ee Be os ANAT UTE PUC HAS FORFEITED CONFIDENCE Public ownership of BCE now issue “The battle for a publicly- owned transportation system is on,” Effie Jones, president of Civic Reform Association, declared this week. “The ap- plication of the BCE for an- other exorbitant boost in bus fares has awakened citizens to the need for taking over the operations of this financial octopus, starting with the transportation system.” First shot in the campaign, said Mrs. Jones, will be dis- tribution of 25,000 copies of The Buzzard (a CRA leaflet modelled on the lines of The Buzzer, a BCE handout sheet on buses). Latest issue of The Buzzard presents a strong case against the B.C. Electric. It makes these points: Two years ago when. pres- ent gas rates were set, the Public Utilities Commission promised a hearing in 1958 to explore the possibility of re- ducing rates. Instead of such a hearing, there has been one shearing this year which increased electric rates, and citizens are now faced with a-second PUC hearing to deal with a BCE application for increased bus fares. The spiralling cost of liv- ing must be halted. It is time to consider public ownership of the BCE. The public can have no confidence in the Public Utilities Commission to pro- tect its interests. Consider these facts: 1952: PUC chairman D. K. Penfold was replaced follow- ing a public outcry after he made a statement to the press approving a BCE increase in advance of the public hearing. 1955: PUC chairman Percy George was replaced after the Court of Appeals had thrown out the 15-cent fare on the grounds that he had improp- erly acted on information re- ceived privately from the com- pany and withheld from other interested parties. 1958: The Department of Justice has initiated proceed- ings to prosecute B.C. Sugar Refining Company, of which PUC chairman H. F. Angus is a director, for illegal com- bine activity. What are the advantages of public ownership? 1. It would avoid the high financial cost (interest rates and dividends) which consti- tutes about one-third of the B.C. Electric’s total costs. 2. It would avoid income tax. 3. It would enable the pub- lic to operate the bus system on the basis of need of serv- ice, rather than for a profit motive. The BCE, in its application for the 15-cent fare in 1954, claimed the increase was “es- sential” because the com- pany’s out-of-pocket loss, in- cluding Victoria’s system, “amounts to $1,350,000 an- nually.” That application was turned down by the Court of Ap- peals. Now, after doing with- out the increase which was so “essential” for four years, the BCE. again applies for the Soviet academy names Canadians MOSCOW—Two Canadians are among the 32 foreign scientists who are now mem- bers of the Soviet .Academy of Scientists which, at its re- cent general session, elected 26 new academicians and 55 corresponding members. The two Canadians are Dr. Wilder G. Penfield, who has won international recognition for his research in neuro- surgery, and Edgar Steacie, outstanding chemist whose re- search on kinetics of free radicals has been hailed as a major contribution in this field. 15-cent fare, this time claim- ing that “the transit system last year was $1,187,000 short of meeting operating costs, in- cluding depreciation.” Part of the BCE’s argu- ment in 1954 was that a wage -settlement of nine cents an hour would cost the company $385,407. In 1956 and 1957 bus operators’ wages went up a further 28% cents an hour, yet the company’s “loss” was no higher in 1957 than in 1954. In 1954 the BCE also claim- ed that a fare boost was es- sential to prevent its expan- sion program being “impaired and destroyed.” The BCE said it planned to spend an addi- tional $120 million in 1955-58. The BCE did not get its fare increase in 1954. Yet in- stead of the program being ‘impaired and destroyed,” total capital expenditures in 1955 to 1957 amounted to $251 © million or more than twice the amount it planned to spend in four years. As to the BCE losing money, the annual report of the PUC for 1957 shows that a loss of $888,000 on urban transporta- tion was more than offset by a profit of $1,146,000 on inter- urban transportation, and this, plus profits on_ electricity, raised the profit of all Main- land service to $15,757,000. New, largef forces for ” peace seell (i “New and larger forces} peace” can be set into moll" and a world-wide wide © | paign started to compel & fi ernments to cease the me facturing of arms, Dr i G. Endicott, chairman ° Canadian Peace Congtes* af sessions of a worl gathering in Stockholm — July 17. He noted that “new % creasing forces of publif q ion centre around thre ideas.” @ Moral revulsion clear weapons. big business pres> was almost unanimolé this score, He hail j ‘tion of the Soviet 8 ij ment for ceasing tes ‘ laterally. @ Opposition to the ni modern war, otherwise. } ay inte @ A demand that all is i tional disputes be ~ | by negotiation. “Connected with aH e 8 ued Dr. Endicott, “ pest eral’ demand for th (a) i ment ning of disarma statiOl least a general jim! arms.” SWIMMING PONIES MOVIES PRIZES MERRY-GO-ROUND RACES, GAMES SLIDES, SWINGS FOOD: ‘x0 WICHES — CHIPS — ICE CREAM Get roooly for the ANNUAL LABOR PI SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 —12 NOON KIDS MAKE SURE MOM AND DAD ARE PACKED AND READY EARLY — BRING YOUR SWIM | =" SUITS, APPETITES AND SPURS PROGRAM: Kiddies Korner © EARL ROBINSON, FAMOUS U.S. COMPOSER, FOLK SINGER 4. _@ TWO BIG WRESTLING BOUTS @ CEREMONY HONORING 20 LABOR VETERANS @ MUSICAL PROGRAM, DANCING @ FAMILY RACES, PRIZES GALORE PEAN DISHES — HOT DOGS — CORN ON THE COB — HOT CORNED BEEF SAND -— HOMEMADE PIES AND CAKES — ICE COLD DRINKS CONFEDERATION PARK 4600 EAST HASTINGS CNIC NORTH BURNABY August 8, 1958 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE> Jan? A he wl ea thet aust atomié y this ie cot | man .for negotiation” h go any further testing aos! as ’