Page 4, The Herald, Wednesday, September 27, 1978

TERRACE/KITIMAT

daily herald

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BAKER'S BATTER

BY NIXON BAKER .

! hope no one misunderstands and thinks of
this column as an apology.. My philosophy has.
always been, “never explain, never complain’.
Hewever, a number of persons contacted me,
some by way of grabbing me by the threat, over
last week‘’s column during which | questioned
the value of some of the Canada Work’s grants.”

My purpose In commenting on a private, albeit
non-profit, employment agency recelving
government grants, was to show the complete
arrogance of these giving the grants, not those
receiving. them. tous

To suggest in a press release that the purpose,
"Is to find work for the unemployed” is to admit
that apparently there Is no government agency
capable of doing this. To givesuch a rationale for
a Canada Work’s grant, is to have so little con-
cern about what people will think, as to be
arrogant. oo 4

This agency does many things other. than find
work for the unemployed, including counselling
for both employers and employees. Why didn’t
the press release say so? soo

The barb aimed at the Canada Work’s people.
for describing a grant to-the Kitimat School
Board as, ‘to develop and Implement models
which will bridge the communication gap bet--
ween school and home “Is ludicrous’.. © = -

| taught school for. almost 10 years and always
felt it Incumbent upon myself, the guidance
counsellors and the school principal to maintain
communications as part of the job, for which we —
were all Sa D a oreaan prolect comiber ‘ee .

Margverite. Clarkson. : project -managen: for: '
Canada Works here if “tahracs invit a over”
to her office to learn more about the Hart Farm

@roject.

There ts no doubt that this project Is a wor-
thwhile undertaking, but again to describe It as,
‘tq provide disadvantaged . youth, presently
unemployed, with attitude, work habits: and
marketable skills essential to employment In the
private sector in northern B.C. “‘Is a let of -gob-
bledagook, and suggests that whoever writes
these descriptions doesn’t think anyone reads
them. Lao

Anyway, there is no doubt that many of the
Canada Work’'s projects are worthwhile but are
they worth It, ,

| would like to drive a big expensive car, but | |
can’t afford it, so | manage in my three-year-old
Volks. At the rate this country is going and the
direction It is taking we won‘t be able to afford
the Volks shortly. oS

-

Although ! am not a hunter, | decided that
since | was in moose country, | should at least be
macho enough to make an attempt at lowering
meat costs by ‘bagging a moose.

A number of probtems immediately presented
themselves, first, | had no rifle, second, I’m not
sure 1 would know a moose if t fell over one, and
third, | have no idea where to go to fall over a
moose.

Problem number one was solved by asking my

father-in-law If he had a rifle | could borrow.
Sure, he said, in his Irish way. The difficulty Is

” It’s supposed to feel out how

“eWient. According to Fulton, —

he

A hog fuel burner, symbol of pioneer north and a modern pyramid.

“y

ae

LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

To the Editor:
Dear Sir:

‘For the second time in two
weeks Ihave picked up your

aper.and encountered
packbiting comments by
‘someone called Jim Fulton
who claims to be a federal
‘candidate, and who seems to
have. nothing better to do
than to try and atrack the
opposition. Has politics
really deteriorated to this?
Whu can say the most
destructive things about the
Jeading party? Hey, Mr.
Fulton, ever tried the power
of “positive thinking? The
problem with bad-mouthing
other people is that it leaves
yourself open to the same

people of Skeena reject the

praposal. .

Would Mr. Fulton kindly
make public how this pall
was conducted? What was
the sampling used? Were all
ages, levels of occupations,
ethnic backgrounds and sex.
represented proportionally?
How long did this survey —
take? How was it taken, and
by whom?

Pardon my curiosity, but -
when someone takes a poll,
and then concludes that it
proves something that ihe
poll didn’t even ask, its
eredibility is a Little hard for
me to swallow.

Four questions were ap-
parently asked in this poll:

nasty game, , 1, How do you feel about:
; Now this poll that has just the U.1.C. cutbacks?
been conductedinteresisme. 9, Are you permanently

loyed?
the Terrace residents feel “P oN Should ULC. be
about the proposed U.1.C. aynilable to those who have
yls by the federal govern- garned over $20,000 in the
past year.

the results show that the

al some time. in the past

year?- ;

Conclusion, sayé Fulton, is
thal ‘aur-eurrent MP is not:
voicing the ‘concerns of the.
residents in this riding!

