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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1953-04-09, Page 2Page 2 THE TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 9, 1953 This journal shall always fight for progress, reform an# public welfare, never be afraid to at­ tack wrong, never belong to any political party, never be satisfied with merely printing news. THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 9, 1953 Joint Effort Co-operation Necessary For Pinery Project Misinformed When a politician, especially a minister of the government, openly admits making deliberate misleading statements in the House of Commons, citizens must find it a problem to determine what is taking place in the capital. We refer to the recent news item which appeared in The Stratford Beacon-Herald recently when C. D, Howe, minister of Trade and Commerce, visited Perth county. • According to that paper, a sugar beet grower ask the minister if he was aware that at least 25 earloads of Cuban refined sugar had entered this area since he had made his statement in the house that no more Cuban refined sugar would enter beet­ growing- areas. Mr. llowe replied that he had said there would be. no “direct” ship­ ments and that these carloads hud not come directly. The grower asked Mr, Howe, and we quote from the* article, “Then the statement you made in the House was of no value, it was only a shield?”, Mr. Howe’s reply was, and again we quote, “That's right”. Is it any wonder, in view of the fore­ going, the Canadian public is often mis­ informed on government business? # TV T? W Leadership? Recently this newspaper wrote The Royal Canadian Mounted Police headquar­ ters and requested, among- other things, a list of those organizations which were con­ sidered organs of Communism in Canada. This is the reply we received: “I am. very sorry to have to inform you that I am unable to comply with your re­ quest concerning the submission of a list of certain organizations which are presently operating in the Country. The existing pol­ icy of the Government does not permit this Force to divulge information such as you de­ sire, and it is regretted therefore that, un­ der these circumstances, I am unable to be of assistance to you in this matter.” We presume from this statement that a citizen of this country is unable to find out what organizations now operating in Canada are Communist. Isn’t it rather appalling to realize that our government is not only shielding and protecting the existence of Communist or­ ganizations in this country but also permit­ ting them to operate under numerous, innocent-appearing- disguises to dupe the public and seduce them into supporting the overthrow of democracy ? One might think the government, even if it was not bold enough to outlaw Communists, would at least provide its people with the names of their? organizations, The government’s leadership in this fight is pathetic. # W tC* Coronation Interest and excitement concerning the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II is mount­ ing as the date for that historic ceremony draws near. The marvelous pageantry of the event, combined with the popularity and beauty of the queen to be crowned, will make the Coronation one of the most mem­ orable occasions in British history. The Times-Advocate rarely tries to pre­ sent to its readers any accounts of events other than local. However, since the Cor­ onation promises such widespread interest, this newspaper will give as complete a cover­ age as possible. Already, through fortunate Circumstances, we have contracted for spe­ cial services which we think our readers will enjoy, These include a special Coronation supplement written and prepared by some of the United Kingdom’s best journalists and an on-the-scene report by a famous Can­ adian writer, * x- * a- Yous farmers want to keep your boys at home. Don’t let them go up to the city; keep them on the farm—the temptations is more pure.—A Senator, speech at Paken- ham, Opt,, election campaign of 1921, The suggestion that The Pinery might be purchased by the Ausable Valley Con­ servation Authority for $35,000 comes as a pleasant surprise for persons interested in this project. It was thought previously that the cost of buying this land would be almost one hundred times as much and might prevent the people of Western Ontario from acquir­ ing this outstanding area as a public play­ ground. The $35,000 figure was set by a firm of independent appraisers who, apparently, examined the land closely and arrived at the estimate after careful consideration. The re­ port suggested that if expropriation proceed.’ ings were taken, the Authority might acquire the land for around this sum. If this estimate is correct, then there can be little doubt of the adviseability of acquiring the property, Considered as a pro­ vincial park, it has the potential of being by far the most outstanding recreation area in Western Ontario if not the province. But, as the report points out, the great­ est necessity for public ownership of land is the preservation of the protective forest which covers the greatest portion of the LOOO-acre property. Should this forest be cut down with private development, the sands might be driven inland, destroying the Thedford flats, the Bluewater Highway and other inland property. This would be dis­ astrous. There will be considerable discussion over the proposals of development contained m the. report. The suggestion is that $ six- man commission be organized with one re­ presentative from each of the counties of Huron, Lambton and Middlesex, the cities of London and Sarnia and the Ausable Authority. This would appear, at first sight, to be reasonable since this covers the area which the park would mostly serve, not only from the standpoint of recreation, but also from the standpoint of increased trade because of an increase in influx of U.S. tourists. The report asks that each of the muni­ cipalities represented on the commision con­ tribute $5,000 for each of three years dur­ ing the development stage. This perhaps will meet with considerable opposition, The three counties involved, to our knowledge, have never before contributed funds for any project which might be con­ sidered similar to this one. It is conceivable that these counties might cling to a narrow­ minded view that this project does not con­ cern any property within their jurisdiction. With the exception of Lambton county, this assertion would be quite true. However, in the overall picture, the development of the park is definitely in the interests of all the area and the components should certainly contribute to it. It is hoped that there will be enough members in these councils who, after studying the plan, will lend their sup­ port to the project. The province, of course, will have to assert its' readiness to contribute in the fa­ shion outlined in the report. Under the pro­ posal, the Ontario government would for­ ward grants totalling almost three-quarters of the entire cost of the project. Only through heavy provincial assistance will it be a success. However, it is only right that the pro­ vince should not take the initiative in this project. The municipalities most concerned should show their interest and readiness to contribute before the province starts pouring­ funds into the project. We would urge that officials in the municipalities this newspapei' serves—town­ ships and urban centres in South Huron, North Middlesex and North Lambton—study the proposal and give it fair consideration. It will require,, as mentioned before, a broad­ minded .view of cooperation to achieve a public good. It is our opinion that the goal, in this case a public park in The Pinery, merits participation. * * X- The parent who could see his boy as he really is would shake his head and say: "Willie is no good, I’ll sell him?’—-Stephen B. Leacock, "The Lot of the Schoolmaster”, McLean’s magazine, September 1915. London Free Press Jottings By J.M.S. Roads Annual Spring Exeter’s new grader has been doing a good job in keeping the roads in fair shape this season. Road building has been a rather expensive proposition all through the years. At this season of the year when the frost is coining out of the ground the roads of town and country take quite a beat­ ing and present motor traffic requires a firm roadbed. Year after year with the spring break-up the bottom seems to drop out of the roads in many places. This year, however, with the mild winter, the damage to 3the roads has not been as great as in some seasons. I am thinking of one spring on the road to Grand Bend when a number of sink holes appeared in the roadbed, and car after car had to be t owed through with a team of horses. That season whole loads of hay or straw were dumped into the holes. The spring break-up of the roals is an old story. Before the days of the railroad when truck­ ing was done by team to London oi’ Stratford, farmers have been called out in ’ the middle of the night to' render assistance to a stalled traveller. Often a part of the load was demanded as a remuneration. The same thing was repeated in the early days of auto traffic. Some mud holes proved to be a lucrative business for close-by farmers. It was even suggested the holes were water­ ed by night in some instances to reap the sheckles of a stalled motorist. A person driving a car in those days was supposed to have money. During the past week I have been marking out and assisting in cutting down trees for a new road in the Southcott Pines Park at Grand