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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1953-11-12, Page 2Page 2 THE TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 12, 1953 This jpurnad shall always fight for progress, reform and public welfare, never be afraid to at­ tack wrong, never belong tP any political party, never be satisfied with merely printing news. THURSDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 12, 1953 From Our Surplus Can We Give Food To Starving People? Dilemma "Tis shameful to admit, but we became a party to law-breaking this week. It was a deliberate offense, too. Despite the fact we knew the selling of tobacco in any form is prohibited in Exeter by by-law, we sneaked across the street and demanded to purchase some of the filthy stuff from a local store. In horror, we dis­ covered a member of the police force was in the building. We were relieved, however, when he appeared not to notice our illegal transaction. (He was afraid to arrest us, we suspect, because he was puffing on a fag himself.) Ah! ‘tis a sad state when the gendarmes ignore their duty. Our conscience is bur­ dened because -we could expose a great num­ ber of crimes committed by stores who han­ dle the abhorred and wretched weed. Our police do nothing! Yet we ourselves are cap­ tivated by the habit and relish the reckless feeling of consistently beating the law. Unfortunately, we write this in the eve­ ning and hence we find ourselves leaning towards the opinion that the law is outdated and should be rescinded immediately. In the morning, however, the taste in our mouth may persuade us to campaign for stricter enforcement of tobacco prohibition. A weekly newspaper publisher an­ nounced he is going to wage an intensive campaign to persuade the government to ship surplus food in Canada to countries which need it. He feels strongly that Christian Can­ adians should not stockpile mountains of food, which it cannot possibly use or sell, while people in underprivileged countries are starving. Most Canadians must feel the same way. The problem would exist of embursing the farmer for his produce but it seems al­ most certain that this will be done by the government in any case, as it has in the past. If this plan of exporting food gifts to needy countries is feasible at all, it should be seriously considered. Action Members of the Exeter Public School Board must be commended for taking pub­ lic action against the sale of cigarettes to minors. Because they were alarmed at the amount of tobacco which the children re­ ceive, the members requested police and town council cooperation to restrict the sale to minors. Too often a board is tempted to avoid such a problem because it might stir un­ pleasant controversy. Many public bodies ignore similar issues rather than create any hard feelings. We hope the Exeter Public School Board will continue its action until a satis­ factory remedy is effected. Male Defence Are women better drivers than men ? A number of surveys have answered “yes”, but The Christian Science Monitor comes to the defense of the male'of the species: Every so often comes a survey on the comparative driving abilities of male and fe­ male motorists. Enlisting in one of these, the Hudson Motor Company has produced the usual verdict in favor of women operators. On actual count, made by a team of touring observers, male drivers were found getting into much more trouble than women drivers. While we rise to denounce carelessness on the roads in any of its numerous guises, the maligned male driver appears to be in need of a champion. Some years ago a team of radio comedians professed to have made the discovery that black horses ate more hay than white horses. But on further research they found that the reason black horses ate more than white horses was that there were more black horses. Without condoning violations of high­ way rules by motorists of either sex, it might be suggested that more men than women drivers get into trouble behind the driving wheel because—well because there are sev­ eral times as many male drivers. The Hud­ son survey, of course, was conducted by two women.. And this editorial was written by— guess who ? THE WOLF IS BACK AT THE DOOR Jottings By J.M.S. Tragic Storm 40 Years Ago 50 YEARS AGO To meet the demands of his increasing trade and the com­ fort of the traveling public, Ai­ derman Gillespie brought home from London, a news bus, up-to- date in every respect. The old one has been superannuated and relegated to the backyard. Harvey Bros. are renovating th© exterior of their grist mill. Mr. Edward Howard held an auction sale and will move to London where he has taken a position with the London Street Car Company. Mr. C. Dayman, who purchased a hors© at Mr, McLeod’s sale, was unfortunate when endeavor­ ing to lead it