B.C. Power Commission
should enter gas field

HANEY, B.C.

. * ‘ Se id . . ”
Demand that the provincial government “direct the B.C. Power Commission into the

natural gas distribution field”
te Premier W. A. C. Bennett

to protect the interests of people in the Fraser ‘Valle
B.C, Electric, with its monopoly in light, power,

Text of the LPP club’s letter couver, and grab off a monopoly was threatened if
for itself in both power and gas
' distribution on the Lower Main-

reads:

We wish to bring sharply to
your attention the need for a

transit and

is voiced by Maple Ridge LPP Club in an open letter addressed
this week. The letter charges that the government has failed
y by placing them “at the mercy of the

gas utilities.”

land.
An unparalleled pressure cam- |

the decision
was made under Section 12. They
insisted it must be granted un-
der Section 14, which provides
for individual municipalities to

reconsideration by the govern- Paign then hit the Fraser Valley, | grant franchise after a plebiscite

ment of its policy on the ques-
.tion of natural gas distribution
in British Columbia, particularly
as it affects the Fraser Valley.

It is our opinion that the gov-
ernment has failed to protect

the interests of the people in the
Fraser Valley, with regard to
-hatural gas distribution rights,
by its failure to assist municipali-
ties which wished to have muni-
cipally-owned distribution sys-
tems; by its failure to instruct
the B.C. Power Commission to

| lations officials and experts ar- |

build the pipeline from Hunting-

don to Vancouver, and assistance ;
in building lateral lines within.

the municipalities.

Withdrawal of official opposi-
tion #0 Westcoast Transmission
Company’s application to term-
inate its line at Huntingdon in-
stead of Vancouver was the first
and signal failure. When the |
Federal Board of Transport Com-'
missioners subsequently granted |
that application, the way was
paved for the B.C. Electric to
jump in with its ready-made
deal to build the line for Van-

‘received support was its promise
| to turn the distribution system

ranging meetings of municipal’
officials, boards of trade, and |
other favored organizations, in|
an all-out campaign to convince
them of the efficiency, economic
feasibility, etc., etc., of granting
distribution rights to the BCE.

Valley Natural Gas Company
also held meetings with munici-
pal officials, etc., in its bid to
win franchise support.

The LPP and CCF upheld the
idea of municipal ownership of
gas distribution systems.

Evidently some municipalities
favored this idea, but eventually
abandoned it because of the fin-
ancial problems it presented and
the general situation in which
they found themselves.

One reason Valley Natural Gas

over to the municipality, if de-
sired, in 20 years, at an arbi-
trary price.

Several municipalities opposed
the BCE application before the
Public Utilities Commission on
the grounds that municipal aut-
onomy under the Municipal Act

Morgan urges action
on new forest policy

Demand for a new forest policy from the present session
of the legislature was recently voiced over the CBC network
series of provincial affairs by Nigel Morgan, LPP provincial

leader.

“British Columbia needs a new forest policy, a new public

Forest Management Plan based
on a system of public working
circles instead of the present
policy of giveaways to the big
monopolies,” Morgan said.

“No more Forest Management
Licenses should be granted. The
present provisions should be re-
pealed and a limitation placed
on all existing licenses so that
they ean be cancelled out in ten
years, or as soon as possible. The
Crown should retain — public-
ownership of forest lands instead
of handing them over for a pit-
tance to a handful of foreign
monopolies. It should regain
control of those lands alienated
and protect the economic well-
being of the people of this pro-
vince.” - : ;

Morgan said no one wanted to
‘stop conservation or perpetua-
- tion of forest resources.

“But,” he said, “we want a
policy for public resources that
will provide as much manufac-
turing and as many jobs as pos-
sible for B.C. Encouraging poli-
cies that will leave us perpetual-

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‘umbia needs a new policy.”

a SERIE 20
NIGEL MORGAN

ly in the position of raw produc-

blind stupidity for a young and
growing country like Canada.”

Charging that foreign interests
have been allowed to gain wide
control over our primary wood
resources, that there has been
widespread speculation and pro-
fiteering in forest lands under
the present scheme, the LPP lead_
er called for early legislative ac-
tion.

/ “Why, right now speculation is
going on about a pulp pipeline
to take our pulp across the line
to Washington state for manu-
facture. If that scheme goes
through it will mean that for
every 100,000 board feet of pulp-
wood shipped- 1,000 man-days of
unemployment will be ost to
British Columbians. British Col-

| with the B.C. Electric public re-|to determine public opinion.

