By Ellsworth Dickson As this is being written, the Canadian government _ is sinking deeper into the mess it has created by not allowing the Taiwan athletes to represent mainland China at the Olympics. It looks as if the International Olympic Committee is going to bow to Canada’s demands; but not without strong objections from many quarters includ- ing President Ford, who said the IOC should have cancell- ed the games. This week the Inquiring Reporter asks members of the public their opinion of the matter. page 4, July 14, 1976 - North Shore News Inquiring reporter asks: “What is your opinion of po Me. T. Timm North Vancouver I believe the Olympic Games should remain free from political interference. Even if the government were right, political interference only ruin the philosophy of the Olympics. One thing I admire most about our American cousins is the thoroughness with which they attack a project, once they’ve decided it is worthwhile. No obstacles are allowed to stand in their way, and they never pinch the pennies. Mr. David Zisser is a good case in point. First, however, a flashback to March 1975. One morning the Province carried a story from’ the National Highway Safety Council in the U.S. about a certain popular 1968 car model whose driving seat had shown a tendency to collapse without warning, ossibly causing the driver to ose control, The council was considering legal action a- gainst the manufacturer. lread the report with some interest, because | happened to own exactly that model and year. Better stop slouch- ing, Alexander, I said, and - get the old backbone toned up....just in case. Lo, and bohold, just three mornings later I was barrel- ling down the Stanley Park causeway in the 8:30 a.m. rat race, whon the back of my driving seat parted company with my spinal column. Travelling bumper to bump- er at 45 m.p.ft., it is not, assure you a happy-making ‘sensation. Fortunately, { had auto- matic transmission, so I was able to brace my spare leg against the front of the seat, Fortunately, just this once, J hadn't fastened my scat belt, Hanging on to the wheel for bend into Georgia and then to a stopping place on peaceful Alberni Street. The car was a two-door with ‘front bucket seats, the backs of which could be moved forward to give access to the rear seats. I found the righthand swivel pin on the driving seat had snapped, leaving the back slopin away from its normal posi- tion at a 30 degree angle. First aid consisted of taking the spare wheel from the trunk and wedging it bet- ween the collapsed back and. the rear seat, which worked quite well as a temporary measure. Thatevening I dashed off a” report to the manufacturer's Cunadian subsidiary, copy for fun to the U.S. National Highway Safety Council, I quoted the mowspaper report. I enlarged on the perils to Ife and limb that collapsing scat backs could cause for drivers leas oxport than George. I demanded to know what the company proposed to do about pro- tecting THEM, Meanwhile, 1 suggested the least they _ could do for ME was to pay the ropalr bill. Well, you can gucss what can . Jan Bunt North Vancouver I think the actions of the Canadian government are disgusting. 1 don't think politics should enter into sporting events of this nature. If the IOC goes along with Canada’s wishes, it will ' be a bad precedent. on Detroit and its Canadian henchmen singlehanded. After five full-blooded letters to and fro, the Director of Customer Services still stood rock-firm: no responsibility, no liability on the company’s part. Exhausted, I finally ave in and had the seat xed at my local bodyshop for $37. : q A week ago -- 14 months after I'd capitulated -- my answering service asked me to call back collect Mr. David Zisser at the Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C. As 1 had never had contact of any kind with the U.S. DoT and didn’t know Mr. Zisser from the prover- bial bale of hay, I was intrigued, to put it mildly. He introduced himself as a DoT lawyer. Washington, he explained, was preparing a lawsuit against the U.S. ‘company for making cars whose seat backs collapsed. They had come across the copy of my initial fetter, sent _ to the National Highway Safety Council, and he would appreciate my testimony, if I could spare half an hour, It happened that I could. So for the next 30 minutes he led mo, In courtroom detall, through every point in my story about the Morning my Seat Back Collapsed. Ma Bell purred with pleasure, no doubt, at three-minute Inter- vals, He's sending me a written transcript of our $70 conver. : dear Hite. i made tt round the it's like when you try to take sation, If " agree with it, I'm Letters More on Park Royal Docs council realize that the Park Royal South -expan- sion will affect the core area of West Vancouver as well? Do they realize that there will be parking and traffic prob. lems in the Ambleside arca? It has come to my attention that the fire department and of a time now, when accldents occur in that area, Woudin't this ‘expansion affect the problems there too? Of course it would! the ambulances have a heck The would say, “I'm convinced that the growing traffic congestion would be stopped if it was possible to make people. come here without cars,” It’s true, Alas, the car is a status symbol and it will stay with tis for many years to come, regardiess of the premiums, . continued on page & environmentalist | ICBC Esther Phillips North Vancouver I think the Canadian govern- ment was justified in inter- fering because how can Taiwan really represent mainland China. Someone has to bring this problem into the open. to have it notarized and mail it back. One day, in some distant U.S. courtroom, it may be used to blast away the last tattered shreds of the car company's defence. Who knows, I may even recover my $37, That's the spirit of dear old § Sam Ervin of Watergate § fame -- the spirit that has made America. It was nice to have such a personal remin- der of it in their Bicentennial /youcana Library, Community Centre Pat Colwell North Vancouver I think the Canadian govern- ment should stay out of sports. The IOC should make any decisions necessary, not a bunch of politicians. $350,000— an @'close to shopping @ major food and drug stores, shops, boutiques, Park Royal RESTAURANT — MOTEL Showing steady increase. Situated on main | highway. Room to expand. 1% acres, 10 units, § plus 3 bedrm. home. Attractive terms. Asking | Phone | Mrs. Maruska 985-4447 988-6131 (24 hrs.) | | CANADA PERMANENT TRUST COMPANY | ffordto live in West Vancouver a * Cie: w , tennis courts, West ‘Vancouver Bryan Hendricks North Vancouver : The Canadian government should stay out of sports and mind their own business. 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