home. The horse /resisted, tightening the noose around its neck and after about 20 minutes, fell down strangled ' to death. Mrs. A. Box and two children left for Barwick, Rainy River District, where she will reside with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. Peterson. the TIMES" Go By moved from Usborne township to Exeter last week. Go It Alone? The Rural Co-operator says that if On­ tario farmers are going to plump for inclu­ sion of the two-price system as part of a national farm policy for Canada they should include with that suggestion strong support for international commodity agreements and establishment of an international food re­ serve program—a World Food Board of an International Commodity Clearing House or whatever other name it may acquire. There is not doubt, continues The Co­ operator, that two-price systems have been used and are being used by countries seek­ ing to export markets for agriculture pro­ ducts. How successful two-price systems have been in securing markets is difficult to estimate. “Two-pricing might be quite successful temporarily, or for a particular product of which only a small volume is traded outside the domestic market. But ordinarily when exports are offered for sale at less than do­ mestic price importing countries are quick to slap on duties that will bring the price up to the level at which the product is be­ ing sold at home. “Even if Canadian exports were not likely to be increased in price by duties that would return the price to the Canadian level, tlieir sale abroad in any great quan­ tity could begin a downward spiral agri-- cultural commodity prices in world of mar­ kets. Other countries would follow suit and if the United States were to dump her huge surpluses at lower and lower prices to com­ pete on a falling world market, disaster could be in sight. Domestic prices would not remain high for long, if world prices fell to low levels. “If agricultural surpluses generally are to be sold abroad at lower-than-domestic prices Without undermining world markets it will have to be by agreement between ex­ porting and importing countries—either un­ der international commodity agreements, or preferably, under the direction of an inter­ national agency, representative of exporting A Farmer's Pleas (Dundalk Herald) “I’m just one of those country hicks Who comes from ’way out in the stocks To voice my woe and make a plea For all the other boobs like me. We work like heck six days a week, And when, we’re done we like to streak To our home town to buy our eats And meet our neighbors on the streets. And if we do there’s hell to pay; We can’t take off no working day, You folks in town don’t think it’s right To hog the streets on farmers’ night; You’ve got your cars parked on the street Before we hicks sit down to eat. Then we must slop hogs and feed the sows, Coax all the juice from bossy cows; Pick up the eggs, coop up the hen; Shave off the whiskers (if we’re men!). Dress in overalls and calico— Since wheat has gone so gosh-darned low— Crank up thg flivver, give her juice, Then start for town . . . but what’s the use? The streets arc lined far up and down . . . With cars of folks who live in town, Who seem to think it’s quite a treat To see us “rubes” stagger up the street With butter jars and eggs and cream— To lug that stuff six blocks or more— You walk until your feet get sore. Your shoulders ache, you’re seeing red, And wish that you were home in bed, And then you spy that yellow paint That’s put just where the autos ain’t. There’s two cars where there should be three, They’ve straddled that there mark, you see. It’s our town, too, so please be fair. We want to spend our nickles there. You’ve watched us long enough to see— We need a parking place, by gee. • Tlie greatest tragedy ever to strike tlie Great Lakes occurred 4'0' years ago this week when scores of vessels disappeared and it was estimated that 265 sea­ men lost their lives and damage to the vessels was in the neighbor­ hood of five million dollars. The number of lives lost on Lake Huron was 197 and the rest perished on Lakes Superior and Michigan. It was on Sunday, November 9, 1913, that the storm broke and. raged for two days, the gale reaching 60 miles an hour. The storm started in the morn­ ing with a drizzling rain, turning to sleet in the afternoon and by night a blizzard was raging. Within an hour after the storm broke, the lake was lashed into fury, curling the waters into great billows that lashed the decks of the vessels. Oil Tuesday morning, Robert Turnbull, of Stephen, sighted a body, standing bolt upright in the water, about a quarter of a mile from shore with his frozen hands and arms outstretched out of the water. Fishermen and farmers patrolled the beach and found 12 bodies, some wearing lifebelts from the S.S. Wexford and others