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‘Taking Sheep

= craft and exporting game.

Williams Lake Trib

NEWS EXCHANGE OF THE CARIBOO

Volume 24 — Number 3.

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C, Thursday,

January

19, 1956.

Single copy 10c. $2.50 per year.

Tax Reform Requests Not Pushed Enough

A Tax Formula Suggestion

(An Editorial)

The present split in the district occasioned by the
proposed schoo] referendum emphasizes the fact that
school land tax reform is a necessity. That inequalities
exist has been agreed to by both the agricultural
landowner who opposes the referendum because of his
belief, and by small property owners who have spoken
in favor of the educational program.

Because some proposals must be put forward if
tax reform is to be sought, The Tribune offers the

following suggestion.
mswer, but we believe it

it might not be the complete

would answer part of the

problem of an alernative to the present system.

We suggest the “pegging’’ of the mill rate for
capital expenditure cost in the same way as the district’s
share of operational costs is pegged at 7 mills.

We further suggest that as a “brake”

on schools

boards that might be inclined to add too many building
frills to their educational facilities if they knew that
the district would have only a set tax rate, that the
same ‘‘approved costs” formula be adopted for capital
expenditure as is now in effect for operational costs.

Under operational costs,

it now works this way.

While the district’s share of operation is pegged at 7

mills, this applies only to
proved by the Department
board wants to, or in some

those normal costs as ap-
of Education. If the school
cases, has to, go over these

approved costs, the district pays this additional cost

-in whole. An example of this is the provincial teachers’

salary scale as laid down by the department. In District
27 we pay more than this scale because of a salary
vontract and because of isolation bonus being paid at
seyeral points. These additional costs are paid by tax

levy.

_For the sake of argument, the capital portion of

the budget could be pegged

the total of the district pegged tax to 10 mills.

at 3 mills. This would bring
The

margin over this would be now the responsibility of the
area representatives in sanctioning ‘unapproved costs.”
It would probaby account for three or four mills.
Under this scheme, the landower’s tax bill for
schools would only go above a fairly stable figure for

two either the

on his land goes

up, which in normal circumstances would not be de-

batable,

n

higher assessment should mean that the

ee is worth more as a saleable asset, or the mill

WI Ti

=f proportion
ives approved costs that the Department of

nm because the area,

_Baueation found out of line with provincial averages.

We believe that this system would alléviate the}!
eee that he is committed to paying @
ing educaional bill over Which di

fear of the |
part of a spiral
no control.

1g
has

GAME CONVICTION

Fined $300 For

Allen Langston of Haney was
found guilty in police court last

Wednesday of a charge of fak-

ing mountain sheep during theja
closed season and was fined $300
and costs or two months in de-
fault by Magistrate C. H. Poston.

‘The charge arose from an in-
cident that occurred on-or about
September 25, 1955 on Jack
Moon’s ranch, where one of the
few bands of mountain sheep}
are protected by law.

At that time Langston accom-
panied Robert Enger of Oregon
on an airplane trip to the Chil-
cotin. Subsequent to their return
tothe coast, Enger’s picture ap-
peared in a Portland newspaper
with an account of a hunt. The
picture prompted Game Warden
Frank Urquhart of Port Coquit-
lam to start investigations
since the story mentioned the
Williams Lake area and he knew
there was no open season at the
time in this district.

His initial investigation re-
Bulted in Enger being fined a
total of $550 on charges that
included hunting from an air-

ee one of the animals

vit
= other to Haney.

Although there were no wit-
nesses to the. actual killing of
the sheep, the Game Department
produced witnesses who had
seen the plane land at Deer
Park, Ranch and later the air-
eraft checked in at Dog Creek
airport with the carcasses of
the sheep.

Langston was defended by
Les...Langley and the prosecu-
tion was handled by Inspector
L. R. Lane of the Game Depart-
ment. He entered a plea of not
guilty.

or

PGE to Speed Up
With Million-Dollar
Train Purchase

Not noted for its speed in the
past, the Pacific Great Eastern
[Railway will become one of the

fastest in the world, when a new
“iillion dollar train is added
this year.

Railway Minister Ralph Chet-
wynd anounced he has plans to
put into effect when the govern-
men-owned line’s southern ex-
tension is completed to make it
one of the fastest railways in
the world.

