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2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, November 8, 1978 Section Two Editorial Comment Fateful Day As Election Day, November 13th, looms in the immediate offing, can- didates for election to municipal of- fices throughout the province are scrambling to leave no stone untur- ned in their quest for votes. Around here, on the, surface it has been a quiet campaign, somewhat duli compared to some earlier ones. Even at the candidates meeting last week in Ward 3, everything was peaceful, nobody was tearing an op- ponent apart for something that had been said or published. In fact, the end result must have left the audien- ce wondering if this was an election or a pink tea. Most of those in the running have a considerable stake in the results and it would appear that some of them are just now beginning to realize it, and worrying a bit whether they are going to end up winners or losers in the struggle. So far, we've only Don't For By the time you read this editorial, election day will be almost upon us. We're not going to tell you who to vote for because we have too much respect for the judgement of our readers to make suggestions of our own. We think people should be en- couraged to make up their own minds. However, we do hope that you have met a few candidates, asked them questions, read their literature and heard them speak at recent candidates meetings. And we urge you most strongly to cast your ballot on Monday. When you go to the polls next week you will be just a small part of a very long tradition which has existed in this country and in other nations of the western world. We might tend to forget how im- portant the act of voting really is. However, there are many places in the world where going to a poll and selecting a name from a list of can- didates with varying and sometimes opposing views is impossible. To be able to help out a particular can- didate and work to get him or her elected is something equally unheard of in some places. Here we have the freedom to seek election, to campaign and to speak. By making the effort to vote next week you will not only be supporting a particular candidate but also en- dorsing the system of government in which we believe. Maybe you are one of the people who believes that local government is not interesting. You may feel that it is boring or that local politicians have no real power. You may think that it is not worthwhile to bother Lay Down If you own a machine gun that's gathering dust in the attic or if there's a rusty switchblade stashed away in the basement, the gover- nment has a message for you. It seems that the powers-that-be want you to turn in those dangerous weapons before they hurt somebody. As a result, the gover- nment decided that during the mon- th of November you can drop off tear gas, brass knuckles, knives and ammunition at the local police station with no questions asked. Of course this kind of announ- cement makes us really wonder just how paranoid some people must be. Obviously there are some in- dividuals who picked up a German pistol or a Japanese sword as a souvenir of World Ward Two but it's hard to believe that there are any large numnbers of people armed to the teeth with tear gas and other dangerous machinery. Nevertheless we assume that the government doesn't embark on a program encouraging people to surrender their armns if there is no need for such a scheme. Coming Closer heard of one candidate who has come up and blasted his opponent in a letter presumably sent to all his constituents. Fortunately, or unfor- tunately, we stated in an earlier editorial that during the campaign we would not publish letters sent to us on behalf of or against any can- didate. Certainly, it would be unfair to publish them this week when an opponent would have no opportunity to reply before the election, so we'll just have to file the letters received and let the writers circulate their messages by mail, or in adver- tisements or word of mouth. It's almost too bad because it would have made for a much more in- teresting and exciting campaign if some of that ,material had been produced earlier on. Well, it will all be over on Monday night. Maybe next time things will be different. get to Vote with the small-time things that local councils deal with---things such as zoning by-laws, land severances, planning, regulations on where you can park or rules on how much it will cost for a dog licence. But to downplay the role of the local government is wrong. Local councils and school boards directly shape the communities in which we live because of the fact that they conduct their business at the everyday, nuts-and-bolts level. It is the local council which decides where a new shopping cen- tre ought to go or what road should be re-paved next year. The school board decides when a new school is needed or how much it should pay the teachers. While the federal or provincial government might be dealing with international politics or economics, it is the local government with its focus on everyday events that most directly effects us. Local issues are decided day in and day out in the council chambers in the middle of our community. You can easily drop in some Monday evening and watch elected officials in action. With very little effort, you can even make arrangements to speak at one of their meetings. And that's certainly a better hearing than any individual will ever get from the cabinets in Ot- tawa or Queen's Park combined. All in all, the local government, does matter. There have been many qualified candidates who have put a lot of work into this election and need your support. If you don't intend to vote this Monday, shame on you! Your Weapons We certainly hope that any people who might be stockpiling weapons will take up the government's offer and get rid of them. And it might be a good idea for all of us to search the attics and see if there are any un- wanted arms we should turn over. Numerous press releases have been spelling out the details of the weapons surrender scheme. As we understand it, there are things like tear gas, mace and exotic eastern weapons such as manchaka sticks which are prohibited. We presume that more conventional weapons such as a pistol merely have to be registered if the owners wish to keep them. The government also reminds us that if we happen to head down to the police station to get rid of that un- wanted gun or knife we shouldn't make the mistake of carrying it in a pocket. A concealed weapon is no laughing matter, especially if you maRe a trip to your bank before arriving at the police station. We are told that weapons should be carried in a bag and they should, of course, be unloaded. mi étatesman Great FamHIy Journal . 