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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-04-04, Page 4About those good, old day's P • Covering the home front Phone 2354331 +CNA Must halt negligence The engineering study on the Exeter town hall points up beyond dispute that members of council in recent years have not been fulfilling their tasks. Much of the deterioration of the building has been caused primarily by negligence and indifferent maintenance. The length of time over which this has been permitted has not been estimated by the engineering firm, but it would appear safe to say that the number of years would be considerable. This is important to consider, because it indicates it is not primarily the result of negligence on the part of the present coun- cil members. However, it is not important to assess the blame. That's a waste of time. It is important though that council members realize the cause and take steps to ensure that town property is looked after more carefully in the future, particularly in view of the increased number of buildings and, equipment under town jurisdiction. It is worth considering whether such jurisdiction should be placed in the job description of one of the town employees. This may 'provide more continuity in the task and reduce the risk of other property being allowed to deteriorate to the extent of the town hall, Expecting the property committee each, year to assume such duties would be normal, but evidence is that it is nat carried out. One toe at a time In the wrong direction As figures from recent court sittings would suggeSt, Canada's compulsory breathalizer legislation doesn't seem to be working in dissuading drivers from im- bibing. , Actually, the numbers of impaired drivers appears to be increasing in the area, although much of that may be at- tributed to the fact that with the breathalizer, it is easier to get a conviction. According to a survey of alcohol in- volvement in fatal motor vehicle accidents, 45 percent of the accident victims were found to have more than the legal 80 mgs alcohol in their blood. Another startling statistic is related to the age of the drinking drivers. Now that the legal age has been reduced to 18 in On- tario, there is an increasing number in their early and mid teens who are being charged with liquor infractions. In Exeter court last week, four 16-year- olds were fined on liquor charges, one of them for impaired driving. The statistics point out without ques- tion that lowering the drinking age does not reduce the number of those below the legal age who imbibe. Those who backed the reduction of the legal age from 21 argued that many of those 18, 19 and 20 were drinking anyway, so the limit should be dropped. Now, with the age down to 18, the 16 and 17-year-olds are-hitting the bottle. Soon there will be those who want the legal age dropped to 16 and then the 14 and 15-year-olds will be the ones facing illegal drinking charges. And as the age limit is reduced, the number of impaired drivers increases. And, as the number of impaired drivers in- creases, so does the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents. Statistics show we've been moving the age limits in the wrong direction In that regard, we question the punish- ment handed out to the 16-year-old who pleaded guilty to impaired driving recent- ly. It was prudent to reduce the fine from the normal $150 down to $75, but the period of being without a driver's licence should have been increased to serve as a deterrent. A fine in many of these cases has to be paid by a parent, while a licence suspension is ,much more of a hardship for the young driver. "Streaker, nothing—I'm a consumer!" The long winter This is going to be a shot-gun column, instead of the usual coherent, unified, lucid examination of a single topic. I'm going to aim in all direc- tions at once and pull both triggers. Reason is I've got to get ready to go to Germany on Sunday and have a lot to do. Like shine my shoes, and change $12 into rubles or whatever they use, and get my wife to iron some shirts, and. uh, ,get her to pack my bag, and, uh, well, a lot of important things. First of all, I've rediscovered a maxim that was already ancient when Moses looked out over the promised land: women are not only unpredictable, but unreasonable. My wife had known for about a month that I might be going to Germany on the winter break. She thought it was great for me. "It'll be a nice change for you. And it'll do you good to get away from me for a few days. You must get sick of me." I lied politely, as usual. Told her I didn't need a change, that I could scarcely bear the thought of being separated, and that the very idea of being sick of her was nauseating. Then I came home one day and told her it was all set, but that she couldn't go. "When?", she queried, knowing it would be several months off, and that there might be an earthquake or a flood or something in the meantime. "Oh, I guess Sunday night", I responded casually, serene in the knowledge that she was in favour of the trip. She burst into tears. Times Established 1873 My next topic also deals with the family, and with an aqueous event. Aside from a rainstorm, have you ever been soaked from a great height? I have. Last Sunday. I was thoroughly enjoying playing with my grandson. He's old enough now to be played with, without fear that he'll break. I had him under the armpits and was hoisting him in the air, making those ridiculous sounds that would make grandfather blush crimson if they ever heard them on tape. A look of pure glee passed across the kid's face, and I thought, "By golly, heknowS