HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-04-09, Page 2Published at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO every Thursday morning by
M4.040, Bros. Publishers Ltd
Andrew Y. McLean, Publisher
Susan White. Ednor
Alice Gibb. News Editor
Whistling swans are hack Photo by Gibb
Needed. Canadian constitutiona compromise
liuton fxpositor
Since 1,90, Serving the Community first at large
In. the years 4vone
trent J.Innes A. Stewart.
Thompson's Book Store for 45 years has
been a familiar aed popular store on
Scaforth's Main Street. Purchased in 1911
front the, Winter's estate, the business has
been owned and operated by. theJate W.T.
Thompson and his sister Mabel Thompson.
Mrs. Reta Smith. 2 . of R.R. 1. Dublin and
Bobby Smith Zurich, narrowly escaped
drowning late Monday afternoon when the
truck in which they were riding plunged oft a
)fridge into the Tiftcy r, vcr. rhe accident
occurred .about one mile south. of Dublin.
TwIrth4ertc:_brpeoviiresswer:itap;t1 Tie11ifrni.tuthoi4kbe icy .,,v;ky3ut...rs
fr
veop" '6.rinver -Orty, wits givelt•
".%
527-0240
S'EAN#OfiTil; APRIA, 9, 1981
A budget for pro ess
It's not quite the Easter gift that town council gave Seaforth taxpayers
last year (a tax cut) but the 1981 budget provides for a very reasonable
increase in what we shell out to. run our town.
In fact, as Clerk Jim Crocker mentioned, taxpayers twill be' paying
about the same (a little less if-anything) as we did two years ago, on our
19/9 tax bills. That, in these days of - inflation, is a remarkable
achievement.
We can't compare taxes here to those in other towns as we . haven't
seen their budget figures yet. From past research though we know that
'Seaforth hasn't been the cheapest. place. in the. county to live. The fact
that there's been no increase in taxes -here since 1979 should be a real
boost to Seaforth's position when it competes Wi Cher .county towns for
new industry and residents.
Town auditors said at budget night that Many municipalities would b• e.
thrilled to be in Seaforth's excellent financial shape. They attributed that
shape to clerk Jim Crocker who Continually supplies council with.tip-top,
up-to-date input for ,decision making.' And from -what we see of town
operations, we agree.
• But credit too goes to the current council which has the courage to
support institutions like the nursery school (which has been doing a great
deal of its own fundraising.) By faking a progressive stand and providing
a grant and loan that will allow the school, which makes a tremendous
contribution to the lives of the area's children and their parents, to stay
open, council lines itself, up' with. the forges of the future. (Unlike
McKillop council which refused to help the nursery School and instead'
trotted out arguments that shpw its thinking is firmly and stubbornly,
rooted •in the past.)
Another prcigressive position in Mayor „John Sinnamon's budget
speech sees the tOWn-donating $2;000, and advancing more which will be
repaid, for new chairs and tables at the arena. The move is a co-operative
venture between the municipality and area groups which use the arena: .--
.
the same type of co-operation which' got the arena built in post-war
Seaforth in the first place.
As the mayor said "One quality of town life that I believe is the envy of
'-•• larger centres is the participation of its citizens. We do not naturally sit
around withour-hands out waiting for government help. We go out and
do it ourselves."
Member Canedian Community Newspaper A4sogiotten. Ontario Weekly
Newspepor Association and Audit Bureau al Circulation
-44incx 1131tOrli mice
C.an4titt*164,yeat (r6 advence)
tialh109, Gpadh,40. ;it year (in iidvartetiti
Slrtglda Ceples:- 40.cents.each
1/4644.41411'reglargliOrl ati?rt0-‘f 0400 '
4
:':Junit:',NNuci,o, of.•,. it.1.4.3t.eittliliaN.LONliiiWit . Scaforth Junitirt at niers.; wit)) 479 popits ' ,--Me, „,i1:114 halt's, :.:0.00 $14trin on T vf,c4ity.
