GREG SCOTT
From the files of the Nelson Daily News
APRIL 1918
Dateline
April 8, 1918
Before large audiences at both Methodist and Presbyterian churches in the city yesterday afternoon and evening, Mrs. Nellie McClung, noted western authoress, spoke of the duties of citizenship. At the afternoon service in the Methodist Church, Mrs. McClung touched on the part which those at home should play in the hour of Empire need. The evening subject at the Presbyterian Church was “The Ideal Church”. A surprising large number attended to hear the afternoon address, although a still larger crowd greeted her at the more convenient evening hour address.
Dateline
April 9, 1918
All Nelson housewives will be liable to a call today for services in the new national army of soldiers of the kitchen. At 10 o’clock this morning nearly 50 city women will form a recruiting corps which will begin a thorough canvass of the residences of Nelson to secure enlistments in the form of pledges to the food service card. Each householder will be asked to sign the pledge which is in duplicate, it is to be detached and a part sent to the government for a record and the provincial mailing list. The housewives will also get literature from the local food board office outlining the conservation of food. The food service pledge reads as follows. “Realizing the gravity of the food situation and knowing that Great Britain and our allies look to Canada to help to shatter Germany’s threats of starvation, I pledge myself and my household to carry out conscientiously the advice and directions of the food controller that requisite foodstuffs may be released for export to the Canadian divisions, the British forces and people and the allied armies and nations.”
Dateline
April 9, 1918
Infraction of the Motor Act and the bylaw for street traffic regulation will be severely dealt with, Chief T.H. Long states. With the opening of spring and the increasing number of automobiles the city police will start early to enforce the rules governing street traffic. All vehicles must keep to the left hand side of the street. Autos must not be driven faster than 15 miles an hour and must not pass standing street cars. Pedestrians should not stand on the streets, but should wait on the sidewalks for cars. Owners of bicycles will come to grief too, if the police catch them on the sidewalks. The chief further points out that horses, cattle and poultry should not be allowed to run at large and violators of the bylaw to that effect will be severely dealt with. It is especially important that the gardens at this time of need of production should not be unnecessarily spoiled, he says. (Ed note- BC drivers switched to driving on right side of road on January 1, 1922)
Dateline
April 17, 1918
That the new Federal daylight saving bill, that came into effect on Sunday April 14, will prove an acceptable legislation and have a far-reaching effect on the industrial, social and patriotic activities of the people is the consensus of opinion which is already evidenced by Nelson citizens. Apart from the reluctance of having to retire one hour before the usual time and the equally unwelcome duty of arising an hour before usual, the scheme has been accepted by citizens as an ideal one. Those who are in the habit of going out on the lake in the evening will find it possible to reach one of the sandy beaches and have lunch before dark. Boys have always found it impossible to have a nine inning game after work. Now that there is another hour of daylight it will be quite a treat to have a game of ball when everybody can be out.
Dateline
April 23, 1918
All Nelson turned out to witness the parade held last evening to commemorate the First Battle of Ypres. Thousands of persons crowded the streets to see the parade wend its way down Baker Street to Cedar and back along Vernon, up Ward and back to the armory by Baker and Kootenay, where it was dismissed and the people gathered again at the Opera House to attend the patriotic concert at which the returned soldiers were the guests of honor. Owing to the fact that it was a patriotic parade the veterans numbered over 30, were the feature of the parade. Those who were not able to walk in the parade rode in automobiles. Deep feeling could be noticed among the spectators as the veterans passed by and everyone was impressed by the intense feeling which was evident in the crowd. (Ed note: Ypres Day was commemorated in Nelson from 1916 until the early 1940’s)