1 Page 4, The Herald, May 8, 1979 TERRACE/KITIMAT ~ daily herald General Office - 635-4357 Circulation - 635-6357 photographic - content GEN, MANAGER - Knox Coupland EDITOR - Greg Middleton CIRCULATION. TERRACE-Rick Kirat- KITIMAT OFFICE - 632.2747 Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum Street, Terrace, B.C. A member of Verifled Circutation. Authorized as second class mall. Registration number 1201, Postage pald 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 published In Reproduction 1s not permitted. Published by Starting Publishers 635-6357 the Herald. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir, I would like ta know how the pravincial government can grant 11.6 acres of land to the District of Kitimat for a public works and utilities yard, for the nominal price of $25. - Last year myself and a group of others in Terrace wanted to lease, for a nominal fee, one acre of land behind the new Kalum Health Center, to set up a children's center for day care, preschool etc. We were told by B.C.B.C. that nominal rates were no longer government policy, and that we'd have to pay at least $200 a month rent, plus taxes for the land. Since when are utility yards more important than children? Jane Petch Public relations for the Children’s Centre, NB Now Defunct Dear Friends: Times are changing and our canvassera find that a mail fund-raising campaiga for the Canadian Red Cross Soclety will be the best way to reach every home and business In bur area, We trust that you,don't mind this change and sincerely hope you will respond generously. We need your help! In Terrace and Hazelton, everyone is familiar with our Blood Transfusion Service. During the past year, over $35,000 has been spent in providing blood, water safety programs, ‘ wheelchairs and crutches on loan, free of charge, to people who need to use them. - Inaddition, our young people in schools have been In- structed in Red Cross programs {such as volun- teerism, bicycle safety, babysitting, etc.) : The Red Cross Disaster Service is always prepared to lend a hand. During the devasting flood conditions in Terrace last year, the Red Cross Youth (student volunteers from our own schools) assisted residents with mop-up and any physical assistance they could provide. Also, a con- tingency fund was im- mediately made available if extra funds were needed for the community. The Emergency Service for Burnt-out-Families provided for one of our families during their misfortune. As you can see, we're always there to helpt , We've sent you an ad- éreased envelope for your convenience. Please help us help by donating—every penny will be appreciated! ink you Sincerely Mrs. Lou Reum Campaign Chairman Mra, Kay Parker Co-Chairman Dear Sir; T hope that the historians are watching the present B.C provincial electian campaign, because I am sure that it will go down in and moet complete attempt and most com attem, to be reelected that any government in Canada has ever waged. tlm sage ty oe waged by in Creat government started within one month of their winning the 1975 election, with deliberate attempts to spend money that could be blamedonpoor management of the previous NDP government. Then the massive Increases in taxes insurance rates, feiry and bus rates etc., all deigned to make the NDP bad. Constant scere tectics and antl-NDP attacks have taken place in the Legislature, to the point that the debates in the House sounded more like an election campaign than the normal business of running the province. People reading the speeches of the MLAs could almost wonder who was goverament...the Socreds of “'Those dirty Socialists”. The’ re-distribution bill that was prepared in one day, and rammed through the Legislature in the next was a deliberate attempt to destroy many of the NDP strongholda in B.C. The British Columbia Govern- ment News became a government funded means of touting the Soclal Credit Party. The “‘frea shares” issue has been seen by journallats, economists, politicians and many others as.an obvious attempt to buy votes. A provincial budget, calling for massive tax cuts and an election called within the same week. The list is endless...the purpose was clear. A certain amount of name calling and mud slinging is to be expected in any election, and a certain number af the opposition's campaign signa are always defaced. Even so, an attempt to destroy NDP signs was not expected, Neither were some of the hateful innuendos that have been directed at NDP candidates. The whole attitude of the Social Credit Party can be seen by their recent actions regarding the eligibility of the NDP candidate in Skeena. Frank Howard was nominated by the NDP party to contest the provincial Skeena riding in December 1973. That nomination. was well pubilcized at the time, and the Socreds knew that Frank Howard would be the man to beat in the election. The Socreds also knew about the eligibility requirements written in the Elections Act, but they did nothing about it until the election had been called, Then they questioned Frank Howard's eligibillty. It was an obvious attempt on the part of the Social Credit Party to deny the people of Skeena a free choice on May 10. : it ds understandable that Social Credit wanta to win ‘this election, but the absolute mania, and the ‘‘win by fair means or foul" attitude that seems to be prevalent leads ‘one to seriously q question the integrity of the party that formed the last government in British Columbia. Barry Einglish 3962 Simpson Cr. . Terrace Dear Sir: May 8 is recognized in 125 countries as World Red Cross Day. We, in the B.C.