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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-12-18, Page 4It is heartening to note that when Christmas rolls around there are people who will take the time to make things a lit- tle easier for our senior citizens. Exeter's new Citizens Band Radio Club has a project this year that just may fill a need in this area, Their plans of providing a free delivery service for elderly people during the Christmas rush deserves the support of all members of the business community. The group will deliver parcels and heavy packages to people who might otherwise have no other way of getting their purchases home and we are sure the club's efforts will be appreciated by everyone who is able to take advantage of their services. This is just one more example of how users of the citizens band radicks have developed a hobby into something worthwhile and helpful to our community. Debate on violence Violence on television often sparks the most violent of debates when discussed by ordinary viewers. People, depending on their viewpoint, damn it, ignore it or insist it has no long-term effect on our lives. However, recently, an eminent Canadian man of letters, Dr. Northrop Frye of Toronto, had advanced the theory, which we suggest has some validity, that it is not the act of violence itself which is always wrong, but the enjoyment of watching — and thereby participating in — an act of violence. In fact, suggests Professor Frye, some of the acts of violence which were por- trayed through our television screen ac- tually have had civilizing and positive effect on the public. An illustration of this would be the way in which the reporting of the real horror and evil of the Vietnam war did so much to bring the average American to hate that war, instead of becoming com- placent or inured to it. Violence is a real part of our society. We live in no paradise and to ignore it, or anything else that is' dehumanizing, is to live like the proverbial ostrich. Newsmen in all the media have a duty to report violence whenever it occurs and so do creative novelists, dramatists and televi- sion producers. The reporting itself becomes violent when it is slanted by headlines or overdone by dramatists so that people see violence as a acceptable option. Yet the prevalence of violence is part of the unpleasant reality of life today and the only way that concern- ed people can fight it, whether it be in the streets or on the battlefield, is to know what it is and to take courage by facing that reality. The enjoyment of violence for the sake of violence is a sick reaction but to demand that the acknowledgment of its existence be legislated from our television screens is to deny reality. It would also make it more difficult to strive for a more humane, more peaceful and, eventually, less violent socie- ty. On the other hand to inflict programs of violence upon children can have deep consequences on their lives, say some ex- perts. Parents and concerned citizens could do more to end violence-for-entertainment than any censor by expressing their disgust and horror at such television by refusing to watch it and by refusing to purchase any of the products manufactured by its sponsors. That is the most effective form of cen- • sorship. Feeble inflation fighters Jim Beckett's "Ah, the sounds of Christmas . . the ringing of cash registers!" Imaginary wishes from real people Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-0560 What if men change name after getting married? Hobbies can be helpful Although it is a couple of weeks since Trudeau's Thanksgiving Threat, there is still a rumblin' an' a tumblin' in the atmosphere, bad vibes bouncing off good vibes, and vice versa, Certainly, it was. an eventful evening in Canada's history. First, there was the Prime Minister himself. Gone were the charismatic grin, the flip retort, the eloquent Gallic shrug that seems to say, "Just because you are stupid . ," Full-face, he appeared almost fat, and almost frightened. The lean, sardonic look was absent. He looked like a city boy with the reins in his hands of a runaway team, hoping desperately that some innocent bystanders (you and I?) would jump out and help bring the runaways to a halt. What he said was OK, and the whole country was behind him, except for the doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, con- struction bosses, labor leaders, landlords, and every worker in the country whose demand for a forty percent increase had not yet been settled by a contract. But it was the way he said it that turned me off. What should have been a ringing appeal to a nation came out with the blood- tingling effect of a symphony played on a kazoo. What should have made us gird up our loins and fight on the beaches and in the bedrooms and in the beer parlours, left me feeling rather flat, forlorn and fightless. Somehow, I could not identify with this rich, brilliant man whose early idealism has har- Times Established 1873 dened' into the familiar but ugly mold of political expediency. Where, I thought, as he solemnly told us that we had a bad case of galloping inflation and must stop being so greedy, where have he and his musical- chairs cabinet been for the past three or four years, in a sound- proof shelter? This, I said to Bill Smiley, the only person who ever pays any attention to me, this is not leadership. This is panic. Instead of a government that is ready to roll up its sleeves, rally the people behind it, and attack the enemy, we have a govern- ment that is trying to win the wag with band-aids and cosmetics to cover the wounds. Which go right on suppurating beneath them. This is the gpvernment that gave MP's a 50 percent pay in- crease to "catch up" on inflation, and now tells lesser mortals they may have ten percent. This is the government that thoroughly