Saddle up - the Quesnel & District Museum and Archives

LETTERS .
The Editor,
The Cariboo Observer,
Dear Sir:
I am replying in part to
a letter to the editor of your
paper published November
12, 1970. This letter was
from Mrs. Parr and included
a proxy signature from
Gladys Hake.
Mrs. Hake canvassed our
neighbourhood with the R.
Spalton petition. I looked the
petition over quickly and
asked Mrs. Hake for a copy
of Bylaw #12 to compare with
the petition. Mrs. Hake stated
that she did not have a copy
of the By-law with her. My
question arid her answer were
witnessed in my own home.
Mrs. Parr and her proxies
apparently object to being
called part of a "loose and
informal organization."
However this was the name
quoted in a front page article
of your paper on November
4, 1970. I believe this
was tacked to this organization
by one of the leaders
of this group.
Maybe a more appropriate
name would be "a tightly
knit group who are bent on
the destruction of progressive
planning for the future
in this area".
Yours truly,
L. M. (Don) Curwen.
The Editor,
The Cariboo Observer,
DeaY Sir: Regarding R. Spalton's
letter last week about
Cariboo Regional District
Rural Zoning Bylaw Number 12
in which he states that amendments
to the by law. (suggested
at public hearings) do not
alter the main intention of the
bylaw:
I am enclosing a copy of a
letter I sent to the technical
planning committee dated May
12 of this year, that proves
all the changes did not necessarily
originate at the public
hearings. The recommendations
were drawn up by myself
and my alternate director.
The date of the letter,
Mr. Spalton should note, shows
the recommendations were
made months before the public
hearings. The letter:
"Technical Planning
Committee,
Williams Lake, B.C.
Attention: Dr. W. G. Meekison
"Dear Sirs: Please add and
delete the following words and
clauses in the proper sub sections:
1. In your opening description
of the proposed bylaw I
feel that it is imperative to
delete the last sentence 'and
the conservation of property
values' 1
as the Board cannot
dictate to each and every individual
living in the area what
he or she can or cannot spend.
2. Page 2 - 1.6.0. - (2)
Delete as this infringes on an
individual's rights.
3. Page 2 - 1.7.0 - (3)
Section should read: Appoint­
ed officials if prevented or obstructed
access for inspection
may have the right to go to
local authorities and thereby
force rightaway. As it is now
worded personal feelings could
cause considerable trouble.
4. Page 2 - 1.8.0. - (1)
I feel that anyone violating the
provisions of this bylaw should
receive three written warnings
by registered mail in order he
may explain or rectify his case
to the satisfaction of the board
of directors prior to any action
through court of law.
5. Page 5 - 2.2.9. - Infringing
on an individual rights.
This by law should_ restrictitself
strictly to land pollution
and health hazards. The
regional board cannot dictate
an individuals minimum floor
area if health standards are not
abused. This also applies to
section on 2.2.10 - (3).
6. Page 5 - 2.2.10 - (5) (6)
These clauses should be deleted
as the regional district
should have no jurisdiction into
any man's private affairs or
abilities when his action does
not cause any public health
hazards.
7. Page 5 - 2.2.10 - (10)
Delete Bathtub or Shower.
8. Page 6 - 2.2.11 - Delete
period April to Nov.
9. Page 10 - 2.6.0. - (b)
Forestry, logging, and manufacturing
of product when it is
being used on the p r e m i s e s
and/or to supplement farm incomes.
10. Page 10 - 2.6.0. (c)
Add to clause after the word
'site': except in the case where
an individual wishes to supplement
his farm income.
11. Page 10 - 2.6.0. (g)
Require further clarification.
12. Page 10 - 2.6.0. - (1) •
Processing and packing and
sale of product grown or raised
on the same site.
13. Page 10 - 2.6.1 - (3)
Require further explanation.
14. Page 10 - 2.6.2 - (1)
Delete clause completely.
15. Page 11 - 2.6.7 -Addto
clause: Provided there is not
sufficient screen to obscure
said vehicle from highway or
be kept with farm machinery
when being used in a farming
operation.
16. Nowhere in the bylaw
have you stated what can be
done with a derelict automobile.
