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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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.

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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 —