PAGE 2

“I’m not a politician.

but I am concerned.
about the future”

There is no doubt in the
writer’s mind that Bill Sargent
is sincere in his statement that
he is deeply concerned in so far
as the economic social and
political growth of the Skeena
constituency is concerned.
Whether he is a politician will
be revealed came August 30.

The Progressive
Conservative candidate in the
fortheaming provincial
clections is close to Skeena. His
family arrived in the Hazelton
area back in 1891 and his own
family remains in tha
community where he operates a
hotel and retail business,

When asked whether he was
familiar with the vast district
Ihal’ he seeks to represent
during the next four years he
affirmed that there was little of
the terrilory thal he has net
visited either on fant. by
automobile or al the cantrals of
his own airplane. During the
course of his 14 years as a
school trustee he estimates that
he has covered more distance
than would be required to circle
the earth.

He appears {o have the entire
region close to his heart but
during the course of our
informal conversation he
showed a particular aifection
for his own KISPIOX RIVER
where ‘‘the world's record
steelhead was laken some time
ago,"

Apart fram this forgivable
aftection for his own-ballywick,
Mr. Sargent is completely
impartial, © Emphasising his
-concern over shortcomings in
communication and
conservation in this region he
made it clear that the natural
eutlel for the natural resources
of the riding is down through the
Skeena Valley to the Port of
Prince Rupert.

One of (he main shorlcomings
in so far as rail cammunication
is concerned, according to Mr.
Sargent, is {he impossibility of
local and = regional forest
operators in meeting the tight
competition they face with the

high eost of transporting

: roundilogs to the processing |

, Mills by truck as compared to

' vo

| porn boots mucklueks.

the much lower rates available
by rail for the transport of
chips. There does not appear to
be any relief in view for these
operators under the present
povernmert policy of extending «
the British Columbia Railroad
north to eventually serve the
development of new areas while
the region new being exploited
is left withoul adequate railroad
service,

_ Indeed, Mr. Sargent is of the
opinion that the B.C.R. should
be sold tothe Canadian National
Railroad to eliminate the cost
barnsolely by the B.C. laxpayer
who must subsidize the
provincial system alone. Mr.
Sargent feels thal (he province
has no place in this business and
that any subsidies or losses
should be the responsibility of
all Canadians.

“An adequale and economical
rail service would not only allow
the firms now cutting timber in
this region to sell their praduct
at a reduced operation cost in
competition with producers
already served by rail,” states
the P.C. vandidate, “it would
also encourage other
businessmen to establish
secondary industries based on
timber production using by-
products of the trees cut for

pulp.** He cited such
manufacturing lines as
furniture, pre-fabricated

homes, lumber, and a dozen
other potentials all making use
of the vast timber resources in
this area. He reminded that the
forest is slill the province's
richest resource.

Taking a long range look at
the mineral development of the
north, Mr. Sargent mentioned
the rich Cassiar Asbestos
Deposits and noted that there
are tremendous copper deposits
in the ISKUT region which are
so promising that it has taken
four years to simply undertake
thefeasability and cost studies.
This repion will be served by the
Stewart highway for the present
bul economy would eventually
require a pood rail service
which could be tied in to a rail
service lo the forest reserves to
the west, Once again the P.C.
candidate made it clear that he
is convinced that the natural,

We also have gifts
| for the whole fa

logical and economical route for
the shipment of these minerals
is through the Skeena Valley
and down lo the sea via Prince
Rupert,

Queried as to why he has
made this first .venture into
provincial politics, Mr. Sargent
slated thal he had reached the

‘ stage of the game where he

could no longer stand idly by.
The situation has become
alarming to the residents of
Skeena and I accepted the stand
of thase who nominated me,
thal because of my life-long
association with the people of
this region and my awareness of
their needs I should offer my
services in the Legislative
Assembly, ‘'Two
major factors in arriving at my
decision, apart from the one
cited above, were ‘the
tremendous support given to me
by my family in running my.
business and the great

_impression made on me by the
_new leaders of the Progressive

Parly during the | last
convention held in Vancouver.’”

away from the RCMP.

spruce | but not potatoes, .
However it would appear that

our provincial administration .
could not eare less about the

Crown corporation

industries such as plywood,
furniture, pre-fabricated homes
and construction materials.
Mr, Dent, who will devote
almost all his time to being an
M.L.A. if elected advised that
he would press for a_ state
controlled automobile in-
surance; improved secondary
roads; a public road open 24
hours a day to Stewart; a better
ton-mile rate for truck loggers
and secondary roads; equalized
gasoline prices throughout the
province; a guaranteed cash
income of $200. per month in
addition io the home-owner
grant and other social benefits
for citizens over 65; a Jedicated
co-operation with native people
and other cultural groups in
establishing a satisfactory life
for themselves in Skeena
County; and the removal of the

'

"handbags, basketry, cedar roots and bark, birch bark, moccocins

7 Beadwork, necklaces, chockers, head bands, authentic Indian:

education tax in stages. He
would maintain the -home-
owners grant allowing ‘““a much
needed tax refief for the over-
burdened laxpayer.”

