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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1961-02-23, Page 2Since 1860, Serving the Community First ' Published at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, every Thursday morning by McLEAN BROS., Publishers ANDREW Y. McLEAN, Editor Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association, Ontario :s Weekly Newspapers Association, Audit Bureau of Circulations 4 Subscription Rates: ; . V Canada (in advance) $2.50 a Year 4. p Outside Canada (in advance) $3.50 a Year SINGLE COPIES —. 5 CENTS EACH Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department. Ottawa SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, FEBRUARY 23, 1961 By -Law Problem Seaforth is not the only town that experiences difficulty in enforcing its by-laws. In a recent issue the Kin- cardine News laments the fact that so many by-Iaws in that town are created only to be ignored. It is interesting to note that the by- laws providing the most difficulty m enforcement in Kincardine are the same by-laws which are most in de- fault here. They cover two-hour parking, overnight parking, and dogs running at large. By-laws are passed to govern cer- tain conditions, the Kincardine paper says, and they must either be enforc- ed or sanction given for them to be disregarded. "We realize that councillors are busy men and that to take time to consolidate town by-laws is not an easy task. By the same token, and we mean no, disparagement to those charged with their observance or en- - forcement, we doubt if the average citizen or the police realize how many by-laws are on the town books, the Kincardine paper comments, and - goes on to advance suggestions it feels would result in more satisfac- tory enforcement. "For this reason we think examina- tion of them by the council, with dis- card or revision of outmoded regula- tions would be a forward step. "In their discussion of by-laws not being enforced, some councillors made reference to the parking by- law. Under it p.rking period is lim- ited to two hours. No one has paid any attention to it for a protracted period. Now it is being enforced. As a consequence, the main street has a deserted appearance. . "We think it foolhardy to enforce this by-law in mid -winter and equal- ly foolish to disregard it in the sum- mer months. "Would it not be reasonable to have the by-law in effect for the per - s Are General iod during which daylight saving time prevails and let it go by the boards the rest of the year ? "Traffic is not heavy at this time of the year and parking space is not at a premium, as it is in the slimmer months. "It is no secret that the principal offenders, including the writer, are people in business in the town. At the same time, we have noted that these people do their best in the busy sea- son to find parking off the main street so as to make space available for visi- tors and for district people wishing to shop here. "We must face the fact that streets were constructed so that traffic could move from one place to another, not to provide parking space for car drivers. We know of few people who need to park longer than the regula- tory time in one space. "Another by-law under discussion is that prohibiting overnight parking on town streets during the winter months. This is not ait unreasonable measure, inasmuch as no one knows on what occasion snow plow equip- ment may be called out to clear ac- cumulated drifts. This is a difficult and hazardous task when cars dot the thoroughfares of the town.. "Perhaps the by-law most flagrant- ly disregarded is that governing dogs running at large. In its present terms it extends over the entire year and is almost impossible to enforce. This, we feel, should be taken into consid- eration by the council. "If the measure were strictly en- forced during the springtime plant- ing and growing period, we do not see any crying need for it to be in effect the remainder of the year. "So, we suggest that by-Iaws be prepared and administration carried out on the basis of common sense. That would go a long way to Solve the problems which have arisen and which will continue to arise." Scouting Develops C i This is National Scout Week. It is an occasion when we can pause for a moment and give consideration to the contributions which Scouting makes to Canada through its pro- gram for Canadian youth. The original concept of the Scout movement has of course spread to encompass the Wolf Cubs and Brown- ies for those from 8 to 12, and the Scouts and Girl .Guides for those from 12 to 18. Boy Scouts first appeared in Can- ada in 