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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1971-01-28, Page 4THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE. HURON NEWS,RECORD Establis O hed 1865 1024 Established 1881 Clinton. ews-Record A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper .association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau Of Circulation (ABC) second east mail registration number — 0817 SU6SCRIPTION RATE (inn advance) Canada, $6.00 per year; U.S.A., $7,50 KEITH W. ROULSTON — Editor J HOWARD AITKEN — General Manager Published every Thursday at the heart of Huron County Clinton, Ontario Population .8,475 rim HOME OF RADAR 1N CANADA 4 Clinton NeWafiecOsCI, Thursday, January 28,1.971 Editorial -commeal The need for more land The Economic Commission for • Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) recently came up with some disturbing statistics about the world's most populous.region. Within 28 years, the population of the 22 developing countries in the region (excluding the Chinese colossus) will double from almost 1.1 billion today to 2.2 billion. Add the population of China to this already astronomic total, and it means there will be well over three billion Asians before the end of the century. Only about one third of the present land area in Asia is suitable for cultivation at the present time, and this figure can be increased by another 50 per cent in the coming decades. But the need for more land is only part of the answer, ECAFE says that constantly shrinking land resources and leaping populations leave Asian countries with only two practical methods to grow more food for the hungry millions — better irrigation and improved farm management. In both these field& Western knowhow and increasing Western aid is vital if disaster is to be averted in the impoverished Asian lands. More, water, high-yield miracle seeds, better fertilisers are all part and parcel of the solution. But in the final analysis, the Asian nations must help themselves by pushing population control programs for all they are worth. For even scientific miracle cannot save Asia from calamity if the continent's population continues to mushroom at the present rate. — Contributed. False statistics It has been more than three years since Canada began its five-year experiment with abolition of hanging for all but slayers of policemen or prison guards. Since then, unfortunately, Canadians have been exposed to a numbers game. False numbers. The Dominion Bureau of Statistics has been very unselective about figures provided it by the nation's police departments, all of which are firmly opposed to the abolition of the death penalty. In 1967, for example, the DBS reported 220 murders in Canada. But last year that figure had risen to an estimated 341 murders, a considerable increase since the experiment in abolition started. The reasons for this increase all lie in the way you count. When the police believe that a murder might have taken place they so report to the DBS. But if the judicial process later finds that death was manslaughter or accidental that first report of murder is not changed. DBS is doing us a disservice by its inaccurate reporting and it certainly has done nothing to show us what the link is between crime and punishment. That we should know is very important. While we know that our police departments still believe that capital punishment is a deterrent to murder, we also know that most murders committed are not premeditated crimes. But the argument will not be settled by DBS. It is important that we should know the real facts. For in December, 1972, the amendment to the Criminal Code which provides for the abolition of capital punishment will expire unless both houses of parliament jointly direct that it will continue. There never has been evidence to prove that capital punishment is a deterrent to murder and false, misleading statistics at a time when objective study of this issue could be carried out in Canada are not worthy of our police departments and certainly not worthy of the DBS. The primary concern of society is with the rehabilitation of the offender, whatever his crime has been. Our concern should not be one of useless vengence. — = Cpntributed Tent r loving care for snowatobilers Even a winter sour-puss like me cannot but be affected when we hit one of those rare and perfect winter days. Today is one of them. Snapping twelve degrees. Sun grinning down like an old, yellow lecher as fresh snow lifts virginal, blue-whit; pleading hands. Sky as cold and blue as Mr. Benson's heart. Ugly, fallen-down fence in back yard has vanished Until spring, Picnic table is a loaf of white bread rising. Big spruce by the garage holds with dig- nity, in sagging, blue-green arms, the big lumps of heavy white cotton. In the country, evergreens are startling black clumps of contrast. Ancient rail fences with jaunty, snowcapped posts run their erratic charm through the bluish drifts. So do the shomeshoers. Skiers whizz down like gulls swooping for scraps. And the damned snowmo- biles grunt and bellow about like bulls in a chaste china shop, There. I knew something