HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1967-06-29, Page 4ezeferZimes-Aboocafe
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
C.W.N.A„ 0.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC
Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R. M. Southcott
Editor: Bill Batten
Advertising Manager: Howie Wright
Phone 2354331
277:74,4“...m
:um
great
country
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CANADA
Hope the party's
not too
anticlimactic
Canada officially marks its 100th
birthday, Saturday, and throughout the
nation there will be many activities to
make it a gala occasion indeed.
The fact that Canadians generally
have entered fully into the spirit of
centennial year may make the July 1
celebrations anti-climatic. Obviously,
events in this district will have some
difficulty in matching the enthusiasm
that has been shown at many of the
programs featured since we entered the
year back in January.
This is no problem. We've had
considerable fun in the past few
months and the interest that has been
shown in our country's history has
never been greater, and certainly the
sustained impact that has been achieved
is much better than waiting for one
single day to mark the birthday.
While there are still many more
programs scheduled for the remainder
of the year, this is an appropriate time
Peace #€ BeetOir wet Aneiatitea
to say a sincere thank you to those
who have planned the special activities
and to those who have so whole-heart-
edly entered into them.
It's been said before, but we think
it worth repeating, that this area has
ranked high in the marking of Can-
ada's centennial and we doubt if we've
been eclipsed by too many areas. That's
something for which we should be
proud, and all those who have organ-
ized and participated should take a
bow,
So, while Saturday is the official
birthday, we shouldn't feel let down if
it doesn't give us any special lift. We
in this area have made the whole year
a continual celebration and we're the
better for having done so.
Happy birthday, Canada. May your
loyal subjects continue to thrive and
prosper as they have in the past 100
years.
The times have changed Looking back 700 years
10,000 copies is a runaway best-
Seller. It Must be a hangover
from the pioneer attitude that
a person should be "doing some-
thing" and that reading doesn't
come in this category, Or is it
because we have too much money
and too many toys?
Something else we refuse to
do is walk. Europeans enjoy walk-
ing. Englishmen love it. Why
won't we? Our trouble probably
is, in equal parts: too far to
anywhere; wanting to get there
in a hurry; car-worship; and
plain laziness.
We are heavy boozers, as the
statistics show, and can't hold
our liquor, as a glance around
at the next party will show.
Why? Do we drink so much be-
cause we are so dull we can't
stand each other without the
grape? Or is it because drink
has always been associated with
sin in this country, and man is
born to sin?
Yes, we play hard, and most
of us work hard. The sad thing
is that the only reason we work
hard is to enable us to get the
things with which to play hard:
boats and barbecues and built-in
bars; cottages and cars and curl-
ing memberships.
Are we a religious people?
Well, we have vast numbers of
churches of every conceivable
denomination, most of them tot-
tering on the brink of bankruptcy.
But we are decent enough to
leave God in church, where he
belongs. He is rarely mentioned
on weekdays, and usually then
only as a prefix for another
word.
We are without prejudice and
have laws to prove it. But let's
go on being honest, and admit
the nation is riddled with pre-
judice based on race, religion,
language, color, politics and
money. Don't agree? Just try
joining one of those exclusive
Jewish clubs if you happen to be
a Black Muslim. Or getting a
teaching job in a French convent
school if you're a Jewish Eskimo.
We have a few other little
quirks, but I wouldn't trade my
Canadian citizenship for four
million in gold bullion. How about
you?
There's a topic for your guest
column, in our Centennial Save-
Smiley Contest. Prize is now
$50 cash. Get cracking.
Since we are 100 years old
this week, I should be grinding
out an Ode to Canada. But it's
so hot, the very thought of it
makes me feel about 100 years
ode. (Come on, Smiley, it ain't
that hot.)
Instead, let's have an honest
look at ourselves, to find put
what kind of a tribe those ten
decades produced.
