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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-01-29, Page 4Smiley's .M1Ven.e. XS.V. wen, Wex..4.9) lkafix'" Prime Minister Trudeau, under a lot of fire and criticism recently for some remarks and actions, came to the Canadian people last week and explained, in his way, hiinself, his party and his administration. The unfortunate part of Mr. Trudeau's speech to the Canadian Club in Ottawa ,January 19 is that he did not explain what needed to be explained, and concentrated on areas that have been blown out of proportion by opposition members. In his year-end remarks in a CTV inter- view, the Prime Minister said that Canadians have to shape up in their ways, particularly economic, or there would be more government control and that the free enterprise system didn't work and that we are moving towards a new economic era. What the Prime Minister said is essen- tially true, and people and members of the government who leapt upon him for what they thought were veiled threats towards our governmental and economic system ex- hibited a lack of comprehension of both the economics of Canada and North America in the twentieth century and a paranoia over the power they think, or believe, Trudeau is trying to garner for himself. Their arguments and opposition to something that has been happening for the past three generations is a sad comment on our leaders' overall view of Canadian history and government. Trudeau is making no inroads at becoming a banana republic dictator in this most untropical of lands, in fact, Trudeau is making few inroads at all. There was no need for the Prime Minister to acquiesce to their fears, rather, his speech at the Canadian Club should have provided some guidance, and direc- tion for the managers of our economy and for those who live with the ups arid downs of it. His speech fell far short of its promise as "the great explainer," We have been under the wage and price control guidelines for nearly three months now, and although it is too short a time to make a real judgement, particular- ly with publicity campaigns staged in store's holding the line on prices for 60 days, there has been little tangible effect and there has been little done to clear up the criticisms from both labour and management. Mr. Trudeau has yet to explain how he intends to expand his anti-inflation programme, and what he intends to add to it, as wage and price controls are only a temporary bandaid on a gaping wound. What the country was looking for was Trudeau's economic stance, some direction on how to lift ourselves from the in- flationary spiral. Instead we got philosphical pandering and looks backwards to the venerable, worn cliche, about our forefathers cutting their way through the woods, etc. etc. The Prime Minister's speech alluded to co-operation, understanding and agree- ment between labour and management, and in some sense it succeeded, as both sides agreed that there was not a hair of direction or applicable economic thought. Mr. Trudeau's speech did not clear up or aid our economy, its only accomplishment being to make the present government's ability to manage and govern more suspect. We needed more substance and quite a bit less philosophical-nostalgiac rhetoric. What we got was a man relying on 1968's charisma to save 1976's woes. a Attend hockey activities Who cares about minor hockey? It's an easy question to ask and the answer is, not nearly as many people as there should be. That's why it is more important than ever to get out to the arena on Saturday and see what our young hockey players are do- ing. Why Saturday? It's the one day of the year that has been set aside where we can show our in- terest in the young athletes in our com- munity. We can see how hard the volunteer coaches and managers have been working with the players to improve their skills. We can .see how many people are in- volved in organized recreational facilities in Exeter. We can see the future adults of the area who are learning sportsmanship, how to play by the rules and how to make every effort to try their best to do it well. A great deal of money is invested in minor hockey and. hours and hours of effort are put into it to make sure the season runs .as smoothly as possible. This is why we should lend our support to the officials and youngsters during minor hockey day in Exeter. A full schedule appears elsewhere in the paper and promises a truly enjoyable day for any hockey fan. Random thoughts "But Your Majesty, I think they just expect you to OPEN the Olympics " I Jim Beckett's .. •••,:,:vmsttMa I • • To spend or not to spend exefeaimes-Ainiocate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.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 Composition Manager -- Dave Worby 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 anoda $9.00 Per Year: USA $11.00 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: PM RIBBON AWARD 1974 Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-135613 Solzhenitsyn warns • "Democracies are like most islands in the immense river of history. The water is ever rising. The simplests historical laws are working against democratic societies," This is the warning of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Soviet writer expelled from Russia last year. He now lives in Switzerland, Mr. Solzhenitsyn feels that the West turns a blind eye to the pressing danger. "Time has worn away your notion of freedom". You have kept the word and coined a new notion, a small freedom that is only a caricature of the big one, a freedom with neither obligation nor responsibility." "You have centered the era of calculation. For the old spectre of freedom you are no longer