„.of his•hatidstm me I lit 0 Nvlit,iito:A:atriAg42.,:, ;At:, Amt. s.,,,,,,.0-prtit . ,10410 1441.40., tvitly 5.'V , ok:el11,4.:bY 4141401i),$9i,40-'..Rig,n4:'"lt $.5 `, '
isi a 'watts:man 'wit's.' At t it ant, llir ..t. :good • .,”' peitt(S'cled Harem .0nraits, in 'h ,epotest --Tut ' Nkli,10.'1"-Uekin§M.111.1°. pstott pelt dep,erlhfre'.
tounif lignit. Th s wit %Nits trOnsith.n141 V/,' ds:lt.'ciatiaw 0F,-itutsV' 4rnzitottly.' opetared L0.-Illkir. WI hollW 40 ..r!litgl`tri.•
comp,. te al not semen to he a ,p4.rteettype of ,, clubs ie.,' the H.titau 2 tenor ' .Fartiters ' %.1,s1t.oi,.. -t.!* , wyek,...' with Mrs- ',Jesqlfh ,, '
. tilt- ,..,...ii% '1,1s.,.. 01,3 %,,,. • Re tt as sited by thZ. Association: , ., •. IgeOtetid of Seaforth.- were . her son Rev. •
.
la moo, ‘..% OA...Till. .. SIIIIVIA./teelltelit M as ntade this week of the
'Rob' •Ntolittosir er Searoilli has in...talk:1r sale tar Thoitipson's Book Store to hinter'
in his lilackstuith shop a machine knoe ,Il ' ,I .1tIf011t: of Seafortli,
the void the sestet. It is ait ingenious de% let: [III: transfer is eat:elite April 2. M the
of Am. , lk ail III\ eltiltill %t Illeil SO) Olt lilt's oil sane time Mr. Larone purchased the
'wagon a, wI buggy ..heels t% alm' lentot nig building in st Rich the business is located
,..,
'APRIL 13, 1906
Juhu I Mitt of o%% tiship. neat Hensall
eetentlt 1,01.1 to I Innitas J. Atti,, .teplieit.
a tett not; Shoithoi it Bull for %%hitch he
.: big pin._ tip to the three
figute., but the animal was tklk CNi-I.1 good
oust,. .0,1 worth the litotte„y •
'Lathe% t. tliags. • drove', dins
IsNir hess elating the: past tsetie shtirprog•
,treat ltogs. •Ite I/AS-part) °ire-Tilts A Pvh,
tia•Irte aver $04:.000. a test
oi atiotiey .113.nspeelsets •the latieets;
• •
• 4. aStstrAtallt nitlf
MrN.1041! ,MiXtre of TOcketstoith,
APftit ¢,19$0.
APRIL 1.0,1931
Orville Tula:hell is this neck putting on
.inothergas pump for his garage on Main or
King St.. Hensall.
littotel Broadfoot of Brucelield .has sold
his garage to 11. Dalrymple and, J. cornIsli.
•RtakteglYfoore orToroato. ..speuding the
them !tom the ...heel and without heating
them.
l other Thomas, McQuai'd, S,F,M. Superior
of Searbato Foreign Missions, Toronto. her
niece. Mrs. James Mayo, and sett. Ray'
mond Of Toronto:" else her sou and
dattg.hter-in-lin, Mr. and Mrs. John
McQuaid of St. Thomas.
ApPiii.s, 1881
lttuttiwg tit the Scatortli b%l.t , „ewe s
ne prohibited froin "ruletiag at large untrt
?stay I Note ithstanding this. eons loam at
still through the sheets without molestation
mud) to the of the • Mien). it
.41I, .411.41(1 to ellt0,11.1. then 1.1%,‘ II
bk I.Syt the% should reheat thew.
VVe uturyi stand that the hie alai 4%.11..4
oanointtee hate put...hosed a nett 11PSt. .ai r
441 purt lior..-‘1 at Buffalo. Its .vat laid
don It iwre writ lry 4benit .S2b0. It ts saal ILL'
• `.1.111.1141(.1 .atisk .1.104
.%k .411i14)1,4 0 tan "
ftkely be,di.4. eahn t h • .
teutop. hes.
• Mpes,eit inn ptiblisited",,Vbeantifellftexs ‘t,„,1
tiiti•sit,'.it, tuttsii lot tite plaatts ,sit
itlittlt of • ..‘41.1ii-1,11i stw ,b4:,
till eadi, ateleis fist :this initsn,
,..•.,flosion and attic! Antette‘in .lay's, .11,41 she.