me, and he's enjoying his grandad." Next second, I was soaked from shoulder to knee. It was warm, and at first I thought I'd burst a painless blood vessel. But it was the wrong colour. It's not unpleasant at first. Rather like taking a warm, salt bath with your clothes on. It's when it begins to cool . There's not much more to be developed there, so I'll turn to topic three: exams, which we have just gone through a session of. Nothing is more depressing than starting to mark a set of exam papers, and finding that the first five you, mark are failures. You are filled with self-doubt, "Have I not taught them anything? I'm a failure as a teacher. I should go back to the shoe factory. If everybody fails, I'll be fired, because in this system, if you're teaching failures, you're a failure as a teacher, regardless of any other Advocate Established 1881 factors." Then you pick up a paper and the student has understood what you've taught, and applied it, and used some brains of its own, and it's a ninety percenter. Hallelujah! And you're hooked for another year. There is only one thing worse than marking exam papers. That is supervising the writing of them. The quaint old word for this function is "invigilating". It sounds kind of dirty, but it isn't. Just utterly boring. You are figuratively locked in a room for two hours with about 35 teenagers. That alone is a fate worse than death, for some people. Personally, I'd rather be locked in with 35 students than with 35 balloons. Then begins two hours of hell. The kids are supposed to be tense, nervous, straining every brain cell to do well. They're about as tense as a hibernating bear. Susie takes off her shoes, assumes a yoga position, and looks out the window. Jack's crutch, a relic of skiing and a broken leg, falls on the floor, and you jump a foot, while the victims snicker. You resort, after the first hour, to such things as counting greasy hair versus washed hair, bras versus braless, big clumsy boots versus sneakers. You look up at the picture on the wall of the Queen, on whom somebody has drawn a moustache. You fill in, with your imagination, sideburns, and realize the Queen would have been pretty dashing'in 1580. Amalgamated 1924 Any time people start talking about the energy crisis, there are always those who susggest it would be solved if we could return to the "good, old days". That may be so in some aspects, but the difficulty in returning would be in- surmountable. For instance, the Sperry New Holland people point out the' problem associated with the suggestion that farmers leave their high-powered tractors in the barn and take horses into the field 'instead. A major problem would arise in finding a stray herd of 27 million work horses and mules (U.S. figures) that would be needed to replace gasoline power on the nation's farms. Even if the horses could be rounded up, another problem would exist and add im- measurably to the world's food shortages. Those ,horses and mules would require 81 million acres Of, crP1)1cl: jpst to be.fed. 'To top; it _all qff,4pe num* of labo'r'ers laers would have to more than triple to perform the labor machines now 'do. As everyone knows, farmers can't get enough help now, so finding the additional labor would be impossible. .. All in all, it shows that retur- ning to the "good, old days" would be disastrous. One chap who may have a stronger desire than most to return to the "good, old days" is the, chap in Dundas whose social security card was stolen. After Yds wallet was stolen four years ago, someone started using this man's identity for such things as passing cheques, getting parking tickets — even to the point of being given a 12- month suspended sentence for car theft. To top it off, the revenue department wants to know why he has not declared income on t, jobs which he obviously never held. A federal MP working to assist the man out of his dilemma, was You look out the window at the dirty snow-banks and dream of a beach or a trout stream. You whip around, aware you were drifting, to see if anyone is cheating. Nobody is. Except Joe, who has given up after half an hour of tongue and pen working together, and is sound asleep, head on arms. An early fly buzzes. Warned you this would be a shotgun column. But I think I've covered everything on the home front. Next despatch will be from Germany. I promise it will be loaded with. fraulein, gemutlichheit, blutwurst, put- sches and other Teutonic goodies. Let's see now, if I remember my Zeutsch, "Was maken sie• hier? "Wie vil hur ist es? Nich rauchen bevor der zug halte, reit bin ein krieggefangenner.Wo bist die scheisshaus?" Reckon I'll get along. told by the chief of the Unem- ployment Insurance Com- mission's central index branch that it would be easier for the Dundas man to change his name than try to get a new social in- surance number. The inference being clearly that it is easier to change one's name than try to get a new social insurance number in our com- puterized society. Are we really that much manipulated by machines? + + + In the past couple of weeks, considerable has been printed in various newspapers on smoking, due in no small part to the efforts of the Huron-Perth Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association (there's got to be an easier name) in circulating requests to municipal officials in various capacities that smoking be banned at public meetings and in public buildings. In Stratford, one of the female members of council who smokes, immediately suggested such a ban would be an infringement of her democratic rights. "If we ban smoking, it is taking away the liberty from those wishing to kill