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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1974-10-03, Page 4The invasion of violence Like a slow but deadly cancerous growth, personal violence has crept Into the usually quiet and Placid towns and villages in Huron County, Early last Sunday morning, it burst open like a 'festering sore and suddenly everyone was vividly aware of it. Personal violence has always been with us, but not to the extent that per- sons have been afraid to talk out or be a witness in court, or even leave their homes. Once we laughed at such a situation when it existed in one of the major, American cities like Detroit, but it is slowly spreading into Huron, and we'd better be ready for it. Violence, such as the act carried out against a Clinton policeman's private car last Sunday is merely an opening sign of things to come. What will happen next.' Will the in, oidence of other violence ,Increase? Will. someone end up dead? The talk in town recently of the for- mation of a vigilante squaci-la more con- ducive to the wild west of the late 1800s, not to quiet, modern Ontario of the 1970s. It's a horrible thought to even think of taking the law into your own hands. We in Canada have for years been proud of one of the fairest and best judicial systems in the world. What has, gone wrong? If nothing else comes out of last4Sun- day's incident, let it be a re- examination of our judicial system and our society. Have the courts been too lenient? Or are they merely a reflection Df our permissive society? A critical nurse shortage The United Nations is alarmed over a world-wide nurse shortage -- so critical it is holding up health services delivery In both developed and under-developed countries. Right now Europe is short '50,000 nur- ses — but poor nations are hardest hit. North America has a ratio of 50 nurses per 10,000 population; the Soviet Union, 41; Europe, 28.5 -- but Asia has only 5.5 and Latin America and the Caribbean limp along with a bare 2.3. A United Nations study found, nurses dreadfully underpaid and under-valued with more deserting the ranks than en- tering. Experts feel the traditional image of nurses associated with religious or- ders and charity, poverty and obedience . . must :go. Today's nurses must have more knowledge and skill, their training is longer, their hours unpredictable, yet society values them less. While salaries in the medical profession 'soar, pay .for nurses in many countries falls far below fledgling clerks and unskilled manual laborers. In Canada shortages are defined by long waits for hospital beds and new medical wings being unable to open for lack of staff. The crisis will worsen unless nurses are given better pay and working conditions, higher social and economic status, collective bargaining and even the right to strike. (con- tributed) Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley Maybe I could change history Time to catch up on some correspondence. From the sublime to the ridiculous. Letter from old friend George Cadogan, of the North Shore Leader, Newcastle, N.B. "Dear Bill: Are you going to the (newspaper) convention in Toronto July 24-27? I have a room at the Sheraton, but Elda won't be going; you could use the other bed. Perhaps you know the Americans will be there, and we expect about 2,000 delegates. Speakers will include Pierfe Trudeau, Nelson Rockefeller, and Father McLaughlin, the priest who is a speech writer for Richard Nixon." Well, thanks, George. It would have been sublime. The Sheraton is,a luxury hotel. In other words they charge too much. But I certainly wouldn't have minded seeing some of the old weekly editors' gang, or what's left of it. And I'd have rather enjoyed knocking around with Flower Boy, Rocky and the good Father. Alas, `twas not to be. Thanks to our magnificent postal service, I received your letter about Aug. 4th. And my, my, what a lot of changes have taken place since that convention. Pierre, after a sally into the streets where the common people are, is safely back in his ivory tower, or crystal pliace, scoffing at any suggestions that he do something about inflation. Nelson Rockefeller is now Vice-President of the United States. And I hope Father McLaughlin hung onto a parish. For he sure is out of a job as a speech writer for you-know-who. That I didn't make that convention fills me with a deep sense of frustration. If I'd been able to get even one of that illustrious trio alone for a moment, I might have been able to change the whole course of history. Providing I had a club in my