capable of making sacrifices; just compromises," Mr, Solzhenitsyn sees no political nor military com- binations that would save the Western world from Communist aims. "If only the leaders of the Eastern world could perceive in you the smallest flame, the slightesrvital impulse to preserve and extend liberties in the West, if only they understood that you were ready to sacrifice your lives, at this very second, they would be discouraged." This interview was originally given to the French magazine Le Point which periodical named the Russian author "man of the year". + + + The pain of making decisions, forced by the closing of Goderich Psychiatric Hospital, is upon this writer and his family, Whether to move or to stay? — that is the . question. Interviews are part of the game, Choices are necessary although all the ramifications cannot be known, It seems so easy to be philosophical when people are uprooted from daily routine, from the known way; as long as it does not happen to us, + + + It might be well to mention that the future of Information South Huron is unknown at this time. This due to the closing of Goderich Psychiatric Hospital. Is there any response? Does this community need a coun- selling service? What is your opinion? If you have views on this subject please write to this paper or to myself, in care of this paper. Your expression of concern would be most welcome, "A friend of mine put it this - way. 'We are like children in a classroom when the teacher is not there. We fight each other for the cream buns and we kick and scream when we do not get what we want. We see the big and strong children getting whatithey want and the weak ones helpless to look after themselves. . . Nothing gets done in the classroom, and what is more no one feels happy about it'," Dr. Coggan does not have ready answers or a detailed program for the problems which face his people. The matters of life and death have reached some compexity. But he feels strongly about certain things. The family is of prime im- portance. He points to the many delinquent people — products of broken homes. "Give us strong, happy, disciplined families, and we shall be well on the way to a strong nation." Again Dr. Coggan asserts, "The family matters, and it's worth working hard to build it, protect it, and provide for it." Materialism is singled out as a modern sickness. "Stark • materialism does not work. It does not deliver the' goods. We must adopt a different attitude to money, and to materials, and to machines . . . useful servants but . .. degrading masters." The point that the Archbishop seeks to make is the need for a moral foundation in our living and our society. "Unless there is a concerted effort to lift our whole national debate up into the moral sphere, not being afraid to ask in- dividuals as well as the com- munity what is right and what is wrong, we shall never find an- swers." Dr. Coggan seeks to give leadership to many "gbod people" in Britain. He feels that many wish for the better, but seem 11owerless. They do not know how to make themselves heard. A spokesman is needed, + + + It is ironical that the Ontario Association for the Mentally Retarded has labelled the proposal to convert Goderich Psychiatric Hospital into the Goderich Community Resource Centre for the Mentally Retarded - "musical beds". The Association, although, previously promised a part in the decisions toward the setting up of group homes for the retarded, feel theMselves neglected and betrayed, according to a Tuesday news. item. 'he Godeilch facilities, while too small for psychiatric treat- ment according to current economic thinking, is much too large and isolated for the benefiting of the mentally retarded, according to the 0.A.M.R. • • Policy explanation Reflections Some random observations this week on a variety of topics, none of them world-shaking. If you are short of either time or patience, turn to the classified ads for some real entertainment. For about 10 days over the holidays I had my grandson. Or rather, he had me. At his beck and call. For about 12 hours a day..He's at that very interesting stage where he's learning to talk, fast. You know, putting phrases together, repeating everything he hears, understanding most of what you say, but not yet quite ready to carry on a conversation. Two phrases, however, he has down pat. The first is: "Come on!" delivered in a peremptory tone and accompanied by a firm grasp of a chubby fist on my index finger. This comes im- mediately after I have settled down with my paper and a beer and lighted a cigarette. It means he wants assistance in building a pyramid or getting his glass of "dooce" (anything from milk to orange juice) or letting the "ky- cat" in for another session of torture, What it really means, of course, is that he has a distinct aversion to Grandad retiring from the action. The second phrase, delivered in a piteous tone, is "Help me" accompanied by a forlorn look and a tug at any portion of my anatomy available. This means he wants me to plug in the tree lights, or hold him up so he can watch the record twirling on the turntable or reach something he can't and wants to break. + + + Why don't the Conservatives make their leadership race just that? Put the entire 18 or 36 or whatever of them on a track at the summer Olympics, send them off, and the last man to fall flat on his face becomes their leader. It would make just as much sense as choosing them by ballot, which is also a process of finding the guy or gal with the best wind. Personally, I'd like to see Flora MacDonald have a shot at it. The result might be worse than the massacre of Glencoe, but if 50 ' percent of the voters are women, it would give them a chance to stand up and be