HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1969-12-11, Page 4Fuel for the fire
Regional government is still a
periodical conversation point among area
civic officials, although no sooner do we
hear some backing for it, than along
comes some detriment that causes a
change of mind,
Not too long ago, we had occasion
to point out to area officials that the
lack of fire agreements between some
communities was one of the reasons for
backing regional government, which
presumably, could provide a solution to
such problems.
However, after looking at some of
the voting results in cities in municipal
elections, we come to realize that large
units of government are apparently
impersonal and people lose interest in
their affairs.
In London, for instance, about 30
percent of the voters turned out. At the
same time, some 72 percent of the
eligible voters in the Village of Hensall
got out to the polls to choose their
leaders for the coming year.
No doubt there are other
circumstances that have to be considered
in the two elections, but it is difficult to
escape the apparent truth that bigness
does breed apathy — and we're already
in a day and age when we have too much
apathy.
We congratulate the people of
Hensall for their interest in their affairs,
and reprint the following editorial from
the Don Mills Mirror which points up
some of the dangers involved when the
electorate lost interest in their affairs. If
it underlines one of the problems of
bigness, then the opponents of regional
government have another piece of
ammunition for their arsenal.
The editorial is as follows:
Two hundred years ago the cry
"taxation without representation" could
start a revolution.
Today in North York it seems to
be the will of the people. After all, it
really doesn't matter whether you have a
vote if you don't use it. Your influence
on the choice of the government under
which you have to live for the next three
years is just the same — nil.
In this borough Monday, 68 per
cent of you didn't quite get around to
that trip to the polls.
So if the borough government
raises your taxes, re-arranges your school
system, tears up your street, puts up a
lot of big buildings without planning for
the people living or working in them,
wants to amalgamate with Toronto or
doesn't want to — if your government
does anything you don't like — don't say
a word.
You don't have the right. You had
your chance Dec. 1 and you muffed it.
And don't carry on about the
young people with the long hair who
drop out of school or aimlessly wander
around railing against "the system"
without offering any ;alternatives. You
don't have a right to do that either, Mr.
or Mrs. A verage-Stay-A t-Home voter.
You'd just be the pot calling the kettle
black.
The last straw
For many months there has been a
growing conviction among the citizenry
of this part of Ontario that our elected
provincial representatives are either out
of touch with, or completely
contemptuous of public opinion.
That conviction was firmly
comented by word last week that
legislation will be presented shortly to
raise the salaries and expense allowances
of provincial members and cabinet
ministers by something more than 50%.
Few people with whom we have
talked deny the fact that out elected,
representatives. like all the rest ofUs,
should expect a logical increase in
remuneration to meet the rising cost of
living. It is the percentage which staggers
the average voter.
Long and costly strikes have been
endured because demands for 25%
increase over a three-year period seemed
excessive. The employer in this case is
the taxpayer and there won't even be an
opportunity for the employer to protest.
Since all party representatives will
benefit from the increase, we can expect
this bill to pass in the Legislature with
the least possible opposition.
With cabinet ministers and prime
ministers asking for restraint in price and
wage demands — and open threats from
the federal government about the force
which might be applied, the fluent
phrases take on a hollow ring.
It might be noted that, as one
instance, the increase in salaries of
,hospital employees is limited by a rigid
• 'formula from OHSC with 81/2% as the
outside limit. Reason — the Ontario
Department of Health says that's all
their budget will permit.
If our elected representatives set a
precedent for 50% increases we can
expect no less from labor and the
business world.
Wingham Advance-Times
Nice guys do win at politics
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All's well that ends well
fingers. The term insurance, the
life insurance.
When she begins to look a bit
nasty, I realize I haven't enough
insurance to keep her in
affluence. That's about when she
calls the doctor, so I'll get
better, so I can take out more
insurance.
The doctor, of course, always
settles everything. He says,
"Hmmm. Got the 'flu, eh?"
Naturally I've get the 'flu or my
wife wouldn't have called him. If
I had merely a broken leg, she'd
probably set it herself. But you
can die with the 'flu.
And the doctor says, "Take
plenty of bed, stay in aspirin,
and drink lots." This always
brightens me up, and I pull out
of thb slump within a week,
provided I don't drink too
much.
But there's a moral question
involved with the 'flu. Should
one go to church, school or
business, and hack, sneeze,
cough and spit all over the
congregation, the classroom or
colleagues?
