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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-10-29, Page 1FsTABLISHEU IN 1873 "THE SEPOY TOWN" ON THE HURON.BRUCE BOUNDARY 16 PAGES 4O PER COPY ft 4... nr,Ineenkmnaunhn,AW. ,AIMINIORONR Laurie Snow's dog BJ keeps a close eye on Dr. Roger Thomson of the Lucknow Veterinary ' Clinic, as he receives his rabies shots at the Rabies Clinic at the Lucknow Town Hall on Oc- - tober 22. Approximately 300 dogs and cats were vaccinated during the afternoon seSsion. ( Alan Rivett photo) • Postal ruling hits couriers By Alan Rivett • • A new ruling by Canada Post regarding the contracts for rural mail couriers has met with controversy, with at least one rural courier saying mail delivery will suffer. • tinder the new Canada Post ruling, an- nounced two weeks ago, all rural mail routes will go to a public tender after the courier's five-year term has been com- pleted. In the past, Canada Post would renew a contract after the five-year term if an agreement could be reached with the courier. The new ruling will go into effect on Aril 1, 1987. A cording to Anne Pritchard, the mail coil ier for the Lucknow RR 2 mail route for the past nine years, the opening of the mail routes to public tender will have' an adverse affect on rural mail delivery. She estimated, with the advent of the public tenders ruling, the couriers will be paid. far les's than the actual cost for doing. the route five days per week. She said her . contact will come due on July 1, 1987 and she doesn't expect she will have the con- tract renewed.because of the ruling. "The moral isn't good with the mail couriers (because of the ruling)" said Mrs. Pritchard. "It's the customer who is going to suffer." A meeting b9tween the area mail couriers and Canada Post will be held to- day (Wednesday) in Walkerton. At the rneeting, she said the couriers will definitely voice their opposition to the new ruling. "It's our livelihoods we're talking about here," she said. The ruling is also unpopular with Allan Cranston, the RR 7 Lucknow courier for the past 15 years. ' • Mr. Cranston said rural mail delivery has been a way of life in his family, as he • took over the mail route 15 years ago from his. father who had held it since 1942. "I don't approve of it. I don't think it's a good thing for the (rural) mail service," • said Mr. Cranston. According to Tom Dalby, director of communications for the Huron division of Canada Post, said the" decision to go to a public tender system for rural mail delivery came about after meetings with couriers last May and June, Calling the move .a "business -like ap- proach" to rural mail, he said he didn't think the new ruling .would have any effect on mail delivery with the service being more cost effective as a result.. "A contractor is obviously experienced at what they do and when their contract conies up for renewal, they'll likely retain it and run it in the most cost effective way possible," said Mr, Dalby in an interview with the Sentinel on October 27. Be said the move was made to go to tenders in order for the postal service to have "more control" over the rural postal service. He said in the past the system was open t� abuses, with some contracts being transferred from one courier to another. tinder the new system, this couldn't hap- pen without tenders being called to fill the postition. "It's a control measure which will give us a better handle on rural mail delivery," said Mr. Dalby, Hospital news Doctors make return to hospital advisory committee • Area doctors have made a decision to resume committee obligations at the Wingham and District Hospital. The hospital has been without a medical advisory committee since the resignation of doctors on that committee was received by the hospital's board of governors in Ju- ly. The action was taken by the doctors in support of the Ontario Medical Associa- tion's stand in its dispute with the govern- ment in an effort to stop the passing of Hill 94. The medical staff met on October 20 to elect its executive, the first step in the return by doctors to serving on the hospital's committees and boards. Norman Hayes, Executive , Director, reported that the new president of the hospital's medical staff is Dr. Marie Gear of Teeswater, while Wingham's Dr. Peter Long is now vice-president and secretary - treasurer. The two, along with Dr. Hrian Hanlon, chief of staff, will make up the new medical advisory cozninittee. As president and vice-president of the medical staff, Dr, Gear and Dr. Long will also sit on the thospital's board of governors. Dr. Hanlon has continued to sit on the board since July and is the current vice- chairman. Although Dr. Hanlon's signature had been included in the letter of resignation from the medical advisory committee he apparently decided to con - time as chief of staff and continued to sit as a board member in that capacity. - At the October board meeting* week, Dr. Hanlon was questioned on when .he thought the doctors would return to serv- ing on hospital comrnittees and boards. At that time, Dr. Hanlon said, there had been no meeting of the medical staff, "Rumour has it that it may be Monday, but that has not been confirmed,'! he said. . Board Chairman Mary Lou Thompson said she had learned at a recent meeting of Region 2 of .the Ontario Hospital Associa- tion - hospitals in the same regions as Wingham, - that Wingham and District was the only hospital in the region with its doe - Barn fire damage set at $60,000 Damage was estimated at $80,000 after. two farm buildings and a large quantity of hay were destroyed in a fire on Concession 7 of Ashfield Township on October 24. According to Lucknow and District'Fire Department Chief Bud Hamilton, there is yet no determined cause for the fire to two adjoining barns owned by Helmut Sieber of RR 1 Dungannon. Mr. Hamilton said the department re- mained at the fire for five hours, keeping the fire from spreading to close -by buildings at the farm. The fire call was received by the fire department at 5 p.m. on Friday. tors still nof serving on ciinunittees. Robert Pike, Huron County represen- tative to the board, said he was provided with the sank information at county coun- cil recently in a discussion with the county's representatives to the four other hospitals in Huron. "Are they going to come back and resume these duties," Mr. Pike asked Dr. Hanlon, who replied that he didn't know. Dr. Hanlon said he understood the doc- tors were waiting for a meeting of . the Huron County Medical Association to see what position it planned to takeon the issue. "This board might have to look at what conditions under which the doctors are willing to come back," he warned. Mr. Pike said he considered the position of Huron County doctors to be one of a return to serving on committees since that is already a fact in the other hospitals in the county. - "Do ydu not think that this board and this hospital have a right to know what the . doctors propose to do," he asked. Dr, Hanlon said he would "attempt" to convene a meeting of the doctors at which he will express the concerns of the board and ask if the doctors are prepared to take any action, . . "I trust you will contact Mr. Hayes and let hirn know what they decide at that meeting," Mrs. Thompson said. "I will phone Mr. Hayes to tell him whether or not it was productive," Dr, Hanlon replied, L3ttery The 48th draw in the Lucknow and District Arena Complex Lottery was held on October 27. The winners were: $500 - Alexis Westbrook, RR 2 Clinton; $300 - Tom Hogan, RR 3 Goderich, $100 Mike . Foran and Keith Ilardyand $100 Janet MacPherson. Bean crops Federal Agriculture MinisterJohn Wise made special visit to the Exeter and Grapd Bend areas to 'tour the rain - damaged bean crops. Ile said he is Prepared to act in conjunction with the provincial government to find some form of relief for area farmers. For a full story... Colunm Do you know what a. "What's Line" • is, If you are even the slightest bit - curious, have a look at the editor's col- umn. SEE PAGE 4. 6,