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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1967-02-09, Page 4• - • • • - . . Grand Bend, Cont. Jan. 30, 1967 Ow future at stake disappointment and frustration to drain the incentive and determination that had been exhibited by area officials in attempting to interest firms in coming to Centralia. It should spur them on to renewed activity in this regard. The councils of Stephen Township and Exeter along with the Board of Trade, the Industrial Development Commission and all other parties interested, should immediately ask the provincial government to speed up their study and make their plans known as quickly as possible. Let's not sit back and twiddle our thumbs. It's not very often that we in this area ask special consideration from the government, but in this important question. surely we have that right. One factor that may help our cause is that the government is ex- tremely concerned over Ontario's hous- ing shortage. Close to 400 homes will soon be available at Centralia, and if their concern is genuine, it would be ludicrous to miss out on any early op- portunities to put them into use at their present location. In view- of the fact Found Broth- ers have not made other plans as yet, they should be advised that we are in- terested enough in them to have asked for more haste. They have indicated a strong desire to settle here, and any chance of an early report on the study may prompt them to stall their deci- sion a while longer. Stated bluntly, all we have to lose is the opportunity of a life-time. er" usually rates as "Class", There are areas of advantage be- tween these extremes. A Nation of rewarding Culture always has "Status". Thus it's with considerable appreciation that I've noted some 4‘p eace Activists" who were also active In a project to get SirJohn A. McDonald's birthday made a Holiday. Arthur Ford, of the London Free Press, who nominated Montreal's May0r, Jean DraPeau, "Man of the Year". Mr. Ford sketched a man worthy of trust, of ability and imagination. An early and active "Separatist". Now an enlightened and "Cana- dian" one. Mr. Ford recounts that when Moscow rejected its turn for World's Fair, the whole idea fell into doubt, so Mr. Drap- eau immediately hopped a "plane" for Paris, to negotiate it for Montreal's Centennial Pro- ject, and has since f o 1 lo wed through well — and on time. It's contradictory to find a Mayor, City, and Province la- belled, "Separatist", (by our hopeful pessimists) seriously in- volved in celebrating Confedera- tion. Certainly, there'd havebeen no Dominion, from sea to sea, without them — so why not? Today it can be an advantage to be a two-culture Nation — if we make it so. Now's the year to see the Land of Great Lakes and Rivers, join its Big Birthday Party — and know its breadth and variety. Let's be Separate and Canadian, F. W. PLUMB Enjoy tour J.A.D. McCurdy School Centralia, Ontario January 27, 1967. Dear Sir: Our class would like to thank you for taking us on a tour of your printing office. We really appreciated what you did for us. The part I liked the most was when the typewriter typed out the words itself. We really did enjoy it. Sincerely, Debbie Wicentowich Room 8, Grade IV They have a bed for you The announcement last week that Found Brothers Aviation Limited had abandoned plans to locate an aircraft manufacturing plant at CFB Centralia should come as a disappointment to all residents of this area. While many firms and government agencies have visited Centralia since its closing was announced, the Toronto- based manufacturer was the only one that had expressed definite intentions to settle here. They would have used only a small portion of the facilities. but they at least represented a start in filling the void created by the depar- ture of the RCAF. It is quite possible they would have sparked others to consider the base. Included in the disappointment surrounding the decision is a great deal of frustration for all concerned. The firm wanted to come here. but naturally couldn't delay expansion plans indefinitely. The Exeter Indus- trial Development Commission did all we could expect of them, as members took time off to show all interested parties around the base when request- ed to do so, in addition to supplying any required information. The government couldn't give a medium or long-range lease to the firm without knowing what the final disposi- tion of the base will be. Its size neces- sitates considerable study in this re- gard, and while the provincial govern- ment has initiated such a study, it will take time to complete. Time is the key to the entire sit- uation, and unfortunately time will work against us. That's already been proven in the decision made by Found