A6 - Sunday News, February 7, 1982 ME editorial page Heritage vision February is Heritage Month and, as such, a particularly appropriate time for the launching of North Van City Alderman Gary Payne’s concept of a rehabilitated Lower Lonsdale. Alderman Payne, chairman of the City’s Downtown Revitalization Committee, un- veiled his concept 13 days ago to a meeting of Lower Lonsdale merchants. His vision calls for a certain amount of new development in the area but its main thrust is the facelifting of existing buildings to re- ceate a vibrant and attractive commercial core on a human scale, immediately ad- jacent to the provincial government’s Lonsdale Quay project. This was the historic focal point of the City from its earliest Moodyville days. Many of the buildings, though now outwardly shabby, are still structurally sound. Provincial government aid is available for refurbishing them, together with a low-interest loan for complementary public works — special pavings, street furnishings, lighting and the like. Lower Lonsdale itself is part of a larger picture: the six acres of City-owned land immediately to the west. The choice here again is between turning those six acres over to a single developer for a major new complex of the Park Royal type or the in- dividual development of smaller parcels to maintain the village atmosphere Payne is seeking for Lower Lonsdale. We believe his vision is vastly superior to that of wrecker bulldozers followed by yet another glossy modern shopping centre. We hope council and local merchants will cooperate with him to breathe new life into the heart of the City’s heritage. Whose schools? Last week (see page Al story) Sentinel principal D.G. Player bypassed his em- ployers — the elected school trustees — with a letter urging parents to attend a meeting on a job action threat by West Van Teachers Association over 1982 schools budget cutbacks. These days it’s hard to tell whether the school system is run for the students or for the teachers. The only thing clear is who 1139 Lonsdale Ave North Vancouver 8 C V7M 2H4 (604) 985-2131 narth shore news ADVE RTISING 980-0511 NEWS CLASSIFIED 965-2131 986-6222 CIRCULATION 986-1337 Publisher Peter Speck Associate Publisher Editor-in-Chiet Advertising Director Robert Graham Noel Wright Enc. Cardwell Maneging Editor Andy Fraser News Editor Chris lloyd General Manager Creative Administration Director Bern Hilhard Ton Feaneus Production Director Photography Hick Stonehouse Elisworth On hen Accounting Supervisor Circulation Director Purchaoer Barbara Keen Bian At ihs baye Me Crae North Shore News founded a TRO an an Independent comeanunity hewngaper and caatthed Gonder oc hocuie Hi Pant Ht Paragragt: Wot the trcine Tak Act (a gratbatied each Wednonday and Sunday Dy Notts Shhoce Free resem (td and Sestritaten! to every door oon the Nortth Shore Second (lagna Mai Me gisteation Niugtitver jHH% BSubecriptions 320 per yep Entire contents 198) North Shore Free Prees itd All righta reserved Neo rare or veit abet y ae Teed tow rem etee heed crveabare ral ee be ee dts gy treet cate Capt cared pon aren when oats eo orgs fry a a bametigeeved alti onsead onvetogee VERIFIER Gn A THON 03.349 Wednesday 42 546 Sunday <> sim & THIS PAPER IS REC YCL ABLE By W. ROGER WORTH At a time when bankruptcies are are at an all time high and employee layoffs are spiralling, organized labour in Canada continues to seek huge wage increases that bear little relationship to what hard-pressed companies, or the public, can afford. One union leader after another, it seems, is threatening strike action unless businesses and governments cave in to their hefty demands; and the volume of rhetoric is growing. It’s true that 12 to 13 per cent inflation, high interest and mortgage rates, and the rapidly rising cost of everything from heating oil and gasoline to taxes 5s eroding our standard of living. But, by attempting to protect members against any reduction in purchasing power, union leaders may be placing employers in a position where high labour costs make products un- competitive. When that happens, even more workers are laid off as sales drop. POLISH JOKE? Tying their pants in knots is a well- known hobby of federal bureaucrats and [m= in- debted to Capilano MP Bon Huntington's constituency manager Gwen Skakum for the latest example — which she has been endeavoring to untie for the past week or two. Biack cod fishing began last weekend and a local fish boat owner, who asks to re- main nameless for obvious reasons, had jobs he was cager to give to four refugee Polish fishermen. All four are now in Canada on minister's permits, giving them most of the privileges of landed immigrants which they'll cventually become — and very definitely the right to paid work, which thcy urgently anced. But no, they couldn't have the jobs offered. Jobs at which they are already highly skilled. The Ministry of Fisherics, tt cmerges, has a regulation requiring all fish boat crew members to take out a $10 heence. Further, the regula tion saya licence applicants must be Canadian citizens or landcd immigrants. No men fon of occasional proficient and hardworking = rcfugecs with mantster’s permits giv ing them the samc basic nghes as Lis (apan from the vote) So no jobs for the Poles in their own profes sion The immigration minister says Uncy can have them The fishenes mimaster says they can't Meanwhile, the herring scason opens tin two wecks time, with rencwed