THE fceseedak | WILLIAMS LAKE, B.6. >

Thursday, January 12, 1556,

ETT TOR | ALS
Judge It on Merit

Our friends of the Cracker Barrel Forum, always
directéd by our mentally agile columnist A. J. Drink-
ell, woud appear to be taking issue with the advisabil-
ity of approving School District 27’s referendum. While
Wwe can see their arguments in several respects, there
are others that give the impression of being ‘full of
sound and fury.”

To start with, while we are quite aware that. the
Department of Education has been berated soundly, and
probably deservedly, by several former trustees, we
were not of the opinion that the department had forced
the board into presenting a referendum to the people,
as is the impression in this week’s lead lines.

We cannot see why the Forum looks on the refer-
endum as such potential powder house. From where
we sit it appears more logical to give responsible citi-
zens the authority over a five-year period to equip us
with a satisfactory educational program than to have
them spending the taxpayers’ money every year in pre-
senting a by-law to get it out of the district piecemeal.

In a sense, the referendum method of financing is
a partial step to what former board chairman Hilary
Place outlined as his idea of the sensible approach to
educational financing, and that was to have the dis-
tict’s share of cost authorized by the trustees from year
te year without recourse to either by-law or refer-
endum.

Undoubtedly it is a “fair assumption” that a por-
tion of the referendum money will not be used as it
has been set out. It would be humanly impossible to
accurately forecast needs of each corner of this vast
district for as long a period as five years. With the
imushrooming growth of the area it is practically im-
possible to forecast needs tor even a year. However,
We cannot see why this fact should blind us to the need
to attempt some projeced planning for the future. If it
transpires that money that the trustees thought Paul

-might need in Bridge Lake two years from now is found

at the future date to be needed instead for Peter at
Soda Creek, that too is immaterial, It would be the
height of stupidity to insist that money be spent on an
area where it was not required, simply because it had
once been laid down in the past that this would be
the case.

It is obvious that the forum’s previous arguments
are solely posed to bolster the landowner’s plaint that
the method of financing the district’s share of educa-
tional costs by land tax isan iniquitous one. We are
not going to argue this point, since we know that the
jand tax to the farmer or rancher is a very real and
large burden. At the same time we cannot see how the
Forum can justify a proposal that the landowners use
their veto of a needed educational program to gain
taxation policy change, and at the same time decry
what it believes is government “club holding” by put-
ting their children’s needs in the balance.

The decision of the voters should be based on the
pains) of the referendum itself. If it is fou ee ae
‘prepared: a=a6nsible
de the needs or education in in eter
Vict 27, your vote should be “‘yes.’’ If you disagree

with the-program then you should cast your ballot

in- the opposite direction.

Let the referendum stand on its own merits. Argu-
ments of taxation policy should be carried out on a
different plane.

Help The Children

>= There is nothing quite so pitiful as seeing the
“buoyant spirit of the very young restricted by a crip-
pled body. We doubt if there is one of us who has not,
on seeing a child hobbling along on crutches or sitting
in a wheel chair, wished subconsciously that there was
some way we could help him back to normal enjoyment
of childhood,

Individually there is little we can do of course, but
collectively we can do a lot. At Victoria the Queen
Alexandria Solarium operates as the only convalescent
hospital in British Columbia, taking in children from
all parts of the province. The hospital’s simple slogan
Is “serving the crippled chid.”

Each year the Solarium Junior League sponsors a
two-week appeal for funds to maintain the hospital,
the annual “shower of dimes.” This year the drive is
from January 28 to February 11. If you would like to
contribute to this worthy cause, forward your donation
to the league at P.O. Box 177, Victoria.

Those Letters Again

It doesn’t seem to matter how often we put down
our policy on “letters to the editor,” they still come in
without the necessary signature.

Latest one deals with the problem of drinking in
the village (of intoxicants, that is) and in the course
of several pages manages to place the onus of the sad
state of affairs on those in authority and all the resi-
dents in general. It winds up by hoping we will print
the letter “without too much prejudice.” But all the
remarks are carefully printed and the presumable nom
de plume is “savage.’