(i4lcods Itt/plate It hot sale in the book °stoics
,'l this town.
AV•ilitmai sh
.1" aiticti the %outlast rot the el estit)11 s'1 th
IA Atoll I he 1..01111.10,
11V1,0_ I% ,31I1) I he 1.0.111,l1
1.1%.... ;4 1\ Cli 11101 ,011114‘1
A goo4;place to_ be Behind the scenes
by Keith Rotilston
To the editor:
Newspapers usually consider themselves watchdogs of a, sort. The sort
that keeps an eye On public businesi, while giVing a"great (Wal-tir thdUght
to public, good. •
Most newspaper people feel that all of the above are important parts of
our jobs.' But the other side of the coin is that we need to -give credit
Where credit is due and be as generous with praise, when it's warranted,
as we 'are with-. criticism.
It'll do us all, readers and writers alike, to remember especially in, the
light of some negative publicity our town has had recently, that Seaforth
and .area people do things really well.
Consider theSDHS Girls Trumpet Band which brought goodwill money
can't buy (and a second place trophy) from a- big band competition in
Myrtle Beach. The competent and. enthusiastid band members did a
terrific job•of telling thousands of American.s and other Canadians that
Seaforth is a 'good place to come from.
Then there are the-sports teams; girls ringettea relatiVely hew sport :in
Seaforth for example. Youngsters travel all over the province
representing our town in hockey,'soccer, broomball, baseball - you name
it. They often win and even when they don't they're congratulated for
Their sportsmanship, as a letter from a writer praised a broomball
team earlier this winter.'
Consider the individuals from "SeafOrth and area too who've
excelled....Johny Nielsen and Lloyd Eisler, Brodhagen's' Gail Beuerman
in baseball, Brenda Finlayson in lawn bowling and all the others we've
got to be prOud of in sports and in other fields.
There's quite a literary tradition in the area too and Alice..-Gibb
thronidles the-fascinaTilig---siury. af-Staffe-native-Newten-Maavisil-in
Serendipity this week. •
We're blessed with leaders too who spend countless hours with kids at
hockey or choir; practise, who develop .Victoria Park for the rest of us to
use, or make the restored Van Egmond house a beehive of community
activity. We've got people like Alfie• Dale 'Who continue to learn and
contribute to community, life despite handicaps that would knock most .of
us over in a heap.
We' re nOf saying there's nothing wrong here. There is, lots. And that's
to be expected, no matter where you live.
But there are a lot of people Who make Seaforth and area a darn good
place to be. And to those mentioned above, and all the rest, we say
thanks.
Great ambassadors
Pm still figktin
And I'll be. the second to admit (aftet the
company itself), that the rates arc reason-
able. coMpared to those of many other
countries.
This is a tribute to the company's
expertise in keeping up with advancing
technology. It has done an excellent job of
this.
And 111 be the third to admit (after the
company and its employees) that inflation is
'driving tip its costs for wages and materials.
as it is doing to every other industry in the
world.
But. And 1 have some but s. The service
is not' as good as it once was. Dialling
Operator nowadays is not receiving person-
al friendly advice iiimaking a difficult call. It
is more like speaking, to a rather cress
computer who makes 'you fell stupid. Long
gone is the feeling that the phone company
is part of the community..Customers arc now
dealt with at arms length. and rather
brusquely, like retarded children.
To be honest, some' services have im-
proved. 1 can call my daughter, 800 miles
away, by dialling a few numbers and have
her on the blower in thirty seconds. That's as
it should be. with new equipment.
But the Bell has become tight and
cheese-paring, in''many other. aspects.
.Operator assistance now costs you. it's even
t•
Once again the Girls Trumpet Band 16
back from another successful trip and as
chaperones Mary Doig and I (Peg Coombs)
would like to say how very very proud we
were of4hese young people. In competition
they did very well. They took 2nd prize and
the competition was tough. But they came
through with flying colours.
The town end school should be equally
proud of these young people. They conduct-
ed themselves very maturely and as we
llitened to coMpilitithifg ilf the Atmericaxt
• people we can say, that they were great
ambassadors tot school. tow ii. and country .
Mary anti I consider it a w eal pleasure to
chaperone these girls. and do hope the tow it
will' be equally proud of their aChievements,
and will get behind these young people as
they go around representing their school and
town with dignity 'and respect.