Thankyou very much for
your attention in this matter."
* » *
Another point: The Cariboo
Observer editorial of Nov. 12
entitled "The 17-Cent Mistake"
leaves the reader wondering
if the regional district
board accepted the proposal
by the Cariboo Tourist Association
to collect money
from the rural areas. I would
like to point out that the directors
met the following day in
open session and turned it down
for the same reasons as the
Observer pointed out why it
should not be accepted.
Sincerely,
Doug Mighton,
Regional Director, Area B.
The Mighty Sewer
We've been sounding like a broken record during the
past year in our editorial stand against Prince George's
dawdling attitude toward proper sewage treatment.
Prince George city officials are always quick to reply
that no sewage could possibly foul the Fraser river's
shores at Quesnel.
We offer a letter to the editor, from A.E. Brown of
the Yargeau Road. He writes:
••When I first came to the Cariboo in the early 30's
there was little or no employment, and like many others
I learned to -
iive off the country". This Cariboo took us
to its bosom. Sheltered us. and gave us food, and even gold
enough to give us purchasing power. CD. Hoy, N.S. Williams
and Fraser & Sons knew us and weighed our buttons.
"Life on the bars was eventful and vigorous. Also
rewarding in living close to nature. Game and fish were
plentiful. Fuel for the cutting. The Fraser us an alluvial
river and it's waters in summer are chocolate coloured
from the clay banks. But those waters were fit to drink.
The Fraser's waters not only washed our gold. It served
in our cooking pots and we drank it with pleasure.
••Yesterday I took my gold pan and shovel down to a
Bar a few miles above Quesnel I worked on years ago.
I suppose it's true: one carrhot recapture the past. One's
youth is lost and lost forever. Still it is a soul shaking
shock to be hit hard by ugly reality. The Fraser river
is dying. It is now an open sewer. Turn over a shovel
of gravel by the waters edge and the stench is of a fouled
cess-pool.
"The Barbarians destroyed Rome. Our modern barbarians
are destroying our environment, and will destroy
us. No wonder there are fanatics in Quebec.
Saturday, Nov. 28 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
IN THE BILLY BARKER BANQUET ROOM.
Guest of Honour - Len Marchand M.P. for Kamloops
S7.50 per Couple
Includes Smorgasbord
- Cariboo Riding
Dance fo Archie Pinchbeck
and the Millionaires
Tickets available from, Wilbur Way, 992-2723.
or Phone 992-5895
Sponsored by Quesnel & District Liberal Assn
The Editor,
The Cariboo Observer,
Dear Sir: I thought you might
be interested in this copy of
a letter I sent this week to the
Williams Lake Tribune, regarding
that paper's editorial
stand on the controversial
Rural Zoning Bylaw issue:
* * *
"To the Editor:
Williams Lake Trubine.
In answer to your journalistic
attempts of Nov. 11th, lam
astonished at the gross inaccuracies
which your reporters
are guilty of. I am also astonished
at the sensational type
of crystal ball gazing that
seems to highlight the editorials
of your paper.
In the first place Dick Spalton
is not a Realtor, Dan Webster
is not a surveyor and I
am not a self-proclaimed naturalized
Canadian. For your
information Canada has proclaimed
me a Citizen for many
years now. I think that it is in
very poor taste that you accuse
me of not having a Cariboo
Accent. It is timethat you realized
that theDominionofCanada
is blessed with the sons of
many ethnic groups and is
richer for the blessing. In the
second place you are trying to
create a situation which does •
not exist, there is no enmity
between Quesnel and Williams
Lake and it should be noted
that the Laketown supporters
who did turn out were mostly
government officials. Gentlemen,
you are in the Political
arena, not the hockey arena,
and the stakes,whether you like
it or not, is the survival of
democracy.
What we saw on Thursday
the 5th of Nov. was the supreme
denial of democratic
principles. The Board saw fit
to ram through a pitiful piece
of legislation in direct opposition
to the people's wishes.
The briefs showed without a
doubt that public opinion was
opposed to the 10-acre restriction,
which incidentally is
no more than the 10-acre
freeze in fancy clothes. They
also showed that the by-law
has many contradictions within
itself. The contradictions
are ones which can seriously
endanger the possessions of
many Cariboo Citizens.
