Page §, The Herald, Friday, December 22, 1978 Prison debate force OTTAWA (CP) — The Commons justice committee Thursday forced a House debate in January on lagging reform of the federal prison system. “We've served notice on the penitentiary service and commissioner Donald Yeomans thal we are not satisfied with imple- mentation of our report,” Simma Holt (L—Vancouver- Kingsway) said in an in- terview. She was among committee members who 18 manths ago produced a report containing 65 recommendations for prison reform, The report said the prison system is in crisis and reform is needed at once. Justice committee chairman Mark MacGuigan (L—WindsorWalkerville), who led the prison sub- committee, said some prog- ress has been made but key recommendations in the report have not been dealt with. MacGuigan ruled = in- admissible a metion by Stuart Leggatt (NDP—New Westminster} that the committee suspend sessions until the government acts on, the report. Healso ruled that a motion by James McGrath (PC—SI. John’s East) to seek a watchdog role from the House was inadmissible because it wasn’t relevant to the matter before the committee—McGrath's pro- posed bills of rights for chil- en. McGrath and Leggatt had argued that it was relevant because the abuse of children leads many of them into prison as adults. Bruce Halliday (PC— Oxford), a physician who helped produce the prison reform report, said the credibility of Parliament will be at stake if action doesn't result from an all- party report that received unanimous House approval in June, 1977. Prisoners and public had asked MPs whether they were really serious about reform and the MPs had replied that they were. Taiwan to continue TAIPEI (AP) — Govern- ment and private leaders are confident Taiwan will remain secure and prosperous despite the U.S. diplomatic switch to Peking. President Carter's recognition of mainland China last Friday triggered rowdy demonstrations and flag-burning at the U.S. Embassy anda U.S, military compound, But once the initial fury subsided, government officials, foreign and Chinese busi- hessmen and most citizens agreed that Taiwan can menage quite well without official ties with the United States, as long as economic links remain. The Taipei government urged Taiwanese to control their anger at the U.S. for severing formal ties and terminating its 30-year- commitment to defend this republic of 17 million people. INFO ~ HEALTH DR, BOB YOUNG If you are 70 years old and havea driver's licence, keep aneye on your mail. You will be receiving a form from the Motor Vehicle Branch telling you that you must pass a medical examination if you wish to continue driving. If you succeed you will be given a driving examination under the watchful eye of a Motor Vehicle Branch examiner. Your score on the medical . and driving examinations will result in your retaining or losing your licence, If you pass you will be re-examined every few years — the in- lerval depending on your previous mark and your age. Many people turn in their driver's licence when they realize that they are no longer able to cope with traffic, or when they become uncomfortable behind the wheel, but many more do not. Stubbornness or lack of judgment convinces some that their reflexes are as quick as ever, and they continue to drive. All too often it lakes an accident to convince them that they should stop driving. The doctor must report the State of his patient’s health to the authorities, Along with the examination result, he provides his opinion as to whether licence restrictions (speed, daylight only, no freeway driving) should apply. The examination and completion of the form is no problem if the doctor, knows his patient well. The form even asks ‘How many years has this person been your patient?” The doctor knows what illnesses the patient has, the drugs he is taking, and how he is functioning in general. He usually knows whether the patient should be driving or not before he examines him. The examination and questioning of a new patient has to be mare enquiring for the protection of both par- ties Only a few patients are in the doubtiul group. The doctor (and the palient) can request a second opinion in these cases, should a dispute arise. It is difficult to tell an old time patient that he or she can no longer drive. It must be stressed that the decision is not only for his own protection, but also for the protection of his passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers. Info-Health is a service of the British Columbia Medical Association and this newspaper. The U.S. action spurred a flow of support for President Chiang Ching-kuo and the government reported $4 million in national defence contributions had been collected by Tuesday. A