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12-Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, March ll, 1987 Mainstream Canada Paying the price for lost trust By Tony Carlson Spring is sprung Stamp rates is riz, 1 wonder where , My letter is? Death and taxes havé a new companion in the Hall of Fame of Sure Things: postal rate hikes. With reason and good sense taking a March break away from Parliament Hill, we'll have new rates shoved down our throats as of April 1. We hear soothing words about improved service from Harvie André, the latest cabinet minister assigned to clean up the postal niess. But we also know, because postal boss Don Lander told us, that we'll be hit yet again before j we'ré used to writing 1988 on 1 our cheques. Same goes for 1 1989 and some years after that, t ' 'Got to get rid of that defi- ! cit," says Lander. "Government's "Government's orders." Hear, hear, we say, but why do it at our expense? Why not improve service so that Canadians Canadians use the system. The latest word is that even the government itself has given up on the mails after the service records of about 132,000 armed forces veterans were lost. Upon hearing that, Veterans Affairs Minister George Hees said they wouldn't use the mail for that sort of thing again. Nice to know, but it's kind of scary to realize that people are sending confidential information information about us through a system as leaky and unreliable as the mails. As well, how can we be expected expected to trust Canada Post for our own mail, which is every bit as sensitive to us, if the government government has the heebie-jeebies? But lost mail isn't the only problem. Late mail is equally aggravating and, in many cases, costly. Horror stories abound among small business operators who failed to get contracts, or even the chance to bid on contracts, contracts, because mail took 10 days or more to travel 10 miles, or less. One owner/operator took the time and trouble to document document the dollar cost to his operation because of late mail which cost him contracts, lost bank interest, lost cash discounts discounts and so on. His one year tally: $14,000. And that didn't count the $10,000 worth of mail business he diverted from the post office to private couriers. If even a small fraction of the 850,000 small firms in this country are doing the same, you can see how poor postal service is adding an appreciable amount to Canada Post's deficit. Let's look, too, at cushy postal jobs, protected by militant militant unions who talk in public about serving the public, yet refuse to admit that their inflexibility inflexibility is at the root of the whole mess. In what other industry, for instance, could a worker finish Herb Chapman retired recently. He and his wife Mary left the city and moved up to a tiny township in the Southern Georgian Bay area near Lafontaine, That's where Jenny andI. have a farm which we get to visit occasionally, occasionally, since most of the time we're on the road. We have something in common with Herb. He's been a professional driver of tanks, transport trucks, buses and such all his life. For years he's been driving thousands of miles a month, the way we do. But Herb has been doing it forclose to half a century, and he was looking forward to staying in one pldce for a change. We've only been at if for about ten years and still get itchy feet if we stay "in one spot for more than a few days. Herb and Mary have a nice place on Cook's Lake just a couple of miles from the Bay itself. He was anxious to do a few things around the house, but generally speaking, planned to just take.it easy. Things didn't work out that way. Before long he became bored with his easy-going lifestyle, and he missed being on the road. He and Mary talked it over and came up with a novel idea. He put an ad in the local paper saying saying that for a fee of $4 an hour he would drive you anywhere you wanted to go -- in your own car. The idea caught on almost immediately. immediately. He had calls from senior citizens and people going to parties where drinking would be involved. He began to develop quite a clientele. clientele. He has a customer who lives in nearby Midland and^goes to visit her sister in Toronto every Wednesday. Herb drives her down in her car, then drives it back and parks it at her home. At a pre-arranged date and time he returns to Toronto, picks her up and returns to Midland. Another of Herb's customers is Tom Currie, a retired policeman I've known for some years. "Herb is providing a real service," Tom told me. "My son has diabetes and I take him down to the city for treatment. I get Herb to drive and it allows me to spend more time with my son." Herb looks pretty natty when he goes out on a job. He has a chauffeur's chauffeur's unifornj and it's quite impressive. impressive. He's well qualified for the work. He drove a tank all during World War II. When he came back from overseas he was a transport driver for Mississauga Transit. "I have a 'D' licence which allows me to drive people around, but I'm not a taxi service," he says. "And I carry a copy of the customer's insurance insurance and registration when I'm driving their car by myself." His new job keeps him busy these days.'And although he doesn't expect to make a fortune at it, he's happy to '•be back on the road