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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-01-08, Page 4r . Jim Beckett's • / Smiley's „meeeieeeter* 'V. elee,le. • . • , WeelNelneX Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1081 Amalgamated 1924 Published Each Thursday Morning of Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,420 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $0.00 Per Year: USA $1 1.00 • SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.t4.A., 0.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited Editor Jim Beckett -- Advertising Manager Women's Editor,--Gwyn Whilsmith Plant Manager Les Webb Compotition Monde* — Dave Worby Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Phone 235.1331 • Wee.' After considerable haggling and bickering back and forth in private and public meetings, the Councils for Dashwood and Hay have finally come to an agreement on fire protection for Hay Township. The financial tip-toeing and resultant agreement for Hay to pay a $1200 retainer is not the real crux of the problem. The sad reality of the talks between the com- munities is not the minimal financial burden the increase will put on Hay ratepayers, but the fact that the councils could so arbitrarily put a price tag on human lives. The activities of both councils and Hay in particular created a sense of uneasiness on the parts of the ratepayers for Hay, a feeling that was evident at the public meeting held Monday night at the Dashwood fire hall. As the meeting progressed, the ratepayers became slightly less receptive to the ideas of Reeve Jack Tinney and his council, and towards the end, some became antagonistic in the fear RAP director Jim McKinlay has brought up an important point in relation to Exeter's official plan. He has stressed the importance of es- tablishing a formula for land donations by developers. Under the present system the town has a choice of taking a five percent land donation from the developer for the entire area being developed, a money dona- tion for five percent of the value of the land or a third option allowing them to take the land donation in another area in town own- ed by the developer if the site is not suitable for a park. This policy is fine for developments for single family dwellings or semi-attached homes but McKinlay wants to make sure Price tag on protection Establish formula now that even though they would have a fire truck sitting not half a mile away in Dashwood, they would have to phone Zurich if help was needed. For some this meant a call to a fire station nearly seven miles away. One can see the point of Hay's council, in refusing to capitulate to the demands of Dashwood, but the counter points against them are too many to view the situation as ,anything but irresponsible. Dashwood has given protection to Hay for two years, at a substantially lower rate than is normal for this area of Ontario, and without a signed agreement, This meant that there was the danger of Dashwood's liability insurance being declared void should an accident occur while they fought a fire in Hay. Fortunately, the story will have a hopefully happy ending, in that Dashwood is again protecting Hay.,Protection that was gained only after the affected ratepayers were incensed enough to give Hay council a mandate demanding protection from Dashwood. more parkland will be available when high density housing is involved. An apartment building doesn't require much land in relation to the number of peo- ple who will be living in it. Because the pop- ulation density is much greater in apart- ment buildings than in other types of hous- ing the amount of land required for parks should be substantially greater than the usual five percent. McKinlay is right when he says that a formula for getting this land from the developers should be established now. If this is done property owners will know where they stand and the people who will be living in these areas can be assured of having adequate park land for their use. Predictions, belts and booze IIVIPMNE 'NAT KOOK IviACI(ENZIE KING, ACTUALIJ BEIIEVINCx IN SPIRITS! Dont drag old into new Hickey is entertainment We are well into another season of what passes these days for that once-thrilling Canadian sport of hockey. Far more interesting than being a spectator at games will be watching from the sidelines some renewed and determined attempts to decrease the potential mayhe.a in the former sport. As any intelligent eight-year- old knows, hockey is no longer a sport, it is an entertainment, superior to professional wrestling in this department only because it is faster, bloodier, and most of the participants, though not all, are not fat and middle-aged. Some are fat and young. Some are also middleaged. Some are old enough to be grandfathers. And 80 percent of the so-called athletes in this new form of Grand Guignol vaudeville are grossly over-paid. A few discerning sports writers, and a good many former fans of the game, are sick at heart over what has happened to what was once the fastest and most thrilling game on earth. The great majority of the so- called fans, however, along with most sports writers and nearly all of management, deride any attempt to restore the skills and thrills of what used to be the most skillful and thrillful sport of them all — professional hockey. Perhaps that is because the current crop of fans consists of yahoos looking for blood, the sports writers are sycophants looking for an angle, and the owners are stupid, as they have always been, looking only for a buck. At any rate, Ontario has a new Attorney-General, Roy McMurtry, a former athlete of some ability, and he is deter- mined to stamp out the viciousness that has turned pro hockey into a Roman circus. He had the appalling audacity to declare publicly that assault and battery on the ice would be treated the same as it is on the streets, with a criminal charge. He took the unparalleled step of putting cops in the arenas and laying charges against`the goons who try to decapitate an opponent with a stick, or emerge from a spearing duel with the enemy's guts wrapped around the point of their