The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 2

THE CIIILLIWACK PROGRESS, June 8, 1949 COMMUNITY PORTRAITS In My Small Comer C.M.B. death. When in Rome, Mother-automatically does1, just what the Romans do, no matter how peculiar she may privately think it. So when she is here she lurks politely in the living-room until everyone is rounded up and sent in to the table. I realize that by dinner time I am apt to be tired and a bit unreasonable.

Dinner is the peak of. the day's activities, and the part of the day's work' Member Audit Bureau of Circulation Class A Weeklies of Canada, and Canadian Weekly Newspapers" Assoc. Subscriptions: In Canada, $2.50 yearly; United States and Foreign, $3.00, payable yearly or half yearly in advance. Published at 39 Yale Street East every Wednesday by The Chilliwack Progress and authorized as second class mail. Post Office Department, Ottawa.

Postal address Box 160, Chilliwack, B.C. L. E. Barber, Publisher Publishers' Record of ABC Circulation Last Week 4390 into which 1 have put more imagination, thought, and trouble than any other. If thev were beine.

Established H91 urped tn rnmp in -a A pi, klirw.ir nr mmtA The Election Those who accuse me of painting too sweet a picture of family life in this corner will probably enjoy the following complaints. For once I am ready to admit, publicly and without reservation, that my beloved family all have one grave and infuriating fault upon which no amount of scolding, cajoling, or wailing on my part has any effect. If there are any wives and mothers among my readers who have met the same problem and discovered a solution, I would be deeply gateful if they would pass it along to me. Otherwise I shall have to appeal to some higher authority. "Dear Dorothy Dix: I have a kind and loving husband who is regularly employed and two nice healthy children.

But I am in despair because they WILL NOT come to dinner when they are called. What can I do?" At our house we have dinner at night, as everyone has more time to enjoy it and a better appetite that an noon. Unless we have a roast I always serve the food from the kitchen. I put it all temptingly on the plates, carry them into the dining-room and call my loved ones. I then retire to the kitchen and put the coffee on.

How effortless this little routine would be if I came back to the dining-room and found them all in their places with shining faces, like the families pictured in advertisements! They are never there. The Admiral is slumped peacefully in his chair, finishing the first section of the evening paper. Alary is on the floor, reading the comic strips. Wendy is changing her doll's dress. There they stay, happy and inattentive, until I go into the living-room and literally shove them in to their dinner.

(I have heard of electric proddcrs which are used in packing houses to hurry the reluctant animals up the ramp to their destruction. I have sometimes wondered if I could pick up a good secondhand one from Canada Packers and use it to speed up the process of herding them in.) When my mother is visiting us, the contagion even spreads to her. Mother belongs to a generation whose domestic arrangements were based upon the eternal fear that the maid might suddenly take offense at something and leave. Consequently during all her adult years, whenever she has heard the announcement, "Dinner is served," she has promptly risen to her feet and marched to the dining-room like a well-trained soldier. She used to do that here but in recent years I have noticed that she hangs back with the others.

I have not asked her about it, but I imagine that the reason is a not unnatural fear that if she goes in all alone and sits down at the table it will look as though she is starving to and cabbage, and store cookies, I would not blame them for lingering. But when a dollar and forty cents worth of carefully-cooked steak lies cooling on their plates, I am prey to a terrible inward fury. As cooking the dinner is almost the only opportunity a housewife has of displaying any kind of artistry, I suppose I grow temperamental if it isn't given the proper respect. I feel like Katharine Cornell would if latecomers strolled into the theater fifteen minutes after the beginning of Act I. When attacked about this, the Admiral has an unfailing comeback.

"Oh, go on, don't fuss," he says, comfortably settling down to his steak. "If you had your way we'd all be sitting here waiting before you even put the meat into the frying-pan." There was a time when this was true. When I was in the early nervous days of cooking, when timing seemed such an important and difficut thing, I did use to cry "Wolf 1 Wolf!" too soon. But those times are long since past and gone. Now, when I say "Dinner's on the table," I mean it, brother, I mean it.

