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il iH, a ATR risa Eur DENY aml | j \ J vey - PORT Q PERRY TAR Second Section Volume 108-- PORT PERRY, ONTARIO, Wednesday, Aug. 28th, 1974 -- No. 43 Disagree on "+ of finance committee It took a tie-breaker vote by Chairman Beath to take away from the Regional Finance committee what some members described as a 'veto power' at last Wed- nesday's Regional Council meeting. The Finance Committee had recommended to Council that no department head be permitted to use budget appropriations for any other purpose than originally intended without the approv- al of the Finance Committee, the standing committee and council. Most councillors found themselves in disagreement with the wording of the recommendation. 'I cannot support such a recommendation' said Mayor Jim Potticary of Oshawa. "If this is approved by Council it will give the Finance Committee power to control the entire region". "This recommendation clearly states a right to veto Realizes his childhood dream ¥ for the Finance Committee' said Councillor Alex Robert- son. Finance Committee Chairman George Ashe said the committee should have overseeing powers. "If they don't, there's no point in having a finance commit- tee". He said the committee always works in close co- operation with other committees. "There is no question of any veto power here', he added. Councillor Christine + Coun. powers Thomas supported the Finance Committee chair- man saying Oshawa had a similar procedure and there was nothing wrong with it. Coun. Alex Robertson then suggested the finance com- mittee be given the right to recommend a change leaving the approval aspect to regional council. Councillors found them- selves tied in a 12-12 vote which Chairman Beath setled by voting in favour of Robertson's amend- ment. Concerned about the large number of persons on social welfare by Ashok Chandwani Regional Social Services Commissioner Doug Johns will meet shortly with the Unemployment Insurance Commission and the Farm Labour Pool in Port Perry to explore the possibility of putting employable receip- ients of social service aid to work at picking apples. Mayor Jim Potticary brought up the matter at last Wednesday's regional council meeting. He wanted Durham Region to ensure that unem- ployed persons within the region get jobs picking apples instead of allowing the Federal Government to bring in farm workers from abroad for the purpose. "We should direct our people on unemployment and social welfare to these jobs instead of bringing people from abroad' Mayor Potticarry suggested. His comments sparked off a debate that brought up questions of eligibility for social benefits, regional policies on social welfare and even sexism. Appointed to planning committee Mayors Lawrence Mal- colm of Scugog and Garnet Rickard of Newcastle have been given representation on the Regional Planning and Development Committee. Regional Council approved a recommendation of the planning and development committee to this effect, last Wednesday. This action stems from the lack of any representative of" Scugog and Newcastle on the planning committee. Since the committee will be discussing proposed offic- ial plans in the near future - plans which are important to these municipalities - it felt it desirable to give representa- tion to the mayors. The mayors will however be restricted to speaking on matters concerning their particular municipalities only. Councillors were, in gen- eral, concerned about the number of able-bodied persons on social welfare. "To the best of my know- ledge, as of June 1, all single employable males have been cut off social service except those who receive one-shot deals" explained Social Services Commissioner Doug Johns. He explained 'one-shot deals' as situations where the department gives people money to tide over a period when their unemployment insurance has been delayed, cut off or interrupted. This immediately turned the debate towards the question of single and family benefits. "Why use the word 'single'?"" asked Coun. Alan Dewar of Oshawa. Mr. Johns explained that male receipients with families could not be cut off social welfare, because their wives and children would be affected. "A reasonable stand to take" said Coun. Dewar, "but T still feel it is discrim- nation'. "What about single females?" asked Coun. Margaret Shaw. "Well" said Mr. Johns "with females we are more lenient. We cannot insist a female take just any job that becomes available. We recognize the female of the species has a right to be more selective in her choice of employment". "Now we're getting sexist too!" exclaimed Coun. Dewar. "Debate returned to its original theme then, with Coun. Ken Lyall of New- castle saying applepicking doesn't get workers more than social welfare does. "As long as this happens, we'll always have the problem' he said. Mr. Johns revealed that welfare pay- ments for a single person are $66 a week, more if depend- ants are involved. Mayor Lawrence Malcolm of Scugog agreed with Mayor Potticary that local people should be employed as apple pickers before considering others. He informed council that the Farm Labour Pool in Port Perry, was coordinat- ing the hiring of workers and offering up to $2.75 an hour. He said there was an exception in othe case of tobacco workers who have to be specialised making it neacessary to bring them from abroad. Council then adopted a motion by Mayor Potticary seeking the meeting between the social services commis- ioner and the UIC. and Farm Labour Pool. Road inspection Durham region councillors have been invited to take a bus tour of the region to determine which roads. need urgent repair. Councillors were informed the bus will be leaving 105 Consumers Dr., Whitby at 9 a.m_, Sept. 3rd. : 25 days of excitement Tours African and South American countries One evening last week we had the pleasure of sitting in Mr. Cec King's comfortable living room on Rosa Street and listen to him relate his many exciting experiences from an extended tour of Africa and South America. When we asked him if there was some special reason for him to choose the trip, he told us that the trip he made had been a fervent wish since he was a small boy. I can remember clearly, one evening my dad took me to see a friend who had just returned from a trip to Africa. His story about the trip and the carved elephant figure and small metal cannon he had brought back as souvenirs fascinated me so much that I promised myself that one day I would make a trip to Africa," Mr. King said. Mr. King mdde the trip, he managed to get the elephant, and many other interesting souvenirs, but he has vet to obtain a miniature cannon. First stop Brussels He first flew to New York where he joined the other members of the group. The first destination was to be Brussels, Belgium. Flying across the Atlantic in a Sabena 747, the sunrise while they were passing over Northern Ireland really fas- cinated Mr. King. The stop- over in the Belgium capital was brief. Except for a sight seeing tour and a relaxing night in the hotel little was done on account of the short period spent in the city. Six days in Kenya = Already the following day the group took off for the first fascinating, African country Kenya. After a 10 hour flight the plane touched down on Embakasi Inter- national Airport in Nairobi. This airport Mr. King said, was built by Russians during - the war and has the longest runway in the World and the surface is as smooth as glass. Nairobi became the head- quarter for the next six days. But during those days daily "safaris" in small mini buses shooting pictures were arranged for the group members. Mr. King had acquired a new camera with a tele- scopic lens prior to his departure and shot at least 300 pictures during the 25 day tour. No doubt, Mr. King will be kept busy during winter months showing slides and narrate his trip to various organizations in the area. One of the many trips took the group into Masai country known to be one of the ferocious tribes in Africa. Only male members of the tribe were present to per- form one of their ritual dances. Women, young and old had been politely remov- ed from the stare of tourists. "One day we went to a place called the Ark, a lodge built about 40 feet above ground. It was built in the Aberdare forest and quite close to an illuminated water hole. We spent the night here (continued on page 20) py ~\ -- a, WO The items seen on this table are only a tew, and the most valuable souvenirs Mr. King secured on his tour to Africa. At right is that precious elephant he never left out of sight for 20 days. The cane with it intricate handle has also an elephant carved into it. On the other end of the table is a wood carving of a bontebok and the centre piece is a rhino. All species are carved in mangora wood, native to the countr, The ash tray is also part of his collection and is made of agate stone. The map Mr. King is holding shows the route and distance he flew over the 26 day period, about 25,000 miles.