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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1972-11-16, Page 4• ..... • • • Pure nonsense While we are on the subject of elec- tions, it's a good time to inquire about the little gimmick that was thrown into the Election Act this year—the one which says that all employers must provide four hours during the time the polls are open so their employees will have an opportunity to vote. What idiot thought that one up? It was so utterly ridiculous that it was virtually ignored—and rightly so. In every smaller community the time required to vote is usually about ten minutes, The polls are seldom farther than a few blocks from home in a town or village and only a mile or two in the country. And any person who has the slightest doubt he can make the grade has only to call one of the party campaign headquarters to have a car and driver pick him up. It is conceivable that some situations in a large city might be difficult, If a person lived in the west end of Toronto, for in- stance, and his work made it necessary to travel to the east end before the polls opened, he might find it hard to be back at his home poll before seven o'clock. Similar conditions might prevail in the sparsely settled areas of the west or far north. Had the regulation provided protection for a person who requested permission to leave work a bit earlier than usual, or to overstay his lunch hour in order to vote, it would have made some sense. But four hours is sheer nonsense. The bureaucrats who so gaily make these rules seem to forget they are doing so with someone else's money. Suppose there are seven million wage-earners in Canada. And suppose that their average pay is only $3.00 per hour, the total lost time would come to $12.00 per person, multiplied by seven million, The person who wrote in that little slice of stupidity just cost the nation $84 million. And don't run away with the foolish idea that it doesn't matter because it comes out of the employer's pocket. Money wasted or production time lost is a cost to every last individual Canadian. If employers lose $84 million they are forced to recover it one way or another—and the usual way is in increased prices for their products—paid by you and me. Four hours. For goodness sake that's enough time to fly to Cleveland and vote in the American presidential election. Perhaps someone in Ottawa got his elec- tions mixed up. Wingham Advance-Times Be prepared to pay Last week Ontario's Environment Minister James Auld announced a ban on three-quart paper milk containers and earlier the ministry did the same with disposable plastic milk jugs. He explains that the province is trying to ease the waste disposal burden. That such action is required can be easily seen by driving around any com- munity on garbage pickup day. Where families once had one or two garbage cans, they now require three or four to handle the week's refuse. At the same time, he indicated the government would increase its anti- littering advertising campaign over last year's budget of $150,000 Unfortunately, if we gain ground in the fight against litter, the garbage dumps will become even more burdened because the refuse has to go somewhere. In many cases, such as in this area, a large portion of the refuse in dumps is burned in open fires, thereby adding to the air and sight pollution problem. So it becomes a bit of a losing battle unless the government is prepared to step up its battle by banning many more of the items which add to our litter and dump burdens. Another avenue they should explore is providing increased aid to municipalities to erect the modern garbage incinerators which dispose of a large portion of the garbage without polluting the air. The furnaces are much too expensive for most small communities to consider alone, or even in conjunction with their neighbors.Increased government assistance would probably spur more of them on. In Exeter's case, the bulldozing charges at the dump could be eliminated and this money spent on the operation of a furnace without much additional cost. The war must be stepped up, because for every container banned, there appears to be a couple of new ones coming onto the market. If people are not prepared to give up the easy way of life provided in our throwaway society, they obviously must be prepared to pay extra for disposing of those containers. A no nonsense approach "Maybe now the government will know what it feels like to be in a minority." NOVEMBER TO ALL CUSTOMERS SERVED BY Hay Municipal Telephone System During the month of November Only, there will be No Instal- lation Charges for Installing On-Premises Extension Tele- ' phones or Contempra Telephones. RATES RESIDENCE On-Premises Standard Telephone PER MONTH $1.25 On-Premises Contempra Telephone $2.25 BUSINESS On-Premises On-Premises PER MONTH Standard Telephone $1.45 Contempra Telephone $2.45 Hay Municipal