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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-10-21, Page 4An increase in vultures +CNA SUBSCRIPTION RATES: "What I really miss is going on strike," Give credit for cash More power for the people • Page 4 Times-Advocate, October 21, 1976 tsVe.6*M.".. • 0 ware..Nre4.....asnknrw.wac,C*131,M10,.. Secrecy not efficient oven-Meer • Your brother's keeper not be entitled to sit in on the discussions which precede decisions. In effect, most items which come to the open sessions will be "cut and dried" and the taxpayers will not be given the background information which formed the basis for the final decision. In addition, it will make it difficult for those same electors to know what position their representatives took on particular issues. At a time when more and more people are voicing concern about the secrecy that prevails with the two senior levels of government, it is a retrograde step indeed to see county councillors moving into the same undemocratic habits. If county councillors want to be more efficient, they no doubt will have the overwhelming support of all taxpayers. But let them do their work in public where those who foot the bill can have complete access to the business being undertaken on their behalf. Need some action totefer'Ziniesattuorate Published Each Thursday Morning at Egefer, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,420 Canada $9.00 Per Yea; USA $11.00 Perth County Council took steps recent- ly to abolish their committee system, The work previously undertaken by those various aimmittees will now come before the entire council in committee-of-the- whole sessions. The frightening aspect of the move is that while county matters will still be voted on in open sessions, all the preliminary dis- cussions will be held behind closed doors with the press and public excluded. In advocating the change, council members suggested it would make their work more efficient as information would be supplied to all councillors at the same time and it would remove the need for com- mittees to feed their information back to regular sessions for a second round of debating. That may well be, and certainly they should be lauded for taking steps to make their operation more efficient. However, there is cause for concern and it is due to the fact that the public will Without doubt younger drivers in this area will have reacted with anger to the suggestion that they should be banned from the public roads between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night. The report of the Traffic Injury Research Foundation contained that recommendation as a means of reducing the alarmingly high death and injury figures for youths between the ages of 16 and 19 years. As is the case so frequently with young people, any effort to reduce the dangers they face is likely to be viewed as some sort of hate campaign. The foundation's recommendation is, of course, exactly the opposite. It is an expression of grief for the tragedies which have stricken so many families because of night driving fatalities. Almost everyone we know has a neighbor or a friend grieving for the loss of a beloved teenage son or daughter whose life has ..been snuffed out in a split second of carelessness or haste. The figures for death and injury to per- sons in the 16-19 year age bracket are away above the average for other age groups. Several factors contribute to this out-of- balance situation: young people are out in the family car at night because, for one thing, someone else has 'been using it all day, and secondly, because the kids want to get away to a dance or some other youth- There are quite a few big, black birds floating around these days. Or had you noticed? No, they are not black geese on their way south. They are vultures. They may not look like it. They may more closely resemble political pundits, media manipulators, or triumphant Tories. But they are vultures. They are scrawny and hungry as they circle impatiently, waiting for the morbund body to fall down and become a carcass on which they can fatten, That staggering corpus on which their beady little eyes are fixed is the Liberal Party, which composes the government of this fair land at the moment. A Gallup or some other poll revealed recently that the Liberals would receive only 29 per cent of the vote; should an election be held when the poll was taken. Add to that the increasingly virulent tone of the media toward the prime minister, and a gaggle of fairly minor scandals involving prominent Liberals, and it would appear that the vultures will soon be gorging themselves. There certainly is a faint stench arising from the Liberal party these days. But it is not the stench of death. It is more like the odour of a body that needs Times Established 1873 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W, Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Plant Manager Jim Scott Composition Manager -* Harry DeVries Business Manager —.Dick Jong kind Phone 235-1331 Will that be cash or Chargex? Or Mastercharge? Or any one of a dozen other ways to prolong payment? The ease of using credit cards encourages inflation and it is difficult to comprehend why the Canadian government has not moved to take some action in this field in an effort to reduce in- flation. Economic advisors point out quite clearly that a nation • or family that produces as it uses, pays as it goes, does not run into inflation. In the United States, cash customers are beginning to get a break. There are more and more stores allowing a five percent discount for cash payment. This is possible because of the passing last year of the Fair Credit Billing Act. Until then some of the credit card com- panies had provisions in