Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 61

EDMONTON JOURNAL, Friday, July 14, 1372 2 61 rovince O.SKS on talks parks By JOHN LINDBLAD Of The Journal The Alberta government wants immediate talks with Ottawa over national parks policy in the province and specific tourist facility shortages at Lake Louise. Don Getty, minister of inter-governmental affairs, told The Journal he will press for immediate consultation with Ottawa on parks policy and the federal decision to deny the $30 million Village Lake Louise proposal. The Alberta government will work to get an immediate Ottawa commitment to provide tourist facilities at "it's back to the drawing boards" of a national parks plan, made in the 1960s, that would reassemble the access routes and facilities. That plan was deferred when Ottawa declined to pay for such a proposal. S.

F. Kun, Banff park superintendent, said that plan was then taken "across Canada to interest private developers. We had no takers." It was after that VLL was proposed by its backers, Imperial Oil and Lake Louise Lilts Ltd. And throughout that period any major development at Lake Louise was halted. "So where do we go from here?" Mr.

Getty asked. If the Alberta government has mixed feelings about the federal decision to kill VLL, so do residents of Lake Louise. Those consulted by The Journal said they opposed the VLL but wanted something. "We're right back where we were." one man said. Games fund Tl treat lo spruce caterpillar-like worms eat the needles on spruce trees until the trees can't maintain photosynthesis' a process necessary to life.

Norm Wilkinson, 11120 39th of the Canadian Forestry Service, ex-' amines a defoliated tree to see how badly it has The cool, wet weather Edmonton is having this summer is contributing to the proliferation of the yellow-headed spruce sawfly. Thousands of the larvae hatched in the spring, and many would have died off if the weather had been hot and dry. The been damaged. The larvae infestation has been particularly severe in southwest Edmonton. Spraying with Malathion is recommended to control the worms.

Worm-eaten needles will regrow next vear. Personnel tests defended Iceland match sparks chess sets alderman 9s attack after Personality tests on City Hall employees were defended Thursday following an unsuccessful bid by Aid. Bill McLean to get them banned. Aid. McLean told city council this week that the tests were developed in prisons and mental hospitals and had no scientific validity.

But Don Hiron, head of training and testing division of City Hall's personnel department, said the tests are valid because they've been developed over a period of time and take in as many factors as possible. And Alex Szchechina. secretary-treasurer of local 52, of the Canadian Union of 'rush' on Unlike the hula hoop, the yo-yo, or even Monopoly, chess is the sort of pastime that seems to be immune to fads. Nevertheless, interest i chess has picked up in Edmonton in recent weeks starting about the time the Fischer Spassky match in Iceland began to receive publicity. Downtown stores selling board games report what might be described as a "rush" on chess sets beginning about a month ago.

(In the chess-set business, a rush is a sudden sale of more than two or three sets at any time other than Christmas'). The sudden, if modest, enthusiasm was "strictly stimulated by the game" (between Fischer and Spassky). was Lake Louise and encourage citizen groups who are pushing for local autonomy in Banff and Jasper which now are towns without status and directed by Ottawa. The Alberta government earlier announced it had "mixed feelings" about Ottawa's kill-order on the commercial plan to develop Lake Louise. The Alberta government believes it was the deciding factor in the decision to shoot down commercial development at Lake Louise and, according to Mr.

Getty, is prepared to take credit, or blame, for that policy. But it also wants some kind of immediate alternatives that will relieve pressure at Lake Louise. Ha also reported the government is not looking unkindly at the efforts of a Banff-Jasper group called Autonomy '73. Thecitizens' group wants a plebiscite on the autonomy issue to back an earlier straw vote that had the majority of citizens in the two national parks towns favoring provincial, rather than federal links. The VLL decision and Mr.

Chretien's hint that Ottawa wants no part of autonomy for Banff and Jasper is expected to lead to yet another Alberta-Ottawa political fist-fight. Parks development and autonomy are closely related, Mr. Getty indicated. While Alberta may, or may not push for control of Banff and Jasper it does, says Mr. Getty "want a say in how those places are run." And Mr.

Getty indicated Alberta is prepared to back up the position with some released information. Specifically, he argues Mr. Chretien's point, announced in Calgary, that there had been consultation between the Loug-heed government and Ottawa on VLL. "We were asked about a tourist centre facility, but not Village Lake Louise," he said. Mr.

Chretien, in his Calgary press conference, said there had been consultation with Alberta on the VLL prior to the Lougheed government's policy to oppose VLL until environmental and other factors had been studied. What Alberta wants at Lake Louise, Mr. Getty said, is some kind of partial development that would relieve the high pressure of tourist crowding. The province feels, he said, the opinion of a Bay employee, who reported increased sales at the downtown store. Crazy Eddie's Adult games, a specialty store on the Boardwalk reported a similar increase in sales.

"The cover story on Fischer in Life Magazine helped a lot," said a clerk in Crazy Eddie's. Hurtig's bookstores downtown and at the university campus have noticed increased turn-over in their stocks of chess books both how-to books and accounts of Masters Tournament games. "It would seem that the Fischer-Spassky match has sparked an interest," said a mildly surprised employee of Hurtig's downtown. wants also to know where legal aid, as it exists in the province, is failing. "We know there are number approved and denied.

We want to know whether or not those who were denied legal aid were deprived," Mr. Leitch said. The attorney-general said one area of consideration would be legal aid divorce. A couple living apart who might not divorce, because of expense or convenience might take advantage of legal aid because without cost they could legally sever their But at present the city is using a battery of various skill and aptitude tests. Not every employee is automatically given the personality tests, said Mr.

Hiron. A major concern is that the test information be kept confidential. "The indiscriminate use of information from these tests is an invasion of human lights." But his section only gives positive factors to the personnel department's employment section and the department for whom the employee is working. The tests are used in counselling to help the employee determine what area of the civic service he should aim for in his career development. "Our tests are really an aptitude measure.

They show whether the person is a straight thinking, two plus two equals four type of person, or whether he is a more creative type," Mr. Hiron said. "The tests are standardized with thousands and thousands of people. The people who make up these tests study in detail the careers of both successful and unsuccessful people and develop a pattern of why some people commit job suicide." An example of such a case was one city employee who was involved in a very routine job and was dismally unhappy. He took the tests and went on to become a successful artist.

Leitch will examine Alberta legal aid plan Exposition success rests on 1,500 people groivs Contributions from the business community have given the Edmonton Commonwealth Games Society $4,200 of its $15,000 goal. The money will be used to promote the city's bid for the 1978 games. Hal Pawson, who is guiding the city's bid to be made in Munich in August, said the Commonwealth Games Society "is a little concerned that some of the small businessmen may think they're not in our league. "But they are: we don't expect $200 cheques from everyone. Five or ten bucks is a help too," he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ivor Dent will be returning to the city on Monday after a tour to convince African countries to vote for Edmonton. "All reports we've heard are that the mayor was very well received and that his trip was successful," Mr. Pawson said. The city is working on a proposal to counter the Leeds, England, contention that Edmonton is too far away for many of the African countries. "We're going to approach Air Canada to see if we can work out some kind of tran-sporation arrangement with them," said Mr.

Pawson. About 10 people wil' make up the official party to Munich and all will be dressed in red blazers, with a City of Edmonton crest, white shirt, blue tie. navy blue slacks and white shoes, Mr. Pawson said. A sponsor for the official uniform will very likely be found, he explained.

groups elsewhere in Canada is vigorously lobbying for a better pension deal for its members. As yet, he has had no reply from Keeping Track. THE QUESTION running around the local movie scene is straightforward. Like, what government in its right mind would prosecute a theatre for allowing infants in swaddling clothes into Restricted Adult movies. Certainly not a Now government, surely consequent to the approval of the liquor control board, Joe Bleviss will sign over the Downstairs section of The Embers to be the new Edmonton Press Club facility.