sticks. McMurtry is making political hay out of it, but I, and a host of others, don't care, and say: "Go to it, boy." As expected, his edicts have been greeted with hoots of scorn by the yahoos, the sycophants and the manipulators. Or as Variety, the showbiz magazine, might put it in one of its succinct headlines: ."HOCK JOCKS MOCK SOCKS." Tran- slated, that would mean that hockey people make fun of any attempt to stop the fighting and violence in the game. Solidly behind McMurtry, however, is a majority of the people remotely interested in the game: the better sports writers, who have seen it go steadily downhill; kids who want to play hockey for fun, without being terrorized; parents of kids who play hockey; real fans of the game, who have seen their favorite sport turned into a carnage of clowns. Surely even the robber barons of hockey, the owners, with their 19th century mentality, can see the handwriting on the wall, large and clear. The game is going down the drain. Let me give some frinstances. When I was a youth, our town had a Junior A team. They played it fast and tough and clean. The referees jumped on slashing, spearing, boarding, kneeing, Fights were infrequent. In a town of 4,000 there were 1,500 at every game. A hundred cars would accompany the fans to play-off games 50 miles away. Today, I live in a town of 11,000, which boasts a pretty fair Junior B team. The crowds at games run around two or three hundred. Hockey Night In Canada used to bind this whole nation together, from radio days well into television. Its ratings have dropped disastrously. What happened? A lot of things. First, the quality has gone down and the price has gone up. That's a no-no in any business. Sixty percent of the pros today couldn't have made a fair-to- middling senior amateur team 25 years ago. Arena owners, egged on by greedy players and those parasites, their agents, have hoisted the cost of tickets to the point where ticket scalpers are committing suicide. But most important of all, the sheer viciousness of today's game, with its Nazi storm- trooper techniques, its open support of "intimidation," its appalling message for young players that violence beats skill and speed, has made a great segment of real fans turn their backs on it in disgust. When the players are all millionaires, and the arenas are half empty, maybe the morons who control the sport will get the message. Now that we are entering a brand new year it seems customary to make a few resolutions and predictions as to what will happen, over the next 12 months. This writer is faced with real difficulty in the prediction department because of being relatively new in town. However, there are a few forecasts I'll at- tempt to make at the risk of being completely wrong. Prediction number one is that there will be quite a few noticeable changes in the face of Exeter this year. More and more people will discover how pleasant life is in a small community and will be making plans to be part of "the good life in Exeter." Even with the increased cost of gasoline and transportation in general and the forecasts of a slow year from those in the know in real estate, we will find many people who work in the city will be moving to our community and commuting to work. Although major growth in larger centres may slow down drastically in 1976, my prediction is that this may be one of the biggest years ever for building growth in this town, Prediction number two is that one of the main projects of the Chamber of Commerce for this year will be to find the needed additional spaces for parking. I don't have any knowledge as to how this will be accomplished but I feel confident that a few good ideas will be presented shortly. Prediction number three could best be described as a hunch or a message relayed by my aching callouses Even though we have been spoiled by mother naure the past few weeks, she will get even with us before the winter is over. Many people seem to forget that we are still living in the snow belt so you can look fora few good reminders during the next three months. Prediction number four is one that can be made with a certain degree of confidence. Inflation will still be eating away at whatever money we will have left after all the Christmas bills come in. Look for continued jumps in the prices of almost anything you buy. Despite what prime minister Trudeau says, larger companies won't be willing to cut their profits just to make the cost of living a little more bearable, Another major factor in causing inflation is the fact that hundreds of thousands of hours of productivity will be lost again next year because of strikes. This will be caused by unions who are trying to get a better deal for their members and at the same time making conditions worse for all of us across the country. Prediction number five is that nostalgia will get more popular than ever. People everywhere will be trying to preserve the past by saving buildings, restoring run down historical sites, etc. This will even happen in Exeter in regards to the old town hall. All you have to do is look at the interest Shown in the bell above the town hall and you'll know there are dozens of people in our community who do not want to lose our links with the past. Prediction number six is that budget cuts across the province will continue. This will be the government's way of showing us how they can save money by eating hack on essential services for us all. This money saving program will undoubtedly be followed by an increase in taxes to help pay for Whatever benefits will be left, We'll have to wait and see on this one but unless the pattern changes, I'll be correct. Prediction number seven is based on a conversation with our sports writer Fred Youngs. This is that the Lucan-Ilderton Jets will come on strong in the second half of the season and finish in the playoffs. Fred tells me he doesn't own a crystal ball so it has not been possible to determine how they will end the year. This might just be the time to go out on a limb and predict they'll go all the way. Only time will tell. Prediction number eight is to look for louder demands for recreational facilities