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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-08-27, Page 4Could end Members of Exeter council — and perhaps most councils in the area — have missed out on a golden opportunity this summer to eliminate unsightly weed problems in the community, The problem has been broached at most council meetings this summer and, while steps have been taken to get rid of the weeds, lack of equipment and time have not enabled a complete eradication, Perhaps council should have considered an all-out attack this year by hiring a number of students, many of whom have had difficulty getting jobs. The students could have been provided with the necessary equipment nuisance and set loose to tackle the job and provide themselves with some income. The interesting part of the proposal is the fact it would not cost local taxpayers any money — except those on whose property weeds were cut, The law provides that the costs involved can be billed to the property owner, so the salary of the students and the rental or purchase of the equipment required for the job could all have been billed back to the owners of the unsightly properties. It may be too late to implement such a program now, but it is an idea that members of council could consider for the future. Is there fair system? Education taxes have always been a popular topic of conversation — and complaint — and they are getting much attention these days in view of the attempts by the Federation of Agriculture and the Farmers' Union to have education taxes removed from property assessment. They point out that the present system is not equitable and the ownership of land does not form a basis of one's ability to pay for education. This is by no means a new argument, and the years in which it has been debated without much resulting change would suggest it is indeed complex. Actually, there appears to be no sound reason to single out education costs in the debate about property taxes. Although they constitute the biggest bite, they are no different than the other costs met by property taxes. So, if the value of property a person owns does not indicate his ability to pay for services, let's get rid of property taxes entirely. We're not too far from that point anyway, particularly in some areas. For instance, only 30 percent of the education costs in Huron are provided by property tax. So, while it may not appear to be a fair basis of taxation, it must be remembered by those who argue against it that at present it does not form the main source of revenue for many of the services and facilities we require. Once property taxes are eliminated, where do we get the money to make up what is required to meet the costs? Income may indicate a person's ability to pay taxes, but it is far from equitable. The man with a taxable income of $20,000 doesn't think it is fair that he should pay a higher percentage of tax than the man with a $2,000 taxable income. The bachelor screams about his high rate, arguing that he is over-taxed to provide education, recreation and other types of facilities and services for kids of which he has none. Sales tax doesn't even present a fair system. Many of the dollars collected from this source come from people who can ill-afford to pay them. However, if an equitable system of taxation can be found, it will be equally important to find an equitable system of dispensing the services provided by those tax dollars. Any type of grant, loan or service provided to any particular individual or group would have to be eliminated if it was found that a similar service was not available to other individuals or groups in our society. Not even socialism can work things out that equitably and the fact remains we will always be faced with inequitable situations as long as man inhabits the face of the earth — or moon for that matter. However, attempts to change the system and make it as fair as possible should be welcomed, although the chaos which could be created by a tax withholding scheme could prove harmful. Not much help A recommendation has been made to the provincial government that a moratorium be called on tax increases caused by residential property improvements. The report notes that property maintenance is an important aspect of environmental control, but that it is hard to encourage people to improve their property when they expect to be penalized by higher taxes for doing so. It is suggested that an exemption on tax increases could cover a five-year period, with a limit of $5,000 of assessment on any single property at any one time. Actually, while some improvements to a home do increase taxes, we doubt there are many cases where people decide not to make improvements on that basis. The most common reason for not making home improvements is lack of capital, with the tax increase being a very small part of the cost of home improvements. In fact, most of the home improvements that should be encouraged, such as a new roof, wiring, paint job, structure repairs, etc. do not result in tax increases to any great extent. Generally speaking, neglect, unsightly and insanitary conditions are most prevalent among the homes owned by those in low income brackets and probably the only way the situation can be corrected is to provide these people with home improvement grants. Rememdeit de 604? Driver training classes were instituted at South Huron district High School in January, 1965, under the instruction of the late Claude Farrow. Students had to complete a test to obtain instruction driving permits and Murray Holmes of the department of transport is shown talking with three of the first class, Jane Southcott, Joan Rader and Pat Stevens. Postal problem stirs debate QUALITY.