HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1959-05-21, Page 4.PaSQ 4
71.raza A.tiVecate, May 21, 195
Editorlal s
This newspaper believes the
right ;to express: on opinion in.
public contributes to the pro
grass of the nition and. that it
must be exercised freely t, pre-
serve a.nd improve .democratic
government.
New platform
• Liberal leader John Wintermeyer has pre-
sented. the Ontario voter with a 15 -point platform
to consider for the forthcoming election Since his
party offers the only alternative to the Frost govern-
ment, at least as far as this area is concerned, the
serious-minded elector will want to look it over care-
ully,.
Major emphasis is on educational reform, The
party would "assume progressively the basic cost of
education in Ontario, leaving to municipalities that
portion that assures local responsibility." Mr. Winter-
xlleyer has indicated this would remove the major
portion of the cost from the shoulders of the home-
owner, through a reform of the municipal act and
the whole municipal financing structure.
After education, the chief points of the plat-
forl, are these:
A low-cost housing program with down pay-
ments as little as $500,
A new approach to separate highways 'financ-
ing and construction through the establishment of
a highways authority.
A portable pension scheme which would allow
accumulated pension benefits to be transferred from
employer to employer until a worker's retirement.
A representative body to assist the govern-
ment in revising the liquor laws,
New government departments for northern
development, farm marketing and small business
promotion.
Compulsory automobile insurance, gas safety
code, a broadened farm loan scheme, a campaign to
rid the province of obscene literature, extension of
the Ontario Hospital Insurance program, a contribut-
ory retirement financing scheme and establishment
of a management -labor council.
There are some notable proposals here and It
is to be hoped they are popular enough to bolster the
party's strength in the legislature. Yet it cannot be
overlooked that the platform, in this stage at least,
lacks depth. The proposals are not spelled out in
sufficient detail.
This is most evident in the chief plank, educa-
tion, The party suggests a reform, of the municipal
act and municipal financing -- a tremendous move
which would alter the fundamental operation of the
government closest to the people, and the one to be
cherished most.
There is a similar lack of explanation in re-
gard to the important proposals concerning high-
ways and liquor.
The housing plank may have merit, yet it
would appear to conflict with the federal scheme,
already working effectively, and it would duplicate
costs of administration.
The proposal to establish a new government
department for marketing of farm products is an
interesting one. The first point which strikes us, how-
ever, is that farm organizations have declared de-
cisively, through their commendable "self-help"
policies, that they wish to administer marketing
schemes through their own democratic producer
groups. It would appear illogical to establish a sepa-
rate government department to administer programs
which the farmers themselves wish to operate.
There are other planks in this platform which
most voters will endorse quickly in principle—port-
able pension plans, compulsory automobile insurance,
gas safety code, northern development and aid to
small business.
Although it has received a mixed reception
so far, the program will nevertheless hearten many
followers who believe the party must develop con-
crete proposals to regain its stature in the province.
The comments and opinions of our readers on
the forthcoming provincial electionare invited dur-
ing the next three weeks. We'll be happy to publish
your letters.
All letters for publication must be signed by
the author but his name need not appear in the
newspaper. A "non de plume" may be inserted if
requested.
•
Replace salt
We are happy to hear that the Ontario De-
partment of Highways is looking for an alternative
to salt as a de-icing agent in winter.
Our left rear fender has developed a rust ring
from, salt, It will cost us a pretty penny to repair it.
Since the province uses 'tremendous amounts
of salt (this winter over 16,000 tons were appliedon
provincial roads alone), total damage must be exces-
Sive.
By all means, let's get something else.
bt Exeter Zrumeglibbocate
Times Established Advocate Established 1881
Amalgamated 1924
Published Each Thursday Morning at Stratford, Ont.
Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dep`f, Ottawa
Alit rda Frank Howe Beattie Shield, best front page
(Ceneda), 1957; A. v, Nolan Trophy, general excellence for
newspapers published in Onferio towns between 1,500 and
4,500 population, 1958, 1957,.1956; J. George Johnston Trophy,
ypographical excellence (Ontario), 1957; E. T. Stephenson
trophy, best .front page (O'ntario), 1956, 1955; All -Canada
lnsurranee Pederatian tuitional safety award, 1953.
Paid•in-Advatnco Circulation, Sept. 30, 1950 - 3,22$
SUBSCRIPTION RAI Ear Canada $4.00 Per Yalu'; USA Stile
•
tyreeeer
01859, King Features Syndicate. let, World rights reeea'ed.
