See Oe Me Lam + This burned and uncompleted house on Hamer Avenue was or- dered demolished by Terrace council this week. After hearing reports from the district building inspector and fire marshall, council stated that the building was in ‘‘so dilapidated and un- cleanly a condition as to be offensive to the community.” The owner has 60 days from the time of the ruling to demolish the’ building or the municipality will doso and bill the owner. TERRACE — da VOLUME 71 NO. 148 id 4 ae _ Unfair labor charges against McGeer “VANCOUVER (CP) - The provincial govern- ment has decided to let the British Columbia Labor Relations Board ‘make the first ruling in. ‘the government's ‘bid to -. “have ~ unfair °* labor’ practice charges quashed against Education Minister Pat McGeer and other education de- partment officials. Government lawyer Bruce. MeColl _ said Wednesday he will aska B.C. Supreme Court hearing on the matter scheduled for today to be adjourned, Instead, he said, the board itself will rule‘on whether it has the jurisdiction to hear the case. He said he will meet Friday with board chairman Paul Weiler to set a date for the board’s hearing into the issue. INJUNCTION SOUGHT The charges were laid by Local 1728 of the Association of Com- mercial and Technical Employees, formerly the Fire in Fredericton hotel — FREDERICTON (CP) — Five firemen and one guest suffered minor injuries and 175 persons were evacuated when fire broke out early today on the seventh floor of the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel. The injured were ali released following ‘treatment. - All firemen on duty in this New Brunswick capital -were sent to the hotel when the fire first was reported, The last flames were extinguished less than two hours later. The 175 evacuated guests were taken to the Fredericton Playhouse until alternate = ac- ecomodations in various ; parts of the city could be ‘ound. Allison Chute was rescued from the window of his seventhfloor room Saculty Association of Notre Danie University. They sicm from comments by x)cGeer, deputy education min- ister Walter Hardwick, . executive assistant Jim <...‘The - “unfair®, sts"or Bérnett “"” and” ~" other™ 5 education officials over the government plans for Notre Dame University in Nelsen. . The government had filed an application in Supreme Court asking the court for an in- junction prohibiting the board from holding a hearing on the charges against McGeer. The government was also seeking a series of declarations that the labor board has no au- thority .in the matter, incliding a ruling that the board’ -does not have jurisdiction to rule “whether comments by a minister of the Crown in the pursuit of legislative aims are coercive, in- timidating or constitute an unfair labor practice.” Most of the comments involve statements that by firemen using ‘an aerial bucket. ol Fire Chief Tom Powell said Chute had _ the presence of mind to keop is door closed, gpre- venting the intense heal and smoke from entering the room, “If Mr. Chute had not remained in his room with the door closed, the situation could have been very dangerous and our rescue operation much more hazardous,” Powell said, Chute was treated for smoke inhalation and released, Deputy Chief Herbert Hawkins injured his knee but was later able to return to duty. Firemen Irvine Banks and Allen Speurrell were treated for smoke inhalation and sent unidentitied ‘were treated at the scene ‘for smoke inhalation and higher education at the Nelson university would be jeopardized by the continued existence of a unionized faculty association. - ractiée charges were” aid under Section 5 of the labor code which prohi- bits ‘‘coercion or in- timidation of any kind that could reasonably have the effect of com- _pelling or inducing any person to become or refrain from becoming, or to continue or to cease to be, a member of a trade union.” McColl -. said the government went to court to quash the charges because the labor board originally scheduled only a three-day hearing on the merit of the charges, themselves, without a specific timetable for arguing the board’s ju- risdiction in the matter. “Now, the board has ordered a hearing into the jurisdiction issue on,y,” e said, Two firemen home. returned to duty. Seven rooms and the corridor of the seventh- floor main wing were damaged by heat and smoke. There was some water damage to the sixth floor when water pipes: melted in the in- tense. heat. Hotel manager Percy Reid said it was too early to know the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage. ~ Phe seventh floor will remain barred to guests and public until the fire marshal has completed his investigation,” Reid said. Meanwhile, other hotel services resumed normal operations. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1977 transportin said today. -- . from 10.5 per cent. to 63.4 from 79. Gas increase hearings OTTAWA (CP) — A public hearing will open in Vancouver Feb. 14 on an application by West- coast Transmission Co. to increase its rates. for natural gas by up to 21 cents a thousand cubic feet, the | The increases will come if the board approves - ;xa.conypany request toxaise its costof: ice bY: The application to the board says the measures wili caise the rates at varying levels among the distribution companies served by. Westcoast. The rates for #acific Northern Gas would increase to 99 cents from 63.1 cents, Inland Natural Gas to 107.3 from 89.2, B.C. Hydro 117.7 © from 96.6 for service in the lower B.C. mainland, Plains Western Gas, Peace River Transmission and B.C. Hydro service in the Fort Nelson region Natiorial Energy Board _ Czech refugees harrassed OTTAWA (CP) — The federal government is trying to work out an agreement with the Czech government on dual citizenship to deal with complaints of harassment of Czech refugees in Canada, says External Affairs Minister Don Jamieson. He says in a letter to Liberal MP Herb Gray (Windsor West) that the government hopes, in the long term, to reach a con- sular accord with Czech- oslovakia to settle questions about Czech law applying to Canadian citizens in Canada. The letter, released by Gray today, said that there is “nothing in in- ternational law that would help unequivocally to sort out these mat- ters." . Gray replied that the government should be prepared to take firm action, perhaps through legislation, to ‘‘prevent intrusion of Czech law into Canada.” The MP has been writing to Jamieson on behalf, of a Windsor resident 4 yhovhas been protesting? amnesty legislation, and alleged Czech Czech : “gov: ernment pressure on Czech refugees who are Canadian citizens. Prime Minister Trudeau recently said that any Czech pressure on Canadian citizens is unacceptable. The government has raised the issue with the Czech government. In the amnesty legislation, the Czech government offerec’ refugees the option of returning to that country, renouncing Czech citizenship or applying for permanent residence abroad by obtaining an emigration permit retroactive to the date they left the country. There have been reports that Czechs in Canada fear reprisals against friends and relatives in Czechoslovakia if they refuse to co-operate with the amnesty regulations; object to requirements that they pay for their former schooling in Czechoslovakia; | and complain that the Czech government is de- Ianding personal in- formation they should not have to reveal as Canadian citizens. ox yf TNCTAt PLBrart OARDTAGEA L BLOS5 YICTORIA B C New Alcan Dam has cracks VANCOUVER (CP) ~ The Alcan Aluminum Co. admitted Wednesday it has confirmed the reports of a former employee that seven cracked welds have been found in the gates of the company’s new $3.4 million dam on QOotsa Lake reservoir, Company spokesman Brian Hemingway said earlier company statements denying the existence of the fauls were the result of an unfortunate mis- interpretation. Hemingway said one of the dam’ gates has ‘six minor cracks averaging less than 144 inches long and one crack seven inches long,” ‘ut the faults wi not be corrected until next year. The allegation of cracked welds was made Nov. 18 by a former construction worker on the site, Phil Jones. Jones, who at one time was a certified welder, said he believed there were at least 12 cracked welds in one of the gates of the new Skins Lake Dam, sometimes known as a spillway. The dam is part of Alean’s Kemano power project, about 70 kilometres south of Kitimat, which dates back to 1952. GATES MOVED This project involved the building of the Kenney Dam, which has no spillway. The only way of discharging water from the reservoir is at the Skins Lake dam, located about midwa along the reservoir, sout of Burns Lake. Alcan decided = to rebuild the Skins Lake dam this year because it was not satisfied with the condition of the concrete in the old structure. The new dam was built about 30 feet from the old one and the gates in the original structure were moved to the new one. The new concrete dam is 55 feet high and 87 feet wide. Spillage from the project — enters the Nechako River which is tributary of the Fraser River. “Tf the dam failed, it could mean a wall of water all the way down to Vancouver,’’ Jones claimed. Jones said he decided to tell the press about the suspect welds because he “sensed reluctance and annoyance’ when he ’ But this week spoke to engineers at the site about his fears. Ajcan said Nov. 18 that the company had called in a welding inspector from Vancouver to examine the welds and his report, after a two- day inspection, was that there were no structural defects in the dam gate. This report was released to the press immediately. Alean issued a second press release stating that the welding inspector’s first report was “a preliminary verbal report by telephone.” “Unfortunately this message from the in- spector was interpreted by us as also meaning that’ there existed no cracked welds.” The Alcan statement says the welding in- specter believes ‘‘that these minor failures occurred at least 15 years aga. . ‘He concludes that t cracks obviously have not progressed in structural members and it is felt that the deficiencies are not sufficiently detrimental to the safety of the gate as to- warrant immediate attention. — Alaska Highway bone-shaking VANCOUVER (CP) — A study of a 300-mile section of the Alaska Highway between ‘Dawson Creek, B.C., and Fort Nelson says the stretch is little more than a bone-shaking link between two sections of proper highway. e report, submitted Wednesday to the royal commission investigating the British Columbia Railway, says the route is the “poorest physical 4..