Ross Mark's Box score consisted
of minor corrections
which it should be noted resulted
from the diligence and
hard work of the public itself.
But the bylaw as it was pushed
through, is not much changed
in intent.
It is against this kind of fla -
grant rejection of democracy
that Spalton, Wilcox, myself
and many others have pitted
themselves. And for your information
these people have
always been very concerned
with community affairs.
Your assertion that there is
a move to unseat some of the
Directors is entirely false. I
think that they are quite capable
of unseating themselves,
without help. It is a battle for
justice and democracy, and •
Bob Barnes
says
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the battle has been joined spontaneously
from many quarters:
Your reporting seems to have
forgotten the strong opposition
from Canim Lake and 100 Mile
House. My personal fear is that
we shall end up with the terrible
over-regulation of some of
the socialist countries of Europe.
Although as individuals
many of the regional board
directors are fine men, as a
board they have demonstrated
supreme inefficiency in the
muddleheaded by-law they
have taken so long to produce
and correct. They have hidden
so many things from the public,
and are very concerned to
blame their inadequacies on
the pressure tactics that the
Provincial Government is supposedly
using against them. I
think the Board should be
grateful to its critics whether
they have a European accent or
not, for the money and time
they have spent in correcting
the mistakes the Board has
made and in undertaking the
Board's duties of educating the
people in Regional Government.
Gentlemen, we can well do
without the crude sensationalism
of some of the Williams
Lake reporters. In Quesnel we
are fortunate in having the sophisticated
and well-balanced
news coverage of our own
Cariboo Observer.
Yours very truly,
William Cejka.
The Editor,
The Cariboo Observer,
Dear Sir: I was astonished
to see that the only response
that Lon Godfrey's letter elicited
was a letter apparently
attacking Mr. Godfrey personally
and, by inference, supporting
the stand taken by
Council in the matter of increasing
the size of Council.
Perhaps this was the only let- .
ter you got though, in which
case your comments in "This
Town" about people being
switched off in Quesnel must
obviously have a sound basis.
I would like to record at
least one note in support of
Mr. Godfrey's protest. It
seems to me that, in the not
too distant future, this town
will have to assume "City"
status and. that Council will
then have to be expanded -at
a time when the committee
work will increase enormously.
Why not expand right now
when the new aldermen will
have a chance to absorb the
background of Council work, as"
well as relieve the presently
,o,
RANCH
BREAD
Hundreds of mijet
Fresher!!
ROBERT M. BARNES
1687 West Broadway
Vancouver
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C2
overworked members of some
of the load?
What really puzzles me
about Council's stand is that
none of those who voted against
the expansion put forward any
cogent reasons for so voting-or,
if they did, then your reporter
failed to record,them.
Knowing what a pittance aldermen
receive for serving the
community, I can hardly conceive
that economy was the
reason. "Not rocking the boat"
does not, to my mind, accord
with the sentiment that "this
is no time to be throwing
monkey wrenches between the
wheels of democracy", and yet
these were phrases attributed
to two of those who voted
against the idea.
As to the other points raised
in Mr. Godfrey's letter, I
believe that some are valid,
especially his suggestions regarding
highways and the mining
developments at Cuisson
Lake, but, valid or not, it is a
sad commentary on our times
that they should have provoked
so little comment. Perhaps,
Lon, you are too Lon Gwinded.
Yours very truly,
Brian Rankin.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Mr. Rankin's
reference to the quote
"This is no time to be throwing
monkey wrenches between
the wheels of democracy"
leaves the wrong impression.
This quote was not directly attributed
to the mayor. The editorial
stated: "This is no time
to be throwing monkey wrenches
between the wheels of democracy,"
the mayor SEEMS
to be telling us. "The quote was,
the editorial writer's interpretation
of Mayor Tingley's
reasons for voting against a
council increase.
D.O.S., F.A.A.O.,
and Associates
QUESNEL
Willis-Harper Block
282 Reid St.
992-5304
Prince George
562-130!)*
QUESNEL CARIBOO OBSERVER WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1970 - 9
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