INSIDE CLASSIFIED .................... Page 10 COMICS ........................ Page 11 EDITORIAL .................... Page 2 WOMEN'S, SOCIAL ........ Page 9 SPORTS .......................... Page 5 DIAL LOgan 4-2441 Doris E. Be 1158 Melvi R, WEATHER Sunny with c few clouds. Winds light. Low tonight and high tomorrow, 35 and 60. Vol. 2; No. 91 PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1958 PRICE 7 CENTS BY CARRIED 35c PER WEEK THIS SOAPBOX car (bug) is nearer to completion than it looks. It only needs the covering shell and a coat of paint to ready it for the great Soapbox Derby to be held in South Fort George, Monday May 19. Before it, and about 50 other cars like it hurtle down the hill in competition, they must pass an inspection carried out by Don Young, Chairman of the BPO Elks' soapbox committee. This inspection will be held at the CCF Hall Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. By the way, the boy in the photo, Richard 'Ricky' Young, whose bug is sponsored by the Citizen, is the son of the soapbox inspector. The race will be held over the same course as last year — the long steep hill on Rose Avenue, South Fort George. COLORFUL HISTORY Sod-Turning Ceremony Tomorrow For Hospital First sod at the site of the new Prince George and District Hospital Will l»e officially turned tomorrow afternoon. It will take place at 2 p.m. at the entrance to the location a few feet off Fifteenth Ave. between Edmonton and Alwaril St. Mrs. Emma A linns will of-fli-iate at the ceremony. Among those present will be Mayor Carrie .lane Gray, the aldermen and ;>.") honored guests.' Milton Burl, chairman of a special committee organizing the affair, said John Ford, representing the contractor!*, Hush & Thompkiris (Canada) Ltd. will present a replica of the sod-turning shovel to .Mr. Albins. "We hope every memberiof the public will come out and witness this historical event," Air. Burl stated. Following the ceremony, visitors will be invited to inspect the present hospital facilities. They will be taken on guided tours of the entire building. After the inspection, tea will be served by the Ladies Auxiliary in the nurses residence. "Everyone should inspect the current hospital so they will have a picture of what the now, magnificent structure will really mean to Prince George," Mr. Burt stated. Tenders have been called for construction of a $21)0,000 nurses residence and construction is expected to start early next month. The history of hospitals in the Prince George area started in the pro-settlement period with the factors and \yjves of the Northwest Co, and Hudson's Bay Co. acted as the medics. HISTORY' Next came the railroad building era when sick pioneers were treated in a log hospital in South Fort George. Victims of Ihe 1011 typhoid epidemic were cared for in tents. Dr. D. B. Lazier and Miss B. A. Fry will be remembered for their work in those days. In the same year a frame hos- pital was erected in Central Fort George. Patients were cared for by Dr. Hugh McSoriey, Dr. Cecil Swenerton and Dr. Carl Ewart. A railway construction hospital was built here in 1914 and was under the supervision of Dr. W. A. Richardson and Dr. B'. Kakes-ley. A private hospital was also built here and administered by Miss Elliott and Miss F. M. Maundrell. Site was chosen for the Pine Manor hospital in 101K and the structure was built in 1018. Two years later it was extended to provide rooms for 30 beds. The present hospital, which had a projected capacity of GO beds, was secured in 1915 and the army hospital was obtained the following year. First efforts were made by the newly-formed Hospital Improvement District to build a new hospital here in 105*1 under the leadership of R. B. Thomson and Wess Clark. The district was reorganized in 1955 under the leadership of Dr. Fierheller, Mr. L. L. King and Mrs. C. O. Albins. A petition concerning the financing of the new structure required a 70 per cent majority. Mr. King canvassed the Prince George district and Mrs. Albins, with the help of the ladies auxiliary, covered the fringe area. outstanding help was given by Mrs. Helen Birnle, Mrs. Les Maxwell, Mrs. Winnie Murphy and Mrs. Dot Cranston. Country coverage was undertaken by Don Bridges, Mr. King and hired help. The required majority was obtained in July 1955 and letters patent were issued on October -1, 1955. Valuable assistance was given by Cliff Warner, former editor of The Citizen, CKPG, the provincial assessor and the Prince George post office which trr«ed ¦•JOOO addresses. Special mention is given to Harry Perry, first president of the society; Ivor Guest, first new hospital chairman; Dr. Ed Lyons and Dr. C. Ewart and C. H. Wisenden, former secretary-treasurer. Medals of service were given to Mrs. W. G. Fraser, Mrs. A. M. Patterson and Mrs. Frank Clark, members of the ladies auxiliary. Mrs. Winnie Warner served on the staff of the hospital for many years. Members of jhc board Dill Ferry, Frank Clark, and the late Joe Hewiett have also been given special mention. Life memberships in