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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-05-07, Page 4OUR POINT OF VIEW Costs are staggering Remeoder tlse 60'd,? Although competition among area municipalities has always been prevalent through the years, co-operation has been equally noteworthy when the occasion warranted. This was evidenced in the building of the local hospital and also in the acquisition of fire fighting equipment. In 1961 the area communities purchased this new truck and inspecting it from the left are: Ontario Fire Marshal F. C, Anderson; Stephen Reeve Glenn Webb, Usborne Reeve Clayton Smith, Exeter Mayor R. E. Pooley, Hay Reeve V. L. Becker and Fire Chief Irwin Ford. AT THE DASIIWOOD HOTEL SPECIAL MENUS FOR MOTHER'S DAY • Roast Turkey • Roast Beef • Ham Steaks • Spareribs • Southern Fried Chicken SERVED FROM 3:00 to 7:30 Reservations AppreCiated Phone 237-3671 -PV:s.A3.4/^'O'ie( /04, Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C,W.N.A., O.W.N.A,, CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor— Bill Batten Advertising Manager Phone 23$.1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1969, 4,751 SUB5CRWTICIN RATESt Canada $6.00 Per Year; USA $8.00 0.; Some gifts are expensive A high value first mortgage loan on a residential or improved farm property will cost you less than you think— and you can arrange for convenient payments to write it off. If the property is a good risk (and our experienced mortgage people will be glad to advise you), don't let money stand in your way. Just 'phone Victoria and Grey. VG VICTORIA and GREY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 425 MAIN ST., EXETER Fine Jewelled Watches $l4t 5 FULLY GUARANTEED MADE BY BULOVA Ideal Gift For Mother! ALSO COLORFUL Pin and Earring Sets Flower Pins We Engrave One Letter FREE of charge on all Rings, Lighters, Etc. Mom will be thrilled with this 4-piece Silver Tea Service Reg. $47.50 Special for Mother'S Day Jack Smith Jeweller A No matter how you look at it, a 15.3 percent increase in educational costs in Huron County for the year 1970 is exorbitant. With the economy levelling off and even dipping, with unemployment on the increase, welfare costs doubling and the battle against inflation far from showing many tangible results, an increase of education costs of such magnitude is staggering. However, let's not join business administrator R, B. Dunlop's quick movement to place most of the blame on teachers' salaries, particularly when the leathers have not asked for a 15,9 percent increase in their own salaries and when negotiations on salaries have not been concluded as yet. Obviously, other area's of the Newspapers receive many odd things through the mails, but some pinnacle was probably reached this week in one envelope arriving from the post office. It contained a tree! Yes, a real pine tree, and while it may have been small (it had to fit an envelope) it was a most unusual way to remind us that this is National Forest Week. There may be some temptation to dismiss such a week for trees as readily as we do those for donuts, dogs and cigar smokers. However, with increased interest being shown by more people in their environment, and the large number of people taking off to the woods on camping and hiking trips, it perhaps does deserve more recognition than we normally accord it. Forests in this nation play a large role in our well-being. In addition to the material wealth, a forest produces oxygen for the atmosphere, uses carbon dioxide, takes part in the hydrologic cycle, the stablization of soil and production of organic cycle, the stabilization of soil and production of organic matter, and feeds and shelters myriad forms of wildlife which play their part in making the planet earth more habitable for man. During this week the Ontario Forestry Association will be encouraging us to take a greater interest in the forest resource. It is the supplier of essentials for life as outlined above and provides fibre, fun and funds to permit our high standard of living. The Association urges us to do more for our forests which do so much for us. By learning more about our forests and their use, by encouraging their care and wise use, and by supporting effective legislation aimed at maintaining and improving them while using them wisely, we can all play a part. All natural resources are important but none plays a more dominant part in our affairs than our forests. Their care is in our interest, One of the major discussions at this week's session of Huron County council was over the matter of sending seven delegates to the Canadian Good Roads Association convention in Montreal for four days. This newspaper has been plugging for years to have representation from area councils to the Ontario Good Roads event cut down, and it is encouraging to see that some county councillors now question the need for such a large contingent to travel to Montreal for such an event. Exeter Reeve Derry Boyle, who repeatedly attacks conventions and other social events paid by the taxpayers, was joined by several other area reeves in denouncing the road committee recommendation that all their members board's operations are showing large increases, although until the budget is made public in its entirety, these areas will be unknown. The information regarding anticipated 1970 expenses is simply much too skimpy to allow the public to form any opinions as to whether there are areas overlooked by the board where cuts could have been made. In view of the large jump in costs, it seems imperative that the public be made fully aware of the budget and the areas which have contributed to a cost increase of $1,359,944. The board may have no alternative but to meet that increase, but no opinions in that regard can be expressed without full details of the budget being made known. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a small tree to plant. Why not plant one yourself, or at least spare one the next time you take a walk in an area bush or forest? * * * By the way, this is also Child Safety Week, and we're glad the sponsors of that event didn't send along a child through the mail to get the point across. Main aim of the Child Safety Week organizers is to impress upon parents their responsibility in teaching their children basic safety rules. The need for emphasizing that responsiblity is clearly evident from the fact that each year more children die from traffic accidents than die from major diseases. Many of the 826 killed last year would be alive today had they been wearing seat belts in the family car. Others would still be joyfully playing had they not made the mistake of playing on the roads or in laneways or other dangerous areas. In the older age bracket, many would have been saved by obeying basic rules while riding their bicycles. Tests indicate young children get used to the movement of traffic, but are very poor judges of speed and distance. They don't realize that a vehicle that seems far away can be upon them in a matter of seconds. In addition to discussing safety rules with children and knowing where the younger ones are playing, one of the basic tools for parents is that of setting a proper example. That does not include walking into the middle of the street and waiting on the centre line for passing traffic as is often witnessed in many area communities. It's entirely up to parents to reduce the high total of child deaths by formulating safety attitudes in children. The sooner a start is made, the better. along with the warden and engineer should go to Montreal. This is obviously a waste of taxpayers' money and the executive committee of council shouldn't have much difficulty in making a decision that one or two delegates would be ample. Now that some of the area reeves have voiced their opinions regarding large delegations to the Canadian Good Roads event, they may give similar consideration to the Ontario convention as well. We have nothing against conventions. Many of them are very valuable, but one or two persons should be able to bring home enough material to justify the trip, The advice to "never look a gift horse in the mouth" may appear to be sound, but recent experiences indicate that it does warrant some scrutiny. At the Board of Trade and Industrial Development Committee annual meetings last week, yours truly was the recipient of a pocket flashlight, Morley Taylor, branch manager of Norwich Union Life Insurance Society, had the gadget in his pocket and upon learning we had some young boys at home, graciously suggested we take it along to them. It was a company promotional piece and following the advice of the old adage about gift horses, we naturally accepted the gift. But, as most parents find out periodically, it can create some problems when you arrive home with ONE item which is of interest to TWO boys. So, it was necessary the following day to whip downtown and pick up another flashlight for number two son, with the realization that if they last too long it won't be too many weeks before number three son has decided he too is now big enough to be the proud owner of a personal flashlight. The necessity of buying a second flashlight put the cost of the "gift" up to around $1.50. However, that's not the end of the story. Our sons didn't share our apparent lack of gratitude for the gift and ended up on many exploratory trips — even in daylight. In fact, it was used so much the first couple of days, the batteries were completely exhausted. Upon investigation, we learned it was not the type of battery that could be replaced. It was all one unit and when finished required a new flashlight. That brought us back to the first predicament. One flashlight for two boys. So now, the gift has been increased in cost to $3.00, and the way the exploratory trips are being conducted through every dark corner in the house and basement, the cost of batteries will probably double that figure within a couple of weeks. Thanks anyway, Morley! During the shopping visits, we decided to part with another $3,10 to buy the necessary lantern head for a six-volt battery pack we had stuck in the closet. That battery had been a gift too, won in a draw during the late winter Ontario Weekly Newspaper convention. It was of no use without the necessary lantern head, so we were faced with the predicament of watching it go to waste or spend the cash to make it useful. As stated, the expenses involved with some gifts "1 won't be needing you to Olean the house today, Nellie. My husband Is home with a cold." somewhat dulls our appreciation of them. * * * Considerable enthusiasm was shown by some local merchants following the film shown last week on the Norwich Plan