4 years ago in 1854 corporating nanviHe News...... itle lfndependent rono News N PUPY OONALC> BflSIOP. ... îisÀng Mgr. Plant Mgr. Eý thi e a p;ear 1 thi ,;)e groo A ny n3,crT a vr-d erirotri Te Conladjian $ STteean ,ccps ingç 'lia, t wli not b- be l efnt ,iy errcr i h 1-30 f u L!4(Jrtisem-nt îT requ nted n v*rliin jan ülne ioficeduli sgndbyThe, !I4Ynotýcý!in w ýtn theon, ed n thtat cise ii cia.~ ~~ mn liLabi;ity.M flP-ef,.d suh. ! is il-e spare ccup,ýied bt th,ýe oted ciro,- bears Io emi. Fishing and Boating in the Fog, sugar anld Spice Leave Us Alone î Why can't the big brutal world out there leave us little guys alone to get on with the difficult-enough business of living: putting on the storm win- dows, changing into the snow tires, digging out last winter's rubber boots with the hole in? Not a chance. It's always shoving a ham-fisted hand into the delicate machinery of our daily lives. Today I received a summons to appear in court in the city to answer a charge Df illegal parking, with all the "to wits" and "whereases" and threats that accompany such blackmail. And that's what it is - blackmail. I haven't been in the city for four months, I don't even own a car in my own name, and -I certainly was not* hanging around disreputable Parliament St. on that occasion or any other, with or without a car. Oh, but I have a choice. If I don't want to travel to the city at con- siderable expense to plead innocent, or have a lawyer represent me at considerably more expense, I can just plead guilty by mail and send along $7.80. But dammit, I'm innocent. So what do I do? Lose a day's pay, spend the money to get there and back, just to prove to some trumpy traffic court that I'm as pure as the driven snow? Or take the chicken way out, and pay the rap? That's blackmail, brother. A month ago, in came a bill from Natural Revenue, stating that I owed them several hundreds of dollars, plus interest. No ex- planations, just the bald statement, accompanied by the usual dire war- nings of the consequences, if I don't ante up. More blackmail. I don't mind paying my bills. Well, I mind, but I pay them. But these mindless, inhuman, computerized attempts to make me feel like a criminal merely succeed in making me sick. Down in Ottawa, the waffling and weaving and ducking and bobbing go on, ministers fall like autumn leaves and nobody lets the left side of his mouth know what the right is saying. Trudeau, after losing a dozen able ministers in the last half-dozen years, totters along with a turncoat Tory, Jack Horner, insensitive arrogancies like Otto Lang, and political retreads like Bryce Mackasey, who, as I recall "solved" the last postal strike in only six weeks. And His Eminence floats among these lesser fish like an octopus past his prime, still dangerous, still slip- pery, but given to emitting squirts of ink, disappearing into a hole, then tentatively thrusting out a ten- tacle to pick up the latest poll, before retreating into the rocks once again. And as if the general state of af- fairs weren't enough to give me a big pain in the arm, there's the local. My wife, after lugging her smashing new expensive white coat for about 10,000 miles this summer, in and out of 20 hotels, on and off countless buses and boats, trains and planes, has lost the blasted thing in her own home town. My daughter, with three degrees, is working as a file clerk, an honorable vocation, but scarcely one to make the creative impluses throb. My son-in-law is looking for a job, a rather harrowing business these days. And my grandboys are out of all those fine new clothes we bought them last spring. The only thing they're not out of is energy and fien- dish ability to dismantle things that electrical engineers would be afraid to touch. I have a brand-new set of golf clubs with which I can hit the ball twelve feet. On a clear day. With a, strong tailwind. I tell yez, b'ys, if it weren't for all them old people, I'd be tempted to' pack it all in, head for Florida, and sit on a bench in the sun, mumbling my gums. But I guess things could be worse. I've got enough money to pay that $7.80 blackmail for a non-parking ticket. I can fight the Feds on that mysterious assessment. I can live without the post office, though they sure know how to hurt a syndicated columnist, dependent on the mails. And just maybe, when the dollar has hit 75 centsunemployment has hit 10 per cent and inflation settles in two figures, we'll get sore enough to kick those tired flacks out of Ottawa. My wife will find her coat. I fouid my pants last year, after they'd been missing four months. They were 120 miles away, in the hall closet of my father-in-law. And there wa twen- ty dollar bill in the pocket. My daughter will get a job, probably as head of the CBC. My son-in-law will get a job, probably as his wife's copy and coffee boy. My grandboys will develop into great engineers. Or form a wrecking com- pany and get rich knocking things apart. Maybe l'Il stick'er out a few Imonths yet. But I wish I could do it ilike the groundhogs - just fatten up. crawl into a hole and sleep until spring. and H. J. Knight were much enjoyed at St. Paul's United Church Anniversary Servicec on Sunday. Guest speaker wasý the