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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1971-07-22, Page 4Gain more than booze A random survey of a few area residents failed to turn up any great opposition to the Ontario government's plan to reduce the drinking and voting age to 18. That's now the magical age of "accountability". With the new privileges, young people will also be expected to assume a great deal of responsibility. They'll be able to sign agreements and contracts on their own behalf, and many will soon learn that the treacheries evident in many segments of the "market place" cannot be dismissed with youthful abandon. Being recognized as an adult entails problems far more complex than marking a ballot or deciding on which brand of intoxicating beverage one should use. Ask the man who has so many credit payments to make that it becomes necessary to consolidate his payments under a new plan that gives him a better chance of getting out from under his plight, Ask the man who has his wages garnisheed to meet a debt, or the woman who has tied herself up for a number of magazines she neither wants nor can afford just because she didn't understand what she was signing. Many adults wish they were outside the age of accountability. We hope those now entering that new age will act more wisely. Being accountable for one's actions is indeed more than obtaining the right to drink. It drives some people to it! Slightly misleading A heading used on a news story in last week's issue may have been slightly misleading to some of our readers. It was noted that "seven cars lose licenses" in a recent safety check by the department of transport in Lucan. Considering that 276 vehicles were checked during the week, people may have come to the conclusion that there aren't many unsafe cars on the highways. Perhaps the point that should have been stressed was the fact only 41 cars which were checked were given mechanically fit stickers. While only seven were in such poor shape to have their licenses removed on the spot, the large majority were found to have some defects which needed correction. That means that less than 15 percent of the vehicles checked were found in perfect condition. Because the police don't usually have late model vehicles go through the test, the average would jump somewhat above that 15 percent, but nevertheless it would appear safe to predict that over half the cars on our highways are not mechanically fit. That's a rather sobering thought, particularly when it is noted in many crashes that the basic reason was a mechanical failure of one of the vehicles involved. That should certainly suggest to many drivers that they are taking needless risks by not having their cars inspected periodically by qualified mechanics. Human errors in driving lead to enough carnage on our highways without the added risk of unsafe motor vehicles. Remember, your car may have had only a 15 percent chance of passing last week's safety check. Those aren't very good odds when your life is at stake. Telephone pals We know of several older people in the area who have made their own arrangements of signals, so that if a light isn't turned out, or a blind not raised, someone goes to investigate. Still others have a set time to phone each other, each day to check that all is well. The American Legion Auxiliary in Lakeview, Oregon, has sponsored a "telephone pal" project. Elderly people who are living alone and wish the service have their names listed in a directory. Then a phone call is made by a member of the Auxiliary to each one of the specified live-aloners. If no answer, then a particular friend or a neighbour is notified to see if everything is all right..If not all right, the proper authorities are called to investigate. This would seem like an easy and very useful project for a group to undertake. It could be done by people in their own homes and would give some who have nothing to do but think about themselves a chance to think about someone else for a change. Ridgetown Dominion These will cool you off oriel. %tat tft "I've decided to better myself financially—I quit!" • Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mall Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1970, 4,675 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $6.00 Per Year; USA $8.00 MtaairMISIVIWOOMENZEZZEVVESSENSAMUMENVERIMENA SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., 0.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor —Bill Batten—Advertising Manager Phone 235-1331 ova ',WAN Wog," MILT DAL SAVE Now On Riding Mowers and Garden Tractors A Revolutionary New WATERLESS TOILET BY PERDISAN NO BUCKET TO EMPTY NO ODOUR — NO ELECTRICITY — NO SEPTIC TANK & TILE REQUIRED — WILL NOT FREEZE — NO INCONVENIENCE Ideal unit for cottage, ski eh.alets that are used all winter or for week-end enjoyment. Installs easily anywhere or completely portable. Also the perfect toilet for year round use in cottage areas that have a rocky terain, or too close to water where septic tank system is too expensive or impossible to install. If you are fastidious the Perdisan waterless toilet brings you indoor cleanliness and convenience of modern bathroom facilities. Also ideal for farms, motels, rural homes, service sta- tions, boats, construction sites and small factories that have a ACT NOW and take advantage of Special 10% DISCOUNT GOOD ONLY DUR ING JULY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND DEMONSTRATION VISIT YOUR DEALERS SHOWROOM