Castlegar News December 2, 1987 SPORTS Canucks are playing well shorthanded QUEBEC (CP) — ‘The Vancouver Canucks have une of the worst power plays in the NHL but it can’t be said that the team has not been playing well while shorthanded. The Canucks thwarted seven Quebec power plays Tuesday en route to a 3-1 victory over the slumping Nordiques. “Our penalty killing has been really strong lately,” said rookie goaltender Kirk McLean, who stopped 32 of 38 shots for his sixth win of the season. “It's normal that a team gets good scoring chances while on the power play but if the goalie can make the first save and the defencemen clear the net, you'll be able to kill penalties successfully,” said McLean. “That's exactly what we did tonight.” The Canucks have chased Nordiques netminder Mario Gosselin from the game both times the teams have met this season. “It seems as if I have Gosselin’s number or something,” joked McLe: who also played in Vancouver's 6-4 home triumph against Quebec on Nov. 18. “But I know he is a strong goaltender and he'll bounce back,” added McLean. The Canucks led 3-0 after 16 minutes on goals by Stan Smyl, who also had an assist, Jim Benning and Randy Boyd. Peter Stastny, with his 19th goal of the season, replied for Quebec, which has just one victory in its last eight games. BLOCKED ALL SHOTS ‘The Nordiques brought in Marié Brunetta after the first period and he blocked all 17 shots in his direction. “Thad some difficult shots out there but not as many as the Vancouver goaltender, that’s for sure,” said Brunetta. The Nordiques gave up the three goals in less than seven minutes beginning at 9:02. “We came out flatfooted in the first and although we had a lot of great scoring chances in the last two periods it’s always hard coming back from a 3-0 deficit,” said Quebec left winger Michel Goulet. The Nordiques are just one point ahead of the Hartford Whalers in their battle for fourth place in the Adams Division race but Goulet is not concerned by the’ slim margin. “There's a lot of time and lots of games left and now is not the time to panic,” he said. Smy! praised the work of McLean and Brunetta. “The goals that did go in were screened shots and deflections and you couldn't blame the goaltenders,” said Smyl, whois in his 10th season with the Canucks and has 247 NHL career goals, including seven this season. “Our penalty killing has been extremely effective lately and we are even producing on the power play a little, which is nice to see,” he said. Brian Bellows set himself up for a satisfying snooze Tuesday night by scoring the tying and winning goals in the Minnesota North Stars’ third consecutive NHL victory, 3-2 over the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the North Stars trailing by a goal, Bellows botched a chance to tie the game when he fanned on a pass from Dino PEE WEE REPS . . . The Castlegar Pee Wee Reps took the Spokdne Thanksgiving Tournament cheanplonahip last weekend. Pictured in the front row: Ken Skibin- ski, Brian Kelly fh , Marcel Di I Sal tv. Ciccarelli. But, seconds later, he tipped in Bob Brooke's shot , dokimoff,, Steven Brown; middle row: Adam Prus: 4 with 19 seconds left in regulation time. Then Bellows scored 1:20 into overtime to end proceedings. ‘The win lifted Minnesota past the Leafs and into second place in the Norris Division, one point behind Detroit. Mike Hunter, Dustin Rilkoff, Arran Voykin, Thoma: Phipps, Nino Dacosta, John Sirilaett; back row, left 10 right: Art coach; Ricl Paul Phipy s, coach; John Srsekitnolt, ‘coach; and Doug Richards (missing) coach. Elsewhere, it was Capitals 4 Oilers 2, and Winnipeg Jets 7 Los Angeles Kings 6 in overtime. Training runs impressive VAL D'ISERE, France (CP) — Canada’s young womee. skiers ive training runs preparation for the ‘season's first World Cup downhill ski races. Kellie Casey of Collingwood, Ont., finished second in the first training run and Kerrin Lee of Rossland was fifth in the second to set the pace as the Canadian women’s ski team prepared for this weekend's scheduled double downhill. Casey, 22, in her third year with the national team, clocked a time of one minute 22.02 seconds in the first training run — 26-one hundredths of