? The following is the full text of the address made by J. V. Christensen, President of the Tahsis Company, to the Tahsis residents concerning the Company’s future plans for the community: : The purpose of this meeting is to give you information and to answer any questions you might have concerning the community of Tahsis and its future. To Improve Community We, of the Tahsis Company, have been involved for some time in feasibility and engi- neering studies to improve the community. While con- ducting these studies — and they are still going on—lI might add that we have had as our objectives more and better housing, improved water and sewer services, new recreational and other facili- ties, and incorporation of the community.as a municipality like any other self-governing municipality in British Co- lumbia. But, we are not here to- night simply to tell you what the Tahsis Company plans to do. We are here to give you an idea of what we have in mind —then, listen to your thoughts on the matter. This is important — because it is you who will, in the end, be ‘running the show and, I might add, paying for some of it too. The things we are about to discuss cost money —and plenty of it. Let me make it very clear at the out- set that, while the Tahsis Company will certainly make its proper contribution—and it will be the major part—the | people living in Tahsis must also be prepared to spend both time and money, and ef- fort particularly, to develop a livable and happy com- munity. Others Involved Others are also involved, including the provincial de- partment of highways and the federal department of trans- port, to name just two. Their , representatives tried to be here tonight to tell you of their plans for roads and an airport but other engage- ments prevented them from coming. However, we will try to tell you what we know. First, let me say that the planners at the Tahsis Com- pany have drawn up a 50- page book which is a sug- gested plan for development of the community. I empha- size the word “suggested”. The plan is flexible — and _ it must be. It provides room for change, if needed, to meet changed economic or other conditions. Depends on Power second. the timetable of development plan de- ends on getting public power Tahsis because the pres- . - TWO POINTS OF VIEW ON FUTURE OF TAHSIS EDITOR’S NOTE: The two | articles printed on this page ‘are a follow-up to the article condemning conditions at Tab- sis which was published in the May issue of the Lumber Worker. In the first of these articles the Company presents its future plans for improving the community and in the second article, John Squire, NDP candidate for Alberni, expresses his opinions of what safeguards must be taken if the Company’s plans are to meet with success. Housing Development © Housing development (in stages), which will likely in- volve various types of hous- ing, such as apartments and townhouses, etc. These prob- ably will be made available to families on both a rental and a purchase basis, with some mortgage assistance; that is, the advancing of 2nd mortgage funds at a reason- able rate of interest, if re- quired. In addition, an exten- sive mobile home park de- velopment is included and the first steps have been taken 'to clear the land. Whatever form the new housing takes, it will be made available at the low- est possible cost—without any profits to the Company. In fact, the Company will shoul- der the development costs, as it did in Gold River. Full details of housing will be pro- vided in advance. Other Facilities © New school facilities will be built. © Recreational facilities are another area in which there will be developments some of which already are underway and more are planned such as a curling and skating rink to be built to coincide with the arrival of B.C. Hydro power. © Improvements in sewage and water distribution sys- tems is another priority item in community development at Tahsis. In most instances, this will mean entirely new con- struction, and it must be done first. . Government Jurisdiction e Road, airport and other matters under government jurisdiction are other import- ant aspects. As stated ear- lier, the representatives of the government departments in- volved were unable to attend our meeting this evening. However, as we understand it, their plans are well ad- vanced. ®@ Of particular importance in any plan of development the incorporation as a muni- cipality is essential. Of course, incorporation means a muni- cipal government, local re- sponsibility for the communi- ty and, as always, the in- evitable taxes for everyone— with the Company carrying, by far, the greatest part. I do not wish to take any longer with this opening state- ment. I would prefer to have questions develop. Mr. Frank Grobb, who has been closely associated with Tahsis de- velopment plans for some time, is also here tonight to speak and help answer your questions. Have Been Complaints I would like to add a point. There have been complaints about the lack of this and that in Tahsis — that nothing was being done, that the Tah- sis Company was only con- cerned with making a dollar, ‘and so on. We, at the Tahsis Company, have spent three years actively investigating improvement plans for Tah- sis and, although more work remains, a start can be made now. Community develop- ment