HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-09-05, Page 4Newspaper's job
A supreme court jury has dismissed a
charge of libel against the Napanee
Beaver, a weekly paper, and the Kingston
Whig Standard, a daily. The charge was
brought by a county board of education
employee because of statements made at a
meeting by a member of, the board. The
jury awarded the employee $7,500 damages
for slander but dismissed charges against
the newspapers for printing what was said.
In granting a motion of the Beaver's
lawyer for dismissal of the libel charge,
Mr. Justice L. W, Houlden dealt with the
right of newspapers to publish proceedings
of public meetings,
"The paper's job is to put those who
were not at a meeting in the same place as
those who were," he said. "This was a
public issue. That is what newspapers are
for." ri
The plantiff's lawyer thought the Beaver,
should have offered an explanation or
.
retraction. But the fudge disagreed.
"Newspapers are not there to be nam-
by pamby and soft pedal issues," he said.
The judge ordered the plaintiff to pay part
of the costs of the newspaper's defence.
Most newspapers will be entirely in
agreement with Mr. Justice Houlden. It is
the role of the newspaper to report on
public issues and not to cover up for in-
dividuals at these meetings. A newspaper's
first responsibility is to its readers.
Newspapers do not lay .claim to any
rights that are not also the rights of the
common citizen. Anywhere the citizen has
a right to be, so also has the newspaper.
Any information to which the ordinary
citizen has a right, so also has the
newspaper.
Newspapers may initiate in-
vestigations and may delay or even avoid
publication of public information when this
does not seem in the public interest. But
these are judgements only the newspaper
editor can make because he solely is to
blame if his judgement is in error.
Community leaders should take the
role of the newspaper more seriously than
most of them do. When a reporter is pre-
sent, so are thousands of people — although
they may not be physically in the meeting
room. The newspaper should not be regard-
ed as a reason for withholding information,
but an opportunity to communicate to the
public clearly and in depth. (Petrolia
Advertiser - Topic)
exefeames-Abuocale
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
0.W,N.A., CLASS 'A' and ABC
Editor -- Bill Batten — Advertising Manager
Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh
Published Each Thursday Morning
at Exeter, Ontario
Second Class Mail
Registration Number 0386
Paid in Advance Circulation,
March 81, 1972, 5,037
Phone 235.1331
Co-operation was excellent
Response to now
By ELMORE BOOMER
Counsellor for
Information South Huron
For appointment
phone: 235-2715 or 235-2474
doctors and the generous supply.,,
of hospital beds make treatment;
of a very costly order open to a'
majority of People. Minor:i
ailments are treated in the same
way as more serious illnesses.
Health costs are rising faster
than the economic growth of our
country. Our capacity to absorb
these costs will be increasingly
strained.
Conflict is seen in the desire to
provide all the specialties needed
for each individual and, on the
other hand, in permitting
physicians freedom to choose
their specialization. The shortage
of physicians in rehabilitative
medicine and in the care of the
aged is cited.
Administrators in the health
care field see an advantage in
care being provided by
professionals with differing
levels of training and skill. This
runs headlong into the present
practice of giving to the
physician or dentist final
responsibility for the health of
each patient,
In the far north nurses have
accomplished many things
usually reserved for doctors. This
sort of distribution of service
among professionals could be
greatly expanded.
This final paradox is very clear
and rather ironic. There is
general agreement that research
is most vital and prevention most
important on one hand, and an
increasing demand for im-
mediate health care on the other.
Research and prevention are
starved for funds in the face of
the growth in treatment. The
public does not demand research
but treatment ,is seen as a
necessity,
The compromises needed to
bring order to our health care
system are pervasive, radical
and painful, There will be much
controversy. Certainly change is
irresistible. All will be called
upon to make hard and unpopular
decisions.
The more citizensitnowledgable
of this dialogue and participant in
it the better will be the emerging
system.
A copy of the working
document - A New Perspective on
the Health of Canadians - is
available from the Department of
National Health and Welfare,
Otawa.
ptoe ertar or,
evve em,r c,004 emit
2
(North Kent Leader)
Newspaper editors and columnists,
believe it or not, are human, and in com-
mon with other members of that vast socie-
ty, are sometimes inclined to viewpoints of
a fixed nature. For some time, now, it's
been our observation that the middle strata
of Canadians are those bearing the brunt of
operating the nation, and we're still con-
vinced that this is, in fact, the way it is.