Trying to pin down the Can-
adian national character is like
trying to thread a needle in the
dark, blind-folded and half-
stoned. Trouble is, any way you
add up the individual character-
istics, they come out spelling
schizophrenic.
For example, the experts tell
us that we are an extremely
inarticulate people. That means
we don't talk much. Maybe it's
because we haven't anything worth
saying and are too proud to show
our ignorance. But at the same
time, we are the world's champ-
ion yakkers. According to the
telephone companies, Canadians
spend more time on the blower
than any other nation, propor-
tionately. Yes, Jack, my wife
does too. Undoubtedly this is a
backlash from pioneer days, when
women often went for weeks with-
out a chance for a good talk with
another woman. They're trying
to catch up.
Another contradiction. Inpion-
eering, exploring, wars, we have
shown ourselves bold, adventure-
some, brave. Yet we are timid
about investing our money in
Canada, and we also buy more
insurance, per capita, than any
other country. Why this caution,
this desire for security? There's
something Freudian about it;
mother-country; breast-fed too
long; return to the womb or some-
thing. But we haven't time to
figure that one out today.
We are as materialistic as
we could be, and with some
reason. It takes more than a
century to get from sod shanty
to sonata, from barn-raising to
ballet. At the same time we are
extremely culture-conscious, and
are secretly delighted with the
Stratford Festival and the
National Ballet and our sprink-
ling of symphony orchestras. As
long as we don't have to attend.
Despite our reverence for
culture, we refuse to read. The
quickest way to lose your shirt
in Canada is tc open a book-
store. In a population of 20 mil-
lion, a new book that sells
"I've lost the ticket, but it's
a blue convertible with old
shoes and tin cans tied to
the back."
est to be present on that occasion
in greater numbers than have
now lived through 100 years, or
man's discoveries of destruc-
tive weapons may make it be-
yond the realm for anyone to see
Canada's 200th birthday.
That was a possibility our
ancestors could not dream about
100 years ago, so we can shud-
der at the power that man may
create for himself in the next
100 years.
That's the only gloomy note
for an occasion of pride for
Canadians on July 1, 1967.
steamers to join the celebrations
of neighbors.
Shops are shut and the streets
are bright with flags and bunt-
ing.
All over the infant nation, in
scores of market squares, parks
and parade grounds, the minor
officials of Canada, the mayors
and town clerks and reeves and
wardens, read the Queen's proc-
lamation, bringing the new feder-
ation into official existence.
Military reviews and parades
are popular additions to the cere-
monies. Bands provide a back-
ground of music for the festiv-
ities. Later, the people disperse
to sports activities, games and
picnics. In dozens of small vil-
lages, where there are no bands
or race tracks, the farmers,
their wives and children, throng
out early in the afternoon to the
local fair grounds or picnic place.
Circuses, fairs, exhibitions are
major attractions.
By nine o'clock the public
buildings and many large houses
are illuminated all across the
land.
When it is dark, fireworks
displays begin.
*
While it may be expected that
Exeter and the surrounding towns
and villages conducted similar
activities, it may not have been
so.
This contention is based on
the fact London itself was devoid
of any special activities.
A story on the day was printed
as follows:
This day (Monday) will long
be remembered as the day on
which a new Dominion will be
added to the nations of the world,
and it is meant that all should
celebrate the day in a befitting
manner.
Nearly every city and town
throughout the British Provinces
Weee, 'Mat'd
During the past few months
we have had ample evidence of
what Canada may have looked
like back in 1867.
Beards have flourished in the
district and residents, young and
old, have dug out old costumes
to present the dress worn by
our ancestors.
History books give us some
vivid pictures of the life 100
years ago.
But what happened on July 1,
1867? Were there large parades
and a general atmosphere of
gaiety and frivolity?
As may be expected, reports
of the actual proceedings are
rather sketchy. There was no
such thing as a newspaper in
Exeter at that time, so reports
of what happened in this district
are available only from those
who may have heard stories told
by ancestors, and it appears
that few persons are able to
recall the day.
