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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1966-03-17, Page 4 :K. Vietnam and the God of militarism Board of Trade The Exeter Businessmen's Associa- tion or Board. of Trade to give it its new title, is back in business following a period of inactivity since Christmas. With a new executive and much broad- er aims, a great many people will be looking to the new association for more town and area promotion. It is hoped to expand the member- ship of the organization and we believe the suggestion has merit. Town promo- tion and special events require a great deal more than just the efforts of a handful of men as there has been in the past. There are approximately 150 mem• hers eligible to join this organization as it is presently constituted and a realistic membership objective should be in the neighborhood of 100. It will take a great deal of hard work to com- plete the reorganization but we are sure it will be worthwhile. Basically, the Board of Trade will be attempting to put Exeter on the map as well as attempting to attract both industry and visitors. This will in no way conflict with the work of other organizations in town but will be a means which should, in time, co-ordi- nate the efforts of some of these groups. Business promotion will also be looked after by this group but this will not be the primary aim as it was with the local Businessmen's Association. If there are any doubters who won- der at the need or value of a Board of Trade we suggest they visit a few pro- gressive towns within 50 miles of Exe- ter, Town promotion is necessary and experience has shown that the best ve- hicle for carrying this out is an active Board of Trade with representatives from every walk of life in the com- munity. Public library week There is much for the person who seeks relaxation and the therapy of humour. The dreamer who cannot afford to travel to those faraway places can set- tle down in his armchair and visit via the printed page. Fed up with her own cooking, the boredom of planning meals, the housewife can find cook books galore for gourmet foods. For the man or woman planning their life after retirement, there are books on hobbies, handicrafts and sug- gestions for the leisure days. Parents, relatives and friends who would like to start a youngster on his literary road without the aid of comic strips, would be well advised to have a talk with the local librarian—librar- ians are very understanding of children and can usually prescribe the books to fit the child's years and tastes — as well as the financial status of the don- By Val Baltkalns aft4 mace or. Visit your public library often. Your public library will come out of its quiet and secluded shell and find itself well in the spotlight for at least one week — from March 26 to April 2. The building, which usually has a subdued hum of controlled conversa- tion, will reach a few greater decibels after the public is reminded by radio, press, TV and posters of the library's place in the life of the citizen, young and old. To thousands of people, the pub- lic library holds almost the status of a university. To many men, women and children of limited education, their li- brary card can be their key to the learning they could otherwise not af- ford, learning that is available in thou- sands of dollars worth of valuable books, free for generous periods to the student or researcher. The intellectual is not the only one to benefit from the library shelves. Which possessed neither popular nor legal base. We took this ac- tion not in the best interests of the Vietnamese people but be- cause of our strategic designs in Asia. Usually when a nation interferes in the internal strug- gles of another nation such ac- tion is labelled 'aggression'. Brazenly, however, we insist that the North Vietnamese are the aggressors". They are afraid that Western churches will be swept up by blind nationalism and swayed by half truths and biased reports. They quote President Johnston's state- ment, "Neither independence nor human dignity will be won by force alone: it also requires the works of peace: now there must be a much more massive effort to improve the life of man in this conflict-torn part of the world." The Mennonites think those words are a little hollow and go on to say: "The words appear less than sincere to the Asian because the bombs that kill are so much louder than the bull- dozers that build". They then quote a prize ex- ample of the blindness of the god of militarism: "The MekongRiv- er Development Project which promises to release the whole Indo-China penninsula from the one crop system and provide a vast new economic vitality is stalled because of the war. To finance one of the tributary pro- jects in Laos four and one-half million dollars was needed but could not be found. The same amount is spent by the U.S. every day in the military build-up in Vietnam. How will history judge a nation that has so much know- how to build a more tolerable life for millions in Southeast Asia but is using it instead to devastate the land"? The Mennonites and other workers in Vietnam relief don't want to be identified with the military intervention. They say point blank: "We are concerned because the justification for our own country's heavy military in- volvement here is open to ques- tion. The issue is not so clear as those who defend U.S, milit- ary actions would have us be- lieve. We are concerned because Asiatics tend to identify Chris- tianity with Western civilization. When large armed forces from so-cal 1 e d 'Christian' nations fight Asians on Asian soil there is a danger that Christianity is brought into disrepute and the communication of the gospel made more difficult." It should