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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1956-11-15, Page 2Th# Tim#i-Ad¥oc#t#r Novtmbtr 15, 1W Jottings By JMS, Editorials This newspaper believes th# right to express en opinion In public contributes to the progress of the nation end that it must be exercised freely to preserve and improve democratic government. A Democratic Issue Is Party Reform Necessary To Liven Canadian Politics? In previous issues, this column has .criticized, the Conservative and Libe­ ral parties, for their undemocratic organizations, maintaining; that it is shameful hypocrisy for political groups who seek to govern a democratic country to operate in any way which’ does not make them responsible to the people they represent. The written consitutions of both parties are evidence enough of the type Of control which is exerted. The appointment (not election) of members of, the executive committees which govern these organizations is provided for in such general terms that its relationship to democracy is only vaguely remote. It is interesting to note that neither constitution provides regula­ tions by which the federal leaders are selected. Nor do they provide for the frequency of that election. It can only be assumed that these decisions are left entirely in ,the hands of the parties’ executive committees. In this connection, the regula­ tions governing the election of a Pro­ gressive Conservative leader next month are worth investigation. At our request, the national headquarters of the party has furnished this informa­ tion. The regulations provide for three classes of delegates: ex-officio, riding delegates and. delegates-at-large. The ex-officio delegates include, besides the executive officers of the Association, the chairmen of the con­ vention sub-committees, and the pro­ vincial leaders, all privy councillors, senators,- members of the House of Commons and members> of the pro­ vincial legislatures who support the party. The riding delegates, which com- ’ prise the majority, are selected as follows; “Three official delegates and three alternate delegates, either men, women or young people as far as possible on an equal basis, from each federal electoral district as‘establish­ ed under redistribution in 1952.” Rules governing the choice of these delegates are provided as fol­ lows: “Delegates or alternate dele­ gates wherever practicable shall be elected at meetings of the Progressive Conservative Association in each rid­ ing, called for such purpose.” ■ This clause has democratic pos­ sibilities. Unfortunately, the inclusion of.the words “wherever practicable” obviously gives the riding executives considerable leeway.- There is no explanation of how the phrase should be interpreted. • Rule three provides some insight on part of the problem. “In any case where no Progressive Conservative Association or similar organization exists in any riding, steps shall be’ taken to call a meeting of party sup­ porters to elect delegates and alter­ nate delegates. If, in any case, the provincial executive certifies to the convention committee that such a course is pot feasible, the convention, executive committee may authorize the provincial executive to name the delegates and alternate delegates to represent such riding * * j Here again, while it must be ad­ mitted that there is a sincere attempt to get proper representation, there is another obvious loophole for the ap­ pointment of delegates suitable to those at the top who might wish to pack, the convention with delegates favourable to a particular candidate. This clause takes on tremendous importance when it is realized > that in many ridings, particularly in the west, the Progressive Conservative party is defunct. The number of delegates picked by the provincial executives Would far exceed those chosen at riding level. The third class delegates, those “at-large”, are partially provided for in this clause: “As many delegates-at- large, men or women, from each pro­ vince as the province lias federal representatives in the House of Commons, such delegates to be select­ ed, not by districts, but province-wide, to’ represent the leading activities, educational, press, labour, agriculture, professions, business and so forth (To be selected provincially)?’ The power ■ which this clause places in the hands of provincial executives is obvious. (Incidentally, the? constitution of the national as­ sociation does not provide regulations for the election of provincial execu­ tives, so it is assumed that they can be appointed or5 elected as they wish. Another point which should be kept in mind is that the presidents of all provincial organizations are members of the national executive committee.) Other delegates-at-large are ap­ pointed by Young Progressive Con­ servative Associations and by univers­ ity organizations. Their number totals 100. It is difficult to see from the foregoing regulations that the ordin­ ary supporters of the party have any say in the selection of its leaders. Obviously, their part is played in the selection of the three delegates from each riding if a meeting is held for that purpose. However, the forth­ coming convention is legs than a month away and, as yet, we have heard no reports of any riding meet­ ings being held. It has been suggested that apathy on the part of the supporters is the reason that such riding meetings are not held. The argument is that it is too costly to call a meeting when a majority of supporters are not in­ terested in who is. selected as a dele­ gate to the convention. • • Our answer is this: there is apathy at the municipal government level, too. Only a handful of people attend nomination meetings. Yet this election procedure is required by law in order to guarantee every citizen the oppor­ tunity to promote candidates for office. When the proper machinery is carried out, no citizen can protest on justifiable grounds that the selection of officials was “rigged”; . This newspaper maintains that a similar type of procedure must be guaranteed in any political party if it is to truly represent its supporters. And we believe that the strength of the parties, and the democracy of the nation; will be vitally enhanced When this procedure is adopted. Killers . The following safe-driviiig editor- . ial was contributed by K. J. Lampman, manager of Exeter Hydro, who picked it out of a regional publication of the » H.E.P.C. Entitled “Are You a Killer Driver?”, its contents apply to every motorist. The author is Harry Morgan. “You many think you are a good driver, and perhaps you are. But I’d like , you to keep in mind that most of your “skillful” driving is due to other- motorists. “Anybody can whip across the road as fast and as carelessly as you were going. There’s no trick to that— the new cars are loaded.with power and pick-up—too much so, I’m afraid. “Just remember that it was my alertness that prevented an accident on the hill, not yours. And the driver who was approaching us also had to brake suddenly and swerve in order to. save your life and his. “It is not your courage nor dex­ terity that has kept you alive as long as this, but the prudence and polite­ ness of other motorists. You have been trading on our good will and sense of . self preservation. . “I wish it were possible to point out to you that your, kind of driving is nothing but bad manners—it is not heroic, or adventurous or manly.' “Suppose you ran dowh a crowd-' ed street, pushing people out of your way, knocking packages out Of Jadies’ hands and kicking .children into the gutter. What would bo heroic or manly about that? *- ®f)e Exeter $imeE=&tifaQ£ate Time* Established 1873 Amalgamated 1924 Advocate Established 1181 Published Each Thursday Morning it Stratford, Ontario Ari Independent Newspaper Devoted to the Interest* of th* Town of ExOtor arid District Authorized ar Second Class Mail/ Post Office Department, Ottawa •4 MEMBER: Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and Audit Bureau of Circulation, AWARDS: 1956—A. v. Nolan Trophy/ general excellence for newspaper* published In Ontario towns between 1,500 and 4,500 population; E. T, StiphOrisen Trophy for best front page among Ontario weekly newspaper* (*l*b won in 1954). 1953-AII- Canada1 Insurance Federation national safety award; Ontario tafaty League award. P«id*in-Advane# Clrcuhthn at of September 30, l955-*2/754 SUMCRIPTION RArtJ (in Adv*hce)-Canada $3.00 Pit- Y**r; |4.tt Publiihtd by Th# Exiftr Tim#**Adv#c#f# LihljtM * s s | Investors Syndicate ef Canada, Limited' Investors Mutuil of Canada, Limited s Memorial At Vimy Ridge Armistice Day reminded me of some of the destruction and devastation that we saw in some of the cities through which we passed during our trip with the newspaper party n,overseas, but more particularly it brought back to memory some of the cemeteries and also some of .the shrines that have been.erected itniii! News Of Your I LIBRARY i By MRS. J. M. S. Young Canada Book Wepk which comes this year, -Novem­ ber 16 to 23, is endorsed by the Department of Education in every province in a nation-wide endeavor tp acquaint the pub­ lic with better children’s