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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1966-06-23, Page 4A healthy start ;.;.;:e.eeeeeeee:ee Automation Tragedy: Part one `fie OireferZines-Atasocafe 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 Advertising Manager: Vat Baltkatns Phone 135•1331 more sceptical said, it was purely pri- vate enterprise. Yet there is no sight of "private" possessiveness when it comes to ex- panding it far beyond its present (or past) scope and it was encouraging to note that those who have carried out the project in the past were the ones Who most generously were willing to share it with the community. Pleasantries were also exchanged at the annual meeting in connection with the Quarter Horse Show — now since past, which could be considered a forerunner to all similar 'and expand- ed future events. This horse show was a milestone for Exeter if only because for the first time its hospitality was tested on an international scale. What impressed us most, however, was the total absence of glumness in regard to the Centralia problem. The fact was mentioned with some humor once and the rest of the evening was devoted to future plans—to make Exe- ter a better town and one that would be known further afield. We hope this spirit prevails. The 50th anniversary The 50th anniversary of the mobilizing of the 161st Huron Battalion was marked recently. This picture of the Exeter detachment was taken in front of the town hall, They trained in the upstairs of this hall in bad weather, Photo by Jos Senior The first Board of Trade annual meeting under normal circumstances could well be deemed premature. After all, the organization has been in existence barely six months. But then, the Exeter Board of Trade did not come into being under normal circumstances. Its foundation had been long overdue and its activi- ties have been welcomed with enthu- siasm to say the least. One could even ascribe some un- usual degree of idealism to the man- ner in which various groups have closed ranks to support an organization that no doubt will be playing an im- portant role in our civic life. What strikes the observer is the total lack of jealousies as to who has accomplished what, in view of the necessity to ac- complish much more. At this time it is also becoming clear that an annual rodeo in this town will be shaping up as one of its major projects. When the idea was broached some months ago it was feared that the project might flounder because, as the and arrived in Liverpool November 10. The Exeter Detachment trained in town for four or five months and walked to Clinton where they were billeted in homes during their stay there. Jack Mallett was a member and made the marches around town more lively with his kettle drum. In bad weather the training was done upstairs in the town hail. The 161st Huron Battalion was mobilized in Clinton May 22, 1916. The battalion moved to Hillcrest Camp in London June 1 and to Camp Borden July 8. They left Camp Borden October 2'7 and arrived inHalifax October eO and embarked on the Lapland along with the 168th Oxford Battalion and the 133rd Simcoe Battalion, They sailed on the night of November 1 Indians to the rescue? With 1966 rapidly becoming 'the year of the strikes' in Ca- nada, it is important to remem- ber that automation is the one I w major cause of fear in labour circles oultoodthaeyr. , efore like to share the following research with you. It was produced by four semina- rians--L. Carey, R, Dowsen, J. Lyons and W. Van Wyck as part of their assignment for Father Michael Ryan's course in Social Philosophy at St. Peter's Semi- nary in London and reprinted in 'Social Thought'. They quote various viewpoints on this controversial matter. Bu- siness Week--"Automation isn't a dirty word—yet. But if some of the more extreme guesses about the number of jobs lost annually to the machine should begin to come true automation should become a very ugly word indeed", Harry of the AFL- Heaerdr'ye CIO--"Two thirds of the nation is going to be supporting one third of the nation". William D. McGuigan of the Stanford Research Institute-- "We can produce all we need to stay healthy and happy with only 10% of the population work- ing". The Rand Corporation- -"In the discernible future 2%of the po- pulation will be able to produce all the goods and services needed to feed, clothe and operate our country's society". These people say that some time or other we are going to have an unemployment rate of 33% or 90%or 98%. The President's Advisory Committee on Labour Manage- ment Policy--"Automation and technological change are essen- tial to the general welfare but they must be made without sac- rifice of human values and with- out inequitable cost in terms of individual interests". President Johnson -- "The techniques of automation are al- ready permitting us to do many things that we simply could not do otherwise". Sir Leon Bagrit--"Automation is not a devil, a Frankinstein, The wealth produced is for dis- tributing among the great masses of the world and not for any particular section." Walter Reuther, Labour's ma- jor spokesman in the U.S.