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CALL NUMBER: T3330:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Background, education and military service of Les Peterson PERIOD COVERED: 1923-1946 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-09-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses his personal and family background: growing up in rural Alberta; religious influences and early political interests. Recollections of political figures prominent in Alberta in the 1930s. Peterson's education: Alice Hill School, Viking, Alberta -- the proverbial single-room schoolhouse; high school in Viking; Camrose Lutheran College, Camrose Alberta. Extracurricular activities and first working experience. TRACK 2: Leslie Peterson recounts his experience working for the CN Express in Edmonton as a young man. Working for the railroad in Terrace, B.C., and enlisting in the army at Prince Rupert. Recollections of service in the army: training and service in the Coast Artillery at Prince Rupert; attendance at McGill University in the Army Service course and memories of Montreal and friendships made there; service overseas in England and travels on the continent. Peterson was in Europe on Armistice Day. Before returning to Canada in 1946 he attended the University of London for a year. Return to Canada, discharge from army and decision to enroll in law school at the University of British Columbia. CALL NUMBER: T3330:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Legal and political training PERIOD COVERED: 1946-1956 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-09-25 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses his first impressions of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia. Comments on the experience of a war veteran attending university after World War Two. Recollections of three years at U.B.C. law school. Peterson was called to the bar in 1949 and begun his own practice in Vancouver. Discussion of the nature of his law practice. Marriage to Agnes Rose Hine in 1950 and comments on Peterson's family. Comments on politics in B.C. during the Coalition era. TRACK 2: Peterson explains how he became interested in and involved with the Social Credit movement. Reaction to the 1952 provincial election. During the 1953 provincial election, Peterson served as campaign manager for North Vancouver Socred candidate George Tomlinson. Peterson was the unsuccessful; Social Credit candidate in the 1953 federal election in the Vancouver-Centre constituency. Impressions and recollections of W.A.C. Bennett. Peterson became involved in politics more by accident than by design. Discussion of how he came to be elected in the 1956 by-election in Vancouver-Centre. First impressions as a Social Credit MLA. CALL NUMBER: T3330:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): From MLA to Minister of Education PERIOD COVERED: 1956-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-10-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses his first impressions as an MLA and his recollections of the Social Credit caucus. Comments on the leadership style of W.A.C. Bennett. The problems of representing an urban constituency in B.C. and Peterson's theory of democratic representation. Comments on the 1956 provincial election campaign. The problems of co-ordinating an election campaign in a dual-member constituency. The efficacy of the Socred campaign slogan: "Progress not Politics". Free enterprise versus socialism as a recurring fundamental issue in B.C. elections. TRACK 2: Leslie Peterson remarks upon the possibility of supporting the Conservatives or Liberals as free enterprise alternatives. The polarization of politics in B.C. The results of the 1956 provincial election and Peterson's success in Vancouver-Centre. Reaction to appointment as Minister of Education, 1956. Description of duties and functions of Minister of Education. Peterson served as Minister of Education during a period of great growth. Comments on the administration of the Education portfolio, 1956-68. The Department of Education was administered by a small group of able men in a very personal style. The problem of delegation of authority. CALL NUMBER: T3330:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Aspects of the administration of the Department of Education, 1956-68 PERIOD COVERED: 1956-1968 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-10-04 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses further aspects of the administration of the Education portfolio. The relationship between the formulation and execution of government policy in the Department of Education. The problem of teacher shortages in British Columbia in the '50s and '60s. Relations with the B.C. Teachers Federation. Discussion of the increasing cost of education in British Columbia, 195;6-68. The financial policies of the Social Credit government and the goal of debt reduction. Financing of school construction under the Social Credit government. Comments on the issues of centralization and decentralization of British Columbia's educational system. TRACK 2: Further comments on the policy of debt-reduction. Recollections of coming before the Treasury Board as Minister of Education. The process of producing a departmental budget. Peterson describes the experience of coming before Treasury Board as a fairly informal affair. Discussion of the operation of cabinet under the leadership of W.A.C. Bennett. The Premier was intolerant on questions of morality, otherwise he was quite flexible on matters of policy. Attitude toward cabinet committees. Important consultation on policy matters often took place outside of cabinet. The Social Credit government was operated by a relatively small group of elected and non-elected officials. Changing impressions of W.A.C. Bennett. CALL NUMBER: T3330:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Further aspects of education in British Columbia PERIOD COVERED: 1958-1968 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-11-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses the Chant Report of 1958 which called for less frills in education. The Doukhobor problem in British Columbia and the Department of Education. Discussion of trip to Europe in 1959 to examine various European school systems. Medical problems during Peterson's career. Assumption of the responsibilities for the education of the mentally retarded in British Columbia, 1960. The issue of federal assistance for education in British Columbia. Education and federal-provincial relations. Problems serving in a dual cabinet portfolio, Education and Labour. TRACK 2: Coordination of Labour and Education