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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1966-01-20, Page 4Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 VteerefeAtimeetahoomk SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND Member: C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., C.C.N.R. and ABC Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R. M. Southcott Editor: Kenneth Kerr Advertising Manager: Val BaltkaIns Phone 235-1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont. Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dip% Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1965, 4,209 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $4.00 Per Year; USA $5.00 T1 SUGAR AND SPICE Dispensed by Smiley Seed Fair retired Winter delight The trend in many areas is to more education and nowhere is it more true than in the area of farming. Just a few years ago it was difficult to con- vince many farmers of the need of hearing good speakers outlining changes in agriculture but now farmers are willing to travel many miles in an effort to keep up to date with the latest developments. Farm organization have seen this trend and are revamping their programs in accordance. The educational committee of the Huron County Federa- tion of Agriculture have also stressed the need of more educational leadership and many feel that this organization must take the lead in this field if it is to survive. In line with this thinking the Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association is making Changes and will present a major program dealing with many aspects of agriculture early in March. This will be the first annual Huron County Agricul- tural Conference and will replace the Seed Fair which has been a major drawing card each year, There is another major change this year. The program has been enlarged to a full day rather than a half day as in the past. In this way farmers will be able to take in one speaker in the morning and an- other in the afternoon. In order to make this event even more suc- cessful the Huron County Federation of Agriculture will join the Crop Improvement Association in plan- ning and preparing for this conference. The event should be the highlight of the year for farmers as top name speakers are being enlisted for a broad educational program. The Seed Fair will not entirely disappear as volunteers are already preparing displays which will be of interest to visitors. The Seed Fair served its purpose in educating farmers as to the need of using top quality seed. It is being retired now, in honor, to be replaced with a program which will greatly assist the modern farmer. No heroes (by Val Baltkalns deilf gee* Those of us who know teen-agers sometimes become aware of their cynicism, passed off as so- phistication. The adolescent, by his actions, seldom in words, expresses disillusionment, If there is no self-imposed restraint, this may lead to hooliganism, shop-lifting, or other anti-social activities. When he is arrested, his parents can be found in juvenile court wearing an attitude of be- wilderment. How did it all happen to their son? During pre-school years, the child looks to the parent as the source of all wisdom. Later, he comes home with the truth as expressed by the teacher says . . . Then a hero is chosen, and hair- styles, clothes fads, and attitudes are slavishly copied. When, as is inevitable, all these prove to be fallible, prone to error, the adolescent protects him- self by affecting cynicism. This may lead to doubt- ing, then flouting, of constituted authority. Thanks, in part, to our educational system, young people today have a capacity for thinking things through for themselves. Disenchantment grows as the youth realizes that his father keeps the traf- fic laws only when the police are looking. He comes to believe that the wrong lies in getting caught. Mother reinforces the lesson when she continues to buy a child's ticket after his age limit has passed. Father and mother give lip-service to honesty, but their actions indicate that it doesn't pay in hard cash. The adolescent doesn't choose his standards. They are chosen for him by his parents, not by what they say, but by what they do. Safety for children Highway accidents involving children getting off school buses point up the need for responsible authorities to take another look at rules for disem- barking from school buses. We have talked to many persons closely in- volved in the actual transportation of the youngsters, and to those responsible for enforcing the rules. The law is that traffic overtaking a bus which has its signals flashing must come to a full stop, and wait until the bus continues on its way again. The youngsters get off the bus and wait on the side of the road until signalled by the driver that the way is clear. Then they walk across t to the•other side, in front of the bus. Traffic meeting a school bus:whose signals are flashing, must slow down to a safe rate of speed. (In matter of fact, a goodly number of cars are now stopping when they meet such a bus.) Here's something else: There is no law against passing a school bus, even if it is stopped, if the flashers are not going. In a built-up area, where speed is zoned at 35 miles an hour or slower, the Forces. It is doubly pleasant, however, to find citizens who take the trouble to learn the full story and examine all sides of an issue before dealing with it. It is through the efforts of persons such as yourself that the public can be properly informed of the progress of and developments in their Armed Forces. I, there- fore, wish to personally thank you for your interest and your sup- port, and I wish you and your paper continuing success. Sincerely, F.R. Sharp Air Vice-Marshal bus will not set its flashers in action, even when stopped. However, we find that not all bus drivers are doing exactly the same thing when they stop their buses. Not all children are required to do the same things, either. This