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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1951-05-17, Page 2Page 2 THE T1MES-ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 17, 1951 Exeter JftmeM Established 1873 Amalgamated November 1034 Advocate Established 1881 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario An Independent Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of the Village of Exeter and District Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa Member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Member of the Ontario-Quebec Division of the CWNA Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Paid-in-Advance Circulation as of March 31, 1950 — 2,329 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada, in advance, $2.50 a year United States, in advance, $3.00 Single Copies 6 Cents Each J. Melvin Southcott • Publishers Robert Southcott —————THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 17, 1951 i ■PRINTER'S INK Unhealthy Signs Signs of the times in the Canadian daily press are not healthy. The Thomson Company Limited an­ nounced last week its purchase of the Oshawa Times-Gazette. In part the an­ nouncement says: “In associating itself the other aggressive and influential daily news­ papers of the Thomson group, the Times- Gazette has taken a forward step that is both logical and constructive.” The Oshawa paper is the fourteenth daily newspaper to come under Thomson control. Most of these papers have a virtual monopoly of the area they serve and when such a monopoly is firmly established, it is a very difficult task for any newspaper tn rival it. However free and independent the editorial policy of these chain newspapers may be, the threat of editorial control of such a large and unchallenged media is alarming. This control could be exercised to the extent where, biased personal or political motives are promoted with dangerous re­ sults. This fast-growing chain, not only of newspapers but also of radio stations, puts too much power in the hands of one group. This chain set-up may be a “logical and constructive” step financially but it certainly i.s not from the standpoint of freedom. Controlled information channels are not in the public interest. Are other daily newspapers alarmed at this situation? They should be. The pres­ tige of the newspaper profession as a lead­ er in the processes of demoncracy must be upheld. Monopolistic control of any industry is not a demoncratic process. Mr. Roy Thomson, head of the news­ paper chain, is also president of the Can­ adian Daily Newspaper Association. The position is one of respect and importance. Mr, Thomson must certainly gain respect for his ability to make newspapers such a financial success. He i.s important because of the great power he has in his grip. This newspaper magnate may be an able man to head the C.D.N.A. But this position would seem to carry with it the idea that independent daily publishers con­ done his actions to gain control of a large section of the press. It would be unfortunate if Canadians were forced to pass legislation restricting si.ch a chain development. It might be diffi­ cult, too, because the many papers now in the Thomson chain no doubt would vigor­ ously protest such legislation and probably use all its force against any political party which advocated such a thing. If there was some way the CDNA could stop the growth of this chain, they would save themselves much adverse publicity and gain much respect for being able to control their profession in the public interest. Will CDNA act? If they can we sin­ cerely ask them to. If they can’t, we, the little men, must fight to prevent this chain from becoming overwhelmingly powerful. * * * * The Brighter Side These days everybody seems to be fighting the turnover tax. Ever since Ot­ tawa suggested she may turn over author­ ity to the provinces to levy it,, there’ve been Howls from every direction. There may be a brighter side to this tax, you know. Just think of the change in conversation it might effect. Instead of one old friend, bluntly asking another “How much did you make last year?”, he could be more subtle and ask “Howe much did you pay in turnover, Bill?”. And, of course, with a little calculation, he could figure out what he wanted to know. School teachers would also benefit. They could give their pupils a problem like this: If there was a three percent turnover tax on a pair of shoes and you paid thirty- six. cents in tax, how much would the shoes cost? That would be a practical problem in the turnover tax era. Perhaps its greatest advantage would be for the wives. They no longer would have to worry about where their husbands spent their evenings—-they’d know' the men were figuring out turnover tax. And just think, with all the men work­ ing nights, they wouldn’t have time to spent their money. We wouldn’t need streets or highways because everybody would be home figuring up their turnover tax. Municipal councils couldn’t meet so they wouldn’t spend any money and your local tax would be almost nil. Turnover tax would be a boon for the paper industry—everybody writing down figures and throwing away papers and making rough