for downtown restoration. A quick perusal of the local downtown area indicates many of the older buildings could take on a fresh and exciting appearance with some of the architecture highlighted. From some of the "before" pictures shown in communities which undertook the Norwich plan, Exeter certainly presents a much better appearance already, and therefore probably wouldn't take too much to make the "after" pictures as exciting as those in Niagara Falls, Oakville and St. Thomas. If any action is to be taken by the merchants, it is imperative that it be initiated quickly before the present interest starts to wane. * * * A local driver was understandably upset last week when he was challenged to a game of "chicken" by another vehicle on a back street. The other driver was really tempting fate as he was driving a bicycle and against a car he obviously had the odds stacked against him. While the incident naturally upset the car driver, he was even more disturbed over the fact the lad appeared to be nearing the age when he would graduate to driving a motor vehicle. Incidentally, the annual report from the Huron MOH, 50 YEARS AGO Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pickard, Mr. Clarence Pickard, and Miss Marguerite left this week for Frobisher, Sask., where they will spend the summer on their farm. Hensall Council voted a weekly grant of six dollars to the Band. The Band agreed to play every Saturday evening from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m. Truck load after truck load of building material leaves the Dashwood factory for Grand Bend where extensive building is taking place. The Hon. E, C. Drury, Premier of Ontario, will attend the 1st of July festivities at Centralia and will deliver an address, Over 150 registrations have been received for the Girls Work Conference to be held in the Exeter churches on Saturday and Sunday of this week. 25 YEARS AGO Charles Sovereign of Lucan is one of the many Canadian airmen who was held prisoner by the Germans and liberated by the advancing allied armies, Huron County has gone well over the top in the 8th Victory Loan. Every municipality in the county has oversubscribed its quota. Carey Joynt of Hensall, a former SHDHS student, graduated from the University of Western Ontario as a gold Medallist in honor history. Mr. Jos. Senior and Mr. J. Grieve, both members of the Session of Caven Presbyterian Church, were honored by the officials of that church prior to their departure. 15 YEARS AGO J. W. Weber. of J. W. Weber Ltd., Exeter, returned this week from an extensive advanced Dr. Evans, notes that this county has one of the highest accident rates in Ontario, and the fatality rate from accidents is the second highest in the province. We're at a loss to explain that situation, but it obviously should be of concern to all of us. Part of the problem may be evident from studies which show that, to many drivers, a car signifies freedom, independence and an opportunity for self assertion. Commenting on the studies, the London Observer concludes "we shall have to stop looking to motoring for emotional satisfaction, and find other outlets for the legitimate pleasures of speed, freedom, competition and even danger". "The great need, in fact, is to make driving dull. This will demand cooperation from manufacturers, advertisers, sporting interests, the press and television — all those in a position to glamorize or dramatize motoring." "There should be other outlets. The more cramped and humdrum our cities, and our lives, the more urgent need for escape routes." "But the immediate aim should be to eliminate all elements of sport from motoring on public roads. This need not remove all enjoyment — there are gentler driving pleasures, which are only available when the traffic moves smoothly, safely and non-competitively. But our more adventurous pleasures must be taken elsewhere." course in virology at Dr. Salsbury's Laboratories in Charles City, Iowa. Sandra Walper, 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Walper, Exeter, recorded the most outstanding individual achievement at South Huron Music Festival with two scholarships and five firsts. Mr, and Mrs. John Webster arrived home on Monday from England where they spent the past four months. Jack Doerr, professional photographer of Exeter, was re-elected to the Board of Officers at the seventy-first annual convention of the Ontario Society of Photographers held in Niagara Falls this week. Chamber of Commerce representatives from Hensall and Zurich were assured in Toronto on Friday that the Department of Highways would consider paving No. 84 Highway in the near'future. 10 YEARS AGO Richard N. Creech, a life-long resident of Exeter and one who has been actively associated in the community's progress, died on Tuesday in his 85th year. Monday night, Exeter PS 'board awarded a contract for installation of a public address system throughout the school, including the new addition. Miss Marilyn Strang, a student of Macdonald Hall, Guelph, is holidaying at her home having completed her year. The Exeter Ladies' Golf Club will open their season on Tuesday, May 10 according to plans set up at an executive meeting Monday night. Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Harvey have returned after spending the winter months in Florida. 1 Tree in the mail A n easy decision