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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1969-12-04, Page 4limes Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 toreferZinies-Abuocafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A,, O.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Phone 235-1331 Amalgamated 1924 class A Community newspapers $4,500,000 in unclaimed savings. Is any of it yours? If so we'll be glad to arrange transfer to a Bank of Montreal account. On December 31st, 1969, the Canada Post Office Savings Bank will terminate operations. But there remains about 41/2 million dollars in savings accounts still unclaimed. So think carefully. Do you or any of your relatives have a post office account? Any of our branches will be glad to open a True Savings Account for you where your money will earn 61/2 % interest per annum. Bank of Montreal It's up to them Concern and criticism expressed over the early-morning and erratic driving habits of some snowmobile operators last week was warranted, The lack of courtesy and thought displayed by some is not excusable, particularly those who disturbed patients at South Huron Hospital and those who ripped up the greens at the Ausable Golf Course, Some of the problem was created by an unusual weather condition, There was plenty of snow, but the ground underneath was not frozen and where the machines went through the snow cover, they ripped up grass quite easily. However, this was a condition the machine operators should have been able to judge and act accordingly, Another factor was that the machine operators had been anxiously awaiting the first snow for several months, and no doubt their enthusiasm at the outset of the season can be likened to that which accompanies the opening of any such activity. It will probably wane after the initial onslought. The snowmobile owners, however, can not escape the fact they have certain responsibilities regarding their machines, Laws have to be obeyed, other citizen's rights have to be respected and courtesy must be shown. Some of the complaints can be shrugged off as being based on jealousy, but obviously not them all. The thoughtlessness of a few has already closed off some of the favorite haunts for the snowmobile set, and continued problems could well result in more being closed to them. It would indeed be unfortunate if this were to happen, but if it does, they will have no one to blame but themselves. They have been given ample warning of the consequences. The rest is up to them, although unfortunately, the minority could spoil it for the majority. Town council is providing prizes for the best decorated PREMISES in Exeter for the Christmas season. Three prizes of turkeys will be awarded. Judging will take place on or after Canada, playing Charlie McCarthy to the United States' Edgar Bergen, banned cyclamates — the supposedly cancer-causing artificial sweetener in soft drinks and diet foods — just days after the U.S. did. The question is — if Canada can ban cyclamates so fast and on such slim evidence — why not cigarettes? The number of reports linking cancer with smoking must now fill rooms down at Ottawa. But our legislators are afraid to stop the sale of tobacco. Evidence against cyclamates was much thinner than the indictment of tobacco. Some 35 rats fed cyclamates over a 104-day period — 11 developed bladder cancer and 19 got preliminary cancer symp toms. But when Health Minister John Munro announced tha ban, he noted that a 150 pound man would have to drink 50Q cans of cyclamate-sweetened pop each day for his entire life — to get the Cyclamates and smoking same dose as those test rats. Asked how he justified banning the sweetener and not tobacco, Mr. Munro said it was a matter of being realistic — Canadians would obey a ban on the sweetener — but ignore a ban on smoking. Government • officials are gun-shy after the shambles of prohibition. It taught them that it is not easy to ban a product to which large numbers of people are addicted. Few people are hooked on no-cal drinks — but millions are addicted to cigarettes. The only solution seems to be education, Most schools carry on anti-smoking campaigns from the lowest grades — rising to a crescendo in high school. Because of this, great numbers of children are frantic with their parents for continuing to smoke. Education may not save the present generation of smokers — but it is scaring the habit out of their children. CONTRIBUTED "exceed e)lt devre e‘liafftem, cad me? This child and her companions cannot get too excited about man and his trips to the moon. What the astronauts see from their journey into space is what they call the beautiful earth — the good earth. To 60% of the world's children who are hungry, to 50% who are ill, to 45% who lack schooling, it is not the good earth. With your help CANSAVE can feed and clothe hungry children, give them the rudiments of education, provide shelter, and aid the children who suffer the devastations of war. Please remember these youngsters and their plight. Send your donation to The Canadian Save the Children Fund, 70 Hayter Street, Toronto. Batten's beard a winner ALL CITIZENS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE Jack DELBRIDGE, Mayor Now Thurs.