the society have been given to the late Karl Anderson, Pete Anderson, Norman Ftadley, W. RV'j Munro. and A. B. Moffat for their special assistance in the 1918 fund drive. Aid. John Powers succeeded Bill Ferry as chairman of the hospital board. Mr. Ferry and Mr. Albins of the Hospital Improvement District spurred construction of the new building for many challenging years. Drug Companies Deny Price Fixing Charge TRENTON, X..I. (AP) — Five-big American drug companies have issued denials to a federal indictment charging them with violating the anti-trust laws in the sale of polio vaccine to United States government agencies. A federal grand jury Monday indicated the five for conspiring to fix prices and eliminate competition in the sale of vaccine to federal, state and local governments. Most of the $125,000,000 worth of Salk vaccine that had been sold in the U.S. by (lie end of last year went to public agencies. Talks Re-Open On CPR Strike MONTREAL (CP) — Another of a scries of union-management confabs aimed at settling the firemen's strike against the CPR was scheduled for today amid an atmosphere of great secrecy, which some informants interpreted as a sign that a breakthrough was near. Neither of the disputant par-tics, reached through spokesmen Monday night, would disclose the time and the place of the new meeting. The only concrete word was ir a lahor department statement re leased in Ottawa which said: "Labor Minister Michael Starr announced that he has heard from both parties in the dispute between the CPR and the Canadian Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and that discusions were progressing satisfactorily and there would be further discusions tomorrow." Both sides met Monday but neither would disclose who took part in the meetings or where the talks were held. The question of whether or not firemen are needed on freight and yard diesels is the crux of the dispute. Union officials conferred among themselves Monday nteht on the basis of the day's discussions with CPR officials, but offered rip clues as to how near or how far the parties were from a settlement. However, one informant who expected an early solution said: "Only a few minor points appear to be left." This latest series of talks was initiated by Prime Minister Dief-enbaker who last week brought the disputants together in Ot tawa in an unsuccessful effort to forestall the strike, which start ad at G a.m. local standard time Sunday. 38 Counts Documents In Bribe Trial VANCOUVER (C1M — The crown came up with some now documentary evidence Monday in opening its case on a .'58 count bribery-conspiracy indictment involving former Lands and Forest Minister Robert E. Sommers and others. RC'MP staff sergeant J. W. Purely testified that a pencilled copy of an income tax form with a memorandum in ink attached had come from the personal file of one of the accused, John M. Gray. It was daled March 25, 195S, almost two weeks after the end of a three-week preliminary hearing which resulted in the committal of Sommers, Gray, two other individuals and four companies. Special crown prosecutor Victor Dryer, did not ask Sgt. Pur-dy to explain the significance of the document or of a payroll book and a hook of cheque stubs submitted along with it. 4000 DOCUMENTS The sergeant said the docu-menfs were among between ).-000 and 5,000 he and a number of other RC'MP officers took in a search of the offices of Pacific Coast Services in November, 1957. But he denied defence suggestions thai these documents had lain around unguarded for months in the court house. Assistant crown prosecutor Stewart McMorran told the jury of nine men and three women that more than 40 crown witnesses will he called in an effort to prove the crown's case. City's Gas Counsel Now Justice A well-known solicitor who was counsel for the city of Prince George in the natural gas case has been named Chief Justice of the B.C. Appeal Court. Alexander Campbell DesBri-iay. Q.C., was named to the office in an announcement made by Prime Minister Diefenbaker yesterday. His appointment as Chief Jus-ice of the B.C. Court of Appeal ills the vacancy left by former ?hief Justice Gordon Sloan, who •esigned Jan. 1 to become cnief advisor on forestry to the B.C. lovernment. BENNETT SHUNS ALBERTANS' ADVANCES VICTORIA (CP) — A group of Albertans from the Peace River area Monday received no backing from Premier Bennett in their move to secede to B.C., but did receive his "100 per cent agreement" on a proposed rail route. The rail route is the kep joint in the delegations' cry for annexation by B.C. A commission appointed by the Alberta government to determine the best route for a rail road to the northern part of the province recently recommended the "eastern route," from Fort MacMurray north to Pine Point The proposed route all but bypassed the richest part of the Peace River area, the delegation said Monday. They propose the railway be'built on the "western route," from Grimshaw to Pine Point. 