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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-03-04, Page 4GLASS TREES — hung over the streets of Exeter, Tuesday, scene on Andrew Street, looking north from James Street, after the ice storm. The above picture shows the T-A photo Can't Do Without Hospitals The Bachelor Life, Not Bad is no problem. I can put a load of socks through the washer. I can shop better than most men, and as well as most women. I can run a vacuum cleaner, do dishes, feed a cat, make a bed, scrub a sink. And I can whip up a gourmet meal with the best of them. Let's see. Last night it was baked potatoes, a fat chicken leg, and artichoke hearts. The potatoes were crisp-skinned, fluffy inside, with a big pat of butter drooling over the edges. The chicken was so golden outside, tender inside it would make Colonel Sanders • weep. The artichoke hearts were hearty. I'd never had them before, but with a cheese sauce, pretty doozy. Night before it was onion soup with golden croutons, baked haddock balls stuffed with shrimp, asparagus tips swim- ming in butter, a glass or two of Beaujolais, a light dessert of creamy rice pudding with mandarin oranges and real coffee with a dash of cognac in it, Tonight it's going to be something simple because I'm writing my column. Perhaps a little lasagna with meat sauce, after hors d'oeuvres of fine liver pate, Camembert cheese, and smoked oysters on onion thins, Don't worry. I haven't.gained a pound in 30 years, unlike some I could mention. And I would be in bad shape without a can opener, a bottle opener, and the frozen food counter. But I'm not suffering. And there are other com- pensations. Last Friday af- ternoon, I took part in a sym- posium after work with some of the chaps, at the Legion Hall. Got into a few games of shuffle-board and Russian billiards with some old students of mine, after all the hen-pecked husbands had left, and didn't get out of there until 11 p.m. For some reason, when the Old Battle-axe is home, I don't normally do that on a Friday afternoon. Late Saturday afternoon, after watching the Olympics, I went into the kitchen, looked at two days' dishes in the sink, said, "Screw this for a lark," and went out for dinner. Then I went to a truly dreadful show called The Gunfighter, which my wife Wouldn't be caught dead at. I loved it. I've loved westerns since I was eight. Got home about 11 p.m., made a big pot of tea and a sandwich you wouldn't believe the ingredients of, and watched not only the late, but the late late, There certainly are some bonuses, though I'm running out of clean shirts, and ironing them Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publicatrons Limited Editor — Jim Beckett — Advertising Manager Women's Editor, —Gwyn Whilsmith Plant Manager — Les Webb Compolition Manager * Dave Worby Business Mt:Mager -- Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 kiblished Each Thursday Marrtitio' at Exeter, ()Atari° Second Class Mail Registration Number 6386 Paid h Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,420 Canada $1.00 Pet Year; USA 311.010 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 4•••••isnmewom • TUESDAY'S ICE STORM — caused a lot of problems for many peo-ple. Bob Russell, views the ice coaled steps leading from his parents apartment above Rustelel Electric, T.A photo March Second Build New Areng. Government prank will be available to cover a considerable part of the expenses although this still will not be nearly enough to get the job done. One of the main factors of the success of campaigning for a new arena will be to have detailed plans of what will be offered in the new building. In these days of tight money and cut- backs it would be a good idea to proceed with the concept of building a serviceable. no frills arena, instead of a larger, more expensive recreation complex. We believe this is the way to get support from people who will be asked to part with some of their hard-earned money. A petition taken last week by Alberta Gregson and Ron Bogart shows there are quite a few people who are in favor of erec- ting a new building. These are also people who have indicated they would financially support such an undertaking themselves. With the right combination of organiza- tion, hard work and enthusiasm it would be reasonable to assume the community will readily lend their support behind such an ambitious project. We believe that the stoner these works are put into motion the quicker the young people of this area will be able to enjoy the kind of recreational facilities they have become used to and deserve so much. It doesn't take a highly priced complex to accomplish this when a modest, efficient arena will do the job just fine. Anti Inflation Program After hearing many comments and dis-' cussions over the past few weeks on the pros and cons of building a new arena in Exeter, this