Bend, With a chain saw, in no time at all a tree is felled, trimmed and cut up. A bulldozer, with a little man- oeuvering, will soon remove the stumps and roots. What a change from the early days when with axe and saw and blasting powder trees were felled and the roots and stumps taken out. Some of the early pioneers earned their first money in building what was then known as the London Road. When these roads were first built, roads known as corduroy roads were built over marshy places. They were built of logs placed across the roads one after another. Wood was cheap and the trees that were felled were cut up for the roads. One of my earliest recollec­ tions was a corduroy road in Stephen Township. It was any­ thing but smooth, earth filling the hollow spots between the logs. On either side was swampy ground where snakes were not uncommon. On one occasion while visiting at my grandfather's farm, what seemed to me like a.’very large snake entered one part of the log dwelling and out another and no one seemed unduly alarmed. When the Dashwood road was rebuilt a few years ago many of those old logs were dug up. One of the things I recall very vividly about road building in Exeter's Main street was the Headache loads of gravel that used to be teamed in in gravel-boxes, now a thing of the past. A gravel-box was supposed to contain a yard of gravel and was loaded by manual labor and shovel. To unload the box one of the side boards was raised by prying it up and the end boards removed. The bottom of the box was of two-inch lumber and about four inches across rounded at the ends and as each piece was lifted out the gravel fell to the road. Team after team for days and weeks at a time were employed to gravel the roads. The grayel was spread by manual labor and many will recall the days when Walter Westcott and several others with their stone hammers put the finishing touches to gravelling the main street. There was no screening or crushing of the gravel in those days and fair-sized stones were mingled with the gravel, These had to be broken, The workers placed one foot on the stone and then cracked it with a stone hammer that had about a three- foot handle. Walter had a club foot and likewise a ready wit which is one of the reasons he stands out in memory. The work of cracking the stones lasted' for a number of weeks each year. It is doubtful if you will find another municipality in the pro­ vince situated as Exeter is. It is close to the centre of a stretch of road running for 30 miles north and south and 25 miles east and west without a single turn in either road. Times Established 1873 Amalgamated 19S4 Advocate Established 1881 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario An Independent Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of the Town of Exeter and District Authorized as second Class Mall, Post Office Department, Ottawa Member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Member of the Ontario-Quebec Division of the CiWNA Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Paid-in-Advance Circulation as of March, 1$52 2,534 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada, in advance, $3.00 a year United States, in Advance, $4.00 a year Single Copies 7^ Bach X Melvin Southcott * Publishers - Robert Southcott •’ Canadiana: A bald headed eagle, one of the rarest birds on the continent and practically ex­ tinct, was caught in a trap placed by Ferdinand Boissinot of LaBro- querie, Manitoba; the wing span was 7 feet 2 in. . . . Parks chair­ man Aid. Melvin at Vernon, B.C., says what was needed there is, “good, old fashioned policeman who knows where to be and when, to creep up on these fellows and give it to them in the neck” ... At Wiarton, Ont., town council meeting Councillor Kearns reported that a local youth, not even a member of the brigade, had taken the fire truck out recently when the alarm went off, without bothering to wait for any firemen. “He went up the hill, which was icy, vainly chased by at least one fireman.” The Mayor and Mr. Kearns point­ ed out the seriousness of the matter . . . Cow owned by J. H. Doell of Plum Coulee, Man., pro­ duced six sets of twins . < < "The true challenge of our day is to bring God back into .government, back into education, and back into our daily community life” M. Grattan O’Leary of the Ot­ tawa .journal told the Bort Credit Rotary Club . . . Can this be matched in Canada, asks the Yar­ mouth (NS) Herald referring to the S. & Hood jewellery store there, bearing the Same name, Initials and carrying oh business continuously for 80 years . , , . The Bert Davey skipped rink Of- Balcarres, Sask., •which took part in a bonspiel at Gillespie, four members ages totalled 291 years; played eight games, won six of them. At Galt, Ont. police