“We intend cutting the time
between North Vancouver and
Prince George to 16% hours,”
he said. The present journey, 40.
miles by boat from Vancouver
to Squamish and about 420 miles

(continued on page 8)

. FIRST

ARRIVAL

- First arrival
as tiny Barbars
Duncan Roberts of

at War
Ann,
Margu

She is the second child of

daughter

mother’s arms. Barbara Ann weighed $ lbs.
birth and came into the world at 7 a.m.

1956
and Mrs.
shown . in her
15 oz. at
January ist.
and Mrs. Roberts.

Memor pital in

erite,

Mr.

Turning out in greater num-

bers than they did for the regu-
‘lar civic election date in Decem-
ber, voters swept former com-
missioner Herb Gardner back to
Office in
election.

last. Thursday's by-

Beferendum Goes
To Voters Next
Tuesday

Property owners go to the

polls Tuesday to vote in School
District 27’s controversial
lion and a quarter dollar ref-

mil-

erendum to provide money for
equipping
schools: and teacherages.

constructing and

The polling stations, scattered
throughout the sprawling dis+
trict, will open at 8 a.m. Janu-
ary 24’and close at § p.m. the
same day.

To pass, the referendum must
have a “yes” count of 60 per
cent of the votes cast.

The last school by-law pre-
sented three years ago was de-
feated the first time it was sub-
mitted and was again placed
before the. voters after the in-
terval of a. month. The second
time it squeezed through with
less than one percent of the re-
quired majority.

Kangaroos Trounce Stamps

Coming up against Quesnel
Kangaroos for their third time
this season, the local Stamped-
ers were efficiently steam-roller-
ed by the visitors 7-1 in a league
game here last night.

Although they kept hustling
the Stamps were an outclassed
club in the one-way battle. One
of their major stumbling blocks
was Del Bucchio in the Kanga-
roo net. Always a hard man to
slip a puck by, the 'roos net-
minder was right on for the 60
minutes, turning back shots from
every angle. He was robbed of
his-shut-out in the last two min-
utes of play when Eyres collect-
ed the lone Stamp tally on a
pass from Doug Norberg.

Play was fairly even in the
first period with Al Blair getting
the only counter. In the second
frame though the game rapidly
developed into-a rout as the
‘roos opened the scoring at the
2:30 mark and kept command
of the play right along to rack
up the remainder of their seven
goals in the 20 minutes.

The Stamps managed to hold

down the visitors to a scoreless
third frame, but the damage had
been done. A

Fans gave Jack Ritson a big
hatid for his first appearance
here in his role of referee. The
former ‘Roos defenceman turn-
ed in a good job.

Stamps had a new net minder
tor the game, Jim Mallek, one-
time custodian for Lumbermen,
who this year tried out for the
Vernon Canadians. Called on to
turn back a terrific number of
shots, Mallek turned in a fine
Performance despite the look of
the score board, He has been
gned on for the balance of the

son,

This weekend the Stam:
vel to Vanderhoot

for a

two-
game series in their first meet-
ing with the Bears this year.
The locals won’t play a league
fixture at home now until Feb- |
ruary 4 and 5, when the Bears

return.

This Saturday at 730 the
younger players take over with
the Pontiacs meeting Clinton at

the Arena.

By-Election Brings Out Good
Percentage Of Town Voters

Mr. Gardner gained 123 votes

compared to 77 received by his

opponent, Harold McKay.
Percentage of voters casting

their ballots was 44.34. In the

December election a slightly less

than: 40 percent ote was. re-

a”

try for office in two months. In
the December election he lost
out by 11 votes to Al. Carswell
for the second seat open. In last
year’s Commission, Mr. Gardner
was in-charge of streets.

Mr. McKay was making his
first try for civie office.

B. of T. President
Reviews Work
Of Past Year

A smaller turnout than has
been recorded in the past five
years was noted at last night’s
annual installation dinner of the
Williams Lake & District Board
of Trade. About 70 attended.

President Tom Larson and
vice-president Tony Woodland
were installed to office in a briet
ceremony by: Government Agent
Mrs. Les. Pigeon.

Highlight of the program was
an authoritative tall on the in-
ternational scene in 1956 by
Proffessor Geoffrey Davies of
the University of British Colum-
bia. (His address will be re-
viewed in next week's issue.)