However, the editor of the Blyth Stan-
dard has an opposite view, which we pre-
sent as follows:
"Inflation is supposed to be one of the
big issues of the day, but it appears to be
something of .a phony one,
"Oh there's inflation all right and
something needs to be done about it. People
are being hurt. The problem is that the peo-
ple who are being hurt aren't the ones who
are getting the attention.
"You hear pious words from all the
politicians about helping the poor and those
on fixed incomes, but these are just words.
When it comes to political clout, the poor
and elderly don't stand a chance. It is the
great middle-class who have the clout.
"It is the union member, the school
teacher, the doctor, the businessman who
wield the real power in Canada. It is they
who are really screaming about inflation,
Other side of the coin
and despite the words about the poor, it is
this group that gets the attention,
"That's why inflation is a phony issue.
"Listen to the middle class, and you'll
hear how it's costing too much to eat, too
much for housing, and tooimuch for, the
other necessities of life. Yet take a look at
the facts.
"The Toronto Globe and Mail reported
that despite a 30 percent increase in price,
manufacturers of camping goods can't
keep up with the demand for their
products. A salesman of prefabricated cot-
tages says sales were as brisk as if "we
were selling hot dogs at five cents each", A
man who sells $12,000 motor homes says
that since the gas scare stopped,
everything has gone crazy. There's going to
be a shortage, he warns. Hotel reservations
in Ontario are up 25 percent despite higher
prices. Demand for sailboats has increased
by 25 percent in one year. Cottages in
Muskoka are selling for at least $35,000.
"Inflation can't be hurting the middle
class all that much. And if it is, let's not
forget that it is the middle class, by being
willing to buy goods no matter what the
price, that has fanned inflation. Unfor-
tunately, it is the poor and elderly and
those on fixed incomes that are paying the
price."
Footsteps
Social life gets warmed up
Perhaps I sounded a bit
grumpy last week because this
has been one of those summers
when a chap feels that he hasn't
done anything, seen anything, or
been anywhere. And it has.
But that is not to say that it has
been without interest and in-
cident. Last week, I whined about
our scanty social life: one
funeral, one wedding.
However, we've had some very
interesting visitors, Almost every
day. Roofers, painters, a
columnist, a student, a syndicate
man, a physiotherapist, and - the
most interesting of all - my
grandbabby.
And I reckon I've learned a wee
bit about human nature in the
process. Perhaps that's what it's
all about. I like physical nature
as well as the next man, but I am
fascinated by human nature.
Physical nature is interesting
and fairly predictable. You plant
a seed properly, nurture it, give it
plenty of fertilizer, the right
amount of sun and water, pluck
out the weeds around it, and you
wind up with a dandy cucumber
or turnip, or whatever you
planted.
But you can't do that with
humans, though you try. Maybe
we give them too much fertilizer,
or don't pluck the weeds. We
plant what we think is going to be
a rose, and it turns out to be a
cabbage. Or vice versa. Any
parent knows this.
By the way, don't get excited,
or nervous. This is not a tract on
Freudian sexual symbolism. It is
merely a middle-aged man trying
to express his astonishment at
the variegation of the human
species.
Once again, I drift into one of
those remote channels that end
up in a swamp. Why not stick to
the main stream? Back to our
summer visitors, There are two
categories: those who caught us
at home, and those who did not.
Those in the latter category
came around when we were out
doing something exotic, like
shopping. Or at night, when we
were cringing in the TV room,
lights out, doors locked, phone off
the hook, arguing about whether
we'd watch the John. Wayne 1940
western or the Audrey Hepburn
1953 dazzler,
Among these were two people
who left notes. One was Doris
Humphries, a lively columnist in
the Renfrew Mercury, "Darn
you, Bill Smiley. I came all the
way from Renfrew . .". Sorry
Doris. I'll buy you a dinner next
time. I read your column every
week in one of Canada's best
weeklies. And remind your boss
that he still owes me a dinner.
(He was a terrified infantryman
when I was a terrified Typhoon
pilot.)
Another note was from a
student. Sharp mind, headed for
university and law, Beware, you
lawyers of five years from now.