themselves," she was quoted as saying, adding "it's my health that's involved and if I am killing myself that's my business. Those smoking are not interfering with anyone else." One of the members of Exeter council came up with much the 50 Years Ago Miss Viola Hodgert and Miss Thelma Taylor have taken positions as operators at the telephone central. The Hurondale Women's Institute celebrated the fifth anniversary of their organization Wednesday at the home of Mrs. Henry Strang. Mrs, Mitchell gave a brief summary of the progress made by the Institute in the past five years . . one interesting feature being that the mem- bership had increased from 19 to 52. The sugar shanty belonging to Mrs. John Glenn was noticed to be on fire shortly after 11 o'clock Monday night. Mr. Glenn, with the assistance of neighbors, extinguished the flames with a large quanity of sap that had been gathered for Tuesday's boiling. Only the roof was' damaged. Two dozen neighbors gathered at the bush on the farm of Joshua Johns and cut enough wood to keep the holise warm for a year. 25'Years Ago Two elderly farmers in Stephen township about six miles west of Exeter were robbed of $550 after the men had been bound and the house ransacked, Tuesday evening. Mr. Mose Heckler has disposed of his 150 acre Writ to William Roweiffe, The Royal Canadian Air Force notes its silver jubilee, April 1, The Huronia choir was placed third in competition with four choirs at Stratford Musical Festival Thursday evening, Twenty members of the Eumjoinus Class of Main Street United Church motored to the County Horne, Clinton, to present a Concert for the residents. same argument; but un- fortunately it is a lot of bunk. In fact, the accompanying letter from the Huron Perth TB & RDA pointed out quite em- phatically that smokers en- danger others as well as them- selves when they engage in their foul habit. The smoke that drifts off the end of the cigarette contains even more tar and nicotine than the smoke directly inhaled by the smoker and second-hand smoke increases the carbon monoxide in the blood, forces the blood pressure up and makes the heart beat faster. So, you can see that the democratic rights being in- fringed upon are really those of the non-smoker and the sooner they stand tip for their rights, the better off they will be, We have to agree with Exeter Reeve Derry Boyle who .said during discussion of the smoking topic that "we smokers are very, very thoughtless people". + + + More swimmers and fishermen are killed during the cold water months than over the whole summer season, Children are easy prey. Warn them away! Don't let the sunny weather lure anyone. Spring water is cold, deadly cold. Within minutes, it numbs and paralyzes the best swimmers. 15 Years Ago Chief C.H. MacKenzie sounded warnings Wednesday that the problems of dogs and parking would be receiving more' at- tention from the police in the next few months. Paula Boulianne, Grade 12 students at SHDHS, won third prize in lyrical verse speaking at the provincial competition in Toronto this week. Ontario's new point system, designed to help bad drivers improve and remove chronic offenders from the highways, went into effect, Wednesday. Total number of animals in Huron county which have died from rabies since the epidemic broke here is now well over 100, according to Health of Animals Branch, Dept, of Agriculture, Seaforth. • A two storey apartment building owned by Lloyd Craig of Brucefield burned to the ground Sunday morning. 10 Years Ago An enjoyable evening was spent at the home of Mrs. Don Cooper, Exeter, when the local staff of the Bell Telephone Co. met and presented her with a gift in recognition of her services at the office. Rev. Howard Plant dedicated a junior choir loft in inernory of Mrs. Elston Dowson at St. AndreW United Church, Kippen, Sunday, The swimming pool fund thermometer erected this week in front of the post office shows $25,000 has already been raised. The committee hopes to have the pool completed by the time school is out at the end of June. Exeter Squirts won the Western Ontario Athletic Association hockey cham- pionship in Elora Monday night, Bill Clilfillan is the coach, Once someone, thinking of all the trials David Livingston had to endure, the sorrows he had borne, how he had lost his wife and ruined his health in Africa said to him, "What sacrifices you have made!" To which Livingston replied, "Sacrifices? . . . Non- sense, I never made a sacrifice in my life!" Livingston, like Francis Assisi, Kagawa, Gandhi, Wilfred Grenfell and many others lived hard lives by the world's stan- dards. Yet by giving their all they found serenity, joy, peace and a happiness denied to those of us who only give of ourselves in part. When Jesus said,to the young man, 'Sell All your goods,' he was not trying to make his entering into the new life difficult, but easy. The whole way is always the easy way . . . the half way is always hard. If you're a swimmer, you know the easiest way to get into a pool or lake is to give yourself wholly to it by diving in head first without qualifications or fear. Unfortunately, most of us give ourselves to our religion in the same half-way measure that a timid swimmer does when he enters the water . . . one tde at a time! Author Glen Clark says the only technique required in religion is the technique of trusting ALL to God. He says, 'The only way I can -really lie down on a bed is to let All of myself rest in that bed. If I hold on to a chair with my hand, if I let my head rest against the wall, if I let my foot reach down to find support on the floor, then the bed is not really holding me. But