1908, and today the movement has spread to 99 countries of the world and includes 5,000,000. The to- tal Canadian membership including boys and adult leaders is more than 300,000 in the Scouts alone. The aim_ of the Scout movement is anadian Youth to develop in the young boy a cheer- ful, resourceful, good\ neighbor type of character, the practice of good health habits and a hobby -handicraft nterest that may help him find his niche in life. This community is fortunate in that it has an active Scout troop and Cub pack. These are the latest in a long series of similar groups which have carried the Scout banner through several generations of Seaforth youth since the first Scout group was formed here more than forty years ago. Scout Week, too, is an occasion when we can think of the contribu- tion which those who devote their time as leaders make to a better youth. They deserve a heartfelt thank -you for a job well done. "flat,yyur business needs is a well -(Manned advertising campaign! . . t'i'ff,;` e"a nm full page ads in the national magazines, followed by a heavy radio Ana ry spot commercials, then we'll follow up with . . pillimmlloguiffinimmiliummassolumommommunnumanwminnuatem SUGAR and SPICE mow By Bill Smiley It isn't that I'm scared of my wife. It's just that she makes me nervous. As I daresay yours does you. And yours you. For exam- ple, last week, we had to make a trip to the city, Young Kim couldn't come. With some other piano pupils, she was making her radio debut on Saturday morning on the local radio station. Both of us had to go, so we organized a baby sitter and left without small daughter. We plan- ned to hear her performance on the road over the car radio. There was the usual confusion. Our car radio either goes off when we hit a bump, or suddenly emits a great blast of music, when we don't ev- en know it's witched on. We weren't sure we'd be able to get the program. My wife dithered. I reassured, A familiar pattern. The program came through loud and clear. Our stomachs started to churn with that sick feeling, as the announcer introduced the chil- dren's numbers. Each played beau- tifully, Finally, he stated, as calm- ly as anything, that Kim Smiley would now play an etude. We all turned and grinned triumphantly at each other. Kim sailed into her piece, play- ed a couple of bars, then stopped abruptly. There was a silence of about three seconds, during which I could distinctly hear the pulse in 'my wife's temple, hammering over the roar of the car's engine, Then the child attacked the piano again, and finished the piece cred- itably enough. But it was too late, * * * The Old Lady was so mad and .disappointed that she wouldn't speak for forty miles. Just sat there like Lot's wife, glaring straight ahead, tears of rage cours- ing slowly down her stony counten- ance, Hugh and I nervously tried songs, jokes, funny stories, and pointing at the new factories. Noth- ing doing. I have related this incident merely to explain that you don't pull any boners around our house, and expect to have them laughed off. That's why I had a few tense weeks over the tickets. I gave them to her for Christmas. She's a classical music enthusiast, and our son is studying piano at the Conservatory, so at considerable expense I organized tickets for two outstanding concerts this winter, She was delighted with the gift. * * * After exclaiming over m y thoughtfulness, she put them in her purse, six reserved seat tick- ets. "Here," I said in a bluff, man- ly fashion, "you'd better let me keep those. You're Iiable to Iose them." She's always leaving her purse at the movies, or at some- body's house, or in Toronto. So I put them in my hip pocket. where I carry all the things, I don't want to lose. * * * Well, a couple of days later, I was changing my pants, and of course that entailed transferring the contents of my hip pocket. Yep. No tickets. In the intervening forty-eight hours we'd visited a lot of people, wandered about in snow to our knees, and generally cover- ed a lot of territory. At first. I was alarmed, but not unduly so. I searched my trousers carefully. 