calculations. Whenever you went to the store, you could play a little game with the merchant. It might be something like this. Have a race to see who could figure out first what the tax would be. Then the winner could claim the extra cent if it came out to a fraction. For instance, if the tax was twenty-five and a half-cents and the cus­ tomer figured it first, he’d only pay a quarter. If the merchant made the quicker calculation, he’d charge you twenty-six cents. You could always start up a conversa­ tion with the pretty clerk by talking about turnover tax. Of course, it might be con­ fusing when you went to buy some tacks. # * * * Kites And Balloons The Canadian public, or rather those who read Toronto papers, got a “bad” press during the last federal election. The Telegram flew the Progressive- Conservative kite at extremely high alti­ tudes and the Star blew the Liberal balloon up to immense proportions. The “air” (mostly hot) used for these promotions left little room for impartial truth in both newspapers’ columns during the elections. We had hoped that this windy atmos­ phere would subside after such a shameful exhibition. It hasn’t. According to the Star we find that Mr. Walter Thompson, the provincial Liberal leader, is speaking to “tremendously en­ thusiastic” crowds throughout the province. Pictures of the beaming Mr. Thompson (whose baldness certainly makes him photo­ genic, especially against dark background) with his arms around charming ladies and babies take up considerable space in the Star almost every day. We must confess, however, that if you read either ^of the other two Toronto papers, we couldn’t blame you if you thought Mr. Thomson has been holidaying in darkest Africa. He is almost non-existent in their columns, except, of course, when somebody thinks his pay as a Veterans’ Land Administrator was a little too high. Come, come, fellows. It’s time you stopped flying kites and blowing galloons. Leave that to the kids—they do it much better. i * * * * Every Barn A Station ! (Hamilton Spectator) ! i Donald Gordon, head of the nation’s giant publicly owned railway system, finds highway competition a number one head­ ache, but he does not believe in any at­ tempts to “stifle” the opposition. He thinks the railways should tackle the problem constructively by improving their service and reaching a suitable ar­ rangement with highway operators. This is an old disput and it’s going to be with us a long time. Whatever evolves, it is doubtful if the public appreciates the vast growth of truck transportation. Not long ago the picture was graphically pre­ sented in Hamilton by G. M. Parke, presi­ dent of the Automotive transport Associa­ tion of Ontario. In Canada, in 1915, there were only 533 trucks. By 1949 there were over half a million. Today people engaged in the driving and maintenance of Canada's trucks are only second to agriculture as the larg­ est employers in Canada. It is estimated that last year 650.000 people (three times the number employed bj' Canadian rail­ ways) secured their bread and butter from the driving and maintenance of Canada’s fleet of trucks. The investment in equip­ ment and warehouses was in excess of $700,000,000, Over 70,000 people arc em­ ployed in the production of trucks, tires, parts and petroleum products. The extent to which trucks serve our agricultural needs is clearly shown by the following: Close to 100 percent of the milk con­ sumed by Canada’s largest cities is trans­ ported direct from farms to dairies by trucks. Of the 3,000,000 head of livestock received at Ontario’s packing plants and stock yards, close to 2,000,000, or two out of three, arrive by truck. Some 90 percent of Ontario’s fruits and vegetables move to market by truck. A prominent agriculturist was not ex­ aggerating when he remarked that today “every barn has become a railway station”. ■ .................................—.........................■ ■ i—■ As the--------- “TIMES* Go By (I---------------------.---------..........—.......... s 50 YEARS AGO Miss Amy Johns left Friday for London where she will con­ tinue her studies in music. Again the small boy has don­ ned nature's shoes. Dr. D. A. Anderson leaves on Monday next for Chicago where he intends taking a post gradu­ ate course in a College of Den­ tal Surgery. Mrs. Anderson and little daughter will acompany him. Mr. John Norry, an employee of the Sutherland-Innes Co., narrowly escaped serious injury on Saturday last. The future excursions to the Pan-American Exposition in Buf­ falo will be run on May 20 and 28. Mr. Jos. Senior photographed a handsome team of bay horses, owned by Mr. Thos. Handford on Monday which were after­ wards sold to Messrs. Ryan and Fares of Winnipeg for $450. 