'STAY OUT OF PRINCE GEORGE' Mayor Raps Inland For Gas Programme Loder Says P.G. Gas Allegiance 'Protecting' Inland Natural Gas Co. was accused last night of attempting to arouse the'people of Prince George against the Prince George Gas Co. Ltd. Mayor Carrie Jane Gray levelled the charge against Inland in an outspoken speech to council delivered after she rose from the mayor's chair. Her Worship's denunciation of the natural gas distributing company, in which she said it was "hindering" the local enfranchised company, was aroused by the second communication within a week from Inland advising the city to cancel its agreement with the Prince George Gas Co. MAYOR CARRIE JANE GRAY . . . attacks Inland Warm Weather Helps Ease Restrictions Ideal drying conditions throughout the Prince George area have helped ease load and speed restrictions on roads in the district. Department of Highways regional engineer R. S. Cunliffe announced today all restrictions have been removed from the Cariboo and the Northern Trans-Provincial highway west of Prince George to the foot of Peden's Hill. Heavy traffic is restricted to 50 per cent of the gross axel loading on the NTP west of Peden's Hill to Vanderhoof. The Hart Highway has been lifted to 75 per cent from 50 per cent of the loaid limit. Pro-Cons Outline Recession Stand OTTAWA ^'1') —Canada's 21-th Parliament has been launched with a government blueprint for an anti-recession program of pu'blic works expansion and northward development; It was the government's way .Monday as its array of pkinned legislative measures was outlined in the speech from the throne ready by Governor-General Massey in opening Parliament. Today is the Opposition's turn, Opposition Leader Pearson gets first chance at criticizing government policies as he opens the throne speech debate, llo is expected to present, a non-confidence motion in which unemployment and other economic problems will be laid at the government's doorstep. PRESENT ESTIMATES As well, the government today is scheduled to present its blue book of expenditure estimates JO HN DIEFEN HA KER . big agenda for Uie present fiscal year that began April 1. It likely will list many of the 'works projects hinted at in the thrcne speech. The speech detailed some: a railway to Great Slave Lake in the N'orthwest Territories, roads in the territories and Yukon, a start tills year on construction of the South Saskatchewan River dam at Outlook, Sask. It also spoke in general of large expansions of harbors and airports to spur the economy and give the country new facilities for growth. The government's program for the teabion listed some other major moves planned: 1. Immediate action on a six-week extension beyond next Thursday in the period for pav-ment of special winter unemployment insurance benefits'. 2. A bill of rights, restricted to malitcrs within federal jurisdiction. .'{. A new federal agency to regulate private and public radio and television broadcasting. I. More federal funds—perhaps as miich as $300,000,000 — tf> be made available for housing loans. 5. Federal aid to the provinces for "certain agred types of projects." (i. A small business agency to provide liaison for small business with the government and recommend methods of federal help. Progressive-Conservatives hold a record majority in the 2(i5-scat Commons: 207 members compared with 1!) Liberals and eight CGF mom hers. Conservative strength has been reduced by one with the death Sunday of A. Clair Casselman, first elected in 1921' and the Commons dean at his death. He was the member for Gernville-Dundas. The mayor's criticism of the Inland company, which was strengthened by the remarks of other alderman, was delivered in the presence of John . J. Southworth, assistant to the president of Inland Natural Gas. Her worship asked council to take "a definite stand against this company that is campaigning in the city at this time to arouse tlit people against the Prince George Gas Co." NO USEFUL PURPOSE She said that Inland was "serving no useful purpose by coming in here." "It is blocking all efforts by Prince George Gas to bring gas in here at reasonable rates." Supporting the mayor's claim Alderman Charles Cranston, described Inland's proposal made during t'he last week as a "highly improper attack." He said that Inland is "asking ills to welch on every agreement we have made with Prince George Gas along the way." Aid. Williams put it more bluntly, iidclrcssing hln remarks directly to Mr. Southworth: "Inland seems vitally interested in Prince George getting gas. If this gentleman would stay out of Prince George we would get gas. It's just as simple as that." WITHDRAW SUPPORT Mr. Southworth appeared before council last week in a presentation advised council to English Class For Germans Opens Tonight Instruction in English for German-speaking housewives pnd newcomers will be given tonight at the Junior High School. This will be the first of a series of lessons organised by the Eelwiess Club to help "make it possible newcomers to become good Canadian Citizens." Instruction will be given by Mrs. Ingrid Koltcrhoff, wife