„ December 20 They earn their keep 0,0,euket Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1968, 4,520 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $6,00 Per Year; USA $8.00 Most area readers won't need any reminding that Christmas is just around the corner. Our two eldest sons have been making the fact known for the past month and no doubt their reminders will become even more noticeable in the few weeks remaining before Santa makes his annual trip down the Batten chimney. Scott was out to survey the house the other day, and came in much relieved to relate that there was indeed room for the jolly visitor to park his reindeer on the roof beside the chimney. His younger brother still isn't convinced Santa can get down the narrow passage, but all worries were quickly dispelled when it was agreed we should leave the front door unlocked just in case he had to use that more conventional entrance. While it is a hectic season, we've already found that the thought of Santa arriving has paid great dividends in our sons' behaviour. Whenever they step out of line, mother bursts into one line of "you better be good, for Santa Claus is coming to town" and the lads settle right down. Except for the expenses involved, we've come to the conclusion that a pending visit from Santa every month would help cut down on those frayed nerves associated with raising children. No doubt some of the speakers at last week's Home and School debate on discipline would denounce our using Santa's visit as a threat to get our kids to maintain their best behaviour, but by the same token we have an idea that any parents with three energetic youngsters around the house will agree that if it works, use it. * ** In doing some research on the life of our late publisher last week, we noticed that as far back as the late 20's, the editorial page pointed out to readers the wide array of gifts available at area stores and the benefits that are derived from shopping at home. While the mode of transportation has no doubt made the competition even greater from city stores, we find area merchants have taken this into account and now stock their shelves with an even wider assortment than ever before. Our job takes us into most of these stores each week and we have no hesitation in saying that you won't find any better selection in the city. A glance at advertisements in the daily press also indicate that district merchants have maintained competitive prices as well. One of the benefits of the Exeter Board of Trade Pic-A-Prrze- promotion has been the fact area shoppers have been visiting more stores and are finding that they have more stock than they imagined. Many merchants have advised that shoppers in depositing tickets have been heard to remark, "I didn't know you carried that", when they observed some item in a store. Merchants are only able to carry a wide selection if they continue to receive your patronage, so in that way it's up to the shoppers to decide whether they want the stores to carry a full line of their needs. Hometown merchants contribute to their communities in many ways and their tax dollars naturally help to meet the cost of local services. They also provide employment. When their sales slip, their ability to continue this valuable contribution also slips. Buying at home pays dividends, but perhaps the biggest advantage received by the shopper is the fact the local merchants can't risk poor customer relations in a small community, so they stand behind every product they sell. * * As the third anniversary of our facial foliage rolls around, we continue to be asked by area residents when we're going to shave it off. To set the record straight, there's no move afoot to perform that function in the near future, although we happen to know there'll be many volunteers should we decide we need help in having it removed. The better half has found some real benefits in our whiskers, although she has been known to list a few disadvantages as well. She accompanied the writer to the Hensall nomination, and one of the ladies in attendance at that event asked another staff member the next day if that was the editor's daughter with him. For the information of readers, we're not the only member of the family sprouting whiskers these days. Cousin Ed Batten joined the Brothers of the Brush to help celebrate the centennial in 50 YEARS AGO On Saturday night last much damage was done by a fierce wind storm. A team of horses belonging to Mr. Harry Elworthy of Usborne, and driven by the hired man, broke away from Harvey's mill on Monday afternoon. The wagon tongue was broken but otherwise the damage was light. Giving the shortage of coal as the reason the Grand Trunk on Sunday last cut off a large number of trains. The London, Huron and Bruce is affected and there is now a passenger train each way going south in the morning from Wingham to London and back at night. A serious fire was averted on Sunday morning at the home of Mose Faist, Crediton. A considerable number of new members are being taken into the local Lodge of Oddfellows. 25 YEARS AGO Miss Marjorie May, a graduate of Exeter High School who has been a student in the Secretarial Course at Westervelt during the past ' year, has accepted a position on the staff of the Science Department of the University of Western Ontario. Rev. Kenneth McLean was inducted as minister of Caven Presbyterian Church in an impressive service. Large herds of cattle are being brought in for winter, feeding in the Crediton area. The pasture has been abundant and the animals are irl A4 condition. During the severe snowstorm that visited this section Thursday evening of last week eleven.year.old Alex Howe, Rochester, Michigan, and walked off with top honors in the Robert E. Lee beard contest. The newspaper down that way ran a photo of Ed and included with it a picttire of Ernest (Papa) Hemingway. The reason being, that the photographer noticed a strong resemblance in the two and the pictures certainly indicated this as well. Unfortunately, this