HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-06-04, Page 4Cid Neves June 4, 1981
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Men d�are terrible drivers that's the fifth one I've run into ,this week!"
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Prosecution too lenient
Regardless of their personal stand on the legali-
ty of narcotics, Canadian should be shocked to learn
of the soft-pedalling of punishment in prosecuting
drug importers.
A junkie on a street corner, selling nick!e-bags,
is hardly a public enemy, but as the chain of dis-
tribution gets nearer to its source, the profits, the
dangers and the criminal elements grow larger.
Gunfights between rival gangs and street cor-
ner assassination of big dealers have become
frighteningly commonplace in Florida. South
Florida is the port of entry for Central and South
American marijuana and hashish, and is the heart
of the North American distribution network.
It is at the level of importation that the criminal
is most closely linked to illicit drugs. It is at this
level prosecutions should be most vigorous.
Guidelines to prosecutors, however, issued un-
der the authority of the federal justice minister, are
discouraging the use of a Mandatory seven-year
prison sentence for those importing small amounts.
It was said "cannabis importers are usually
just carriers - young peole people with good
backgrounds who are lured into carrying drugs by
the promise of $1,000 and a free trip to an exotic
place."
But vigorous prosecution and the mandatory
seven-year sentence, would quickly strip away
these joy -riding `innocents" which serve only to in-
sulate the bigger criminals from the law.
While it may be argued the organizers don't get
caught when the carriers do, without the shield of
the carriers (taken away by the deterrent of a
healthy jail term) the organizers would be more
vulnerable to capture and prosecution.
As�essments justified
Town council is considering hiring an outside
firm- to assess the effectiveness of its municipal
employees. In light of recent salary and wage in-
creases that council approved, the idea is well con-
sidered.
How effective are the town's employees and are
they worth the money paid to them? Certainly the
pay and fringe benefits of some are far better than
those of most taxpayers.
Having an outside expert study the town's
system has merit.
While it could be questioned why 'the town
should spend upwards of $14,000 for such a study,- it
should be noted that it would be the first time for
this municipality.
It is unreasonable to expect local staff to carry
out an objective study of their fellow employees.
Could they recommend that someone be fired?
No. An outsider is needed to pass this kind of
judgement.
Council has the final say but right now council
doesn't know the job descriptions of its employees.
Given the salaries, wages and benefits that it
approved, council should undertake the study to
justify the salary expenditures.
St. Marys Journal -Argus
. i � tel,..''%'• . �:�!?`�•'•:: '.
Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eady PubHcatlens Lad.
Member:
Canadian Weekly Newspapers AssociA•ion
Owtarle
News Editor Rob Chester
Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385
Subscription Rates: $8.50 per year in advance in Canada S19.50 per year outside Canado Single copies ?54
Weekly
Newspapers Association
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Mixed feelings seem to be a way of life.
The automobile has become so ingrained in our
western civilization its hard to know. what to do about
problem.
I'm not talking about the escalation of oil prices or
oyment within the auto industry - these things
threaten the economy of the free world and could lead
us into massive unemployment and a depression - I
mean the simple alternatives of trying to do without,.
or trying to keep the damn thing running.
It's been my experience that the car always runs
better before you get it fixed. (True, it may not be run-
ning at all, but it feels better beforehand.)
I used to drive a 69 Austin with an eccentric little
rattle in the front end. I was told (by the guy who sold
me the car, come to think of it) that the rattle was the
water pump.,
One .day the water purnp rattle got so bad I could
ignore it no longer.
It cost me over $450 to fix. It was not the water
pump.
It seems someone at the factory (or subsequently)
put one of the pistons in backwards. The result was on
every stroke the piston skirt struck the connecting rod
and `clanked'.
It also chipped off a little piece of metal each time
- which quickly spread throughout the bearings and the
interior of the engine was reduced to junk.
You might think I would be happy to get it fired.
At any point while I bombed around town at about 60
one of those hot, ruined pistons could come flying
through the side of the engine.
After I got it fixed though. the car never made ft
over 50 miles per hour. I guess getting it fixed restored
the car's original inefficiency.
The poor little Austin got rear-ended one night and
for $100, it passed into oblivion,
My next attempt at reliable transport was a
Japanese import.
The Austin, I should note, was dark brown and hotter
than you know where In the summer. I swore I'd never
buy another dark brown car.
My new dark brown Toyota had a bit of a sloppy
wiggle in the front end. I was told it was front wheel
alignment, and wheel balance. (The guy who sold me
the car, told me this.)
Well it became a simple case of which came first,
like the old chicken or the egg, the vibration became
worse and the ball joints and front tires had to be
replaced.
Whether the tires went and destroyed the ball
joints or the ball joints went and the tires were
destroyed, it amounted to the same thing - about $450.
Toyotas I am told have a life expectancy of about
eight years. Mine lasted that long and I know other
people with similar problems.
The car also had the nasty habit of stalling when it
got damp - like in a heavy fog.
It was pretty well rusted out when I sold the car
and the alternator had packed it in. The list of things
wrong with the car was growing, and I didn't expect to
get much more than the price of the new tires I had
just put on.
In a way I was right, but just as wrong. I got $75
for the car, and I got to keep my tires and rims.
The new car a lemon yellow Datsun is a charm.
The breaks have had to be fixed three times in two
years, but it moves well.
(You just can't stop it)
It is good on gas and only sputters occasionaly.
It doesn't start in th. winter unless you take the
battery out at night and keep it warm.
The snow tires -the brand new snow tires - off the
Toyota don't fit the car but with front wheel drive you
only rarely get stuck.
The radiator cap is broken and currently taped in
place.
It's amazing how ten cents worth of tape can post-
pone massive car bills. You'll pay more later, but if
you can't afford it now, that's okay too.
What I do like about the car is its color. It's not
dark brown.
It's lemon yellow.
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