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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-11-04, Page 4Page Times-Advocate, November 4, 1976 I What a difference a year makes! That holds true in many instances, but apparent- ly not in regard to the Mid-Western Rodeo. Basically, that event is in the same predicament it was one year ago. That is to say, its future is in doubt again. The handful of supporters who showed up at last week's meeting were of the opi- nion that it was almost useless to try and stage another rodeo. They said much the same thing last year, and as it turned out, the feared demise of the event was alleviated when several organizations decided to pitch in and help in a last-ditch effort to keep the attractionoing. It is perhaps ironic that the rodeo is again in jeopardy, because it made a good profit this year. It proved itself, but actual- ly there appears to be more pessimism this year over its future than there was even 12 months ago when it had just experienced a disastrous financial loss. If people were prepared to pitch in and help a "loser", it is rather strange that they are not equally prepared to back a "winner". But the lack of attendance at last week's meeting indicates that is the situation. Fortunately, the few rodeo supporters have not yet sounded the death knell. They've decided to hold one more meeting to see if the service clubs and the com- munity want to save the rodeo. Last year, this newspaper encouraged local• groups to get behind the rodeo and save it from extinction and we do likewise *this year, repeating the thought that the event provides many benefits to the com- munity. The rodeo committee have sponsored a local minor hockey team for the past several years and have donated funds to other worthwhile community projects. Many of the local service clubs have been able to extend their community work through funds raised by operating con- cessions. It has, in fact, served this community on a basis comparable with such attrac- tions as Dashwood Friedsburg Days, Zurich Bean Festival, Lucan Fair, Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, etc. It would be most unfortunate if Exeter lost its rodeo. One other aspect of the event deserves some consideration by this community. Many of the members of the rodeo are horse enthusiasts who feel they've been harshly dealt with by the town and many of its residents. To rally to their aid would prove people do consider their activities important and would help immeasurably in healing some wounds. Is Exeter's main claim to fame to be the victim of apathy? Dog problems Dogs have been described as "one of the stickiest political issues" facing many cities, not just in Canada but in the United States as well. In particular, the problem is the disposal of their droppings. Some three billion pounds of solid waste are dropped annually, and that is pollution to a "very high degree. In Chicago if you do not pick up after your pet you can be fined up to $1,000, and other areas have come up with similar ideas to deter dog owners from allowing their pets to go where they please. Worms from dog feces can enter virtually every organ in the human body and these infestations can result in high fevers, con- vulsions and blindness. These worms can be transmitted by direct contact with ex- posed waste, but they may also be picked up by petting animals that have rolled on con- taminated grass or soil. The worm eggs may lie dormat for a long time and children may get them on their hands as well. Now, while we in Zurich do not have the large number of dogs a place the size of London has, we still have the problem they cause. The children of this village deserve to be protected just as much as those in larger cities do and pet owners should real- ize their responsibility. If you walk your dog, don't forget to take along a super dooper pooper scooper—use your imagination if you don't want to buy one. JuSt remember to pick it up and put it in the garbage before you're responsible for someone becoming very ill. While on the subject of dogs, in this vil- lage there are some dogs who seem to de- light in strewing garbage all over every- where. Unfortunately they do not do this just on the property of their owners, but on everyone else's property as well. They have even gone so far as to enter garages, tipping over large barrels in order to reach the garbage stored there. If you own a pet, it is your responsibility to make sure he does no damage to anyone elses health or property. If you are unable or unwilling to do so; then you are not worthy .31 having a pet, and don't be surprised if some day your dog just disappears. Citizens News Some censorship needed i::::,:i,:.ii :i:ii:iiii:i:::i::: *!:1:,:.,:,iti:i:::::i Iiiil4g—E:R:E?::Eif:c:if •::.iEiiiii.:Eiii.,:gi.:i.' • W " • - Rare day in October SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor a Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Plant Manager — Jim Scott Composition Manager Harry DeVries Business Manager -- Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration! Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,420 Canada $11.00 Per Year) USA 522.00 +CNA SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ear a Poppy ... FOR REMEMBRANCE \-; memo ane, w Now, a voice in Cabinet AntroWfta.....a, . Back a winner Silence not golden An English poet (Browning?), asked a rhetorical question years ago: "What is so rare as a day in June?" The obvious answer is "Nothing." Maybe so. A day in June in England on which it is not rain- ing is a rare thing indeed, and something quite fine. The world is green and soft and effulgent with the sights and scents of flowers. But the sentiment hasn't much meaning to a Canadian. A day in June usually means a heat wave and mosquitoes. Soggy armpits and an irritating whine in the bedroom. Making much more sense to a Canadian would be: "What is so rare as a day in October?" I don't know about you, but for me, there is nothing on God's good earth to equal a golden Oc- tober day, when the air is as clear as the thoughts of a saint, the land lies fallow, and the wild, free honk of the goose sends the chills up the spine. In the West, the poplars shimmer with their burden of gold coins. In the East, the Master Painter has got drunk and is slashing unbelievable colors across the landscape. Mother Nature has delivered the fruit of her womb, and is still feminine, lying back and suckl-. ing her children, spent but resting. She has not yet done her transvestite bit and changed into the clothes of Old Man Winter, quite another kettle of fish. On the golf course, the turf is still green and springy, and it's almost a pleasure to lose a ball in a heap of fallen leaves. On the bay, the water is a blue so intense that it shouts back in mockery to the deep, calm blue of the sky. Around the pot-holes and sloughs, there is the tense thum- ping of the heart as the ducks head in to land, or take off with a suddenness, in morning, that makes the adrenalin pump. On the rivers, wrapped like Eskimoes, the anglers tease for that last, lurking rainbow trout that will go ten pounds. There is thump of leather on leather as the football heads for a climax. And, there is the headlines of track meets, where the young push every sinew to jump farther, run faster. There is the ritual raking of the leaves, and the jumping in the leaf-piles by the little folk. And, if your town hasn't passed a stupid by-law against the burning of leaves, there is the sheer joy of that. Let me hesitate a moment there. The burning of the leaves is just as symbolic as the plan- ting of the first seeds and bulbs in the spring. It should be a time for neighbors to be out, chatting quietly and raking the flaming bits back onto the pile. A time for children to stay up late and poke the bonfire with sticks. It should be a time for incantations. We are cremating our beloved, with tenderness and regret, but without sadness. We know they will live again. Maybe that's what October is all about. It is a time of dying, when life flares up in all its splendour, briefly but brightly, before going quietly and with dignity, to the grave, Sometimes all these things come together on a Canadian Thanksgiving Day. What 'is so rare as a day in June, indeed! Give me an October Thanksgiving, with the yellow sun filtering through the wild ecstasy of the maples, and the water and sky so blue it hurts, and I'll give you a glimpse of glory. Come in from golf, or fishing, or hunting, or just walking, into the incredible smell of roasting turkey, and you've had a glimpse of paradise. Draw me up to a blazing fire of oak logs, and the bite of a good rye, and the women making gravy in the kitchen, and the Amalgamated 1924 "Love with JFK in the White House" was the blaring headline on the newspaper, advising readers to read the two-page spread elsewhere on the illicit love affair the late president of the USA was said to have enjoyed with the woman who wrote the story. The newspaper was the National Enquirer, a publication which attracts many of its readers through a repeated use of items from the seamier side of life. It can be found on most local newstands, and in comparison to some other magazines on the same shelf, it is not what could be termed lurid. However, the writer was slightly amazed to find that the National Enquirer is one of the newspapers made readily available to the young readers at the Exeter Public School library. There were four or five recent issues on one of the tables. . Many of the items in the Enquirer would be of interest to the students no doubt, but un- fortunately there are others of questionable taste for young minds. grandchildren climbing all over me, and a discussion of those other turkeys, the Toronto Argonauts, and I wouldn't trade places with the Shah of Iran, the Queen of England, or the Pope. It's then I have my personal Thanksgiving. It's a long time to be married to a strange woman, but we're still together. My grandbabies are as bright as butterflies. My daughter has her head sorted out, and is tough and self-reliant. And quite beautiful; despite the new toughness. There is food in the house. There is oil in the tank, even though we may be feeding the furniture into the fire in ten years. My arthritis is only ten per cent worse than last year. I have some good friends. I like my work. My teeth are getting ropy but my hearing and sight are excellent. My morals seems to be in the same old shape, not good, but so-so, no worse. I don't have any great aspirations that are unfulfilled, In fact, I don't have any great aspirations, which fact con- siderably annoys those who think I should. I'm sorry. This sounds com- pletely hedonistic. And it is. I've paid my dues in suffering and frustration. I'd like to sit back and watch my belly grow (which it won't), and tell my grandsons tall tales, and chuckle at the ab- surdity of the human race, Maybe next week be on the barricades with Women's Lib or Labour or the AIB or food parcels to white Rhodesians. But this week. I'm just on my Thankful kick. the intermediate level in this community and the arguments then were based on the same type of thinking that went into this year's decision on the track. The horse enthusiasts were the "winners" in the original debate, while they considered themselves to be the "losers" this time around. You win some and you lose some! + + + Nominations for all elected positions in the area open one week from today and indications are there is plenty of room for new candidates to toss their hats into the political rings. Of course, any new