** BEEF LOBO ABATTOIR OWNED AND OPERATED BY TEO AND GARY VAN STEED Highway 22 Three Miles West of Lobo PHONE ILDERTON 6661230 EXETER 235-2602 or 235-0349 Sides of Beef ggo Top Feed-lot Beef U LS. We Can Supply You With • Sides, Hinds or Front of Beef • Sides of Pork • Any Cut of Beef or Pork PORK IS CHEAP Get Our Prices Before You Buy WE DELIVER IN EXETER AND AREA CUSTOM KILLING AND PROCESSING IS OUR BUSINESS Competitive Prices SCHOOL VITAMINS '1.98 = = Vitamin Iron Compound with 11. _= 200 TABLETS smarm / .40 0***%kv•Mq "r;R 1PO4 Times Established 1873 - Advocate Established 1881 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 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 086 Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1969, 4,751 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $6.00 Per Year; USA $8.00 WINCI:=1"MirTWattStir mostams osik otAN w ir ,R4r Jet setters stayed home Once upon a time, summer travel was for the very rich. They went to Europe on a luxury liner, ate eight times a day, stayed at fashionable places on the continent, dressed for dinner, and all that jazz, while the rest of us sweated it out. The not-quite-so-rich, but still wealthy, flocked to the great lodges and summer hotels: St. Andrews by the Sea; Manoir Richelieu; Jasper and Banff. They were safe there from the hoi-polloi and subserviently served by secretly insolent bellboys and waitresses. The moderately well-to-do had a cottage, perhaps a day's travel from home, with a backhouse, an ice-box with real ice in it, coal-oil lamps and a rowboat. They lived quietly, simply, and went to bed with the whip-poor-wills. The poor, the working class, picniced in the park, attended ballgames, and watched parades. In the evening, they sat on the front porch, murmuring gossip, drinking lemonade, and listening to the cries of their young, playing run-sheep-run or red-light in the velvet dusk. Things have changed. The rich now fly to the Greek Islands, or Japan, or Rome, where they can live exactly as they could at home, but with slavies of whatever nationality assuring them that they are still the very rich. The not-quite-so-rich have deserted the big hotels and lodges, most of which are on the verge of bankruptcy. These places have, in desperation, become a haven for conventions and middle class poor tippers. The original inhabitants have fled to Mexico -City, Scandinavia or the Caribbean , where they can still escape the hoi-polloi. The moderately well-to-do still, in many cases, have a ..Y•fi KM.'fit Amalgamated 1924 The postal interruptions have joined the weather as main topics of conversation in the area in recent weeks. The lock-outs at the local office in the past have been causing delays of up to .10 days for first class mail and naturally this has irritated a number of people. Loss of business in this particular area has not been severe, although those firms requiring mail delivery of parts and goods have been hampered in maintaining customer service and no doubt have lost some orders due to the delays in getting merchandise. Conversations with two businessmen last week resulted in similar ideas being presented, not so much in how to settle the strike perhaps, but how to produce more revenue for the post office department. Both men suggested that businesses and home owners being provided with postal delivery to their door should be required to pay for this service. After all, it appears unfair that a businessman in Exeter should be required to rent a box at the local post office and then walk to pick up his mail daily while a businessman in Goderich, for instance, has this service provided at no charge. It was suggested that this mail delivery service should be worth at least $10 per year to those fortunate enough to have it, and there is no question that even such a nominal charge would result in sizeable receipts for the post office department. Another suggestion presented was a cost of living bonus for postal employees in metropolitan areas or other districts where the cost of living may be high. It was pointed out that a postal worker earning $6,000 per annum would have an easier time living in Exeter than in Toronto, particularly in the matter of housing. While the gap in housing costs may be closing to some degree, it is still almost twice as expensive to find accommodation in Toronto as it is in Exeter. A cost of living bonus to Toronto workers would perhaps be a consideration in an effort to settle the present dispute, although similar suggestions for teachers and other type of provincial or national workers has not met with much favor. * * * Another suggestion in the postal matter was a proposal that all government departments and agencies start paying for postal services. Judging from the amount of government mail we receive daily, this would probably make the postal department extremely rich summer cottage. But it is now two or three or more hours of maniacal driving. They now have indoor plumbing, a refrigerator, electric lights, and everything from a power cruiser to a canoe. Some are bereft because they receive only one TV channel. They seldom get to bed before three a.m. And the working class, as they used to be called when they worked? They hire a trailer and cover two thousand miles. Or they rent a cottage and sand-and-sun it for two weeks. Or they get together and fly in to a fishing lodge once reserved for millionaires. There are a lot of reasons for the change, Everybody has a car. Highways are better. Holidays are longer and you even get vacation pay. And, of course, air travel on chartered flights has made it possible for people with nothing to go almost anywhere. The only people who are poor enough today not to travel are the young people. Dot that doesn't stop them. With rucksack and — Please turn to page 5 in short order and pay boosts could be made with little difficulty. At the same time, it would probably make other departments more aware of the number of mailing pieces they produce, and if the costs were placed on them, they no doubt would have to consider more carefully whether the materials they are sending out are worth the expenditures involved. Unfortunately, we have a suspicion that the country would face a total economic collapse if this suggestion was implimented because the number of jobs being provided through government mailing pieces is astronomical ranging from the guy who cuts the trees to provide the pulp for the paper, right through to the writers and those responsible for the task of folding, inserting, addressing and sending the material. However, that is surely a false base for our economy. * * The final suggestion was that the post office department should get out of the "junk mail" delivery job. While this would reduce