It seems that we might be returning to the excitement - filled era of spectacular fires which left thousands of people homeless and destroyed property in untold quantities. There are books that tell the horrifying story about the Great Chicago fire which, practically, wiped out the entire city and left a tornado-like trail of damage in billions of dollars. Closer to home, some will remember the Great Toronto fire which was well captured on film by a photographer named James whose collection of photographs can be seen today. Due to better fire fighting equipment and newer firefighting methods, including better training courses for the up-and-coming firefighters, the possiblity of colossal fire has been greatly reduced. Also, the various safety programs account for fewer fires. Nevertheless, there was one big fire recently in west Toronto which had the makings of a great fire. It was the much-heralded Pittsburg Paint factory fire which I could see nine miles away. The old adrenalin of mine started to act up again and soon I found myself, along with other photographers, "firing away", using the old beat-up Pentax. It was a sight to remember: huge, billowing. smoke painting the sky around Metra, red and orange fire balls against the pitch-blake smoke, cannisters exploding in air and firemen going right into the flames. One might say it was a real-life Towering Inferno with real-life people taking part. There were many tense moments too: people being evacuated from their homes and the heat getting closer to the business section. As it is customary, whenever something big happens, the usual WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1976, PAGE 5 number of "important" people arrive. Usually, it's the police who try to exert their influence. Again, the standard orders: "Do not cross the line!; Move out of this area!; Go back!; Move south!; Get out!; and so mi These orders are often accompanied with the usual threats, "We will arrest you, if you don't move"; "We don't care that you work for a newspaper"; etc. Sound familiar? Yup. They are the men in blue whb use these fine methods of intimidation often. I have learned to ignore threats, unless I know that I'm doing something that I shouldn't be doing in the first place. Despite hassles, I found plenty of time to. record this spectacular event on film and in glorious color. Next day, I looked at the black and white pictures in all three Toronto newspapers. Frankly, they were no match to my color stuff. Just imagine if only one paper had decided to run a color photo. Then, l'd say, they would have achieved the maximum visual effect. That's what photo journalism is all about.. As the sun was rising over the slight mist in the fields the birds were softly chirping as if to greet this giant red bail to a new day. Not even the crickets were up yet but the flowers, sensing the dartness of night was over. were ooen- ing their petals for the bees who would soon be about their rounds. Off in the distance was the peak of another green tent, barely discernable in the dense foliage of bushes and trees. The above is what a campgrounds scene looks like according .to sone of the brochures and pamphlets but if you believe that story then you believe the Pope goes to Miami Beach every winter for a holiday. But, just as any6ddy else needs a change of scenery and pace, so did I and the obvious solution was camping. The difference between being a lowly columnist and an editor is that when the*editor needs a change of scenery he whips off to Nassau or Hawaii or some such place while ail I can afford is a camp trip to the backwoods. Finding a decent place to camp is almost as hard as finding a good cut of meat these days. Most of the Provincial parks are, to me, no more than subdivisions of tents and campers with what seems like security guards at double gates checking you as you go in and out. The checks are not too unlike passing from East Germany into West Germany. My idea of a campground is similar to what I described at the beginning of the column but the realities of what I got are completely different. For instance, on my first morning, I did not arise to the soft chirp of birds. Instead, I was treated to a ierbal swearing contest between two big crows who took turns, swearing at each other and and throwing