newspaper feels an obligation, to endorse the construction of a new facili- ty. The demand for recreation facilities. and in particular a decent hockey rink. will be increasing every year and we believe the time will come very shortly when we will have no other choice but to beild a new arena. The old building has been closed because it doesn't meet government safety standards and the estimates for its repair have been put conservatively at around $50,000. Even in these days of rising infla- tion this is a considerable sum to be spent, especially when there is no certainty as to how long these repairs would last. It's en- tirely possible that the building could be made structurally sound for the present time , . . but it's also possible that the in- spectors could return next year or the year after and condemn the building again. If this happened it would be like pour- ing all this money for repairs down the drain. We believe it would be considerably cheaper and more practical in the long run to begin raising funds for a new arena and to be successful it will take a solid effort from all of us in Exeter and the surroun- ding area. One of the major obstacles facing the federal government's anti-inflation program is the unwavering opposition of most segments of organized labour to the guidelines and the restraints on contract in- creases. It is a dangerous over-simplification to place the blame for inflation on the - demands of the unions or on the disastrous strikes in the post office, or on the Ontario high school teachers or in the pulp and paper industry. But, having issued that disclaimer, we believe that labour must look to its own house before too long.Itsinsistence on con- tracts in excess of 18 per cent annually and a desire to pursue negotiations as if con- trols do not exist only serves to isolate labour into a class within society, such as exists in Britain today. I knew things were moving along too smoothly. Second grandson nicely launched, and I was nicely along into my second week of tranquility as a baby bachelor. Each time my daughter adds to the population explosion, my wife hustles off to give her a hand "for a few days." This, I have discovered, stretches into two weeks. But I don't really mind. It's rather pleasant, baching it, for a while. Nobody to tell you to get to bed just when there's a dandy horror movie coming on. Nobody to tell you that you are a bum and a loafer if you sleep in Sunday morning. Nobody to switch your favorite cops-and-robbers program to a lousy medical love story. Nobody. Nobody to listen to your complaints. Nobody to gossip with. Nobody to make you lake your pills when your bursitis is bad. Nobody to cook you a beautiful egg or make your favorite dessert. Nobody to put your cold feet on at night. Nobody to argue with. Nobody. I guess that's what's wrong with being a real bachelor. Or spinster, Nobody. It must be grim. But as I said, a couple of weeks Frank Miller's challenge to Clinton Hospital officials to show him how they could save $800,000 ox' prove to him that he had closed the wrong 'hospital was an unresponsible statement for any Minister of Health to make. The method behind Miller's remarks could have been to provoke a battle between Clinton and Exeter over which of the two hospitals should have closed, rather than have them both fighting against closing of either facility. It's doubtful that this ploy work although you couldn't blame the people at Clinton to use whatever means they can in the desperate and uphill struggle to keep their hospital. Nobody could dispute the government's efforts to save money, but when the first thing to go is essential medical services, instead of some of the frills the province has been sinking millions of dollars into the past few years, it makes you wonder. Providing medical services to sick people surely must be more important than some of the following areas the province is still spending huge sums of money. How much money will be spent is one of the few things I'm a bit shaky on, However, secure in the knowledge that my wife would be home on the weekend, and able to devote her usual eighteen hours a day to my comfort and general welfare, I was happy. Then the bolt came. Not out of the blue. Over the telephone. She informs me that she is bringing home company. One Pokey, two years of perpetual motion. For a month. Or six weeks. In order to let my daughter try to get her year al college, and finish off her degree work. My response was immediate, A roar of: "Holy Old Nelly!" a longish pause, then, in a very mild voice, "That'll be nice, dear. Won't it?" The only response from her was a chuckle that would have made Boris Karloff jealous.and, indeed,* did freeze my blood. Then she trilled: "You'll he able to take him out on his toboggan every day after work. And give him his bath every night, And tell him his bed-time story. And look after him all day on weekends, while I have a rest, Won't that be lovely? I know how crazy you are about him." I sputtered "Yabbutt. Yab- butt," a couple of times and gave up. Twenty-four hours later, I am somewhat philosophical about it. After all, families have to stick together, don't they. Lots of grandparents look after their tiny grandchildren in times of stress: war. famine, earthquake, Yabbutt. There's no particular' war on. Famine is scarcely stalking the land, And the only earthquake is the one in Ouatema'la. I have a feeling, for the en- teenth time, that we've been had. by Kim. I know Trudeau has three boys, and I'm younger than he. But, dammit, he has flunkies, and he's their father. 