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"PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1978, WH-ITBY FREE PRESS CPuhllshed every Wednesday by M.B.M. Publlshlng * and Photography bIc. Phone 668-0111 Volce of the Cou nty Town Michael Ian Burgess, Publisher - Managlng Editor The only Whtby newspaper Independently owned and operated by Whltby residents for Whltby residents. iiite ree Press Building, 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 2M, Whitby, Ont. Oommunity Editor -Brian Wnter Contributlng Editor -Jim Quail Production Manager -Marje Burgess Print & Promotional Manager -Robin Lyon Classified Ad Circulation Manager -Sharon Lyon Maitîng Permit No. 460 Member of the: Better Business Bureau of Toronto Whitby Chamber of Commerce Let's hve no As we sald ln a lead story, ln the Free Press, Sept. 20, election time is dloser than you think. Nominations close at 5 p.m. Monday, and that is your last chance -tb get your name intoý the running for the Nov. 13 municipal election. In some areas, such as regional councillor where we have four declared candidates for two seats, It Iooks like there will be a good choice for the electors. In other cases, hoviýver, l.tlpoks at the present time, at least, that there will be,'scfme' aclâl mations. There are no challengers. for -the mayoralty against Jim -Gartshore, and so far, there is only one candidate each declared in ,thp-- East Ward and thèe Centre Ward. We have heard nothlng aI regarding the school boards. We would like to see a good variety of candidates for every office, and no acclamations. The voters deserve a choice of candidates, and no one sh ould be allowed bythe public to get in by acclamation. The incumbents should be placed in a position where they will have to hold themselves accountable to the public in an e lection, rather than ' slipping in quietly' through the back door of acclamation. The electors of Whitby deserve a choice, and a clear debate among candidates on the issues, which affect this town. Acclamation only means that the electors arce entirely satisfied with the incumbents, or they a re not interested in political office. We hope that neither is the case., There is nothing more stimulating than a good race for all seats, with a widevariety of candidates.. The eleciors theni, have a choice of wbJthe best man or woman for the job, andi, each candidate has to prdvé himnself orhqrse(f tp the electorate. When nominations close at 5 p.m. Monday we want Io scec every position contested. In that way we will be able to ensure that it is really the electors of Whitby who choose their representatives on council school boards for the nexl two years. Benouh s commens can apply even today Dear Sir: bunch ot moss as the If was interesting to read emblem of our Nation.' Weil, about J.W. Bengough in for better or for worse we Brian Winter's historical subsequently chose the column. This writer Beaver as our National remembers a large outdoor Emblem but, looking over meeting near Brougham in the political and economic the 30's presided over by AI. scenery today one wonders if Harvey of Radio fame at if was any improvement. So which Mr. Bengough gave let us enjoy Thanksgiving one of his lectures. Earîier, while we may. just affer the lst World War he was active in radical circles and I came across a poem he distributed which ended with the satirical expression 'May I suggest a Yôurs truly, Andrew Gien Glenbrook Farm Locust Hill, Ontario "Con tentinen t springs.frÉ Dear Sir:1 On reading the leffer from1 John Knotf Oshawa in 'Whifby Free Press" of 4th Oct., I felf nofhing but sympafhy for people who are so unhappy in their faifh thaf fhey feel compelled fo attack1 oCher people's beleifs and religion. The good Catholic doesn't have fo go around searching and criticising; fhey are happy and confented in their religion knowing and thanklng God f hat they bolor.g fo Mis on. true Y thanks sponsors Dear Sir. Fitness for Living, a Canada Works' grant sponsored by the -Durham Family YMCA, completed its program Oct. 13. On behaîf of the people who have worked on the grant, I would' like to sincerely thank the residents and businesses of Durham for their response and support. A special thanks is due fo the Royal Bank for sponsoring the Junior Olympics Program, both the Separate and Public School Boards for their co-operation in the Canada Awards f itness tests, and the local news- papers for their reliable coverage of events we held during the past 10 months. Many of the prograris such as the Employee Fitness program and Kindergym programs will be carried on by the Du"'ham Region Family YMCA in the future. Once again, our sincere fhanks to the people of Durham for making our job so enjoyable. DARIN BIRD, Project Manager Fln vintue - REGICNAL POLICE one of the more sensitive issues in the Durham West church. This is evidenceci by Riding bas been regional government and how it has affected t he th ree, and very of ten four the taxpayers of the area. 1 think one thing bas been servces ach nd eerymisunderstood in tbat the program of restructuring local servces ach nd eerygovernments was adopted hy the Province, not out of any Sunday in ail our chu rches preference for 'bigness' but as a means of allowing the sma lier with full churches for each communities to draw on the sharedservices, and f inances, Of a service. larger area, and to better plan the larger area for the benefit of As rny mother, God resf present and future generations. her, used to say to us - The cost 0f regional government in Ontario is a vague and 'Aiways remnember that shadowy thing because there is no financial comparison Content ment springs f rom available of the blessings/drawbacks (choice of words> virlue.' between the cost of providing the same services to individual Than youMr. Editor communities as they were structured before regional Thank yougovernment andI what it is costing now. Acvurding to a recent study hy the Ontario Police Commission, those of us living within a regional framework Pearl Farquharsori are getting the best of it as far as policlng is concerned. The 315a Coîborne Sf. E. Comnmission bas compieted ani released a study on elght Whitby reglona municlpullties, ltcluding Dlurham Reglon, and compared them with eight cities of roughly comparable size. The Commission's study bas determmned that in essence, regional police forces are more economical and practical than are municipal forces. They cost 16.7 percent less to operate, which means a saving of $7.46 per capita. When a provincial grant is included (asit must be for proper comparison) those figures become respectively 28 percent and $12.46. Regional police forces are flot only good for the taxpayer, the Report states, but the men in blue are faring better as well. Pay and benefits for those on regîonal forces are better, and their equipment to do the job is the best in Canada. Money. of course, is flot everything...imnportant as it m ay be to the beleaguered taxpayer. There is no use saving money, if the quality of service suffers. But the Report of the Ontario Police Commission denionstrates rather dramatically how regional police forces have a distinct advantage in providing better service. which is really a result of greater numbers of officers available to Uhe communities. For instance, if the Towns 0f Ajax, Pickering and Whitby retained theirown police force, each would requ ire at least one trained off icer skilled in liaison with conimunity groups to assist such programs as Block Parents or anti-shop lifting measures. In a regional system. each of these communîties could utilize the same staff. As well, the staff can concentrate on community liaison to become better equiped in dealing with the problems, rather than assuming a variety of duties that would be required on a smaller force. Durham Region bas been in place for five years as of December 31, 1978. The report of the Ontario Police Commission is a definite indication that the taxpayers of the Region have benefitted, iu more ways than one, by this restructured system of local goverunmt, whitby Letters to the Editor Box 206 Whitby Report from Q ueen's Park By George Ashe MPP e