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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1953-01-22, Page 2Pa<e 2 THE TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 22, 1953 This journal shall always fight for progress, reform and publip welfare, never he afraid to at­ tack wrong, never belong to any political party, never be satisfied with merely printing news. THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 22, 1953 Outstanding Achievement Let’s Have A Look At Our Hospital Sunday Sports The operation of Exeter Memorial Arena on Sundays has brought the “Sun­ day Sports" question to the fore in this community. The Arena has been open for public I skating during the afternoon, attracting many people from Exeter and the surround­ ing district, A silver collection is used to meet the arena’s expenses. The popularity of the Sunday skating indicates at least partial public approval. On the other hand, the activity has drawn fire from religious circles as a violation of Christian laws. The main argument for public skating on Sunday is that it provides clean recrea­ tion and physical relaxation for the public during a time in which the church does not hold religious service of activity for its members. The promotors of this idea main­ tain the children could find worse things to do on Sunday than to skate. The religious element counters with the idea that Sunday is a day of rest and contemplation of Christianity and that skating will not facilitate either of these functions. i In between these two factions are some who, while they do not strenuously object to two hours of skating on Sunday, nevertheless feel if it is sanctioned it will provide an opening for greater sports activ­ ity on the Sabbath. The question, of course, can go deeper and be more fundamental than the simple question of Sunday afternoon skating. It Can and does involve our present laws af­ fecting Sunday activity and the various in­ terpretations our religions make concerning the “day of rest’’. Without delving into these profounder considerations, we feel the Sunday after­ noon skating is not harmful in itself and ;fiat the activity does provide physical re­ laxation of a beneficial nature for both idults and children. We, therefore, endorse Sunday skat­ ing, providing it is conducted legally and without undue interference with religious Observance. # * Fans Can Help The letter written by R. H. Middle ton, densall, which appeared in last week’s Cimes-Advocate is a timely one and we reached the eyes of hockey offi- iials in this district. Mr. Middleton vigorously deplored an incident in a recent hockey game during vhicli a player deliberately wielded his tick “straight for the face and head of lis opposing player". The opposing player yas severely injured. The writer states '. . . no action of this type was justified irider any circumstances". The incident highlights the drastic re- iilts which can come from loose refereeing .nd “win-at-all-costs" play in hockey. The Cyclone League has developed in- o one of intense rivalry and strong desire o win. This is, of course, excellent from »oth fans’ and players’ standpoints. „ But this can degrade into the brand of lockey where a game becomes a menace o the players’ safety. We are not suggest- ng it has in the. Cyclone League yet, but Ve have seen a number of cases where flag­ ant violation of the rules allowed by re- erees has developed the game into a ser­ ous battle of brawn, not skill. As Mr. Middleton and sports com- aentators are urgently requesting, now is he time to return to the rules, to instruct eferees to call the plays closer and for earn executives to concentrate on develop- lg more skill and less body-slamming and tick^-wielding tactics in their players. While this is the duty of the coaches, tiaiiagers, referees and players, the fans Isb have an obligation. They must stop en- Otiraging rough tactics by their cheers and Next Thursday and Friday, our hos­ pital will be open for inspection. This is an opportunity for all of us to tour the new building and see the wonder­ ful facilities it provides. The South Huron Hospital is an out­ standing achievement, not only because of the way in which money was raised to build it, or the method by which it was constructed, but also because of the build­ ing itself, its colorful and striking interior, its beautiful furnishings, its modern and convenient facilities. Many people, perhaps, do not realize that our hospital, thanks to the foresight and ingenuity of members of the Associa­ tion, has introduced many new advantages which can be found in few other hospitals. The building is a valuable asset to the community, a memorial to community co­ operation. Each of us should take the opportun­ ity afforded during the inspection days to see the South Huron Hospital. % Congratulations Since the official opening of Exeter Memorial Arena is being held tonight (Thursday), this is an appropriate time to express congratulations to the people re­ sponsible for the artificial ice centre. The commendations and thanks'of Ex­ eter citizens should be extended to Edward Brady, chairman, and