HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-09-08, Page 4One of the basic problems with
statistics is the fact that improvements are
often heralded with glowing remarks
without considering the fact that the totals
represented in those figures are still rather
frightening.
That's the case with the recent
statistics from Ontario transportation
minister James Snow. He reported that the
number of people killed in traffic accidents
in the province dropped seven percent dur-
ing the first four months of 1977, compared
with the same period a year earlier.
Naturally, that's good news and cer-
tainly points up the value of lower speed
limits and the mandatory use of seat belts.
However, the fact that 223 people died
on Ontario highways in that four-month
period indicates quite clearly that it would
be folly to think that our highways are now
as safe as they can be, or that no further
improvements are required by drivers.
There are 223 people, who if they could
talk, would no doubt agree that the picture
is brightening but there is still a long way
to go.
Motorists should certainly realize that
the chances of their living longer is im-
proved if they buckle up and slow down, but
they must also realize that driving still re-
quires a great deal of care and courtesy.
The odds may be dropping, but until
they are eliminated entirely (which is
probably impossible) the cheering should
be moderated.
The greatest sin
Our newspapers, radio and television
broadcasts keep us well informed on the
suffering, poverty and injustice at home
and in all parts of the world. In recent
years we have had so much, of this that
many of us now suffer from what has been
called "compassion fatigue". Our hearts
are touched and our minds wadded so fre-
quently that they become wearied preven-
ting continued attention to the suffering of
others.
Some of us go in for the detached
academic or study-group kind of interest in
the plight of others. This sometimes leads
to constructive action but generally it is a
subtle exercise in evasion. We use pious
chatter and th'e drafting of impressive
resolutions as an excuse for not rolling up
our sleeves andtrying to do helpfulthings —
even such a helpful thing as reaching for a
cheque-book.
Compassion fatigue can encourage us
to cultivate convenient ignorance: if we do
not let ourselves know too much about the
suffering of others we will not feel called
upon to do anything about it.
Many comfortable Canadians do
cultivate convenientignorance—ignorance
of the malnutrition from which the majori-
ty of the world's people suffer, ignorance of
the injustices inflicted on so many people
everywhere, and of the deprivation in our
own nation. Even in our own
neighborhoods.
The complexity and confusion of life to-
day, with the compassion fatigue it
engenders and the convenient ignorance it
encourages, causes indifference to settle
rather easily on our hearts. Perhaps in-
difference is the great sin of our time.
—Contributed
The ponies won the race
Traditions change or vanish
Vte eteferZimes-Aribuocafe
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
C.W.N.A., 0.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 — Bill Weekley
Composition Manager — Harry DeVries
Business Manager Dick Jongkind
Phone 235-1331
+CNA
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 $11.00 Per Year; USA $22,00
,or ray ror 1131 or C3I tO
(84cie 71)Amkpoemes)
SPEEDING 'S OUT!
Page 4
Times-Advocate, September 8, 1977
specific
strengthening job security for the 106,000
OTF members at a time when declining
enrolment and rising teacher surplus have
made jobs scarce.
Taxpayers are becoming increasingly
upset at the cost of education, and or a time
when they can see the light at the end of the
tunnel, they aren't likely to endorse any
idea that would fail to provide the savings
that should be expected with lower
enrolments.
The new OTF head will have to be
much more specific in his outline of the
benefits of smaller classes if he hopes to
make any headway in that regard.
Room for improvement
You can't hardly turn your
back these days but one or other
of our old traditions has either
vanished or changed for the
worse.
This great thought came to
me, for no known reason, as I
was speeding down the highway
the other day, wincing every
time a big transport nearly blew
me off the road, shouting op-
probrium every time some punk
in a sports car cut in front of me,
emitting those vile noises
reminiscent of a bear with the
dire rear.
"You know, Bill" I said to
myself, rather querulously, "one
of these fine days, you won't be
able to find a farmer who can
drive a team of horses. Fix a
tractor, yes. Drive a bulldozer,
likely, But not knowing the
difference between 'Haw' and
'Gee'."
Well, this thought, in its very
profundity, made me sort of
gloomy, and the gloom deepened
as day after day came further
evidence that our whole society,
as you and I knew it, Mabel, is
disappearing behind our very
backs.