Brothers to look elsewhere. The passing of time is also cancelling out much of the publicity the area received in the initial stages after the announcement of the base closing was made. and un- fortunately time could well play havoc with buildings and facilities at the base as there is no question they will deteri- orate with inactivity. It is therefore very evident that it would be disastrous to allow this recent (Editor's note — After the above editorial was prepared for printing, the subject was broached at Exeter coun- cil by Joe Wooden, who received sup- port for his suggestion that the Hon. C. S. MacNaughton and Robert McKin- ley be contacted to see what action is being taken in regard to the base, and what action council could possibly take. We commend Councillor Wooden for his leadership in this urgent matter and hope his action and some of the thoughts expressed above will spur other groups into action.) Could be major attraction other costs involved in a visit to Expo. Some of these questions are difficult to answer, because there will be those who will be out to make a "fast buck" during this giant show. In some cases, meal prices will be high, but we suggest visitors will have to shop around and find places where prices match their budget. As far as the exhibition is con- cerned, your passport price ($2.50 per day) will cover admis- sion to all pavilions and it is therefore possible to see all you want to at this reasonable price. Transportation on the grounds is no problem. The Expo Express is all set to go and it is part of your ticket. For a closer look, you can take a minirail which will cart you around--and even through--pavilions at a cost of 25 cents and 50 cents. It should be a source of pride for all Canadians to see the enthusiasm being shown by Expo officials in their multitude of details in playing host to the world, We came away with the real- ization that our guests will be -- Please turn to page 5 A spinster was shocked at the language used by workmen re- pairing a telephone line near her home, so she wrote the company. The foreman was requested to make a report of what had taken place. The report read as fol- lows: "Me and Spike were on this job. I was up the pole and spilled some hot lead down on Spike-- right down his neck. Spike looked up at me and said, 'Really, Harry, you must be more careful.'" Sir, We have now completed both a year and century of Canadian progress and prosperity. Lest our good wishes for another year and century become but banal pleasantries, we best keep in mind some events and opinions we've heard, or seen printed, in this Era, For brevity I quote either "in essense" or "in effect": — "Give us Peace to make our money, stop bugging us on how we make it". — hate to say it, but it seems like we need a War to make good times". — "Free them — or fry them". —"Let the World's opinion fly a kite. We got a war to win", This is, of course, is the ugly voice of our war culture, A cul- ture within a culture that's reach- ed the rather unbelievable pro- portions of supporting between two and three Americans out of five directly, or indirectly — in "Peace-time"—and still expand- ing. It'll not avail us to know, to be indignant, or object topresent American Foreign policy, and this notion of good times a great many have. We must turn away from it, and set about replacing it with more enlightened ideas and effort. There may be a number of possible hazards in achieving a happy Canadian future. men- tion three, only. A War-dependent economy. This is ahistorically-provenlia- bility that has led our Neighbour down that Dark road of unknown destination...It needs no further mention here. The issue of Communism: The term "Communism", shorn of its host of emotional, and politi- cal, phobias means, "Imposed Socialism"... Forms of Social- ism have always existed in so- ciety. It can only become a tyranny when it's imposed. Tyrannies may loudly impute "Communism", "Imperialism", etc. etc. plus agression, repression, or worse -- only to impose it. "Separatism": It can be the Canadian application of the an- cient dictum, ',Divide and Rule". Or it can be a Cultural relic of a past with the Power of an Em- pire to lean on, or object to. Again, it can be fear of Cultural obliteration. Or it can be any, or all these. The Realities are: A nation of rewarding culture can defeat an- other and leave lands and peo- ples unscathed. A Nation of de- structive culture can destroy all — and itself... A one-language Nation has advantage. A Nation of many languages, and cultures, is usually considered a 2nd, or 3rd-rate power, and amForeign- While there is ample accom- modation at Montreal, there is no doubt that it is being reserved at a speedy clip, so if you plan to attend, you