Likely this situation has existed since the beginning of time, in all parts of the world. The Nean- dcrthal woman probably growled savagely to herself when the members of her clan filed tardily into the cave to knaw on the bones she had so carefully stewed up. The female Arab likely sulks in her tent when her tribesmen stroll cheerfully in after she has three times called to them to hurry up, for the love of Allah. In the unlikely event that we both live to be ninety, I am hoping that the fact that I am two years younger than the Admiral may have some bearing on this problem. In the twilight of life, I hope I may be granted the ultimate privilege of being spry enough to push him around in his wheelchair.

And at mealtime I am going to get behind that wheelchair and send him whizzing into the dining-room at hurricane speed. It will be the first time in seventy years of married life that I have been able to get him to the table when I want him there. field for the benefit of the people and of carrying out its program in a businesslike manner. No one can deny that over-all the work was a success. It was in fact a Godsend.

Because rehabilitation is close to us because all of us know about it, it seems fair to judge the government on that effort. The conclusion, on this basis, is inescapable. There is no use denying that the Coalition government has been favored with rising revenues and prosperous times. It would surprise everyone if this condition continued indefinitely. There may be difficult days ahead for British Columbia and all the propoganda in the mail boxes should not blind voters to that possibility.

The Coalition has not solved, for that matter, all our existing problems. Although with its greater revenues it has contributed huge sums to education and muhcipal services, the municipalities of the province are staggering under the heavy land taxes which are required. It strikes us, however, that a government capable of carrying out the rehabilitation program has in it the ability, the energy, the knowledge and particularly the leadership, to wrestle with our present and future problems and to come up with more of the right answers than other groups. The CCF and Social Credit groups have in them able men. Social Credit is not likely to prove a factor in B.C.

as a whole, although it is demonstrating that it has enthusiastic support in some parts of the Chilliwack riding. An election, to supporters of the CCF, is simply a continuation of the long process of education which they believe is necessary in order to win public support. Coalition, CCF and Social Credit representatives, have, to the best of our knowledge, kept the campaign clean and interesting. Barring mistcps in the next four or five days, it will continue that way, which is a credit to all parties and their supporters. It is generally conceded that the election in the Chilliwack riding will be close.

The influence of the Social Credit entry into the race is unpredictable. The Progress believes that on the Coalition record the government deserves the measure of support it requires to be returned. A few votes, one way or another, may turn the tide, both in Chilliwack and elsewhere. It is essential that whether people are supporters of free enterprise or a program of socialism, they should turn out at the polls Wednesday and vote as their conscience dictates. A week today thousands of voters in the Chilliwack riding will join other thousands all over the province in a march to the polls and deciding what kind of a government they want to guide British Columbia's development over the next four or five years.

Everything that could be said for and against each party has been said; voters are surfeited with propoganda and speeches. The basic issue remains the same: socialism versus the free enterprise system. As an advocate and as a practioner of the free enterprise system, the Coalition governmtnt has performed well, has given the province good government within, as its opponents see it, the limits of that system. The difficulty is, opponents say, good government as they conceive it is not possible under the wrong system. It is doubtful if any area ever had a more convincing demonstration of government efficiency than it did following the disastrous flood of last year.

What was the background of this effort? In the first place, the province has a- premier who made it his business to travel night and day through the flooded areas at the time they were being flooded to see what could be done. "At first hand" is sometimes a nebulous phrase which means a hurry-scurry, offhand attempt to examine a situation. In Premier Johnson's case, the effort was anything but that. Subsequently the premier, deeply impressed by the destruction and difficulties, produced and set in motion, with the full support of his government, a scheme which in scope and humanitarian objectives, had never been attempted in Canada before. He sold Ottawa on the deal.

He selected to adminster the job two men who have fully justified his faith. The program was carried out with sincerity of purpose, efficiency of operation and a degree of fairness with which few can quarrel. A job that could hve developed into a political pork barrel and there was never a greater opportunity inherant in a project was carried to a conclusion in a way. that satisfied 90 percent of those most difficult to please the people for whom the program was conceived, and who were in the best position to know, see and criticize. Even the silence of the ever-critical opposition was both profound, surprising and The point, to us, is that British Columbia has a government capable of experimenting in a new Drawing by James Agrell Smith OLIVER N.

