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9 - Wednesday, September 2, 1987 ~ North Shore News

Doug Collins Reader siams tree scheme

“I didn’t want anyone hurt,

| they’ve had their own riot.”

THAT STATEMENT by 16-year-old Anna MacNeil of West Vancouver tells me that the kid wasn’t all that upset by the rampage in which her parents’ house was rubbished and neighbors’ property dam- aged.

She’s too old for spanking, and in any case daddy doesn’t do that sort of thing these days. Nei- ther does mummy. ‘*Violence’’ is out and the kids know it. So what we get is more violence.

“Hit me and I'll sue you,”’ | once heard a snotty little 11-

| year-old tel! his betters.

In a world that demanded proper behavior, the threat of parental retribution would pre- vent most of this nonsense. But the social workers and related trades have stopped all that. They called it ‘‘child abuse’’ and the politicians fell into line. So now, if a parent acts a bit tough, the authorities arrive and the kid

f is whisked away, laughing. They are even invited to denounce their parents.

It needn’t be a matter of the kid getting a cuff on the ear or a slap on the behind. Many youngsters have learned that it pays to lie. There can be false charges of incest, false charges of

f anything. The kid’s word is ac- cepted. Besides, who wants to come under suspicion? So rotten kids can get the upper hand because the state leans on the parents.

Even so, one sometimes wonders why some parents don’t try to be their own state.

In this case, dear little Anna said she had invited about 100 people to her party and ‘‘ex- pected 300’’.

In the event, between 500 and 600 turned up. The brawl got out of hand and three police forces were called in. Young drunks

| were arriving from all over, the police had to set up liquor and road blocks, and the scene must have been something like a drunken sailors’ farewell in Halifax in 1944,

In the mother’s words, ‘‘Peo- ple were on our roof smashing beer bottles. People were falling into the fish pond ... it was a nightmare, an absolute nightmare.”’

® vet this straight @

but not many people can say

No doubt. Among. other things, large garden rocks and glass littered the area for several blocks, and according to one source two guys dug a_ hole through the MacNeils’ roof and fell through it.

But what did the MacNeils ex- pect? Why was she allowed to invite 100 to her “‘party’’? Js she one of those who always had too much candy? Would you allow your girl to invite enough people to man a fair-sized ship?

If the parents didn't know the girl was up to such tricks, they should have known. Judge Col- lins will accept no excuses. It wasn’t as if the parents were away on holiday.

The list of those arrested reads like a battle casualty list: 16 West Vanners, six North Vanners, four Vancouverites and one who floated in all the way from Sur- rey.

‘Violence’ is out and the kids know it. So what we get is more violence.”’

Seven police officers were in- jured and 10 police vehicles damaged.

Already, some of the rioters are claiming there was ‘‘police brutality’. But in my opinion there wasn’t enough of that. If nitwits want to play that kind of game they should know they may get their skulls cracked.

As things are, they know that nothing much will happen to them. Especially if they are minors, who are aware that nothing will happen to them.

What should happen is that everyone caught on the premises should be paraded and made to clean the place up. Those con- victed should not only spend a month or two in jail but also be made to pay for damage done. That way, others might get the message. -

They should then be con- scripted into the army, and sent to fight small wars. For I some- times think that every gencration needs a war to teach it what the world is all about.

That would be better than Iet- ting them create their own wars in West Van.

ABBEY

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West Vancouver

Dear Editor:

Regarding Yoskyl Webb's letter of Aug. 7 Save The Trees in N. Van District.

Looking at the reality of the question of saving trees in the various new subdivisions being constructed, one must first con- sider the safety of the new residents. A 400-year-old tree is not a lightweight object — being five feet in diameter, this tree would weigh 35,000 pounds. The limbs on this tree also would weigh several hundred pounds each and in a powerful enough wind storm could make an unwelcome addi- tion to the interior of one’s home.

Another problem with — these trees is when one develops proper- ty, excavations are required. These change the natural drainage pat- terns and the water table and also damage roots. Wind damage is also more evident as the clearing required for houses does not slow down the wind speed as a natural

stand of timber does.

A heritage tree committee? 1 jest that this is just another means to slow down an already arduous process of trying to develop one’s

property and drive the cost of housing higher.

Paul D. Hodgson North Vancouver

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