candidates can do just that regardless of what positions may be vacant, but this year there will be several new people required just to give most municipalities a full slate, Hopefully, enough qualified people will come forth so there will be elections for all positions, including council, school board and Public Utilities Com- missions. Elections are needed to stir public interest in municipal af- fairs and , it gives the winning candidates a good feeling as well. Knowing that you've put your name before the electorate and have been choSen by them is obviously more gratifying—and perhaps more challenging as well—than merely winning by acclamation. It gives people an opportunity to debate the local issues and gives officials a better indication 5 Years Ago Gary Batisse, a young Exeter man was killed early Sunday morning on Highway 23 near Russeldale, when struck by a car as he dashed across the highway. In one of several incidents of vandalism over the weekend a plate glass window at the home of Charles Jeffery on Highway 83 east, was smashed by thrown rocks.. At Saturdays 4-H club achievement Day, Sheila Hern of Woodham, received her ad vanced honours certificate for completing eighteen projects. 15 Years Ago Winners of the Exeter Public School verse speaking com- petition last week were Brenda Dinney, Patsy Bridges, Paulette Schroeder; and Joe Anne Whilsmith. Mrs. Roy Johns clicked for two successive turkey wins at the Legion's fowl bingo Thursday evening. Huron MPP C S. Mae- Naughton was named minister without portfolio in the new Ontario cabinet sworn in at Queen's Park WedileSday, of what their electors see as being right or wrong with the manner in which their affairs have been operated in the past. Again we remind readers that contesting a position is a responsibility they should seriously consider, or at the least urging others whom they feel are better qualified to present their names to the electors. .Don't leave it up to "George". Just remember, of course, that what happens in the next couple of weeks is not something that can be altered in short order if things don't come out as people planned and some poor can- didates win positions through default. They'll be In those positions for the next 24 months and they can obviously do a great deal of damage in that lengthy period of time. + + + With the festive season fast approaching and its associated increase in the consumption of alcohol, readers will find it of interest to learn that an unusual circumstance recently befell an impairedldriver in Montgomery, Alabama. His car slammed into another vehicle and as a result a teenager was killed. The impaired driver was subsequently brought before the courts, not on a charge of im- paired driving, but of first degree murder. He was convicted by a jury and sentenced to life im- prisonment. While Canadian law would probably not result in such severe action, the fact remains that in essence the driver is considered a murderer in the eyes of many people. Hopefully,lhat will be a rather sobering thought for most people! + + + Don't look now, but there are only seven weeks remaining until Christmas, which will be ob- served in its periodic confusing way because it. falls on a Saturday this year. That means,. if most people are to get the traditional two-day holiday, they'll receive the following Monday and Tuesday. Most industries will probably also mark the New Year's holiday during the same week, so many will be closing their doors entirely during the period bet- ween Christmas and January 2. That, of course, makes a welcome holiday. 20 Years Ago Mrs. Marie Worrell, William St., won $3500 for identifying the mystery voice of Billy O'Connor in a contest over CFPL sponsored by the Aylmer Company. Larry Heideman, Mohawk scoring ace, took over his duties this week as recreation director for Exeter. Hundreds of people from the district attended the weekend opening of Als' Market, Hensall, where an extensive renovation program was completed recently. 30 Years Ago Ontario Panoroma was broadcast direct from the Exeter arena last Friday when Mrs. J.G. Cochrane, Preston Dearing, Jack Green, Ed Sweitzer and Mrs. Ruth Maunder were interviewed by Alan Savage and Gordon Sinclair two well known CFRB radio personalities. Miss Marian Rundle addressed the Women's Institute convention in London on Wednesday telling of the National 4-H Club Congress which she attended in Chicago. Parents Night was enjoyed Friday at SS No. 10, Hay when parents were entertained by the pupils under the direction of the teacher Mrs, P.A. Ferguson. One thing about being in the business of writing a weekly column, my friends and relatives supply me with clippings and magazines from which they hope I may glean ideas. I am grateful for this for after almost 200 Singing Waters columns, the flow sometimes gets down to a tinkling trickle, This week I received a copy of The Canadian Baptist, and the editorial is on a subject with which I have dealt from time to time and which I feel is terribly important. It is about those times when silence is -NOT golded and is, in fact a sin. I'm taking the liberty of quoting it in its en- tirety: "The worst violation of decency to plague society occurs almost every day on radio, on television, in movies, in newspaper, magazines, and even bill boards. It is the common use of profane and vulgar language, licentious remarks, nudity and expressions of immorality. People who resent such ex- pression seem without plan or power to stop the pattern, or even to shield themselves from it. So they stay silent. "In the past vulgarity existed, but it was generally repressed. Early movies were sometimes risque and suggestive, and trashy magazines were sold under the counter. Society's mistake was to just wink at such things rather than taking a hard