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Humane Society Troubled The Ontario Humane Soc- iety must try to do more with less in the future, ac- cording to Executive Vice- president Tom Hughes. He was speaking at the annual meeting of the financially, 1974 was "a year Ontario County branch of of great difficulty". The the society held in Whitby society, feeling that its finan- last Wednesday. cial stability was shaky called for a half-year audit in June. Mr. Hughes said that The audit forecast was for a $150'000 deficit by the end of the year. As a result, the OHS has made severe budget cuts in the areas of head office Vol. 5 No. 13 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1975 TEN CENTS FIRE AT DISCOUNT HOUSE A Friday morning blaze at Oshawa Discount House, 1916 Dundas St. E., Whitby, caused an estimated $50,000 damage as it completely gutted the second floor of the building. The 4:40 a.m. fire is believed to have been caused by unsafe wir- ing. Whitby firefighters, despite bitterly .cold weather conditions, responded to the general alarmn and controlled the fire in about an hour, but worked into the afternoon cleaning up. The only occupant, Derek McCammond, 20, was rescued by firefighters but suffered burns to his hands trying to escape. Mr. Frank McCammond the owner told the Free Press that the bike shop will remain open for service and the downstairs store will continue in operation despite extensive water damage to most of the stock.Free Press Photo by Mike Burgess Merchunts Want Development Councillor Don Lovelock resigned last week as chair- man of the planning commit- tee and chairman of the administrative committee over council's last decision regarding Brooklin develop- ment. Council decided to table the matter and authorized the planning director to re- port on the cost of a develop- ment study. The solicitor will prepare the draft of an agreement which would allow council to accept developers' money for the study without obligation. Councillor Lovelock who has been opposed to the acceptance of developers' money resigned, saying that council's decision was "untenable" with his position. Councillor Lovelocks res- ignation as chairman of the two committees, coupled with a recent letter to council from Bryan Collins has prompted the Free Press to do an opinion poli of promi-. nent Brooklin businessmen. Mr. Collins said he is appalled by Whitby Council's consideration of planning studies which could result in Brooklin becoming an urban area within a decade. He is also disturbed at the prospect of having ' to contribute to the development study by paying for part of it via his tax bill. He also told council that a survey of Brooklinites asking them if they want Brooklin to become a com- munity of 20,000 or 25,000 would result in many negative replies. We asked three prominent Brooklin businessmen three questions. 1. Do you support or oppose development in Brooklin? 2. Do you think the majority of Brooklin citizens. sup- port or oppose develop- ment? 3. Would you rather the developer pay for the development study or the citizens through their tax bil? Bruce Bagg of Bruce Bagg and Company, Realtor, said "development is going to come. I support the proper type of development. I think the majority of business people want it. Once again, it depends on the type." "I think if the developer is going to pay for it (the study) we'll have a better study and it will be finished more quickly. I don't think it will prejudice council," he feels. Bob Carson, owner of the Carson Funeral Home and Chapel, echoed Mr. Bagg's comments. "I support it, the right kind of development. I don't support high density development. Actually, the development I would like to see would be estate type. I certainly wouldn't support high density, low cost hous- ing. I think the majority of people support develop- ment." He said "I'd rather have the developer pay for it (the study) because I don't want to have to pay for it and they are the ones who are going to make the money out of it. I don't think the town will be obligated to accept one particular plan. I think it (acceptance of developers' money) is a fairly normal business procedure." Bob McCoy, manager of Brooklin Concrete Products Limited, shares the senti- ments of the previous two businessmen on development. "I support it. We can't sit here for the next 100 years and have nothing happen. I wouldn't want to see high density. The majority of business people who have moved here in the last 25 years are against it because they don't want anyone moving into the area." Asked if he thought the developer should pay for the study, he said "it's only good business