wouod be well advised to make reservations as soon as possible. You may make reservations through the bureau by writing "Logexpo, Expo 67, Administra- tion & News Pavilion, Cite du Havre (Mackay Pier), Montreal." The request should give full details of the dates and pre- ferred price ranges and should indicate the number of children in the party. Should suitable lod- ging be immediately available, the reservation is booked and confirmed with the establishment and the visitor. If the exact re- quirement is not available, the visitor is presented with alter- natives from which to make a second choice and as soon as he does this, his accommodation is booked. Early in April a computer sys- tem will be installed so you may call ahead and find where accom- modation is available, but we would recommend that you make earlier plans than that if possible. * * * * While the cost of accommo- dation is one of the major con- cerns of most people, there will be those wondering about the I-25 becoming rather apparent Etat while most area residents would like to visit Expo 67, many are stalling such plans due to a fear of lack of accommodation— or at least the lack of reasonably priced accommodation, We must admit that it was one of the first questions we asked when we cornered an Expo official during our recent trip to Mon- treal, because rumors regarding the high costs of sleeping in Montreal are wide-spread. The answer received from those in the know at Expo is that there will be accommodation at government-controlled rates for all out-of-town visitors. They state they can provide beds for 200,000 persons per day and be- cause they expect an average daily attendance of only 165,000 it would appear no one should have to spend the night wander- ing around the streets. Included in the total number of units for visitors are 31,358 hotel and motel rooms with rates ranging from $10 to $40 a day, depending on the size of the room, the number of occupants and the type of service offered. Some 5,000 furnished apart- ment units are available at a rate of $15 to $42 a day and these will accommodate up to six adults. Hotel services are avail- able in these buildings. The aver- age daily cost to each visitor will be between $6 and $10, de- pending on the number of persons sharing one of these apartments. To date, 10,000 room s in private homes have been in- spected and approved by Logexpo, the housing authority for the Montreal fair. Daily rates for these rooms are $6 to $10 for singles; $8 to $14 for doubles; $10 to $18 for three persons; and $12 to $22 for four persons. Another 10,000 beds are avail- able in university dormitories and other similar institutions and the rates range from $3 to $5 for singles and $4 to $8 for doubles. Finally, 600 "trailer-motels" --some of which are being built by General Coach—will provide family-type accommodation for from four to eight persons at an average daily cost of $6 to $7.50 to each person. The fixed rates will range from $30 a day for four adults to $49 for eight adults, There will be no charge for children under 12. These units will lodge 2,500 visitors. In addition to these perman- ent-type accommodations, there will be approximately 20,000 camping and trailer sites--pri- vate and provincial. The average rate is $2.50 to $3.50 for camp sites and $3.50 to $5 per night for trailer sites. In the above quoted rates, you will note that the words "fixed rates" have been used. This refers to the fact that the Que- bec government has enacted a law establishing the maximum prices which may be charged and there will be stiff penalties for unscrupulous hOtel-keepers and landlords who attempt to fleece visitors, We were told that if accom- modation was unsatisfactory or the rate was higher than quoted, a telephone call would bring an Expo inspector on the run, In an editorial in 1964. we pre- sented some suggestions for possible attractions at the park. although we did explain some of them may not be prac- tical. They were as follows: island gar- dens in the reservoir and small paddle boats to take patrons on a cruise around them; restoration of a small- scale mill of the nature that was once located at the dam; small ponds in the flats containing species of various fish !for looking at and not catching); gar- dens containing flowers and shrubs of various nations, or native wild flowers and not only those which people see every day; a small enchanted forest with a house containing the characters in the Hansel and Gretel story or some other fairy tale reproductions. No doubt there are many other suggestions area residents could make on the basis of attractions they have seen on their travels, and we would be most interested in hearing of them. In reference to the subject, we learned some