——— ithe herald PAGE Ad, THE HERALD, Monday, May 16, 1977 ppnncnulsnasnansangimhens nanan C Mae eC NRT ee eae eet ta vee ot ae Terrace - 635-6357 : GBM Kitimat ~ 632-5706 ublished by Sterling Publishers Ltd. # Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum Sf., Terrace, B.C. A 3 member of Varified Circulation. Authorized as second class = % mail. Registration number 1201, Postage paid in cash. return = % postage guaranteed. Pi raratatateTetatatstetateten ao] TES ORR Selon ADVERTISING MANAGER "PUBLISHER E KAYE EHSES GORDON W. HAMILTON & = MANAGING EDITOR ALLAN KRASNICK & e NOTE OF COPYRIGHT : : The Herald retains full, complete and sole copyright In any # advertisement produced and-or editorial or photographie & 3 content published in the Herald. Reproduction is not Po permitted without the written permission of the Publisher. Ea . Moderating the drug bill Premier Bennett’s announcement of an ex- panded Pharmacare program is welcome news, assuaging many of the fears of senior citizens who were worried about published reports of a tightening-up of the free drug plan. The earlier reports, based on documents leaked by members of the B.C. Pharmacists’ Association, had pointed to $25 “deductibles” for senior citizens and other recipients of free medication. ‘Under the new guidelines, the elderly, han- dicapped, nursing home residents, and welfare recipients will continue to receive subsidization of all thier prescription drug costs, except for medications such as laxatives and aspirins that are no longer covered, Other British Columbians will pay only 20 percent of their prescription costs in excess of $100 annually. The deductible amount will be calculated for a family unit or, in the case of a single person living alone, on an individual basis. A study done by the provincial department of human resources indicates some of the people who will be assisted by the plan: Approximately 2,200 epileptic children who need an estimated $1,800 per year for control drugs; -About 50,000 diabetics whose annual individual drug bill is $200; -Parapalegics who pay an average $700 a year for drugs; stroke victims who pay $160; cancer patients, $700; and emphysema victims, $700. Because of the outrage which greeted the government's initial approach to Pharmacare revisions, a plan that would have required the elderly to pay a deductible or do tedious and complicated administrative work themselves to get their drug costs reimbursed, Victoria has relented and produced an easier, more equitable scheme. It will do much to ease the financial burden of in- dividuals such as those with epilepsy, many of whom have medical bills that exceed $100 per month for life. If there are shortcomings in the program, it is that the changes do not go far enough and that gaps still remain. Bennett has never clearly explained why professionally-prescribed, over-the-counter drugs, like aspirins and laxatives, should not be covered by Pharmacare. In prescribing these forms of medication for their patients, doctors obviously believe them to be essential or com- forting to some people. Until better forms of therapy receive ‘wide acceptance, it is wrong to single out these softer drugs as less than necessary. On the whole, however, the new revisions deserve support. For a government that has shown a disarming tendency to sublimate legitimate social needs for bottom line accounting, the Pharmacare changes indicate a needed acceptance of human realities. Moronic programs There is a great deal of concern these days about _ violence, Canadian content, and advertising on television. There have been Royal Commissions, private studies, and endless coverage of the subject by media. But certainly the most insipid and perhaps the most insidious aspect of “the great entertainer” is the level of programming that competes for air space, It has been said that television entertainment is addressed to an average grade seven level men- tality. Sometimes one wonders if the level is that gh. From those incredible afternoon soap operas with their frowning, whimpering women and their lifeless, shell-headed men, to the crime-cop crap in the evenings, TV programming is monotonous, inane, and totally ‘devoid of creativity. . Whether situation comedy, drama, or ex- travagant variety entertainment, television is written according to scheme: a ground out men- tality with little room for originality. As long as time and money are going.to be spent investigating the amount of Canadian content used by domestic networks or the effects of violence on the mind, it seems only sensible to make some effort to elevate the “‘intellectual” of the programming itself. What would be the use of forcing networks to use as much non-violent