4 - Sunday, June 23, 1985 - North Shore News Porkbarrel h, the patronage issue! I'm glad you asked. Since I was one of those rat-bag journalists who carped about the bulky bag of patronage appointments Pierre Trudeau left John Turner holding at the start of the federal election, last what personal Bob Hunter AES have I got to say about the Tories under Mulroney, engaged in the same porkbarrel politics? I was hoping you WOULDN'T ask, actually. It must have been the dy- ing gasp of my /nnocence. I thought, gee, after the cor- rupt Grits, the Tories would try to do a few things on principle. You laugh? Wait a second! I had it on good authority, namely Dave Barrett, that you stood a better chance dealing with a “principled Tory” than an opportunistic Liberal ‘‘any day’’. Oh woe, what can be said of Tory principles now? Unless first-up-to-the-trough counts as a philosophy. That's not to say there aren’t some principled Tories out there, but there , are quite a few animals, too. Mostly of the piggy variety. Some reversals patronage fate can be fun to watch, of course. One need Ew of . 6 & 12 ft. lino from Do it yourself Carpet from hardly mention the strange karma of Simma Holt, who has not been reappointed to the Parole Board. As men- tioned in this space before the election, Simma was a perfect example of the Liberal patronage’ method- ology, having seryed briefly as an MP, and thereafter be- ing in need of employment. She complains now that she can’t imagine why she wasn't reappointed, since she was originally picked on the basis of her previous work in criminology and in- vestigative journalism. Sure, Simma, Whatever you say. I am told, by people who peer between the pillars in the corridors of power, that it is not entirely owt of the question for prospective candidates for office to be promised a job to fall back on, should the voters tot smile upon them. The job, offered by the incumbent party, naturally involves government paycheques, often quite hefty. Perks, too. Lots of perks. Free plane tickets. Limos. Din-dins with the brass. Who's involved? Well, i all appears to be very tribal, especially at the moment. Joe’s brother. John’s boys. Yet is all this a cheap shot, as Dalton Camp insists? ATISED REFUND HOME FURNISHINGS Warehouse/Showroom OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (2 blks. behind the Avalon) at 1075 Roosevelt Cres. N.Van. $35, 985-8738 12-4 Sun. Looking for new floor coverings? Get the edge with us at the North Shore's largest Carpet & Lino Warehouse Edgemont Carpet & Lino Warehouse 1083 Roosevelt Cres., N. Van. 985-0114 Patronage is part of every government, he says. ‘‘Gov- ernments tend to use the services of those who have shown their loyalty." And everyone must surely remember Sir John A. MacDonald’s comment about the task of the politi- cians being ‘to climb the tree and shake down the acorns.’’ Damn. Another ill:sion down the tubes. | knew about patronage in the U.S. and Russia. Power corrupts, I shrugged. | knew about Japan and England too, but I blamed it on fiving on isiands. Turns out I've been living on an island myself, The problem was, | gave too much credibility to the idea of some kind of a meritocracy being in place. Appointment on the basis of merit, ability, skills, train- ing, etc. A civil service that was wise, guided by sober thinkers looking to the common good, not merely exploiting an opening for FEELING FAT? Research scientists have created a new exerciser you use by turning a dial. th Figuremaker System at Clyde provides weight and inch loss with cellulite reduction of waist, hips, abdomen and thighs. Call 985-8634 10am-7pm for a free trial in the salon or in your home. Special prices on salon treatments, home rental, and purchase. polit partisan advantage, or, hor- rors, personal gain! Well... Turns out, it IS who you know, not what you know, as you maybe Suspected. And the tragedy of the situation is that patronage is ultimately counter-productive, since it levers into’ place a lot of deadwood. A LOT of dead- wood! Maybe that goes a long way toward explaining why most government bureaucracies, and, indeed, Crown corporations, can behave so stupidly. They've stuffed their tep decision- making apparatus with idiot RICHMOND: SQUARE. ue 527-W. Bth (at: Cambie Protect Lions Gate Hospital's tiniest patient Vote Pro-life Wednesday, June 26 North Shore Pro-Life 984-9094 ics return cousins instead of the best of the high achievers, Really. That's why a fami- ly business is so precarious. Sooner or later, a nephew whose field is basket weav- ing gets the CEO's job, in- stead of a competent man- ager. End of empire. 266-5308... 584-4664 270-4919. °' 874-3481