Telephone System W. C. HORNER — Secretary-Treasurer Ministryof the Environment Township of Usborne Notice of Public Hearing WHEREAS the Corporation of the TOWNSHIP OF USBORNE has submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment plans for a waste disposal site for landfilling, and has applied to the said Ministry for a Certificate of Approval for such site, all in accordance with Section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act, 1971, as amended, AND WHEREAS it appears from an examination of the said plans that the proposed site will be located on part of Lot 5, South East Boundary Concession, TOWNSHIP OF USBORNE; NOW THEREFORE this is to give notice that the Environmental Hearing Board of the said Ministry shall before the Executive Director gives his approval under Section 39(1) of the said Act, on the 23rd day of, November, 1972at 1:30 o'clock EST in the afternoon at the Township of Usborne Municipal Hall, Elimville, Ontario, hold a public hearing pursuant to Sections 33a(1) and 33d(1) of the said Act. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain the views of interested parties regarding the suitability of the site for the purpose proposed. A copy of the proposal of the said applicant will be available for inspection in the office of the municipal clerk of the TOWNSHIP OF USBORNE, Elimville, Ontario. ONTARIO MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT T. M. Murphy, Secretary Environmental Hearing Board Electors of Usborne There Will Be An Election For HURON BOARD of EDUCATION and HURON-PERTH SEPARATE SCHOOL BOARD Watch Next Week's Paper for Election Announcement From Returning Officer Improve your property now Your property is a prime investment— but only if it is well cared for. Check over your property now and arrange to repair and renovate as needed. Get the estimates from your supplier- contractor. Get the money from V and G: Get the satisfaction that comes from. knowing you have enhanced the worth of your investment in your property. VG The senior Trust COMpany devoted entirely to serving the people af Ontario. TICTORIA and GREY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 MAIN STREET EXETER it 9 "How come they don't make vacuum cleaners like that ?" n;Z:VM1ft?"*Mgalr Times Established 1873 OrtZEZIMMEAMEYELm ,4NSIN Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 Cocefeainie.sUorafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND O.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Piid in Advance Circulation, March 31, 1972, 5,037 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $8.00 Per Year; USA $10.00 '5! „ Editor Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Women's Editor — Gwyn Whilsmith Phone 235-1331 Mixture of boos and cheers Now that we've all settled down after that abortion of an election, we can get back to the important things of life: what's for dinner; our bursitis; raking the last of the blasted leaves; dusting off the curling boots; and worrying about our kids. Just before we bury the whole unpleasant mess. however, may I promise that I will make no more election predictions? Oh, I was right, I warned that the Cana- dian people are among the most volatile in the world when it come to politics. They proved it. And I prophesied that the Tories and NDP would gain, and that it would be the Liberals again with a minority govern- ment. But they didn't have to take me so seriously. I didn't mean that size of a minority. From now on, I shall desist from making forecasts, as it seems to put the hex on things. However, I take back none of what I said. Mr. Trudeau never did have the common touch, the politician's instinct. Mr. Stan- field still sounds as though he'd got both feet into one leg of his long-johns. And Mr, Lewis was never more smarmy than when the returns were coming in. Despite my disenchantment, at the last moment I decided to vote Liberal, chiefly because of fear that what did happen might happen. A ship of state with no rudder, two wheelsmen fighting for the wheel, and the winds of change blowing up into a typhoon. Some riding results were of particular interest to me. I was glad to see that my old friend, Ross Whicher, with whom I shared a couple of campaigns when we were mere boys, was one of the Lucky Liberals to squeak in. I was sorry to see another old friends, Perry Ryan, who represented Toronto Spadina for years, get the axe. He made the political mistake of standing by his principles, and quit the Liberals for the Tories when he couldn't agree with policy. A pity. I was also sorry to see Paul Hellyer elected. He is a politician whose ego seems equalled only by his ambition. The record: Ran for Liberal leadership, Beaten. Liberal cabinet minister. Quit. Founded Action Canada — a flop. Joined the Conservatives. He may have great abilities, but I'll never forgive him for unifying the armed forces. You see how little our vote depends