HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1966-11-17, Page 1Officials test soil at CFB Centralia
The Hon. William Stewart, minister of agriculture, digs into some
of the soil at CFB Centralia in an effort to determine whether the
land would be suitable for an agricultural testing area or school.
He and three senior members of his department toured the facilities,
Monday, reporting they were «greatly impressed." From the left:
assistant deputy ministers, Ken Lantz and Gordon Bennett, soils
specialist W. W. Snow, the Hon. C, S. MacNaughton, S/L Jack
Malone and F/L Ron Churchill. Despite cool breezes, the men tramp-
ed over many of the 300 acres at the base.
T-A photo
Usborne reeve to quit
Usborne Reeve Archie Etherington, left, said this week he would not
seek re-election. Councillor Roy Westcott, right, indicated he would
seek the post.
The last salute from CFB Centralia
S/L jack Malone, detachment commander at CIPB Centralia, salutes after placing a service as the area baSe will be out of existence by next November II, The attendance
Wreath in front of the Exeter cenotaph at Friday's Remembrance Day service, it will at this year's event was also noticeably smaller due to the fact only four Air Force
ba the last time an officer from Centralia will take part in a local Remembrance Day personnel were on hand. Usually there are about 250. T-A photo
Ninety-third Year EXETER, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 17, 1966
Price Per Copy 15 Cents
CE facilities ideal for ag school
—but Stewart not sure of land
How serious is the department
of agriculture and food in acquir-
ing the facilities at CFB Cen-
Gets post
Garnet Hicks, RR 3 Exeter, has
been named Returning Officer
for the federal riding of Huron.
He succeeds Russ Bolton, Sea-
forth. Mr. Hicks is spending
some time in Ottawa this week
taking instruction in his new du-
ties.
NDP Leader Donald C. Mac-
Donald said Thursday that the
stage is set for the next pro-
vincial election "in which the
New Democratic Party will be
the challenger to the Con-
servative government".
He made the comment at the
annual meeting of the Huron NDP
Association, but the numbers
present didn't indicate the reason
for Mr. MacDonald's enthusiasm.
About 25 were on hand in Clin-
ton.
Mr. MacDonald's enthusiasm
came from recent polls in Ont-
ario, which show the support
for his party growing by leaps
and bounds.
When the party was formed in
1961, the Gallup Poll indicated
it was supported by only 8% of
the voters. It has risen steadily
to the present figure of 21%
support nationally.
The Ontario Leader explained
that the figures were even more
significant in this province as
polls show the party has 30%
of the voters' support.
Area drivers
almost perfect
It almost happened! The area
came within a whisker of record-
ing an accident free week.
The lone crash to mar the
record took place on Wednesday
morning at 8:25 when John Wil-
liam Chapman, Clinton, was in-
volved In a one-car crash on
Highway 4, about one mile north
of Hensall.
Chapman had been proceeding
south along the fog-s hrouded
highway when he came upon a
school bus that was just pulling
away from a laneway after pick-
ing up a passenger.
The Clinton man applied his
brakes, but his car spun around
in the middle of the road and
eventually ended up in the ditch,
where it hit a tree.
Damage was estimated at $300
by OPP Constable Bill Glass-
ford.
During the week, the local
OPP detachment investigated 20
occurrences and issued 34 warn-
ings under the Highway Traffic
Act. Four charges were also
laid under the HTA, two under
the Liquor Control Act and one
under the Criminal Code.
The officers travelled a dist-
ance of 1,686 miles in 51 hours
of patrol on district roads.
In praising area drivers for
the splendid driving record of
the week, Cpl. C. J. Mitchell
asked that all drivers check their
car lights daily as this is the
time of year when the days are
getting shorter and visibility on
occasions is quite bad.
Grads hear
Toronto man
Dr. J. R. H. Morgan, secondary
school liaison officer for the
University of Toronto will be
guest speaker at the annual com-
mencement exercises at SHDHS,
Friday.
A total of 71 secondary school
honour graduation diplomas will
be presented. This is a record
number.
In addition, scholarships and
bursaries will be distributed to
the winners from all grades.
The graduating class amassed
over $10,000 worth of scholar-
ships, both from local groups
and several Ontario universities.
