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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-06-17, Page 4Layoffs . • . the wrong solution SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C,W.N.A., 0.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited Editor — Jim Beckett — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor Leigh Robinson Plant Manager —Jim Scott 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 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11.00 Smiley's VA, "The price of third class service is going up." The savage sixties IA memPry Ia ` e Attention Exeterites Nominate A Neighbour's Garden For A GREEN THUMB AWARD ,as part of the CANADA WEEK Celebrations Entrants will be judged on: 1. Originality of entire garden and layout design 2. Cleanliness of buildings, beds, etc. 3. Maintenance of trees, shrubs 4. General yard appearance 5. Use of colour and variety in flowers, shrubs and plants 6. Contribution to neighbourhood Two classes for entries: Vegetable garden and flower garden which will be judged separately. Judging will be held on Wednesday, June 30 and awards will be presented at the closing ceremonies at the pool on July 1. Deposit entry forms in boxes located at The Junc- tion, Butlers Dept. Store, Pat's Pet Shop or mail to: Box 1810, Exeter, c/o GREEN THUMB AWARD, by June 25. For further information call 235-2833 NOMINATION FORM IN MY OPINION, THE PROPERTY AT SHOWS PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP AND IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PLACE IT IN NOMINATION FOR AN EXETER GREEN THUMB AWARD. CLASS ENTERED: VEGETABLE GARDEN FLOWER GARDEN Nominator's Name Nominator's Address J • Eternity and the tooth We are not convinced that the solution to keeping the mill rate down in Exeter is to lay off town employees. In essence, that was Exeter Council's decision when they told RAP to trim down its original budget request, including $8,000 off the budget allotted to hourly and salaried RAP employees. Although it is true that RAP had to decide in what areas of employee salaries the cuts would be made, the guidelines had already been set. Of the $71,700 budgeted for wages and salaries, $50,100 of that amount was for permanent employees, leaving only $21,600 for part-time staff for the swimming pool, etc. and instructors' fees for various recreational and educational programs that RAP sponsors each year. With the arena now closed by the Ministry of Labor, RAP could hardly trim its part-time staff, already cut to the minimum, because it would mean doing away with or cutting back severely on the remaining programs that RAP can offer now that roller skating, minor hockey, figure skating, and numerous other com- munity events involving an arena facility have been ruled out. If RAP had elected to keep its resources manager, and the two other employees which make up the rec maintenance staff on full time with no layoffs, it would mean cuts to the rest of those programs. The only logical move was to lay off those who work in the arena dur- ing the fall, winter and spring because there simply is not the work for them without an arena. There are some considerations which have been either left out or ignored. As logical a move as this might seem from RAP's point of view, we question the motive involved in laying off town employees, one with 24 years seniority, and another with nine, from the point of view of Exeter Council. Coming up as the next big social issue in Ontario seems to be a campaign to con- trol the availability of pornographic magazines and books. Attorney-General Roy McMurtry has fired the first gun, and discussion on the matter has started. The Attorney-General has stated that two prime considerations are a definition of pornography (this seems to differ between various people and groups) and an awareness of how much Ontario people want there to be action on the matter. If the demand for control is seen to be extensive and intelligent, we are likely to see legisla- tion that will provide restrictions. One of the first restrictions likely to be asked is that such magazines should not be easily available to children. Some who are most concerned base their opposition on seeing children gathering around magazine racks where they can browse through magazines with no apparent control. Those who deal in the distribution of these magazines may say — and some of them have said — that it is the business of the parents of these children what they do in their spare time. They also say that the books which have caused the most severe criticism are not "browsable" but are seal- ed in plastic bags before sale. The other area is in the censorship of what literature may be available at all to the public of the province. While magazines are especially under consideration there are, of course, the other media that could be brought under stricter censorship if there is considered harm in their continued availability. (One speaker referred to the books that are used in school courses, stating that if they were made into movies they would have to be classed • as "restricted"). The role of the censor, and the respon- sibility undertaken by any who seek to con- trol books and pictures, is not an enviable one. Basically it may be primarily a per- sonal decision; but one hopes that it derives from a sound set of moral principles and a desire for the best for all mankind. Those