again. "Next, time you're in Orono, drop in" by Ann Dreslinski The Bowmanville Drama complete New York with a dead- Workshop presented a fine adaptation adaptation of Ernest Thompson's "Answers" last weekend at Bowmanville High School. Three short plays with a common theme, invitations or challenges offered, with the knowledge that they will never be accepted. Almost never. "A Good Time" has Rick, a California Highway Patrolman (Mark Rutherford) showing up at the apartment of New York swinging swinging single Mandy (Cathy Haick). A year previous, in talking her way out of a speeding ticket while on holiday. Mandy bargained "And if you're ever in New York, come visit me and I'll show you a good time'". Here he came to collect and what ensued was a surprising viewpoint, male and female of what constitutes a "good time". Both parts were played well, and set design was bolt lock and an intercom to the doorman. "The Constituent" had Doug Eddy, playing Potter, a crusty old cottager in Maine who takes pride and enjoyment in banging out obscene packed letters to his State Senator Blane, played wonderfully by Ross Metcalf. After 20 years of receiving abusive correspondence, the Senator decides to have a face- to-face meeting with his letter writing constituent and shows up at Potter's cabin. The verbal banter which followed was a credit to both players. The play ended with the Senator taking his leave, and Potter heading b.ack to his typewriter. "Twinkle Twinkle" had all three cast members, Lana Rickard, Doug Bothwell and Joe Dalrymple fitting their roles and playing their parts. with a good sense of fun. Andrea, the bored housewife preparing for a Saturday night alone settles in front of the T.V., bowls of ice cream and pretzels evident while Bo, her husbnad complaining about the lack of elasticity in his sock gets V ready for an evening of bowling and boozing with his friends. A knock at the door brings in "Ted", soap opera star and the recipient of a scorching letter, complete with photo from Andrea who really didn't expect a personal reply to her fan mail. Exit Bo to bowling, with Ted smiling in anticipation. After Andrea slips into something a little more exotic and during a match of chesterfield rugby, Andrea and Ted discuss the pros and cons of their ■"relationship". Virtue wins out, but just barely as Ted leaves, and Andrea awaits the return of Bowling Bowling Bo. The hard-work of cast, crew and directors was evident in all three plays and all those involved are to be commended for a job well done. A word of caution to all, don't say it, if you don't mean it. his allotted tasks in four hours, then spend the rest of the day getting paid double time to do someone else's job? No surprise, then, if there's a line-up outside thepost office personnel department. But there won't be one at the customer service wickets--even those that are open--if the price keeps rising and the service keeps dropping. If we have the money, we'll be on the phone, or talking to a courier. If we don't, well, tough, I guess. At least that's the message message that's coming from post office management, the unions and the government. Bonne chance, Harvie. C F <8 Feature Service Jon Jenkins guest speaker (Continued from page 1) ner, the guest speaker and the presentation of Certificates of'Ap- preciation by the former president, Diane Hamre. Chief Jon Jenkins was introduced introduced as a career police officer who in 1974 became Durham Regional Police Chief, having been police chief in the City of Oshawa prior to the formation of the Region. The Police Chief said it was his philosophy that police officers became involved in the activities of the community which he said was both a benefit to the community and the police force. He spoke of a Durham Regional compliment of police officers now numbering 414 and a civilian staff of 89. Jon Jenkins said that we were fortunate in the judiciary systems which operate within Canada both on the provincial and federal level. He said he supported the Community Community Service Order Programme which he said operated well within the community providing a needed service. He said the programme had advantages for the community as well as for the offender. Chief Jenkins said the Durham Regional Police operate a Youth Program which, he said, was most active. He said the program was not the be-and-end-all but said.it was quite obvious that kids were often looking for love and affection. Jenkins urged the agencies to continue their efforts arid congratulated congratulated the agencies for their part in the placements being made through the Community Service Order Programme. He spoke of the 43 local agencies taking part this past year and thé 2550 client hours they had provided. The President and Board of Directors of Family & Children's Services of Durham Region | cordially invite you and your friends to attend their ANNUAL MEETING on Wednesday, March 25, BUFFET DINNER A T 6:30 P.M. BUSINESS MEETING AT 7:30 P.M. \ at HARWOOD SECONDARY SCHOOL 80 Falby Court, AJAX Speaker: DR. ALINA LAZOR ' Director, Âdôlescent Services Whitby Psychiatric Hospital Awards: To Foster Parents for Years of Service Music: Harwood Secondary's Safire & Solists Buffett $10.00 per person 1987 Society Membership may RSVP, Barabara Clarke by Mar. 18 416-433-1551 be purchased for $5.00