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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1966-01-27, Page 4111111111111111111111111111111101111111111111111101111111fflelle11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 ONE MAN'S OPINION i , by John C. Boyne Fullness `Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 111/PereferZinesi3tsixak SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND Member: C.W.N,A., 0.W.N.A., C.C.N.R. and ABC Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R. M. Southcott Editor: Kenneth Kerr Advertising Manager: Val Baitkains Phone 235.1331 111001,3"1:242141/r000pio,"s wire," e4-16). • -VIZPA.;.; Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont. Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Offite bep't, Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1965, 4,208 SUBStRIPTioN RATES: Canada $4.00 Per YeAr; USA 0.00 : •'`'-`4,4,014.•;')no,rn'' P SUGAR AND SPICE Dispensed by Smiley A change needed The method of electing the warden of Huron County has been questioned by the Reeve of Clin- ton, Duff Thompson, Mr. Thompson proposes the adoption of secret balloting and it is likely he will get support from many representatives throughout the area. Although we agree with Mr, Thompson's pro- posal we fail to understand some of his reasoning. Speaking at the last meeting of county council Mr. Thompson said, "before voting I have pressure ex- erted on me to commit myself how I am going to vote." If Mr. Thompson thinks that secret balloting will reduce the pressure of candidates seeking sup- port, his knowledge of politics must be very slim. What secret balloting will do, however, will be to take away the threat of economic reprisals against a municipality which some candidates attempted to use as a lever in the last campaign. Because the International Plowing Match will be held in Huron County this year the position of Warden seemed a little more attractive an honor than it has in previous years. It was only natural that candidates would be exerting all the pressure and influence they could muster in an attempt to win. We believe that in some cases the pressure play attempts went a little beyond what could be called `clean politics' and because of this it may well be time to switch to the secret ballot method, There is another change needed at the county level and needed badly. It seems incomprehensible to us that no provision is made for a position of ex- Warden. It is the tradition of the county that a man who has served one term as Warden step down and resign. While we agree that the work load of the Warden is too great to ask a man to take this posi- tion two years in a row, it seems like a tragic waste to see the loss of the knowledge and experience these men have by having to resign from politics. In many other counties in Ontario the past warden is a key man on county council. He is the man who has the knowledge and experience as to who to see and how to solve problems. He is the right hand man of the new warden and helps him take over his new duties. In this modern age with the complexities of all levels of government, certain traditions will have to be scrapped and we suggest this should be one of the first to go. Something missing (by Vat Baltkolns) this year and in many ways council went into the new year continuing their 1965 program and ex- tending this. We are in no way critical of the pres- ent council and feel they have devoted a great deal of time and effort in providing much needed serv- ices. Something was missing at the first regular meeting of council this month. This was the Mayor's inaugural speech. Councillor Ted Wright pointed out the error in protocol at the last regular meeting of council, and indicated he was disappointed that this had been passed over this year, He went on to add that the blame for this lies with all members of council and suggested it is still not too late to rec- tify this mistake. We agree with this thinking and hope mem- bers give some thought to the problems and projects council should face during the coming year. Having the inaugural speeches in February rather than Jan- uary may have some merit as the new committees will have had a chance to meet and discuss what they would like to see accomplished. The lack of the inaugural address probably was caused by the fact that there was no election Ileet4 eee Members have faced some tough, time-con- suming problems during the past year and although the major problem (Canadian Canners waste disposal) is not settled yet council has done its best to nego- tiate a fair and equitable solution. We feel the general public would like to know of the plans of council for the next year, which is their right, and suggest the first item on the agenda for the February council meeting should be an out- line by the Mayor and council of their hopes and ambitions for the town during 1966. With the editor in Kerr's Korner I have been reading a few comments from time to time in regards to farmers and I wonder whether the esteemed gentle- men making the comments have taken the time or trouble to come down from their ivory tower to take a look at the farmer of to-day. It has been suggested the term farmer be dropped and the term food pro- ducer used instead. They suggest the farm- er should learn to be more of a business- man and improve his image when he comes to town by wearing better clothes. Clothes do not make the man anymore than changing the name from farmer to food producer is going to add any prestige to an honorable occupation'which ranks as the most important industry in this coun- try. Apparently the gentlemen doing all the talking still have the cartoon