'EXTERNAL REVIEW' REQUESTED THE CITIZEN. Prince George — Wednesday. July 15. 1981 — 3 Ferry operator Charlie Colville and Isle Pierre ferry. ISLE PIERRE SERVICE Ferry closure hit Angry residents in the Isle Pierre area have accused the provincial highways ministry of trying to wean the public from a service with the closure of the Isle Pierre ferry. The residents say the issue is like “flogging a dead horse,” because of the apathy and ambivalence the highways department has shown towards running the ferry. The ferry, which crosses the Nechako River 50 km northwest of the city was operated several months last summer and has not been operating this summer. Warren Wilson president of the Reid Lake Farmers Institute with 22 members say the use of the ferry is crucial, not only for the farmers, but others associations in the area such as the Cattleman Association. “There have been three or four years of shutting down the service when there’s no excuse to shut it down,” Wilson said. The farmers say they require the service to cut transportation costs in attending auctions in the fall and spring in Vanderhoof. Using the ferry saves about 70 km driving distance. Alf Nunweiler, who has a farm in the area said it was a case of stopping the public service without holding any kind of public hearing to determine the use. He said at peak times for Vanderhoof auctions over 100 farmers would use the ferry from the Reid Lake area. Nunweiler is a former NDP MLA and minister! without portfolio for northern affairs in the Fort George riding. The farmers say they were told by the highways department the water level in the Nechako is too low. However, ferry operator Charlie Colville who lives at the ferry site says the water gauges read an ample amount of water. Highways district manager Seymer Young said when asked about the ferry closure the highways department has no intention of opening the service because of the economic factors involved in resuming the service. He said the operating budget of the ferry, including year-round caretaker employment for Colville is $55,000. Young said. “Repairs ol approximately $100,000 would not be unrealistic.’’ He included such items as sandblasting and painting pontoons as some of the repairs needed. Colville said he doesn’t understand why the department did repairs in 1979 such as new cables and pulleys if they wanted to phase out the service. Regional highway engineer Les Broddy said. “We all hate to see the loss of services but some things must go when times are tough." Broddy added the roads in the area are of high standard. However. area residents say one section of the road directly to the ferry on the Reid Lake side has not been graded yet this spring or summer. Farmers Institute president Wilson said the highways department constantly said there was no demand to use the ferry, thus not justifying the cost of maintenance. Yet operator Colville said the problem lies in the unreliability of the service. Wilson added: "If the service was there it would be more than used. I’m sure if there was a public hearing the support would be obvious.” The ferry has been operating since 1922 and up until 1978 ran consistently summer and winter, said Colville, who has been operator the past six years and lived in the area more than 20 years. The cost is $5 to cross the river. Wilson said he could sum up the issue by saying: "It might not be the biggest ferry in the world — but the people who use it need it." MAIL STRIKE PROBLEMS Cheque delivery set by BOB ROWLANDS Citizen Staff Reporter People can still receive unemployment insurance, welfare, and pension cheques despite the strike by inside postal workers. And they’re responsible for paying telephone, electricity, and credit card bills. Unemployment insurance cheques can be picked up at Knox United Church, 1448-5th Ave., from Monday to Friday, between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. People must present two pieces of identification to receive their cheques. Ideally, identification should include the Social Insurance Number card. Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security. and Family Allowance cheques will be delivered by postmen on July 27 even if a strike is still in progress. Under an agreement between the department of supply and services and the postmen, cheques will be sent to a school or office so postmen won’t have to cross picket lines for pick-up and delivery. B.C. forest industry strikes have escalated across the province, putting at least 3,000 workers off the job in Prince George and perhaps 2,000 more in the surrounding area. And although the forest industry is the major front for strike activity this summer, other employers - local, provincial and national — are feeling the pinch of labor unrest. • A strike by 2,100 CBC technicians has had little effect on local programming. The CKPG affiliate here has been unable to deliver major sports events including football. People who live in the Spruceland. College Heights and Hart Highway areas can pick up welfare cheques at the ministry of human resources’ offices in these areas. However, residents in the downtown and south-east sectors of the city will receive their cheques at St. Michael’s Anglican Church. 1505-5th Ave. Telephone subscribers can find out if their bills are ready by calling 565-3411. The bills can be obtained at the B.C. Tel business office. 