Again, it was a pleAsure to be hso of their
chaperones and this pride and love we feel
fur them really cannot be penned on paper.
Sincerely.
Peg Coontbs
Mary Doig
An old folk sating has it that there arc
only two things in life of .. hich we can he
certain: death and taxes.
? For Canadians. I thin we could add one
more item: the periodic request front Bell
Canada for an increase , in rates. There's
antither one in the works rigiht now ; and
unless the'CRTC shows sonic gumption. and
the Canadian public screams in outrage.sit„
it ill quicily slip through. another stone in the
pyramid of inflation. .
I tlQn't go into iht• nuts-gritty of the
increases. The% are complev and tart from
one area to the other. But I'll gist sou a'
rought idea. supplied from Bell Cana& . . itself. .
- -
The increase is requested for September
1st. 1981. Here an idea of it hat it o ill cost
us. Your ordinary residthice rate would go up
by 30 -per cent. Your primary business rate
would go'up by 40 per cent. Certain business
auxiliary services would go up•enye here
from 20 to 100 per cent.
Service charges to install.. ,a telephone
would increase by S8.50 residential and
$25.00 for businesse4. The old reliable pay
phone, which not too long ago jumped from a
dime to twenty cents: would go up to a nice
round quarter:
Long distance call. which Ma Bell urges us
to Make often ina series of treacly television
advertisements. will soar substantially.
Now• I'll be the 'first to admit that Bell
Canada is one df the best services in the
world: Ever try making a lonkdistance oall
in France, Germany. England?
of worn-out M.P.s and party functionaries
that now sit (sometimes.sleep)• in the upper
chamber, we need .a nets body that
represents a---spcond•active line-of reason on .
all legislation:7•While the Commons is
elected on a representation by population
basis. the Senate..needS to be based on an
equal representation from each of the
provinces in order to give equal balance and'
power-to even the meanest province'. The
battle- today is , as to who will name those
Senators from each province. Currently, the
federal-government names Senators. It's a
waste of the taxpayers' dollars. The pro-
vinces (at least some of them) want the
provincial governments to name Senators.
That seems to he just about as big a waste.
What seems better is a system such as that
in the U.S. where Senators arc elected by the
people in elections held at other times pan
the elections for the Commons. In this stay
the senators would be free to express their
own opinions while protecting the interests
of the people of their province. not just the
opinions of the provincial' government.
' COMMUNICATE •
The other ultimate solution to the
problems of the country has been dealt with
a dime more to ask for local directory
service. In other words, it will cost me an
extra ten cents to find out whether J. M.
Smith is Jack Smith or Jeffrey Smith.
It will cost me a quarter to phone a cab.
instead of a dime. And if they're too busy to
come, it might cost nit a dollar for four calls,
instead of forty eents*a c'ettple of years ago.
Dell Canada is honest enough, and smart
enough. to explain why it needs the
increases, aside from inflation. It %%ants to
raise the return on its"shares from 12 per
cent, established in 1974 to 14.50 or 15 per
cent, to encourage investments. Hoe many
of us were making 12 per )rent in-4974.on our
investments and ever since?—
Finally, it comes down to a matter of
principle, and dignity. On principle. I have
been fighting Bell's perennial requests for
an increase for about thirty years. and have
seen all too many of them ooze through with
barely a murmur from the customers.
And I think, in a trying time for all• of this
'country, that the corporation might have
enough dignity to tighten its belt like the
rest of us, while still giving its share-holders
a fair return, and keeping its standards up.
Alberta is willing to Sell its Oil well below
world prices, to keep along the „Sante lines,
without losing its integrity for 'borrowing
money.- for attracting investors.
here many times before: better contmunica-
dons. We need a media that feeds informa-
tion from all parts of the country to all other
parts of the country without being funnelled
through 'the vision of people in one or two
cities in the-country. People in the cast must ,
know what peciple in the west have to say for
thetnselves, . not what people in ' Toronto
think the people in the west are saying.
People in the Atlantic provinces must be
able to speak for themselves to the people of
Albeita or British COlumbia. not wait for the
newspapers or television stations of the west
to come to them to ask them what they think.
Our media, particularly the C.B.C., has
failed us greatly in this, area.