leads to a certain amount of confusion on the part of children, their parents, and the travelling public. We find that one bus owner encourages his drivers to get off the bus and help the smaller chil- dren make their crossing safely. He also asks his drivers to watch the build-up of cars and trucks be- hind the bus and let these other vehicles pass as soon as they can. Probably the answer to safer travel for the children, more peace of mind on the part of the parents, and less confusion on the part of the motor- ists, is a stepped-up education program for all with consistent instructions to everyone and a stronger enforcement of the laws as they stand. (Clinton News-Record) TWO SIDES With the editor in Dear Mr. Kerr: Your continued effort in pro- viding good, sound and factual news coverage of RCAF Station Centralia and its activities has been brought to the attention of this headquarters on more than one occasion. Most recently I noted your articles concerning the incident in which the Chip- munk was shot at on December 18th last. The manner in which your material was presented indicat- ed very clearly that you have a keen appreciation of the hazards involved in such an act. More, it indicated a deep interest in the public welfare and a desire to keep it correctly informed. This interest and desire have been previously indicated in the effort you have made to keep the public abreast of Service developments. It is always a pleasure to find citizens who are concerned with the activities of the Canadian Kerr's Korner Dear Sir: Regarding our recent editorial "Two Sides to a Story", surely this is titled incorrectly as it does not present any valid argument against studded tires. trinnimuniummillnutinnouniumininumniiiiiimminiinnintiminniumunininumuinum ONE MAN'S OPINION by John C. Boyne Winter is a delight to the young, a bit of a horror for the old, and a blasted nuisance for the rest of us. Yet even for me, one of the most violent winter-haters in the last category, there are moments when it has a mysterious charm that can- not be duplicated at any other sea- son. Today is one of them. Nope, it's not one of thos‘e sparkling, crunchy, sky-blue winter days which no one but a complete misanthrope could fail to enjoy. It's just the opposite. It's one of those brooding winter days when the shadow of the great monster of the north hangs over the shrinking earth, and his icy paw feels about the walls of the house, seeking a weak spot where he may enter and strangle. His cold blue breath raises snow- ghosts that sift silently among the naked, shivering trees. His very presence makes the blue-green spruce huddle closely, like fright- ened cattle in a storm. The water of the bay reflects fearfully the slate-gray of his sightless eyes. Don't be frightened, children. The old spook won't get us. As long, that is, as the snow doesn't block the roads, and we don't run out of fuel, and there isn't apower breakdown. It's a day for sitting by the fire with a hot noggin, dreaming,shiver- ing deliciously once in a while, as the monster outside gives a snort of frustration that rattles the win- dows. And that's exactly what I'm doing. We've been spending the week- end with the grandparents, in the country. It has followed its inev- itable pattern. The night we ar- rived, it blew and it snew. In the morning it was still snowing, with a wind gusting to 40 miles an hour, piling up the drifts, filling in the driveway. Late in the day, the snow stopped, the wind dropped, and so did the temperature, to a nice round fig- ure -- zero. Typical visiting winter weekend. But we care nowt. Flames dance in the fireplace, fairies on the tele- vision. Tomorrow is time enough to dig out the car, pray that it will start, and hope the snowplow will get through the side-road. While the monster prowls out- side, all is serene within. Grandad reminisces about winters 30 years ago when he drove a rural mail route, with team and sleigh. Bun- dled to the ears. Buffalo robes. Snow piled to the top of snake fences. Stopping for lunch in the still shelter of deep spruce woods. Lonely as the Ancient Mariner, on a white, white sea. And home, dark- ness deepening, to cosy lamplight, snug farm kitchen, hot food, and anxious wife. While he talks quietly, Granny produces endless pots of tea, cake, sandwiches, chocolates. The kids sprawl on the floor, strumming guitars or dreaming. The Old Battleaxe dozes, silent for once. And even yours truly, lulled by the fire and stunned by a huge dinner, admits that there are times when winter can be wonderful, I was pleased to see this portion of the recommendation dropped. A couple of small complaints were mentioned about the press at this meet- ing and I hope this has not influenced the thinking of the members in question. It was stated that some information in re- gards to the new addition had been publish- ed in the press and people had been making inquiries about this. It was asked, "how do they find out these things?" and if' don't like getting my information that way". The information referred to was men- tioned at a regular meeting of council and the press, being present, took note of this information and presented it to the ,public as is the right, and duty of a news- paper. If the presentation of facts, true facts, to the public before members have been personally informed of the event offends, we are sorry. The fact that people did read this information, and ask questions about it, proves that it was of interest and the people of this area are truly concerned about education and the workings of the SHDHS Board in particular. I would sug- gest this is a most happy situation as in many areas of community work people are, for the most part, apathetic. Admitting that people have enough in- terest in the SHDHS Board to ask ques- tions and seek out information, proves beyond doubt the need of presenting as much information as possible, as often as possible. Let us not kill the interest of the general public by cutting off