8 YEAH THANK Goopnecs! GosH... SN'T TAAT “THE. GUY SHE'S REPLACING Aegis ee Ras tna Si 7 ase es IND”... " TAME are HAT TUNE. i & \ oft I'm Soggy .... $0 Soxey.... “THAT HE WAS SdcH 4 Fook of But HE'S TAKEN FLIGHT, So fel TRY TS RIGHT THE. WRONG “THAT'S BEEN DONE... dd 7 woe. tHh-Ho-Ho £ woe-Ho woE-y4 ip me: Hazardous wildcards HERE IS something seriously lacking in a legislative framework that does not require all vehicles transporting potentially deadly substances through our streets to bear placard iden- tification of their cargo. Ostensibly, the reasoning goes that those of us in the market for pesticides or paint thinner should not be everly restricted in our ability to transgert such common household products in ous own vehicles. But alarm bells ring when presented with a scenario like the one played out in North Vancouver on Monday. Police and motor vehicles branch personnel were unwittingly exposed to potentially fatal hazardous goods after an unmarked van, operating 2s a courier delivery service, was stopped for a simple traffic infraction. Although the courier apparently fell short of the law both in terms of National Safety Code and Motor Vehicle Act Standards, real concern is raised by the fact that it was not even necessary, given the quantities involved, for the van to be identified as a carrier of hazardous substances. A package of carbolic acid — something that upon skin contact can kill a person — appeared to be leaking and was handled by officials prior to its identifica- tion. Had an accompanying package of aceionitrile been damaged and come in contact with hot water following a motor vehicle accident, there could have been a release of deadly cyanide gas. Emergency crews take enough risks al- ready. The display of a warning placard on vehicles carrying extremely hazardous goods should be mandatory. We deserve responsible government Dear Editor: it was with utter disbelief that 1 read Noel Wright’s column of Feb. 20. In his article, ‘‘Fantasy soap opera ceasing to be rele- vant,’"’ he insinuated that the average voters had ‘‘far weightier things on their mind’’ than whether the former premier had a conflict of interest with respect to the sale of Fantasy Gardens. Within a few paragraphs, Mr. Wright succeeded in not only in- Peter Speck Publisher Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Associate Editor Noel Wright Advertising Director Linda Stewart Comptroller Doug Foot North Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suourban newspaper and qualitied under Schedule 111, Paragraph Hi of the Eacise Tax Act. is published each Wednesday, Friday ana Sunday by North Shore Free Press Lid and distributed to evety door on the North Shore Second Class Mat Registration Number 3985 Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year. Mailing rates available on request Submisstons are welcome but we cannot accept fesponsibility for unsolicited maternal including manuscripts and pictures which shoula he sulting the intelligence and wisdom of the electorate but in minimizing the importance of honor, integrity, honesty and sin- cerity in our elected repre- sentatives. These characteristics are fun- damental. Without them, there can be no trust or respect. No relationship can survive in their absence, including a relationship between a Jeader and his follaw- ers. The electorate want and deserve 980-0511 985-6982 986-6222 985-2131 Display Advertising Real Estate Advertising Classilied Advertising Newsroom Fax Thal VORCE OF MOTH AAD WIST WENCOUVER BUNDAY » WEDNESDAY + FMIDAS 1139 Lonsdale Avenue. North Vancouver. B.C V7M 2H4 accompanied by a Stamped, addresses envelope Eniire contents © 1991 North Shore Free Press Lid. All rights reserved J Distrnution Subscriptions Administration 61,582 (average circulation, Weunesday, Friday & Sunday) a government that can manage their affairs responsibly. And in making their determination, they consider whether a leader is de- servir:: of their confidence. Not only were Mr. Vander Zaim’s actions not “‘irrevelant and boring,’ they were a critical aspect of assessing and evaluating doth his judgment and his right to lead. Margot L, Furk West Vancouver 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 985-2131 MEMBER SDA OMVISION Can Rita get her message e { e sp Over im time: IN “DAMAGE Control 101’’ Canada’s first woman premier is so far getting straight A’s. When Mike Harcourt calls for Bill Vander Zalm to continue sitting as an MLA, you know she’s doing all right. On Tuesday ~~ bluntly and publicly — Rita Johaston a¢vised Vander Zalm to call it a day and stay away from the Legislature for the remainder of his term. The idea clearly horrifies Mikey. The former premier’s freewheel- ing interpretation of conflict of interest has, after all, been the NDP’s entire platform for the past year. No longer having him available for daily mauling could quickly expose the New Democrats’ own problem — their lack of realistic and credible policies to save Brit- ish Columbians from rising taxes, further job losses and a takeover of 85% of the province's land by its 4% of native Indian citizens. After being catapulted into of- fice only two weeks ago, it’s still early days for Premier Johnston. Whether she can mend her party’s battered image fast enough to win a slim election victory by October remains anyone’s guess. But in her daunting task, she’s not put a foot wrong to date. Bet- ter Jate than never, she quickly acknowledged ‘“‘betrayal’’ by Vander Zalm. Thousands in B.C. could relate to that personally. Her cabinet shuffle this week hardly produced a government of Mensa-level intellects, but it was a sound house-cleaning. It dumped former conflict-of-interest sinners Bud Smith and Ctiff Michael, along with coasting Zalmoids Harry De Jong and Cliff Serwa. Me! Couvelier — who guided many of the Socreds’ positive economic policies before quitting to avoid being smeared by his fate boss — returned as finance minister. And among new cabinet faces were anti-Vander Zalm dissidents Dave Mercier and Graham Bruce. A tough warning for all of them 2 PREMIER JOHNSTON... ing the past. BUD SMITH... buried with the past. Noel Wright f HITHER AND YON too. One hint of con- flict-of-interest, Rita told her col- leagues, and zap! More significant were moves in the direction of government economies as well as a ‘‘kinder, gentler society.’’ The cabinet itself was downsiz- ed froin 23 to 19. Handouts to businesses will be slashed and government propaganda is to be cut back. Victoria will study the possibili- ty of hot lunches for school kids. AIDS patients will finally get AZT —~ one of the few drugs that will help them —- free of charge. And there’s a new ministry for women’s programs. Not a bad single day’s work. More of the same will be needed, of course. But no one can accuse Johnston of delay in putting her own firm new stamp on the gov- ernment — while stealing NDP electjon fodder in the process. Her message to Sacred deserters says the past is dead and buried — and if they want free enterprise to keep running B.C., they need no longer have qualms about get- ting back on side right away. But whether she can get the message over in time is another thing again. TAILPIECES: Saturday night fun of a different kind tomorrow, April 20, at the Carson Graham Auction, 2145 Jones, in support of the school sports program. Viewing of the goodies from 6:15 p.m. with bidding starting at 7:30 p.m. ... Back again with the Brits’ favorite role model, the St. George Society is holding a special St. George’s Evensong this Sun- day, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. in St. Martin’s Church, East Windsor, conducted by Canon Stanley Smith. Refreshments and socializ- ing follow ... And the Navy League of Canada is seeking new cadets among boys and girls 10- 13. They parade, learn lots of in- teresting things and have fun do- ing it every Tuesday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. — call Steve 299-3545 or 980-2880 for details. eee WRIGHT OR WRONG — Then there was that sign on a music store door: ‘‘Bach in an hour. Of- fenbach sooner.”’