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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1985-05-22, Page 220 Page 8A—Crossroads—May 22, 1985 Headlines now proclaim that there are 1.4 million un- employed workers in Canada. For too long, however, we have been following the traditional un- employment index as it • came down to us over the years. While some acknow- ledge that it has faults, few realize that it measures only on thing: The number off people in the labor force who, if the pay were right, the hours were right, and the location right, might be available for at least a little work once in a while. It would be politically difficult at the present time to get a new index accepted. Any change would look like a device to lower the official unemployment count, and thus would be fought by labor. Unfortunately, we have made sacred cows out of the unemployment index, so that now when we need more critical data, we are unable to obtain it. The figures which are re- qu•ired for a meaningful table are employment and unemployment, both part- Canada's Business by Bruce Whit stone time and full-time, as well as the participation in the labor force. The most important and meaningful number is the total and proportion of people who have jobs. Total employment is far more im- portant than any unemploly- ment figure. As long as the number of people with jobs goes up, consumer spending should rise, other things being equal. If the particip- ation rate in the labor force increases, then the number of unemployed could mount, creating the appearance of an economy weaker than facts warrant. In fact, once an economic recovery gets underway, more people are tempted to apply for work, so the number of jobless could leave an impression of an economy in need of stimulus. Failure to watch the em- ployn'ient totals accounts for many serious business Mis- takes. For example, between 1974 and 1979 the number of people in Canada who had jobs rose by more than one million. In the ensuing four years when ostensibly we were in a serious slump, the number with jobs increased more than 600,000. This took place when many said we were in "the most serious re- cession since the Great De- pression". Another figure to watch is the unemployment rate for heads of households units., Here the results are not as favorable. In 1974 the unem- ployment rate in this category was 4.1 per cent, virtually full employment. In 1979 the rate was little changed at 4.5 per cent, but that number soared to 8.3 per cent in 1983. Hence, while there was no reason to be un- duly concerned about real unemployment in the 1970s, the situation was very differ- ent in 1983 The last figure to look at is the one that newspapers print first, the official unem- ployment figure. It is a com- pilation of many things, but it fails to include discour- aged job -seekers who have opted out of the work force. Politically, the traditional unemployment figure is po- tent. The hetergeneous nature of the work force and the reasons that many report that they are looking for work, combine to make this total very inaccurate. In- stead, there should be an index that would include the number of people seeking work, even part-time work to be converted into full-time job equivalents for account- ing purposes. There would have to be an adjustment made for the number who re- gister for work only to collect unemployment insurance, for the nuriiber of discour- aged job -seekers, and for those who would work if conditions were just right: Pending the development of this kind of very com- plicated index, a quick re- ponse to a headline about un- employment totals would be a strategic error. `Judges must always be just in their sentences, not noticing whether a person is poor or rich; they must always be perfectly fair. "Don't gossip. Don't falsely ac- cuse your neighbor of some crime, for I am Je- hovah. "Don't hate your brother. Rebuke, anyone who sins ; don't let him get away with it, or you will be equally guilty. Don't seek vengeance. Don't bear a grudge; but love your neighbor as yourself, for I am Jehovah. Leviticus 19:15-18 Harry Oakman runs a business from the cluttered basement of his bungalow on a side street in Peter- borough. It doesn't appear to be much of a business, but • Harry's Peterboro Postcard Company is likely the largest operation of its kind in Canada. There 'acre over half a million negatives and tran- sparencies in the small base . ment and the photos have been reproduced on 65 mil- lion postcards! The pictures are all aerial shots, and experts have call- ed Harry Oakman "the best aerial photographer in the world." Even more surprising is that Oakman's success story hinged on one single picture he took about 30 years ago. In the early 50's Harry eeked out a living taking aerial pictures of tourist re- sorts around the Kawartha Lakes. He'd hustle the glossy printsv to the resort owners and hopefully get orders for postcards. Then one day while flying over bush country he swoop- eddown to get a shot of a bull moose swimming in a lake. n The company that be The roar of the engine came famous in 1- 00 of a se - startled the moose and he - cond through a single shot! headed for land. As he came The cluttered s lg e shotle t! out of the water Harry se - caught the action. In 1-500 of ment office hadn't changed a a second Harry Oakman bit. made a fortune! The picture postcard which became known as "Monarch of the Canadian Wilds" sold in the millions, and blowups hang in board- rooms from London to Hong Kong. Harry's business boomed after that. He had salesmen travelling the country taking orders, but saw no reason to change his location. The salesmen were on the road most of the time and his wife Clare, did the books. Print- ing was farmed out so the Peterboro Postcard Com- pany just stayed put. , When I first visited the place some years ago I had a hard time finding it. It was tiny and unimposing. But all the essential equipment was there, including three mag- nificent custom cameras. Harry is now in his seventies and works when he feels like it. The last time I saw him, just a few weeks ago, he was outlined in a dis- play of his work, and high- lights of his career. As we wandered around the gallery we talked about the day he took me up in one of his planes so I could get a really good look at his be- loved Kawartha Lakes coun- try. • Then we drove over to his bungalow on Cameron Street for a coffee. After a while we went downstairs to the Peterboro Postcard Com - Portraits to remember today's magic moments from Sears Portrait Studio 14 color portraits for only 1295 includes 950 deposit Photographic package includes two 8x1,0's, two 5x7's and ten wallet size color portraits. No appointment necessary. 951 for each additional subject. Poses our selection. Studios located in most larger Sears retail stores. Also available in addition to package: Black Background & , Double Feature Portraits Instant Passport Photos Offer for portraits taken Mon. May 20 tbru Sat. 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