departments. Political oratory and attitudes towards parliamentary institutions. Relations with the University of British Columbia and explanation of the system of grants to universities. Comments on charges of anti-intellectualism which were levelled against the Social Credit government. The Macdonald plan for the growth of higher education in B.C. and the subsequent development of universities and regional colleges in the province. The building of Simon Fraser University. The role of W.A.C. Bennett in the expansion of educational opportunities in B.C. All-night sittings and the issue of "legislation by exhaustion". CALL NUMBER: T3330:0006 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Aspects of government in B.C. and appointment as Minister of Labour, 1960 PERIOD COVERED: 1960-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-11-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses the issue of all-night sittings in the B.C. legislature. The absence of question period and Hansard in the House during the years of the first Social Credit government. Recollections of the Sommers affair and its effect on the government. The timing of the 1960 provincial election. Recollections of the 1960 election campaign. The take-over of B.C. Electric Co. and reaction in government circles. TRACK 2: The background to Peterson's appointment as Minister of Labour, 1960. Reasons for serving in a dual portfolio. Administration of the Department of Labour. Duties and functions of the Minister of Labour. Comments on the distinctiveness of the labour movement in B.C. Views on labour-management relations. The effect of being branded an "anti-labour government". The relationship between organized labour and the NDP in B.C. and its effects on Peterson as Minister of Labour. The role and function of labour unions. Speculation as to why British Columbians have been reluctant to admit voting for Social Credit. CALL NUMBER: T3330:0007 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Labour law disputes and labour relations in B.C., 1960-1971 PERIOD COVERED: 1960-1971 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-11-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses the effects of labour legislation which he passed through the B.C. Legislature as Minister of Labour. Bill 42, 1961, and the relationship between organized labour and the NDP. The issue of union payroll deductions being used for political purposes. The Mediation Commission Act, 1968 (Bill 33) and the issue of compulsory arbitration. Use of the power of binding arbitration. Relationship with leaders of organized labour in British Columbia. Comments on the growth and development of the labour movement in B.C. during the years Peterson served as Minister of Labour. Premier W.A.C. Bennett's role in labour matters. TRACK 2: The Premier's attitude towards labour-management relations may have been harsher and more direct than Peterson's. The importance of timing in government interventions in labour-management relations. The occasion when Peterson and Bennett visited the home of J.V. Clyne in an effort to assist in the settling of a labour dispute which was crippling the coast forest industry. The 1971 BCFL-sponsored demonstration at the opening of the legislative session. The amount of labour legislation increased significantly in B.C. during Peterson's tenure as Minister of Labour. Peterson's legacy to labour-management relations in B.C. CALL NUMBER: T3330:0008 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Conventions, elections and Social Credit policies PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-11-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses his role and involvement within the Social Credit party. The relationship between the party executive and the government. Comments on the differences between using the phrases "movement", "league" or "party" in describing Social Credit in B.C. The roles of the Women's Auxiliary and the Young Socreds. The relationship between the B.C. and Alberta Social Credit parties. The relationship between the B.C. Social Credit Party and the national party. The 1962 national Social Credit leadership convention at which Robert Thompson was made leader. Reasons for supporting Real Caouette over Robert Thompson. TRACK 2: W.A.C. Bennett and national Social Credit politics. The question of possible irregularities at the 1962 national Socred convention. Reasons for the lack of success of the national Social Credit Party in Canada. Recollections of the 1963 election campaign. Evaluation of the challenge by the Conservatives under the leadership of Davie Fulton. Reasons for the failure of third party challenges in British Columbia. The 1966 provincial election and Peterson's switch to the riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain. Comments on dual-member riding. Election funding and the B.C. Free Enterprise Educational Fund. Peterson's interest and involvement in promoting the Bank of British Columbia. Relations with Vancouver municipal politicians. CALL NUMBER: T3330:0009 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Life as Attorney-General and the defeat of the Socreds, 1972 PERIOD COVERED: 1968-1975 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-11-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Leslie Peterson discusses the effect of the resignation of Robert Bonner in 1968. The following cabinet shuffle and Peterson's assumption of the portfolio of Attorney-General. The duties and functions of the Attorney-General. Administration of the department of the Attorney-General. Relationship with Deputy Attorney-General. Federal-provincial relations, the process of constitutional review and the failure of the Victoria Charter, 1971. The development and advocacy of the five-regions idea. The 1969 constitutional conference in Ottawa. The 1969 provincial election. Evaluation of the leadership of the NDP under Strachan and Berger. The liquor ad ban, 1971, and its effect on the demise of the government. Moral issues in politics. TRACK 2: Peterson's defence of W.A.C. Bennett after he was referred to as a bigot by Prime Minister Trudeau. Contributing factors to the defeat of the Social Credit government in 1972. Anecdote about meeting the Premier at the PNE during the election campaign and warning him that things were not going well. The effect of losing in his own riding, Vancouver-Little Mountain. Comments on the question of succeeding W.A.C. Bennett as leader of the Soci;al Credit Party. Comments on Bill Bennett and his entry into B.C. politics. The threat of the Majority Movement to the revival of the Social Credit Party in B.C.. (End of interview)

