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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1972-11-23, Page 44--Clinton News-Record, Thursday, November 23, 1972 Editorial continent Violence begets violence The argument over whether violence in movies and the media promotes violence — or merely reflects it — is futile. Violence is a human condition as predictable as life, death, and taxes. The trick is not to cultivate ground where violence flourishes. A society which teaches its young to aggressively "kill" the competition shouldn't squawk too loudly about where it finds violence. People who think this is a 'dog eat dog' world where people must be pitted against each other instead of being valued for their own worth — promote violence. Violence is taught, not only by movies or TV, but by parents too wrapped up in business or personal worries to find time for concern, tenderness and caring. It is taught by those who can't show love; It is taught by people who can't even discipline themselves, let alone guide others. And all these people are helplessly en- tangled in a system of violence to their own personalities. which tells them to deliver or die. They stand to lose their in- come, house, car, prestige, their very reason for living. Violence flows from a way of living which no longer finds dignity in people, but through acquisition and possessions — making slaves of us all. There are no Pollyanna solutions, It Would be nice to begin by repairing relations between' English and French Canadians on a large scale — or bet- ween labor and management. But people must begin in their own families — giving them the gift of time, care and love. (contributed) Let's be fair A great squeal is going up because Bell Canada is asking for an increase in its telephone rates. Many sectors of the economy will protest that Mother Bell is really a highwayman in disguise. There is no denying that the telephone company, along with its associated com- munications firms, makes tremendous profits — and thus there is reason to question both the amount of the increase and, the validity of the reasons for higher rates. Being neither economists nor govern- ment-paid accountants, we cannot render any opinion on the subject. Some very high-priced help will have to argue that. subject in Ottawa. However, there is an aspect of telephone company activities which the Public would do well to consider before protesting too loudly. A high proportion of Bell profits have been earned as the result of technical research 'which it has carried out over the years at its own ex- pense. It may also be presumed that in their request for higher rates the telephone people are concerned about the continued earnings of the company to carry on with further development of new techniques and equipment. A host of conveniences that the public enjoys have originated in the telephone company's laboratories — developments which have benefited mankind in a thousand ways. Not all of these inven- tions have been confined to those which would earn more dividends for Bell shareholders. Lots of them have been given to the public at large. One example is your trusty little tape recorder, Bell started all that technology with the inven- tion of a gadget called Mirrophone — electronic recording on metal wire. Perhaps sell is too greedy. We simply don't know. We do know, however, that the telephone company spends its ear- nings on a far wider range of under- takings than the mere provision of the lit- tle black set you pick up for a quick visit with grandma. • Canadians have always been extremely cautious with the money they vote for technical research by government. Without the programs carried out by profit-making business enterprise we would still be plowing with oxen. —Wingham Advance Times. The gods singled me out "I hate to do this, but I've got a cigarette habit to support." Wooing the Japanese ..we gel letters Rebattal A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Published every Thursday at the heart of Huron County' A Clinton, Ontario Population 3,475 THE HOME OF RADAR IN CANADA JAMES E. FITZGERALD—Edifor J. HOWARD AITKEN — General Manager second class mail registration number — 0817 'SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (in advance) 'Conoco, $8.00 per year: U.S.A., $9.50 4! THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1 881 Clinton News-Record THE CLINTON •NEW ERA Established 1865 Amalgamated 1924 Occasionally, I succumb to a great disenchantment with life. At those times I feel that some days are bad, and all the others are badder. Yesterday was one of the bad- der ones. It began at 2 a.m., which I think anyone will agree is a bad time to start a day. I had the Gallipoli disease. It's called this . for two reasons. First, it was rampant among the poor sods trying to capture Gallipoli in World War I, when the Australians lost• more men to dysentery than they did to Turks. Second, it keeps you galloping, back and forth, forth and back, until there's something like a tunnel between your bedroom and your bathroom. Eventually, you are so weak it's an effort to pick up a Kleenex and have a