would spoil it. Don't worry. I won't go into a diatribe about the stinking things. I consider theta beneath my dignity. I wouldn't ban them if I had the power. They're a wonderful Ina- chine for farmers, trappers and others who need to get places they couldn't before. Soine of•the kids at our school, who live on islands, ',way out in the bay, cross the ice on the things, catch the school bus, drive forty minu- tes to school, then make the return journey in the after- noon. You can't knock that, And they're fine for recre- ation, too, if they're used with some sense. But there's the rub. As a cabinet minister remarked recently, on the subject, "You can't legislate against stupidity," And some of the most stupid people I know own snowmobiles. (Not you, gentle reader, not you.) You don't go flying solo after an hour's instruction. And you have to pass a fairly stiff test nowadays to get a car driver's license. But it seems that any nyurp of a kid (or adult) who can get one of the THINGS started, and not necessarily stopped, is free to go out and toinnlit mayhem or suicide. When I see sorrie kid belt- ing along at full throttle, on an icy road, or trying to pass a car on the right, I shudder. And when I see mature, mid- dle-aged people attempting climbs and jumps and cross- ing thin ice that even an intel- ligent ape would shy at, I shake my head sadly. It seems that every third person you meet has a twisted ankle or a sprained shoulder or a bent bum. Then there are the gangs, The only difference between a motorcycle gang •and a snowmobile gang is the speed and the time of year. Both are likely to be half-stoned, and both are prone tO Vandal- ism and indifferent to the feelings of others. There's only one thing more boring and annoying than the abuses of the things. And that is the constant con- versation about them, at prac- tically any gathering of people, anywhere, in midwin- ter. Boring? It's enough to make the mind boggle. One used to go to a party and have a party. One used to curl and sit around afterwards dis- cussing the game. One used to sit in the teachers' staff room with a group of fairly intelli- gent people and talk about cabbages and kings and seal- ing wax and things. Now, all you hear is a melange of carburetors and tracks and horse-powers and feats of derring-do, most of the latter gaining in each in- terminable repetition. I know they wonder why I don't eat lunch in the staff- room any more. But I'd rather sit in the cafeteria with 400 noisy students than sit the staff-room with twelve or fourteen snovvinobilers bel- lowing at each other, each trying to top the other's story. I told you I wasn't going to write a diatribe, And I won't, The car started this morning. Classes went well. My wife's in a decent mood. And my daughter got 88 and 90 on two essays. And it was a beautiful day, before that silver lining turned into a black cloud, The Argyle gyndleate gi Ei NEED ,YOUR SUPPORT a; • . . ... • 0 t, 0' rt r= p t, . , .. C 1) 0"a 0 0 0 4 0 0 o a &IC)61110 6-1413Et Your editorials in last week's "Record" (Jan. 14) plus some of the recent news items from Ottawa and Toronto has given me the urge to write 'something' to encourage people to realize the importance of getting together in thought and deed. The enclosed is the result. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT As an interested observer of our leaders "CON" and "LIB" I'd like to ask this question "Who are they trying to rib?" When history repeats itself, as history's bound to do, Each Party points the finger saying "I'm blaming you!" As unemployment flourishes, our politicians shout Instead of laying blame they should be trying to figure out What causes are behind these "recessions". As they flower They ruin our economy — no matter who's in power! Depressions run in cycles and they hit both you and me No matter what our labels, CON or LIB or N.D.P.! Does a label really matter? Will it cure our present ills? Politics don't seem important when you cannot pay your bills. We talk about 'Inflation' but will anyone explain The relation of inflation to our present 'money pain'? Our money's losing value — meaning loss of purchase power — Each consummer's buying less and less and businesses go sour. Do our clever politicians stop inflating? No indeed — They just add another tax and pretend it's chicken feed. Do we bankers, labor leaders, lawyers, builders, clerks and such Know the damage that we're doing when we add another 'touch' To our 'endings, wages, charges, profits, fees and overhead? If we did we'd change our habits and stop living in the red. We've all become polluters of our helpless currency — The green stuff's badly bloated, getting valueless, you see. Where's the doctor with the formula to bring it back to life? Is there someone with the courage to wield the fiscal knife? The Democratic Doctor should be each and everyone Who values truth and freedom and his own place in the sun. When you realize the other chap's a replica of you — What's good for you can't help but make things better for him too When a pay-cheque grows in value, not bloated dollar bills, We'll find that solving problems and many of our ills. With