income considerably, it would also reduce the work load immensely and perhaps we could expect better service in other areas of mail delivery service. Following the recent lock-outs at the local post office we noted that much of the file 13 material appeared to arrive quicker than some of the important items we required and no doubt other people found this to be true also. * * * Speaking of mailing items, Mayor Jack Delbridge remarked 50 YEARS AGO The Dashwood baker is kept busy day and night turning out loaves of bread for his many customers from Grand Bend. The work of preparing Wellington Street for the new pavement is about completed. The canvass among the farmers for gravel was most successful and met with a hearty response close to 1,000 loads of gravel being promised. Wednesday, August 20 is the last of the weekly half holidays in Exeter for 1920. By far the best load of cattle leaving this station for many years was shipped by Mr. Wes Snell on Tuesday to the Gunn Packing Co., who will show them dressed at the Toronto Exhibition. Mrs. W. Winer, of Stephen, was painfully injured on S a turda,y last by a falling pitch fair which struck her on the head and shoulder. 25 YEARS AGO Jack McKnight, while working at Canadian Canners Tuesday, had the tips of two fingers of his right hand badly chewed when it got caught in some cogwheels. George Hudson, who has been caretaker of the Hensall Continuation and Public School for the past 18 years, has tendered his resignation, and Thomas Richardson has been appointed to succeed him. Dr. and Mrs. E. S. Steiner and Tom returned on Monday from a visit with relatives in Morton and Rochester, N.Y. The harvest is very nearly all gathered in this vicinity and it has been an abundant one and favored with good weather. Both hay and wheat have been excellent. 15 YEARS AGO: Although British runner Gordon Pin ie didn't come hear the other night that he is flooded with material to read. "I don't know how I'm supposed to find time to read all this stuff and keep up with Ann Landers too," he remarked. * Our recent comment about water fountains being a mecca for tourists and the fact that Exeter's was well hidden brought a response from PUC manager Hugh Davis. He explained that the water fountain at the side of the PUC office had been installed by the Commission and was not the one which used to serve thirsty patrons at the library corner. The latter was owned by the town and Hugh reports that the water connections are still available there if council wished to have the fountain erected again. The library lawn is an ideal location because it is easily spotted amd perhaps council would consider having it erected there again now that reconstruction has been completed. The town clock has also been up for much discussion lately and one of our readers arrived at the office this week with a picture of a new clock in the city of Orillia. It was a clock that had been taken down from the Bank of Montreal and donated to the community. Such. a project is being discussed in Exeter, and while some members of council still question the need for a clock; we do know there are many people 'who miss having a public time-piece to check when they are down town. setting a three-mile record on Wednesday, he came only four . seconds from a new Canadian two-mile mark in the same race. Fifteen hundred spectators turned out to witness the event and town officials presented -gifts to Pirie and other runners at a banquet following in Exeter Public School. The Ontario government has ordered a survey of the Pinery on which to base plans for its development as a public park. Nearly 100 farmers and their wives are planning to participate in the bus tour to Peel County sponsored by the Huron Crop and Soil Improvement Association on Friday. Construction of an $18,000 Christian Reformed ,Church at the north end of Exeter started last week. Jimmy Hayter, Jr., whose father is a well-known hockey and baseball player, won a Shetland pony in a draw at the second annual frolic of Dashwood Men's Club on Wednesday evening. 10 YEARS AGO Jack Darling and Garbie Fritz were chosen king and queen of Exeter Kinsmen's summer playground which concluded Thursday night with a cowboy and Indian parade. Robert Southcott, Carfrey Cann and Harvey Pollen attended the eighth annual conference of the United Church of Canada at Alma College last weekend. The addition of three new rooms to Exeter Public School is progressing rapidly as school opening time draws near. The extension will give the building a total of 16 rooms to handle record enrollment this fall, George II. Follick, Ilensall, has retired after serving as manager of Wm, Rennie Seeds Ltd., Hensall, for the past 48 years, HUNTLEY'S DRUG STORE f.- EXETER 235-1070 = ,h, illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllir NOTICE Huron - Perth Tuberculosis & Respiratory Disease Association (The Christmas Seal organization assisting in the de- tection, prevention and control of Asthma, Chronic Bron- chitis and Emphysema). Our association is in no way connected with any or- ganization currently soliciting funds for asthma and/or other respiratory diseases. The annual Christmas Seal mail campaign is the ONLY appeal that the Huron - Perth TBRD Association makes for funds. The Huron - Perth TBRD Association is associated AM' with the Ontario and Canadian TB and RD Asso- ciations and their international affiliates. Our as- sociation is affiliated with the University of Wes- tern Ontario School of Medicine, London, Ontario, through its association with the Ontario Thoracic Society. We support research in respiratory dis- eases on both the national and provincial levels. Inquiries invited: 121 Wellington St., Stratford, Ont. Telephone 271-7500. INVEST NOW13 4 on Guaranteed Investment Certificates. Also "CASHABLE AT ANY TIME" Guaranteed Savings Certificates up to 81/2 %. For further information contact your financial adviser or write or telephone collect : STANDARD TRUST 214 Bay Street, Toronto 1 363-5477 area code 416 A FEDERALLY CHARTERED COMPANY MEMBER CANADA DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE THROUGH Hodgson Limited 2354420 EXETER Wm. J. Amos Insurance LUCAN AND PARKHILL John R. Consitt ZURICH. BOX 130 236.4332