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1983-04 & 07 SUMMARY: [No content summaries available.];

The series consists of three volumes of Victoria Gaol Warden's diaries dated 1893, 1896 and 1899.

The series consists of correspondence from the Dept. of the Attorney-General to the Superintendent of Police between October 1898 and August 1912.

The series consists of 12 volumes of correspondence from the Superintendent of Provincial Police outward to Attorney General. The records were created between December 1898 and April 1918 and are letterpress copies. There are subject indexes at the start of each volume.

The series consists of three volumes of telegrams to the Superintendent of Police, from 1896-1897, and 1900-1906. They are arranged alphabetically within chronological groupings.

The series consists of certified copies of records pertaining to Indian lands obtained by the Dept. of the Attorney-General in 1976 from the Public Record Office, London.

It includes selected page copies of proclamations (PC 2/110), correspondence, and despatches (C.O.5/65, C.O.42/24 and C.O.398) from successive Secretaries of State to the Governor of British Columbia pertaining to Indian lands and Crown lands in North America as well as British Columbia.

The file consists of Attorney-General correspondence file 12/09. It contains a file of signatures on a petition to Messrs. Hon. Bowser, J.F. Ford, A.H. MeGowan, G.A. McGuire, J.F. Garden and Hon. R.G. Tatlow, Members of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for the Electoral District of Vancouver City, 14-26 January 1909. The petition concerns the idea of including with the balloting at municipal elections "a local option system to determine whether or not the traffic in intoxicating liquors shall be permitted or prohibited." The petition was received by the Attorney General's office 28 January 1909.

This series contains employment registers from the Victoria Gaol, 1861-1914. These volumes contain daily reports showing the prisoner's name, with or without labour, how/where employed and sometimes "remarks". The following Volumes are missing : 1 May 1900 - 16 Sep 1901 and 1 Feb 1903 - 14 Jun 1904. The final volume contains a notes that prisoners were transferred to Saanich Prison Farm on 12 Sep 1914.

This series consists of records documenting the admission and discharge of prisoners, their daily activities and medical needs; account books for the running of the gaol; time books for the guards and gaolers; and a letterpress book of correspondence outward from the warden, J. Munro. Volumes 1-5 are statements showing the Employment of Prisoners in Saanich Prison Farm. This is a daily record which shows the date, number and name of prisoner, all are male, all do hard labour, most are under sentence and a few are under capital sentence.

This series consists of the records of the Victoria Gaol, 1859-1914. The 107 volumes include lists of prisoners, descriptions of prisoners, sentence books, work records, charge books, employment registers, registers of clothing issued, reports of prisoners' conduct, punishment books, gaolers' reports, duty rosters and daily diaries, ration books, food account books, stores and provisions account books, financial records, doctors' record books, medical order books, receipts and 1875 correspondence from the Superintendent of Police.

