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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1969-07-17, Page 22 Cli.nto. n News -Record, Thursday, .i:ulIy 17, 1969 E` I torh.I tgremeet Managing their heritage When members of county council sit down to9ether in session their job is not only to spend the taxpayers' money wisely .but to build prudently for future generations. Of the two requirements, the latter is unquestionably the most difficult. It is almost impossible to provide for a future age more complex and more computerized than the one in which we now live. To say that progress is so rapid these days . that most plans are obsolete even before they are off the drawing board is to give some idea of the immense and frustrating job county councillors, and in fact all elected officials, have these days. Huron County citizens should be proud of council's deliberations last week concerning a park on the two -acre plot between Highway 4 and the entrance door to Huronview. They should be impressed by the opinions of most councillors that an expenditure of $20,000 to build walkways, fountains, pools, gardens, picnic areas and the like is too great for Huron ratepayers to finance at the time or in one lump sum. They should be relieved, that county council sees the worth of a park area .at Huronview and is willing to take another look at the Situation with perhaps a more modified plan in mind. Qut Huron taxpayers should also be grateful to men like Roy Pattison and Alex McGregor who envision such a beauty spot in our county, Their job is. certainly county development and we think their committee is to be congratulated for the attempt to preserve another "green area" for future 9enerations. We like Warden James Hayter's idea to adopt some sort of plan for the proposed park and then to work it •out in easy, affordable stages to prevent any serious landscaping or engineering regrets or any overlapping of costs. Council for the County of Huron is correct in its • immediate reaction to cut-back on spending, in line with recent edicts, from the provincial government. it is also of considerable merit to keep the development doors open so that future generations cannot charge we mismanaged their heritage.—Exeter Times -Advocate Hardly reasonable With centralization and regional government such frequently discussed topics - and since the general public is so ill-informed on these subjects, it is rather interesting to look back a few years to a concrete example of what centralization can do: The libraries in Huron County were taken over by the county council several years ago. Local boards continued to meet, but as far as we can find out they did not have any real power of decision. Last week's meeting of county council confirmed that assumption. Answering a question put by Reeve' Borden Cook of Blyth, the county Librarian, Miss Carolyn Croke, said that open hours for most of the small libraries have been cut. Hensall library has been cut from 15 to 12 hours; Brussels and Zurich from 10 to 6 hours; Blyth from 10 to 3 hours and Bayfield from 9 to 5 hours. • Miss Croke pointed out that the shortened hours have been made necessary by the tight budget under which she must operate her department. When members of council asked whether local municipalities could put up the funds required for longer hours, Miss Croke said "No," and added that either the county library board makes the decisions or there is no board. She referred to the possibility that the Department of Labor might get stern with the County Library Board if longer hours were permitted, whether paid for by the local municipalities or donated by the local librarians. Unquestionably, Miss Croke is trying to do her job under trying circumstances — but the fact remains that a situation under local boards, which permitted a somewhat relaxed and friendly atmosphere to prevail in our libraries, has changed to one in which rules and regulations are to be enforced no matter what the taxpayers prefer. We can certainly agree that the Department of Labor comes up 'With -some" very queer rulings — but i.(we:have reached the stage' where hours 'can b'a` even though someone else is willing to pay the additional costs, it's time to take a second look at centralization — of libraries or anything else.