CASTLEGAR NEWS, Thursday, May 12, 1960

tes Way Fired for ‘Politics’ by the CBC

(continued from page one)
inject any Personal political op-
inions. The CBU’s file copies of
the approved seripts are testi-
mony to this declaration.

On Friday, April 22 last, I
was summoned to the office of
Mr, Robt. Patchell, regional di-
rector of talks and public affairs
programs for CBC, 20 minutes
before I was to appear at the
studio as customary with my
script for the weekly tape-re-
cording,

He informed me that I was
dismissed immediately. When as-
ked the reason, he replied, “Be-
cause you're a candidate in the
next provincial election. It's CBC
policy’ that employees of Cee.

and fair play demanded that I
have the opportunity of inform-
ing my listeners throughout B.C,
on the “Neighborly News” pro-
gtam itself, as to why I had been
“fired” and the abrupt manner
in which I had been notified.
Mr. Patchell said I could: ap-
pear ag a “guest” on the Sunday,
May & broadcast to say a “fare-
wel” to my Meter: My eet

News" audience.

I repeated my earlier request
that'I be permitted to inform Iny
Wsteners es to how and why I
had ben dismissed and to express
my conviction that it was unjust
and not based on a valid inter-
preation of the CBC's purported
“commentator” policy.

He agreed, provided that my
script contained no “tibelous' or

had been that I b
explain how and why I had been
dismissed.

I_ then advised him that it
would be necessary for me to
make a public statement in the

I repeat-
ed that unless I were sble to
state the facts of my dismissal,
I could not submit to having
words put Into my mouth.

Since my dismissal was now

matter via press and L
radio. After considering this, Mr.
Patchell cenuicsted that I not do

a participate in politics.” I was
told that he had already engaged
another person to do my pro-
gram, commencing that week.

‘I expressed astonishment at
the abruptness of the notice, and
that after 15 years as the “per-
sonality” on the program, surely
common courtesy was, due me of
being informed of my dismissal
somewhat earlier then 20 minu-
tes before recording time.

No explanation was given to
me on this point.

z I then pointed out.to Mr.
Patchell that the so-calied policy

this regard until he
hed see lowed the question of
my dismissal with his superiors.
T agreed,

On Wed., April 27, he infor-
med me that he was to see the
CBC regional director, Mr. Ken-
neth Caple, “this afternoon” and
woulg advise me the outcome
“Sater today.””

‘That afternoon Mr. Patchell’s
secretary phoned to inform me
that I was to prepare and broad-
cast my “regular” type of ‘“Nel-
ghboriy News” for airing on
Sunday, May 1, and that Mr. Pat-
chell:. would me that

. . I was a reporter quoting
news items and their sources, He
recalled that Mr. Elmore Philpott
iad been dropped ‘from CBC
when he entered politics, but I
contended that the case was in
no way paralle! as Mr. Philpott
was a personal-opinion. commen-
tator,

I then requesteg that if my
@ismissal was irrevocable on

night for a further discussion.
On Fri., April 29, he met me
at the studio, after I had record-
May 1 “regular” broad-
cast, He advised me that he had
discussed the matter again with
Mr. Caple, but there was to be
no change in the dismissal except
that they were. now. giving me
“two weeks” notice by having
me do the May 1 broadcast, and

a final broadcast on May 8, on
which I could announce’ my
to the Neg

these grounds, decency

CALLING ALL GRADE 5 GIRLS IN
CASTLEGAR, KINNAIRD AND ROBSON

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE FALL FAIR -
QUEEN IN SEPTEMBER?

INTERESTED GIRLS PHONE
MRS. J. FOWLE, 4248° MRS. J. KILLOUGH, 2161

Deadline for names is Monday, May 16

around. Hours are :

NOTICE
RESIDENTS OF KINNAIRD
SPRINKLING REGULATIONS:

Sprinkling regulations are in effect the year.

6 am, to 12 noon
5 p.m. ‘to 9 p.m.
These regulations will be strictly enforced.

Ken Pickering,

my pre-

vious enquiry:. “As it stands,
then, I am being dismissed be-
cause of CBC's ‘commentator’
policy and the case of Evfmore
Philpott is the precedent, is that
correct?” Mr, Patchdll concurred,

He then added, that in decid-
ing on my dismissal, it was con

such move as.the engagement or
dismissal’ of' the announcer, re-
quired mutual approval.

In ‘fact,:the weekly press as-
sociation .has'a‘standing “radio
committed” for this purpose.

I have no quarrel with Mr.

Ad Mailing

Patchell or Mr. Caple

both of whom are fine
in the.public service of a Crown
corporation.

