HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1978-08-24, Page 2ttt
sidewalk.
Now we'd hate to see an innocent game of street hockey at a, time
when there's very little traffic, broken up. But many many times our' ,
kids are at risk when they play 'in 'the streets.
If the new bylaw gets them off the streets for their own good, it'll be
doing something important.
His experience
ought to help
There's an old saying that used to hound Richard Nixon - the
famous, "Would you buy a used car from this man?" It's a saying that
Frank Miller, Ontario's new provincial treasurer, has also heard on
occasion before he entered the legislature, Mr. Miller used to make his,
living selling used cars.
The used car business is credited with teaching Mr. Miller
something about survival in the real world. Survival skills are probably
the major prerequisite for anyone who_ tackles the responsibility of
handling the government's pursestrings, on either the provincial or
federal level.
In the past, finance ministers have tended to have shorter reigns
tha their counterparts in the other p tfolios. Remeber the Honorable
John Turner, the man touted as Canada's next prime minister? Well,
although his political career is hardly totally eclipsed yet, Mr.Tylner's
stint as Minister of Finance led to his withdrawal from the political
arena in order to salvage some of his popularity:
Then of course there was Donald McDonald,- another veteran
member of the House of Combo ons who decided to retire from politics
after a period of handling Canada's finances. Only time will tell
Whether Jeah Chretien will be able to survive the cabinet post any
la better than his predcessors.
On the provincial level, Darcy Mckeough has fared a little better.
The Chatham - area politician managed to survive a conflict of interest
scandal some years ago and bounced right back into politics. He was
the man most people hail- as the successor to Premier William
Davis.
In the lait two years however, even things in Canada's wealthiest
province haven't been quite so rosy. Mr. McKeough had to withdraw
his original proposal for a hefty O.H.I.P. increase -,nd the municipal
tax reform he had been advocating for some time has been temporarily
abandoned, apparently at the urging of Premier Javis.
Mr.s McKeough, who might easily have waited another decade in
the wings before William Davis steps down from Ontario's top job has
. decided to pursue his fiscal policies in the private sector.
Frank Miller. is a brave man to step into the breech. The finance
portfOlio, even for, a former car salesman, can't, help but create
headathes in these days bf inflation and c,shaky economic outlook.
If Frank Miller can survive the duties of 1 r c • -rer of Ontario, then
44 he'll prove himself a better man than rn 'he other 'veteran
politicians who have tackled the Job.
'7•771.,7r-7,77-
the "4ittron (gxvositor
Since 1860, Serving the Community First
Published at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, every Thursday morning
• by McLEAN BROS. PUBLISH RS LTD.
ANDREW. N. Md.EAN,_Publishcr
SUSAN WHITE. Editor
Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association
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SEAFORTH", ONTARIO, AUGUST 24, 1978
it's needed
All's quiet in the woods
In the years agone
Grain buyers haunt the streets in 1878
Seaforth residents were probably startled last week to read that,
with the passing of a new streets bylaw by Seaforth council, it would
hencefOrth be illegal for more than three or four of them to gather on a
street or sidewalk "so as to obstruct traffic."
Taken at its narrowest, Seaforth's new bylaw could conceivably
break up a gab feat_of five or six senior _citizens „who happen to. block
the sidewalk.
But that's not what it's for and, as is the case with many laws, we in
town have to trust that the lawn's provisions will be enforced sensibly
and fairly.
A clause by clause reading of the bylaw could give a civil libertarian
a few shivers. But according to our police chief, our mayor and many
.citizens who live downtown, Seaforth has a serious problem on Main
St. at ,night.
These authorities feel the new bylaw is absolutely necessary to give
our police power to deal with the problem. We've heard stories about
20to 40 kids congregating at the Main Corr, throwing beer bottles
and garbage, harassing those wficiTrie Iridovvntown apartments. and
swearing and jeering at passers by.
We haven't seen these incidents but we have had first hand
experience at living downtown, putting up with a heck of a lot of noise
and then calling local police and being told they can do nothing.
