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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1969-02-27, Page 4Tool of imperialistic press To the Editor: Dear Sir, I read with interest and amusement the minutes of the Huron County Property Committee meeting of Jan. 14, 1969. It appears to me that the Committee has not investigated a number of aspects of regional government, a concept upon which several of the recommendations for establishing the Huron County School Board offices in Goderich are based. A statement to the provincial legislature on January 2 of this year made by Minister of Municipal Affairs Darcy McKeough, leads me to believe that the committee is basing its recommendations on several incorrect assumptions. In the second section of the motion, it is stated: "With the possible thought of regional government, no doubt the County School Board will become more closely related to the overall County picture than it has in the past." According to Mr. McKeough's statement, some counties will disappear. This, I think, will be the case of Huron County, since Mr. McKeough told the A legislature that regions will be based upon populations of 150,000 to 200,000. This would mean that Huron County would be only a part of a larger region. Mr. McKeough also indicated that school unit boundaries will change again as regional municipal government evolves because the province wants school and municipal boundaries to be the same wherever possible. This would make the current consolidation of school boards on a county basis a transitional program because regional government will entail many departures from the historic county boundaries. I think it is fairly obvious that the area included in Huron County will become part of a 'much larger region, and will no longer be a county, per se. How then can you talk about a "County" School Board being closely related to the overall "county" picture, when there will be no such thing as Huron "County" when regional government is established? In the third section, you state: "With the County School Board being centralized as part Of the County Administrative set-up, this should favor Huron County as a possible centre for arty further regional government," A possible centre, —Please turn to page 5 to 0 0 4 Y 0 0 818Writt7475041MP.4we,, Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 qate exeferZinies-Atwocafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R. M. Southcott Editor Batten—Advertising Manager Phone 235.1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Authorized as Second Class Mail, POOL Office Dept, Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1968, 4,520 SUBSCRIPTION RAYES: Canada $5.00 Per Year; USA $1.00 1011111121141tro Atl IN eg cotttm writ), ntlysparrs Ours being the security-minded age that it is, the way the news vendor on the corner sees it nearly everyone in the country should be happy. After all, says he, your parents are responsible for you until you're 21, and at 65 the government more or less takes over. That means we have only a matter of 44 years of caring for ourselves to Stude-teprotests and riots were the topic for discussion at the February conference of the Federation of Women Teachers' Associations of Ontario. More than 500 teachers were advised to beware of falling into one of two camps: those who believe students can do no wrong, and those who believe they are always troublemakers. In other words, educators have been warned that today's young people are just average folks for the most part. Although some adults find this difficult to accept, especially when a group of students at a Montreal university have just destroyed a $2 million computer, we agree that the largest percentage of our young Canadians are clear-headed and intelligent. The future would be dismal indeed if we did not have faith in our citizens under 25 years of age. However we cannot wholly concur with the feelings of psychiatrist Dr. John Rich who stated, "If you the teachers can see the world as they the students see it, then you can start communicating." We doubt that communications are really that bad between the teachers and their students. What's more we cannot Communications breakdown It's an easy life worry about. 1' wn tl;at's not as bud as it seems. One-third of the time we spend asleep and one-tiiird at play of some kind. Sundays, mealtimes and holidays we have off. And so, measured in actual days, the average Canadian works no more than seven years in a lifetime . How's that fk.ir a philosophy? agree with the theory that improved communications is the magical balm that will heal all lacerations between young people and experienced adults in authoritative positions. The rebellious attitude of youth is not new, but it has been encouraged to flourish through educational programs which tend to draw out the desires formerly suppressed to polite society. In the attempt to develop a jet-age nation of logical, rational thinkers who will not be thrown off course by a change or a diversion, occasionally a few unsteady types come through the system believing they are free agents who deserve a greater portion of the good life as they see it. We might say the system has backfired, but it is the chance that had to be taken in this technological environment in which we are trying to live and work. We cannot claim a serious breakdown of communications between the young and their teachers, their parents and all other of their superiors until it is evident that the majority of youth is ripe for revolt. We doubt we have reached that perilous point just yet. Does anyone have answers? Zateete-ete404ted eitale My mind is so scrambled right now that I'll be lucky if I can write three understandable sentences. I've been trying to explain to my daughter, in an hour or so, such things as Marxism and Communism, why the Russian and Chinese types are different, where Fidel Castro fits in, why, where and when the nation of Israel was created; and why the Jews, notably non-belligerent for about 15 centuries, have a chip the size of a brick on their shoulders these days. From there we wandered to Mahatma