‘Reviewing the work of the|
board in 19 presidentt Lar-
son said he believed the year

could be a successful one in ret-

rospect. Results of several pro-
jects included the establishment
of a daily airmail service; r

cent announcement of the call

for tenders for construction of
a 7,000-foot runway on the new
airport site, and decision of the
forestry department to place a
large diseased timber stand on
the market in smalled parcels
than had been originally intend-
ed, in order to give more oper-
an opportunity to bid on

ato
the

Several Items the board i
, Mr. Larson continu-

suill

ed, includes following up their
first representation: st spring
to the Pacific Great Eastern

Railway company to have more
idential and commercial sub-
divisions put up for sale in
town, and plans for a_ street
\numbering system that will be
offered to the Board of Village
Commissioners.

The board has also had inter-
views with the B.C. Telephone

= hoe
s Mr. a. second

(continued on page 8)

THE WEATHER

Warm air from the coast
brought temperatures at Wil-
liams Lake up for a sustained
period for the first time since
November 11. Highest point was
reached yesterday when the
thermometer read 38 above.
Forecase is for continued mild
weather.

Here are the readings at the
airport for the past week, talen

between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
min max

Friday, Jan. 13° 22 27
Saturday 8 10
Monday 7 10
Tuesday 6 33
Wednesday 35 38

This morning the reading was
34 above.

Mr. Cornwall's statement was
made before a crowded meeting
of the local Parent-Teachers’
Association, during a question
and answer period that followed
prepared talks by Mr. Cornwall,
school inspector Douglas Cham-
berlain, and town businessman
Douglas Stevenson.

The prominent rancher was
easily the busiest man on the
plattorm as questions were
thrown at him from the other

Three Town Stores
Broken Into
On Same Night

Thieves escaped with. about
$125 in cash from three separ-
ate break-ins in town Tuesday
night.

The three firms broken into
were Western, Rife & Pigeon,
Huston Agencies and Cariboo
Truck & Equipment Ltd.

Smallest loss was suffered by
the grocery store of Western,
Rife & Pigeon, which has been
the target of theives on three
occasions in the past two years.
Here the break-in was effectedt
through a small window in the
swarehoug walls Phe qindow had
been boafded up and the board
were ripped off. Once inside the
thieves.loosened all of tlie fight
bulbs. but one to avoid detec-
tion. Although they checked the
warehouse stocks, firm princi-
pals were unable to tell if any
goods had heen. taken. Tuesday
afternoon a largé“Shipment had
come in and had mot been sort-
ed yet. /

Right next door to the gro-
cery store is the building” hous-
ing Huston Agencies. This office
is also the terminus of T & H
Cariboo Transport Ltd. The
thieves made off with about $60
in cash of Huston Agencies and
$26 and two cheques that were
the property of the transport
company. Entrance here was
gained by a small window in the
lavatory,

At Cariboo Truck the thieves
broke in through a side window,
and taking two axes from the
shop, made their way to the
second floor where the firm's
offices are located. Here they
completely wrecked the com-
pany safe to get at the money
inside. Company officials said it
would take a day to check their
records and give an exact figure
of the loss, but they believe it
amounted to about $40.

Corporal John Murdoch of the
RCMP states that town shops
were checked by patrol officers
around 1 a.m. and the robberies
probably occurred after that
time. It is believed the three
h ns are the work of the
same men,

Players Group
Names Officers

Norton Olsson was named
president of the Williams Lake
Players Club at the group’s
second annusl meeting last
Thursday, :

Other officers are
Baker, secretary, and
Weetman, treasurer. The execu-
tive positions of business man-
ager and production manager
will be filled at the February
meeting.

Mrs. EB.
Ww.

Direction of the club’s spring
production will be under Mrs.
Dru Hodgson. The play will be
chosen at the next meeting. New
members introduced were Mrs.
N. Blenkinsop and Miss Irwin

speakers, from chairman Les
Langley and from the floor.
At one point Mr. Cornwall
said he personally would favor
the referendum if he could be
certain that a revision of the
present educational land tax
policy would follow, but he held
out little hope for any promises
of such nature, even if they were
forthcoming, being helieved by
the ranchers. A similar promise
had been made by the govern-
ment at the time of the last

school by-law, he stated, but
nothing had come of it.
School board chairman Wil-

liam Greenall said from the floor

The inspector went on to show
how government share*of educa-
tional costs have been increas-
ing. In 1935, he said, the pro-
vinee paid 25 percent. of, ae
ing costg. After the image
jation of ‘the Cameron Re

up to 50 percent, and in 1955
this was raised again to 75 per

cent. Most of us, ‘Télatively
speaking, he said, are putting
out the-same in proportion -of
costs as we did before, but the
added percentage is coming from
the logger and secondary in-
dustries.