a second behind Marina Kiehl of West Germany. Swiss star Michela Figini was third in 1:22.47, while Karen Percy of Banff, Alta., was fourth (1: 22.61) and veteran downhiller Laurie Graham of Inglewood, Ont., was eighth (1:23.24). “It’s been going well in training and throughout the fall, so it’s just a good carryover into the races,” said Casey. “It's a very positive feeling, because of the training I've come off of in our pre-season work. Lee, 21, led the way in the second training run of the day, finishing fifth with a time of 1:22.59. Figini was the fastest in 1:21.14, while Casey had another strong run to place nfnth in 1:22.96. “It really came together,” said Lee, who was 26th in the first run (1:24.74). “I think a lot of the speed was because the sun went away and there’s shadow on the course now.” Projected Opening Date Saturday, Dec. 5 T-Bar, Granite Chair & Paradise Chair will be operating Ski conditions very good Get Your Season Pass a doted cheques pork payments accepted for tu pasta Buy your new Red Mountain Membership now and receive a discount of $57.50 on your adult pass. 362-7384 The race is being held on the women’s course this season. The last two years, the women were forced to race at the bottom of the men’s course because of a lack of snow. Graham made a critical mistake in the second run and finished 22nd in 1:23.69. She had been one of the leaders on the first day of training Tuesday. “['m having trouble in the new snow, I guess,” said Graham, referring to the light snowfall overnight. “I can't run the same line. “] just sort of leaned in and my hand touched down. At one point, I thought I was going to touch with my hip, too. I lost a lot of speed there.” Other Canadian results in the first run were Lucie Laroche of Lac-Beauport, Que., 17th in 1:24.28 and Karen Stemmle of Aurora, Ont., 39th in 1:25.97. Other results in the secofd’run were: Percy 20th in 1:28.64, Stemmle 26th in 1:23.83, and Laroche, 40th in 1:24.65. = Rookie Kendra Kobelka of Revelstoke, who injured her back in the first training run Tuesday, did not practise Wednesday. ‘The final training run for the women will be held Thursday for Friday's and Saturday's World Cup downhills The men, who have a downhill here Sunday, begin training Thursday. Volleyball trophy taken by Wildcats stopped Kelowna’s KLO 15-7, 15-4 and 15-6. The last time Mt. Sentinel won the tourna. ment was in 1983 in Victoria. In other wins, Mt. Sentinel beat Barriere 15-10, 15-9, while they handed Bulkey The Mt. Sentinel Wildcats walked off the court with the B.C. single A volleyball championship Saturday night at Selkirk College in Castle- gar. The South Slocan school, Accidents trigger safety debate By LAURIE STEPHENS TORONTO (CP) — An Alberta sportsman, out for an exhilarating day of recreation in the woods recently, got a rear-end full of buckshot when a loaded shotgun he'd propped against a fence fell and fired. Two weeks ago, an Ontario hunter accidentally shot and killed himself, while another was wounded by a companion. Whether an accident results great is paid in pi notion that they're commonplace. In fact, “hunting accidents have been declining steadily over the last 15, 20 years, even though the number of hunters has gone up,” Calvin Yates, hunter safety co-ordinator for Newfoundland, said in a recent interview from St. John’s. While national statistics are unavailable, Ontario has shown a 77-per-cent decrease in accidents since 1960 and an 80-per-cent drop in fatalities, says safety co-ordinator Bill McKittrick, and “that's very similar to the other jurisdictions.” Hunter safety co-ordinators are reporting about the same number of accidents this year as last. Ontario has had 23 accidents, including six deaths, said McKittrick. In 1986, there were 36 accidents, including seven deaths, among more than 600,000 licensed hunters. in death or em- ig the. KEEPS SCORE Five of the province's accidents this year occurred in one county during the first week of deer season. “The hunters have got 38 deer, but the deer have got five hunters,” sr'j an Ontario Provincial Police officer. Nova Scotia, home to about 100,000 hunters, has had three accidents and no fatalities — 1986 statistics