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4 J. WHITBY FREE PRESS, V Members of Whitby Council honoured by Kinsmen Club The town council and staff come under critisimn from time to time, but once a year, they are the honored guests of the Whitby Kinsmen Club, which gives then a vote of thanks for their w' ork. This year's annual Kinsmen Civic Night, Jan. 13, at the Legion Hall had special signi- ficance for the club and the cou'lcil for both Mayor Jim Gartshore and Councillor Bob Carson are Kinsmen. Mayor Gartshore is a past president of the Whitby Kinsmen Club, a past deputy governor and past governor, and Councillor Carson is a member of the new Brooklin Kinsmen Club. Mayor Gartshore is the second Whitby mayor who was a Kinsmen. The other was Stan Martin, mayor from 1960 to 1963. "It's rather nice to be home", said Mayor Gartshore who is presently a life member of the Whitby Kinsnen Club. "Kinsmen actually don't grow old; they don't even fade away. I always enjoy coming back". Mayor Gartshore praised the Whitby Kinsmen for their support of a Heritage Day for Canada, to be held in February, if it is passed by Parliament. "It's a good chance to promote a little more flag' waving for us Canadians. I hope you get this thing rol- ling", said Mayor Gartshore. "There is a chance to do something that's lacking in the community. I hope you grab it and run with it". Guest speaker for the civic night was Bill Watson, of Burlington, Kinsmen's Nation- al President in 1971-72. Mr. Watson outlîned the work of Kinsmen, stating it is a Canadian young men's service club with members aged 21 to 40. There are 15,000 members in 523 clubs and the Kinsmen are second only to the Lions Clubs in Canadian member- ship, he said. "Kinsmen yearly raise and donate to service work to the tune of $15 million, said Mr. Watson. Kinsmen also take a leading part in civic affairs, he said, pointing out that 50 per cent of the Alberta Legislature members are Kinsnen, and former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker was a Kinsmen. "I think it's great that, once a year your club- recog- nizes the civic leaders of your conmunity", he said. The members of the town council and staff expressed their appreciation to the Kinsmen for the civic night, and also for their service work in the comrriunity. "You are the people who are the backbone of this community. We owe you a debt of gratitude", said Town Clerk Bill Wallace. Ralph Bell, president of the Whitby Kinsmen Club, Mayor Jim Gartshore, and Past National President Bill Watson join hands for fellowship at the Kinsmen Club's annual civic night, held last wcek. Mayor Gartshore is the second Kinsmen to be mayor of Whitby, and received a special tribute from the club of which he is a life member. Distrust growing among the young, Tory tells Tories Public distrust of business and politicians, especially among young people, is growing rapidly in Canada, says John Tory, President of the Ontario Progressive Con- servative Youth'Association. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Brooklin and District PC Association last Wednesday, Mr. Tory (whose name is remarkably appro- priate for his party affilia- tion) said that a student survey in 1969,75 per cent- said big business was tosco'n- cerned with profits and not enough with public responsi- bility. In 1974, that figure increased to 90 per cent.- In' that same survey, he said, in 1969, 44 per cent said political parties needed reform or elimination. In 1974, that - figure had in- creased to 64 per cent. The growth of public dis- trust of business and politics has profound implications and is becoming a potential threat to Canada's political and economic systems", said Mr. Tory. He expressed concern that politicians and businessmen are condemned collectively' and this condemnation is strengthened every time there is a scandal or some politician is caught doing something wrong. He compared the decline of confidence in government and its result of the govern ment itself being eroded, tc the decline of ancien Athens. "It is this same lac of faith and trust that i growing in our society eacl day", he said. Mr. Tory pointed out tha young people are returnin to the more traditional socia values of the work ethic and basic education. The problem of distrust o business is apathy on the par of:consumers and isolation o the part of the business con munity, said Mr. Tory. "Th solution lies in a-)change o attitudes on both sides". He urged citizens to get involved in business and reju- vinate the free market system, and asked business to turn its advertising to education of the consumer. Mr. Tory suggested that sharing of profits with employees can be the greatest incentive to get them to work harder. On the political side, Mr. Tory said that "the smallest of interest groups have cast the largest shadows in the halls of Parliaments, and governments at all levels.have been far too fast in caving in to these groups. They weild an immense and often unjust amount of power". - He warned that when a government buckles under to these groups to save its popularity, the result is a decline in respect from the public. Mr. Tory also warned that politicians are very easily iso- lated in their own Parliamen- tary worlds, and a credibility gap exists when politicians answer questions indirectly. "People have heard too many promises, hypocrasy and double talk", he said. "They are looking for a politician who will stand on a principle". Mr. Tory suggested that average people can have all the power they want if they t concern themselves with the issues of the day, but most are too silent, apathetic or t lazy. k He attributed much of the s lack of faith to the media, h which he said, can create issues or heroes overnight. The people must moniter g or influence the media by l writing to the editor com- a plaining to the CRTC, boy- y cotting newspapers or taking issues to the Press Council. n "We need an active com- n mittment on the part of e citizens to remove, the gulf e between the people and the- politicians", he said. - ------ ----