office, man walked in with a Wallet containing $50 which he had found, "With a name like I have, 1 can't help being honest” said A, V. Crook to the desk man . . , Carmichael McNay retired as an official of the Crows Nest Pass Coal Co. in Alberta, after 63 years in coal mining. . . The editor of the Rosetown (Sask) Eagle returned from a trip east, and wearily wrote, “we are con- vinced now that we will just have to tip and tip because it's a racket that cannot be beat” . . . The Dundalk, Ont., Herald has a story on Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brodie who have carried the mail on RR No. 1 Maxwell route steady since 1917, have covered 300,000 miles, . . Hartland, NB’ Observer tell story of two Indians who watched construc­ tion of a lighthouse oil north- GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE by Harry Mace “I ought to hit him in the face with it.” Maclean’s Magazine west coastt,- until it began func­ tioning. Then a heavy fog blew in, the light reyolved, the horn tooted continuously. One Indian turned to the other, triumphant­ ly said: “I told you white witch doctor big bum ... light shine, bell ding, dong, horn woo, but fog come rolling in just the same.” • The Indian Head (Sask) News commenting on new ways for tar-gathering says: "One of these days some bright soul is going to equip a plane with a .combination radar, TV and elec­ tric eye, and he’s going to see what you have in the root cellar besides roots.’ • Annoyed is the Egahsville, Ont., Leader: "In newspaper of­ fices everywhere there is little but pity and contempt for the anony­ mous letter writer, the individual who, narrow-minded, biased and cowardly, ashamed or afraid to sign his name to the product of a poisoned mind, seeks to gain the privilege of Using a news­ paper’s - space to spread false witness, to garble tlje truth and in devious ways to ’ harm those against whom he holds some grievance, read or fancied.” • Stettler (Alta) Independ­ ent: In these days we depreciate large families and prefer, more tractors, more combines, more autos instead of more children. There is §_o much* to do now to keep up with the social Whirl . . we extend our sympathy to any young couple who have mote thari two children. • The continuing stream of evidence about such extravaganc­ es will prevent much enthusiasm about the latest reduction in tax­ ation, warns the High River, Alta. Times, .pointing out that even the Liberal Winnipeg Free Press is asking why television stations erected by CBC in Mont­ real and Toronto cost $3 million while a new and powerful tele- viion station in Bellingham, Washington, near Vahcoutver, B.tt, cost only 50 YEARS AGO Temperature during March ranged from a low of. 12° to a high of 76° which was an ave­ rage of 10° warmer than in any previous year. S. M. Sanders was in Toronto in connection with the Farmer's Co - Operative Harvesting Ma­ chine Company and has accepted a position as manager for the County of Huron for the sale of stock. Mr. Hay ter, for the past 33 years postmaster in Harpley, Stephen township, where there is a daily mail, receives the mag- nificient salary of seven cents a day. Needless to say he continues to hold the job more for the accomodation of his neighbors than for the salary. Mr. Samuel Rowe has moved his family to Exeter into the house recently vacated by Albert Pym, Huron St. 25 YEARS AGO Boy's Hobby Fair, conducted by Southcott Brothers, was very successful. Articles including bird houses, boats, aeroplanes are on display at their store. Judges are A. E. Fuke, J. Senior and T. Pryde. Two winners will each receive suit of clothes from S. M. Sanders Co. and each exhibi­ tor will receive a jack-knife. A joint meeting of Town Council, Chamber of Commerce, Library Board, Home'and School Club and Board of Education was held to consider arrange­ ments for accomodation of pri­ mary class now using the library. Moved by B. W. F. Beaver and S. M. Sanders that the Board of Education submit plan for in­ creased accomodation to the council and then to ratepayers. A committee -was appointed to visit school and bring in report. Mary Cann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S, J. . V. Cann, was U the TIMES" Go By knocked down by an automobile but suffered only minor injuries. 15 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs* William Smith were honored by the congrega­ tion of Caven Presbyterian Church before leaving for their new home in Forest. The tax rate was set at 34 mills less one mill for govern­ ment subsidy at a recent meet­ ing of town council. Trueman EUiott, who has been in London for a number of years, is reopening a cleaning and pressing establishment in the Senior building. A touch of winter visited the district this week. Trees are al­ most in leaf and some ambitious gardeners have early vegetables planted. Miss Ann Turnbull, R.N., left for New York after spending the last three months with ‘her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Turn­ bull. Miss Turnbull sailed on the Queen Mary on April 6 for an extended visit abroad. 