Ghandi, the Congo, nationalism in Africa, separatism in Canada, the Black Power movement in the States, growing anti-semitism among Negroes, and her biology test on the dissection of rats, which takes place tomorrow morning. Golly; it would be nice to have once again a little girl, who asked such simple questions as, "Dad, does God have to go to the bathroom?" It all began with a discussion of the student militants at universities. She is appalled at the violence of the hard core of "pacifists"' who, lurking in the forefront of all the young idealists and the middle-aged "liberals", deliberately resort to violence in their efforts to catch headlines, be martyrs, and destroy an idea which has taken almost 1,000 years to build — The University, Thankfully, we agreed that violence begets violence, and that neither of us wants any part of the whole stupid business. Admittedly, the universities are sitting ducks. Over the years, they have grown as sleepy and fat and insolent as an old tom-cat who has been "fixed", They have almost taken pride in their administrative inefficiency, their moribund traditions, their cosiness with The Establishment. Write a letter to a university. Three weeks later you will receive a reply, either a form letter or something completely alien to what you asked. And admittedly, students, universally, have always been among the vanguard of rebels against the system, political or social. That's because they are idealistic, want action, and are inclined to see things in blacks and whites (or today, blacks and reds). But the fact remains that the universities, over the years, have become the only truly free centres (albeit timid) of sound criticism of society and its ills, in addition to their normal function of teaching people to think and/or learn a professional skill. And another fact remains. The universities, on the whole, under pressure from within and without, have made a tremendous effort to rouse themselves from their stately torpor and scramble into the twentieth century. Even though it's two-thirds over. In the process, they have leaned over backwards to free themselves of the rigid, puritan traditions of even 20 years ago. When I was there, living in men's residence, we were allowed to bring girls into the place once a year, on a Sunday afternoon, for a heavily chaperoned cocoa and cookie party in the common room. Now, wow! I'm not advocating a return to those days, when university men and women were treated like bright juveniles who were basically sex-fiends and alcoholics. But I am dismayed to see these once-great institutions cowering and cringing under the attacks of inalcontented, Marxist wolf-cubs who represent a fraction of student opinion. As Mordecai Richter pointed out recently, the real yuk of the whole affair is that while the student activists endorse anything, up to the burning of buildings, they are scared stiff lest they get a police record, which would be a serious detriment when they try to get a job in the system they are trying to destroy. The solution? Kick out the hard-nosed boys and girls, for whom democracy is a sham anyway. Sock it to them with the law when they disturb the peace or commit vandalism. And get hack to the business of educating, or teaching to think, the vast majority who want those things. So now I'm a fascist, and a tool of the imperialistic press. I knew it at heart. "1 resigned and just got a job with the firm that hired all the men this thing replaced." Some area municipal officials received a bit of an insight into regional government in Exeter, Wednesday, when an official from the department of municipal affairs spoke to members of Public Utilities Commissions. We don't know what their opinions were, but we came away from the meeting with the feeling that regional government is a program someone dreamed up without giving it much thought. Its being implemented on a trial and error basis in parts of Ontario at the present time and will come into effect in this area in five or 15 years — depending on who's telling the story. That is a wide variance and gives some indication of the fact officials in the department aren't too certain of what is going "on. Residents in this area can take consolation in one fact though. It appears that the trial and error format being used should ensure fewer errors in the areas in which regional government will be later in arriving. Department officials would like people to believe regional government has been., in the planning stages for some five years, but at the same time they indicate they have many unsolved questions. Even in areas where it is already in effect, officials are still faced with many problems and are making decisions where, in our opinion, should have been made long before the new type of government was enacted. The matter of Public Utilities is one of those areas and it appears inconceivable that this matter was not delved into fully before the program was started. * It also appears strange that while regional government has apparently been under discussion for some time you can't get a straight answer on how it is expected to improve services or whether or not it will be more economical than our present system of grass-roots government. Surely someone should be able to stand up and point to specific areas where study has shown services will be improved or where costs can be reduced. Necessity is said to be the mother of invention, but we have yet to hear anyone indicate what necessity prompted the invention of regional government. If someone had a few answers, there would be less pessimism about the whole program. As it stands, we in this area have no idea when regional government will come into effect and this eliminates careful planning on the part of municipal and county governments. We were told last week that county council will disappear. This would indicate that the county shOuld certainly not undertake any major projects — especially in terms of building projects. But if the need arises, how are county councillors to make a decision without having any idea of how regional government will be set up in this district? Officials