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CALL NUMBER: T3224:0008 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): 1950-52 sessions and 1952 election PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1952 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses: hospital insurance issue; break up of Coalition; role of W.A.C. Bennett, who advocates alternate (preferential) ballot, crosses floor; Workman's Compensation issues; more on W.A.C. Bennett; other issues in 1950-52 Parliament; caucus discipline and unity; Winch's role as Opposition Leader; storm caused by Nimsick's involvement in signing peace petition, 1951; 1952 election campaign; Social Credit League. TRACK 2: Nimsick discusses: 1952 election (cont'd); Cranbrook campaign, the story of the "great challenge" in Kimberley; candidates in Cranbrook constituency; local issues; outcome of election; Social Credit forms government; role of Tom Uphill; reaction of Harold Winch; Winch's attempt to form government, 1953.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0009 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): 1953 election and 1952-56 sessions PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1956 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses: 1952 by-elections, C.C.F. caucus, 1953, description of new members, 1953 session and Rolston Formula; comparison between Social Credit government and Coalition government; W.A.C. Bennett; hospital insurance changes under Social Credit; more on 1953 session; J. Allen Reid speech, night sittings. Impressions of: Einar Gunderson, Tilly Rolston. Discussion of events surrounding Winch's resignation as leader. TRACK 2: Nimsick discusses: more on Winch's resignation; Winch and Webster switch nominations; Webster becomes leader; 1953 election and the Rolston Formula; Nimsick speaks in Trail; Cranbrook campaign; relationship between C.C.F. and Tom Uphill; 1953-56 sessions; more on hospital insurance, liquor issue, "cow incident", Colquitz Mental Home, PGE Railway, Workman's Compensation, labour legislation, Phil Gaglardi.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0010 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The 1954-1956 sessions : Sommers, Doukhobors and Highways PERIOD COVERED: 1954-1970 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses: Gaglardi (cont'd); Stewart-Cassiar Highway controversy (aside on Edgar Jamieson); general comments on the role of an MLA; more on Nimsick's relationship with Cominco; putting columns in newspaper; Sommers case; and 1955 redistribution. TRACK 2: Nimsick discusses: Walter Mulligan case; Bennett's financial policies; Social Credit highway program; some general comments about the Doukhobor issue and Sons of Freedom sect.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0011 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Provincial party politics, 1955-1960 PERIOD COVERED: 1955-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Nimsick discusses: the Kaiser Dam proposal; relationship between Nimsick and Bennett; internal party politics; Webster resigns as leader; leadership contest in 1956 which Nimsick runs in; caucus role in selecting leader; Strachan wins leadership; the Winnipeg Declaration; 1956 provincial election; Strachan as a leader; Wenner-Gren proposal. TRACK 2: Nimsick discusses: Wenner-Gren (cont'd;); government's entry into ferry business; labour legislation (Bill 43); civil servants' strike; homeowners grant (Strachan reverses his position under caucus pressure); 1960 election; B.C. Electric issue; Cranbrook campaign; recollections of work as an MLA (general); first impressions of Dave Barrett and other new C.C.F. MLAs.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0012 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Formation of NDP and 1966 election PERIOD COVERED: 1960-1966 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: More on C.C.F. MLAs elected in 1960. Formation of NDP: Nimsick opposes merger with CLC. Nimsick discusses Columbia River Treaty: overview, McNaughton scheme, Libby Dam, Peace River (two river; policy). B.C. Electric take-over. Kaiser moves into East Kootenay area to mine coal: Natal-Michel relocation plan. TRACK 2: Nimsick advocates government take-over of power companies in the Kootenays, also transmission lines. Labour legislation: Bill 42. Nimsick advocates a special pension to be given to Tom Uphill. Nimsick discusses the 1963 provincial election: Fulton's role, Strachan's image, effect of Columbia River Treaty and B.C. Electric take-over, Cranbrook campaign, Bank of B.C. Also discusses: medicare (1964), Jones case, his visit to Brannon Lake juvenile detention centre, the Angus Commission redistribution. Discusses 1966 provincial election: Kootenay campaign (problem of running in an enlarged riding), style of provincial campaign.

