Fora? 2 VANCOUVER (CP) — Hard hit by an recession that lingers like the fog of a West Coast winter morning, cash-starved British Columbia forest companies are struggling to break through the greyish gloom. Lumber markets are saturated, pulp ‘prices are deteriorating, United States lumber producers are again woes are from the Pacific Nosthwest fi lumber thet BLS prataure, whe ship 00 pst Gunkat ne wee to the United States, enjoy an unfair tage through and while col! arse won't be a concern in 1985, the labor cliinate remains unstable. Several major integrated forest companies, boosted by improved pulp and paper sales, reported small third-quarter profits in 1984, but their nine-month figures are still red and the millstone of debt load incurred during the disastrous 1981-82 period still weighs heavily. “The recession has made us a cripple,” said Ron L i at Canadian Forest Produets. “It’s getting harder and harder to replenish the balance sheets.” CHANGE PRODUCTS? Industry consultants have suggested a move away from the bread-and-butter of dimension lumber to higher value-added pi but capital i in the province's largest industry, despite some ongoing modernizations in Squamish, Port Mellon and Vancouver, is expected to be minimal for the next five years. “There's no question that it's a difficult time to assemble capital, but I think the companies are cognizant of the need to do 4s much as they can now,” said Allen Sinelair, a vice-president with the Council of Forest Industries of British Columbia. Among those comanies doing what they can do is B.C. Forest Products, which is spending $15.2 million to modernize its Vancouver sawmill, allowing it to produce lumber to specifications for buyers outside the traditional North American market. “We aren 't doing this because we expect the market ” gaid George Flater. “were doing it because we feel it won't improve. This reflects the new reality.” MARKET FLOODED Sinclair said lumber production in British Columbia is slightly above the record 1983 year but that has only succeeded in contributing to the flooded North American market. “The volume is very high, but the return to the mills has not gone accordingly. The price they're getting for the basic two-by-four is the same or close to the same as the price they were getting when we were in the depths of the recession. He said U.S. economic recovery must continue in a “robust way” and there has to be an upswing in the direct gi AUS: ment agency ruled ts 1982 tRere was bd Slvatitigy bat some backed by 1p’ politi- cans, are still pushing f for protectionist measures. Meanwhile, the relatively buoyant pulp industry of six months ago has itself been hit by an oversupply as new milis started in the United States, Austria, Asia and South America! The devalued Scandinavian currency has also hurt. “Markets are very unsettled and they'll be that way for at least the next year,” said Brian Cooper, vice- president of Crown Forest Industries. “Some analysts are suggesting it could last for three years, but I hope that’s not the case. have 270 Columbia Ave. Castlegar Ph. 365-2151 climbed to 1.5 million tonnes from a normal 1.2 million tonnes. The trend is continuing upwards and there's a real squeeze coming.” Although is up to pr levels, employment is lagging. Sinclair said there are 75,000 people employed directly by the industry, down from 95,000 in 9180. The industry's troubles weren't all financial in 1984. A pine beetle epidemic ravaged a large chunk of forest in the Cariboo and Kootenay regions, and in December forestry giant MacMillan Bloedel was locked in a delicate battle with environmentalists over the logging of timber on Meares Island off Vancouver Island. MacMillan Bloedel, which says the area is key to its winter logging plans, wants to log $25 million worth of timber on the 8,400-hectare island, but two Indian bands are claiming aboriginal title. Protest groups have camped out on the isignd, vowing to stop the company. But a B.C. Supreme Court judge ordered the protesters to allow MacMillan Bloedel to do survey work pending resolution of the land claim issue. : On the labor front, the layoff-hit International Woodworkers of America settled on a three-year contract in early January, but for the fourth time in'seven contract bargaining sessions since 1970 there was a ‘work stoppage in the pulp and paper industry. S for a MOROSO, MARKIN & BLAIN Certified General Accountants 241 Columbia Ave. Castlegar Ph. 365-7287 Soligo, Koide & John Chartered A © 1984 Univecsa Press Synaucete 1-12 “We have two sorts of pies: undercooked and overcooked.’’ (ASK CHES O8 JOHN FOR BEAUMARK APPLIANCES the WITH B.E.W.C. TO PROVIDE ALL PARTS AND ALL SERVICE FOR THE LIFE OF THE MACHINE 615 Columbia Ave. (Upstairs) Castlegar Phone 365-7745 Henry John, B.Sc., C.A. Resident Partner time had the IWA and pulp unions at pas other's throsts. That prompted industry later ‘in the year, to petition the Labor Relations Board to end the existing system of provincewide bargaining. Pope visit souvenirs ard to sell MONTREAL (CP) — “Pope: Half Price” reads the sign in the souvenir-gift store window on the busy downtown corner of Peel and Ste-Catherine streets. A wave of commereial euphoria preceding Pope John Paul's visit last September has since crashed into a wall of market indifference, dashing the dreams of many entrepreneurs hoping to make a buck on papal memorabilia. It left in its wake large commerical losses and an unexpected deficit for Canada's Roman Catholic church, which was hoping to help pay for the trip through profits from sales of T-shirts, caps, calendars, playing cards, keychains and 145 other items. Spokesmen say total sales of official papal souvenirs to the end of October were an estimated $4.6 million, so many of the 50 official licence holders obviously made good on their investments. But warehouses throughout the country hold thousands of items which did not catch the fancy of Canada's Roman Catholics despite the huge crowds which flocked to see the The president of the licensing company which controlled merchandising of papal souvenirs is furious that local church officials Toronto in ‘particular allowed and even encouraged the sale of non-official items, cutting into sales of sanctioned souvenirs which would have profited the church overall. “Sales were considerably less than expected,” conceded Claude Lortie, director of administration for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. “It seems that the faithful were interested in seeing the Pope but not in buying a souvenir.” TAKES A CUT Lortie said gross royalties from the souvenirs were $460,000 to the end of October, based on 10 per cent of sales. Net income to the church was only $200,000, not much help towards the church's losses for the visit. Its share of the visit cost $22 million, leaving it $13.5 million in debt The federal government had a separate budget of $30 million for the CBC's coverage of the event and the Pope's security International Licencing Corp. of Montreal secured the first comprehensive licensing program in any country for papal souvenirs, said president Richard Gareau. The bishops gave it a mandate with three goals: prevent the sale of cheap or distasteful trinkets, give Canadian manufacturers first chance, and make a profit. Only the first two objectives were met Even though the bishops voted unanimously for a national program, “several local diocesan offices got into the woods with local merchandising guys and just royally screwed it up,” he charged in an interview “It was clearly competitive with, and counter-produe tive to, the national program. There was total chaos and confusion in the marketplace.” Toronto, said Gareau, “was the real renegade, and made the people in Ottawa (bishops) very upset.” IMPORTS JUNK From there, the system broke down in Winnipeg, and V: “So what was the same old junk coming in from Taiwan and Japan.” Yvan Vallee of Montreal set up a firm to produce nine items such as calendars, cards and buttons featuring ® portrait of the Pope by Montreal-born artist Andre Durand. The austere-looking Pope did not catch on, says Gareau. T'm afraid it’s been a disaster for him (Valiee).” 84 GMC $15....... "84 SKYLARK... '84 GRAND PRIX........ "83 REGAL SW......... '83 OMEGA... '83 PONTIAC 6000... '83 PHOENIX... "82 CHEV Y4-T0N.... 82 TRANS FSOLD_ "82 SUBARU SOLD. "81 DODGE VAN...... 81 TOYOTA S10... 81 PHOENIX HIB... 81 CHEV %-TON........ '81 CHEV 7%4-TON... ‘81 GMC 72-TON:... ~ "81 LEMANS... "81 LESABRE.... (OADED WITH OF TION! ‘80 MONZA... a, SPYOER PACKAGE. V 4A wow? 10,088 wow 511,788 wow 914,088 wow 511,688 wow 510,388 wow 98288 wow 1288 wow? 1488 won 510,888 wow °6888 wow 96788 wow °4888 wor °5688 won 56788 won 56788 won *6488 wow 95788 won 7088 wow °4088 Desler 5058 PTI, rE (censa) ys) All Brand Nomes Serviced All Parts Stocked Rebuilt Timers Used Applionces & Consignments Coin-operated Machines * Industrial Laundry WE ALSO SERVICE: * KENMORE + INGE + HOTPOINT + ETC CASTLEGAR PLUMBING & HEATING LTD. 1008 Cohemibte Awe. 346-3308 Russell Auctions 399-4793 Thrums Buy or Sell by Auction RUMFORD PLACE aA Super Sweep Chimney Services Ltd. * Complete Masonry Work * Chimney Lining * Certified Fire Satety Inspections 735 Columbia Ave. 365-6141 F. PIRSH CONTRACTING © Florist Service © FULL LANDSCAPING SERVICE vaue tsrusates CHANG’S Nursery & Florist Ltd. 2601 - 9th Ave., TAL a CLOTHING, DRAPERIES BEDSPREADS Everything on consignment NEARLY NEW SHOP 776 Rossland Ave., Trail Phone 368-3517 LOW, LOW PRICES & STORAGE 2237-6th Ave., Castlegar Invite you to call them for a tree e 7 services which have liams the most respec in the moving Ph. 365-3328 Collect Dining Under the Palms TERRA NOVA MOTOR INN 1001 Rossland Ave., Trail Reservetions 364-2222 ————— THE COLANDER SPAGHETTI HOUSE ‘Specializing in Halian cuisine For Reservations Phone 364-1816 1475 Cedar Avenue Trell, B.C. A B,C,D... orX,YorZ Yes, whether your business name starts with A or with Z, Business Directory advertising is for you! RATES ARE ATTRACTIVE, TOO! Phone 365-5210 for Full Details oy cuensi-chubenaatn Selkirk College touch col thers Gcja' ttlowe tien ite 1986-86 budget in order to overcome s 10.4 per cent Nelson. However, Perra said he won't know for another two or three weeks what specific steps the college will have to take to meet the shortfall. Under the provincial government's funding formula, the college must reduce spending next year by $1.08 million to $9.9 million. The college is funded in part according to the number of students enrolled. programs. . Perra said when the college received ite program prafile from the Ministry of Education earlier inthe month, he felt Selkirk College had been “dealt with im a very heavy fashion”. But discussions with other ¢ommunity colleges indicated that the province's funding for colleges is “extremely limited,” he said. Osher collages in the province have teem S65 tid Seo no we have,” he said. “I clearly didn't expect 100 per cont (of what the college applied for),” Perra said, noting that he expected a of between four and six per cent. “That would have been mahageable,” he added. © 4 Had Selkirk College received everything it requested, athe reduction would have been only one per cent. “We didn't expect to have it all approved,” he said. “We provided the ministry with options and ities.” Perra said the average budget reduction for community eolleges was seven per cent. “We are amongst the highest.” He noted that the reduction in the Selkirk College badget was originally 11.3 per cent, but seven full-time a positions in the Aviation Program have been gn said an appeal for more funding would be premature, adding he has been in contact with the ministry a number of times. He couldn't say how the budget shortfall will specifically affect the college. “It will take another two to three weeks.te be say what the implications will be for Selkirk € said. reduced plte-Rheipehed meetin ed program profile is intact except for apprenticeship traiuing. Perra said the dow enrolment in the peng apprenticeship programs will see the elimination of apprenticeship classes except for four weeks of pool. mechanics. “Enrol are declining as less employers are hiring apprentices,” Perra explained. “There is little need to apply apprenticeship training.” continued on page AZ WEATHERCAST Overcast Thursday with, 9<- casional light snow. highs -S° wal be overcast with period ot ight id snow and highs near -5*. _ 50 Cents Vol. 37, No. 102 CASTLEGAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1984 4 Sections (A, 8, D) AFTING & DESIGN SERVICES Office Interiors * Construction Supervisions COLEMAN COUNTRY BOY SERVICE Sump & Septic Tank Pumping Phone 365-5013 3400 - 4th Avenue Castlegar 1012-4th St., euler a4 Phone 1 Tues.-Fri. 9a.m.-5 p.m Saturday 9 a.m.