--"We want the best tools that science and technology can give us, But we want the abundance they make possible geared to the needs of the whole community, not a sel- fish few", After analyzing ease examples the four students offer some hopeful remarks: "We find an encouraging picture of labour- management cooperation to ease the strains of technological change upon the worker. The gradual introduction of these changes accompanied by consid- erable advanced planning has of- ten avoided injustice and hard- ship to the workers involved". They note that in Canada Mr. Justice Samuel Freedman in his report on 'railway run-throughs' (Dec. 1965) recommended that management labour and govern- ment direct cooperative efforts to counteract the job reduction caused by dieselization and other technological change. They add, With great perception, "Coopera- tive efforts to effect technologi- cal changes with minimum hard- ship to workers seldom make exciting reading for front page news". In their concluding remarks they sum up with this hopeful assessment: "The slaves of the automated society should become the machines and computers. They can become the tools to improve the living conditions of every man on this earth". "Automation makes demands upon education. Our schools must prepare men to face a changing job situation. Our students must learn to be adaptable so that they can accept relocations, re- training throughout their life- time". "Automation is not causing massive unemployment. With planning and a gradual introduc- tion of automation few workers need fear disemployment", "If the future brings severe job reduction the pressure for jobs can be lessened by increa- sing the number of voluntary idle. A prosperous economy should be able to sustain more persons in school, more mar- ried women at home, a younger retirement age, fewer persons holding more than one job". "In the far distant future when machines can sustain the econo- my, we may need a new concept of work. The pursuit of the good life, of culture and learning, of the betterment of society, of service to the community --- these could be the life projects of tomorrow". When the Queen's Proclamation was read and posted up in Exeter and, indeed, in all municipalities through- out the new nation on July 1st, 1867, it referred to THE DOMINION OF CANADA. By 1949, the name became simply CANADA. The word Canada comes from an Indian word meaning town. The In- dians had already given the name Can- ada to part of the valley of the St. Lawrence River when the first white men came to that region. In the final analysis it was, there- fore, the Indians who were indirectly responsible for naming our country. As bickering prevails once again among the pale faces, but this time on the ways and means of observing Can- ada's centenary, could a "council of intelligent Indians" be called to the rescue? When Canada's rugged winters set in and our "snow birds" head for balmier climates in Florida there are those among them who say "Let's give our country back to the Indians." When same of our elected representa- tives at Ottawa descend to the low lev- els of conduct, speech and inefficiency to which they have become accustomed in recent months, the same phrase re- garding the Indians is handed out. However, we don't expect to really see Canada handed back to the Indians. It has also been frequently said that the way things are going today in Can- ada, the Indians wouldn't take it back. But it just could be that if some "intelligent Indians" dug deep into their native history they might come upon some valuable background which would throw new light on ideas to suit- ably observe Canada's centenary. These ideas might be equally as good, if not, in some cases, better than those which many of Canada's pale faces have come up with to date, — G. L. E. Communities across Canada these days 'are striving, with widely varying degree of enthusiasm, to reach final conclusions on ways and means of ob- serving this country's centenary next year. Similarly, almost 100 years ago, communities in what was to become Confederated British America were se- riously discussing selection of the most suitable name for the new nation soon to be proclaimed. The predominantly British stock of Huron. County showed their loyalty and interest in the selection of a name in many lively discussions held in all areas of the County. With Confedera- tion only about a year away at the time of these discussions it seemed most likely that the most popular choice would be CANADA or CAN- ADIA. The name CANADA was resented by many as a high sounding Latinized cognomen. Should CANADA be se- lected as the name it was seen neces- sary to find new names for the sec- tions then known as Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Some Huron County residents were of the opinion that the example of the United States should be follow- ed in the matter of choosing a pleas- ing name. Instead of searching through Latin and Greek lexicons for a title the citizens south