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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-10-04, Page 4exeferZimes-Abuorafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., 0.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Women's Editor — Susan Greer Phone 235-1331 STUDENTS Typewriters for Sale or Rent ••••••••••111 a 0111,111101110 0011111/ 71/ 0000000000 mort Reasonable Rates 711. exeferZiines-Abuocafe 235-1331 Decrease upsets TELLitit ••••••011 Agriculture Minister William Stewart has reacted rather quickly to the "feed- back" that has been received on a proposal to phase out the Centralia. College of Agricultural Technology. The wisdom being shown by the provin- cial government in rejecting such a proposal is most commendable, and ob- viously appreciated by the residents of this area. However, we suggest that in the future, the government or its agencies look at such suggestions before they are presented to the public and indicate their opinion regarding those suggestions. In that way, the upsetting nature of the suggestions could be greatly decreased. Listen The VD Blues The Canadian Broadcasting Corpora- tion is often the target of somewhat biting editorial comment. Thus, we consider it only fair that the Corporation be commend- ed for its courage in screening the con- troversial film on the ever-growing problem of venereal disease, titled "V.D. Blues". Gonorrhea and syphilis will not simply "go away" through being ignored. The two diseases constitute a growing and terribly dangerous health problem not only in Canada but all over the globe. Neither dis- ease is new, both have been killers and cripplers for several thousand years. Final- ly, the public "ostrich", thanks to the C.B.C., has had its head taken out of the sand for a realistic attack on a matter of public concern. The Canadian army, during W.W. H, literally drenched servicemen with a somewhat similar film depicting the dangers of V.D. "V.D. Blues" is simply an updating and modernization on this same theme. If anything, the present film is somewhat milder than that beamed regularly at servicemen. The future of thousands of our young citizens may well depend on the effec- tiveness of a strong campaign to bring the problem into the open, thus lining it up for a full assault by health authorities and parents which hopefully may either control the dreaded diseases altogether, or at least put a permanent brake upon their further spreading. True, the video showing now reaches a very different age grouping. However, we recall the story told us by a local parent who recently decided it was time his lad knew the "facts of life", He took the lad aside and informed him of the topic he wished to discuss. The lad's reaction was simply "Sure Dad. What would you like to know?" V.D. has spread through the centuries largely because of the myths and old-wives tales concerning the diseases coming under this general heading. A full and frank dis- cussion plus viewing on the subject has long been overdue, in our opinion. What would you like to see? 4.I • d like a loan at the stunt, itz?oresi rates as iluti know there." Serious problem The accident involving the Credition fire truck last week should serve to remind area residents of the problems they create by rushing to fires. The delays that can be created by onlookers prove costly — and at times dis- astrous — and certainly anyone would find it difficult to overcome the guilt which would be created if he was responsible for an emergency vehicle not even getting to its destination. Many fire chasers still appear unaware that area fire departments now use tank trucks to haul water to rural fires and all roads and accesses must be left open at all ,times to facilitate their speedy runs. This is not to suggest people should stay away from fires entirely, but certainly they should make sure they are in no way im- peding the work of the fire departments, or contributing to situations where further loss of property or lives could result. to wonderful pubs Here's I promised there'd be no more columns about England. This one won't be, but it will be about people we met there. Half the fun of travelling is the people you meet. That's why I wouldn't be too keen on taking one of those tours, where you go everywhere with the same forty or so people, and are stuck with them for three or four weeks, and don't meet anyone fresh. For example, while we were in London, I found it pleasant to stroll down to the bar for a pre- luncheon pint while my wife was muddling around in the room, worrying about washing her hair or something. For several days, we formed a congenial group there. A far- flung group. There was old Jack from South Africa, with one aluminum arm and one ditto leg. He'd whack his artificial leg with his cane to emphasize a point. There was Ron, an Australian dealer in stamps. There was a Highland Scot. There was an Irish bartender. And there was your blue-eyed boy from Canada. English, Yanks and Canadians were excluded. Other