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Page 8 THE NEWS THIS WEEK AND NEXT by Ray Argyle Has This Hour Run Ouf? Canada's most popular televi- sion program, This Hour Has Seven Days, had its final show- ing of the season last Sunday and it's still not known whether it will be back in the fall. There is no need to recount here the events which led up to the firing of co-hosts Patrick Watson and Laurier LaPierre, and the threatened strike of producers which was averted only by the appointment of newspaper publisher Stuart Keate as an informal mediator in the dispute. The fate of the Seven Days show was not, on the face of it, an important national issue. But it was a coniroversy that at tracted great attention because the people behind the program had known how to use the in- tense impact of TV to popular- ize issues that were important to the nation. The Seven Days show repre- sented one of the verv few occa- sions when TV had been used to stir the emotions and even the intellect, of the average viewer. Typical CBC "public affairs" programs have been informa- tive, intelligently produced, and skillfully presented. But most of them also have gone high over the heads of the majority of Canadians, like a pitcher who knew what he was aiming at but couldn't keep the ball over home plate. This was clearly not the case of Seven Days. It tackled vital issues in a way that involved the average man on the street--be it the treatment of Indians in northern Ontario; the pathetic figure of spy suspect Victor Spencer; or the tragedy of a thalidomide baby. Why, then, did CBC president Alphonse Ouimet (recently ap- pointed to another seven-year term) move so drastically in his decision to dump Watson and LaPierre? If there had been a great pub- lic outcry about Seven Days, or if there had been widespread public revulsion against either the content or the treatment of the shows, the action would have been understandable. Yet this was not the case. Here was a show which had at- tracted a larger audience than any other CBC program (with the exception of hockey which doesn't really qualify as a pro- gram), and which had gained great publicity by scoring a number of major scoops. Producer Douglas Leiterman says the CBC has not given any "comprehensible reason" for the firing of the co-hosts. There has been reference by CBC brass to Seven Days' alleged "lack of good taste" or "irresponsibili- ty". But how do you measure these things? Certainly the gen- eral Canadian standards of taste have not been offended by Sev- en Days. Unless Mr. Ouimet is prepared to enforce a_ taste standard which is clearly not shared by Canadians in general, then his complaint on this score is hardly acceptable. In defense of the CBC, it has been argued that "management has the right to manage," and that if the network chiefs want to dump a performer, they have every right to do so. The rights of management ap- ply even in a_ publicly-owned corporation such as the CBC. But management must also be responsible to its owners, which in the case of the CBC is each and every one of us. It may be that Mr. Ouimet, in his wisdom, will be able to in- stall new hosts for Seven Days who will do a better job than Watson and LaPierre, and pro- duce an even more _ popular show. If he is not able to do this, then he should resign, be- cause if management has the right to manage, the stockhold- ers also have the right to hold management responsible for its actions. As Hon. Judy LaMarsh has commented, the Seven Days fi- asco is only "the tip of the ice- berg" in the CBC's troubles. These troubles will be pinpoint- ed in the forthcoming govern- ment white paper on broadcast- ing. There is growing suspicion that the CBC is overloaded with executive fat -- the way the fir- ings were handled suggests am- ple evidence of this -- and that Messrs. Watson and LaPierre were dumped not because of in- discretions on Seven Days, but for their oft-repeated criticism cf how the CBC is run under Mr. Ouimet. Toronto Telegram News Service PAPOUSEK TRIP (Continued from page 2) home they visited Mrs.Papousek's brother John Hol- ancin and family in Sorelle, Quebec and her tamily in Holland Marsh, Ontario. iece at Mother's Day Tea. Photo by G .Whiteley CATHOLIC GIRLS HOLD MOTHER'S DAY TEA On May 8th the Catholic Girls Club held a Mother's Day Tea in honour of their mothers. The Tea was preceded by the recitation of the Rosary in the Church. As the mothers arrived they were presented with a corsage of mums and their daughters escorted them toa table. They were entertained by a fashion show and hat display. Diane Campbell acted as commentator. Fashions displayed the latest styles from the time of the cave man up to the present. The hats were creative and humorous and the mothers enjoyed the display very much. The club executive, Carole Gaudet, Claire Bel- liveau, Lita Marie Boudreau and Diane Campbell were introduced and the president (Diane Campbell) introduced the club's new counsellor, Mrs. L. McBride. Seated at the head table which was gaily decora- ted with floral displays were Rev.Dean E.A.Galla- gher, Mrs.J.R.Campbell, Mrs.H.Boudreau, Lita Marie Boudreau, Mrs.L.McBride and Diane Camp- bell. Gay blue and white streamers with pink flowers decorated the hall and a statue of the Blessed Vir- gin was a focal point in the centre of the room. The tea was very successful and the mothers en- joyed themselves immensely . A Holy Mother center p GOLF MEETING WEDNESDAY The annual meeting of the Aguasabon Golf Club will be held at 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11TH in the Curling Club Lounge. All members of the club are asked to attend. NEW MEMBERS ENROLLED BY MOOSE LADIES The Women of the Moose met Wednesday evening at the Moose Home. Senior Regent Marge Dejonghe conducted the opening ritual and Recorder Barbara Dejonghe read the minutes and correspondence . Junior Graduate Regent Ann Didura gave a report on the Academy of Friendship sessions at Minneapo- lis. Two new members, Elsie Fedorak and Rae Tuomi were enrolled. Members are reminded that the voting for the new executive takes place at the (Continued