The North Shore News is publishes by Kerth Shore Free Press Ltd., Publisher Peter Speck, from 1139 Loasdale Avenw2 North Vancowver, 3.C., V7M 244 PETER SPECK Publisher 985-2137 (101) ing Editor Sats & Mataing Dvectr sie 8 (116) 80-0571 (319) " Sebt3S7 (12h) SOS218T en pai ere Maieiatsetion Display Sdvartising * fed Eset Auvortioing © - Classified Acvurtioing kevarcom - fistrigution © » Dleplay & Real Estate Fax : - Reaszoore Fan Acsounting _ & Mein Ofitee Fax Michzal Bocker-News Exiter * 985-2131 (174) Androw McCradia-Sparts/Community Editor 885-2131 {147} LETTERS TO THE EDrTOR . Letters ‘must include your name, full addrecs ; & telephone number. VIA Internet: trenshaw @ awect.ca : “sibutban ocwspeper and gabled inier Schabse 11, Paragraph 111 of te Excie far Ace 1s published ach ‘Wedreschry, Friday and Senubry by North Stuee Free Pros Ls). and ckstrtused tn every haw on the North Sis. Conus at Canadian Publications Mail Sais Prukat Agron Na. OMTBS. ‘Malin nas itt on requ, {otire contents © 1996 North Shore Free Press Ltd. -- Alf rights secerved. WELL , THIS SHouLD KEEP THE GOVERNMENT Busy FoR A WHILE... “A CRACK-DOWN ON ILLEGAL SATELLLI Te TV RECEPTION. Caw ViEwy tek MRE Lerten TRO AMEE OR ee ee A Hm la Ete Scary c ycling O green, they say. Commuters are persistently pounded with this exhor- tation. The polluting masses are made to feel group guilt in a really big way. Discard the car. Take transit. Ride a bike. “Arguably the bicycle represents the most perfect form of transportation we humans _have invented to date. In environmental terms, a cyclist moves lightly through the world. Sweat and muscle are the benign byproducts in the process of . moving from point A to B. Yet cyclists get no respect. Treated by most as the lowest of life -forms on the road, cyclists take calculated risks just by being near cars and trucks. Generally safe and practical designated cycling routes are woefully absent. Thumbs up to the planners who included protective barriers to separate sidewalk and “NO man is an island,” declared poet pier John Donne. Nevertheless, islands themselves have always fascinated region and rugged west coast belong to a UN- designated World Heritage Area (WHA). Our recent trip starting in Hobart, the road traffic on the revamped Second Narrows . Bridge. Cyclists are safer there. The Lions Gate Bridge is another matter. Buckling and decrepit, the narrow strips of concrete and iron that pass for sidewalks on the bridge are a dangerous joke. As it stands the bridge poses a commuting - obstacle rather than presenting a safe route’ for pedestrians and cyclists. To give credit where it’s due, some ‘side- a walk panels have been replaced recently, but the result is a patchwork rather than a mean- ingful improvement. If we're ever going to abandon our cars we must be provided with reasonable alterna- tives. Efficient mass transit and real support for those who choose the cycling option have to be part of the mix. kind. Much of its mountainous western Reform’s refreshing realities Dear Editor: The Reform Party of Canada should nor fret over: the number of MPs not seek- - ing re-election in 1997. .The< fact that the Reform party does - not produce career cians - determined to reside: in. the: House of Commons for. the rest of their lives is 4 “good . thing. iA well, those: not secking, re-election won't’, be taking“: gold-plated pensions». wit them. The Reform p: ty ” believes in people, and consis- -tent with that ith it would } ideal to allow. as. many” faces to attend Parliamen’ as” possible, bringing © Canada: in line with the princip! af ‘ernment of the people, people: That is, less’ the: infi ence of various special groups — professi nal cians included. .: While the. Liberal /Tory regime seeks: to “mi : tight grip on power down. system Reformers’ are'm “est country: in’ th Reform: is :merely,; vehicle: through “which bith ¢ achieved; via Stanley ( with its famous headland, *The?? Nut”), Burnie, Ulverstone and Devonj terminal for Melbourne) constantly delights th eve. A side-trip to the “murals” town of t (ferry: mankind, Maybe because of the aura of independence and “different- _ness” bestowed by their girdling sea. Among them is Tasmania, once known as Van Diemen’s Land. tt’s odd thar Australia’s smallese state, 300 km off the south- east. tip of the mainland, has taken so long to make it on to the tourist map. Even today, despite a recent building splurge i in) tourist facili- tics, few mainlanders — and still fewer overseas visitors — have yet ses foot on this island gem. Its cailiest “tourists” were of a very different kind — convicrs from Britain shipped from 1832 onward co the infamous Pore Arthur prison on the island’s southezst peninsula. ‘roday, of course, the ruins of that former hell- hole of floggings, solitary confinement and psy- chological torture is a major tourist attraction with all the trimmings. Tasmania’s countess other attractions — most provided by Nature herself — are of a hap- delightful waterfront capital, rook us northwest through the heartland of the WHA to dramatic Russell Falls, on to majestic Lake St. Clair, then via tortuous ‘mountain hairpin bends dawn to Queenstown. From there we toured the huge open-face Lyell Mountain Mining Co. operation (gold, copper, you-name-it) before moving on to the little westcoast port of Strahan for a cruise up the pristine Gordon River. Centrepiece of the WHA is spectacular 5,000-f. Cradle Mountain. On the iower slopes lies the 90-cabin Cradle Mountain Lodge resort, a unique wilderness centre for hiking, fly-fish- ing, canoeing, horse riding and observing the endless fascinating wildlife: wallabies, wombats, possums, Tasmanian devils and exotic birds — all of the mammals prozected species, harmless to humans and remarkably tame. Very different but no less attractive is Tasmania’s north coast. At its western tip the vast 22,200-heetare “Woolnorth” property with its 23,000 sheep and 8,800 cattle ranks as one of Australia’s major wool, beef and dairy opera- tions. A sheep-shearing demonstration and bar- becue lunch for visitors make a half-day tour of the property a “must.” East fram Woalnorth the scenic coast route Shefficld (watch for your laurels, Chemainus! and the Central Platcau’s breathtaking Lake is highly recommended before’ ie ding fo the island’s second targest city, Laun These notes, however, give only. a sample ¢ all that “Tasi”, as the mainlanders affectionately dub iz, has to offer — including a gentle ye: round climate (summer mid-20s, winter low": teens). Our single week there ieft us longing for’. three or four more. But one word of warning: « Still mostly unspoiled, Tasmania is now clear- ly headed for a tourism boom. See it before the 4475 start landing hourly at Hobart airport!” Qo00 MANY HAPPY RETURNS of Saturda Dec. : 7, to une of North America’s top graphologists’ (look i it up, dear!) — West Van’s Renate Griffiths. . 09ag WRIGHT OR WRONG: If you want your dreams to come truc, don’t oversieep. : — The North Shore News believes strongly in . freedom of speech and the right of all sides in a debate to be heard. ‘The columnists s published # in the News present differing points of view, but tase — views are not necessarily those of the newspaper itself.