counted. And I think it would terrify Pierre T. One guy I would hate to see win the leadership would be Paul Hellyer. If he won it, the Tories could kiss their hopes goodbye for another decade. Here's his record. Liberal cabinet minister; ran for Liberal leadership, lost, sulked, resigned as minister; formed his own rightist Action Canada party, a total flop; joined Conservative party; un- distinguished Tory MP; lost his seat in 1974. If the Tories chose him as leader, it would illustrate nothing more than their unquenchable belief in the in- fallible powers of snake oil as a remedy. Still on politics, I was sorry to see Dave Barrett lose in B.C. He has one of those qualities so carefully hidden by most politicians — a sense of humor. Maybe he went too far too fast, but he added a lot of zest to the national political scene. Exeter is just one of hundreds of communities across the province to receive word from the government to cut spending as much as possible. This is going to be a difficult task when you consider the long list of priorities council had lined up for this year, ranging from repaving streets in town to renovating the old town hall. Mayor Shaw and his colleagues will really have the opportunity to show their ability as capable administrators. If they can guide Exeter through this year without drastically cutting essential services or increasing taxes they will have done an admirable job. One thing though, if the going gets too tough and our leaders find they can't accomplish all they should with the money they have to use, they always have the option of increasing taxes. If communities had to be operated like private businesses, without having to resort to digging into the public's pocket every now and again they would be faced with a much more dif- ficult problem. Let's suppose the council really takes a firm stand on saving money and decides that the extra funds they need will be raised from other sources instead of increasing property taxes. They could take their case before the community and say "We need a little more money, but we don't want to add these extra expenses on your taxes." An education committee could be set up to tell all of us how bad the financial situation really is. We would all be asked to jump on the money bandwagon and find new ways of raising funds or new methods of cutting municipal costs. Here are just a few possibilities that would save thousands of dollars every year. You might not like them . . . and they'll probably never happen. — Garbage collection could be cut to once every two weeks. This would literally cause a real stink with most of us, and it wouldn't be too healthy either. Con- siderable savings would result because if only half the work is being done, it shouldn't cost much more than half as much as it does now. — Recreational facilities could be brought to an end, This would put back thousands more dollars in the town's coffers but if wouldn't be a very smart move either. People would have to start making their own fun again and this would probably be too much for most of us to handle. —• Everybody in town could be instructed to pray for warm weather because the snow removal budget had just been axed. The machinery would just be brought out on an emergency "I," the young man told his girl, "am keeping a record of all the good times we have had together." "Oh," she gushed, "You're keeping a diary!" "Nope," he said, "checkbook stubs." There are two times you should keep your mouth shut — when you're swimming and when you're angry. basis only instead of immediately after each storm like it is at the present. ' — The police department could be disbanded. After all, their tab to the town every year adds up to a much greater sum than the revenue they bring in through, writing tickets. We would all be instructed to go through life by living the "Honor system". It's a nice thought, but it will never happen. — All new construction by the town would be ordered to stop. Again the savings would be considerable but the results wouldn't be what most of us would want. Raise money On the other hand, the town could follow the example of the free enterprise system and try to raise money by methods other than increasing property taxes. — Cat owners could be asked to pay taxes on all their feline friends, After all, dogs bring in a few bucks every year. With the cats being taxed as well this source of revenue would double overnight, — We could resort back to a trick learned in the days of the old west and still used by our friends south of the border, A toll gate could be placed across the main street in the centre of town. Any vehicle passing through that who wasn't from this area could be nailed 25 cents before we would let them continue on their way. How would - 50 Years Ago Church circuits in Stephen township underwent major rearrangement this past week. Shipka, formerly Methodist, will now associate with Crediton and BAnsley -Corbett, which was Presbyterian, will be closed and alligned with Greenway as well as the two churches in Grand Bend amalgamating to form a pastoral charge with Greenway, Exeter council took more measures to close the billiard and pool room, Boys from Kirkton and Woodham bagged 83 rabbits last Thursday in a jack drive. 