of the border simply adopted an Indian name. Examples of these were: Alabama, Kentucky, Ten- nessee, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, etc. The majority of United States residents to- day are not even aware that the afore- mentioned names are of Indian origin. When bickering prevailed over what this new country's name should be, one disgusted Huron County resi- dent suggested that the selection of a name be handed over to "a council of intelligent Indians." Ten Commandments for readers only one harboring this resent- ment against U.S. If one assumes the perspective of history a ruthless judge of facts and deeds that sweeps aside all beautiful words — it is surprising that the reaction is setting in only now. Ever since the end of World War I, with the declarations of self- determination, the U.S, enjoyed the role of a champion for free- dom. It went overseas during the Second World War waving the flag of liberation. When the war ended the U.S. pulled out with- out a second thought in what state things were left behind. They weren't left in a beautiful state at all. Half of Europe went prey to another form of dictatorship. In fact, the state of affairs look- ed grimmer than prior to the war but nobody gave it a second thought. Maybe after, some de- cades even Americans will start asking questions. Right now they are too busy with a different set of problems but the questions are being asked outside of U.S. and the answers are not com- plimentary. The problem that faces the American nation presently is not a small one. It centres on Viet Nam, of course, and it has suf- ficiently split the nation to war- rant the name of political crisis. The banners of liberty are being waved again. The tragedy of the situation is that officially the war Is waged to uphold democracy in a country that has no under- standing of what freedom or the democratic way of life is. And force is used to enforce such way of life. At the same time there are more than a dozen countries and peoples in Europe who know well what freedom is, who would wel- come any help to re-establish their freedom but who are wait- ing in vain. By V.B. When Prime Minister Lester Pearson used more than plain language telling off the United States on its stand towards France, he no longer was snubbed by the higher officialdom of the host nation. Indeed, serious attention was paid to what Mr. Pearson had to say and there is evidence that considerable amount of his advice is being followed, if belatedly. It seems that the role of the leading power which the U.S. had assumed in past at this moment is resulting in a world-wide re- sentment, France might be the first but possibly not the last exponent of this sentiment even in the friendly camps. People across the border might have difficulty in understanding how it came to pass that France added insult to injury when its president De Gaulle announced his plans for a trip to Moscow. In fact, it is merely a continua- tion of the policy line that first led to the severance of ties with NATO. After all no nation in this world can remain isolated. And having denounced everything American, France will have to restore its balance among the nations with the help of Soviet Union. It does not mean thatDe Gaulle is becoming a communist. It means, however, that he will use the Soviet Union to blackmail the United States. Apparently t h e chunk of Germany that separates France from the direct influence of Soviet power politics makes De Gaulle feel quite secure that this flirtation will remain in the best of French tradition. Alas! the French are notorious for miscalculating the future. * * One can not, however, wipe off the fact that France is not the At this time one might accept the fact that in international rela- tions there is no ideology. The events that take place and that cost lives are staged in the inter- ests of power politics and some- times even on lesser though still very practical, considerations. Whether there will ever be a peaceful democracy in Viet Nam as a result of this war is not the important question. The real problem is that further East China is emerging as a new world power, itching to take over its self-assumed role of global rul- er. This danger might be respon- sible for the nominal co-exist- ence between the Western World and the Soviet Union. If this co- existence is so costly and so slow in developing it is due to an earlier failure to protect the free nations in Europe. The So- viet Union has been placed in the role of a very impressive world power that so far can ignore the threat from China. What actually is happening in Viet Nam is a prelude to greater things. It serves as a testing ground to new weapons, to tac- tics and above all to the pre- paredness of the major prota- gonists to move one step further than the other. For the U.S. It is a very awkward position for it can not retreat without losing face in 'front of the enemy and the observing nations and it can not continue without getting in- volved in a full scale war. So, don't envy the politicians. Hysterical voices chanting "we want black power" adds yet an- other headache to the problems the U.S. government is facing. The outbursts only prove that what sociologists have known all along: that oppression can not last indefinitely and the longer it lasts, the fiercer the reaction. While from a purely humani- tarian standpoint one might be willing to concede equal rights to the black race in the states one should also face the possibility that the proper moment to do so, peacefully has nearly passed, The evolution has been too slow and it has been sabotaged by the Southern States. Will it now turn into a revolu- tion? What a legacy to the coming generation! course in actual flying without leaving the ground, was demon- strated. Ted Buswell of Exeter is one of the instructors of one of these. the better thinker (at least in your own opinion). Read with both eyes. Note the qual- ifying words and also "who says so," Don't take an accusation for a convic- tion, rumor for fact, or confuse plans with accomplishments. Don't be a reading coward. Don't be afraid to weigh opinions in complete conflict with your own. Get out of any reading rut you may have fallen into and read at least one thing a day completely apart from your normal interest, to give yourself a mental jog. Plan your shopping and buying at home with the help of the advertising columns of your daily newspaper. Relax and enjoy the fun every day. There is a lighter side of life and your newspaper covers it—so give yourself a break and join in the enjoyment. LETTERS ;A EDITOR For greater enjoyment and more information in reading your daily news- paper, a journalism professor has sug- gested these "Ten Commandments for Readers": Read your newspaper fully each day. Make it a habit. Don't be headline-happy. Heads are just the menu: you must eat the food itself to get a satisfying meal. Don't be page-one happy. Your most interesting items could be on the inside pages. Don't be one-subject happy. Stick- ing only to sports, comics or society news is like picking up pennies and ig- noring dollars. Be a fact-seeker. Get the facts from the news columns, then read the comment of editorial writers and col- umnists. You may find that you are ,e'ee'eeeeeee" Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 50 YEARS AGO Exeter Public School promo- tions: Jr IV to Sr IV -- Viola Flodgert, Marguerite Kuntz, Verna Walker, Dorothy Balkwill, George Hinds , Earl Russell, Howard Dignan, 'della Davis, Charlie Ford, Mabel Houlden, Lizzie Hartlieb, Mabel Johns, Perla. Sanders, Jimmie Morley, Georgina Hatter, Florence Vin- cent, Philippa Harness, Bever- ley Acheson, Will Lawson, Jo- sephine Davis, Alvin Andrew, Olive Bedford, Greba Redden, Belle Gould, Mildred Norry, Jes- sie Bowey and Hildred Horton. Lance Corp Leon V. Treble, Who resigned his position on the Times staff and joined the 33rd Battalion at London, has official- ly been reported wounded. Strawberries are selling at 10 cents a hex. 15 YEARS AGO The new $150,000 mill to re- place the one burnt December 28 of Thompson Bros., Hensall, is nearing completion and will be ready for business July 1. Teachers in Crediton Public School have been re-engaged for the coming year: Principal Mrs. S. Smith, Miss J. Finlayson and Miss Norma Fahrner, Monday, July 2, the Exeter Kinsmen Club will stage the first Dominion Day celebration to be held in this district for many years. Pupils from 11 public schools of Stephen Township gathered at Crediton Public School Friday for a day Of competition and fun. Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont. Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept, Ottawa, and for Payment of Pottage In Cash 25 YEARS AGO This week Rev. J. W, Down celebrated his diamond jubilee in the ministry of what is now the United Church of Canada. He re- eeiVeci Special ordination in June 1881 and was sent to Sturgeon Mission on Prince Edward Island. Middleton Drugs, Hensall, was awarded the prize of $10 for the best decorated establishment in the county, in connection With the -victory Loan campaign. Thames Road United Church Marked its 60th anniversary Sun- day followed by a strawberry sup- per Moeday night, Rev. William MOntieth of Fonthill was the guest Speaker, The Exeter Lions Club toured the Sky Herber Airport atGodet- ieh Tuesday evening. The Link Trainer, where students get a full Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1965, 4,208 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $5.00 Per Year; USA $7.00 We went through a "beach village" last weekend, on our way to visit the grandparents. You know the sort of place: perhaps 83 year-round residents, and once the weather warms, about 10,000 par-boiled foreign- ers every weekend and all through July and August. It's not my cup of tea, but such a resort has something. There's a carnival excitement for the teenager. And for family groups and the middle-aged, it means getting away from the city, yet not having to cope with the wild, frightening silence of the real country, Sun and sand and sky at these places are magnificent. So are some of the