15 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs. Percy McFalls left by auto Monday for their new home at De Bolt, Alberta. At the Exeter Council meeting on Monday evening a by-law was passed confirming the pur­ chase by the Public Utilities Commission of five acres of land from Mr. Garnet Frayne situat­ ed on the north bank of the Saturday Evening Here, There And Elsewhere By Rev. James Anthony, M.A. Aux Sable. The property has several springs of water and this watei’ will be piped to a reser­ voir to be used as a domestic water supply for the town. Chas. Salter was appointed D.D.G.'M. of the Huron District I.O.O.F. Monday evening. A re­ solution was unanimously pass­ ed in favour of a by-law for the erection of a two story addition across the rear of the present building. IO YEARS AGO Glen McTavisli of the Air­ craft School at Galt spent the week-end at his home here. Miss Gladys Wein of Credi- ton has received word that Gun­ ner Leonard Wein arrived safely in England about April 20. Pouring of cement for the flooring of Exeter’s new bridge was completed last Saturday. The flooring is ninety feet long and thirty feet wide. It is estimated there were 360 tons of stone and 2,260 bags of cement used. Messrs Harold^ and Gerald Skinner and Mr. Harry Hoffman were at Tavistock on Sunday when in company with Jas. Fran­ cis they sang a quartette at the evening service. Mr. Arthur Gardiner has been making a big improvement around the Thames Road Church assisted by several other mem­ bers. ... Neighboring News ... Refuse Licences Applications for licences under the Hawkers’ and Pedlars’ Act were received from the local re­ presentative of Avon Products, on motion of Councillor Hoflich and Reeve Vosper this request for licence was granted for the period of one year. The Canada Bread Co. made application for a licence in town to sell their wares. A motion was sponsored by Councillors Harris and Cook that no licence be granted Canada Bread. An expression of opinion was given by all councillors, some in fav­ our and others against. A vote was taken and the motion to re­ fuse a licence was carried. The request for a licence for the Watkins’ merchandise in town was refused on motion of Reeve Vosper and Councillor Sorensen. Mitchell Advocate Stray Pig Many queer sights and articles have been seen on Seaforth Main Street, but the one to surpass them all was a stray pig, which wandered nonchalantly about the street Thursday morning. The irony of the situation was that it attempted an entrance to a butcher shop, and from there went to an undertaking establish­ ment. The pig had escaped from a truck, and it took the owner quite some time to retrieve it. Huron Expositor Dogs And More Dogs The dog menace is again mak­ ing its appearance and they are again prowling around in day time as well as at nights. If people that enjoy having these pets would kindly keep them at home either tied up or shut in it would be very much appreciat­ ed by the ones who do not own dogs, especially now that the gardens are being planted and which mean so much to our way of living. These tiny plants which nature lets grow to feed man- kind are stepped upon or dis­ turbed by dogs who run over them in hunting for food or companionship, which is part of their life. Everyone would ap­ preciate dog owners to follow the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you’’ if that would be fol­lowed morS in every way, we would have even a better place to play in. It’s the little things that help to count. Zurich Herald Electrocuted B. A. Rogers, Galt, a lineman on the regional line maintenance staff, Hydro Electric Power Com­ mission of Ontario from Hamil­ ton, was fatally injured when he came in contact with a live con­ ductor during switching opera­ tions one mile and a quarter north and a mile and a quarter east of Blyth about 1:30 pan. today. He was rushed to Clinton Public Hospital by ambulance. Dr. W. A. Oakes went to the scene of the accident. The gang- had been stationed in Clinton assisting the local rural staff for the past few weeks. He resides at Hotel Clinton. Clinton News-Record Rev. R. E. Fairbairn Making Font For Woodham Church Rev. R. Edis Fairbairn, Queen Street West resident, who spends many of his spare hours in his basement woodworking shop, is completing a baptismal font for the Woodham United Church at the present time. This will be the third creation of this type Mr. Fairbairn has made for local churches. A baptismal font for the St. Mary’s United Church was placed there by the Graham family in memory of W. II. and Mrs. Graham two years ago and recently a matching piece was placed at the front of the church for a flower stand by the W.A. of the church in memory of the late Rev. John T. Flemming. Mr. Fairbairn has done other church furnishings, one of them being a wooden offering plate of his own design. He has filled a large order of these through the United Church of Canada. St. Marys Journal-Argus Observers in our cities and larger towns are noting that little groups of men are to be seen who are talking in serious tones and with earnest faces. If one succeeds in catching an oc­ casional word, that word almost inevitably has reference to the high cost of living. One group was asking, “Who stops the money’’. “One party re­ plied, “I don’t stop it anyway. I handle more cash than I did a few years ago but I have no bank acount that amounts to much” And that is just where lies the rub. It isn’t what one earns but what one saves that makes one rich. One merchant remarked that he had .received letters in the last mail ordering him, in this “free” land of ours to put up his prices. I don’t know where this thing is going