and utterly botched the estimates of Canada's oil and gas reserves. This is the government that stood around wringing its hands and uttering plaintive little mews while those two giants, Big Business and Big Labor, put John Q. Public through the wringer of a vicious wage and price spiral. This is the government from which its ablest cabinet member resigned recently from the financial portfolio, probably because he doesn't go for that old guff of staying on the bridge of a sinking ship. Yes, this is the government which mocked and scorned and thus defeated Robert Stanfield a while back when , he showed Advocate Established 1881 enough guts to urge price and wage controls, And this is the government which, without even a blush of shame, now snatches the biggest plank from that honest man's platform, to cling to in the stormy seas battering the economy. I hate to remind you, chaps, but this is the government to which you and I (all right then, all those other dummies) gave a majority last time around. Within hours after his solemn warnings and hints of dire punishments, the long-suffering public, which thought it had seen a glimpse of steel beneath the pap, learned that there were "exceptions" to the rules. Mr. Trudeau's strong medicine turned out to nothing but milk, And watered milk, at that. Oh, there are going to be in- teresting times ahead, waiting to see which powerful group in this greedy time will be the first to defy the controls and tell the government to go to hell, The front-running 'group will undoubtedly, after making a few fast millions, get a terrific slap on the wrist with a feather, and receive a crushing fine of maybe $500. That's what happens to big industry caught polluting, Just remember, when your friendly family doctor plunges a needle into your arm with unaccustomed ferocity, he really isn't meaning to hurt you. He's just pretending you are Pierre Trudeau, I don't know about you, but I don't know whether to laugh or cry over the terrible austerity, the fearful sacrifices Canadians must face — at 10 percent per annum. Amalgamated 1924 1:er.-.'.".'-- ref,, ..... frie..., IIIM•=f ,./••••• wn me.... .1.7.4. T' .••••• In. r. iri_iwa ,.......„..„..,_ --minmessoloominaris The Christmas season is a time when people use their imagination and their thoughts to make good things happen for the benefit of others. Let's use our imagination this week and pretend that Santa Claus has received letters from residents of this area with a list of things they would like for Christmas. On the top of the pile was a request from a Huron Street resident to make the paving of that bumpy road a priority for next year. "We've all tried to be good people during 1975 even though those muddy potholes have tried our patience more than once. Another request was post- marked somewhere in Hayf , township and pleaded with Santa to see what he could do to bring up-to-date fire service to this area. The letter stated that all the people in the township would be able to sleep better if they could rely on adequate fire protection. If Santa could just do this one thing they would be eternally grateful. The next letter Santa opened really surprised him because the people who had written it didn't want anything more for Christmas. It was from the residents of the Helen E. Jermyn Senior Citizens Apartments and they were thanking him for their beautiful new building. Santa's wife rushed over with another letter that did not contain any selfish requests. It was from the local detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police and it pleaded with Santa to use his influence to discourage drinking and driving over the festive season. The message asked Santa to do everything in his power to grant this wish because it could result in saving quite a few lives. A special delivery letter from the Rodeo Committee urged Santa to help people remember all the good times they had at previous rodeos and to show more enthusiasm in maintaining this event. Sante ',vas requested to work this project into his schedule before January 7 — the date another committee may be formed to do some more work on the annual event. A post script asked the jolly old gentleman if he could bring back the support of some of the service clubs in town that was lacking at the last meeting. We all know that Santa's personal choice is reindeer, but it still beseached him to do as much as possible for horse fans in this area. Exeter's RAP employees asked Santa to give special con- sideration for their request of a 10 percent pay hike and added fringe benefits. The letter concluded by saying the group was not asking for anything more than other town employees, If this wish was granted he would have to get out his adding Machine to see if the budget could stand the increased financial strain, Dozens of signatures of South Huron farmers were on the next letter Santa opened. It told of their plight over the past year in fighting rising costs and sometimes dreadfully low prices for their products. "All we want is the opportunity to make a decent living," the letter stated. It begged Santa to make the large companies and marketing groups responsible for setting prices to see the farmers get their fair share of the profits. The farmers asked the bearded man to telephone Eugene, his favorite elf, and put him to work on their request immediately. They just hoped Beryl, his financial wat- chdog, would not put a halt to any of these ambitious plans. The next envelope Santa looked at upset him a little. It was so thick and heavy that the North Pole post office made him pay the overdue postage. The names ,at the bottom were from Exeter's town council and they had a list a mile long of things they wanted. The letter dashed off in point form the large number of projects the town is working on from attaining grants by the