who oppose censorship will contrast While $8,000 might be a saving to the municipality in the short run of things, how much saving is there when one considers the possible loss of employees who have not only served the town well but have con- siderable expertise in arena management when the time comes for a new facility to be opened? From the standpoint of human dignity, how much is saved when- a man is asked to give up his job, his vehicle to earn a living, even if only temporarily? Even from a cold pragmatic point of view, we find it difficult to believe that governments realize savings from layoffs because it merely cuts down on the number of dollars that citizens have to spend on commodities and taxes. And more to the point, it destroys the morale and trust of the citizens it supposedly represents. We doubt that there are many members of Council who would be willing to cut down on their salaries in order to affect a respectable mill rate. Surely there must be other ways to realize a saving and if not then there must be other work in the town which these employees could do during the balance of the season when they would otherwise be working at the arena, perhaps saving the town from hiring outside help. Maybe there are other cuts which could be made in the RAP budget, although we must admit we don't know exactly where they are after listening to members of that committee attempting to face the dilemma Monday night. Our main contention is that dollars are not as important as people. If it takes $8,000 more dollars to keep town employees work- ing regularly, then it should be added to the mill rate, or perhaps subtracted from the $50,000 that the town wants to pay back ahead of time on their sewer installation costs. A respectable budget saving is no sub- stitute for a policy which respects human dignity. "modernity" with "Victorianism," and up- hold the desirability of freedom of choice. Both sides of this argument need to be heard; but it is inherent in our system of democracy that those elected to positions of leadership — in any area — should be ac- corded the responsibility of maintaining the standards which they believe to be best for those they represent, of all ages and all conditions. It is probably that many in the province are not familiar with the type of magazine that Hon. Roy McMurtry, who doesn't pull punches, had characterized as "depraved filth." Some who, normally, would never look at porno mags, were shown them as an exercise in education. Reactions, whether of a middle-aged woman or of a young professional man, were shocked increduli- o. ty with the convicition that "anyone who gets their kicks from that has to be sick." The frightening thing is that, while the "sick" may seek out porno literature, those who innocently are exposed to it may, also, develop the sickness. Perhaps the desired "freedom of choice" may be completely buried under an uncontrollable appetite. The argument concerning children, and the parents' responsibility, is one that should be tempered with reality. In spite of what parents would like to think, most are aware that their children do a great many things without parental knowledge or per- mission, even the "best" of them. It has always been so and will continue. As well, the strictures invoked, by the parents of one child may well differ from those of his playmates' parents. The peer group can well supercede the parental influence in such a state. Whether it is for our own children's safety or for that of other people's children, Ontario needs to listen to the Attorney- General's words and be prepared to follow his leadership. Freedom may well be en- dangered if censorship becomes tyran- nical. But the moral fibre of the nation is endangered when there is such food for sadistic, masochistic and irresponsible sex- ual behaviour, utterly denying the basic worth of another human being. Amalgamat6d 1924 - It seems, when one looks around, that the Great Revolu- tion of the 1960s has petered out, as most revolutions do. And, as usually happens after a revolu- tion, the pendulum is swinging toward conservatism. The Savage Sixties, featuring a vicious war in Viet Nam, student uprisings, draft dodgers, the growth of strident feminism, and the blossoming of four-letter words in the mass media, have simmered down into the Scared Seventies, when inflation and un- employment are the bogey-men. Most obvious evidence of this is the race for president in the States. There's not a liberal in sight. It's like a game of musical chairs in which every participant is striving to be a little farther to the right than the guy who made the last speech. I'm not entirely unhappy about this swing of the pendulum. While revolutions often produce freedom, they also produce ex- cesses, and that of the Sixties was no exception. It produced a violence, a callousness and a viciousness that was probably unparalleled in western civilization's history. Remember? The kids were on drugs. The parents were on the booze. Cops were called pigs. Language that would shock a sailor came out of the mouths of babes. It was fashionable to be filthy if you were young. Hard rock replaced anything resembl- ing music to be listened to. Cults of various degrees of obscenity flourished. Muggings multiplied. Hijacking hit the headlines. It was a nasty, nervous decade for society to grope through, and as a basically conservative per- son, I'm glad it's fading, even