WELLS farmer 10 Internationally-known breeder of Ayrshire cattle, guardian of Luck-a-Kuck bird sanctuary, amateur photographer and collector of paintings, Oliver N. Wells, Sardis, lives a busy life and a happy one. Other Days in Chilliwack Valley Taken from Files of The Progress Written by C. A. B.

Congrat ulations over from the Berry chain just twenty years ago this week. The Strand has played its part in Chilliwack entertainment life albeit it was sometimes a draughty and oderiferous' For those on" the outside waiting in queues which since the war have been a part of theater going, it was also a wet role. The new Paramount embraces all the improvements that a progressive and well-financed company can put into a theater. We think Chilliwack people will agree that when Famous Players got around to building a new theater, they did a real job of it. To Manager Claude Smith and the various Famous Players executives in Vancouver and the east who played a part in the building of the Paramount, our congratulations.

It is a credit to the company and the community. Chilliwack's long-awaited new theater opens tomorrow night amid considerable official fanfare and the more unobtrusive but heartfelt and widespread thanks of Chilliwack movie goers. Famous Players are to be congratulated on the new picture house which Chilliwack and district residents will find is everything they could wish for. The company has shown considerable confidence in the future of the area it serves by constructing a building and providing facilities which are the last word in theater accommodation. No expense has been spared in the creation of a theater of which both the owners and the Chilliwack movie-going public can be proud.

There will few tears wasted on the proposed closing of the Strand, which Famous Players took If They Can't Perhaps We Can Visitors to the farm are surprised at the youthful appearance of its owner. Born in 1907 of United Empire Loyalist stock he represents third generation at Edenbank. Although Oliver N. Wells was born at New Westminster, his father, Edwin was born at Edenbank and his grandfather, A. C.

Wells moved to Sardis from Woodstock, Ontario, in 1867 to buy the original farm of 360 acres. A simple sign, "Edenbank Breeder of Ayrshire cattle" stands at the entrance to the Wells' farm on a busy highway running through Sardis to Cultus Paralleling the highway, Luck-a-Kuck stream flows along smoothly in what was once the bed of old Chilliwack river. In early days, much fruit was grown on the farm. Cheviot sheep were also bred. Today the specialty is Ayrshire cattle which are marketed across the border.

Fewer men are needed to run a farm now. A dairy- kept by his father, Edwin Wells, lists names of eight men working on the Wells farm one day in 1903 some are names of prominent farmers in the district today. The diary also gives daily weather reports, summary of work completed each The large farmhouse commands a view of spacious lawns, highway and verdant growth in the area. Inside the farm "office" a small room resembling a student's quarters is a cot, simple desk, chair, telephone and array of cups won by the family for stock showings. A glassed-in bookcase contains a complete set of volume two, Canadian Ayrshire herd books, 58 in all, which date back to 1890.

Mr. Welts is member of the Ayrshire Breeders' Association of America, a privilege that lets him ship cattle to American markets and gives his farm an international aspect. His father took out membership in 1911. Only purebred stock are kept on the farm. During the past year, Mr.

Wells has been director for British Columbia to the Canadian Ayrshire Association. "It is the first time they have had a B.C. director," he explained. "Before that we were always coupled with Alberta." Prominent in Junior Farm Club work, Mr. Wells encourages exhibits and judging of the calves, sheep and poultry and often has field days at his farm.

Agricultural class at Chilliwack high school visit the farm every year. He believes purebred stock can be raised and sold here to advantage. "The Fraser Valley could become a purebred center that could gain as much from selling purebreds as from dairy products," he said. Mr. Wells has been chairman of Chilliwack Municipal Ratepayers' Association for two years, i He has no political leanings.

