Editorial
Growing old

One day at a time

Over one third of Canada's population is either
just approaching the age 50 mark or has already
passed it, and as Canada’s birth rate continues
ts decline, that percentage will increase. No one
can understand what life is like for the over 50's
unless and until they have personally ex-
perienced it.

You are fifty (or more) is when you hear one
talking about ‘‘that old geezer”’, “that old guy”,
“that old lady”, “old gra nny’, or “gramps”
and you look around to see who he is
about and it comes as a terrible shock when, for
the first time you realize he is talking about
YOU. You - who always thought of yourself as
being young, and “with it’. ;

In one moment you feel the cold chill of
realization that your youth is behind - and
suddenly - suddenly it hits you. You look in the
mirror at your thinning hair. If you're a male,
the chances are there is a spreading bald spot
and your forehead hairline has receeded more
than you realized. You notice the “getting up
nights” and bathroom visits are becoming
noticeable to the point where your youngsters
make joke of it. .

When you enter a department store or
restaurant, you find yourself hunting for the
‘washroom’ and learn to suffer the indignities
of vandalized toilets - many without paper, soap
or other necessities. Getting out of a chair can be
an agonizing experience for so many men and
women after fifty.

In about ' one out of three persons ove r fifty,
hearing has already begun to deteriorate -
although often the person is not aware of the
onset of deafness, Whe n it is realized - this
comes as another shock to the system and it can
bring on depression. (No one likes to think of
having to wear a tell-tell so called “hearing
aid”.) Then, buoyed up by misleading ad-
vertising, the sufferer investsina hearing “aid”
only to ind the results are not nearly as effective
as hehad expected. All background noises come
inlouder. Trying to listen to one particular
speaker at a meeting and singling out his con-
versation is difficult as rustling of clothing,
scraping of chairs and coughing comes in like
rifle shots - and causes splitting headaches. A
change in attitude of friends £3 soon as they spot

e in attitude of friends as soon as they spo
the device behing his ear,
en - by age - many persons - especially
those living away from access to easy dental
care - are beginning the visits to.dentists- with
all the accompanying émbarrassniénts related
to s” “bridgework”, and “‘false”’ teeth.

So - with the aches and pains of rheumatoid-
arthritis affecting one out of every four, loss of
hearing, falling hair and bal , dental
problems, urinary and prostrate troubles for
men, constipation for women, plus for another
ame out of four - failing eyesight which means
fumbling for glasses just to find a number in the
phonebook , and difficulty in threading a needle,
ete, - those over 50 find themselves entering a
lifestyle far different than any they knew before.

Often it Is too late then to amend their attitude

. those over - fifties they have so misun-
derstood and had so little sympathy and patience
with before. The jokes they have made about
deaf people; the shuffling gait they have laughed
at on the Carol Burnet show; the excluding of
deaf persons ina conversation and the show of
exasperation at having to repeat what they said
for persons with hearing difficulties to un-
derstand. In this editorial Ihave only dealt with
those ns entering the 50's,

If there is sufficient respo se, I would like to
deal with those farther along their life-span - the
60's, the 70's and the 80’s. Canada has over 2
million of them.

Meanwhile, if this editorial has helped any
younger person to have just a little more feeling
and consideration for those who still think they
are young - but whose bodies are starting to give
them problems, and make them appear aged - it
will have been worth-while.

This editor would particularly like to hear
from anyone having strong views on thesubject
(and the problems) of aging at any age.

ROMAN

12 Univeriel treme Syncticote

izfu Rochelle

"No Doc, I'm not the six million dollar man. |
had a transistor radio in my back pocket.”

Ot

awa Offbeat

’ Ottawa Offbeat

By Richard Jackson

Ottawa-One after
another, up they go.

Trial balloons the
government is sending
into the political skies to.
test the winds of public
opinion on cutting
government over-
spending by trimming
social services.

Twice they have been
shot down.
But they keep rising.
The balloon floats up
the hint, the suggestion
even the firm statemen
that if the government is
en fa het a handle on
spending-it's long been
out of control--
family allowances and
pensions will have to be
‘immed,
Shoot down one balloon

and that should take care
of it.

Bring down a seconds
and the suspicion is left
that maybe the govern-
ment is honing the knife.

But to have to draw a
bead on a third one is to

have to believe that this is -

one of the post-election
jolts the government has
‘mm store for the economy.

A shock treatment of
sorts, todemonstrate that
after years of loose talk
and empty promises of
mending its ruinously

reckless financial ways, .
this time the government

really means business.
Public Works Minister
Judd Buchanan was the:

first member of Cabinet.

to send up the pesistent
balloon. .

Buchanan chose his
audience, a ga of
the representatives of the
“Old Money Establish-
ment” in London, Ontario
his home base and centre
of the insurance industry.