to end,” he said puzzled and disconsolate. Very rarely does the observer meet with a group where merry makes bright the dullest day. All through conversations on the street one hears talk about the war cloud or the industrial re­ volution that swept British La­ bour into the seats of the mighty. We hear something of what is going on in the United States as one revelation after another causes leaders to ask what is coming next for Canada and the world. Are the clash and crash that our fathers feared about to materialize? Learning General Marshall, of the Mar­ shall plan fame, told the senate Committee of the United States bent on finding out the state of affairs relating to the Korean and other international affairs, that the United States was not ready to enter upon another world war. For some time prominent men in the United States did some tall talking about her prepared- nes for war. Have recent events revealed to that mighty republic that war is an inestimably costly affair? Have those leaders been taking­ time to review the cost at which Britain preserved freedom for the world in the last two world wars? Is the United States be­ coming aware of the cost in blood and treasure of the Kor­ ean war? At any rate it is encouraging to see the sober-minded, in­ formed, burden-bearing ruler of the United States taking the view that war simply must be prevented if it is at all possible to do so without losing honour. Surely the day is not past when the pen is mightier than the sword. General Marshall has done a good deed in reminding i his countrymen that they must 1 think twice before entering upon a struggle that threatens to im­ peril all that civilized man holds dear. Make Us Take Notice Word has come through the financial columns of our papers that eggs -may be procured in Holland and placed on the Cana­ dian market, one cent per dozen cheaper than the Canadians now offer them. People are wondering how this can be done. They will con­ tinue to wonder till the answer is forthcoming. Hollanders are doing wonders with Canadian I farms in Ontario.| Such success has attended the efforts of those new comers that folk are asking if the new com­ ers are going to drive out the rising generation of Canadians who have been looked to as the farmers of the future. Where are the Canadian born failing? They have farm equip­ ment in abundance. They have all manner of schools, and tech­ nical knowledge to no end. Cre­ dit is to be had for farm opera­ tions and that on the most re- sonable terms. What is wrong? Have Cana­ dian farmers lost pride in their work? Is the alleged high stan­ dard of living a willo'tlie wisp?> „ Is there something wrong with the management? It is high time for us to be doing some thinking on this point. Presentation And Appreciation On his return from a visit to Florida the members of the Exe­ ter Cemetery Board called Mr. B. Francis at R. G. Seldon's office. All the members of the board were present ex­ cept Mr, Dinney, The occasion of the meeting was to ex­ press the Board’s appreciation of Mr. Francis’ service to the community and to the Board. Mr. Francis has served on the board for twenty-three years, the last nine years of which he act- er as chairman of the board. As momento of the happy relations between Mr. Francis and the Board he was presented with a beautiful pen and pencil set. Appreciative r e in a r k s were made by the board reminiscent of a work done that has step by step placed the Exeter cemetery in the forefront of the cemeteries of the province. When Mr. Francis was first connected with the Board the cemetery was a comparatively small plot of land. Since then there has been the purchase of the larger part of the cemetery grounds. In addition there has been the purchase of a twenty- five acre farm for top soil and sodding purposes. Chapel has been built for winter burials. Two thousand dollars worth of iron fence have been erected. A new -garage and a new green house have been erected, and the house modernized. The sum in the Perpetual care fund when Mr. Francis went on the Board was about fifteen thousand dol­ lars. This sum has been increas­ ed to something like fifty-five thousand dollars. The changes mentioned were not brought about by happy chance but a great deal of hard work in which Mr. Francis bore a very large part. The financing of the cemetery received Mr. Francis’ most careful attention. ! His retirement from the board is keenly regretted by many of our best citizens. It is earnestly hop­ ed that the way open for his re­ turn to the work for which he is so well fitted. That U niversa I Strike There is some talk about or­ ganized labour's calling a gener­ al strike. That is to say, there is a rumour that all workers, ir­ respective of the nature of their work, but who are in one or other of organized labour, will walk out on their respective jobs. There is small prospect that a work stoppage will occur, though such a pass is one of the pos- —Please turn to page ten LAFF OF THE WEEK A New Holland, Pa., manu­ facturer says American farmers cannot be expected to produce even more food in emergencies if they are not assured of enough equipment to do the job."What About Retirement Benefits?"