—Wingham Advance -Times Cart before the horse Last Thursday evening a representative of the Department of Health's Sanitary Disposal Section met with a group of municipal representatives in the Wingham Council Chambers to tell them about the new regulations governing municipal and private refuse dumps. His message was an important one — not merely because he was dealing with a provincial law which will be strictly enforced, but also because the law is sound and necessary. it was passed to take care of a situation which was getting out of hand. Garbage dumps in some municipalities are so badly managed that they threaten the health of all those who live in their vicinity. Mayor DeWitt Miller, however, voiced the feelings of a good many of those present when he said that despite the good intentions of the Provincial Department, the terms of the Act certainly sound like dictation. He was right. The Act which deals with standards for dumping grounds certainly does dictate to the municipalities in no doubtful terms. It appears that in this particular instance the dictation is necessary if we are to avoid a serious pollution problem. It is not the actual regulations which are repugnant in these cases, but rather the methods in which they are presented to the public. It would be wise to preface a discussion of this kind with a full explanation of why the Act was required and what benefits will accrue to the public by its enforcement, rather than a review of the stern measures which will be taken if the regulations are not met. Certainly we have reached a stage in our civilization where we must find better means of disposing of our waste materials. We can't throw all the garbage outside our doors and then move.the town when the heap gets too smelly, as the Indians did.—Wingham Advance -Times Sick of the talk Problems of store hours have bedevilled retail organizations for a long, long time. Perhaps the main reason is that many merchants who want to make Money would like the customers to come at the merchants' convenience; whereas other merchants who also want to make money think that stores should be open when the customer wants them open, Sundays and midnight hours excepted. From Kamloops comes news that the (retail Merchants` Association of that community will refuse to discuss store hours unless fifty-one percent of the members petition the executive to put the subject on the agenda. --(Printed Word) THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE HURON NEWS -RECORD Established 1865 i 1924 Established 1881 Clinton News -Record A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) second class mei) registration number 0817 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (in advance) Canada, $5.00 per year; U.S.A., $7,50 ERIC` A, McGUINNEs$ �dita�ir J. HOWARD AItKEN -'. General Manager Published every Thursday at the heart of Huron County * Clinton, Ontario Population 3,475 THE, HOME or, RADAR IN CANA DA PASTORAL Photo by Ron Price 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111IIIlIIIIIIIlI1I1I1IlIlIIIIIlI1IlIIIII1II1111111111111111111111111111I11111111111111111111111111111111111111UIlIII111111tlI1101111111011 p1111111 by W. Jene Miller The empty pew One of the tragedies of the knowledge explosion of our day is the confusion between "logical" thought and "rational" thought, It is said that the amount of human knowledge accumulated up to the time of 1850 was doubled by the year 1900. The amassed knowledge of mankind was doubled again by 1925. It doubled again by 1945, and doubles regularly every 10 years, more or less. Our educational systems, trying to communicate this vast store of learning, have had to become little more than memory factories, They are compelled by the very , ,weight„„ of their obligation to reduce the data to wvarious age leels',and co cram as m�tcll as`possible ihto the limited number of years available to them. High school' graduates of by Bill Smiley today know more about the way their world functions than college graduates of a century ago knew. But, all this data is poured into psycho -social structures which carried the knowledge of days long gone. The uses of knowledge must be made as different as the knowledge, itself, is different from tomorrow's man. It makes a universal difference whether a society knows how to blow up a mountain or how to blow up a planet. Current society is pock -marked with little groups who are still trying to hold back the demands of the future and the facts of the present. Everything from the Flat Earth Society to the Biblical literalists, have tried to dam up the waters of truth. The hard fought battle of intellectual integrity which was waged over the biological evolution of life is returning to the fore in many religo-educational discussions. One radio -preacher uses the word, "evolutionist” as if it were synonymous with "atheist". He also uses "modernist" the same way. Logical thought has to do with the consistency