Records have been grouped by subject matter, then arranged chronologically when possible. The groupings are as follows: Volumes 1 to 6, Lists of prisoners in Victoria gaol; Volumes 7 to 13, Description lists; Volumes 14 to 17, Sentence books; Volumes 18 to 22, Work records; Volumes 23 to 35, Charge books; Volumes 36 to 40, Prisoners conduct records; Volumes 41 to 107, Gaolers' records.

This series consists of records of the New Westminster Goal, including prisoner description books, monthly lists of prisoners, and prisoners' effects books, 1875-1917.

Description books are a record and description list of all prisoners received into New Westminster Gaol, showing date, name, occupation, age, height, hair, eyes, complexion, religion, nationality, proportions, weight, peculiar marks, read and write, married or single, temperate or intemperate, offence, sentence number of convictions and remarks.

Return of Prisoners confined in New Westminster Gaol are lists arranged by month showing prisoner number and name, offence or charge, date of trial, when received in gaol, where and by whom tried, sentence, religion, nationality, whether can read or write, date of discharge, conduct, occupation in gaol, and remarks.

Prisoners' effects books show date, name, property, officer, remarks, charge and sentence.

Records are arranged chronologically by type of record.

This series consists of records of the Provincial Gaol at Nanaimo mostly between 1911 and 1914. Volumes include a list of prisoners, 1893-1911, charge and sentence book, 1911-1914, prisoners' sentence book, prisoners' description book, prisoners' employment book, prisoners' effects book, list of provisions and stores, Gaoler's testimonials at Nanaimo Gaol, 1911-1914 and at the Saanich Prison Farm 1914-1917, punishment book, prisoners' keep account book, gaoler's diary 1911, food account books, an indexed letterpress book of correspondence outward from the Warden J. Munro and a daily minute book of admissions, discharges, calls, visitors, church services, etc.

Punishment book showing "punishments awarded for breaches of prison discipline in Provincial Gaol". The volume indicates the date, prisoner's name, nature of the offence, by whom reported, sentence, date of sentence and the signature of the warden, J. Munro.

The Attorney-General Document series consists mainly of transcripts of depositions and preliminary hearings and trials, forwarded to the Attorney-General and numbered consecutively by year they were filed. Registers and indexes (volumes 879 to 885) are available on microfilm reel B00395.

This series contains selected inward Department of the Attorney-General correspondence from 1872 to 1950, although most of the items date from 1872 to 1937. Records cover all aspects of work conducted by the Attorney General and discuss a wide variety of subject matter.

The department used several numbering and filling systems during this time period. From 1872 to 1911 letters were assigned a number as they were received, and then filed in numerical order by year. From 1911 to 1917 a subject file drawer system was used, and thereafter correspondence was coded and filed according to the Act which applied to the issue under discussion in the correspondence.

See the file list for descriptions of files or individual folios within the files.

The series is arranged into the following subseries:

-- Correspondence inward, 1872-1911
-- Reports on coal miners’ strike, 1912-1913
-- Memos and correspondence, 1899, 1912-1933, 1950
-- Correspondence regarding unemployment administration and communist activity (Attorney General Department file number L-125), 1930-1937

Series consists of selected coroners' inquisitions (inquests) for 1865-1937. Records were chosen by BC Archives staff for retention in their original paper format for historical purposes. Most, if not all, records can be found on microfilm in GR-1327 and GR-1328. Inquisitions are investigations in which a coroners’ jury rules on the cause of death. Inquisition files often contain witness statements, transcripts, autopsy reports, and findings.

This series consists of registers and indexes to coroners' inquiries and inquests, 1874-1937. In the registers (1889-1937), names are listed chronologically by year. In the indexes (1879-1937), names are arranged alphabetically by year.

Coroners' inquiries and inquests that are registered and indexed in this accession are held in GR-1327 and GR-1323.

This collection is comprised of records relating to the development, implementation and administration of game management policies in British Columbia from 1905-1927. It includes correspondence, reports, vouchers and licences, as well as information regarding firearms regulation and prosecutions under game laws. Records were created by the Provincial Game Warden, Deputy Game Wardens and other related staff.