hand. Well, thanks again, George. (George Cadogan is a modern Don Quixote who is idealistic and afraid of nothings At present he is galloping, lance at the full tilt, against a monstrous Wind- mill, K. C. Irving, who practically owns the Maritimes.) And give my love to Elda and the kids and the grandkids. Hang in there and slug it out with old K. C. It seems the New Brunswickers are after me this year. Just the other day I got a phone call, on a Saturday morning, from Gordon Fairgrieves, publisher of the Hartland (N.B.) Ob- server. I didn't even snarl at him, though it Was 9 a.m. our tipie, and I'm not the best of company at that hour on a Saturday morning, my day to sleep in. He soft-talked me, that man. It took me a couple of minutes to realize it, ' as I was still groggy from watching the late, late show. I have an orgy every Friday night, because I don't have to work on Saturday. It's a compensation thing from my childhood, when my mother called up the theatre manager and told him not to let me in to she Wednesday afternoon matinee, because I was not only skipping school to go, but swiping a dime out of her pure for admission. I was about ten. Anyway, Gordon gets the year's award for sweet-talk and persistence. He invited me, and my wife, and any kids who were around, to come down to 'Hartland for the Remembrance Day weekend. It sounded pretty nice, the way he put it. As an after thought, he just happened to men- tion they'd like me to speak at the Legion dinner. As a carrot for the donkey, he tossed off the fact that I'd be in distinguished company. One of , their speakers in the past had been Milton ,Gregg, V.C., former Minister of Veterans' Affairs.Crafty devil. Gordon, that is, not Milton. He extolled the beauty of the Maritimes in November, the fact that our bedroom at' his house would have a TV set, and various other allurements. I was tempted. That's why I called him a devil. A pleasant weekend in the Maritimes. A change from the dull schedule. New people, new faces, travel. I didn't say. no. Said I'd let him know. The wife — you know — don't know what she has planned. (She was in bed and not in the mood for consultation, with her broken ribs.) I was tempted, and I stand before you, brethern and sistern, and I admit it. I put out a few feelers, while the old lady was asleep. Called the travel agency. Yes, I could just make it to Fredericton and back on the weekend, without losing a day's pay. And if everything ran on time. It would only cost me about three hundred bucks, if I took my wife. And only six or eight hours to write a speech. Not bad. And free room and board down there. Oh, yes, I was tempted. And the good Gordon didn't leave a stone un- turned. Same night there was a telegram, phoned from Toronto, backing up the phone call. Three days later a letter: "It will be a pleasant break for you all . . . you will enjoy yourselves in our small town of 1,000 people . . . obtain enough copy for ten columns . . . find out what New Brunswick islike . . . and also what one of the smallest Legion branches in the province does on Nov. 11th. Well, if it does what most of the other bran- ches do, after the parade to the cenotaph, I've already been there, Gord. Finally, i faced the Old Battleaxe, laid out the project. "Don't be ridiculous", she said. "Don't you remember that we're having a family reunion at Grandad's that weekend?" I didn't. Sorry, Gord. Sorry, chaps. But I'm still temp- ted. The Last Post in Hartland would be something. The last post at Grandad's is the last post in the fence. Looking back over this column, I wonder which is the sublime and which is the ridiculous: a bunch of politicians spouting platitudes at the convention, or me sprinting to N.B. to spout some fun to the Hartland Legion? ITHE CLINTON NEW ERA Established 1865 Ilernber.:vonedlee hNwrPnpsr Ameelellen HUB OF, HURON. COUNTY Amalgamated 1924 Published every Thursday at Clinton, Ontario Editor James E. Fitzgerald General Manager, J. Howard Aitken Second Class Mali istration no. 0817 THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1881 Member, Ontetio Weekly Neweesmor Ameelrhon SUISCISPYION NAM: CANADA $10.00 U.S.A. $1140 WWI COPY .25c -THE HOME Of IADAR IN CANADA' The Jack Scott Column NI From our early files • • 0 • • • • "411 the safety features are standard equipment this year the CAR is optional.", Dog meets tub The subject for our lecture today is How to Bathe a Labrador Dog. This will apply also to Alsatians, Chows, St. Bernards, Airdales, Shetland Ponies and other large, cunning beasts. It is a good idea to allow