HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1962-12-06, Page 1Santa attracts large crowd
Exeter streets were jammed with spectators, Tuesday, to herald the arrival of
Santa Claus and the two other Christmas floats which formed the Exeter Business-
men's Association parade along with the Legion pipe band. Pictured above are
several youngsters inspecting one of the rocket floats on which. Perry and Paul,
twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pooley, are sitting. While the rockets caught the
fancy of most of the young fry, who also formed long lines to meet Santa Claus, it
appears as though the Pooley boys are more interested in getting back on the
ground than blasting off on the rocket. —T-A photo
men
r e
(Eighty-Eighth Year
EXETER, ONTARIO, pEcgMBOR. 6, 196%
price Per Copy 10 Cent;
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ay to vote on. Monday
following stormy debate.:..
Decorate!
Town council is sponsoring
another Christmas decoration
contest this year but it's on
, broader scope than previ-
ously.
Three prizes — all turkeys
— will be awarded for the
best exterior decoration, in•
eluding lawns roofs, veren•
dahs, walls, windows, etc.
In previous years, prizes
have been awarded for door
decorations only.
.06:50*.eoe'..Reee..,444t,„
BECKER CHALLENGED IN HAY — Councillor John
Corbett, left, who felt he should have been appointed
deptity.reeve last year when a vacancy occurred, is op-
posing incumbent V, L. Becker for the reeve's chair
in the Hay township election.
Complaints on gifts
result in charity fund
NEW DEPUTY,1tEEVE
NtWEST COUNCILLOR.
* 4 Williant Messer i 'Norman Ferguson
Highways to pay more
toward No. 4 entrance
Anti-central school group
made some gains in Usborne
township's election Monday but
the results were not clear-cut
enough to enable any accurate
forecast of how the issue will be
resolved.
The opposition faction gained
a seat on both council and
school board replacing central
school supporters in each case,
However, two of the pro-cen-
tralization councillors were re-
turned, one at the head of the
polls and a strong anti-school
man ended up at the bottom of
the list,
Said one observer:. "It does-
n't look like the election decided
very' much as far as the school
question is concerned. It's chi-
ficult to say what will happen
when the issue comes up
again,,'
Returned to council were Roy
Westcott and Archie Ethering-
ton, both of whom supported the
school board's request for a de-
benture for the central school,
While some sons have followed
their father's footsteps into top
municipal posts, the story took
a new twist in Grand Bend Mon-
day when Stewart Webb won a
resounding victory for the
reeve's post,
The win gave the Webb fam-
ily two area reeve positions.
Stewart's son, Glenn, has been
reeve of Stephen township for
the past three years, and was
returned without, a fight, this
year.
The Grand Bend landscaping
contractor polled 250 votes in his
first attempt at the senior posi-
tion, compared to the 11 given
to incumbent Bill Sturdevant,
Who was attempting- to retain
the seat ho won last year,
'Popping the polls is nothing
new for Webb, who has lead the
balloting for councillors in
each of his three successful
campaigns for a seat,
Webb, who told the ratepa.y-
ers at a nomination meeting he
thought the resort could get a
better deal for their proposed
water system, told The T-A at.
ter his win he had no definite
plans for any particular pro-
jects.
"It's a little too early to
plan", lie stated.
Although he Will have two
new councillors under him this
year, lie said he was "very well
pleased" with the 'Men Whet had
liensall council decided 3ilon-
day to continue its battle to
clean up several unsightly and
dangerous old buildings in the
The disenetiori arose after
Clerk Earl Campbell reported
the village 'solicitors had sent
a letter to W. G. Thompson and
Sons requesting them to either
fill, in the abandoned foundation
on their property or chclose it
with a k proper nee arid a, locked
gate.
Aetiori en, the building fol.
`lewd last i•tiontli's Meeting
'hen several ratepayers in the
and Ward Hern, who opposed
the request in favor of a vote
but who has indicated he sup-
ports the new school,
Westcott, who was named to
council last year for the first
time by acclamation, headed
the polls in his first election
test. He received 461 votes, 66
more than veteran councillor
Ward Hera.
Kenneth Duncan, who de-
clared himself against the school
at nomination, won a seat in
his first bid for council. He
placed third with, 350 votes and
replaces Delmer Skinner, for-
mer school trustee who favored
centralization.
Archie Etherington won the
fourth seat with 331 votes, 12
more than Mr. Skinner.
Walter McBride, a pro-school
man making his first run, placed
sixth with 298 votes.
In a paradox to the anti-
school wins, Lloyd Reynolds fell
to the bottom of the council
poll with a 218.vote total, Reyn-
been selected to sit with hint
With Webb out of the running
for a council seat, his place at
the head of 'the polls was taken
by Emerson Desjardin.e„ who is
completing his second term.
Ile placed second in the bal-
toting last year, 24 votes be-
hind the new reeve,
The popular theatre. owner
and past president of the Lions
scored 315 votes in Monday's
vote, while incumbent Rollie
Grenierwas only 16 behind at
299,
they Wassmann, recently
elected president of the Grand
Bend and Area. Chamber of
Commerce for an unprecedented
three years, finished third With
228 votes,, While another neW.
coiner, Ian Coles, won the last
seat with 149,
B' ice Thompson, making his
second hid felt a council seat,
was defeated with 118 votes.
By-law .goet through
The ratepayers gave their
overwhelming approval to emit.
ors bylaw to inaugurate stag-
gored elections for council. and
PUC, excluding the reeve,
A total of 1t5 persons voted in
favor as against only 14 des-
centers,
It is expected that council.
hill now give the bylaw its fin-
al. reading and it will ge into
effect for nekir year's election.
area presented a petitioe
council to have something done
about the dangerous location.
Although there is a fence
around the abandoned site at
present, children can still crawl
throu gh_ it and Councillor :Min-
nie Makes reported 'that 'olio
three-year-old had been inside
and had to be brought out by
Ernie Davis.
She pointed out that no fres-
passing 'Ogee were of no par,
tinier value for the younger
children because they couldn't
read them anyway.
Dutleg the discussion„ Reeve
olds probably was the strongest
anti-school campaigner, yet he
trailed in five of the seven
polls.
The election leaves council
with the following composition;
two definitely pro-school; one
(Hem) qualifiedly in favor, and
one definitely opposed.
New school trustee
The division is closer on the
new school board. The election
cut the pro-centralization ranks
from a heavy 4-1 majority to a
tight 3.2 situation.
The only incumbent who op-
posed the central school, Ken
Simpson, headed the polls with
a 327 total, Thomas Horn, a new
candidate who is against the
school, placed second with 308
but only one vote behind him
was strong centralization sup.
porter, Gerald Prout,
Thomas Hem replaces Mor-
ris Bern a new school man, on
the board, Incumbent Morris
placed fifth in the standing, 27
votes behind Lloyd Knight, the
Thames Road pro-school candi-
date,
As in the council returns, an
anti-school man 'trailed the
slate. Harold Cudmore received
235 votes,
Returning officer H. IL G.
Strang reported a strong 72%
of the electors exercised their
franchise, one of the highest
percentages in the area.
'Down council Monday night
postponed decision on a ere-
commendatioo from the police
committee that radar equip-
meat be purchased at a cost
of about $1,50o.
Reeve Glenn Fisher, chair•
mat, and all members of the
tommittee who were given a
demonstration .Of the equip.
Norman Jenks 'pointed out that
an old barn beside the Angli-
an 'church was also in a dilap-
idated and dangerous stete.
"There's one over by 'Council-
lot Knight's that's worse than
that" Mrs. Noakes interjected.
"Both of them are bad,"
Councillor John 'Baker admit-
ted, and painted. out that Nile
age by Coog"s (Knightl, is go•
ing to fall 'over and soiree'
one,""
Knight, reported trial. council
could take action only if the
buildings were found dangerous
ea
Please tifell to page 3
Ontario Dept of Highways has
agreed to pay a higher propor-
tion of the east of the proposed
edur-lane entrance on No. 4
from the south, town council
learned Monday night.
The dept will contribute tome
of the cost of 150 feet of the
area between Huron St. and the
town limits, as well as 75% of
the remaining portion, includ-
ing curbs, gutters, and side-
walks, ,
The four-lane approach will
start south of the town, gradu-
ally narrow down to two-lane
width between the municipal
limit and Huron St. Estimated
cost of the work inside the town
is about $30,000, 'toward, which
council will contribute $7,500.
in a letter to council; the
FCC indicated it was preparee
to relocate hydro lines and fire
hydrants in tee area, and erec,,
new aluminum standard street•
lighting with underground wir
ing,
'the hydro lines will be moveo
oft Main St, 'to the rear of the
properties fronting the highway,
providing consent of the own-
ers is received.
Mayor Simmons explained the
PUG planned to start installa-
tion of new street lights on Main
St. next year but originally in-
tended to begin to the north and
work toward the southern en-
trance, 'the highway project
will reverse the direction of de-
velopment,
The highways dep't has agreed
to pay 26% of the labor cost of
the hydro and water reloca-
tions, which will provide an es-
timated $2,600 'toward PUC
costs. The dep't also will pay for
removal of trees in the area.
Criticize committee
Exeter's recreation commit-
tee came in for some criticism
from council over the way it
handles its finances,
Mayor Simmons revealed that
at one point this year the com-
mittee was $2,800 overdrawn at
the bank while council was hold-
ing funds for it which could
have been 'turned over upon re-
quest. The mayor called the in.
cident "sloppy bookkeeping", It
was pointed out, however, that
the committee failed to have a
meeting during that period and
the fault was not necessarily
that of the secretary-treasurer,
The question arose when the
committee requested an ad-
vance on its annual grant to
provide revenue for operations
until it receives its provincial
government grant later in De-
cember, Council agreed to pro-
vide $500.
Former secretary-treasurer of
the committee, Joseph Wooden,
said it had always worked on
"fantastic overdrafts" because
of delay in receiving grants and
other revenue, With the new
bank regulation forbidding over-
drafts, however, the committee
has been hard,pressed to meet
its obligations.
Wooden said the bookkeeping
systm of the committee was.
elaborate because of the many
special accounts it handled for
various activities,
'Councillor Mess Taylor,
member of the committee, said
meet were enthusiastically in
favor of its use here.
Mayor Simmons indicated a
!lumber of Advantages: "We
would be able to control 'rat-
tic on any of our town streets.
Radar signs would have to be
posted at the entrance 'to
towns and would give a steady
ing effect on all driving, It
would eliminate the hot rod•
dens, too."
He also fell it would pro.
long the lite of the police car
—Please turn to page 2
he had not heard any reports
regarding the committee's over-
draft.
Clerk seta bonus
Council also:
Granted, without request, a
$300 bonus to Clerk C. V, Pick-
ard because of considerable ex-
tra work entailed this year in
the sewerage, zoning bylaw and
other major projects.
Granted building permits to
William Ellerington, for the de-
molition of his large shed north
Exeter public school children
won't be exchanging Christ-
ians gifts this year—they'll be
helping more unfortunate boys
and girls,
The hoard Monday night
agreed with a staff recom-
mendation that the annual gift
exchange be eliminated, partly
because there had been com-
plaints from children and
parents over the value of the
gifts,
Some felt, apparently, they
were receiving less than they
were giving, even though it
was only a token exchange.
Under the new policy, child-
ren will be able to donate to-
ward a charity, to be selected
by the teaching staff. Contri-
butions trill be entirely volun-
tary and . the amount of in-
dividual donations will not be
revealed.
Carfrey Cann, who has been
the public school board's rep-
resentative on the high school'
Exeter's first two-year coun-
cil has a new deputy-reeve and
a new councillor as a result of
Monday's election.
Councillor Bill Musser de-
feated incumbent. Claude Far-
row in The deptty•reeye race by
a $11 to 449 count. "I'm look-
ing forward to attending county
council." the victor said follow.
ing his win,
New council member is Nor-
man Ferguson a driver at RC-
AF Station Centralia, who was
successful in his second ilitt for
office. He was the highest of
the three eandidates who ran
against the sitting councillors.
The return of all the council
incumbents probably indicates
ratepayers' support of the ma-
jar programs put into effect
this year by the active 1962
council.
Delbridge loads
At the head of the council poli
was Jack Delbridge, this year's
park chairman and a two-year
man on eouritil, lie also headed
the polls in the 1960 vote,
A close runner-up Was Fra,
Wright, freshman tout
who polled less than
Delbridge's 830. For Wright,
Wlict 'said earlier he ivelconied
An election following his 'win-
mation last year, it was a mg,
nificantly strong run.
Teacher Joseph W o tide11,
roads chairman Ralph Bailey
and drains chairman Ross Tay=
Tor 'won the third, reurth and
fifth spots with difference of
only eight Wiles a thong theta,
Wooden polled 680, Bailey era
and Taylor '672,
of Trivitt Memorial church, and
to Milton Keller, for a house on
William St. south.
Received another complaint
regarding tile height of new
sidewalk installation;
Paid $315.33 toward the legal
expenses of W. G. Cochrane,
QC, and McKenzie and Raym-
ond in connection with the Park-
hill dam hearing; both parties
also acted for several other mu.
nieipahities who shared the ex-
penses.
board for the past five years,
confirmed his intention to re•
sign. He outlined sonic of the
major changes taking place in
secondary school education.
The board appointed Rev. J.
C. Boyne, of Caven Presbyter-
ian Church, to replace Mr.
Cann as its HS representative.
The board learned the
school's gymnasium is being
used three nights a week for
school children's square danc-
ing, adult square dancing and
badminton.
Resumption of religious edu•
cation, provided by area min-
isters, began November 30.
Honor member
Retiring member R. M.
Southcott, who has been vice-
chairman of the board for
several years, was presented
with a brief case in recognition
of his nine years' service, Ile
has resigned due to the pres-
sure of business.
Ferguson copped the filial
seat with a 459. total, .125 more
than Clarence Boyle. Lee Sher-
man trailed in the race with
234.
Congratulates whiner
After .the results were tabu-
lated at Clerk 'C. V. Pickard's
office Monday night, 'Deputy.
Reeve Farrow congratulated
Musser on his success at the
polls. The results, he told the
crowd 'in the office, "indicate
that be {Musser) has a keener
Electors in Hay township will
go to the polls, Monday, to
choose between two candidates
for reeve and four for council,
following a stormy, and at
times unruly, nomination meet.
ing, Friday.
Questions and charges flew
between several speakers and
also from the floor regarding
council's use of ree ,e V. L.
Becker's gravel pit, their ap-
pointment of deputy-reeve Del.
bert Geiger in midterm, a fire
agreement with Grand Bend
and a donation to the new Dash-
wood community hall.
However, when the air was
cleared, there was little indica-
tion of any of the nominees
having any particular platform,
except to work for the better.
meet of the township.
Veteran councillor John Col'•
bett will oppose Becker for the
reeve's post, while incumbents
John Soldan and Joseph. Hoff-
man will battle newcomers
Lloyd Hendrick and John Tinney
for the three council seats.
ironically, although his mid-
erin appointment was "not
Almost all
loin sewers
Nearly 100'7e of property own•
ars contacted so far have
agreed to connection of their
drains to the sewers being in-
stalled, town council learned
Monday night.
Councillors welcomed the
news because they foresaw
considerable difficulty o v e.r
their roads program in the
future if many connections
were left until after the sewer
installation was completed,
PrObably one of the principal
reasons for the general ac-
ceptance of immediate cora-me-
llow' is the substantial saving
to the property owner, Charge
to the property owner during
installation has been set at
$70.00,
This point was raised by
Councillor Taylor who said he
had been asked how much it
would cost to have a connec-
tion made in a year or two.
Mayor Simmons suggested it
would be more than double
since heavy equipment, on the
job now, would have to he
brought in especially to make
a connection later. In addition
to the transportation and set-
up charges for such equipment
for a single job, there would
be the additional expense of
restoring the surface of the
road.
Council agreed to give pro-
perty owners up to 60 days to
pay the $70 fee after the con-
nection is made. For those
who are receiving the service
immediately, this will carry
the payment period beyond the
budget-taxing Christmas sea-
51011.
Sewer installation has been
completed from the alarther-
°ugh St. pumping station south
to Anne St, and east on Anne
for about one-half a block.
The contractor is working on
the lagoon site lust west of the
town in Stephen township, on
the farm formerly owned by
"Ernest Willard,
insight into the type and kind
of represeetation you wish to
have 'for your town."
"For myself, I am content,"
Farrow said. "1 realize that I
have tailed to measure. up to
your wishes either here at
home or al the county level.
However, as 1 say, i am con-
tent because I have acted as
SAW .4. You have called the
shot. accept ur Nerdiet and
thank you for past favors."
