WEBSTER HAD THE ANWSERS

One of my favorite names from the past was the strongly opinionated
master of talk radio and television, Jack Webster.

In the '70s, Webster worked out of 12 Water Street in Gastown, doing a
radio show for CJOR.

Webster said "crime was long the mainstay of my reporting."

Webster knew dozens of junkies, pimps, burglars, small-time hoods and
other rounders.

"Their picaresque exploits made marvelously entertaining material for
television and radio," Webster said. "The stories of their lives
provide a clearer picture of what is happening in a city than the
boosterish twaddle usually provided by local politicians or the
chamber of commerce."

Webster never failed to amaze me as he spoke fluently in his Scottish
brogue on every subject brought to the table.

On Nov. 11, 1974, he addressed the rising tide of drug addiction and
trafficking in B.C. He clearly laid out the facts.

B.C. had a minimum of 10,000 heroin and cocaine users.

"If we continue as we are, in five or 10 years we will be supporting
an addict population of anything from 50,000 to 200,000," Webster said.

"We must make a moral decision against the use of alcohol, tobacco and
hard and soft drugs. If we don't, we are faced with the social
disposal of human garbage. I suggest there are no magic wands, but we
must have a three-pronged attack: enforcement, treatment and education."

Webster felt strict law enforcement against importation and
distribution of all forms of drugs - hard or soft - was needed.

He proposed amending the Bail Reform Act immediately, and denying bail
to all charged with trafficking in drug cases, but providing the
speediest of trials.

He spoke about direct indictment to the high court in all
drug-trafficking cases, and special year-round courts with no long
summer vacations, as well as life sentences with no parole for all
couriers and traffickers who are themselves non-users.

Webster even devised a treatment plan that involved voluntary
registration of heroin and cocaine addicts. After a period of 90 days,
authorities would have the power to apprehend and detain suspected
hard drug users for testing and treatment.

Compulsory treatment of the two definable groups: new addicts, and
confirmed addicts.

If after release an addict commits a drug offence, this would call for
return for compulsory treatment for an indefinite period subject only
to a yearly review.

I particularly agreed with Webster on his educational options. He felt
school programs should be shaped accordingly, but felt - most
important of all - there must be education by adult example. He wanted
to see a moral restructuring of the educational system from elementary
to university level with the removal of all drug permissive influences.

Webster was always driving home the importance of contacting the local
MP and MLA, and making sure they were dealing with the issues at hand.

Jack Webster died March 2,1999, but will always be remembered for his
wonderful contribution and amazing foresight of the problems we still
have today.

Frank Fourchalk writes bi-weekly on home and business security for The
Peace Arch News.