“Abbotsford Sumas & Matsqui News

- Eighteenth Year, No. 16

Abbotsford, B.C., Wednesday, April 17, 1940

$1.20 per Year

Entire Valley
To Participate
In Festival

TO CHILLIWACK ENTERING
ANNUAL MS.A. FESTIVAL

The dates chosen for the Mats-
A

Ss di Fes-

[tooo
CONFERENCES END
WITHOUT REACHING
ANY AGREEMENT

A. S. Towell, director of edu-
cation for the M.S.A, Area and
chairman of the special com-
mittee formed to consider and

to the School District Act, in-

forms The News that he has

been authorized by the commit-

tee to announce that the com-

mittee was unable to reach an
and has b

tival this year are April 24 and
25. As usual the events will be
held in the Philip Sheffield audi-
torium, Abbotsford, commencing
at 9:30 o'clock in the morning
and continuing throughout the day
with the afternoon session start-
ing at 1 p.m.

of

ig
The committee was comprised of
representatives from the Advis-
ory Board also representatives
of the three districts: Reeve
George A. Cruickshank, Reeve
Alex Hougen, Chairman of Com-
missioners M. M. Shore repre-
sented Matsqui, Sumas and Ab-

corp respectfve-

e
events for this year's festival is
Mr. Ifor Roberts, the assistant
supervisor of music in Vancouver
schools. Mrs. Ernest Lee, who. ad-
judicated the folk it last

ly, while the board was répre-
sented by A. Beaton, H, Day and
G. F. Pratt. It held a series of
conferences at the first of which

year, will also be on hand to
judge again this year,
Widespread interest in the festi-
"val is evidenced by entries coming
‘from such places as Coquitlam,
Richmond, Chilliwack and Mission.
Mission in particular is sending
- entries for nearly all classes.

S prog
features singing of all grades up
to Grade 6. In the afternoon high
School choirs and nine Grade 7
and Grade 8 choirs will sing. This
should be a very interesting pro-
gram. Thursday morning will see
all the folk-dancing. Soloists will
appear Thursday ,afternoon,

Seek Assurance
~ Regarding “C”
Street Project

In view of the close approach
of the tourist season and the an-
ticipated influx this season of

_ American tourists due to the ex-
hang: A d &
District Board of Trade will seek
‘assurance from Hon. S. C. Leary,
provincial minister of public

ee
7 works, that constuction will soon

be commenced on “C” Street ex-
1 A resolution to this ef-

i jan Legion board rooms Monday
night.

_ Gratification was expressed at
announcement by President H.
_ E. Beetlestone that Reeve Cruick-
_ shank had been successful in se-
uring assistance for the Scenic
oop Association which annually
blishes 10,000 two-color illus-
ated folders descriptive of the
tractions of the Fraser Vallcy.
Fraser Valley member-elect
terested the Provincial Tour st
eau in the publication of the
older and secured its order for
substantial quantity for distri-
bution.

Original announcement of this
ssistance, Mr. Beetlestone report-
, was made at a largely-attend-
meeting of the Agassiz-Harri-
Board of Trade at Harrison
t Springs Hotel on Thursday
rht at which the program was
ided by the Scenic Loop As-
jation and the Pro-Rec. The
A. board was represented at
event by Mr. Beetlestone, H.
Andrews, Milton Switzer and
Tang. Sands. Mission Board of
e and Sumas Chamber of
merce and Lions Club were
well represented,

signation of Ralph H. Gram,
second vice-president of the Ab-

the monthly meeting
@nd a letter of appreciation of
‘Mr. Gram’s assistance to the board
and in community effort general-
ly will be sent to him.
_ Several reels of colored moving
x pictures were shown by Thos, Ru-
ben, Pro-Rec instructor for Lower
_ Fraser aViley, depicting the Can-
adian Youth Hostel movement in
the yallley and Pro-Rec activities
‘generally.

GORDIE CALVERT
WINS B.C. 80-LB.
CHAMPIONSHIP

Gordie Calvert of Abbotsford on
‘Tuesday night won the British
(eo boxing ioship in
the 80-Ib. class in the provincial
amateur championships, On Mon-
day night he beat T. White of
North Vancouver in the semi-
finals and out-pointed Dennis Han-
bury on Tuesday night for the
title. To be eligible for the finals,
the young fighter had to lose 2%
pounds, Gordon now expects to
enter the Dominion Champion
ships to be held at Cardston,
Alta., probably in May.

Stan Fussey of Abbotsford was
¥ eliminated in a heavy class after
two fights, }

a was passed that
meetings would be in camera
and only at the conclusion would
statement be given the press.

Gordon Phillips
Seriously Hurt
In "Cycle Crash

FRACTURES SKULL
AND COLLARBONE
AT VANCOUVER

En route to his home in Van-
couver for the weekend, Gordon
E. Phillips, 22, son of Mr. and
Mrs. E. Phillips, formerly of Ab-
botsford, was seriously injured on
Saturday afternoon when the
motorcycle on which he was rid-
ing collided with a truck. He was
rushed to the General Hospital,
Vancouver, where it is reported
he is suffering from a _ minor
fracture of the skull, broken col-
larbone and broken nose.

