HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-09-11, Page 4A deplorable lack of co-ordination
between the province and the
Municipalities has resulted in confusion
and in some cases, serious traffic problems
caused by school buses using flashers
within speed zones of 35 miles per hour
and less.
The basic concept of school buses being
required to use the flashers when picking
up or discharging passengers in low speed
zones resulted in few problems due to the
publicity surrounding the change. The
problem arose in school areas where, in
some cases, rows of a dozen buses with
flashers activated sat waiting for students
to board the buses as they departed from
schools,
Traffic could not be expected to sit
motionless for extended periods and as a
result, motorists stopped and then proceed-
ed by the flashing buses cautiously. Televi-
sion news reports pictured car after car
breaking the regulation as it was imprac-
tical to follow the letter of the law.
It was pointed out that the provincial
legislation provided for standing zones in
Municipalities where buses could legally
park to pick up students in the area of
schools without using their flashers,
Apparently, communication of this fact
to the municipalities was not done, or at
least not done in time to have the proper
bylaws passed without flaunting the law,
This will no doubt take place in the near
future, wherever it is deemed necessary,
but the province, and to a certain extent,
the municipalities, must take the blame for
the initial confusion in the matter.
Proper solution
Exeter council's decision to continue
the local school crossing guard service at
their own expense was prudent and one
with which local ratepayers will readily
agree,
For students living on the west side of
Main St, and north of Sanders, it is the only
safe and plausible means of protecting
them in their required crossing of an ex-
tremely busy highway.
While some may be critical of the
Huron board of education in dropping their
support for crossing guards and patrols, it
must be pointed out that the responsibility
no longer rests with them to protect
children once they leave the confines of
school property.
The system works best under the direct
supervision of local police forces and
thereby municipal control.
Positive outlook encouraging
It was encouraging to hear two local of-
ficials indicate last week they were not as
negative about county restructuring as
were most Huron reeves and deputies who
voted on the question recently.
That doesn't indicate that restruc-
turing for Exeter, Stephen or Usborne is
any closer to becoming a reality than it is
anywhere else in the county, but it does
suggest that perhaps the three
municipalities have a better working
relationship than some others.
It is that fact that makes the comments
of Exeter's Derry Boyle and Usborne's Bill
Morley most refreshing. This "Good
neighbor" situation is indeed important in
today's inflationary times, because there
are obvious economies for the ratepayers
of three 'Climmunitles in some joint ef-
f or
While discussion on restructuring may
be terminated at the county level, it is to be
hoped that perhaps the three area councils
will show some initiative and continue
talks on their own, at least on an informal
level.
In that way, the considerations are be-
ing made at the grass roots, rather than
coming from the top down, and perhaps
this is one of the basic reasons that the
Huron council heads vetoed the proposals.
There are obviously many problems
associated with any restructuring. It is a
matter of people at the local level weighing
'Chem against the apparent benefits in the
saving that results in cutting down the
, duplication of costs now facing the in-
dividual municipalities.
If a local committee finds that the ad-
vantages outweigh the disadvantages, then
the communities involved would certainly
be in a position to convince other Huron of-
ficials about the wisdom of the scheme and
have more facts to back up their arguthents
than the restructuring committee had at
their disposal.
It is a matter that should not ,be
dropped entirely and perhaps county coun-
cil would even underwrite the costs in-
volved in conducting a detailed study with
the three area municipalities being used as
a test situation.
Hopefully, the matter will be discussed
more fully by the full councils in each com-
munity so some decision can be reached on
the next course of action to be taken.
`fie exelerVirses-Abuocafe
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
C.W.N.A,, O.W,N.A. and ABC
Publisher — Robert Southcott
Editor Bill Batten — Advertising Manager
Assistant Editor --y Ross Haugh
Plant Manager — Les Webb
Composition Manager — David Worby
Published Each Thursday Morning
dt Exeter, Ontario
Second Class Mail
Registration Number 0386
Paid in Acivtnic4 Circulation
March 31, 1975 5,240
SUBSCRIPTION RATESt Canada $0,00 Per Yett4 USA $T Lee
ILUMMIrtaLeea.aef,,,CeTZ=&' e‘.;,.e.,,e..,vie,"ealgaienateeaea=geeMeeeeMere=eaeiZiee,
Phone 135.133 1
Lack of communication
God answers prayer
Now that's some convention
"Boy, dat's wan big countree"
was my bilingual thought as I
winged across the Great Lakes,
over the wild lake-and-rock
terrain of Northwestern Ontario,
and then high above the prairies,
as I headed for the weekly
newspaper convention in
Saskatoon.
