a SQUIRE OPPOSES EXTENSION

rectified. The brief makes reference to the “com.
pany town” attitude at Tahsis and suggests that
Tabsis be made an open town with the right of
workers to build and own their own homes and
for the town to develop
the sawmill workers and loggers that will be em-
ployed in increasing numbers in the area,

The brief also asks that a firm commitment be
given both on road access and “open town” status
before the T.F.L. extension is granted.

Two briefs opposing the Tabsis Company’s ap-
plication for extension to its Tree Farm Licence
firm commitments are, given, were
submitted by John Squire, MLA, a member of the
Standing Committee on Forestry, at the Hearings
held in Victoria, August 25, before the Hon. R.
Williston, Minister of Lands and Forests.

No. 19 unless

The purpose of the Company’s application for
extension is to include certain quota rights held

Hon. R. Williston, :
Minister of Lands & Forests,

Parliament Buildings,
Victoria, B.C.

Dear Sir:
Re: T.F.L. No. 19 Extension

In reference to the above,
this first submission will, of
necessity, deal with some of
the economic factors involv-
ed. The second is intended to
deal with social or community
problems that can follow in
the wake of Industrial de-
velopment unless _ suitable
planning is undertaken.

REDUCES AREA

First, however, let it be
made clear that I object to
this application to the extent
that it reduces the area of the
Kyuquot Public Working
Circle and this objection is
raised to the same extent as
it was raised when the Clay-
quot Public Working Circle
was eliminated.

The Public Working Circles
were established for very
definite reasons and with very
definite principles in mind.
Those reasons and principles
make just as much sense to-
day as they did then but
argument did not prevent
one Working Circle from dis-
appearing, and having already
voiced objections to a reduc-
tion in the Kyuquot P.W.C.,
I feel it well to offer argu-
ment and proposals to safe-
guard the interests of those
whom the extension will ef-
fect in the event the bound-
ary changes are granted.

This submission, I should
point out, has been drawn up
with the assistance of some
who have been in the con-
tract logging business for
years. Some with very small
quotas, some with none. In
any event their future in the
forest industry is a very pre-
carious one regardless of
their years of experience or
regardless of the size of their
investment in equipment.

FUTURE EFFECT

It should be pointed out
also that Contract Loggers in
the West Coast Island areas
are concerned over the pos-
sibility of a merger of the
cutting plans of the Barclay,
the Kyuquot and the unregu-
lated areas and the effect this
might have on their future.
This merger has been men-

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

by it in the Kyuquot Public Working Circle and
to bring them into the boundaries of the T.F.L.

The briefs, which are reprinted below, have
been submitted in two forms. The first was drafted
with the assistance of contractors in the Alberni
and Tabsis areas and is in itself self-explanatory
with definite recommendations.

The second brief was drafted by John Squire
and submitted in the hope that certain social
lems in the area of Tahsis and Zeballos could be

rob-

ESS SSSR

tioned and could possibly de-
velop if this application is
granted.

ONE REASON

This application, like T.F.L.
applications before it, is made
for one basic reason — a
guaranteed source of raw
material which in turn guar-
antees investment capital and
return on investment. This in

turn, with proper planning,,

should of course guarantee
continuity of employment.

Neither myself or those
who helped in the prepara-
tion of this submission, and
are here today in support of
it, find anything in anyway
objectionable to a guarantee
of raw material which in turn
can bring about the other
guarantees already mention-
ed. For as already stated
some operators have a very
small quota which in itself is
a guarantee, albeit not nearly
as secure as those whose
quotas come in the form of
a Tree Farm Licence.

This brief, therefore, to-
gether with verbal argument,
is submitted with one basic
object in mind “The develop-
ment of a more acceptable
and satisfactory method of
contract price setting for those
operators who depend, for
their source of raw material,

on the 30-50% contract
clause.”

SMALL LOGGER

The contractors argue, and
I agree, that if timber guar-
antees are necessary for the
successful operation of a
large operation, then some
form of guarantee or security
is necessary to protect the in-
vestment and employees of
the small logger.

An allocation of timber
with his own exclusive cut-
ting rights in a T.F.L. would
be asking for the impossible.
Even were it feasible the age
old argument of price for
work performed would con-
tinue. Nor would the answer
for security lie in fixed per-
centages above cost of pro-
duction, for again the argu-
ment would ensue over cost
and what is a fair percentage
with the T.F.L. holder being
in a position to adopt a ‘take
it’ or ‘leave it’ attitude.

In this particular applica-
tion to extend T.F.L. No. 19
the Tahsis Company is ask-
ing for a more secure tenure

over 3.8 MCF now held by
quota and which is subject to
competitive bidding. This in
turn could mean added costs.
So in addition to more secure
timber rights they indirectly
seek protection against added
costs.

