WUITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1985, PAGE 3 Welsh polîtician amazed by council's informality A Welsb municipal politician received a brief course in Canadian civic life while visiting bis brother wbo happens to live in Whitby. Counilior Richard vestiture of the Prince In Wales, the public of Wales - Parry took seldom - if ever- make some time and chatted vocal presentations to with tbe Free Press. their council. Tbe major difference 'II was surprised tbat between the workings of tbe public couid discuss, Witby Town Council even debate, specific 'Witby Reg. Coun. Tom Edwards is seen bere presenting a Town of Witby keychain to Councillor Richard Parry of the Arfon Borough Cous- cil which is beadquartered in Caernarfon, Nortb Wales. Parry was in Witby for two weeks recently paying a visit to bis brother, David and is wife Barbara, who are residents of tbis com- munity. Edwards, the only Welsb speaking member of Whitby Town Council, acted as Parry's tour guide during bis brief investigation of our systemn of municipal government. In appreciation for is help, Parry presented Edwards with an officiai Arfon Borough Council tie, whicb is only worn by members of that civic body.Free Press Staff Photo Wyn Parry of the Arfon Borougb Council in Nor- th Wales returned last Friday after bis first Canadian holiday. During bis two week stay, Parry was in- troduced to tbe world of Ontario municipal politics by Reg. Coun. Tom Edwards himself a Welsbman. Before returnisg to Caernarfon - the place wbicb is most familiar to Whitby residents as the site of the in- and Durbam Regional Council and Arfon Borough Council, the 40- year old Parry said was the informality shows by Ostario politicians. "Tbey're sot as for- mai as we are is Arfon couscil," he remarked. "'Our meetings tend to be much more forma. " Parry noted tbat tbe public cas participate wbes either tbe operations or the ad- ministrative committee of Whitby Town Council. points," he said, t seems to be more open here." As an Arfon coun- cillor, he will meet with his constituents as would any member of Whitby Town Council, but when in formal session, only bis voice and those of is collegues are heard. Wben bis council is in formaI session, only the public's written sub- missions are con- sidered. other differences in- clude the fact that members of Arfon's 35- seat council are elected for a four year terrn. Parry was first elected in 1979 and is now almost haif-way tbrougb his second term. He represents a ward of about 2,500 voters in the City of Caernarfon itseif. Parry was aiso sur- prised when told that it is only this year that Durham Regional Council bas decfded to form a municipal, non- profit housing cor- poration. Arfon Borougb Councîl is probably the largest landiord in is municipality. In fact, the construc- tion and maintenance of wbat are called "council bouses" in Britian is one of local government's major responsibilities. Housing is currentiy one of tbe major issues before Arfon Council, Parry said adding that most of their council HeIp Us Celobrato Our houses were built in the early 1900's and are in desperate need of renovation. Until a few years ago, the major industry in Arfon was the quarryiflg of siate. "IWe were, at one Urne, home of some of the largest siate quarries in the world," Parry said adding that the cheaper production of siate in Spain has meant that the local economy has had to take a different empbasis. That empbasis has been found in the tourism industry. "Some people say, un- bring in some em- ployment, " he said. The other new focus of the Arfon economy, Parry added, was the production of hydro- electric energy. "The largest hydro- electric plant in Europe" is currently under construction in Parry's borough. But perhaps the two greatest differences between municipal councils in Durham and Arfon is that Arfon is of- ficially bilingual and organized along party lines. of Arfon Borough Coun- cil are English and Welsh. Parry said that simultaneous tran- slation services are available to the seven members of bis council who did not speak Welsh. These translation ser- vices operate in a man- ner simiiar to that in the Canadian House of Communs and the Senate. Parry also noted that the . neighbouring Jwynedd County Coun- CONT'D ON PG. 16 CURDS 'N WHEY FEATURING ELDORADO CHEESE SPECIALS THIS WEEK EXTRA OLO COLOURED CHEDDAR REG. 14.26 NOW 13.77 LB. MEDIUM MARBLED CHEDDAR REG. 13.77 NOW 1331 LB. N EW! 1! BEATRICE SOFT ICE CREAM REMEM BER ALL CHEESES ARE NOTALIKE IN QUALITY. WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE ELDORADO CHEESE HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR ITS QUALITY BY MANY FINE EATING ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE AREA. 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