yourself a weekend for the project, making the initial preparations on a Saturday morning. This consists of carrying out a large wash-tub to a well-cleared place and filling same with water from a large garden hose which has been hooked up for this purpose. Is all that clear? These arrangements should be carried out with a jaunty, matter-of-fact air. The dog should be ignored completely. You will notice from the corner of your eye that he has trotted briskly to the hole in the fence at the first sight of the wash-tub and is standing there, wagging his tail, grinning, poised for in- stant flight. Do not look at the dog directly. Labradors, particularly, are eye-readers. That is to say, they can read their masters' intent like an open book with one glance. If the dog should look into your eyes and perceive the word "Bath" he will be off and run- ning. An excellent idea is to pretend that the wash-tub is for some other purpose. A 'toy sailboat pushed around the surface a few moments may help to- allay the dog's suspicions, although not much. Or, again, the children I'may be encouraged to use the tub as a wading pool, as if this were its primary purpose., Having readied the tub, the dog's master should return to the house, whistling thinly. He will then proceed stealthily to a vantage point where he may observe both dog and wash-tub. Venetian blinds are ideal for this purpose. By late Saturday afternoon or early Sunday (if the Labrador is an old dog) the pet will have approached toward the tub out of sheer, animal curiosity. Now is the point where help must be enlisted. A wife will be found to be of considerable assistance and this is just another good reason for marrying. Together you proceed on tip-toe, making a flanking attack on the beast and, at the final moment, rushing the dog as you utter shrill cries to confuse it. Labradors — and, indeed, most large dogs — are true sport- smen and after five or ten minutes of struggle will concede vic- tory in a gentlemanly way. This is usually at the point where you are carrying him between you like a sack of wheat and the dog realizes that the game is up. Since very few Labradors will fit into an ordinary wash-tub it is necessary to perform the operation sectionally. In the general confusion care must be taken to see that the wife is not. flung into the tub by mistake. The actual washing of the dog is relatively simple. Jinx, my own Labrador, for example, must feel like a fool for having resisted so strenuously and is almost coy when being lathered. This brings us to the rinsing. For some reason dogs are thrown into a panic when squirted with a hose (or mine is, anyway, and she's disgustingly normal) and that is why, as I said in the beginning, a long hose is recommended. The hose is turned on, the dog leaps wild-eyed from your soapy grip and The Chase is on. A wife will come in very handy here, too, for blocking any available escape routes and, uttering shrill cries, will act as a sort of native beater. As the dog comes around you try to give him a good squirt with the hose. Clumsy' Got your wife again, didn't you? This is about alkthere is to it. As you carry the wash-tub away the dog will approach to make friends again with his most endearing No Hard Feelings look and, peace having been restored, will lie down happily and roll in the dust for several hours. 4 PAGE 4--CLINTON NEWS RNQORP, THURSDAY, opToogR, 3, 1974 10 YEARS AGO Oct. 1, 1964 In mid-November, Clinton and Goderich will join the ever- growing number of cities, towns and villages on the North American continent that can dial their own long distance call. The 108th annual edition of the Bayfield Fall Fair opened in Bayfield Wednesday under sunny skies. Fair officials said a record of entries was exhibited including more than 2,000 exhibits from public school children alone. Mr.. and Mrs. John Perdue of 146 Huron Street, Clinton, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary Tuesday. The couple has three sons and one daughter, Clarence, Clinton; Raymond London; Harry, Lon- don, and Mrs. C.J. Livermore, Clinton. Mildred Crich, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Crich of Tuckersmith has received her RNA having graduated from Wingham General Hospital. She is now on staff at the hospital as a nurse. Nearly 1,000 persons atten- ded Clinton Lions rummage sale at the arena Saturday. Over $7 00 was cleared by the local service club for welfare work in Clinton and area. Househbld items and furniture were sold by auction and clothing, boots and shoes were sold from booths manned by Lions and their wives, The most popular booth was the baking booth which was cleared in half an hour. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Graham have been frequent visitors to their Bayfield cot- tage this summer, 25 YEARS AGO Oct. 5, 1949 Mrs, F.W, Johnston returned home on Monday after a week's visit with Georgetown, Norval, and Brampton friends, Mrs. R.B. Johnson returned to Bayfield last week after having spent ten days in Hamilton and London. Grover Clare was elected mayor of Clinton's Teen Town for 1949-50 on the first meeting of the Town Council, Tuesday evening. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Mid-' dleton enjoyed a trip to the Manitoulin Island last week where Mr. Middleton attended the cattle sale at Little Current. . . Mr. and Mrs. Bill McAsh spent the weekend at Toronto. Local and provincial police are carrying on a thorough investigation of twin burglaries which were perpetrated in the main business section of Clin- ton on Sunday and Monday nights, or, to be more exact, early Tuesday morning. The more serious of the two was at Jackson's Jewellery Store somewhere between 12:30 and 1 a.m. early Tuesday, when jewellery to the value of $1,000 was lifted from the show win- dow. Mayor R.Y. Hattin reported that the bell-and-flasher system would be installed at the CNR level crossing on Victoria St. in a week or ten days. He con- sidered the town as "very for- tunate." 50 YEARS AGO Oct. 9, 1924 Thomas Wigginton has star- ted putting in new lock boxes and re-arranging the present boxes at the Post Office and David Kay has started painting the building. J.A. Ford and Son have ptr- chased the building they occupy and the one next to it from Jacob Taylor. The Lion Tamers Club have taken rooms over, Wendorrs Restaurant for the winter mon- ths, '•• Those assisting at the League meeting in Ontario St. Church were Misses Jean Plumsteel, Lulu Crich, Margaret gall and A.J. McMurray is attending a plowing demonstrations in St. Thomas. The Moderation League has set up quarters in the office of Jacob Taylor on the Midway. Mr. and Mrs. Milton Cook, Sarnia, are visiting with the latter's parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Schoenal. Mrs. Long has sold her residence on Albert St. to John Aitken head of the Huron Casting Co. Mrs. Long and Miss Mamie plan to spend the winter in California. Roy Ball has been placing his radio speaker outsidp so that passers can hear the broadcasts of the World Series baseball games. This is the first op- portunity many have had to hear those games. Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Corless have been called to Burgessville on account of the sudden death of the former's mother. Mrs. Wilfred Pickett and Mrs. W. G. Moffatt are in Toronto on account of the illness of their father, James Du nford. 75 YEARS AGO Oct. 5, 1899 The snow storm which raged in the Northwest about the middle of last week swept over Clinton and district, last Friday night and inflicted a great deal of damage. The storm does not appear to have raged so severly in all parts of the county, accor- ding to all reports received. Miss Haley has returned to Goderich from her trip to Detroit and Port Huron and has reopened for the season her dressmaking establishment in the Mechanics Institute Block, On Friday Mr, Edward Mar. shall of Goderich township shot an eagle on the lake shore which measured seven feet from tip to tip of wings. Mr. Josh' Cook came down from Wellington county for Saturday and. Sunday, He has charge of several gangs up there for the Apple King and is still as busy as can be on fall fruit. As he took time by the forelock and secured a good stock of barrels he rather has the advantage of other buyers. Mr. John Westlake, Drysdale, returned home from a wheeling tour and other exhibitions. 100 YEARS AGO Oct. 8, 1874 The Livery business of D. Kennedy has increased so much that he has been com- pelled to make a large addition to his already large stable. At the recent matriculation examination of Toronto University, John Turnball, lately a pupil of the Clinton High School, succeeded in carrying off first-class honours in mathematics, and second- class honours in classics. . On Saturday night last a brilliant display of the aurora borealis took place a short time after sunset. Bright streaks of white light shot up in rapid sucession to almost mid- heavens and illuminated them beautifully. The carriage shop on the cor- ner opposite Fair's mill, used by Messrs. Cantelon Bros., and owned by Mr. W. Grigg, has been sold to the former. At last the "heated term" is over and chilly mornings and frosty nights indicate the near approach of winter. Seaforth is incorporated, and will henceforth be known as the town of Seaforth. Last night salt was struck at Mr. Kidd's well, near Seaforth, at a depth of 1045 feet. 