A copy of the London Free
Press gives us some indication
of what may have taken place
in some of the large cities, but
the accounts of any celebrations
in rural communities are nil.
It may well be that our con-
servative ancestors did little in
the way of marking the begin-
ning of the nation.
At any rate, here is what took
place across Canada as reported
in the London paper.
*
Royal salutes begin in the
major centres of the federation
at dawn. Bells ring in town halls
and clock towers and church
steeples.
People dress in their Sunday
best and walk soberly along the
streets to pray in early church
services for the welfare of the
new dominion.
People throng the streets or
crowd into excursion trains and
tract re-negotiated.
Estimates of the assistance this
municipality has given to Canadian
Canners Ltd. vary widely. One member
of council suggested last week it could
run as high as $250,000, although most
agreed this was high.
Nevertheless, the assistance in the
past has been considerable, and obvi-
ously no one industry in a community
should expect such assistance to con-
tinue indefinitely. No other firm in
Exeter receives such consideration and
this makes the entire deal wholly un-
fair.
Every resident in this area realizes
the value of Canadian Canners to the
community and there is no one who
would not wish to see it continue to
flourish here.
However, as a member of the com-
munity the firm has an obligation to
make the same contributions as any
other firm, and council should stand
fast in their decision to reduce the
amount of tax dollars that go to sub-
sidize the operation.
We trust company officials will
understand the position of council in
this matter and will be receptive to re-
negotiating a contract that was made
under circumstances which are totally
unrelated to circumstances of today.
The decision by Exeter council to
uphold their previous plan to reduce
their payment towards the disposal of
effluent at Canadian Canners Ltd. was
probably given more thought than any
other single decision made by an Exe-
ter council in recent years.
The matter has been discussed at
several meetings in the past few
months and we have no doubt but what
some members were doing some soul-
searching while they were away from
the council table as well.
While company officials will not
be happy about the final decision, we
doubt they can honestly say that Exe-
ter council has not been fair with
them.
When the original contract was
signed back in 1959, it was done at a
time when the company's future in
this community was in jeopardy. The
council at that time was under some
duress, and in their eagerness to assist
the firm signed a contract to pay the
entire cost of handling the effluent
The contract had no termination date
and no maximum figure was men-
tioned.
In retrospect, it was a bad con-
tract as far as this municipality was
concerned and the present council are
wise in their attempt to have the con-
They're to be commended 54
If a local drover is convicted on the
charge of damaging town property by
driving his Car across the lawn at the
swimming :vol-.) local men will
share a 825 reward posted by council
for information reading to the appre-
hension of such culprits.
It is interesting to note that the
two men were unaware of the reward.
They told police of the incident be-
cause they were more than a little up-
set that anyone would spoil the appear-
ance of our beautiful park.
Damage to public property is noth-
ing new. There have been many cases
in the past, but unfortunately the guilty
have usually gone free because citizens
were unprepared to become involved
by reporting facts to police.
This attitude may be understand-
able, but is certainly not commendable.
Providing such information should be
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considered a responsibility, because
this is the only manner in which per-
sons will be deterred from causing such
damage.
It is usually comparatively simple
to watch out for the police and do this
type of act behind their backs, but it
is not as easy to keep your acts hid-
den from private citizens who may be
watching from any number of vantage
points.
The action of the two men who
helped police in the case mentioned
are to be commended, and we trust
others will be prepared to do likewise
if the need arises. If it is known that
people are prepared to take such ac-
tion, the need for it will be greatly re-
duced.
The names of the two men will
not be made public. That's confidential
police information and that's the way
it is in all such cases.
'
Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924
50 YEARS AGO
During the week the Council
has had a car of oil sprinkled
on Main Street to keep down the
dust. The street was blocked to
traffic for a day or two.
Miss Myra Morgan has been
successful in securing her sec-
ond class certificate from London
Normal where she has been a
student for the past year.