admit that guidelines used in metropolitan areas may be totally unrealistic in rural Ontario and population figures for regions and lower-tiered governments may have to be reducod. This indicates that local officials therefore can't even look to present regions for 'some idea of how the program will be instituted here, Municipal officials have every cause for concern. Many are still perplexed over the recent move to county school boards and still have their backs up in the air about that. It would appear that the Ontario government would have been wise to give the new educational system a fair test before moving towards other centralized government schemes. They're building up a great deal of resentment and this was vividly drawn to our attention recently when one ardent PC supporter indicated that things would have to straighten out quickly if the party wanted his support in another election. Perhaps they should stop and ask themselves whether it's only the student population of this province which wants to have more say in their affairs. * • Last week was one of those the staff at The Times-Advocate would just as soon forget. Nothing went right! Judging from the myriad of comments we've heard since Thursday morning, every reader knows we goofed up a couple of pictures on the front page by reversing the captions. It was rather ironical that Judge Robert Groom was in one of the pictures, because at the Brotherhood banquet he was telling his audience about the problem newspapers — as well as other people — sometimes have with words. On one occasion, a newspaper made a comment of a returned army man by saying the 50 YEARS AGO Ice has been harvested on the river above the dam during the past week. A machine from Grand Bend is being used for cutting. Mr. John Mallett, who recently sold his residence on Huron Street to Mr. G. W. Davis, is this week moving his family to London where he has secured a situation. Before serving with he Canadian forces overseas he was the genial clerk at the Central Hotel. Misses Lillian and Winnifred Huston left last week for Toronto to attend the millinery openings before leaving for Dunnville for the season. Miss Glenn of Glenn-Charles, Toronto, Canada's Hair Fashion Store, will be in Exeter Saturday, March 8, at the Central Hotel with a full line of Ladies' and Gentlemen's Hair Goods. Free demonstration. (advt.). 25 YEARS AGO When the Provincial Parliament convenes in Toronto next Tuesday Dr. R. H. Taylor of Dashwood, MLA for Huron, has been named to move the motion to adopt the Throne Speech. The Exeter Boy Scout Troop under the leadership of Scoutmaster H. W. Whyte and the assistant Don Traquair together with the Exeter Cubs with Mrs. Robert Dinney and Mrs. Norman as leaders attended divine worship in a body at James Street United Church Sunday, Mr. J. J. Lawson, who for many years has conducted a jewellery business in Exeter hag disposed of It to Mr. Fred Cole of town. Mr. Cole takes possession March 1. Mrs. A, It. Tomlinson was in London Monday taking a special course in cold permanent waving at Hotel London, "bottle-scarred" veteran had returned home. The newspaper profusely apologized the following issue and noted they had really intended to say the "battle -scared" veteran. Needless to say they gave up trying to correct it. Judge Groom can now tell future audiences that some newspapers even have trouble with pictures, let alone words. Last week's issue also contained a photo of some public speakers at Usborne Central School. The caption repeated some of the names and ommitted others. Most readers would spot that, but what they probably wouldn't know (unless they knew, the kids) was the fact that the picture had actually been reversed when it was printed. We won't comment on any other mistakes. If you didn t spot them, we're not about to tell you. Suffice it to say we hope a week such as that doesn't roll around for many more moons. However, the errors do have some benefits. We never knew so many people read the paper until they ALL (well almost) either stopped us on the street, phoned, came into the office or used other methods to tell us of the mistakes. Wr imagine most of our readers have known the experience. You just never hear from people until you make a mistake. 15 YEARS AGO Plans to build a $100,000 cold storage plant and canning factory near Grand Bend are being made by a co-operative group of growers in the area. Organizer of the project is William Blewett of Thedford. At the annual congregational meeting of James Street United Church Monday night approval was given for the plans for the proposed $32,500 addition to the church facing on Andrew Street to include a ladies parlor, a 16' x 24' kitchen and an assembly room. Fire caused $5,000 damage to the Exeter Grill early Wednesday morning and threatened a five store business block in the south end of the retail section of Main Street. The business will be closed for two weeks for repairs. 10 YEARS AGO The Riverview Park project received a major boost this week when the Ausable Authority agreed to purchase the Ray Frayne property and assist the town in the development of the area. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Whyte and David, who move to Bracebridge soon, were honored by the Lucan community at a presentation euchre and dance last week. Mr. Whyte served 12 years as hydro manager in Lucan after serving a number of years in Exeter with the HEPC, The Ladies Auxiliary to Exeter Legion gave unanimous approval at the meeting Monday night to a proposal to donate $250 in bursaries to South Huron District High School graduates to he awarded annually. The Main Street building owned by John Ward has been purchased by William Parker, who recently bought the barber shop business of the late Norman Hockey, Maw, e44141e4 Editor and Staff, Times Advocate, Gentleman: We wish to express to you a belated but very sincere "thank you" for the advertising and work you put into making the sale of our Christmas Cards a success. Your newspaper displays alone were worth a fortune to us in public relations, and we do appreciate the bother it must have