The answer, I think, is an
unequivocal "yes," provided we
have the strength. That's the
Advocate Established 1881
only way in which we can
maintain one of our few great
old Canadian traditions:
spreading the 'flu. We have
spread two things in this country
since pioneer days, 'flue and
fertilizer, and we mustn't stop
now.
Spreading the 'flu is not
without its merits, provided it is
done with tact and timing. As
witness.
On Friday night we were
supposed to go to the annual
ball of the year. You know the
sort of thing. Every town has
one. Five percent of the men
want to go, and 100 percent of
the women. It's a chance for
them to wear their wigs, make
the old man spring for a
smashing new dress, and discuss
for the next week what
ridiculous things the other
women were wearing.
After wheezing and sneezing
for about three days, I was
looking forward to it as one
might look forward to his own
funeral. So sick was I that even
the thought of having to shine
Amalgamated 1924
class
community
newspapers
Hensall Councillor Harold
Knight learned a lesson last week
that several others have had
indelibly impressed upon them
in the past.
That is, that a person in
municipal politics who chooses
to express an opinion on most
subjects and makes his
viewpoints known soon loses
favor with the electors.
Over a period of a few years,
some of these viewpoints are
going to aleniate certain people,
and the longer one stays in
office, the more people he has
alienated
This is not intended as a
criticism of Hensall voters, nor a
suggestion that some of those
elected are less qualified than
Knight.
Our only point is that in
politics, unlike Leo Durocher's
baseball, it's often the "nice
guys" who do in fact win.
The more controversial types
and those who move ahead on
projects they feel will benefit
the community as a whole,
despite a few objections from a
minority, sooner or later get the
axe.
Obviously, these people do a
better job than those who
choose to remain on the fence
on issues where they hesitate to
make decisions because they
know there will be some
opposition.
But voters, being humans,
don't soon forget the differences
they may have with their elected
officials, and when the list of
people with whom differences
have accrued reaches a sizeable
number, it shows up at the polls.
However, the real losers are
often the voters, because the
fence-sitters don't really make
the best representatives.
Although they may possibly win
more elections than those with
the intestinal fortitude to move
ahead without fear or favor
towards anyone.
We again emphasize this is
not intended to cast reflections
on those who did win in
Hensall's election. We haven't
followed their activities closely
enough to suggest they won't
prove as capable as Harold
Knight.
We hope they are, and if so,
they can look forward to the
fact that after a couple of more
elections they too will be
shunted to the sidelines.
The oddities of human
behaviour indicates that this is
often the reward of good
councillors.
* * *
Speaking of council members,
we'll have to agree in part with
Reeve Derry Boyle's contention
that council shouldn't take steps
my shoes made me feel faint.
That was bad enough, But
somehow we'd been finessed
into having an after-the-ball
party with 30 people guzzling
food and drink. I didn't see how
I could get through it, alive.
Yes, Virginia there is a Santa
Claus. To my delight and her
horror my wife woke up Friday
morning hacking and gasping
and as feverish, as L I'd spread
her the 'flu. She hung on till
afternoon hoping for a miracle
recovery but then had to throw
in the towel and Cancel
everything.
That probably saved my life
and about $100 so the 'flu
can't be all bad,
to establish moral standards for
other people.
He gave this opinion when
council memberS were asked to
support a resolution calling for
an attack against the growing
tendency towards violence and
sex in movies, books and TV.
The only area where we
would suggest an attack is
warranted is in the area of TV,
particularly government
sponsored TV.
Whereas it is solely up to the
individual if he desires to go to a
particular movie or read a book,
television is a different matter in
that he is paying part of the cost
of the program.
He obviously still has the
perogative of turning the TV off,
but there is room for complaint
if in fact he feels his tax money
is not being spent in his best
interests.
Derry's contention that the
reason for the growing tendency
towards violence and sex is
based solely on the fact people
want it, is correct.
After all, movie producers,
authors and book publishers are
in the business to make money.
If no one buys their product,
they have to change the product.
Apparently people are in fact
buying violence and sex to the
extent where it is now more
lucrative than other types of
productions.
This is as much of an
indictment against society as it is
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. Wm. Leavitt has removed
the flooring in the skating rink
and will prepare for the skating
season.
Messrs. Wm. Welsh and Chas.
Tuckey are in Guelph this week
attending the Livestock Show.
Mr. Wilbur Martin last week
moved into his handsome new
residence on Albert Street.
Mr. Preston Dearing after a
few weeks visit in Winnipeg
returned to his home here
Tuesday evening.