caricature of the farmer in their minds, with manure covered rubberboots, straw hat and apiece of straw in his mouth. If they have they are going to be in for a shock one of these days when they wakeup to the changes which have come about in the last 10 years. I'd like to take those gentlemen with me for a few days on a trip around the county. The farmer of to-day has changed and changed drastically. It was a gradual change, one not too noticeable but cer- tainly very apparent to an observer who has been associated with men such as these for 10 or 15 years. I think the knowledge of this Change was brought to my conscious thoughts last week when I attended a meeting of some 100 bean growers in Hensall. It was a strange meeting in that no one would admit having called it and yet by word of mouth these men had gathered from miles around to sit down and discuss a common prob- lem. Town councils, school boards and many other organizations could have taken a lesson had they attended this meeting. This was not the large milling grOup of unorganised men you would expect under the Circumstances. These were grave businessmen gathered for a purpose and who realized arguing and complaining were useless and discussion of the prob- lem was imperative. The first item of business was the A good many PeePle, decent, kindly, warm-hearted in most respects, have a morbid streak. They get a big vicar- ious bang out of the gruesome or the gory. Eyes glinting, voices low- ered, they discuss with relish Aunt Sadie's cancer of the liver, the weekend accident in which a pillar of the com- munity smashed his pelvis while heading for the city with his mistress, or Uncle George's advanced dropsy. It's a shame,then, to disap- point these people when there's a chance to add a little color to their lives, This week Iliad that chance. I cut my foot rath- er badly. Nothing serious, but enough to give me a good heavy limp. It happened on the weekend, and Monday morning I was ready for them. The first eager enquirer caught me just inside the door, as I arrived for work. What was it? Bad fall and a broken ankle? Hopefully, Arthritis getting unbearable? Coyly. No, no, nothing as simple as that, I assured her. I explained that my wife and I had been practising our karate on Sat- urday night, as usual. Growing bored with smashing those big dents in the refrigerator with the sides of our hands, we'd decided to try some footwork. I'd launched ajump-kick at my wife's teeth. She, a real karate expert, had stuck out her ton- gue, and it was so sharp she'd opened a four-inch gash in my foot. Four inches deep, that is. I don't know whether the lady who'd asked believed me. I just walked off and left her standing there, mouth open, eyes slightly crossed. The next enquiry came from one of those loudmouths who like to embarass one in front of a group. He tried . Loudly, "Whada do? Get drunk and fall down the cellar stairs, ho- ho?" Not at all, I told him calmly. I'd got drunk, been locked out, slept in a snowbank all night, wakened with a frozen foot, and had had to have three toes am- putated. I asked him if he'd like one as a souvenir, but he didn't seem too keen. The next customer was a malicious old bat who looks like the flower, but in reality is the serpent under't. "Been fighting with your wife again? It's about time she put her foot down. On yours, hee-hee." "Well, we weren't exactly fighting," I told her. "I had the shotgun out and was just trying to scare her a little, just in fun, when the darn thing went off and blew a hole in my foot the size of an orange. Wanta see?" She turned green and started to sway, so I left her. A fourth interrogator, a young lady who loves trouble -- other people's, that is -- came up to me, eyes glisten- ing, and solicitously hoped it was nothing serious. I said not really, just a few severed tendons. Never be able to wiggle my toes again, but lucky to get off so easily. "After all, it was a 30 foot drop." Gaping, she pursued, "What in the world happened?" "Nothing much. I fell off the — Please turn to page 5 basic to all intellectual a n d spiritual growth. There can be no depth of either without it. Someone once said 'the greatest university in the world was not enclosed by four walls but by an enquiring mind, a loving heart, an eagerness to learn and a deep faith in God', I believe that there can be no 'fullness', no really 'abundant life' unless all four of these characteristics are present. I believe that the world is God's; that the world is full of examples of His Presence and love. There- fore we should be eager to learn more about the complexity and wonder of that world so that we may better see the tremendous variety of ways and places in which He is present. As one who supports whole- heartedly the perfectly legitimate and healthy desire to grow in- tellectually, I also submit that it is still as relevant as ever to try to learn from the Bible itself. The story is told of the South Sea islander who proudly showed his Bible to an American soldier during world war 2. The G.I. said with disdain, "We've out- grown that sort of thing you know". The native answered; 'It's a good thing we haven't because if it wasn't for this Book you'd have been a meal by now". I believe that we can never outgrow our need for the One who fills the universe. I further believe that He is big enough to embrace our multiplicity of view- points and our diversity of opin- ion. We must be open enough to allow for diversity even as we press for a greater expression of our 'oneness on essentials'. Growth in fullness then will inevitably involve our apprecia- tion of the diversity of God's gifts. It will also involve a grow- ing openness