Entertainment atthecom-
mencement will be provided by
the T-A Choristers 'under the
direction of Ronald IleiMrich.
John Graham will give the
Valedictory address.
tralia for an agricultural school
Or research farm?
Well, the lion, William Stew-
art was guarded in his comments
after a tour of the base, Monday,
but there is ample evidence that
the matter will he seriously con-
sidered by the department.
The evidence is the very fact
that the tour of the facilities was
made public, being preceded by
statements to area news media.
That's the first time any group
has made public their interest
in the facilities — including at
least one other provincial de-
partment which has apparently
found the facilities unsuitable for
their requirements.
Joining Mr. Stewart on the
tour were three senior members
of his department, assistant dep-
uty ministers Gordon Bennett
and K. E. Lantz, and the de-
partment's soils director, W. W.
Snow.
Detachment commander S/L
Jack Malone and the Hon. C. S.
MacNaughton acted as hosts for
the tour.
After a three-hour visit, in
which they dug holes in widely
scattered sections of the 300-
acre section around the runways,
and toured three hangars, living
quarters, the recreation hall and
the officers' mess, Mr. Stewart
and his party displayed enthusi-
asm for the facilities.
"The NDP has swept the
floundering Liberal Party which
has dropped to a poor third,"
he told his small audience. «We
are now clearly in the position
of challenger to the government.
He said this may explain why
Conservative spo kesm enhave
recently been taking some wild
swipes at the party.
In specific, he noted that the
Hon. C. S. MacNaughton had "hit
below the belt" in suggesting
the NDP were destroying the
good way of life.
However, Mr. MacDonald said
that this caused «other fair
minded citizens" to speak up,
noting that The Exeter Times-
Advocate had chided the High-
ways Minister for his «unfair
tactics".
"The New Democratic Party
will not be side-tracked by these
diversionary tactics of the
Tories," Mr. MacDonald stated.
"After 23 years in power, they
are in trouble on the farm front,
on the labor front and on the
consumer front."
He said the Conservatives have
tolerated for too long the in-
justices which may serve the
needs of their political friends,
but have created unnecessary
hardship among great numbers
of people.
«Moreover, whenever people
have sought to correct the situ-
ation, they have been faced with
indifference that can be broken
through only with a tremendous
amount of public pressure," he
said. "To create that pressure
our people have been forced to
resort to demonstrations of one
kind and another which invariably
provoke an unsympathetic, even
threatening, reaction from the
government."
He said the instinctive reaction
of Queen's Park is to try to
silence the voice of protest, all
in the name of law and order,
and then to accuse those who
champion the peaceful demon-
strations as being disrespectful
of the law.
In his attack on the government,
MacDonald stated they:
--wink at managements who
— Please turn to page 5
«We're very interested," he
said. "The buildings here are
quite suitable and have Many pos-
sibilities."
It became rather obvious that
the men were primarily Interest-
ed in using some of the facilities
to house an agricultural school,
presumably along the lines of
those presently maintained by the
department at Ridgetown, Kempt-
ville and New Liskeard.
The visitors were keenly in-
terested in the dormitory fa-
cilities available, as well as
classroom and eating space. They
found ample.
"The buildings would lend
themselves to permanent accom-
modation," Mr, Stewart noted.
«They're just simply excellent."
DAMPENED
However, certain portions of
the tour dampened their enthusi-
asm. Appropriately enough, that
was caused by water.
Mr. Stewart noted there was a
definite drainage problem in the
lands around the runways. Water
was laying in several areas and
much of the area was quite soggy.
However, he didn't think there
would be a problem in draining
it, although did note that the tar-
mac runways could create diffi-
culties.
Another problem encountered
was the fact there was a wide
variance in the soil in the sample
holes the men dug in their lengthy
tour of the wind-swept lands.
Some of the soil was excellent.
Other was composed mainly of
gravel and other types of soil
that would be far from adequate
for proper agricultural research
or instruction.
"The top soil is questionable,"
the Agricultural Minister advis-
es, but added that thorough soil
tests would have to be made to
determine the land's usefulness
for crop experimentation.
"Just digging holes isn't good
enough," he explained.