We welcome letters on any matter of interest, pro-
vided it is not libelous or slanderous — and pr ovided
the writer signs his or her remarks.

Pacific Great Eastern Railway Co.

oO Cy F:

& Eypress Service

between —
VANCOUVER, B.C. and PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.
Including Sleeping & Dining Car Service
Prince George - Squamish Dock
April 24 to September 24 inclusive
Ly-Vancouver (Union Pier) 9:30 a.m.-Mon-Wed-Frid
Ar-Williams Lake
Ly-Williams Lake
Ar-Prince George 1:30 p.m,-Tues-Thurs-Sat
Ly-Prince George 4:00 p.m.-Tues-Thurs-Sat
Ly-Williams Lake :20 p.m.-Tues-Thurs-Sat
ArWilliams Lake 11:50 p.m.-Tues-Thurs-Sat
Ar-Vancouver (Union Pier) 6:30 p.m.-Wed-Fri-Sun
THROUGH FREIGHT SERVICE
Ly - Vancouver - Mon-Wed-Frid
Ar - Wms. Lake - Wed-Frid-Sun
Free Pickup and Delivery on Freight and Express

SCOTT'S SCRAP BCDK

wor

eae Rost BUSH.

(TOMBSTONE . ARIZONA )

SPREADS OVER AN ARBOR MORE.
55 FEET.

ARN BO BY

By R. J. SCOTT -

eye § At

«ae Seip
FAMILY 2

Ait TARANTULA

The Cracker

By A. J.

Barrel Forum

Drinkell

LOOKS AT

Very shortly now the local
School Trustees, at the

Dept.

$1% million for new schools,
schools and all the paraphernali

the requirements of the next five
years. That there are issues in-
volved requiring very careful
thought is evidenced by the con-
cern expressed at our last hold-
forth, ~

This dainty morsel represents
only a portion of the Bill-of-
Fare. The items for operating
the schools will be presented in
other forms and will cost a-
plenty. The boys do not relish
the suggestion that, should ap-
proval be with-held the dis-
tasteful mess will be offered
again and again in the knowl-
edge that when conditions get
sufficiently chaotic we shall ac-
cept it in sheer desperation.
That procedure, so we are in-
formed is in full conformity with
democratic principles.
NOD RRQLIRED...

We opine, most emhpatically,
it is a most iniquitous way of
going about things. In the first
place the Trustees do not re-
quire a blank cheque for five
years ahead and by giving it to
them we seriously undermine
our control over the purse
strings. When there is lots to go
at, economy does not seem to
important. Secondly, it is a fair
assumption much of this money
will not be spent for the pur-
poses set out in the referendum.
Urgent, or seemingly urgent,
projects will be financed out of
available funds, ‘Temporarily
of course. Peter will be robbed
to satisfy Paul and eventually
we shall be asked to vote large
supplementary funds. Thirdly,
the school system has function-
ed for generations on a year to
year basis and there appears no

The Referendum

instigation of
of Education, will ask the taxpayers
of this district to approve the borrowing of
additions to

ent thereto. That amount is designed to meet

Board of
the

a appurten-

the end of any given school year
the taxpayers feel. school affairs
have not been properly handled

they can effect changes that sig-
nify that disapproval. ‘That is as
it should be. True, the same dis-
approval may still be registered
but if the whole five years’ sup-
ply has been recklessly spent in
two years it would he a pretty
futile gesture. More money
would have to be granted the
new Board or the same cry of
chaos would be. raised.
NO OTHER WAY OPE