"I'm not losing a daughter, I'm gaining a home."'
p2I
qmo
n,Tiet's
There is a tendency, as we
start pushing 40, and 40 starts
pushing back, t o don rose-
coloured glasses every time we
look back at qur childhood. This
is one of the more disgusting
symptoms of approaching senil-
ity, and should be resisted
stoutly.
* « *
For example, I was thinking
of writing a column about the
Twenty-fourth of May. It was
going to be nostalgic and sac-
charine: what a grand celebra-
tion the 24th used tq be; what
a pity they've changed the date
to the nearest or farthest or
something Monday and lost all
the significance of the holiday;
how the kids nowadays don't
have as much fun as we did on
the 24th of May.
* * «
Fortunately, seeking a little
extra background, 1 asked my
wife. what she did when she was
a kid; on the 24th. "Nothing",
she replied. Sadly but sensibly,
I realized that what I'd been
about to write was pure piffle.
There wasn't any great celebra-
tion on the 24th, when I was a
kid. It was just a welcome holi-
day, and no kid I ever knew
cared two firecrackers for old
Queen Victoria,
• * *
What's more, kids nowadays
have just as much fun as we
ever did, only they're a little
more sophisticated about it.
Looking hack, all I can .remem-
ber about the 241h is going
around all day beefing because
1 couldn't buy all the fireworks
I wanted, and going to bed that
night with a couple of burned
fingers and a singed eyebrow or
two. That is exactly what my
kids do, so they must be hav-
ing just as much fun as I did.
*
In the third place, I' think it's
an excellent idea to move the
24th in the preceding Monday.
When a holiday has no signifi-
cance in the history or tradition
of a nation, at least let's have it
fall on Monday, and make a long
weekend of it. Long weekends
help reduce the surplus popula-
tion, as Scrooge put it.
*
The whole conception of holi-
days in this country is sorely
in need of a major. overhaul.
I'm a great believer in holidays,
but ours are as haphazard as
the political system we've in-
herited. Under our present set-
up they are not only poorly ar-
ranged, but scanty.
* * «
Some of our months are all
right. In July, of course, we
have that great national holiday
that stirs the blood of every
Canadian, The First of July.
August has Civic Holiday, Sep-
tember gives us Labor Day, and
October is rich with Thanks-
giving.
* • *
But how about that Novem-
ber? Thirty of the most dismal
and depressing,days in the year,
and not a holiday to lighten the
gloom. Why not call a holiday
for the second Monday in No-
vember? We could name it Last
Call For. Storm Windows Day.
* * *
In December, we have Christ-
mas, Boxing Day, and only a
week later, New `Year's Day.
Fine. We need them all. But
long, dark and cold loom Janu-
ary and February, without a
break in either M them, We
Sugar
AND
Spice
Dispensed By BILL SMILEY
should stick a couple of Monday
holidays in there, In January,
we. could celebrate that cere-
mony that is rapidly - gaining
popularity in Canada, and have
Packing for Florida Day,
* * M
February could be broken up
nicely by moving Valentine's
Day to the nearest Monday and
calling it Love Day. There isn't
a single day in the year set
aside for love. We could love
our .neighbours, our wives, our
children, our neighbours' wives,
and anybody else who was in
the mood. It would certainly
liven up dull old. Feb.
* *
March and April get tricky,
with Easter. But if. Easter came
in April, could we not have a
Monday holiday in March, called
March Hare Day. We could all
go mad with delight at getting
through the winter, fling off our
outer habiliments, and dance in
the streets. In our overshoes..
* * *
If Easter came in March, we'd
need a special Monday holiday
about the middle of April, which.
is the cruelest month. We might
designate it as April Fuel Day.
It would be a suitably joyoes
celebration if the government
marked it by delivering a load
of fuel free to every loyal citi-
zen. Just enough to carry him
through to the first of July,
when he can let his furnace out.
* * *
That takes care of every
month but June. Do you realize
there isn't a single long week-
end in June, one of our most
delightful months? And one of
our busiest months on the high-
ways. Think of the triumph.
with which our daily papers
could trumpet: FIRST JUNE
LONG WEEKEND KILLS 108.
* * *
Yes, we must have a Monday
holiday in June. What shall we
call it? Let's see, June is the
month of marriages. We could
have a national holiday on the
second Monday and name it
Rude Awakening Day,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,nnO,,,,,,,, "lulu0,,,,,,,,,, n,nn,,,,,,,nn,00
News Of. Your
LIBRARY
..........01....1....
By MRS. JMS
An interesting book telling of
the experiences of a schoolteach-
er, with a pioneering streak in
her make-up, who decided to
visit the Arctic regions of Can-
ada is entitled
School -House in the Arctic
After •a happy year working
at the Indian settlement of Fort
McPherson on the Mackenzie
River Margery Hind moved
further north to Port Harrison
and there had her first experi-
ence of igloos, seal hunting, the
barter system and the unfamiliar
Eskimo temperament.