Miss Ada Willis, teacher, left
Tuesday for the West where She
Will visit relatives and friends
at Grand View, Man. and Grand
Prairie, Alta.
Melville Gladman, while in
Toronto last week with his par-
ents, enlisted in the Army Med-
ical Corps and left for Camp
Borden at once.
15 YEARS AGO
Rev. Harold Snell will be in
charge of James Street and Main
Street congregations in James
Street Church for the month of
July.
Major E. D. Bell is taking the
Twenty-First Anti-Tank regi-
ment to Petawawa for summer
training this weekend.
Exeter's Kinsmen playground
has been attracting upwards to
75 children each day since it
opened Wednesday. Miss Jean
Taylor is senior supervisor.
Hillsgreen united Church saw
its last service Sunday at 2 pm
when Rev. A, E. Hinton preached
his farewell sermon. Next week
it will be offered for sale.
-.10111112:1111141421troomAN "4o.
Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont.
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Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1966, 4,427
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WSPA Pi P5 CON‘9C1,
25 YEARS AGO
Sunday concerts for charity
will be held at Lakeview Casino,
Grand Bend. Artists have offer-
ed their services entirely free
and all proceeds will be given
to EXeter and District Wartime
Board.
Contributions are being re-
ceived as a good-will gesture
from Exeter, Canada to Exeter,
England in her distress from
bombing,
G. C. Petty and Mrs. Petty,
Rental% observed their 65th wed-
ding anniversary Monday,
Grant Taylor has enlisted with
the Canadian Army, He has been
sent to Brockville to take an
officers' course with the attn=
wry.
10 YE ARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Clark,
Crediton, marked 60 years of
marriage at a family celebra-
tion Saturday.
At the Stephen Municipal Coun-
cil Meeting Tuesday the resigna
tion of E. W. Morlock as tax
collector, to take place immed-
iately and as clerk-treasurer to
take place at the end of the year,
was accepted with regret.
Construction of the $200,000
Morrison Dam is progressing
well according to Ausable Auth-
ority Fieldman IL G. Hooke.
Nine former SHIDIIS students
have graduated from London
Teachers' College and accepted
positions in area schools.
FESTIVAL show on July '7 to be
followed by The Long Ships, Only
Two Can play, and A Pocketful
of Miracles.
* * *
SUSPENSE THEATRE will star
Lee J. Cobb in John O'Hara's
It's Mental Work next Monday
night at 9... Johnny Carson chats
with Berton on THE PIERRE
BERTON SHOW this Friday night
at 6...Chatham's Ian Tyson ap-
pears on TELESCOPE this
week...12 FOR SUMMER, a
musical variety show Sundays at
7 pm, will be telecast in seven
different Canadian cities this
year ...I'm told the cameras are
already rolling on many of the
new shows planned for early in
September.
Pony Exprets with Charlton
Heston is the NBC TUESDAY
NIGHT MOVIE next week . . Herb
Alpert and the Tijuanna Brass
and Rock Hudson will be the
first two headliners of the new
KRAFT MUSIC HALL next
season.
MALIBU U., a new weekly
dolor teries spotlight the hippest
of the younger set premieres
on Friday, July 21 at 8 pm on
ABC-TV .. Jack Benny will offer
just one full-hour comedy spec-
ial in '68 ... Mik Farrow' and
Van Heflin will appear in a two-
hour TV adaptation of Johnny
Belinda next season ... CBC-,TV
and Channel 10 are now tele-
Casting a new thirteen Week
series entitled THE STRUGGLE
FOR PACE each Sunday night
at 10:30 pm. The series'was
produced by ABC Television of
Britain and the National Edu-
cational Network of the united
Slates.
Her Majesty the Queen and
HRH Prince Philip are visiting
Canada this week. CBC-TV and
Channel 10 will cover the arrival
of the Royal couple on Thursday
at 5:30 pm. Governor-General
Michener and prime Minister
Pearson and their wives will
greet the Royal party at the flight
ramp and escort them to the dais
where Her Majesty will receive
a royal salute and then inspect
the troops.