pine cones down on my tent. It's not that I really have anything against crows but I was concerned about the added weight of a pine cone on my tent. While stumbling around in semi-darkness the night before trying to put, up the tent, the major discovery was that tent pegs find it most difficult penetrating rock. And, if you force the little rascals with a hatchet, they tend to fold over in two. So, even though the tent required about 15 pegs to keep it in a reasonably upright position, mine had about nine. I had strung a few ropes up on nearby trees but as the trees moved in the wind so did my tent. In fact, the first night I almost got seasick. So the next norning, after being awakened by crow swearing and pine cones hitting the tent like bombs, 1 Editor's Quote Book Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torment of man. Friedrich Nietzche staggered out of the tent rubbing my back and wonderng if it would ever be the same without disc fusion. Then I discovered my kidneys were bitterly complaining and I hadn't a clue where the nearest privy was located. I started off in what looked like a good direction and inmediately discovered my first above-ground tree root the hard way. As I got up, I'n almost certain the crows made what sounded like laughing but I brushed off the dirt and ignored theni. Besides, I couldn't find a stone anywhere to wing at the black noisemakers anyway. The privy turned out to be a pre-wat job and will probably go on the market one of these days as an antique. Itl had a certain air about it so I hurried through my bus'iness - although not fast enough to avoid getting nailed by lialf a dozen mosquitoes. Upon ny return to the camp, my next task was to get some kind of breakfast going. Naturally, the ·campstove had no intention of running properly. I pumped like mad CLC's day of protest "The Canadian Manufac- turers' Association condemns as irresponsible the intention of the Canadian Labour Congress to hold a so-called 'day of protest' on October 14 to express its opposition to the federal Governments' Anti-Inflation Program", Rodrigue J. Bilodeau, presi- dent ' of the CMA, said recently. "Should the 'day of protest' result in concerted stoppages of work by employees, such actions will violate both collective agree- ments and labor relations laws and constitute illegal strikes, regardless of what the CLC chooses to call them. "The Congress' proposed action would be counter- productive in lost production and income, in inconvenience to a large number of Canadians, and also in under- mining basic principles of law and order which are vital to the stability and security of the nation. "An illegal strike", contin- ued Mr. Bilodeau, "is also a poor way of denonstrating the responsible attitude necessary before Canadians and their Govemrnent can seriously consider the CLC's denands for greater partici- pation in the formation of social and economric policies. "In our view, an illegal national strike represents a very large step backwards for the union movement in Canada, and will worsen a strike record which is already among the worst in the world. Certainly, Canadian industry can ill-afford this kind of debilitating action as it fights to remain competitive. "Although some of the provisions of the Anti- Inflation Act are severely penalizing ind'ustry, the Act is the law of the land and should be respected. Infla- tion is still the most serious threat facing us and this imposes a duty on union, industry and government leaders to display construc- tive attitudes", said the CMA president. "While employees regret the circunistances which made the Act necessary and hope that these will be remedied so that controls can end as soon as possible, we cannot accept or condone the proposed illegal action by sone unions and their mnembers who are affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress. "Along witlh every respon- siblc Canadian, we urge the AIý but the flame seemed updecided between trying to go out and flaring up to a big ball of orange fire that threatened to engult the whole stove. At this point, I sat back on the wet seat of the picnic table, ornately carved up with initials from ail over the world, and thought bitterly of my editor and his charming wife sitting at a beautifully ornate breakfast table