interesting facts regard- ing Santa's Village in Bracebridge when we bunked with the newspaper editor from that community during our re- cent stay in Montreal. He reported that attraction was financed by a company of local businessmen, who are now re- ceiving sizeable annual dividends on their investment, in addition to the added business which comes from the thousands of persons who visit this spot each summer. As stated, such attractions—wheth- er they be for winter or summer—can not be created in a short time, hut the experience of other communities does indicate that once a start has been made they can grow into unexpected proportions providing benefits to all, Now that an interest in such a project has been shown, we trust it will spark discussion in many groups and possibly provide the start of a pop- ular attraction for this community. Blanketed under a heavy coating of snow, it is possible that some local residents have forgotten that Riverview Park will take on new appearances this year as our centennial project. One group maintaining an aware- ness of this fact is the Exeter Board of Trade executive, who have given some discussion to creating a winter wonderland at the picturesque spot through the erection of colored lights, fairyland creatures and similar attrac- tions such as are on display during the Christmas season in London's Victoria Park and. in Simcoe. The latter two parks attract thou- sands of visitors annually, and if dupli- cated here, could eventually constitute a major tourist attraction. We say eventually, because such creations are expensive and can only he built up to sizeable proportions over a period of several years. Such a venture is certainly worthy of consideration. although we also rec- ommend that some thought be given to extending the park's facilities as a summer attraction. Our main argument in favoring a summer attraction is that Exeter is lo- cated in the heart of a tremendously large tourist area due to our proximity to the golden shores of Lake Huron and Stratford's Shakespearean Festi- val. This puts thousands of visitors on our doorstep for some four months of the year, and as holidayers, most of them are looking for side trips to add enjoyment and variety to their visits. It wouldn't be a case of "stealing" business from our resort neighbors, but rather augmenting the attractions of the district to help in providing a "complete" holiday and attracting more tourists. The precariousness of winter travel in this district also lends further sup- port to establishing summer attrac- tions. 50 YEARS AGO Arrangements have been made to receive in Exeter each morn- ing a 100-word telegram of the war news and the same will be posted each day in front of W. S. Howey's drug store, The Times and Advocate offices. There is little or no im- provement in the coal situation Some coal arrived during the past week but the supply is not sufficient to meet the demands of the needy. The dealers are refusing to supply the churches or public institutions while the citizens are in need. Will Brown,who for some time has been on the delivery wagon of Mr. J. A. Stewart, resigned his position Saturday and this week intends going to London to enlist with the 63rd Battery. Sgt. Cecil Pickard of the Dental Corps, Toronto, who was home on his last leave returned to Toronto Saturday, He expects to go overseas shortly. 15 YEARS AGO Miss Nancy Tieman of Dash- wood will compete in the ninth annual Kiwanis Music Festival in Toronto next week. The large storage shed and workshop of Ervin Rader, Dash- wood, was almost completely de- stroyed by fire Monday after- noon. Fire is believed to have started from a stove in the work- shop. Miss Katie Scott, popular Bell Telephone operator at Hensall has retired after 41 years of service as night operator. Queen "Mamie" Taylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Taylor, was named queen o f SHDHS at-home-dance Friday night. vo4 0,111.11API Vet coro Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont. Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept, Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1966, 4,427 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $5.00 Per Year; USA $7.00 .25 Yi,ARS AGO Rev. J. W. Penrose, former pastor of E 1 im ville United Church, who retired to Exeter in 1939, died last Wednesday, Feb- ruary 4. Mr. Lloyd Taylor, whose farm was taken over for airport use near Grand Bend, has purchased the property of Miss I. Hazel- wood, Huron Street, ACI Fred Simmons has re- turned to Rivers, Man. after a 14-day leave at the home of his parents Mr. & Mrs. Wes Sim- mons. ''"Ye'4V3M10,,Wx"' ;OW . Wif,tgarawiAll 10 YEARS AGO Ausable Authority officials will sign the contract for construction of the Morrison