with the name of Price. The Wex­ ford with crew of 24 had foun­ dered off the shore near Gode­ rich. The S.S. Charles S. Price, with a crew of 22, was found, bottom side up, near the mouth of the St. Clair river. It was al­ most a week after the storm that th© identity of the boat became known. The bodies of the victims were taken to the -Brenner Hotel which was turned into a morgue. Coro­ ner D. S. Campbell, of Zurich, conducted the inquest. Relatives came from miles to identify and claim the bodies. At Port Frank the S.S. North­ ern Queen went aground.and the crew of 22 were rescued after a heroic battle for almost two days. Seme Heroic deeds were per­ formed in the rescue of the men on board. They were taken into the homes near-by and cared for. Also at Port Frank seven men were washed ashore and 12 more were found at Kettle Point. A report ’went out and was printed in the press that ghouls had robbed the bodies of the victims at’ Port Frank but this was emphatically denied by High Constable Whitesides, Goderich, who was in charge of the rescue work and that of salvaging the articles that were washed ashore. Among the items washed up were bales of hay, a great quan­ tity of canned goods and hund­ reds of boxes of cigars. I well remember the day, for it was a Sunday and believe it or not, I conducted the morning service at Centralia; took a ser­ vice at Ebenezer in the after­ noon. (Ebenezer was on the fourth concession of Stephen Township, a small cemetery marking the spot where the church once stood). At night I conducted the service at Crediton. Rev. W. G. H. McAllister was pastor of the James St. Methodist Church and that year was elected president of the London Confer­ ence. His duties called him away frequently and neighboring mini­ sters would come in to take Mr. McAllister's work and I would supply for them. On the Sunday in question, I was accompanied by Will Brown, now of London, and I well re­ member crossing the Crediton bridge on our way home with a horse and buggy. We wondered if we were going to make it. We had difficulty in getting through the snowdrifts on the way. home. Alf Wuerth, of town, also has occasion to remember the day. He was travelling with a horse and buggy west of Crediton and got stuck in the snow. He drove the horse ino a “farmer’s barn and 'had to walk a mile to his home. There were rail fences in those days and the cattle were still in the fields. I can see them now huddled in the corners with their backs to the storm. Main Street Church was hold­ ing their anniversary that day and in the evening the hydro went off and the service was conducted by lamplight. Another tragedy due to the storm was the Wanstead wreck near Wyoming when a freight train crashed another and three trainmen were burned to death. They were pinned beneath the wreckage and begged piteously to be killed. One man kept calling for someone to hit him over the head with an axe or something. 25 YEARS AGO Representatives of an old-es­ tablished firm met members of Exeter council and the Chamber of Commerce and laid before them a proposition with a view to moving the plant to Exeter. A by-law will be submitted to the council at their next meeting and then to the ratepayers in Decem­ ber at the regular election. Twelve hundred and fifty dol­ lars was contributed at Main St. United Church’s thirty-third an- niverary service. Citizens of Exeter are still picking roses in their gardens. The Lennox Overalls -Ltd., who recently looked over the S. M. Sanders’ plant, have decided to locate in St. Thomas. Workmen are rushing repairs to the Exeter skating rink which collapsed last winter under a heavy weight of snow. Mr. Clar­ ence Heywood has the contract for the re-building. Rev. D. McTavisli gave a paper on “Ministerial Ethics” at the Ministerial Association meeting in Main St. United Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hector Taylor i 15 YEARS AGO The large bank barn of Mr. Georg© Brock of Zion was de­ stroyed by fire of unknown ori­ gin. Two horses, a cow and some implements were removed but hay, straw ,and a thousand bushels of grain were lost. William Harold Paton of Mc­ Gillivray township was almost in­ stantly killed when hiS car crashed into an iron guard on a bridge south of Ailsa Craig. Children paddled in the lake on Sunday and on Monday some young men near the Bend were ploughing, minus their shirts. The mild weather has caused trees to have a second growth of leaves and some grain is heading out for a second time. A car belonging to Leonard Harvey was stolen from Water­ loo St., London. A Toronto man was brought from Ingersoll to face a charge of theft of the car. Centralia friends honored Miss Teresa and Mr. Lawrence Hef- feron before they left for their new home in Seaforth. 