Assistant Deputy Minister
Minor damages
in town crashes
Three accidents were investi-
gated by the Exeter Police De-
partment this week, but total
damage amounted to only $325.
On Thursday at 4:00 p.m.,
cars driven by Gerald D. Mor-
ley, 60 mill Street, and Eileen
Webber, 360 York St., London,
collided in front of South Huron
Hospital, The car driven by the
latter was owned by Hubert Coop-
er, RR i Exeter.
Both cars were proceeding
west on Huron St. when another
vehicle backed out in front of
the car driven by the London
woman.
She hit the brakes and was
then rammed from behind by
the Morley vehicle.
Total damage was listed at
$250.
Danage was, estimated at $50
to a car owned by Willy H.
Wiedemann, RR 4 Stratford,
which was struck by another
vehicle that did not remain at
the scene of the accident.
The Wiedemann vehicle had
been parked on the south side
of Sanders Street in front of
the Exeter Bowling Lanes. The
incident took place on Saturday
at 8:15 p.m.
In the other accident of the
week, damage was listed at only
$25. Involved were cars driven
by James Culbertson, Hamilton,
and Ray Cockwell, 168 Mill St.,
Exeter. Both had been parked
across from the Exeter arena
and when Culbertson pulled out
he apparently cut too shortly and
struck the front of the other car.
Time of the mishap was 12:05
a.m., Friday.
Bennett, a former Huron County
ag rep, reported that there are
about 400 acres of land at the
other agricultural schools main-
tained by the department in On-
tario,
There are 200 students at
Ridgetown and another 145 boys
at Kemptville. A home economics
course is also conducted with the
latter.
Staff at Ridgetown numbers
about 50 to 60 the men told the
T-A, Of those, about 20 are
on the teaching staff.
The boys arrive in school after
the fall harvest and are out in
time for spring seeding. Mr.
Bennett reported most of the
youths go home on weekends.
It was indicated that the fa-
cilities available at Centralia
were perhaps better than those
at some of the existing schools,
where the department is being
asked to continually expand.
This year at Ridgetown, there
wasn't room for all the students
in the dormitories and several
are living with families in the
town.
Mr. Stewart reported that the
agriculture in this part of On-
tario was unique and was not
served by the present agricul-
tural schools.
He said he and his staff would
have to take their findings back
and discuss them to see if a
school here would fit into their
long-range program.
Emphasizing the fact he did
not want to build up anyone's
hopes, he explained that the tour
Please turn to page 5
The London «Men of Accord",
of which local singer Bob Russell
is a member, recently won the
Ontario District championship of
the Society for the Preservation
and Encouragement of Barber
Shop Quartet Singing in America.
The competition was held at
Kingston and the London choir
competed against 10 groups.
By winning the title, they will
represent Ontario at the SPE-
BSQSA national championships in
while yet" were the comments
of Mrs. Noakes.
Two of the present Hensall
councillors, John Baker and Har-
old Knight said they would be back
again. The latter, chairman of the
centennial committee stated "I
have received wonderful support
Events planned
by 25 groups
Over 50 people, representing
some 25 different groups in the
community, attended a centennial
planning session in the Exeter
town hall, Tuesday.
Most of those 25 groups —
plus some others — will be plan-
ning special centennial celebra-
tions next year and the meeting
had been called to co-ordinate
these activities.
Hugh Davis, vice-chairman of
the Exeter centennial committee,
acted as chairman in the absence
of R. E, Pooley, still recuperat-
ing from a recent accident.
Davis explained that the com-
mittee was in no way attempting
to dictate what groups should do
during 1967. He said the com-
mittee thought it best to have all
groups list their plans so activi-
ties would be spread throughout
the year and that there would be
as little confliction of dates as
possible.
Secretary Terry McCauley,
who said some people may wond-
er how all the activities can be
conducted along with other regu-
lar work of the groups, suggested
that it would be necessary to get
more people involved. "You'll
have to get to the grass roots
of your organizations," he stated.
It is expected most groups will
have plans for their activities
planned by the next meeting Of the
committee.
Pay increases were granted to
Arena manager and rec director
Alvin Willert and his assistant
Gary Middleton at Monday's
regular meeting of the Exeter
RAP committee.