books. We all know what would hap­ pen to grain if it were not sown before the end of July. Exactly the same law applies to child­ ren’s reading. The first three years of a child’s school life’ might be described as the per­ iod of germination, of prepara­ tion " of the soil. During these three .years children are still too concerned with the mech­ anics of reading and are largely dependent ori adults for worth­ while stories. Junior High might be describ­ ed as the Age of Confusion when they are torn between the in­ fluence of . parents, teachers, church, radio, television and movies; when they don’t know what to believe and ate con­ vinced that ' you don’t either. Every suggestion you make is challenged. But between ibis age of ger­ mination and confusion lies the golden age of opportunity which comes between the Grades Four and Six. At this age they are filled with the curiosity to know and understand. They are open to suggestion. Here is an envi­ able opportunity to capitalize on this natural hunger for know­ ledge. Never in the history of children’s 'literature have we had such splendid, wholesome and in­ spiring books on every subject and every .age as we have to­ day. The chairman . of National Book Week Committee says “We stress the importance of books because we believe the road children must travel will be a happier and easier road if it is paved with worthwhile books and we believe that good books will prepare boys and girls to meet with better understanding the adult problems of tojnor- to the fallen heroes of two great The most important shrine we visited was the Canadian Memor­ ial at Vimy Ridge in France. This memorial was designed by a Toronto sculptor, Walter All­ ward, and is certainly a credit to Canada. While we were there there were other tourists, visit­ ing the spot, some in busses, others in private cars, showing the popularity of this great me­ morial. The base must be from 15 to 20 feet high and extends for 10Q feet or more. Arising from the centre of the shrine are two stone pillars with a group of figures oni either at the top and other groups at the bottom. Close beside the pillars and standing out alone is the figure of a woman weeping for her children. At the four corners are other groups carved in stone. On the memorial cut in stone are the names of the Canadian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice* but who have no other memorial to mark their last resting place. Grassy slopes surround the memorial And are kept-trimmed, while at a short distance are the mounds that were left as they - were at the close of the first great war, Preserved too are the trenches beneath Vimy Ridge and several members of our party, along with other tourists, made the trip deep down below the sur­ face of the earth. There were cemeteries in the region beautifully kept. with a headstone at each grave and flowers to decorate them. Time would not permit us to stop and visit them. There was one sacred spot of special interest where our busses stopped and a number of our party were out with their cam­ eras to take pictures, It was a huge shell-hole close beside the road, overgrown with grass and kept neatly trimmed. We were told that a number of soldiers had lost their lives when a bomb exploded and were buried be­ neath the debris, Their bodies had never been disturbed and the spot is maintained in per­ petuity. We visited Ypres, the centre of the textile industry, which vyas badly destroyed during the first world war. I well remem­ ber visiting the city in 1924 and'Witnessing the great destruc­ tion, particularly in Cloth Hall, a famous building built along Gothic lines. The building 'has now been completely restored as has been the,rest of the city. Zurich^ Phon# 168 MERRY MENAGERIE DISPENSED BY BILL SMILEY • Sooner or later, someone is going to realize that we Canad­ ians possess the mostly deadly weapon in the world. Our lead­ ers haven't tumbled- to it yet, but J haven’t tumbled to it yet. the face of the threats of war row.” Iif Your Library new books for boys and girls and teen age will be ori display in the basement from Friday for a week when parents, friends and young peo­ ple can look over these books. Next.week the rooms of the Pub­ lic School with their teacher will visit the library in turn ac­ cording to schedule worked out • by Principal. A. B. Idle. Posters proclaiming Book Week will be made ■ by pupils of Grades 4 to 8 and are to be , in the hands of the librarian* at ' the end of this week. By Walt Disney “If we’re so wily;. . how come we get shagged all over' the country by a pack of dumb hounds?!” .. / • ( ’TIMES’ > Go By\ these days, to let them in on it. * £ * * It is a weapon that makes atomic warfare' look like stone-. age stuff. It shatters people physically, It> wrecks them men­ tally apd morally. The only question is, have Canada’s lead­ ers enough ruthlessness to un­ leash it on the world? If ’they had, it would be only a matter of time until all wars and threats of wars were non­ existent'.