"It gets rid of a headache for me," he said, simply Nick Pitoulis plans to open his new a i 1 1 vv at the Grand Hotel Monday, but there might be a couple of hitches. One, the chairs have not arrived yet. and two, the liquor board must decide that he's ready for business. Either way, it will be right down to the wire, but plans are to have the facility in business before Klondike Days. Public Employees, commented: "By and large, I think the tests are quite accurate but I don't know if they're as accurate as the personnel department thinks they are." Mr.

Hiron said any civic employee can take the tests to see where his ability lies, cither by volunteering or being referred by a supervisor. "We've never had any employee refuse to take the test. As a matter of fact, they seem to really enjoy them and are quite interested in the results because everyone wants to know a little more about themselves." And the department does not use 1Q tests which have quired to make an exhibition successful. The Exhibition Association has about 100 full-time employees, but about the first week in June the Exhibition turns to Canada Manpower to find another 1,000. All hiring is done through Canada Manpower, except where the Exhibition hires off-duty policemen for security and traffic control.

The Junior Chamber of Commerce is responsible for arranging ticket takers for the Royal American Midway for all "rides and sideshows, and Pinkerton's is subcontracted to also provide police security. Naturally the biggest headache for security is at Northlands Park where hundreds of thousands of dollars change hands during the running of the thoroughbreds. Pari-mutuel betting has to be closely scrutinized and is done by plainclothes police, but crowds are watched to spot the professional pick-pockets; horse barns are closely watched because of re.iched 76 per cent of the public "so it was decided this would be the most useful strategy." "It's ironic that the government sees fit to distribute books through a food chain and an American-owned one at that," says Brian Cartnell, manager of M. G. Hurtig Booksellers Ltd.

Although Hurtig's a 't "particularly hurt" i a n-cially, Mr. Cartnell feels it's a disgrace the books weren't placed in bookstores and that booksellers in outlying areas of the province have to wait for their copies. Another irate book retailer proven to be worthless. Mr. Szchechina believes a problem could occur if the person doesn't have a full grasp of the English language and is unable to absorb the written word.

But, Mr. Hiron said, the city is looking at an entirely different assessment package which would involve a simulated exercise in decision-making with four assessors judging the performance of the person being tested and later discussing it with him. "This is really an exciting proposal. I prefer a person-to-person type of evaluation in any case," he said. the value of horses, and the buildings are patrolled regularly day and night.

On the exhibition grounds, city police establish a regularly staffed outpost which handles everything from lost and found to reports of theft. The police also help in crowd and traffic control; check the Royal American sideshows and gambling booths to make sure the games of chance are legal; and assist with security patrols inside the 90-acre site. Many off-duty police are also hired by the exhibition to assist in traffic control just outside the exhibition grounds. Beginning this weekend the ticket booths go into location, lights are checked, the communications headquarters is set up with walkie talkie radios to keep in touch with key personnel. Concession stands will be set up in preparation for Thursday's opening, and meetings with the full 1,500 employees will be held to provide final details and any changes in exhibition policy.

says: "We don't stock pork chops or orange juice Why are they selling books?" S. O. Magregor, local advertising and merchandising manager for Safeway looks on the situation differently. He says Safeway was approached to do the distribution and agreed, not because it's a money-making proposition, but because this method of marketing gets more copies to the public. "And we're doing all the major advertising in the paper, on radio and television.

It amounts to thousands of dollars of free advertising for the government." When Edmonton's Klondike Exposition opens Thursday, the efforts of more than 1.300 people will directly affect the ultimate success of a million-dollar operation. The 1.5(H) include the vast majority of temporary employees, along with exhibition officials and 35 volunteers who make sure activities are properly supervised and coordinated. To Norm Boleychuk, executive assistant at the Exhibition Association, the headaches only begin on opening day. He is the only man who shoulders most of the responsibility for 11 months each year, organizing attractions, hiring staff, and co-ordinating the activities. He personally handpicks his 35 supervisors.