NOW 4 A 4 1 Or BALL-MACAULAY Uncovering an insidious plot During the winter, I literally grind my teeth when I know I must make a trip to the city. The idea sours my soul, my stomach, and my normally sweet disposition. I don't just think, I know what to expect during any part, or the whole, of the 180-mile round trip. "Freezing rain." That means crawling along, half blind, peering out the window because the windshield has a quarter-inch of ice on it, and wondering when some idiot is going to come out of nowhere and clobber you. "Scattered snow flurries." That is a weather department euphemism, in these parts, for a howling blizzard. The only thing that is scattered are the wits of the weather forecaster. "Slight drifting conditions." That means a 40 m.p.h. wind sweeping white clouds across the road just as some jerk is trying to pass you and there's a ten-ton gravel truck right in front of you. Oh, they can't fool me. But I just grin and swear it. However, I get my revenge in July. I sit under my oak trees and chuckle — yes, chuckle — as I think of all those poor, tormented creatures belting their way through the mad traffic, trying to get to where I am. It's not a nasty chuckle. Those chaps have my utmost sympathy. It's just a little sort of revenge chuckle. The kind of thing you might hear Boris Karloff emit- ting as he sends his creator, Dr. Frankenstein, up in flames. Sometimes, when my chuckle gets out of control, I am decent enough to take a walk downtown and stroll around looking at all those sweaty, frustrated, in- furiated tourists, snarling at their spouses and children. My natural sentiments take over, and I can scarce forebear to weep, as I think of what they've been through to get here, what they are going through now, and what they have to do to get home. When my emotion gets quite out of control, I sometimes drive soberly to the beach and survey the scene. This usually plunges me into further depths of com- passion. Everybody is so fat. Over here is a 200-pound lady in a 12-ounce bikini, dragging two kids, a beach chair, assorted towels and 200 pounds. She is utterly miserable as the sweat destroys her makeup. And don't forget she has to walk half a mile back to the cottage, hauling whimpering offspring, and prepare dinner for her husband, who is fighting his way up through the circus on wheels, her mother and father, who have been invited for a week, her Aunt We have no intention of making any comments regarding the painters' strike, but we have uncovered a very serious plot amongst paint manufacturers that requires some immediate attention. This great plot came to light while we battled with a paint brush over the weekend. (After all, with Toronto painters now getting $7.27 an hour, it's not a bad skill to cultivate. However, the thought of riches is quickly dispelled for do-it- yourselfers when this manufacturers' plot comes to light. It's very simple, really. We congratulate them for having conceived it and perpetrated it so long without any government investigations. In fact, we haven't even seen any complaints in Sound Off about it. What is the plot? Well, it's to produce a variety of sizes, none of which is ample to do the job required. If you buy a pint, you find you have a spot that requires about six more brush strokes and you have to go out and buy another entire pint. If you buy a quart, you need enough to do another three-foot square section and have to buy a whole quart. If you buy a gallon, you have a six-foot square section left and have to buy at least another quart. The buying public is patiently waiting for the manufacturer who will produce different size cans. He'll have a can that provides a pint, plus six more brush strokes worth; or a quart with enough to do that extra three-foot section; or a gallon that will hold that amount plus enough to do a six-foot section. Such containers will eliminate junky basements which have partial containers of a variety of sizes and colors. It will make for happier customers. It's so simple we can't imagine why no one ever thought of it before. + + + Some time ago, Exeter council set about to investigate the costs of fluoridation for the local water system. A few preliminary figures were obtained, but to the best of our knowledge, the matter was never completely tabled. Because of the interest displayed by a number of ratepayers at that time, we hope council will make the figures Jessie and Uncle Tom, who have just dropped in on their way through. For a few days. And down there, near the water, is an elderly gentleman, flaming red from bald dome to calloused toes. Enjoying himself, His paunch begins just below his chin and continues almost to his knees. How happy he seems as the children jump over him, spraying sand and cold water. What a delighted smile he produces when the teenagers' football hits him squarely in the belly. He's at the beach for two Weeks, and he's having fun if it kills him. The little kids are wonderful, too. Never a dull moment. If they haven't lost their sand-pail, they've cut their foot on a rock, or they want money for pop, or they're out too far, or they've Please turn to page 5 available or tell us what their decision was regarding the matter. + + + Ever watch kids play and wonder how most of them survive to be adults? They climb everything and anything imaginable and if you spent one whole day watching a normal youngster you'd probably be in a cold sweat half the time and end up being a nervous wreck. We have four examples at home