HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-06-16, Page 4Last week's decision by Huron County
council to authorize a $1,000 study of the
county's role in health care is an exercise
in futility.
The councillors voted in favor of having
a Goderich man to write a brief to support
a claim that the county should take on the
responsibility for all health care within
Huron. For several reasons the county
council is neither equipped for nor entitled
to such a role.
A steering committee composed of
people who represented not only medical
and health care personnel but the general
public as well, came to the conclusion that
Huron and Perth Counties should not set up
a district health council. They opted, in
fact, to continue a direct communication
with the provincial ministry of health.
If the two counties combined are not
considered clout enough to operate a joint
health council, what would make Huron
alone a viable health care area? In fact
Huron people were told two or three years
ago that the population of the county would
not be adequate as a basis for a health
council.
Secondly, and more importance, what
background or experience would make the
county council a suitable body to take on
decisions in the field of health care? The
previous experience of most county coun-
cillors has been in the field of municipal
politics and, aside from the few who have
served on hospital boards, they know
nothing of the problems involved in hospital
operation. Despite the fact that the county
is responsible for the public health unit, it
is at the hospital level that the critical
decisions have to be made.
It may be fairly assumed that one of
the compelling reasons for the steering
committee's decision to stay away from a
district health unit was the acknowledg-
ment that members of hospital boards, doc-
tors and hospital administrators would
eventually be shunted aside as the
decisions came down from a district
authority. That, in face of the fact that a
district health council would have con-
tained representatives from the various
bodies and professions who do have con-
siderable experience in the health care
field.
Now Huron County council is proposing
to assume this sort of responsibility
withqut any experience at all.
It is true, of course, that the county ap-
proves funds for local hospitals, but the
amounts in which they deal are pin money
compared to the sums which are allocated
annually by the Ontario ministry of health.
It is nothing short of naive to assume that
the county could have any realistic role
when the vital funding still has to be ap-
proved in Toronto.
One would think the county has its hand
quite full looking after highways and
libraries and Huronview and all the other
functions for which it is responsible. To
spend $1,000 in an effort to grasp for a new
set of concerns is patently foolish.
Wingham Advance Times
Respect local decision
Now that the Perth-Huron steering
committee looking into the possibilities of
a district health council for the two coun-
ties has made up its mind — against such a
body — we would hope that the Ministry of
Health abides by this local decision.
We have heard various theories on how
the province will react to the steering com-
mittee's decision, especially when we con-
sider that health councils have been formed
in more than half of the designated areas
throughout Ontario thus far.
At least two members of the steering
committee who voted in the minority for
the council say they have heard that one
will be formed anyway. Others in the
health profession in this area suggest that
the ministry will allow the local decision to
stand,
And there was a disturbing statement
last winter from then health minister,
Frank Miller, that if the two counties did
not form their own council, that they could
end up being lumped with the Oxford-Elgin-
Middlesex-London health council.
We would suggest that since the provin-
cial government requested a steering com-
mittee made up of local people investigate
whether such a council was needed, that it
should now go along with the majority view
from that committee, which is to let local
hospital boards and health personnel deter-
mine what health care programs are re-
quired in Perth and Huron Counties.
Otherwise, it would look as if the
Ministry of Health didn't respect the opi-
nion of our local committee.
Considering the fact that a district
health council should supposedly be made
up of local people making decisions on local
health programs, how much power could
they be expected to wield in that capacity if
the province were to ignore the steering
committee's decision not to have a district
health council?
Prognasticator now poorer
Times Established.1873 Advocate Established 1881
excierZimes-Abuocide
A Public Education
Page 4 Times-Advocate, June 16, 1977
Waste of money
20 Years Ago
Awards for outstanding
achievement were presented to
students of South Huron. District
High School Thursday evening in
the school auditorium. Awards
for top marks were given to
0 Cornelia Verkerk, grade IX;
Jane Horton, grade X; Dick
Charrette, grade XI; and Roly
Tinline, grade XII,
Exeter, Hensall, Lucan and
surrounding areas will be
affected by the new long distance
cable being constructed by the
Bell Telephone Co. from London
to Clinton.