'Are there no civil rights for grandfatherly? on provincial parks tins year? What will be the cost of operating Ontario Place? Why can't Wintario grants be used to aid medical services which certainly must be con- sidered more important than cultural or recreational pur- poses?. These are just a few of the questions shocked people are asking in areas where they have heard the news their hospitals are getting the axe, Some people in the Medical profession believe the end isn't over as far as shutting hospitals clown is concerned. Ten hospitals have been given the bad news by Miller that their services won't be required and according to one doctor in Exeter this week, there may be as Ynany as 17 more on a list to be closed next year. Many people in Exeter breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that the 10th and last hospital to be closed this year" was to he Clinton although I wonder how people in this community would have reacted if it had been South Huron Hospital that would have to close the doors in a few weeks, In Clinton the whole area has joined in the fight to save their hospital. A public meeting held last week drew over 2,000 people and dozens of other meetings have been held to see what can be done to stop Miller's plan. In Clinton's case, the hospital is not only important for medical reasons to the community, but it is also the largest employer. Many of the people who could be out of work for a long time will undoubtedly be collecting unemployment benefits. Thousands of dollars will be spent paying these people to do nothing when only a short time before they were productive wage earners who had every reason to believe they were working at steady jobs, ' I was talking to -a doCtor this week who was naturally upset over the recent cutbacks in Medical care. Ids opinion was after the hospitals close there will be adverse side effects that will result in a decrease in whatever medical services are left, He believes doctors will not remain in communities where they have no hospital to refer their patients. In most parts of the country doctors are extremely busy people, and if even one or two left a small community, can you imagine the pressure it would put on the others who remained? Doctors now are available only on an appointment basis and in many cases they already have all the pal lents they can look after, In fact, it's getting to be a common thing for doctors to have closed practices where they are not accepting any more patients. The same situation applies to this area. When you meet people on the street these days most of the talk seems to lean towards the arena. What will our young people do without a place to play hockey? When is a decision going to be made about building a new one? Why don't we build the complex now ... because it will be cheaper in the long:run? The questions go on and on, and rightfully so, because recreation facilities are important,however, this writer believes that if you were to consider recreational facilities important, you would have to use the word "vital" to when talking about the servides provided at a hospital. In many areas where hospitals will be closed the residents are justly worried about what they will do for 'medical care. If South Huron Hospital was not operating you would have to go to London for hospital treatment •and in most cases this would be at the least an annoyance or an inconvenience. In other less' frequent instances it would be a matter of life and death. The availability of quick at- tention is one of the most im- portant reasons why it is dangerous to have hospitals too far away. A recent occurrence in this area prove's this statement to be true. The same doctor I was referring to previously told of a man who was working on his car with the garage door closed. The result was carbon monoxide poisoning which usually results in death or brain damage, although this mail was revived because he was able to get fast attention at South Huron Hospital. The doctor stated the victim could hav,e been "a vegetable" if he had to be taken the additional 32 miles to London before he received treatment. Nobody can predict when in- stances like