Rev. H. A. Kent,aprincipal of Queen's Theologica College, Kingston. Harry "Dutch" Osborne, a recruit from Bowmanville, bas progressed so rapidly since joining the Boston reighton was Tigers hockey tem, he has important been advanced to second- mary commit- string forward ne, able to be at 25 Years Ago ewcastle. Mr. Thursday, November 19th, cted bis job 1953 any program The local Bowmanville bhool system Public Utilities Commission et with the have received a request from à Catholie Newcastle for 50,000 galions of water daily. While the new nai meeting water supply system at the d the oppor- lake would easlly be able to their concer- supply this amount, the cost idates over would be too expensive for the P.U.C. toGundertake. Six Bowmanville soldiers who have been serving with ru the 27th Canadian Infantry ,Brigade in Germany, returned home Wednesday. They are J. canb A. Bothwell, A. J. Desroches, , H. L. Hayes, W. J. Leask, H. 0tantfl G. Perfect, and R. J. Wilson. SMr. and Mrs. Arnold Lobb treturned last Thursday from a a visit in Engaand. The possiblity of forming a leen Hately, municipal choir here will be Gertrude investigated by Recreation odrewsn Jean Director Don Shay. Thompson, Among the deer hunters who Pauline bagged their count this Cires, Harry season, are Ted Morris, Bi SPrHtchard. Overy, Earl M Quade, Joe hrs. C. A. Jilason, Jack Buttonsaw, HIaslman and Lance Plain, Bob Bothwell, quartet of Stout Adams, Lem hFowler swker, M. A. Norm Brooking and Grdon havGeo Chase Badger. (From Page 1) board, Bill Carman said some of his concerns are quality and costs of education and apathy by parents and taxpayers. He said most of these people don't set foot in the schools and "this is a very grave concern to me." He is running, because "I enjoy involvement with teachers, professionals, parents and I believe in the community and its youth." Incumbent Marg Ibbotson said two years ago her objec- tives in running for school board were to find out what was going on in education, to realize savings and improve the general quality of education. She believes she has accomplished these goals in being active on various committees such as transpor- tation, recreation, curriculum and school closing. She admit- ted salaries have increased but there is not one area in society in which they haven't. "They have not been out of line but lower than previous annual increases." If elected she will concentrate on the continued strengthening of basic skills and core programs, establish a fair level of salary while at the same time taking concern for the taxpayer into con- sideration, and getting the maximum efficiency out of the existing transportation system. Bill Montgomery said he believes the educational system should be working in tandem and not in isolation with the family unit to teach values, morals, attitudes and skills to children. "We owe it to the next generation to give them the best education possible." With the advent of television, calculators, digital watches, and the like, it is very easy for children to become lazy and he believes they are not being sufficiently prepared to meet the challenges and realities of life. He would therefore like to see a greater emphasis on the 3 "Rs" in the, educational system. Seeking the post of the town's representative on the Peterborough, Victoria Nor- thumberland and Newcastle Separate School Board are David Bouttell and Kevin Morris. Bouttell has represented separate-school supporters in this area since 1977. He has served as chairman of the education committee and as a member of the board's building and property com- mittee, he was involved in the construction of St. Stephen's School. He initiated action which resulted in the exten- sion of the French program and also fought for new policies on written reports to parents. In a board as large as the separate board, there are a lot of diverse regions, observed Mr. Boutell. Newcastle is growing whereas every other area of the board is in a decline. Thus there is a need for careful long-range plan- ning. Other problems which require immediate action are deficit financing, special education and ensuring new Ministry curriculum guidelines fit in with the values of the Catholic school system. Mr. Morris told citizens there is a renewal going on in this area whereby "we are beginning to realize separate schools are little Christian communities. The opening of St. Stephen's was a beautiful demonstration on the presen- ce of Christ in our schools." As a trustee he will be sen- sitive to the needs of the whole board but will also provide leadership in his own area. He would like to involve parents and other residents of the parish in the life of the school and provide them with oppor- tunities for discussion. "I will make sure the service we are getting is a reflection of the increasing enrolment and broad tax assessment. I will keep the quality of education foremost in my mind and I challenge all of you to become involved and through that in- volvement the quality of education will improve." Emmett Creighton and Cleary Smith are competing for the position of separate school board representative to the Northumberland and Newcastle board of 49 Years Ago Thursday, November 7th, 1929 There will be a chicken pie supper this Thursday at St. John's Parish Hall, beginning at 5:30, under the auspices of the Rebekah Lodge. Aduits .65c, children .35c. In the Room 1, Sr. 4th, report of October of Bowman- ville Public School the stand- ings are Grace Crawforth, Education. Mr. C attending an meeting of the sa tee so he was un the meeting in Ne Smith said if ele will be to ensure« in the public sc does not confli Christian and philosophy. After the forn the audience hac tunity to discusst ns with candi refreshments. DU Jean Morris, Ail Helen Mason, Hooner. David An Brough, Mary Russell Hayes Adams, John Sh Depew and Lillian The trio of i Cawker, Messrs.] Knight, and the Mesdames C.A. C Neal and Messrs Ward Three Residents Hear Their Candidates Views