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Chamber should watch planners The increased activity this past week of the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce, on the question of industrial planning for the town, is indeed most welcome. The industrial commission idea must be very carefully handled, however. All too often such commissions end up losing public assets to private hands. Also mentioned by chamber delegates to town council is increased business and commercial input during preparation of the Official Plan for the municipality. The plan is now Dear editor, Dear editor A keystone in the democratic process is the right to dissent. The school board has just hammered this home._ It is beyond belief that the York County board of education has dispensed with the consultative ser- vices at the secondary school level. In the face of the country-wide effort to keep increases from 0-6 per cent â€" with federal AIB, provincial freezes and councils holding the line for two years running â€" and on top of more than 20 per cent increase last year, the school board went for 10 per cent. They bulldozed through a motion by Vaughan’s Don Cameron and East Gwillimbury's Dr. John Denison by a vote of 1&8 to give the bureaucrats nearly everything they asked for on the first round, as John Stevens so aptly put it. Meanwhile, those of us with young families, large mortgages or senior citizen allowances, are left with smaller paychecks to pay a bigger school tax bill. Let's put it this way: a ship needs a captain, and he needs a pilot and he needs look-outs. Believe you me, there is a real need for lookâ€"outs in the York Region system, that is assuming it is really concerned with education. Since the school board was forced by the AIB to keep all salary increases to 7 per cent and the principals budgeted school supplies at a 5 per cent increase, the only way the board could think of to get to a 10 per cent over-all increase was to pad the administration of the systemsSo they did. 'You have to admit the dogged determination to spend our money by trustees like Dr. Denison. Thé master teachers, the look-outs, the look ahead people,AareAes§gn_ti_al. Without dedicated, hard thinking, accurately perceptive, information gathering individuals â€" the master teachers â€" the system will without doubt become backward looking, dull, internally divisive, disintegrative, and poor in imagination, attainment, and orientation. ' He brushed aside a county-wide petition from hundreds of citizens asking reduced administration costs to keep the increase to 7 per cent. The Chamber’s proposal to contribute volunteer effort on an industrial promotion committee is a good one. Such an effort is badly needed. He even announced just before the vote he would hand over the whole bundle despite entreaties from the East Gwillimbury council who called a special meeting to urge him to vote for restraint. King’s Margaret Coburn and Dorothy Zajac managed to squeeze in motions to actually “increase” administrative costs by $52,000. more before spearheading the drive to muzzle the eight trustees who had budget cut suggestions. Letters Beyond belief McMonagle and Stevens of Markham were cut off mid-sentence and Norm Weller of Aurora was stifled completely by Coburn’s dodge of “calling the question”. And second, even though there‘s not one budgeted improvement in school programs, at least we’re assured that the administrative empire is strong . . . Or is that the booby prize? A big bouquet to the eight trustees who did their homework, were responsive to their people and had positive suggestions to make of budget cuts without affecting the classroom: Bob McMonagle, chairman of finance. 8 trustees muzz/ed But there are two consolation prizes. Last year the staff asked for $721: million to run the system. The trustees gave them $69 million and they still had some left over. So maybe this year they’ll sock away even more of our hard-earned tax dollars in the pot. (Mind you, we wouldn’t mind the use of it ourselves!) The great pity is the real sufferers The Libetal is published eveiv Wednesday by Menospan Community Newspapevs anlled Nonh Division, which aiso publishes The Banner m Amorl Newmarke! The Woodbndge Vaughan News, and The Bo|lon Enterpnse PAGE .24 - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16. 1977 PUBUSHER J.G. VAN KAMPEN Ely Zl‘ihtral 10101 Yonge Slveel, Richmond Hil| LAC 4Y6 Onlano A wider view taking into account the needs of all income levels, and of industry and commerce, must be taken in the new Official Plan. an immediate issue As this newspaper has been saying for some time, the Official Plan is the key point where the Chamber’s influence is most needed and can be most useful. Planning of this town for far too long has been largely based on the single point of view of residential ratepayers, a point of view dominated by high income housing attitudes. The chamber of commerce is the key to this wider view. The chamber members should lose no time in getting in gear. Any claim that development can be done by teachers and heads of depart- ment doing their own thing is simply ridiculous. They do not have the time while still doing a good job in the classroom. The present York County board of education, is to be severely urged