The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-01-22, Page 4Apathy continues
Education is apparently in much
the same category as the weather —
everyone talks about it, but no one does
anything about it.
At least that's the conclusion one
could draw from the fact that recent
meetings designed to let area residents
discuss the aims of education were so
poorly attended.
It's rather disturbing that less than
five percent of the parents in this area
are concerned enough about the
education of their offspring to attend,
but in view of the apathy shown in other
areas of public matters the attendance is
probably not that surprising,
Some of the indifference towards
education and municipal administration
May be explained on the basis that it is
getting farther away from the people;
but if that is in fact the case, it should
have been one of the reasons why people
should have attended the meetings when
the opportunity was made available for
them to make .their views known to the
county board.
While the discussion at most of the
meetings .came up with some very
interesting opinions from parents in
attendance, the county board is in the
rather awkward position of still not
having any conclusive evidence as to
what parents want for their children.
A summary based on the findings
of about five percent is far from
satisfactory; although the board may see
fit to follow a policy based on the
theory that silence means consent.
In a future issue we plan to make
comment on some of the ideas presented
at the meetings in this area, but cursory
examination indicates there were many
valuable suggestions provided for the
board's consideration.
FIRE HITS LUCAN — The Irish community had more than its share of fires in the past decade, one of
the most serious taking place early in May, 1960 when the 100-year-old Cash building was levelled by
flames. Destroyed were the Wraith-Storey Hardware, Lucan Bowling Lanes and Hub Restaurant. Fowr
fire brigades assisted when it was feared the entire business section would fall victim. An 81-year-old
woman, Mrs. T. D. Orme, was found unconscious in her apartment in the building and died a few days
later.
Bladder good for few kicks
Since mid-summer, Canadian
women have been buying synthetic wigs
and hairpieces so fast that fibre
manufacturers cannot keep up with the
demand, Jean Danard reports in The
Financial Post.
Some women, it is reported, are
buying two or three wigs, usually at
$29.95 each. Synthetic wigs are being
sold in department stores, already cut
and styled, and in beauty salons which
will make necessary adjustments later to
milady's head. The fastest seller: the
streaked — or frosted — wig, which is the
hardest to make.
The reason for the splurge, The
Financial Post writer says, development
this year of a new modacrylic fibre
which is inexpensive, holds a set, can be
washed at home with ordinary shampoo
and hung on the line to dry.
Crop has possibilities
Finding new crops which pay good
dividends is a difficult task for many
farmers, but one such crop is growing in
popularity and could well be considered
by some in this area.
It's farm vacationing — hosting city
families who wish to vacation on the
farm. '
Additional work is certainly
involved in this venture — extra meals,
fixing up rooms and baths,
correspondence, etc., but the benefits
are many also — interesting company,
possibly an extra willing "hand", growth
of self-appreciation as farm families
explain their farm, as well as extra
income over and above the agricultural
returns from the farm.
To date, there has been no shortage
of city folk who wish to vacation on the
farm. Some want to return to nature and
their childhood environment. Some just
want to relax, hike or bird-watch. Some
want their children to experience a farm
for the first time.
They are people attempting to
avoid the hurly-burly of the crowd on
beaches and the impersonality of large
vacation resorts. Generally they are
executives or professional people.
Most of them have one thing in
common. They want to eat good farm
meals; and for most area farm wives, this
is an ingredient easily accomplished with
no more than their normal flair for
providing good meals.
To assist farm couples who may
wish to enter this type of endeavour,
Conestoga College is offering a four-day
course at Sebringville.
Topics to be discussed relate to the
various facets of undertaking such a
project.
It could prove to be a very
interesting and lucrative undertaking for
farmers in this area.