be remembered that these people are risking their lives in Vietnam just as soldiers are and they have a right to be heard. Personally, the January 25th issue of the Mennonite Gos- pel Herald is the most sane thing I have yet read on Vietnam and the above excerpts don't do the analysis justice. I have always felt completely unqualified to comment on the war in Vietnam. The sources of information are usually coloured by one side or the other. I still feel unable to make a final judg- ment, However, I would like to share the insights of the Men- nonite Christians who are actual- ly serving there in the middle of the conflict. They, along with the Christian Missionary Alliance people, the Southern Baptists, Catholic Relief, Care, the Foster Parents Plan, and others, are trying to do something positive there. They deserve to be heard. They feel very strongly that the solution does not lie with mil- itary action. They feel this only complicates the misery. As they put it: "Misery and suffering in Vietnam resulting from 25 years of war surpasses that found in Europe during and after world war 2 in Europe. Homelessness, hunger, and disease plague the people". There will probably be a million refugees this year. Eighty percent of the land mass is controlled by the Viet Cong and some 15,000 South Vietna- mese government leaders have been systematically assassinated by the Viet Cong. The people are "disillusioned, cynical and have no real stake in the conflict. They only wish the whole thing would end and that all foreigners would go home". It is strange to find even mil- itary people agreeing that there will be no military solution. Gen- eral Collins in Washington said very candidly that the top milit- ary leaders fully realize that the Vietnam conflict will not ulti- mately be resolved militarily. The Mennonites put it more sharply: "The real revolution in Vietnam is not basically military. It is rather a search for Viet- namese national identity; for Vietnamese solutions to their problems. "The people want all foreigners to leave: they want land reform: they want tax re- form: they want to build a new Vietnamese society". These people attack both the view of the U.S. government and military and the Viet Cong: "We do not believe that war is the way to peace. We cannot condone bombings and killings regardless of where they be or what country commands them. We do not want to exonerate the National Libera- tion Front or Hanoi or Peking or Moscow. The action of the Viet Cong has been terrifying and repungnant but the central fact can't be evaded any longer", They then destroy the usual newspaper argument for U.S. in- volvment in Vietnam: "Against a regime which in 1946 had achieved national status and which after 8 years of fighting forced the French to withdraw and still commanded the loyalty of 80% of the populace, the U.S. set up a competing government •.....•....•••• •••••••••• .....•.......... ...................... .....••.........•.•................. "::::::""•'. ......... ........ before we get a place out of town but eventually that is where we will live. I'll probably get a few comments on that subject from the better half but I can keep up a campaign to get my own way just as well as June. In fact, she claims I am more miserable to live with when I don't get my own way than she is. I don't agree, of course, but that is what I am told every time she gives in and takes my suggestion. I suddenly thought that I am leaving myself wide open for comments from Dachshund own- ers such as Gerald Godbolt but that's the chance I have to take. Surely there are not as many Dachshund owners as there are bean growers. The arguments are still not over and I imagine I will have t o eat a little crow if we end up owning a Dachshund. At the pre- sent June has threatened to buy one with her own money and I don't know how I'd combat that. I don't have to worry too much about it for a little while as we couldn't have one in a third floor walk-up apartment and the way the housing situation looks we'll probably be there for another month at least. All I can hope for is that when we find a place to live the owner mentions he would prefer not to have any pets on the premises. If anyone has a one storey house for rent either in or near Exeter we are in the market and I for one wouldn't object if the owner didn't want the tenants to have pets. It might be the only way I could win this family feud. We wouldn't want the restric- tions to be on children though as that is one subject June and I both agree on (for a change), That March Madness dog question a long time ago and agreed we wouldn't get one until we had a family started and June would be home all the time. The comments went something like this, "I want something to love", I'm lonely being at home alone every night, I could talk to it, I need something to keep me company etc. etc. etc." for the next 150 miles. By the time we had reached Peterborough I was beginning to wish she had never started selling door to door. I don't mind joining the rat race to keep up with the Jones' to keep her happy but I hate like the deuce to be put on the spot every time she goes into a new house and sees something different. I can't see why I should have to give in and get a dog just because Graham Mason was foolish enough to get talked into it. Besides that, I could probably get 25 dogs for $50 if she didn't have this fixa- tion for a little Dachshund. June's arguments include, "he's got the sweetest little paws" while mine are, "what in . . do you want with a bunk of sausage meat like that. If you want a dog, let's get one that will be some good like a hound". I don't suppose mine are any more rational than June's and right now its a standoff. I don't mean to