1O YEARS AGO Rev. M. A. Hunt was in charge of the Remembrance Day service in Trivitt Memorial Church Sun­ day. The guest speaker, Padre F/L R. Moynan addressed the large congregation on the theme “The Post War World.” Mr, Albert Hackney escaped serious injury when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bicycle to Exe­ ter. Mr. Hedley May brought the injured man to town where Dr. Dunlop treated him for bruises. One of the largest blood donor clinics held in Ontario was held at James St. Church with 164 donors. There are spatterings of snow on the ground jemind’ing us that winter is not far off. The Huron Presbytery YPU executive held their 'autumn busi­ ness and fellowship meeting in Exeter and were in charge of services in the United Church. iiiiiiliiiHniiniiiHifiiiHtiiiiiiliiiiiniiiiiiiiiiHiitiiiiliiliiiiititiiiiiiuiiiiiiitiiii News From Our NEIGHBORS •MHuiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitmiMiiiiiiiintittmiiiiiiitiiiHiiii’iiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiii and importing countries and with authority to direct disposal of surpluses in such a way that they will not injure competing or im­ porting countries.” Exeter <ime£=&iibo£ate Time* Established 1878 Amalgamated 1924 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 m Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa , Member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association Member of the Ontario-Quebec Division of the OWN A Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Paid-’n-Advance Circulation as of March, 1953 —- 2,494 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada, in advance, $8.00 a year — United States, in advance, $4.00 a year Single Copies 7< Each I Melvin Southcott * Publisher* - Robert Southcott Women s Institutes Keep Christmas With Many Types Of Good Deeds Women’s Institutes usually make something rather special of their December or Christmas meeting. As might be expected they* frequently have such de­ monstrations as wrapping Christ­ mas parcels, Christmas decora­ tions, Christmas table centres; and they sing Christmas carols. But they go farther than that. Very often someone reads the story of “The Other Wise Man” or parts of “The Christmas Carol” or even the Christmas Story from St. Luke, though the Institutes, being non-sectarian, are careful not to introduce any religious observance that might not be acceptable to all the mem­ bers. One Institute’s theme last year was “Christmas is a Christ­ ian festival, not a commercial round of selling, feasting and drinking”. In one way or another the Institutes seem to empha­ size that idea, The Christmas meeting is a special occasion for hospitality. In many localities every woman in the c ommunity is invited, especially any New Canadian woman in the district. Frequent­ ly these women are asked to tell about Christmas customs in their homeland or to sing Christmas carols in their own language. It is rather common practice to in­ vite the children Of the commun­ ity and have special entertain­ ment for them, Or to have the school children put on a little concert; and sometimes a shy woman who has not joined the Institute will come to this meet­ ing because her children have been invited. With music and story-telling, a cup of tea to­ gether and the Christmas spirit very much alive in the gather­ ing, this is usually considered the happiest meeting of the year. Do they exchange gifts at the Christmas meeting? Not often. It is a more general practice for the members to bring gifts for some­ one else—the sick and shut-in of the community, the children in the County Shelter, the old people in the County Home, or patients in a sanatorium. \Last year one Institute’s December roll call was answered with the gift of a toy for a child in hos­ pital; in another branch each woman brought a piece of her Christmas cake to go into par­ cels for the shut-in of the com­ munity. A “shower” of books, games, crossword puzzles and gramaphon© records for the County Home was the happy idea of another branch. They send out Christmas cheer baskets where there is need for them, or even provide clothing and bedding for families in need. An Institute on an Indian Reserve gave Christ­ mas cheer baskets to 150 person.s -—ill, aged and children, and layettes and other clothing to patients in hospital. . Very often the Christmas meeting is the time for a dona­ tion to some good cause. In. In­ stitutes where the Women used to bring gifts for each other they how bring a donation for the Save the Childreh Fund or the Tuberculosis Christmas Seal Cam­ paign, or the Crippled . Civilians or for the relief iri Korea or Greece of somewhere else. Their whole Christmas activity is out­ going—they aren't just having a good time among themselves. Last yegr one large institute had a turkey dinner for the members and their families, but at the same meeting