GHOST TOWN HERITAGE scores foreign fabrication | A Royal*Commission to probe the mining industry, similar to the Royal Commission in lumber, was advocated by de vention here this. week. ‘ The resolution said, in part: “Metal mining and smelting is now British Columbia’s fast- est developing industry and is only surpassed by the lumber industry in its importance to the people of B.C. in pro- viding employment, production of wealth, and many of the communities of the province are totally dependent upon this industry. “The development or non- development of mining is left mining completely the for « companies to decide, and re- cent legislation has not served to clarify, but has in fact caus- ed great confusion and con- sternation in the industry. “By and large, these com- panies are owned outside of B.C. and Canada. What has been the effect during past decades? Whe ore bodies, con- taining great mineral welath have been extracted and sent abroad. “This great mineral wealth, This is the new seal of the Canada Council. Designed by Alan Beddoes of Ottawa. it depicts falling raindrops nourishing the tree of art and learning. The Latin inscrip- tion means “To promote the arts and talents.” legates attending the 14th western district. Mine-Mill con- the heritage of the_people of B.C. is being sent out of the province by the carload for fabrication elsewhere, and this process, is being intensified. Mining towns become ghost towns, uprooting whole com- munities and families, severe- ly affecting the whole econ- omy of the province. “We are. convinced that in the mining industry a similar Situation exists as that in the lumber industry, where “the great wealth of this province is being exploited by compan- ies without due regard to the public interest. “The western district union executive board recommends to the delegates at this con- vention that immediate action be taken, that we petition the government of B.C. to estab- lish at once a Royal Commis- sion with powers and purposes similar to the Royal Commis- sion in lumber, “We urge upon the govern- ment to obtain the services of Chief Justice Sloan to conduct this Inquiry. He enjoys the well-merited confidence of the people of B.C.” He has per- formed outstanding services to the ‘province, and we in the mining industry have confi- dence that such a Royal Com- mission is absolutely necessary, and that Chief Justice Sloan, whose association with our industry has always been in- timate, can do this great ser- vice to our province.” Immediate ending of H-tests pressed hy Mine-Mill parley A call -upon everywhere to stop nuclear tests and begin sincere dis- armament - immediately was made this week by delegates attending the Mine-Mill wes- tern district convention here. governments The peace resolution, intro- duced by Trail Local 480, said: “Eminent scientists in great numbers have now confirmed the earlier concerns and warn- ings of laymen and certain scientists with respect of radio- active fallout. “The entry of England into the bomb testers’ camp is like- ly to be followed by other na- tions, thereby increasing the density of the atmosphere, al= ready reported to be over- loaded; with, radioactivity. “The threat to continued life on the globe is now further threatened by the reported perfection of inter-continental missiles equipped with atomic war heads. “A war with such nuclear weapons together with other so-called modern. instruments of war could not possibly have a winner and would leave large sections, if not the whole world unfit for habitation for a long period of time. ‘Surveys show that the peo- ples of all countries through- out the world want peace without an atmosphere of threatened war. “Therefore be it resolved that this union continue its efforts for peace with new vigor and call upon govern- ments everywhere to stop nu- clear tests and begin sincere disarmament immediately, thereby relieving their popula- tions groaning with the over- burden of taxes dedicated to armaments and living in daily fear of the consequence of radioactivity.” Direct sea route to China opened — Next month direct shipping will begin between Vancouver and People’s China, for: the first time since the Korean war began. The Yamashita Line, which currently has a monthly ser- vice from North Pacific ports to Japan, will extend its run to include regular calls at ‘Tientsin. The new schedule, announc- ed last week by North Pacific Shipping Co. Ltd., British Col- umbia agent for the Yamashita Line, follows closely on Great Britain’s easing of trade bar- riers with China. Doukhobors seek aid Mine-Mill asks mining probe, jn freeing children » “Help us get our children back,” was the simple plea made by a delegation of 40 Doukhobors to delegates attending thé Mine-Mill convention in Pender Auditorium here this week. Bill Moojelsky, spokesman for the delegation, reviewed briefly the history of the seiz- ing of Freedomite children and their incarceration in New Denver for schooling. Some children torn from their par- ents by the RCMP had been separated from their parents for as long as four years, he said. ‘ “Why should your sect have special privileges in regard to schooling?’ one delegate ask- ed. ‘Were you given any such concessions when you came to this country?” Moojelsky explained that the Doukhobors entered Canada under terms of the “Mennon- ite Privilege” of 1873, Clause 10 of which promised “the fullest privileges of exercising \theit religious principles with- out any kind of molestation or restrictions whatever, and the same privileges to educa- tion of their children in schools.” “We are not opposed to edu- Centennial pageant — ready for production A dramatic pageant unfolding the drama, that is British Columbia ,past, present and future, has been completed ee. will be distributed shortly throughout the - province. for, ne? year’s Centennial celebrations. L. J. Wallace, B.C. Centen- ial Committee chairman, an- nounced here that some 2,000 copies of From Wilderness to Wonderland, a two-act pageant with 20 scenes portraying out- standing events in provincial history, will be sent to schools and local centennial commit- LEGS: The pageant script is com- plete with staging advice and several pages of production notes, as well as- photographs and drawings of historic per- sons and places to help, with authentic costuming and set design. It also provides for insertion of local or regional material. The pageant is expected to attract an audience of close to one million by the end of 1958. It is anticipated that there will be performances in open air settings as well as in community halls and on school stages. Such historic scenes will be depicted as the meeting of Captain Cook with the Nootka Indians in 1778, Mackenzie’s arrival on the Pacific, Simon Fraser’s tracing of the great river to its mouth, Sir James Douglas building Fort Victoria, the Cariboo gold, rush, procla- mation of the mainland colony of British Columbia, driving the last spike of the CPR at Craigellachie. me The grand finale depicts the province’s industrial and cul- tural progress, including the contributions made by the various ethnic groups. a September 13, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE * cation as such,” said Moojelsky: “In fact, the last raid by thé RCMP’ was on one of Our own schools, where the child- ren were attending classe when they were seized.” . Freedomite Doukhobors 0P” pose the public schools on T& ligious grounds, believing that the teaching of history glot fies war, The members of th? sect are Christian pacifists and the “Mennonite Privilegé also exempts them from mil tary service, Prior to Moojelsky’s speech the group — the women 4 dressed in black, mourniné the death of a mother with # child in New Denver who con mitted suicide some wee ago — sang the-Lord’s Praye! At the conclusion of his sho! talk the delegation sang ? hymn in. Russian. : = TV cameramen were on hall to film. the proceedings, am thousands of television vile ‘ ers saw the films on the CB ' news roundup Monday night “We hope this pageant wi be produced by schools: 2 by adult groups ‘too, eith individually or as a combine effort, in communities throug? 4 out British Columbia,” Wé4 lace said. ys Floral displays 4 for centennial — VICTORIA, B.&' Gay flowers will outline et emblem of British Columb!# 100th birthday on the water” front slope before the Legisl# tive Buildings at Victoria-a? on the main lawn fronting é Vancouver Court House née year, r ee Nurserymen are now be af asked to submit tenders 1 plants of various colors and de scriptions, which must ready for delivery on or abov May 1, 1958. Successful grow ers must also undertake he grow and hold in reset¥ enough material to renew repair any part of the display during its season, JuB™ through September, The official crest, or e% blem, shows two trees flank | ing the province’s shield a representative drawings of 1 dustry below. The years, 185" ‘to 1958, are printed on eith® side and, above and below! are written, “B.C. — A Ce tury to Celebrate.”