- Yukon Division of Red Cross, would like to share this recognition with our thousands of volunteers, The challenges facing Red Cross are é¢normous — whether they be in the flelds of blood recruitment, water gafety instruction, emergency retief, health services or education. Our role in living up to these challenges in your com- munity is dependent entirely on the energy and com- mitment of your local Red Croas volunteers. I know I speak for everyone in your community when f tion itis. Thank you, . Robert W. Wayte Presiaent B.C.-Yukon Division Canadian Red Cross Society a poe ce me viet Mayor Dave Maroney joins asking for public support campaign in the area. With Lou Reum, Zarina Daya and local Red Cross organizersin during the mail donation Maroney (left to right) are’ Kay Parker. .. HOW S _.. ASKING OR OFFERING 7. Hovald. @Q- By BILL LEVITT THE CANADIAN PRESS George Erasmus the candidate has become George Erasmus the lasue in the riding of Western Arctic. Erasmus is running for the New Democrats in the May 22 federal election but his Liberal and Progressive Conservative opponents question whether he represents the party or the- MacKenzie Valley natives for whom he advocates political sovereignty through the founding of a Dene natlon. Conservative Dave Nickerson and Liberal David Searle both say suspicion and concern haa been created by Erasmus's “Jekyll and Hyde position’ over the Dene sovereignty issue first put forward four years ago. Erasmus dismisses his opponent's fears, “We ara running a standard NDP campaign ... and it includes talking about the kind of government we want,” Nickerson sald In an inter- view: ‘'Erasmus has done an about turn. He is moving away from his rigid stance because he knows a real hard line is not going to get any votes.” Searle said: ‘The voters have a deep suspicion ... he is not giving the views he holds, They don't believe 1... a moment that he has given up the goal for a Dene Nation." Both see the Dene Nation . -Quebecoia SEPERATIST? © _ ASEPERATIST: Arctic candidate queried Minister Trudeau has rejected the proposal on that ground. Hugh Faulkner, Indian affairs minister, said it was the same as Parti independence goals for Quebec. But Erasmus tells natives that Canada was built on a racist premise and for In- dians, given the vote ji 1960, “that's all we ever had. “None of us want that kind of society in the north.” Erasmus said the territorial government for the Northwest Territories cannot plan ite future and that must change. "We need to resolve the native rights question ... we need self government and control of resources.” Erasmus said the Liberals and Conservatives are tied to multinational corporations who do not want the system changed. “1 don’t think we've scared anybody. sald the 30-year- old native."We are not talking about taking away peop anybody’s rights." NDP Leader “Ed Broad- bent has accepted the Dene proposal “in principle’ as long as everyone’s rights are guaranteed. Ed McRae, who fan against Erasmus for the NDP nomination, ls running as an independent. Nickerson and Searle, former members of the territorial government, have called for a quick land-claim settlement. as a racist state and Prime , Both favor rapid resource development, increased employment and territory. eventually becoming a province. But Erasmus and the Dene, an Indian word meaning the majority of Mackenzie Valley languages, want develop- ment halted until the land claim Is settled. The Dene have held out for a native-run territory guaranteeing rights for all Valley residents. Talks between native groups and the federal government have continued on and off for five years becawe the smalier Metis association, which opposes sovereignty, presen its own claim to Ottawa. Faulkner wants only one land clalm proposal and last year he cut off funds from his department to force the two groups to negotiate a merger. Talks are still under way. There are roughly 35,000 la in the valley, in- eluding 20,000 federally- registered Indians, Metis {mixed Indianwhite blood), non-registered Indians and wit. In the last election the riding covered the entire Northwest Territories (1.2 million square miles) and was held by the NDP's Wally Firth, a Metin not seeking re- election, Under Te- distribution the riding has been halved to cover the valley and a slice of the Weatern Arctic. . Returning officer Donna Clarkson said there are 16,000 voters spread over the 440,000 square railes but was unable to treak down the voters intu ethnic groups. It has been estimated that whites outnumber natives at the polls by a three-to-two margin. The riding stretches from the Saskatchewan border north to the treeline and west to the Yukon border. Some of the larger centres include Yellowknife, the capital, Fort Smith and Hay River in the south and Inuvik on the northern tip. The economy of the riding is based on seasonal hunting and trapping by natives, with some zinc and tungsten mining, service industries . and government jobs mostly handled by whites. “Our case is tied to otiginal native interests," sald Erasmus, ‘We need a strong economy in the north that makes sense and we've got to control our resour- ces.” ‘ To do that natives must have “regional autonomy within the federal govern- ment structure,”’ But Nickerson said that few people see the land claim as a major issue. “The average person is more concerned with their next pay cheque," he said. “People want