various government bodies to zoning in the new official plan. Santa's wife said she knew these many projects were in more than capable hands and they should be able to handle everything on their own. Another plea was received from the staffers at the Provincial Court in Exeter, It was underlined in red ink to illustrate the importance of the message and asked Santa to give it his urgent attention. "Mr. Claus," it read, "if you could only get people to think about the consequenses before they act, 50 Years Ago About three o'clock Saturday morning, fire broke out in the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Harness on Williams Street and when discovered it was a mass of flames and beyond control. The fire was discovered by Dr, Gibson who smelled smoke. Everything was destroyed. On Saturday the Soldier's Aid presented Mr, Harness with a cheque for $100 and a sub- scription was taken up amoun- ting to $475. The 14th of December was a record day for Exeter, being the last day for tax collections and $10,000 was received, The bank staff was swamped. 25 Years age It was reported that Santa would be touring the area via plane and train this year. Although unable to bring his wife, reindeer, and helpers, Santa told the T-A that he was "bound and determined to visit the children of South Huron before Christ- mas," A capacity crowd in St, James Church, Exeter, acclaimed the talent of London's .all-girl choir under the direction of Mr, Earl Terry. Proximity, a trotter owned by Clint liodgins of Clandeboye, was acclaimed the harness horse of the year. Mr, HoclgiOS, a top driver On the harness racing circuit, drove his horse to most of her victories during the year, 20 Years Ago With the arrival of Santa last Friday, R.C.A,F, Station Cen- tralia began a week of festive parties, Every Section on the station plans a party of their Own you would be making our task a lot easier." After all, the court workers would be much happier if they didn't have to pass judgement on hundreds of people in the community every year. Dozens more letters were received from people wanting to save the town bell, merchants asking for more parking space, ministers wanting more people to go to church, teachers requesting Santa make their students study harder, hockey coaches wanting their teams to win, car dealers wishing the sales tax would go away forever, people wanting more holidays, other people wanting shorter hours, still others pleading for more money, etc. etc. After Santa had read them' all he had his wife type the same reply to everybody. It was only three short lines . . . but he believed it expressed his feelings clearly. You will too. When the people in Exeter and' surrounding area open their mail Christmas morning they'll all agree Santa has enough work in making sure millions of youngsters in the world will have a happy Christmas, His return letter reads as follows: "I agree many of your requests have a great deal of merit, but they are basically human problems that can be worked out with hard work and co-operation among yourselves," Merry Christmas. Signed S. Claus during the week and the.round of merry-making will be climaxed by a station party December 23. Fifty new Canadian families proudly opened their first church in their adopted land at a special service Friday night, The congregation of the Christian Reformed Church turned out in full force to mark the completion of their house of worship. 10 Year Ago The resignation of a police constable from the Exeter Police force over the weekend sparked salary discussions Monday night at council and resulted in pay raises for the members of the force. The constable who gave his resignation was also given a raise and decided to return to the force, The average salary for a police constable had been around $3400 per year for a 48-hour week, The lives of an RCAF in- structor and a, student pilot were endangered Saturday afternoon when a bullet passed through the body of a Chipmunk aircraft flying in the Dashwood area, The hole in the aircraft was discovered as soon as the two officers returned to base. 5 Years Ago Members of the Salvation Army visited patients in South Huron Hospital to wish them a merry Christmas and bring packages of food and gifts, Mr. and Mrs, Arthur Frayne, 251 Carling Street, aild Mrs. William Musser, 354 Edward, and Mr, and Mrs. Cal Wein, 236 Huron St, East, were picked as having the best decorated homes in 'Exeter for the Christmas season, Each family won a turkey. Women do not have to change their names when they get married! That is true in Ontario anyway. It is a strong tradition only. Increasingly women are questioning the wide-spread practice. Men object, "If you're gOing to marry me, what's wrong with my name?" Of course this reasoning is double-edged, Our ladies immediately hypothesize, "What if men had to change their names? Suppose some guy wanted to look up an old friend and could not remember the wife's name." Some women also are happy with the status quo. They won- der about the discussion in progress at the present time. The next question is "What can I do if I want to change my name back to my maidenname? Is it possible to do this?" The' answer is in the af- firmative. There are a couple of procedures, If you don't mind spending $150 you can change your name legally. There is a problem, The Change of Name Act of 1972 assumes that any woman ap- plying for a change of name is doing so on behalf of her spouse and family. Some husbands wouldn't be happy with this. Another less complicated and expensive way of changing your name is simply to write to all business and social aquaintences indicating that as of a certain date you wish to be known and addressed by another name. Any one doing this must be sure to change their social security number credit cards and car license, The last change is on