is underway, and the Tahsis Company shares com- pletely the view that the fu- ture lies in achieving “open” town status. Many visits have been made to Victoria in this respect. The government is very cooperative, and will as- sist in any way possible. As a final statement, I would like to say that Tahsis is not about to become an “in- stant” town like Gold River —no, it has grown up and is going to take its place among the villages and municipalities of the province, where it be- longs, and the Company feels strongly its responsibility to make the transition from Company town to municipal- ‘ity as smooth and painless as possible. THE NEEDED SAFEGUARDS By JOHN SQUIRE NDP Candidate for Alberni Seventeen years of peti- tions, agitation, representa- tion, public meetings, politi- cal promises ended with a series of Tahsis Company an- nouncements to the citizens of Tahsis, July 27th. Officials of the Tahsis Company headed by President J. V. Christen- sen, outlined the future plans for development of the Tahsis' community as a full-fledged municipality together with statements of road access completion and the introduc- tion of public electric power. In addition, the residents heard statements from the President. of the Nootka Cedar Products in which the development of the new cedar mill, its productive capacity _ and its employment policies were outlined. The ‘Tahsis Company also announced the new plans for future housing development and the installa- tion of new sewer and treat- ment plans in‘one section of the community. ; No Definite Dates While no definite dates were given in respect to road completion or incorporation it was suggested that housing development would start im- mediately and the detailed road survey would be com- pleted some time in June of 1970. While I am of the opinion that the Tahsis residents look forward to handling the af- fairs of their own municipal- ity there are a great number of unanswered questions that must be dealt with prior to the date of incorporation. Tahsis has learned some hard and bitter lessons from their neighbours at Gold River. They are well aware of the outrageous housing costs, the assessment figures and the property taxes that are mak- ing that instant community a most difficult place in which to live. Of Vital Jmvortance While the Tahsis communi- ty is at the present date par- tially developed, the question of what will be the assets of the new Tahsis community once it becomes an incorpo- rated community is of vital importance. At the present time residents are well aware that there had been certain installations made by the company to serve the resi- ‘dents such as water, roads and sewer systems. The resi- dents are also well aware that many of these facilities need repairing and bringing up to adequate standards. It is my understanding that when the time for incorpora- tion is reached, safeguards should be taken to guarantee that the community should not be required to buy out- dated and below standard JOHN SQUIRE, Recording Secretary of Local 1-85 IWA and NDP candidate in the Alberni constituency, is shown discussing some of the problems in the Alberni area with his fellow citizens. . community facilities. It is my opinion that between now and the date of incorporation the Tahsis Company should put in first class shape all existing municipal facilities so that. the new community is ‘starting on a firm financial footing. Company Responsibility I feel also that the Tahsis Company has a responsibility to the residents to supply them with a first class com- munity centre so that they will have a focal point for their community activity. I believe also that the incorpo- rated community should in- herit sufficient lands within its open boundaries to guar- antee proper expansion and to guarantee sufficient land for school buildings, hospital and recreation facilities. There is an obligation on behalf of the Tahsis Company to see that this community gets a proper start in order to take its place in the com- munities of this province. In ‘making these suggestions I feel that the Tahsis commun- ity, more than any other part of the Tahsis empire, has a right to expect such consider- ation. For 25 Years After all, Tahsis has been in existence now for some 25 years, and the sawmill and its productive capacity is the base from which Tahsis Com- pany was able to obtain its timber cutting rights, its tree farm licence, its pulp harvest- ing rights and, finally, the pulp mill at Gold River. With- out this original community there would have been nothing by which the Tahsis Company and International Paper could have claimed the large timber resources it now holds. - During the time ahead, while terms of incorporation are being discussed, the citi- zens of Tahsis should form a committee or a ratepayers or- ganization so that there are people in the community fully conversant and familiar with the problems ahead. Then, this group can act and advise both the company and muni- cipal authorities of the terms and conditions under which municipal status should de- velop. _ Road and Power This committee should also make certain that the road survey promises and the power supply promises are pao Ru: in addition, . wo ave a responsibili along with myself to see that the road is started just as soon as survey plans are finished. ie