for the developer to pay." administration, animal con- trol contracts, veterinary ser- vices and the inspectorate,he said. The local scene is a little brighter, according to Mr. Hughes. The society has renegot- iated its contracts with the municipalities of Whitby, Ajax and Pickering. These municipalities told the OHS that they wanted more vigor- ous enforcement of animal control bylaws. The society responded, saying that it would need more money. The municipalities complied with this request and the society tripled its staff. With this came stricter enforcement of the animal control bylaws. However, the public was not educated as to this increased service and was caught by surprise. One mark of this stricter enforcement is a relatively new bylaw designed to con- trol breeding of cats. This bylaw was introduced in hopes that the number of cats which have to be humanely destroyed would descrease. Mr. Hughes suggested che- micals, legislation and educa- tion as possible means to control breeding. Speaking to the controver- sial issue of humane animal destruction, he questioned what would happen if the shelter staffs went on strike. Free Food A vailable To Needy The Durham Region Soc- ial Services department with the help of Emergency Meas- ures Organization (EMO) will be giving away free frozen french fries to families on welfare, mothers' allowance, senior citizens and disabled. A refrigerated truck will be in Ajax at the south end of the Harwood Plaza at 9:00 a.m..Thursday and in Oshawa on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the King and Mary St. parking lot. A total of 30,000 pounds of frozen french fries will be given away free of charge to any famiies meeting these requirements and showing identification. A head-on collision Sun- day north of Myrtle Station on Highway, 12 claimed the life of a 13-year old Willow- dale boy. Frank Thomas Muller, a passenger in a car driven by his mother, died when the car apparently lost control on an icy section and collided with a north bound pick-up truck. Mrs. Evelyn Muller was taken to Port Perry Hospital with multiple injuries and was considered to be in seri- ous condition. Who would perform the unpleasant duty of destroy- ing unwanted animals then, Mr. Hughes wondered. He suggested that women should take care of animals within the shelters as they are more compassionate and can deal with the public better. Mr. Hughes predicted that 1975 will be a difficult year. He feels that, if there were more shelters with the qual- ity of that on Thickson Road, the society would be in much better shape. Those present at the meet- ing also heard reports on the Whitby branch operations. Carole Lang, supervisor, reported that, during 1974, the Whitby shelter cared for 5,665 ý animals including animals for boarding, quaran- tine, adoption, abandoned and stray animals. Of the animals brought in abandoned, stray or for adoption, 1,765 were placed in new homes, 615 claimed by their owners and 44 ani- mais remained in the shelter to start the new year. Don Loscombe, manager, reported that, in 1974, the Whitby branch handled-95 cruelty complaints. Animal seizures came to 29 dogs, 13 cats, 67 pigs and one horse. At present, the Whitby shelter has a staff of 19, seven of them animal control officers. The society was involved in three major court cases resulting in two convictions and one case still pending. Following the reports, Mr. Hughes invited questions from the audience. Camilla Williams, who was found guilty of failing to provide adequate care and shelter for animals in January, charged that two of her dogs which the OHS had seized died while in the society's custody. Mr. Hughes refused to answer the charge, saying that Mrs. Williams had already had her day in court. Mrs. Williams insisted on an answer.- Mr. Hughes would say only that lawyers for the OHS are preparing to take legal action against an Ajax-published weekly news- paper. The > Ontario County Branch also elected the 1975/ 76 directorship. They are Mrs. Edith Bedell, Free Press Managing Editor and Publish- er Mike Burgess, Mrs. Eleanor Gaskin, Ron H.awkins, Miss Greta Howitt, Clayton Mac- Kay, Bill Pilkington, Mrs. Diana Pilkington, Miss Muriel Sissons and Mrs. Frances Jerry. In a separate accidert Saturday in Oshawa, a Whit- by man and his two sons leaped to safety seconds be- fore their truck was hit by a train. Gary Taylor, 36, apparent- ly skidded across the railway crossing on Park Road South, stalled and rolled backwards into the path of an oncoming train. His truck was dragged over 70 feet, with damage estimated at $22,000. The train suffered $4,000 dam ages. Youngster Killed Mother In'ured