GEORGE> British Columbia
JTHE  LEADER
Friday, October 6, 1922.
Government's Plant For P.G.E. Announced by Premier Oliver At Nelson Liberal Convention
With
 ovation  reminiscent   of
liour Liberal
when Sir Richard Me „„.» political hero of the \\o)\. John Oliver wound up aji speech before the  provincial convention   at   Nelson   last
which not only settled   any
Jabis about    his    leadership,    but I we(| that he had the following of
 pnrty in cup"- the
 his policy of trying  to  H.G.E.    ra.lway   from
abandonment.
Perhaps the wild cheer" that swept tlirouK».i the  convention hall   like  a tornado was stimulated by hi» do*. ij«r intimation that the nonpatronage ilicyof the civil Bervice commission ds either going to be abolished or the. of   the/'commissioner urtailed. ,/ are some things," said the
atly-c
greatly
i
'that sound very -well well
premier.
theory bur don't work out nu-tice. Civil service reform is one f iht'ntv We went into ofllce in 1^16 with a certain civil service policy which was not the choice of any jemvention. We have tried it out Hid we have found that it doesn't work out well. It has not been satisfactory to us and it has not been satisfactory to you. Our intention is tu'see that it is made satisfactory D1. wt will know the reason why."
Wuvintf a copy of the 1917 platform in his hand, Premier Oliver pointed out that hia government had fulfilled its pledges of land for .settlers.'only and forcing- the hands of
upponents to bring in workmen's eompi'iuation law and a referendum of vvu'men  suffrage.   ~
Pacific Cr««t EaiUrn. Then he plunged into the question of thr P. CJ. K. "We* found our-atlve's," lie said, "the inheritors of a ,-¦ >hsi legacy °* debt. froin_our predecessors. There were obligations of J'M.Uuu.UOO on the railway which we hjtyi;.had to meet; of that sum over $10,000,000 has gone in interest "charges; only, eight millions having been spent in construction. We vrere kft wiili a rail contract to meet for }l,8U0,uuu, a demand not« to the Union Bank for $700,000, and bthtr ¦charges'. When anyone tells you we have been wasteful in our railway expenditures tell them to go —to-the_bt>_uomleBS pit where lies be-' lotiK". We have slaved aud sweated to jneei the charges out predecessors incurred and to pay a hundred cents on the dollar on their indebtedness. "We were told- at first that we could, finish the line for six millions, untLit seemed worth it for the freight that was under agreement to y come from the G. T. P., but in 1920 the agreement became void owing to the foreclosure of the G. T. P. Engineering reports have proven to be wrong'; interest and depreciation __ charges are now two millions a year, and alarmed at the. outlook, the Legislature procured a report from -the most eminent "engineer we could find, Mr. J. G. Sullivan.
The $tillivan Report. "Mr. Sullivan report! that the line should never have been built. He recommends the abandonment of portions of it, but the government cannot look at it from the point of view of Mr. Sullivan. (Applause.) There me five billion feet of timber between Squamish and Lillooet; there is another four billion between Lillooet and Clinton and another six billion between the Cariboo and Priiice George, all.of which is our wealth and needs an outlet," said the premier.
"Much of the land is di sappoint-
i"K   for    agriculture," - added    the
premier, "but as a practical fanner
1 sent in reports that there are 200,-
iiOO acres of good land in the Canoe
Uke and Rose River districts,   and
immeasurable areas of pastoral land;
even today in the dry season roots
and grains are grown in the Cariboo.
^       "It is not a question today as  to
whether the road should have been
built or had a different route;   the
situation is we have to face'an in-
i      terest charge of two million dollars
nv a y*nr, even if we abandon the road.
; The country cannot develop without
railways; there are seven  or eight
y^ars of life left in the bridges and
trestles.                      ...         -' y
"Oru problem ia tliis^Gan we
find a way to bridj<e the gap for
a/few years so ojMiot to add to
i           what we would' lose even if we
abandon the line and make use
°f th« ensuing years to g*t out
«H of/Che timbter that needs an
witlet?   Can %e put isettlers on
,pood lands and open up agrieul-
/ hue, pulp and timber areas so
as to  provide  freight?" asked
'he premier.
"Beforethe Legislature meets and toiisriders abandonment of the P. G. *?•¦ let us examine the country in de-
political sagacity. We. propose to cut down the cost of operating the P. G. E. to the last dollar, build up its tonnage, taking out all the timber whilt- the bridges are good, and I am prepared to take my chances with the intelligent electorate on a policy of refusing to. abandon the road until we have first taken stock of our resources.    (Applause.)