And what has the fact that
51. percent’: of people -
questioned feel that U.EC.
should not:be available to
those who: have earned over
$20,000‘ got to-do. with our
current: MP?"

He {hen goes on Lo say that
“the: MP's curmments. about .
peuple abusing ULC. and

ing the funds as a salary
are notborne out by the
negults of ihe pulll” Wiere in
the’ poll- has he even
broached the subject? And
even if he had, would he

“ expect people to say, “yes, I

abused that privilege last
year.”* Do thieves admit to
being thieves?

A poll is a scientific in-'
vestigation, requiring time, —

expertise and a sense of
responsibility. and scientific
detachment. -'

Does ‘Mr. Fulton have
these attributes? Or has he,
in fact, used the excuse of a
“poll” to enable him to sling
yet some more mud at an
absent. MP: who's doing a fine
job for Skeena.

The poll” proves nothing
except that we have some
bad losers in Skeena.

Yours truly,
Cherie Thiessen

4, Have you filed for U.1.C. ». bas

The Herald welcomes Its readers com-
‘ments. All letters to the editor of general
public Interest will be. printed. We do,
however, retain the right to refuse to print
letters on grounds of possible libel or bad
taste. We may also edit letters for style and
length. All letters to be considered for
publication must be signed. We ask that
letters be typed and double spaced.

- WASHINGTON (CP) —
President Carter's
performance as peace-
_ maker atthe Camp David
summit has been tran-
‘slated. into a sudden,
strong surge. in his
standing. with ~— the
American people.
*: Polls conducted after
, the historic meeting with
‘Israel's Menachem Begin
and. Egyptian President
Anwar Sadat recorded
major gains.in Carter's
over-all popularity, rang-
ing frum an 11-point in-
crease in a Gallup poll to
a jump of 16 points in an
Associated PressNBC
‘poll.

The type of popularity
surge seen by Carler in
the wake of his success in
engineering two
frameworks for settling
the 30-year-old Middle
East conflict is similar to

previous

jumps experienced by ©
presidents —
following decisive moves

AT THE POLLS

Carter made some

in international affairs,

analysts say.
_ with his
predecessors, Carter's

current popularity may
be transitory but the
uuipouring of political
supporl may also present
him with opporlunities for
further gains. ©

Politically, his Camp
David achievement
appears lo have given
pause to his potential ri-
vals, beth Republicans
and Democrats, who had
sized him up as an inept
leader, - a | onetérm
president who would ‘be
easy to defeat in the 1980"
election,

lec ;
Obviously, the Camp
David success in no way
ensures Carter’s re-
election. But the timing
and magnitude of the
achievement ig such that
he is in a biter position to
make major gains than he
has been for months.
Congress. still has

‘befure it several pieces of .
high-pricrity legislation
which must. be handled -
within. the next- few
weeks, before (he session:
ends” fur’ November =
congressional elections.
Though Carter will
continue tu face tough
battles - . with the
lawmakers, a momentum - -
favorable ty the president
may ,get sume of his
jority items accepted
fure the session ends.
U.S. News and World
Report. gives the Camp ,
David success credit for
the unexpectedly large
margin by which the Sen-
ale-vuted against a move .
that would have killed the

natural gas bill backed by
the... Carter ad-
ministration.

That bill, which would
remove price controls’ un
ndwlydiscovered natural
gas by 1985, is expeciedto
win Senate approval this
week, A munth ago, ils

po!

future w, sin doubt as Re-

publican and Democrat
upponents' appears to be
gaining strength.
Prospects for:
congresgional action on
Carier’s ". civii-service -
reform bill also are im-
proved, analysts say,

And as representatives
and senators throw
themselves into cam-
paigning, ihe value of a
presidential visil to a
congressional district,
seen befare the summit as
bélng about as luw as the
U.S, dollar, suddenly is
higher than the Japanese
yen.

While many observers:
expect the Camp David
success. to keep its
mumentum through the
fall, it will be of littie help
in tackling . what i5 ex-
pected tu be the most
difficult problem facing
Carter in the second half
of his term—inflation.

that he lives 4,000 miles away.

