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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1974-04-11, Page 4"Yes?" t'4:6". • . e ....... • • From our early files • • • • • • Mombfor, Cansidlan Community Newspaper Assochitloil Member, °Math Wieldy ANNONialkon THE CLINTON NEW ERA Estoblisheti 1865 THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1881 Arnolgorruned 1924 Published every Thursday at Clinton, Ontario James E. Fitzgerald General klanliger, J. Howard Aitken IllsoCond Clase registration M. 0111i ••••—, HUB OF HURON CtiliNtY Editorial .Comment Tuesday night's budget revelations by the Ontario government has all the resemblances to an election budget, The Ontario Progressive Conservative Government has made concessions to everyone from the farmer to the con- sumer, from the small businessman 'to the small town. The budget cuts across so many things that it looks as if the Tories have adopted policies of both the Liberal and the NDP parties. • , One of the most welcome pieces in the budget was the guaranteed annual income system that will be launched in July and will bring relief from inflation to some 311,000 pensioners, blind and disabled Ontario people. It will establish a minimum weekly income of $50 for single persons and $100 for married couples. As well, free prescription drugs will be made available to the same group. Another slice of the budget that will be welcomed by many homeowners and especially those who are trying to,buy a home is a 50 per cent tax on owners of land in' Ontario who are buying and selling land purely on a speculative basis, driving up housing costs where very few can now afford them. As well, non-residents of Canada will be taxed 20 per cent of the purchase price of the property, a weak attempt at trying to limit foreign ownership of some of On- tario's best land. Homeowners will also get a break, as 4--CIPNTON NEWS-TLEPOBP,T1I1.418P!Or, APRIfi 11, 1974. Something for evergbodg the property tax credit will be doubled $180, which should help Somewhat in easing the burden of increasing municipal taxes and increased costs of heating a home. There won't be much of a saving to the grocery bill with the elimination of the sales tax on household cleaning and personal hygiene items. The bulk of the grocery dollar for most people goes towards food, and their was no mention made in the budget of help in that area. Farmers will welcome, cautiously no doubt, a provieion that will reduce the capital tax on a family farm corporation to a flat $50 and the basic exemption on farms has been raised to $150,000 for the payment of succession duties. Farmers too will be allowed to make a $50,000 once-in-a-lifetime gift in several in- stalments. Local municipalities and taxpayers will welcome the additional $124 million that 'the government is handing out to help municipalities hold 'or reduce the mill rate. All in all, the budget is a valiant at- tempt to stem the rising inflation, but doesn't really come to grips with the real problems behind inflation. Inflation jumped one per cent last month and shows little sign of abating this month. Both the provincial and federal governments must get together and make a concerted effort to halt it before too many of us are sucked under or the dirty '30's return. A word for the thoughtful Whatever one's religious faith; or the lack of it, Good Friday, the most solemn day in the Christian calendar, has' something to say to the thoughtful. At a time when the word `love"turns up on cuttorii,'On-Cai . burnpert and slops out of pop songs as it it were the froth on a glass of beer, Good Friday impels us to turn from the ersatz variety and look, however briefly, at the real thing. Genuine love for one's fellows, far from wrapping the person who tries to embody it in a cocoon of euphoria, means putting oneself out .. by in- ference, a disrupting process .. for someone elie. When Lord Donald Soper of Hyde Park and London City Mission fame visited Canada 'he described his work with indigent men. "There's nothing glamorous about it," he said. "When you're washing old men's feet, you're aware that they're ugly and that they smell. You don't do it for a 'good feeling'. You do it because it has to be done and you're committed to making yourself available when you see a need." That's what love of the genuine variety is all about. Good Friday the term is a corruption of God's Friday .. reminds ,us that every improvement in the human condition is bought with what the late German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, called 'this costly grace'. From Jesus himself, the long, thin, valiant line which in- cludes such names as the Tolpuddle farm hands, who organized the first trade union and were banished to' Australia for 'their pains, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Tom Dooley and the Kennedys, the price for this commitment was heavy indeed. But, somehow, we move forward on their shoulders. That, in part, is what Good Friday is all about. (from the United Church). Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley Part of me is in mid-Atlantic When you travel close to 10,000 miles and meet about• 500 total strangers in five days, not only the body but also the mind begins to get a bit scram- bled, I'm three days home from a crash trip to Germany. My body feels like an old rubber boot. My mind is like an •Irish stew with very little meat in it. I'm not sure what play of the week it is, what time of day it is, or what my first twine is. , Among us members of the jet set, this condition is known as "jet tag". In plain terms, it is total exhaustion. Normally, I find it fairly traumatic just to change from Standard to Daylight Saving time. It invariably throws me out of gear for a couple of days, But when you go through. a time Change of six hours, and then do it backwards within a few days, the human 'system can barely cepe. I feel as though my soul, or some other piece of essential equipment, is still back in Oer= many, or at least in mid- AtlantiC, trying desperately to catch up with the bag of bones which is its usual habitat. Just to complete the weird feeling of alienation, the weather lent a hand, Left Canada in a howling bli*.zard. Temperature in the Black Forest district in the sixties, flowers blooming everywhere. Arrived back home in-guess what-a howling blizzard. All in all, I'm slightly unhinged by the experience, so bear with me whip I try to sort out some impressions of my jaunt, Was it really I who was belting along the autobahn a few days ago at 85 m,p.h., and shuddering as those crazy Siegfrieds went by us like a bat out of hell, doing at least 120? There is no speed limit on the autobahns. A "suggested" limit of 81 is the only guideline and nobody pays any attention to it. Was it really I who climbed into bed mit a federbette at 4:30 in the afternoon and slept until five in the morning? Don't raise your eyebrows, gen- tle reader. A federbette is not what you think, It's a huge down comforter, about 10 in- ches thick. As light as an elec- tric blanket and as Warm as four ordinary blankets. Was it really I who sat over lunch with a gaggle of generals discussing how many tanks the Russians have and what "we" Would do if they started anything? Was it really I who sat in a "space Ain" with four little Canadian kids, all of us wearing "space helmets",and joined theta in the count-down? Was it really I flying above cloud into the fingered dawn with two Dieppe veterans, one of them, Albert Brown of Sar- nia, president of the Canadian Prisoners-of-War Association? Was it really I standing, at a formal officers' mess dinner, drinking toasts to the Queen, the President of the 'United States, and Willi Brandt, president of West Germany? Was it really I standing at a , cocktail party talking to char- ming Sandy Morgan, a pretty Texan girl, and telling her I'd love to go along to' Spain on a trip she was organizing for of- fleets' wives, but that I really had only two days left? I'M afraid all these questions must be answered in the affir- mative. But perhaps they will give some idea of the Mind- 'Niggling five days I had. One thing I did not do Was something my wife, in a fit of pique, suggested I would. We were being entertained by friends one evening, just before I left, She was annoyed because she wasn't going. "I have to drive through a blizzard to see my Dad", she snapped, "and this one's off to Germany with some gate Schoen," Her German iK limited, Our friends are both fluent in German, and I've never heard anyone laugh har- der. it give iny word I Wasn't off with Sitte, 10 YEARS AGO April 16, 1964 Beverly Sparks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lorne A. Sparks, Bayfield, copped her fourth consecutive speaking contest in Shelbourne Tuesday, to earn a spot in the Ontario final of the Royal Canadian Legion speaking competition. Reeve Morgan Agnew has' wasted little time in his project of making the town shed a "show place". A new ceiling and the' new wiring have both been installed. After hearing the work was almost complete the council accepted the ten- ders made by Wise Plumbing and Heating and C. Doucette. Mrs. A.M, Bassett .and Miss Ellen MacKay, have sold the Albion Hotel to Mr. and Mrs. E. Robinson, Stratford, who take possession the middle of May. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Westlake received word from Port Alberni, B,C., that their Son, Garfield. and family did not suffer from the tidal wave caused by the earthquake in Alaska, Mail delivery to Goderich homes and businesses will likely start April 20, postmaster A.M. Homuth said this week. I-le said an estimated 2,500 Calls will be made by seven mailmen on five routes, Mail will be delivered once a day, six days a week in residential areas, 25 YEARS AGO April 14, 1949 Seeding is well under way in this section of Western Ontario. Due to the excellent weather conditions, many farmers eorn- tneneed seeding operations this week and were Well in the thick of it, Others, located on less favourable land, were a little' behind the others, Mr. and Mrs, Charles Mehl, Blyth„ celebrated their 66th Wedding am'nversary With a family gathering of over Sixty sounds that might kill us (like Fargo trucks), that we're a pushover for anxiety com- plexes. Another, Dean Knud- sen, of the University of California, claims there's sub- stantial evidence that it can and sometimes does drive people crazy. The country-versus-city com- parison comes to mind because I happen to be playing host this week to a onetime neighbor out there in the good green acres and the poor fellow has those boiler-factory blues. We had some people in the other night to meet our friend. After they'd gone he com- plained, "Why di) they all shout'• 44?"TheY seetivilike nice enough 'folks, but.,they holler." I'hadn't thought of it before, but he's right. Of course they holler. You've got to holler in the city to get through to anyone. There simply aren't any soft-spoken people as there are out in the country. To com- municate you need all the bels and decibels at your command. Of course the city folks don't know they're hollering any people. Fifty other guests from Clinton, Goderich, Kitchener, Wingham and Blyth dropped in sometimes during the day, A farewell party was held in the Forester's hall in Auburn on Monday night in honour of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jardin who are moving shortly to - Wingham . Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Fishe, Detroit, spent the weekend in Goderich Township. They were staying with Mr. and Mrs. Stewart. Middleton. J. Elgin McKinley, a farmer of Stanley Township, was "chosen to represent the riding in the upcoming Federal elec- tion for the Progressive Conser- vative party in Huron-Perth. Ellwood Epps, well-known 'local sportsman,; had a display at the Western Ontario Sports Fair last week and made quite a name for himself. While there he staged exhibitions of 22-calibre pistol shootings Thursday and Saturday evenings as part of a stage show. A proposal to erect a memorial hall and arena in Clinton is still under con sideration arid considerable in- terest has been shown in the ar- ,Chitects' drawings of the proposed 'structure exhibited in the window of Hawkins Hard- ware, 50 YEARS AGO April 17, 1929 Clinton Collegiate will have an extra week of Easter vacation due to the measles epidemic. Dr. J.W, Shaw addressed the regular of the Clinton Public School Heard, It was decided that goitre tablets would be provided ter the students in the hope that this disease may be wiped out entirely, 0, L, Paisely hag his oil truck out once more and it is much improved by a coat of paint, more than they're consciously aware of the perpetual cacophony that smites them from morning until night. They recognize it only when it isn't there. It is a fact, as our country visitor mentioned, that city people are often downright ner- vous when no longer imbedded in noise. The silence of the country will literally keep them awake, The medical aspect of ex- cessive sound, however, doesn't interest me as much as the fact that we're all in danger of becoming immune to sound as a source of pleasure. In the country every noise is distill& and may' be- catalogued; On a walk with children you may make a game •of it, taking turns, eyes closed, trying to identify sounds. The loser is the first one who can't hear anything the others haven't named. The game never lasts very long. There's hhrdly ever more than a half-dozen sounds to be heard at one time. (Bird Singing, creek running, wind in trees, woodpecker pecking, 75 YEARS AGO April 13, 1899 Mr. Cantelon has now wound up operations for the season and will shortly be throwing his energies into another line of business until the fruit harvest comes again. The Mann is the best of the late winter apples because it stores better and brings the best price in England. It is followed by the Baldwin, Ben Davis, Canada Red, Phoenix and Russetts according to their sales in Liverpool. Miss Bertha Scott left on Tuesday for Boston Mass., where she has accepted a situation in the McLean hospital. Miss Scott is an ex- perienced nurse. She graduated in the Rhode Island hospital and subsequently• took a course in Roosevelt hospital, New York, and also Sloan's Mater- nity. Miss Florence Whitely of Londesboro was visiting in town last week. Mr. James McDowell had a Very successful' wood bee Friday afternoon when a num- ber of his friends and neigh- bours turned out and succeeded in cutting about thirty cords of wood for him. He held a dance that night so that his brother, Gordon McDowell who just. returned from Sault Ste, Marie last week, could get re- acquainted with the people. Mr. Wm, Knox has returned after spending the Easter holidays with his mother and other