• * , * # $ * Pnl referring, of course, to The Flu. As I sit here tapping out this message with shaky fingers, my nose dripping a steady accompaniment, my body alternately wracked by hot flushes and chills, I can’t help thinking it’s a shame to let such a vicious weapon go to Waste, * * / # $ # # All our Prime Minister would "have to do is round up a dozen Canadians who are suffering from The Flu, He could find them, at any- time of year, in any numbers, in any town or city. Put them on a plane and send them on state visits to Moscow, . Washington, London, ■Peking, Cairo, or' any other trouble spot. Let them mingle freely at diplomatic cocktail parties.# # sjl ' ft sit • I’ll guarantee that within six months, 90 per cent of the. people in the world would have The Flu. War would cease. International strife would end. Everybody would be too busy with The Flu.* # 4’ Personally, I’d rather be hit by ■ a hydrOgeri bomb than by The Flu. With'the former, you .can, only be blown to bits or shrivelled to cinders once. With the latter, you die a thousand deaths, a couple of times’ a year, for life. A good epidemic of The Flu would ravish the Russians the way dysentry decimated the Diggers at the Dardanelles in World War I. Can’t you see those Russian moujiks reeling around with fevers, runny noses and hacking"-couglls, trying' to cope with communism. We’d have them ori their kneqs before .you could say “Dnepropetrovsk”. When you have the Flu you’re not. interested in fighting any­ body. Ih the first' place; you’re .......... your /TIRES. WORRY LESS! Stop worrying about the condition, of • your tires . . . stop gambling on their" ■ ability to hold out through your next long. trip. Start enjoying safe, care­ free motoring. Trade in your old tires on a set of new ones . . , NOW!. BOB MOLOY .SUPERTEST DEALER Phon* 738 Exeter ONE-STOP service that keeps you on the GO! Our entire basement is chuck full of fun fdr young­ sters from the cradle to high school age. • Hundreds of exciting toys for the girls and boys. Come in any­ time arid browse around. A small deposit will keep youf selection until Christmas. BEAVERS Phone 186 ’ HARDWARE Exeter iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitHiitiiiiiiniiiiiniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiuiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiitJiiiiiiiiiiiiiinti St. United Church Sunday morn­ ing decided to adopt the; Sham­ rock congregation m Saskatche­ wan. 1 10 YEARS AGO; ReCvC T. Percy Passmpre of Usborrie Township was ori I Tues­ day elected warden of /Huron County for the unexpired i term 6f the latfe James Leiprir.) Farmers are making the (most of the ideal Weather Conditions this week • to get the turtnips and sugar beets *harvested.\ Mr. and Mrs. Peter Strolbbe, EmmA and Frank art mowing to Guelph this week. More than 400 men are (cm ployed ori the construction work of the new buildings at the mew R.C.A.F. training school, crin- IrAlia* * * Mr. Fred Forester, Scafonth, has been appointed agent at,'the C.N.R. depot. \ . > The Exeter branch of the Ried Cross has purchased a ba' and a systematic collection salvage will be made. 15 YEARS AGO Mrs. M. Gidley, who has be 50 YEARS AGO Mr. Duncan McDougall, who has been principal of the Win- chelsfta school for the past five years, has resigned his position. Mr. Thomas Chambers last week sold the Chambers home­ stead, Lot 4, Con. 8 Stephen, to Mr. Matt England. Six thousand, five hundred barrels of apples wore shipped from this station this fall. Mr. James LawSon, jeweller of Crriditon, (lias built a , show window in his store to display his goods. The telephones have arrived in Creditdri after a lorig wait and Workmen are expected to install them in the differerit business places shortly. Messrs. Thomas Harvey arid C< H. Sanders were in Hamilton, Grimsby, Beamsville, t Aylmer and London last week inspecting the different canning factories. 