imply that I am a dog hater. On the contrary I like dogs and have every intention of owning one later but not at the present. I consider it nothing short of cruelty to keep a dog tied up all day, especially when there is no one home. I am not persuaded that a town is any place to raise either dogs or children. I am a lover of the wide open spaces. It may be a few years I suppose I am lucky in that my wife does not have too many whims but when she does, she is as apt as any other woman in attempting to get her own way. I can generally tell by the way the conversation is opened wheth- er the whim is something she thinks I will agree to or whether it is to be a long range project. This time it is a dog. June has an allergy to long haired animals and cats in particular but stoutly maintains that she is not allergic to such things as Siamese cats or very short haired dogs. I don't suppose there is a breed of dogs alive that June hasn't want- ed at one time or another but this time it is a Dachshund. She launched her campaign when we were driving home to Peterborough last weekend after I had been driving for an hour or so and was lost in thought. June knows how to launch her cam- paigns but I am getting to know the warning signs. She had been unusually quiet for 15 or 20 minutes when she com- mented, "I wish I had $50 I could call my own". Right away I knew something was up and I wasn't about to help hang myself so I kept my mouth shut. After about five minutes of silence she could not stand it any more so she ask- ed, "aren't you going to ask me what for?" I couldn't do much to parry that question so I said "OK, I'll play your silly little game, what for?" This was all the en- couragement she needed and she explained she wanted a little registered Dachshund puppy like she had seen at Vera Mason's. We just about hit the ditch with that bit of information because I thought we had disposed of the How much are you worth? Those who travel abroad by air may well react to the great hassle over airline liability to passengers with an- ger and apprehension. In the row that led the U.S. to renounce the Warsaw Convention on international passenger liability, the paramount interest of the passenger got short shrift. Since the early 1930's when the or- iginal Warsaw Convention was negoti- ated, the estates of passengers killed on international flights received an in- ternationally agreed-on compensation, initially $8,300, more recently $16,600. This was too little in most cases if it was intended to represent the "worth" of the victim. But it was paid auto- matically and the estate did not have to prove negligence on the part of the carrier. Now, without agreement on liabil- ity limits, those with claims face the prospect of having to sue in the coun- try where the crash occurred. Since 45 countries in the world set maximum liability below $16,600, only the law- yers involved would benefit. The claim- ants will now have to establish blame and this can be an extremely expen- sive business in the vast majority of air accidents where the evidence is scat- tered far and wide. The idiocy of the whole row is that the U.S. last year won agreement within a matter of weeks from all War- saw Convention countries to raise lia- bility limits from $16,600 to $50,000. Prior to that, 30 years of negotiations had been necessary to get the limits up from a wildly inadequate $8,300 to the $16,600. One possible solution is a new lia- bility agreement more in line with to- day's costs, with a voluntary insurance bonus on top. The airlines could agree to pay automatically say $30,000. Be- yond that, for a small surcharge of a dollar or two, the passenger could be assured for a second $30,000 in the event of death. Further than that it is surely the duty of any responsible per- son to see he is sufficiently insured to protect his dependents. Why the U.S. wanted to hike the coverage to $100,000 — knowing full well that the other governments would balk for cost reasons — is still a mys- tery. It means the end of Warsaw Con- vention. If Washington continues to hold this position it will be guilty of cruel and quite unnecessary obstruc- tion — an unaccustomed role for a normally generous nation. (The Financial Post) I have a profound respect for poet T. S. Eliot. But one of his lines, that which says, ''April is the cruellest month," is pure poppycock. He had obviously never spent a March in these parts. April is no bargain, but March is a month no honest tax-payer should have to put up with. At its best, it is 31 days of pure drear; at its worst, a cetury of bleak horror. Raw east winds that chap the hands, chill the bones, redden the nose, deaden the soul. Third bout of la grippe in three months. 15 YEARS AGO Exeter's oldest resident, Mr. Thomas Appleton will observe his 96th birthday at the home of his son, Ernest, Saturday, March 24. J. A. Morrison of East Wil- liams was elected to head the Ausable Valley Conservation Au thority at the annual meeting held in Parkhill, Thursday. Mrs. William J. Beaman of London has just purchased the property of J. A. Petrie, Huron Street. She will get possession June 1. Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 Vte Orefeaintes-Akfuoate 50 YEARS AGO Bradt — Jewell — In Exeter on Wednesday, March 15 by Rev. G. H. McAlister, Miss Elizabeth May, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Jewell to William E. Bradt, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Bradt. The 33rd Battalion have left Quebec and are now on their way to Europe. Mr. Clair Wood, who has been taking a dental course at Tor- onto University, has completed his first year and is taking a summer course for his second year. A real estate deal has been put through whereby Mr. J. N. How- ard gets possession of the Com- mercial Hotel on Main St. and Mr. T. H. Newell gets the house and property now occupied by Mr. Howard near Riverside Park. SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND Member: C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., CLASS A and ABC Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R, M. Southcott Editor: Kenneth Kerr Advertising Manager: Val Baltka Ins Phone 235.1131 quite favorable to Huron at $11.40 per head. We have a large mile- age of county roads and a rela- tively small population. Some counties received much less: Ontario, exclusive of Oshawa $9.40, and York, $8, but the mil- lion-and-a-quarter subsidy to Middlesex, exclusive of London, works out at an impressive $24.90 per person. We cannot draw ',government" money until after we pay it in, except as the government bor- rows. The Ontario government added $78,000,000 to the debt of the province in 1965-6 and ex- pects to add $80,000,000 this year. This has been the pattern for a long time, and the deficit is almost entirely on highways ac- count. It means higher taxes each year to meet interest and sink- ing funds, last year $164,835,000 — quite a substantial tab for a population of 6,668,000 to pick up. W.E. Elliott Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont. Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dep't, Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1965, 4,208 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $4.00 Per Year; USA $5.00 Dear Sir: Very many thanks indeed for the excellent dinner last night and the presentation by Mr. Allen. I realize that perhaps I might — Please turn to page 5 Faces of friends become hateful. Tailpipe and muffler gone on the car. Eavestr oughs sagging. Spirits flagging. Spring is merely a word in the dictionary. Winter is a monster, clawing at your shoulder. If you're anything like me, you're hanging on by your teeth. This is fairly easy, because your nose has been running, and you're keeping a stiff upper lip. It's frozen. And your teeth are ex- posed. It's a wonder we don't all turn as mad as March hares and cut our collective throat, if only to add a bit of color to relieve grim, grey March. But cheer up, chaps, all is not lost. I have a little therapeutic theory that works wonders. It is the only thing that saves me, in March, from running out into the snow, in bare feet and long under- wear, babbling, "T. S. Eliot is mad, mad I tell you mad!" I first discovered this theory when I had trouble sleeping. After a long evening of too much work, too many fags, and too much cof- fee, I'd crawl into bed, and lie there as rigid as a rake, toes curled tightly, eyes burning brightly, no more chance of get- ting to sleep than getting to heaven. One such night, I remembered. "Listen, Buster," I told my- self. "Fifteen years ago tonight, you were lying on the floor of a box-car, freezing, hands and feet tied with wire, on your way to a prison camp. "And here you are lying in a soft bed, in a warm house, with a warm woman beside you and warm blankets over you, and no night-fighters shooting up the place, and no guards wandering in to give you a kick. So what if you don't sleep a wink?" In 14 seconds I was asleep. It works every time. Now the same technique ap- plies when it comes to saving my sanity in March. When the miseries of March have me reduced to one great Please turn to page 5 Sir: In its evident intention to in- crease its levy on the local municipalities for county roads, Huron county council clearly is influenced by the idea that it will thereby earn higher grants, so- called, of "government" money. Councillors must be well aware that such money is raised through provincial taxation of us all, but they are invited to believe that it is collected to a greater extent somewhere else than in Huron, and that we are thereby "sub- sidized." Metropolitan Toronto has been cited, Of course, a great deal is collected in and about Metro To- ronto in gasoline tax and license fees, but how about its highway grant? Last fiscal year the amount was $25,173,118. (Page H51, Public Accounts of Ontario). Taking the population total as given in the 1965 Municipal Directory, this figures out at $14.60 per head for 1,717,875 persons, Not bad, Goderich, by comparison, got $7,90 per head, Seaforth $5.20, Exeter $1.0,Strat- ford $0, and so on. Who is sub- sidizing who? The grant to Counties ) exclu- sively for county roads, was 10 YEARS AGO Production of the operetta "Peter Rabbit" by junior stu- dents of Exeter Public School was an outstanding Education Week feature. Connie Ostland and Allison Clark were judged among the top six in Western Ontario competi- tions in verse speaking at London. They will compete in a province" wide contest at Toronto during Easter week. Passenger service of the Lon- don, Huron, Bruce CNR line— once the most popular form of transportation to and from this area will he discontinued Sat- urday, April 28. Nancy Tiernan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mervyn Tiernan, Dash- wood, and a former SIIDIIS stu- dent, presented a graduation re- cital in the UWO McIntosh Mem- orial Gallery, London.- She is graduating this year from Music Teachers' College. 25 YEARS AGO Johns—Harrison—Blanche Elizabeth Harrison, Thames Road, Was married to William Allen Johns, son of Mr. William Johns and the late Mrs. Johns, Elimville Saturday, March 15 at the home of the bride's parents. Mr. W. H. Pollen has disposed of his residence South Main Street, to Charles Kerslake of Usborne. Pte Dalton Finkbeiner of No. 12 Training Centre, Chatham, spent Sunday at his home, Credi- ton. Mr, J. C. Vidt is making splen- did progress in the work of en- larging the Exeter Refrigerated Locker Building. t