Advocate Established 1881 Times Established 1873
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SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
D.W.KA., CLASS 'A' and ABC
Editor —Bill Batten—Advertising Menager
Phone 235-1331
Amalgamated 1924
Published Each Thursday Morning
at Exeter, Ontario
Second class Mail
Registration Number 0384
Paid in Advance Circulation,
September 30, 1968, 4,520
RATES: Canada $6.00 Per Year; USA $8.00 SUBSCRIPTION
class
community
ilew -sp,iptrs
HURONVIEW
HURONVIEW
NOTICE
Due to the prevalence of influenza in the area,
the Home Physician deems it necessary to limit
visiting at Huronview.
Until further notice, only relatives of residents will
be allowed visiting privileges. Please check at the
business office or main nursing station before the
visit.
Thank you.
C.A. Archibald
Administrator
Make 1970 a happy year
DRIVE WITH CARE
Notice
The management of the
Q06ensway Nursing Home
regrets it must curtail visitors to
the Home due to the current
spread of influenza.
We are sure friends and relatives
will understand this is for the
protection of the patients and
the ban will be lifted as soon as
possible.
SAVE
TAX DOLLARS
A Good Investment
At the present time alternative rates of
discounts are being considered by
Council — who are in agreement that the
present rates are not realistic. When the
new rates are established — they will be
retroactive to Jan. 1, 1970 — and will
apply on payments received.
Payment may be made to Eric Carscadden, tax collector,
in the Clerk's Office, Monday to Friday 9-5.
You talk a lot
about the problems
of this world.
Do you really want
to help solve
some of them?
You're a high school student.
Sooner or later you're going to have to stop lust talking about
the problems of the world and start doing something about them.
Are you ready to? Are you ready to accept a meaningful
position? Earn your own income? Be responsible for your own
future security?
If you are, you're ready to see us about our Regular Officer
Training Plan. It leads to an officer's commission and a degree in
Arta, Sciences or Engineering.
For mare information contact your local military career
counsellor,
CANADIAN FORCES RECRUITING CENTRE
120 QUEENS AVENUE
LONDON 12, ONTARIO
PHONE 43$-5124
Thinking back over the
year-end reports of the 1960s,
I realize that all the experts
painted a picture of a decade
of violence and change
probably unequalled in
history. What is especially
embarrassing is the thought
that I did the same thing,
though I'm no expert.
On second thought, it was
all pure poppycock. It's true
that The Sixties included
these things, but the 1940s,
in retrospect, make the 1960s
look like a children's birthday
party: Noisy, disorganized,
messy, but essentially kids'
stuff in comparison.
Surely it was in The
Forties that today's violence,
revolt, drug addiction, sexual
freedom, disgust with the
Establishment, and all the
other goodies of The Sixties,
had their roots.
In the 1930s, those lucky
enough to have a job were
working for less than it costs
today for a night on the
town. As Toronto newspaper
columnist Richard Needham
pointed out, the Great
Depression was not brought
to an end by our economists
or politicians, but by Adolph
Hitler. War created jobs,
Wigs galore
wages went up, prosperity
began. Sickening thought, but
true.
In The Sixties, we waxed
indignance over Chicago cops
for beating dissidents over the
head. And so we should. But
in The Forties, six million
non-dissidents of all ages and
both sexes were beaten,
gassed or starved to death.
And millions of others were
obliterated without even
waving a placard. How's that
for violence?
Revolt? It was everywhere,
in partisan groups and new
nationalist organizations. And
the rebels were just as
long-haired and bearded and
dirty — and a lot hungrier
than to day's rebels. They,
too, were of both sexes, as
today. But they were fighting
for so mething, not against
everything. And they were
laying on the line not just a
clout on the head, a trip in
the paddy-wagon, and a fine,
but their lives.
The Establishment? In 1945
the British threw it out,
including that heroic but
unmistakable member of it,
Sir Winston Churchill. That
was a far, far greater thing
than rioting on a campus.
•-•
Atrocities? We had one,
apparently, in Vietnam
recently, with the Yanks as
villains for a change. Vile?
Certainly. But it was a mere
trifle compared to the
atrocities of The Forties. On
all sides. Tell your kids about
Lidice, the bombing of
Hamburg and Dresden, and
what the Russians id at,
Warsaw.