Work on the start of the
development of the Pinery park
has been delayed until late
summer because of the need for
further surveying in the area.
Eight area homes were ran-
sacked in broad daylight, Tues-
day. Police are investigating the
possibility that they were all
carried out by one person.
During the wind and hail storm
in the Cromarty-Staffa district,
Tuesday, a section of the roof of
a barn owned by Wilbur Glan-
ville was destroyed. Meanwhile,
area residents have been
sweltering in oppressive 90
degree temperatures and heavy
humidity.
A big, black cloud
There's a big black cloud hang-
ing over this country, and despite
the veritable hurricanes of hot
air emitted by politicians, it
refuses to blow away, It's name
is Unemployment.
If you have noticed that not so
many people seem to belong to
the curling club or the golf club
as there were, don't imagine for
a minute that for some reason,
there is a drop of interest in the
sport and the conviviality of
these.social oases in the desert of
our lives.
It's simply and purely that a
heck of a lot of guys and gals
can't afford the fees any more,
because they are simply and
purely out of work.
As a child of the Depression, I
grew up under that big black
cloud, and I know full well what a
brooding shadow it can cast over
an individual or a family. It hung
over mine for more than a
decade, and it left its marks on
the soul, if not the body.
Let's take an average family of
today confronted by this spectre,
without any preparation for it.
Jack has worked for 15 years in a
plant. Working conditions were
good. Pay was good, and got
better every time the union
growled. Jack belonged to the
union, but didn't attend
meetings. He had worked up to
$14,000 a year as a foreman.
Pretty good for a guy with Grade
12.
His wife Jean has been work-
ing, too, for the past seven years,
since she got the kids off to
school. She was pulling in $7,000,
Between them, they had a good
income. Like everybody else,
they wanted the good life.
Bought a house, with a 30-year
mortgage. Traded the car every
three years, on a bank loan.
Plunged for a boat. Enjoyed a
week's holiday in the south each
winter, and two week's at a
rented cottage in the summer,
Even went to Europe last year,
No real financial problem,
although spare money seemed
rather scanty, with inflation. But
all payments met on time.
Suddenly the roof fell in.
Jean's job was declared redun-
dant as the small firm she work-
ed for tightened its belt against
rising costs. She tried for
another, but there were 10
younger women, with more
skills, for every job she applied
for. With a rather forced laugh,
she told friends she'd decided to
stay home and be a housewife.
And, after all, she was collecting
unemployment insurance.
Still no real financial problem.
Then the pogey ran out. Canada
Manpower, that hunk of
bureaucracy as useful as teats on
a bull, had nothing for her.
Then — earthquake! Jack's
company announced, with the ut-
most regret, that it would be
closing permanently within a
month. In business double talk,
the employees were informed
that for some vague reason to do
with the parent plant in the
States, it was no longer feasible
to maintain production at the
local plant. Translation: the fat
federal subsidies the company
got to build the local plant had
run out, along with the special
local tax deal.
Jack discovered, with horror,
'that he was 41 years old, that he
had fairly limited skills, despite
his good reputation as a worker,
and that there were hundreds of
young guys, who knew more than
he did, looking for jobs. He and
the other foremen were told that
there might be a job for them at
the home plant in Waukegan, if
they wanted to make the move.
Not as foremen, of course. The
home plant already had foremen.
Jack and Jean had an income
of $110 a week, unemployment
insurance. Their mortgage
payments were $820 a month, car
payments $90 a month, fuel and
hydro 470 a month. It cost them
$50 a week to put bread on the
table. They owed the bank $1,200
for the boat,
That's why they don't show up
at the curling club and the golf
club. That's why. they never
throw a party any more. That's
why they don't go on holidays.
That's why their kids don't get
new clothes on demand. That is
unemployment.
Boat is long gone. Transporta-
tion is now a beat-up pickup
truck that Jack uses for his
business. Oh yes, he's working.