honk. Enough to make a bad day, you'd say. Oh, no. It had to be badder. That's the way the gods work. When they single you out for a going-over, they're not going to be happy with a mere case of dire rear. After waiting for months for me to organize some storin .win- dow work, my wife had finally got cracking, which she should have done in the first place, and hired two young men to take off and wash and put back the storm windows. Four of them had been removed last, spring and sat in the patio all summer, gathering twigs and dead flies. The others had never come off. The windows, that is. Looking through them was like having a bad case of myopia. You could tell there was light coming through, but everything else was just a sort of blur. Anyway, she had hired two of the most unlikely window- washers in town, a couple of former students of mine. Per- sonally, though I like the pair, I wouldn't hire them to dig a grave. For a cat. However, as they weren't on welfare or unemployment in- surance at the time, they leaped at the opportunity. After they'd checked on the going rate and agreed it was adequate. Barely. Not that they were immature or anything. Oh, no. They'd done their Grand Tour of Europe. One had spent six weeks in jail in the Netherlands. They'd had four or five jobs since, in such productive in- dustries as leatherwork and making health food. Well, they arrive to do the windows the day I am almost on hands and knees with the Gallipoli. Bright and early. Eleven a.m. All I want to do is crawl into bed and feel forsaken. No chance. A brisk ringing of the doorbell. "Well, here we are", cheerily. A groan from me, They had a long ladder borrowed from a long-suffering father. Nothing else, I guess they were going to pry the windows off and wash them with the lad- der. My wife mustered cloths and cleaning fluid. I dug up a hammer and screw-driver, which took me many minutes and many oaths. ' They set to work, and I nearly had a nervous breakdown. I cowered in the living-room. They're right there at the win- dows, grinning cheerfully, smearing the dirt around on the panes, They need a step-ladder, Haul it up from the basement with the last possible ounce of strength. Retreat to the bedroom. There's one of them up there, perched on the ladder, shouting at me to whack the storm win- dows from the inside, I whack and shudder, waiting, cringing, for the sound of a six-foot storm window shattering into tiny bits. Or the sound of the ladder crashing through the inside win- dow. Or the thud of a body hit- ting the turf. Wonder whether I have insurance to cover, first, the glass, second, the body. No idea. This went on for a couple of hours, Shouts, imprecations, poundings. I was in a state of collapse and the old lady wasn't much better. I was wishing I'd gone to school, even on a stret- cher, But I guess the gods, besides tormenting people like me, look after those who need looking af- ter. Neither of them fell, even as much as eight feet. They finished the job. And they were there, very business-like, for the cheque. They also had some terse remarks about the inadequacy of our cleaning materials and we felt properly guilty. Try it some day when you have the Gallipoli and a couple of nitwits doing your storm win- dows. A badder day. But it wasn't over. I finally got to bed, whimpering with relief. My wife came in and said she's been talking to our daughter, who has a great rip- off idea. She's going to Cuba, and has a plan. She'll write a couple of columns for me, free. All I have to do is pay her for them, Baddest. However, silver lining department. By staying at home, I had missed a three-and- a-quarter hour staff meeting, which is an abomination on the face of the earth, So, all in all, maybe not such a bad day, after all, I see that yet another Canadian delegation is off to The Mysterious East to sweet- talk the Japanese into visiting this country as tourists and I fear our chaps are doomed to some disappointment. There's not a single female in the party, an oversight which, in itself, indicates a deplorable lack of awareness of the market they're hoping to capture. The statistics, themselves, are misleading though the delegation appears to think them a guarantee of the success of their mission. It's true that there are 100 million Japanese, but such is the nature of the free enterprise economy in those islands that we can safely say that 99 million are incapable of finan- cing a holiday to these shores. That leaves, conservatively, a million. Roughly 500,000 of these will be Japanese women who rarely make the decision on a family trip and , indeed, aren't usually invited along. That leaves, then, a mere 500,000 well-heeled Japanese men who have very positive 10 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 22, 1962 Consideration of a site for locating the proposed new federal building (or post office) in Clinton, is continuing. About two weeks ago, representatives of the federal department of Public Works were in town, con- sidering the lot to the south of Wesley-Willis United Church. Included is a vacant lot from which Tom Chuter recently removed a house, a double