their main source of information, the factual reporting of the workings of the Board. Members of the Board can have no quarrel with the press as to co-opera- tion or as to the honesty of the pre- sentation of the facts. If you feel you have cause for complaint at any time we will be most pleased to publish these in as prominent a position as are these comments. over the past years, but lets try: At 60 m.p.h. the speed at the tire surface must be identical to the forward speed of the car. 60 m.p.h. - 1 mile per minute - 1/60 mile per sec. or 5280 div- ided by 60 equalling 90'/sec. The worst condition would occur if a stud came loose at the precise time that it was in the top position or 180 degrees from the road sur- face. At this time it would leave — Please turn to page 5 There are some comments and figures which I, for one, am un- able to understand. The tires, all agree, cut down stopping distance, and yet you maintain "this itself can cause accidents if the car behind does not have the same advantages." Is your argument that it is better to have three cars involved in one accident rather than only two; or are you suggesting that drivers with studded tires will stop un- necessarily and therefore cause 'needless accidents? You mention that "Other ev- idence will be given in the near future - - -." This apparently is referring to the previous par- agraph concerning tests carried out by the U.S. Safety Council which have shown that at 20 m.p.h a car with studded tires stopped in 110 et compared with 180 feet for /nventional tires. Concerning the studs working loose, I can only say that the studded tires on my own car after approximately 4,000 miles on snow, ice, and dry pavement, at speeds of GO m.p.h. and over, to date show no signs of studs that have, or are, working loose. In addition, any reputable tire manufacturer would not produce a line of tires without first com- pleting sufficient Engine er i n g tests to determine the optimum method for securing the studs to the tire. This is only common sense as it could cost literally thousands of dollars in adjust- ments to replace tires in which the studs had worked loose, You state that "at 60 m.p.h. the stud leaves the tire with the velocity of a bullet. My mathe- matics too have slipped badly International sharing necessary. While I am sure that most neighboring municipalities are convinced of the need of this addition, most taxpayers like to know a few of the reasons if they are to be faced with an increase. And Clinton— the Board has a major problem to work out in that area. That is a problem which does not just affect dollars and cents but could affect the edu- cational future of many students. A new agreement must be negotiated between the Exeter and Clinton Boards before Sep- tember of this year or programs already implimented at this school could be dis- rupted. All members of the Board have the faith and trust of the people of this area as is shown by their repeated re-appoint- ment. Even so, we feel that the people of this area are vitally interested in the workings of the board and have a right to know a little bit more than just the fact that a decision has been reached. Nobody knows what the solution to the Clinton problem is but most realize from past experience that this will be a"sticky mess" before it is finally ironed out. Those are just two of the major items on the agenda for the Board for 1966. We all realize there are many others which could be listed as well. The proposal is that the press would only be allowed to attend one meeting per month for an estimated four hours duration. That means the Board will discuss business before the public for only 48 hours per year. I fail to see how the business of running this school can be transacted in that amount of time, It was stated during discussion at the last regular meeting that the board was not pressing for closed meetings and in the same breath it was proposed that the Board meet as a committee of the whole following committee meetings. Perhaps this was not the intent of the Board and I wonder at the wisdom of the members of the South Huron High School Board in deciding to meet only once a month in open session and have the second evening free for committee meetings, closed of course to the press. In this way almost all busi- ness, well over a half million dollars per year, will be transacted and discussed without fear that the general public will have any idea as to why decisions are made. Under the new set-up members will only have to propose a motion arrived at in committee and have it approved and passed at the regular meeting. This will undoubtedly save a great deal of time. A question comes to my mind and that is — is time the only thing to be consider- ed? Is it not equally important to have the public kept informed of the actions of various boards and committees? And more than this, the reasons behind decisions? I realize the SHDHS Board is experienc- ing some difficult times and has many problems to settle during the next year. With the matters which will have to be dealt with, this could well be the most important year of decision in the history of education in this area. I do not envy the Board members their position. They have a great deal of work and negotiation to carry out during the coming year. I would suggest that they will only compound these problems by hiding behind the veil of secrecy, behind closed doors, as it may well make many people suspect of their actions. Perhaps we should quickly review some of the problems and work of the board for the coming year. The board is new anxiously awaiting approval for the new addition to the school. Estimates as to the cost of this are just over $2,000,000. When the tender price is received this figure could be out by as =eh as 10 percent making a new round of negotiation 15 YEARS AGO William Gossman and his son Ken have just returned from a trip to Florida in an ancient Model A. They were gone a month. Henry Strang, clerk of Usborne for 16 years, died at his home in Exeter in his ninetieth year. A. W. Morgan of RR 1 Hensall was appointed Huron-Perth com- missioner for the June census. The Hospital Association this week acknowledges the receipt of the second payment of $300 from Grand Bend WI making a total of $600 which enables them to have the furnishings of a single bedroom named after their In- stitute. 