to new thoughts, interpretations and ideas. Someone has said: "Life is a lively process of becoming. If you haven't added to your in- terests in the past year, if you are thinking the same thoughts, saying the same things, relating the same personal experiences, having the same predictable re- actions you may as well wake up to the unpleasant fact that re- gardless of your age rigor mortis of the personality has started to set in. Some people seem to have a knack of staying interesting and interested — they've got a secret — they simply don't let themselves stop becoming. They keep themselves mentally and emotionally lithe and alert by getting excited about new friends, new ideas. They widen their in- terests in books, art, music, po-' litics, world affairs and current events, They stay alert. Some of the things that absorbed them in the past may seem less important to them than they once did. Their old leaves drop off but they sprout new ones," This desire to grow, to be- come, to enlarge our horizons is Our conceptions of God are often too narrow and confining. Our awareness of the depth and breadth of His nature is often too restricted. John Calvin once said that the more we come to know about the world the deeper our insight could be into the nature of God. The Psalms tell us that the world is full of God. Paul says that He fills all things; that if we are rooted and grounded in him we will know more of the breadth and length and depth and height of God's love. So we have to stretch our minds, we have to grow in depth if we are going to be better re- ceivers of the fullness of life God wants to share with us. Catherine Marshall says, "The Creator of this universe had no poverty complex. He didn't create just one kind of fern but 10,000 kinds; not one type of palm tree but 1,500 different palms; not one insect but 625,000 which scient- ists have so far named. Thus far astronomers have been able to photograph 30 billion stars we have no idea how many there actually are!" So in creation there is great diversity. So it should be no surprise that there is also div- ersity in the Church. All move- ments for unity which seek com- plete uniformity of belief and practice are doomed for failure, self education and self .i mprovement necessary in this world of growing auto- mation. It is not the farmer who is crying, "send me back to school", "retain me" because a new machine stole my job. The machines have "stolen" many of the farm- ers' jobs as well, but because of continued self improvement he is keeping himself master of the machines rather than having the machines master of the man. I do not have any great fear as to the future of agriculture in Canada. I have met the men who work in this industry and I know of many of their programs. If we must be concerned with national problems let us look to the urban and metropolitan centers. Let us look at the threats which over-strong unions pose to the national economy, Truck drivers go on strike and manufacturing plants start to close down and thousands of people are thrown out of work. This needless hardship on the in- nocent sickens me but it seems to be a growing trend. Then I look back to the farmer. He is not on strike, never has been and probably never will be. They have organizations and they fight and negotiate for their rights but they do not walk off their jobs and quit simply because they don't get their own way. Perhaps they should, perhaps the strike to end all strikes should be a strike of the farmers, the food producers. Perhaps this would jar the complacent bodies in government into action which would bring in legislation to prevent the innocent from being hurt by the greedy or selfish desires of a minority group. To those who feel a concern for the farmers, who would like to change his name or his clothes or his way of life, I suggest they take a little time to talk to the farmer and watch him in action. If a farmer doesn't have time to change his clothes when he comes to town fOr needed supplies I don't think it degrades him any more than the serviceman who walks through the streets of the town wearing his uniform. Overalls and rubber boots is an honorable manner of dregs and one which should command the same respect as the local businessman. election of a chairman, carried out in the proper manner adhering to parliamentary procedure. Next was a discussion as to whether to appoint a secretary. By ra- tional discussion they decided against this as the meeting was for information and it would be unlikely the same group of men would gather again and so there would be no one to whom to read the minutes and no useful purpose served by having these recorded. The next matter on the agenda was a discussion as to whether the press should be allowed to stay and report this meeting. Some members felt the press might stop a few men from speaking their true views for fear of being quoted and creating hard feelings among neighbors. Others were of the opinion that the meet- ing and any of their actions should be con- ducted in the open so that no person could ever point a finger at their actions. They did not wish to give their critics or opponents a chance to use the weapon that they had met in secrecy behind closed doors. By a unanimous vote the press was allowed to stay and report the meet- ing. They showed much better common sense than many of their counterparts in towns and villages who thrive on backroom "closed committee" meetings. Throughout the meeting, and despite the bitterness these men must have felt, there was never a raised voice or any profanity or any actions which did not follow the best traditions of parliamentary procedure. Now, my friends