The accident occurred at Kings-
way and Nanaimo, Vancouver, and
according to reports, Gordon co!-
Uded with a truck driven by Wind-
sor George Rooke as it was about
to turn from Kingsway. He hit
the rear fender and was thrown
from his machine a distance of
20 feet. .

Gordon had been employed by
THENEWS for the past four months
and had intimated to other mem-
bers of the staff when he left at
noon Saturday to spend his half-

IRON PIPE TO
REPLACE WOOD
MAIN IN TOWN

It was announced at the regular
meeting of Abbotsford Board of
Commissioners on Friday night
that sufficient progress had been
made in regard to Abbotsford’s
problems in connection with the
surfacing of the McCallum or
“Hospital” road to arrange for a
joint meeting of representatives
of Matsqui, Sumas and Abbots-
ford i today, W é
This ‘meeting will confer on the
type and cost of surfacing to be
done,

It was also decided to install
iron pipe in place of wood water
main which iis to be replaced on
Hazel street between the old and
new systems on the east and west
sides of town.

Parking areas on Eessendene
avenue will be repainted.

A vacation of two weeks was
granted George F. Pratt, village
clerk, and the office will be clos-
ed between April 20 and May 6.
Urgent business will be taken care
of Chairman M. M. Shore.

Plans of a six-car garage build-
ing being erected by A. R. Gosling
at a cost of $500 were approved.

Plight of M.S.A. poultrymen, in
common with those of the rest of
British Columbia, is aptly depict-
ed in the above caricature by Er-
nest Poignant, clever young car-
toonist of Matsqui, which appear-
ed recently in Canada Poultry-
man, The advance of from two
to three cents a dozen on Mon-
day is a hopeful sign to the poul-
tryman but returns, they say, will
have to continue upward very
considerably before revenue even
equals feed bills of their flocks.
Latest reports give the price of
eggs to the producer as 19c for
large, 17c for medium and 1l5c
for pullets. Reproduction of the
cartoon is by courtesy of Fred W.
Beeson, publisher of Canada
Poultryman, s

SENTENCED BY
THREE COURTS

Fred Sanderson of Deroche ap-
peared in Matsqui police court on
Wednesday on a charge of pass-
ing a N.S.F. cheque for $8 on
Taylor's Gas Staton and was sen-
tenced to six months on his plea
of guilty. He was also given a
six months concurrent sentence on
another charge involving a $25
cheque given I. Yamamoto of
Bradner. Earlier Sanderson had
been sentenced to one year by a

for a car.

While no one is allowed to visit
him in the hospital other than his
parents, Mrs. W. E. Schnare, Gor-
don’s aunt, with whom he stayed
in Abbotsford, was in Vancouver
on Tuesday afternoon to visit Mr.

day and weekend with his - par-
ents in Vancouver, that he pro-
posed to trade-in his motorcycle

and Mrs. Phillips. Gordon is mak-
ing splendid recovery, according
to his doctor.

Va court on a charge of
false pretenses in connection with
the promotion of an alleged mer-
eury light and to six months by
Mission police court on an N.S.F.
cheque charge.

Constable Herb. Butler of Bur-

nab ysucceeds Phil. Boulton as
highway patrol officer in this
district.

Cec
ATTRACTIONS OF

VALLEY TOPIC FOR
STUDENT ORATORS

Variety in opportunities for
high school students to partici-
pate in oratorical contests ,was
assured when Abbotsford &
District Board of Trade agreed
Monday night to co-operate in
a Fraser Valley contest being
organized by New ,Westminster
Junior Board of Trade. The
board will provide a first prize
of a pen and pencil set for the
best talk by a student of Philip
Sheffield high school on the
Subject of the attractions of the
Fraser Valley Scenic Circle. It
will also arrange for the win-
ning student locally to partici-
pate in a championship contest
with the winners of similar Io-
col contests in other high schools
of the Fraser Valley to be held
in New Westminster. A grand
prize is being offered to ‘the
champion student orator of this
event by the Royal City Junior
Board. "

Attendance at
Schools Gains
During March

HEALTH UNIT BUSY
HOWEVER; SIXTEEN
BIRTHS REPORTED

“The month was marked by the
decreased incidence to commun-
icable diseases, resulting in an in-
creased attendance in all schools
thoughout the area,” states the
March report of Dr. J. A. Taylor,
M.HLO., in charge of the M.S.A.
Health Unit.

The cases of notifiable diseases
reported during the month were
as follows: Chickenpox, 8; Whoop-
ing Cough, 4; Pneumonia, 1,

Activities of the health unit dur-
ing the month included the follow-
ing: Number of visits to schools,
122; Number of pupils inspected,
372; Number of pupils examined,
144; Number of pupils weighed

5000 More
Books Are
Available

LANGLEY’S WITHDRAWAL
RELEASES MANY BOOKS
FOR OTHER DISTRICTS

Approximately 50C0 more books
have been made immediately avail-
able to other districts enjoying
membership in the Fraser Valley
Union Library through the with-
drawal of Langley from the pub-
lic library service, it is revealed
by C. K. Morison librarian,

The result is that library shelves
in branches throughout the large
portion of the valley served by
the system are crowded almost
to overflowing. Seven school lib-
rary sets, withdrawn from Lang-
ley, are also released to other dist-
ricts.

