre. >' A 10-point directive prepared by Mayor John Morrison last week will form the basis for operations at the institutions. Representatives at the meeting include parks board chairman E. L. Pollard and vice-chairman Bernard McKenzie; chairman of the recreation commission Mrs. Pamela Glass and recreation secretary Bill Scott. "We reached full agreement in abiding with the five directives for each body as outlined by the mayor," said Mrs. Glass. waterfront city. Quesnel Man Gets 6 Months For Fraud Six months Imprisonment was handed Henry Johansen of Quesnel in city police court today on live charges of obtaining goods and money totalling $50 by means of worthless cheques. The offences were committed between April 1 and April 12 at local stores. Magistrate P. J. Moran considered the fact that Johansen had no previous record and suspended .sentence on the first charge. He sentenced him to six months each on the other -four charges, however, sentences to run concurrently. A plea for further extension of time to obtain money for restitution was denied. Special Meeting To Cut Costs A series of giant bingo games may be the solution to the problem created by a shortage of funds with which to build Prince George's half million dollar arena. ; This was one of the proposals put forth at a special meeting held at the home of Mayor J. R. *Morrison last night. Present at the emergency session were city officials and representatives of a special committee which disposed of $455,000 worth of arena debentures. Property, Not Puck Is Warwicks' Goal Pcnticton's flamboyant Warwick brothers have burst upon the Prince George secure prepared to make their presence felt in more ways than one. Dick Before cither Grant, Dick or Bi.'.l unpack a bag they will be hockey-stick-deep in a law suit. The high-riding brothers "who led the I'enticton V's to a world hockey championship, arc already locked in a battle to prove prior claim on the purchase of a 90-foot piece of property on George Street. Through city barrister John A. Coates, the famous trio have announced that they have started legal action against Mrs. Nancy Barbara Stewart, owner of the property upon which stands the charred remains of the Ritts-Kifcr Building. A writ, claiming damages, has already been entered in supreme court. According to reliable information, the brothers intend to build a restaurant, perhaps a hotel, on the property. Reports that the Warwicks were prepared to go into business here were first published on the (See WARWICK'S GOAL, Page 8) Need for more money with ¦ which to construct the 1600-seat j arena became apparent last month when low bid for the structure j amounted to $504,000. With architects fees and other incidentals j this price would push the final! cost to $541,000. If the city were to accept the low bid submitted by C. J. Oliver Ltd., it would have to raise an additional $SG,000, the meeting was told. This sum could be substantially reduced through eliminating such individual components of the arena as the foyer ($18,000), public address system ($6,000), spectator heating ($10,000), special wiring designed to cut operating costs ($10,000) and ice-planer ($1100). City finance chairman Alderman Percy Williams advised the meeting that the city could bear no more cost due to other financial committments. Mayor Morrison said that raising of additional funds might have to be done through such community efforts as bingo games. Meanwhile, officials of C. J. Jliver Ltd. and the arena architects, Underwood, McKinley & Cameron, are discussing ways! and means to cut the cost and will report to the city within "a few days. When the report has been received a further meeting will be held to determine the amount of additional money which must be secured. Other alternative discussed by the special meeting last night was a proposal that the city act as its own contractor and thereby eliminate the profit of a prime builder. This suggestion will be explored further, according to city officials. Estimated profit of a prime contractor is $50,000. If the city could effect this saving it could erect the building complete after raising an additional $:3G,000. Fire Engine, Auto Damages Total $600 Damages have boon estimated at $000 as the result of a collision Sunday between the city's fire truck and a passenger car at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Freeman Street. , The truck was racing to a bush fire on Freeman when it was struck by a car driven by J. Strachan,-750 Douglas, at about 6:30 p.m. " Damage to the front or Straeh-anV vehicle was about S400. Cost of repairing the right front fender and footboard of the fire truck has been estimated at $200. Brilon Would Die As H-Bomb Protest LONDON (AP) — Harold Stcelc, a British pacifist, kissed his three children goodbye Wednesday and set out to do his bit against what he regards as the evil of Britain's scheduled ill-bomb test. A 03-ycar-old retired poultry farmer who -was a conscientious objector in' the first world war, Stecle said he is prepared if nee-cssarry to die alone on a Pacific atoll in protest against the explosion British .scientists expect to touch off at Christmas Island next niont.li. Steele left London by plane for Now Delhi on the first stage of a trip he hopes will take him to the danger area in time to subject himself to the hazards of blast and fallout. "1 willingly sacrifice myself to prove to the world the horror of this devililsh thing," he toJd reporters. m-at- City's Austerity Budget Here's Where Taxes Go City council Monday night gave second reading to bylaw 31 establishing the niill rate for 1057, which as every taxpayer should know, will permit the City of Prince George to raise the taxation a total of $S23,322.13. To that figure add. approximately $252,000 from fixed general revenues and you've got 51,'-105,362, the amount of the 1957 budget. Wording of the bylaw permits the city to impose a mill rate of 10.25 mills on 100 per cent of j land and on 75 per cent of improvements in order to realize a sum of $261,3G7 to cover school costs. The balance of §561,955.13 will be raised on a mill rate of 63.75 mills on 100 per cent of land and on 42 per cent of improvements. Of that amount $171,097.50 is required to pay interest and principal on debt and the remainder, approximately $-100,000 will be used for capital expenditures, operation and administration of the city. As finance committee chairman Alderman 'Percy Williams has said, the budget bristles with austerity and is groomed "to hold the line." In order to accomplish this, the finance committee, which determines whether the city .shall either sink or swim, was forced to reduce original estimates from all departments by a total of $173,-292. as Wismer Chairman In Coast Lumber Strife VICTORIA (CP) — Labor Minister Lylc Wicks nounced Wednesday night Gordon Wismer, former torney-general of B.C., will be chairman of a conciliation board in a wage dispute between coast lumber workers and operators. Other members of the board arc George Robson of Vancouver, representing Forest Industrial Relations, and Bob Small of Victoria, representing the International Woodworkers of America. Tbr dispute, involving about 32,000 employees, directly affects only coastal logging and lumbering operations. Mr. Wicks said. IWA demands have not been made public, but it is believed they are asking a wage increase of about 20 percent. First meeting of the board will be held today. Meanwhile, in Portland — L. Ted Thomas, an employer spokesman said Wed- nesday the demands made by the International Woodworkers of America were not justified. He said the union had asked a 15 cent hourly increase, an em- Dcspite the fact that the city | pldyer paid pension plan and a has aged a year, its population increased and the demands .greater for services, this year's budget is larger by only $210,487 com-(See WHERE TAXES GO, Page 3) third week of vacation for employees with five years of seniority. "We can find no way of assuring ourselves that the picture for 1!)."j7 is going to bo as good l'J.jti. Jet alone good enough so the industry should take on an added burden in wage increases," Thomas said. Some 35,000 employees In the lumber industry are affected. Profits From Bingo Slated For Oldsters Financial statement on the Gyro Club-sponsored bingo game held in March was released Tuesday night at a Parks Board meeting. It was reported the club took in $1,600, proceeds of which after expences will go to the joint service club council fund for construction of a senior citizens' home. , Parks Board reported they would take out 10 percent or $250, whichever is the greatest, for use in Civic Centre administration.