in this area, With more youngsters putting an added strain on present facilities, we can look for requests to either modernize or expand our arena. Apparently there is a full slate of activity for winter sports and the building is being used almost to capacity. now. Prediction number nine is that 1976 will be one of the most active years in a long time for the town council. They will be faced with more complex problems of dealing with developers and getting final approval of the official plan. No matter how things go we can accept the fact that their job is not. an easy one. I expect to hear them criticized on many occasions, but one thing to remember , is that these com- munity-minded individuals were elected by the people of Exeter and that they are trying to do their best for the town. Some people say "If I was on council things would be done differently," but where do all these loud voices go when elec- tion time rolls around? 50 Years Ago It has been said, and justly too, that the London, Huron and Bruce Railways is one of the very best paying lines of the system, On a recent Saturday morning, the train was going into London and was so crowded that 150 passengers were standing in the baggage car. Members of the Exeter hockey team were: Goal, Rivers, defense, Baston and Tuckey, center C. H. Pollen, wings, F. Abbot, and C. Acheson, subs, L. ,Foote and P. Willard. Babe Siebert, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Siebert of Zurich, has been elevated to the position of "Clean up player on the Montreal Maroons. 25 Years Ago A decision of council was to uphold a plan to make Riverview Park the site of the new hospital when the new town council voted on the issue Monday afternoon. The transfer came in the face of opposition from people who are petitioning to have the park kept as a recreational area, The newly elected council and their guests banqueted following the inaugural meeting, At the January meeting of the South Huron District High School Board, teachers requested that their salaries by raised by $600 for the year. 20 Years Age A new Junior Farmers Mechanics Club has been organized with Murray Dawson president and secretary, Keith Love. The club will meet for three Prediction number 10 is that several of the last nine statements will be proven wrong and I'll be forced into early retirement as an accurate fore- caster of future happenings. I'll be keeping score on these wild guesses to find out if any of them ever become a reality. + + + Buckle up Buckle up or pay up should be the new slogan for Ontario motorists as they begin getting used to the new seatbelt legislation. Although I am• against people being forced to wear the safety belts there is no argument that they will not be beneficial. I'm sure there are many drivers like myself who are having difficulty getting used to wearing the belts around the waist and across the chest. I hate to admit it but already I've caught myself driving the car without being securely fastened in, Perhaps a big sign pasted in the centre of the steering wheel saying "buckle up" would serve as a reminder. + + + Four letter word The weather of the past weekend was not what many of us would have ordered but it was heaven sent for snowmobile enthusiasts. On Sunday dozens of them' were out having the time of their lives roaring around on their powerful machines. In my opinion snow is one of the worst four letter words there is which just goes to show you that — Please turn to Page .5 consecutive Thursdays to study repair and maintenance farm machinery. The Bank of Montreal's Exeter branch has installed an "af- terhours" depositary unit. This system enables customers to deposit their business receipts any hour of the day or night. 10 Years Ago A plan to construct a $400,000 bean processing and storage plant in South Huron has been given serious consideration during the past week. Officials indicate this will be built near either Exeter, Hens all, Brucefield or kippen and would hold approximately 50,000 bushels of beans. Douglas Ft, Gill of Grand Bend has recorded a record of sacred songs which is now on the market under the title of the Holy Hour.. Members of the South Huron District Board of Education voted to do more work in com- mittees and less at their regular meetings at the inaugural meeting of the board Monday evening. 5 Veers Ago At the first meeting of 1971, the council of the village of Hensel' decided not to undertake any road construction jobs for the year. At the same time they considered a three-year program to improve the Area lighting within the municipality. Farmer's in Vsbortie township will not be able to get any loos for tile drains this year unless the township's latest assessment figures- reach the three million dollar mark, "Happy New Year", we call to each other as the old year departs and the new one enters. It's a great old greeting filled with good cheer and good will, but it's a superficial one unless we face the hard facts of reality. For how can we have a hpppy new year if we carry into. it all our old conflicts, old negativisms, old weaknesses and old fears? And how can we be a happy person in the new year if we remain the same unhappy person we were last year with out pet peeves, our hates and resent- ments? The only way we can hope to become a happy person in a happy new year is to 'put off the old and put on the new', How can you do that? you ask, Can a leopard change his spots? People never change, you insist, except to get worse, They never im- prove, This is the way they were, this is the way they are; this is the way they always will be. Well, I don't believe that. According to Vincent Norman Peale, people can change for the better if the motivation is strong enough, if the desire is sincere enough, and if faith in God is deep enough. Many unhappy men and women fail because they are jealous, or because they won't use their brains to think, or they won't study, or they won't be imaginative. Or, maybe they're just plain lazy, But all these things can be overcome. All one has to do, says Dr. Peale, is to make up one's mind and get rid of these hindrances that hold him back and