to reconsider its decision, and to reinstate thermaster teachers. If their rationalisation is cutting budget, all I can say is that they are absurd. The cost of keeping master teachers is minimal, and a bargain. I, as a taxpayer, demand irecon- sideration of dispensing with master teachers, and their total reinstatement. And “gong” to the 10 who so soon turned their backs on those who elected them: Dr. John Denison, East Gwillimbury: Donald Cameron, Vaughan: Bill Laird, Georgina: Margaret Coburn, King: Dorothy Zajac, King: Doreen Quirk, Markham; David Crombie, Markham: Donald Cousens, Markham: Jim Corcoran, Vaughan: Bill Monroe, Richmond Hill. Markham; Harry Bowes, Whitchurch- Stouffville (Hooray Harry): Norm Weller, Aurora: John Stevens, QC, Sep. Sch. Rep: Keith Hargrave, Georgina: Terry O’Grady, Sep. Sch. Rep: Steve Taylor, Unionville: Bob Houghton, Richmond Hill. There were eight trustees, including Richmond Hill’s Trustee Robert Houghton and Separate School Representative John Stephens, who realize the difficulty of young families and citizens on fixed income in meeting mortgage and tax payments. . will be students I want to assure you I will do everything in my power as chairman of finance to change the way the school board approaches their budget so even those trustees who have limited grasp of financial considerations will be able to realize the implications of their decisions from your point of view. I would like to express my sincere thank you to the many taxpayers who supported my attempts to exercise some restraint in the spiralling education spending in York Region, by reducing the first draft budget from $74.3 million to $72.3 million. The 10 per cent increase on your educational tax bill was totally sup~ ported by King Trustees Margaret Coburn and Dorothy Zajac, Markham Trustees Doreen Quirk, Donald Cousens and David Crombie, and Rich- mond Hill Trustee Bill Munroe. If you are really concerned abut the cost and quality of education in. York Region, please put this letter in a safe place until the municipal election in 1978 so you will not forget their action. ROBERT McMONAGLE, Markham trustee, 51 Colonsay Rd., Thomhill, Ont. Dear editor We understood the draft budget prepared by staff requesting a 10 per cent increase not only once again ex- ceeded the inflation rate and the Anti- Inflation Board guidelines but that it represented no improvement in in- school educational programs. It did not include even one additional item that you as taxpayers requested us to consider through your carefully researched presentations to the 1977 board. Note 70% school budget hike RUSS REES, 18 Thomeybrae Dr Thornhill, Ont. RR 4, Stouffville, Ont (MRS. ) JOY HORTON, EDITOR HAROLD BLAINE Milk price hike un faig As you will see, it concerns the proposed increase in the price of milk, a matter which I am sure concerns many of your readers. The letter to Stong is as follows: Dear editor: I enclose to you a letter mailed by this same post to local MLA Alf Stong (Lib.- York Centre). This 12 per cent increase doesn’t appear to be consistent with the wage and price controls. It would appear those who‘ve authorized the increase are totally unaware of the essential part milk plays in the development of children. 7 No other food can replace it, as it plays a major part in the formation of strong bones and healthy teeth. Allowing such an increase is exâ€" tremely short-sighted, as it will cer- tainly lead to increased medical and dental costs in a few years. After more than a year of effort expended on behalf of the Langstaff community and its removal from the Parkway Belt West Plan, I am pleased to report the Parkway Belt West Commission has recommended “the plan be modified by deleting from the design area the whole of the lands bordered on the west by Yonge Street, on the north by the north limit of the road allowance for old Highway 7 (now known as Langstaff Road), on the east by Bayview Avenue, and on the south by Holy Cross Cemetery”. I wish to bring to your attention the proposed increase in the price of milk, six cents a quart starting April 1. And it appears the cost of hospital services is already a matter of concern to the government. Since milk is a domestic commodity, it’s difficult to understand why price controls shouldn‘t limit the increase to those same restraints to which we are all subjected. This 12 per cent increase would seem unjustified, particularly for such a basic commodity, when wages and salaries are restricted by the Anti- Inflation Board. I think the public deserves some explanation as to how this increase can be justified. I hope you, as our elected representative, will be able to pursue this matter with our government . i Where, belt? The decision of the commission goes on to say “the unique character of this community‘ . .would be totally disrupted and from a social and economic standpoint the alignment of the Parkway Belt in this area is totally unacceptable”. The hearing officers were impressed with the courteous manner in which the many residents presented their case to the commission. pointing out much anxiety and fear had been generated (MRS) GILLIAN HAMSON, RN, 24 Thurgate Cres., Thornhill, Ont. By Alf Stong. MLA (Lib.