HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-08-19, Page 4L
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Page 4 Times -Advocate, August 19, 1981
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Close to the jungle
There's nothing quite as enlighten-
ing as a strike by policemen to indicate
just how little removed many people
are, from the law of the jungle which
provides for survival of the fittest.
A police strike early this summer
in Halifax turned that city into a centre
of crime, some of which was even at-
tributed to the striking police officers.
Gangs of hoodlums set fires in the
streets. looted stores and generally
showed a complete disdain for the
property and right of others.
Last week, the policemen in
Sackville. N.B. walked off the job and
the same thing happened. The officers
went back to work after drivers had
turned the streets into drag strips. One
of those races resulted in the death of a
driver who lost control of his speeding
vehicle and slammed into a building.
The situation points up the fact that
strikes by policemen can not be
tolerated, simply because many people
can not handle the responsibility of
such freedom.
assing the buck
Canada's 10 pr vincial premiers
met in Victoria las week, and as ex-
pected. hammered federal govern-
ment for failing to provide economic
leadership.
Even Ontario Premier William
Davis. who has sided with Pierre
Trudeau in the matter of the nation's
bitter constitutional debate, concurred
that the Trudeau government's energy
policy has created uncertainty and anx-
iety in the international business com-
munity.
In many aspects, the premiers'
complaints are a case of buck -passing.
They each have considerable input into
the economic well-being of this coun-
try. and in fact, would like to be solely
in charge. It may be convenient to use
Trudeau as a whipping boy, but the fact
remains that provincial governments
are far from blameless in the economic
plight of the respective provinces and
therefore the nation as a whole.
To charge Trudeau solely for the
lack of an energy pricing agreement
and the resulting problems, is to totally
ignore the fact that there are two sides
to most questions and the Alberta
government appears equally to blame
for the failure in reaching an agree-
ment that would reduce oil imports and
return stability to the national energy
picture.
Some compromise appear's
warranted by the federal and Alberta
governments to resolve that matter and
there also is a similar need for the 10
provincial premiers to accept some of
the responsibility for righting the
national economic problems, many of
which are created by over -spending at
all levels of government.
In many areas, the premiers have
control of their province's destiny, and
to heap the blame entirely on Ottawa is
a shallow attempt to avoid the blame
they must share.
Need alternative
The total stupidity of the Canadian
way of labour negotiation, known for its
irrational adversary tactics. has surely
reached its peak with the settlement of
the 42 -day postal strike. After all the
hardship suffered by the general public
and business, it turns out that the inside
postal workers will get what a con-
ciliator recommended they get two
months ago.
But meanwhile. the economy lost
billions of dollars in lost cash flow, at at
time when interest rates were at the
undreamed of usurious levels. Small
businesses must continue to pay their
suppliers and creditors no matter how
slow their incoming payments are
because of the halt to postal service.
Large corporations use courier to
deliver their mail. and then tack the
added cost onto their product.
9a
By SYD FLETCHER
A grown man should really
have more sense, 1 said to
myself. "Aw c'mon Dad,
even little kids are doing it,"
remarked my brave off-
spring who had already been
down twice while I nervously
watched.
"All right, all right, I'm
going," I replied, grabbed
my mat and started down.
My wife said She could
hear me coming all the way
down. One long scream of
pure terror, she remarked. I
denied that but do
remember thinking,' "Dear
Lord, is this never going 'to
E
The adversary system of labor
negotiations is slowly but surely
strangling the country as the rift con-
tinues to widen between workers and
their managers. In only a few isolated
cases do labor and management agree
to get along and reach for that common
goal. increased productivity, and hence
increased profits and wages. Wherc the
two sides recognize each otter's
talents. where losses and profits are
shared. the working environment has
been made far happier. and the com-
panies prosper.
Perhaps an intensive program of
mutual understanding seminars should
he started and put this country back on
its feet. before the strike finally brings
it to its knees
Clinton News Record
Perspectives
end" as I went into the last
I curve.
We were at the Arkona
Wafer Slide, one of the new
wild rides that have sprung
up over the province in
various places. This par-
ticular beastie is 420 feet
long with about a sixty or
seventy foot drop from top to
bottom. Shaped like half a
long plastic pipe, it's got high
racks on some of the faster
curves. Not exactly a con-
fidence -builder. About an
inch of water is flowing down
the slide with you. If you put
your mat down flat you tend
to go somewhat slower
because a small wall of
water builds up in front of
you. If you go too slowly you
run a small risk of somebody
assisting you on your way
with a good shove.