their• contracts with retailers preventing these retailers giving a discount for cash, A discount for cash seems only fair. Credit costs money , . . ,to check credit ratings, to produce the credit cards, to pay the in- terest on the money the customer is actually borrowing, to pay for the administration and to cover bad debts. Why should the cash customer pay for these services that he does not receive? Or to put it more directly, why should he not get a discount because he is not requiring the extra service? + + + Mathematics was never one of the writer's strong subjects (among many others), but local residents should seriously con- sider the merit in getting the campaign for the South Huron Recreation Centre cleaned up as quickly as possible. The interesting point of the situation is that the government is basically giving the com- munity $2 for every $1 raised and that's just too good an offer to pass up. While the grant picture is bright indeed, it would be most unfortunate if tax money had to be used to reach the final target. In fact, it would necessitate ment controls the purse strings. This means patronage and post offices and pension cheques. And don't tell me that's nineteenth century politics, It ain't, Look for some sudden benevolence by the ,government on the eve of election. And again, Don't count too much on the prime minister's current unpopularity. Mackenzie King was one of the most cordial- ly hated prime ministers we have ever had. He suddenly became very popular and Won an election, when he introduced the baby bonus. See last paragraph. Another fact. There are millions of die-hard Liberals in this country. They'd vote Liberal if King Kong or Ibi Amin (not much to choose there) were run- ning for prime minister. What do you think they will do in an elec- tion? Roll over and play dead? Add to this that Quebec, despite its disillusion with its own Liberal government, will go at least ninety per cent Liberal. They may not love Triideau, but when it comes to a choice between a guy named Pierre and a guy named Joe, there is no choice, among French Canadians. Trudeau will get a licking in the West, but that is not where elections are won or lost, While it may be on the ropes, cut and bleeding, the Liberal par- ty is a long, long way from being carried out of the ring, feet first. Here's my prediction, Pierre Trudeau Will eat Joe Clark for breakfast. If he doesn't, I'll eat three copies of the High River Times for my breakfast. raising an extra $3 for every $1 we fall short. To put it in simple terms that even the editor can understand, let us assume that the campaign fell $3 short. That entire $3 would have to come out of the local coffers. However, if one person contributed an extra $1 the province would• match it with an additional $2 and the target would be reached. There are many people in the community who have still not given their share and hopefully they will do so when they realize that the target is now within reach and that if they fail to contribute, the tax expenditure will be considerably higher than personal donations, + A fool and his money soon part? Could be, but you can bet someone else is getting rich on the money. with which he is parts an example, A example, we had the pet rock craze. That little idea,petted Dear Sir: I have just finished reading the article "Requests Study on Sp- ecial Education" in your paper of October 14, Because there are a few grains of truth in some of what the writer has said, and because the article has received widespread coverage, Pfeel that it might be accepted in total by ones not knowledgeable in the facts, and therefore could be harmful. Therefore, I am taking it upon myself to try to point out that critical implications in the article do NOT apply to the grade school here in Exeter. The 'specialized' programme, which the writer wants, is available here in Exeter,' with both the knowledge and approval of the School Board. As one in contact with, but not a part of the Exeter school, who is writing this on my own without either the instigation or knowledge of staff or ad- ministration, I am aware of the fine rapport between staff members and homes of children — Please turn to Pa6 5 '30 Years Ago There were an exciting few moments at Beavers Hardware Monday morning when fire broke outin some oil in the basement of the store, It was brought under control by the use of fire ex- tinguishers. A new chancel was dedicated 'at the jubilee services of Zion Evangelical Church, Crediton, last Sunday. Many former members returned for the event. Mary Easton, Exeter, Was elected president of the Young People's Societies of Huron- Maitland Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Canada at Goderich, Friday. 20 Years Ago Chartered banks this week raised their loan rates one- quarter of one.percent. This ups the minimum rate to five per- cent on loans secured by Govern- ment of Canada bonds, Andrew Johnston Drugs, Main Street, was officially opened this weekend. Assisting Mr. Johnston are Helen Westcott and Bob Harvey. Exeter District Co-operative officials announted this week their Main Street store has been purchased by McKerlie A,Utortiotive Limited, London. 