1 checked all the bureau drawers. I explored my wallet thoroughly, I began going through all the pock- ets of all my clothes. No tickets. I didn't have the nerve to say a word, of course. I checked with all the people we had visited. I searched our luggage. I combed the house from attic to cellar, pre- tending I was checking the insula- tion or something. NO tickets. Fin- ally. I began to panic. The next few weeks were a whirlwind of long-distance calls, frantic letter - writing and middle -of -the -night soul-searching. * * * As thb deadline neared, the pres- sure built up. By this time I was ripping the lining out of my clothes. I had turned my wallet inside out so often that I had found a num- / ', ,.af 1 liti-0,1° ' I; IP' '.././/,/// e►1Y i 7 'I //7 (7 I fit 1// 1 CANADA F0All.,..W(E, C4l(A5, CQE DS swhllmll ber of important documents, miss- ing for years. But no tickts. * * * The day of the first concert ar- rived. Hugh and his mum were making big plans. Drive to the city, have a nice dinner, and drive home, 180 miles in sub -zero wea- ther, but worth it. I agreed, with a sickly smile, I was praying I'd have a heart attack, or that the first Russian missile would fall. I went out to get gas and oil checked in the car. I tried to ram a couple of types on the way home, but they dodged me. At last, after six weeks of mounting hor- ror, the moment of truth arrived. * * * She was tearing around the house, doing those last-minute things, and crying instructions to Kim and me. I slipped into the kitchen, took a big belt out of the medicinal bottle of brandy, em- erged, put on my most humble look, and told her I had a terrible confession to make. She thought it was about a woman, so immedi- ately sat down, all ears. * * * "I've lost the tickets," I blurt- ed. "What tickets?" "The tickets for the concert to- night, and the other concert next month." "What in the world are you talk- ing about? They're in my purse, I took them out of your hip pocket the day after Christmas, because I knew you'd lose them." I didn't know whether to slay her with the nearest blunt object, or run screaming into the frozen wastes outside. I compromised and took another big slug of brandy be- foreI started to sob uncontrollably from sheer relief. As I say, it isn't that I'm scared of my wife. it's just that she makes me nervous. (Prepared by the Research Staff of Encyclopedia Canadiana) What Was the Grand Voyer? The Grand Voyer was an official appointed by the Crown in the colony of New France, prior to the British conquest. He and his depu- ties supervised the roads and bridges in the colony, The Gtrand Voyer's organization was retained by the British in Lower Canada until 1832, when it was abandoned in favor of municipal responsibil- ity. >r• * Did Canada Have Turnpikes? Yes. the first turnpike in the country was established under an act passed in Lower Canada in 1805. ' This means of providing roads soon became very popular throughout Upper and Lower Can- ada. The turnpikes, which origin- ated in France and England, got their name from the long pole. studded with pikes, that blocked the entrance to the highway. When. the traveller had paid the toll, the gate was turned out of the way. Toll roads were widespread in Can- ada during the first half of the 19th century. Some of them sur- vived into the 20th century. * * Who Was One of Papineau's Grandsons? Henri Bourassa, for nearly thirty years the leader of the Nationalists in Quebec, an outstanding political figure in French Canada and one of its most distinguished orators. Azelie, a daughter of Louis Joseph Papineau, one of the leaders of French Canada at the time of the Rebellion of 1837, became the wife of Napoleon Bourassa, painter, architect and writer, in 1857. Their son Henri, born in 1868, was to be- come the stormy figure of provin- cial and federal polities between his first election to the House of Commons in 1896 and his final de- feat in 1935. Bourassa died in Mon- treal in 1952. Once when he returned from a European trip Mark Twain became somewhat miffed at a customs offi- cial who was poking through his trunk. "Must you make such a mess of things?" asked the author. " I told you I have only my clothes in there." Suddenly the official straighten- ed up, a bottle of Scotch whiskey in his hand. "You call this 'clothes'?" he said. "Of course," replied Twain. "That is my nightcap." It's the LAW "Every motor vehicle and ev- ery trailer shall be equipped with mudguards or fenders or other device adequate to re- duce effectively the wheel spray or splash of water from the roadway to the rear there- of . " A penalty of not more than $5.00 for a first offence,. and up to ,$25.00 for subsequent of- fences together with suspen- sidn .of license, is provided up- on conviction. REV. ROBERT 11. HARPER IN THE LINE Having watched on TV a number of football games, including sev- eral bowl games, I have been thrilled at the exploits of the stars who seemed to be shod with flame as they twisted and turned in and out of reach of clutching bands, to cross the goal. But let me not for- get the man who "threw a block" and upended some