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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, September 20, 1988 -- 7 Tk ; ft | LN pt by John B. McClelland If last week's Conservative nomination meeting for the new riding of Durham is any indication, the Tories are not about to give this riding up to any- one, without a heck of a good fight. There were over 1,000 people in attendance at the meeting to see Ross Stevenson win the nomi- nation handily over Larry McLean of Oshawa. There were so many people there that even a room as large and cavemous as the Sikorski Hall in _north Oshawa was crowded to the point where there was actually a shortage of chairs. Durham of course is a new federal riding, a huge geographical area that takes in Scugog, Uxbridge, ewcastle, and parts of north Oshawa and Whitby. Al Lawrence used to represent much of the rid- ing when it was Durham Northumberland. He's call- ing it quits after a long career in both provincial and federal politics. Because of Lawrence's pending retirement, plus the fact there is a fair amount of anti free trade sentiment in Ontario, some pundits felt Durham might be a swing riding in the next election, up for grabs, so to speak. Maybe Tory organizers in this area sensed that for they certainly had the troops out in force for the nomination meeting. One very well known face in the crowd that night was Dr. Matt Dymond, and he received a lot of applause when introduced. The nomination bid by Ross Stevenson, the beat in this riding. Curiously enough, the name and face of Con- servative leader Brian Mulroney was missing from all the hoopla at the nomination meeting. In fact, his name wasn't even mentioned by ei- ther Stevenson or McLean in their speeches to the voting delegates. And there was not one poster or Lenperwitn Mulroney's face or name on the walls of the hall. Was that accidental or by design. | suspect the latter. | suspect that both Mulroney and Liberal lead- er John Turner are going to seriously "downplayed" by a lot of candidates in the next election, such is el popularity in many parts of the country these ays. Usually at nomination meetings, there is at least a reference to the Party leader, even if just briefly in passing. As for Ross Stevenson, he looked like a guy ready to really do battle to win the new riding for the Conservatives. He was stung by his loss to former Uxbridge Mayor Bill Ballinger in the last provincial election. ' But at the federal nomination meeting a week ago Monday, Stevenson looked very much in con- trol.I've followed Stevenson's career in provincial politics, and frankly, he's not the most dynamic po- dium speaker I've ever heard. Obviously encouraged by the amount of sup- port he saw at the nomination meeting, he gave a very solid speech, confident, authoritative. And un- The Liberals have already nominated Doug Mof- fatt to carry their banner in the riding of Durham. The New Democrats have yet to hold their nomina- tion meeting. During this election campaign, it will be interest- ing to see how Stevenson handles the free trade issue. His roots are in the farm community, he at one time was provincial agriculture minister, and he has university degrees in agriculture. There is a fair amount of opposition to free trade from certain sec- tors of the farm community, especially those sec- fous governed by marketing boards that control pro- uction. The Liberals and the NDP are going to hammer away at the free trade deal to the point where it will be the number one issue in the election campaign. It will also be interesting to see whether Brian Mulroney campaigns heavily in Ontario, where he is not very popular, or if he sticks to Quebec and the West. Maybe Tory candidates in Ontario don't want Mulroney showing up in their ridings where his presence might be more of a liability than an asset. Likewise with John Turner. | actually am starting to feel a bit sorry for this guy. He's been dodging bullets for four years now, without much success. Is it mere co-incidence that an unflattering book hits the market on the eve of an election campaign? Strange business, politics. And a dirty, rough and tumble business at times, too. How would you former MPP for Durham York riding, was very well organized, and if that type of organization goes into less my eyes were playing tricks on me, he looked the election campaign, he is going to be tough to trimmer than the last time | saw him. like to pick up-a book and read where your wife for husband) ordered toilet brushes at $39.95 each? Talk about living in a fish bowl. in Whitby township. Fire of undetermined origin burned Yesterday's Memories 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, September 19, 1918 Sunday night, the barn formerly owned by Mr. W.T. Reader, Scugog, and lately purchased by Mr. W.S. Samells, was destroyed by fire. Mr. Samells had the misfortune to lose his en- tire grain and hay crop. Miss Isabel Mellis of Seigel Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., has returned after spending three weeks with her mother in Port Perry. Mr. Ernie Holtby, Manchester, had a bumper crop of barley, realizing about one thousand bushels from a fourteen acre field. Smallicombe & Gilroy of Columbus have been busy decorating the interior of Mr. Frank Dring's house, Raglan. 