Canadians, that is. We got along first-rate, and there was an easy tolerance that I noticed during the war when there might be bodies of ten different nations on one squadron, Times Established 1873 I didn't go after Jack about apartheid or Ron aboutAustralian treatment of aborigines and nobody went after me about our Eskomos. The Irishman and the Scot were a bit hostile, but only about the English. Rather, we talked about the important things in life: heating bills (about $50 a year in S.A. and less in Sydney); housing costs (about the same everywhere); wives (about the same everywhere); rotten kids (ditto); income tax (ditto). Not very enlightening, you'll say, . but comfortable, easy conversation, with no strain or stridency. Then our wives would arrive and the commonwealth conference would break up until next day at noon. We met dozens of interesting people like this, easily and amiably. The pub is the great leveller. In Canada, people in a bar sit in their own tight little groups at a table, a waiter serves them, and they are like an island, no contact with anybody else. Or if they are alone, they sit at the bar and glower into the mirror or into their drink, gloomily. In Britain, it's just the opposite. If you're at a table, you fetch your own drinks, and anyone is liable to sit down with you. Very casual. First thing you know, you're chatting. Next thing you know, you're bosom chums. Example . One night after a show, we went into a pub for a drink and a steak-and-kidney pie. Three people sat down at our table, chattering in what sounded like German. It was Dutch. A girl, newly married and living in London, and her parents, first time in England. Father spoke a little English, mother had a big smile, In five minutes we were chatting away like old friends. Father fetched his wife a gin. Came back looking ruefully into his three-quarters of an ounce. Said, "Here dey just vet de bottom of de glass. In Hollan- d . . ." and he held up thumb and forefinger about four inches apart. We parted in half an hour, but only after the girl insisted we come and see her in London, and gave, us address and phone number. It couldn't happen here. Our watering establishments are built for masochists or people who have good night vision and can see in the dark. They're not _or companionship and frien- dliness. Example. We were having lunch in a pub in North Wales, at the bar. Four brawny, dirty Welshmen came in and started What, if anything, is the matter with the Exeter Fall Fair? That question would appear to have some validity for discussion in view of the meagre attendance evident at this year's event. While officials indicate the attendance was about the same as the previous year, that was the result basically of larger crowds at the fair dance and the Friday night entertainment. For purposes of discussion, let us consider these as non-fair attractions, and agree on the point that attendance at the Saturday fair itself was small. Not only that, but many of the exhibits were down in numbers. There were no pigs in the open classes and about eight rabbits in what has been considered in recent years as one of the up-and- coming contests at the local fair. So, apparently interest is waning at both levels — fair goers and fair exhibitors. The point comes through that the fair in its present format is hardly worth the time and effort being expended by those en- thusiasts who have carried the event on through the years. However, rather than at- tempting to discourage them, we hope area residents will give the matter some consideration and present ideas on what they would like to see at the fair. After all, the fair success depends on area residents, and if they are staying away there must be reasons and likewise they must have ideas on what they would like to see included on the program to interest them. So, get your thinking caps on and let's have a dialogue in the , next few weeks on how the fair can be improved or changed to make it of interest to you. What don't you like about the present format? What would you like to see included? + + + From this writer's viewpoint, the fair should become more selective or specialized in a few areas and not attempt to touch all the bases. The 4-H livestock competitions are excellent and generally at- tract good crowds and certainly a large number of exhibitors. But other livestock classes, with a couple of exceptions, attract hooting and hollering at a tremendous volume, teasing the barmaid, downing pints and drowning out any attempt at conversation. My old lady, who is not noted for her prudence, modesty or reserve, turned around and snapped, "Shut up!" Their jaws fell. The barmaid silently ap- plauded. I thought one of them was going to wipe her off the stool with a backhander. He was only a little guy, about six-two and 220 pounds. That cost me four fast pints while I babbled that she was only kidding and was really a delightful, charming girl at heart. Twenty minutes later, they were complaining that we'd missed the great Eisteddfod