Don't fool with this young lady?,
punk?, woman?, person?. She'll
murder you. Typically, with the
deep respect my students have
for me, her note began, "Hi,
Smiley, I came around and you
didn't even have the decency to
be at home . . .".
A few of the visitors caught us
at home, One was Bill Craig, of
Argyle Syndicate, who has more
to do with getting out this column
4r4MISM,
Amalgamated 1924
From time to time, Exeter
merchants have been accused of
not having a high degree of
community involvement and co-
operation. From time to time,
that charge was correct,
although all too often people
expect small businessmen to
exhibit qualities that no other
segment of our community is
expected to equal.
However, let's give the "devil
his due" so to speak and pass
along hearty congratulations to
the local merchants who took
time to set up window displays
this past week to support the local
rodeo.
About 17 stores had special
displays, which may not be
overwhelming, but at least it was
a good showing when you con-
sider the fact that several just
don't have appropriate space in
which to display exhibits.
Those 17 merchants had to take
time off from their busy
schedules to prepare the window
displays, and at the same time
had to forego the more profitable.
business of using those display
windows to entice customers.
A couple were rewarded for
their efforts by winning cash
prizes established by the Board of
Trade, but none undertook the
project with that reward as the
prime objective, because the
cash wasn't enough to pay for the
time and effort involved.
It was strictly as a community
benefit that the decorating was
undertaken and the participants
are to be commended,
It's to be hoped the spirit
continues and a large number of
merchants are on hand when the
Board of Trade hold their
meeting on downtown
redevelopment and storefront
decoration.
Many other area communities
have already undertaken
projects of this nature and Exeter
businessmen should realize
than anyone except me. Our
previous acquaintance had been
on the phone. I expected a smart-
alec young punk of about twenty-
six with the big sideburns, the big
pants, and the hearty manner.
I was shattered. He and his
wife Betty arrived for that
notorious pre-dinner appetizer.
They have an eighteen-year-old
daughter and a sweet, shy little
son, James, who is five. Bill is a
Korean war veteran. He
demolished me at two games of
chess, and played a fair piano. So
much for pre-conceptions.
Some of the others who caught
us in were the painters and the
roofers. When we were up at the
crack of dawn, ready for any
questions, they didn't show up.
When we were up at the crack of
noon, not expecting them, they
were buzzing the doorbell at 8:30,
like hornets, I report, not happily,
but just as an observer, that they
were all stung severely by a
number of hornets in our roof and
environs.
Then there was the Scotsman.
He is a physiotherapist. Boy,
that's a hard word to spell. He
wanted work, after hours, so he
could buy a house. I was rather
intrigued by the idea that a young
man actually wanted to work.
And then there was my bad back,
which comes in handy very often,
He's an excellent gardener, and
our place looks better than it has
in a decade.
But there, I've run out of space,
and I haven't even told you of the
party in our backyard for
retarded adtiltg, Of the hellery of
my grandbabby. He has just
arrived again, and I can hear him
shouting downstairs for Bill, or
somebody who understands that
when he's asleep, he is pure
they'll 'have to take some
initiative to maintain their
position as one of the best towns
in Huron in which to shop.
The Exeter rodeo itself turned
out to be comparatively suc-
cessful this year, after weather
had cut attendance in 1973 and
had some thinking that the local
event could be on the ropes.
However, there appears every
indication that it will continue to
be part of the scene here for some
years to come. That is most
encouraging, because its demise
would have been a bitter pill to
swallow for those who have given
so much of their time and energy
over the past 11 years to build it
' into a major attraction.
While the local organizers
turned many of their duties over
to Tom Bishop this year, they
were still very much involved
and contributed in no small way
to the success.
The writer attended Saturday's
performances and was im-
r Pressed with the manner in which
the event was carried off. The
little entertainment features
added this year helped to perk
things up considerably and the
delays which have bothered
many people in the past years
were considerably fewer,
One of those entertainment
features was the showing of • the
Indians from the Six Nations
Reserve at Oshweken.
Their spokesman, Jim Sky,
was most entertaining, and
displayed a sense of humor that
kept the whitemen in the
audience amused between the
various dances and demon-
strations the native people
performed.
Jim and his cohorts have
travelled extensively to many
such outings and his polished
abilities no doubt have been as a
result of his many public ap-
pearances. -
The colorful Indian took full
credit for the ideal weather
conditions, pointing out that any
time it rained where they were
performing, they were blamed
for doing too many rain dances.
