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001C9682 A W'ee & y .8 ews va aei CI'pcyiagi gjgiu t/ie DIstrIce of lllest Vancouver --Ambleside, Holly btrrn, Westou, D tcndarave Qipj-ess Park, Caulfeih/, Whytecliff, Etc. Newsstands Sc per copy$ 1.00 per year. Vol. III EIGHT I AGES HOLLYBURN P.O., WEST VANCOUVER g (. FRIDAY, JAYUARY&th. )929 No. 40 This is West Vancouver's Year Th „„ar 1929 opens in West Vancouver with a very distinct ee ing o of 1' optimism. A general impression is abroad among all our residents that before New %ears Day comes T ~ again we shall have had the biggest and most important year h t nd that is saying a good deal. 1Vest Vancou- ver has made tremendous strides in the last few years, and ',18 we believe, on the eve of a development that will surpass any- thing we ever dreamed of. The matter of the completion of a motor road from Powell River to North Vancouver by the establishment of two ferries across Jervis Inlet and from Gibson's Landing to Horseshoe Bay is to come before the legislature this session, and there is every prospect of the project going through. lUith hIarine Drive as the easterly end of such a trunk road IVest Vancouver will take part in the general growth that is bound to take place all along the North Shore and up the coast as a result of this new connection between Powell River and North Vancouver. The proposed amalgamation of our water systems into one is distinctly a move in the right direction, and there is no d bt but that it will receive the endorsement of our peopleou u when the plebiscite is put before them on 19th January. IUith that accomplished a good deal of expense will be saved, and we h ll have taken a step forward in the solution of the difficu t- ies of providing an adequate water supply for the whole of the district. The completion of the construction ivork on the westerly end of Marine Drive will be of great benefit to the residents 'here, and it is expected that it will help materially in at- tracting settlers to that section. The eyes of all business men in Canada and the old country are turning to Vancouver, and there is every indication that this year will see the beginning of a great era of development there in business and other ways. Our municipality as the premier residential sector of Greater Vancouver is bound to hare in the general prosperity, and there is no question that many of those who come to Vancouver ag a result of the esta-b- lishment of new business and industries will settle in our midst. This is IVest Vancouver's year. Every indication points to this. Our development and growth has been most remark- able notwithstanding the pessimistic attitude adopted by some. There are few districts of our age that can show such remark- able progress. At the beginning of last year for some reason very pessimistic feeling was in evidence. Now, however, that has given way to a feeling of distinct optimism. IUhere- ever one goes and whichever way one turns, we hear the re- mark, "IUell, this is going to be a good year." We believe it is. Indeed we think that the year 1929 will be the banner year in the historj of West Vancouver. The foundation work for a good growth and development has been well laid, and the time is now ripe for an era of constructive policy. It seems highly probable that our Zoning by-law will be modified to attract builders and settlers. Our transportation systems are being very carefully studied with a view to giving safe, cheap and quick connection with Vancouver city. The fin- ancial condition of the municipality is fairly good and our educational institutions are distinctly of the best. The clim- ate of IVest Vancouver is specially attractive and our location and geographical surroundings offer special inducements to home lovers. IVith all these things in mind one can with reasonable expectancy look forward to a future of prosperity. GOING TO SCHOOL Next Monday the schools of IVest Vancouver will again take up their duties after the extended Christmas holidays, and will get down to their studies immediately, refreshed in mind and body by their time of relaxation and Christmas gaiety. The next long vacation is not until Easter, and that to the youthful mind is a long, long time to wait. IUith the opening of another year the problem of encourag- ing the child to make the most of opportunities which the school offers again presents itself. It is a problem in which parents as well as teachers should take a keen interest. Per- haps the most important objective to be sought is to awaken in the child a real desire for knowledge. It should be pointed out that it is possible to derive enjoyment from the pursuit of school studies. if one approaches them with a genuine de- sire to learn. The children should not be led to believe that going to school is an unpleasant duty. He should be im- pressed with the fact that it is a pleasure to be appreciated not only as a preparation for after life, but as a means to present happiness and satisfaction as well. THE l)Al.illY CLDIATE OF IVEST VANCOUVER The first pussy willows of the season have blossomed forth, pokin gtheir furry heads out with the new year. Even that faithful harbinger of spring, the robin, was seen here o» New Year's I)ay. All of which is bad news for the curlers, ski- jumpers, and other devotees of the old-fashioned winter sports. Thus far into the season spring has jump d into the lead and long before winter was officially opened. It is the mildest winter on record, New Year's being ushered in with a heavy rainfall. Election Rumours Notwithstanding the fact that election day is on the 19th, i.e.. two weeks to-mor- row, very little interest is being shown except in the contest for reeve. It looks like a three-cornered fight between Reeve V. V. Vin- son. h!r. S. Gisby, and hIr. J. B. Leyland, and it is pret- ty well a certainty that these three candidates will go to the poll. There has been a iiimor that hIr. Ley- land was withdrawing from the contest, in fact a North Vancouver publication stat- ed yesterday that it under- stood he had withdrawn. This rumor is incorrect and we are authorised to say that hIr. Leyland has no in- tention whatever of with- drawing. COUNCIL Councillors AUat t and Jackman