That's about the essence of
Canada. It's so big, so beautiful,
and so varied that, it's almost
frightening. Perhaps only a well-
traveled Russian could feel the
sense of awe that I felt, after a
brief look at just a small piece of
this fantastic land of ours.
In seven days I covered about
40,000 miles by almost every
mode of transportation except ox-
train, and I saw only the most
veritable nook, the smallest
cranny of this vast, fascinating
country.'
It's quite an age. At 6:30 on one
of those wickedly hot days for
which the past summer has been
notorious, I'm kissing my tearful
wife goodbye. She was crying
because we were going to be
separated for a whole week, and
because I might fall among evil
companions, which I did.
Times Established 1873
At about 11:30 the same
morning, with a couple of time
changes thrown in, I'm walking
into the Bessborough Hotel, some
1,500 miles away on a lovely cool,
Septemberish day.
A week later, after a reunion
(we were almost shy with each
other) in a Toronto hotel, we are
pounding up the three-lane high-
way in my old road-schooner,
headed for home.
The hours between the
departure and the home-coming
seemed to flash by, and yet I felt
that I'd been away for a month,
I'd seen so much and covered so
much ground, not to mention air
and water.
I had eaten everything from
those awful frozen airline meals,
where you almost rupture
yourself trying to get the plastic
top off the pat of butter, to haute
cuisine, fovil stuffed with wild
rice, to fresh pickerel fillets
straight out of the frying pan at a
shore dinner.
I'd heard some good speeches,
John Diefenbaker, on home
ground, With no need to politic, is
unbeatable as an entertainer.
Otto Lang, also in his home
province, gave me some
assurance that at least one of our
federal ministries is in cool
hands. And most amazing of all
was the high official from the
postal service, standing up there
and trying to tell weekly editors
that we have a. good postal ser-
vice, and will have a great one.
It's a wonder he wasn't stoned to
death, But his homework had
been done, and his footwork was
excellent. He almost convinced
me. Essence of his message was
to get that postal code on your
mail .
When it comes to holding a
convention, those Saskatchewan
weekly editors don't have to play
second fiddle to anyone. This
convention was well organized,
varied and colorful.
It included a side trip to the
battlefield of Batoche, where
Gabriel Dumont's metis took on
the regular army, and gave it a
bloody nose, during the Mel
Rebellion.
Another exceptionally in-
teresting evening included a visit
to Pionera. If you are ever in
The past week has been fall
clean-up time at the Batten
residence, and to put it mildly,
it's been a complete disaster.
With the better half leading the
troops, it was decided to
redecorate one of the upstairs
bedrooms. Fortunately, the task
of stripping wallpaper was one
that the boys appeared to enjoy,
and for about three days they
worked on and off helping with
that chore,
Many hands make work light,
as they say and the walls and
ceiling were soon ready for the
painting and papering that had
been planned.
The painting job was almost
completed when the first set-back
occurred. For some unexplained
reason, a huge three-foot square
section of the ceiling plaster
decided to let go and came
crashing to the floor, carrying
with it a portion of the fresh
painting job.
Naturally, this altered the
redecorating plans! In fact it
created a rather monumental
problem. After several trips to
view the disaster area and some
family conflabs, the remedy was
selected.
All the plaster on the ceiling
and wall would be removed and
replaced with cedar shingles.
Now, if you happen to be among
those who have never taken
plaster off a wall, you've never
lived. Nor have you come close to
choking to death in the mess
created by falling plaster. Nor
have you ever experienced the
joy of finding dust filtering into
every nook and cranny from the
attic to the most distant corner of
the basement.
With the plaster finally
removed, the shingling job
commenced. The first few rows
up the wall went smoothly, but
putting shingles on a ceiling is a
different story. Not only is it
rather awkward, but one finds
that with each stroke of the
hammer, a cloud of dust and
plaster still clinging to the lath is
sent cascading down your neck br
into your eye balls. • However, never succumbing to
adversity, the Batten bedroom
was soon completed.
+ + +
Next on the list was the chore of
chopping away some of the
summer's growth from the many
soft maple trees which grow
about twice as fast as weeds,
This time father led the
assault, hanging precariously
from roof tops to get some errant
limbs and stroking away
feverishly despite the many self-
inflicted saw wounds and
bramble scratches.