'50 Years Ago
The Exeter-Lucan High School
Field Day was held in Exeter on
Monday and was a total success.
Mr. R.E, Pooley had a suc-
cessful auction sale of his effects
realizing $2,300. The fifty, acre
farm was sold to Mr. Earl
Johnston of Whalen.
Maurice Harvey has returned
to Toronto to resume his studies
at the Medical College,
25 Years Ago
Mrs. Harry Dougall was
awarded provincial honours for
completing 12 4-11 projects at
Seaforth, Wednesday.
Enrolled at Victoria Hospital
for nurses' training are Janet
Kestle and 3oanne McCurdy.
Canon A.A. Trumper of Lon-
don, a former rector, was
speaker at the 61st anniversary of
Trivitt Memorial Church.
Jack Drysdale, Hensall, has
won a $5,800 prefabricated cot-
tage at CNE. In June he won a
complete set of living room
furniture at a draw staged by the
Exeter Legion,
15 Years Ago
Arthur Gaiser, Shipka has
purchased the home of Mr. &
Mrs, Bruce Biggart at the corner
of Andrew and John streets. Mr.
Gaiser Will move his' family in at
the end of the month.
Inspection of the new ship
His comment on the Indian way
of life where the women are in
power must have come as a bit of
shock to those women liberation
proponents who think they have
made giant steps in having
women given more respon-
sibilities in today's society.
In fact, they still haven't come
quite as far as the Indian squaws
as yet, as the latter have had the
controlling interest in their
tribe's affairs for generations.
Indian women elect the chief
and make all the major decisions
for the tribe and no doubt smile
as their white counterparts battle
to gain a status which Indian
females have enjoyed for hun-
dreds of,years.
The holiday weekend again
witnessed numerous "murders"
and "suicides" on roads across
the nation. While the number of
victims is shocking and would be
called a major catastrophe if
they occurred in one incident, the
death total no longer appears of
concern to many people unless
, they have been personally vic-
timized or have friends or
relatives in the statistics.
Traffic deaths have become
"part of the scene".
What action can be taken to stir
people into action and encourage
them to drive more cautiously?
Well, that is anyone's guess.
However, we were interested in
the action taken by a coroner in
Sault Ste. Marie after a hearing
in that community into the death
of four people in a violent crash.
He 'ordered that the two
vehicles involved be placed on
public view on a parking lot at a
location passed by numerous
motorists each day.
It was his hope that the sight of
the tangled vehicles in which the
victims were riding would
prompt some of the onlookers to
consider their own driving habits
as they proceeded on their way.
Incidentally, the coroner's
inquest into that multiple fatality
learned that alcohol was a major
contributor to the cause, as it is in
many of the crashes throughout
the nation.
H.M.C.S. Cootenay was the
highlight of a recent visit to
Hamilton by Councillor • Ross
Taylor, Mrs. Taylor and Douglas.
The couple's eldest son, Chief
P.O. Kenneth Taylor is,stationed
on The Cootenay.
Miss Alexia Lostell who at-
tended a summer course at the
University of Toronto has taken a
position on the Glencoe High
School staff.
Jim Tomlinson is attending
Beal Technical School taking a
course in electronics, Simon
Nagel has also returned to his
studies at Tech.
10 Years Ago
Council accepted the proposal
from the Ausable River Con-
servation Authority that the
repairs to the south retaining
wall of the dam at the Riverview
Park reservoir be undertaken as
a project of The Authority.
The aftermath of a wild and
wooly Labour Day Weekend in
Grand. Bend showed itself,
Tuesday, when 128 court cases
were brought before Magistrate
William Pearson,
The top two gradttates of last
year's graduating class at SH-
DFIS have been awarded en-
trance scholarships to the
University of Waterloo. Sandra
Jory, Milton and Dave
Buchanan, HensalL both plan to -
take an engineering course.,
Our beach has stones that are
sharp and rough, One morning,
last week, as my three-year-old
granddaughter and I picked our
way carefully along the water's
edge I glanced around to see how
she was coming along. Sensing
my concern for her tender, tiny
feet she quipped, "It's alright,
Grandma Gwyn, I'm going in
your steps,"
"Going in your steps!" A lump
came to my throat at her childish
faith and trust that caused her to
believe where I stepped the way
was safe and smooth.