For the sake of the majority of citizens who don't congregate on
Main St. to disturb the peace, it's necessary that the police be able to
stop the noise and the damage.
If the law can do that, it may be a good law. If you'd like t6 study it
for yourself, bopies are available to the public in the town clerk's.
office.
That said, we have to ask why kids are loitering in mouthy angry
bunches on Seaforth streets. ,The_old. "there's nothing to do in
Seaforth" will be raised here, but parents with chores they could use
some help with, minor sports authorities who are crying forvolunteers
and homeowners who'll hire casual labour if they could find it will
diSpute that. ,
The problem would seem to be getting kids who litter through
boredom or lack of imagination and those who have work they could
do, together.
The new streets by law has other clauses that we have seen a crying
need for and we hope they'll be stirctly enforced. A quick reading , increasing congregation, the seats now The fine weather
rSoTf 24,1903
increasing made indicates that police will be able to outlaw skateboarding, reckless bike harvest
being all taken op. ' - operations easy ironz few days more, every riding and any games which are "a public nuisance" on street or
AUGUST 30, 1878
We notice in last week's Galt's Reporter
"Mr. S. Barton from many years past a
resident of this town. has left Galt to become
a reSident of Seaforth., During hiS residence
in. Galt Mr. Barton made many warm
friends, who wile earnestly rgretting that he
was leaving and hOpe that his 'step will be
one that will advance:" • -
Messrs. Robertson and Hickson shipped
.400 tubs of butter from Seaforth on
wednesday. The butter was shipped to
Montreal and was intended 'for the lower
piny inces.
' We learn with pleaSure that .the :Members
of St. Thomas Church in this town
determined to niaterially • enlarge their
present church edifice by adding to each side
an. additional wing. - This enlargment is
rendered necessary on account of the rapidly
We in Canada have lived in peace for so
long that we tend 'to take it very much for
granted. While we complain about, our
economy, .our • own national problems of
misunderstanding .1 people of Czecho-
'slovilkian heritage` this week arc remem-
bering the terror of'a mere 10 years ago. It •
was then that the brief freedoms of the
"Prague Spring" came to a .crashing halt
when the Russian tanks rolled in.
For us on this side of the Atlantic it was
one,niore sad example of the long number of
unhappy events in the history of Europe. For
those who lived through it, it was an event
that would change their lives and the history
of their country.
I have .1 friend who was among those who
was shocked that morning in August to hear
that the Russians had invaded, Through him
I think. I've conic to understand a little 'more
about the event and the tragedy that the ,
people of Czechoslavakia have gone
through.
My friend was a theatre director in one of
the smaller cities of Czechoslovakia early in
1968 when he received a telephone call from
a friend who was working with Radio
Prague. the state radio station. The friend
-told him of the exciting changes that were
taking place in the capital. The tight controls
that had existed for 20 years of Communist
rule were loosening. he said. Come to work
at Radio Prague. the friend urged, and be
part of the excitement.
My friend Jan knew all about the controls.
Even. in live theatre they were evident.
Before a play could be shown to the, public it
had to be seen and paSsed by the state
censor to make sure there wasn't anything in
it to undermine the' government, In radio
and television. there was no such thing as a
live program because live broadcasts
coUldn't be controlled. Everything was
pre-recorded so-it amid be checked by the
censor.
Jan knew something was ,going, on
differently from the norm of the last 20 years
but people outside the capital didn't know
for sure what was happening. In February
1968. 20 years to the month after the
-Communists had taken over the country.
aboOt the time Jan went to work at Radio
Prague, things began to change, Before
everything that went on air had -to be
approved from 'an antonymous secretive
room upstairs ill the building. Suddenly this
room was being ignored. More and more the
station was Switching to live broa ts,_The
radio, like the rest of the countr avas feeling
new freedOms under the relaZe government
Now the grain,'is coming into town, three
• buyers Messrs. Charters, Whenman, and
McGregor and Uryi. Liart of the Fkitiring Mill
are to be seen standing on the corners of the
streets on the .look . out. The markets are
supplied from Bayfield to Farquhar and out
to the lake. ••
The new school -house between the 10th
and lith concession in Tuckermsmith is now
completed. The services of Miss Reid, a lady
fmni Montreal, has been obtained as teacher
and she is to be congratulated on having
such a neat and comfortable school in which
to begin her labours at Hensall.