Included in the job was
Saskatoon, don't miss it. There is
a complete reconstruction of a
pioneer village, containing
everything from a barber shop to
a bank. Along with this goes a
huge exhibition of old machinery,
used in the early days and a
display of handsome old
automobiles that would make an
antique car buff burst into tears
of joy.
Another colorful bit was the
piping in of the colors at one of
the banquets and their formal
presentation ton the riew
President, Ernie Neufeld of
Weyburti, Wk.
And as an added fillip, there
Was a pOst-cenvention fishing trip
into Northern Saskatchewar4 one
of the greatest fishing areas of
the world. More about that later.
For rae, the best part of the
convention was meeting old
Mende and making new ones. To
the old ones, I am here to testify
that you never looked better, To
the new ones, I can only say there
aresortie mighty nice people in
this country and you are among
them.
One thing that warmed my
Please turn to Page 14 A
_ SO Years Ago
Mr. John W, Taylor is nursing a
very painful finger these days.
Mr. Taylor was nailing steel laths
on his house when he fell from the
step ladder and came in contact
with the lath inflicting a painful
wound .
A report of the Centralia Ladies
Aid shows how hard work can
accomplish great feats. Since' the
United Church burned down its
1921 the Ladies .Aid have raised
$4,110.44 towards furnishing the
new church. This amount will
give the reader some idea of the
great undertakings the ladies
have so successfully conducted,
Alfred E. Tennant, veterinary
surgeon who for over 40 years has
practiced in Exeter,died in Vic-
toria Hospital, London after a
serious illness of pneumonia.
After an illness extending over
three years, there passed away at
her late home in Guelph, Mrs.
Samuel Peart, at the age of 68
years. The late Mrs, Peart was
before her marriage Miss Maria
G. Horne, daughter of the late
Mrs. Horne, one of the pioneers of
Huron County.
25 Years Ago
Rev. H. J. Snell representing
the London Conferefice, is in
Toronto attending the General
Council of the United Church.
xeter District High School
Board approved plans for an
agricultural barn on the school
property at its meeting last Week.
Starting Monday, September 25
adult haircuts will be 65 cents,
children So tents (on Saturday So
eents).
gxeter Chapter OgS marked
the twelfth anniversary of its
institution oh Wednesday evening
with Mrs, W. g, Middleton as
worthy matron.
Clayton "Dade Hoffman, 62, a
former member of the famoits
Exeter-turich hockey team
years ago, died Monday night in
Galt fon) a heart atteck,
glimville church will eelebrate
its 76th birthday on Sunday,
September 24.
lush, twisting vine that had been
pulled from its few remaining
grasps on the wall.
With angry wasps attacking
from all sides, a few seconds can
become an eternity, so you can
well imagine how long it ap-
peared before the three-minute
job of moving the ladder
was completed.
However, it was finally hoisted
into place with the aid of number
one son, but not before it just
missed disaster number three (or
was it four?) when it came within
a centimetre of smashing
through the kitchen window as it
wobbled precariously in the
breezes in a gravity defying
transfer to provide the escape
route for the beleagured editor on
the roof.
+ + +
The story could go on, of
course, relating the near rupture
sustained lugging boxes of
plaster down the stairway . .the
near tumbles from the ladder
when the climber forgot to take
into consideration the missing
rung . . the slap across the face
when the branch on which one is
tugging suddenly decides to give
up the fight . etc. etc. etc.
However it all leads to a rather
pointed conclusion: why in the
name of sanity are so many
people upset because they can't
have a home of their
own . : . especially at 121/2 per-
cent interest?
15 Years Ago
SHDHS board agreed Tuesday
night to advertise for another
teacher. This will bring the staff
number up to 26.
Elmer D. Bell, Q.C., Exeter is
regarded as a strong favourite to
become the new head of the
Ontario Progressive Con-
servative Association, reports
indicate this week.
Mayor R. E. Pooley recently
attended a practice plowing
session conducted at Springfield,
Elgin county, in preparation for
the International Plowing Match
there in October.
Bill Mickle Governor of
Kinsmen District 1 flew by jet to
Vancouver to attend the
Association of Kinsmen Clubs of
Canada last week,
Hensall "Oddfellows" Midgets
ended a 2oyear famine for an
Ontario Baseball Association
Championship Monday night
when they whipped Langton
Lions 12-6 to win the all-Ontario
Midget "D" crown.