When the Public Utilities Com-
mission announced its decision
in December, it ruled for the
BCE, with the rider that any
municipality desiring to arrange
its own distribution system must
announce its intention by Feb-
ruary 1, 1956, and then have that
system in operation by March,
1957.

We consider these deadlines
as unfair and leaving little
time for such a municipal bedy
to finance its system and build
lines. We are pleased to note
that Surrey municipality and
the two Chilliwacks are ap:
pealing this decision, on the.
grounds it over-rides municipal
autonomy.

_A public forum was held in
Haney, January 26, at which
Reeve Peter Jenewein outlined
developments to date, and the
actions taken by Maple Ridge
Council, and the’ other gmunici-
palities. Representatives were
present at the meeting from Val-
ley Natural Gas Company, the
CCF and LPP, as well as other
interested citizens. ;

‘There were Many expres-
sions of dissatisfaction with the
handling of the whole gas ques-
tion from start to finish. A
unanimous resolution was pass-
ed urging moral support for
Surrey’s test case.

It is our view that the political
aspects of the case, as far as
provincial government responsi-
bility in this is concerned, should
not go unchallenged. . -

We firmly believe that the
people in each municipality
should be given the opportunity
to indicate their preference by
plebiscite: We also believe that
if the government had taken a
clear-cut position, many of the
municipalities would have decid-
ed differently, and would do so
now if given an alternative,

We do not believe we should
be placed at the mercy of the
BCE with its monopoly in light,

| Power, transit and gas utilities,

Past experience has shown how
the public interests have keen
over-ridden by this ambitious
company.

We urge other organizations
having similar opinions to sub-
mit them to the government.

It is the right of all citizens
to enjoy the benefits of our
newest resource at the cheap-
est possible rates. They will
not receive that benefit under
BCE control.

The provincial government has
the authority under Public Utili-
ties legislation to direct the B.C.
Power Commission into the nat-
ural gas distribution field, We
urge you to do so at once.

CONSTANTINE
FINE CUSTOM TAILORING
Ladies’ and Gentlemen
Rm., 118, 603 W. Hastings St.
PA. 5810 Vancouver 2, B.C.

PATR

A
c

ONIZE

RUNGESL-"S

OFFEE SHOP

410 Main St.

Operated By —

GEORGE & WINNIFRED
GIBBONS

A
Cc

Q
DESSISSSSSSOSSSSSSSSSSCSESS

Is it legal for a citizen to picket in Quebec? On an appeal
entered by the Quebec Federation of Labor a Superior Couet
judge has ruled that it is. ;

Labor wins appeal

Montreal cops upset,

picketing ruled legal
By FRANK ARNOLD _ Now a judgment in the Sw-
MONTREAL Perior Court seems to have upset
Is it legal for an ordinary citi-! the applecart. Mr. Justice Andre

3 é ‘Montpetit has decided that peace-
zen In Quebec to make himself |ful picketing of an establishmemt
a@ sign, fix it to a stick, and

,is legal even though no strike
peacefully to picket a shop or a! has been called. ahead
government institution as his! The case concerned the Amal-
form of public protest against | gamated Butchers Union (AFL-
@ labor or political grievance? | TLC) who have been picketing

Until now the police in Mon- a local meat market proclaim-
treal — notably the red squads — ing that the shop has been work-

have held that this was ‘danger- | ing its people 83 hours a week

ous,” “subversive,” and highly|and feeding them benzedrine
“illegal” behavior. Ruthlessly tablets to speedup the work.
they have*bashed in the heads The union placards called ‘om

of those who dared challenge
their views of picketing. ‘

Whether the picketers were
women protesting against high
prices, or citizens publicly urg-
ing peace, or others walking in
silent vigil in front of the USS.
consulate to save the Rosenbergs
— the police hustled them, off,

‘usually, to the nearest Black
Maria. :

the public to boycott the shop.
The Western Meat Market then
got an injunction to prevent pick-
eting. :

The Quebec Federation of
Labor appealed the case. Mr.
Justice Montpetit held that it
the allegations on the placards
were “true and not lies” and no
illegal act was committed, the
placards could be carried.

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FEBRUARY 3, 1956 —