fellow before he crossed the line. And the men in the line who dug into the earth and kept another star from going a yard more to score. How like all of life is a gridiron! It seems natural and easy to ap- plaud the man who calls the light- ning to his aid and gains the goal. But as the men in the line who often prepare the way for a fleet runner, so some often profit by the labors of a host of their fellows. So here's appreciation of and praise for the men who prepare the way for others to win the prize, Without detracting from the glory of the stars, who see daylight and fly through it, let us also yell for the men who throw the block and open a way for the fellow with the fireshod heels. Just a Thought: Sometimes, when we do a good turn for a neighbor, or casually lend a hand to someone in need, we discover that we have actually done something for ourself as well. Who Collected 35,000 Birk Skins? Percy AIgernon Taverner, one of Canada's greatest naturalists. Born at Guelph, Ont., in 1875, he was ed- ucated in Port Huron and at Ann Arbor, Mich. Between 1900 and 1910 he worked as an architect in Chicago and Detroit, but spent an increasing portion of his time studying birds. In Detroit he form- ed the first bird -banding organiza- tion in North America, In 1911 he joined the staff of the National Museum in Ottawa as an ornitho- logist and began his visits to re- mote areas of Canada in search of specimen$, Taverner built up a unique study collection of 35,000 bird skins. On his retirement in 1942 he was appointed honorary curator of birds at the museum. He was the author of Birds of Can- ada (1935), the standard work in its field; Canadian Land Birds (1939); and .Canadian Water Birds (1939). His books enjoyed a wide popularity and were illustrated with pen -and -ink drawings by him- self and color plates by Allan Brooks and Frank Hennessey. He died in Ottawa in 1947. "What happened to- that dopey blonde your husband used to go out with before be married you?" "I quit bleaching my hair," A McDUFF OTTAWA REPORT THE PAINFUL CURE Over the violent objection of the Conservative opposition, the Lib- eral Government in 1951 abolished resale price maintenance, the es- tablishment of retail selling prices by manufacturers. As a result of amendments intro- duced by the Conservative Govern- ment last year, a form of resale price maintenance has been re- established—but it wears a neat disguise. The net effect is that if a re- tail store sells a certain product for less than the minimum price stipulated by the manufacturer, his supplies can be cut off. Abolition of resale price main- tenance 10 years ago .was design- ed to introduce a new element of competition into the whole system of marketing consumer goods. In the process it aggravated another problem. That is loss-leadering, the ill-defined practice of selling goods at or below cost. Following the legislation prices of a wide variety of goods ranging from cigarettes to appliances came tumbling -down. Some of the large supermarket chains began selling such items as cigarettes below cost in an effort to attract customers for their other more profitable line of goods, Discount houses began springing up across the country, creating a very special problem. Operating usually in a self -serve basis in cheap and often shabby premises, they had low overhead costs and relied on high volume sales to produce a good profit. Some were using brand products as loss -leaders, selling film, anti- freeze and small appliances such as toasters and electric kettles to draw business, selling them at cost or even at a loss. Others sold the same articles on a small markup over their costs, but as a result of heavy sales often sold enough to make a good return. • Asa. result of this intense com- petition, many dealers who norm- ally handled these .products were forced to slash their own prices. Many more of them dropped the products completely because of their inability to compete. Their moans and groans reached all the way to Ottawa, where they were heard with sympathy by Justice Minister Davie Fulton. Last session the Minister intro- duced amendments to the ,.Com- bines legislation designed to elim- inate loss -leader selling. The amendments provide that no manufacturer is guilty of resale price maintenance if he refuses to supply a retailer whom he has rea- son to believe was making a prac- tice of using articles he produced as loss -leaders, "that is to say, not for the purpose of making a profit thereon, but for purposes of adver- tising." Previously the onus was on the manufacturer to prove that he was not refusing to supply