10 Years Ago
An area boy, Ralph Batten,
eight year-old-son of Mr. and
Mrs. John Batten of Elitnville
was taken to St, Joseph's
Hospital, London, Friday site.
fering a broken leg. The boy was
riding his bicycle on Huron
County Road 6 when he Was in
collision with a car near the Math
intersection of Min-Mlle about
nom on Friday.
Council hat decided to pay
auxiliary police officers at the
rate of $1.50 per hour when they
are called in to Work. This Will
only be in the case of emergency
and Must be authorized by the
chief,
Enrolment at South Huron
District High School was up 74
pupils over last year to 446 on the
first day of classes yesterday.
Twenty-two teachers were on
hand, boosting the number of
teitehere to 42, The new principal
Is Douglas Palmer, Who eerie to
Exeter from Wiarton,
My friend Janie was telling me
the other day about her young
daughter asking her for a pair of
new jeans the end of June. Her
mother assured her that come
September she would have a
brand new pair of her favorite
kind of pants.
However, seemingly not
convinced, the youngster con-
tinued to badger her mother with,
"Mom, remember you promised
me you'd buy me a new pair of
jeans," or "Mom, are you sure
you're going to get me a new pair
of jeans," or "Mom, when are
you going to buy me my new
jeans."
"I really got tired of her bat-
tering away at me," said Janie,
"and eventually I became an-
noyed and demanded why she
didn't believe rne when I told her
I would buy the jeans at the
appointed time.
"As I thought it over," Janie
continued, "I realized this is
often how we treat God. We ask
Him for His help but instead of
believing that He is giving it to us
as He promised, we continue to
batter at Him with the, same old
petition."
How true.
Jesus said, "Everyone who
asks receives . . If you, who are
sinful, give to your children what
they need, don't you realize that
your heavenly Father will do
much more." (Luke 11)
Of course, as Dr. Wm. Barclay
says this doesn't absolve us from
intensity in prayer. After all, we
can only guarantee the sincerity
of our desire by the passion with
which we pray; but it does mean
that we are not wringing gifts
from an unwilling God, but that
we are going to One who knows
our needs better than we know
them ourselves, and whose heart
towards us is the heart of a
generous love.
Barclay continues, "If we do
It was a year last January that
I became involved in Information
South Huron. It has been a happy
assignment for me.
It was explained to me at the
time that Information South
Huron was a local effort of in-
terested citizens of Exeter and
district.
Shortly, I met the board of
interested citizens. It included a
lawyer, three ministers, and five
housewives including a nurse
from the London Psychiatric
Hospital.
Information South Huron was
the expression of concern on the
part of some leaders for a
counselling service in the com-
munity. This concern seemed to
be validated by a survey of
opinion.
This latter effort was spon-
sored by various social agencies
in Huron County. These social
agencies in turn sought by every
means to support the new ser-
vice.
Contributions have been
varied. The Victoria and Grey
Trust Company donate the use of
their board room for weekly
counselling sessions. The board
also meets there on a monthly
basis.
The Exeter Times - Advocate
has been very generous in
publishing news items, ad-
vertisements and the weekly
column - Our Response to Now.
Various community groups
including the local ministerial,
the Lions Club, Kongskilde Ltd.
and individuals have donated
money generously to Information
South Huron.
The board members - Always
busy people - are concerned for
their community. Let us in-
troduce them to you afresh. They
include Mrs. Molly Burke, Mrs,
Martin De Jong, Mrs. Carroll,
Mr, Kim McLean, the Rev. Glen
Wright and the Rev. Wilfred
Jarvis, Mrs. Etta De Haan,Mre.
Diane Ritnmer and the Rev, Jack
Roeda have also (served on the
board,
An attempt has been made to
maintain a local answering
Service. At the present time Mr.
&Mrs. PhillipLittle help us out in
this capacity.
The Godetieh Psychiatric
Hospital has contributed a
counsellor to this effort. Miss
Hazel Thompson Served for about
six months before youriptesent
Worker was enlisted, NeW
financial arrangements have
developed over the last year.
Information South Mean now
pays half the travelling expenses
for the counsellor.
