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speakup

Twenty-five years ago

Courtesy Irene Doyle

This was Roseberry St. in Campbellton looking east. The cars look like they might be from the 1940s although another car pictured is definitely an earlier make than that. The cross street in the distance is O'Leary. Gray's Restaurant had two different locations: one on Roseberry Street shown here, and another on Water Street.

(1983)

Truckers' demonstration ends in injury

On Monday morning, Restigouche county truckers launched another demonstration when about 30 skidders and 20 other vehicles began parading on city streets about 6 a.m.

The vehicles proceeded west on Water Street from Andrew Street, then south on Subway east on Roseberry and back to the corner of Andrew and Water where they again retraced the same route. This was done several times and finally some of them began heading for the ramp on the interprovincial bridge.

Staff/Sgt. Roy Rushton, head of the city detachment of the RCMP, said that police prevented them from going on the bridge and the skidders then went into the City Centre parking lot.

Twenty-four year old Jean Noel Levesque of St. Arthur was injured when a skidder ran over him after he apparently fell off the roof of one of the moving vehicles. He was reported in stable condition following surgery at the Hotel Dieu Hospital.

Threats cost Quebecers their jobs

Efforts are continuing here and in Quebec this week to resolve the impasse which has developed over the mobility of workers from this province and Quebec to work in each other's communities.

There has been a running battle over the past two months when workers and truckers from the New Brunswick side of the river, who are prohibited by law from working in nearby Quebec, took matters into their own hands and blocked the highway to truckers from Quebec who are legally permitted to come into this province. "It is very unfair," says one truck owner who has been refused permission to haul across the river, "and we intend to do something about it."

The latest incident came on Monday morning with a parade of truckers which ended in one casualty. However, police prevented the workers from blocking the bridge.

With feelings running high, The Tribune has learned of one Restigouche plant which is being compelled to lay off a number of employees who are from Quebec, in order to make way for Restigouche workers. "If we don't go along with the workers' demands, anything might happen," says a spokes man for the company involved. The identity of the firm is being held back at their request.

"We're not looking for trouble," says the company.

Premier Richard Hatfield and Justice Minister Fernand Dube have stepped into the picture in order to have the dispute ended. Last week, the premier called the pulp and paper mills in the province, to insist that they give priority to New Brunswick workers when they are hiring. The mills and users of Crown lands are expected to comply with the NB workers' wishes.

In New Brunswick, officials of the transportation department are meeting with representatives of the truckers and other workers to reach some agreement on what steps are to be taken. Similar meetings are going on in Quebec, where an attempt will be made to agree on recommendations to the two provincial governments.

Says Dube: "Instructions have been given to our officials that we want an agreement satisfactory to our workers worked out, and this must be done in a matter of days. We are trying to get this matter settled without delay."

Fifty years ago

(1958)

Music festival in Dalhousie

The Restigouche County Music Festival opened in Dalhousie Monday morning and is expected to be one of the largest yet held. The festival is sponsored by the Restigouche Women's Institutes and is under the patronage of Hon. Roger Pichette, Douglas Pettigrew, MLA Fred Somers MLA, Mayor C. E. Tingely of Campbellton; Mayor Murray MacKay of Dalhousie and A. J. Savoie, county superintendent.

George Little, B.Mus. Montreal, is the adjudicator and he is assisted by W. A. Ritchie, assistant Director Physical Education, Fredericton, who is adjudicating the folk songs.

A program of folk songs started the program. A feature of Monday's program were solos given by Lucille Cyr of St. Quentin who sang in French, Italian, and English. The highest mark on Monday was given the Atholville Flutophone Band, with 91.

Mayor Murray MacKay, Dalhousie, and Dr. G. Pinault, Campbellton, were guest speakers on Monday evening to open the festival.

Pettigrew says county projects improve economy

A review of the federal and provincial public works to be carried out this summer in Restigouche County was given in the NB Legislature last week by Douglas Pettigrew MLA, who took part in the Budget Speech debate. Mr. Pettigrew outlined a number of construction projects now underway or planned for the county and predicted that they would combine to improve the county's economic condition.

Dalhousie has made further rapid strides as it becomes Eastern Canada's newest year-round port, said Mr. Pettigrew. He added that during the past winter a government ice breaker was stationed at the port.

"This boat did not have much work to do, but it gave shipping lines and the captains of vessels the confidence needed to bring their boats to the port at the height of the winter. And they did.

"It was most encouraging to me to see at all times during the past winter a ship in the process of being loaded. Quite a contrast to a few years ago when this same port was snow banked and idle."

Tenders are now out, said Mr. Pettigrew, for enlargements and improvements for the port this year.

And what of the future of Dalhousie?

"Well, Mr. Speaker, this port is several hundred miles closer to United Kingdom ports than the major ports now being used in the Maritimes. Then, of course, the rail haul is shortened. The Port of Dalhousie was one of the thresholds that the financial critic tended to belittle. But, again in this case, we have passed the threshold and have opened the door to new opportunities for the people of my county.

Coffee shop on CNR train

"Coffee Shop" service was introduced in Maritime trains this week by the Canadian National Railways.

The new service operates on the Ocean Limited between Moncton and Montreal, and augments regular dining car service, to provide full course meals at prices as low as $1.20.

A new CNR sleeper grill car will provide the coffee shop service. The car provides seating for over 16 persons in a dining section, and eight upper and lower berths and a double bedroom in the sleeper section.

Seventy-five years ago (1933)

Autobus to replace electric motor car

A strong resolution protesting against the removal of the suburban train service between Campbellton and Bathurst was forwarded to W. U. Appleton of the Canadian National by the special committee of the Board of Trade recently appointed to act in this important matter.

The suburban train in question serves a population of about 35,000 in the counties of Restigouche and Gloucester. It was stated by the Board of Trade that during the month of March and the first 18 days of April 1933 this train carried about 10,000 passengers.

The resolution also pointed out that if this service is discontinued the importance of Campbellton as a business centre would be affected. Anyone along the line wishing to transact business in Campbellton would be obliged to spend two nights in town in order to do business.

The fact that many automobiles in the rural districts would not be operated this year because of scarcity of money was also stressed by the Board's resolution. Thus if the suburban is removed and no other transportation facilities are provided, these people will have no way of travelling to conduct their business...

The secretary of the Trade Board has received a reply from Mr. Appleton in which he stated that the suburban service has been operated at a distinct loss during the summer and fall months, because of the number of motor vehicles operating.

Underhill says rumours untrue

B. F. Underhill, superintendent of Public Property and Streets work on Monday unconditionally denied rumours that have been prevalent throughout the town concerning his department.

"The Public Property and Streets Committee never did and never will discriminate in the matter of working periods," said Mr. Underhill.

Rumours that persons who signed the petition, recently presented to town council asking for reductions in expenditures, would not be given work are absolutely without foundation said Mr. Underhilll.

"I received orders from Mayor Caldwell to treat everyone alike and I have done so and will continue to do so."

At the present time a system of rotation, similar to that used on relief work last winter, is in force and although the number of men employed at any one time is small everyone is being treated alike.

Town officials, said Mr. Underhill, would be very childish if they resorted to discriminatory measures. Persons who signed the petition in question cannot be singled out and made examples of because they did so.

Mr. Underhill also said that he had never made the statement, ten per cent cut, ten per cent less work. All employees of the Street Department are working just as hard as they ever did an no reduction in efficiency is noted.