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001C94FD A Wee& y '.4ews~a~ei. $ 1.00 per year. Newsitands 5c per Copy Ci rculati ttg ttt the Ot'stnct of West Vancouver-A mblesi ate, II0llyburu, Wett07l Du//Jctruvc Cypress Park, Cau/feil", Whytecliff, &c. Vol. III EIGHT PAGES HOLLYBURN P,O., WEST VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, APRIL 20th, 1928 No. 3 Councillor Blair Reviews By-Law Proposals FOR NORTH SHORE The Two By-Laws It has come to my notice that some of the Ratepayers are say- ing that the Reeve and Council are not sincere in their regard for a new Ferry Boat, and are stating openly that they do not intend to submit the necessary By-law at an early date. This is entirely wrong, as an unani- mous resolution was passed in the Council recently for a new ferry of the most advanced type obtainable, and that such a By- law would be submitted as soon as plans and specifications were obtained, suitable to your Coun- cil and a qualified Marine archi- tect. A delegation of Ratepayers ap- proved of the programme sub- mitted to them, the outline of which is as follows:-- 1. widening and surfacing of Marine Drive from West Bay to IVhp'tecliffe................ $90,000 2. Extension to Municipal Hall and installation of much needed fire-proof vault ............ $ 12,000 3. New Ferry, latest type, ........................................ $75,000 4. General Road By-law for operdng and surfacing roads throughout the entire Municipal- ity ................................... $55,000 5. New Fire Hall and equip- ment ......... $20,000 All the above should be sub- mitted to the Voters in rotation as given above, and without ex- ception should receive the whole- hearted support of every pro- gressive IVest Vancouver voter, job. Hence our By-law for $90,- 000, and if we are fortunate in securing attractive tenders, and a few thousands are left over, this will not be wasted. The time has arrived when IVest Vancouver voters should put some faith in their council, otherwise nothing Nill be ac- complished. By passing the By-laws on the 25th, a programme of progress will commence which will prove of great benefit to every one in the district. If, on the other hand, you defeat them, you can rest assured there will be no money for other necessary work. as we cannot let our main high- way go to wreck entirely. I am strong for all sections of our district to co-operate. as it is only by united effort that we can succeed. EViAI. BLAIR, LIBERALS %II.L HCLD NOil INATING CON VENTION The Provincial Liberal Exec- utive, at a meeting held last Tuesday, decided to call a nomi- nating convention, to be held in the K. P. Hall, North Vancou- ver, on Saturday, Nay 12th. FERRIES BEING GOT READY FOR SUAIi&IER TRAVEL The bottom part of the hulls of ferries No. 5 and No. 6 were scraped and painted this week, the Sonrisa taking the place of each in turn when it was taken off the run. The upper works of these two ferries will be painted later on in the season, when the weather has settled. The Sonrisa will, it is expect- ed, go into dock in a few days to have her new engine install- ed, and it is hoped that this work will be completed so that she will be ready for service by 1st June. The scheme proposed by Col- onel Fell to establish a swim- ming pool and gymnasium on the North Shore was endorsed by the North Vancouver Board of Trade on Wednesday night. The scheme calls for a crystal gard- en,which would contain a tiled salt water swimming tank 110 feet by 40 feet, gymnasium, a dance floor, lunch room and parking space for cars, with a broadcasting station. The gym- nasium would be 70 feet by 40 feet with a hardwood floor. The site proposed is a 5-acre plot at the corner of Marine Drive and Pemberton Avenue. Voters'ist Largest on Record Approximately 2180 applica- tions for enrollment on the pro- vincial voters'ist were received up to and including April 7, ac- cording to 4V. D. 51cFarland, dep- uty registrar of voters. On account of the large number of duplications, however, the in- crease in the number of voters will not be known until after the sittings of the court of revision. next month. At the same time there is no question that the lists will contain over 6000 names, which will be the largest in the history of the riding. Schools to Vote for May Queen All the schools on the North Shore this week will vote in the election of the May Queen and two maids of honor, each school being entitled to choose one can- didate. The celebration will take place in Mahon Park on 24th May. Sidney Gisby is chairman of the committee. Next Wednesday the taxpayers of West Vancouver will vote on two money by-laws. (1) ~farine Drive Reconstruction, $90.000. (2) Addition to lfunicipal Hall, $ 12,000. ~1arine Drive Reconstruction One has only to travel over Ilarine Drive west from AVest Bay to realize the most awful condition of that roadway. It is a disgrace to the municipality and a danger to those using it. It is utterly impossible to drive over the road without getting into holes and without the risk of being jostled out of the car. This is not the slightest exaggeration of fact, and if every voter could only be driven over the road there would be but few rational people who would vote against the reconstruction as proposed. It is an expensive item, but is it more necessary to conserve funds than life? The road as at present is positively unsafe. The new road when completed would be an added attrac- tion to the district. If it remains as it now is, it is not only a detriment but a positive danger and must one of these days become the cause of damage actions against the muni- cipality. Take a ride over it tomorrow or Sunday, or get some friend to drive you over--it's much better to use the other fellow's car if you can--and we think you will agree with us that it is an absolute necessity that the work be started as soon as possible. Considerable misapprehension seems to exist as to what is exactly meant by a 24-foot road. The popular conception of this is a road surfaced for a iridth of 24 feet, whereas in the 24 feet are actually included the width of the road as well as the width of the ditches on either side. Our present side roads are of this width, and it is obvious that an arterial highway of narrower dimensions would be useless and a waste of money. This is, of course, the reason why the department of public works in Victoria insists that the road must be of that width or there will be no government grant. One does not have to be an engineer to see that the government is only acting sanely in imposing such a condition. Seventy-five per cent. of the motorists using ~iarine Drive come from Vancouver, and it is from Vancouver that we expect to obtain our new residents, without whom EVest Van- couver cannot grow. Anyone doubting these figures can easily at any time of any day assure himself of their cor- rectness by spending half an hour counting the number of B.C. licenses on passing cars. Afost of us first saw West Vancouver from a car, liked it, and eventually settled here. Nor is that condition likely to change until aeroplanes come into universal use Marine Drive is our main arterial highway, and it will remain so. AVe need water and sewage and a number of other conveniences. it is true. All these conveniences are, however, required for our homes, and if the condition of Marine Drive is such that we cannot get home, what is the use of having the conveniences or even a home in West Van- couver? Councillor IVm. Blair as it is surely evident that each one of the projects above men- tioned is absolutely necessary for the development of the dis- trict. For the information of all, es- pecially the "knockers and scan- dal spreaders," the costs of Item One viz, Marine Drive widening and paving. from EVest Bay (mile 5) to IVhytecliff are the same figures as were compiled last October and again &n Janu- ary. Said estimates were made up by bfessrs. Duncan R Hanes which were as follows: Duncan $281,422.00: Hanes $272,500.00. This was for the entire highway. Taking the same estimates (this section) a- gain they are; Duncan $ 164,000, Hanes $ 166,700, our share would be 50',c. The condition of the road is worse than it was last fall. Under the circumstances, is it not the safest way to have sufficient money to finish the Next Wednesday is Voting Day It must be remembered that a three-fifths majority is necessary to pass these by-laws. Turn out and vote if you have the privilege of voting. Record your wishes whether you are for or against. You owe this duty to yourself as well as to the municipality. The polling booth is at Ambleside Hall, corner of 14th and Marine Drive, and will be open from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. on polling day, i.e., next wednesday. I'RESIDENT OF RATEPAYER& SAYS DELEGATION VISITED COUNCIL AS INDIVIDUALS A special meeting of the council was held last AVednesdav night for the purpose of discussing a proposed road bylaw. An invitation had been given the Ratepayers'ssociation to attend this meeting and to offer suggestions and to discuss the merits of the proposals. Several members of the ex- ecutive with the president, 3V. R. Hamilton, attended, and took part in the council's discussion. The proposals were an- alysed from every viewpoint, and as a result the members of the delegation expressed themselves as in favor of the road being surfaeecl from West Bay to Whytecliff for a width of 24 feet, that width being one of the conditions laid down b$'hegovernment under which the latter were willing to con- tribute their share of the cost of construction. The above paragraph appeared in THE NEWS last week and the President of the Ratepayers Association has since communicated with us saying that those who discussed the proposed By-law with the council did so as individuals--which fact they gave expression to at the time--and not as members of the Ratepayers'ssociation. The gentlemen present at that council meeting were ibiessrs. 1Iamilton. Baxter, Lawson, IVatson, Small, i~last«rman and Young. illunieipal Hall Few people realize that the records and papers of the district of West Vancouver are in very grave danger in their present abiding place in the municipal hall. It would indeed be a most disastrous thing if a fire should occur at the muni- cipal hall at the present time, for there would be little chance of saving the books and records of the municipality. The affairs of the district would be thrown into utter confusion. and it would be absolutely impossible to replace some of the papers and records. The addition to the municipal hall would make provision for the safeguarding of these things by the installation of a vault both fireproof and burglar-proof. The effieiency of the offic staff would be greatly increased by more commodious and better laid out quarters. The present council chamber is totally inadequate for its purpose, as will readily be testified to by any delegation who have attended their meetings. There should be at least one room set apart as a committee room for delegations to consider and discuss the affair on which they wish to approach the council. A private office should also be provided for the reeve, both for his convenience and for the convenience of the public with whom he discusses municipal matters. The time has also arrived when better police court facilities should be arranged, not only for court purposes, but also for the detention of any under charge. At the present time such unfortunates have to be taken to North Vancouver city and lodged at the expense of the municipality. The facilities at the present building were well suited to the ri~uirements of the district a few years ago, but West Vancouver is developing fast. Its growth during the past two or three years has been remarkable. But the conveni- ences at the municipal hall have not increased with the dis- trict's importance. The by-law voted on in January, 1927, for this improve- ment received 353 votes out of a total of 640, lacking a few votes only of the required number to carry.