PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Wednesday, April 19, 1978 *

- EDITORIAL

_skeena’s
Diogenes’?

After about a quarter century in provincial
politics, Skeena MLA Cyril Shelford is being
quoted as suggesting he will not run again when
ection time rolls around. More and more, as
government gets bigger and bigger - (and the
growth of government in recent years, at all
levels, has been nothing short of scandalous!) it
takes more and more persons, a longer and
longer time, to achieve less and less for a higher
and higher cost to the taxpayers.
The legislative banter, Cyril finds, is growing
increasingly wearisome and childish - not that it
ever was particularly cerebral and stimulating!
The party in power and the party in opposition
face each other across the floor to engage in
‘“"Yeg I did” - “No you didn’t” argumentation.
Which would not be too bad if so much of im-
portance did not hang on the outcome of each
’ session. Such kindergarten comedy and childish
prattle is conducted at an annual cost of millions
of dollars to the same taxpayers who are forced
into wasting further millions when the province
subjects them to the ridiculous ritual of an
election and the harassment of choosing by vote
those who appear to be the lesser of the evils
offering themselves for public office.
Almost one dozen times, now, our MLA Cryil
Shelford has undergone the embarrassment of
putting himself on the public auction block to be
thus raffled off to the highest number of voters.
The thousands of hours of tedious speechmaking
he has had to listen to - as well as respond to,
must have been soul destroying and deadly in-
eed. ' .
In a sea of millions of words a week, few

speakers in the legislature are ever seriously
heard. Those who do get the attention are never
the backbenchers - and this is where Cyril has
usually had his seat. -

In the modern world of silver and golden
tongued rhetoric; in this electronic age of

illusion and ‘‘Madison Avenue imagery” our

Skeena MLA comes across as a homespun-clad

“Honest Abe Lincoln” - (to use a South-of-the

border smile.) Honesty, simplicity, bluntness|
and natural intelligence carry even less weight,

a
we
age

EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS TESTED

Government of Canada policy.is that jobs in
this country belong to Canadian citizens and
permanent legal residents.

Employment and Immigration Commission
laws also include:

- regulation of entry into Canada of foreign
workers based on the needs of the Canadian
labour market ;

- consideration of Canadians first for Canadian
jobs
- requirement of certified job offers for all
those seeking landed immigrant status

- age, education, training and language
capability screening for independent im-

migrants when they are not sponsored by family”

There was a great deal of dialogue between the
province of British Columbia and the federal
government Employment and. Immigration
Commission with regard to these rules recently,
as federal officials examined the case of Mr.
Robbie... Sherrell, an American citizen, who had
been named Chief Executive Officer of the In-
surance Corporation of British Columbia (ICB-.
Cc).

Upon hearing of Mr. Sherrell’s upcoming

appointment to the post federal officials quickly
examined the Canadian labor market and felt
that ICBC had not conducted an adequate search
for a Canadian to fill the job. British Columbia
officials announced Mr. Sherrell's appointment
anyway, only to be disappointed: by the federal
government ruling that they would have to deny
immigration status to the new appointee.
Although second examinations proved that an
adequate search had been conducted in Canada
for a qualified Canadian, and Mr. Sherrell was
allowed to accept the job, it is important to note
that the federal government maintains «a
vigilance where the Canadian labour market is
concerned. Qualified Canadians or permanent

: residents can be found for almost any position,

and in cases like the ICBC appointment, the
federal government will be particularily dogged
in the application of employment and im-
migration regulations that are meant to apply to
all companies, and both private and pyblic
sector industry.

these days when computers call the shots, hair
stylists and makeup-men create the image and
“the medium is the message
-Runaway inflation, six-digit unemployment,
and organized opposition to every industry and
+job-creating construction project - from pipeline
to plywood factory - has caused this most patient
of all men, this most faithful and unwearying of
all public servants to reach out and seek to with-
draw his hat from the political arena. ‘Enough
ig enough” this good man seems to be pleading.
The role of Skeena MLA is too ineffectual.
Nobody in Victoria listens or means business
anymore, The political rat-race is just that.
House sessions are too long. Nothing is getting
dgtie. The crew of the ship of state has struck an
igeberg - and the crew dares to take a cof-
eebreak rather than hand out life preserves.
Can. anyone blame Cyril Shelford, MLA for
Skeena, for “WANTING OUT“?

et
ao i -~
se zA-| me ee
Ducks Unlimited (Canada)

LESSER YELLOWLEGS — This commen sherebird
likes the exposed mud flats and shallow marsh
edges where it searches for food consisting
largely of aquatic insects and crustaces. It also
eats small frogs and toads. Both sexes are alike,
their plumage a barred and mottled pattern on
black, gray and white. The bright yellow. legs
area the only touch of calor, Though chiefly a
spring and fall migrant on the prairies, there are
reports of prairie summer nesting. Principal

breeding grounds sre to the north. ;
= "76 (es

TERRACE/KITIMAT

daily herald

Genera! Gffice - 635-6357 °
Circulation - 635-6357

Published by
‘Sterling Publishers @

PUBLISHER...Don Cromack

MANAGING EDITOR...Ernest Senior
REPORTERS...Donna Valileres (Terrace-Thornhill)
REPORTERS...Scott Browes (Kitimat-Kitamaat)

Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum St,, Terrace,
B.C. A mamber of Varifled Circulation. Authorized as‘
secand class mall. Reglatration number 1201. Postage
paid In cash, return postage guaranteed.