were 16 accidents, including three deaths. New Brunswick, with the highest number of hunters per capita — 160,000 licences sold for a population of 700,000 — has had eight accidents, including two deaths. Hunting accidents rare Last year, there was one death in 11 accidents. Quebec has recorded four deaths, as well as a drowning during a duck hunt and two hunters missing in the woods. Manitoba has had no fatalities and two fewer accidents than last year's total of seven. Nine accidental shootings but no fatalities have been recorded in Alberta. British Columbia has had two deaths, matching last year's total. Ontario introduced a voluntary safety program in 1957 and made it manadatory in 1960. Other provinces also have mandatory or voluntary courses. WEARS ORANGE Hunters in most provinces are encouraged to wear fluorescent orange on their heads or upper body. The exception is Alberta, which dropped the regulation three years ago because it was believed hunters would be forced to be more careful picking targets and identifying game, conservation training officer George Diduck said from Edmonton. “If he has camouflaged clothing on, there's just no way you can see him,” said RCMP Sgt. Ed Bergsma who looks after hunting enforcement in Alberta. Other provinces, such as Ontario and B.C., don't require orange clothing, but recommend it. Despite training and preventative measures, “stu- pid” accidents occur, particularly if a hunter is tired or has consumed liquor, says Bergsma. In Alberta this year, one man was shot after being mistaken for a moose; another was injured after his gun accidentally discharged, the bullet struck his ammunition belt, and several rounds exploded. Bergsma admits it’s “sheer luck, not good man- agement” that a hunter hasn't been killed in Alberta this year. Geoff Swannell, B.C.’s hunter safety co-ordinator, says “for the most part, hunters are very conscientious and they care about their sport and conservation as a whole.” It only takes one publicized accident to heat up the hunting-safety debate. “I think it has to do with the emotional attachment to firearms,” says McKittrick. “It’s also a confined time period, in terms of a deer hunting season, and everyone is aware of that period. “And everyone is immediately informed.” who hosted the three day tournament, went undefeat- ed, winning all of its seven games. In Saturday nights champ- ionship game, Mt. Sentinel Valley. a 15-11 loss. Mt. Sentinel also stopped Lambrick Park 15-0, 153 while D.P. Todd went down to defeat at the hands of Mt. Sentinel 15-4 and 15-3. Saints open season Castlegar’s Erie Dillon and Stu By CasNews Staff The Selkirk Saints men's team take to the court this weekend to kick off their 1987-88 ll season. Castlegar Aquanauts Lic. No. 62514 ott Annual Christmas BINGO Sat., Dec. 5 Arena Complex Early Bird 6 p.m. Regular 7 p.m. Same Payouts as ‘ . Previous Bingos 60% Payout Early Birds 60% Payout Specialty Games PACKAGES AVAILABLE PPP Pre Pre Pre Preps Pre pPrePre Po Pry DP eee re ees Pre Pre Pre Prep Prop The Saints will host two weekend games against Fra- ser Valley, starting Saturday at 6 p.m. and then again Sunday morning at 10. Fraser Valley finished sec- ond in league play last year and are expected to be stronger this year. The Saints have a new team this year with several local players who include SKI SWAP CSPS Any sporting equipment SALMO SKI HILL LODGE Fri., Dec. 4 5p.m.-9p.m. Bring in equipment for pricing Sat., Dec. 5 9 - 9:45 p.m. Bring in equipment. SALE 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Rob" Trickey along Fruitvale’s Dave Pavan. Other players include Mike Ramsey of Montrose, Brad Valentine of Rossland, Kevin Wishlow of Creston, Tim Jensen of Kamloops and Steve Butchart of Salmon Arm, as well as Dave Huggill of Saskatoon, Sask. Nordic Ski Club By CasNews Staff Castlegar will be the site of three Nordic Ski Touring Club events in 1989. A B.C. Cup race will be held in Castlegar Jan. 2, while the Castlegar Koote- nay Cup race will be staged Jan. 3. In addition, the Castlegar Nordic Lodge 76 and the Nordic Ski and Touring club will host a Canada Ski for Light event sometime in the new year. Castlegar held the first Ski for Light (blind skiing) event in Canada in 1978 at Naney Greene Lake. with Mid-Week Wrap-up Biller. F seek, Wigh Single, Garry Rayner, 252. Man's High Teor High BASEBALL Lodies High Single: Poor! ‘mor 26, Lodves Peorl Mott, 734. Team High Single: Gutter Three: Five Alive, 2947, Legis High single: Phe, Russell 254 iiee! Stang arin 673 Mont High Single men’ 2a Wish These, Frat \derone, 363. teor Hh Keds. 1184. Teor High Three: Ked 8 gees 1orcdock Lodies igh Sng ‘Vere Report. 