Abel Roper had this to say:
“For some years now we farm-
ers and ranchers have been try-
ing through our various organ-
izations to obtain a more equit-
able distribution of school
ation=So pee DPry lit@le—ease-
ment has come four way. If we
vote “Yes” in/the torthcoming
referendum the politicians will
conclude we are not too unhappy
with things as they are and much
of our ground work will be un-
done. The Government, by in-
sisting upon this departure
from the orthodoz methods of
this type of financing has hand-
ed us a potent weapon in our
fight if we know how to use it.
By voting “No” consistently we
can bring home to the authori-
ties we mean business. Seeing
the government is making this
move purely for political pur-
poses it must accept the blame
for any chaos arising out of its
rejection, and the onus of pro-
viding funds for capital expendi-
ture will rest squarely upon its
shoulders, unless it wishes to
put finis to its career. There is

valid reason why it cannot con-
tinue doing so. At present, if at

nothing democratic about hold-
ing a club over our heads by

From the Files

of The Tribune

ONE YEAR AGO
January 31, 1955

Williams Lake will have the
services of a dentist after a lapse
of oyer a month, when Dr. L.
Bothaniley opens an office this
week— The mild weather has
brought robins to town— Com-
missioner Stan Goad has been
re-elected to the office of chanr-
man of the board for the coming
year— Timothy Malone, 88-year-
old prospector of the Likely dis-
trict died enroute to the hospit-
al— Fred Graham's rink emerg-
ed the winners of the annual
Green Bonspiel— Teletype oper-
ation at the local office of the
Canadian National Teiegraphs
will be underway this month—
The opening of the arena, with
free skating for the youngsters
was marred by two accidents
when Rita Rife and Ken Wotzke
both received a broken leg—

FIVE
Januar

YEARS AGO
18, 1951

Sale of the Cariboo Cold Stor-
age to Cliff Overton and Claire

Ford has been announced— The
Cariboo will be represented for
the first time on the Provincial
Tourist Council at the annual}
meeting in February— Funeral
Services were conducted for)
George Auld, of Lac La Hache,
who passed away in his 79th

year. He came to the Cariboo inj

!ected captain and Joe Smith as

1931 to live with his sister Mrs.
John Felker at 118 Mile— The
Lone Butte Red Cross Outpost
Hospital Unit has received a
grant of $1,500 from the Fed-
eral Government—

TEN YEARS AGO
January 17, 1946

Six wild horse hunters have
been appointed to shoot off sur-
plus wild horses on the cattle
ranges of Chileotin— The rapid
increase in enrolment to 170
pupils in the Williams Lake
School has resulted in two base-
ment rooms having to be used—
The Lac La Hache Red Cross an-
nounced they were able to send
$956 to Red Cross Headquarters
from last year’s collections—
Chas. Moon shipped five carloads

of cattle, with top steers selling
at $11.25, cows at $8.00 and
heifers at $10.50;
TWENTY YEARS AGO
January 9, 1936
Mr. and Mrs. J. Adams of
Keithley Creek were host on

New Year’s Eye to twenty-three
of the old prospectors— Under
the auspices of the Scouts two
Junior hockey teams have been
formed. Gerald Norquay was el-

vice-captain— Dr. Haugen, of
Tranquille has taken over the
prictice of Dr. Oliver at Alexis
Creek,

Nature Scrapbook

By: PAN Myring
Natural 1: Affect Trees
A tree is a living plant, like

a stalk of corn, subject to na-
tural laws of life. Some kinds of
trees, such as aspen, seldom live
more than 80 years. Others may
live several hundred to a thou-
sand years. So long as a tree

lives it grows. As trees grow
elder they become increasingly
susceptible to disease, insects,

and wind throw. Therefore, it is
good economy and good forestry
to harvest mature trees and
start a new crop before deterior-
ation begins.