who would like to change the Image of the farmer, what do you think Of that? As I said, the farmer of today has changed and I have nothing but respect for the terrific progress they have made. The farmer of today is aware of the problems common to the farming industry and is working to solve these. No other group of people in this country is doing as much for self improvement as is the farmer. He attends far more meeting than any average person or businesselan from village, town or city, he hears more good speakers in a year than most residents not in the farming industry hear in a lifetime, and he is looking after his own 50 YEARS AGO Church union has been carried in the Presbyterian church. The majority for union with the Meth- odist and Congregational church- es, according to the official fig- ures announced, was 53,086. C Company of the 135th Batt. marched out to Greenway Jan. 18 and were entertained by the ladies of Grace church. Jan. 25 they came again and were en- tertained by the ladies of the Methodist Church. The Hensall Band will furnish music for the skaters at the Dome rink on Friday evening. The young people of Bethany will enjoy a pleasant evening at the home of their pastor, Rev. S. W. Muxworthy at the Main Street parsonage this Wednes- day evening. • 25 YEARS AGO Rev. John A. Falconbridge of Centralia has been commission- ed 2nd lieutenant in the Middle- Sex-Huron Regiment. The temporary bridge in Ex- eter is now open for traffic and the detour Signs that were placed at the north and South ends of the town have been removed after being up for 86 days. At the annual meeting of the Exeter Horticultural Society held last Wednesday evening it was decided to Carry on in a modest way thIS year giving preferenee to war work, Mrs. N. J. Dore was elected preSident. A celebration to emphasize the selling Of War Savings cer tilicates will be staged in EX- eter Friday of next week. There will be several aeroplanes and a parade headed by the band. Dear Sir, I have no intention of adding oil to the present controversy on studded tires, but the follow- ing considerations seem to me appropriate. As a newspaperman I have had my share of reporting, in words and pictures, of fatal or near fatal accidents. And while re- searchers agree that there is plenty of room fOr safety fea- tures inside of the car, few have bothered to point out, that in a number of cases the accidents have been due to entirely worn out tires a tragic oversight on the part of the car owner. I have had myself a few oc- casions to depend on the per- formance of my tires under criti- cal circumstances and through these experiences have become rather particular in this respect. Quite naturally I have been fol- lowing with great interest the de- VelopeMent of new features that Can contribute to a greater driv- ing safety, It seems to rrie, that the better road gripping ability of the stud- ded tire, especially in winter driving conditions that prevail in this area, has something to recommend it above some other considerations. The Stability in stopping is another «advance feature" that I can appreciate. I consider the 15 YEARS AGO Hydro lines will stretch across Hibbert farms despite vigorous farmers' protests against the erection' of poles in their fields at a low compensation. The farm- ers picketted but hydro crews finished under the protection of provincial police. R. H. Middleton, past presi- dent of Hensall Chamber of Com- merce for the past 10 years, and G. M. Drysdale, secretary- treasurer for the past 15 years retired this year, Thomas Fisher, an active member of Lebanon Forest lodge for 50 years, died in Victoria Hospital Friday last. Exeter creamery staff were successful in winning second prize with their butter In com- petition at the Western Ontario Dairymen's Convention in Lon- don. Kenneth Hodgins of Exeter creamery was the highest scor- ing individual at the cream grad- ing competition. . 10 YEARS AGO Fire brigades from three neighbOring towns joined forces Friday afternoon to save the combined store and house of Lorne Marshall at the main inter- section of kirktOn. Most of the $8,000 stock of hardware and groceries was destroyed, Exeter Branch of the Canadian Legion' Hall voted Thursday night to go ahead with plans to erect a $25,000 addition to the me- morial hall on William St, Exeter and District players' Guild has reached the final pre- paration for their -first three-act comedy "No Rhyme or Reason" in the 811131-1S auditorium Febrti- ary 8 and O. choice of running into another car or being run into myself a rather academic one. Who runs into whore in an emergency is seldom a matter of choice, but in conditions when one has a reasonable degree of control the driver should be able to take the situation into account and still have a greater degree of control with his studded tires. After all, even with the normal tires in good Condition one seldom jumps with full force on the brakes if it is possible at all to retain some degree of presence of mind, One has to believe also in logic, that companies, who great- ly depend on their reputation in a highly competitive field, would use proper engineering con- siderations in putting a product on the market, claiming improv- ed safety features, A certain degree of compromise has to be accepted -- after all we have ac- cepted the car with its destruc- tive power giving allowance for its shortcomings. If government and other Safety agencies can not fully agree on the future of the studded tire, it clearly indicates, that their con- siderations are inconclusive. If it were Othertvise we would na- turally expect a very definite declaration, even a complete ban of the new product, V.13.