down south ordering French toast, cold papaya juice, chilled grapefruits and expresso with real cream and demerara sugar. They would be chatting about going for a tour of the local sugar refining plant.and later a relaxing swim in the oceanside pool accompanied by a couple of frosty and tall cold drinks. I would be swatting mosquitoes, bathing in the cold river and later fighting with the stove again'to make a cup of tea with imitation cream and no sugar. Now I ask you....is it fair??? "irresponsible" federal Government to stand firm in the face of threats of disruptive and illegal actions. "The Association is recom- nending to its members that those affected take whatever legal and disciplinary actions are available and appropriate. A strong consensus has already developed among our mem- bers to claim damages against the union and/or discipline any employees who strike illegally. "Although, by not im- posing the appropriate penal- ties in the past, the various levels of government and certain government agencies as employers have fostered a belief that illegal strikes by public employees are accep- table, the Association urges all governments to clarify at an early stage that any public employees who strike illegally will be subject to disciplinary action, if not prosecution, and that damages will be sought against their unions". In concluding, Mr. Bilodeau said: "We have been fortunate in Canada not to have been beleaguered by political strikes. Failure by governments to act strongly and quickly in the face of a threatened political strike will encourage a repetitionof such activities". New municipal building to be occupied in fail Whitby's 'various town deparntments are expected to move into the new municipal building on Rossland Road in mid-November, says Town Clerk Bill Wallace. Although the building was originally to be occupied by September, strikes and inclem- ment weather conditions delayed the construction work, he said. Mr. Wallace reports thia the superstructure of the building is complete and all the glass for the windows is installed. Work is proceeding on the interior fittings of the building, and landscaping is to start shortly. Council has not yet decided on plans for an officiai opening, but Mr. Wallace suggests this may be held in connection with the 1977 inaugural meeting. SAVE 15%/ ON SCHOOL SUPPLIES FX EX SAT SAT SAT SAT SAT t . . ai ai am m m SUN SUN SUN DLY SUN DLY SUN OLY SUN DLY SUN OLY DAILY AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM, PM PM PM PM OSHAWA 7.15 8.15 - 9.15 - 10.15 - 11.15 - 12.15 - 1.15 LV (Bus Terminal) LV 2.15 3.15 4.15 5.15 6.15 7.15 8.15 9.15 10.15 11.15 7.20 8.20 - 9.20 - 10.20 - 11.20 - 12.20 - 1.20 LV (Simcoe & 401) LV 2.20 3.20 4.20 5.20 '6.20 7.20 8.20 9.20 10.20 11.20 Bus 7.30 8.30 - 9.30 - 10.30 - 11.30 - 12.30 - 1.30 Whitby 2.30 3.30 4.30 5.30 6.30 7.30 8.30 9.30 10.30 11.30 Bus 7.40 8.40 9.40 - 10.40 - 11.40 - 12.40 - 1.40 Aiax 2.40 3.40 4.40 5.40 6.40 7.40 8.40 9.40 10.40 11.40 7.50 8.50 - 9.50 - 10.50 - 11.50 - 12.50 - 1.50 AR PICKERING AR 2.50 3.50 4.50 5.50 6.50 7.50 8.50 9.50 10.50 11.50 (transfer to train) 8.00 9.00 10.00 - 11.00 - 12.90 - 1.00 - 2.00 LV Pickering LV 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 8.06 9.06 - 10.06 - 11.06 - 12.06 - 1.06 - 2.06 Rouge Hill 3.06 4.06 5.06 6.06 7.06 8.06 9.06 10.06 11.06 12.06 8.12 9.12 - 10.12 - 11.12 - 12.12 - 1.12 - 2.12 Guildwood 3.12 4.12 5.12 6.12 7.12 8.12 9.12 10.12 11.12 12.12 Train 8.17 9.17 9.47 10.17 10.47 11.17 11.47 12.17 12.47 1.17 1.47 2.17 Eglinton 3.17 4.17 5.17 6.17 7.17 8.17 9.17 10.17 11.17 12.17 Train 8.22 9.22 9.52 10.22 10.52 11.22 11...52 12.22 12.52 1.22 1.52 2.22 Scarborough 3.22 4.22 5.22 6.22 7.22 8.22 9.22 10.22 11.22 12.22 8.28 9.28 9.58 10.28 10.58 11.28 11.58 12.28 12.58 1.28 1.58 2.28 Danforth 3.28 4.28 5.28 6.28 7.28 8.28 9.28 10.28 11.28 12.28 8.43 9.43 10.10 10.43 11.10 11.43 12.10 12.43 1.10 1.43 2.10 2.43 LV Toronto Union LV 3.43 4.43 5.43 6.43 7.43 8.43 9.43 10.43 11.43 12.43 8.48 9.48 10.15 10.48 11.15 11.48 12.15 12.48 1.15 1.48 2.15 2.48 AR EXHIBITION AR 3.48 4.48 5.48 6.48 7.48 8.48 9.48 10.48 11.48_12.48 AT Brian's for .8ooks 135 BRDCK ST S. WHITBY 668-1221 Right to the grounds. No parking problems. FOR INFORMATION PHONE: Oshawa/Whitby/Ajax 579-4224 Toronto 484-0444 to the CNE