NOTE OF COPYRIGHT

The Herald ratains full, complete and sole copyright
In any advertisement produced,and-or any editorial or
photographic content published In the Herald.
Reproduction Is not permitted without the written
permission of the Pubtisher.

‘- varieties - though even these will cost more than

i Terrace-Kitimat area might be available from

Rent-A-Lot _
_. Allotments |

The high cost of food is one of the most popular
subjects for discussion today. Most.of us assume

there is little we can do to reduce our food bill -].

other than to eat less and select cheaper

foods we once considered dear.

The April issue of the B.C. Government News
has come up with a valid suggestion how con-
sumers can do something about it. British
Columbians can grow their own vegetables, even
if they live in aparments.Here is how it is being
done in Victoria, Richmond, and Burnaby;

' ‘These three cities have followed an ‘‘Allotment
garden program” that was successfully initiated
in 1974, It is patterned somewhat after the
“Victory Gardens” of World War II - but with
improvements.

. Plots to grow your own produce can be rented
there on a first-come first-served basis for $20
‘per 1,000 square feet. Established plot holders

ve first option for renewal... as long as you live
in an apartment building or in a residence
without fand. available for crop production.

Facilities such as water, parking areas, toilets
and picnic areas are provided. You bring a
garden hose, tools, fertilizer, seeds, plants and
pest control materials.

Even for those who don't have q green thumb
or can’t tell a weed from a feed - allotment
garden supervisors are available to provide
advice. . ; ;

How much money can you save? For the
average family - at today’s. prices -'during one
year the horticulture branch estimates a $300 -
$400 saving over the retail value of the
vegetables.

Two or three hours a week in your plot will
ensure that you have a steady supply of fresh
vegetables - as well as a good supply of fresh air,
exercise sunshine and healthy. living. Other
pluses beyond price include relaxation, ‘peace
and quiet, comradeship, sociability - and a help
towards the family budget - as well as respon-
ding to a personal challenge. For the overweight
and underweight there are further benefits.

School could also encourage children’s plots,
with guidance from the Department of
Agriculture; the vocational classes could con-
struct greenhouses to accompany the school
gardens, with perhaps some experimentation
being carried out in soilless gardening
(hydroponics) and hot-house gardening over the
Winter months. ;

Local merchants would also profit from, the
sale of seeds, bedding plants and gardening
supplies; clothing stores would sell gardening
attire from straw hats to green-thumb gloves -
and drug stores would turn over:sun-tan lotions
and creams, insect repellent and linament for
sore muscles! So ,

For any person or group seriously seeking

’ further information they can write to ‘‘Allotment}
Gardening Supervisor’; B.C. Ministry off

Agriculture, Parliament Buildings, Victoria,
B.C. V8W 227. Or telephone: 387-5121 or 479-8421,
It is also possible grant money for a Summer
project to start an allotment program in the

either the provincial or federal govenrments - or

ute

@Skeena MLA Cyril Shelford Aue

Radio Editorial

Time For Self Control 7

This editorlal from the

Vancouver Board of

Trade Is part of a weekly
serles, broadcast from
two Vancouver radio
stations on Sunday
evenings.

It is a matter of general
knowledge that the size
and content of a budget
bear little relation to the
time that is taken to
prepare it, Most of us
refrain from public
comment until all the
details have been
disclosed. .

One who did not wait, in
the case of the recent
Federal Budget. was the
indomitable, Ma Murray
of Lillooet. We are in-
debted to Paul St; Pierre
for a first- hand report of
her comments. With
characteristic bluntness
and uncanny perception,
she said that ‘‘about all
they could do, anyhow is
monkey about with the
taxes. There is no man
with a quick remedy for
the mess we have. got
ourselves into.”

It is to the credit of.
Jean Chretien that he
made no attempt to
appear as the’ promised
Messiah, ready to lead us
right into the.milk and
honey Jand of an election.
It was interesting to hear
the Finance Minister
attribute our present
problems to-our lack of
control over cur
Tesources during the

Nineteen sixties and

seventies. The com-
parative vitures of hind-
sight and foresight need
no explanation par-
ticularly when the
current staggering deficit
is now restricting the
Federal Government
from making significant
cuts in its proposed ex-
penditures.

t

We wetcome the sales.

tax reductions that were
negotiated with the
Provinces, They will
encourage’ consumer
spending temporarily,
but it is unlikely that the
cuts will provide a long-
term solution to the
problem of poor con-
sumer demand stemming
from a pack of con-
fidence and the inevitable

result of decresed
production andless jobs.