Mr. Beverly Acheson passed
his examination in London on
Monday for entrance to a bank.
25 YEARS AGO
The annual Christmas concert
put on by the pupils of the
Exeter Public School in the
arena Tuesday evening attracted
a crowd that packed the
auditorium. The principal,
Claude Blowes, presided and
W.R. Goulding, musical director
was the accompanist.
Mr. Earl Shapton was in
Toronto last week attending the
Federation of Agriculture
Convention.
W.C. Harness, an Exeter old
b6y, has been returned as reeve
of the village of Point Edward
by a sweeping majority.
Mr. Leonard Greb has
returned home after visiting with
his brother Gordon and other
relatives at Kansas City,
Mr. Wm, G, Walker who has
spent the summer on his farm
near North tattleford, Sask., has
returned to Exeter for the
winter.
15 YEARS AGO
Ausable Authority officials
expressed confidence Wednesday
that action would be taken
immediately by the provincial
against the movie producers and
book publishers.
While one treads on thin ice
in any attempt to bring
censorship into this matter, we
do suggest that close scrutiny
must be maintained to ensure
that this type of material is in
fact not been consumed by
youngsters who have not yet
earned the right to determine
what is in their best interests.
In this regard, theatre owners
and newsstand operators have a
moral obligation to make sure
that the "adult only" material.
remains just that.
Unfortunately this is not
presently the situation, even
locally.
* *
Don't look now, but there are
only 12 shopping days remaining
until Christmas. For some of us,
that means we only have 11
more days to wait before we
head out to fill our gifts lists. * *
We trust Exeter residents
noted the announcement last
week that town council will
again provide prizes for the best
decorated premises in the festive
season.
Each year, more and more
people throughout the area add
to their list of outdoor
decorations and a family jaunt
along most of the streets and
roads is most enjoyable.
government to acquire the
Pinery as a public park.
Kathryn Hunter, SHDHS
graduate, has been awarded the
third Huron County Carter
Scholarship it was announced
this week.
Christmas was the theme of
the Junior Institute meeting last
Wednesday night and Mrs.
Howard Pym gave an interesting
demonstration on gift wrapping.
Mrs. M.C. Fletcher's Sunday
School class, the James Street
Logs (Learners of God) were in
charge of the Sunday night
service in James St. Church.
A girl came within one point
of winning the Zurich 4-H Mixed
Calf Club competition this year.
Kathryn Klopp of RR 3 Zurich,
scored 921 points, one less than
the winner, Berne McKinley of
RR 1 Zurich.
10 YEARS AGO
Chester Mawhinney, carving
out his second career in
municipal politics, posted a
surprisingly large margin in
winning Monday's three way
contest for town reeve.
Charles Kyte, young
Tavistock businessman won the
$500 prize in Exeter Kinsmen's
Grey Cup football raffle. The
winning ticket was sold by Les
Parker, town.
Members of the Ladies
Auxiliary to South Huron
Hospital were guests of the
hospital staff at the December
meeting held Tuesday afternoon.
Snow, slush and ice on
district highways were mainly
responsible for eight accidents
during the past week,
Sale of General Coach Will
likely further delay settlement
of the contract dispute between
the company and union which
has been under negotiation for
nearly six months.
Why does a man stagger out
to work when he's unable to do
it properly, is a threat to
everyone around him, and is
probably shortening his own life
by three or four years?
This is the sort of
rationalizing I was doing this
week when I took not one, but
two days sick leave. That makes
six days in ten years.
I'd been coughing like a
kangaroo with consumption.
Blowing my nose was like trying
to stop Niagara Falls with
Kleenex. I was dizzier than a bat
at high noon. I ached from stem
to gudgeon, and I couldn't
decide which was aching more.
It's boring, I know. But the
'flu is always boring. Except
when you have it yourself. Then
it's fascinating.
When you have it, you know
that nobody has ever been as ill
as you. Especially those phonies
on TV who stay in bed, drink
plenty of fluids and stuff
themselves with aspirin.
My wife is a great comfort at
such times. She invariably says,
"You're going to die with that
chest cold!" And then she sits
back and starts counting on her
Times Established 1873
IllteeiekrZintes-Abuocate
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
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110111111111.11111 wrreir °14401111rookil1RIT
Published Each Thursday Morning
at Exeter, Ontario
Second Class Mail
Registration Humber 0386
Paid in Advance Circulation,
September 30, 1968, 4,520
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