Eighteen years ago, he married Sara McKiel at Victoria. They have two girls, Betty, 16 and Marie, 14, both keen pianoforte students taking active part in Upper Fraser Valley Musical Festival. Being girls has not stopped them from making calf club exhibits or judging, and they both help their father with stock exhibits. There are 104 acres on the Edenbank farm. A brother, Gordon has 48 acres of the original farm facing on Evans road, Ronald and Casey have residential places nearby, and Ray has a riding stable at Cultus Lake.

Mr. Wells has patterned his life after the late Allan Brooks who he describes as a "scientifically correct" painter, and at whose suggestion some ten years ago, Edenbank was turned into a bird sanctuary. A book on scientific farming in his farm office bookcase reflects how Mr. Wells has carried the idea into his daily life and work. Almost every wall in the Wells home has a bird picture, the majority painted by Allan Brooks.

Mr. Well's hobby has taken him from Edenbank more than once in pursuit of the paintings. Once he went to New York in search of all the Allan Brooks paintings he could find, and spent about $1200 in his quest. A favorite of his is "At Home in the Sanctuary" showing Red Wings and Yellow Throat at Edenbank, done by Allan Brooks. Another by the "scientifically correct" painter is "Orioles at Home" of birds at Luck-a-Kuck sanctuary.

Recently, Mr. Wells became a member of Vancouver Art Gallery Society. His collection of Allan Brooks art works will go on exhibit in Vancouver August 2 to 22. A natural interest in wild life stimulated by reading publications about its preservation and encouragement from Allan Brooks, world-famous illustrator of American birds gave Mr. Wells the idea of starting a bird sanctuary on his farm.

Neighbors were in favor of the idea and co-operation of British Columbia Electric, whose right-of-way traverse the area, helped the project along. "The whole farm is maintained as a sanctuary. We never shoot on it ourselves," he said. Apart from migratory and game birds, more than 60 species visited the sanctuary last year. A young Whistling Swan found its way to the sanctuary last fall and stayed for a week.

Several species of migratory waterfowl are raised under permit to attract others. Song sparrows winter along the stream and are joined in early March by redwings. Wood ducks come to secret nesting places in May, also hooded mergansers. Mallards leave their Sardis home in spring to return in fall while the blue-winged teal and occasionally a Cinnamon come to the stream and ponds. The Bullock oriole is noted in early May.

Summer brings the thrush, late summer the black-headed grosbeak. Purpose of the sanctuary, he said, is to increase the number of songbirds and insect-ivers in the district. One hobby alone does not satisfy Mr. Wells. Tied in with his love of birds and bird paintings is a love for amateur photography.

He develops his own negatives and prints the pictures. Floods did not touch the picturesque farm. Last year, cattle from low-lying farms in the area were brought to Edenbank. Today, Edenbank is more than a place to breed cattle or a sanctuary for wild birds: it is a farm where life is lived to the full under direction of its successful owner, Oliver N. Wells.

at Popcum. Party included J. C. Readey who furnished truck transportation, J. J.

McLoughlin and V. Woodworth, high school; P. H. Sheffield, Misses Jacksoij, R. Agar, Marshall, Johnson, Thomson, Stevens, Williams and Brannick of public school; Miss E.

Agar, New Westminster; Miss Auld, Miss C. Jamieson and Mr. Jamicson, manual training instructor Rev. Mr. Elliot arrives at Sardis to take charge of Carman church Sumas Methodist church congregation presents Rev.

E. Manuel with appreciative address and purse on eve of leaving for Vancouver Sardis ball team defeats Rosedale at up valley center on King's birthday FORTY YEARS AGO June 9, 1909 Citizens subscribe $800 toward Dominion Day celebration; councils expected to grant $100 each Strong delegation meets city council to protest rumored granting of club liquor license; council in agreement Aid. T. H. Jackson elected by acclamation to succeed Mayor S.

A. Cawley, who resigns to accept provincial government appointment Messrs. J. J. Bathgate and David Larter begin construction of sawmill on Hope Slough at Young road; also purchase Street mill on College street Peter Stewart and Roy Chadsey open blacksmith shop at Fletcher and Johnston streets, near Frank Cawley's big red barn A.