And now some statistics! About
80 trips have been Made by
myself, Seventy-five different
people have applied for help,
not receive what we pray for, it is
not because God grudgingly
refuses to give it to us, but
because He has some better thing
for us. There is no such thing as
an unanswered prayer. The
answer given may not be the,
answer we desired or expected
but even when it is the refusal of
our wishes it is the answer of the
love and the wisdom of God."
I asked God for strength,
that I might achieve .
I was made weak,
that I might learn humbly to obey,
I asked for health,
that I might do greater things .
I was given infirmity,
that I might do better things,
I asked for riches
that I might be happy
I was given poverty,
that I might be wise.
I asked for power,
that I might have the praise of
men. „
I was given weakness
that I might feel the need of God,
I asked for all things
that I might enjoy life .
I was given life
that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for,
but. everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself,
My unspoken prayers were an-
swered.
I ern among all people, most
richly blessed!
(Anonymous)
There have been about 250
counselling sessions. This
averages out to about three
counselling sessions per trip.
Referrals have come from the
following agencies and
professions in the community:
Clergy-15, Hospital - 15, O.P.P.
12, Doctors - 8, Health Units - 6,
Lawyers - 2, Children's Aid
Societies - 2, and Canada Man-
power -1. Nine people have come
because of the articles in the
Times-Advocate.
The proplems addressed in-
clude the following: Marriage
problems - 33, Personal problems
- 20, Family problems - 11. There
has been counselling of five
people concerning alcohol abuse.
Five people have come for debt
counselling. One person came for
help in job finding techniques.
It is interesting that 17
referrals have been made to
other agencies or persons. In
some cases the referring agent
and myself have worked closely
together during the life of the
counselling.
The feature in The Exeter
Times-Advocate has been one of
the most demanding and also one
of the most enjoyable efforts. Out'
title tells what we wish to do. It is
"Our Response To Now".
About seventy-five articles
have been submitted to the
paper. Most of this effort has
come from myself, but one of the
noteworthy features is that
various men and women have
helped.
Some attempt is made to vary
the subject matter. Some history,
comments on current issues,
family and marriage features,
aspects of personal counselling
and helping, items of vocational
interest and a tinge of religion.
It is most satisfying to be
known because of the column, to
have people come for help
because of the presentation in the
paper, to hear assurances, "We
teed each week's offering" and
even to be criticized. Response is
always invited.
Some attempt has been made
to publish a monthly letter but
this has come on hard times. The
effort seems too much for us to
carry on consisteritly.
The board Members a hdenyeelf
have dreamed of wide in-
volvertient in teihnitthity
programs but always business, or
the tack of time, Or Money, has
hampered out efforts.
It may be that some Will
recognize here an effort With
Which they can associate
themselves. Tithe, money,
imagination, .and leadership are
all required, Any offering is
Welcomed.
Please' feel free to teSpend,
Weneferegigeere-..
etelMed:SeteeMeetrZeMeneee.
Advocate Established 1881
Amalgamated 1924
WHICH ONE- THE, TITANIc?
removing a climbing vine from
the side of the house which had
pulled from its tentacles in the
brick
A huge wooden ladder was
hoisted up beside the verandah,
and with one foot on a ladder rung
and the other on the roof of the
verandah, the vine was attacked
with gusto with little con-
sideration for the precarious
footing that would have made the
most daring aerialist gasp' in
sheer jealousyand awe.
Then it happened! First ,there
was a sharp stinging sensation on
the left ankle, then one on the
right, then on the arm . . . and
then the victim spotted the at-
tackers . . a colony of yellow
wasps dive-bombing in to protect
the nest under the eave on which
the writer was spread-eagled.
Panic struck quickly and as
'invariably happens, the wrong
decision was made. Rather than
swinging back onto the ladder to
escape to the ground, I foolishly
, made my way to the verandah
3.-,roof. Its small confines provided
'little shelter from the buzzing,
stinging foe and the more they
were swatted, the more reserves
they appeared 'to toss into the
battle.
Instructions were quickly
passed along to the better half on
the ground . . . like hurry up and
get the ladder around to the other
side of the verandah so an escape
could be executed.
That was easier said than done.
The huge wooden'ladder was not
only too heavy for her to handle ,
it was entangled in the mess of
RAPEAU WANTS
c‘fm,v.,w, BUY OCEAN RS
CRSiN9 TDFt1yWKi r1 ta
The joys of home ownership
Our response to now
By ELMORE BOOMER
Counsellor for
Information South Huron
For appointment
phone: 235-0560 :
Information South Huron