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We would help Old Manse fund York Simcoe residents have given Confederation a resounding vote of confidence. Despite the negative rumblings of the national press, and despite recent sabrerattling in Quebec City, fully 77 per cent of those responding to a questionnaire prepared by my office believe Canada will weather its present Letters Dear editor The Family “Y” Treasure and Trivia Sale is over. As this year’s compliments are due all the hard- working volunteers responsible for the many hours of food preparation in their homes and at the Lions Hall. Over 300 luncheon patrons were served by efficient dining room; volunteers. Had we not run out of food, I suppose that number would be con- siderably higher (or until we ran out of energy! ). Ou? apologies to those who were turned away. Dear editor On behalf of the board of directors, staff and volunteers of Help‘ I would like to express sincere thanks to your newspaper for the publicity given our recent book sale. Thanks from Help The sale was a great success again this year. thanks to the efforts of many people; and the proceeds will enable us to continue serving the community. Many thanks égain for your co- operation. Time is running short for the old Presbyterian manse building on Yonge Street in the old village area of Rich- mond Hill. I‘ve been sitting here for some time wondering just what to write on; try paper, you dope, I can hear the voices saying. . Or maybe I should say I’ve been trying to decide what subject to write on. Should I review the latest six-act tragedy â€" no intermissions â€" of the school board; Markham‘s fight for‘ more seats on York Regional council â€" they already have too many; the provincial election â€" the time of the year when our elected representatives finally get to meet their constituents; or should I just pretend life isn't really all that absurd and write about something serious? It‘s only a matter of weeks, or at most a few months, before it’s torn down, if it isn’t moved and saved. The Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority today is expected to finalize its offer of a site for the building at Pioneer Village, Jane Street and Steeles Avenue. I finally decided we were all far too serious as it is, so I had better stick to our local politicians, in this case members of York County board of education. After you’ve had a good cry over their antics. you can relax and But $5,000 appears to be needed to pay moving costs. This manse for many years in the last century served a wide area of what is now southern York Region. The area included much of today’s towns of Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan and King. So it’s important to the people of a wide area, not just Richmond Hill and Thomhill. Also not so well known is the fact Pioneer Village extends into Vaughan Town THE LIBERAL, Wednesday, May 18 ._ regional viewpoint ELVA WILLIAMS Secretary 132 Woodbridge Ave Woodbridge, Ont. PUBLISHER ROBERT MAXWELL The Labeval IS published evevy Wednesday by Division, which also publishes The Banner In Am: the Bolton Enterprise, PAGE A4 By Sinclair Stevens, MP (PC â€" York Simcoe) ’Y’ volunteers deserve thanks By Jim Irving 61hr Iihtral Oplnlon lav by Menospan Community Newspapers Limued Nonh m Aurora. Newmarkel, The Woodbvidge Vaughan News, and difficulties and survive â€" intact â€" into the next generation Eight hundred seventy-five respondents (of 1,135 responding) said they believed Canada Would resolve its regional differences and remain united. __ non in York Region. In fact, if the manse goes near the village church, it will be right beside the place where visitors catch the horse and wagon ride to visit the displays at the restored barn standing in Vaughan. - you". n. ,7 In contrast, 23 per cent, or 260 respondents, said they feared the country may break up within 25 years. Other York Region buildings are already in Pioneer Village, making it a very special place to people here. ‘, 1977 In a feature report in this newspaper several years ago, unofficial local architect historian Napier Simpson, Jr., of Thornhill told of the historic architectural im- portance of the old Presbyterian manse. Hokum baffles board brains It was a privilege for me to be a part of a team of dependable, careful workers during this fund raising event. Thanks are due to all. (MRS) ADELE DOWNEY, 442 Bent Cres., Richmond Hill, Ont. It's an 1845 example of a special kind of 19th century plank construction. The manse should be moved and saved. Any group or organization starting a fund drive will have the support and co-operation of this newspaper in public communication. I was quite disturbed by Dorothy Turner‘s letter last week calling me misinformed concerning the Paxton inquest and its recommendations. Disturbed, not only because Mrsi Turner did not attend the inquest, not only because she never saw fit to speak to me before writing the letter, but because, when I called her to find where she got the information “York Central Hospital was absolved of blame for Mrs. Paxton‘s death “before” The Liberal went to press", she answered, “I read it in The (Toronto) Star.