CALL NUMBER: T3224:0013 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The 1966 to 1969 provincial elections PERIOD COVERED: 1966-1969 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: More on style of provincial campaign (1966). Nimsick named caucus whip. He describes his role as whip. Impressions of new NDP caucus members. Controversy surrounding Gaglardi. Comments on Bonner's departure. Mediation Commission Act (Bill 33). Commonwealth Trust case. Robert's Bank superport. Cowichan Copper Company. Kootenay and Elk Railway. Incident between Nimsick and Waldo Skillings. Constituency issues. Nimsick's efforts to get a royal commission to examine the mining industry. Berger leadership challenge, 1967. TRACK 2: More on the Berger leadership challenge. Strachan resigns: 1969 leadership convention (Berger vs. Barrett vs. Williams). Nimsick attends showing of "The Good Life" with W.A.C. Bennett. 1969 provincial election: Nimsick wins on the recount. (End of interview)

CALL NUMBER: T3683:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Early years, military service and introduction to politics PERIOD COVERED: 1921-1951 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cyril Shelford discusses his family background. Reasons why his father, Jack, and uncle Arthur came out to British Columbia. Description of their experiences in the Ootsa Lake region. Born 1921 at Ootsa Lake. Education was by correspondence. Recollection of former schoolteacher. Early interest in politics. His uncle's political career as a Conservative. Anecdote about joining the army in the Second World War. Being wounded in a military training accident. Recollections of service overseas. Comments on military experiences in Britain. Landing at Sicily. Travelling through Italy. Comments on wartime conditions in Italy. Christmas of 1944 in Italy and relationship with German soldiers. Travelling throughout the rest of Europe and fighting conditions as the war came to a close. TRACK 2: Comments on the conclusion of wartime hostilities. Returned home 1945. Served in occupation in Holland. General reflections on his military experiences. Anecdotes about wartime experiences shared with friend from Alberta. Comments on return to British Columbia and readjustment to civilian life. Logging at Wistaria. Family politics. Anecdotes about politics in the riding of Omineca during the post-war period. Non-partisanship in the north country. Stories about the friendly nature of politics in the early years of his public career. Attitude towards socialism. Problems related to the construction of the Alcan Lake area in opposition to building of an Alcan reservoir. Heading a delegation to Victoria to see the government about the problem. Meeting W.A.C. Bennett. Description of a meeting with Premier Johnson and the Minister of Lands, E.T. Kenney. Going to see Harold Winch. Lack of newspaper support for their cause. Meeting with Alcan officials in Vancouver. W.A.C. Bennett made an issue of the problem in the Legislature. CALL NUMBER: T3683:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Social Credit and the 1952 election PERIOD COVERED: 1950-1952 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cyril Shelford describes attending his first Social Credit meeting in Victoria at the prompting of W.A.C. Bennett. W.A.C. Bennett as a public speaker. Joining Social Credit. Selling Socred memberships in Omineca. Recollection of the Social Credit nominating convention in Omineca. Anecdote about why he received the nomination. Reasons why he decided to enter politics. Recollections of the 1952 election campaign in Omineca. Anecdote about campaigning in Fort St. James. Wooing the Indian vote at Stony Creek. Reasons for Shelford's victory in the election. Voting strategy. Lack of understanding of Social Credit theory. The effect of the single transferable ballot in Omineca. Lack of contact throughout the campaign with other Social Credit candidates. Meeting at the Hotel Vancouver to choose a party leader. Shelford supported Bennett. First experience with political tactics. First Social Credit cabinet was appointed in the washroom at the Hotel Vancouver. Influence of Alberta Socreds. Shelford did not lobby for a cabinet post. Comments on the Socred team of elected MLAs. Religion and politics. Shelford heard about the cabinet being sworn in on a radio news report. Paying the price of being outspoken. [TRACK 2: blank.]; CALL NUMBER: T3683:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Aspects of government during the early years of Social Credit PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1960 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cyril Shelford recalls being the first Canadian casualty in the Second World War. Comments on the conclusion of the problem at Ootsa Lake with the Aluminum Company of Canada. Events after the 1952 election. Comments on problems of communication between MLA and cabinet ministers. Secrecy and Cabinet appointments. Lack of instruction or orientation for new MLAs. Comments