And then there was the
biggest one of all, committed
by the Good Guys — the
atom bombs dropped on
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Today's atrocities are peanuts,
however indigestible.
Drug addiction? There
wasn't any "pot" around, But
I wonder how many
alcoholics are wandering
around today who got their
start when they were 18, and
in uniform? I could list you
a dozen, from personal
knowledge. Just multiply.
Sexual freedom? Perhaps it
wasn't as blatant and
self-conscious and
publicity-conscious as it is
today, but it waS there lady,
it was there. Now, I don't
for one minute mean your
husband. But those other
An interesting editorial in the
Wingham Advance-Times brings
back some vivid memories of the
"beef ring" setup which was
much a part of country living a
couple of decades ago.
The Wingham paper noted
that a meeting had been held in
East Wawanosh recently to
conclude the operation of the
St. Augustine Beef Ring.
We find that interesting,
because we assumed they had
already gone the way of buggy
whips and high-buttoned shoes.
For those who never heard of
beef rings — and no doubt there
are many in that category — it
should be noted they were an
organization of neighbors who
shared the meat from the regular
slaughter on one of the
member's animals.
Lack of refrigeration
necessitated rapid consumption
of meat. So, members took their
turn in providing an animal for
the slaughter and the meat was
divided among the members of
the group.
A record system was set up
whereby members received a
various cut of meat each week so
the distribution was on an
equitable basis, * *
Our memory of the beef ring
remains quite vivid, primarily
because the weekly slaughter at
Uncle Wib Batten's farm
attracted most of the youngsters
at Winchelsea.
We congregated at his nearby
farm quite early for the event,
because one of the most
interesting aspects for us was
watching the animal being led
from the barn to the driving shed
where the actual killing took
place. Most of the animals were
apparently aware that this was
their last walk and it was a real
struggle to get them on their
way.
There was an extra benefit
provided for the youngsters in
the village on many occasions.
The butchers would retrieve the
bladder from the animal and,
when filled with air, it provided
the necessary equipment for an
impromptu foOtball game.
It rarely failed to withstand
more than an evening's game,
but it was fun while it lasted. In
that respect, it lasted about as
long as some of today's toys, but
obviously was much cheaper. * * *
The Wingham editorial had
some interesting comments on
guys. Wow!
Change? Whole countries
disappeared. Millions or people
wandered, homeless. New
countries sprang into being.
However, just as The
Sixties weren't all rotten,
neither were The Forties,
They produced courage and
sacrifice and a great sense of
sharing and loving, amidst all
the hatred.
They produced a generation
that sincerely believed that a
better world was not only
needed, but could be built.
They produced entire new
eoncepts of world peace.
They set the seeds for the
end of the old imperialism.
Never mind that these have
been frustrated and warped
since,
And, as a sideline, they
produced the millions of kids
who are now a mystery and
terror and bewilderment to
those relies of the frightul
Forties. Nuff said
the place of beef rings in the
community and we quote as
follows:
The beef ring was only one of
many ways in which farm people
worked together. Their
cooperative efforts sprang from
the needs of a pioneer society in
which survival without neighbors
was impossible.
How those times have
changed! There is little need
today to share anything.
Combines, tractors and
automatic devices have eliminated
the need to depend on the
neighbors for help to get the big
jobs done. The operation today
is much more efficient. The hay
comes off before it gets wet.
Grain is harvested at the correct
moment. The cattle and hogs are
sold on the open market and the
farmer's wife buys her meat
from the butcher just like we
townsfolk do.
Efficiency has been achieved,
but something a great deal more
valuable has been lost in the
process — for it takes more than
a weekly card party to bind the
residents of a community into a
true neighborhood. The real
cement was interdependence —
an actual reliance upon the
50 YEARS AGO
On Friday afternoon last an
immense number of people
gathered in Exeter to witness the
unveiling of the Memorial
Monument to the fallen heroes
of Usborne, Exeter and the front
of Stephen.