But, I most. definitely do
quarrel] with the arbitrary exer-
cise of authority on an unjust
and ‘false basis which borders on
discrimination,

Moreover, I like to believe
that my record is one of honest
principle in business and bublie
affairs, and the

control the if unad-
dressed “householder” “taivertta:
ing mail were announced in. Ot-
tawa by Hon. William Hema,
postmastér general,

Under the regulations, which
into “effect June 1,
householder matter must be fol
ded to a size of 41x12 inches,
The inclusion of samples and

I could not be rusted to conde

during an yiection campaign on
the strength of my past perfor-
mance of Integrity on “Neighbor-
ly newer e one which | is both

sidered that in doing
News" I possessed the “opport-
unity of selection” of news items
from the country papers; the
only inference to be taken from
this statement was that such
{tems might be “selected” by me
to benefit my forthcoming poli-
tical campaign or that of the
‘Liberal Parfy,

I expressed resentment ‘at
the Implication and the fact that
my integrity was being question-
ed, wittingly or otherwise. I ex-

pressed the hope that my 15-year
Pecord of a total’ of some 725
‘ly News"

gave the lie to any suggestion of
dishonesty’ in “selecting’ items
for personal benefit; in any event
such could not. be possible be-
cause the script’ was always
checked in advance by the CBC|P*
producer.

(I emphasize that I was not
critical. or. resentful of Mr. Pat-
chell himself, but the CBC as a
corporation and its narrow, out-
moded and insulting poticy in this
respect.) *

. I then asked Mr. Patchell for
a copy of the stated CBC policy
under which I had been dismis-
sed. He replied that there was no
avritten policy under which I had
deen dismissed, He replied that
there was no written. policy as

It is anus to judging and
convicting .a person of a crime
which he has not committed or
has no intention of committing.

(Indeed, In my view, it is
symptomatic of the very injus-
tices and undemocratic trends so
prevalet generally today, and
which I intend to protest in the
election campaign — as all hon-
est candidates, regardless of par-
ty, wilt rightly protest.)

In publicly’ protesting my
abrupt dismissal by the CBC, I
do so with no motives of person-
gain. I have broadcast “Neigh-
borly News” for 15 years because
I haved loved doing it, particu-
larly because the program serves
the very useful and much-needed
purpose of emphasizing the im-

Portance of Rural B.C. and the
activities of the small towns and
their citizens,

‘The small “monetary consid-
ergtion per broadcast, or even the
persona! satisfaction of doing the
program, js not the issue at stake,
nor is the fate of one individual.

What is of vital concern, is
the issue: of a principle. Regard-
less. of the individual involved,
it is'an important principle tq
all right-thinking citizens, Apart
from the crudity surrounding my
dismissal, that principle | involves
gross it to one’s

such, ‘but that it was
from time to time on the basis of
“programming decision.”

I was suggested I might “ap-
peal" the decision to Mr. Caple,
but after consideration-I_ declin-
ed, on the’ grounds.that since Mr..

: Caple, as Mr. Patchell’s superior,

had made. ‘the decision” irrevoc-
ab!e, the clinmte of such an ap-
peal, obviously, could not be an
impartial one.

T stated that the public, the
shareholders of OBC, would be] we
the proper jury to determine the
justice or..otherwise of my, crude
dismissal and the grounds given
for same,

It is significant toe note that
the CBC has not- at ‘any time
discussed the question of my dis-
missal with the president of the
B.C.. Weekly Newspapers Assoc-
jation (Cecil. Hacker, Abbotsford
News), or any of: his officers.

I- suggest. that it further
spotlights anothervital issue’...
‘the penaity which can be so ar-
ditrarily impose@: upon a Cana-
dian. citizen's .sincerity and wil-
lingness to serve ‘his native pro-
vince by way o! “public. ‘service in

‘our ; sHemoeratic 24 ical field.

RAILWAY. TRACK

More than 1,100 miles of rail-
way. track in Canada is now un-
der Centralized Traffic Control,
the el ics syatem which per-
mits dispatchers at central Points
to set'signals and: throw switches
over Jong distances; C.T.C. speeds
traffic, reduces : the chance ‘of. an
accident, and “permits: a ‘single

track.

The

when 1
News" was piety in the
cast was introduced each week
on the air as ‘Brought’ to you by
the CBC in co-operation with the

early 1940's, was. that the broad-|

‘To Insure your oF Dependenta
NOW: and Are ‘Xour
Independence A Retire.

ment, Ne
Cc. ‘Atthur

gj the ‘postal. service.

Ities will be pro-
hibited in. this class of mail.
The regulations will also ex-
tend the delivery period ‘for such,
advertising matter and inérease
the postage rates on larger items,
Under the changes, large
bulky ‘flyers’ and roadsheets
will not-be accepted unless. fold-
red to the required size. The sy-
stem will be restricted to printed
matter; that is, to matter on pa-
per, parchment or cardboard,

Merchandising, including
samples or other advertising no-
velties which are bulky and hard
to handle, will be’

-[ meeting. -

4 “with regard to the accusation
of inaccurate Nelson News cov-

paper, as the Nelson News re-
porter I would Ike to draw af-
tention to the fact that:

(1) I obtain my information

village clerk,

sume that the minutes are incor-
rect. : ‘

other occasions than
mentioned, I would ask the clerk
or the village chairman to sub-
on these meetings from the: offi-|stanlate their accusations to me
cia). minutes as drawn up by the}personally, or through the med-
therefore if~ thls} ium of this paper or the Nelson
news'is incorrect one must as-|Daily News.’

Letter to the Editor

_ Dear Sir: oan . a Trea and of the fecling which. |

railed.” Owing to the restric-

tin’ of words aliowed to Castlegar

erage of council meetings report- coverage In the Nelson paper, I
o de that i

ed in last week's edition of this. brione bd prevae 08 necessity

If I have been inaccurate on
the “one

Penny Harvey,

(2.) There are many ‘prec-
edents of reporters unable to at-
tend meetings, the radio report-
ers being one example, as it is
net possible for part-time repor-
ters tobe at each: and every

If, as Iam led to believe, ie
critics are referring to one meet-
ing In particular, that of Apri?
25, at which the Castlegar Rate-
payers’ water committee report
was brought up, I would like to
state that I have questioned the
people responsible for drawing
up this report, one of whom was
present at this meeting, as to the
accuracy of my coverage. They.
sated “It was a fair and accurate
report of what took place at the

LEGION CORNER

‘The | four-day! period previ-
ously allowed for: delivery of
householder mail will be extend-
ed to seven days. In other words,
the ‘postmaster general’ said,
householder matter will be -ac-
cepted. only on the ‘understand-
ing that ‘delivery; may not be
completed in less than sever
days.

The rate on larger items,
that is, those of over. two ounces
in weight, has beer D:

‘Two ordinary and two trans-
fer memberships were approved.
A. C, Roney was initiated to or-
dinary ‘membership,

“The branch will again handle
the concessions at the Fall Fair
and will also have a draw with p
large prize. A work party is to
be called shortly for cleaning. the
Legion grounds and the cenotaph.
H. Bate was the:winner of the
debenture draw at the last meet~-

SASH AND
“pooR WORK

PIERSON WINDOWS
AND ALL KINDS OF

GLASS

GLIDDEN PAINT

KOOTENAY
BUILDERS

AND

SUPPLIERS -

. PHONE 5155

one-half cent per. two’ ounces. .

In -announcing the changes,
the postmaster general stated
that advance notice has beer gi-
ven in order to permit advertis-
ers and publishers to adjust to
the new regulations and to plan
their printing schedules. in the
light of the new requirements.

The postmaster general said
that in recent years ‘there has
been a tremendous’ increase in
‘the ‘weight and volumie of house-
holder mail, to the” extent that it

the postal service’ has"‘also had
to contend with’ an’ increase in

shaped ‘articles being distributed
as samples, Because of their oda
shape. or. bulky nature, such it-
ems ‘added -to me altticul ties of
fhandling, ihe said.-
‘The | minister said ‘that, the
changes were the’ Tesult of a de-
tailed study ‘by: departmental of-
ticers and that the, new .regula-
tions. had. been decided upon af-
ter consultation with. leading ad-
vertisers in the direct mail field.

growth in householder Sailing

the number and variety of odd- | J

-Shop-

@g am.

Easy

SHOPPING HOURS

"Monday - _ Tuesday - Wednesday -. “Thursday

9 am. to 7 p.m.
FRIDAY:

9 am. to 9 p.m.
SATURGAY

to 6 p.m

CASTLEGAR NEWS, Thursday, May 12, 1960

RCMP Trained Men Sworn fo Carry Out Duties Carefully & Conscientiously

In the Fall of 1958 a British
Columbia man died as the result
of a brawl. The incldent was ba-
sed on an all too familiar theme
—— an argument poet arose du-
ring a drinking bout.

‘As a result of his death a
charge of murder was laid again-
st his assailant and the investi-
gation was conducted by person-
nel of the Royal Canadian Moun-
ted Police.