I was saddened when I took my
two grandboys out to a local
farm the other day, to pick some
corn and beans. Plunked them
down between the rows of corn
and they were bewildered. The
littlest howled with terror of this
alien corn. They'd never been on
a farm before, and may never be
on one again. Quelle dommage!
I must admit they weren't
baffled for long. In five minutes,
Nikov was lost in the corn patch,`'
locatable only by the piping "I
found a big one, Grandacil." and
little Balind was sitting in the
damp clay, happily picking and
eating yellow beans.
Dut I felt a twinge of pity for
them, that they'll never ride on
top of a load of hay, never get a
squirt in the face of warm milk
right from the cow's teat, never
have the fun of turning the han-
dle of a senaratOr, never e
farmer sharpening a scythe on a
grindstone, or a farmer's wife
beheading the chicken that was
to be dinner.
I didn't grow up on a farm, but
in that most pleasant of all
places for a boy to grow, a small,
treelined town in old Ontario,
with farms all around it, My un-
cle bought a farm just on the
edge of town, and few of the
aspects of farm life were a
secret to me,
It was a grand old place,
formerly the estate of a
gentleman farmer of means.
There must have been 15
different outbuildings, most of
them in a state of dilapidation.
There was a huge old house,
boasting several fireplpces and
even a butler's pantry. Sort of a
run-down Jalna, but a great
place for a boy to visit,
As it turned out, it was a lousy
farm, and he lost a fair chunk of
his shirt when he finally sold it
and bought a real farm. But for a
romantic kid, who read a lot, go-
ing out to the farm was the
equivalent of visiting relatives
who had come down in the world
a bit, but were still aristocrats.
My uncle, a hardy old Irishman
who lived to be 94, bought a farm
then on the other side of town,
but it was just a plain farm, Its
great redeeming quality was that
on the bank of the river that flow-
ed through it was fought the last
duel ever fought in Canada.
Many a time I. searched the
ground for bullets. Some years
later I even took a girl down to
that river bank, probably hoping
that the atmosphere (the duel
was fought Over a lady) might
have some effect on her, It
didn't.
Summertime's, before the
Great Depression put an end to
such frivolities, we went to a cot-
tage up in Quebec, On a small,
beautiful lake.
Just up the hill from the lake
were two farms, and I spent
many hours jumping in
haymows, helping bring in the
cattle, turning the separator,
helping to load hay on the wagon,
drinking from the dipper in the
pail in the kitchen, and staying
for supper and fresh blueberry
pie, if I could wangle it.
At Belshers' farm, the nearest,
we got most of our grub. Fresh
produce picked from the garden.
Daily milk at 10 cents for a five-
pound honey pail full,
Unhomogenized. Unpasteurized.
Delicious, A couple of fat fowl
for Sunday dinner, if relatives
came, and they did in droves, at
50 cents each. Unplucked.
Uneviscerated. Delicious. Eggs
at 30, cents a dozen. Uncandled.
Unsorted. Delicious,
The Belshers were the nearest
thing I ever had to grandparents.
They were elderly, their own
family grown and gone. Mr.
Belsher was a huge, raw-boned
man with a magnificent
moustache who could hit a hen at
10 paced with a squirt of tobacco
juice. He knew about kids, and
let us fork hay, handle the reins,
feed the chickens, and give a pail
of milk to a greedy calf, wrobust
experience.
His wife was as tiny as he was
huge. Worn with toil, deaf as a
doorknob, sharp as tack. And
gentle, generous, warm. She
knew perfectly well that small
boys do not have stomachs, but
bottomless pits.
The other farm was the
Kelly's. The name was right on.
They were like something
straight from the ould sod.
Maggie had pure white hair and
the classic features of a Deirdre
of the SorrOwqs. She was stuck
with a brother, Jim, who had the
worst stammer I hayed ever
heard. He sounded retarded, but
I think it was only the stammer.
He loved kids.
At Kellys', we got drinking
water and worms. They had a
well Of Such pure, icy water it
would shame champagne.
Behind the barn was a spot
Readers may recall that a
month or so ago, the Canadian
Community Newspapers
Association challenged the post
office to a race.