Canadian programming as possible if it is moronic, repetizious and soporific in nature? a (CP} — Alcoholism is an affliction of an increasing number of New- foundlanders, inciuding women and teen-agers, according to a variety of agencies and organizations who deal with problem drinkers, In a recent brief sub- mitted to the provincial government, the eastern region advisory council of the Alcoho] and Drug Di- rectorate estimated that about 27,000 people in the province are suffering from the effects of alcoholism. , The provincial Alcoholics Anonymous organization contends that as many as 50,000 people, or 10 per cent of the population, have drinking problems. The advisory council says drinking problems are “fast spreading through to the province's teeri-agers.” But probably the most alarming part of the in- creasing numbers tronizing drinking estab- ishments is that many are housewives and mothers—a heretofore unmsual oc- currence. Until recently, most clubs _ and beer-drinking establish- ments and taverns kept their doors closed to females. But the advent of so-called women’s rights and vocal exponents of a woman’s tight to drink in a pub has reduced to four the number of men-only drinking spots in the capital. The brief asked for a $171,000 grant to establish a detoxification unit in St. ALCOHOLISM SPREADING John’s, a city of 120,000. The council proposed a 2¢-bed centre capable of handling 1,300 referrals annually. Dr. William McAllister, founder of the Booth House detoxification centre in London, was a recent visitor approached by the council and he recommended that education programs on alcoholism he initiated at Memorial University's medical, social work and nursing schools, and in provincial elementary and gh schools. — Though there appears to be considerable concern over the alcohol problem on the part of citizens, businesses and religious oups, there is little evi- lence the government is considering grappling with One-in-ten Newfies chronic. the problem. The local Alcohol and Drug Foundation gets a $30,000 annual grant and other government grants for associated programs cost the province about $120,000 a year, a minute portion of the $32-million annual revenue the government collects from liquor, beer and wine sales. By comparison, an official of the Nova Scotia Com- mission on Drug Depen- dency visited the city recently and reported it had received $3 million from government and other sources in 1976 to assist industry to provide methods of treating alcoholics and to - train supervisors to spot job problems that could be attributed to alcohol. ME WS /TEM:— | MAYORALITY JOB To REMA OFFICE DISTRICT CF Teaeact IN. PART TIME “ =D FALLWELL ‘Solvable. lf ambassadors are in the family, can Jimmy's motherbe farbehind? LONDON (CP) — A political storm, with bitter charges of nepotism, has broken over the head of Prime Minister James Callaghan on the ap- pointment of his son-in-law, Peter Jay, to be British ambassador to Washington. There was laughter from the Conservatives but anger from some embarrassed Labor members in the Commons on Wednesday. One after another, inside the House and out, Laborites criticized the appointment. “Government nepotism,” said Willie Hamilton, a Labor member known for his criticism of the monarchy. “Enormous, stupendous litical insensitivity”’, said eft-wing Labor MP Neil Kinnock. Even the normally moderate manifesto group of Labor MPs sent a protest to Foreign Secretary David Owen saying they were “appalled and dismayed.” Labor MP Maureen Colquhoun said: ‘The prime minister has taken leave of his senses.”” Her colleague, Max Madden, said: “This con- firms the rumor that we are going to get (USS. President) Carter’s mother as American ambassador to Britain,”’ Bachelor Cyril Smith, a Liberal, wondered “whether the prime minister has any more daughters looking for husbands.” . Owen, who maintained the- appointment of Jay— economics editor of The Times and a television rsonality here—was his idea alone, said any criticism should fall on him. However, Callaghan had to approve the appointment and under heavy pressure in the House, said: “The only question is whether because he was my son-in-law 1 should refuse this appointment. Frankly, I felt that if that was the only ground on which I should say no, it would not be right to do so.” Newspapers had a field day with the story. The Daily Express headlined the story: “Family Favorite.” The Guardian thundered in an editorial: “Almost anybody can be an ambassador—Shirley Temple, the president of Yale, the obscure lady publisher of a Deep South pro-Carter newspaper ... . The e was almost unanimous agreement, however, that Jay, 40, is brilliant in his own sphere. Many newspapers published