members of the Com­ munity Centres Board, with members of the town council and other civic-minded persons who have ’helped in the renovation of the arena. The Arena is one of the better centres in tlie province and many favorable com­ ments are being heard, not only from local persons, but from those people who have visited many other similar buildings. It is, certainly, a recreation centre the town can be proud of. Praise is also due the arena manager, Doug Smith, and his assistant, Alvin Wil- lert, who have handle’d the operation of the arena efficiently since it was first opened. * * * ■» Worthy The two suggestions advanced by Councillors Andrew Snelgrove and Ralph Bailey at the inaugural session of town council last week are worthy of investiga­ tion. Mr. Snelgrove advocates paving of heavily-travelled town streets. He suggests that these roads can never be kept in good condition without hard-surfacing. Even with the extra treatment the gravel roads re­ ceived this year under Deputy-Reeve Wil­ liam McKenzie’s direction, some of the busier streets could not be kept in good condition. Hard-surfacing is an expensive pro­ position as Deputy-Reeve McKenzie sug­ gests. However, there may be ways in which the roads can be readied for paving and later some paving done each year. Just as important is the sewerage pro­ posal presented by Councillor Bailey. Mr. Bailey states that while there is a plan for sewer construction, this construction is not being carried out on a systematic or yearly basis. If it were, it would probably save the town many dollars when the time comes that a sewerage system is necessary. Both these suggestions are good ones, but of course they must be investigated more thoroughly before they could be adopted. The ideal way would be to draw up a town planning commission or committee which could lay down the fundamentals and necessities of the future in an orderly fashion. 50 YEARS AGO At a meeting of town council, George H. Bissett was re­ appointed clerk. It was moved to blow the steam whistle at the mill oi’ ring a bell at 6:45 and 7:00 a.m., 12 noon and 1:00 and 6:00 p.m. and to have the bell ring at 9:30 p.m. as a curfew. A hockey match will be played between Lucan and Exeter junior teams. Come out and encourage the boys to win. Admission, ladies and children 50, gentle­ men 100, members free. D.D.G.M. Gibson, of Lucan, paid his official visit to Exeter I.O.O.F. and installed J.P.G., J. G. Stanbury; N.G., R. Davis; V. G., Ed. Dignan, W., J. Hind; R. S., W. Johns; F.S., A. E. Fuke; treasurer, W. I-I. Trott. 25 YEARS AGO Harry Beaver, young son of Mrs. L. Beaver, London Road, north, had his left hand badly mangled in a root pulper. Horticultural Society elected William Ward, president; G. S. Howard, Miss V. Essery, vice- presidents; J. 'G. Stanbury, secretary-treasurer. Mrs. Silas Handford was feted by friends and neighbors on her eighty-seventh birthday. 15 YEARS AGO Charter night for Exeter Lions catcalls. ♦When those directing the game realize fans do not want to see dangerously rugged hockey, they will soon put their house in order. €xeter ®tmesi=$fobocate Mmes Established 1878 Amalgamated 1924 Advocate Established 1881 Published Each Thursday Morning, at Exeter, Ontario Aft independent Newspaper Devoted to the Interests Of the drown of Exeter and District Authorized as Second Class Mail, Dost 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, 1952 * 2,534 SUBSCRIPTION BATES Canada, in Advance, $8.00 a year •— United States, In advance, $1.00 a year Single Copies 70 Each Melvin Southcott * Publishers - Robert Southcott Jottings By J.M.S. Old Fire Bell In Museum the TIMES" Go By Club was held at Exeter Arena. Nine district clubs were repre­ sented at a banquet attended by 15 0, President Dr. W. E. Weekes accepted gifts from the visiting , clubs on behalf of the local club. South Huron Plowman’s As­ sociation elected Roland Wil­ liams, president; W. T. Quinn, vice-president; Gordon McDon­ ald, secretary, and Earl Sliapton, treasurer. Canadian Legion elected Sam Dougal president. One of the old landmarks of Exeter has been taken down and removed to the Huron County Museum at Goderich where it has been re-erected as it stood here since pioneer days. Few, if any, have noticed its departure from town, It was spotted by H. A. McCreatli, of Goderich, who is always on the lookout for ancient relics that might be add­ ed to the Huron collection. Per­ mission for its removal was granted by the town council. It is the 300-pound bell that stood outside the old fire-hall in Exeter North, then known as Francistown, and was possibly erected to sound its warning be­ fore the present town hall, with the bell in the belfry was used for similar occasions. The bell was mounted between two upright posts and when taken down it was found that it was hanging in a very precar­ ious state, as the supports which held it up had rotted away and the bell was hanging by • a slender thread. In the early days there were two volunteer fire departments in Exeter, one in the north and the other down town, and they occupied a more spectacular position in the social life of