their passport, The federal government wishes to be sure that she is indeed using her new name, Some women are seeking to retain their Maiden names for business matters and their husbands' names for social purposes. This leads to com- plications. Usually the husband's name dominates, People tend also to drop hyphenated names and if a women thus seeks to combine her maiden name with her husband's name, the maiden name disap- pears, When a woman is separated or enough to remember Christ- mases of the past when there were no lights, precious few presents and sometimes no turkey. Yet the bright memories Of those Christmases still warm our hearts with gladness. Of course, ,what really makes Christmas is that haunting, message of Jesus being born in a manger in tiny, mystical old Bethlehem the night when the dark sky was alight with angels singing about peace, goodwill and joy, Even those who do not acknowledge Christ as Saviour and Lord still have within them the longing and the hope for this peace, this goodwill and this joy, It stirs their hearts and makes Christmas happen. The crustiest, the most pessimistic, the meanest become a little softer, a little more optimistic, a bit kinder as Christmas approaches. But to be really ready for Christmas is to open up and accept the birth of Christ for what it really is , . . a priceless gift from a loving God that changes lives and moves nations, Henry van Dyke, in one of his writings, says we're ready for Christmas when we show God's love in our lives by forgetting what we've done for other people and remembering what others have done for us. . . When we ignore what the world owes us and think of what we owe the world! When we see our fellowmen are just as real as we are and we try to look behind their faces to their hearts to see their hunger for joy. When we set aside our book of complaints against the management of the universe and look around for a place we were can sow a few seeds of happiness. When we can do all these things, then, says van Dyke we are ready for Christmas. divorced they can use the simpler procedure or if she can prove separation from her spouse for five years she can use the more expensive method. Now you can indicate your interest in this whole matter by writing to the Law Reform Commission, 18 King St., 16th Floor, Toronto, Ontario. The Law Reform Commission published a paper in October and during the next three months are welcoming your response. + + + Women and credit is a topic of major interest at the present time. A recent conference held in Toronto highlighted some dif- ficulties that women have in this matter. One female customer of the Toronto Dominion Bank who previously obtained un- complicated credit found a dif- ference after marriage, She could not use her maiden name and she must have her htisband cosign. The former matter was cleared when the institution in question indicated their former ignorance of the legality of a women's use of her maiden name in Ontario. The Toronto Dominion Bank will now be allowing this practise. The necessity of a spouses' signature on an application for credit was explained as a wish on the part of the bank to be sure that both partners in the marriage know what is being done. The practise will continue for both men and women, + + + Some research done in United States indicates that women both married or single are better credit risks than their male counterparts. Delinquency among women ran at 6.6 percent and men at 8.4 percent. + + + Equal Credit Opportunity guidelines approved by the Ontario Credit granting industry have recently been tabled in the Ontario Legislature according to our local M,P.P. Jack Riddell, 'This should be of immense bell) to many women who are increasing, ly active in the business world. stareferZinies-iimocafe SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A„ O.W.N,A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by 3, W, Eedy Publications Limited Editor — Jim Beckett -- Advertising Manager Women's Editor, —Gwyn Whilsntith Plant Manager — tes Webb Competition Manager have Worby Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Cirtulation March 31, 1975 5,249 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year USA $11.00 For Canadians, a green Christmas is almost unthinkable. Even those of us who don't count winter as our favorite season hope for a nice skiff of snow for the Yuletide for it seems to be an intregal part of our Christmases, Two weeks ago, worried merchants stood in quiet, heavily stocked stores holding their heads and lamenting, "If it would only snow, our customers would get in the mood to shop". And sure enough, when the first flakes started to drift down, it .was as if someone pressed a button that sent everyone into action, scurrying out to do their Christmas buying, "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" we hum to ourselves as we watch the earth .being trimmed and decorated by the first snowfall, Yes, we say, when the white stuff comes we're ready for Christmas. But what about people who live in climates where there is no snow? What gets them in the spirit? A . friend of mine from South Africa, spending his first Christmas in Canada, tells me his compatriots look for hot, sunny days. Christmas comes in the middle of their summer with many families on holidays. "For the most part," he informs me, "we spend the day on the beach, with a traditional dinner later on . often in the form of a huge, gala barbeque," Do they have lights, decorations, greetings and gifts? "Of course", he answers, "that's all part of Christmas, isn't it?" Imagine that, celebrating Christmas without a snow flake in sight! So, if it isn't the climate that makes Christmas, what is it? The glittering, twinkling lights? The gifts? The heavily laden table? Not really. Most of us are old Ready for Christmas