PAGE 2

‘I’m not a politician
but I am concerned .
about the future”

There is no doubt in the
writer’s mind that Bill Sargent
is sincere in his statement that
he is deeply concerned in so far
as the economic social and
political growth of the Skeena
constituency is concerned.
Whether he is a politician will
be revealed come August 30.

The Progressive
Conservalive candidate in the
fortheaming provincial
elections is close loSkeena. His
family arrived in the Hazelton
area back in 1891 and his own
family remains in tha
community where he operates a
hotel and reiail business.

When asked whether he was
familiar with the vast district
that he seeks to represent
during the next four years he
affirmed that (here was little of
the territory thal he has not
visited either on fool, by
aulomobile or at the controls of
his own airplane. During the
course of his 14 years as a
school trustee he estimates (hat
he has covered mare distance
than would be required to circle
the earth,

He appears to have the entire
region close to his heart but
during the course of our
informal conversation he
shaved a particular affection
for his own KISPIOX RIVER
where ‘the world's record
steelhead was laken some time
ago,”

Apart from this forgivable
affection for his own. ballywick,
Mr. Sargent is completely
impartial. Emphasising his
concern over shortcomings in
eommunication and
conservalion in this region he
made it clear that the natural
ouilel for the nalural resources
of the riding is down [hrough the
Skeena Valley to the Port of
Prince Rupert.

One of the ain shortcomings
in so far as rail communication
is concerned, according to Mr.
Sargent, is the impossibility of
local and regional forest
operators in meeting the tight
vampetition they face with the

. high cost of transporting
\ roundliogs lo the processing
, Mills by truck as compared to

the much lower rates available
by rail for the transport of
chips, There does not appear to
be any relief in: view for these
operalors under the present
pavernment policy of extending -
the British Columbia Railroad
north to eventually serve the
development of new areas while
the region now being exploited
is left without adequate railroad
service.

_ Indeed, Mr. Sargent is of the
opinion that the B.C.R. should
he sold to the Canadian National
Railroad to eliminate the cost
born solely by the B.C. taxpayer
wha must subsidize the
provincial system alone. Mir.
Sargent feels that the province
has no place in this business and
that any subsidies or losses
should be the responsibility of
all Canadians.

“An adequate and economical
rail service would not only allow
the firms now cutling timber in
this region to sell their praduct
ala reduced operation cost in
competition with producers
already served by rail," states
the P.C. candidate, “it would
also encourage other
businessmen to establish
secondary industries based on
limber production using by-
products of the trees cut for
pulp." He cited such
manufacturing lines as
furniture, pre-fabricated
homes, Jumber, and a dozen
other potentials all making use
of the vast timber resources in
this area. He reminded that the
forest is still the province's
richest resource.

Taking a long range look at
the mineral development of the
north, Mr. Sargent mentioned
the rich Cassiar Asbestos
Deposits and noted that there
are tremendous copper deposits
in the ISKUT region which are
sa promising that it has taken
four years lo simply undertake
the feasability and cost studies.
This region will be served by the
Slewart highway for the present
but economy would eventually
require a good rail service
which could be tied in to a rail
service to the forest reserves to
the wes!, Once again the P.C.
candidate made it clear that he
is convinced thal the natural,

We also have gifts

logical and economical route for
the shipment of these minerals
is through the Skeena Valley
and down to the sea via Prince
Rupert.

Queried as to why he has
made this first venture into
provincial polities, Mr. Sargent
stated thal he had reached the

‘ slage of the game where he

could no longer stand idly by.
The situation has become
alarming to the residents of
Skeena and J accepted the stand
of those who nominated me,
that because of my life-long
association with the people of
ihis region and my awareness of
their needs [I should offer my
services in the Legislative
Assembly, ‘‘Two
major factors in arriving at my
decision, apart from the one
ciled above, were the
tremendous support given to me
by my family in running my.
business and the great

_impression made on me by the
new leaders of the Progressive

Party during the | last
convention held in Vaneouver.”

‘2ot

This year’s CFTK challenge trophy
for the Kinnette’s Blood Donors Clinic
goes to the Hot Springers Swim Club.

The club turned out 12

members to take the annual award

away from the RCMP.

Club.
out of 15:

Sargeant

Ye.

f

Woolger is seen above, handing over
the trophy to Mrs. Hobenshield of the.
Looking on is Mrs. Rosalie .
Annandale, co-chairman of the suc-
cessful clinic.

Ecology freaks

spruce but mot potatoes. .
However it would appear that

our provincial administration _
could not care less about the

Crown corporation

industries such as plywood,
furnilure, pre-fabricated homes
and conslruction materials,
Mr. Dent, who will devote
almost all his time to being an.
M.L.A. if elected advised that
he would press for a state
controlled automobile in-
surance, improved secondary
roads; a public road open 24
hours a day to Stewart; a better
ton-mile rate for truck loggers
and secondary roads; equalized
gasoline prices throughout the
province; a guaranteed cash
income of $200. per month in
addition to the home-owner
Brant and other social benefits
for citizens over 65; a Jedicated
co-operation with native people
and other cultural groups in
establishing a satisfactory life
for themselves in Skeena
County; and the removal of the

education: lax in stages. He
would maintain the -home-
owners grant allowing “‘a much
needed tax relief for the over-
burdened {axpayer.”