Many of the other probleins of confedera-
tion will lade in time. Power is irrevocably
moving westward, no matter what Ontario
,may try to do to stop it. With the economic
power the population is also shifting , to
Alberta. Saskatchewan and British Colum-
bia. the areas of new wealth. Hopefully some
of the Shift will also go to Newfoundland to
balance the country.
Because much of the animo sits' in the
debate has been focu sed' on the prime
minister it will likely disappear when he
does.
The future of the country lies most then.
notin the current)debate, but in the debate
ewe senate reform, and in the need to
improve our ability to speak to each other.
"The unfavourable economic conditions in
the COmpany's servicing area" is anoiher
reason for demanding new revenues. How in
the holy old heck is a fat increase going to
aid these economic conditions? In a far-flung '
country like this, the telephone has probably
become more important; economically and
emotionally, than the postal service.
Not much of an argument, mine, but I.
have a feeling the increase is wrong. If you
feel the same, badger your federal M.P. into
badgering the CR1'C into a refusal.
Improved technology should reduce
prices, not increase them: But Ma _Berl and
her shareholders couldn't care less, 'ap-
parently.
Let's end this column on a happier note.
Some weeks ago. I.wrote about an old song
that went: "You can bring Kate, with the
partial plate, But don't bring Lula," and so
one, for verse after verse. I couldn't
remember what was wrong with Lula.
Dave, Lister of MeDonald's Corners, Qnt.,
and Mary Tilden of Nepean, Ont., have filled
me in.
Mary writes: "Words I am sure you are
longing to hear,"
"You can bring Pearl, she's a darn nice
girl, but don't etc."
She adds, "Sorry I only know the last
line:" "Hullabaloola, don't bring Lula.
bring 'her myself."
Dave corroborates this with, "There was
nothing wrong with 'Lula. The last line of the song said. "I'll bring her Myself."
certainly glad th it's cleared Op.
Minister is supposed to be plotting since his
gin/eminent has decentrtilized many p asters
.but' we'll leave that for now. Suffice to say
that somewhere between this supposed
unitary state and the decentralized mish-
mash the premiers want is the ideal state for
Canada. Too much power to the provinces
and we'll have a country .that is like the
butterfly which'one by. One has its wings.
legs and tentacles pulled off so that only a
lifeless 'body remains, Too much power to
the- federal government •and we have a
bureaucratic octopus where, the head doesn't
-know what the tenatacles arc doing.
Ultimately, the solution's to the problems.
of regional needs versus national need's lie in
two areas not being touched by the current
debate. While the amending formula and th'e
charter of rights are includid its the
government's package. reform of the Senate
awaits further battles between federal and.
provincial governments. If the governments
had been able to agree on Senate reform at
their past meetings, a lot a the present fuss
would be irreleeatit.
A SENATE THAT WORKS
What Canada really needs is a properly
functioning Senate. Instead of the collection
4.4
'SonieW•here 'along the road "the
dian way" as Joe Clark likes to call if. the '
coinpromise solution to' the constitutional
hassle is likely to emerge. •
The signs of contprOntise arilso already
there. Last week Prime Minister Trudeau
began making concilliatory noises. The eight
opposing provincial premiers claimed they.
, -had come up ‘‘itll• a- -consensus for, att.
o u alternate amending formula. While it wld
be nice to have the wearying constitutional
hassle put to rest at fast. here's one ti ho
hopes, the spirit . of compromise doesn't
compromise the future of the country..
To hear the premiers. Joe Clark and their
supporters tell it. the answer to the country •S
problerns is stripping powers from the
federal gosernment and giving them to the
province-s. The Newfoundland court or
appeal last neck claimed that the provinees
were autonomous governments and it et•enT.
subjec to constitutional' ehanges of • the
federal government. The argument is one
the premiers- used often at the federal-pro:
incial conference last fall, that the federal
government is a creation of the proVincial •
governments and that therefore the needs of
the pros incia l governments should come
first.
The Opposite theory (the one ascribed to
the acons of Mr. Trudeat ) is that Canada is
unij4rsa state, it tits go% ernment guided
from Ott an h. There is a boils of es We nee to
refute •this, Machiat elhan • plan the Prims
Bell Canada increases
Sugar and spice
By Bill Smiley