they voted $10 to the Tuberculosis Seal Campaign, $25 to the Hospital for Sick Children, $25 to the Save the Children Fund, $100 to the local hospital, $15 and clothing to- Korean Relief and $25 to the caretaker of their hall, so they could hardly be considered self- centred. Around Christmas time many Institutes take “a party” to the County Home for old people. They have found that the resi­ dents of the Homes enjoy sing­ ing and since everyone knows most of the Christmas carols a session of carol singing, with everyone taking part, makes popular entertainment. At one Home the Women’s Institute, along 'with .service clubs and the Salvation Army, got the best musical talent in the district to give a concert; but they reported that the star feature of the pro­ gramme was a recitation by a man ninety-six years Old . . . . Which goes to show that In­ stitute women are not only given to good works, but that they have a good sense of human values. A Smile Or Two... Joe was all wrapped With bandages, looked like a mummy. As he walkeii along the street he met a friend. “Egards! What happened to you? ’Tangle with a truck?” “No, replied Joe, “remember that woman down the street I said was a Widow?0 “Yeali,” said his friend. “Well,” Joe informed him, “She, ain't.” * Hold Court In Clinton , Magistrate’s Court will be held on Wednesday, November 18, in the Municipal Building, Clinton, beiginning at one o’clock, with Magistrate Dudley Holmes con­ ducting. This will be the first time such court has been held in the town since about 1935. Arrangements for the court were made since the volume of police work in Clinton has made it necessary for one or more of th© policemen to be absent at least once a week, to present cases in Seaforth or Goderich, courts. Permission was received from' the Attorney General in To­ ronto, for court to be held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. (Clinton News-Record) Vote On Issues Town of St. Marys ratepayers when they go to the polls at the forthcoming annual election will have many matters to claim their attention. Besides * voting for a new Mayor to replace af­ fable Tom Pinney who has sig­ nified his desire to retire, they will be called upon to choose six Council members, four Public School Board members, three Public Utility Commission mem­ bers and they will also be asked to say yes or no to the repeal of By-law No. 10 of 1895, and to decide whether or not future town councillors will serve a two- year term and that the Ward System of representation will or will not be abolished. (St. Marys Journal-Argus) Pranksters At Staffa Hallowe’en around Staffa turn­ ed out to be a boisterous and unpleasant affair when cele­ brants, apparently bent on mis­ chief rather than fun, smashed a picket fence at the front of the schoolhouse at SS 4 Hibbert, and p.ushed two outhouses at the rear of the building, over a back fence. Entrance to the school was made through one of the win­ dows and the teacher’s ■desk was upset. According to police, there was some indication of drinking. Apparently there was little disturbance around town, except the usual soap-writing that ap­ peared on almost all Main Street windows. (Mitchell Advocate) Seaforth, Clinton Tie Wednesday’s suddOn-death saw- Off between the S.D.H.S., Golden Bears and Clinton Redmen for the Huron Secondary School As­ sociation football championship in neutral Exeter, played in cold rain and snow, ended in a 0-0 deadlock, The two dubs will meet again in Exeter Friday to determine the championship. In the opening quarter^ action centred at mid-field with both teams t a k i n g n 6 nuhecessary chances. Only four first dbwhs were .gained in the second quar­ tet with three going to the Gol­ den Bears, and one to Clinton. (Huron Expositor) No Artificial Ice The committee meeting called to decide whether to go ahead with the artificial ice fund at­ tracted three members. The lack of support made the faithful three decide the people do not want artificial ice. Consequently, the plan has been dropped tem­ porarily, if not permanently. In the meantime, unless “old-fash­ ioned” winters return, ice-making will be exceedingly difficult and a self-supporting Community Centre practically impossible. If this is the wish of the people, who are we to quarrel with it? (Parkhill Gazette) Hallowe’en Parties With suitable costumes of all colors ’ and the children all very happy of the great occasion, paraded Zurich’s streets. Hallow­ e’en parties were held in the church basements of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the Evan­ gelical basements. Several called at the homes for which we were grateful, as it comes but once a year and it gives us much pleas­ ure to help the children have a good time. Little disturbance was noticed around town as to tricks and pranks. (Zurich Herald)