jobs, especially in the smaller settlements. The feeling Is get the land claim out of the way... and encourage the private sector.” : OTTAWA | OFFBEAT BY RICHARD JACKSON OTTAWA - One,of these days, before’ the ballota are cast — it has just happened for the first time —.Con- - servative Leader Joe Clark. is going to keep doing what ite should have done weeks,. even months ago. And that is confront the media. Head on. Again and again and again. Not just confront it. — But ‘like Plerre Trudeau, face it down. © Trudeau from the first has been master of the media. His secret — he treata it and its members with utter "contempt. Joe Clark, in sharp con- trast, regarded it with. suspicion, even fear. - And with reason because, led by three individuals, one of them a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery, one a former member, and the third a columnist with no Ottawa affiliation, the media reflected Joe Clark as dull if not a dummy. Trudeau has never flin- ched from confrontation and press so comes through to the public as a tough guy, able to stare down any hoatiles in the media. While all of this might seem trivial — as a political leader's relations with the media in ordinary times usually are — it is now of some importance because these are extraordinary mes. Election times, And even while Trudeau, Clark andBroadbent do spend eight weeks jetting all over the country, none of them meet mere a a fraction of the people. The leaders ‘really don’t even SEE that many people ‘in the flesh, let alone. meet them, shake hands: and say hello. What they do, say; how they look and act; what triumphs or disasters they create for themselves on their scores of airborne stops reaches the voting public through the media. So this, more than any before it, is a media cam- paign, planned and staged for press, radio and TV. ~ That’s why, a leader's altitude & or his perception” — conduct and contact — _ With the media is so im- portant, An old politiclan and long a continuing observer and student of politics says he WATER has found three things tura’ on the media. - Money. Brains, Physique; Trudeau Is supposed : to have them all-in abundance. His maney may inherited. His brains may be-. the academic kind.’ His ysique 8 been ey slalized -to individual, . carefully selected, relatively safe athletic endeavors, : studiously avoiding the brulses and broken bones of contact team ~ sports.But while. these three qualities. may be of a rather specialized nature, he has them. . o And the media, from the! outset, has been impressed.. He quickly took the upper hand, On his first official trip- abroad — to London where he became ‘involved in nightclub play with a lady of questlonable reputation — he went on the offensive. The press, he let it be. “known, was “crummy", and the media was both insulted and intimidated. , He kept the upper hand at conferences,. cutting up unwanted questions and putting down the quest He kept the upper hand at press conferences, cutting up unwanted questions and putting ‘down =| the questioners. ; So It's hia show and he rans it with the contempt-.of a circus ririgmaster over the animals. . ce Joe Clark came on the national scene with -thoae three pace-makers of the media pack discounting him as perhaps a little slow or dense, with no money and a physical awkwardness that prevented him even from tying Boy Scout reef knots. Where Trudeau — has contempt for the media, the media seemed to have contempt for Clark. = As a result, he appeared to regard them as the enemy, & danger to be avoided . at almost any coat. . It's past time for con- frontation, for Clark to stand up and trade shaft for shaft with them, and Lf possible -exhiblt a touch of the old ‘ ‘superiority or arrogance, better still, a shade of con- tempt for thenn. ‘ The way lies ‘That way Hes respect and a strong, positive Image of a leader, He must do it, not once nor twice, but whenever the challenge arises. KEEPS THEM SINGLE NEW DELHI (cP) — Thousands of eligible young men in India’s villages cannot marry because of a water shortage. Rural brides in Gujarat, ’ ‘Haryana, Andhra and other ‘Indian states are refusing to marry men from villages where there is no well within -a half-mile radius. Twelve young men in Ku- ranga village in Gujarat State have started digging a well in the hope of finding willing brides. They have been trying to get married for periods. ranging from four to nine years, A. 29-year-old Kuranga bachelor says he was even prepared to forego the traditional dowry. “4 was ready to pay the bride’s family a sum of $3,000, But no girl agreed ta exchange wedding rings with me on grounds that thera is acute (water) shortage in our village.” One pretty woman told the Kuranga young man: “Tf 1 marry you, [ will have to walk four miles each morning to fetch water from adistant stream. I’m justnot - prepared to be your slave for all my life.” The newspaper Janma Bhoomi estimates that: nearly 16,000 eligible young men in Gujarat villages are forced to remain bachelorg just because of girs’ reluctance to walk long distances to fetch water for hausehold needs. In Andhra State, girls prefer to marry men who can produce a- document showing that there is a well in or near their house, The bride insist that the docu- ment must be signed by a senior government official. “First dig a well, then ask for my hand in marriage,” one village girl told a young: man from a haralet near Vizag. “You'll love this place. Palm trees, sandy beaches and a restaurant every 30 feet,”