Political progress

One thing Mike Harris’ win in Ontario has achieved is the re-inflating of the Tory balloon.

Note how our friend from Victoria, R. H. Eldridge, is spouting fire and brimstone about the hated socialists. Unfortunately, we here in Saskatchewan threw a dash of bitters in his euphoria by giving Premier Roy, and the NDP, a second resounding mandate, which when that is completed in 1999 will account for almost 40 years of CCF-NDP rule since they first appeared on the scene 55 years ago, in 1944.

Of course, we Saskatchewanians, having endured adversity by means of the weather, volatile world markets and of course the ever-present Ottawa indifference, have developed a fairly steadfast approach, unlike Ontario who, long being the favored member of confederation, enjoyed almost continuous prosperity.

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Especially so since the Second World War with the help of skillful manipulation by Premiers Frost, Roberts and Davis, who, while all Tories, were however more at ease with Liberals in Ottawa than their own “Western” Diefenbaker.

But with the global octopus wrapping its tentacles ever tighter, even Ontario began seeing storm clouds on the horizon, and has since been hopping around like a flea on a hot stove, first to the Liberals, then the NDP, and now back to the PCs (er, pardon, I mean the “new” PCs, also known as Reform) and a similarity can be readily noticed by Alberta’s “De” Klein, and now Mighty Mike in Ontario as he prepares to wield the hatchet.

In regard to Eldridge’s comments about increase in taxes, (Open Forum, July 6), well, keeping in mind the multi-billion dollar albatross we have courtesy of the Divine Powers, and the fact that a fair number of Devinees are currently fighting fraud charges leaves them incapable of contributing much, and with the flinty-eyed bankers of Wall and Bay street insisting on their pound of flesh (interest), I guess someone has to pay.

As to the hospital closures, these are really conversions to a more functional form of health care delivery, in the ever-increasing centralization, and are not apt to be near as disruptive as the wholesale abandonment of rail lines, where we are soon looking at trucking our grain up to 100 miles, often parallel to an abandoned railroad.

But I guess this is what is called “progress.”

The question is for whom?

– Philip Lindenback,

Weekes, Sask.

Snow makers

To the Editor:

Several weeks ago, one of your reporters did a telephone interview with me regarding the Twin Towers Snow Making project that we had been working on for the past three years.

After I read the article, I realized that there were a lot of things I did not say that I should have. I thought about it during seeding and spraying, and finally found the time to sit down and put my thoughts on paper.

What I forgot to mention was some of the groups and individuals that played a significant role in making this project succeed.

The initiative that our local Rural Development Corporation, High Hopes RDC, took to start the ball rolling.

Also, the help they gave us with our business plan in opening doors and gathering information for us.

The invaluable input we received from some of the initial individuals who dreamed and began this project some 20 years ago.

The support we received from PFRA was greatly appreciated.

We were able to access some funding through the PAWBED program (federal-provincial cost sharing agreement) which helped us immensely in enabling us to develop this project in our rural area.

Also, the technical support we received helped us in our planning stage and also in overcoming some of the obstacles we incurred along the way.

Lastly, but not least, thanks to the individuals who believed in this project enough to keep pushing it along to the end.

– David Beyan,

Dodsland, Sask.

NDP media?

To the Editor:

I feel compelled to write in answer to Verna Thompson’s column of July 6. I agree with her entirely that the news media is probably responsible for the failure of Lynda Haverstock to become premier.

I’m not so sure that sexism was the reason, although she might be correct there as well. I think the media were certain the NDP would win and probably that there are advantages to being on the winning side.

Lynda made many statements that put the NDP in a very poor light. These could have easily been confirmed by the media and so reported.

They didn’t, but instead made much of her statements that to them were foolish.

Lynda did state that a vote for the PCs was a vote for the NDP. She was correct. I checked all the centres where NDP won and in 18 of these the combined Liberal-PC vote was greater than the NDP. Had the PCs voted Liberal as they did when Ross Thatcher became premier, 18 NDP seats would have gone Liberal, giving them the majority. I agree with Verna, the media could have made a difference.

Now we have to face four to five more years of same – closure of hospitals and hospital beds, increases in taxes and utility fees, Saskatchewan businesses especially close to our borders being non-competitive because of the tax structure.

– L. A. Cawsey,

Welwyn, Sask.

Saving straw

To the Editor:

I read with interest, and no little concern, the article on page 64 of the July 6 Producer. While it is hard to knock anything that will put dollars in farmers’ pockets and create jobs to boot, I fear that the wholesale removal of crop residue, i.e. straw, will be a recipe for short-term gain and long-term pain.

Straw is not a waste product as so many not familiar with the land suggest. Prairie soils of every type need to have that straw incorporated into the land.

Not only does it provide a measurable amount of nitrogen in its decomposition process, it is invaluable in maintaining tilth, providing far better water absorption and protection against wind and water erosion.

I speak from experience. Although I always worked the straw into the land, ever since the advent of combines and choppers, I purchased a quarter where the straw had been removed year after year for livestock bedding. It was quite a few years before the tilth of that land equalled our other land.

I would suggest that extensive in-depth research be done before embarking on wholesale removal of straw from the land.

Our topsoil is the most valuable resource that we have and should be treated accordingly.

– John A. Scott,

Lethbridge, Alta.