will, we under- stand, offer themselves for re-election. Others prom- inently mentioned as candi- dates are W. Mc Quaker, David hIorgan ~nd P. )Fait. SCHOOL TRUSTEES Through the resignation of Mr. Leyland there are three vacancies for School Trustees; two for two year terms, and one for one year. Trustees Edington and Fid- des will, we understand, of- fer themselves for re-elec- tion. Other candidates men- tioned b.ing Mr. B. R. Har- rison and hIrs. H. G. Sel- wood. POLICE COillillISSIONER E. A. Procter, the retir- ing commissioner, has not yet stated his intention to seek re-election, but Colonel K. W. Savory has definite- ly announced his candidat- ure. These are the rumors of the elections. There are yet ten days before nomin- ation day, and it is quite possible that every list will be greatly augmented be- fore that. CHORA I. SOCIETY IVILL IIEET NEXT DIONDAY In the letter from the Secre- tary of the Choral Society which appeared in our last issue the date of the next practise was given as January 8th. This was a mistake. The Choir ivill meet at Dun- darave Hall every hIonday night and the next practise night is on hIonday, January 7th. I'I.E BISCITE" ONi AIIALGAIIATION OF iVATER SYSTEilS The electors are to be asked at the municipal elections wheth- er or no they are in favor of am- algamating the various munici- pal water systems of IVest Van- couver. A question to that ef- fect will be placed before every voter on 19th January. A notice of this appears in this issue. Stewardship Meetings Next Week SCHOOL TRUSTEES For some strange reason the actions and findings of School Trustees do not meet with the same degree of criticism and hostility as do the Council. The unanimity of our own Board of School Trustees is very pronounced. That is perhaps one of the reasons why they have accomplished such wonderful results in our educational institutions. %e think it generally agreed that few school boards have worked as efficiently and as smoothly as the )Vest Vancouver Board. The review of theyear's work which they will give next Thursday must be pleas- ing to them as it will be pleasing to parents who attend the meeting. IVest Vancouver affords as good educational facilities as wil] be found in any district its size in Canada and very much better than is found in the great majority of places even with larger populations and more money to spend. Our school administration is efficient and economical and we should con- gratulate ourselves on our good fortune in getting such con- scientious and able service. ELECTION NOTICE--COUNCIL Nominations of candidates for the office of reeve, two councillors, and one commissioner of police will be held inthe municipal hall on hIonday, 14th January, at 12 o'lock noon. The electors will vote for the candidates for these of- fices in Ambleside Hall on Saturday, 19th January, and the poll will be open from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. ELECTION ib'OTICE--SCHOOL TRUSTEES Nomination day for the three school trustees to be electedhas been set for hIonday, 14th January, at 12 o'lock noon atthe council chamber. The voting will take place in Arnbleside Hall on Saturday, 19th January, from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. Oithe three school trustees to be elected, two will sit for thefull term of two year:, while the third will be in office forone year, which represents the unexpired term for which J. B.Leyland was elected last January. The trustees whose termof office has expired are J. hI. Edington and Robert Fiddes.J. B. Leyland having resigned following his announced in-tention to run for the office of reeve. Next wednesday and Thursday evenings there will be meetings in SVest Vancouver which will be of more than ordinary interest. hiembers of the council will give an ac- count of their stewardship on wednesday in the Hollyburn Theatre; and on Thursday the members of the Board of School Trustees will review the year's work at a public meeting in the Inglewood School. Both meetings are open to the public. THE COUNCIL The work of a Reeve and Councillors can never be fully acceptable to everyone. No matter what course they pursue or what policy they adopt they are criticised by some of the ratepayers. It is almost impossible to please everyone, as often decis- ions made for the general good are against the interests of the individual. A council should work for the good and welfare of the District generally. Criticism--reasonable, constructive criticism--is a splendid thing. It helps in keeping one on edge and in making our council representatives even more careful in their decisions. There are two kinds of criticism however, fair and unfair; and unfortunately those in public life are only too often the subjects of unfair criticism. Endeavor is made to introduce personal or political fights in such opposition. This tendency is much to be regretted and it is hoped that in ~Vest Vancouver at any rate such influences will be absent. Taxpayers generally are getting wise to such opposition, whether it be found in a city or a rural district, and has been discovered that such methods have acted as boom- erangs, returning to damage and hurt those who conceive them. Co-operation and criticism should go hand in hand. All public men spend a lot of time pursuin their duties, and theirs is usually a thankless bask. All fair minded people. however, will put themselves in the other fellow's place and before expressing thoughts and uttering inuendo they vrill make quite sure that they would be prepared to sign any such expressions. It has always seemed to us that if every criticism one made, publicly or privately, bore one' signature there would be fewer made and there certainly would not be in circulation the many wild rumors one hears around elect&on time. After all every one has the same opportunity to run the affairs from the hlunicipal Hall as have the candidates who offer themselves. Unfortunately though the desire is not to act themselves but only to make it as uncomfortable as possible for those who do give public service. Let's criticise the council as much as possible but let' have fair, constructive criticism made in a spirit of co-opera- tion. In such manner progress is made.