“ “You mean if it‘s in The Star it must be true?” I asked. “Of course", was her reply. Take the Rev. Donald Cousens of Markham for example. Mr. Cousens is a very earnest man, constantly con- cerned the board appear as one great body of diligence and wisdom. Not through any hard-fought pieces of legislation, or other grim slugging â€" “by their fruits ye shall know them“ â€" but instead through such bits of sleight of hand as promoting an “image.” enjoy them from your sobbing position on the floor. Or, as in his latest bit of hokum â€"- honest hokum, mind you, but still hokum â€" an attempt be made to im- prove board meetings through “trustee selfâ€"evaluation." Local residents were even more But that might be too traumatic, so I‘ll only pick on a couple of them. After all these years‘ Mr. Cousens has discovered the trustees don‘t always agree on things. As a result, he feels they should drop all other matters 10 minutes before adjournment of their Adamant local/y As a matter of fact, Star reporter Promotes image WEDNESDAY. MAY 18, 1977 EDITOR HAROLD BLAINE interpreting the news By Tom Gale fiYou are an editor adamant in their assessment of the unity issue. Eighty-four per cent blamed the federal government’s bilingualism program for weakening national unity. Approximately 95 per cent of those queried believe that the majority of Quebecers. as well as the majority of English Canadians, wish to see Quebec remain in Confederation. This finding suggests that, in the minds of many Canadians at least. the responsibility for the unity crisis rests with those calling the shots in Ottawa and Quebec City. The poll was included in a con- stituency letter and was sent to every household in the riding. In each case the reSpondents were given two alternative answers. Their responses ( 1) Looking back, I feel the federal government’s bilingualism program has: Strengthened national unity â€" 16.1 per cent said it had. while 83.9 per cent felt it had weakened national unity. Their response to the six questxons was as follows: (2) Looking ahead, I believe that over the next 25 years: Canada will remain united and resolve its regional difâ€" ferences â€" 77 per cent said yes; 23 per cent believe separatist feelings will Dave Norris, who covered the inquest, went home after the jury was charged, and was not present when its recom- mendations were made! He tells me he got the information for the April 30 story (headlined ‘Rich- mond Hill hospital cleared by inquest in asthmatic’s death') by calling â€" not the coroner â€" but Stuart Paxton, husband of the deceased. Moreover, he said he was sure his story did not begin with “York Central HOSpital in Richmond Hill was exonerated yesterday. . . ” (as it ran) but was rather a simple account of the jury‘s recommendations as told to him by Mr. Paxton. Star York-Durham editor Pat Williams was unable to find the original story. or supply the name of the person responsible for the somewhat committee of the whole in camera And no one will question the mover's meeting “to analyze and assess the sincerity â€" his common sense, maybe processes of the board meeting.” â€"but not his sincerity, which is all part A 7 A LL U_ A ,_ :_ u of this image business, anyway. The in camera meetings are staged prior to the board's regular session, which is supposed to start at 8 pm. However, as one who has often waited up to 30 minutes or more past the regular starting time, while the board members thrashed away in secret, I can see where Mr; Cousen’s â€" and the rest of the board's â€" greatest problem. is going to be in trying to decide when they're 10 minutes away from the end of the meeting. Once they resolve that, they can be one with the resolution. which will no doubt end up in a study, or another meeting. That way. it will be on the records when the board has wound up another year of haggling with the conclusion even more millions are going to be needed the following year. Secret thrashing “This is it... we’re going the way of the dinosaur..EXâ€"ST/NKE increase and may lead to the break-up of Confederation. (3) The key to a united Canada is: A firmer, more centralized federal system â€" 44 per cent chose this answer, while 56 per cent hoped for a more flexible and decentralized federal government. (4) I believe the majority of the people of Quebec wish to: Remain in Canada â€" 94.5 per cent. Separate from Confederation â€" 5.5 per cent. (5) I believe the majority of English Canadians wish to see Quebec: Remain in Canada â€" 96 per cent. Separate from Canada â€" 3.4 per cent. (6) For Quebec to remain in Canada. I feel that it should: Be treated as an equal partner in Confederation â€" treated the same as every other province â€" 86.7 per cent. Be given special status within Confederation to meet its special needs â€" 133 per cent. A few respondents wrote that the key to national unity is more understanding on both sides of the issue. Another suggested the real debate on Conâ€" federation will be left for our children or possibly our grandchildren. misleading headline paragraph. - Nm'N. -there are several important points underlying all this. Firstly, never “never” act on something as fact simply because you read it in a single newspaper. For example, the final Toronto Sun story on the inquest began: 'fo thesé, and t5 all those who took the time and trouble to respond on a vital “60-year-old Celestine Paxton might have survived an attack of asthma had a doctor skilled in inserting a breathing tube been present when she collapsed." The Sun-was only present for Half the inquest. obtaining the results from the coroner! Another example. In The Star April 27 a story headlined “Plan said adequate for bigger Markham“ repeatedly puts the target population of that municipality at 556,000 by the year But then; common sense never was the board’s strong point. Nor does it seem to fit in anywhere. Slippery approval Over in the research department, they are about to embark on a project â€" approved by the board without “You obviously don't understand. Go talk to Reid. “Goodbye,” he said. banging down the phone in a manner designed to catch the tip of his Fu Manchu moustache in the cradle. â€" approved by the board without discussion â€" which will eventually show that children who always get little rewards for doing their tasks, even- tually become turned off by those bribes and lose interest altogether. Also: “. . . a truly engaging . . . activity retains a young student’s in- terest regardless of whether the teacher praises, informs or ignores the kids." Apparently. all this is a great