Miss Hinds found the Eskimos
naturally intelligent and quick to
learn and with the ;help of Elijah,
her Eskimo interpreter, her class-
es made rapid progress, even
though the children often had to
travel for two or three days in
order to reach the schoolhouse.
Miss Hinds is now teaching
at Cape Dorset on Baffin Island
where the Eskimoes live in seat-
ter.ed camps. She has much to
say about the mixed blessings
—Please Turn To Page 5
Jottings By J.M.S.
Oldest Jady in Canada
died at 11 5 years of age
The village of Woodham at
one time boasted of the oldest
woman in Canada in the person
of Mrs. James Mills, who died
in February, 1903, at the remark-
able age of 115 years.
Two years previous to her
death the Onward, a paper for
young people printed in Toronto
by the Methodist Book and I'ub-
lishing House, contained a pic-
ture of Mrs. Mills along with an
interesting article.
Mrs. Mills' maiden name was
Mary Ann Coulter. She was born
in the town of Fettig, Ferma-
naugh, Ireland on October 18,
1788, when George the Third was
king, She lived tinder the rule of
five British sovereigns: George
III, George IV, William W, Vic-
toria and Edward VII. She had
seen three centuries.
Until three or four years be-
fore her death she could readily
recall and fluently relate stir-
ring incidents of her life. While
her memory was not impaired
it was difficult to converse with
her at the last because of deaf-
ness, up until a few weeks be-
fore her death she was bright
and active.
Mrs. Mills and her husband
emigrated to Canada in 1857, and
settled in the virgin forests of
Usborne township, Htuon coun-
ty, on the concessions of the
Canada Land Company.
Mr. Mills died two years after
landing in Canada. He suc-
cumbed to the hardships of pio-
neer life in the backwoods, his
death being hastened by dropsy.
Mrs. Mills was therefore a widow
for nearly half a century.
Of their family of nine chil-
dren, four sons and five daugh-
ters, five were living at the
time of her death. Mrs. Mills'
second son James, of St. Thomas,
was 78 years old, and. had been
a miner in California in his
early days and in his time was a
great rover and lived a life of
adventure.
Three other children, Cathar-
ine, William and Mary !inn lived
on farms in Biansliard town-
ship, and were well on in years
at the tzme of their mother's
death. Mrs. Mills had descend-
ents to the sixth generation.
i1rs. Mills for several years
resided with her son. James,
near St. Thomas and at the age
of 108 walked half a mile to
Church.
She lived also for many years
with her son, the lite David
Mills, of Woodham, who pre-
deceased her by a year, and
afterwards she resided with his
family.
She was over 11.0 years .old
when she went to St, Marys to
have her photograph taken. .and
on that occasion surprised her
friends by walking unassisted,
with a light brisk step up the
long stairway leading to J. L,
Webster's photograph gallery.
She was proud of her age and
was always pleased to receive
visitors of had many
whomshe 1 Y
as she was known far and wide,.
Two years before her death the
Illustrated Buffalo Express print-
ed an excellent picture of Mrs.
Mills with an interesting sketch
of her life. She received a lot
of attention from newspapers all
over the province.
After an illness of five weeks
she passed peacefully to her re-
ward.
Through her last illness site re-
mained conscious until within a
few hours of her death. She never,
through all her illness, would ad-
mit having any pain,
She left a family of five, two
sons and three daughters, They
were (Catherine) Mrs. Nixon;
(Mary Ann) Mrs. Wynn; Wil-
liam, of Woodham; James, of
St. Thomas and Mrs. Johnston,
of New Zealand.
Mr. Ray Coulter Mills, of town,
whose grandfather was William
Mills, was calledafter the maid-
en name of his great grand-
mother.-
-Please
rand-
mother;—Please Turn To Page 5
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kt. --in�r•iltil
50 YEARS AGO
The Inspector of the Fire
Underwriters arrived intown
last Friday morning and im-
mediately rang the alarm. Ow-
ing to members being engaged
in various parts of the town,
three men had to take the en-
gine from the hall and when the
Inspector tested the hand fire
extinguisher it did not work.
At a special meeting of the
Council the contract for the
street watering was let to George
Sanders at $13.75 per week.
Messrs. Pemprace and Burke
have added a shoe shining out-
fit to their tonsorial outfit.
F. J. Sanders passed with
honors his final examination at
the Ontario College of Pharm-
acy.