work op portunines for the Poles Unlike their U.S. coun- . Canada’s unions can't seem to understand there is a time to fight employers, and a time to sit down and sort out dif- ficulties for the good of both es. Consider what's hap- pening in the United States. Time after time, unions have made concessions to companies as they try to save jobs. No union leader likes the idea, but the Americans are at least pragmatic enough to freeze or reduce wages and give up vacation days when enough jobs are on the line. And it’s happening in one industry after another. Workers in the money-losing rubber industry were the first to make major con- cessions, followed by those in the airline sector. Now the truckers and auto workers have followed suit, as have employees in a host of other industries. It’s a achievement. Yet the militant Canadian unions won't countenance such activity. Instead of taking less, they are asking for a lot more, even though thousands of members are in the layoff category. Perhaps the time has come remarkable sunday br by Noel Wr. we're welcoming (via the im- migration ministry) to our midst. Mr. Huntington's of- fice is working on that one, too. But whether it will suc- ceed im unravelling the knot- ted pants of the fisheries ministry hirelings in time is anyone’s guess ... West Van's Daryt Duke, the patriarchal-looking chairman of CKVU-TV, grabbed US. television's juiciest 1982 plum. He's been chosen to direct the TV adaptation of Colleen Mc- ‘s runaway best- seller “The Thorn Birds”, be- ing uced as a nine-hour mini-series by David Wolper Productions of L.A. which gave us the TV blockbuster “Roots”. Duke already has a pagcicngth list of film and TV credits, including a best director Emmy and an American Socicty of Film Critics award. Among many others he's directed such Hollywood notables as Peter Falk, Elbow Goald, Cartstopher Phamamer and the late Meivya Douglas. Truc to the “local boy” legend, Daryl is a UBC grad who cut his professional tecth with CBUT TV when 11 first hit tho anwaves itn the carty 5Os Pat Robsom of the North Shore Light Opera Society invites you to join the costumed cast of their “Merry Widow” production for an cvcning of fun and music at Prank Baker's atti Saturday, Feb 77 a novel kand of curtain ratser for the ever popular) Franz Lchar cxtravaganza they're staging at North Van Centennial for union leaders in Canada to ask the members they represent, including those on definite or indefinite layoff, whether concessions should be made for troubled companies. “[m ar Thea: from } . 4 on- ward We. Jan ce ates its 70th ' oiday u ar and Shella 103, di of its Senio Activity ature, is look: for tures, mem< aha, s and remic ences Tid- dlyco. . colorft. past. In- format n on ‘-known comm ity figure nd West Van H 1School nuals up to 19‘ will be = specially welcor - Call St a at 926 4375 or write | x 91785, West \ an V7V .>1. if you can contnbute Latest edition of the North Shore Women's Centre bulletin has an interesting “Question of the Month” for its readers: “Do you feel that meno should be in- vited/allowed to become members of the North Shore Women's Centre?” Food for thought at Van couver Club tables? Time marches on SCRATCHPAD: Shrines bloom like daffodils on the North Shore (though a little ahead of them) oat this scason In addition to last week's honor roll, we now have North Van's Ken Ar- mold, installed last Thursday as president of the QGizch Temple's Mini Bike Corps. and his North Van neighbor Bob Garrock to be installed this weck as adjutant of the Gizeh Temple guard In case all the razz matazz makes you forgetful North America's 21 Shrine hospitals have now treated more than 250 000 crippled burned and arthnuc children whose parents couldn't af v child. What's your racket?” They might find the swer surprising. (Roger Worth is a feature: writer for the Canadian Federation of Independ, net Business.) . ford regular hospital bills ... North Van District fire department sure knows now to keep its men. No less than 10 of them will get their 25- year pins Tuesday at District council's annual awards ban- quet at the Canyon Gardens — salute veteran smoke- eaters Lawrence Reda, Ar chie Steacy, Robert Ter- rillon, Collin Wade, Daniel Williams, Robert Barnett, Doug Chapman, Charles Hayden, Henry Nitchie and Ralph Trim ... Also honored at the same bash with a presentation in recognition of his 10 years of service will be former alderman Gordon Rose ... West Van Alderman Gordon Rowntree, who made it to the council chamber last November at his 10th try, continues his job training next Thursday and Friday at a union of B.C. Municipalities seminar for newly clected officials in Richmond ... former North Van school trustee Exnie Sarsfleld has been named to the North Van Rec Commis- sion ... back home tonight are West Van Mayor Der rick Humphreys and Margaret after being feted over the weekend at the Ver non Winter Carnival which, this year, chose West Van as its “honored city” ... Joining them for the launching of the Okanagan snow-fest were North Shore pageant im- presario Gertle Todd and reigning Miss North Shore, lan Mc m . Belated bir thdsay wishes (they celebrated yesterday) to Ros Huntington and Romald Reagan... Happy bir thday next Priday to West Van Lions bulleun editor Kerry Malball WRIGHT OR WRONG: One consoling thought fot taxpayers thanks to bungl- ing and inefficiency we dont actually get as much govern ment as we pay for