on reason. I mentioned those three to suggest what a fickle creature the average Cana- dian voter is, I'd have voted for Whicher, Liberal, for old times' sake. For Ryan, Conservative, because he's a good man. And against Hellyer, Conservative, because of his many-coloured coat. There's an old-fashioned idea that Canadians are a reserved, conservative people, because we live in a stern and rigourous climate, and aren't given much to either dancing or rioting in the streets. The idea is completely un- founded. True, we don't do much of anything in the streets for six months a year, except scuttle along, cursing, noses dripping. But behind those steady, grey facades that others see live the real Canadians: pulsing, passionate; not grey but purple, In fact, sometimes that purple peeps through, usually in those same noses. Perhaps the most obvious ex- ample to illustrate the wild, emotional, inner Canadian is the Canada-Russia hockey series of recent fame. When our team was getting clobbered, most of us went around in a surly, cynical, almost vicious mood, snarling at wives and children, scoffing at our players, denigrating that vast, philanthropic institution, the NHL. You see, we were suf- fering. Our pride was hurt in the way that the pride of no mere Latin could be hurt. But when our team began to Don't look now but Christmas is just around the corner. That may bring a groan to those who anticipate the onslought on their pocketbook, but there are a few good benefits to be derived. One that is worth mentioning is the local Santa Claus parade, scheduled for Saturday, December 9. Jim Hennessey is in charge of this year's event and indicates it should even be better than last year. Three bands will be par- ticipating and already a number of floats have been entered. The prize money has been boosted again this year and is certainly worth going after for groups wishing to augment their coffers. Exeter's parade is now one of the best this side of Toronto and a continuance of that standing could bring many benefits. One of the greatest being a sense of community pride and achievement. * * * The young man burst into the boss' office, "I '11 have to have a raise sir, there are three com- panies after me". Impressed, the boss demanded win, we showed our true selves, exuberant, friendly, joyous, ac- tually cheering out loud, throwing our arms around com- plete strangers. Oh, it did the heart good, I can tell you, to see the Canadian character as it really is, None of this "good losers" nonsense of other northern races. Our hearts Were in every cross-check, and every one of us was there, at least in spirit, as our boys, at the winning goal, kissed each other and hugged each other and slobbered over each other, Show me another nation that can boo its "boys" in defeat and cheer them in victory, as we did, and show you another nation with real heart. And that's what we're like in elections. All heart, No brains, Give us a brilliant, colourful prime minister and we cheer him to the rafters. As long as he's winning. We're a funny lot. of the young executive, "what three, may I ask?" "Light, telephone and finance!" * * Drivers in Exeter should be reminded that council last week gave final approval to the erec- tion of 17 new stop signs. There are now only about four streets on which you can travel the full distance without having to obey one of the new markers, However, stop signs do not present any guarantee against accidents. It still behooves drivers to keep a watch on cars approaching from other direc- "What a nightmare! I dreamed that I was my actual age!" 50 Years Ago On Tuesday of last week, there was a break-down in the engine that hauls the train from the north. The freight engine was used to take the train to London. This year three of the Junior Farmers Improvement Associations of Huron County held plowing competitions. They were Wingham, Exeter and Howick. The Exeter competition was in stubble and was judged by Mr. Jas. McLean, Richmond Hill. The standing of the Exeter boys was as follows: Oliver Rowcliffe, Harold Jeffrey, Earl Shapton, Victor Jeffrey, Milton Luther, Alvin Pym and Carman Doupe. On Monday while Mr. E. Rowcliffe was driving south on Main St. with W.J. Statham's bread wagon, he was run into by Dr. Graham's auto. The car struck the horse and carried it a short distance. The shafts of the wagon and part of the harness were broken, and the horse slightly bruised, About 200 car loads of celery have been shipped from Thedford this fall, 25 Years Ago The new highway between Ex- eter and Dashwood is being built. The London Civic Symphony sponsored by the Exeter . Recreational Council are presen- ting a high class musical program in James Street United Church tonight. The Exeter Badminton Club swept the Ladies' the Mixed Doubles Tuesday night in a tour- nament with Seaforth, Plans were discussed at the Lions Club meeting Friday evening for setting up an organization to raise and ad- minister a fund for the erection of a hospital in Exeter, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Penwarden, Centralia celebrated the 25th an- niversary of their marriage in the Eastern Star chapter rooms. 