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The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-08-09, Page 4tr, mat It 11135 4� tb 1ti.tngiam tmVz Published each Wednesday at: Box 390, 5 Diagonal Road, Wingham, Ontario NOG 2W0 Phone (519) 357-2320 Fax: (519) 357-2900 J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 We are: Jim Hcckett - Publisher Audrey Currie. - Manager Cameron J. Wood - Editor Norma Colley - Ad. Rep. Jim Brown - Reporter Stephen Pritchard - Comp. Eve Buchanan - Office Louise Welwood - Office 411 CrS Canada Post needs review Canada Post is using a series of current television and newspaper advertisements to tout its increased efficiency. Based on its annual reports, however, it is clear the Crown Corporation has increased its efficiency in the field of unaddressed ad mail at the expense of its lettermail customers. According to Canada Post's annual reports, the volume of unaddressed ad mail it delivers has grown some 300 per cent since 1983-84, while its revenue per piece from that source has declined by 25 per cent. Since 1981, however, first class lettermail rates have increased from 17 cents to 45 cents, now that another increase of two cents has been 'approved by the government. Lettermail volumes have increased, but the rate of increase in unaddressed ad mail volumes has far outpaced the rate of increase in any other class of mail. Clearly, there is something wrong here. The Coalition for Canada Post Accountability, comprised of competitors to the Crown corporation, believes Canada Post is using revenues generated from its high-priced lettermail monopoly to subsidize its unaddressed advertising mail program. The coalition includes the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, of which this newspaper is a member. Many community newspapers are in the uncomfortable position of being both a competitor to Canada Post in the unaddressed ad mail business, and a customer for delivery of their newspapers to their readers. - Members of the coalition had individually and collectively been asking the government, to examine how Canada Post operates, but the government has shown little interest in the topic. In 1985, the Mulroney government appointed the Marchment Commission to look into Canada Post operations, but the Commission's work was cut short when its funding was cut from the budget the following year. A parliamentary committee chaired by Conservative MP Garth Turner made several recommendations for changes in how Canada Post operates and its accountability, but the report was ignored. The Coalition for Canada Post Accountability believes the program review process the government has already created to review federal department operations is an example of a process by which Canada Post should be examined. A properly structured review process would resolves the issues that concern tile coalition. — prepared by the Canadian Community Newspaper Association A reason to smtie `Wingham The Union Gas pipeline crew. Sure some people are upset that grass has been torn up, but these guys are doing a great job in getting project completed on time — and efficiently. Memberof: OCNA CCNA The W inghamAdvance-Times is a member of a family of community newspapers pro- viding news, advertising and information leadership. 1 ettcrto the Editor All letters to the editor must bear the writer's name, telephone num- ber and address. The Advance -Times wel- comes letters. We re- serve the right to edit, but will endeavor to preserve the author's intent. Deadline for letters is Monday before 10:00 a.m.. Some exceptions may apply. Fax: (519) 357-2900 or mail to: P.O. Box 390, Wingham, Ontario, NOG 2W0 AUGUST 1948 Reavie Motor Sales has been appointed dealer for Pontiac and Buick cars and GMC trucks for Wingham and district. A mother and baby picnic of the Cradle Roll of the Baptist Church was held Monday after- noon at the home of Mrs. Wilmer Harcourt. Prizes were given to the youngest mother, Mrs. John Strong and the youngest baby, Mary Ann Mason. A delegation from the Wing - ham General Hospital attended the monthly meeting of town council telling of the overcrowded conditions at the hospital. A new wing, plus nurses' residence would cost approximately $250,000 with government grants expected of $100,000. Council de- cided that a bylaw be prepared to authorize the backing of up to $150,000 to assist in financing the proposed addition. Stone School has won the WOAA group softball champion- ship, downing Wroxeter three straight. W. Elston, Edgar, Hig- gins and Procter all had home runs for the winning cause. AUGUST 1961 Department of Highway crews are busy installing a temporary Bailey bridge over the Maitland River on Highway No. 86 west of Wingham at Zetland. The struc- ture will provide the river cross- ing during the time when the old bridge is torn down and the new structure built. Canadian politics have run a fairly even course since the first days of Confederation almost 100 years ago. This week, however, Ottawa and the rest of the country is witnessing the founding con- vention of what is generally known as the New Party. Defi- nitely socialist in its leanings, it appears certain that .Premier Douglas of Saskatchewan will be with Margaret Stapleton chosen its first Leader. Rev. J. Wilfred Hird performed the double -ring ceremony uniting Marie Eleanore Hastie and Robert John Strong in the Gorrie United Church. Keith Dunbar, local agent for ' the Fuller Brush Co., has received a transfer and promotion in the company to head the Stratford of- fice. The Dunbars and their four children will be moving next week. • AUGUST 1971 Allan Leggatt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Leggatt of Wing - ham, graduated from the bachelor of science in the social sciences program at Northern Michigan University. He plans to attend Stratford Teachers' College this fall. An application to build a four- plex on property in the Summit Drive area by Tom Henderson was sent to the planning board be- fore town council gives approval. The Bluevale creamery, built by a joint stock company in 1880, closed its doors July 31. Built as a cheese factory, butter has been the plant's product since 1900. Sever- al owners have conducted the business, including George T. Thomson and Donald Robertson. AUGUST 1981 Mary Lou (Wright) Johnston was on hand at the Brussels, Mor- ris and Grey Community Centre to crown the queen of the Moms Township 125th anniversary. Mrs. Johnston was crowned queen at centennial celebrations in 1956 and relinquished her crown to Carol Wheeler of Brus- sels. Kathy Willits, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Willits, RR 1, Wingham, graduated from the general business finance major program, at Fanshawe College. Kathy has accepted a position with Tilden Rent -a -Car. Just play ball - negotiate later Im sensing that many of us are just a little perplexed with the Roberto Alomar predicament. The popular Toronto Blue Jay