relatives in Pickering. Sugar making is started around here but it is not a very good year as the weather has been so cold, The Ontario Society for Crip- pled Children's 1974 Easter Seal objective is $1,800,000. This figure is based on a careful analysis of the Society's minimum needs in order to meet its obligation to more than 13,000 handicapped youngsters throughout Ontario. Object to CKNX story Dear Editor: For several years the Village of Hayfield has been conducting a fair and legitimate battle to save the North Shore of the Bayfield River (known as the River Flats) from being taken over by persons interested in turning the area into a purely commercial venture. If these persons (acting under the name of Blue Anchor) succeed in their purpose it will mean that the last remaining public laun- ching area for the use of sum- mer residents, and Villagers, will be gone forever and small boat owners will have no available storage area. On April 2, TV Station CKNX, in Wingham, phoned the Reeve at the Bayfield Municipal Office asking per- mission to conduct an "on the. spot" interview, They stated they wanted to get Bayfield residents' reaction to the at- tempted take-over of the North Shore Flats, Appreciating their courtesy 'in asking, and believing the Station was ac- ting in good faith, permission was granted. Then, on April 3, anyone who viewed the resulting News Broadcast on Station CKNX, at 6 p.m. that evening saw - not an attempt to get an "on the spot" village opinion - but a "set-up". The whole broadcast had been deliberately staged. A young lady, reading from a well prepared script, stood on the Bayfield River bank, inter- viewing NOT a Bayfield resident., but one of the part- ners of the Blue Anchor Group. After several minutes of, at times, inaccurate statements delivered by the Blue Anchor represerititive - finally - two layfieid r 1;*1 ents were flashed on 'the screen: One was cut off before he could finish his statement and the other was given only a scant moment or two to make her feelings known. Other Villagers, visiting the Post Office (where the Camera was set up) were told that, the film was running out and the CKNX crew hastily packed and left. This co-called spontaneous interview of Villagers was laid on at the noon-hour, on a closing day when the least number of people would be available on the main street to give their comments. Most of the crew's camera-time was spent on the river bank where the destruction of the Flats is taking place. We ask you CKNX - would you call that unbiased coverage? Bayfield Village says "Shame on you!" Signed: A.P. Graham Milvena Erickson Evelyn Sturgeon Jack Sturgeon Margaret Cleft' Betty Garrett. Gwen Pemberton Frank Burch Ed Oddleifson Elva Metcalf George Telford Florence Oddleifson New-Ilsoord readers are en- couraged to express their opinions In haters to the editor, however, such oldoloos do not necessarily represent the opinions of the News-itimord. . Pseudonyms may be used by letter writer*, but no letter will be published unless it can be relined by phone, The Jack Scott Column am MEI MI MS Silence, please Nobody has, mind you, but if anyone were to ask me what's the big difference between country and city living I'd say it's a matter of decibels, Aw, come on, ask me. The cedibel is the unit for measuring the loudness of sounds (I happen to know, having just looked it up, that it's one-tenth of a bel, whatever a bel may be) and enough of them can have a traumatic ef- fect on you without you quite realizing it. A magazine piece I've just been reading, quoting some American scientists who are trying to find ways to make life a little quieter, goes so faras to suggest that 4i4v: whOle '.lor cif physical and mental sickness is caused simply by the fact that We live in a din. One of these researchers, a Dr. Leedy, of Illinois Tech, calls noise "one of the most im- portant causes of human unhappiness." Says we waste " so much energy trying to tune out the intolerable racket, and still keep an ear cocked for chain saw across the hills and you might have to stop right there and think of a new game.) Schopdnhauer called noise "the most impertinent of all forms of interruption", but he was a city man, too, for in the country almost any sound is friendly and attractive. Our country friend tells us he lives under the invisible high- way of a radio. beam. There is an airliner that comes over every evening just before mid- night. He anticipates this familiar sound, a sort of reassurance that all . is right with the world. Nobody in a city was ever soothed by an airliner. ran into anotbey•-goOd. • example only the other K'n'ight visiting a friend whose home happens to be on a railroad right-of-waY. When a train came through and whistled he paled and began to tremble with indignation. • My friend, the farmer, was with us. "Isn't that altogether beautiful?" he exclaimed, "You're lucky to have a whistle like that so handy."