house, occupied by the Freeman family and the dry cleaning establishment operated by Bert Gliddon on King Street. Another property under con- sideration is that of Ball- Macaulay Ltd. on King Street, including the building and lum- beryard behind it. Two Huron County young men figured in a holdup attempt in Toronto, Monday. Kenneth Knights, a clerk in the Clinton branch of the Bank of Montreal was one of 43 bank employees to be gagged, blind- folded, chained and locked in the basement of the Yonge and Front Street branch by three bandits. Mr. Knights is on a two weeks' training course at the Toronto Branch. Hero of the episode apparen- tly was William O'Brien, native of Zurich, accountant at the Yonge and Front Street branch, who was a little late in arriving for work, and by that. time the bandits had run out of chains, etc. A former athlete from Zurich, Bill managed to get free, and escape through a basement window. 15 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 21, 1957 The fabulous Dr. Edwin Heath has been booked for a two night performance in Clin- ton by the Kinsmen Club. Or, ideas of how to spend their leisure hours. None of these ideas include mountain- climbing, fishing, hunting or those other wholesome pursuits of pleasure which appeal to our uncomplicated occidental ap- petite. To put it rather bluntly, the average Japanese businessman has, by our standards, an ex- traordinary interest in the ten- der, loving care of ex- tracurricular female com- panions and enjoys a society in which it is not only readily available, but may be experien- ced without recriminations. True, the Japanese women are on the march for what we „know in this country as "equality." It is only a matter of time and a delaying, rearguard battle, before Papa-san will be tamed for good. Meanwhile, quite understandably, he gathers his rosebuds while he may. Western businessmen are in- variably astounded--some are even said to be furtively en- vious--of the despicable freedom of their Nipponese counterparts Heath calls for volunteers from' the audience to take part in his show and the results are hilarious, and amazing. This ac- complished hypnotist has ap- peared on a Clinton stage before, and those who saw him then, were loud in their praise of the show. Guests from other Auxiliaries in Zone C. gathered in the:Clin- ton Legion Memorial Hall, on Tuesday night to celebrate with the local ladies the silver an- niversary of the Clinton Ladies Auxiliary to the Canadian Legion. The local auxiliary was formed in 1932 with Mrs. F.G. Thompson as the first president: 25 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 20, 1947 Robert Wallace proprietor of the Wallace Turkey Farm, won ten prizes with 14 turkeys he exhibited at Chatham. The first prize bird, hatched this spring weighed 31 pounds. This is the wedding day of their Royal Highnesses, Princess Elizabeth, 21, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 26. A litter of thanks has been received from Westminster, England, thanking the Clinton and District Chamber of Com- merce for clothing received there which was sent by the people of Clinton. Mervyn Batkin and Joseph Becker report having trapped 69 red foxes in the past two weeks. In honour of the royal wed- ding, Douglas Bartliff took oc- casion to show his stuff, and on display in the bakeshop window is a four layer wedding cake, with all trimmings, including replica of the nuptial couple, and several bridesmaids dressed suitably. 40 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 24, 1932 A new pump has been stalled by the Clinton Public Utilities Commission, capable of pumping 158 gallons per minute. For contrast, the town used 22 million gallons of water in 1922, and in 1931 used 28 million gallons. Mrs. Clara Rumball, local manager of the Bell Telephone Company has sent in her resignation and intends to retire. She has been manager for nearly 26 years, and before that during her husband's lengthy illness. When she and her husband took over the telephone business, along with a jewellery store, there were only 16 telephones in Clinton. That was about 40 years ago. The first of a series of Sunday evening concerts was held in the town hall this week, with the Boys Band under the direction 'of Morgan Andrew, assisting the Kiltie Band. • Brucefield United Church W.M.S. reports a total of $87 received at their Thankoffering. 55 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 22, 1917 Shortage of coal led the town councillors to investigate the tlemen who invariably leave Mama and the children in the sanctuary of their homes, visiting any of the thousands of Tokyo's Ginza night clubs to be greeted at the door by squads of stunning hostesses dedicated to the problems of the tired businessman. They will find that at least seven in every 10 businessmen have a great-and-good-friend tucked away in some remote nest where the cares and tribulations of commerce may be dispelled in short order by saki, soft music and the like. They will even find agencies offering the touring Japanese male an assortment of guides 404, travelling companions -who, are selected for qualities more special than mere map-reading. Having discovered all this, though not, I trust, too thoroughly, our delegation may well be at a loss for an answer when, having described the grandeur and outdoor activity available in Canada, the poten- tial Japanese tourist smiles an enigmatic smile and asks. "Yes, but why would I want to go?" possibility of setting up a municipal yard. They discovered it impossible to buy direct from the mines and were having dif- ficulty in contacting jobbers who could guarantee delivery. The coal when it arrived was to be used in emergencies. Thomas McMillan, Liberal and J.J. Merner, Conservative, are the candidates for the up- coming federal election. 