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Douc CoLLins

‘get. this straight ©

PEACE IS about to descend on the North Shore. Yes, Dog

is hanging up the gloves — bolting, that is — having toiled
in the news vineyards for centuries in fair weather and foul.

The past five years have been five
of the best, though, because what
matters is being able to write what
one pleases. I have never been cen-
sored in these pages, and the pages
have got around. The mail comes
in from far places. Even from
Australia, South Africa and the
Let me ted you what is not hap-

pening.

I am not leaving because of the
Southam investment in this paper
and there has been 110 pressure
from that quarter for my depar-
ture.

Neither Noel Wright nor the
present managing editor, Barreti
Fisher, noz anyone else ever strew-
ed boulders in my path. This even
though they must sometimes have
wondered whether I was worth all
the trouble I caused them. (1 prob-
ably wasn’t.)

It must also be said that if it had
not been for Mr. Speck, I would
probably have had holes in my
socks these past five years, for al-
chough the public seems to want to
read what I write, the employment
market for the Collinses of Canada
is not that great.

The pressure groups. gave their best shot to
getting rid of me: From Archbishops to
Indians, from professors to ‘human rights’
people, all were on parade waving their

censor signs. **

Jt also has nothing to do with
Aziz Khaki and his silty attempt to

notice of Aziz, and were even anx-
fous to get on Page Nine, I am

Let it also be stressed that no
one in the News ever suggested I
go easy on contentious issues.

Working for the News has been a

For that I owe publisker Peter
Speck — and his editors — a vote
of thanks. For although a
publisher has the final say, it is
always possible for an editor to

nits in a column or otherwise
foul things up, especially for a
writer who attracks a lot of flak.

Acouple of years ago the col- -
umn was offered to every other
suburban newspaper in the pro-
vince. There were no takers.

Also a couple of years ago, I
wrote a weekly piece for the now-
defunct Vancouver West Sider. It
was syndicated to the “‘Now’’
newspapers in Burnaby, New
Westminster, etc., but was soon

’ dropped. Too many “minorities” ”
I think. a

Nene of that isa matter for
complaint. The right notto publish
is just as important as the right to
publish. I am merely pcinting out
which way the wind flies, and what
a feller like me has to contend
with.

It is not being overblown, I
think, to say that Mr. Speck’s

disregard for the furious protests
that have come his way contain a
lesson for other newspaper
publishers and even for the coun-
try.

Ron Huntington once stated that
Canada is not governed by its MPs
but by the pressure groups. He was
right. That explains why the silent
majority (which is now raising its
voice) is so often ignored.

The pressure groups gave their
best shot to getting rid of me.
From Archbishops to indians,
from professors to ‘Shuman
Tights’ people, all were on parade
waving their censor signs.

Not long after my debut in the
News, for example, a !arge crowd
of loonies appeared in front of the
building hollering ‘Dump the
bigot.”’ On another occasion, pro-
testing homosexuals and lesbians
from Vancouver marched up
Lonsdale bearing banners. At a
B.C. Teachers’ Federation conven-
tion, cards were distributed that
read: ‘We Refuse The News
Because of Collins’ Views.’’

Mr. Speck didn’t even blink.
Nor did he blink when Mr. Khaki

. tried his little game.

The lesson is that although a lot

, of people take fright at the noise

sent up by the pressure groups,
that noise need bear no relation to
their influence. As Shakespeare
put it, it may be ‘‘a tale told by
idiots, signifying nothing.’’

So why am I quitting? Because
there is a time for everything, and
this is the time. Spud Island
beckons. But when the cork
threatens to pop out of the bottle I

* miay be back occasionally as a

.guest writer. Certainly, I leave with
great regret.

One more thing. You have been
a magnificent bunch of readers.
Couldn’t have managed without
you. Pro and con, you have my
heartfelt thanks,

‘So long for now @.:

NY seniors group receives farts

A NORTH Vancouver seniors group has received a group will be involved in a wide variety of activities

total of $7,919 under the federal government’s New —

Horizons
tunis. to

Program.
The Twin Towers New Horizons Group will use the
new activities to enhance the lives of

the 250 senior tenants of the apartment complex. The

including dances, snooker, darts and arts and crafts.

Thirty-three seniors groups in the province received
a total of $174,776 in funds under the New Horizons |
program in June.

to provide milk, bread, fruits

and vegetables, etc.
..FEED THE HUNGRY IN OUR COMMUNITY
¢ $20 helps us buy a weekly bag of groceries for one family

© $60 helps sustain a family for one month
© $720 assists that same family for a year

Please help those in need. All donations are tax deductible. §
CLIP AND MAIL WITH YOUR.GIFT TODAY ., 1. = =m afl

ppm ee

YES! | want to provide food for the hungry. i)
|

$20 $60 0 $720 Other $

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Province

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