For two dollars you get
nalt an hour. There are no
elevators or escalators. You
walk to the top. After about
three or four treks upward
you begin to realize exactly
how old you are as you see
little kids running full tilt
around you while you try to
catch your breath.
Even at my slow speed
through' managed to get up
the hill ten or twelve times
and by the last trip down I
was enjoying the ride down
enough to open my eyes once
in a while and was thinking,
Hey, if 1 ever get my wind
hack and if my toenails grow
back in (they were filed
down from using them as
brakes), 1 might even break
down and come back next
week.
Nott Mr. Fletcher has
published a book of poems
"Bury Me Loose" that is now
available at the T -A.
•
.o
•
"How's the effluent?"
Departure will leave a big void in community
There's a party in town this Satur-
day. and the chances of it being sold out
are almost guaranteed, as long as area
residents are in the know about it.
The occasion is to mark the depar-
ture from the community of Frank and
Louise Giffin. If only one percent of the
friends they have accumulated over the
years attend, the S.R.O. sign will be
hung out on the front door of the rec.
centre.
It's not going to be a happy event for
many of us. While it is generally with
mixed feelings that people say farewell
to friends, the fact is that Frank and
Louise will leave a considerable void in
this area.
To enumerate their many activities
would take more space than is at my
disposal. One of the tests that can be
used to determine a person's involve-
ment is often to count the number of
times his/her photo appears in the local
newspaper.
With the exception of some
politicians. who through their job
appear regularly on the pages of this
publication. there are few people who
can hit the record attained by the Gif-
fins, although it should be noted that
Louise is by far the most photogenic of
the two. In the past, it's been noted that
one of the Giffin have been pictured
doing something in the community on
the average of once a month. I recall
one stretch when the family went four
weeks in a row with a member being
featured.
There were times when the T -A
started to take on the appearance of the
Giffin family newsletter.
It's difficult to think of any group in
the area who won't feel the loss, rang-
ing from their church, the schools, the
Lions. the Scouting groups, minor
sports. etc.. etc yes, and even the
law -breakers, Frank. Few people have
touched so many lives.
They were good citizens and good
friends. We very reluctantly say
farewell. hut sincerely say thanks for
the generous gift of their time and
talent which have made this communi-
ty a better place to live, work and play
while they were among us.
One of the fascinating points about
living in a small community was
brought home in the advertisement
that appeared in last week's paper
regarding the farewell party for the
Giffins.
Any of our city cousins reading the
advertisement would have laughed and
commented on the fact the advertise-
ment was goofed up because the
surname was missing. It simply stated
there was a party for Frank and
Louise. For the majority of people, the
names were instantly recognizable.
There was no particular need for the
surnames or even a photo of the couple.
The question arises as to how many
other couples in the area could be as
easily recognized without the use of a
surname. Actually, several come to
mind. and of course, they are people
who are alsoactively irvolved in many
aspects of community life.
There are, of course, some distinc-
tive names that provide instant
recognition. primarily because they
are unique in the community. One of
those which readily comes to mind is
Carf. As advertisement saying there
was a party for Carf would lead most
people to the quick conclusion it was
for Carf Cann. not only because his
name is rather unique in this area, but
also because it is well known for his
enthusiastic community efforts.
A similar ad for Derry would leave
little doubt as to the person involved
there. although just to take another
crack at our former mayor in my per-
sonal battle. I can't think of many peo-
ple who would attend such as event.
It is not, however, just enough to
have a rather unique name. Identifica-
tion comes only in that name being
made well known by the community in-
volvement of a person.
.
While the writer was attending
school, one of the journalism instruc-
tors had a little game he enjoyed. He
kept sending an updated obituary
notice to one of the newspapers where
he was formerly employed.
He noted that it gave him a periodic
review of his life as he sat down to
record his accomplishments that were
included in the obituary.
For those who find that a little
macabre, perhaps an equally good test
of your contribution is to consider how
many people would recongize your
name if it was placed in an advertise-
ment without the surname, but more
importantly. how many people would
be prompted to attend such a party.
If you come up with a rather low
total. perhaps the meesage is that
you're not doing your share to make
your community a better place in
which to live. work and play.
Or, it may also indicate your name is
a little too common.
Who. for instance, would show up for
a party for Bill?
"The latest poll shows you running neck and neck ... with `Undecided'!"
t