been to use your office as a sales room for our Cards. Thanks so much. Yours sincerely, Margaret Purdy (Mrs. D.W.) Corresponding Secretary The South Huron & District Association for the Mentally Retarded Oiqeut advice Dear Sir: If you did not get a bit of mail from time to time to give you some idea of your column you would almost think your efforts were in vain. This is the reason for this note to you at this time. On reading your "Batt'n Around" bit I was surprised and some what saddened to learn that you are one of those poor unfortunate people who still belongs to the Pass the Players Please group who go out into the fresh morning air to cough, hawk and, (depending on where you are) either spit or swallow all the way to work. It is no concern of mine whether it is a health hazard or not to the person who smokes, but I certainly wish some of you poor unfortunate people would have a wee bit of consideration for the people who do not smoke. I think the T.V. ad that is narrated by Joel Aldrid is a master piece in grave digging. Any one would almost be forced to walk to the corner store just to buy a package of cigarettes, even if one didn't smoke, because with his very sincere voice he makes it sound as though you just can't get through another day without one of his brand of cigarettes. I feel that this is in every way you look at it harmful to the teenager who is at the stage where he can either take a fag or leave it alone. With this kind of advertising he is sure to try them and if he only takes ten yeafs to break the habit, just think how much money the government will get back in taxes on such a small investment. It is quite likely the parents of this child will think he is a by far greater investment than the government thinks he is. Please advise me if I am on the wrong track, but I take it you think this form of advertising is just fine and should be carried on as long as there are people to smoke what they advertise. I smoked for over twenty years, (not that I am proud of the fact) but if I had been able to see myself as others must have seen me, or as I see others now I would have been very much ashamed of myself. If you want to see a very odd sight go to any of our local arenas and watch the teenagers go through the act of trying to look grown up. Some are old hands at it and at 15 years or so can take a long drag and blow smoke out of their nostrils like a long tailed chinese dragon. Then there are those who are not quite as talented and who are not yet past the suckling and blowing stage, with a bit of eye-watering thrown in. Then there is the teenage (or just over it) Mother with a six month old baby. The baby keeps crying every time her Mother blows smoke in her face, so the Mother has to clip the poor little kid a quick bash on the bum to stop it crying, when the Mother was the nut that made the child cry in the first place. I feel that any hostess has the right to dump and even splash any or all the remaining gravy from dinner into the lap of any one who after enjoying her cooking will light up a cigarette so he can get rid of that food taste as quickly as he can. This I feel is comparable to your statement about the government wanting its cake and eating it too. I would like you to think back to the days when you were a boy, (before you started to smoke), See if you can remember the wonderful smell of supper cooking, a flower that has just burst into bloom, the smell of new mown grass (in a couple of months). If you can remember all these smells I am sure that is all they are to anyone that smokes — (Just a memory). If any of you smokers could get some of these smells back it would be worth the price of giving up smoking. I am not in any way on a crusade for the betterment of mankind, I don't expect you will get rich on the money you Save, but if you ever decide to stop you will just be starting to live like we were intended to in the first place. Nature has made such a fine job of our bodies I feel sure if we were meant to smoke we would all be walking around with a bit of a chimney or maybe a little pipe coming out of our ear. If you want to stop and can't, I feel sorry for you. If you don't want to stop — well that's entirely your business, but if it's all the same to you I wish you would do all your puffing out behind the garage and not in the house or the office where the smell hangs around for hours for us poor people who don't smoke, but can still get it second hand any matter how you try to cover it up. I have not smoked for over three years now. One day I got up and my pipe was broken, my lighter was out of fluid and I was almost out of tobacco. I just chucked the whole lot out and am very glad that I did. There are no doubt countless people that I have worked for who are also glad I have stopped. Now they don't have to smell that stinky, sticky pipe every time they talk to me. This for what it is worth is my opinion of smoking, advertising, and the people who use these products. As Kate Smith used to say in the war years "If you don't write, your wrong." This I think depends on the person you are writing to. Keep up the good work with your column, and may all your puffs be from running around the block in 1969. Yours truly, A fond Lucan Subscriber ea*Aratulatitua Dear Sir: During the past few days, I have read with interest certain events which apparently took place at St. Mary's High School, involving student demonstrations. As a former student of Mr. Creech's I am in whole-hearted agreement with the action taken by him at St. Mary's High School. In fact if their were more teachers and principals like Mr. Creech, I feel sure that there would be a little more respect in the country to-day among our restless youth, who seem to have forgotten the meaning of the word. Congratulations Mr. Principal, and I hope other schools display the fortitude you have shown. By forcing the parents to come to the school, you will perhaps show them that their "little dears" are not the angels, that some parents think they are. Yours very truly, Murray A. Des Jardins, GRAND BEND Ontario. 9ae* eavidee4 • 173 Oxford Street, London, Ontario 0 0 A