‘There was nothing “sensa-
tional” about the che or the
work which the police put into
it. But in putting fonelher all the

for

tion to court, the faveatiogtens
spent long hours interrogating
witnesses and collecting a varicty
of exhibits, which, in turn were
subjected to careful examination
by. RCMP personne!’ at the Re-
pina. Crime Detection Labora-
Or’ .

It was in short, a typical ex-
ample of careful painstaking po-
lice work by intelligent men with
an appreciation: of the challenge
presented by a career in the
public: service,

The accused was tried last
year before Mr. Justice F. K.
Collins at Nelson convicted and

to death, S

the case was appealed by the de-
fence and the appeal was up-
held_anq a new trial ordered.

In his charge to the jury
Judge Collins included the’ fol-
lowing remarks which will be
mpprseinted by all peace officers.

If you have a reasonable|:

doubt as to whether the state-
ment was voluntary or not, then,
af you have hat reasonable doubt,
just cast the statement pide and
do not consider it at all.

“But in considering that it
is only feir that I ae say this:
that sergeants and cOrporals in
the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police are trained men, that. they
are carefully selected men,’ that
they are trained observers and
that they have been sworn to
carry out their duties carefully
and conscientiously and honestly
just as you gentlemen have been
sworn to carry out your duties
before you convened as a jury
in this court.

“I consider, it proper for you
to recall the demeanour of these
officers in the witness box, the
preciseness of their answers and

First and Second
Kinnaird Brownie
Packs Join Forces °

I On a-recent Saturday morn-|
,iny the Ist and 2nd Kinnaird
f Brownle Packs joined forces for
) a. hike, taking advantage of a
\ glorious day.
After meeting at the school
they hiked to the Kinnaird park.
ere: they enjoyed Brownie
games, nature study and a ball
| game. Each Brownie had brought
Biher own lunch to which -fresh
{air and youthful zest gave an
,added tang.
\-. Theré:were 31 Brownies un-
Ndex the leadership of Brown Owl
| Mrs, J. Roberts,-Brown Owl ‘Mrs:
MJ. Kennedy’ and'Mrs. W. McNee.
Assisting “them was Miss Gail
‘Kennedy.

thelr appearance and the direct Royal coda Police non-com- for reliability | ang foir-dealing sling Annals
Ants ne American Acad- Tt may
ay responsive aneers =e a fficer or ‘built up by the bebaviour, integ-' emy, 1954; “Probably | hey te popular conti. it is the Ay alto be a ler
‘aed tiem on pee wi an on the: testimony of an, or- ‘rity.and. honesty of personnel of the oy ainely element which {s\ence and esteem ‘because the ‘ficer, no matter ‘what pe ice force
were ary witness...’ the Perensatt oven O) ears: ‘ oe real Tespo le svove all others for’ pele Jeow: they wil not over- ihe serves, to so conduct ‘himself
umm nparalle! cooperation pre-! si ¢ -
up ia the words of Miss aol today between the police pets ‘provided eitees the oe gual as cealbos. fa ty be hari
pay les, writing. on Fallee, the ,4nd the public in ‘England is the! and rigorously protected by the’ tice Collins will never be jeep.
w, and the y of the police courts,* * ardizel. — The RCMP Quarterly,

Standard uring you the first new
antiknock compound since Ethyl

BC. Weekly. newspapers Agsoc-
jation”; in short, It is a co-op-
erative program between CBC
=|and the weekly press, and any

TUT U_ii i itt nA TnAnTTcarca conan
AUTOMATIC START BEDDING PLANTS AND SHRUBS.

ROTARY LAWN MOWERS

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The Mutat; Life : “Assurance. : . : + a . : - :
E of Ganada Sees es " % it te q

Village: Clerk:

Gelgar Staris
@ Clearing Nakusp
| Building a

‘Nakusp _ ‘Rothwell’s Point,
aeenbout B quarter-mile south of
muere is being cleared in readiness
oe a building program by Cel-

=
=
>
=.

™ purchased recently from
rs. C. S. Leary, the 3-acre site
ill be used for office buildings,
‘ire protection | warehouse, gar-|.
e, parts warehouse, log-dump,
;oats ways and a airplane base,
Clearing ‘and ‘excavation to

RANCH WALL Shee the name suggests open spaces... . : .the vest for
outdoor: Jiving. Whether your home stands on a city lot or country’
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" Nine’ sixteenths Ranch: Wall'can be’tised for sheeting your summer .
home and it is already primed for painting. It can also be used: for de
decorative fences, benches and a hundred. and one other uses. ~

Drop in and ask for’a pamphlet for (dens, (es
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