in Llangollen, an annual com- petition of choirs from all over the World, held right there, Because the bus service was slow, one of them packed us into his van, and drove us twenty miles to Wrexham, a forty-mile round trip for him. It may sound like a glorified pub-crawl, It wasn't. There are 800 pubs in Greater London, and we missed most of them, But if you want to meet people, no better way. neither spectator interest or exhibitor interest. Specializing in one area — such as goats, or sheep, or one breed of heavy horses — could possibly create more interest than is presently being shown. Perhaps fruits and vegetables — which attract about three exhibitors and only a cursory glance from viewers — could be eliminated and all that prize money put into flowers for one of Ontario's top flower shows. Valuable prizes would interest more people in growing flowers for display purposes and just think how the district would be beautified by such a move. Rather than have prizes for arts and crafts, let's have prizes only for the artist showing how he or she performs his work. In short, an arts and crafts show with the emphasis on showing the skills rather than merely the finished project. This has already grown to be one 'of the attractions inside the arena each fair day and the in- terest shown by spectators would indicate that it should be ex- panded. We imagine many of the younger spectators would welcome the opportunity to see ladies quilt, knit or crochet because even these arts are not seen in many area homes these days. + + + The fair directors must also consider the rampant inflation to which people have been sub- jected in the past couple of years. Comments from some ladies this year indicated it was just too costly to enter bakery items with the, prizes being offered. We imagine many people are of the 50 Years Ago The Ford travelling caravan with power farming machinery visited Exeter on Monday and held a demonstration on the farm of Mr. Russell Hedden. In the evening, moving pictures were given in front of the Ford garage. Mr. William Andrew had the misfortune to have both bones of the right arm fractured near the wrist when the engine he was cranking backfired. One of the plate glass windows in Jones and May was broken on Sunday by a passing automobile. The post office site south of the Bank of Commerce, which is being fitted up for a playground was levelled up and seeded to grass last week. The floral exhibits and the cooking surpassed all former years at the Kirk ton Fair this year. 25 Years Ago The official opening of William H. Sweitzer's new bowling alleys was held Wednesday evening. A reception was held on Friday evening in Caven Church for their recently married minister, Rev. D,R, Sinclair and his bride. An urgent appeal to the hydro users of Exeter for the con- servation of hydro power is being made. Grand Bend WI decided to buy and donate a piano as the Institute's contribution to the new town hall. Red Cross packing day will be held in the Canadian Legion rooms October 8. Keith M. McLean, editor of the Huron Expositor, died suddenly Wednesday of last week. same opinion when they look at the parade prizes. You can't buy much in the way of decoration for a buck or two, and yet the top prize for a decorated bicycle is only $2 and third prize drops all the way to 25 'cents. In many divisions it would appear advisable to double the prize money, even if it does mean reducing the classes by the same figure. Competition will remain just as keen. + + + While there may be obvious deficiencies in the above suggestions, we do hope they stimulate some thinking so people will offer their suggestions on what they would like to see included in the fair. It would be particularly beneficial if local merchants gave the situation some con- sideration, If they are looking for ways to boost the town, the fair is one excellent avenue if they would get behind it and perhaps work more closely with the fair board to discuss methods in which changes could be ad- vantageous to both groups. Fair directors must realize that people are more sophisticated and the days are gone when people went to the falr in many cases for no other reason than to have a chat with neighbors. TV has changed our way of life and people no longer are in- teresting in seeing the same type of displays year after year. Things have to be new and ex- citing. New concepts must be im- plemented to bring fall fairs up to the space age. Let's have your ideas and comments. 15 Years Ago Eight Exeter Lions Club members with a total of 104 years perfect attendance were honored at the meeting Thursday night. Dr. H,H, Cowen, a past president, has the longest record, 19 yeai's. Rev. Alex Rapson concluded his pastorate on the Main St., Crediton and Shipka charge on Sunday. Sparked by the enthusiastic support of Exeter Legion a town committee was organized Tuesday night to investigate construction of a swimming pool for the community. William Abbott, Victoria St., reports he has been enjoying strawberries from his garden for several weeks. 