-32 noon ———————— AT. (TIM) ALLAN B.Sc.0.D. OPTOMETRIST 366 Boker St. Nelson, B.C. Ph. 352-5152 ( PUBLISHER . The Castlegar News is published by Castle News Lid Mail subscriptions rate to the CASTLEGAR NEWS is $30 per corrier service). The price on newsstands is 50¢ for each edition. The price delivered by newspaper carrier for both editions is only 66¢ 0 week (collected monthly). Second class mail registration number ERRORS The Castlegar News will not Wt is agreed by the odver tiser requesting space that the CASTLEGAR FUNERAL CHAPEL Dedicated to kindly thoughtful service. Phone 365-3222 Castlegar Plumbing & Weating Ltd. Quality Wholesale Plumbing & Heating Supplies Complete installations & Professional advice Commercial & Industrial 1008 Cotumbie Ave. 365-3388 The Plumbing & Heating Centre American Standord Volley Fibrebath Jecuzzi* Crone Duro Pumps & Softeners is accepted on the condition that in the event of failure to publish any od vertisement of on or in the reasonable allowance , signature, will not be charged for but the balance of the od. vertisement will be poid for at the applicable rate. in the event of on error, advertising he otter may be withdrawn at ony time. NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT Full. complete ond sole to Costte News Ld a: provided however that copyright in THAT PART “AND THAT PART ONLY of ony advertisement prepared from repro proots engravings, etc.. provided by the advertiser shall remain in ond belong to the advert CASTLEGAR NEWS Established Aug. 7.1947 Twice Weekly May 4. 1980 Incorporating supplement in today’s paper Dear Santa, My name is Lisa Stewart I am 4 years old, and I've been a very good girl so could you please bring me something nice for Xmas I would like a Barbie pool a cabbage patch doll and some new skates size 7, I will see you at Kevins House and I will save you some of my Dads birthday cake I love you Lisa Stewart XOXOXOXOXOXOXO Dear Santa I would like a DreamDancer for Christmas and Cabbage patch Kid or a Ken doll or a misfit toy. I would also like a pretty cut and grow and Dancer Doll I'd also like a Cabbage patch pack sack. I have been good not all year but quite a bit. Dear Santa Claus Hil. Hope you have a nice trip. How is your reindeer? Are't you giad December 25 is coming up. It tmust be edld put where you live. Well it is cold where we live too. LETTERS TO SANTA WINNERS . » The Letters to Santa winners were given a freat Castlegar News office — Santa himself up to give each of them twe tickets to the Castle Theatre. Winners oe (from left): Josey Smith, Rexanne Rizzotti, Leona Jones, Tiffany Koochin, Ray Wocknitz, Kevin Carlson, Elaine Miller, Ryan Carter, Holly Shkuratotf, Michelle Malof and Shannon Koochin. Some of the letters oppear below, the remainder are in our special Conttews Photo by Chery! Colderbonk CHILDREN WRITE [TO SANTA CLAUS every day. We are going to have a Wonderful Christmas tree. Leve Melanie Penner Ages Ilove you Santa Dear Santa, 1 Am writing a letter for My little sister and myself, my name Is Scott I am old I Have Been sometimepgood and sometime Bad but i willbe good From now on. For Christmils I would like masters of The Universe People. For my sister Chery] please bring Evil Len.we will Have milkand For you to your helpers i love you santa. Dear Santa Claus I would like a cabbage Patch kid tguly, Dear Santa Please may I have a tape recorder on our part before we make the fina! step,” he added. Following the discussion, Johnson suggested Vancouver school board supporting its stand against any more restraint. The motion was agreed upon by a 4-2 vote. Trustees Linda Krull and Lovette off voted against it. Pongraez said the Vancouver school board has sent other board throughout the province letters requesting sup port, although Castlegar hasn't re evived one yet. “The amount of cuts that are going to have to take place in Vancouver .. . it's unsound,” Pongracs said. “That all Vancouver's saying — it's doing this than we have to gain,” said Trustee Rick Pongracz suggested a joint submission be sent to Victoria —inside SOUR GRAPES: Not if you asked the more than 500 hockey fons who turned out Monday night to the Cominco Arena to hear fermer Boston Bruins hockey cooch and TV commentator Don “Grapes” Cherry. Cherry coptivated his audience with gems such “Eddie Shore was the Darth Vader of hockey”... 81 : MILL FIRE: Fire broke out at the Celgor pulp mill Tuesday wes under control by the time Costlegar fire deportment arrived on the scene... A2 INSURE SANTA?: MILWAUKEE — If Senta Cléus landed his sleigh at oirports rather than rooftops and lost a little weight he would pay much lower pr en hes calculoted. In the spirit of Christmas, North Mutual Lite Co tried to figure out what it would be like te insure Sante. Serie tim the pete ol many Nor sold Jerry new coloring book and a RubA Dub-Doggie. I will leave you cookies and milk