long background stories tracing his career from college days. A few years ago an inter- nationa] news magazine named him one of 150 tuture leaders of the world, one of only six Britons named at the time. | The Evening Standard refers to Sir Peter as the ‘snob envoy” who would be “be a dead loss for Britain in the Jimmy Carter era.” Jay will take over from Sir Peter Ramsbotham, . ROBERT HUTCHINS The Nova Scotia representative suggested Newfoundland needs detoxification and treat- ment centres as well as education and preventive programs. e Orange Lodge, an organization still holding a measure of influence in the province, has circulated petitions in an effort to have drinking places closed from midnight Saturday to mid- night Sunday. At present most are open until just drinkers. dawn Sundays. ever, a spokesman sayé while the survey has drawn the support of many people, mast are women and older residents. “Not man younger people are in favor of it.” Whatever. the motive or method, say those who fight alcoholism, too many drinkers are acquiring associated problems in a province with the highest unemployment. Voice of the readors Seat belt law long overdue Dear Sir: - [ write with regards to the changes jn the motor vehicle act that are presently before the BC Legislature that would require the citizens of this province to wear their seatbelts, - A large body of knowledge has long been compiled that outlines the effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of seatbelts. Even the most fervent critics no longer question the efficacy of this ” simple device. Even at this late date it is worthwhile to review why it is necessary to make the wearing of seatbelts mandatory. When one views the road safety problems in total it is apparent that we are dealing with a major social problem that is not readily It would, of course, be preferable to prevent the accidents. Millions of dollars are being spent on highway design, on vehicle inspection and vehicle design, as well as programs aimed at the deficiencies of the driver, including driver training programs, drinking driver countermeasures, etc. In the continuing search for solutions to these many facets of the problem, the seatbelt stands out as the most effective coun- termeasure yet devised. Not only has it been proven overwhelmingly both ex- rimentally and in the real ive worid, but it is already available in our motor vehicles and there is little or no cost involved in its use. Nowhere in the road safety research field is there a - suggestion of a program or another device that can reduce the losses by 20. percent, representing 150 lives in BC alone, thousands of major head, cervical spine and chest injuries and . anywhere from 10 to 15 World-famous university leader banned football as needless frill SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Robert Maynard Hutchins, one of the leading US. edueationists of the 20th century who became president of the University of Chicago at age 30 and eliminated football from the Big Ten school as an unacademic frill, died Saturday. He was 76. Hutchins had undergone surgery in March for a kidney ailment, He suffered arelapse about a week ago. Hutchins’ later years were spent as’ president of the Centre for the Study of Democratic Institutions, which he founded in 1959. The centre had a resident stafé of scholars who held daily discussions of social problems. Hutchins directed the dis- cussions, maintaining order by tapping with a spoon ona cup whenever the con- versation wandered from the central theme. The talks were taped and published as pamphlets. HEATED DEBATE Hutchins was born Jan. 17, 1889, in Brooklyn, N-.Y., the son of a Presbyterian minister who was later resident of Berea College in Kentucky. , He was regarded as a boy wonder when he was named dean of the Yale Law School at 28, two years after raduating magna cum aude from the school. At 30, he went.to the University of Chicago and became the youngest person ever to ead a major college. Lawyers back FrenchQuebec but demand changes in law QUEBEC (CP) — At an emotion-charged meeting Saturday, members of the Quebec Bar Association expressed criticism of some sections of Quebec's pro- posed language law. Several | ndred lawyers defeated a presented ut the bar’s an- nual meeting that would have stopped the bar from taking a public position on the province’s French- language law, Bill One. The delegates’ also voted in favor of changing the abortion laws so that women seeking abortions and resolution. doctors performing | them would no longer be subject to criminal charges. ; The language resolution was presented by Montreal criminal Menard who said the bar already had given the im- pression that it was