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Times Advocate, 1984-09-19, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, September 19, 1984 Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 dvocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by I.W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager Blll BATTEN Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $22.00 Per year; U.S.A. $60.00 Ask the students? It shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to area parents if they are inundated with an unusual plea from their offspring to consider taking up residence in Spain. The reason is very simple: The Spanish govern- ment has banned homework and state exams for all school children. Education minister Jose Maria Maravall contends the ban, which arises from a 1970 law which was never enforced, will actually lead to higher educational standards. While an explanation of that opinion was not detail- ed, the spokesman for a Madrid parents' association CCNA *CNA Q~ BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1980 BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1981 said children must study but not be given "such a weight of work after school that it keeps them busy un- til they go to bed". "They've got to have time to play and meet other children." Ironically, the educational authorities in Ontario are actually moving towards a return of "state" ex- ams, and a poll of area students is probably unrequired to determine if they think they're getting too much homework. Wonder who's right? Ask your kids, they'll pro- bably tell you! The choice is clear There is a time for everything, we are told. If that is so, and who can argue it, then surely now is the time for strong leadership. That applies not on- ly to our newly elected political chiefs, but also to others whose duties have a direct effect on our every- day lives. Specifically, I am speaking of Michael Warren who, as president of Canada Post, makes executive decisions daily that have an impact on most of us. If he goes ahead with a planned postal rate in- crease to help cover the costs of current labor demands, it will obviously affect all consumers of postal service. But more, appeasing the unions now at the expense of the public will make it harder for Warren to get his Crown corporation out of the $300 million financial hole it's in. • Why? People are already fed up with postal ser- vice. More than 60 percent of respondents to a survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business called postal service poor. Hike the price and there's a good chance fewer people will use the mails, finding other, more cost- effective ways of communicating. One has only to look at the legions of courier services which have sprung up in the last few years to realize that Canada Post isn't the only popstand on the block. With fewer users, the post office's revenues shrink and that won't help either the deficit of the poor pro- ductivity record. What's needed is for Michael Warren to show tough leadership and tackle the operation's real problem: too many workers being paid too much for doing too little. The figures tell the tale. The American postal system made $616 -million last year compared to a loss of $300 -million in Canada. American postal workers handled 14.6 pieces of mail for every dollar earned in wages; Canadians handled 9.5 pieces. Wage scales are consistently lower south of the border. Yet posties from Maine to Hawaii have keen told their wage demands won't be met.` Not only that, Canada has the third highest postal rate among the top 14 industrial nations at 32 cents (25.6 cents in U.S. currency). The U.S., at 20 cents, ranks second lowest. Even with its proposed three -cent increase this year, the U.S. would still rank sixth lowest and that hike would he the last until the 1990's. Warren and his staff are well aware of these com- parisons and they are working to redress the balance. But rather than looking to raise the money by hiking prices, they would be better off to look within their own organization where labor costs eat up 73 percent of the revenues. It is tougher in the short run to face up to a pro- blem and make some hard decisions. But if Warren bites the bullet and attacks the real problem by reducing labor costs, he will save himself and the general public a lot of grief over the long haul. The choice is clear, Mr. Warren. The next move is up to you. Don't leave the decision too late Despite the fact each of us knows that inevitably our time on this earth will come to an end. death and funerals somehow manage to be among the least talked about subjects. That's not particularly surprising, given the fact that it is a situation which most hope to avoid as long as possible and our penchant for thinking that it can perhaps be postponed by dismissing it from our minds. Most people are uneasy at best in the face of the necessity of visiting funeral homes and certainly those directly involv- ed through the death of a family member or close friend have to draw from the deepest strength to carry them through the period of mourning. The most recent funeral the writer at- tended was also the most unusual. There were the usual number of family members on hand to share each other's grief and friends who had come to show their support in that time of need. There were floral arrangements, organ music and the appropriate and comfor- ting words of a theologian. The noticeable difference was that there was no coffin nor the deceased. She had donated her body to medical science. It was a decision that had been made some time before death by the deceased and had been dutifully carried out. Nothing in that decision had appeared to concern those at the memorial service. In fact, it probably helped them through that feeling of loss to know that someone would benefit from the decision. The memories that were shared were in no way diminished and quite possibly were brought into sharper focus by those who had known of the other deeds of kind- ness and love that had been bestowed on them through the years. The grandchildren at the service were called from their seats and handed a rose from a large bouquet in memory of their grandmother and it was a simple and touching expression that had more mean- ing than any loss they may have felt in not participating in a more normal service where a loved one is displayed before the casket is closed. * * * * * Obviously, all of us can not donate our BATT'N AROUND with the editor bodies to medical science. There is neither the inclination for some and cer- tainly not the need for all. But there is a need for the human organs most will carry into their graves and I suspect that the majority of you would wish those organs to be used by so- meone whose life could be sustained or made more bearable through such a gift. Yet, the simple fact is that there is still a most decided lack of human organs be- ing made available for transplants and those wishes are never fulfilled. They're not fulfilled because people fail to take the necessary action to make those wishes known and to ensure that they are carried out. It's not merely enough to wish. You have to make it clear to those whose responsibility it will be that that is what is to be done. Unfortunately, because death is a topic most choose to avoid, the valuable gift that can be given ends up only as a good intention and the advances in medicine go unused. * R • • M Every day there are a number of fatal accidents and many of the victims are comparatively young and therefore prime candidates for organ donations. Again, few of those gifts are given because the decision was not made. The reality is that it is not something which parents or friends even consider when confronted by the trauma and grief of an unexpected and sudden death. Cer- tainly, there can be no blame attached to them under the circumstances; and when the matter may be considered when the shock starts to lessen, it is too late. It is a decision that must be made ahead of time in the friendly confines of the den or around the kitchen table. But it is, more to the point, a decision that should be made right now. If you've read this far, set the paper down and walk over to the balckboard or the notepad you use toog your memory about topics to be raised with your spouse or family members. Enter the topic for discussion and reach a decison. If it is in the negative, so be it. That's your prerogative. If it's in the affirmative, chances are you'll recall that discussion some time down the road when the time comes to act on it, despite the circumstances under which that time may come. Hopefully, it won't be for a long, long time. But it is going to come! Will your wishes be known by those who need to know and by those who need the gift ? "One positive thing about Mulroney — there's al! that room for improvement!" No hindsight available This is being written just before the election, so there is no hindsight in it. According to those ar- biters of elections, the polls and the press, it's go- ing to be a sweep for the Tories. I don't particular- ly trust either of them. They are often away off the mark. After a couple of bum raps, and laboring under the awesome load of patronage laid on him by Trudeau, John Turner picked up a couple of fumbles and headed for the goal -line, finishing like a champion. Too late? Score too high against for a last-ditch rally? Probably. As far as the two fron- trunners are concerned, I'd feel a lot safer, and it's just a gut feeling, with John Turner as Prime Minister. I have a sense that he might have clean- ed up the mess left to him, re -energized the country, and perhaps resolved the bitterness of the West, in- herited from Trudeau. He seems smart and tough, and not afraid to face unpleasant questions. Mulroney, too, is smart and tough, and oh, so glib. It's only a personal opi- nion, but there seems a lack of substance there. We'll see. Ed Broadbent fought the good, losing fight in a manner to be admired. But, of course, when you're not going to win, you can promise the moon, look good, and not have to come through on your. pledges. On the whole, the elec- tion campaign was not one-eighth as exicting as the Olympics, which made every Canadian's blood tingle. What intrigues me is that the candidates airily throw about figures in the billions of our money. It's "We" will do this, and Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley "We" will spend only so many billions, and "We" will improve everything and cut the deficit and the other ills. With whose money? Let me predict, though my success rate in reading entrails (and there are a lot of them ly- ing around these days) is questionable. Whoever wins will make scarcely a dent in unemployment; the Cana- dian dollar will continue to lurch around the 75 cent U.S. buck; inflation will still be tied to the U.S. rates; taxes will go up ( they never go down) ; the Canadian armed forces will continue to be the laughing -stock of NATO. Want some more? Okay. The provinces will continue to bicker among themselves and with the federal government. There will be massive strikes, always called at the most inconvenient mo- ment for the public. This will produce a hardening on the part of government, leading to more confronta- tion rather than conciliation Our great imbalance in tourism will continue, perhaps grow. Despite the groans of Canadians, they will still flock south in the winter. You can hardly move in Florida without stumbling over a Canadian. Farmers will continue to go broke, especially in the West, where in some parts this summer they have suffered unmitigated diasasters from kindly, old Mother Nature. Women have been pro- mised, vaguely, all sorts of things, but will have to go right on fighting for every inch of ground. And so on. Had enough? Me too. Just don't expect paradise Regained, no matter which of those two smart, tough, rich lawyers comes out on top. However, Canada will survive, lumbering along somehow, not too produc- tive, not rushingin where angels fear to tread, not setting the world on fire, but still filled with people of decent intentions,great natural resources (or what's left of them) and wonderful scenery and generally a good standard of living. There's no other country in the world I'd rather live in, and I've seen a few. That's enough of the Cassandra bit. Let's end on a lighter note. I came across something on the sports page that I must share. It was in the Toron- to Star, which is not noted for its proofreading skills. It seems that a Toronto golfer of whom I've never heard, called Jerry Ander- son, placed second in the West German Open golf tournament. He made page seven in the sports section. Jolly good, Jerry, considering your handicap. 1 quote "Anderson pick- ed up $15,450 — the biggest prize of his career... He had nine brides in all, four in an outward 32 and five in the last eight holes.... Anderson's only slip was to take four on the short seventh hole. You can see what I mean by a handicap. How can a guy win a tourna- ment when he's taken a total of 13 brides? For the non -golfer, "bride" is a misprint for "birdie,"'which is good. Not that brides are bad. But 13 of them? Poor devil, he was lucky to be able to lift his club. They'll win hands down Fords, Chevies , Buicks, Renaults, Volkswagens, and a few Chrysler pro- ducts. Over the years I've owned a pretty good representation of the cars built here in North America and in Europe too. The odd one has been a lemon but by and large I've had pretty good suc- cess with vehicles. Not that you can win with any car as far as making money with 'em. As soar) as you put the key into the ignition the first time they start depreciating in value and as sure as taxes you're going to be sitting on the side of the road some time or another wondering why the fool things were invented. Even the new ones can give you trouble. In fact I found that a new car is often the most irritating. You've paid out quite a in the paint where somebody's attention slip- ped on the assembly line. Quality control is the Perspectives few thousand dollars for the outfit and you find out that it is certainly less than perfect. Windows rattle or let in n annoying hiss. Doors don't shut quite right and after you wash the car the first time you see a ripple By Syd Fletcher name of the game and un- til my last vehicle 1 had reconciled myself to tak- ing every new car hack four or five times to fix nine or ten things. Nothing major, mind you but a nuisance nevertheless. At last I got to the place where I stuck a piece of cardboard into a crack in the dashboard. That stop- ped the rattle that they hadn't fixed after three visits. My last truck though. It's a gem. After eight months I have yet to find one (that's 1) defect in it to take back to the dealer to complain about. I'm as- tounded. Pleased, mind you, but totally amazed. And if you're wondering what kind the little truck is I'll give you a hint. It wasn't made on this side of the international dateline and its builders didn't win the last world war. My guess though, if it comes to a little competi- tion based on workman- ship that they'll win it hands down.