206. Ladies High 1 fora Roponi, 722. Team High 888 BOWLING TRANSACTIONS sBBzzs* “seers TURSDAY, MIXED 9-11 anitsaeall Ladies High Single Lynda Wood. 286 Lediey | Caltornia Angele tage outiatder Chit ovis t08 one-year contrat Devrot Tigas ign catcher Mike Heath Wood. 626. Andy Soumure. 624. Jim Buhler 611 Mark Comigon, 608, Mar better Wo © two-yeor contrac! and Joe! Youngblood to 0 one-yeer contrac! FOOTBALL Now York Rangers recall defenceman Dove Pichette from New Hoven of the Americon Hockey Leogus wenden iimibuegh Penguins assign goo! Steve Guenatte to buskegen of the Inter soo Leder Single. Lynn Robinson, 231 fae Magh Mens national Hockey L hres: Deon Koenig. 578 ie re Ee #7 BEAVER INVESTMENT . were recently First Robson Beavers who Middle row from left, first row from. left Matthew? Tuphoime, Podealuk, Toby Lisy, Shawn Lane, Dana Harrison. wer David KINNAIRD BEAVERS eee First Kinnaird Beaver In- and Tail P was held recently. Front row from left Dustin Tallant, Albert Weeks, David Darosa, Jeff Edwards, Kyle Haack, Nathan Biller, Justin Roussy, Michael Angrignon and Derek Quiding. Middle row from left, Scott Jenson, Sandy Ferrier, Nathan Salvador, Andy Angrignon, Tamus Case, David Ferber, David Sutton, Clinton Darosa and Curtis Van Yzerloo. Back row from left leaders Jeff Guindon, Hurlbert, Kim Jerome, Art Lane and Dwayne Har- tson. , Ricky Skinner, becsiey Harker. Back row from lett, leaders Lynn Robinson and Michael Harrison. Dovid Bell, Daniel Salekin, Daniel Chris Robinson and Lorne Hartson, Jollimore, Christopher Sharon Weeks, Trevor Oncenber2. 1907 Casthégar News: Paper boss calls Peterson a ‘Fat cat’ FREDERICTON (CP) — A leading paper manufacturer has told the Commons committee on free trade that Ontario Premier David Peterson is a fat cat who's indifferent to the plight of the smaller provinces. “I can't believe Peterson sitting there, a fat cat, wunhiged ‘Christ, I'm all right Charlie, so to hell with the Outside the committee room, Petty was kinder to Peterson when asked by reporters to expand on his comments. “I think My. Peterson is a nice, srefiokins cus with 9 mente OE, See rere ome s ‘one-day stop in. hell with British Columbia,’ ” thundered George Potty, chairman of Repap Enterprises Ltd., as he wrapped up his pitch in favor of the trade deal Tuesday. “This is a country — we're in this soup together. I can't believe how selfish and short-sighted he’s being on this issue,” he told the committee, which is holding hearings across the country on the Canada-U.8. trade agreement. “I think to be fair to Premier Peterson it should be pointed out that he has never said to hell with the Maritimes and the West,” interjected Liberal MP Warren Allmand, trying to be heard above a chorus of cheers from Tory committee after Petty’s Prederion wan sv reubled by «smal but veal demon stration against free trad: of the F di Anti-Poverty Or- ganization were unable to book time with the committee to present a brief on behalf of the poor. “MARCH INTO ROOM The anti-free-trade group marched into the hearing room anyway, carrying placards that read “Free Canada, ‘Trade Mulroney.” YY: “This is a sham, it's sham democracy,” shouted Allison ‘VOCAL OPPONENT Peterson has been one of the most vocal opponents of the trade deal. Repap — paper spelled backwards — has mills in New Brunswick and British Columbia. In the past two years, it has invested $400 million in its New Brunswick paper mill at Newcastle which employs 2,500 people in the plant and woodlands. The federal government kicked in $50 million for the Neweastle operation, of which the company has to pay back $20 million. Petty, who runs Repap from Montreal, says the free-trade deal will guarantee access to the U.S. market on a as she and her