revelation to everyone. When I talked to Key to unity and lead issue, my sincere thanks The York Simcoe findings appear to reflect views across English speaking Canada. While we were in the Yukon last month, we circulated the same questionnaire. Answers were similar although a little stronger on some points. For example, 87 per cent in the Yukon hoped for a more flexible and decen- tralized federal government compared to 56 per cent here. That is natural with the Yukon being so far from Ottawa. Ninety-seven per cent in the Yukon felt bilingualism had weakened national unity. This figure is in fact the projection for the entire region of York. Now, as much as I would like to say the press in North America represents a pillar of truth, a defender of freedom, and a righter of wrongs, this is simply not the case. ‘The press’ is people. Nothing more, and nothing less. We’re subject to all human failings; we make mistakes, factual, moral, even spiritual mistakes. And readers mustâ€"understand this. We are no better or worse than the world about which we write. That we are dedicated to the ideals that we are, makes me proud to call myself a journalist. But that the public expects us to be free of human failings I find deeply disturbing. Brian Bumham of the board’s research office, implying in my not-toosubtle fashion that continued studies in the matter seemed a bit ridiculous, he hung up on me. / letters So I did. Dr. David W. Reid, a pleasant man from Aurora, and instigator of the project, obviously had more faith in it than Mr. Bumham, because he an- swered my questions politely and in- formatively. even though I wound up telling him I still couldn't see the point of it all. When I was a child, teachers used the strap to deal with anything beyond their emotional ken. Now they apply the Letters to the editor are welcome and should be ad- dressed to The Editor, The Liberal, PO Box 390, Rich- mond Hill, 0nt.. L4C 4Y6. The writer's full name and address must be included. and telephone number if it is unlisted. Unsigned letters cannot be considered for publication. The Liberal reserves the right to edit all contributions. , Bangs receiver H0 hum election I thought the provincial election campaign would keep me in column material for the next few weeks. It seems to have sunk into the doldrums, though. (The campaign, that is.) No blazing new issues have popped up. The candidates in this neck of the woods seem to still be testing the water with their big toes. Even election signs are just begin- ning to make a few appearances on front lawns‘ Nobody's knocked on my door to solicit my vote. (There can’t be too many Ron Morans on the provincial scene.) No propaganda has arrived with the mail. Maybe it’s a case of no news is good news. We can’t be too badly off if there isn't any fervor around about anything. So I guess it‘s time to talk of shoes and ships and sailing wax. Or how about swimming pools? A number of people in the area are upset about the new bylaw requiring fencing with no direct access to pools from the house. They feel a drowning could occur while a rescuer wastes time trying to unlock the gate to the fence. The fencing around our pool has been moved a couple of time'sf glyeady. When we Had small children in the house it was fenced separately. The yard was additionally fenced. A couple of years ago we changed the fencing to allow direct access from one door of the house. Personally, I’m inclined, though not by a large margin, to side with the bylaw, if it also includes a stipulation the property has to be additionally fenced off. Now were waiting to find out whether it‘ll have to go back the way it was. If there’s even one person stupid enough to have both a swimming pool and small children and not fenceoff a separate play area, then I guess the law has to be there to provide the common sense. Hunter liberation Though I don’t hold any very strong brief for people who shoot guns, I do have a stab of empathy for Ms. P_ilc_her. She’s the lady {1th Was turned down for membership by the York Central Hunters and Anglers. When things like that happen and there’s no sensible reason for them, you can get very angry: As'I disc-overed last week when I finally went out to buy a car. My husband and I decided between us that though this was a family facility, I would be the actual purchaspr. I pointed out my objection to this a couple of times, in a nonâ€"obstreperous way. But they _fell 0}) (ieaf gears. fhe next da} he called my husband at work to make enquiries about some detail of the transaction. Only when my husband insisted he hadn’t in fact bought a car were the inquiries finally directed to me. During and after the negotiations the salesman insisted on addressing all of his comments to my husband. Even if it had cost me a couple of hundred dollars more, I think my dignity was worth at least that much. sigfiédwtilérbrffer .to purchase, and I’m going to be making the payments. He shook his hand and congratulated him when the deal was finalized (with my signature.) I ended up wishing I’d taken my business elsewhere. I would have if I hadn't already signed on the dotted line Dealing with behavioral patterns â€" if that’s the term â€" is still as much an intuitive thing as it is an intellectual thing. And always going by the text book does as much to corrupt the teacher as the pupil. That‘s why I more and more question the value of research projects in the schools, despite the smcerity and dedication of their followers. results of various studies Referring to some of the shenanigans earlier, he shook his head wearily and said: “Well, b. . .s. . baffles brains.” Maybe we’re not so far apart, after all But maybe Mr. Burnham unin- tentionally summed up such procedures on another night when we happened to leave a board meeting together. Swimming pools Textbook corrupts Sales chauv/n/sm By Lynda Nykor Iynda's lashes