line against them. As a consequence, movies became steadily bolder, magazines more openly vulgar, and in what was thought to be sophistication, it was tolerated. "By the time decent people began to demand a stop to por- nography in print, on radio, television and movies, it was too late. M Shakespeare said in King Henry VI: " A little fire is quickly trodden out, which being suf- fered, rivers cannot quench." "The promoters of por- nography are no longer limited to By KENNETH McDONALD The appointment of Len Marchand as Minister' of State (Small Business) in the Department of ,Industry, Trade and Commerce is a major advance for small business in Canada. Now the owner-managed sector, which employs 55. per cent of all working Canadians, has its own voice in the federal Cabinet. • • • Originally proposed three years ago by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the appointment of a minister to concentrate on small business constitutes both a victory for the Federation and a welcome dent in Ottawa's preoccu- pation with Big Business and Big Unions. • • • Canada now joins Belgium to be the only two Western countries with small business representation at Cabinet level. • • • Until this appointment, the Commerce department had concentrated on Can- ada's most prominent indus- tries and the materials and goods they produce and export. • • • In recent months, how- ever, key people in the department, recognizing the breakdown of Canada's pre- sent over-centralized socio- economic system, have be- gun looking to a revitalized small business sector as a way out of the mess. • Belatedly, some govern- ment planners seem to be realizing that transferring in- come, though it may relieve a few amoral money-crazed or underworld characters. They include entertainers who sub- stitute sensationalism for talent, They include writers desirous of sales, rather than art, They in- clude businessmen sacrificing integrity for sales, and ordinary people sitting in their homes, willing to look at anything for a cheap laugh, no matter how degrading, They include also decent people who just put down the paper, toss out the magazine or turn off the set . . . people who object, BUT IN SILENCE! "Such expediency, such selfish greed, SUCH SILENCE, have combined to pave the way for coeducational college dor- mitories, living common law, the breakdown of marriages, a widespread use of drugs, alcohol problems and the great increase in muggings, rapes and murders that makes it unsafe to go out at night in many cities. sin in many quarters, and the sin "The present situation is due to is due also to decent people who did nothing to stop it. . . decent people who JUST KEPT SILENT. "To Attempt to do something, even at this late date, would be an act of courage. It might result in loss of popularity, cause one to be branded a trouble-maker, and test a few shallow friendshipS. But these are of little significance. Decent people have a right to a decent society. Christians have not only a right, but an obligation to gain and secure a Christian atmosphere for their children, and this in- cludes what they read as well as what they watch. "Courage, determination and persistence are necessary to win back an atmosphere of decency. The battle must begin in EACH HOME, EACH CHURCH and EACH COMMUNITY.It cannot be won by being silent. "THERE ARE TIMES WHEN TO BE SILENT IS A SIN." distress, does nothing either to cure regional disparities . or to create needed deve- lopment. • • • • • • It's encouraging to hear Marchand favoring the deve- lopment of smaller commu- nities. In an interview, he also advocated: simplified tax regulations; setting aside a proportion of government contracts to small business; increasing the availability of loan funds; and cutting government paperwork. to to That's good news for the neighborhoods, communities and regions of Canada that are dependent on healthy, local enterprises, Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 fiefeaimesainsocate Perhaps the latter should be' removed from the publication' before it is placed on display for the students? + + + Our reason for being in the library was to attend the rodeo meeting, and unfortunately it did not attract an overflow audience. In fact there were only eight supporters in attendance. While a few comments were aired regarding the recent hassle over the race track, we were encouraged to find that few members were bitter about that situation and freely admitted the 'track was not of prime im- portance to their event. During an informal discussion after the meeting, the writer recalled that the recent battle over the track was not totally unlike that which was held when the rodeo came to town. People with memories of those days will recall the hue and cry from some quarters when it was decided to remove the hardball diamond from its location in front of the grandstand to make way for the rodeo ring. These who argued in favor of eliminating the diamond quite correctly pointed out that it was not widely used for hardball at If success depended on material • resources, Japan, which has none, would;: be destitute; if' it depended on numbers of people, India would lead the world. • • • • Successful development, of regions as of countries, depends on people's motiva- tion, on their organizational skills, their know-how and their work discipline and on a political environment in which success is encouraged. • • • Development projects, heavily subsidized by govern- ment, do more harm than good. They soak up scarce skilled manpower, distort labour markets end destroy the viability of local enter- prises. Subsidized transpor- • tation facilities and large ell plaza developments deliver the final coup de grace, locking slow-growth regions into the distribution of pro- ducts from outside their areas.