goods to a retailer because the latter leciin- ed to sell them at the suggested list price. Now the onus has been shifted to the retailer, who must prove that the manufacturer did not have reasonable cause to be- lieve he was loss -leading as a regu- lar practice. With the passage of the legisla- tion, the eleetrioal appliance manu- facturers rushed into print new pricing guides. Both General Elec- tric and Sunbeam, for example, published a minimum price at which they considered an efficient retailer could sell their products profitably. "We propose to examine prices below this range to determine whe- ther such prices constitute loss, leading and therefore provide cause for withholding of merchan- dise under the amendments to Sec. tion 34" (General Electric said). How did the dppliance manufac- turers determine how great a mark-up was required by the re- tailer to cover his costs and pro- vide a reasonable profit? What is a reasonable profit? It turns out that they based their minimum profitable resale price by asking a wide range of dealers what kind of mark-up they requir, ed and striking some sort of aver- age. They never did inquire what a reasonable profit amounted to. They left that to the discretion of the dealer. That many of those in the dis- count business can sell for less and still make a profit is patently ob. vious. If one retailer marks up a certain product by $4,00 and sells 10 articles in a day, he has gross- ed $40, If another marks the pro- duct up only $2.00 but sells 50, he. has grossed $100. That is the whole theory behind the profitable opera, tion of, the discount house, just as it is the theory behind the econom- ies of mass production. That the minimum mark-up re, quired to cover costs and provide a reasonable return—whatever that may be—for an efficient retailer is very much a matter of judgment is illustrated by experience. Gen- eral Electric has set the minimum within a range of 20 to 25 per cent of the selling price (it works out to a lot more when calculated as a percentage markup from the cost to the retailer.) Sunbeam offi- cials have set the minimum pro- fitable selling price for the retail- er at 15 per cent. The appliance manufacturers are primarily interested in maintaining prices in order to establish as wide distribution as possible, since in this: -way they consider they obtain the greatest volume of sales. At the same time, however, they are unable to demonstrate in any way that their sales have been adverse- ly affected since resale price main- tenance was wiped out in 1951. Loss -leader sales undoubtedly do present a problem which perhaps should be attacked, Many a Cana- dian consumer might legitimately conclude, however, that the Gov- ernment has adopted a cure which is far worse than the disease. The effect of the legislation is that the little guy (the local re- tailer—big buyers like department stores will no doubt be treated circumspectly by the manufactur- ers) has to prove that the big guy (the manufacturer) when he cut the little guy off had no reason to believe the little guy was making a practice of using the manufac- turer's articles as loss -leaders. It is pretty Clear that by the time the little guy proves that, if he can, he will be out of business. IN THE YEARS AGONE Interesting items gleaned from The Huron Expositor of 25, 50 and 75 years ago. From The Huron Expositor February 14, 1936 The S.C.I. Alumni Association has chosen "Meet Uncle Sally" as its next play, and rehearsals will commence shortly, Mr. John Foster, of the Babylon Line, two miles from Zurich, who is now 85, walks daily over snow - filled roads to the village. In the summer he rides'a bicycle, and his health is perfect. Mr, and Mrs. August Wankel celebrated their 50th wedding an- niversary at their home on Gode- rich St. West, Seaforth. The 36th annual At -Home of the Huron Old Boys' Association of To- ronto will be held in Columbus Hall, Toronto, on Friday. Members of the Seaforth coun- cil, who had not previously taken the oath of allegiance to King Ed- ward VIII, were sworn in prior to the council meeting Monday eve- ning. The. young people of Cromarty are enjoying the new rink .great- ly, the severe weather being fav- orable for skating. So far the- weather shows no signs of abating. This is the long- est cold spell in the memory of old residents for years. At the January session of Huron County Council a motion was made that Canon -Appleyard, of Seaforth, be the county representative at the University of Western Ontario for 1936-38. The Golden Links Mission Band, of Constance, held their meeting on