Farmers generally in TuckerSmith
Township are very much diSappointed about
their spring wheat this -season. Fall wheat
and oafs yield well but peas and' barley are
light crop. •
farmer will 'be happy threshing operations
will 'be the order of the day.
The entrance to Normal School ex-
aminations were too difficult for many of the
pupils- who 'attend our continuation, school
and many of these students ,,are old enough
to learn a trade or try housework.
Oat cutting is finished at Chiselhurst and
hte farmers are now drawing in,
• Most of th,e local farmers. have finished
cutting -their grain at Constance and
threshing is the order of the day.-
Harvesting in the Kippen diStrict is in full
swing, the warm sultry weather having:
ripened the oats quickly.
A large- number of young fellows left
Hensel! on Thursday morning on 'the
harvesting excursion for the west, where
they will assist in the bumper crop out there.
Mrs: G. T. Turnbull of town was hostess to
a Trousseau tea at her home, in "fionor of her
oldest daughter.Ella Wanless. Mrs. Turnbull
received, assisted by Mrs. Holiday of
Stratford, the various rooms were in charge
, of Misses Jean Murray, Mary Laing, Anne
and Jean Goverilock..
A month ago the town disposed of the Big
Flour Mill which had not been in operation
for several years to the Wolverton Flour
Mills of St. Marys. The Mill is now working'
night and day. '
0.n Wednesday of this week the Sandford
building, the• large 3-story brick, factory on
Main Street, was purchased by the Pure
Foods Products Company of London who will
operate the plant very shortly.
On Labor Day, Sept, 3', the
100th anniversary, of the opening of the
Huron Tract and the building of the Huron
Road from Stratford to Goderich will be
celebrated by all the towns and villages on
this road between and including these two
centres.
AUGUST 31,1928
Miss Helen Davidson of Brucefield left
Monday to attend the Westervelt School in
'London.
The simple words "Thank you" meansa
whole lot to 'the persons to whom they arc
spoken especially if those people have done
their utmost to help neighbours in times of
disaster or trouble.
. To my way of thinking two such people are
Bill and Ruth Mott and their children Lynda
and Jim at Family Paradise Park.
Bill and Ruth never say no to any 'appeal
for help especially when a barn or other
building is burning and the Fire Department
needs to 'draw water 'from their ponds The
chief of the Fire Department has expressed
his appreciation but I wonder about those,
whose buildings were destroyed? I wouldn't
expect the owners to say thank you at the
time 'of the loss, perhaps, but when the
ashes have cooled I know a telephone call or
While attending "Lloyd Eisler Jr. Night"
this past spring, I . oyerheard many
comments which indicated displeasure with
the present P.A. system at the - Seaforth
Arena. One would have thought that most of
the people dissatisfied with the sound and
lighting at the arena would have gladly
contributed to an event which would raise
funds to upgrade these two facilites.
With numerous and conflicting social
events scheduled during the summer,
perhaps there are people who are unable to
attc,1 some events, but who nevertheless
The Cromarty Church which has beep
going under remodelling is ,nearing com-
pletion.
Messrs. Cliff Smith, 'Adrian Hogg, 'Jack
Hulley, Bill Roe, Tim Eaton, Joseph Broom,
Donald Calder left on a harvest excursion to
the west.
R. McClaren of near Hensall has disposed
of his show road mare to W.J. Roberts of
Fordwich.
•
Messrs. A. and , J. Broadfoot, the well
known horse breeders of Tuckersmith
Township suffered a heavy loss when their
registered 'Clydesdale died at the farm.
She's one of the finest brood mares in 'the
country. „
AUGUST 28, 1953
One of the best hockey players to emerge
from Seaforth teams-in recent years, Gar
Baker, 20, son of Mr. and mrs. Albert Baker ,
of town leaves his home ground this week for
Perth, Scotland where he will join the Perth
Panthers for a season of competition in
Scotish professional league. Saturday
evening a farewell party was given in his
honor at the home of Mrs. Wlaker Hart of
Tuckersmith where some 30 friends
gathered to spend a social eveninewith him. '
He was, presented with a black' Gladstone
bag.