buying power growing, not shrinking every day, Our living power will expand — prosperity come to stay. So . inflation's not a mystery . it's there for all to see. Let everyone say to himself "I guess it's up to me!" Another Bard of Bayfield 64, Ulyir.gs THettero the ts7 igdfr Editor killieninneneninnininannuennueolineolneinies 1Q414,:f.sk For the sixth successive year James Reidford, veteran cartoonist for the Toronto Globe & Mail, has done a cartoon in support of the annual campaign for funds by The Ability Fund (March of Dimes). They all have featured the "Marching Mothers" who have been canvassing on behalf of disabled adults since the bad days when polio was epidemic. The Ability Fund, with its new symbol of an evergreen tree with a branch missing, now rehabilitates the physically handicapped no matter what the cause of their disability. Ott e MU!, 'I S Sit(14)1 One of the things I have had to learn, as a man who knows a little bit about a lot of things and very nearly nothing about anything in particular, is to cover up my ignorance. I seem to spend a great deal of my life faking knowledge. Automobiles, for instance. I will be frank with you. I. simply do not know how the internal combustion engine works. When I was younger — and braver — I used to say this right out. When garage mechanics attempted to explain to me why my motor was going "Wheeple-wheepie-wheeple," I'd say jauntily, "Don't bother explaining. I know nothing about motors. Just fix it," But this is an age when a man is expected to be familiar with engines. If not, he's looked upon as a creature of suspicion and a bit of a fop, to boot. It is un-masculine not to know what makes a motor go. I finally wearied of the naked contempt I faced whenever I frankly owned to my ignorance. Gradually I came to develop my present-day technique. I still 75 YEARS AGO The Huron News-Reetird January 20, 1896 Friday's fire (at home of Mr. James Miller, Albert St.) clearly demonstrated the necessity of having plenty of hose and that the person giving the alarm should inform the firemen where the fire is. Blyth News --The brick yard has during the past year, performed a big season's work and will be blooming during the present year. Eight or 10 houses will be built from brick made at our yards. * * Messrs. Plumsteel and Gibbings are this week moving 16 their own store in the Brick Block. 55 YEARS AGO The Clinton New Era January 27, 1916 Board of Trade Favors Prohibition. At a special meeting of the Clinton Board of Trade last Friday evening — to discuss the question of Federal prohibition, the following resolution moved by Mayor know nothing about engines, but I can stare at them with an appraising eye with the best of th 1, If a mechanic nowadays says, "Sounds like a gasket leak" or, "Too much oil in the tappet filters" I merely grunt in a non-commital way or shake my head in agreement. I do this so well, in fact, that I've had mechanics ask me what I thought was wrong. To this I always reply, "I'd like to see her with the head off first." I learned this 20 years ago and it still works beautifully. My ignorance of motors is surpassed only by my ignorance of finance. I do not know how the stock market works. I have nothing more than a few idle misconceptions about the issuing of currency. Yet so cunning have I become that only last night I managed to get through an hour-and-a-half discussion with an investment counsellor without knowing one -word of what he said except "hello" and "goodbye." He was a very nice fellow. He was trying to interest me in joining an investment syndieate. I'm pretty sure of that. Thompson and seconded by Alderman Sheppard, was carried, "That in response to the appeal which has come to us from the committee of representative business men, we hereby place Ourselves on record for economic and patriots' reasons, as being in favour of a Federal prohibition act relating to the liquor traffic which will have effect during the war and the reconstruction period of three years thereafter.' * * * The voting on hydro at Hensalt on Monday resulted in a favourable verdict by 110 to 39. The village is ready to issue debentures of $10,000 and desires the commission to hurry along the system. 40 YEARS AGO The Clinton News-Record January 29,1981 After choir practise on Friday evening last at St. Paul's Anglican Church, a social hour was spent by the members as a little farewell to the rector, Rev. L. C. Harrison who left this week for his new charge at Lucati, "You know, of course, that provision is made by parliamentary legislation, whereby Canadian investment companies which qualify for exemption from taxation under the Dominion of Canada Income Tax Act may elect to pay tax under part one of the said act in respect of the taxation year?" "Doesn't everybody?" I murmured. I looked him square in the eye. I've found that you can look at a financier exactly as you'd look at a 1950 Pontiac engine and it will work. "So," he said, "the result of such election will be to entitle their individual shareholders, resident in Canada, to a tax credit of 20 per cent of the dividends received by the Shareholders in such year." "It's an interesting point,"I said. I was going to add, "I'd like to see her with the head off first," but I caught myself just in time. "You'll be interested ie the diversification of our outstanding securities," he said. "Terribly," I said. And so it went that way until the very end. The latest is television. I was The newly-appointed rector, Rev. Kenneth McGoun will have charge of the services on Sunday. Mrs. Fred Anderson acted as hostess to the January meeting of the Community Club (London Road), the new president, Mrs. G. B. Hardy, in the chair. The Girl's Club of Wesley-Willis United Church is to hold a Valentine Supper in the Church Dail on Friday, February 18. 