1340-6th Ave. Bills can be paid at the Phone Mart in the Pine Centre, or at Kresges, The Bay. Woodward’s, or chartered banks. B.C. Hydro customers can call 563-0282 to find out their account number and the amount owed. Bills can be paid at Woodward’s, Kresges. Sears. Shoppers Drug Mart, or at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Bank of Montreal. Royal Bank, or Bank of B.C. All bills are being retained by the utility in Vancouver, so it will n<»t be possible to pick up bills at the local office. • Mediation efforts are underway in Ottawa to settle the two-week old postal strike, while about 75 postal workers remain on strike in Prince George and 70 letter carriers have been laid off. • ICBC and striking clerical workers resume negotiations this week in a bid to resolve a three-and-a-half month strike. About 38 workers are involved here. (See Page 6. t • Talks between hotel workers and the B.C. Hotel Association are dragging and association members are visiting hotels in the Interior to talk about effects in the industry. Six Vancouver hotels are on strike, but so far no Prince George hotels are affected. • Employees of Inland Natural Gas have held study sessions in Kamloops. Kelowna and Vancouver, but the 13 Inland employees here have taken no similar action. • Coastal ferry workers are talking about going on strike this summer. A strike by the ferry workers union would cripple travel or vacation plans to Vancouver Island Faculty claims college in 'crisis' by JOHN POPE Citizen Staff Reporter The College of New Caledonia is in a “state of crisis" with "very serious remedies” needed to restore confidence, according to a brief from its 120-member faculty association The 12-page brief, which the faculty association wants disi usssed at a public board meeting Saturday. requests an “external review of the administration and management systems of the college.” Three hurt in collision A two-vehicle accident on Highway 97 south of Quesnel sent three people to hospital Tuesday. Quesnel KCMH said a van driven by Hans Brueckner from Hinton. Alta., was northbound when his vehicle collided with a light truck driven by Wayne Reiter of Quesnel. Police said the drivers and one passenger from Brueckner’s vehicle were taken to hospital with undetermined injuries. Investigation into the cause of the accident continues. The Citizen Local news Have Milne City editor 562-2441 J It is a response to a recent administration explanation of faculty terminations and the college budget. The brief says this presentation was based on a "false" data base. "It is the belief of this association that the college is in a state of crisis much like that of a paralyzed organism in deep trauma." states the brief. "And that very serious remedies need to be considered to restore confidence in the institution. "It would seem distracting and. perhaps, unfair to document and list the latest series of administrative blunders at CNC. There is an adequate supply. ••Clearly.” continues the brief in conclusion. "this institution's malaise deepens and what is required is remedy not remorse.” In addition to the request for an external management review, the brief asks the board strike a joint college board-faculty committee. This committee would conduct an immediate, in-depth review of the 1980-81 budget over-runs, the 1981-82 expense plan and the 1982-83 budget proposals. The brief contains CNC Principal Charles McCaf-fray’s 22-page brief, enrolment statistics plus another 16 pages of faculty association briefs and budget information. It says the principal’s explanation at a public board meeting June 27 was based on a "false” data base. It goes through the principal’s presentation point-by-point and makes four recommendations including an "external review of tht* administration and management systems of the college.” It asks that an "immediate freeze” be placed on the hiring of new administrators-managers until this review has been completed. College of New Caledonia board chairman Austen Howard- Gibbon said today the board will discuss the brief in a private session Friday. A decision will be made at this meeting on how to respond to it publicly. "We have asked the faculty for input and have this information now.” said Howard-Gibbon during an interview today. ‘ ‘The entire board has to consider this on Friday along with about 10 other things.” Howard-Gibbon said a "reaction of some kind" could be expected at the public board meeting Saturday. The board, in consultation with the adminis- tration. has also promised full answers to various questions from the community which were presented at a public board meeting June 27. Saturday’s board meeting will take place at 9 a.m. in either the college’s main lecture theater or room 2-202. A Thought for Today He who conceal* hit disease, cannot cxpect to bc cured. — Anonymous rL The [0 [Hc*>pyfocePtoce Presented os a Public Service Every Doy by: Schultz Pontiac Buick Ltd. 1111 Central 563-0271 Ian Evans & Associates OPTOMETRISTS J. IAN EVANS D O S. F.A.A.O. GREGORY E. EVANS B.S.c., O.D. ALANE D. EVANS B.S.c., O.D. J. SPENCER CLARK O.D. FRANK E. DECKER O O. Optical Wing 401 Quebec St , Fane Building. Prince George. B C 562-1305 I DELIVERIES - ANYTHING IRCLE ^/VER^ ULL DELIVERY SERVICE 24 Hour Radio Dispatched 564-0442 (Documents, pop, cig's, bread, small parts . iilk, .) TO YOUR DOOR OR YOUR STORE GMC - PONTIAC — QUICK CHEV — OLDS — FORD DATSUN — TOYOTA SUBARU — AMC LEASING? 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