After an exhaustive search, which involved
three phone calls, 1 discovered, miracles of
miracles, it was cheaper to ship the gun parcel
post than any other way.

Well, the gun arrived. Only a retired man, with
a workshop, could package a rifle like this one. |

Think small |
byjimSmith =|

couldn't get the box open, he must have used 300
‘nails.

| had visions of hifting a moose over the head
with the box, since it weighed enough to flatten
_an elephant. Or perhaps, | thought ! could simply
explain to the animal that there was a gun in this
box and he better come along quietly.

However, with the help of an axe, some brute
strength and awkwardness, | reached my goal, a
1918 rifle still bearing the King’s Insignia.
Somebody didn’t turn in their rifle to the army.

Now | know why the soidiers during W.W. |,
didn’t move far from thelr trenches, they
couldn't carry their rifles.

Me thinks the moose around Terrace are safe
from yours truly.

| shall do my usual bit, wait for someone |
know to start bragging about the big buck he got -
then | move In for the kill, explaining about my
starving children, destitute wife, and low pay,
hoping that something will touch his heart so that
we might at least taste what could have been,
had | been able to lift the damn rifle.

Geneva Non-Conventional

Geneva, by all accounts, -

is a magnificent city, blessed
with a breath-taking natural
setting and outstanding arch:
itecture (not to mention
some of the world’s priciest
hotels}. Most Canadians
would dearly love to vacation

in Geneva, But most Cana-

dians can't afford the trip.
Government officials, of
course, are not most Cana-
dian And they most assur:
edly can afford the trip. Wit»

ness the Canadian contingent
which has heen residing in
the Swiss wonderland for the

better part of 1978, keeping
their hands in the interna
Jional trade negotiations
commonly known as GATT.

We don’t really mind (al-
right, we mind — but just a
littte hit) the idea of our hard-
working govemment folks
living it up in exotic locales
at public expense, What irks
us more is the Futility of their
venture. GATT Is designed to
plunder the lesser trading na-
tions like Canada rather than
establishing a world-wide
equality in trade terms.

The GATT negotiations
are a form of economic black-
mail. The big three trading
nations — the United States,
Japan and West Germany —
gang up to impose a univer-
saf set of tariffs on the lesser
nations. The lesser nations
are nat allawed to enter inte

side deals concerning exports
and importa,

Suppose, for instance, Ca-
nada found that there wa an
advantage in shipping our
leather ta Taiwan, using Tai-
wanese manufacturers to—
tum our leather into shoes,
and relmporting the shots at
very low tarilf rates, Accord-
ing to GATT regulations, Ca-
nada would be required to
allow-shoes from all other
countries into Canada at the
same. low tariff rate — even
though those countries might
not.be using Canadian leath-
er or helping the Canadian
economy.

This sort of all-for-one
philosophy works reasonably
well for the powerful coun-
tries (GATT assures that their
products can get into all the
countries which are members
of GATT), better for large,
sophisticated high-technolo-
gy corporations (which pro-
duce unique goods that are
unavailable from other coun-
tries) and alright for some
developing nations with arm-

ies of workers willing to ac-
cept pennies an hour (sin¢e.
these nations have a massive
cost advantage that allows
them to compete no matter
what the GATT regulations
stipulate). But, for the lesser
nations like Canada, GATT
steals jobs from Canadians.

The world's philosophy
about trade agreements must
change, John Bulloch told an
international small business
convention in Spain this
month, Bulloch, President of
the Canadian Federation of
Independent Business, argued
that countries must start ne
potiating international trade
treaties in one-on-one discus-
sions. Group talks, Bulloch
stressed, will always benefit
the most powerful trading
nations at the expense of the
less powerful traders.