thoughlit has left a fair bit of detritus as it ebbs. Not all of it was bad, of course. Many of the old shibolleths were swept away and replaced by something saner. The social, political and economic status of women took a giant step forward. There was a new hones- ty, as much of the stuff our parents used to sweep under the carpet was pulled out, looked at squarely, and found to be merely funny, not frightening. There was a new and healthy skepticism toward politicians, culminating in the not so incredi- ble discovery that some were liars, some crooks, some both. Our institutes of higher lear- ning got a good shake-up, and their traditional stuffiness swung toward something verging on license. In short, a lot of the phoniness of our society was exposed for what it was. A lot of rocks were turned over, and a lot of things crawled out from under them, and died in the hard, clear light. That's all to the good. Every revolution must crack some eggs to make an omelet. And every revolution inflicts wounds, some of them savage. But society is the sum total of individuals, And just as an in- dividual who has been mugged, knifed, raped or otherwise abus- ed, must retire and tend his wounds, so must society. There must be a healing time. Perhaps the Scared Seventies is such a time. Certainly there is a trend. Hard rock music, hoist on its own petard, is being replaced by country and bluegrass music, Transcendental meditation is replacing the acid trip. Most people are fed up with the pure pornography that has flourished. Even that sacred cow, hockey, has turned people off, including aficionados, with the mindless, but contrived violence of its goon shows. Hi- jackers are harried and hunted down. WE'p Brurgi 41ou( oil si SRO'S 6E410 iie nucE 40E5 II? Maybe, just maybe, we're in for a brief Golden Age, in which the arts will flourish, ripoffs will become a thing of the past, ex- cellence will be restored as an aspiration of the young, and children will honor their parents. But don't hold your breath. Maybe, just maybe, movies will start having a plot again. And policemen will be pals, not pigs. And music will be enjoyable, not excruciating. And vandalism will vanish. But don't hold your breath. Maybe, just maybe, town The South Huron Recreation Centre fund raising campaign was officially kicked off Monday in front of the centre's in- formation booth on the Main Street. Approximately 250 spectators were on hand to witness the first removal of boards from the campaign sign showing how much money has been raised to date. No date had been announced for the official campaign ceremonies so the fire depart- ment and students from SHDHS, Exeter Public School and Precious Blood 'Separate School were brought in to create a little interest. The fire siren was turned on just before noon and the big engine pulled up at the information centre a few moments later. This was all that was needed to 40 Years Ago Rev. Harry L. Jennings, who was recently ordained a priest of the Anglican Church has been called to Fort Norman about 1,300 miles north of Edmonton. Rev. Moore Gordon, B.A., B.D. and family are moving to Chatsworth, eight miles south of Owen Sound, after serving Caven Presbyterian Church for two and one-half years. Miss Marguerite Amy, nurse- in-training at Victoria Hospital, is spending her vacation at her home in Crediton. The trustees of S.S.N. 3 Stephen have engaged Miss Hazel Smillie of Hensall to teach the school for the coming year, taking the place of Miss Gertrude Frances who has resigned. Rev. Arthur H. Going, a former pastor of James St. Church passed away recently at his home in Peterboro. 25 Years Ago Huron County Temperance Federation will call a meeting soon to take steps to oppose the repeal of the Canada Tem- perance Act, C.M. Robertson, Goderich, and president of the federation said that a letter has been ,.sent to all county papers outlining the federations stand, A record crowd of 500 Persons from the district around Grand Bend as far away as Sarnia and London gathered at the Grand Bend Cemetery to attend the annual Decoration Service on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and to decorate the graves of deceased friends and relatives. Contract for the construction and repairof sidewalks was let to engineers will go around holding hands and singing, "I think that I shall never see, A Sewer lovely as a tree." But don't hold your breath. Maybe, just maybe, politicians will start letting their left hand know what their right hand is do- ing, and remove both hands from the pockets of the taxpayer. But don't hold your breath. I'm a realist. I don't hold my breath. But I'm also an optimist. So, whatever it's worth, welcome to the new Golden Age. attract a large crowd of curious onlookers who were anxious to see just what was taking place. After a few words of en- couragement from mayor Bruce Shaw and Carfrey Cann of the publicity committee Ron Bogart pushed the mayor to the Bank of• Montreal in a wheelbarrow to make the first official deposit. The students formed a line along the street to the bank to bring over about 100 one dollar bills to add to the campaign coffers. All in all the event was very brief and although it was organized quickly it reflects the growing enthusiasm behind the project. Approximately $10,000 has been raised already and the financecommittee members and canvassers are doing their best right now to increase this amount as much as they can. Ashley Smith at the regular council meeting Monday night. Price is 50 cents per running foot for the new sidewalks and $1.00 an hour for labor plus a $1.00 for the mixer. The town will supply the cement, gravel, fill and extension joints. 