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, September 16, 1943 There were 152 entries, 121 animals, 13 exhibitors and $465.00 paid out in prize money at the 1943 Black and White Show held at the Port Perry Fair. The show was under the direction of R.M. Holtby, Fieldman and Jas. Henderson of Portsmouth was the udge. . Tob Howsam and Jack Whitmore returned Sunday from holidaying with friends in Niagara Falls and Toronto. Mr. and Mrs. A. Glenney and family have moved to the house formerly occupied by the Foster Vernons. Prentice's Beauty Salon offers permanent waves from $1.95 and up. Fire destroyed the blacksmith and garage on George Crawford's property in Blackstock on Saturday afternoon. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, September 17, 1953 Fire of undetermined origin, Monday morning reduced the Oshawa arena to a smoldering mass of ruin. Mrs. George Holmes, a member of the 1928 Graduating Class of Western Hospital, entertained 35 nurses of her class upon the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their graduation. Congratulations to Miss Doris Hamilton, formerly of Blackstock, now Toronto Western Hospital on winning a scholar- ship for study in operating room tec hnique. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, September 18, 1958 Construction on the Port Perry Community Curling Club's new rink is progressing rapidly and it is felt that the estimated opening of November 1, 1958 will be sible. A spectacular $50,000 fire levelled one of the largest barns more _ (Turn to page 8) Letters Objects to council's decision To The Editor: : For the last 32 years I have liv- ed with my wife Jane in the same beautiful old house at 324 Queen St., the first home to the west of the Masonic Lodge. During these years we have cherished our home and enjoyed it's convenient location while wat- ching the business section of Port Perry move towards us. Last year a rezoning was ap- proved allowing a retail music store to take over a family dwell- ing no more than fifty yards down Queen Street. I hasten to say that the establishment of this store has enhanced the street. Our home is now the last, large, single family dwelling before the downtown. Since our family members are now launched on their careers and since the house is large, we decided earlier this year to place the house on the market. In May, we accepted an offer to purchase from a young local ac- countant who had to have a rezon- .ing approved before he could use the house. His business would be quiet and generate a minimum of traffic. He promised to guard the architectural integrity of our Vic- torian house. We thought the matter over and decided that what was proposed was an appropriate use for our home. In good conscience we felt we could hand over our home to a responsible and respected member of our community who would take excellent care of it. As a matter of record, fifty years ago, Mr. George Rose operated his insurance business on these premises. As long-time Queen Street residents we feel that a commer- cial future for our house was presaged some years ago when. local council allowed a large in- stitutional building to be con- structed too close to us in con- travention of their own by-laws. So the application for rezoning was put into motion. Sixty-nine households, institutions and businesses were given the right to make their feelings on the rezon- ing known at a council meeting in late August. Five people objected, four from farther west on Queen Street, worried about additional parking problems. Since any business would be required to provide off- street parking, these concerns seem surely unjustified. The major objection to the rezoning came from a Lilla St. resident who purchased a large house with a parking lot on one side and a day nursery and an apartment, within yards of her house, on the other side. For some obscure reason this resident thought that a neighbour- ing accounting office would be detrimental to her property, although the existing parking lot is much closer to her property than the proposed parking area. She made two protests to council which apparently had -tremen- dous impact on our representatives. Council turned down the rezon- ing application on Sept. 12. Perhaps they were worried that any initiative, no matter how logical, would lose them some popularity in November. I object to their decision for several reasons. My major com- plaint is that sixty-four households, including mine, who said nothing and by so doing gave tacit agreement to the rezoning, have been ignored, while one vocal person has been listened to. I have always thought that democracy was the rule of the majority, not the rule of the loudest! As a member of the silent ma- jority, I will be waiting for my democratic say when election time rolls around in November. The present council has said to growing local businesses '"'go to the malls!" I feel they have made (Turn to page 8) to the editor. 8 = While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter