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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1963-12-12, Page 4• V 0 I N • • , ... • • .. thla -414110Y. 1Mednesday afte.rnppn. anal. during the .0.ening ,thi•O!..whouA the y.405: *low ea de atbete(oa? DITORIALS Consolidating .education Poulton and Hummel' Figures Doulton Fine China Worcester Fine China Aynsley Fine China Tarnish-proof Silverware Community & 1247 Silverware Electric & Travel Alarm Clocks JEWELLER The store with the green and black front A GOOD PLACE TO CHRISTMAS SHOE t,Ilb ,ft -To1115- ----- (772A4 0.1 ,,,..9.,..-i, -,4.0A PRAWN fORTHE ";•-r UNITED Ci4ORC-i ' •,(0 O1 CANADA NyG-ggip_t_Fizi;),, 4'*\ • • ";?ZZON•4Mie4,•asilepg.',,.......,;:ss • .;;AM.440,1=11iMilintilit0 Guest article 'A burning garbage dump' Dec. 17 last date for local delivery boono.owo %Inflow. WOInwoo. A SPECIAL REPORT TO CANADIAN WEEKLIES FROM THE ROSEMERE NORTHERN BEACON ,R0Sre,s% CANADA AOS'C 111.••••••0. BELL LINES while still in the air and the major segments continued for- ward, cutting a swath through the trees to bury themselves deeply into a large crater. Pieces were scattered over a wide area, most were partially if not totally, buried in the muck, some were hanging in the trees, Almost everything flammable was burnt. Many portions of the aircraft and many personal items (including handbags and wallets) were picked up by loot- ers. One report reached us of a looter offering to sell "souve- nirs" for $10, A good deal of this looting can be laid at the door of police, TCA officials and Department of Transport officials who acted with frightening torpitude in or- ganizing the search and protec- tion of the site. Had anyone acted with despatch, the whole area could have been cordoned off With army troops from the near- by army camp within minutes. With the land now covered with a coat of white snow, a road laid over the crash area, and the ground frozen, chances of finding anything of value seem lost forever. The place where 118 people lie--which looked Friday night like the scene of an artillery bombardment—is once again a quiet grove of trees. by W. W. Haysom your telephone manager or female?" we asked. "I don't know--I just ran out of there as fast as I could go." An experienced civil defence worker, volunteer fireman and a veteran, said that it would have been impossible to collect more than half a dozen bodies. "There might have been sufficient bits and pieces to be equivalent to about 50 people, but no more. It will be impossible to identify anyone, I would think, and I would expect that a mass burial on the site would be the only answer." There seems no doubt that the temporary road that was built during the night covered many remains, he add- ed. He also said, "you expect this during the war but not in peacetime." Approximately an hour after the crash the ghouls started to arrive from Montreal and in spite of police attempts to turn them off Highway 11 onto the Laurentian Autoroute at Rose- mere, many ignored police and just drove on. Finally police established a road block of police cars on the south side of the Ste. Rose-Rosem ere bridge. So little remains of the air- craft that the true cause of the crash may never be known. From the description of wit- nesses, the plane came in low, clipping the trees, then exploded up when high school districts were formed, They still operate in cities and the apparent superiority of education in these larger juris- dictions attests to their efficiency. The immediate objection to establish- ing a single district board over both fields will come from trustees who find the responsibili- ties in a single field are heavy enough, par. ticularly when new operations and building programs are undertaken. These duties, how- ever, can be reduced considerably by the em- ployment of professional administrators whose services already are needed to .a considerable extent but not sufficiently to warrant full-time use in a single field. The larger operation would make their positions justifiable and leave the boards to the aspects of establishing policy and approving major expenditures. To further co-ordinate operations, we envision a county board of education, similar to county council, made up of members of all district boards, which would employ a county director of education to oversee the operations of the districts, The county board would meet only twice or perhaps four times a year to dis- cuss matters common to districts, such as the vocational program now being launched, the problems arising in those areas which lie at the borderlines of districts, the departmental changes which affect all alike and which need to be fully communicated, Let's recapitulate the resulting struc- ture, Each district would elect a board to ad- minister both elementary and secondary school education within its jurisidiction. Each would have its own district superintendent (or inspec- tor) overseeing the entire operation and work- ing with principals and / or inspectors at each level, These boards would form a county or- ganization, establishing much more direct con- tact with department and with institutions of higher education, and which would have a county director and staff to integrate the sys- tem still further. You notice the term "elect" was used in terms of establishment of a board at the dis- trict level. Our observation indicates that the appointment system now used to form high school districts has not been satisfactory and has not established a close enough relation- ship between ratepayers and those who spend their money. Election of representatives in each municipality would help to restore that relationship and give ratepayers a more direct say in school affairs. It was the objective of the appointment system to secure better and more qualified trustees than the public might choose. This has not been proven in practice. A superficial ob- servation would indicate that city boards se- cure more qualified members through election than do districts through municipal appoint. m ent. Again we stress that considerable study must be given to any proposed change but we submit the above outline merits serious con- sideration. There has been some discussion in re- cent months regarding the enlargement of ele- mentary school jurisdictions to increase their efficieney and provide for more economical and co-ordinated administration. The question merits .consideration but requires careful study. It will be difficult enough to make the change; it will be more difficult to alter it later should it not prove satisfactory. Two major points should be kept in mind in regard to the jurisdiction itself. One is not to enlarge to the point where the indi- vidual family is removed from the picture. The other is not to further complicate the gov- ernmental structures with which the individual must deal, Let it conform to some jurisdiction which already exists and with which the pub- lic is familiar. To create more confusion in what were once, and still should be consider- ed, "local" affairs would be an irresponsible sin on the part of government. County units have been suggested in some quarters. In our opinion this would be too big a step and. too large a unit, particularly for Huron. The distance alone — over 50 miles from north to south — creates an obstacle to administration and would remove too far the contact between family and board. There re- maths, however, some justification for consid- eration of education administration on such a wide scope but only at periodic intervals and principally for purposes of planning and co- ordination. A smaller unit which already has been created and which, to further simplify the change, already is functioning in the field of education is the high school district. It would appear logical to make the elementary school jurisdiction conform to this administration, at least in terms of area. There would appear to be no serious disadvantage to the district op- eration as it has applied in the secondary level and it has already established itself as a fa- miliar unit to the public. To expand the public school jurisdic- tion to this size presents a further opportunity toward simplification of administration in ed- ucation itself. That is to combine the opera- tions at both elementary and secondary levels under one board. Such a marriage would overcome one of the major disadvantages of the present divi- sion of responsibility and supervision — the break between elementary and secondary school levels. Unquestionably there is some- thing to be desired in terms of better continu- ity between public and high school administra- tions. There now exists no co-ordinating agency to link either boards, inspectors or teaching staffs, in the provincial department. Despite the common purposes, it has been difficult to establish under the present division the co-op- eration which should prevail to provide an in- tegrated system. This would, in effect, revive the former board of education administration which once prevailed in smaller centres but were broken Comment in variety proud of their continuing success as exempli- fied in the results shown at last week's achieve- ment night in Clinton. 4-H remains one of the rural community's most constructive move- ments and those who devote time and effort to it receive not nearly enough credit. Spare a few sheckles for the current welfare campaign — the muscular dystrophy drive conducted by the firemen and the Christ- mas Seal campaign of the Huron TB Associa- tion. The report of Police Chairman Ross Taylor in regard to speeding obviously justi- fies council's investment of $1,200 in radar equipment. Now let's use it. And hearty congratulations to those or- ganizations conducting special Christmas cam• paigns and toy-collecting programs to provide cheer for the less fortunate during this selfish Christmas season. YEAR END CALLING Anyone seeing the amount of parcels, letters and cards piled up in Post Offices this time of year can easily understand why the Post Office Department so strongly urges people to "mail early for Christmas." The Bell has a similar problem at Christmas, but no graphic way to show it. From seeing a Long Dis- tance cable, it's impossible to tell that all the circuits in it are being used and that some customers are wait- ing to get their calls through. Yet, at Christmas, this can unfortunately happen. The reason is not hard to understand. Long Distance Lines are fully adequate for any normal day, when, in fact, hundreds of thousands of calls (mostly of a busi- ness nature) are carried. But, at Christmas, a FAMILY pattern of calling emerges all at once, with the result that a huge number of calls are made between towns that call one another only infrequently throughout the rest of the year. Since Long Distance lines are engi- neered to carry the regular flow of calla, rather than that for a single day in the year, they are overtaxed, and the congestion leads to delays. Constructing addi- tional lines would be unjustifiably expensive, since they would remain idle from one Christmas to the next. One way to avoid delays is to make a Year End call during the week BETWEEN Christmas and New Year's—an excellent way to combine Christmas love and New Year hopes for those close to us. Because Year End calls are spread over a longer period, they do not involve the delays that can occur on Christmas itself. And because the spirit of Christmas is still with us, but the rush is over, we have more time to relax and reflect, and grasp again the full personality of those we love. Prime Minister John Roberts' states- manly performance at the recent dominion- provincial conference establishes the young provincial premier as one of Canada's out- standing leaders in the present period. Opposition leader John Diefenbaker and his party leave much to be desired by their ac- tions in Parliament. There are many within the ranks of the Progressive Conservatives who would replace Diefenbaker but the prob- lem does not lie entirely in leadership. The party needs to hammer out basic policies and programs at the federal level to re-establish strength and conviction, restore confidence in itself. If Mr. Diefenbaker is not prepared to Submit to those policies, then he must be re- moved. Canada sorely needs strength at the top, whether that strength is in government or in opposition, Huron 4-H leaders must have been Even if you don't happen to have an extension tele- phone now, I'll bet you'll readily admit that one would certainly be handy. Maybe you've even thought about it wistfully ???? Well now, suppose that this ChristmaS you find a spocially,wrapped extension under your tree, Would you make good use of it? You bet your life you wotildi Sure it would spoil you, but what a practical way to be spoiled! Now hew about that special some• one? Would their reaction be the Caine as yours? I mean would they really, honest-to.goodnessly appreciate your thoughtfulness, and would, they remember you every time your extension saved them steps and trou. biel Get what I'm getting at? Wily net call our 13usitiess Office today and talk it over with us? Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 zieexeferZineo-,3Wocafer Charles Allison was elected president of Thames Road beef ring at the 33 rd annual meeting held at the home of James An- derson. Secretary is Percy Stone. Ring is to commence February 28, 1039. 15 YEARS AGO B. W, Tuckey announced at Council Meeting that he would retire at the end of this year. He has served as reeve for nine years and councillor for two. James Dalton and Elmer Lawson are contesting for the reeVeship of Stephen Township on Monday and Charles Mc- Gregor, Roy Morena, John Mor- rissey and Roy Swartz are seek is - ing a place on the council, At the Exeter Lions supper meeting Friday evening it was decided to sponsor the United Emergency Fund for Britain and the sum of $500 was voted to head such a fund. 50 YEARS AGO Charles Zwicker, Creditors, made a five ton shipment of fowl to London Tuesday. Fred Davis and son Heber, Saintsbury, have returned home from London Township after spending a few days shooting. Mr. W, B, Weidenhasnmer, principal of Exeter HighSchool, last Thursday ac cepted the principalship of Oakville High School and tendered the resig- nation of his present position, 25 YEARS AGO Mr, and Mrs, Henry Either, Creditors, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary last Wed- nesday, The first meeting of the newly organized School and Home Club of SS 6 Usborne (Winchelsea) Was held Tuesday night with Mrs. Ken johns in the chair and Inspector E, C. Beacom as speaker. SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND Merribert C.W.N.A., C.C.N.R. and ABC AND FROM ALL OF US HERE AT THE BELL, TO ALL OF YOU AND YOURS, A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Opt. Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dep't, OttaWai and for Payment of POsta0 in Cash Paid-imAdYente Circulation, March 11, 1963--,3,926 SUBSdkirrioN RATES: Canada $4.00 Per Year , USA $5.00 10 YEARS AGO Mr. and 'Mrs* Salt Baytthain, Grediton„ celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, Both Of the celebrants Were born in McGillivray township and they attended the same public school. Postage • 'rates On letters twill be raised one dent, 'effective April 1. :Pita class letters will be boosted from 4 to 5*. The .pupils of -Egethr Public !" School are 'showing the real spirit of thristra.as by deebrat- 'We'd be the talk of The ing the children's ward of8outh poorhouse:" IlUrOn Hospital* "It looked just like a burning garbage dump," was the com- ment of Ken Campbell Jr- who was on the scene of Friday night's accident within minutes. we not known it was an aircraft, it would have been irn- possible to guess what it was!" A careful search with .flash- light revealed little, he said, although there were two further very small explosions, “We waited until police arrived, but they refused our assistance." Since there was little to be learned at the crash scene, his help had been refused and it was obvious there were no sur- vivors, The Beacon representa- tive- -fir st news media man on the scene--departed. Other early arrivals had more to tell. Those living on streets nearby described the actual sounds of the crash and one or two saw the crash itself and the in-air explosion which preceeded it. The crash took place at 6:32 p.m. according to Constable Aubertin who had just stopped his patrol car to speak to two youngsters at the side of High- way 11 (Labelle Blvd). His first thought was that it was a bomb and he threw the two youngsters to the floor of the car and sprawled across them. Soon he realised that it was not a bomb but an aircraft and rushed to the scene. The crash took place in the Rural Municipality of the Parish of Ste. Therese, some distance north of Royalvale Nurseries near 79th AVentie, between La- belle Blvd. (Route 11) and the Laurentian Autoroute in an area which was designated some years ago by a land promoter as "site of a future housing development and shopping cen- tre", It was some distance north of Camp Bouchard, the local Ordnance Corps Depot, and on the opposite side of the highway. Not in "Ste. Therese North" or 'the tiny French- Canadian Village of Ste. Ther- ese" as some news media re- p or t e d•—there are no such places—nor In the City of Ste. Therese as was also erroneous. ly reported. The land in the area is very fine sand, very flat, with poor drainage. The sand has a ten, clarity to be soft at the best of times and when wet almost turns laid quicksand. It had been raiding, off and on, for some days and the ground was satura- ted with water. It was because of this very soft soil that the aircraft wreckage was so diffi- cult to locate and also because of this that trucks had so much difficulty in Teething the site. One of the early witnesses was Mr. Leduc who lives only a few hundred yards from the crash point. He tells of rushing to the scene with abig flashlight, "the first thing I Saw was a manes artn, the right attn, then a head—that was enough for Another early arrival tells Of Seeing half a body,.-the trunk Only..-split right down the mid- die and hanging in a tree. "Mae