The event was part of the
CCNA annual convention in Win-
nipeg and the race was between
the regular post office delivery
methods and the CCNA pony ex-
,.press.
Well, the ponies ended up win-
ning the battle with a margin of
over four hours. And they didn't
even requird'a postal code.
After the race, Postmaster-
General Jean-Jacques Blais, said
that the affair was "great fun for
a summer's day".
It may have been great fun, but
hopefully the post office depart*
ment will consider the defeat as
in indication that some improve-
ment in their delivery service of
weekly newspapers is
warranted.
* * *
It may have been "summer
madness" but it is impossible to
comprehend the mentality of th,,
youths involved in the recent
damage to the PUC pumping sta-*,.,
tion at Riverview Park.
Had the fire they started ig-
nited, the building, the entire
community would have faced an
extremely dangerous situation.
There were three or four
similar incidents in the com-
munity earlier in the summer
when fires were started near
downtown businesses and fences
and one must wonder if there are
some young fire bugs loose in
town.
It certainly indicates that all
residents should be on the
lookout for incidents of this
nature.
Another summer "trick" that
is equally difficult to explain is
the antic of some other young
people who raided local gardens
and pulled out flower and
vegetable plants. Several gar-
dens were ruined by the
marauders.
where we could always get
worms, those skinny, red
wrigglers ideal for catching
speckled trout. No charge for
water or worms. Today's farmer
would want 50 cents for a pail of
water and a dollar for a dozen
worms.
We never bought much at
Kellys'. I think Maggie was too
proud to sell to the summer peo-
ple. But she let us play with the
lambs and feed the pigs. Perhaps
we were the only children she
ever had. She never petted us or
played with us. She was taciturn,
almost grim. But once in a while
the piercing blue eyes softened
into something like the nearest
should come to a grin.
Ah, my poor grandboys, back
to their home in the city. Noise,
heat, smog, violence, confusion.
Ah, fleeting years. What
wouldn't I give to be 10 years old,
digging worms beneath the
manure behind Kellys' barn!
It seems that more and more,
society is plagued by people who
have little or no respect for the
property of others.
Speaking of gardens, this
appears to be a bountiful year for
most vegetables and fruit.
Bumper crops are being
harvested and we've had reports
from several readers about giant
sized potatoes, tomatoes and
vine products.
A growing number of area
residents are embarking on road-
side fruit and vegetable stands or
pick-your-own enterprises.
With the price of field corn be-
ing so low, there may even be
more farmers considering this
type of venture in the future.
Our congratulations to Rene and
Xavier Boogemans in their re-
cent victory in the Ontario
Summer Games. The pair won a
gold medal in the canoe race
division.
It takes a considerable.amount
of dedication to win an event of
• this nature and the Boogemans
proved this no exception, ,poin-
ting out they practice about
three times a week.
Dear Mr. Editor:
I believe the following letter
will be of interest to your local
people. Would you kindly include
it in your paper.
"In spite of all that modern
medical science has ac-
complished in recent years, there
are many myths and miscon-
ceptions surrounding the age old
disease 'Arthritis'. People still
wear 'copper bracelets' and
carry 'potatoes' in their pockets.
One of the best methods of
Public Education that we know
of, to inform people about this
disease and what is being done
for it today, are Arthritis Forums
at which the audience can have
their questions answered by a
Panel of,Ar thritis Specialists.One
such Forum is being held in the
Goderich District Collegiate on
Tuesday, September 20 at 8.00
p.m., sponsored by the Goderich.
Branch of The Canadian Arthritis
Society.
The Panel will include Dr. J.
Hollingworth, Medical Advisor to
the Goderich Branch; Dr.
Manfred Harth, Director of
Rheumatic Diseases Unit,
University of Western Ontario
Hospital, London and Mrs. Judy
Threinen, C.A.R.S.
Physiotherapist of Mitchell,
Moderator for the Forum will
be Bluewater Field
Representative, Mrs. Betty
Janke. I hope your readers will
avail themselves of this op-
portunity to learn about Arthritis.
They will find the evening both
interesting and informative,"
Respectfully,
Betty Janke
Field Representative
Bluewater Region
To our knowledge, they were
the only area atheletes entered
in any 9f the contests.