-section on the total 1,200-.. me : ire ais ay abe pert fice bY oT “-meatly-20 per tent to $184:8'million'ahd boost its" rate of return on investment.to 11.14 per cent - Smite run--to..the Alaska . border.” Trimac Consulting Services Ltd. prepared the report to compare trucking as an alterna- tive to the railway’s Fort Nelson extension. “The section has. in general, poor surface quality and low geometric standards, with the exception of specific improved segments,’ the report said. ‘In addition, seasonal conditions create periodic adverse restrictive operating circumstances,” But despite the adverse conditions, the report said truckers have “developed technical and operating expertise’ which enables them to overcome the physical constraints and provide effective service. CROSSES MUSKEG The Trimac_ report, which concluded that trucking has a small economic edge over the railway, said a_ large portion of the highway crosses muskeg and swamp-like terrain. “Consequently, much of the highway is characterized: by ~ areas,” “the report said. It noied that improved (paved) sections include e run betwecn Mile and Mile 93, which covers the route from Dawson Creek to a point ap- proximately 46 miles north of Fort St. John. The section between Mile 206 and Mile 273 is also paved, but the surface was constructed over permafrost and has heavily distorted surfar2 features, {he report said. ‘Trucks are driven slowly over this section ‘and with much care, in order to protect the cargo and yehiele suspension system,” it added, CTC sloughing off OTTAWA (CP) — The Canadian transport commission (CTC) is sloughing off its re- sponsibilities when it says passenger trains can be abandoned on some routes hecause bus service is adequate, Alberta MP Don Mazankowski (PC— Vegreville) said today. Mazankowski said at a meeting of the Commons transport commiltee the CTC has no control over the quality of service offered by bus lines. He said the aban- donment earlier this year of Canadian National Railway's passenger service between Ed- monton and North Bat- tleford, Sask., has left the town of Lloydminster with only a “disgraceful” bus service. Since the Greyhound bus terminal there burned down several months ago. residents don't even know where to catch the bus or buy tickets, he said. CTC chairman Edgar Benson, appearing before the committee, said the decision is under review. COMMUNITIES SUF- FERING Les Benjamin (NDP— ReginaLake Centre} said a number of Prairie communities ‘have been taken again” by the rail- ways with plications to discontinue trucking service to some points. He said the government a¢cepted their promises to provide trucking service when they ap- plied 10 or 15 years ago to end small railway freight shipments, and now the CTC is letting them wriggle out of their commitments. Communities such as the southern Saskat- chewan village of Hazlet are being left high and dry, forcing farmers and shopkeepers to go into neighboring towns to pick up their supplies, he said. their = ap-- According to the federal department of highways, the report added, the current Alaska Highway reconstruction and paving program includes a 10-year schedule for improvements to Mile 317, which is north of Fort Nelson. PAVING PLANNED - The improvement program, if it is main- tained, will result in an improved, paved igh - . way. between For - ‘sinking’: and > unlevel TORE x frand- ort Nelson by 1937.. The estimated construction cost is $380 nillion and annual maintenance costs will total $6 million. The Trimac study said 400 vehicles a day is ennsidered the lowest taffic count to justify paving and counts un- dertaken at Mile 261 infica. that the 1977 average annual daily traffic, south of Fort Nelson, is in excess of 500 vehicles. It said the number of additional commercial yehicles needed to haul traffic, if it was switcned from the BUR’s Puri Nelson extension, would increase the average annual duily truffie by 20 to 26 per cent. to AAO vehicles. The report said fleets would require an addition of 65 to 70 five-axle trues units, equal to a 1977 capital investment of about $5 miilion. It said additional manpower requirements would be about 1/3 to 200 persons. including drivers, mechan’: 5, shop and terminal laborers, 4 number which represents about anechird of theitotal BCR manpower’ now employed between.,Fort St. John and Fort Nelson. Unlike tension which repEsents a draw uo the ‘provincial coffers, annual’ con- tributions from the fuel tax on trucks would swell the provincial purse by at least. an additional $450,000, the study said. Notice to subscribers Effective im- -nediately new hours for Circulation are: 9:00 a.m. t0,12:00 noon, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. the'* rail&sex- - ONLY!! wee a te