the community than they do at the present time. The firemen’s con­ certs and the firemen’s ball were social events of importance. In the early days there were no screaming motor-driven, high­ ly equipped fire engines to race through town at the sound of an alarm. Instead the fire­ fighting equipment was drawn by hand and the number of helpers to pull the engine and the hose reels increased as the crowd assembled. Yearly tourna­ ments were held in various cities and prizes awarded. The Exeter firemen competed on different occasions in London, Stratford and Brantford and in the latter city carried off top honors in a hose-reel race and brought home a very expensive silver filter tankard with the following in­ scription: “Brantford, 'June 3, 1885: First Prize, International Hose Reel Race" It is now in possession of chief Chambers. ■Competition was also keen be­ tween the two Exeter depart­ ments, It was a race between them to see who would be first in operation following the sound­ ing of the alarm. Similar tests were carried out by the Fire Underwriter’s Association and the speed in which the test was carried out was taken into con­ sideration in setting the fire insurance rates. The first engine I remember was the pumper. It was drawn by hand and with eight to ten men on each side working the handle bar up and down succeed­ ed in throwing a very creditable stream of water. The water supply was contained ill a num­ ber of underground tanks situat­ ed at strategic points throughout the village. There was one, at Huron street, others at Jaine3 and John streets and at almost every corner of Main street. They were built so that the rain water from the streets kept them filled, The first fire chiefs that I re­ member were William Treble in the south and John McLaughlin in the north. When.better fire­ fighting facilities were installed in the south the north-end de­ partment gradually disappeared. William Treble was succeeded by James Weekes and Mr. Weekes by John Norry who was succeeded by the present chief, William Chambers. Mr. Ed. Treble, son of Wil­ liam Treble, has in his possesion a gold-headed ebony walking stick that was won by his father in a popularity contest between Mr. Treble and Mr. McLaughlin. It was the year the Gidley Opera House was opened and at a fire-1 men’s concert and a small sum of money was paid for a vote. In 1920 Exeter purchased a new Watrous fire engine known as "the steamer”, It was an up­ right boiler type. Kindling and fuel were set beneath thAhoiler and when a fire alarm in the first on the scene ywtuld light the fire which burned while the engine was being towed to the fire, If a horse was: handy it would be commissioned to help pull the engine. The first test of the engine was made on the banks of the river and two streams were poured across the river, It was then taken to the James Street United Church where a large crowd gathered to see if the engine could throw the water to the top of the church steeple. It did, and the town was delighted with the new acquistion for fire­ fighting. In 1909 Exeter laid its first water mains running from the river to the library. The present stand-pipe was built the same year, During the next two years pipes were laid on the remainder of Main Street, the side streets and in Exeter North, and the old wooden tanks were done away with. The first motor-driven engine, a Ruggles, was purchased second­ hand from London in 1927. Per­ haps James Grieve will remem­ ber a trial run shortly after the engine arrived. He was standing on the back running board and was accidentally shoved off just before arriving at the hydrant at Huron street. He hung on to one of the supports and was dragged for some distance. At the same time just before the engine stopped, Richard Davis, another fireman, fell off the same running board. Some of the more familiar names belonging to the brigade under Chief Weekes were Ed. Treble, Samuel Sweet, Silas I-Iandford, William Creech, Eli Snell, George Anderson, William Ealkwill. The brigade numbered 18 men. The north-end brigade had 12 men. For six days a week the men gathered at the town hall in the evenings, to be on duty so they said, in case of fire. They had a room of their' own and played euchre, six-handed euchre or five-hundred. Promptly at ten o’clock the games were called off. ' IO YEARS AGO Fire threatens business sec­ tion. Breaks out in W. E. Middle­ ton’s bakery while the worst storm of the season was raging. Large brick oven cracked from heat and water. Four and a half tons of flour and quantities of baking materials were destroyed. Estimated damage, between $8,000 and $10,000, was covered by insurance. Severe storm visited area January 19. Traffic tied up, train unable to get through. Temperature below zero. Henry Eilber, former M.L.A., died in his eighty-sixth year. A life-long resident of Crediton, he was reeve of Stephen township for three years and township clerk for 35 years. For 53 years Mr. Eilber was secretary-teasurer of Hay Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company. NEIGHBORS (MifiiiiiiiiiiiHinriniiiiiihiiiiiiiriitiiHiiiitiiHtfiitiititiiiintiiuiiiHiitiiiiitiiii