few taxi drivers refused to take American passengers and some foreigners were stopped on the street, asked if they were American, and informed vigorously, but Politely, that Washington's move was a betrayal, Carter is sending a deputy slate secretary, Warren Christopher, to Taipei next week to explain that the U.S, will work to persuade Peking toseek a peaceful solution on Taiwan's future. Militarily, the nationalists are judged strong enough to defeat any attempt by China to altack the island, and no one really believes Peking will try it. The Pentagon has said Taiwan will receive at least $625 million in major U.S. arms over the next five years. Taiwan could be hut, however, by a naval blockade since almost all of its oil and much other vital material is imported, and the nationalist navy is small, obsolete and vastly out- numbered, sources said. Economically, Taiwan is strong and growing stronger rapidly.:The gross national product is expected to in- crease more than |2 per cent this year, following last year's 3.5 per cent and 11.5 per cent in 1976. ; With one of the highest standards of living in Asia, the Chinese on Taiwan have a per capita income ex- pected to exceed $1,000 this year, up 16 per cent from 1977. Unemployment has dropped from 2.4 per cent in 1975 to 1.3 per cenl last year. Foreign trade is expected to grow more than 30 per cent this year to well over $20 billion. More than 25 per cent of that trade is with the U.S., with the island carrying a $2,5-billion surplus. Christmas Here...Christmas There... We are Here CARE is There Join CARE this Christmas as it fights the War on Want in 36 635-5221 developing countries overseas. Your gift today could make Christmas There alittle more like Christmas Here CARE Ca n ada P.O. Box 86668, North Vancauver, B.C. V7L 412 McGrath said parliamentary rules must be changed to give committees more power. Mrs. Holt said the con- nection between child abuse and criminality had been clearly made, But the prison system gave prisoners no help and it was the system, not the Commons, that determined how money was really spent, MacGuigan allowed a motion by Allan Lawrence (PC—Northumberland- Durham) asking the House to enlarge the committee's terms of reference on the bill of rights for children to in- clude incarceration of chil- dren and adults. MacGuigan was to put the motion before the Commons today but beeause 48 hours notice is required for debate, it is unlikely to be debated until after the Christmas recess ends Jan. 23. The government had ignored report after report recommending reform of the prison system. Unless action was laken swiftly, a federal election ‘next year would produce a new Parliament, and probably. another committee to deal with the next prison crisis. 7 Thirteen MPs were assigned in October, 1976, to look into the causes of prison ~ violence after three riots in maximum-security penitentiaries. They toured prisons across Canada, talking to prisoners, guards, administrators and volunteers. They recommended that the prison system be divorced from the Public Service Commission—whose rules appeared to make it impossible to discipline staff—and turned into an elite agency similar to the RCMP, with more training, better pay, and earlier retirement for prison em- ployees—as well as far higher working standards: Bureaucrats have maintained privately that this proposal is unworkable although it is still being studied. The MPs say itis central to any rea! change in the prison system. J nL 7 a 2, as . - : 4 on + fe . 2 ot ‘ . at MOOD ne oehe-wge Soe e@anweers : +4 ese — Bey z s ! ‘ eos aN s AS a ath, se : Winners Drawn Dee 21st, 1978 HEATHER SQUIRES 4917 Lambly Terrace 0@e nr a0 Qee 7 om wate: ME. | | i WON $20.00 Gift Certificate a DONATED BY Gordon & Anderson Ltd. tL * JEANNETTE MAITLAND 418 Haisla »e- {" Kitimat Village, B.C. ; hi WON Therma All Weather Blanket - ; : DONATED BY Ganadian Propane CATHERINE ABERNETHY 4716 Tuck Terrace, WON An Assortment of Sweets DONATED BY Bert’s Delicatessen __... fa) s/f 6, i ° . fn @enw rt @ewee ition ered "oe oN . ; . =a o! - o@- arpa ord gi webs wen een. ete : ae «, 1 Ame 88 OD: G0 were Bice Gewes: z _ Ck ingle bells. Before hristmas. | To avoid the rush on Christmas Day, why not place your Long Distance Calls on aturday or Sunday. Regular discounts are available December 23rd and 24th, so call up when rates are down. Direct dialling (112) is usually the cheapest way to place your calls. If you don’t know the distant number, you can get it by | calling Long Distance Directory Assistance. But please do so a few days in advance to avoid the rush. For information on discount periods, area codes and Long Distance Directory Assistance, please check your directory. BETEL &)