four companions were escorted from the room. While Repap was given two spots othe timetable for the Fredericton hearing, the anti-poverty group and at least one other would-be participant were denied the opportunity to speak. Michael Clow, a social scientist at St. Thomas Uni- versity in Fredericton, stood fuming in the lobby of the motel where the hearing was held, handing out copies of the brief he was unable to present to the committee. “It's an attempt to pretend to listen to what people have to say — it's a farce,” said Clow, who is afraid the trade agreement will destroy the Canadian economy. “I don't know how the committee members can keep Former aides speak out VICTORIA (CP) — Two more former deputy min- isters joined the battle against the Social Credit government's privatization plans Monday, urging a “go- slow” approach to selling highways maintenance oper. ations. Both Bob Harvey and eh Macloen were dep- Rhodes began the attack last week when a letter he wrote was made public by former highways minister Alex Fraser, now a back- bencher. The three former deputies said the government's priv- atization undertaking was virtually unprecedented.” “It has not been done bed they have ined another former highways deputy — Alan Rhodes — in condemn- ing plans to contract out highways maintenance. Harvey was deputy min- ister from 1976 to 1983 and MacLean from 1971 to 1980. Rhodes retired in 1985. before at anything like this scale among any of the ad- vanced nations,” they wrote. Along with a letter, the trio released a brief written by Harvey. In the report, he anticipates problems in de- fining the contracts, control- ling payments and measuring quantity and quality of work. Recreation news The recreation department is presenting planning for 1988 winter programs bro- chure. We are looking for a few good instructors for calligraphy, pre-school gym classes, cooking for kids, pot- tery, mini-basketball, sj iality workshops and craft classes. If you are interested in becoming an instructor with the Castlegar Recrea. tion Department, be sure to call Verona at the recreation office. If you have sugges- tions of classes you would like to see offered please do not hesitate to call. We are always looking for new ideas and the programs we do offer are for you! Fall Fitness The second session of our run three weeks in December and four weeks in January. Half a session of a fitness class would be a great stocking stuffer for that hard to buy for friend or spouse. Fitness gift certificates are available at the recreation office for $12.50 for all classes except aqua fit and morning aerobics which are $15. Skating Public skating happens every week at the complex during the following hours: Tuesday and Thursday 2:30 - 4:30 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 2 - 3:30 p.m, Sat. urday 3 - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 2:15 - 4 p.m. Ad- mission charge is adult $1.25, student $1 and children 75 fall fitness classes started cents. last week. We are still offer- ing our Saturday morning fitness class for a drop-in charge of $2. If you have not registered in a fitness class it is not too late. Classes will Cateh all the Rebel action this week when Trail will be town on Friday to take on the Rebels. Catch the Rebel fever — come cheer on Castlegar’s juniors. Snow removal, for ex- ample, needs sophisticated equipment like rubber-edged plows, special sanding and salting gear and vehicles with proper lighting systems. “Unfortunately the public have taken such service for granted in B.C. in recent years — unfortunately in the sense of the shock they will feel if they do not get it in the future,” Harvey wrote. Premier Bill Vander Zalm discounted the criticism, say- Women ing the ministry is not the best place to get an opinion on the need for change. Harvey advocates a trans- ition period to allow con- tractors to get the necessary equipment and expertise and to allow highways workers to bid on contracts. Harvey also recommends that only some of the high- ways work be contracted out so that maintenance could be taken over by the public sector again if the contractor defaulted. 