By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-2715 or 235-2474 Since mid-September, 1973, to the time of writing Allan Garniss has lived in a rented room in Toronto. The municipal welfare pays him $67.80 every two weeks and supplies him with $20 to $40 worth of drugs a month. Mrs. Garniss and her son, Clark, receive $244 a month from municipal welfare in Hawkesbury, Mrs. Garniss has applied for Provincial Benefits from the Ministry of Community and Social Services which' will allow her a little more income. To do this she must sue her husband for non-support which she has done. Separation papers must be drawn up also. Mr. & Mrs. Garnissido not wish this separate existence. She reportedly said, "We don't want to separate. I'm worried about my husband living alone, and needing someone to look after him." Why does he live in Toronto alone? The answer is simply that while some municipalities supply drugs to those in need, the United Counties of Russell and Prescott do not do so. Such benefits are left to the discretion of each county by the Ontario Government, Mr, Garniss had moved from Toronto, east to Hawkesbury to save expensive Toronto living but had to return in order to obtain the necessary drugs. Actually, the lack of provision of drugs in the eastern counties was only one shock. On August 13, 1973, Mr. Garniss received ' a letter from the Ministry of Community and Social Services indicating the suspension of Provincial Benefits to him — this because he suddenly had more liquid assets than the $1543 allowed him. He had sold his house in Toronto to buy in Hawkesbury and in the transition had more than the allowed amount in his bank account. The Garnisses' attempt to escape high-cost Toronto was nipped in the bud. In reality the Garnisses had giVeri Toronto a real try. They had rented part of their house to suppose I actually let all my body rest on the bed, is the bed then really holding me? Not unless it also holds what is in my arm, leg and head. If I have all kinds of body tension in my arm, then the bed, for all intents and purposes, is not holding that arm, If my head is full of all kinds of worries that I will not let go of, then the bed is not truly holding my head.' Mr. Clark goes on to say that the business of religion should be primarily to teach people how to let God carry them and their burdens and not quite so much attention should be given to teaching us how to carry God's burdens for Him. It's a known fact that in the early history of the American colonists thousands of them were attacked and killed by Indians. The Quakers, who numbered more than any other group of outlying pioneers differed only from the rest in that they never locked their doors at night and never carried a gun by day. Yet, not a child, man or woman Quaker was hurt by the Indians, They believed their safety was wholly in the hands of God and trusted Him all the way. In most of our churches we do a lot of talking about God but that is not experiencing Him, A Chinese philosopher was once asked what he thought of the Christian religion, "Well' he said slowly, 'It is a very talky religion.' We need less talking and more whole hearted commitment. The whole-givers like Livingston, Grenfell and the others leave a trail of profit, work and fame which endures forever. The halfway giver leaves nothing but dust and ashes. supplement income received from Provincial Benefits. His needed drugs were supplied; by General Welfare of Toronto. When mortgage payments and other payments were met,' our family could not live. So they decided on the move to Hawkesbury reported above. They sold their Toronto house in July and all was going well until the suspension of Provincial Benefits •and the lack of provision of drugs in Hawkesbury. And lest we think this could only happen to marginal families, living in marginal circumstances let us quickly recount just how the Garnisses arrived in these dire cir- cumstances. All was going well for them until 1969 when Mr. Garniss was disabled by spinal meningitis and an infection of the bones in his ear. Prolonged hospitalization and a series of operations stopped the infection from spreading but left him an epileptic, unable to work, with the right side of his face paralyzed, and deaf. Now four years later he is living alone in Toronto, legally separated from his wife who lives in Hawkesbury. This is the only way they have found to live finan- cially. Yvon Montpetit of Hawkesbury indicates this situation is not uncommon in his community. "I think we would lie better off paying them a little more to stay together." I am sure he echoes the thoughts of all of us in the matter, The Ontario Government has noted the gap in welfare services and has set April 1, 1974 as the date when municipal welfare offices will have to begin to provide drugs for people receiving Provincial Benefits, And so one more gap in our patchwork of welfare services will have been plugged, The Garnisses will be able to move back together again! "Best wishes to you, Mr. Garniss, and also you, Mrs. Garniss and Clark, from all of us on your reunion as a family. We hope that April 1, was a happy day for you all. It must have been a long winter for you!" Ike toceferZitnes-Akftiocafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., CLASS 'A' and •ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh suascRtPribt4 RATES: Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number am Paid in Advapce Circulation, March 31, 1972, 5,037 Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $1 1,0G titcamy the way he USCS all the *oda t 'can't ape to 1 Wonder What THE WAREHOUSE Is Going To Sell