He scraped up a thousand dollars
and, with his knowledge of
welding and such, started a
small auto body repair shop. The
thousand he owes has increased
to $1,500, but business is picking
up. A second mortgage, at 18 per
cent, saved the house, But
there'll be no momey to educate
the kids. There'll be no more
dreams of retiring on a pretty
good pension, and buying that
place in the country, There may
not even be a marriage. Jack and
Jean fight a lot these days. Their
kids don't like them much these
days. Jack gets awful drunk on
Saturday night Jean cries a lot.
A horror story? Nope, just a
modern fairy tale, about two
babes lost in the woods of our
material society, where
everybody wants to get quite a
bit more, and give quite a bit
less.
I feel sorry for Jack and Jean,
and all the other people whose
grasp exceeded their reach.
They're not really to blame. In a
society that puts money, things,
possessions, status, at the top of
the list, and people, thrift,
humility, and integrity at the
bottom, they're just a couple of
the casual casualties,
That's unemployment, 1977
style. Show me some bread-
lines, soup kitchens, men who
would literally sell their soul to
the devil for a decent job, and I'll
show you some 1030s unemploy-
ment,
Sooner or later, you'd think a
person would learn! But that's
not the case with this writer as
we've been going around the of-
fice paying off election bets, a
customary practice it seems
after each election.
However, misery enjoys com-
pany they say, and there is at
least some solace in the fact that
many of the so-called experts
were also away off base in their
predictions.
While Jack Riddell's win in the
local riding didn't come as any
surprise, the strength of his ver-
dict certainly was and that was
where the editor got caught.
Haugh's two dollars on a predic-
tion of an 1,111 majority
appeared to be a reasonable
gambit, but it was far from that
after the ballots were counted.
The election, as most people
said, was neither wanted nor
needed and that's basically what
the results indicated. With only a
few exceptions, the sitting
members were returned to
Queen's Park with the voters
telling Premier Davis that
minority government can work
— and in fact, must.
It should be at least four years
before Ontario voters have to go
back to the polls and the only
problem with that situation is the
fact that in such a lengthy
period, the writer will probably
forget he doesn't know a darn
thing about predicting elections
and he'll have to loosen the purse
strings again.
The showing of the NDP was
one of the surprises in ,the elec-
tion and probably most of that
can be attributed to the election
promise of leader Stephen Lewis
to institute a $4.00 per hour
minimum wage.
Even those who may benefit in
the short term from such an in-
crease no doubt realized that a
Lewis government would quickly
jettison the province into the
highest Inflation rate in history
and that would indeed be a dis-
astrous error.
It would have put most small
businessmen out of business in
short order and put the province
at an even greater disadvantage
on national and international
markets.
Mr. Lewis lost a great deal of
his credibility with that election
promise and no doubt frightened
many of his would-be supporters
away.
The four senior male members
of the Batten household took off
on a fishing trip on the weekend
and one of the interesting
aspects was to see the size of
some of the ridings in this
province.
It seemed that the Gaunt,
MacGregor and Zyluk signs
stretched for mile after mile in
the wide area represented in the
Huron-Bruce riding and in the
area north of Collingwood, a full
day's drive would apparently be
needed to cover some ridings
from one end to the other.
There is little doubt that some
provincial politicians must have
a most difficult time keeping
abreast of their constituency af-
fairs when they have to know
what is going on in such a
widespread area,
It would be impossible to get
around to meet most, of the
voters outside the small urban
centres and certainly the
residents must feel quite detach-
ed from their representatives in
comparison to some. We always
thought Huron-Middlesex was a
sizeable area, but it is actually
quite small in comparison to
many.
That fishing trip, by the way,
was totally unsuccessful as far
as the original intent was con-
cerned, but a drive through the
Muskoka Lakes area is never a
waste of time because of its
sheer beauty.
It is disturbing, however, to
:realize that many of those deep
blue lakes which ring the
Zurich, Ontario,
June 6, 1977.
Dear Bill:
Your recent "debearding"
deserves praise, particularly for
its tremendous impact on the
local Arena fund.
I realise well how much per-
sonal sacrifice was endured when
your seemingly eternal beard
finally succumbed to the razor's
edge. Certainly by now the people
of Exeter and district have
realizedthat this beard provided a
major function in your life — it
camouflaged both your age and
your nose.