's group holds bake sale Kinnaird Women's Insti- tute held a successful bake sale at the Blueberry: craft fair in November. Tickets on the raffle to be drawn Dec. 16 will be sold Thursday .at store. Money from efforts such as these goes toward helping various local groups, as well as several out of town or- ganizations. At its November meeting, the Kinnaird wi voted on the Super-Valu Lottery Numbers The winning numbers in the Pacific Express draw Saturday night were: 648437, 920801 and 200422. The free play number was 2. The Scratch-Plus winning number drawn for $100,000 was 523805. The winning numbers for $10,000 were: 864589, 918398, 084398 and 438573. The Lotto B.C. winning numbers drawn were: 12, 13, 20, 23 and 33. The bonus number was 2. In the event of a dis- crepancy een these numbers and th win. ning numbers ist, the latter shall prevail. to be sent out: Castlegar Library — $25. Vancouver Children’s Hospital — $25; Queen Alex- andra Solarium in Victoria $25; Nelson Salvation Army — $25; Clay Castle — $25; World Food Day — $25; Kootenay Society for the Handicapped memberships $15. Members were reminded to bring four dozen home made cookies to the home of Phyllis Phipps. These will be boxed and distributed to shut-ins on Dec. 17. In lieu of a gift exchange at the December meeting 4 donation has been made by each member to go to the Legion Charistmas Hamper Fund. The December meeting will be a dinner meeting at 6 p-m. on the 16th at the Hi-Arrow Arms Motor Hotel. secure, long-term basis. BY LABOR straight faces.” Pension plan attacked OTTAWA (CP) — Letting federal and provincial bur- eaucrats closet themselves away from the public is a terrible way to make pension policy, the Canadian Labor Congress said Tuesday. In a'brief prepared for a Commons committee, the CLC said proposed changes in Canada Pension Plan sur- vivor benefits aren't likely to satisfy anybody because the bureaucrats didn’t seek out- side advice. “In our view, the federal- Changes in the pension plan require the approval of Ottawa and two-thirds of the provinces with two-thirds of the population. The CLC said it has been able, over the years, to have discussions with federal offi- cials and MPs about pension policy. “Unfortunately, our exper- ience suggests that once the decision-making process moves from the federal sphere to the federal-pro- vincial sphere, the openness pro- ceas did not have to produce such unsatisfactory results,” the brief said. “It did so precisely because non-gov- ernmental groups were tot- ally excluded from the pro- cess.” The national health and welfare committee was hold. ing hearings Tuesday on a federal-provincial _ consulta- tion paper about the pension plan's survivor benefits. The CLC complaint is sim- ilar to concerns faised by members of all three political parties in the Commons fol- lowing the last round of pro- posals for changing the Can- adian Pension Plan two years go. PRIVATE TALKS Those changes were ne- gotiated by federal and pro- vincial officials and approved in principle by ministers of finance. The talks were pri- vate, but a document out- lining proposed changes was obtained by The Canadian Press about two months before a final agreement was reached. When enabling legislation finally came to Parlisment last year, Health Minister Jake Epp said he wouldn't accept any amendments, be- cause the legislation; was based on a federal-provincial consensus. Locals do well at UVIC By CasNews Staff Four Castlegar residents were among the 455 grad- uates the Uni- versity of Victoria's fall con vocation Nov. 28. The four included Marilyn Swetlikoe, who graduated with a diploma, Inga Lamont, who earned a Bachelor of Education, Paul Travassos with a Bachelor of Science, and Robert Hamilton with a Bachelor of Science in Nurs- ing. As well, Nellie Plotnikoff of Crescent Valley received a Bachelor of Education de- More than 55 per cent of are and of the pro cess declines dramatically. “It is almost impossible for non-governmental groups to know what is happening in federal-provincial discus- sions, let alone to have any input to the di SURVIVOR BEN) EFITS Federal and provincial bureaucrats started working about a year ago on an op- tions paper on survivor bene- fits for widows and