HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1973-01-18, Page 1For the first time in 15 years, Charlie MacNaughton will be
able to make this a common occurrence as he lets his hair
down after serving, both the people of Ontario and the Huron
riding. He announced his retirement last week from his
cabinet post and Huron seat In the legislature after serving a
record nine portfolios. Shown with Mr. MacNaughton In their
Exeter home, is his wife Adeline, to whom he has been
married nearly 40 years. (News-Record photo)
Weather
1973 1972
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Clinton, Ontario 20 Cents
108 Year - No. 3 Thursday, January 18, 1973
Clinton News-Record
Mobile homes throw snag into County plan
The stork tinnily arrived In Clinton last week as a baby
daughter was born to Edward and Muriel Szusz of RR 1
Blyth. The baby named Robynne Joanne, arrived at 12:45
• on Wednesday January 10 and is the couple's third child
and first girl. The Couple Work about 500 acres In Hullett
township. Mrs. W. T. Harrell, right, the new president of the
Ladles'Auxiliary to the eliniOn Public Hospital presents one
of the numerous gifts that the ample will receive from Olin -
ton and area merchants. (News-Record photo)
Charlie MaeNaughton
MPP steps down Huron
By Jim Fitzgerald
After serving Huron County and the
people of Ontario for more than 14 years,
Charles Steel MacNaughton resigned from
the Ontario Cabinet and his seat in the On-
tario Legislature last Friday.
Mr. IVIacNaughton, or Charlie as he was
affectionately known to thousands of
Huron riding constituents, said the reasons
he stepped out of his post as provincial
treasurer and minister of economics and
intergovernmental affairs was because "I
now feel I have completed the major objec-
tives J set for myself in provincial affairs
and I want more time to spend with my
wife and family."
John White, MPP for London South, was
named Monday to fill the vacated post.
Premier William Davis said that a by-
election will likely be called shortly and it
is expected that candidates for both the
Progressive Conservative party and Liberal
party will be picked soon. The NDP have
not indicated whether they will take a run
at the seat.
Charlie MacNaughton, 61, first carried
the Tory banner to Toronto in a 1958 by-
election after the death of Tom Pryde, He
was re-elected in 1959, 1963, 1967 and
1971
He set the record for Ontario by being
named to nine portfolios, including high-
way, revenue, treasurer, transportation and
communications, chairman of management
board and minister of intergovernmental
affair and economics,
He first came to Huron County in 1944
when he came to work for Hubert Jones
and eventually became a partner in that
seed business.
In 1955 he became president of the
Huron Federal PC Association and on the
death of Tom Pryde in 1958, he sought the
provincial PC nomination and eventually
won the by-election. He was never defeated
in the six elections he contested.
Mr. MacNaughton said in a interview at
his home in Exeter last Saturday that he
would continue to be an "active retired
politician in Huron and continue to sup-
port the PC party,"
During his tenure in Queen's Park, Mr.
MacNaughton said he most enjoyed the
highways portfolio because it brought him
in contact with more people. He said that
the treasurer's portfolio was the most
meaningful because "it affected more
people.
Mr, MacNaughton said his door was
always open to problems of his constituents
and he said he helped many in his 14 years
as the Huron Riding member. "People felt
free to come to Chas but they never ap-
proached me with anything frivolous, they
always had a genuine problem," he said.
"The greatest thing you can do as an
MPP is the help you can give your con-
stituents," he said,
And Mr. MacNaughton's contributions
to the Huron riding are numerous. Among
the tops in his book is the development of
Huron Industrial Park in 1966 and the
Centralia College of Agriculture at the for-
mer CFB Centralia Base, which was pur-
chased in 1966.
He said that the establishment of the
Goderich Psychiatric Hospital, which was
opened in 1963, was another memorable
event in his tenure as MPP.
Among other achievements during Mr.
MacNaughton's tenure was the establish-
ment of the Regional Assessment Office in
Goderich in 1969; the setting up of the
regional office of Ontario Hydro near Clin-
ton in 1971; the building of the Lake
Huron Water Supply Plant in Stephen
Township in 1967; the establishing of Point
Farms Provincial Park in Goderich; and
the starting of the Hullett Wildlife Project.
Eighteen Ontario Development Cor-
poration performance or term loans worth
$2.5 million came into Huron during Mr.
(continued on pagei6)
This year's winter carnival from Feb, 10-
17 is a blend of some of the "old" with just
a pinch of "new" to make it by fir the
biggest and most exciting yet.
There are activities for everyone, right
from an afternoon with "Big Al" to a
"Millionaires night". On schedule again
this year are three or four dances, the
snowmobile races, the afternoon card
party, a torchlight snowmobile parade, and
the carnival parade itself. One area that
this years carnival committee, headed by
Bill Crawford, are going to put a lot of em-
phasis on is our carnival queen. This year
she will be crowned at the beginning of the
carnival and will reign right through the
entire week of festivities, She will, by the
way, be crowned by our own "Miss
Dominion of Canada" at the "kick-off'
dance Friday February 9.