Willert, acting in the dual cap-
acity, will receive a raise of
$400 per year bringing his salary
to $4,900. Middleton, completing
his first year as assistant at the
arena and community park, will
have his pay cheques boosted at
the rate of $200 per annum. Each
increase takes effect the first of
December of this year.
In making his request for pay
boosts, Wilbert cited the increas-
ed activity at the arena and the
necessity of longer work hours.
The arena manager stated that
the amount of hours he puts in,
his pay would hardly be $1.50
per hour.
His assistant worked about 65
hours last week and he said this
was a fairly slack period.
All members of the committee
from everyone in Hensall on our
Centennial project and it would
be a shame to let it drop now."
The fourth councillor of the
village of Hensall, Oliver Jacq-
ues, was not available for com-
ment.
In Lucan, Mrs. A. E. Reilly
with 12 years of council experi-
ence behind her hasn't decided
yet what her plans will be. Mrs.
Reilly has been acting reeve since
the death of Russell Bowman in
September.
Another veteran Lucan cam-
paigner, Harvey Langford, ex-
pects to be in the running, but
only for a council position. The
fourth member of the present
council, Russ Radcliffe could not
be reached for comment.
The complete present council
of the Township of Stephen have
indicated they will be ready to
return for another year of muni-
cipal work. Reeve James Hayter
said "we've had a busy and in-
teresting year with the new school
and roads and I'd like to stay at
it".
Other officials now serving in
Stephen are Deputy-Reeve Ed
Hendrick and councillors Joseph
Dietrich, Cecil Desjardine and
Stephen Dundas.
Reeve John Corbett of Hay
township plans to stand for re-
election and Deputy-Reeve Del-
bert Geiger said, "I'll likely be
in there somewhere".
Other members of council,
Lloyd Hendrick, John Tinney and
Joseph Hoffman indicated they
would likely be available for an-
other year.
In McGillivray, Reeve Grant
Amos completing his second term
in the head chair said he would
try and retain the seat. "If the
people want me I'm available.
Ben Thompson, a present coun-
cillor with 12 years experience
— Please turn to page 5
agreed the pair were doing a good
job in handling the recreation ac-
tivities and supervising children
at the arena.
In other business, RAP:
Were informed their commit-
tee would be expected to look
after the month of February for
Centennial celebrations. At least
one special event is to be lined
up each week. Some suggestions
put forward were the figure skat-
ing carnival, an old -f as hioned
carnival, square dance jamboree,
band tattoo and an evening of skat-
ing and brOotnball for high School
students,
Left until next meeting the
matter of disposing of the sports
trophies donated to the town by
CFB Centralia. Ron Bogart will
be checking to ascertain what
trophies could be used at South
Huron high school.
The rates to be charged for
softball light rentals and pos-
sible repair to the arena roof
Will be held until early next year.
California next summer.
Flight Lieutenant J. M. Gibson,
Exeter, who recently retired
from the RCAF after 21 years of
service, is presently touring
Continental Europe in connection
with his new duties with the de-
partment of immigration.
On completion of this tour he
will be posted to Munich, Ger-
many.
A survey taken early this week
of area municipal officials shows
at least five seats will be vacant
and open to newcomers when
nomination day rolls around next
week.
In the town of Exeter, Deputy-
Reeve Philip Gandon and council-
lor Charles Barrett indicate d
several weeks ago that they would
not be returning to their posts.
The reeve's position in the
township of Usborne will become
vacant with the retirement of
Archie Etherington.
One position on Hensall village
council will be up for grabs as
one of the sitting members, Jack
Lavender says he's "definitely
out".
The fifth opening in the area
appears to be in Lucan where
present councillor Jack Lankin
said he has no intentions of run-
ning.
In Usborne where Reeve Eth-
erington is retiring, Roy West-
cott, a member of council for five
years, has indicated he would take
a crack at the reeve's chair. The
remaining members of council
Lloyd Ferguson, Ken Duncan and
Lloyd Smith are expected to be
back for another try.
Back in Hensall, Mrs. Minnie
Noakes completing her first term
as reeve is willing to return for
another year. "I love the work
and would like to continue for a
Nominate next week
Five vacate seats
NDP leader replies
to 'high-fallutin' PC
Salaries boosted
for arena officials