Sherlaw, an experienced Scottish gardener, takes up residence on Reece avenue R. J. Mcintosh produces season's first new crop potatoes Jack Laughlin misses prize Black Minorca rooster after a local early morning nimrod goes hunting for wild pigeons in a cabbage patch Rev. J. J.

Jones, Sumas Methodist circuit, goes to Hartley Bay; succeeded by Rev. Mr. Fakley, Columbian College, New Westminster Jack Menzies, accountant with Jackson Denholm, feed merchants, accepts similar position with large mercantile firm at Kam-loops D. E. Stevenson arrives in town with a brand new Chalmers-Detroit "40" touring car; has tonneau top and folding glass front.

"It is so smooth running there is no excuse for horses becoming frightened of it" Rosedale defeats Camp Slough 21-0 in ball game W. B. Trenholm opens furniture store opposite post office. FIFTY YEARS AGO June 14, 1899 Group of residents decide to form joint stock company, purchases steamer and engage in freight and passenger service, Chilliwack to New Westminster Township council issues warning to farmers not to purchase narrow-tired wagons as wide tire act to be enforced Bicycle club makes first with Atchclitz' bridge the terminus D. D.

Ellis, Camp Slough, loses home by fire A. C. Henderson leaves on a trip to Ireland Alex Jess, Chilliwack, and Miss Jessie Wilson, Vancouver, married in the latter city by Rev. Mr. Stevenson Mr.

Chris Spencer, of Spencer's Arcade, Victoria, wife and family, visit at home of Mrs. Spencer's mother, Mrs. Evans. TEN YEARS AGO June 14, 1939 Four hundred members of Order of Eastern Star in city for three-day meet of provincial grand chapter, with Mrs. J.

H. Robinson (Chilliwack), worthy grand matron, presiding. Distinguished visitors include grand matrons from Alberta and Washington, and past grand matrons from Manitoba and Ontario Coqualeetza Institute boys complete sixth seine fishing craft Jean Baird and John Scudamore elected high school senior rings Mr. and Mrs. William Gilbert, Rosedale, celebrate golden wedding anniversary at home of Mr.

and Mrs. Richards Bustin Landing Indians chalked up surprise win over city's one-time provincial champions Mustang boxla team at Fogg field, 12-11; Mustangs defeat Abbotsford 12-4. TWENT YYEARS AGO June 13, 1929 Famous Players purchase R. E. Berry chain of picture shows in B.C., including Strand in Chilliwack Year 1928 had lowest rainfall in 36 years, according to report of Supt.

W. H. Hicks, Experimental Farm, Agassiz Local new potatoes appear on market A. H. Mercer of Fraser Valley Milk Producers" Association predicts better times for dairymen at Guernsey Breeders' field day held on Cyril Roberts' farm," Sardis His Grace Archbishop de Pencier, spends several days here in connection with jubilee of New Westminster diocese; St.

Thomas church one of oldest congregations in diocese City and township councils endorse B.C. Auto club's plan for automobile brake testing by provincial police Rangers, Guides and Brownies of Cheam division (Lillooet to Abbotsford), attend big rally in Drill Hall, with Mrs. Alan Morhill and Mrs. Claude Wilson, provincial and district commissioners, in attendance; tests, awards and sports program Saskatchewan election result Liberals 26, Conservatives 25, Independent 6, Progressive 4. Predicted Liberal Premier Gardner to accept portfolio in the federal cabinet.

THIRTY YEARS AGO June 12, 1919 Flood danger practically over Township council sets levy of 16.3 mills, of which eight and a half mills are for schools; estimated expenditure tax penalty 15 percent. Total assessed value of township property slightly less than $3,000,000. Improvements not taxed City tax rate 43 mills, five mills less than previous year; no rebate for payment, but 15 percent levy for non-payment by due date George Nowell, Fairfield Island, brings in first crate of ripe strawberries Survey work on reclamation of Sumas completed; work on dyke construction and diversion of Vedder river expected to begin in September Baby son of Mr. and Mrs. M.