25 YEARS AGO Messrs. Clarence Down and Marvin Cudmore ate in Toron­ to as members ef the Huron County judging team' at the Royal Winter Fair. The Huronia Male Cher us of South Huron, under the leader­ ship of W« R. Gouldirig, provid­ ed the program at Mt. Pleasant on November 11 and will be At Bruceficld November 20, and Granton November 24. Dr. Moir of Hensall Is open­ ing an up-to-date hospital south of Hepsail to be known as the “Huron Springs Sanatorium”, With the cutting off of the morning train from Wingham to London the annual visit'of Santa Claus on his stop-over at the Exeter station din. not take place this mt. . „ The congregation...it James >be, erri- rir of enlibrarian at the Public Libra/ry for 21 year?, has resigned Kier positiori, | The six*day«. open season ifor hunting deer, in Huron cmAnty scheduled for the period /No­ vember. 18-23, lias been, with­ drawn. /Bruce Shapton, Donald fKqr- ’ ” djwere Efketer drawn. ___ _nick 'and Malcolm Kitkiarid the prize winners of the r Swine Club. a ■ , ,»w , The Beaver family settled in Bianshard Township one /hund­ red years age. < . aFuneral, services^ were ) held Friday for N. J. fibre, station agent at Exeter for 2? yeans. not. interested in fighting any- so 'weak you can?t lick’ lips. In the second, you Want slaughter, you want pathy. ‘# * st You may think all this „ „ bit fanciful, but I know. This wCek I haven’t even had the strength or the inclination to fight with my wife. Instead,of walking around me, my kids just push me out of the wa^. When I was changing the gold­ fish I was. so weak I nearly wfent flat on my back, when he gave a flip in my hand. * # * * * That’s the physical aspect. But the phsycological effect is even more shattering. You- go around in a. cloud of utter de- • pression. You develop a deep „ arid bitter hatred, of everybody: 5 yoUr family, whose member's - rirfe quite unconcerned .^bout the fact that you’re practically dying; Flu-less friends whose idea of Sympathy is to tell you about the terrible dose of Flu they had last spring; ‘doctors, who trill you the thing to do is to go to bed for a few days, when it’s all you .can do to get to bed at nights. Just think of what would hap­ pen if the Russians got hating . each other like that. They’re an excitable, though melariCholy people, First thing you know, they’d be shooting each other «. . . sheer hatred, dead from depres- i'f >i< iff —the whole plan is that there is no counter weappn,' or even a defence for The Flu, With the same hideous maleVb- lehce, it seeks our high arid low, rich and poor. No bomb shelter is deep enough to avoid it. * « * * * This little plan for world peace is offered to Mr. St Laur­ ent ahd the briys for nothing. I den’t even want a knighthood, though it’s the most sensible and inexpensive w proposition they’ve river had. All I want is to get nd of my Flu. off like flies, or dropping siom Beauty of don’t sym- is a VIC DINNIN Sayings Investment* and Annuity Certificates INVESTORS SYNDICATE ’ of Canada, Limited INVESTORS MUTUAL of Canada. Ltd. Balanced Mutual Fund Share* PHONE 168 ZURICH ---------------------------~7 BELL & LAUGHTON BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS NOTARIES PUBLIC. ELMER D. BELL, Q..C. C. V. LAUGHTON, L.'L.B. Zurich Office Wednesday Afternoon Parkhill Thursday Afternoons EXETER PHONE 4 A ALVIN WALPER PROVINCIAL LICENCED AUCTIONEER For your, sale, large or small, courteous and efficient service at all times. “Servlet that Satisfies'* PHONE 57-r-2 DASHWOOD USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Officii ExOtrir, President Martin Feenriy R.R. Vice* President E. Clayton Colquhoun ‘ 1____ Science Mill Director* Harry COates R.R. 1 Centralia Witt. A. Hamilton Milton McCurdy <R.R. Alex J, Rhode R.R. Agent* Tlios. G. BAllantyne Ontario 2 Dublin R.R. 1 Cromarty 1 Kirkton 3 Mitchell R.R. 1 Wdoclham 1 Mitchell Mitchell Claytdn Harris R.R, Stanley Keeking Solicitor W. G. Cochranri S*cretary-Trea*urer Arthur FraSrir Exeter Exeter W. G. COCHRANE,. B.A, BARRISTER & SOLICITOR' NOTARY PUBLIC Hensail Office Friday Afternoon EXETER PHONE 14 ' DR. H. H. COWEN DENTAL SURGEON I L.D.5., D.D.S. Main Street . Exeter Closed Wednesday Afternoon PHONE 36 ARTHUR FRASER , INCOME TAX REPORTS BOOKKEEPING SERVICE * ETC. Ann St., Exeter Phono 504 G. A. WEBB, DX? *Doctor of Chiropractic 430 MAIN STREET, EXETER X*Ray and Laboratory Facilities Open Each Weekday Except Wednesday , Tue*. & Thur*. Evenings 7-9 For Appdintment - Phone 606 N* L. MARTIN OPTOMETRIST Main Street, Exeter 'Open Every Weekday Except Wdriririsday For Appointment Phone 351 JOHN WARD CHIROPRACTIC DRUGLESS THERAPIST Pear of 459 Main St, Exritcr Phone 348 Closed on Wednesdays DR* J. W. CORBfeTT L.D.S., D.D.S. dental surgeon 814 Main Street South Phone 273 Exeter Closed Wednripday Aftefadbiii!