'This bed is equal to any yet reached. Population shifts In 1873, 75 per cent of CarIlda's population supplied to-1 for the country. Today, only seven per cent of the population is working the land, Jack's Jottings Late last week Uonald 'Vine announced the long theawa ited rehabilitationP vinci al pol icy renewal for of residential buildings. The Government has allocated $10 million for 1974- 1975 for this program with a further commitment of a similar amount for a further 2 years if the program proves suc- cessful, "The program, called On- tario Home Renewal Program (OHIO) provides per capita grants to municipalities in On- tario to administer directly as loans to homeowners who wish to repair the home they oc- cupy," Mr. Irvine stated in his ministry's news release. Municipalities will be required to draft minimum housing standards, guidelines or bylaws, stating clearly an Ac- ceptable minimum standard for health and safety. It is expected that this standard will vary "from municipality to municipality, large urban areas with a history of housing stan- dard bylaw enforcement main- taining a high level rehabilitation standard, and small or rural municipalities with a much more relaxed stan- dard. The Province will contribute $150.00 per housing unit in the program towards ad- oministrative costs, including in- spection costs. Municipalities may find that this sum is insuf- ficient to cover the cost of properly trained inspectors and co-ordinated inspection The funds allocated to the program will be for municipalities under 10,000 population, $4. per capita; for municipalities between 10,000 and 99,000 population, $3.00 per capita; for municipalities over 100,000 population, $2.00 per capita. In addition grants up to $25,000.00 will be available for areas of less than 10,000 people. It is estimated that ap- proxiamtely 100,000 homes or about 5 percent of the housing stock is in need of repair. It makes good sense at this time of very high costs for new housing to invest public money in maintaining our existing stock of residential property. Because much of our poorer housing is occupied by families of lower income, the terms of the loans are designed to en- courage, these families to take advantage of. this opportunity to paint-up and fix-up. Loans will be available on a sliding scale of interest rate from 0 percent to 8 percent, over a term of 15 to 20 years, depen- ding on income. The maximum loan is set at $7,500.00. It can be expected that the Provincial program will be tied into the Federal Residential Rehabilitation Assistanc Program (RRAP) whereve possible. R.R.A.P. has bee designed to be used in conjunc tion with Neighbourhood Im provement Program (N.I.P.) 'the Federal Government' program to upgrade and rene neighbourhoods. Most RRA funding will be used in N.I. areas. The Provincial progra has the advantage of /Dein available to hom,eowners wh live outside the designated i provement areas. In general the Federal co tribution will be used to reduc the Provincial funding so th the maximum OHRP will n exceed $7,500, less federal fu ding. There is some suggestio that an agreement of continue occupancy of the rehabilitatio house may allow a portion the OHRP to' be forgiven. A serious deficiency in t Provincial program is the la of any consideration for la dlords and their tenants. T Federal program allows fu ding for the rehabilitation rented property provided thatl rent restraint agreement reached with the landlord. excluding landlords, a serio disservice is done tenants w will be forced to pay addition rent to cover repairs ordered buildings under the n municipal housing standar And because lower inco people, especially those w rent, occupy the most run do property the effect of the ent cement program will fall m heavily on those who can ie afford it. This is a most unfortun aspect of the new program a one that I hope can be chang With new housing prices h and going higher, a grow proportion of Ontario famil are living in rented housing. many large cities, this prop tion is over 50 percent. Prose tenants can't be expected pay the cost of renewal of o buildings, often rundow because of years of neglect, the other hand landlords fac with the, cost of rehabilitati will choose to raise rent cover the costs or close t building and sell for other u