Winter Carnival events
begin on February 9th
BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER
What is termed "too rigid" terms gover-
ning mobile homes in Huron County's
proposed Official Plan was part of the
reason that the matter was referred back to
the planning board for more study.
1 st Column
The News-Record has a new columnist
and we hope to have him appear every
week or so. He's Clinton's Rec. Director
Mike Stephens. Look for him on the sports
pages
Don't forget that this is Clinton's minor
hockey weekend and there will be plenty of•
action down at the local ice pad. Check in-
side the paper for further details. Let's
have everybody out and see these boys
play.
Being a little tardy at Clinton Council
meeting last week we missed the blessing
given by Father D.J. McMaster. He was
filling in for Rev. Beukema and did a
capable job.
As well, members of county council did
not approve of the terms in the plan con-
cerning land division policies.
As far as mobile homes are concerned, it
was pointed out by members of council that
according to the plan mobile homes located
in urban areas in the county (there are
about 52 of these including some in rural
municipalities) must be located in mobile
home parks. In a strictly agricultural area,
of course, mobile homes are permitted
providing the occupants of the mobile
home are in agriculturally related fields.
County Planning Director Gary David-
son said that in his view, it would be
possible to dispense with the section which
demands that mobile homes be on
"municipal water and sewerage" but that
until more detailed secondary plans are
prepared reflecting local situation, the
mobile home park provision is "required
for general guidance".
"Problems arise from servicing,
assessment provisions and visual ap-
pearance," said Davidson. "Only two
municipalities in Huron County, Seaforth
and Exeter, have effective guidelines regar-
ding the Location and servicing of mobile
homes."
"Trailers are a big industry in Huron
County and don't forget it," Reeve Jack
McCutcheon of Brussels told council.
"If it is legal to build these things then it
must be legal to put them someplace,"
stated Reeve Ev. McIlwain, Goderich
Township.
Reeve Anson McKinley was the staun-
chest opposition to the strict land use
policies which make it difficult to sever a
building lot in a rural area.
"If we're going to have a blanket "no"
on non-planned development in rural
areas," said McKinley, "We're going to
need tax policy to compensate. The concept
of preserving agricultural land goes far
beyond Huron County. Perhaps it would be
a good thing if the provincial government
was asked to use some of our ideas in
this."
McKinley added that in his opinion, it
was "discrimination" against the rural
municipalities when it was legislated that
development could only occur in the urban
areas. He felt the UDIRA study might have
some answers, but he urged council to
"take it to government".
Davidson said that since the Land
Division Committee came into being in
August 1971, it has rendered 330 final
decisions on applications.
"Of these 87 percent or 286 were ap-
proved, 12 percent or 39 were denied and
one percent were withdrawn," reported
Davidson. "Much of the discussion,
therefore, revolves around the denial of 39
applications. Of these about two-thirds in-
volved site problems such as poor soils, ac-
cess, flooding etc. Only 11, about three per-
cent, were denied strictly on grounds of
location, that is, scattered development or
ribbon development."
"While the severance procedure tends to
be the most visible, the subdivision process
is by far the most active," continued
Davidson. "In approximately at the same
period, the Planning Board recommended
approval of subdivisions creating some 373
new lots, two subdivisions comprising 57
lots were recommended for denial, and
subdivisions encompassing 188 lots are un-
der active consideration."
"The main difficulties in the Land
Division Policy section would appear to be
centered around the creation of non-
farming residents in rural areas," said
Davidson. "The Draft Plan reflects provin-
cial policy in this area and no attempt was
undertaken during the preparation of the
Plan to research this topic in an extensive
manner."
Clinton Police recovered nearly $2,000
worth of stolen goods and charge three
men following a break-in a Merrill TV last
Friday January fifth.
By Wilma Oke
Nominations for the membership on the
Education and the Management commit-
tees were presented by the Ad Hoc Striking
Committee of the Huron County Board of
Education at its first regular meeting of the
year Monday night and were approved.
The committees are: Education Commit-
tee, Mrs. Marion Zinn, chairman: John
Henderson; Mrs. Marilyn Kunder, Charles
Rau, Jack Riddell, Herbert Turkheim, and
Mrs. Dorothy Wallace. Management Com-
mittee: Donald J. McDohald, chairman;
Jack P. Alexander, John Broadfoot, Ken-
neth C. Cooke, A. Corrigan, Clarence
McDonald, and John Westbrook.
The vice-chairmen for these committees
will be chosen by the members of each com-
mittee at the first meeting: Education on
January 29 and Management on February
12.
The Board was informed that Education
Week in Ontario will be observed in 1973
from April 8 to April 14 inclusive with the
official opening provincially to be held in
Toronto on April 8.
A letter was received from the
Ecumenical Institute of Canada reporting
a national conference on religious
education in a pluralistic society will be
held in Toronto May 28 to June 1,
A letter was received from Mrs. I.M.B.