Please forward the enclosed
cheque to the Arena fund at your
convenience. Best wishes in your
beardlegs future.
Sincrely,
Don O'Brien
ED NOTE — Thanks for the $10
donation to the rec centre, Don.
My kids wondered about the
identity of such a generous
benefactor, so I showed them our
old SHDHS class photo. Your
comment about age is certainly
unfounded, in view of the fact
they mistook you as the teacher
rather than Fred Meek.
As for covering up my nose, the
beard was partially successful at
that, which no doubt leaves you
extremely jealous, knowing that
no amount of hair could ever
conceivably do that for yours!
'211
highways are becoming more
and more polluted each year and
we wonder how long it will be
before people stop to consider
the consequences of their
thoughtless actions.
The tent caterpillar infestation
was almost past, but there was
plenty of evidence of the tiny
worms' appetite. Many trees
were stripped bare of leaves and
their only foliage was the many
cocoons which now blot the
scenery.
Some caterpillars could still be
seen climbing over houses and
we fishermen had to continually
flip them off our feet as they
crawled around the ground near
us.
However, the natives indicated
the scene was almost un-
believable a couple of weeks ago
when it became necessary to
sand some of the highways as
they became greasy with cars
running over the crawlers.
One of the other major blots on
the countryside is the number of
billboards which are ghastly in
comparison to the surrounding
trees, lakes and rocks,
As more and more areas
develop tourist information
points that give travellers all the
information required to find ac-
commodation for their every
need, we wonder if all the signs
are really necessary.
It never ceases to amaze the
writer that within a short trip of
only three or four hours, one can
see such divergent scenery as in
this great province of ours,
However, as gas prices soar,
readers should be reminded the
time may be coming when such
trips are basically impossible.
So, if you're planning a holiday
outing this summer, you can't do
much better than see Ontario.
Readers no doubt will be
wondering how the beardless
editor is making out with the dai-
ly chore of shaving. Well, no
blood transfusions have been
required as yet, and the high cost
of shaving soap, blades, etc.
hasn't been too much of a drain
on our budget but only because
we charge the kids most of their
weekly allowance to watch this
new (to them) phenomenon.
It's a rather barbaric practice
at best, as far as we're concern-
ed, and it's difficult to com-
prehend how men in their right
minds would do it every day.
One of our former Sunday
School teacherS periodically in-
formed us that if the good Lord
had intended us to smoke, 'he
would have put a chimney on our
head. Well, there must be some
sort of parallel there for shaving
off one's whiskers each day.
Wearing a beard is an ex-
perience every man should enjoy
at least once in his lifetime, if for
no other reason than to hear peo-
ple say "you look 20 years
younger" after you've shaved it
off.
Amalgamated 1924
55 Years Ago
The London Silver Band of the
Salvation Army gave an open-air
concert at Victoria Park Sunday
evening. One of the largest
crowds that was ever present,
assembled in the park. Shortly
after the service had started, a
wind storm came up, followed by
a very heavy downpour of rain,
The storm was accompanied by
sharp lightning and thunder. The
park was filled with cars and
most of them had to be assisted
through the mud.
Major W. J. Heaman and R. N.
Creech won the Merner trophy at
the Scotch doubles bowling
tourney at Seaforth, last Wednes-
day, open to Huron County. This
makes the third time that Exeter
bowlers have won this trophy and
it now becomes their permanent
property.
During the thunder storm
Saturday evening, lightning
struck the Main Street Methodist
Church, but fortunately, the
damage was only slight. The
lightning struck the top of the
roof, close to the front of the
church.
A number from town motored
to Goderich Monday evening and
took in the moonlight excursion
on the steamer Greyhound.
30 Years Ago
Over 2,000 people took the op-
portunity on Saturday to attend
the first post-war display af-
forded the public at the Centralia
airport.
The township of Blanshard, is
preparing to commemorate the
100th year of the incorporation of
the township, June 25.
Rev. C. L. and Mrs. Langford
arrived from Mitchell Thursday,
and Mr. Langford preached his
inaugural sermon as new rector
at Trivitt Memorial church on
Sunday.