Then, the next day. Friday, the
Royal couple will attend the 196'7
Folk Art Pageant on Parliament
Hill. Ottawa, CBC-TV and Chan-
nel 10 will offer special "live"
coverage of the event beginning
at 2:45 pm.
On Dominion Day, July 1, a
special Church Service will be
aired at 10 am to be followed
by the Queen's Address to the
Nation.
* *
Speaking of Dominion Day,
CBC-TV and Channel 10 offer
THE SPIRIT OF '67 at 8:30 pm,
The program will show Canada's
100 years as a confederation
through every conceivable
method--films, photographs,
voice recordings, graphics, live
sketches, acts, music, and com-
edy routines.
Dean Martin hat just signed a
long-term contract with NBC-
TV ... Marines Let's Go with
David Hedison is the ABC WED-
NESDAY NIGHT MOVIE next
week.. The First Monterey Pop
Festival, featuring the world's
outstanding pop music artists,
will join the growing list of
ABC-TV specials next season...
Five Finger Bxercise with Rosa-
lind Russell and Maximillian
Schell is Channel 10's FILM
will do honor to the occasion,
and a day like this which marks
the consolidation of a scattered
people into one compact, should
be hailed with general rejoicing
throughout the land.
Our citizens generally, we pre-
sume, will seek some more con-
genial climate to spend the 1st
of July—Dominion Day—than the
limits of the "Forest City" and
we purpose informing them of
the many places in the neighbor-
hood of doing so.
It is to be regretted, however,
that no fitting celebration will be
made here, but "what's done
can't be undone", or vice versa,
and consequently it's of very
little use to harp upon this matter.
The various railway companies
offer tempting inducements to
excursionists andpleasure-
seekers, and we have no doubt
but large numbers will avail
themselves of the opportunities.
Not all citizens of the new
nation were joyful and in a mood
to celebrate.
News reports stated that down
In the Maritimes, where the anti-
confederates watch the bright
day with sullen disapproval, afew
shops stay open; on a few doors
are hung bunches of funeral black
crepe.
In Halifax, the Chronicle and
the Reporter are bordered this
morning in black. Half the shops
are open, and seven flags are at
half-mast.
The Scottish and English and
Irish societies have refused to
join in the festivities.
Oddly enough, this was in sharp
contrast to the scene in Montreal,
where one might have expected
more disapproval in view of the
present day tendencies.
However, July 1 was the scene
• of an exciting Dominion Day in
the Quebec city. Crowds gather
to watch the ceremonies in Vic-
toria Square and the Place
d'Armes.
Sir John Michael, the Com-
mander of the forces waits with
his officers in the centre of a
large military gathering; and then
the mayor and the Recorder,
bearing the Proclamation, arrive
resplendent in a fine carriage,
drawn by six white horses.
The proclamation iS read; the
bands crash into "God Save the
Queen", there are cheers for the
Queen and the new Dominion.
In "Muddy York", Toronton-
tans gathered to watch the "most
magnificent display of fireworks
ever exhibited in Canada". The
words "God Save the Queen" are
surrounded by a twined wreath
of roses, thistles, shamrocks and
fleur-de-lis.
* * *
That's a brief look at what
happened in Canada on July 1,
1867. Generally speaking, it tells
Of a happy occasion and suggests
our celebration 100 year8 later
should be more so.
While it is interesting to look
back, it is perhaps of greater
interest to try and imagine what
Canadians may be doing when
thit nation marks its 200th birth-
day,
Will people drag out the old
"costumes" of those living in
thiS century to attend special
events? Will they have some of
Our "antiqite" cart around to
point at and wonder how we
ever enjoyed life? Will our River-
view Park project still serve
a recreational function, or will
it too be obsolete?
Medical diScOverles may make
it possible for some of our young-