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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-02-26, Page 4• OUR POINT ►F VIEW Most unfortunate Rememleit tlse 60'd Camping became a boom in the past decade and the Pinery continues to draw expanding crowds. It became a year-round recreation area when a ski hill and toboggan run were built in the fall of 1960. Three Exeter youths were among the first to try out the new facilities when snow fell and pictured above are, from the left: Doug Hodgson, Fred Sanders and Gary Wedlake. —T-A photo A recent inquest into the death of a snowmobile operator determined that the main causes of the accident were speed and excessive drinking. The pathologist testified the victim had a blood alcohol content of .25, or more than three times the .08 which is now considered the level of impairment. The inquest was advised the man probably drank 18 ounces of hard liquor or 12 bottles of beer before heading out from a Legion hail to ram his machine into the rear of a parked vehicle. In view of the testimony heard at the inquest, it is very difficult to understand the recommendations of the jury. They suggested: snowmobiles should ,be limited to 18 horsepower (the deceased was driving one with 19 horsepower); that lighting systems on snowmobiles be improved and that the department of transport set up schools of instruction on the safe handling of snowmobile machines. Some of the recommenda- tions are reasonable, but the jury appeared to have completely overlooked the main cause of the incident — an excessive amount of alcohol. • After all, any person with a blood alcohol count three times higher than impairment is probably not going to escape such accidents even if his horsepower was reduced slightly . . or if the headlights were better . . . or if he had successfully completed any safe handling course of instruction. It appears rather strange that the coroner's jury had nothing to say about the fact a man can sit around a licensed liquor outlet and consume such great quantities of alcohol and then be allowed to strike out in any type of vehicle — be it a snowmobile or a car. New laws make it possible for hosts to be charged if in fact they allow some of their guests to become drunk, and passengers in a car are also subject to punishment for driving with a person whom they suggest being impaired. There should be equal onus on the operators of any liquor outlet. They in fact should be charged for serving any customer great quantities of liquor if they know that person is going to operate a motor vehicle of any description following his binge. And, we think the onus for finding out if that person is going to operate a vehicle should fall to the management of such licenced outlets. Breathalizer tests are fine, but they are usually not used until after an accident has taken place or a person has started driving in such a manner to arouse the suspicion of a policeman. — Please turn to page 5 Overlooked real cause 018 CONESTOGA COLLEGE of Applied Arts and Technology Continuing Education Division Applicants are invited for Upgrading and Skill courses. These courses may provide admission to various technology and technician training programs. For Further Information Contact Mr. Brian B. Howlett, Administrator CONESTOGA COLLEGE, Stratford Centre 271-5700 $ $ $ $ $ $ Other persons interested in obtaining skill training that could lead directly to employment should take advantage of opportunities made available by O.T.A., a Federal-Provincial Training Agreement. Some applicants may qualify for training allowance. For Further Information Contact Your Counsellor At Canada manpower Centre Department of Manpower and Immigration 35 East St. Goderich 524-8342 For TOTAL Home Comfort ... And All Your GAS APPLIANCE NEEDS Contact GRAHAM Mc INNES Union Gas Sales Representative DIAL 227-4112 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mall Registration Number 0384 Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1968, 4,520 SU6StRiPTION RAtESt Canada $6.00 Per Year; USA WO clast tom mu nit y newspalocrs Members of the Exeter Saddle Club have every right to be upset over the fact their Quarter Horse Show will not be held at the local rodeo ring because the park has been rented to the National. Campers and Hikers Association. However, some of the eriticism and insinuations levelled by a spokesman for the group in last week's paper are unfair. There was no attempt by anyone — either RAP members or the Board of Trade — to give special consideration to the campers because it would be more lucrative to them than the horse show. Both groups have co-operated to a great extent in the success of the rodeo and quarter horse show in the past. The simple truth of the matter is that the park was rented without the realization that it was the date of the horse show. While RAP members and park officials may be open to some criticism for not checking into the dates of the horse show, the Saddle Club should share equal criticism for not having reserved ' the park for that particular weekend. To suggest, as some have, that RAP members may even forget about the rodeo and rent the park for some other use, is also unfair. It is general knowledge that the We're beginning to doubt the sincerity of members of Exeter council when they say they oppose regional government from the standpoint that it will move local administration farther away from the local ratepayers. This contention is based on the fact the same