Thinking about the incident
later I wondered if I would want
this small, smiling beautiful
piece of humanity to 'go in my
steps'? Some of them I pray she'll
never have to follow.
Looking back I guess the two
events that shaped my life the
most were the Depression and
World War II My parents
lovingly protected' me from most
of the grimness of the Depression
but nevertheless I still have a
healthy respect for money, and
an abhorrence of any type of
waste.
The war had even a deeper
effect as I experienced first hand
the sickening loss of boys who
gave up happy lives, loaded with
potential, to save the world for
peace, goodwill and equality
among men and nations.
Remembering them now I can
still sink into a depressive mood
and ponder what end did it
. . . did anybody learn anything
from all the destruction and
tragedy? Well, perhaps,,,because
I, for one, see something positive
in some of today's young people
who will not go and fight for a
cause they see as futile and un-
just even though it means taking
People are generally very
conscious of some aspects of,
health care. The high costs of
health care are cushioned
somewhat by insurance for
hospital and professional ser-
vices. But certainly there are
changes taking place in the
image and services of the doctor.
The old concept of the family
doctor, the general practitioner,
with certain respect accorded for
sacrificial services rendered is
giving way to a less com-
plimentary image and cynical
attitude,
The federal government gives
its view of the present health care
system in its working paper - A
New Perspective on the Health of
Canadians. Its view is not as
personal but it does presage
change.
Conflicting goals of our present
system are listed and these we
will enumerate for our readers.
It is a goal to make the services
of physicians available to
everyone. Yet it is also a goal to
permit physicians to choose their
location of practice. Most doctors
and other professionals prefer
the city over rural situations.
This difference is present also
C
egionally. In 1971 British
olumbia had one physician for
every 603 citizens while Prince
Edward Island had one doctor for
1143 citizens. The working paper
questions whether health care is
improved when the ratio of one
doctor to 600 people is exceeded.
The government is very in-
terested in costs since it bears an
increasing burden at this point.
They think of their interest - and
of course it should be the interest
of all of us - in controlling costs in
conflict with the present system.
There seems to be no financial
barrier to health care.
The increasing number of
The readers write
Dear Sir:
I would like to take this op-
portunity to personally and
sincerely thank those who helped
to make our 11th annual rodeo a
success, Having suffered from a
large financial loss in 1973, it was
gratifying to see the support
offered by old and new directors
of the organization.
Thanks also to the businesses
that gave financial help and
created a rodeo atmosphere
downtown, thanks to the sponsors
of 'our program, to the service
clubs and organizations, the
Senior citizens the contestants,
the entertainers and stock con-
tractors,
With this type of support, rodeo
is sure to continue and prosper
for many more yearSin Exeter,
D,A,Finkbeiner
President, Mid.Vliestern Ontario
Rodeo Association, Exeter,
an unpopular stand against theix
government.
In any event, I hope my
grandchildren will be smart
enough and far sighted enough to
avoid following footsteps that
lead to war or economic chaos.
Of course, as I look back on my
own personal winding track
through life, I pray that this little
girl won't make some of the
blunders I made „ thatshe will
somehow be better equipped to
know where to step at the crucial
times of her life,
This is a day when religion
languishes and philosophies
change, It's also a world with
limitless opportunities and ex-
panding freedoms but where
parental authority has
diminished. The family has lost
much of its power and much of its
purpose. But like any thoughtful
parent I hope my children and
grandchildren will choose and
maintain high personal values.
In a future that seems
problematic I pray my offspring
will be strong enough to meet the
assault and battery of com-
promise with energy and
courage,
With many other parents I wish
for them and their children that
they will truly find themselves,
their own thing, their spiritual
home and their positive
relationship to God. I trust they
will always be free and
responsible with unlimited
growth in individual creativity
and will work to develop
brotherhood among men.
It would please me greatly if
they would look to something
higher than the human footsteps
of their parents for guidance;
that they would seek God, for
only in Him can they live to their
greatest potential in a great age.
MEM
'2 :7N.WIEVEW:AFASNER1W
Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881
SUBSC RIPTION RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11'.00 angel, •ancl when he's awake, he's AT:1400174...,.4VCZNAMZSZL3211ZNIZT2 pure devil.
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