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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 1, 1987, PAGE 5 If anyone had previously doubted that a spring election lurked, the signs this week out of Queen's Park should change that mind. Fancy enough that Premier Peterson and his Liberal cabinet has been tiptoeing through the provincial ridings lately, throwing garlands of largess to voters. But now from the Legislature comes word of more astounding signs: thoughtful legislation. Many of you may think that a contradiction in terms: thoughtful and legislation in the same breath. But test this, if you please: Responding to a steady but unrelenting lobby, the. Peterson government this week introduced legislation that will allow all persons an equal chance of being elected in municipal or provincial elections. Specificaily, this law would require returning officers -in all elections to place the candidates names in reverse alphabetical order every second election. That may seem a small thing. And in provincial elec- tions (or federal, for that matter) only two or three can- didates are ever serious contenders. But in municipal elections - for local council, for school board, etc. -the candidates number a couple of dozen, sometimes more. Faced with such a choice, (the voter must pick five names out of 20, say) many will place a big "X" by the most familiar names, then work down the list and tick off those who seem okay. Trouble is, that habit gives a distinct advantage to those whose name begins with the first half of the alphabet. (The names on the ballots are invariably listed in alphabetical order.) If you don't believe the advantage this bestows, take a look at the names of people elected municipally: Atter- sley, Bugelli, Emm, Brunelle... WITH OUR FEETUP by Bill Swan Alphabetical discrimination The reaction from support groups lias been swift: "It may seem frivolous to some, but for many of us this is a major step," says Peter Ziggler, president of the League to Invert Alphabet Rightaway. "Many do not realize the tyranny that has been imposed on us for years. "For example, while only half of the population have names in the first half of the alphabet (A-M). but two- thirds of the elected positions are filled by people from this group. Of the remainder (N-Z) those elected are done so almost always by acclamation." His figures break down on examination, but the organization does have a point. A personal check has revealed that the only politicians in the N-Z group elected are running for re-election. Invariably, they won their fir- st elected position by acclamation.: The biggest effect will be among those people seeking election fór the first time. having Zeigler at the top of the list, well ahead of Boutulism, will do much to change the makeup of our august councils. We won't even comment on the ethnic nature of the alphabetical discrimination. But that should soon be a thing of the past. Here's to the Liberal government which promises such reforms. Another organization deserving praise these days is the Society for the Elimination of Violets in Hockey. After struggling uphill for years, this group finally has made its voice heard. We've had too much of this sort of thing through the years," says Rudolph Primrose, president of the society. "It's well known the professional sports encourages cer- tain kinds of violets. That makes it difficult to keep the kids away from it." But rule changes now being discussed by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association make riark a definite change in the game as it is now played. "Look, if it's violets they want, let them go to watch ballet so they can throw all they want," says Primrose. "But we know what happens. Allow a little violets into the game and the next thing you know the kids are into tulips, daffodils. Next it will be pansies. Then who knows? - girls. It ain't right." Primrose coaches a peewee team, The Pots, sponsored by Geranium Homes. No reason to change road designation: Kuwahara By ROXANNE REVELER "There's nothing to complain about." So says a study of through truck movements revealed at a Town staff meeting last Monday. The study, by Brian Haigh of Read, Voorhees and Assoc. Ltd., was initiated last fall to determine the number of heavy trucks making through trips on Highway 12 as it goes through the downtown areas of Whitby and Brooklin. The Town recommended such a study be made after complaints Tender for Fairview renovation FROM PAGE 3 get settled in once again," said Hamre, adding this project would not complete all renovations at Fairview. The remaining renovations will include updating J wing, the kitchen and laundry facilities, installation of an emergency generator and the con- version of the heating and air con- ditioning systems. According to Hamre, these renovations will be completed upon the availability of funds from the provincial gover- nment. VARITIES OF 7UCHSIA'S & VARITIES OF RANIUM'S BEDDING PLANTS ALL KINDS OF HANGING BASKETS SOME IN SHADE 655-4411 Hwy. 12, 8300 Baldwin St. Brooklin were received from residents and businessmen along Brock and Baldwin Sts. It had been suggested by some that the highway designation be taken off Brock and moved to Thickson. The study was conducted by collecting data on truck movemen- ts on three different days in November at various locations along Highway 12 and Thickson Road by the use of video recording. In all, there were il monitoring stations. The data collected was analysed to determine how many of the trucks went all the way through from Highway 401 to the Thickson/Highway 12 intersection, and how many had business within the municipality. The detailed analysis of the truck movement indicated that of the 323 truckcs entering Highway 12 at the north and south ends of the study section, only 25, or 7.7 per cent, were through trips. At the same time, of the 638 trucks entering Thickson Rd. at the north and south ends, 74, or 11.6 percent were round trips. In total, there were 99 through trucks, ac- counting for 10per cent of ail truck movement in the study section. It was nôted the through truck traffic on each route was about equally split northbound and southbound. Public works director Dick Kuwahara indicated the results of the report were not significant enough to warrant changing the status of the present Highway 12 and relocating it to Thickson Rd. He also said he had already been advised by the Ministry of Tran- sport and Communications (MTC), who have jurisdiction over High- way 12, that they would not be willing to use Thickson Rd. as a truck route using a Highway "A" status. "MTC has already said they will not approve a Highway 12A ap- proach", said Kùwahara, "You can't have it both ways....it has to be either Brock or Thickson." Kuwahara admitted he did not know what to do in the down- SEEPAGE9 ILl MONTH OF APRIL 20% Off all wallcoverings Mon. - Closed Tues. - Fri.10-6 Sat. 10-5 214 Colborne St. W. Whitby, Ontario 666-2890 JOHN BROUWER Garden Centre & Landscaping "Where Quality Comes First" AJA WHITBY VISIT OUR NEW 9,000 SQ. FT.H RD. RHA GARDEN CENTRE STORE FOR LAKEFUDGE' BROCKST. 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