A8 - Wednesday, September 15, 1982 - North Shore News Ee mailbox ‘Splendid job’ done by Mayor Humphreys Dear Editor: I was very pleased to read in your paper that Mayor D. Humphreys was going to run for another term in West Vancouver. I think he has done a splendid job in every way and is always so ap- proachable and willing to help. it is unfortunate the three excellent aldermen resigned. Our thanks must be ex- tended to Mr. Don Lanskail for his 19 years of help. He will be very difficult to replace with so much ex- perience and knowledge of West Vancouver. (Mrs.) E.M. Rimmer West Vancouver Teachers asked — to subsidize salaries Dear Editor: Rather than “turning a blind eye” to the economic crisis facing the citizens of British Columbia, teachers are confronting the reality of being asked to choose between the options of a life- time reduction in their in- comes and their par- ticipation in the decimation of their profession through massive lay-offs of their colleagues. Beyond the specific realities implicit in these options we are also facing the implications of being governed by people who seem to have no un- derstnding of, or respect for, parliamentary rule. Teachers are being asked to accept a rollback in a ‘salary contract negotiated (not arbitrated) with the Board of Schooi Trustees last November. We are not being asked to “freeze” our salaries, nor are we being told that we must limit our expectations to a 6% in- crease in 1983 and a 5% increase in 1984. We have been singled out to subsidize our own salaries. This rollback in our base salary for 1982 would affect not only our future salaries, but also our pensions; it would not be an interim measure to deal with the “housekeeping” aspects of our own budgets. In West Vancouver, in order to reduce the 1982 budget to the level pie Animals demanded by the Ministry, up to 128 teachers would have to be fired depending upon the timing of these terminations. We currently have 315 full-time teachers in West Vancouver. According to the legal advisors to the B.C. School Trustees’ Association there is a grave question as to the legality of the action of the Ministry of Education in arbitrarily reducing the grants to school districts as of August 1. It is my behef that parlimentary tradition means that those entrusted with governing us respect the law. Mr. Vander Zalm dismisses the Vancouver litigation on this question with the comments that it is a waste of money, and that he will make it legal if the court decides against him. I also believe that parimentary democracy is based on the premise of an informed and involved electorate through a public education system. I believe we are watching an attack on that system that may very well result in its destruction. Can we afford that? That is the question which should be addressed, not only by the special interest groups you refer to, but by every concerned citizen of B.C. Heather Walker, President West Van Teachers’ Association & Novelties Supplies. Dear Editor: Your news stories this summer have been highly imaginative and very ex- citing im attempting to portray the North Van- couver municipal election scene as a ferocious battle between extremes. I gather that Alderman Ball is no more impressed at being termed a redneck that I am at being classed as some kind of rabid Marxist, but there is no doubt you have ttillated your readership. Since I feel that the press has some obligation to inform as well as ttillate, I offer the folowing observations. Narth Van municipal politicians have long prided. themselves on their in- dependence from any kind of party machine, and have claimed this to be a tradition worth preserving at all costs. Such independence is looked upon as noble and - beneficial. What it means, of course, is that the vast majority of citizens who do not know aie candidate personally haven't a clue where he or she stands on important issues, so much so that municipal clections attract a miserably low percentage of the population. Members of the North Vancouver Voters Association think that citizens are entitled to know where candidates stand on issues important to them and have therefore drawn up two statements of policy which cover a range of crucial issues, one for the school system and the other for the area of municipal affairs. We think them to be moderate The Canadian Reg Cross Society ( Dungeons 7 A wh ' Dragons ~ wDNUS *30°. We Certificate give you Free! Enda Sept 30/82 oVV! clarifies the issues policies which many voters will support. They can be assured that any candidate endorsed or nominated by NoVVA has stated for those policies and may be expected to pursue them as far as is reasonable in any particular situation. Can- didates are not bound in any strict sense. NoVVA has no means of disciplining them if they do nat follow policy: so they have independence, while at the same time citizens know pretty well where they stand, and can vote for.or against them.in - regard to issues, rather than . personality or the width of — their smile on the election brochure,, I -would assume that TAGG, if it exists and is prepared to come out into _ the open, has a policy as well, behind which its candidates are prepared to stand and which is available to the public. Perhaps even the noble i ts have coherent policies which they would be prepared to share with citizens. I suggest that your paper could provide greater service by printing these policies and exploring the differences between practice of rooting out reds and Fascists from under our collective beds. Don Burbidge President, North Van Voters. Assn. My Jacqueline Vance Touhey, DMD, wishes to announce that she will no longer be associated with the Pauline Johnson Dental Clinic after June 30th, 1982. She will be commencing her private practice, limited to Dentistry for children to age 14, at her residence 2597 Marine Drive, West Vancouver, B.C. Office Phone: 922-1066 WESI VAN FLORIS! LID 10 for Hybrid Lilies $2.49 1821 Marine Dr. West Van. 922-4171 922-3968. i sorry — no delivery on these items Ron Zalko Professional Workouts. A complete exercise p rogram choreographed to music for all ages and all levels of fitness Ron Zalko Workouts held: ADVANCED 930 9 930 93% r--| BEGINNERS 10 30 12:00 430 630 6 W 10 30 12:00 430 630 10.30 48 10 3 400 Mon Tha Friday Saturday Sunday GET THE REAL WORKOUT® *™ 730 Marine D:. North Vancouver Also 2625W 4th Ave., Vancouver Tel. 986-3487 Tel. 736-0341