of deduction from data. Rational thought has to do with the stance of a person before the total reality which he faces. It is not • enough to teach facts. Pedagogy must learn to teach how to think. Robots "memorize" information. Men create knowledge. After all, a complete paranoid is always "logical" -- but not "rational." Sugar and spice There's quite a backlash these days from the middle- class against practically every- thing: welfare, subsidies, infla- tion, taxes and anything else that hurts where it hits. The squawkers, and I join them once in a while, feel that there is a conspiracy among the government, the poor, the farmers, the skilled tradesmen, and almost everyone except the middle-class to grind the latter exceedingly small. Fm about as middle-class as they come. Middle age, middle income, mortgage, kids to edu- cate. And like all the other middles, I pay far too much in taxes, But once in a while, I take stock and, despite the grind- ing, find plenty to be thankful for. This week, 1 met a lady who is living on welfare. Her hus- band, from whom she is separ- ated, contributes nothing. She has six kids to feed and clothe. There is no car, no treats, no frills, no little extras, Every month- she is almost frantic with worry trying to make ends meet, just before her cheque arrives. If the older children can't get summer jobs, they can't go back to high school, because they won't have any clothes. One boy has been remanded by his principal for wearing jeans to school, They're the only pants he has, and they're clean. The total income of this fam- ily is less than many middle- class people pay in income tax. The lady is not well. Even if she could go to work, it would mean deductions from her wel- fare cheque. She's struggling desperately, but cheerfully, to keep her family together and give them an education. And she's doing it, but walking the thin edge of real poverty. Why ' shouldn't the wheat farmer be subsidized? Many of our fatter industries are, through tariffs and • special tax deals. The farmer works hard- er and longer for less money than anybody in the country. Why shouldn't a skilled worker make ten thousand a year? He's going to pay plenty of it in taxes. How can the government control inflation when the people demand more and more and more, while at the same time everybody is trying to get his snout into the trough, Why shouldn't Indians' get help so that they, can lift them- selves out of the degradation and squalor that has been forced on them? Frustrated by poverty and lack of education, they either cling to the com- munal life of the reserve, or venture into the world, get a punch of discrimination right on the nose, and escape to drink. (Lots of them do on the reserve, too, but what else is there to do? Weave baskets?). There's another group that I From our early files 75 years ago The Clinton New Era July 20, 1894 The Park Committee is considering a proposition for the erection of a grandstand; such a thing is very much needed and would prove a great comfort to many. The Collegiate Institute Board Of Trustees have engaged Mr. E. A. Cobn'lbs of Georgetown as Classical Master at a salary of $750: a year and Miss McCutcheon of Toronto as Commercial Specialist at a salary of $600. a year. Both come very highly irecomniended indeed and they will doubtless aid in maintaining the excellence and efficiency of Clinton Collegiate. feel for, a large one. These are the elderly and the disabled. Sure, they get a pension. Try living on it, you middle-class cry-babies. Happiest of these . are the born bums, who've always lived in a shack, never paid taxes, insurance, and seldom rent. They're in clover, propor- tionately. But they're poor. Perhaps the saddest portion of this group is the elderly couples who worked hard, nev- er asked anyone for anything and saved for their old age. They may have a small pension from the job, or even some savings bonds. And now, ready to spend a few golden years, their pen- sions and bonds are halved in value, their living costs tripled. They can't pay the taxes and have to sell the home they've sweated for and move into a couple of rooms. The reward for 30.40 years of honest toil. It's enough to make one join the hippies. It's a great country. But next time you start whining because you can't quite afford a second car, think of the farmer whose wheat can't be sold, the plumb- er who cleans your stinking drains, the Indian who fought in the war and can't get a job, the doughty woman battling for her family, or the little old lady sitting alone in a fur- nished, room, living on bread and tea until her cheque comes. 