• *
They maynever make it to the
Summer Games as cycling en-
tants', but it is worthy of note that
more and more local people
appear to be enjoying the prac-
tice of bike riding.
On most evenings this past
summer, there were dozens of
people out on bikes for a ride
around town. Some were family
groups, all using their own
power, or being toted on a seat
behind mom or dad.
While the exercise is helpful, it
is also a great way to enjoy the
beauties of a small community.
It gives one a better and more
relaxed view of the well kept
lawns and gardens which abound
in this community. °
With the price of gasoline in-
creased again, there is every
reason to expect that the number
of citizens enjoying a bike ride
next summer will have grown
considerably.
Motorists who have travelled
through the Fullarton and St.
Pauls area recently, will note
that an extra width of pavement
has been provided for cyclists.
This is an extremely good idea
and one that the ministry of
transportation and com-
munications should consider in
other areas as well.
* * *
Exeter's pigeon problem
remains unsolved and it may be
of interest to those concerned
that "Avitrol" a poison once
restricted in Ontario is now
legally used to kill pigeons.
Placed in whole corn, Avitrol
causes feeding pigeons to flutter
and screech for an indeterminate
time, depending on the dosage.
These "distress warnings" ap-
parently frighten off the rest of
the flock from the area. Indeter-
minate numbers of birds die if
they ingest enough of the poison.
Depending on the dosage, the
affected birds may die quickly,
linger for as long as two days, or
even survive.
According to• the firm which
has tried the pest control
method, the corn is too large for
smaller species of birds to in-
gest.
That information, by the way
was contained in a recent report
from the Ontario Humane Socie-
ty.
They quote the pest control
firm as stating that Avitrol is
"the most humane method we
know of" for disposing of
pigeons.
It may be worthy of some in-
vestigation, although obviously
any such method of eradication
would have to be carefully ad-
ministered and monitored.
WiAmH;i:)AMV!:.
Amalgamated 1924
55 Years Ago
In the first of the home and
home games for the semi-finals
in the North Wellington Junior
League played here Monday
between Clinton and Exeter, the
home team put up a grelft
exhibition of ball but lost out by
two runs, the score being 3-1,
Maurice Ford scored the only run
for Exeter in the seventh.
Mr. George Hind has resigned
his position at the Molson's bank
and is returning to school to
resume his studies.
The Exeter High School has
opened a fifth room owidg to the
large number of pupils who are
attending third form.
Miss Mildred Harvey left this
week to take a course in Alma
Ladies College, St, Thomas.
Mr. W. J. Beer has received the
contract for supplying the fix-
tures for the Crediton
Evangelical church,
30 Years Ago
Kenneth Mills, Woodham, won
the Free Press, CFPL scholar-
ship for music.
The Huron Lumber Company
celebrated the opening of their
new offices and show rooms on
Main Street this week.
The home of the late David
Johns is being enlarged and
remodelled by Messrs. Hopper
and Hockey for an up-to-date
funeral home.
Dr. and Mrs. W. T. Banting,
Lucan, celebrated their 55th
wedding anniversary at their
home.
An opening,rally for Boy Scouts
and Cubs will be held in the new
headquarters, E. Harvey's store,
Main St. North, Friday evening.
20 Years Ago
Loss was estimated at $50,000
when the Cromarty Feed Mill
burned to the ground Wednesday
morning. Part of the house owned
by Nelson Harburn was also
gutted and the Cromarty
Dear Bill:
At the printing of this letter, the
South Huron Recreation Centre
will have been opened. The
celebrations and fanfare will be
over and we will be in Tokyo, the
beginning of a trip to the Orient
where we can slow'clown, relax
and enjoy the customs of our
Oriental friends.
But before leaving, I want to
express to one and all my thanks
to those who planned and worked
so hard to celebrate the Queens
Silver Jubilee and opening of our
new Community Ce(ntre.
The appointed committee of
this celebration, Howard Pym,
Kim McLean, Jerry MacLean,
Rob Grant and Ron Bogart
worked long and endless hours to
co-ordinate the efforts of many
organizations, service clubs and
individuals to culminate one big
weekend celebration.
Frustrated with many dead-
lines that in some cases were
extended to the very opening
ceremonies, yet I feel the com-
mittee was able to bring about
the planned events of September
1 through September 5 with some
degree of success.