15 Years Ago Exeter "A" Pack cubs have over $1,000,000 for the originator. Now some guy in the U.S. is shredding old bills and selling the remains in jars for the person who "has everything". Not to be outdone,' two Toronto businessmen have come up with an "All Canadian Tame Hole". The Hole, which comes in an attractive jar and with attached instructions,retails for $V95, Sales are reported to be bra, We're not-certain what fosters all this madness, but it surely must reflect something about the society in which we live.. + + + Have you become accustomed to the new speed limits yet? Well, judging from, the stiff fines being handed out in court, it's an extremely costly proposition• to have a heavy foot these days. Last week, five drivers appeared in court and their fines ranged from a low of $153 to a high of $178. That should convince most people that it is prudent indeed to keep within the speed limits. + + + Thirty or forty years ago, a freshly peeled stick floating on a pond • was big news in rural Ontario. It meant that rarely seen beaver were present and whole communities would turn out to see a beaver dam or "house" and hopefully get a view of its occupants. However, today that peeled stick spells trouble in many areas as beaver have grown in such numbers that they are now somewhat of a nuisance in many areas. Cqttagers complain about beaver chopping down their one and only shade tree or about beaver moving into the boat house. Others experience the problem of flooded roadways or property. In short, the beaver is becoming a growing nuisance and people are being encouraged to go into the trapping business to keep the population down to a manageable level. won an award plaque for "Meritorious entry" in the 1961 Cub Conservation Contest spon- sored recently by Cities Service Oil Co. Ltd, Dr. T. A. Watson of Lucan is the happiest fisherman in the community for having'caught the largest northern pike at Key Harbour. Mr. & Mrs. De Vries of Holland, who have spent several months here visiting their son and his family, Mr. & Mrs. Harry De Vries, returned to their home this week. 5 Years Ago Miss Pamela Sangster, Hen' sail, received her Ontario Scholarship at SHDHS Friday evening. During the summer months. Pam was employed by the Department of the Environ- ment, At the annual Middlesex plow- ing tnatch, Saturday, Clare Paton, the president of the Middlesex Association walked off with two prizes as did Ron Wakeling, Bill Westman and Mrs. Audrey Westman. Last Wednesday evening in the Parish Hall in St, John's By the Lake Anglican Church a social farewell evening was held for Rev. 8dgar, and Mrs, Insley who are leaving Grand Bend to Minister to St. Peters parish, Windsor. Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain, a member, of the first human family, asked God. It's a question many people have asked through the ages. Of course, we are our brother's keeper, This has become the basic responsibility of all human relationships. We obey traffic laws. We pay taxes, We establish social welfare agencies. We do all these things under the com- bined responsibility we have for each other. But a deeper involvement develops when we admit we are not only our brother's keeper but we are also our brother's brother, You know the story of the little boy who was seen carrying a baby on his small back. A man stopped him and inquired, "Isn't that baby too heavy for you, Son?" !`Oh, no, Mister," replied the boy, "He's not heavy, he's my brother," We must move far beyond the minimal expectation of social services and justice into the lov- ing relationship of brotherhood. Also, we need to seek to unders- tand and sympathize with the needs of others. There is another story about another little boy sitting in the park holding in his hand a sparrow with a broken wing. A kind lady came along and said, "Little boy, would you like me to take this bird with me and nurse it until it is well? I promise that when its wing has healed br- ing it back to the park and let it fly again." The boy thought for a moment and then replied, "If you don't mind, I will take Care of the bird myself." He paused for a moment and then added "You see, I understand this sparrow." The woman was not quite sure what he meant until he stood up and she saw that he had his leg in a cast, Because he had been hurt he understood the bird's suffer- ing. Some Christians seem to By KENNETH McDONALD Canada is in political tur- moil. There's a lack of public confidence in political insti- tutions and political leaders. Citizens feel isolated from the political process as gov- ernments implement legisla- tion which is often contrary to public opinion. ' • • • Both here and in the U.S„ there is profound distrust of central governments. Too much power has passed from elected representatives to non-elected officials. Too often local Members of Par- liament are nothing more than ombudsmen! • • • How are we going to strengthen the role of MPs and increase public confi- dence in the political sys- tem? The Canadian Federa- tion of Independent Business sees the following two mea- sures 'as being potentially influential. • • • The first, already passed into law, will take election financing out of the hands of central party organiza- tions and their sources in big business and big unions. • • • • By permitting 75 per cent of the first $100 contributed to a federal political party to be deducted from income tax, and reducing the relief on larger contributions up to a maximum deduction of $500, the new rules put the money power into the hands Of the individual riding associations. Democracy almost be afraid to admit that they have suffered or underwent some traumatic difficulty in their lives, But nothing helps as much or improves our understanding of another's problems as sharing common needs and troubles, You know yourself when you are seeking consolation you do not go to an over pious person with all the pat answers, one who never admits to having experienced any difficulties or failures in his own life. No, you reach out to someone whose experience is similar and, whose feelings are very real to you and from whom your receive brotherly love and sympathy. Never before has there been such a need for the strong brother to help the weak brother. The imbalance of our economic resources, the poverty of so many