That old New
Demoncratic was horse,
STanley Knowles, who
has spent his life—ever
since 1942-fighting the
disable and the veterans,
took shot at the balloon
the following day in the
Commons.

Ina question to Welfare
Minister Monique Begin,
he shot it down-or she
shot it down for him,-
which was what he
wanted.

No truth in it, she told
him, Buchanan. hadn't
been speaking‘ for the
government. © | ~.

Next tofloat the balloon
was Treasury Board
Presieent Robert Andras,

who hinted it might make
good economic sense, but
rather hoped it wouldn't
have to be done.

Stan Knowles nailed it
down again that there
would be no pension ‘or
allowance tinkering.

That should have not ¢

only downed the balloon
but demolished it.

Until the other day
when Toronto-Dominion
Bank Chief Executive
Officer -Allan Lambert
filed his report on
“Financial Management
and Accountability” in
government, - .

He's running on on-

going Royal Commission. sf

on government spending.
Said it was Pout
control and that there
wasn't much
management ‘and
presious little
countability.

ace

He suggested that if the
government didn't regain
control, cut spending and
~shocking all in Fat
fire the bureaucratic
deadwood, then it might
be necessary to tighten
the pension and
allowance belt with a
means tent.

Up leapt out Stanley:
‘ is the same Mr .

at pensions and
‘ances were none 0
his business, not covered
in his - Commission's
terms of referance.
why did he do it?",

The Stan moved a
motion:

“This House deplores
the irr ible
statements on cutting
back on Parliament’s
social programa, and
urges not a decrease but
an increase in

ty=.

ons,” Dr,

. The demonstration held
on Wednesday by T.W.U.

So members was marred by

a despicable incident
seab appeared te iry and
scab a an
deliberately incite a riot.
As picketers marched

walk by Laval Avenuo

It needed unanimous pictures

agreement of the House
to carry.

’ But the’ Liberal ‘Nay
sayers"—a group
assigned fo vetoing
0 tion motions, g

or bad-killed it.

“Something's up,”
dare do it ‘ore the
election. But after?.

“Every time something regrettabl

like this up-and the

head,’
Rest easy-relatively—
Stan still stands on guard.

U.Vie Welcomes
Student Visitors

Students from schools
throughout British
Columbia are invited to
tour the campus and
facilities the
University of Victoria to
see universi
hand”. nder
university's student
visitation rogram
visitors from schools can
have a  fensral walking
tour of the campus and-or
make extensive visits to
special areas.

The special tours in-
clude group visits to the
departmenta of biology,
chemistry,
computing centre, the
glass blowing shop and

e language laboratory.
In chemistry and biology
the tours include the labs
as wlel as other parts of
the department; in

life “first .

physics,

physics the students are
also. shown univer-
sity’s telescope. In the
es blow shop
emonstrationa ani
lectures can be arranged
while in the language labs
visitors can see a
demonstration and watch
a film.

The. departments of Terr

theatraand microbiology
are also to requeats
for apecial tours. Visitors
from schools may eat 7

asks schools - in-
terested” in havin
students - take part
contact the office at least

three weeks in advance.

‘Library News _

“News from the brary
Kate Inoue

Now that we are well
into winter, the library
has’ done a window
display on winter sports i
neluding curling, skating,
ice sai i
snowmobiling, skilng and
snow camping. of

lumbia cross-country
ski routes by Richard and

be special interest is British

right. The
reat Soviet goalie
ladislay Tretyak talks
about his training, his
views on hockey, and the

Soviet-Canadian games
in The hockey Ilove. The
snowmobiler’s handbook
ives a lot of basic in-
ormation on the sport
from how to dress‘ an
where to.go to insurance
and snqwmobiles games.
As -you know, the
library offers 6 ce anda
record player downstairs
in the listening room to
listen to records before
talking them out or to just
while away a pleasant
time. For the work-
oriented, there is a public
typewrlter and paper
cutter in the same. room.

po
pension Pls won't sta
own--you've got to hit it unt
on the '

_ with saner ac
tro

gestures ’ attempting to
‘aw union mem into
a difficult situation.

This act of stupidity
everyone, but

restraint, they deferred
from doing anything
e. After many

used to being baited and
have shown  respon-
sibility in all cases.

After several minutes
of scab harrassment
Polies were called and
upon arriyin
scene remind

dewalk.

to on the
AD ee . members

demonstrated peacefully
and should com:
mended for prevalling
ons tha n

ublemaking B.C. Tel

scabs.
Ken Blanes

cketers

‘Dear Mr. Senior:

at the’

“Do you have any recipes fer dove?”