bronzed, bikini-clad goddesses wriggling past the pen- ny arcades and shooting gal- leries. But it isn't these things that give the beach village its atmos- phere. No, it's a compound of other things that make them fas- cinating, There are the wonderful smells: hamburgers frying; stale beer; gasoline fumes; fish; faulty septic tanks. There are the fresh-air sounds:, eight thou sand gulls fighting over garbage; the squeal of tires and vroom of exhausts as the punks scatter kids like quail; the whine of power boats beheading swimmers. And bf course there are the sights. Here the pen falters. Words alone cannot convey the impression of that pink, pot- bellied man in the purple sport shirt, that lavish lady whose slacks match exactly her orange hair. Nor do the beach villages ne- glect the sense of touch. There's the stove-hot, sticky asphalt un- derfoot. There's the cool thrill of bare feet on soma kid's ciriopped popsicle. There's the satisfying crunch underfoot of a half-eaten bag of potato chips. I'm not knocking these places. They have theft OWn charm, like zoos. At any rate, there we Were, heading for this beach village, which lies across our route to Granny's, And suddenly they Started to batterpast ue, in pairs, in threes, in gaggles of five or six: the Motorcycle gangs. There Were at least three different ones, With such names es The Marau- The editor: I would like to say a few words about the recent ',Western Week- end" in Exeter. I feel that this was a good example of what can be done in a small town when everyone backs an idea. This all began last October when the Exeter Saddle Club de- cided to sponSor aQUarter Horse Show, preceded by a parade. In May, the wheels began turning and ideas emerged. This was pre- sented to the Board of Trade, Then it happened! Everybody put their shoulder to the wheel and progress followed. Time was short, so many excellent ideas could not be used. But, as we now know, both the parade and the Horse Show Was a success. Many people deserve credit for this success. The Board of Trade, under the capable leader- ship of Irvine Armstrong, flooded Exeter with the now familiar yellow western hats, The Exeter Timee-Advocate did a Mageifi. cent job in acquainting its readers with the story of the quarter Horse. This unsolicited promo- tion was invaluable. Many business men in and aA round Exeter were most gener- ous in donating trophies and buy- ing advertising space, many of whom would not directly benefit from the show and some who -- Please turn to page 7 10 YEARS AGO Hensall Public School Board has purchased a site for the new school on the south side of the village, They bought the property approximately four acres from former reeve, Alvin Kerslake. An Amherstburg man, Who pur- chased a new car for $3,000 only three weeks ago, Won another One Monday night for 25 cents. He was the lucky winner of Exeter Kinsmen's 1956 four-door sedan, mayor R. E, PoOley announced Tuesday that an agreement had been reached with Hay council, for the use Of the new dump ground the town recently bought in the township. Mrs, W. 3. Carling celebrated her 05th birthday Monday, July 8, amizazimerawaramizam :7MMAtigeriATC2JeTaZI ders across the backs of black leather jackets. "Oops. Looks like a rough weekend at the beach," says I. My family was enthralled, just 'watching them fly by, black jackets, cowboy boots, dark glas- ses. We stopped in the village to buy something. The invasion was on. They were everywhere. The storekeeper groaned whenI men- tioned it, "I sure hope they don't start nothin." We got a closer look. My wife was appalled. She'd never seen such a collection of females in her life. Greasy hair, dirty clothes and a built-in chip on the shoulder. I guess it's diffi- cult to stay dainty on the back of a motorbike, but they did look like a jam of tarts from a Glas- gow slum. The men were equally inter- esting. You could tell them from the girls because they hadn't taken off their leather jackets to expose every inch of legal flesh. They were obviously into the beer already, but they weren't having any fun. They weren't relaxed; they were tense. They didn't walk; they swaggered. They didn't laugh; they sneered. Big, burly brutes, dirty, long-haired. I must admit they gave me a small, cold chill down the back. Nothing happened. We weren't beaten up or insulted. We drOve off, glad we weren't staying there. Next day, I heard there'd been quite a rumble at that village. On the way home, over the same route, we were wondering whether they had left. There didn't seehi to be any sign of them, Then we turned a corner. Thete was a big crowd in the middle of the road. A policeman waved us by. On the pavement were two bodies, covered with blankets. But you could see the cowboy boots sticking out. A greasy-haired girl crouched Stroking the face of one of the young men lying there. I don't know whether they were dead. I don't think so ' because nobody seemed hysterical, and the cops were calm, even in- different. It Was rather like Watching the last scene of a tragedy, when you'd seen only Act I and then had tb leave.