Saturday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Frank Riley. MMr�s. E. L Beet underwent an opetation for appendicitis in Scott Memorial Hospital on Monday. A number of young apple trees planted out last spring by Mr, Con Eckert have been completely de- stroyed by rabbits, which have eaten all the branches, and' even the bark. From The Huron Expositor February 11, 1911 The 300th anniversary of the translation of the Bible was held' in Brucefield Presbyterian Church on Sabbath last. Robert Watson, of Brucefield, is preparing timber to build his barn. The cement foundation Vas built during the summer. La grippe, with all its terrors, attacked a number of natives. Messrs. McLennan' and Broad - foot, who have been conducting the Commercial Hotel here for the past two or three years, have dissolved partnership and in the future the business will be conducted by Alex McLennan,. Scott' Mr. s •fhnarm PowellInilihasarpurh.lease ey, whichd Dr, Jo Mr. Silas Eyre is leaving. Mr. Harry Spear° ,its taken a position as cutter in the clothing factory. Mrs. William Finlayson• bas sold her comfortable house in Egmond- ville to Mr. Joseph Fisher, of the 10th concession of Tuckersmith. On Tuesday evening the Sons of Scotland played the return game of carpet ball with the United Workman, in the Oddfellows' Hall, defeating the "Works." Mr. Richard Robinson, of Mc- Killop, called on us the other day to pay his 40th subscription to The Huron Expositor. The town council were asked to take immediate action towards put- ting some kind of alarm or watch- man or some sort of protection at the railway crossing on Main St, to protect life when crossing. Miss Ruth C. VanEgmond, daugh- ter of Mr. W. D. VanEgmond, Sea - forth, and her assistants in a de- bate, won the championship in Jarvis St. Collegiate Institute, To- ronto. The male members of the 20th Century Bible Class of the Metho- dist Church, Seaforth, entertained the lady members last Tuesday night in the basement of the church. ' There is pretty fair sleighing, al- though it is a little icy in places. On Monday Mr. James Scott, of Cromarty, delivered to Messrs. Coursey and Reid, of Lucan, an exr tra good team of horses, for which he received the sandsome sum of $700. 4s From The Huron Expositor February 12, 1886 Mr. J. G. Dorrance, who has been an assistant in the Canadian bank of Commerce here for many years, has resigned his position and intends going to the I.iforthwest in the spring to push his fortunes. At the last meeting of the Pub- lic School Board, Mr. John Camp - boll was elected chairman. Messrs. McIntosh and Swan, of Brucefield, have leased the prem- ises in this town lately occupied by the late Mr. Houghton, and, have opened a sales stable, where they buy and sell all kinds of horses. The ladies of the Women's For- eign Missionary Society in connec- tion with First Presbyterian Church, Seaforth, have engaged Rev. Mr. Ball, of London, to de- liver his lecture on Tuesday eve- ning. Mr. Edward Latimer, who is well and favorably known to the people of this town and vicinity, has de. cided to open a shoe store in the premises recently vacated by Mr, John Way. Seaforth won an easy victory in the skating race in Clinton between Seaforth. Cornyn and Wingham. Mr. Donald McIntyre has started business on his own account in the boot and shoe line in the prem. ises adjoining those formerly oc. cupied by Mr. John McIntyre. An effort is being made to have the Seaforth High School transform- ed into a Collegiate Institute. The recent thaw has been hard on the. sleighing, and if it con. tinues for a day or two longer will completely "destroy it. Mr. John McDowell, of the 4th dtrpcession of McKillop, is getting in the stones and other material for the erection of a large bank barn during the coming season. The firmen's ball on Friday eve, ning last was a splendid success, There were about 150 couples pres- ent, and ail had a,splendul• time. A number of Hensel' skaters at- tended the carnival in Seaforth rink with M. McPherson carrying off the silver medal for the three- mile race. Jim: " "How's your virus cold?" Jask: "Boy, I'm so full of peni- cillin and vitamins that every time I sneeze I cure somebody." "I've changed my mind." "Thank heavees! Does it work any better now?" Last year the Canadian Junior Red Cross exceeded its objective of $150,000 to help refugee children. I BMW MAY BY LLOYD BIRMINGHAM HERE'S HOW DAD MADE THE *HEATING ELEMENT REPAIR- FISLOT THREE C-'1, QUALERTERS EPMR- QUARTERS THROWN f e z A SHINGLE NAIL„ I COT OFF SECTION / ! Ctt4 ENDS Of I I BROKEN ELEMENT. f ' IN SLOT OTiOP N NSERT. ENNANO oA 'CLOSE twuriuo. EiPillti M