-York Centre) 3W] The hearing officers concluded “the cloud of uncertainty imposed on the community and the probable high cost of acquisition of lands by the proposed alignment of linear facilities in the draft plan is so severe as to be out of all proportion to public benefit that might be derived from locating the belt in this area”. The injustice and inequity that has oppressed the Langstaff community since 1973, and which was imposed by the Davis government, has now been partially relieved by the findings of the Parkway Belt West Commission. I congratulate the members of the Langstaff community for their organization and perseverance in presenting their case to the government of Premier William Davis. The treasurer of Ontario, to whom the findings were presented, now has the option- of accepting the findings or rejecting them when he makes his recommendations to the cabinet. from the time of the imposition of the Will be given 21 days “Otice to make Parkway Belt Plan in 1973. SmeiSSions If his recommendations differ from the hearing officers’ views, the public ‘$ . . 3* M \ ‘i vs. Photo by Hogg Important for babies The 12 per cent increase in the price of milk due April 1 is inconsistent with other wage and price control measures, says nurse Gillian Hamson. She Obstacles severe Opinion This constitutes a particular eyesore and inconvenience as well as displacement of people. It must be reconsidered. The Solandt Commission removed the establishment of that line from “an existing right of way to the north of the riding of York Centre" and opted for its construction along Highway 7 and through the town of Markham. It has been gratifying for me as your elected member at Queen‘s Park to be of service in rectifying this oppressive situation. I will continue to fight on the floor of the house to assure the recommendations of the commission are adopted and implemented by the Davis cabinet. The Parkway Belt, which is basically a service corridor as it passes through the riding of York Centre, contains a 500 kV transmission line. Approximately 28 mlles of this line says lower milk prices should be favored because this food is basic to the health of children like her 18-month-old daughter Julia. Work going on W/'// fight on Mennonite furniture mystery The section from Middleport to Claireville transformer station, apâ€" proximately 61 miles, is under con- struction. have been completed to date from Nanticoke generating station to Mid- dleport transformer Station. Ontario Hydro proposes to link the Claireville transformer station with the Kleinberg transformer station, both of which are located in Vaughan. Now is the time to have reconsidered the location of that part of the tran- smission line which runs through Markham. This will complete the two, single- circuit 500,000 volt lines running from Sudbury through Kleinburg to the Claireville transformer station. I need help! You'll remember I told you a few weeks ago about the book I’m involved with? It’s about York County Mennonite furniture. Now final- draft time is getting closer, I find there are a few gaps not yet filled. It would seem more appropriate to have the transmission line follow an existing right of way than have a new course established which would in- terfere with York Centre residents‘ enjoyment of their homes. Information about this area seems to be pretty scanty until after 1850. I need to know about I need to know about furniture-makers in Vaughan or Markham Townships before that date. I’m interested in both Mennonites and non-Mennonites who were making furniture, either just for their own families or for others. Archives empty John Lunau, curator of the Markham Museum, says he doesn’t have any pertinent information in his archives. And it really does seem to get worse every year. Stoop, scoop Maybe it’s time somebody started an active campaign to get pet owners to stoop-and- scoop. If any of you dear people out there can help would you please drop me a line? It‘s about those doggy presents that get left behind on front lawns and sidewalks after the snow melts. The Public Archives of Ontario doesn’t have it either. Write to me at 51 Romfield Circuit, Thornhill, and I’ll be delighted to get in touch and talk to you. Worst movie This is the worst movie I’ve ever seen, at least since Suddenly’a' Woman back in ’70. Now, this isn’t the pleasantest thing you’re ever going to read about in this space, but a number of people have expressed concern to me. Who knows? It could be your chance to contribute to a record of this area before its history is uprooted by airports and hydro towers. My husband and I took in one of the two highly-touted movies now playing at the Towne and Countrye cinemas. Anyway, when we got there we flipped a coin to decide which one we’d see. Network won, and we lost. I’ve seen better soap operas on daytime television. Judging by the size of the line-ups, I gather lots of you had thesame idea. When we came out of the early showing we could hear people in the queues trying to make up their minds about which picture they’d see. I wanted to holler, “Go see Rocky.” Now’s my chance. ' Go see Rocky. The only alternative is a stiff crack-down on animals that are allowed to run loose. Not fun, I admit, but maybe necessary. Somebody do something, preferably before we get to the lawn-mower season. Time is now Iynda's lashes