PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18,1976, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of the Cou nty Town Pulse vr ensw AssistantEditor - Blake Purdy I Published every8,000dnesday Community Editor - Brian Winter Contributing Editor - Jim Qu-<1 Production Manager - Marje Burgess Display Advertising Manager - by M.B.M. Publishing Robin Lyon Marlen~e Byrotu Circulation Manager - Sharon Lyon i s Box 206, Whitby. The Free Press Building Mailing Permit No. 2941 Mik BrgèsPUbi.herMaagig ditr.121 Brock Street North, P"'<uu 668-6111: Toronto Lne 282-1004 Let's take close look ai our prison system When Councitior Joy Thompson said there was a waiting list to get into so'me prisons, at the annual meeting of the Association of Munici- palities of Ontario last week, John Smith, the Minister of Correctional Services, replied that the real problem was overcrowding in prisons. While the remnarks about waiting lists and overcrowding were making the headl ines, the real problern that the AMO was trying to deal with seemned to get lost in the uproar. The AMO passed a resolution expressing concern about leniency in sentences handed out to repeat offenders involved in crimnes of violence. The first-timne offenders appear, for the niost part. to dislike prison life enough that they do îîot return, s,,,ys Councillor Thompson; but she feels that there is not enouglb of a deterrent in Ontario's prison systemi to keep the Thank yOu! The people* of Whitby should be congratulated and thanked for giving their support to the survivors of the devastating earthquake which struck Guatemala six months ago Monday, leaving in its wake 22,700 people dead, 1,000,000 homeless and 250,000 houses destroyed. Within days, this community raised over $2,000 in support of the National Red Cross objective of $500,000, accord- ing to Aline Currier, Publicity Chairman for the Whitby branch of the Canadian Red Cross Society. The generous support of Canadians coast-to- coast to help the victims of th is tragie event resulted in $1 ,300,000 being raised. The funds were used in the tume of the immediate emer- gency to suppy blankets, medicines and ternporary shelter. Now, your money is helping Red Cross build some 2,0 00 homes in eighit different communities in Guatemala. As Mrs. Currier says, "It is important that we remem ber not only the on-going needs of people following a major disaster, but just as crucial that you, the Canadian people, who gave so miuch know t hat your assistance isappreciated and is, in façt, helpinfg those who needed help". repeat ottender fromi corning back. What to do with the liard- core criminal hias beensociety's problem for generations. Some say "put him in prison and let him rot", while others make attenipts to rehabilitate hiii, with varying degrees of success. Councillor Thompson says there should be enough of a deterrent in prison, lue that the r-epeat offender will not want to return, ever. Nearîy 100 years ago, the - ii-g1ish composers Gilbert and Sullivan wrote a song entitled: "Let the punishmcnnt fit the crime". It seems thiat we are forgetting this approacli ini oLr Jresen t-(lay treatmlent of' criiials. In the case of crimes of' violence, the penalties should 1c definitely more severe than those for minor offences. as the AMO lias rccommilended. Studies should be made into înaking thie punishiment for such crimes have a direct relation to the crimes them- selves. If a violent act is perpetrated on a menimber of society or his property, the person who commiitted this crime should be made responsible for restitution of damages, even if this involves a matter of several years of his life. Jail sentences are not the answer, when a crirninal can be locked Up with good mneals and a bed to sleep on and is doing nothing to aid the victiin of his actions. Without making the punishment relate directly to the c'rir-ne, hie will not, in many cases, recognize or care a bout the con sequen ces of what heelias done. We agree with Counii-llor Thomnpson that the înethods of dealing with crirninals in otlier countries sliould be studied, but we also suggest that studies be made of means to make the repeat offender responsible for the effect of his actions. That, in many cases, eau be a real deterrent, especially if lie has to spend several yéars paying off the damages hie perpetrated 0on his victim. He wilI certainly think twice before attempting sucli an act again, if hie is made responsibte for restitution. With the repeat offender, a comfortâble stay in jail is just flot enougli. He should Durham West MPP Godfrey is flot jumping NDP-shi An open lletter: 1 deny the rurnour that 1 have been con- tacted by Eddie Goodmlan or Premnier Davis by tele-; phione, to extend a wei- corne invitation. As a blue socialist 1 intend to remiain off-Shore. Lt is truc that in the House 1 Whitbyites intérested in ethnic Dear Editor: May 1, on behiaîf of the Canadian Scottish Club, thank the Resiclents and Visitors to the Wbitby Town Carnival for tlîeir support and interest ini our Hospitaity House during the f'estive season. Thîis was our first venture of this kind and proved that the people of' Whiitby have a strong and cultures real interest in the Ethnic Cultures. To aIl those who donated ti me, effort, exhiibits, etc., with special mention to the Connelly School1 of Dancing providing the twice niglitly show by our local girls. Our thanks, for Canadian Scottislh Clu b, D. McRobert. Send letters to: Blox 206, Whitby have accused the Minister of Heaith .Miller, the Minister of Education Wells, and Treasurer McKeough of being in- competent * and at that time 1 was doing it only because of mny Party's stance. 1I didn't really feel sincere when I made those comments. Actually my description of their inabilities is rnuich pithier. . 1 also tunderstarid there is a rurnour that Mr. Miller is proposing to reopen ail hospitais which have been closed dtiring the past 20 years, inciud- ing Choriey Park and the Dominion Orthopoedic ini order to convince saunteriflg socialists to amble across. the floor - after ail any party that brouLght in universal heaith insurance and a rentai control bill can't be al smug Tory! 1 haven't heard a eall frorn the welcome committee - nor have I heard "tennis anyone?" Charles Godfrey, MPP Durham West.,