sec- ond baseman has faltered from his old quiet self both on and off the field of late, setting tongues wag- ging. His behaviour in relation to his contract situation falls in the shadow of fan sentiment this season, but reared it's ugly head last' week in the Toronto media. He wants more money - now. But, Robbie, the fans want class - • yesterday. And that's why the Blue Jays will not set any attendance' records this season...nor will any other major league club. In fact, the sport of professional baseball is in dire straits following the players' strike and subsequent owners' lock -out. After that whole fiasco, most fans no longer care about Alomar's $5.5 million annual salary, or any other ridiculous pay- cheque of his sporting comrades. The fans, having been on the short end of the baseball bat last season, simply don't want to pay $35 a seat to watch some overweight (but Rob- bie at least is in shape) oaf shuffle around the diamond for millions of dollars. No, this year, the fans want re- spect. To be fair, Alomar is a proven player. He has a great deal of talent and drive - traits that took him to the top of the league for second base- man, if not the best infielder in the The Outer Edge Cameron J. WOOD game of baseball itself. His quiet de- meanor attracted attention and admi- ration. Until now. Alomar is certainly not out of line in this latest attitude adjustment. He is simply typical of today's athletes: overpaid and overexposed. Instead of being onfield leaders, many have become financial giants - placing ec- onomic value above delivering to the fans. Take the National Basketball As- sociation for example. An untried draftee demands $100 million before ever playing in a professional game? Or how about hockey? Remember Eric the Next One? The guy who de- manded the Ontario Hockey Associ- ation change its rules so he wouldn't have to play in Sault Ste. Marie. He then made the same demands of the National Hockey League so he wouldn't have to play in Quebec City. Imagine if the greats had the same approach. Would Orr have gone to Boston? Howe to Detroit? Professional athletes of modern times have become the scourge of the Western World. I'm reminded of a column by the Windsor Star's Mitch Albom. In obituary style, Albom wrote how grace had passed from the sports world, unnoticed. Grace, according to the columnist, was the athlete we saw tip his hat to the crowd. The player who respected the officials' decision, who spoke highly of his opponents in victory and in defeat. He was the player who returned the ball to the referee after scoring a touchdown instead of do- ing the "Icky Shuffle". Grace was the player. who could do marvels with a hockey stick - but never used it against an opponent. Grace was the player who knew how to lose - and how to shake hands. We coddle our professional ath- letes. We hold them up as role mod- els for our children - and subse- quently teach them that life is about getting all that you can instead of giving all that you have. We teach our children that it is alright to break the rules in order to win...that good sportsmanship is the other guy's re- sponsibility when he loses. And if you lose, it's the official's fault. They are corrupt, biased, blind, stupid, etc. Tragically, Alomar was once a professional athlete to look up to. He has the talent to win, but with the burden of two heavy gold World Se- ries rings, he has lost sight of what is important in the game. Fortunately, this season the fans have reminded all of them. No doubt on distance: Harris TORONTO -- Premier Mike Harris is showing he means business and leaving little room for doubt how far he will go. The Progressive Conservative pre- mier has surprised many used to pol- iticians dawdling by implementing quickly some of the substantial promises he made in the June 8 elec- tion. These include a $1.9 billion re- duction in spending principally by cutting welfare benefits and housing and transit construction but extend- ing to most areas of government. Harris also has scrapped the for- mer New Democrat government's employment equity law promoting women, visible minorities, natives and the disabled, and photo radar, and fired senior civil servants he judged unsympathetic among other actions. No premier in memory has made as many fundamental changes as quickly. Harris is rushing partly because delaying would force him to make deeper cuts later. He also won the election by prom- ising dramatic change quickly and looking decisive and is anxious to continue that image and having some success, because so far he is ling praised almost as much for moving promptly as for his actions. Harris's speed also has caught op- ponents off -guard. The NDP and Liberals are still so shocked they have not mounted a coherent objec- tion and groups affected by his cuts have had little time particularly in with Eric Dowd midsummer to organize protests. Harris's streamlining has extended to his announcements which have been terse and to the point. He stopped photo radar and most public housing construction in one-page news re- leases. Harris has never been inclined to rhetorical flourishes and his short, simple messages have given oppo- nents fewer openings on which to hang counter-attacks. This is a gov- ernment of few words. It also is radically different from the Tories who governed from 1943- 85 and were cautious in changing and prone to compromise. The last of the long -serving Tory premiers, William Davis, for exam- ple refused full grants to Roman Catholic high schools, then granted them. Davis leaned to business but forced it to deduct union dues from wages and banned professional strike-breakers. Union leaders were no strangers to his office. But Harris has decided he does not need union heads and did not even consult them before firing the chair of the Ontario Labor Relations Board who was thought to favor workers. Harris has almost excluded Davis - style Red Tories from his cabinet and others who showed any sign they may quibble with him for any reason also have been left outside his circle of power. Hams and' his fel- low -ideologues who run the party never showed much inclination to compromise and will show even less now their cuts appear to he wel- comed by a majority. The Toronto Star, which daily quivers with outrage at Harris's cuts, asked readers to phone in their views and to its surprise received a record number of calls, 70 per cent support- ing Harris and congratulating him for having the courage to cut. Hares says his actions so far are 'only the beginning.' His other promises include elimi- nating 13,000 civil service jobs, scrapping laws which give more power to unions and facilitate collec- tive bargaining on farms, privatizing liquor sales, establishing boot camps for young offenders and stricter cen- soring of violence in movies, videos and computer games. Harris will face growing and bet- ter organized opposition, but he looks less and less like he will scare off easily.