10 Years Ago Exeter's population has in- creased 117, or almost four percent, over the past year, assessor.- E.H. Carscadden reported to council this week. Grand Bend PUC is being assisted by the Exeter Rural Hydro gang in the task of moving hydro poles on Highway 21 to make room for the wider pavement which is being laid next spring. Chiselhurst UCW was host to the second regional meeting of the Huron Presbyterial United Church Women Monday at Hensall United Church. Three Exeter youths, Neil Hamilton, Allan Thompson and Mark Hinton have been declared Champions of the SIIDIIS track and field meet at the school Friday. The CGIT group of CaVen Presbyterian Church held its mother and daughter banquet recently with president Nancy Strang as chairman. `You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss,' says James in his epistle, Something here for all to ponder for who of us has not glibly made a prayer with very little thought, and for something we really didn't want in the first place. We pray for patience but continue to lose our tempers nil lash out at our families, We p; o for love yet won't speak to that, person who hurt, our feelings at a church meeting two years ago. We ask for joy and get off our knees to go on carping and criticizing everyone who doesn't agree with us. It also doesn't make much sense to ask for God's guidance about something when we've already made up our minds what we intend to do. I used to know a strong-willed woman whom I always imagined resolutely got down to her prayers with steadfast determination to tell God just how to get everything straightened out. To her, there were only two ways of ap- proaching anything . . . the wrong way and her way. And she was fully convicted that her's was also God's way. Well, I guess most of us are better at talking to God than listening to him. I know I tend to talk too much, and make it dif- ficult for him to make me hear his will. Luci Shaw has a poem I like very much that challenges us to listen better in our prayers. On and off all day I've tried. I can't get any answer. Was I calling a wrong number? Is he out? I'll try once more . check in the big book . . . dial, carefully. A 'busy' signal! Could God have left his receiver off the hook? (Someone's at the door, They'll have to wait.) Dial '0'. 'Operator . . is this number still in service? Yes?' Spin it again.And still no answer. I'm positive my line's not out of order. (Will that knocking never stop?) His phone rings on. Easy for him to say 'Need help? Call on me any time!' What if I can't get through? What if he's gone? —St. Marys Journal-Argus 2:MTWAMMAWATIMMEMIIMMXMAIMP Advocate Established 1881 Anialgamated 1924 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation, March 81, 1972, 5,037 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada $8.00 Per Year; USA $10.00 _PrONTon Toll•NAL or could that knocking be him calling on ;" It could very well be him calling on us, while we're busy haranguing him, to write a letter to that poor soul in extendicare, tovisit the crippled lady down the street, or to be more fun with our own family, Janie, a friend of mine, who is tied in and kept busy with a baby and a little handicapped son, told me recently how she'd always thought it would be nice if she had some special little lunch prepared for her older girls when they came in from the school bus. But she was always too busy or too tired. There were diapers to fold, cleaning or some other household chore in the way. This fall, however, she determined to 'make the time'. It's paying off in a way she never dreamed of. Now, the girls come bouncing in from school won- dering what surprise treat mom has in store for them. Their in- fectious gaiety transforms Janie's day as they sit at the kitchen table for 15 or 20 minutes sharing their activities. 'It's opened up a whole new dimension . . . a time each of us looks for- ward to and we're all so much happier and understanding because of it. I can't imagine how I ever thought I had no time for these precious moments with the girls,' muses Janie. It seems to me she listened and heard what God has to say to her in this area, at least. We all need to do more listening to God and less talking. He can get through to us in a number of ways . . . through the Bible and the teachings of the church; very often through comments from our friends and relatives (though we don't usually like this kind of guidance). Or, like my friend Janie, he can come into our minds if we will just give him the chance. There would be more answered prayers if we didn't sp 'Often `a'sk amiss' and if we listened liarder. Now! Guaranteed Investment Certificates Member Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation VG The senior Trust Company devoted entirely to serving the people of Ontario. VICTORIA and GREY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 Manager: Ron Cottrell Main St., Exeter 235-0530 + + + FREE Pick Up Your Copy of the 1974 FARMERS' ALMANAC