"Help for the Peace River block settlers," said the premier, "must conie from the Dominion government railway system, which was best suited to tap this great area with profit to itself by taking over the Edmonton-Dunvegan road and builfling to Vanderhoof."
Aik   For Railway.
Mr. L, W. Gpttingha'ni of P.o.ucts Coupe introduced a resolution nsk-inK that, the government work for an extension of either the Canadian National or the E. D. & B. C. Railway so as to afford transportation facilities for the British Columbia section «f Peace River.    •
Howard Atkinson, also a settler in Pouce Coupe, seconded the resolution. He outljned ^conditions there and told of the great hardship suffered by the citizens of Pouce Coupe l| irough lack of a Railway. The population was decreasing, he said, and the country, required u railway before development could proceed.
Mr. Atkinson suid lie had paid $1300 to freight his wheat one year to the nearest railway station, Spirit 'River, and unless relief came the settler could hot continue to farm these lands.
Premier Oliver said it was the policy of the government to assist the Peace River ^settlers in any way possible. The resolution.was unanimously endorsed.
Railway News
MANAGING DIRECTOR
OF RATTENBURY LANDS
IS REPORTED MISSING
.. St-, Stephen, N.B. — Accidents through carelessness on the part of automobile drivers are continuing to b« frequent. At King Street Cross-rag, St. Stephen, an auto ran into the aide of a Canadian Pacific engine, damaging the auto and "throwing the occupants out on the street. Th« driver claimed that he did not set the train until he was within t«n feet and could not stop in time to avoid the accident.
Toronto.—At 1.12 p.m., on Sep. teraber 9th, a Ford coupe ran into left side of Canadian Pacific yard engine, 6112, at Aliens Road crossing, Guelph, breaking front fenders, lamp, axle and wheel of the motor car. The engine was moving very •lowly at the time. The driver ad-mitg his responsibility in connection with the accident.
Woodstock,  Ontario.—Going  at a
fast rate in his automobile, and finding himself almost in the track of a Canadian Pacific train, Prank Lancaster, of East Zorra, Ontario, wisely chose running into a ditch rather than running into the train. He was approaching the C. P. R. crossing and did hot notice the train until he was nearly on the crossing. The brakes refused to work and ha tUTiwd the car into the ditch. Thi auto upset and was badly smashed, but Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster escaped injury.
Victoria, Oct. 2.—On August 1 J. G. Wood, vice-president and managing director of the Kattenbury Lands, Limited, Vancouver, disappeared from Vancouver, and since then no word has been received f ro(m him by any member of the firm nor has there been any trace of his whereabouts discovered. F. M. KafteliburyT—president_o_f_the_Jirin, who lives in Victoria, states that Wood left without leaving any message leaving till his clothes and other effects behind. He states that for some months prior to his mysterious .jklisappearance Wood had been ex-.trenvely nervous and rundown in health.
Wood had no relatives in Vancouver, but several of his friends employed operatives of the Pinkerton detective agency to search for him a few days after he was^nissing; but without the slightest results. Mr. Ratten'bury stated Wood left his accounts in a. rather complicated condition. . These are now being examined but no statement could be made yet about them. Mr. Ratten-i u-y fears that there has been a .tragic end to Wood's career.
Wood had beert connected with Rattenbury" Lands Limited for about three and a-half years. Previous to that he had been connected with the Laralie Irrigation Company of San Francisco.
BOOTLEGGERS TAKE HEAVY
TOLL OF "DRY" AGENTS
United States bootleggers have killed 125 prohibition enforcement agents since the war on ¦rum-runners began, so Prohibition Commissioner Haynes estimates. Of this number 124 were federal agents and the-remainder state county and municipal. Fewer than 50 bootleggers have been killed in the same time. ./Wounded aniong enfortement. agents number more than 3500.    ,/
Hayiies hold "a'lax public conscience" to blame for many-of the deaths. So 'long us people buy from bootleggers, the latter will be .encouraged to engage-in the manufacture and sale of whiskey, and resort even to murder To profit by the traffic.
Vancourer, B.C.—"Tourist traffic during the past summer has ex-ceedeu our most sanguine expectations," said Mr. C. E. E. Uasher, General Passenger Traffic Manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway, who arrived at the coast to look over th« ground prior to laying plans for next year's business.
Th«  feature  tliis  year,  said  Mr, •¦ Ussher, has been the large volume of business done in June and so far in September,  two   months   which   art usually more or less slack.