and it is probably the best reason anyone needs to get up and come to work every Monday morning. It's less hectic by a long shot. We don't really know how the "worrying kind" manage to raise a family. Most kids have a complete lack of ability to comprehend the meaning of the word "don't" and even if they do, they manage to become deaf whenever an adult uses it. This whole idea came to light when we arrived at the office to complete our column and found some "tips" from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind on our desk. The first one noted that parents should warn children against cutting golf balls open. The centre of the ball sometimes contains sulphuric acid, zinc 75 YEARS AGO The village of Zurich was thrown into an intense state of excitement Tuesday morning when it became known that Messrs. Johnson Bros. Woollen Mills were on fire. A large crowd gathered and succeeded in preventing the fire from spreading although the mill and about 15,000 pounds of wool were destroyed. The fire originated from a heated shaft. Exeter presented a rather dull appearance, Monday, July 13. A large number from town and surrounding country celebrated Orangemen's Day at Goderich. Two or three mischievous young villians gained entrance to Mrs. Gould's soap factory on Thursday night last and did several dollars worth of damage by cutting up a large quantity of soap with an axe and upsetting nearly everything around the place. 25 YEARS AGO Nearly 3,000 spectators were on hand to see the first horse meet in Exeter since 1941. A $55,000 contract for rebuilding the north pier at Grand Bend has been awarded to the Detroit River Construction Co. of Blenheim. J. A. Traquair is adding an extension to his hardware store, An increase of three pounds in the individual sugar ration for 1946 Was announced from Ottawa. Nancy, three year old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Orville Webber, had the misfortune to fall from a chair last week and fracture her collarbone, 15 YEARS AGO Guenther-Tuckey Transports Ltd. this week received delivery Of a 31-foot bulkmobile conveyor tank truck for salt, the second of its kind in Ontario, Chipmunks, low-winged sulphide and other materials which may be harmful to eyes and hands. You guessed it! All afternoon our number three son had been playing with an old golf ball. He was pounding on it, and despite repeated warnings, was tossing it around the windows. Naturally, we had expressed some concern about the window, but didn't realize the hidden dangers if he should manage to crack the ball open. Now we have another worry. Best lock up all our golf balls, although the way most of them fly after we hit them at the golf course, we think ours are of a safe variety. They must have lead centres. + + + This appears to be a good weekend to be shopping in Exeter. At time of writing, we had only a few ideas of the specials merchants were going to offer for sidewalk sale days, but they were dandies. However, we know one chap who may miss the event. Our dark room technician advises he has no need for any sidewalk. Perhaps he can buy a monster at one of the monster sales which are advertised periodically. monoplanes, have been authorized for use by the R.C.A.F. for training. First shipment of the light craft is expected to arrive at Centralia this week. Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Desjardine and family of Grand Bend have developed a private wildlife sanctuary on their farm on the Bluewater highway. They have collected over 100 ducks and geese, deer, birds, bantams, fish, turtles, St. Bernard dogs and a Shetland pony. Ward Fritz, Zurich, owner of the' service station at the corner of Highways No. 4 and 83, notified Exeter council he was prepared to go ahead with a lawsuit if the council passes a bylaw restric- ting the hours of operation for service stations. Bob Dinney won the second tournament sponsored by the newly-organized Exeter Golf Club. He carded three birdies. Observe water safety apilwwwwwwwwiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiliniliammtpilmniiiimiiiiimmilaammimmilimos• = • ••• ...t. - Yes, Were .._._ .F.-.• a Still In = E E E g Business = = 7-±- --a• = A11111111111 lllll 1 lllllllllllllllllllllllllll 11111 lllllllllll 11111 lllllllllllllll 1111111111111111111111 lll 1 lllllllllll 11111 Special Sidewalk Sale "Give-Away" Prices This Weekend Milt Robbins & Son !mix Main at James At The Back Door Exeter 235-2940 LIMITED HENSALL - PHONE 262-2713 BALL-MACAULAY LIMITED CLINTON PHONE 482-9514 BALL-MACAULAY , LIMITED SEAFORTH PHONE 527-0910 10 YEARS AGO Rev. Isidore J. Poisson, parish priest of .St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church for seven years died enroute to a London hospital late Tuesday afternoon. Garnet Hicks and Jim Taylor were named to the County School Board to represent Exeter and Hensall, respectively. Mrs. James Kirkland, a charter member and past noble grand of the Pride of Huron Rebekah Lodge, was awarded the Decoration of Chivalry at the recent IOOF Rebekah Assembly in Toronto. Susan Cann, daughter of Mr, & Mrs. Bruce Cann, graduated with highest scholastic standing as a certified nursing assistant at Wingham General Hospital, last Wednesday afternoon. Sunday, a heavy down-pour, with strong winds and hail, flooded gardens, flattened grain, . uprooted corn and potatoes and blew down trees in Lucan, Hydro was off for more than an hour, Now located at the rear of our former showroom. Just a few steps east on James Street.