things will change. And when you let God take over in your life and allow Him to work out the plan he has for each of us then it becomes even easier to stride out into a new year with confidence and gladness. (For those who really catch the vision it's exciting, too.) Our New Year of 1976 is ushered in by revolutionary change. Most of us in Canada are liberally cushioned against such shock — or at least,we thought!we were! Huron County is just now facing some of the ramifications of the closing of Goderich Psychiatric Hospital. However diciplined we are in our reac- tions, suchchanges are shocking. The increments of years of service in the community are wiped out in a fleeting three months. The economic presence of 280 professionals and workers is wrenched and the community muscles and ligaments are torn. New patterns of health delivery will no doubt quickly form. The locally run retardation resource centre will fill some empty spaces. All will come to a new normality. Those professionals and ser- vice personnel directly effected will find new positions and make new places for themselves. Nevertheless the pain is no less sharp and real for all these rationalizations. It is the sort of pain which is being felt the world over in these dislocating times. The truth is that we are wonderfully cushioned and suffer so little. It may be that we will be enabled to feel and move more constructively with the misplaced and the insecure. One is impressed again with the violence against individuals and communities generated by social change. Of course, the hope is that the cure is better than the disease. Inflation and uncontrolled spending does violence to us all. It is out of such disturbing frustrations that personal and group violences arise. Our new year does not promise to be peaceful or without its violence, It behooves us to remove as Many of the frustrating social conditions- as we possibly can. It is to be hoped that such will be our service. + + + Solitary confinement in federal penitentiaries, especially in the one located in New Westminster, British Columbia, has been described as "cruel and unusual, punishment," Evidence was given by prisohers that "guards pointed weapons at them, attacked them with tear gas, subjected them to unnecessarily degrading 'skin searches', forced them to Sleep This is not say we will be free of problems. No, the world is harsh and there is much pain and trouble, But the world will cooperate with us if we cooperate with it, and the laws of God will work in our favour if we work with the laws of God. From time to time it's a good thing to 'consider our days' because, goodness knows, we really don't have too many of them. A child looking into his future sees them as limitless but as he grows older he realizes time flies by rapidly. If you live to be 90, you will have 32,872 days. If you live to be 70, you have 25,567 days, If you live to be 20, you'll have 7,305 days. What have you done with the days you've already lived? How many more days have you left? And most important of all, how will you live them? Unhappily? . filled with depressions and fear? Or, suc- cessfully? . . . filled with con- fidence and happiness? If you look in Good News for Modern Man in 1st Peter, 3rd chapter you'll find this statement: "Whoever wants to enjoy life and have happy days must no longer speak evil, and must stop telling lies, He must turn away from evil and do good," The Bible is a straight forward book that pulls no punches. It says if you want to have happy days you must skip evil and go for the good in life. Evil is wrong and when you do wrong everything goes wrongly for you; but good is right and when you do right, things turn out right. Remember, though, it doesn't guarantee there will be no pain, sorrow, trouble and heartache but it does promise inner hap- piness and good days. So, to have better ways to better days in the new year, let us keep all this in the background of our minds. Happy New Year! Our response to now Shocking change! By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor far Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-0560 beneath constantly burning light bulbs with their heads near the toilets, and reduced their daily exercise periods to 30 from 90 minutes without reason." Two American penologists used such words as " primitive", "cruel", and "shocking" about these practices. Mr, Justice Darrel Heald has ruled against such practices. Some prisoners do indeed need to be dissociated from others but should receive the same treat- ment as those separated for their own protection, It is felt that this finding will influence the treatment of prisioners across the country in various institutions. + + + New tactics are being used successfully against terrorists. It is a welcome development. Instead of negotiations and deals, giving terrorists safe conduct out of the country and money, a waiting game is being used, Patience, soft but persistent contact, psychological pressure, and an effort to create personal relationship among hostages,' terrorists and police are some of the weapons. The British police floodlit the apartment of a middle-aged couple who were being held by Irish Terrorists recently. The terrorists heard via radio that there was to be no compromise in any way with them. After 138 hours they surrendered'. These methods have been fruitful also when used by the Irish and Dutch governments recently, It is to be hoped that' these newly developed methods will become universally practical and thus an answer to this par- ticular form of violence. + + + The Canadian government's restraint measures are coming under increasing examination. They are counted by many to be trio complicated. Wage settlements can now be finalized which fly in the -face of the Anti-Inflation Board's rulings. The newly appointed administrator, Mr. Taneley, cart rule against such Settlements. But his rulings can be challenged hi federal courts. It is foreseenthat an extended time can pass before decisions are final. The same appeal procedure is established regarding rulings on price in- cremes. The efficiency of our tOntrols is fundamentally questioned.