25 YEARS AGO The Clinton News-Record January 24, 1946 Huron County Council of 1946 put itself definitely on record as being le favour of proceeding with the erection of a new -County Court House, but "when" still poses a difficult question. Huron County stood fourth in Ontario in creamery butter production in 1945 — exceeded only by Bruce, Perth and Grey -- according to the Dairy Report for January of the Ontario The editor: In the light of Prime Minister Trudeau's suggestion that Canada might pull out of the just about to understand radio — a man was explaining it to me in a series of lectures that all began with the comparison of dropping a pebble in a pond when along came the new miracle, I don't know how television works. I will never know. But once more I'm confronted with the need to hide my ignorance. We had a fellow over the other night who knows all about it. The set had been flickering strangely for weeks and this man said, if I remember rightly, "Have you checked the vertical hold on your cathode ray dilineator?" "It seemed to be all right when I last looked," I said. "Most of the trouble can be traced to the multiple-director selective tube," be said. "Do you suppose that would explain the horizontal wobble bar?" "It could be," I said, looking fixedly at the back of the set, "but I'd like to see her with the head off first." This is the sham of my life, but I challenge you to talk to me about anything without an intelligent interest. How Much I follow you is for me tO know and you to find out. Department of Agriculture. * * * Dr. George S. Elliott, Clinton, was elected president of the Western Ontario Veterinary Association at the annual meeting in London Thursday afternoon last. 15 YEARS AGO The Clinton News-Record January 26, 1956 A milestone in the history of McKillop Municipal Telephone System will be passed on Thursday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Van Egmond, RR 1, Clinton, when the first new dial telephone will be tonnected for common battery service by John Kellar, linesman, Seaforth. * The Slhn McCiary Show, "Stars of stage, radio, TV - Records" was tet be appearing at the Town Dail, Clinton, Tuesday, Jan. Si, 8129 p.m, * Members of the 'Huron Fish and Game Conservation Association have provided a maximum amount of pleasure at a minimum cost for young and old alike here in Clinton. The club has had a strip of land, 130' x 70' on their property Commonwealth if Britain sells arms to South Africa, Government double-think grows increasingly cynical, increasingly irritating and increasingly obvious. Why, for instance, did we not th,reaten to pull out,when, IBiafra began. , to slaughter Ibos? When Kenyata and his Mau Mau were waging war upon the whites and when Maoist-financed Zambians crossed the Zambezie River to infiltrate Rhodesia? What is so different about Canada financing the training of Tanzania's Air Force and selling arms to the U.S.A. (for possible use in Vietnam) and Britian selling arms to South Africa (to defend itself against possible sea attack by Soviet warships currently dominating the Indian Ocean? Not to be overlooked is the cynical argument that we must be "realistic" in recognising Red China "because it exists" but not in our approach to Rhodesia which also "exists" (and is a lot less hostile!) How much longer will citizens swallow the red herring of Government double-think which seemingly favours such left-leaning nations as Zambia, Kenya, Algeria, Tanzania, Biafra and Red China • while snidely attacking our friends, including Britain, the U.S.A., Rhodesia and Nationalist China? Yours truly, Patricia 'Young, Vancouver, B.C. bulldozed and have made an outdoor rink. 10 YEARS AGO The Clinton News,Record Jmmary 26, 1961 According to the Oxford dictionary, haggis is a dish made of the heart, lungs, liver of a sheep, (sometimes the tripe and chitterlings), mimed with suet and oatmeal, seasoned with salt, pepper, onions, etc. Though it was considered a popular English dish until the 18th century, now it is considered specially Scotch. In any case it is a well talked Of dish this week, as Scotsmen, and those who wish they were, pipe in the haggis, propose toasts to it, and some even eat it, all in honour of the late Robbie Burns, * * Last Thursday morning some 20 delegates and six program leaders assembled at Hotel Sunset in Goderieh for the first residential Leadership Training Forum to be held in Huron County. * * The new arena at RCAF Station Clinton opened last weekend with public skating held for the first time.