! Mr. Gornwall. used the Sllus-
tration of his own ranch to
point out the ranchers’ belief
that the land tax is paying more
of its share of the cost. He said
that he pays $600 school tax-an-
nually and there are not many
businesses in Williams Lake
that can match it, but that there
are many firms showing a great-

in part, are the argu-
ments given by Mr. Cornwall
and Mr. Stevenson. Mr. Cham-

The chief reasons why they
consider the present system un-
fair may be stated quite simuly.
The population of the district
has increased rapidly in the past
few years. In consequence there
has been, and will probably
continue to be, a great increase
in the need for imore schools. It
is obvious that the increase in
population consists mainly of
people who are working in the
lumber business or are here be-
cause lumbering has demanded

more services.
With increased population
goes a need for more schools

and more taxes. The money for
that part of the total cost of
schools which is raised by local
taxation is obtained by a tax on
property. The other and larger
part comes from provincial con-
solidated revenue, but does not
enter into the question here, be-
cause we all contribute to that.
If school tax requirements in-
crease it follows that taxes on
existing property must go up,
unless the newcomers to the dis-
trict also acquire and develop
either business or residential
property which becomes taxable.
With the logging industry this
does not appear to be the gen-
eral case.

A large part, perhaps the
larger part of the district share
of this increased burden is charg-
ed to agricultural land. ADE.
mate figures of the pass tO
that agricultura} .(” cagesarient
the total . 300,000 were not
(1954 2

In Past

Rancher Makes Statement
At Referendum Meeting

Representations to Victoria in the past by ranch-
ers’ organizations fighting for land tax relief probably
were not made in a strong enough manner, Cariboo
Cattlemen’s Association director Hugh Cornwall ad-
mitted Tuesday night in answering questions on the
ranchers’ stand on the forthcoming referendum.

that the board was largely com-
posed of, ranchers and although
the trustees sympathized with
their plight, the fact remained
that if the referendum was turn-
ed down it would largely be b=
cause of the ranchers’ opposi
tion. Turning to Mr. Cornwall
he wanted to know “whst guid
anee the ranchers will give us
the referendum is defea'

Mr. Cornwall was unaile to
answer the question but posed
another of his own when asked
why some of the thousands of
dollars going out of the district
in revenue couldn’t be earmark-
ed for district costs.

Any theory of having all of a
district's revenues used only for
that district. needs wouldn't
work, Mr. Chamberlain return-
ed, since it was obvious that
some areas couldn’t- possibly
produce enough revenues. for
their own servize costs while
others like the rich industrial
coast areas could produce much
more revenue wealth than they
need,

Government’s Share Up

berlain contained his remarks to
outlining mainly the points coy-
ered in previous school board
advertising.

Mr. Cornwall, in his preamble,
said he would enlarge on’ te —
points covered-in a letter from
the C.C.A, published in — last
week’s Tribune, which stated
the association’s reasons behind
a decision to oppose the refer-
endum.

“I want you to remember that
ranchers, like other taxpayers of
different callings in the district,
have various opinions on the
necessity of the referendum. But
I think I can say truthfully that,
at least among the association
directors, the majority recognize
the necessity of the program for
which the money is required and
if a more equitable system of
school taxation were in effect, I
think the majority would vote in
favour of it. But, as a group,
they have gone on record as
being against voting “yes” un-
tila fairer system of school tax-
ation is used.

Reasons For Objections

obtainable, but we did find out
that the total assessment of the
village of Williams Lake was
something over two millions. It
would therefore seem likely
that agricultural lands ‘repre-
sents between a third and a half
of the total. The amount of this
land in District 27 has not in-
creased greatly since the war
and it does not séem probable
thtat it will increase at a faster
rate in the next few years. It
therefore seems inevitable that
under the present system of
school taxation, taxes on land
will become greater and greater.

If the income which would be
derived from this agricultural
land were to increase at the
same rate as population and be-
cause of it, there would be no
problem. This is not the case. A
small part of the land becomes
more valuable because there is
timber on it or road or lake
frontage suitable for residential
sub-division. At the present
time it is harder to sell a ranch
or farm than it was after the
war. Relative to purchasing pow-
er of the dollar in 1947, cattle
are cheaper now than then. Cat-
tle prices are now barely half of
what they were in 1951 at the
peak. Granted they were too

high then, but 59 Percent is a
large drov-

ne stand of the C.C.A. direct-
ers is that they will not, as a
group, advocate voting for the
Referendum until the
school tax question is thoroughy

(continued on page 8)

local _