15 Years AO The new Morrison Darn in Osborne township was unofficial- ly christened last week when rains and melting snow filled the tions to make sure they are going to obey the signs. One of their main advantages is in slowing down traffic, because it is found that clear stretches soon turn into speedways. For the past couple of months, we have been experiencing some delays in getting news from our correspondents. In this business, a delay of a day can mean a delay of a week if news doesn't reach here until Thursday instead of Wednesday. Delays in the mail aren't new and may never be completely overcome even with zip codes and postal zones. We got a big chuckle out of an experiment conducted recently by a chap from Philadelphia. He mailed several letters to New York and then jumped on his horse and rode to that city. You guessed it( He managed to beat some of the letters he had entrusted to the post office. When researchers in Detroit tracked down the fate of 100,000 paper clips, they found that thousands were simply dropped on the floor and swept away. Only 20,000 were used to clip papers together, while 14,163 were twisted or broken during phone calls, 19,143 became chips in lunchtime card games. The rest were used as toothpicks, pipe and nail cleaners, and to hold cleaning together. 40 million gallon reservoir and water rose 18 inches over the top of the spillway. Officials said the reservoir filled in less than a day. A safety patrol 'program was launched for public school students at Hensall last week. Senior students supervise crossings at four intersections near the school four times a day, headed by Captain Jerry Drysdale. Charlene and Marlene Desjar- dine, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Desjardine, RR 1, Grand Bend,celebrated their fifth birthdays on Sunday. Students from Dashwood, Staf- fa and Crediton were among the seven to be awarded UWO bur- saries recently by the Huron County scholarship committee. They were Robert Clarke, RR 3, Dashwood, and Donald Dearing, RR 1, Staffa and Katherine On- drejicka, RR 1, Crediton, who received a scholarship for the girl from the county with the highest average at the universi- ty. 10 Years Ago Exeter's second newspaper, published by members of room 13 at Exeter Public School was dis- tributed following its first publication Thursday. The paper was complete with cartoons, news stories, editorials, and jokes. Members of the staff were David Frayne, Norman Howey, Karen McArthur, Randy Jones, Ron Durand, Gary Wurm, Graham Hern and Linda Wells. Biddulph Township Public School Board has taken an option on eight acres of land on the farm of Frank Hardy for the proposed site of Biddulph Central School, The Meritorious Service Medal, highest award of the Royal Canadian Legion, was presented to R.E."Ted" Pooley during the Remembrance Day Service at Exeter Legion Hall Saturday night. Mrs. Clifford Jory, RR 1, Kirkton, teacher at Exeter PS received her Bachelor of Arts degree at the recent convocation at UWO, She majored in English and History, and has taught at Exeter Public School for the past eight years. This is the year when capital punishemnt must be reviewed again and indications are the majority of Canada's politicians are in favor of leaving the regulations as they are. While this makes provisions for capital punishment in the murder of policemen or prison guards, there has yet to be an execution under these terms. Canada, of course, now has a large number of new members of parliament after the recent 'elec- tion, but it is doubtful if capital Ipunishment will return. This is not to say there aren't those who still feel capital punishment should be meted out to killers. We don't agree with that, but we do think Canada in general is too lax in punishment for con- victed slayers, many of whom are freed to roam the streets just a few years after perpetrating their crimes. However, we come up short in supporting actions taken by the government of Libya. That coun- try has just reformed its criminal law after unsuccessful experiments with Western-style legislation. They've now reverted to desert simplicity. Under the law, thieves will be /, punished by having a hand chopped off; persons taking part in armed robberies will lose an arm and a leg; and a robber who kills his victim will be executed. To be sure, it has some benefits! No parole board! No probation! No bail! All that is required is an accurate swing of the scimitar. Commenting on the situation, Parkhill Gazette's "Pete" also notes there is little worry about convicted killers escaping from custody and taking off for Spain. "How far will he get without his head?" he questions. * * *