When an adverse vote was rec
orded in a library plebiscite sub-
mitted at the municipal elections
in Langley there was immediately
such a protest raised by many
Langleyites that the municipal
council agreed to a three-month
hoist in giving effect to the with-
drawal of the service. A petition
was signed by some 700 citizens
of Langley seeking to retain the
library but this was considered
insufficient. In view of arguments
regarding the wording of the pleb-
iscite it is understood another will
be submitted on the library ques-
tion at the next municipal election.

The F.V. Library Board has’ de-
cided that Reeve A. Cc. Hope of
Langley need not resign from the
directorate,

There was one main branch, five
depots, seyen school libraries and
some 20 van stops included in the
service Langley formerly enjoyed.
The books required to stock these
numerous services have now all
been transferred to other districts
in the Library Union,

and measured, 40; Number having
hearing tested, 57; Number of no-
tices sent to parents, 182; Number
of Well-Baby clinics, 5; Total at-
tendance at Baby Clinics, 70; Num-
ber of transportations services giv-
en, 38; Total mileage covered by
the staff, 2569; Number of Tuher-

$1,000 Loss
Is Caused by
Mystery Blaze

culosis visits, 21,

Vital statistics as reported by
the District Registrar for Maroti|
Number of Births registered, 16,

of which there were 9 male and
7 female. The number of Deaths
registered was 8:
female 1.

Constable H. Parker of Matsqui
requests that the cyclist who
dashed into the Henderson Fun-
eral Home garage on Thursday
and thence to the Funeral Home,
apparently with the intention of
warning someone about the start

male 7 and|of the fire which subsequently des-
troyed the garage, report to him

The fire which destroyed the

three-car garage and an old hearse

Wealth in Piarwest 2. ut Not Prices. . /4sGuaranteed

By TORCHY ANDERSON
Province Staff Correspondent

From the slight rise where the
Ridgedale Community hall sits in
the middle of the fertile Matsqui
flats, the April sun warms with
a promise of summer.

It would be hard to choose any
Place in British Columbia from
Which a man could survey more
intensively cultivated rich land.

Northward you see the hillside
berry fields of Mission and Hat-
zic, southward the brown of new-
plowed fields and lush pastures
that border the way to Abbotsford.
Westward the full sweep of the
Fraser Valley is filled with farms,
an dover the high ground you
know you will come to the abun-
dance of Langley Prairie.

On this scene you superimpose
a delicate tracery of bloom from
thousands of fruit trees. So thick
are they that in the distance they
give the impression of a pinkish
haze,

In the immediate foreground fat
cattle wade through the ponds,
as if sated with their rich pas-
ture. Superficially, here, so far
as the eye could reach, was aland
to which nature had been doubly
generous,

COMPLAINTS HEARD

Yet from the men who had gath-
ered around the door of the com-
munity hall you heard the com-
plaint which led into the tangled
skein of economics, Farming in
the Fraser Valley is not done by
enjoying the scenery,

We went into the community
hall to listen to Matsqui bean
growers argue with the cannery
men, This is the season when bean
and pea growers contract with
the canneries for the harvest that
will come during August and Sep-
tember.

There were about
growers seated on the wooden
benches that spanned the hall,
They were dressed in their work

(Continued on Page 3-

a score of

stored in the building, caused a
loss of approximately $1000, unin-
sured. It broke out about 2 p.m
and speedily enveloped the stnuc-
ture burning with such fury that
members of Abbotsford Volunteer
Fire Brigade and other Persons
who assisted had no chance to
Save the building. Instead they
found their hands full in saving
the adjacent private garage of Mr.
and Mrs. M. Golos and preventing
the fire igniting the Henderson
and Golos homes, Fortunately,
there was no wind other than that
created by the fury of the blaze.
_ Origin of the fire, traced to a
newly-opened packing box in the
Sarage, is a mystery that was in-
vestigated by the Provincial Fire
Marshall Thursday night by re
Quest of Constable Parker,

Except for the old hearse, the
Sarage was empty, all modern
equipment being in attendance at
@ funeral. Constable Parker has
evidence from witnesses that a
man was seen to leave a bicycle
by the highway, run to the gar-
age, thence through the Hender-
Son home and out to his bicycle
again. It is believed that the man
observed the commencement of
the fire, decided he could not put
it out, ran to the house and found
no one downstairs and dashed out
to pedal into town and give the
alarm, but this was phoned in by
others before he got down. Never-
theless, Const. Parker requests the
man to communicate with him at
once,

STOLEN US. CAR
RECOVERED HERE

An almost new, radio-equipped
car with Washington plates, aban-
doned on the highway near Le-
fevre road, Matsqui, was taken
into custody by B.C, Constable H.
Parker this morning. Investigation
revealed it had been stolen and
the driver caught trying to make
his way back over the border on
foot. Provincial, Mounted and
Washington police are co-operating
on the case, ,