C. Smith, Gore avenue, bitten in face by dog; taken to Vancouver hospital for surgical attention; dog shot Tennis club tea hostesses for season named Miss Edith Raley, Sardis, voted most popular student at Columbian college Staffs of high and public schools picnic ing the American market as far as American berries are concerned. They want high duties on Fraser Valley berries to keep them off the American market. Furthermore, they say costs of production liere are lower, This furore does not jibe with Mr. Herron's observations, which indicate that if Americans cut costs and served their own market adequately, they would be in short supply and would not be worrying about Canadian much less about a surplus of their own.

It seems peculiar that America, the apostle of freedom in everything, should object to a trickle of Canadian berries, particularly if American growers andor manufacturers are unable to do the job needing to be done. One of of Chilliwack's citizens has returned with what might be described as "Inside U.S.A. and the Berry Business." T. E. Herron, who admits to no great shucks as an expert in the berry business, has come back to Chilliwack after a tour of the United States from coast to to coast in which he poked into the business of merchandising berries, in their various forms.

He is definitely of the opinion that there is a huge market in most of the United States for properly merchandised Canadian raspberries. The product would have to be attractively packaged and sold at a price to suit the pocketbook of Mrs. Average Housewife. He reports that in a large number of cities, both in the middle west and on the west coast, raspberry jam was either so high in price as to be out of reach of most consumers or supplies of jam were nonexistent. Mr.

Herron's comments are particularly significant in view of the rumpus which berry growers in northwest Washington are kicking up over the admittance of Fraser Valley raspberries to the United States. These people are maintaining Canadian berries are flooding the American market and ruin If you keep your mind on your work you'll find you won't have work on your mind. Inflation makes us do without a lot of necessities so we can buy the luxuries we can't live without. Just keep busy rowin' the boat and you won't have time to rock it. I Thell Do It Every TiiraT By Jimmy Hatlo 4 16 Oh IHIb LWTE WE NOMINATE KiS 'CROSS THE STREET YOU SO WHO WAITS TILL VCtJ'RE IN FRONT FOR MEANEST MAN WE KNOW "ft HEEL WHOSE IDLE MOTOR PURRS TO PACE THE MOTOR WITH HIS TCB The real issues affecting the rights and welfare of Canadians are not issues in this election.

Succeeding governments have already taken many of their natural rights away from citizens and given them to pressure groups. The people now are expecting the federal government to give them security in exchange for their freedom. From "The The Huron, Expositor says Columbus was the first Socialist. He embarked on his journey without knowing where he was going; got there, didn't know where he was; returned, didn't know where he'd been. And all on borrowed money.

Capitalists of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains chains of prejudice, of superstition, of lazy thinking. When we have learned government will appeal to any section of our populace. Sher-brooke (Que.) Telegram. Government, whether municipal, provincial or federal, have only one source of revenue and that is the taxpayer. A grant from provincial or federal governments merely means that the money to pay for these "gifts" goes to a different source and perhaps we don't realize that we are paying it.

But it is still paid out of taxes and unless we are paupers and someone else is keeping us, we help to pay these taxes. Strathroy Dispatch. "It seems odd that some Canadians should be anxious to jettison the Union Jack, which does mean something in every section of the country and substitute the leaf (maple leaf) that grows in only part of the country." Powell River (B.C.) News. "GRANDFATHER'S HAT" My grandfather's hat was too big for his head, Since it came right down over his ears; It was older by half than the old man himself For his father had worn it for years. It was bought, so they said, On the day his dad was wed, And was always his treasure and pride, So he left it to Grandpa to keep for Lis own, When the old man died.

G. M. Davis. "WHY INDEED?" Why teach the little lad to walk? He has no yen for hiking; A steering wheel and pedals Are far more to his liking. A kiddie-car, a bicycle, Or just what suits his size, Until a car becomes a "must" In every fellow's eyes.

Some form of locomotion To help him go or come, And failing something of his own He has his trusty thumb. G. M. Davis. to think clearly on political subjects we shall clarify our presently woolly policy and when we have clarified it, our way of life will be so attractive, we hope, that no other form of com.

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