Hartley Uent indicated
displeasure with the apparent
fate of the Terrace region
because the government
motives in planning fer the

future is based on politics

rather hhan economics. He
cited the Squamish coal deal as
a good example of this policy.
He was critical of the
inadequate budget allowed Fish
and Game officials which did
not allow the department to
hire sufficient staff to enforce
existing regulations. He
maintains ihat this and lack
of studies fall to allow fhe
region to benefit from aratiofal
conservation-program. y

arts and crafts, carvings, totem poles, plaques leather coats, vests,

. en . p a A i .
This year’s CFTK challenge trophy
for the Kinnette’s Blood Donors Clinic
goes to the Hot Springers Swim Club.
The club turned out 12 out of 15°
members to take the annual award

Annandale,

_ Sargeant

flooding-of our sma!l acreage of
productive land. We in the
Liberal party Party are
concerned and we are
determined to stop this waste so
that we and our children
continue to have a beautiful
British Columbia in which to
live and thrive.”

Another solid plank in the
Liberal platform tenches on the
high cost of transportation of
raw products from the forests to
dhe mills. Mr. MacDonald
describes the forest resources
in this area as being the
“sickest in the province with
local operators losing some
$75,000,000 over the past two
years”, he said that a Liberal
administration in Victoria
would be determined to co-
operate with the federal
authorities in negotiating with
the Canadian National Railway
in obtaining joint running rales
so that the forest producers
could ship their. timber:in the
form of chips, to the nearest
market or port via the shortest
and most economical rail line.
Mr, MacDonald maintains that
no negotiation hag ever, taken
place between: the.chilways
involved and “tht”: fole.*are
foreseen as long as the B.C.R. is

Wooiger is seen above, handing over
the trophy to Mrs. Hobenshield of the
Club. Looking on is Mrs. Rosalie.

co-chairman of the suc-

cessful clinic. SO

Ecology freaks 7 | “

involved ..in: “government
decisions which take into
consideration Corporate Bodies
to the detriment of the people.

The forest resources of this
area are only being developed
at one third the rate that it could
be if there was an economical
means of shipping the produce
to the market at a profit. I am
not particularly concerned with
corporations,’ commented Mr.
MacDonald, “but it is the
payrolls which are important
not only to the woodsman but to
every commerce and service in
this area.”

Mr. MacDonald and. Mr.
Anderson. both warned that if
there is not a great change in
the near future the economy
and the social development of
Skeena and indeed British
Columbia are in jeopardy.

A reminder from the
Canadian Forestry Association
of B,C.:

Think when you drive, Always
put out matches and cigarettes

~in. the ashtray. Remember, only
youican> Prevent Forest Fires,
Keep B.C. Green and Clean, -

- give.us a call.

_ private investment | flelds

"$12. per person since I feel that

cacross the Skeena River”.

maintains “I have - always’
worked with ‘and for -the |
working man as well.as the -
small business man. Today I
am firmly-of the opinion, that
-the government. has all .-but -
wiped out the individual in the |
fishing, logging.and even In

There are loo many hardships-

passed on to the working man

through legislation and just.
plain bungling. A good example
‘of this is the government’s
fault insurance plan.”

“T would be very.interested in
knowing how they arrived at

Hartley Dent...
“I’ve learned |
that 10 million
will be spent on
road ‘contracts
" Mr.. Hartley Dent, N.D.P..

candidate in the current
provincial election campaign

"indicated during the course of

an interview that he had
learned from private sources

that the Bennett administration

would let more than ten million
dollars in road construction ~
contracts before election’ day,
next August 0. .
“Pye learned” he said “that
$10,000,000 in highway contracts
will be awarded before election
day ‘including the following:
The new bridge across the
Kalum. River on Highway 6;
bridge approaches for this new
bridge involving 2.07 miles of
new construction; an additional
11,66 miles of highway west of
the Kalum Bridge; and
probably piers and “bridge
approaches for the new bridge

‘Mr. Dent stated that the
timing of the award of these
contracts 15 a desperate,
although most welcome, move
to hold on to the power and to
the Skeena seat in the
Provincial Assembly.

Mr. Dent observed.~‘This
proves that even as an effective .
opposition the New Democratic -
Party‘has'beeh able toforcé'the ~
Government to get things 3)
done.”

ey a 1

‘the man thal.I am voting for.

* However, none of .the can-
- didates in Skeena riding inspire
‘me with such confidence.”

» . send to Victoria ask yourself is

- dependable;

‘this Is almost enough'to start a:
‘complete plan such ag are in

operation ini Manitoba: and. —

Saskatchewan. ...545 |

eure never ‘ joined any
ca rty” repor .
Beart for de reason, That is 1
}: 3t wouldn’t Know which guy to
-vote:for. They all have won- |
Gerful platforms, However ;
platforms. do-not ‘make a
‘government, I must’ feel that

has our interest-at ‘heart and
‘that we'll get a better deal,

Pope

My. Sears went on to say “A
lot of people sald after the past
provincial election and‘ quote f
“What choicé did I have’’.

“This election yoit have ‘a jj
‘choice .of candidates. ;in all |
parties with the-exception of the ;
communist party plus an In- {|
dependant. Let ‘plain ald 4
common sense guide you when
you enter the polling-booths this
time. Givé some thought to
what kind of man you want to

he considerate, charitable, 4
hag. he ‘done §
anything in the past for §
someone in this district; what
are his views on business andjj
how does he look at our affairs'4
in general; Dues he see, thing

from the working man’s point of!
view as well as that of the smalh\@

arb dees bec Ag

TITS

iar

wees Tye
SovEed *

oe Boat Tours - Large Fishing Rods oe

For fishing on a leisuriey boat tour

‘The House-of-Sim-0i-Ghets —

_ has guided fishing tours,