25 Years Ago Exeter Council rescinded a motion to deed Riverview Park to the Hospital Association at their Monday night meeting, in- timating that they will take no further action until the results of the petition to save the park is known. Robert McCubbin told mem- bers of the Hay Federation of Agriculture that the outcome of the Korean War will have profound affects on the farm market. Herman Gill, chairman of the board of trustees of Grand Bend wants to see a vote to decide which county the resort com- munity will be included in. Exeter council raised salariesof the municipal officials and ap- proved a $12,500 grant for the building fund of Exeter Hospital. the Departirienc of Highways react to this one? , Exeter could go into the bingo business and compete with other organizations who seem to be doing alright at this game. The grand prize would be a certificate to the winner stating that his property taxeswould notl increase for the next two years. A prize like this should get people out to the bingos by the hundreds. — If things got really tough, the town could start a lottery. The winner would have a choice of two grand prizes. You could spend a weekend in Ottawa with prime minister Trudeau. He would offer you a quick course in the,operation of a free enterprise system. You may not understand what he says, but you'll agree he • says it well. Or if this isn't to your liking you could spend a few days with Darcy McKeough and learn the fundamentals of economics. If he tells you to spend spend spend and borrow borrow borrow until you find a lifestyle you really enjoy, you should become im- mediately suspicious. Why? Because part two of this lesson is that some day you'll have to stop and face the music. All of the above suggestions on saving and raising money are just wild thoughts from a writers imagination. It's not difficult to poke fun at the situation we're in at the present time with regards to rising costs but I'm sure none of us' envy Bruce Shaw and his councillors with the situation they are facing this year. 20 Years Ago Fire brigades from three neighboring towns had to com- bine forces to save the combined house and store of Lorne Marshall, Kirkton from total destruction. Most of the $8,000 in hardware stock in the store at the main intersection of Kirkton was destroyed. The Exeter Branch of the Canadian Legion voted to go ahead with the proposed $25,000 expansion to their hall on William Street. Exeter and District Players Guild has reached the final stages of preparation of their play, No Rhyme or Reason, and plan to open February 8 at SHDHS auditorium. 10 Years Ago Earl R. Guenther, postmaster for Dashwood for the past 43 years, retired Monday, turning over his duties to Mrs. Donna Restemayer, Harry Page of Exeter has been named to manage Hensall PUC, replacing James Clark who resigned recently. Two men from the RCAF base in Centralia escaped without injury when their plane flipped over during a forced landing just after \ take off. There is a possibility that an 8.75 mill rate increase may be necessary to continue expansion of Huron County roads. Gala Week is set for July 4 to 9 in Grand Bend after a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting there. Most of us have had that quiet, lovely experience of sitting beside a pool or small lake in summer watching the trees, the clouds, the sky being reflected in the water. A photographer friend of mine has many beautiful slides taken in the Muskoka--Georgian Bay area, of rocks along a shoreline reflected in still waters. So perfect are they that you can turn the photographs upside down and not be able to discern which is reflection and which is reality. Many of us, I'm sure, have had times in our lives when we wondered which were the real things and which were merely the reflections of the real things. The world has become topsy-' turvy and upside down and we have almost lost the faculty for knowing when it is right side up. Wg get lost in this world of pressure and speed . . . nothing seems to be clear cut anymore. Our minds and bodies grow weary and our sense of per- ception less keen. Under such stress we are rendered incapable of judging the true values of life. We cannot see things objectively. Life looks like a grey mass . . . like an un- developed negative. It has neither colour nor clear-cut outlines, and we have the feeling it lacks something, It needs the touch of the Master Photographer's hand to bring up the beauty and the outlines so that we may distinguish the condrete from the abstract, the real from the images. Jane Scott, in her book, Adventure With God, says, "Frequently when men and women become confused, God takes us into the dark room, where there is just enough light to develop the negative. Although the darkreom is not particularly lovely it is a necessary stop in the production of the finished photograph." In the process of God, some of us have emerged from the darkroom with a'clearer picture of life. There, we have learned the difference between the realities and the reflections. And getting back to reflections, still waters are not primarily created just to reflect the beauty of the world about them and the sky above them, God created them to cleanse, to nourish and to sustain the creation and the creatures, and to symbolize in the natural sphere what Christ, the Living Water, can mean to our souls. As the still waters bring beauty, growth and fruitfulness to the world of nature, so Christ brings life and beauty to us. It is He who 'leads me beside the still waters and restoreth my soul,' It is only He who has the power to lead anyone to the fountain of living water. There is no other source of life than the rich, clear, cool, sparkling, nourishing, sustaining water thatIcleanses, nurtures and beautifies as the water that flows from the heart of God. + + + Walk with me a little mile Down shimmering sunlit trails Listen with me a little while To nature's whispered tales. If man could only understand The words that nature speaks. He'd have the world at his command And find the truth he seeks. — Please turn to Page rX.!..r.v,XWX„.• „ ••.t, 'V, "7"AZIWENSAVUMISINXIIMCVMENWa Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 19'24