Dunlop of San Anselmo, California, en-
closing old school certificates, etc.
belonging to her brother, the late Dr.
James L. Hamond, who had attended
Blyth Public School in the 1890s.
The Board did not endorse, but filed, a
resolution from the Norfolk County board
of Education on the subject of inadequate
support for apprenticeship programs,
The Board will advise the Department of
Municipal Affairs that it does not require
provision of a school site in the proposed
40 lot subdivision for the Town of Goderich
as it is directly adjacent to Robertson
There must be something about the
Huron County warden's chair that spurs
people on.
There were five candidates for the seat
this year, won by East Wawanosh Town-
ship Reeve Roy Pattison last week by a 28-
26 vote,
But three of his opponents indicated to
county council Wednesday they haven't ac-
cepted defeat and intend to run again in
1974.
The arrests and recovery of the goods
came as a result of action by Clinton Con-
stable Clarence Perdue. He came upon
three men breaking into Merrill about 4
Memorial Public School.
The Board took no action on a request
for support from the VanEgmond Foun-
dation to purchase and restore the
VanEgmond residence in Egmondville as a
historic site, Trustee John Westbrook
asked if the Board was in the habit of
making donations, and he was informed
that it usually does when the request has
an educational overtone.
A borrowing by-law was passed to
borrow from time to time a sum or sums
not exceeding in the aggregate the sum of
$8 million to meet, until the current
revenue has been received, the current ex-
penditures of the Board
Ah Ad Hoc Policy Review Committee
was appointed to review current Board
policies: John Broadfoot, chairman, and
the six new trustees--J.P. Alexander, Ken-
(continued on page16)
Hullett Township has received a $4149
grant from the province to cover taxes lost
since 1970.on land acquired for a wildlife
Management area,
The lump-suns payment, a municipal tax
assistance grant, covers taxes lost by the
township since the province began assern-
bling 5,000 acres of land for the wildlife
area, about four miles northeast of Clinton.
In December the township asked Ontario
Treaearer Charles MacNaughton, who is
also Huron MPP, for compensation for lest
taxes. There is no provincial provision for
annual payments in lieu of taxes,
Hallett Township clerk Clare Vincent
said Wednesday the Ontario legislature is
stydying proposals to provide annual
This year's arena program will be varied
from last year's by having many of the new
activities planned for the carnival. There
will be a girls' hockey tournament, a Jr.
hockey game, broom ball, old-timers
hockey, family skating and more.
There will also be Bingo and the Ice-Nik
carnival. There are sleigh rides, the Prince
& Princess contest and ... well I could
probably go on forever, but I won't, I think
I'll save some for later.
Watch for upcoming, advertisements for
the winter carnival which will fill you in on
more details for dates and times etc.
Make sure you tell your friends about
the carnival this year. Let's really spread
the word about an event our town is proud
of, "The Clinton Winter Carnival"
February 10-17,
The fourth, Bayfield Reeve Ed Oddleif-
son, said he won't make a decision until he
consults with "the boss," meaning his wife.
"It's in the lap of the gods now, but I'll
let you know soon," he told council.
Commiting themselves to run again were
Reeve .Hugh Flynn of Hullett Township;
Reeve Everett Mcllwain of Goderich
Township, and Reeve Harold Lobb of Clin-
ton.
a.m. Friday morning. Two of the men were
loading TV, stereos and speakers into a car
and when they spotted the police car, one
of the men left in the car, leaving the other
two men behind.
A high speed chase followed and Con-
stable Perdue chased the car east on High-
way 8 and then into Hullett Township
where the car was abondoned.
Police recovered the goods and later
charged three men.
Charged were Keith Harkes and Ronald
Rueger of Clinton and Michael Langois of
London. Harkes and Rueger pleaded guilty
in court last week and will be sentenced
today. Langois will appear in court in Clin-
ton on February 7,
Chimes dedicated
A memorial Amplifying Chime System,
which has been installed in Londesborough
United Church, will be dedicated this
coming Sunday morning at the 10:30 a,m.
service.
In 1971, a Memorial Fund was set up in
the church whereby persons wishing to ex-
press their sympathy to bereaved families
could make a gift to the Memorial Fund of
the Church for a lasting and living
(continued on pagel6)
payment, either by amending the
Municipal Tax Assistance Act or the Parks
Assistance Act.
He said Hullett does not qualify for a
parks assistance grant because no facilities
for campers or nature enthusiasts will be
provided until the wildlife area is com-
pletely developed.
The future Wildlife area comprises about
one-tenth of the township's acreage, Mr,
Vincent said. Much of it is low-assessment
land. llullett's total assessment is about
$2.9 million.
More than 20 buildings in the proposed
wildlife sanctuary have been auctioned off
by the ministry of natural resources Since
land acquisition began.
Board names committees
Three reeves try again
Police nab three in break-in attempt
Burnett gets grant
for lost taxes