Hartley Dent indicated
displeasure with the apparent
fate of the Terrace region
because the government
motives in planning for the
future is based on politics
rather hhan economics. He

cited the Squamish coal deal as -

a good example of this policy.
He was critical of the
inadequate budget allowed Fish
and Game officials which did
not allow the department to
hire sufficient staff to enforce
existing regulations. He
maintains that this and lack
of studies fail to allow fhe
region to benefit from a ratioial
conservation -program, v

- The House-of-Sim-Oi-Ghets

" flooding-of our sma'l acreage of

productive land We in the
Liberal party Party are
concerned and. we are
determined to stop this waste so
that we and our children
continue to have a beautiful
British Columbia in which to
live and thrive,”

Another solid plank in the
Liberal platform touches on the
high cost of transportation of
raw products from the forests to
the mills, Mr, MacDonald
describes the forest resources
in this area as being the
“sickest in the province with
local operators losing some
$75,000,000 over the past two
years”, he said that a Liberal
administration in Victoria
would be determined to co-
operate with the federal
authorities in negotiating with
the Canadian National Railway
in obtaining joint running rates

so that the forest producers

could ship their. timberrin the
form of chips.to the nearest
market or port via the shortest
and most economical rail line,

Mr. MacDonald maintains that
no negotiation bas seve, taken
place ‘between: therkilwnys
involved ‘and -thit” wote.“are
foreseen as long as the B.C.R. is

involved in “government
decisions which take into
consideration Corporate Bodies
to the detriment of the peorle.

The forest resources of this
area are only being developed
atone third the rate that it could
be if there was an economical
means of shipping the produce
to the market at a profit. I am
not particularly coneerned with
corporations,”’ commented Mr,
MacDonald, “but it is the
payrolls which’ are important
not only to the woodsman but to
every commerce and service in
this area.”

Mr. MacDonald and: Mr.
Anderson. both warned that if
there is not a great change in
the near future the economy
and the social development of
Skeena and indeed British
Columbia are in jeopardy.

A freminder from the
Canadian Forestry Association
of B.C.;

Think when you drive, Always
pul out matches and cigarettes
inthe ashtray, Remember, only
you‘can-Prévent Forest Fires,
Keep B,C. Green and Clean.

NM i

ny
albabiauy an

foalpt

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 197:

maintains “I have “alwa
worked with and for the

working ‘man as well as the «.
small business man. Today I -
am firmly of ihe opinion that':
-the government has all: but :
wiped out the individual in the -
fishing, logging ‘and even in:
_private investment — fields
t There are too many hardships ..
passed on to the working man —

through legislation -and- just
plain bungling. A good example

of this is the government’s no-- .
fault insurance plan.” me!

“T would be very interested in
knowing how they arrived at’
$12. per person since J feel that

Hartley Dent...

“T’ve learned —
that 10 million
will be spent on

road contracts”
Mr. Hartley Dent, N.D.P,.

candidate in the current
provincial election campaign

indicated during the course of .

an interview. that he had
learned from private sources

‘that the Bennett administration

would let more than ten million

dollars in road construction ~

contracis before election. day,
next Augusl 30. —

“I've learned” he said “that
$10,000,000 in highway contracts
will be awarded before election
day ‘including the following:
The new .bridge across the
Kalum. River on Highway 6;
bridge approaches for this new
bridge involving 2.07 miles of
new construction; an additional
11.66 miles of highway west of
the Kalum Bridge; and
probably piers and ‘bridge
approaches for the new bridge

.acress the Sheena River”.

Mr. Dent stated that the
timing of the award of these
contracts 1s a desperate,
although most welcome, move
to hold on to the power and to
the Skeena seat in the
Provincial Assembly.

Mr. Dent observed .."This
proves thal even as an effective ;
opppsition the New Democratic -
Party‘has‘been Able to force’ the

. dependanl.

. dependable;

ididate ©

this is almost enough ‘to start af

‘complete plan such ag are in 7M
operation in Manitoba: and.
-Saskatchewan.- | .23-/. i

““T-have never ‘joined

j: 3twouldn’t know which guy to

-vote-for.- They all have won-
derful platforms. However
Platforms da- not make a
“government. 1- must feel that
“the man‘thal,I am voting for

has our interest-at-heart and
that we'll get a better deal.

> However, none of the can-
’ ‘didates in Skeena riding inspire FR
‘me with such confidence.”

‘Mr, Sears went of to say “A J

lot of people said after the past

provincial election and‘! quote
“What choice did Ihave”. .. &
‘ “This election” you ' have ‘a &
choice of candidates. in all
parties with the exception of the
communist party plus.an In-
Let ‘plain old
common sense guide you when %

. youenter the polling booths this

time. Give some thought to
what kind of man you want to
send to Victoria ask yourself is §
he considerate, charitable,
has’ he done
anything in the _past for

someone in this district; what Biaum

are his views on business andi
how does he look at our affairs #ie
in general; Dees he see thingsiam

from the working man’s point o
view as well as that of the small
businessman.?” ‘he concluded. iaaan

-

Government to get things“ Pg ive

ware

done.’” »

~ has guided fishing tours

we

- mes Boat Tours - Large Fishing Rods. .

_ + Radio Phones in Boats

For fishing on a leisurley boat tour

give us a call.

- Beadwork, necklaces, chockers, head bands, authenite Indian oe

arts and crafts, carvings, totem p

‘handbags, basketry, cedar roots and bark, birch bark, moccocins,

‘

oles, plaques leather coats, vests no

(a
~ any Sim
‘political party" reports Mr.
Sears’ for one reason, That ts 1