council repeatedly hold special meetings of which the press is not made aware and they therefore deny the ratepayers any knowledge of what discussion takes place at those meetings. The two attitudes are obviously not compatible. This newspaper has requested on at least three occasions in the past couple of years that its representative be notified when special meetings are scheduled. That request has apparently fallen on deaf ears. Our concern over the situation stems primarily from the fact that special meetings are called to discuss urgent business. In the past month, special meetings have been held to deal with the resignations of two senior employees, an objection from Exeter's largest industry over an increase in water rates, and a suggestion that council acting on behalf of the ratepayers had underpaid a retiring employee $1,500 in sick pay benefits. Obviously, these are matters on rodeo is held on Labor Day weekend, while we doubt it is general knowledge that the quarter horse show is held the second weekend in June. The Quarter Horse show is not an event that attracts large number of spectators and we doubt many RAP members have ever been in attendance. This is not intended to down-grade the show. It is a popular event for horse enthusiasts and gives the community an exceptional amount of favorable publicity as competitors come from across Ontario and several States. Its success has been built by an energetic group of workers and the fact that it is only one of two Class A shows in Canada should be a matter of pride for all area residents. The fact the show will not be held at the local grounds is regrettable, although we still maintain it was not unavoidable. However, it should be unavoidable in the future. The situation points up the fact no group in the area should take for granted that public facilities will be reserved for them on the basis of previous rental agreements. Due to the wide range of facilities handled by RAP, and the increasing use being made of them, the onus for reserving dates must remain with the group wishing to use them. which the public has a right to be informed. They are serious matters, and the consequences from some could touch every ratepayer. For that reason, the facts should be relayed to those ratepayers. This newspaper has always attempted to co-operate with council in the dissemination of news from meetings. As an example, council requested that the new water rates not be reported until Canadian Canners had been notified. The request appeared fair and one to which we complied. However, the newspaper was not notified when Canners had been made aware of the new rates and then the objection expressed over those rates by the industry was discussed at a special meeting of which we were not notified The fact that the local manager told council the new rates could jeopardize the competitive position of Exeter's largest industry should be a matter relayed to the ratepayers. The opinions of council members on a topic of such wide-spread interest should also be reported. That can not be accomplished when the press is not notified of special meetings. We once again urge council to reconsider their policy in this regard. WADE INSURANCE AGENCY D.T. (Terry) Wade Total Insurance Service Auto — Fire — !Liability — Glass Sickness and Accident income Life — Pensions — Surety ponds, etc. I would be happy to discuss your particular Insurance needs. Call today or at renewal t(me. Phone Crediton 234-6368 or 234-6224 We try again Does who keep us kicking It's an unpleasant but undisputed fact that most of us in today's material society envy those who are making more money than we are. I'm as guilty as anyone else, simultaneously knowing that it's silly. But there's one breed — the doctors — that makes a whole lot of more money than I do. And I have no envy; nothing but admiration. We've met some new ones in the past couple of weeks, and they have confirmed my longheld opinion that their's is a noble profession. I know, I know. There are some rotten apples in every barrel. There are some doctors who are interested only in the buck. There are others who Wouldn't take a night call even if you were dying. There are the specialists who work office hours only, and knock off $45,000 a year. (Tried to get an appointment with an eye doctor lately? Takes months.) But the vast majority of today's doctors are just as dedicated as their predecessors, work just as hard and long, and are just as interested in healing body and mind. And proportionately, in terms of today's living costs, they're no better off than the doctor of 50 years ago. First doctor I ever met, I guess, was the one who delivered me, and our acquaintance was casual. Just a whack on the bum from hilt, and a squall of protest from me. When I was a kid, our family doctor was Dr. Hagyard. He was a massive man with a massive calm. When he arrived, at any hour, you felt as though God had just taken over and everything was O.K. In the winter, he charged about the country with a device of his own creation, a sort of snowmobile built from a Model T Ford. In summer, his favorite recreation was hitting fly balls to the outfielders in our pro-baseball team. He could hit them half a mile. In prison camp, I met a couple of dandies. One was coal-black, six-foot-six and reputed to be the son of an African chief. I went to him in sonic perturbation, and he said, "If you had that excrescence on your nose, you'd call it a pimple." The other was a ginger-haired