Miss Irene Beaupre was in-
stalled as President of the newly
organized chapter of Beta Sigma
Phi.
Nona and Lois Pym won the
right to represent Huron County
in provincial competition when
the Annual Achievement Day of
Junior States of the county was
held in Clinton, Saturday.
Magistrate James Morley has
resumed his duties on the bench
after an illness of 13 weeks.
by JIM SMITH
Even if you don't know
another thing about organ-
ized labour in this country (a
condition which could well
qualify you for a prominent
position in the ranks of La-
bour Canada), you are un-
doubtedly aware that the Ca-
nadian Labour Congress has
an unequalled grip on the la-
bour movement. As an asso-
ciation of most trade unions,
the CLC represents the ma-
jority of organized workers.
An important CLC func-
tion is government lobbying.
The unfortunate October
14th Day of Protest against
wage and price controls was
one example of the organiza-
tion's efforts to mould soci-
ety along big labour's lines.
Political action groups like
the CLC lay out millions of
dollars to influence govern-
Ments. Even if their cam-
paigns fail, these groups are
expected to pay their own
way. That's why a recent an-
nouncement from the feder-
al Department of Labour
comes as such a shock.
The federal government
has promised $10 million to
the CLC, spread out over the
next five years, The money
is to be used for something
vaguely defined as "labour
education". Regrettably, al-
most no one seems to be able
to specifically define "labour
education".
The donation follows
statements by Labour Minis-
ter John Munro that, quoting
from the Canadian Press, "it
would be good for Canada if
its labour unions approached
the strength of their British
15 Years Ago
Huron's four candidates are
working feverishly as the elec-
tion date draws near. They par-
ticipated in an all-candidate
debate at Seaforth TueSday
night, before a crowd of 600 peo-
ple. Participating were Carl
Hemingway,NDP; EarlDouglas,
Social Credit; Elston Cardiff,
standing PC member ;•and Ernie
Fisher, Liberal.
The Grand Bend and Area
Chamber of Commerce finalized
plans for their "Fly-in", which is
planned for the Grand Bend air-
port June 23.
Huron county council has
adopted a road program cover-
ing 48.5 miles of construction in
nine projects.
Leading Aircraftsman John H.
Viau, who recently wrote his
group three exams in electronics
air, attained an average of 97%,
the second highest in the whole
of the RCAF. LAC Viau was
transferred to RCAF Centralia
in October, 1958.
counterparts." Mr. Munro al-
ways had a good sense of hu-
mour. But don't look for him
in the Finance portfolio
when Donald Macdonald
steps down.
Unfortunately, the offi-
cial announcement of the
grant failed to explain a few
details. One detail which
springs to mind concerns
the propriety of government
funds flowing to political ac-
tion groups; the cynical
might regard it as bribery.
The Canadian Federation
of Independent Business re-
mains astonished at the grant.
According to a C.F.I.B.
spokesman, many Canadian
universities already have well
organized, properly funded,
independent labour relations
centres. "Why on earth
should the government invest
more money to duplicate fa-
cilities that are already under-
utilized?" he wants to know.
Maybe we don't need
more schools to teach or-
ganized labour how to bar-
gain more effectively; we've
got those schools already.
What we could use are
schools to teach the public
how to (a) deliver their own
mail when organized postal
unions go on strike, (b) de-
liver their own garbage when
organized sanitation unions
go on strike, (c) organize car
pools when transit unions go
on strike, (d) .
The decision is most pe-
culiar, even from a govern-
ment which brought you civ-
il service strikes. Sometimes
it's hard not to wonder whe-
ther our bureaucrats aren't
spending too much time out
in the sun,
331
"Do you have any
experience?"
"Of course —
I've been on strike
many times."
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 Bill Batten
Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh
Advertising Manager Jim Beckett
Plant Manager Jim Scott
Composition Manager — Harry DeVries
Business Manager — Dick Jongkind
Phone 235- Published Each Thursday Morning
at Exeter, Ontario
Second Class Mail
Registration Number 0386
Paid in Advance Circulation
September 30, 1975 5,409
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $1 1.00 Per Year; USA $2/.00
CCNA
RUMOR
AWARD
1974