millions and the suffering of entire nations calls upon those who are strong to help those who • are weak. On the occasion when Jesiis fed the multitude he steed, ."I have compassion on the crowd . , . I ain unwilling to send them away hungry." There is a great need for us to feel this same compassion today, to sense the hunger and the wants of masses of people, to refuse to put them out of our minds, A cynical adult sought to dis- count the trust of a little girl of poor circumstances, whose fami- ly hardly knew where the next meal would come from. He said to her, "But if God loves you, wouldn't He send you food and shoes?" To which she replied, "Well, God told someone, but they forgot." Isn't it the truth, we so often forget what we are supposed to do? Someone has said, "Our Maker gave us two hands, one to hold on to Him and the other to our fellowmen. If' we hold fast to Him who gave us life, his love will flow through us and out to all our brothers whoever and wherever they may be, gains by a shift of power from big centralized institu- tions to individuals and local communities. • • • If an,MP ignores the wishes of his or her constituents, it 'could be relatively easy for a group of angry citizens to take over a riding associa- tion and finance its own candidate. • • * The second measure, awaiting formal legislation, deals with freedom of pub- lic access to information on which the federal govern- ment bases its decisiOns. Withholding that informa- tion is the chief source of bureaucratic . power, How can the Official Opposition, or members of parliamentary committees, offer cohstruc- tive criticism when deprived of the relevant facts? 0 • • For example, Mirabel, the $1.5 billion airport which airlines and passengers are trying to avoid, probably would never have been built if the fanciful traffic projec- tions used to justify it had been made public. • * • Changing election financ- ing was a commendable step toward 'electoral reform. Freedom of information is essential to reforming Parlia- ment itself. Both represent a potential shift of power from Big Government, Big Business, Big Labour and Big Cities to individuals, small business and local communities, oriented activity. Thus they do their driv- ing in the most hazardous hours. Another and very significant factor is the young drivers' inexperience. They can, indeed, handle cars expertly enough, but unlike those who have spent more years behind the wheel, they have never had some really close calls to breed a sense of caution, Added to those factors one must include alcohol, which is too often part of the "good timey scene and makes a tragic mix when combined with youthful ex- uberance and inexperience. No, we do not believe the curfew will become law — but surely there must be some way to save these wasted lives. Dr. J. K. McGregor of Wingham, who in his role as coroner, has seen at first hand too many of these tragedies, recently suggested to his town council that one of the death cars be placed on exhibit in a public place as a chilling reminder to young people. His suggestion was turned down as being too painful to the surviving families. Perhaps that is so, but without some concrete action to reduce the'accident toll the accumulating pain of future deaths will be a sorry burden for those mothers and fathers whose children are alive and well today. Wingham Advance-Times herself on TV or Maureen having a hard time with her first baby. • In these days, when the tube is so vital in a poltician's getting to the people, the latter base their votes, in many, many cases, on dazzle rather than dependability, on rhetoric rather than reliabili- ty. A pity 'tis. 'Tis pity but 'tis true. When the crunch comes, who' are you going to vote for? Earnest. youthful Joe, with his jowls jumping like a junior John Dief,? Or suave, elegant Pierre of the Gallic shrug, the seeming- ly utterly reasonable approach, and the charm of a professional actor? Be honest, now. Add to that a few other facts. Trudeau has the solid support of his party, if only because he has led it to two successful grabs at the gold ring. Clark was elected leader of the Tories by barely more than one half of the conven- tion delegates. Add again. Trudeau is a skilled and experienced politician, He has shown that he can be at the same time loyal to his henchmen and ruthless when need be. Clark is comparatively untried in the political arena; is rapidly gaMing skill, but hasn t had pa chance to be either loyal or ruthless. He hasn't dared. Add some more. The govern- Amalgamated 1924 both a strong purgative and a good. hot bath. I don't pretend to be a political seer. Nor do I owe any political prognostications to any political affiliation. In short, I don't give a diddle for any of them'. But it doesn't require more than a modicum of common sense. to realize that the Liberal party is far from being on its last legs. Anyone who thinks otherwise is indulging in wishful fantasies or a form of self- hypnosis, ,That includes the political vultures. I think they are going to go right on being scrawny and hungry. Remember, you read it here first. The Liberals may have ab- sorbed a few stiff punches in the solar plexus, but,they are a long, way from going to the mat and being counted out. Why? Use your head, man, or lady. Forget about the polls and the press. Nobody ever won an election with either, or both. People, not polls, elect governments. And people are the most unpredictable creatures in. ,,the universe. They dorit base their votes on logic or reason. They base them on all kinds of crazy things. They base them on emotions like greed and fear. They base them on glibness and charisma. They base them on such things as Margaret making an ass of Advocate Established 1881 a