The first shot in the coating
.Local option campaign will be
fired Thursday evening whdn a
grand temperance rally will be
held in James Street church to
be addressed by Rev. S. L. Toll
of Hensall.
May 24 was celebrated in Ex-
eter with a program of sports
anda grand concert in the eve-
ning. The Dashwood Band fur-
nished the music for the day.
25 YEARS AGO
The forthcoming election on
June 19 is the third since the
C o n s e r v a tive administration
came into power.
Robert Passmore, a student
at the Exeter High School, broke
the track record for the inter-
mediate half mile at the WOSSA
meet in London on Saturday.
The office of the Exeter Pub-
lic Utilities Commission and the
office of the Exeter Rural Pow-
er District are uniting and the
office of the latter will be
closed.
Mr. J. S. Grant, who for the
past eight years has conducted
a bakery business in Exeter,
has soul out to Mr. Clifford
White, Forest.'
Mrs. T. S. Woods, wife of the
manager of the :Bank of Mont-
real, fell backwards down the
cellar stairs and died from in-
juries she received.
Thursday, May 24 is a public
holiday with all the places of
business closed,
As the
"TIMES"
Ga By
15 YEARS AGO
The Misses Huston of town
have purchased the fine brick
residence of Mr. W. R. *Gould-
ing. Mr. and Mrs. Goulding are
moving to London in June.
The Rev. Lawrence Turner of
Crediton United Church has ac-
cepted a call to become the
minister of Victoria St. United.
Church, Goderich. He is in his
fifth term of his Crediton pas-
torate.
Arrangements .have been cont.
pleted by the Ministerial Associa,
tion in cooperation with the vil-
lage council to hold a public
service of worship in Trivitt
Memorial. Church on the eve-
ning of the day that the invasion
of Europe takes place.
E. J. Wethey, for 23 years
principal. of the Exeter High
School, has tendered his resigna-
tion which has been accepted
with regret.
P10 'Stewart Fuke received his
wings and commission as a
navigator at No. 4 Air Observer
School at Crumlin..
Forty-two boxes were packed
for the Hensall boys overseas
by the WI and. the War Service
Committee.
10 YEARS AGO
The television set at Beavers
Hardware has been quite an at-
traction during ' the last week.
Horse races, boxing matches and
different programs have been
received.
CNR, freight office at Hensall
broke a record of 30 years
standing last month when the
bean shipments from the town
reached 45,800 bags.
Eunice Oestricher, Dashwood,
will receive the degree of Doc-
tor of Medicine at the Spring
Convocation of the University of
Western Ontario, London.
Rev. Donald. McDonald was in-
ducted as minister of Caven
Presbyterian Church on Friday
evening.
Re Nn Creech, who for 37 years
served as a member of. the
Board. of Education, and for
many years as chairman, will
lav the cornerstone at, the new
Exeter District. High School
building next Wednesday. '
Last week, Mrs. Pearl Coch-
rane sold Leavitt's theatre to
Mr. 'G. D. Thompson, St, Marys.
a'•f8
t tea; tttnt?WON 5,'sdkst . Lie„ %Jed Altai rearms.
N otl1d&t you look just a little meds ntttual, deist"
0 4e ,
t . e r i .,.. f',01.11a1,14e„ troll i rialtte *tetta1.
° Ou nod & tola►plet ' change, Ti'y another doctoreo`
'e 5=11
"Yes, Doctor... Wednesday will be fine!"
When it's time to have the dentist check
daughter's teeth, Mrs, Smith naturally reaches
for the telephone, that helpful "member -of -the -
family" with the habit of getting things done.
When you look back over „ewur day, it's some-
times surprising to realize in ,just how many
little ways the telephone has helped you , , , how
it adds so much convenience and comfort to
everyday living.
THE SELL TELEPHONE COMPANY OP CANADA
DeoiL ak
YOU CAN PACK INTO A DAY IN
'AUR,111 0
t .
Fun and fresh air ... historical sites ... smart cities
you'll find them all in Eastern Ontario. Here French Canada
and Ontario meet and the result is an area where no two miles
are the same. Discover it for yourself this year.
Discover how economical
itis to explore Ontario by
mailing the coupon below. Literature
you will receiveincludes an up-te.datl iist'of
accommodation that shows you where to sea,
at the price you want to pay.
• tsu•svM.."8? l.'ft`,KVc;,.ti.`i'9.trElR'54....x.:::
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Shield of Mercy
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And District
'600.a0
Exeter Canvass will be made Monday, May 26
by Seivefiion Army Officers
er Donate,* may be ieft of Al Exeter Branch,'
Bank of Montreal