20 Years Ago Huron MPP Thomas Pryde laid the corner stone Thursday af- ternoon for Mt. Carmel School for which he had donated the stone, Tom Pryde announced this week that tenders have been called for paving Thames Road from Exeter to Russeldale, South Huron Hospital is only seven away from giving birth to its one-thousandth baby. The milestone will probably be reached within a week, Firemen and neighbors who rushed to Staffa sawmill when it caught fire Monday night, worked in vain to stop the raging blaze which was fed by lumber, sawdust and oil. The mill was levelled to the ground. It was the second time the Staffa Mill had been destroyed in 40 years. 10 Years Ago A further problem for future financing in Huron County is posed in the proposed closing of Canadian Forces Base, Cen- tralia, in the opinion of Huron County Clerk-treasurer, John G. Berry. In view of this threat,. Mr, Berry told Huron County Council this week that he favors part of Huron in the neighborhood of Centralia designated a "depressed area" for industrial purposes Harry Emerson Fosdick, writing in an article says multitudes of people go into life habitually saying to themselves, "I have power enough to lift only five pounds and I must somehow lift ten pounds." Others, who have discovered a type of religion that makes God an available resource of power have a different way of thinking and so, they say to themselves, "I have power enough to lift ten pounds and need lift only five," How we talk to ourselves, says Fosdick, is very important. When you are alone how do you talk with youself? In what tone of fear, anxiety, hope of confidence is your inner conversation pit- ched? Dr. Fosdick states that what we say to ourselves is not simply expressive, it is creative. As a man habitually talks to himself, so he is. Not much wonder the tongue is called a 'rudder' in the Book of James. Of all the ruinous ways of misusing the power of inward conversation, none is more prevalent than the habit of breaking down one's own courage by defeatist words: "I cannot." "I am whipped." "My life has come undone". "Something dreadful is bound to happen." We are all tempted to fall into this sort of self communication but some encourage it until they are completely vicitimized and greet themselves each morning and salute themselves each night with cynical remarks like "What's the use?" "What dif- ference does it make?" "What's life all about anyway?" Dr. Fosdick says such a person "CANADA - WE LOVE IT!" is the theme for CANADA WEEK - 1976 which will take place all across the land from June 25th - July 1st. CANADA WEEK is a coast to coast project to engender pride in Canada, promote national unity and encourage dialogue and understanding among Canadians. The Week is sponsored by the Council for Canadian Unity (formerly the Canada Com- mittee) which is a non-profit organization, without political affiliation. A variety of social and cultural festivities will take place in cities, towns and villages from Newfoundland to British Columbia. These will include picnics, parades, historical may think he is only talking to himself when, in reality, he is fairly murdering himself. : There is a story about a young soldier laying white and weak on a hospital cot. The surgeon, who had just amputated his shattered arm, said sympathetically, "I am sorry you had to lose your arm," The soldier looked at him with an accent of protest and said, "I did not lose it; I gave it." This young man was wise enough to see that his whole attitude toward facing what confronted him depended on what word he used. What a difference between 'lose' and 'gave'. Wise Dr. Foskick points out if we could people in general to talk to themselves like this about all their necessities we would raise the level of human happiness immeasurably. He also says we would prevent innumerable nervous breakdowns, wrecked families, and blighted careers. He urges all of us, who must always face life's necessities, to talk to ourselves, not discouragingly or rebelliously, but. victoriously. In regard to Eternity (said the Old Mandarin) I feel about it as I do about one of my teeth. Every now and then it gives me A devil of a twinge, And for a while I groan and can think of naught else. Then the anguish abates and I dismiss it from my mind. But I know, just the same, That some day I've got to go through with it, Christopher Morley pageants, sports events, con- certs, art and essay contests, film presentations, multi-cultural displays and dance festivals, flag-raising events, and exhibitions of all kinds. All Canadians will be encouraged to fly the flag and display the CANADA WEEK emblem. Companies and industry, youth groups, associations, service clubs and voluntary organizations, native and ethnic groups Ire assisting the CANADA WEEK Committee to ensure the success of this im- portant event. As in past years, the Prime Minister of Canada is the Honorary Chairman for CANADA WEEK and the Provincial Premiers and the Commissioners of the Territories are Honorary Co-chairmen. 4 4 The fight against porno Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Fund raising off and going Canada Week coming • •