Arto Delve was in Toronto
Saturday with a load of horses
for G. J. Dow.
Mr. James H. Grieve is in
Goderich this week showing a
number of birds at the Huron
Poultry Show.
A quiet but pretty wedding
was solemnized at the Trivitt
Memorial Church rectory on
Wednesday afternoon when Miss
Muriel Elizabeth Willert of
Stephen was united in marriage
to Mr. Frank Triebner of
Stephen.
The second pair of hockey
games in the local schedule took
place on Wednesday night. The
I.O.O.F. and High School tied;
4-4; and the Clerks defeated the
Bankers, 6-5.
25 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mason
and daughters Annie and
Shirley, were guests of honor at
a farewell dance in McKnights'
Hall before their departure for
Lucknow.
Group Captain Norman S.
Anderson, son of Mrs, D. A,
Anderson and the late Dr.
Anderson of Exeter, has been
honored with the Air Force
Cross for meritorious service.
Ross Tuckey broke his nose
in H.S. basketball game with the
Clinton team Monday afternoon,
At the Red Cross annual
meeting Mrs. W. Martin reported
420 pounds of jam along with
480 pounds of honey had been
sent to headquarters. Mrs. R. N.
Creech reported the knitting of
1,800 articles as well as 2,020
articles cut and sewn.
Reeve B, W. Tuekey, Exeter,
Reeve Hugh Berry, asborne,
Reeve Alonzo McCann and
Deputy Reeve, Thos Love of
Stephen Township are ail in
loyalty of good neighbors in
times of need. The change is
inevitable. It was bound to
come, but older country people
look back with nostalgia to the
times when the work was hard,
the neighbors were friends and
the fun was made not bought.
Some members of Exeter
council expressed the view this
week that the new agreement
with the recently formed Exeter
Police Association terminates
any past service benefits accrued
by the officers.
We don't know the exact
terminology used in the
contract, but we doubt that
council would have much luck in
backing their contention.
If in fact there is a member of
the force who has been
employed for eight years, and
the contract calls for a
three-week holiday after eight
years, he is certainly entitled to
that holiday this year.
Contracts of this nature
seldom serve as the starting
point for the benefits mentioned
in them, unless they are new
benefits for which no formula is
provided to recognize past
service.
attendance at County Council
this week.
15 YEARS OLD
Douglas May was elected
president of Exeter Junior
Farmers at their meeting
January 5, succeeding Ross
Dobson.
At the Exeter Lions Club
meeting Friday evening it was
decided to hold a district wide
sale of electric light-bulbs, the
proceeds from which will be
used in welfare work.
Mervin Jones who recently
moved to Exeter, lost the ring
finger of his right hand and had
two other fingers badly injured
when his hand became caught in
a corn picker.
Jack Morrissey, reeve of
Stephen township, was elected
vice-president of the Western
Ontario Racing Association.
W. B. MacLaren was elected
chairman of the Grand Bend
Public School Board at the
meeting on Jan. 10.
10 YEARS AGO
The Ontario Society for
Crippled Children has
announced the election of W. W.
Haysoml Goderich, as chairman
of district council No, 5 which
serves the counties of Huron and
Perth.
Mr, Bruce Biggart, who has
been in charge of the RCAF and
the Grand Bend branches of the
Bank of Montreal, is being
transferred to the Kingston
Branch.
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Rundle
flew to Cleveland for the
weekend,
The death, occurred in St.
Joseph's Hospital, Guelph,
Wednesday morning, Jan. 6 of
Ross Robinson Mackay
following a long illness. He was
principal of Hillsburgh school
for over thirty years until illness
forced his retirenlent last year.
The family of Mr, Lesume
Desjardine, Main Street,
gathered at the home of his son,
Byron Desjardine, Ailsa Craig to
honour him on his eightieth
birthday,
— THE CANADIAN
,c, ARMED FORCES
Sixties were pure bosh
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