GATT is an international
confidence game. Unfortun-
ately, we have rio realistic al-
ternative to participating in
a new GATT agreement at
this time, But let's recognize

OTTAWA

BY: RICHARD JACKSON

a
OTTAWA - That was a nice, positive change of
polifical pace that .Consarvative Leader Joe:
Clark displayed.tha other day. oe
it’s usually been the partisan fashion for Her.
Majesty's Loyal Opposition to look on the dark -
side. mo bo :
But more recently, In Hs frantic, almost. ;
panicky scramble to do somettiliig - anything, —
almost, In its seeming desperation - the gover:
ment has had & monopoly In the doom an¢ gloom.
department... vee
So out of the dank fog of disappointment and .
discouragement emerges Joe Clark with: the
good and cheerful word. an
Finance Minister Jean Chretien; Treasury
Board. President Rober? Andras and Prime
Minister Trudeau have been bringing dewn'the .
lowering clouds of dark and difficult days ahegd::
And pointing up toa patch of blue is Mr. Clark...
with these upbeat words: ae
“The fortunes of geography and geology have
placed Canada in a unique position among the:
world’s industralized nations. Des
“We occupy one-half of a continent and there
are 23 million-of us. —
“That simple fact confers more blessings upon .
Canadians than upon almost any other nation In
the world. mo
“in per capita terms, we rank among the
richest in agricultural land, forested.area and
energy options, = =i. a
“And we have more fresh water than any other
nation around the globe. .
“In my view. we need first to count our
blessings, assess ovr opportunities and become
less critical and self-destructive in what we do,
so that we may carry on responsibly with the.all -
Important task of properly managing. the.
country.” foes
It's been along timesinceany of ushaveheard =
such forward-marching, get-on-with-the-job-of- =
good-fortune words in such an pp-and-at-|t spirit. ,
Last time it came ringing through like-fthat,
loud and strong enough to be remembered, was. . -
when former Northern Affairs Minister Alvin
Hamilion had his “dreams” - as the opposition .

Liberals then laughingly called them - of anew , °

Canadian emplre of resource riches in the far
north. ri
Alvin Hamiiton’s “road to resources” visions,
as he then saw them, have led in recent years to
the new frontiers of [ob opportunities, energy.
and mineral wealth and a potential even beyond .

his wildest hopes.

Alvin Hamilton’s still around parliament,
dreaming new dreams of new horizons. |
And it sounds like Joe Clark has caught the

spirit. ae
When governments and their leaders talk of _-

- difficulties and show a.lack-of canfidencenthe
pessiefem, 8. catching. 1: SPOR 8 AMA Oh: 3
gldomys Reo ai: sat ae

Whi ed sakoretranec i

” But when leaders see opportunities and jaik |.
confidently of things that need doing and can be
done, then the let‘s-get-on-with-it spirit can make
it happen. J
~~ #'s all In the heart and mind, says Joe Clark.
And: it's about time somebody sald HH. |.
- The government may wallow in gloomy self-

pity and profess helplessness In what the prime _
minister has cailed “an economically Wl world.!
But Joe Clark says It doesn't have to be-tike
that and tells why. - Late
'- Whe knows, this type of hype - confident hope -
could catch on and work, SO

VIC
STEPHENS.
P.C. MLA

thas becomea custom in British Columbia for:

_ cabinet ministers or even the premier himself, ta

travel around the province handing out cheques:
for various government grants.

No doubt the Idea is that the government party
should score political points for its generousity.
in fact, however, there is something baslcally
wrong with all such grants, no matter. how

delivered.

To tax jarge sums of money away from the
people living In a community just to be in:a
‘position to refund the money at a time most
appropriate to enhancing the government Image
is a flagrant abuse of trust and a grossly Inet
ficient use of the money we all work so hard to
obtain. ,
Because the taxing powers of the government
are unlimited, there is a sacred trust in the hands
of our elected servants fo allow a person to retain
what he earns unless the government can
demonstrate that the portion it taxea away will
be used for a true social benefit In programs not
adequately provided by Individuals or
organizations in the private sector. Un-
fortunately, our politicians have lost sight of this
trust and now use our fax dollars in an attempt to
bribe and buy the voters in order to retain power.
A dollar belongs to the one who earns it, not to
his government. He who earns it can, almost
invariably, spend, save or invest It In @ more
efficient way than fhe government which takes it
away. The very act of calculating and collecting
the tax requires a farge and costly bureaucracy,
Only a portion of the tax dotlar remains after
deducting the collection casts and that portion |s
then spent in accordance with the decision of —
politicians who in many cases are far fess
qualified to make such a decision than the person
-fram whom the tax Is extracted. The politicians’
judgement as to where the tax dollar Is to be
spent is based at least as much on political ad-
vantage as on fiscal soundness.
it is time for the citizens of British Columbia to

GATT forthe fraud thatitis.. regain control over their elected “servants”. -

op,