75 YEARS AGO NOVEMBER 26, 1897 The employees of the Doherty Organ Factory are still working overtime and expect to do so for a considerable period yet, as they are far behind with the or- ders, both for the home and foreign trade. Mr. Doherty case- making department is turning out one hundred organs a week. The additional appliances for the Fire Department consisting of Heater, Babcock extinguisher ladders etc were brought from Brussels on Friday by W. Wheatly and Mr. Watt, representing the Ronald Com- pany, will make the attach- ments of the Heater to the engine at once. Dear Editor: I am asking the privilege of replying to a letter in your paper of November 16th. I do not in- tend to indulge in a mud- slinging campaign but rather state the facts as clearly as possible. On March 16th, 1972, the Huron County Board of Education received from Calvin Christian School Board a request to cooperate in transpor- tation. This was referred to our transportation manager, Bob Cunningham to discuss with the Calvin Christian School Board any area that could be beneficial to both Boards, After considerable study and meetingS with Calvin Christian School ,Board by Mr. Cunningham, he presented a recommendation for Board approval on August 21st. "That this Board enter into a transportation agreement with the Calvin Christian School Board for a trial period from Sept. to Dec. 1972. To transport the students involved providing that the students live on Huron Huron County Board of Education routes and thereby no additional miles accrue and that the Calvin Christian School Board re-imburse this Board their proportionate costs on the routes involved." At this meeting a delegation from Calvin Christian School Board with Cecil Bruinsma as spokesman stated they were not interested in a cost sharing agreement but expected the Huron County Board of Education to provide them with transportation free of charge. The Huron County Board of Education voted unanimous to reject this request "The School Act states that a Board may transport students to and from a school they operate. I also stated that it is costing the Huron County Elementary school ratepayers $28,955 because 193 students living in the county do not attend our schools. The Provincial grant structure is 1.ich the student pOpiiitaVA relation to equalized assessment, the larger the grnt. Our grant for ordinary expen- diture for the elementary schools in 1972 is 70.7 percent. If the 193 students were atten- ding our schools our , grant for 1972 would be 71.30 percent. Our elementary school budget for ordinary expenditures for 1972 is $4,294,495. Add to this the cost of absorbing 193 students in our system and sub- tract from this the difference in grants and you will get a reduc- tion to be raised by levy from the tax-payers of $28,955. In conclusion, may I say that the Huron County Board of Education have the smallest Administration staff of any board its size in Ontario. The ordinary expenditures per student for the elementary schools in this county are the fifth lowest in Ontario. Trusting this will clear up some of the misunderstanding in some people's mind. Thank you John Broadfoot. Brucefield. Op in ions In order .thit News—Record readers might express their opinions on any topic of public interest, Letters To The Editor are always welcome for publication. But the writers of such letters, as well as all readers, are reminded that the opinions expressed in letters published are not necessarily the opinions held by The News—Record. who very often insist on providing a demonstration. You will surely be taken, for example, to a geisha house of the traditional sort, a place where the tired and anxious Japanese executive will be soothed by exquisite, cultured, kimono-clad ladies who, with tinkling laughter, treat their guests as if they were earth- gods, an exercise in ego-lifting totally unknown in our western civilization. Only a scoundrel and a cad, or course, would actually ad- mire a system in which women so demean themselves by being completely and utterly feminine, yet the western visitor may mementarily,,,ponder fit ,isn't! more'therapeutic than 'golf or a.- fishing trip with the boys. With even minimal research our delegation will find, in short, that Japanese men have a world of their own in which that old Oriental motto, Cherchez la femme, is the sign-post to everything from casual affairs to outright hanky-panky. They will see, perhaps even join, groups of Japanese gen- rri