widowers of Canada Pension Plan bene- ficiaries under the age of 65. But what started out as a options paper eventually be- came a consultation paper with only one option. Widows and widowers 65 and older are entitled to a survivor pension of 60 per cent and of the plan mem- owers under 65 now vary with their age. The consultation paper a new system that would give survivors much higher benefits over a rel- atively short period of time and then cut off benefits increased immediately while the new system was phased in over a period of 60 years. The labor congress said the paper has both good and bad points. However, it recom- mended the government not proceed at the present time and open up discugsions on survivor benefits with all interested parties. Teachers to stop instruction-only FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. (CP) — Local teachers plan s halt their campaign after the school board decided to remove letters of reprimand from the files of teachers who staged a one-day walkout last spring over new provincial labor legislation. Board chairman Wally Harwood said Tuesday the letters were pulled because the board felt the students were suffering. Teachers in this north- eastern B.C. community B.C. districts also tole mented paigns after they resateed letters of reprimand but they later settled with their school boards. Bury differences, says rock star Bob Geldof ADDIS ABABA (CP — Irish rock star Bob Geldof, whose charity crusade raised millions of dollars for African famine victims in 1985, urged governments Tuesday to bury i could become,” he said. Geldof, whose 1985 Band Aid campaign raised the ‘equivalent of more than $200 million Cdn, is due to start a nine-day tour today of areas and stave off a new catas- he. “We have very little time left,” he said on arrival in Ethiopia. “Tt may be only @ question of two weeks before the dying begins in some areas a ae Governments are fighting ideological battles over the heads of dying people “My role here is to focus minds and show people how intolerable the situation ged countryside, visiting re- thote villages. He then plans to fly to Mozambique where drought and civil war are ravaging the country. The Irish musician, who first achieved fame as lead charities working in Eth- SUPPORTS ARMY Geldof criticized the Eth- iopian government for spending more than 40 per . cent of its budget on main- taining Africa's biggest standing army of some 220,000 troops. “It must be a government's priority to see that its people are fed,” he said. “Another part of the prob- lem, though, is that the West ties its aid to political change here. And this is anathema to the ie singer in the Rats, is due to meet leaders of Ethiopia's Relief and Re- habilitation Commission and Ethiopia receives about $9 a head in annual aid from western countries, little officials of inter al Christmas events come to NEC Kissing boughs, Christmas cards, and Victorian fans are only some of the activities planned for children ages five to 10 at a Victorian Christ- mas for Children at the West Kootenay National Exhibi- tion Centre, Dee. 12. The day’s activities are de- signed to introduce young children to the origins of familiar with the fact that the Christmas tree was intro duced to England by Albert, Prince-Consort of Queen Vic- toria. Lesser know traditions such as wreaths and free decorating will also be ex. plored Children may be register- ed by phoning the West Kootenay NEC Tuesday came from communities out- side, the Victoria region. those CI that they treasure. For example, most are through during off- ice hours. A fee will be charged. more than of what pro-western Somalia gets. The Ethiopian government believed at the beginning of this year it had beat the worst of the 1985 disaster, with experts predicting a bumper crop. But rains failed in June and July and in northern Tigray province, with Eritrea one of the worst-affected areas, swarms of locusts devastated what crops there were. “If the smaller rains due next month fail, we're in big trouble,” one Ethiopian relief worker said. The Ethiopian government has said it needs 1.05 million tonnes of relief food to feed 5.2 million of its 46 million people next year.