of the club president, Kurt Kolter-hoff. Lesson starts at 8:30 p.m. in classroom 102 at the school. The Eehveis club includes what was formerly the Sports Club Germania, but hopes to cover a wider range of activities. In hte fall the club will start an intermediate course on German for Canadians. No charge is made for the lessons given by the club. A notable feature of the c^Jub is the instruction in Judo, which is given by Uwe Arroe. withdraw its support to Prince George Gas and promised that Inland would construct a $1,-250,000 system this year, providing the city with upwards of $3,000 per month in franchise revenues, revenues from additional property taxes and employment for 150 during the construction period. Last night the same proposal was repeated in the form of a letter signed by Southworth. Inland has also established a temporary office at lli'd Third Ave. The only divergence of opinion among alderman was expressed by Alderman Harry Loder who declared that he sought election last fall "to see that the people of Prince George get gas, regardless of which company brings it here." "1 don't see where, by carrying on with Prince George Gas, we 'are helping any citizens in any way." NO HEROES "We may be protecting a few citizens; i don't know how many of them are left. I don't know whether we are protecting anyone in either gas company for their are no heroes when it comes to business," said Aid. Loder. ¦He expressed the opinion that Prince George would probably end up paying the same rales if It installed a gas system itself. TRYS TO MOVE COUNCIL Mayor Gray advised council that the people of Prince George had approved a plebiscite granting a franchise to Prince George Gas Co. and that for the city to withdraw support from the company, council would have to return to the electorate. "If at this time, any other company comes forward to break this franchise, it is going about it in the wrong way," she warned. "The Prince George Gas Co. has ben hindered by this company (Inlandi to deliver gas. "It is blocking all efforts to bring gas at a reasonable rate to Prince George." She said that at no tlma had Inland promised to deliver gas to Prince George at a lower rate. Her Worship said that "it also seems thatu under the circumstances, Inland is running interference all along the way." She accused inland of "confusing the issue" and pointed out that the charge for gas being asked i.-i "considerably higher that the gas that goes by our door to the United States. "I am asking council to take a definite stand about this comp-any that is campaigning at. this time to arouse people against the Prince George Gas Co." Mr. Southworth defended his company's offer to bring gas to the- city and denied that it was bringing "pressure" to bear on council in the light of an impending decision by the B.C. Court of Appeals relative to the Prince George Gas Co. appeal. 'At one time Mayor Gray demanded to know why the city was being asked "so frantically" to agree to Inland's offer). He denied that his company was blocking the Prince George Gas Co, "It is Prince George Gas, not Inland thai is blocking gas coming into Prince George," lie declared. "inland should realize," interjected Alderman John Powers, 'Uhat the city entered into joint action with Prince George Gas to fight for lower gas rates. It is bound to support both the citizens and the Prince George Gas Co." 'WRONG WAY: MAYOR Alderman Ken Jack said that during thepa st three years "nothing had changed" to alter the city's purpose. "Nothing but hazards have been thrown into the path of the Prince George Gas Co. ever since," he said. TWO YEARS Aid. Loder speaking out on the gas fight for the first time said that t'he city had waited for two years for gas — gas at any price. "At .the present time every community in the province has gas and seem most satisfied with I the service." He told council that he made it "My business" to investigate! and learned that in Katnloops one home averaged $20 a month for its natural gas fuel bill during the period November to March, while in Prince George his own bill averaged $-15 a month. "I don't see where carrying on this fight helps in any way," he argued. He said that natural gas. in the city now would bo worth $100 each winter, to home-owners. 'Soapbox' Check Slated For Sunday Over fifty soapbox cars will be inspected at the CCF Hall, Sunday, in preparation for the Great Soapbox Derby the following day. Starting at 9 a.m., Don Young, chairman of the Elk's soapbox committee, will make make sure that the bugs conform to the specifications laid down by General Motors for the world-wide contest, inspection and re-inspection of modified cars is ex- pected to go on all day. In the interests of safety, inspection needs to be strict, as the brightly painted bugs will have to stand up to the rigors of the race in which speeds of 30 mph or more are commonly reached, the next day. Prospective entrants for the race arc reminded that their cars must pass inspection before they are allowed to enter the race.