JTnarsday, January 19, 1958.

THE TRIBUNE, WILLIAMS LAKE, B.¢.

~ Letters to

The Editor

SOME FACTS ABOUT SCHOOL COSTS

7 January 18th, 1956.
The Editor,

The Tribune,
Williams Lake, B.C.
Dear Sir:

The writer read with inter-
est, in last week’s issue of The
Tribune, Mr. Drinkell’s “‘Crack-
er Barrel Forum” and also a
letter from the Cariboo Cattle-
men’s Association. It would ap-
pear that these writers were not
in possession of all the facts
concerning the distribution of
school costs. In another section
of this paper is a table of com-
parison of school costs in 1950
and 1955.

The cattlemen contend that
they, through land taxation, have
had to assume the major share
Of increased school costs. Ref-
erence to the table of compari-
son will reveal that this defin-
itely is not correct.

During. the past five years
(which seems a reasonable per-
iod to use as a comparison, as.
the referendum is predicated for
five years in the future), the
amount of money required to
meet the estimates or budget
has increased by 149% ($292,-
017.00). Property tax, however,
increased by only 54% ($33,-
664.00). The difference was

“made up by Provincial Govern-
ment Grants from Consolidated
Revenue. Consolidated Revenue
is @ fund to which everybody in
“the proyince contributes, not
just residents of this school dis-
trict. = :

In 1950 Property Tax took
-eare of 31.70% of the require-
ments. In- 1955 Property Tax

took care of only 19:84% of the
requirements, with Consolidated
Revenue, or all the people of
British Columbia, finding the
remaining 80.16%. This indi-
cates clearly that the Provin-
cial Government has recognized
the need for a more equitable
distribution of the costs, and
that the Government is doing
something about the problem.
The mill rate in 1950 was 13.77.
In 1955, despite a 149%
crease in costs, the mill
was only, 14.84.

Taxes did increase during this
period. And they should have.
Even had there been no increase
in population, the economic fac-
tors over which we have no con-
trol, would have increased costs.
Salaries, wages, cost of construc-
tion, cost of material, cost of
supplies and equipment increas-
ed to a great extent.

The table indicates that teach-
ers’ salaries alone increased by
161% ($184,275.00). It is
granted that increase in popu-
lation caused a great deal of the
inereased cost. In proportion,
however, and if there had been
no increase in population, the
cost. would have increased far
beyond the increase in taxation.
The table shows the comparative
teachers salary schedule, and
this alone would result in far
more than the taxation, even if
Ro additional teachers had been
engaged.

‘The cattlemen contend that in
1953 and 1954 the mill rate had
exceeded 18.00 mills. This is
true, but it must be remembered

in-
rate

twenty-one years,

=<school district

held in a municipality.

they are assessed and

own name,

vote.

QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACT

58.(1)(b) In rural areas the qualifications
of electors entitled to vote on a by-law or
question shall be those persons who are rate-
Dayers of the rural area in the school district
and are British Subjects of the full age of
and those
which are ratepayers of the rural area in the

{iaee Se sesx >

_58.(8) Any voter offering to vote on the by-
law or question may be required. by the re
turning officer to make a declaration in the
form set out in subsection (1) of section 93 or
in such form as may be legally prescribed for
a municipal election in the case of an election

Section 2 gives the following definition:
“Ratepayer,” in the case of rural school dis-
tricts or rural portions of a large municipal
school district, means a person assessed and
taxed in the rural area of the district for
schoo] taxes under this Act.

Lease-holders, such as those at the 100 Mile
House and lessors of the Pacific Great Eastern
Railway Co., are considered as ratepayers if

under the Public Schools Act.

Wives and husbands of ratepayers are not
entitled to vote on money matters unless such
wives and husbands are ratepayers in their

Wives and husbands who have property
registered in both of their names may both

corporations

taxed for school taxes

that in 1955 the Government
adopted a new educational fin-
ance formula, which in this dis-
trlet resuited in a considerable
decrease in the mill rate. In
1965 the estimates were far
greater than anything previous-
ly suggested. Yet the mill rate
decreased.

It is true that in some indi-
vidual cases, increased assess-
ment has caused greatly increas-
ed taxes. It should be remember-
ed however, that the Govern-
ment has instituted, last year,
an assessment equalization plan.
They admit thtat it will take
about three years for this to
show effect.

Again, last year, the Govern-
ment commenced a program of
assessing accessible _ timber.
These two changes in the taxa-
tion formula must be given a
trial. The government is certain-
ly not going to make a change
without first having studied all
the effects of these changes.