Canadian member of the Batten beard growers has never been mistaken for any celebrity; and in fact some of the comparisons we've had mentioned do not warrant repeating. In the story on Ed, he told the reporter our grandfather always had a full beard, so we come by the trend honestly. As the Christmas season approaches, we wish to inform one and all we do not intend to change the color of our whiskers and fill the job always handled at this season by the late Bill Gossman. However, we have been invited to perform in a pageant at the church, taking the part of a king, or some such. No doubt when they were casting the event they found they were one beard short for the makeup department and decided to use yours truly to avoid the necessity of buying another set of whiskers. Just goes to show, that a beard can even make up for a lack of dramatic ability at times. failed to return to his home near Crediton. About 300 airmen spent part of the night scouring the district and searching through the piling snowdrifts for the lost boy. The boy, was found by a truck driver and taken to the Juvenile Observation Home at London and later identified by his parents. 15 YEARS AGO A Hay township school was closed this week when the building was declared unsafe. Pupils of SS 11, known as the Bluewater School, are being transported to two other Hay schools. Elmer Powe, of Exeter, was elected vice-chairman of the Huron County Farm Forum committee at the annual meeting at Londesboro Thursday night. Bert Morgan, a member of South Huron Junior Farmers, was chosen one of the top speakers at the County Junior Farmer debating competition in Clinton Thursday night. 10 YEARS AGO Norma Geiger, Zurich, was elected editor of the SHDHS paper staff Wednesday. Friends and neighbours joined Mr. & Mrs. William Westlake last Wednesday evening to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. Mr. & Mrs. Jim Northcott of ' Vancouver are visiting relatives in Exeter and community. A "minister" convicted Wednesday of obtaining money under false pretenses was given suspended sentence and ordered to repay two loans of $300 to Exeter and St. Catharines residents. This column is dedicated to my namesake, Bill Smiley, a high school principal in Saskatchewan. He doesn't even read my column, bad cess to him, but his wife does. Recently, she forced him to listen as she read a column in which I hurled a dart into the raw hides of school administrators. It made him write, but it was a friendly letter and it's nice to hear from you. Cousin Bill. He must be a cousin. The Smileys, five brothers of them, came out from Ireland during one of the periodic potato famines and with the skill and foresight that has always characterized the name, chose some of the most meagre land in Canada on which to strike it rich. The crops were mainly stones, with an occasional bonanza of boulders. Most of them had enough dim Irish wit to get out and move West, but my grandfather, with nine kids and no wife, stuck it out and the old family farm is still there in Pontiac, Quebec, pushing up its annual crop of milkweed, burdock and fieldstone. Cousin Bill must be a descendant of one of the Smileys who went West and starved during The Depression, instead of staying home and almost starving. We've lost contact completely. But I did meet a chap, Bev Smiley, directly ahead of me in a line-up on a troopship coming home, who turned out to be a son of my father's first cousin, Joe, who went West. Isn't this fascinating? However, this is not a family history, though I know you're intrigued. It is a heart-felt expression of sympathy for high school principals, like Cousin Bill. A high school principal is usually a normal human being (though not always) who is caught, not between two grindstones, but four. Grinding from above are the schoolboard and the parents. From below, he is whetted to a fine edge by teachers and students. Either he emerges keen as an axe, or ground to a pulp. The odd one is smart enough to quit and go back to the classroom before either happens. But most, driven by the insatiable greed of their wives, keep at it until they are punchy. This is one of their hairiest times of the year. After three months of unbelievable chaos, they have finally got the big, brutal, awkward, maniacal machine, that is a modern high school, running with only the odd fit or start. (Be careful there, linotype operator) The Board has cut off all expenditures until the new budget is struck in January. The students are becoming unruly. The teachers are completely browned off with Board, principal, students and each other. In short, everything is normal. Then the poor old principal gets three or four resignations from his staff. They are from people who are ill, fed up, or merely going out of their minds. Where do you pick up, in December, an art teacher who can double in typing? Or a German teacher who is a whiz at German but weighs 200 and must coach the basketball team? Or a history teacher who can pick up a welding class without doing a Nero? Somehow, they find bodies to put in front of the kids and the show goes on. And the principal takes another giant step, not for mankind, but toward his first coronary. Bless you, chaps, and have a happy Christmas. It's a job I wouldn't touch with a 20-foot Hungarian, let alone a ten-foot Pole. 425 Main St. VG The senior Trust Company devoted entirely to serving the people of Ontario. Put your money into our guaranteed investment certificates now paying the never-before interest of eight and three quarter percent. VICTORIA and GREY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 Exeter