this will happen and t it's certainly impossible to put a dollar value on human lives. Numerous other people in this area will be able to relate stories of how their lives were saved at South Huron and these are cer- tainly people who do not take hospital facilities for granted. A few years ago one of the platforms of the Conservative government under Bill Davis was to provide equal opportunities across the province for anyone who wanted to get an education. Now the same government is taking away the opportunities for people to get quick medical aid. Somehow it doesn't seem fair, especially when there is an ex- pensive new hospital under construction right now in Frank Miller's home riding, It seems strange to take away established hospitals from communities that have been depending oh (hem for years and at the same time be spending money elsewhere increasing medical services. Somehow these decisions reek of political motives Let's hope not , , because there's another election just around the corner, The postal strike and the teachers' walkout in Toronto, both originally deman- ding settlements far above the guidelines, served only to alienate supporters of labour, to exacerbate relations with other segments of society and to destroy the credibility of unions as responsible to the whole of society, Canadian social structures are under severe strain. No segment can set itself up as the tail that wags the dog. If the tail feels it deserves priority over all the other- parts then the operation fragments. And if the tail insists that if it does not get what it wants, it will shut down the dog, then without warning we find ourselves fac- ing the ravages of New York, Italy and Great Britain. The Listowel Banner I've finally taken the Christmas cards out of the big glass bowl where they've been gathering dust and put them away I intended to throw them in the trash can but on re-reading them my heart was warmed all over again by their wishes Maybe some of them were signed hastily with little thought but [ think most of them were sent with love So I couldn't throw them out I tied them up with some grocery cord placed the bundle of love in my desk drawer where I'll see it every day I pray it will help me keep Christmas in my heart right through the year Things are going too good Things are going too good, Lord, I have this uneasy feeling I'm in the awful quiet of a cyclone's eye or in the lull before a storm breaks I tense and wait for something to crash down on me smothering me battering me killing me Why can't I accept this serenity as a gift from you? Why can't I just let go and enjoy the harmony surrounding me at this moment? Is it because I'm afraid to trust you to believe with the hurting and bangs of life there's also joy, love and blissful quiet? Help me to understand, Lord, life is composed of both Help me to savour and not waste this lovely a interlude of peace right now I, 50 Years Age Mr. E. C. Harvey has taken the agency for the Mutual' Life Assurance Co. of Canada for St. Marys and Exeter. Mr. & Mrs. ,Victor Snell are moving to Lucan where Mr. Snell will take over the Ford agency, About 20 young people gathered at the home of Mr. & Mrs. E. Wethey last Friday evening, the occasion being a surprise for Miss Helen Wethey who leaves shortly for Orange, N.J., on probation as a nurse. 25 Years Ago Twelve years ago, a prime rib roast was 25 cents a pound. • Today, prime rib roasts were featured in local butcher shops at 89 cents per pound. A nevi price record for good grain in Huron County was set Saturday afternoon when $33 was paid for the champion bushel of oats that had been shown at the 1951 Seed Fair by Harry Strang, RR 1 Hensall, This week The Times-Advocate adds news of Lucan and district to its coverage of the area. Corespondents are Miss Line Abbott and Mrs. Clarence Lewis, RR 2 Penfield. The roar that rocked UWO's Thames Hall Saturday night was made by local fans when the SHDHS senior boys successfully defended their WOSSA "B" title in an exciting match with Kingsville. 20 Years Ago Bonnie Doerr was the winnerof the public speaking contest of Grade 7 pupils at the Home & School meeting. She chose for her subject "Wonders in the World of Science." George Shaw of Thames Road told the T-A he {Mans to press his court action against the town over the operation of the dump. Yeggs, who pried open the safe of F. A. May & Son early Monday morning, made off with ap- proximately $1,500. 10 Years Ago An Exeter Legion rink made up of skip Presley Lavier, Glenn McTavish, Bob Wragg and Charlie Atthill took top honors in Saturday's Legion Curling el at the Exeter Club. Mrs. Rhude of the Exeter Pentecostal Church was the speaker at the World Day of Prayer service, Friday, at Caven Presbyterian Church. Mrs. William Schaefer was crowned Sorority Sweetheart at the sorority Valentine dance held in the Legion Hall, Friday night,