It would therefore seem un-
reasonable to expect the govern-
ment to call a halt to these more
or less long range plans, and
make a change, anytime in the
near future; despite the strong-
est possible protests of the peo-
ple in this comparatively sparse-
ly populated school district. On
the contrary, they are more like-
ly to feel that the people do not
recognize the need for increased
facilities, and if any hardship
thereby results, that is the wish
or error in judgment of the peo-
ple. The children will therefore
suffer during this obvious period
of any possible legislation neces-
sary to mske any change in the
existing taxation formula.

‘That is the crux of the whole
matter. The defeat of the refer-
endum ean only result in hard-
ship for the children during the
necessary long period required
for a change in, and implement-
ation of, new legislation.

It would seem thtat the cat-
tlemen and property owners
should bend their efforts to the
other means, which would not
effect the” children, to secure
their objective of taxation relief.
Few people would hesitate to
support them then, but few peo-
ple will support them now in a
policy whick is at the expense
of the children. :

Mr. Drinkell objects to the
giving of “carte blanche” for the
spending of the large sum of a
million and a quarter dollars.
He is not perhaps aware of the
procedure required after, and if,
the referendum passes.

The School Board, who are
after all, a body of taxpayers,
elected and entrusted with the
duty of administering the affairs
of the district, would then have
to give very careful considera-
tion again to what projects
should be undertaken first. They
would review the necessity and
the estimates of the selected
projects. They would then pre-
pare a by-law which would re-
quire three readings (or re-con-
sideration) of the Trustees in at
least two separate and distinct
meetings. It would then be sub-
mitted for review to the Depart-
ment of Education in Victoria.

If the two bodies confirm that
the need is still there, and that
the estimates are fair and just,
then the School Board, for the
fourth time, must reconsider the

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OLYMPIC SKI VICTORY

After several weeks of ri,

member of the Olympic team,
serenading veteran skiers Art
departure.

LAC LAHACH
————___.

Teams Win Two
Home Games

Two hockey games were play-

igorous training at Mont Tremblant,
in the Laurentians, Canada’s 10-member ski team left by plane for
Europe with their Olympic hopes as high as their spirits. Youngest
Anne Heggtveit, 16, is shown, left,

Clarence Lloyd Servold, centre,
kibitzes with Anne Heggtveit and Cinette Seguin.

and Andy Tommy prior to their
of Camrose, Alta.,
Servold has

aging the senior team.’ Ray Wise
coached the Pee Wees.

ALLAN KARLANDER= was
rushed to Williams Lake hospi-
tal last Tuesday where he un-
derwent an operation for appen-
dicitis.

Record Turnout
Sees Kamloops
Down Stampeders

Trade Group Holds

Annual Dance -

Over 100 people attended the
Forest Grove Board of .'Trade
annual New Year’s Eve dinner
and dance in the Communit

ad here“on SUnday, Te Bes a8 Community Olah hed a| Largest crowd of ‘the yesr|ronciorest Giese.

UW, << celey urh-ou ai Vv

Wees played Clinton Pee Wees,/50?¢ {urp-out to the meeting |/jammed War Memorial prone | etal entertainment and miu-
i ee 3-0, | Held Sunday evening in the ball. |last Wednesday night to see|_. :

Winning A score of 3-0.| = sic featured the evening’s pro-
ia a aM : te Tom Humble from the B.C.]what tuyned out to be one of

Goals were scored by Hurry and Power'e ee tticet ‘ ts gram and everyone throughly
Willy Voth and Don Wise. The | PWer Commission office in Wil-|the fastest games of the season

little fellows played a real good
game and with a little more
advertising should draw a good
crowd to their games.

The senior game between Lac
La Hache and Williams Lake
slowed down towards the end of
the game because of the snow
which started falling in the se-
cond period. The score was 5-2
for the Wild Horses. Percy Og-
den and Bud Hamilton are man-
po as Se Se
question. If they then agree,
and then only, do they borrow
the money anid proceed with the
calling of tenders and awarding
of contracts.

At each time that a-portion of
the entire one and a quarter
million dollar program is con-
templated, this same procedure
must be followed. At the same
time, it should be borne in mind,
that these trustees are the duly
elected representatives of the
taxpayers. They could prevent
the borrowing or expenditure of
one cent of the one and a quar-
ter million dollars. They are in
no way obligated to spend it.
They are, however, given the
right to raise and expend this
sum, over a period of five years,
if and when necessary, This ob-
viates the necessity of going to
the electors every time a new
and completely obvioous and
necessary need arises.

In other words, the passing of
the referendum will enable your
elected Trustees to engage in,
and execute, a planned program.
Even the cattlemen’s association
admits that the program is as
sound as could be planned.

It is therefore urged thtat the
voter consider the question on
its merits and not be swayed by
angle, which is
, and which may
effect the children.