Letters to

the

Yeur editorial
December 22 titled “CP
Takeover a Ripoff,”
contains assumptions and
conclusions which we
are both incorrect and
ua antes discuss!

our ons
with thenews media, no
attempt was made to hide
or ‘brush aside” the fact
that some Northland
employees would be
displaced as a result of
the - jakeover: fated
Specifical ’. we staté
that of the total -97-em-
ployees at Northland
tween 25 and 39 would

be laid off and that these

positions include:
elerical and senior
opera management -
‘ost all in Vancouver.
The decision to lay off
staff is never one made
easily, rdiess of the
size company.
However, thie move was
necessary insom as
Canadian Pacific's
coastal marine operation
already has the

marketing and sales,

clairns, computer an
accounting in
its existing nization.

While ¢ dation of

these functions will mean

obvious internal changes,
our. statement

Your statement that
the m saved on

—apeount of the displaced

The Editor
Terrace, Herald
ace, B.C.

. Dear Sir,

Would anyone care to
comment on a system
whereby schools are

the forbidden to teach

religion in any form, |

where a Grade 1 teacher

luck day’?
heading backwards or
forwards, I wonder?

Yours truly —
Educated Elsewhere and
Thankful

~. Liberals prepare

for Nat'l Conf.

ottawa-Senotor . Al
Graham, president of the

- Liberal Party of Canada,

indicated recently that
Liberal organizers are
busy preparing for their
party's National Con-
vention to be held in
Ottawa February 2426.

Convention cochair-
man, Senator Joan
Neiman and Pierre
Bussieres, MP, Inicated
that 3,000 people from
across Canada. are ex-

ted to

5 last national meeting
of the Liberal Party
before the next election.

Delegates will discuss
policy iuestions under

e@ me of “Canada:
Our Future Le Canada a
venir’, and focus on the
Canadian economy,

‘available aa hd

rticipate in

Canadian unity, human
rights, and social polciy.

The ‘Convention Pelic
Committee, chaired by
Scarborough Est MP,
Hon. Mar
has prepared a set of
-discussion
- con-
stituencies for use in pre-

‘convention policy

meetings,

Q'Connell says he is
greatly impressed with

e buildup towards this
national gathering. He
and ae team oof
representatives from: ail
over Canada
tended preparatory
conventions in every

province,

Editor

feel in assuming

O’Connell, -

have at- °

empl an increase in

of executives’ salaries is.

without foundation and
simplynot true.

You are also incorrect
that
headquarters for this
operation will be located
in Montreal. Throughout
its 75 year history on the
west coast, CP Rail’s
coastal marine arm,
namel its British
Columbia Coast
Steamship Service, has
always | _ based-" in
British Columbia; and all

eeping and ac-
coun! or the B.C.C.-
SS. - Northland Service,
will be controlled from
Vancouver.

Our goke apa ran.
sportation compa
not to develop northern
potential, but rather to
respond to the growing
transportation needs in
northern B.C, which we
foresee in the years to
come, We will indeed be
working to capture a
share of that growth
potential - inclu the

ned pipeline traffic -
the hope that it will be
both economically worth-
while for us, and will
contribure to the growth
and prosperity of the
Kitimat-Terrace-Prince
Rupert corridor. Just as
important, it will allow
us to expand the service
and meet the tran-
tion requirements
shippers ary receivers.

We sincerely hope that
our role in northern B.C,
will be judged on our

maaniag emenit “operations, *-

The Honourable William
Bennett .
Premier, 0
Province of British
Columbia

Parliament Building
Victoria, British
Columbia V8V 1X4

Dear Mr. Bennett:

It is with some t
that I must ty: s t a
etter ou. and your
Ministers on the issue of
capturing British —
Columbia falcons at this

2, regret, ‘on
behalf of ihe Sierra Club,
is due to the front page
article in The Vancouver
Sun, 78-01-09, entitled
“Contracts . Worth . $71

. Fa nanos fee nih as
“According "the tar-

issued , in effect, a
Directive to your
overnment (o approve
e plan Kelowna
falcon breeder Frank
Beebe, Your options now
a lear:
Epessubmilt ot extra-
parliamentary pressure
and instruct the
Honourable Mr. Bawlf to
approve the falcon deal.
2, Reject the Saudi
falcon proposal. =
Any other position by
your fovetument could
asily interpreted as a
“sell-out’’ after the
statement attributed to
the Saudi Arabia Prince.
This Saudi Arabian
action will casta shadow
over any future effort to
resolve this issue of
falcon capture. If ad:
dressed at all by
povernment, the faleon
ssue should proceed
through a en:
vironmental impact
review with requisite

performance. public participation’ and
earings,
Yours very truly May I recommend that
BD, etts you consider making a
Genoral Manager, blic statement in the
Coastal Marine immediate future to
Operations reaffirm to the people of
Rall British Columbia that our
provincial parliamentary
. : overnment remains
ee imment: or was intact in light of Prince's
received just as we are alleged statements.
going to press. Com- :
ments will appear in Yours truly,
tomorrow’s  editoria] Robert W. Nixon -
e, ES. Regional Conservation
eccrine: Representative
med TERRACE

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