The presentation to
British Columbia of both
a Federal and a
Provincial Budget on a
single day seems to have
obsured another major
event of the week-the
lifting of wage and price
controls. That the A.I.B.
should slide slowly into
oblivion, umourned by
most, and with but a
whimper is not
necessarily a bad thing.
What will be bad is if the
compulsory restraints
are not replaced by a
hearty measure of self-
control and a_ well-
developed sense of
responsibility.

It is very natural to
assume that self-control
and responsibility does
not appeal to us. They are
for the “other guy’’. The
time has come for us to
realize that we are all
someone else’s ‘‘other

uy” and that it really is .

e time for self-control
and responsibility.

The word ‘‘respon-
sible’’ was frequently

heard as business and -

other community leaders
referred to the Federal
Budget. That document
showed an attempt to
restrict government
spending, a move we all
approve. We are
reminded however, of
Jean Chretien: when. in
MNancouver last year,
describing government
as a mighty machine
and one that could not be

slowed guickly or easily. .

Responsible is also
word that may be applied
to-the Provincia] Budget.
Fhe intention to maintain
a balanced budget and
not to let spending run
ahead of revenue. is
commendable. The
Government is to be
applauded for its tem-
porary elimination. of
some of the taxes paid by
small business but it is
questionable whether the

me limits stipulated is
sufficient for most small
business to take full
advantage of it. ‘‘Small”
may often equal
“maneuverable” but one
cannot assume that many

‘businesses act with the
speed of greased light-
ning. \
' Once the wage and
price control programme
is ended, the way will be
open for business to in-
crease -prices and
‘dividends both to the
eventual discomfort of
the consumer, that is, the
rest of us.

The measure of success
accorded the A.LB.
programme must be
reflected in the spirit of
control that is retained
inow “that' ‘it “is endéd.

‘ Business leaders have a
responsibility ‘to “erighre ”

that prices do not
skyrocket the moment
that the muzzle is off the

gun.

And on the other side of
the fence? Those whose
wages have been con-
trolled. Will they be
prepared to exercise
some self-control in their

‘demands or will they be
tempted to accelerate the
inflationary spiral? Like

management, organized

labour has its part to play .

in the post-control peri
Failure by the public to
curb its demands, failure
by the business sector, by
labour and by govern-
ment to exercise some
self-control would lead
only to the deepening of
the trouble we are in now.
Ifthe A.E.B. programme,
just ended had done
nothing else,
inauguration and the
controversy surrounding
it has hel
the’ ti

are not. part of the
solution then you must be
part of the problem.” We
all have a choice, we can

aggravate the problem, -

or by, exercising some
self-contro] and
responsibility, we can be
part of, and contribute to
the solution. What will
you do?

—CRAANT

shomtted Bente Kane ents

“For the money I'm paying for this Portrait,
Ihope you're getting beneath the surface:
"and painting the real me.’

is

Letters to the Editor:  -

Editor, Terrace ‘Daily
Herald;

They are just animals
—1s this the basic outlook
of the B.C, government?
The facts of the case point
to this attitude when it
eomes to the B.C:
government and the lack

of encouragement in the -

development of a more
humane trap, .

What is alarming {s not
only that certain species
are being currently to a

int where if continued

ey could be on the verge
of extinction (Le. the B.C,

Lynx); but a recent

statement by the Hon.
Sam Bawlf (B.C,.
Minister of Con-

servation). Mr. Bawlf
stated that B.C, is spen-
ding $21,000.00 this year
in the search for more
humane traps. ;

Actually it turns out
that B.C, gave $17,800.00
to Trapper Education and
$3,200.00 to the FPCHT
(The Provincial. Com-
mittee charged with
testing humane traps).
We hear that the FPCHT
still has not yet tested

even one trap fully in the
four years of:
existence,

Mr: Bawlf’s priorities
appear to be completely
out of line. The first step

its

at

its °

to point out ,
problem’ “and: a
possibly remedy. -
Duff Pattullo is reputed
to have said that “if you .

and then teach trappers

how to use it, -

Mrs. Diane P, Givvins

Po. Box 5283, Postal Sta,

is to find a humane trap

Victoria, B.C,

TODAY IN HISTORY

s By
. PRESS --
_ 1970—Construction — of
the Bastille, Paris for-
tress and prison, began,
1707—Henry Fielding,
English novelist, was
born, vo
1884--Colchester,

THE CANADIAN

England, was rocked by
an earlhquake.

1961—Anti-ie Gaulle
; _ Benerals \in |
Algeria seized control ut -

French.

Alglers.

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