on the character of the first Social Credit government. Reaction to W.A.C. Bennett bringing Robert Bonner and Einar Gunderson into the government. General comments on government. Discussion of goals during the early years of government service. Shelford as environmentalist. W.A.C. Bennett as Premier. TRACK 2: Cyril Shelford discusses the Social Credit caucus system. The possibility of a caucus revolt. The influence of caucus on legislation. Story about Phil Gaglardi coming up to Shelford's riding to look into possible construction of a new highway. Recollection of Phil Gaglardi. Shelford's fight for equalization of gas prices in the province. The appointment of a Royal Commission to look into the question. Shelford as critic of the government's agriculture policy during the early years. Service on the agriculture committee of the Legislature. Advocating the take-over of the B.C. Electric Company. The agriculture committee never sat again until Shelford became Minister of Agriculture in 1968. CALL NUMBER: T3683:0006 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The Sommers affair and other aspects of B.C. politics PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1969 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cyril Shelford discusses reaction to Bonner and Gunderson becoming cabinet ministers in the Social Credit government, 1952. W.A.C. Bennett's reputation as a financial genius. The possibility of the Premier entering federal politics. Recollection of Tom Uphill. Comments on "pairing" in the Legislative Assembly with opposition members. Recollection of the Sommers affair. Shelford was concerned that the Sommers case be cleared up at an early date. Disappointed with the performance of Sommers legal counsel, Angelo Branca. Meeting with Mel Bryan before he crossed the floor of the House. Criticism of the forest management licence system. Gordon Gibson Sr.'s role. Comments on the possibility of Robert Sommers' guilt. Sommers as cabinet minister. Campaign funds had been confused with Sommers personal affairs. The death of Hec Munro. Comments on letters Shelford wrote to the Premier on the subject of the Sommers Affair. Reasons why the Premier seemed to delay in appointing an inquiry into the matter. Effect of the case on the Sommers family. TRACK 2: Comments on Bonner's handling of the Sommers affair as Attorney-General. Reaction to Shelford's support of an Opposition vote of non-confidence in Bonner. Further comments on the Sommers affair. Comments on discipline among government members during the Sommers case. Attitude towards Gaglardi when he was accused of wrongdoing as Minister of the Crown. Gaglardi as a potential successor to lead the Social Credit Party. Gaglardi's popularity among party members. Shelford conducted an informal survey of public opinion in B.C. for the Premier prior to the 1969 election. W.A.C. Bennett indicated that he intended to resign after the 1969 election but stayed on in order to prevent the possibility of Gaglardi succeeding him as leader. Shelford's comments at the 1959 Socred convention and warning of undesirable changes in the party. Criticism of how election campaign funds were handled. Social Credit as a "party" or "movement". CALL NUMBER: T3683:0007 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Minister of Agriculture, 1968-1972 PERIOD COVERED: 1952-1969 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cyril Shelford discusses his personal political philosophy. Polarization in B.C. politics. Comments on varying philosophical viewpoints within the Social Credit Party. Reasons for the lack of a party revolt over the takeover of the B.C. Electric Company, 1961. Ken Kiernan and Ray Williston were called "the twins". Reactions to Shelford's outspokenness on aspects of government policy. Attempts to find another candidate in Shelford's riding. W.A.C. Bennett was not a one-man-government. Decision-making in government. Examples of effective and ineffective decision-makers in Bennett's cabinet. The Premier was good at delegating authority. Means of subsidization for the meagre salary of an MLA. "A politician without a cause is a lost cause." Criticism of Bennett's stringency with MLAs' salaries and expenses. Representing a rural riding as opposed to an urban one. Comments on Shelford' various threats to quit the Socred Party or cross the floor of the House. Comments on his coverage in the press. Anecdote about comments made by Walter Owen before sessions of the Morrow Commission. TRACK 2: Overtures were often made to Shelford to join other political parties. Shelford did not consciously cultivate the role of maverick. B.C.'s population too centralized in Vancouver. Shelford as the conscience of the Socreds. The Premier always kept open a vacancy in the cabinet to keep backbench MLAs in line. Access to Bennett was quite easy. Shelford feels that Bennett secretly liked the criticism he offered of government policy. Reaction to his appointment as Minister of Agriculture, 1968. Shelford was very well-known