British major, a surgeon. He was going around the bend because there wasn't enough surgery to keep his hand in, When he had removed all possible appendices Amalgamated 1924 and tonsils, on the slightest provocation, he spent most of his time siding up to people and asking if they 'd been circumcised. We used to hide when we saw him coming. When our kids came along, both were delivered by a wonderful doctor, Frank Williamson. Four o'clock in the morning meant nothing to him. He'd be there, quiet and calm and rational, in a flash. He grew roses. When we came here, we had Bill Neil. He had a theory that people needed Only four hours sleep a night. He grooved on tropical fish and tape recorders, didn't give a hoot about money, forgot to bill you, but was always compassionate and on the job when you needed him. Now our family doctor is a quiet Englishman with a complete lack of the affectation that the odd little-tin-god type doctor assumes. He has a propensity for Christmas carolling outside your house with his wife and children ' and has learned to play a creditable trumpet. I've been curling with a doctor in his 70s lately. I enjoy his stories about the old days, when he used a dog team to cross the bay, hoping there wouldn't be a gap of open water when he got to' the other side. He's a courtly gentleman. When we picked up our daughter at the hospital recently, we met another species of the breed. Youngish, tough, red-eyed from lack of sleep, he took two hours, including his lunch hour, to talk to us, without recorripenSe. He cared. And one more, Air cinineat city specialist, who is married to an old friend of my wife, took time from his busy schedule to check on Kim and alleviate our fears, He didn't even know us, A in pretty fine bttqh, the Doca,my eXperietick, 50 YEARS AGO Mr. P. Murch, of Elimville, left on Monday to take a position in a box factory in London. The Methodist Church, Forest, was the scene of a charming wedding on Wednesday morning, when the marriage was solemnized of Miss La Vera Hopkins Muxworthy, to Garnet S. Passmote of Exeter. Miss McDonald, milliner of the Woodstock, has re-opened her millinery rooms here. Her assistant is Miss Stalkner, of Blyth. Fire broke out in the engine room of Mr. Ward's flax mill in Lucan on Sunday morning and the building was completely destroyed. Mr. J. N. Howard last week sold the residence in which Mr. H. W. Doerr has been living to Mr. E. A. Follick. We understand Mr. Howard has purchased the property of Mrs. Pickard and will erect a house thereon. 25 YEARS AGO Mr. James Grieve left Thursday to visit with his son, Latimer, at Santa Monica, Cal. Mrs. Minnie Sangster and Misses Margaret and Norma Sangster, Hensall, were in Toronto with P.O. Douglas Sangster who has just arrived home from overseas. He is receiving treatment in Christie Street Hospital. Mrs, Snider and Sandra left by plane Tuesday to join FI/Lt. Larry Snider, who is on course at ComoX, Vancouver Island. Cpl. Gordon Cuchnore, who Or the past three years has been an aeroengine mechanic at the Fingal BoMbing School, has been posted to Centralia. Hydro workmen trailed in rata and sleet Wednesday evening to repair a break in the town and feeder lines. Exeter was without hydro for five hours. 15 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs. Ed Lindenfield and Mr. and Mrs. I. I. Lindenfield of London, left on Tuesday for a vacation in California. Mr. Richard Davey celebrated his 89th birthday on Wednesday at the home of his son, Lewis in Stephen township. Mr. and Mrs. George Jaques are spending a few days with Mr. and Mrs. James Francis of Tavistock. Miss Ruby Wood, of Ridgetown and Bill Luxton, of London, spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. John Luxton. R. D. Jermyn, proprietor of Exeter Farm Equipment received an award Monday from the J. I. Case Company Limited for five years of service to farmers of the district. 10 YEARS AGO Huron MPP C. S. MacNaughton has co-sponsored a bill in the Ontario legislature which would require uniform starting and ending dates for DST. Beaver Lumber formally took possession of Huron Lumber Co. Ltd. Tuesday afternoon. Keys to the building were presented to Manager Tom Vickerman by A. J. Sweitaer, his predecessor. Six Men from James St. United Church appeared on Cl<NX "Sing-Time" program Sun day afternoon. Norm Walper, Walter McBride, Harry Dou gall, Gordon Cudniore, Mery Cudmore and Lloyd Hem sang several hyms with Mr. Walper taking solo parts. Miss Joan Banks, an exchange teacher from Manehester, Eng., spent the weekend with ].Miss Norma Taylor. Several Meffibert of the staff of Ealing School, London, joined them Saturday night for a sleigh ride, Pastor Gordon Hewlett of Columbus, Wisconsin visited with his mother, Mrs. Martha H. Smith over the weekend,. Deadline for tax savings on registered retirement savings plans Deposits made by February 28, 1970 are tax free for 1969 returns Victoria and Grey Trust offers you three tax savings retirement plans. —an "equity fund plan" designed for greatest capital appreciation —a high cumulative income plan —a Guaranteed Investnient Certificate plan fully guaranteed as to principal and interest. Start Retiring today at Victoria and Grey VG wcron4 and GREY TRUST COMPANY 81t\l8 1889 Times Established 1473 Advocate Established 1881 exeferZitne*Abuocafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND 0.1N.N.A., CLASS 'k and ABC Editor—, Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Phone 23S-1331 1