Kamloop*. B.C.—Old-timers saj that never did tht C. P. R. gardens bloom to bravely or colorfully te this year. And surely they never teemed to look quit* g» lovely with their riot of shades, vivid 'scarlets and unbelievable blues vicing in every bloom. It is visitors, - however, wlio are most umpreasei, residents even getting used t« suck beauty, and between trains, many compliments ar« paid those whose handicraft bring* about such.a perfection of blouonu.
Victoria. B.C.—Railway building In the interior of British Columbia is being held up by lack of labor; according to D. C. Coltman, vice-president of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. Mr. Cfleman announced- that hit' company could secure only a handful of men to push the kettle Valley line south from Penticton to the new town of Oliver. While it had been planned to complete the line to Oliver in August, this bad been found impossible owing to the scarcity of laborers for the proposed undertaking. The line would be finished this fall, and probably in Seitf ember, he said, The grade has been completed south to Oliver, but the laying of tracks is being impeded by the labor shortage, he said.                       ,     .
Canada's prairie wheat crop will be 49,000,00 bushels larger than thi crop of 1921>jaid_the Vice-President.
Vancouver, B.C.—Without actual figures, even a close estimate of the number of tourists who have passed through this city during the summer months can hardly be formed. Yet, from ' information received from both Canadian Pacific Railway and White Pass ft Yukon officials, it is certain that travel to Alaska, both Tia th» poTt and Seattle, has been heavier than for' sevenl seasons— perhaps sine* several' years before the war. -                                     ..
Every trip of the steamers "Princes* Louise*' and "Princess Alice , which ply between this port and Skafway, has found the accommodation of the vessels-wholly taken up and the indications »re that for-several trips the heavy travel will con-tinue. Tourists and sportsmen nave been flocking to the north by the hundreds, while the mining development* which have been extensive this summer, havt induced many mining men to move northwards. Service Unparalleled
The addition of the "Louise _to the Alaska service this season has furnished the finest service to the north since the B. C. Coast Service "           . < i-_i--j    eaiv, *Vi« "Louise
 »c
m
<**
The Natural Wealth of Canada
Fisheries
ON both sea coasts of Canada, fishing assumes the proportions of a major industry. Canada's deep-sea fisheries are famous.    The great extent of the Dominion's lake and river systems also provides fnland fisheries that are uncommonly extensive and .   productive.    In   this   direction, as   in   others,  the *    natural wealth of Canada provides a rich basis for profitable industry.
BANK OF MONTREAL
Establishied over 100 yeerf
A Complete Banking Service-
:  -/          Branches Throughout Canada
WMMWiWMMMMMmMMMMmmWMiMm
was
established.
the
and "Alice" are palatial, speedy «nd commodious craft and tWere is not a tourist returning from Ae north but who speaks in glowing terms of the •pitndid wiuipme&t of the company-
Terrace, Oct. 2.—Terrace losl^one of its best and most highly ruspefcted citizens on Wednesday morning when Walter Jaynes was accidentally shot while hunting ffrousc. Hex was on his way down to the spring: to «ct a pail of water and seeing a RronSc on the trail, wJnf back to the house to get.his shotgun. .His wif with  him,  and they ')oth
go
offered to went
tail
and comb it for possible devel-
opment.   That seems to" nve to "be
ii   way/ no
stumbled, and in *omc way>ffot. the gun pointing towards hjtn when it went off. Thewhole,chalec entered liis head and came^out just below bis left shoulder-blade. He was killed instantly.                               J
HOW B. C. HANDLES 6OOZE
. (Strathiiiore Standard.)         ./ It is a   strange   cpmmentarvxfon present day provincial politics   and morals that whrt-eas in^/lberta it-is a  crime   punishable/With   imprisonment to take a drink of intoxicating liquor for bWerage purposes, yet in B C   the government is selling   the I product of the-still and the brewery^j Bot^the B. C. people do not seem to ; %0 any more intemperate than those j of Alberta, even with the facilitieH j afforded them;    In fiictf we- did not; see a single drunk/durmg our visit,,. The main diffeveirce.seems to be.that] liquor is cheaper and better and can be ol)tai.veif?leRiti»iiatcly,.vhile   the, profits/of  the business; go back   to the/people as a whole, instead of, :is ;ift Alberta," to a. comparatively few privileged  or unscrupulous sellers.
i.bn<lon Opinion: A man asserted' the other day that he was constantly being mistaken for a. member of Ihc. Kovernment.    We  always admire
tell  a  story   agains-V..
himself^
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