40 years ago July 18, 1929 Mr. J. Hall is busy at the building of Mr. Fred Lobb's house, which was recently burned down in Goderich township. Mrs. 0, W. Potter and Mr. and Mrs. L. Dipple left yesterday to visit the former's daeghter, Miss Ruby Potter, Rhode Island, and their Son Dr. P. Fatter, Brooklyn N.Y. They are travelling by motor and expect to be away about a fortnight. Miss Annie Crittenden of 'Toronto is spending a holiday at her home down the London rad Miss Helen Fisher of Denver, Col. is the guest of her sister, Mrs. R. E. Manning. 25 years ago July 13, 1944 Mrs. Geb. Elliott received a telegram Tuesday night from her Son Eddie Elliott announcing his arrival back in Canada. Miss Kay Rbss Of Toronto, is §pending her vacation at the honle of her parents Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Ross. br. and Mit. Cooper and son Bruce have returned to Toronto after spending a week with Mr, and Mrs. Albert Bond, Huron Road. Mr, and Mrs. Harold Swan and Son Gordon are holidaying this Week at lnverhuron Beach as guests of Mra. S. E. Castle. Business and Professional Directory OPTOMETRY J. E. LQNG$TAFF OPTOMETRIST Mondays and Wednesdays 20 ISAAC STREET For Appointment Phone 4827010 SEAFORTH OFFICE 527.1240 R. W. BELL OPTOMETRIST The Square, GODERICH. 524-7661 PETER J. KELLY your Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada Representative 201 King St. Clinton 482-7914 INSURANCE KR W. CQLQUHQUN INSURANCE & REAL ESTATE Phones; Office 482-9747 Res. 482-7804 HAL HARTLEY Phone 482,6693 LAWSON AND WISE INSURANCE— REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS Clinton Office: 482-9644 H. C. Lawson, Res„ 482-9767 J: T. Wise, Res.: 482-7265 ALUMINUM PRODUCTS For Aar -Master Aluminum Doors and Windows and Rockwell Power Tools JERViS SALES R, L. Jervis — 68 Albert $t. Clinton — 482.9 90 f 7 11 tl SERVICES Attend Your Church This Sunday , NOTE: All Services on Daylight - Saving Time ONTARIO STREET UNITED CHURCH ' "THE FRIENDLY CHURCH" 14-- Pastor: REV. GRANT MILLS, B.A. lig ig Organist: MISS LOIS GRASSY, A.R.C.T. e °44- (/\ e JOINT SERVICE IN WESLEY-WILLIS CHURCH ,, ,•. DURING JULY Sunday School closed until September 7 Wesley -Willis -- Holmesville United Churches REV. A.J. MOWATT, C.D., B.A., B.D., D.D., Minister MR. LORNE DOTTERER, Organist and Choir Director SUNDAY, JULY 20TH 11:00 a.m. — Morning Worship. Sermon Topic: "THE FELLOW WHO STAYED AT HOME" Soloist: Miss Anne Legg (Organ) Ontario Street United Church will join us , A(4. WELCPME . HOLMESV(LLE 9:45 a.m. — Morning Worship. CHRISTIAN 'REFORMED CHURCH SUNDAY, JULY 20TH 10:00 a.m. — Morning Service - English 8.00 P.M. — Evening Service Every Sunday, 12:30 noon, dial 680 CHLO, St. Thomas listen to "Back to God Hour" --. EVERYONE WELCOME -- ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SUNDAY, JULY 20TH The Rev. R. U. MacLean, B.A.; Minister Mrs. B. Boyes, Organist and Choir Director 9:45 a.m. — Sunday School. 9:30 a.m. — Morning Worship. PENTECOSTAL CHURCH Victoria Street ' W. Werner, Pastor SUNDAY, JULY 20TH 9:45 a.m. -- Sunday School. 11:00 a.m, — Worship Service. 7:30 p.m. - Evening Service. MAPLE STREET GO' ?EL HALL SUNDAY, JULY 20TH 9:45 a.m. — Worship Service. 11:00 a.m. -- Sunday School. 8:00 p.m. -- Evening Service. Speaker: Fred Munnings, returned Missionary from India 8;00 p.m. — Tuesday Prayer Meeting; Bible Study .. ` 15. years ago July 15, 1954 Mr. and Mrs. Bert Boyes visited friends in Hanover the first part of the Week. Mr. and Mrs. C. Trott spent last week in the Muskoka District and North Bay. Mr. and Mrs. John Sutter visited on Sunday with their son-in-law and daughter Mr. and Mrs. R. ls. Robbins kind family, Acton. Mr, and Mit. Mervyn Batkin and family spent last week in Odgensburg and Watertown, visiting E. J. Dailey. They camped outdoors by the side of the St. tawrence River. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hartley and daughter Christine spent the holiday weekend in St.. Catharines with the former's mother, Mrs. R. I. Hartley. 10 years ago July 9, 1969 Weekend guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. McGill were Mr. and Mrs. E. W. McGill and children, Bolton, and Mrs. G. A. Nethery, Hamilton. Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Nimmo, Toronto, spent the weekend with the latter's sister and brother, Mrs. Robert Scott and Mr. Robert Vedden. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Pratt and Son Dennis, Berlin, visited their parents over the Weekend, Lynda 'returned 'with her sister for some holidays. Mr. and Mr`s. G. drown, Pontiacy Mich., visited with Mrs. Gladys 'Wallis and other relatives over the weekend.