50 YEARS AGO Mrs. W. J. Harness' applica- tion for bell ringing for 1915 was accepted by Exeter Council at $50 per annum. Mrs. W. Johns, Miss Olive Quance, S. M. Sanders and R. Philips sang very acceptably in James Street Church Sunday evening. Mrs. Gunn, of Calgary, who is residing with her parents, Rev. and Mrs. Martin of London, is visiting in Exeter. Dr. Gunn is with the Army Medical Corps in France. Mrs. Gunn's brother, Beattie, an Exeter Old Boy, is also with the Army Medical Corps. Thomas Penhale, who has been attending the school of science, Toronto, has been granted his year and has enlisted for over- seas service. This column is devoted to the following excerpts from an ar- ticle written by U Thant of the U.N. and printed in the U.N.E.S.- C.O. Courier, October 1965. It was reprinted by the Roman C ath- olic, "Social Thought" where I came in contact with it. "The gap in resources between the fully modernized nations and their still developing neighbours is tending to widen, leaving some two thirds of humanity below the poverty line, turning the devel- oped societies whether or not they realize it, into a privileged elite." "The U.N. General Assembly has emphasized the need for in- creasing the transfer of re- sources to developing countries by expressing the hope that the 'flow of international assistance and capital should be increased substantially so that it may reach as soon as possible approxi- mately one percent of the com- bined national incomes of the economically advanced coun- tries'." "The gap between the per capita income of the developing coun- tries and those of the developed countries has also widened during the 1960's. Two thirds of the world population living in the less developed region of the world still share less than one sixth of the world's income. In 1962 per capita income in these regions averaged $136 — North America $2,845," "The misery of the develop- ing world is aprogressive misery. It threatens to grow worse in the second half of the decade." "No single idea has more pro- fOuncily shaped the modern ec- onomy than the belief that all Citizens have the right to share in its resources and Opportuni- ties — in Which the Wealth created in it is so divided that the vast Majority of the people have the education, skills and kind of in- come to lead a satisfying life, Sinde the war there has been some evidence to suggest that this concept of shared resources is 2 5 YEARS AGO The brick building on Main Street owned by Wilbert Martin has been sold to George W. Wright, who gets possession April 1. Snow conditions last year in Huron County were the worst With which it has had to contend. Plowing commenced about Christmas and continued almost until the middle of April. NO thaws occurred to lower the snow. Mr. R. N. Rowe and Mr. It C. Dinney attended the furniture show in Kitchener and Stratford. The Boy Scouts and the Cubs paid tribute to the memory of the late Baden Powell in a memorial service at the Caven Presby- terian church Sunday morning. beginning to enter the philosophy of states in relation not simply to their own citizens but to other states as well." In other words he's saying that we in Canada are respon- sible for the welfare of those outside of our national bound- aries. He then goes on to in- dicate how this could be done and in so doing echoes what Dr. McClure said in the United Church Observer. "Although over $120,000 mil- lions are being spent on arms each year this arms burden has not prevented economic growth in the developed world at an annual rate of 5 to 6%. How much more could be achieved for the benefit of the whole world if even a part of these vast efforts could be redirected from producing the instruments of death to pro- ducing the instruments of growth and work and life. Roads and dams, water and fertilizer, steel and machines, houses and cities, skills and welfare — all these could provide an economic stim- ulus equal to that of arms pro- duction — all could therefore be as simple and as easily af- forded by the richer states." "The greatest task of the U.N. Decade of Development is to convince governments and peo- ples that they have the means to wipe out mass poverty with its attendant miseries and dangers." "Who then can deny the com- pelling urgency of applying our efforts more purposefully, more vigorously and with more co- herent strategy? Whether we shall succeed is still doubtful, and in that measure so is the future of man, But there is no doubt what- ever about what can be done. If we have courage and constancy of purpose, a better world for all is within our reach." He IS saying that countries like Canada have the resources to wage a new kind of war. Since we're nowhere near the 1% figure suggested by the U.N., it remains a very real question whether we have the Will, desire and spirit for this new type of venture. 10 YEARS AGO Don Penninga, one of the mem- bers of the building committee, presented the key to the new Christian Reformed Church to the minister, Rev. G. J. Hoytema at the opening exercises. Other members of the committee were U. Vanderlaan, S. Koning, Fred Knip, G. Poortinga and H. /loose- boom. Reeve sack Morrissey of Ste- phen Township lost his bid for the wardenship of Huron In the final round. John Fischer of Turnberry Township won the po- sition on the fifth ballot. Kirkton Community Associa- tion, Sponsors of the famous Garden Party, will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a birth- day banquet on February 10. Thirty four SIIDHS senior stu- dents and six chaperons are plan- ning an educational trip to Wash- ington D.C. at Easter. Pik