throughout the province. The process and effect of becoming a cabinet minister. Relationship with his staff and duties as Minister of Agriculture. Formulation of policy. The value of a good secretary (Lydia Clark). Policy initiatives as Min. of Agriculture. Relations with the federal government. The importance of encouraging a strong agricultural industry in B.C. CALL NUMBER: T3683:0008 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Injuries suffered at labour protest, New Westminster, 1972 PERIOD COVERED: 1968-1972 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cyril Shelford explains why agriculture was not a high priority in the government of W.A.C. Bennett. The process of Treasury Board and the experience of appearing before it as a Minister of the Crown. Comparison between Treasury Board under the governments of W.A.C. Bennett and Bill Bennett. Comments on ways that Shelford made up for the detachment from reality that a cabinet minister suffers from. Recollection of the 1972 cabinet tour which culminated in a violent encounter with angry demonstrators in New Westminster. Demonstration was organized by the B.C. Federation of Labour. Several cabinet ministers received bruises. Shelford was hit with a 2 X 4 and received an injury to his arm and a broken collarbone. The concept of a travelling cabinet tour. The B.C. Federation of Labour as a political group. Suggestions that W.A.C. Bennett call an election after the incident at New Westminster. The charged political climate in B.C. that preceded the provincial election in 1972. CALL NUMBER: T3683:0009 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The 1972 provincial election and its aftermath PERIOD COVERED: 1972-1979 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Cyril Shelford discusses the reasons for the defeat of the Social Credit government, 1972. W.A.C. Bennett wanted to step down after the 1969 election. The ban on tobacco and alcohol advertising. Development and industrialization brought about increased unionism which ultimately defeated the government. Comments on the differences between the 1972 election and previous campaigns. The role of Dave Barrett. Evaluation of different Leaders of the Opposition: Harold Winch, Arnold Webster, Robert Strachan, Tom Berger and Dave Barrett. The effect of Gaglardi's mistakes during the 1972 election. Differences between campaigning as a cabinet minister and a private member. The Conservatives as a factor in the 1972 election. Reasons for Shelford's personal defeat in Omineca. The NDP MLAs as "glorified ombudsmen" dealing with only small issues of a local nature. W.A.C. Bennett had an ability to make his ministers look ahead. Recollection of election night in 1972. Reaction to the defeat of the government. Account of events following the election. Problems for Socreds in obtaining employment after the election. Serving as village clerk at Fort St. James. TRACK 2: Comments on efforts to establish a "unity" party after the 1972 election. W.A.C. Bennett's role in B.C. politics after 1972. Reasons why the "Majority Movement" was not successful. Attitudes to Bill Bennett prior to his election as Premier. Reasons why Shelford decided to run again. Efforts by Grace McCarthy to nominate an alternate candidate in Skeena in 1975. Recollection of the nomination struggle in Skeena. Criticism of the NDP administration, 1972-75. Shelford disappointed he was not appointed to cabinet after the 1975 election. Comments on the government of Bill Bennett. Brought into the cabinet prior to the election of 1979. Reasons why politics in B.C. has degenerated. General reflections on politics. (End of interview)

The item is an audio recording of an interview with Mabel Haggen made in 1974.
T0288:0001 tracks 1 & 2: Lois Haggen : C.C.F. MLA in the 1950s. Personal background and life in the interior of British Columbia in the 1920s and 1930s. Discussion of the work of her husband Rupert Haggen and involvement with the C.C.F. Rupert's election as an MLA in 1949. Discussion of Coalition government and problems. The growth of Social Credit and its election victory. Description of the life of an MLA's wife and the social life in Victoria. The disappointment of the C.C.F. at not forming the government in 1952, and its impact on the party. Party leaders in the 1950s. Running for election in 1956 and early role as an MLA. Her reaction to Social Credit and W.A.C. Bennett.
T0288:0002 tracks 1 & 2: Interview with Lois Haggen, C.C.F. and NDP Member of the Legislative Assembly during the fifties and sixties. Discussion and description of campaigning in elections. Her role as a woman in politics. The role of her party as the opposition party. Her interests and goals in various legislation. Work to repeal taxes on children's clothing; efforts on the part of rural electrification; interest in rights of women. Discussion of committee work in the Legislature. Changing attitudes of government. Reaction to the takeover of B.C. Electric. Accomplishments as an MLA. Defeat and leaving government.