News From Our Goderich Legal Authority Calls CT A Xrazy Setup7 A prominent legal authority in Goderich viciously attacked “that crazy CTA setup” in Hu­ ron county according to a To­ ronto Globe and Mail ‘report from the county town. The story, written by Fred Nossal, said: The more bottles of liquor a party brings to a public dance the easier it is to escape the law, a prominent legal authority of this town said. Under what he called “that crazy CTA setup,” a person may drink liquor anywhere, any time The Reader Comments Letters to the editor published hereunder represent the views of .individual persons. We Invite onr readers to make use of this column. To Sell System Subscribers of the Goderich Township Municipal Telephone System at a special meeting in the town hall, Clinton, Thursday afternoon voted by ballot in favor of selling their system to the Bell Telephone Company of Canada. No actual negotiations have yet taken place with the company. Of the 300 subscribers of the system, 77 per cent attended the meeting with 135 voting in, favor of selling, and 96 in favor of maintaining the system. Bert Rowden pointed out that the system, which has no debts, had been handed down to the subscribers from their fore­ fathers, who built and paid for it when times were bad. (Clinton News-Record) New Exchange The new telephone exchange office of the McKillop, Logan and Hibbert Telephone Company is now ready and the switch­ board will be moved next Tues­ day afternoon to the new build­ ing, which has been erected be­ side the old one in Dublin. The new building is of frame con­ struction and insulated, 19 by 38 feet, with full basement and oil heating. The carpentry work was done by Henry Leonhardt, Of Brodhagen, and the cement work by Earl Dick. All equip­ ment with the exception of the switchboard will be new. (Seaforth News) Agent Retires ML W- J. Masters of Ailsa. Craig is retiring today from ac­ tive duty" as station agent with the C.N.R., after 48 years spent as station agent. He was agent at Bluevale for 26 years, pre­ vious to coming to Parkhill, where he was agent for 17 years, and for the past five years has been agent at Ailsa Craig, (Darkhill Gazette) Elect Officials At the annual meeting of North Huron Plowmen^ As­ sociation, held last week in Brussels, Elmer Dennis, il.it 1, Walton, was re-elected president of the gfoup, while named agdin for office were Harry Sturdy, of Auburn, vice-president; Elston Cardiff, of Brussels, secretary­ treasurer; William Perrie, Brus­ sels, assistant secretary. (Huron Expositor) Biddulph Officials Biddulph Township officials for 1953 are as follows: Clerk, Frank K. Hudson; treasurer, Clare B. Westman; assessor, C. A. Abbott; tax collector, Robert Rainey; road superintendent, Thomas A. Hodgins; medical officer of health, Dr. F. S. Kipp; sanitary inspector, John W. Beat- son; weed inspector, James Mc­ Intosh; truant officer, James McIntosh; live stock valuators, Frank Hardy, John W. Beatson; fence viewers, Melville Westman, James D. Dewan, Harold Cour­ sey. Injured Near Monkton Grant Mills, of Woodham, medical student a.t the University of Western Ontario, is in Vic­ toria Hospita, London, with knee injuries and his wife is in Lis- towel Hospital as a result of an accident in which their small car collided with another car1 parked alongside of a sanding truck at a, bend at Monkton last Sunday while a party Of some 15 medical students were return­ ing in several cars from a skiing expedition to the Orangeville dis­ trict. Two others in the Mills car were taken to Listowel Hos­ pital, but were later released. (St. Marys* Joutnal-Argus) To Have Banquet At a recent executive meeting of the Hensall District Co­ operative it was decided to have a hot turkey dinner in conjunc­ tion with their annual meeting in the Community Centre I-iall, Zurich, on Wednesday evening, February 4, when the guest speaker will be Mr, A. McLean, United Co-Oi). director, of Muir* kirk, Ontario, (Zurich Herald) Co-ed*. "Is It natural to shrink from kissing?" Prof, "if it was, my dear? most college girls would be no­ thing ibtit skin and hones," Scores Cardiff For 'Propeganda7 Mr. Elston Cardiff states that the price of Cuban sugar is low because of cheap labour in Cuba. I should like to point out to Mr. Cardiff that labour costs do not determine the price Can­ adians .pay for products on the market. Hf I could draw a few com­ parisons closer to home perhaps Mr. Cardiff could see my point. A few years ago workers in the Exetei’ canning factory were re­ ceiving 650 per hour and in the Aylmer factory of Canadian Can- ners the labourers were receiv­ ing 950 per hour. Did the canned products of the Aylmer factory sell, for more than those of the Exeter factory? I think not. The clerks in the London stores undoubtedly receive higher wages than in the Exeter stores, but prices are no higher in Lon­ don than in Exeter. If there were two farmers side by side and one farmer paid his hired man $100 per qjonth and the other farmer paid'his $150 per month; would the farmer who paid $100 sell his sugar beets for less than his neighbor? I think not—the price