"AnH triv-p fhm a lnt nf responsibility," Mr. 1 y-chuk says. Those supervisors are then responsible for picking their staffs for ticket takers, cleaning, food and beverage services, and countless other positions that are re i 1 Barry Westgate f4 av I Fort Edmonton withheld again Attorney-General llerv Leitch said Thursday he is making a total review of legal aid in Alberta. Mr. Leitch said the plan that provides legal counsel of choice to citizens in need must be reviewed from two points: Ottawa has advised provinces it might move into the field with some form of cost-sharing to guarantee that citizens have the right to counsel whether or not they can afford lawyers; While that is being considered, the attorney-general dike Days is a natural for the Fort Edmonton facility," Chapman said.

HARD TO figure it would make that much difference at this stage, but locals close to the stock market scene figure that George McGovern's long-expected and ultimate nomination as the Democratic presidential contender is a factor in the generally slow market conditions, and a 40-points drop in the index in the last week or so. "He isn't all that friendly toward business interests," one pointed out. But then, nor is he likely to knock off President Nixon, so why the unrest? could be that the bright and shiny new courthouse building on 97th Street is touching a few corporate consciences in the area. Comes the word that the Army and Navy Store might be contemplating a facelift to bring it into line because at least one concrete manufacturing firm was asked to submit a bid on what it would cost to outfit the old retail building just across the street from the courthouse in Worth Report marketing displeases city booksellers pre-cast concrete facing. As yet, nothing more curious sign at the north approach to the 105th Street Bridge on Thursday: "Caution, Bridge Washing." "Bridge the irate cabbie said.

In this rainy weather! If they had to use their own money lliey wouldn't be." CHANGES DOWNTOWN are expected soon, in that Harvey Wliite of Franchised Investments says that the buildings involved in the conversion of the block currently occupied by the Capitol Theatre and Johnson's Restaurant, among others, into the 22-floor office tower for Famous Players, will be vacated Oct. 1. and work on the new building should start soon after that White also says that the other Famous Players development in Edmonton, Whitehall Square on the site of the old Starlite Drive-in, will have its gala opening in September, maybe with a Hollywood-type personality to hype up the attention. That complex rose quickly from the wreckage of the drive-in. It doesn't seem all that long ago that Famous Players, irked by indecision at city council," was threatening to take the whole development to Calgary.

RAILROADER Jack Pickett has reacted predictably to comments by CN vice president of personnel George Lach, who said in an interview reported in the company employee paper Keeping Track, that "I am sure that something could be working out if the name-calling and the headline-hunting dramatics were to cease and representatives of the company and its employees and pensioners sat down together." Pickett immediately fired off a telegram to the publica-ton's editor, to wit: "Having just read article by George Lach and as one of those active in headline-hunting dramatics, I would be available to give other side of story." Pickett, everyone within earshot must know by now. is vice-president of the local Canadian Railway Employees Pension Association, which with counterpart COMPLAINTS THAT the Klondike Association i 't taking advantage of a natural situation and using Fort Edmonton Park as a part of the K-Days river regatta activities "drew an expected response from the association's general manager Ron Chapman. "This is the fourth year we've asked to be able to use the facility, but. every time, for a variety of reasons, the parks and recreation department has turned us down," he said. In the latest communique from city hall, the association found out that a promise of 1971 that details would be worked out and the site would be available had not been borne out.

To wit according to a letter from the department, the plans to relocate the trees, along the river bank hadn't been included in the 1972 budget as expected, and for that reason the whole thing was delayed another year. Then too, the department hadn't worked out what to do about parking, or anything. "It upsets us, because so far as we're concerned, participation in Klon Some local booksellers are displeased that copies of the Worth Commission on Educational Planning have been given to Safeway Stores for distribution. The Worth Report, produced for the provincial government by Dr. Walter Worth, and printed by Queen's Printers, sells at five dollars with the handlers petting a commission of one dollar.

Safeway has sold 2.282 copies of the report out of its Edmonton warehouse, and is awaiting re-orders. A government spokesman says a a i survey showed Safe a Stores.