Red Fox Does Not Store Food

It is not a habit of the Red
fox to store food in its den. All
flesh food, whether carrion or
otherwise, is devoured on the
spot or carried to some secluded
place for the purpose. No pro-
vision is ever made for future
needs. The only native species of
fox addicted to hoarding is the
White, or Aretic fox, which,
when animal food is plentiful,
kills all it can find and hides
what it cannot eat in holes and
rock crevices against a day of
want.

| How to Pick up a Skunk

It is quite possible to pick up
a skunk without offense, because
a skunk cannot discharge its
offensive fluid unless both legs
are on the ground. The trick Is
to deftly and quickly seize the
animal by the tail and hoist it
aloft, something easier said than
done, Monkeying with a skunk,
however, is not to be recom-
mended, even if one seeks dis-
tinction in an unusual field.

saying “You must accept this
curtailment of your powers or
the children will suffer.” There
is no other way open to us to
express disapproval, consequent-
ly, we must ignore such peurile
attempts at coercion. We are to
be asked to express an opinion
therefore no stigma can attach
to our doing just that.

Others pointed out the local
taxpayers have never complained
very loudly about the amount
spent on education even though
they have long yearned for the

day when the cost would be
=mare. sonia borne... Voting in
favour of thig five-year hocus-

pocus will certainly not hasten

its dawning.

Instead of seeking to lessen
our control over local expendi-
tures-some thought might be
given to affecting the more har-
monious co-ordination of all
Phases of government financing.
That would entirely obviate the
need of establishing such dan-
gerous precedents as the one
shortly to be presented for our
approval.

Williams Lake Tribune
Established 1931
Cliye Stangoe, Editor

Smiles
Pat and Mike, touring Swit-
zerland, were caught in a sudden
blizzard. Hulf buried in the snow
Pat was about giving up hope.
Suddenly up came bounding a St.
Bernard rescue dog with a large
cask of brandy fastened to his
collar.

“Look Pat,” said Mike, ‘‘cheer
here comes man’s best

Published every, Thursday at
Williams Lake, B.C.; “by~ the
Tribune Publishing Co.
Subscription:
Outside Canad:

Advertising rates. on ae

‘Authorized as Second Class Mail

by the Post Oftice Department,
Ottawa

per year Re a

“Aye Mike,” said Pat, bright-
ening, ‘‘and look at the big dog
that's with

“This is the list of all the men
I can whip.”

entered the room se
“Is my name on there?" ask-

just as the children were start-

The father

ine a tras eeceane ed a husky, broad shouldered
: truck driver.
“See here, Johnny,” said the)...
s Yes.

father grabbing one of the
youngsters, “Who started this?”

“Well,” said Johnny, “It’s all
Freddy’s fault, he started it
when he hit me back.”

“Well, you can’t whip me.”
“Are you sure?’
“Darn right I’m sure.”
“Very well,” replied the mai
“Tl take your name off the list.

Then there was the one about
the man who entered a neigh-
borhood pool hail with a piece
of paper in his hand and said:

Sympathy is what one woman
offers another in exchange for
the details.

Jack Ames lives with progress!

As a Chief Test Engineer of Avro Aircraft Ltd., Jack Ames knows a lot

about the spectacular progress of the aircraft‘industry.

peneiaes of enormously grea power, together ule advances in air-
and wwe brought super-

ic cope within ae today — and veil help us Nea
ee: ‘tomiorroWw;”” says: Mr. x

AS a family man, Mr. Ames has ae e Soren with
that has advanced in modern times . ... life insurance,
Take the group insurance plan in which he shares, for example. Less than
a generation ago such plans were almost unknown. Today their benefits are
enjoyed by millions.

“Todays 400, all forms Of life insurance ere more flexible Res

another “

the family.

Moreover, life underwriters today are berter trained to help people with
the task of building tailor-made plans.

In these and other ways, the life insurance companies in Canada
progressed to meet the changing needs of people in all walks of life!

THE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN CANADA

L.955D

standard home

Time was when trimming wicks and cleaning lamp chimneys was

vanishing as dependable, low-cost electricity’ comes in. The steady
growth of Power Commission facilities is bringing an easier, better
way of life to B.C. ;

Your Power Commission is working at top speed to extend service
so the greatest possible number of people can benefit from

economical electricity.

‘xo POWER COMMISSION

aS

Cee

procedure. Now, thousands of lamps in B.C. are

people
now use it for many other purposes than the basic one of protection for -

thermal at
ee