His statement Was greeted
with applause.
right" according to 'Corbett,
deputy-reeve Berber+ Geiger
was returned by aeclarnatieu
when Corbett chose to challenge
Becker 'rather than the lower
post for which he was also
nominated,
"In my view the wrong man
was appointed," .Corbett stated,
although he pointed out he was
finding no fault with Geiger's
work,
He told the meeting he was
the senior man on council and,
should have been appointed eo
the post.
"The seniority should have
been taken on a straight run,"
he said,
While he didn't expound on.
this fact, councillor John Sol-
dan later reported that both
Corbett and Geiger had served.
on council 'for five years, al-
though Geiger's term had been
split.
"They said they would agree
on seniority," Soldan stated..
"and we then decided the
choice would have to be made
in favor of the man with the
largest assessment."
He reported Geiger's assess-
meat was $11,000, while Cor-
bett's was only $2,250.
Explains gravel situation
Explaining the gravel con-
troversy, Soldan stated that
the township's usual supply
had been cut off and they had
to get busy and look around
for another supply and they
found a good vein. in a farm
owned by Reeve Becker.
He reported the g r a v el
brought out was not good be-
cause it had to be pushed 'up
by a bulldozer and a consider-
able quantity of dirt was mix-
ed in. with it.
-We should have had a
drag-line," he stated, "but It
would have cost. us $100 per
day,"
At this point, a former coun-
cillor, Alec Mousseau, inter-
rupted Soldan with the ques-
tion, "Is it customary for the
reeve to sell gravel 'to the
township?"
"That's a fine performance
for a township." he charged,
Soldan explained that much
of Becker's farm had been
seized by the township of Stan-
ley (where it is situated) for
gravel and Hay had seized the
remaining part while Becker
was in the west on a trip.
The councillor explained that
"under a new bylaw" it is
permissable to seize a pit if
the road superintendent deems
it necessary and this was the
case duo to the shortage he-
ing faced by the township.
"How did the reeve get the
pit?" 'trousseau asked.
'Ho bought it I guess." Sol-
- Please turn 'to page 3
HS to quit
WOSSA?
Principal 11. L Sturgis re-
ported to the SHDHS board,
Tuesday, that there was, eon•
siderable agitation among the
schools in the Huron-Perth con-
ference to withdraw their all-
letic teams from the Western
Ontario Secondary Schools As-
soriallon.
He pointed out it cost the
conference approximately $6:10
in fees to join 'WOSSA
"We get precious little out
of it and it burns me up," he
stated.
A few years ago the local
school dominated sports in
WOSSA, but since they have
been pitted against London
schools recently they have not
fared very well.
"We're ant, always the weak-
er teams." he pointed out,
'hut we are always at a de-
rided diaadvantage due to the
officiating in WOSSA .lourria-
merts."
Explaining "the situation,, the
principal stated that the lion-
don schools 'have the referees
'who officiate at 'tournaments
throughout the season and they
know what calls will be made,
"We've never been called on
'these things before," be stated,
"and after a few 'calls we find
we're practically 'eliminated."
This is primarily what hap
prated to the volleyball. .team
this year. as they were. called
for several infeattiems that the
referees in the Ituron-Perth
ioefereeee 'didn't call.
The principal reported the
sehoot would still like to get
the informa lien available on
9orts from OFSSA, which is
the central organization in On.
tario school sports, and lie
said he hoped they could pay
these fees directly without hav-
ing to join .WOSSA.
The conference. was repre-
anted at the last WOSSA
meeting, but the .principal. re-
ported he did not, know the, ottle
come of the meeting and
whether .or not the MIMI-
Perth had withdrawn from the
organization.
"We run our .tiwiA show in.
the conference • arid 1 don't see
why we should have 'tie lartaY
'the WOSSA bale," lie stated,
"It's an unfair situation :and.
hot worth. all the money."
Father follows son:
Wei 4 • elected in GB
Hensall seeks removai
angerous ui ing
Council considers
purchase of radar
Where to
find if
RESULTS .., 15
Aiinauncterients ....... ..„.
Church Nefites .,., 113
Coming Events .. 111
Editorials .......
F arm News ..............11
F 1)1 ;nine Fad* ...... 14
H enson ..... 3
Lucan 14, 17
Sports . gt 1,.,8, 19
Want Adt 12i 13
Exeter elects Musser
Ferguson to council