10 YEARS AGO Exeter branch of the Red Cross and the Lion’s Club are planning a blood donor clinic for Exeter and district. Miss Mildred M. Hackney and Ray M. Broderick were married, at manse of Thames Road United Church. F/L Thomas Pryde, who for the past ten months has been a member of the staff of No. 9 Recruiting Centre, London, has been transferred to Toronto. Mrs. CeciL Walker, who re­ cently sold her farm stock in Stephen Township, has moved to London. Dr. R. H. Taylor, Dashwood, addressed the Exeter Lions Club on the subject, “What Road Canada," News From Our NEIGHBORS PUO Manager Resigns Although’ it has not yet been brought before a meeting of the St. Marys Public Utilities Com­ mission, it has been made known that a letter of resignation has been received* from Secretary- Manager Arthur E. Fort. Mr, Fort is said to have accepted a position with the Port Colborne Public Utilities Commission. It is expected that the resignation will be dealt with at the next P.U.C. meeting. (St, Marys Journal-Argus) New Clinton C.O. It has been announced by Air Force Headquarters that Group Captain Harold C. Ashdown, MBE, 4 8, Montreal, is appointed Commanding Officer of RCAF Station Clinton. Croup Captain Ashton will replace W/C B. G. Miller, CD, who has been Acting Commanding Officer since the sudden death of Group Captain E. A. D. Hutton. The new CO is a native of London, England, and joined the RCAF in 1940 as a telecommuni­ cations officer. He was later named signals officer of RCAF Station Patricia Bay on. Canada’s Pacific coast and was subsequent­ ly appointed to the position of Command Signal Officer at Vic­ toria, B.C. G/C Ashdown pro­ ceeded overseas in March 1944 and returned in January 1947 after an appointment at Overseas Headquaurters as senior signals officer. (Clinton News-Record) Returned From Florida Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gingerich and daughter of the Babylon line and Mr. Simon Greb, of Exeter,- have returned home from tlieir three month stay in var­ ious parts of Florida and return­ ed home on Friday. After tour­ ing through the mountainous states of Kentucky and Teiies- see with their fine equipped trailer, they have part of home wherever they stopped, arriving home without a scratch which really made the trip a real pleasure. The Herald editor and wife are very grateful to _ the Gingerich family for presenting them with one of the large citrus grape fruits measuring 17 inches in circumference, d gift from Florida. This was a thoughtful gesture, as the editor has been kept so busy that a trip like this is out of the question for them just now. So we again say thank you for the treat and we are pleased to see all of our tourists safe home again, (Zurich Herald) Manager Resigns Seaforth’s enterprising a n-d capable manager of the Com­ munity Centre and Lions Park for the past four seasons, Leo Stephenson, will next week step into a new position following his resignation from the two offices he handled so well here, Mr. Stephenson becomes district sales manager for Thompson Confec­ tions, St. Marys. Following 22 years’ ownership and operation of a general store at Constance, Mr. Stephenson sold the business to Borden Brown, Constance, and later went into a partnership with W. T. Teall, town, in the establish­ ment of Seaforth Motors. (Huron Expositor) Crime Wave During the last two weeks seven break-ins in Clinton have been reported to police. All of them occuring within the town, a total of close to $400 has been looted. All signs point toward work done by local thieves, as Chief of Police G. L. Robertson reports that each of the break- ins was engineered in the same manner, In each case, a window was broken; entrance was gained; little ransacking was evident, as though the thieves knew just where to go. (Clinton News-Record) Couriers Get Raise Mr. Robert McCubbin, M.P. for West Middlesex, chairman of the committee appointed to study the working,, conditions of the rural mail couriers, has suc­ ceeded in obtaining higher pay for the couriers. The bill to pro­ vide increased compensation re­ ceived final reading in the House on Tuesday. All members of the committtee; which was non-pav- tisaii, agreed that further assist­ ance should be given and advo­ cated establishing a system whereby the tendering for rural mail contracts would not be necessary. (Parhill Gazette) "Apple pic, French hpple pie, apple pandowdy, applesauce, baked apple — I had to marry a schoolteacher!”