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à. PAGE 16, WEDýESDAY, APRI L 16, 19 80, WHITBY FREE PRESS -Auto slowdown'biamed for ncreased unemployment By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Unemployment in the Ajax-Whltby-Oshawa 18 up last month over February, however, it was down over the same period last year. Figures released from the Canada Employment Centre i Oshawa sliow that there were 10,724 1 people registered and looking for work in March, up from February's 9,875 but down from March, 19»"s 1122 - That means that 'le Durhiam Region lias ar unemployment rate of ap-* proxunately 8.63 per cent, about 1.5 per cent below the national average. According to Gary Hilier, spokesman for the CEC, the three offices liad a total of M2 placements for tlie mon- th, down from February's 459. There were 1,979 people registered and looking for work at the Whitby office of the CEC, Hulier said. "You've got quite a few people on indefinate layoff in the auto industry, " Hillier said In explaining the in- crease in unernployment. He pointed to the fact that there have been a series of indefinate layoffs at both the Houdialle plant in Oshawa and the Chrysier plant in Ajax. General Motors has also been laylng off workers for one to two weeks at a time for most of the year. The CEC's job placement were flot focused on the auto industry last month with most jobs being found in clerical fields; product fabricating, assembling and repairing;. construction trades and material han- dling. However, the CEC says that the' greatest em- ployment opportunities were in accomodation and food services, electrical parts services and the retail trades. Hiler was not optimistic about the 'rest of the year especially with the construc- tion trades.* High interest rates, he said, will probably mean fewer housing starts this year and because of that there will be fewer jobs. Hiler said that the con- struction trades are generally made up of seasonal workers who work during the summer and are laid off during the winter months. He doesn't expect that ail of them will return to work this summer. However, he said that there was no way to predict what the employment scene wiI be later in the year. "We don't know what's down the road," he said. The closing of Whitby's Fîrestone plant on July 18 wil put a strain on the office Hiler said although lie ad- ded that much of the registration and dlaim filing will be done in advance to prevent backlogs in processmng those people. Hiler said that the per- manent layoff of Firestone's 650 employees wlllIncrease the number of people looklng for work'in the area by six per cent. Durham. hospitals most progressive says Peters Community Memorial Hospital, Port Perry liad an occupancy rate of 80.4%, average length of stay of 6.1 days (average 7.3 days of 36 hospitals reporting>, and 300 day-care surgical procedures (fifth highest of thirty-six -hospitals repor- ting). Other higlights include Bowmanville Memorial Hospital showing 871 day surgery procedures, second highest of thirty-two hospitals of 50-99 beds with long termn units and Ajax/Pickering Hospital with an occupancy rate of 81.5%, an average length of stay of 7.0 days (7.7 average of 29 reporting) and 1,463 day surgery cases, fifth highest amongst the 100-199 beds class.' In terms of costs, Oshawa General Hospital showed a cost per active patient under care of $1,013, Ajax/Pickering $804 and Community Memorial, Port Perry $603. "It is gratifying to know," said Peters, "that hospitals in Durham are responding to the growing costs of health care services by en- couraging shorter lengths of stay and day surgical procedures wherever possible. " 6With the growing number of elderly patients in the region and the number of beds below the ministry guildline, physicians and hospital ad- minîstrators have worked together to treat patients more efficiently without compromising the quality of care," he continued. The District Health Council is currently winding up a major role study of the hospitals in Durham Region. The study, undertaken by Peat Marwick Consultants, bas produced statistics on population forecasts and in- formation on the range of programs currently offered. A major discussion papar to be released to the hospitals last week will det.ail role alternatives and cost saving opportunities in the region. Hospital boards will be reac- ting' to the papar over the next two months and the consultants will be developing recommen- dations in their final report which will be available for the District Health Council's Annual Meetinig in June. "If hospitals react favourably to some of the suggestion," said Peters, "dollars could be produced which will help fund badly needed programs for the elderly and chronically ili.-" The District Health Coun- cil recently recommended additional chronic care and nursing home beds as well When you bring in a roll of film to be processed, we charge you ONLY FOR THE PRINTS THAT COME OUT 'l'l also be there to give you friendly, professional advice if you want it) and show you where you made your mistake. M.OBOM. - 'The àFilendly Pro fessionalIs M.B1M. PHOTOGRAPHY 131 BROCK STREET NORTH WHITBV 668-6111 Mon W4 Q 9- ô .hurm FrL 9 -8:;Sat 10O»5 as community based programs totalling $3 million additional funding required from the province. "Lt may be possible to fund some of these proposals from savings made in other areas," said Peters. "Recommendations from the role study will be made available to everyone in- terested before the District Health Council makes its final report to the Minister," he continlued. For further information caîl the District Health Council office in Whitby, 668- 6214. The Council meets regularly on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Town of Whitby Municipal Building. Charity art auction Local and regional artists are offering their works in various media at an Art Auction sponsored by Piyah Chapter of Hadassah-Wizo. The Auction will be held on Sunday, April 20, 1980, at the Paul Giovis Gallery in Oshawa. The preview will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the auctioneer, Mr. Henry Kahn, will begin the auction at 8 p.m. Henry Kahn, assisted by his wife, Gayle, began "Herongate Country Auc- tions" in Pickering ares about fine years ago. These aL.ctions are held weekly, and since they specialize in antique and collectible items many people attend on a regular basis. Over the years, this unique husband and wife teani has developed much knowledge and exper- tise on the subject of an- tiques. Henry has lived in the Brooklin, Whitby, and Oshawa area most of his life. He, his wife Gayle, and their two daugliters presently reside in Port Perry. JOHN BANDURCHI Chartered Accountant 185 Brock St. N. Whitby Telephone 668-4341 Services include income tax return prepa;ration, tax planning, and aouting services for management, ITJR %PJWR 19 TV q;;Mag) -1 - - 9 ý aa ý -1 - - -9 - - 7 --- - - 1 1