Researchers will find these records particularly useful for tracking the development and implementation of early provincial game management policies. General correspondence and reports from Deputy Game Wardens throughout the province contain information regarding the status of game in various areas over time. Difficulties in enforcing policies such as regulation of trophy hunters and the need for firearms licences are documented in these materials. Development of the game base as an economic resource through payment of licence fees, and international promotion of the province as a sportsperson's centre, were key components of A. Bryan Williams' approach to game management and the results of this can also be studied in these records. Conflicts between the provincial approach to the game resource and that taken by some Indigenous peoples can be studied in this collection. Additional subjects include fishing, fur farming, wildlife management and conflict between hunting with other forms and land and resource use. Many of the Deputy Game Wardens saw military service abroad during World War I and the records include some relevant correspondence.

See Table of Contents below for a general sense of the collection organization and finding aid for a detailed file/item list. The contents of some files are listed in a hardcopy index (i.e. an item list) available in the reference room. The series is arranged by record type into the following sub series and sub-sub series:

A. Indexes
B. Correspondence
B(1) Personal and semi-official correspondence of A. Bryan Williams, Provincial Game Warden
B(2) Correspondence out
B(3) Letterbooks of correspondence out
B(4) General correspondence inward and outward
B(5) Correspondence re: firearms licences
C. Deputy Game Wardens
C(1) Monthly reports Boxes
C(2) Correspondence Boxes
D. Returns re: firearms licences
E. Vouchers
F. Licences
G. Prosecutions
H. Miscellaneous

This series consists of printed records relating to the following court cases: the Attorney General of the Province of British Columbia versus Theodore Ludgate, and the Attorney General of the Dominion of Canada regarding ownership of Deadman's Island, Burrard Inlet.

Records include Attorney-General vs. Ludgate report by Robert Cassidy to the Attorney General for British Columbia on the appeal of the Dominion of Canada from the 1901 judgment of Martin, J. (Queen's Printer, 1904, 7 p.). The series also includes various exhibits and other records, such as exhibit 6, "Extracts from blue book containing papers relating to the affairs of British Columbia, 1859-1864" (pp. 307-307(81)); "Evidence before Full Court in addition to that taken at trial" and Exhibits V,W,X,Y (pp. 366-430); reasons for judgment of Chief Justice Gordon Hunter, Justice M.W. Tyrwhitt Drake, and Justice P. A. Irving (pp. 431-445); and B.C. Supreme Court decisions (pp. 446-449). Box 2 contains several duplicates of pp. 307-307(81) and pp. 366-450.

This series consists of reports of inquests, juries of inquiry submitted by provincial coroners as required by the Coroners Act, 1954.

This series consists of one volume of a record of documents retained by various government departments, 1934-1935.

This series consists of a charge and sentence book from Victoria Gaol, 1904-1914. Information recorded includes date entered, name, date of sentence, charge, admitting officer, time and date prisoner received, sentence, by whom sentenced, property received, cash received, and receipt for propensity on discharge.

This series consists of drafts of proclamations, ordinances, acts, and bills, 1858-1910. Records created before 1871 were created by the Attorney-General of the Colony of British Columbia, and possibly by the Attorney-General for the Colony of Vancouver Island. Records created after 1871 were created by the Department of the Attorney-General for the Province in British Columbia.

This series consists of bills, draft bills, orders of the day, notes on debates, estimates, draft legislation, statutes, subject files and other records of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly, 1868-1872.

The first versions or drafts of a bill or act are known as the Blues version, after the blue paper used for the printing. The final version, printed by the Queen’s Printer, is on white paper. All blues versions will be identified as draft. Final versions will be noted at “Statute”.

This series consists of papers, mainly draft bills, regarding mining, 1859-1871. Records created before 1871 were created in the office of the Attorney-General of the Colony of British Columbia, and possibly the Attorney-General of the Colony of Vancouver Island, if the records relate to Vancouver Island and were created before 1866 when the two colonies merged. Records created in 1871 were created by the Attorney-General for the Province of British Columbia.

This series consists of annual reports submitted to the Minister of the Attorney General from the Workmens' Compensation Board and Mothers' Pensions Act. The Dept. of Attorney General was the department responsible for administering these programs. The annual reports for the Workmens' Compensation Board include the years ending in 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927. The annual report for the Mothers' Pensions Act is for the year ending 30 September 1927.

This series consists of a transcript of correspondence in and out regarding the Skeena River uprising, 1888.

This series consists of guides and indexes to correspondence from the Department of the Attorney General. Records include a subject index, 1911-1918; a guide to filing system, 1902-1911, including index to subject drawers; a guide to filing system, 1919-1924; and a guide to filing system, 1925-1937.