Dam today (Thursday, February 7.) Work on the development of the Pinery, the 4,000-acre tract ex- propriated by the Ontario Gov- ernment in 195$, will start this spring and one area is expected to be available for limited public use about the middle of the sum- mer. Eugene H. Beaver, Exeter ac- countant, has been appointed jus- tice of the peace for Huron County. Exeter Boy Scouts and affili- ate grOups in this district will take part in a world-wide ob- servance of the fiftieth anniver- sary of the birth of the move- ment this Sunday. This was supposed to be part two of a series on education in this country. Last week, I com- plained about: obsolescence; the lack of everything but pupils; the unfairness of the fund-rais- ing for education; the lack of any national standards; and the rig- idity of practically everything in the system. Not bad for a start. In all the years I wrote this column before I began peddling pedagogy, nobody tried to sup- press my opinions here. Many disagreed violently, Others threatened to cancel their sub- scriptions. Some said I was vul- gar. And one reverend gentle- man even offered to thrash me within an inch of my life. I re- minded him that my big brother was a six-foot-two, 210-pound engineer, and I never heard an- other word. The first hint that I should tone it down came from a re- presentative of the mighty tea- chers' federation. Said they'd had several letters from mem- bers urging that I be drummed out of the service because I was destroying the teacher's image by mentioning here such human horrors as sex and drink, and by using the odd epithet. He asked me heavily what I would do In his position. I re- plied lightly that I'd do what I always do with letters from cranks and bigots—chuck 'em in the wastebasket. He was an- noyed. Pinned down ) he admitted there were two such letters. And I was annoyed. Second subtle suggestion was from an inspector. A lady. She passed the word that the Depu- ty Minister, no less, was con- cerned about my column and its contents. I turned indigo and snarled, "You mean the Department is trying to tell me what I can say and can't say In my column?" "Nononononol", she blurted, visions of headlines dancing in her head, "It's merely hoped that you'll use your own good judgment." Next time, It was another in- spector. At the time, a now-de- funct newspaper for teachers was running my column. The paper was happy; the fah mail was heavy, But, whispered this In- spector, he thought he should tell me, for my own sake, that I was getting in wrong with the federation. "Waddaya tokkin about!", I enquired in my best Head of English Department manner. And got no answer that I could pin down. I seem to be down on inspec- tors this week. And so I am. We got the word the English inspec- tors were coming. I alerted my 15-odd birds in the English de- partment. Next morning, the English staff would have gladdened your eye. Gals all in their best dresses, hair fresh done. Men with their shoes shined. And every single one glowing with virtue after working till one a.m. preparing the sort of unrealistic but model lessons that inspectors expect. Nine a.m. Word comes that they wouldn't be there. Snow- ing and blowing. Any of us would have struck off for anywhere. But these city-nurtured drivers are terrified by a bit of wind and snow. So we shot off all those ter- rific lessons on the kids. Mine laughed heartily when they saw my desk cleaned off. It was the first time they'd seen me below the breast-bone in months. And tomorrow we have to do it all over again, because the inspectors are still coming, if they can make it. May they go into a big snow-bank and sit there for four hours. If they do struggle through, it will be an anti-climax. The girls' dresses are crushed and their hair com- ing down. And I sure as hell am not going to shine my shoes two days in a row. Just another of the evils of our system. A teacher is given a record of merit by an inspec- tor, who sees him maybe once a year, for one or two lessons. The self-confident showman, who May be a lazy bum normally, whips up a flashy lesson for in- spection, and scores high. The self-conscious teacher, who nor- mally does a terrific job, be- comes nervous and makes a botch of things, and scores low. I don't really hate inspectors. They've changed. They are no longer the old terrors, but a pretty decent, helpful lot, But the system is plink. More next Week, maybe, nadeeit eve-tia at cool,4- Doesn't really hate inspectors luswg snug rywarjan AdSBIZardeffEEMIF `fie eieferZinimAtnsocafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND Member: C.W.N.A., 0.W.N.A., C.C.N.Rt and ABC Publishers: .1. M. Southcoft, R. M. Southcott Bditor: Bill Batten Advertising Manager: Howie Wright Phone 2351331