In any event, it is your privi-
lege, and your duty, to vote as
you, yourself, see fit.

Respectfully yours,
C. B. Macqueen, -
Secretary-Treas.
School District No. 27.

L&W
FUEL SUPPLY

Williams Lake

Telephone
120-R

for

g

taxation

Spontaneous Service
on

Sawdust
& Wood

Cut in Lengths to Order

attended the meeting
to answer questions on various
problems in the community. He
informed the meeting that a
maintenance crew would be in
the area soon to put in new
lines and poles. He also said
that a man would be down this
week to stop the static on the
radios which has made it im-
Possible to get any reception at
all some days.

The problem of obtaining a
tink manager was left to the
directors. At present the work
on the rink is volunteer

B WEINS had the misfortune
to have his power saw stolen
from the back of his truck
while he was in Williams Lake
on Friday,

vii

HORSEFLY NEWS
——_____

Women Attend
Annual Luncheon

The Horsefly Women's Insti-
tute gave their annual Friend-
ship Luncheon at the home of
Mrs. Hazel Gibbons on Decem-
ber 29. Twenty-four guests were
entertained at a buffet luncheon
followed 1} numerous games
and contests which were greatly
enjoyed by all. After these pleas-
ant diversions the president of

when the Stampeders met the
Kamloops Baleos in an exhibi-
tion game that was won by a
handy margin of 9-4 by the

the way up in hockey and others
who
leagues in their day, the Kam-
loops club showed a lot of speed
and class in the 60 minutes of
play. Originally in the defunct
Coy Cup league,
completing the season with ex-
hibition tours.

ups, the visitors contributed de-
feneeman Morton
Jardine to the Stampeders, and
the fans were particularly im-
pressed by the teriffic job Jar-
dine did between the pipes.

their hearts out too against the
competition, and looked in top
form.

foal
period. The visitors picked their
counter up early and it wasn’t
matched until 13.03 when Reg
Norberg scored on a pass from
br

Kamloops scored two quick ones.
Al Hooker closed the gap on a
pass from Eyres and when the
visitors added another counter,
Hooker again came through, this

enjoyed ringing in the New Year.

Livestock

(continued from pags 3)
blue brand beef at, steady or
just moderately lower prices for
the first half of 1956 with a
prospect of stronger markets be-
fore the end of the year, (2)
Cow slaughter prices will just
about parallel those last year —
unless a change in government
wheat. payment policy is an-
nounced. (3) Cattle feeding this -
winter should be proitasxi~ **2 ===
ticularly in western Canada- (4)
Production and consumption of
beef will be high — about the
same level as last year. (5) Ex-
ports may rise during the last
quarter of the year.

peers eee
time scoring on an unassisted
shot from the corner in the
visitors’ zone. In the last half-
minute Kamloops scored again
and the period ended with the
board reading 5-3.

In the final period the visitor
gradually put themselves out of
Teach, running the score up to
9-3 before the locals came back
witlf their final score. With less
than a minute to go it was hard-
working Doug-Norberg that sag-
ged the twine, with Reg Norberg
getting the assist.

itors.
C omposed of several lads on

have performed in top

the team is

To balance up the the line-

and goalie

The Stamps regulars played

The clubs only managed a
apiece in the opening

other Doug.

Early in the second period

the Institute, Mrs. Alice Stober,
presented prizes to the winners.

THE monthly meeting of the
Horsefly Women's Institute was
held at the home of Mrs. Alice
Stober, ,Wednesday, January 4.
Plans were laid for the year’s
activities and Mrs. Bessie Lowry
was elected vice-president in lieu
of Mrs. Hazel Hockley, who has
resigned temporarily.

THE 0.K. SAWMILL resum-
ed operations January 16, after
several weeks shut-down.

THE SQUARE-DANCES that
have been under the professional
supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Roy
Standley these past months are
gaining in popularity. Friday

POWER OFF

for improvement. work
on

Sunday, January 22

between the hours of

Power will be off

1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Area affected will be from
Lakeside Auto Court south to 150 Mile

night’s dance brought a record

attendance both in adults and
teen-agers. A luncheon was pre-
pared and served after the dance
by the young girls of the com-
munity.

MR. and MRS. 1. H. HUB-|
BARD left January 11, for ine|

coast where they will spend the
remainder of the winter at their |
home in Pleasantside.
MRS. GUNNAR OLSON
turned recently fron
where she spent

for of her health. She
is- now reported to be feeling
much better.
ADDED DONORS

Constable George Hubbard,

whose exploits as Santa Claus
to the Chilcotin Indian children
we wrote of last week, tells us
there were a couple of his ham-
per donors missed in the story.
These were- Doug Stevenson,
Mackenzies Ltd., and the Ranch //.

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