ae Wednesday, November 3. 1986 - North Shore News THE VOICE OF HOKTH AND WEST VANCOUVER 7 Pe.er Speck Noel Véright Barrett Fisher Linda Stewart Publisher: Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Advertising Director Display Advertising 980-0511 Classified Advortising 986-6222 Newsroom $85-2131 Distribution 986-1337 Subscriptions 986-1337 North St News Viewpoint we DNESDAY . 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 Over to Victoria ( first glance the strike by Capilano College faculty members, depriving 4,100 students of ‘lasses, looks like a simple case of the teachers (offered up to $46,000 a year in the top bracket) wan- ting more money for no more work, In return for a 6.8% salary increase over (wo years the college wants full-time teachers to accept a 12% higher workioad. Full-time instructors not wishing to take on the extra class would be free to remain at their present “aormal’’ workload level — but with a cor- responding salary cutback. The striking faculty association has dug in its heels against any salary cutback for those declining extra work. Tt also wants a small part of the total 6.8% pay hike for 1986-1987 used to hire more part-time help. One can sympathize more than a litte with both parties in the dispute. The teachers fear the effect of a higher workload on the QUALITY of instruction and see as the solution the increased use of part-timers — which would also relieve unemployment among tem- porary staff. Meanwhile, since 1983, the college has suffered cuts totalling $1.7 million Gore than 13%) in provincial grants and claims it simply cannot operate without more work per teacher. Even that will not prevent the disappearance of 100 classes by 1987-1988. Ultimately, the problem belongs in Victoria. Given the size of the provincial deficit, overali budget restraint is obviously still vital. But if an educated, trained and skilled workforce is the key to long term prosperity, a fresh look at restraint priorities may now be long overdue. Jpen government? “OPEN GOVERNMENT” is one of today’s most popular political buzz words. A noble, ringing battle cry at election times against all manner of secret horrors. Every politician who's read Lesson One of his election cam- paign primer peddles it en- thusiastically. Brian Mulblarney used it in 1984 to help him chalk up the biggest federal majority in Canadian his- tory. Bill Vander Zalm used it to great effect in both the Whistler leadership race and his -recent triumph at the polls. It’s a big slogan at the moment in the West Vancouver civic election campaign. Alas, as we've seen with poor Mulbiarney — and may live to see with Zalm — the high-sounding election gimmick has little to do with the post-election realities of public office. Exactly what ‘‘open governme- nt’? is, or whether it has ever ex- isted, nobody has yet convincingly explained. In its purest form, however, it could presumably have been headed only by President, Prime Minister, Premier or Mayor George Horace Gallup in person. Using a 1,000-person sample ac- curate to within four percentage points either way, 19 times out of 20, the good Dr. Gallup wouldn't have authorized a new box of paper clips for city hall without ensuring the electorate approved. Moreover, of course, city hall 57,656 tisverage Aednendery Fredy 4 Soda Vote leaders there’s an awful lot ot things at any government level that the people can’t decide, simply Noel Wright clerks would be dependent entirely on how the 1,000 guinea pigs were feeling at any given moment. Some days there would be lots of paper clips. Otner days, when staplers moved up to a $1 per cent rating, there would be no paper clips at all. “Open government’? on this scale has, of course, one great ad- vantage. It relieves heads of gov- ernment of the need to make judgements of their own. Let the people decide, is the watchword, and then they can’t blame ME, It’s an approach to life much beloved by lawyers whose training is to avoid personal blame at all costs. Unfortunately for such lily-white LETTER OF THE DAY ‘No reason for Dear Editor: Many of the citizens of West Vancouver are aware I have known Derrick Humphreys for more than 25 years and was actively involved in his original mayoralty campaign in 1978 and his subsequent re-elec- tion campaigns. In 1978 I told my West Van- couver associates that from per- sonal experience, while Derrick Humphreys had a somewhat abrasive personality, he was also a very honest, hard-working and conscientious individual who would be an effective mayor. Results over the past eight years have proved that Derrick Hum- phreys has been a strong leader and an individual who has devoted his complete time and effort to the’ best interests of our community. He has accomplished many posi- tive projects for the municipality @ focus @ because they don't know enough about them and frequently don't even want to. That’s why they elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf, knowing that if the latter goof too often, they can always be fired. In any case, the public or inno- cent individuals can be badly harmed by immediately broad- casting details of certain types of governmental decision. Some land matters, if prematurely publicized, can play into the hands of fast- buck speculators. Similarly with banking or investment information released too soon. And personnel matters which in no way damage or threaten the public interest are reasonably regarded as private a chang and at the same time managed to keep our taxes to a reasonable level. To my knowledge a large major- ity of the residents of West Van- couver are well satisfied with the level of municipal services provid- ed in recent years which is a reflec- tion, of the dedication and guidasce of Mayor Humphreys, the council and all municipal employees. te Entre coments © 1986 North Shore Free Press Lid All nghts reserved COMING UP AT ELEVEN, WELL HAVE A REPORT ON THE LATEST ROUND OF CBC. BUDGET GUTS... Gallup! turf. : Aside from this need to make occasional decisions shielded from the glare of publicity, there's ob- viously no way politicians can be prevented from merely DISCUSS- ING public business in private. In faci the public invariably benefits in terms of elected servants who’ve done their homework before shooting off their mouths. Meanwhile, at the local level, built-in safeguards against any abuse of privacy in civic boar- droom abound. Routine council and school board meetings offer every last Joe Daakes a weekly chance to stand up and say his piece loud and clear. Controversial proposals af- fecting a neighborhood or larger group of the citizenry — including all development projects — automatically have to go to public hearings. City hall, including the mayor, is at the daily beck and call of any visitor or phoner. And numerous municipalities, including West Van, keep their taxpayers updated on all activities and issues with regular houscholder newsletters. If you want local government that’s even MORE ‘‘open’’, you'd better be prepared to do its work yourself — while your blameless Mayor Gallup bothers you daily about paper clips but otherwise takes it easy. P m While it is only one of his many achievements, I noted that over the past few days the old bus depot at f4th and Argyle has been demolished and I understand Mayor Humphreys has attracted substantial donations from private individuals that will permit development of an attractive park atmosphere in that area. With Mayor Humphreys’ detail- ed knowledge of every aspect of (From the North Shore News, Nov.4, 1981) FLOODING, following torrential rain, inundated the lower portion of the Ambleside business district and other parts of the North Shore on the Hallowe’en weekend, leav- ing damage in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and a massive clean-up job for merchant and homeowner victims. The extent of financial compensation from Vic- toria remained a worrisome ques- tion mark. s * . SQUAMISH HIGHWAY reopen- ed after a five-day closure caused by a horror mudslide which wiped out a wooden bridge north of Lions Bay and devoured cars which plunged from the roadway. = s . WINE AND BEER sales in West Van grocery stores were a proposal being considered by the provincial government. It was running into strong opposition from the West Van Police Board. est Van the municipality and his will- ingness to serve the community for another two years, there is abso- lutely no reason for a change in leadership as we head into our 75th anniversary year. I urge all concerned citizens in West Vancouver to vote Hum- phreys for mayor on November 15. William A. Dow West Vancouver