against the French-Canadian majority in Quebec, because of an earlier statement on the language white paper. In an open letter to Premier Rene Levesque last month, Andre Brossard head of the bar, criticized sections of the language paper which would make lawyer Serge only French verions of judgments official and would force all firms to be represented in court in French, ; Brossard said the official position of the bar at public earings on the bill would be limited to sections dealing with the courts and human rights. However, the bar generally supports the bill’s objectives of making Quebec a French-language society, he said. The abortion resolution passed by a vote of 199 to 113 with 48 recorded abstentions At Chicago, his con- troversial reforms drew widespread attention and left their mark on colleges across the U.S. - Emphasizing the value of general education over specialization, Hutchins allowed students to enter the university after two years of high school, ended com- pulsory class attendance and granted degrees after two years to students who ‘could pass a comprehensive test, He angered many alumni and students when he dropped football at the university, proclaiming: “Football, fraternities and fun were designed to make a college = education palatable for those who . shouldn't be there,’’’ From 1951-54 Hutchins - was associate director of the Ford Foundation, which set up the Fund for the Republic ‘in 1954 with Hutchins as president. He set up the Centre for the Stu of Democratic Institutions with a $15-million grant from the Fund for the Republic and kept it going , with donations from more than 450 industrialists. Hutchins, divorced in 1948, is survived by his second wife, Vesta Sutton Orlick, and three daughters from his first marriage. Funera! arrangements are pending. the tory million dollars durin first year after a man seatbelt law is passed. No one Is suggesting that this law will be a panacea for the traffic safety problem but. it does represent a major coun- termeasure and besides continuing to work towards — solutions to many other aspects of the problem we must take advantage of one that we already have in our cars, one that we have already paid for, and one that we know works. Many other - democratic jurisdictions have gone rough the same decision’ making and realized that the benefits of seatbelts can only be gained by passing legislation. Major sophisticated and expensive “buckle up” campaigns have been run throughout many of these jurisdictions and nowhere have the wearing rates been raised about 25 percent. e simple passing of a law will immediately bring our rates in BC up to at least 60 per- cent and with time and standard enforcement measures, 80 to 90 percent wearing .rates. will . be at-::. tained. a Polls have shown that a seatbelt law is supported by the large majority of the - community. practically all health care workers who see the tragedy on a continuing daily basis, from the BC Medical Association, the Registered Nurses. Association of BC, thorugh to the Ambulance- Em- ployees Union have sup-, rted mandatory seatbelt, aws. Recommendations have come forward sup- ‘porting this legislation from all levels of government and public road safety groups. The BC Civil Liberties Association does not appear to find this law con- troversial. It may well be shown some day that in frontal collisions air bags have a. higher level of protection, but at the presetn level of technological development there will bea minimum of 10 years before our car population could be fitted with an equivalent number of air bags. Not only is this. more costly but the lap belt still has to be ‘worn to prevent the occupant from ing thrown out sideways in an accident of injured during a second impact. Deaths and injuries from motor vehicle accidents is a reflection of our. society’s technological advances and of our lifestyles. The well advertised achievements of © medical technology provide us with a comfortable belief that medical technology will solve a'l of these problems. It has been long recognized by the medical profession, _ and more recently by our governing bodies, that only by preventing these injuries are major advances made. ! At a time when health care costs are bankrupting our provincial treasuries, where is the logic that suggests this major preventive measure - -seatbelts-- to go unused? Let us commend the. present legislation ‘for its virtual total support of this law and hope that we do not. ‘have to see another 50 un- necessary deaths during the summer months while we wait for this act to be proclaimed in the fall. Herbert E. Parkin, M.D., Emergency | Chairman, Medical Services Com- mittee, British Columbia Medical | Association.