The Daily Alaska empire., 1929-12-18
ToImie Stands Pat on YukOn-Aiaska
 Highway.

Vancouver, B. C., Dispatch in Seattle Times)
 Hon. S. F. Tolmie, Premier of British Columbia, lis not disturbed over opposition which has deyel- oped to the Alaska highway and will continue to lend every assistance to the scheme. Premier Tone returned Monday November 25] from Kamloops' B. c, where at the annual meeting of the Con- servative Party he answered in pointed terms the opposition which had been leveled against the All aska highway by T. D. Pattullo, leader of the Liberal Party in the British Columbia Legsla- ture.
 Premier Tolmie has big majority in the Leg islature and there is question but that he will use it if necessary to carry out his proposals in respect to the Alaska highway. He considers the opposition of the Liberals to the road extremely petty
 of all the things considered in British Co., lubia in the last ten years I don't know of any project that will give us such cash return" says Premier Tomie
 T cannot understand the opposition of MT. Put tullo to the highway" remarked the Premier. why should his vision be so beclouded? His is the same view that of the people of 1881 who said it was to build the Canadian Pacific Railway from the East to Vancouver. They said it would never pay for its axle grease But where would be today if such people had had their way? Where would we be if our affairs controlled by peo- pie like MT Pattullo who cannot see farther than their noses? do not share his view. say that this country is full and running with opporun ities for the future"
 When MT Pattullo made his speech n van couver criticizing the construction of the Alaska highway he referred to the needs of roads into settled sections of the Province, and said that his constituency of Prince Rupert required road which would cost $3,000000. MT Pattullo also said that the Province had to econonlize.
 MT. Pattullo emphasizes the need of economy and at the same time wants the Government to spend S3000O00 to give his constituents road,' countered Premier Tomie His arguments are not sound. He is not consistent. The proposal re- garding the road, simply that in future road con- struction in the North the Province should build to ordered plan. that some day the highway system would reach the Yukon and then Alaska , said the Premier
 When this road is built perhaps not in my lifetime,' he said it will give Canadian outlet to the Yukon and to that great rich country in Province east of the Alaska panhandle, which must do all it's business through Alaskan ports It is not proposed that dollar shall be deducted from the maintenance and development of the general road scheme of British Columbia in order to build a road to Alaska, as has been suggested We recognize roads of the prime necessities of British Columbia. We pro- pose simply that committee consisting of a rep resentative of the Federal Government of the United States Government, and one from British Columbia shall look into the feasibility the road Perhaps it may be found not to be feasible but if it is found feasible, then it is proposed that the committee consider the best route the cost and the prospective development
 The Premier pictured the enormous potential value of road which would cause thousands Of Americans to travel through British Columbia to the Land of the Midnight Sun Traffic would enter the Province by fifteen border points and would benefit virtually all districts This road he has been told by the Alaska Highway Commission could be kept open with ease six months a year ana even twelve months if that were ever consid- cred desirable.