of sugar beets, as for any other product, is determined by market condi­ tion and the price has no con­ nection with the cost of produc­ tion. These few cases will possibly slrbw Mr, Cardiff that labour wages do not necessarily deter­ mine the price that the products Sell for on the market. If Mr, Cardiff’s statement is an example of the propoganda that Ontario’s politicians use to get votes, than I say it is time the public were properly in­ formed. If our politicians cannot or are unwilling to properly rep­ resent public affairs, then our local newspapers should per­ form the task of analyzing cur­ rent topics tor the public. I am not saying that the Cuban, sugar treaty was not badly handled or that, there should hot be a tariff on import* ed sugar. But those people that are advocating high tariffs for, Canada should be able to justify thfeir beliefs on sound principles not on misrepresented facts. Donald A. Traquaif a’s long as it is “for his personal or family- use.” The Canada Temperance Act does not permit the sale of in­ toxicating liquor in I-I u r o n county or its neighbor county of Perth except in the City of Stratford. Therefore, there are iro beverage rooms or bars, no liquor or brewers’ retail stores. All liquor drunk in the two counties is either supplied by bootleggers or shipped in from areas under the Liquor Control Act. The CTA says you can drink liquor as long as it’s your own. Therefore, it would be illegal for you to take a drink offered by a friend—whether it be in your home or anywhere else. In a dance hall, suppose a man took his fiancee there it would be safer—legally—for him to bring his own bottle and for her to bring her own. Under the CTA they would be within the law.- A As a result, the police rarely try to enforce the law when it’s a question of liquor. The act is So involved that a good lawyer can usually get his ’client out of trouble somehow. The police are powerless t,o arrest a man seen drinking in his car unless he drives off in front of their noses and they can prove that his ability is impaired. “But you’ll realize that we can’t be in 20 spots at the same time,” one police officer pointed out. "A man can be lying dead drunk in the gutter with a bottle Of whisky by his side and if he is not creating a disturbance or using obscene language we can’t touch him there. It’s wicked." Despite the CTA, there is plenty of liquor in Goderich and the rest of Huron and Perth counties—if you know where to look for it. In this town three "bottle clubs” supply most of the drink. They have numerous clients. The clubs ate the Huron Chief, the Park House and the Anchor Club. Authorities in the town know' all about the clubs, how they operate, who own them, who drinks there. But, neverthe­ less, the clubs thrive and make money. To join the clubs is simple. You pay a low initiation fee. Then you are charged $6 for a case of 24 pint bottles. But you don’t get the drink immediately. You sign an order form, give the bootlegger your liquor permit and he has your own personal and private liquor “shipped” in from an LCA region. All he does in effect is store and cool your private liquor for you — and charge you 50 per cent on top of the ordinary sale price. At one stage, a Goderich bottle club was making as much as $100 a day profit (tax free). Asked why the peope of Hu­ ron County did not vote the CTA out, a Goderich town official ex­ plained that they were afraid of beverage rooms returning to the town. In 19 35, William Varley, rep­ resenting the Moderation League of Toronto, drank a glass of whisky in a Cooksville hotel to test the validity of the CTA. He was fined $100 and costs in a magistrate’s court. Appeals went to successively higher courts until the case came before the Privy Council in 1939 but was shelved when war was declared. Not until 194 6 did the Privy Council rule that the act was intra vires and still in force. Licenses granted to several ho­ tels and clubs in CTA counties were immediately cancelled. In 19 47, the CTA was in force in Peel, Perth and Huron coun­ ties and Manitoulin Island. But in May of 1949 Manitoulin voted 2-1 against retention of the act on the grounds that there was no control of drinking on the island and that corruption of minors was becoming shameful. The same argument was suc­ cessful in Grand Bend, Lake Hu­ ron summer resort village, in May, 19 51. Upon incorporation as a village Grand Bend voted to become a part of Lambton County, which is under the LCA, rather than a part of Huron County. In the last days of De­ cember, 1951, Peel County of­ ficially repealed the CTA. That leaves Huron and Perth as the only two counties in the entire Dominion to hang on to the Canada Temperance Act. County officials blame ignor­ ance of the people for the fact that the CTA is still in force. They add that few of the two counties’ citizens realize the traps of the CTA and its poten­ tial dangers. There were 422,313 more un­ married men than women in Canada at the time of the 1951 census.* * * * Canadians smoked less than 1,100 cigarettes per capita last year; in the same yeai’ Ameri­ cans smoked more than 2.,500 cigarettes.