I would suggest a very de-
sirable objective:

Present contractors and
those who will be needed
when timber requirements
are doubled, require some as-
surances also, particularly in
a rapidly and ever-changing
industry.

The small wood policy as
announced by your Depart-
ment is welcomed by con-
tractors but changing meth-
ods of logging means invest-
ment in new equipment or
equipment change. They can
only participate in this new
phase of logging. activity if
they can bargain on even
terms with the T.F.L. Holder,

if closer utilizations is de-
manded,

RECOMMENDATIONS

To this end it is recom-
mended, that if you find in
favor of the applicant, T.F.L.
Licence No. 19 should contain
the following provisions:

1. Written contracts to be
entered into between the
T.F.L. Holder and the Con-
tractor with adequate renew-
able and termination clauses.

2. Said written contract to
contain provisions for third
party participation in the
event the two parties are un-
able to arrive at a fair and
equitable price for work re-
quired and performed.

In making this proposal for
third party participation
neither the Tahsis Company
or any other T.F.L. Holder
can find serious objection to
the proposal. For is it not a
fact that Contractors to a
great extent work on Crown
Lands within the T.F.L. hold-
ings and certainly they can-
not object to a professional
arbitrator when _ necessary
protecting the public inter-
ests in the disposition and re-
turn on a crown asset.

While possibly Department
“small wood policy” is outside
the current terms of refer-
ence, quota holders express
the very definite opinion that
no reservation for pulp tim-
ber be made without provid-
ing prior opportunity of ac-
quisition and development by
said Quota Holders. Public

Hearings are recommended
to this end.

It is my opinion, therefore,
that without consideration
and implementation of the
foregoing recommendations
or some comparable solution
then the original intent of the
30-50% clause is lost. The
contract clause becomes the
tool of the T.F.L. Holder

rather than a vehicle through
which established operators
can obtain a continued source
of raw material to keep their
employees fully employed and
their investment secure.

S. J. SQUIRE, MLA

SQUIRE BRIEF

Hon. R. Williston,
Minister of Lands & Forests,

Parliament Buildings,
Victoria, B.C.

Dear Sir:
Re: T.F.L. Extension No. 19

In considering the above
application for extension, the
Department of Lands & For-
ests must of necessity give
the same consideration to the
social needs of the workers
and families who reside and
work in the Central West
Coast Island area, as it is re-
quested they give to those
who will invest and profit
from the Pulp, Paper and
Lumber complex that will
dominate the Tahsis, Zeballos,

Nootka, Kyuquot and Much-
alat area.

Planning for full utilization
of our forest wealth is not in
itself enough. Planning for
proper, full and adequate
community living is just as
desirable — if not more so —
than planning the economics
of any development. One re-
cognizes the need for both
but to date no firm public
statement has been made as
to the future of the Village

of Zeballos and the company
town “Tahsis”,

TOWN STATUS

More specifically, reference
is made to the abolition of
the “Company Town Status”
of Tahsis and the develop-
ment of access roads to both
centres, Recognition is made
here of the Tahsis Company’s
letter of July 6th to Zeballos
Village Commissioner which
included access road plans
within three years. If the ex-
tension is granted this prom-
ise should be included in any
agreement entered into.

as a service centre for

As major sources of raw
materials, both chips and logs
to the Pulp complex at Gold
River, they are entitled to the
same consideration and plan-
ning as the new pulp and
paper Townsite.

SUPPLY CENTRES

Just as important too is the
need for these two areas to
develop as service centres and
living centres for those who
will maintain, operate and be
employed in the ever-increas-
ing numbers of camps in this
area.

Centres of supply are now
too far away for logging com-
panies and delay in receiving
parts and material is unneces-
sarily costly.

Nor is it too much to ex-
pect to have permanent and
attractive communities where
loggers can come home to
their families at night or at
least on weekends without
the penalty of a $70 to $80
return ticket to Vancouver as
is now the case.

With this development, the
much needed hospital facilit-
ies will follow. It is a matter
of record that even in these
times of emergency air travel,
weather conditions are such
on occasion that injured
workers have died because of
the lack of adequate hospital

diagnostic and treatment fa-
cilities.

FIRM COMMITMENTS

In short, Mr. Minister, it
is my contention that if the
extension is to be granted,
then firm commitments
should be had from the Tah-
sis Company on access to
both communities and the de-
velopment of Tahsis as a full-
fledged community with its
own. self-government.

The Company’s Develop-
ment plans for full utilization
of wood products must, as al-
ready indicated, of necessity,
include a blueprint for the
social development and com-
munity improvement in this
Central West Coast Island
area. I feel, too, that the For-
estry Department and the
Highways Department should
actively engage themselves
financially and otherwise in
the access planning.

S. J. SQUIRE,