Following a meeting Of, the Seaforth
Agricultural Society, it was learned that the
local Turf Club had join forces with the
society and will now be known as the
Seaforth Agriculture Society and Driving •
Club.
The other day at-John. Shanahan,;s farm in
Hullett, Alec Morris threshed 700 bushels of
wheat in five hours.
Mr. Stephen Lamb has disposed of his
lumber yard to Messrs. Cluff and sons of
the Seaforth Sash and Door Factory.
Amice strong spring of fresh water has
been struck in the well bored at the big mill
here at a depth of 82 feet,
a card to Bill and Ruth yvould be well
received.
When Bill and Ruth host a reception for
any occasion, or open their facilities for a
"benefit do", then I feel very strongly that
those who are the beneficiaries-either forget
or don't know enough to say thank you for
the time and effort put into preparing for and
hosting the event.
This is not just hearsay--I have been
present at some of these events, and was
disappointed when no word of appreciation
was spoken to them.
Come on everyone, let us all brush up on.
our manners and show Bill, Ruth, Lynda and
Jim that we do appreciate their efforts and
that we are happy they live in this
community.
. Yours truly,
An Interested Bystander
would like to contribute to worthwhile
projects such as these. I do hope that this is
the case concerning the cancellation of the
Dancethon..
• I would ask Madam • Editor that you
forward the. enclosed $50 to the reereation
office as a contribution to a new sound and
lighting system at the Seaforth Arena.
Name witheld by request
EDITOR'S NOTE: Anyone else who would
Me to contribute to the campaign 'for a new
P.A. and lights can forward donations to
Seaforth recreation director Clive Buist.
13ehind the scenes
by Keith Roulston
What we take for grante
• • •
of Alexander Dubcck, It went 'that way
through ,'the 'spring and summer as the
freedom grew and the unease of the Soviet
Union grew,
The Warsaw Pact countries were partic-
ipating in military manoeuvres., in Czecho-
slovakia that summer but when they ended.
instead of going home as planned, the troops
didn't leave. They kept making excuses for
not going back to their respective countries.
Then 011 'August 21, they moved in. All
night. Jan recalls, you could hear the drone
of huge aircraft landing troops and tanks in
the city: In the morning the tanks were in the
streets.
The Russians, despite their opportunity•to
plan the invasion, were ill prepared. One. of
their first objectives was to silence !Radio
Prague so it couldn't rally the people to fight
the invasion. But they mistook a nearby
museum for the Radio Prague building and
opened fire on it instead. When they did find
the right building and capture it there was
no one present who knew anything about ,a
radio station so instead of simply shutting
the station down, the soldiers put it out of
commission by shooting up the control
panels with machine guns.
They didn't succeed so easily .in putting
the station off 'the air however, because Jan
and'his .friends went on transmitting with
portable equipment. moving whenever the
soldiers were able to locate their station.
They were helped by Czech soldiers. lie
slept at night with his back window open to
, be ready to escape if the soldiers or police,
knocked on the door. Finally he decided the
time to escape had come and he crossed the
border to Austria and came eventually to
Canada to a new life as a shop owner.
His was just one of thousands of stories
that came out of that exciting and perilous
time in Czechoslovakia. Many like Jan
escaped to Canada and other western
countries. Some Of the leaders of the era
stayed behind to try to worrfor improve-
ment within the country. Many could expect
to suffer. All now must live knowing they
must always be wary of what they say, what
they do, even what they might tell their
frieyends s.w
we in Canada have our troubles, but
at least we have the freedom to be able to
complain ab9ut them. The evils that we
attribute to our politiolans can at leait be
said in public without fear that we'll end up
in prison for what we say. Even with
unemployment, even with national disunity,
would any of us change places with people in
Czechoslovakia?
•
To the editor:
Family deserves a thank you
Let's get a new PA