Congratulations to Mayor Shaw
and his committee who planned
the opening ceremonies and
ribbon cutting. Our thanks to all
thoSe who participated.
The various functions could not
have been conducted had we not
had the complete support of the
Firemen, the Legion Auxiliary,
the Lion's Club, the Beta Sigma
Phi Sorority, the Ministerial
Association, the Kinsmen Club,
all of Exeter, and the Hurondale
Institute of Usborne. A very
special thanks to them and all
their membership for their
sponsorship and participation.
Overflow tables were con-
tributed by the Hensall Arena,
chairs and piano by the Huron
Board of Education; trucks to
Presbyterian Church was
threatened, The fire is believed to
have started from an overheated
bearing in a mixing machine in
the mill,
Bill Etherington, RR 1 Hensel',
was elected president of
S.H.D.H.S. Athletic Society in the
first of the student's ballots for
their school organizations.
A fund has been established to
receive donations for Don
Hubert, a Zurich district farmer
whose barn roof was extensively
damaged by a tornado Sunday
afternoon.
One of the attractions at Exeter
Fair's trade show Tuesdayinight
was the new Edsel car, unveiled
to the public last week.
15 Years Ago
Mrs. George Allen, Kirkton,
unveiled the historical plaque
erected at Thames Road United
Church Sunday in recognition of
Hon. James G. Gardiner, who
was Canada's Minister of
Agriculture for over 20 years, A
large crowd' of relatives and
friends of the late statesman
attended the ceremony.
Judy Snelgrove, Exeter and
Helen Zimmer, Dashwood,
graduates of South Huron
District High School, who
commenced training for nursing
careers will share the Hospital
Auxiliary bursary of $100 for
each of their three years of
training. Miss Snelgrove is at
Hamilton General Hospital and
Miss Zimmer at St. Joseph's,
London.
General Coach, Hensall is
getting ready to introduce
production of its 1963 lines of
mobile homes. They will feature
some structural changes as well
as new furnishings and
decorating materials.
Biddulph township council set
the 1962 tax rate at 11 mills for
farm and residential and 13.5 for
commercial and industrial. Last
year the rates were, 10 and 12
mills.
move equipment by Gerald
Dearing, Elmore McBride, Art
Clark, 'Murray Dawson, Bob
Down, Howard Pym and Jim
Darling. Many teenage youths
provided enthusiasm and muscle
power to load, unload, sweep,
clean, set up tables and chairs for.
each of the events.
Fred Darling and his 'boys
contributed the delicious beef for
the barbecue and did the carving.
Just a tremendous contribution.
Many unsung heroes worked
behind the scenes. But I must
mention one - Kirk Armstrong,
our administrator for the new
centre. Somehow he was able to
meet demands and deadlines,
come up with ideas and changes
that satisfied most people. His
skill in handling unexpected
problems and situations was
superb.
A big thankyou must go to all
those who supported the opening
functions with their attendance.
On them depended our end ob-
jective to raise sufficient funds
that would make the final
payment on the equipment for
auditorium, kitchen, canteen,
freezer room etc. This will not be
known until all sponsor groups
have balanced their budgets and
turned over the revenues to the
Rec. cAntre Finance Committee.
As 'I drop my pen, grab my
suitcase and head for the airport,
I have a good feeling of
satisfaction in seeing a task
completed that some thought was
an impossibility. Truly the South
Huron Recreation Centre is a
proud testimony of community
spirit, dedication and hard work
by the people and for the people
in South Huron.
Sincerely
Carfrey Cann
Chairman of Opening Planning
Committee
South Huron Recreation Centre.
Be mor'we
Former Mt. Carmel and Exeter resi-
dent Jim Carey, recently elected head of.
the Ontario Teachers' Federation, has
suggested that declining school enrolment
should, have the effect of lessening the
number of students in every classroom.
He says that if people are truly con-
cerned about the quality of educational op-
portunity, providing teachers with more
appropriate numbers of students to work
with is a reasonable means of ensuring it.
There may be some merit in those
opinions, but there is a suspicion that
Carey's remarks may be aimed more at
Times Established 1873
Advocate Established 1881
Clt=MICIOSEENIO