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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-08-08, Page 4BATT'N AROUND with the editor Coming down to earth Mainstream Canada A Precedent That Hurts Perspectives that many parents fall into the trap of agreeing, thinking, "Well, if they have to have a pet, then what problem is there is one little rabbit. Surely they aren't that much bother," and home it comes. Shocking isn't it, how easily one falls into traps. My father though, was never one for doing things in a small way. He could see tremendous possibilities in the raising of rabbits, a real commercial venture. Instead of just one rabbit he bought two, then ten. At first my brother and I were enraptured. Rabbits really are cute and fuzzy and cuddly. It's amazing though how much twelve little bunnies can leave behind them, and believe me, the fragrance of those twelve stays with you long after you have left them. Then there was the food problem. At first we thought we could pull grass for them. Sure, sure. The neighbours threatened to sue us if we didn't leave their lawns alone. Desperately we turned to the wholesale grocer for left-over cabbage and lettuce. You could now smell us coming or going. And of course, rabbits are not known for any promise to depopulate the earth. Their motto seems to be 'go forth and multiply.' It seemed that these little beasties were already into higher mathematics. Before we knew what had hit us our whole shed was full of the little critters. Almost every hour was spent in being hewers of wood (for new cages), bearers of water, and cleaners of whatever. Finally we built one huge room and let them all run loose in it. It became a maze of tunnels and what not. Then in the midst of all this entertainment, a terrible blow fell. One day our bulldog broke into the en- closure. It was a mass slaughter, Bodies everywhere. A sudden end to Our budding commercial enterprise. We didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The reverend will be joining me in praying for rain. I told him no rain, no crops no crops, no green stuff in the offering plate. Timis-Advocate, August 8. 1979 deed, between many nations of the world. Too few have yet recognized that they live in a global family and their very survival depends on fostering love and charity between all members of the fami- ly. Those who would discount that theory need only look as far as the energy crisis to see that they depend on other nations to share their riches of oil with North America, while they look to us for food and other raw materials for their existence. The affluence of this nation in the past has blinded people to the fact that some day they may be the ones begging on another door for a hand-out. For too long we've squandered our resources in the pursuit of the "good life" while tur- ning a deaf ear to the pleas of those who are starving. Certainly, the number of refugees will add to the problem of finding jobs for everyone in Canada. But if we share our abundance, no one will starve or go without shelter. The refugees ask for no more than that. Can we deny them? This newspaper knows that the area can support several families and hopefully they can be accepted with the compassion evidenced by one group within our community which has shown some leadership that should be a moving example to everyone. over the past year involved marital problems, while 20 per cent involved some form of anxiety and were categorized "Supportive" and 10 per cent were alcohol related. The national average sees two of every five marriages ending up in courts and divorce is the end result. One statistic we were glad to see, was the alcohol related incidents were apparently lower than average. We should thank our own social worker along with the local branch of Alcoholics' Anonymous for lending to the low figures of alcoholism and its effect on society in St. Marys. In the big city, people try to blame the fast living, slumping moral attitudes and other deviations of the norm associated with megalopolis existence. If that's their excuse, what is it in St. Marys? St. Marys Journal-Argus Amalgamated 1924 55 Years Ago Fire, caused by a spark from the threshing engine igniting some loose straw at the side of the barn, from there spreading up to the straw stack, totally destroyed the fine bank barn of Milne Rader, north of Dashwooti. , Wm. McDougall Jr., residing a couple of miles southwest of Hensall caught a bald-headed eagle making off with one of his chickens. The bird measured six feet, six inches from tip to tip of the wings. Mabel and Viola Austin were both married on the same afternoon, one of Caven church, the other in Thames Road church to Charles Little and Mansfield Cooper. 30 Years Ago Approximately $875 was realized for the Lions Club hospital fund at a concert and draw at Lakeside Casino Sunday night. Eric Mcllroy said it was a record benefit performance. Council voted to build new rest rooms to be housed in a separate cement building behind the town hall. The first band tattoo held around here in some time drew a large crowd of 1,500 people at Kirkton Com- munity Park, Tuesday night. It was sponsored by the Woodham fife and drum band. Dedication of the new Church of God at Grand Bend will take place this Sunday. 20 Years Ago Mrs. John Fletcher, Albert St., who will be 94 years of age on Friday has begun to celebrate early. On Sunday she visited her brother Ed. Francis in Croswell, Michigan. Four children who were It may be only a matter of time before other provinces follow suit, duplicating New- foundland's unique tax. So who should care, other than the advertisers that are forced to pay the tax, as well as the radio stations and weekly and daily newspapers that have to collect the money. Like any other hidden tax, the costs will certainly be passed on to the public in the form of higher priced goods and ser- vices, so consumers will even- tually foot the bill. Nevertheless, the public generally blames business for price increases, so the govern- ment receives the extra revenue without having to accept the responsibility for its actions. Advocate Established 1.8x1 z;attvetiEstos3.1.7.1=31r=":"..m„ dvocatell „ 4 few* Wei." Nam MO , ?.VEZSgilerjr Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Published Each Wednesday Morning Phone 235-1331 at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $11.00 Par Year; USA $30.00 Showing compassion Problems exist P09. 4 101011011101101014111010400TQW7 Times Established 1873 aiiiiitge*Wiesc=es. Imes 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 +CNA Members of the Christian Reformed Church have shown the community some strong leadership in being the first group to sponsor refugee families arriv- ing in this country from Vietnam. The compassionate concern evident in the decision is heart-warming and there is little doubt that other members of the community will join them in ex- tending a helping hand to the two families which will be settling in our midst. A spokesman for the congregation indicated one of the major concerns for the two refugee families is not the cost involved, but rather the difficult task the families may face in gaining acceptance by the community. That is rather disconcerting, although certainly not shocking. There is ample evidence that many Canadians are very agitated that refugees are being brought to this country at a time when unemployment is already at a high level. Several petitions have even been presented to the federal government ask- ing them to cut back on the number of families they have agreed to accept into this country. That selfishness is repugnant and unfortunately is the type of attitude that has caused a deep rift among various parts of this country -and, in- Small town living has its advan- tages when looking at the process of socialization in this community of 5,000- plus citizens. We tend to look favorably on the advantages of the slowpace, less hectic life-style, leaning away from associating our town with problems more prevalent in larger, more sophisticated surroun- dings such as Toronto, or even Lon- don. However, as a recent Journal-Argus story revealed, the problems apparent in larger communities, are also prevalent right here in St. Marys. Social worker Brian Hodgins told our reporter of cases involving alcoholism, drug abuse and a fast-rising problem, marital disputes. St. Marys, believe it or not, is no different than the larger communities. Marital problems here reflect the national trend in our "lazy hamlet". He said 45 per cent of all cases dealt with By SYD FLETCHER It seems that this gen- tleman came downstairs one night, very late, to fix himself a midnight snack. He opened the door of the refrigerator and was amazed to find a huge rabbit sitting there. "What in the world are you doing there?" he gasped. The rabbit looked at him coolly (no pun intended), then replied, frigidly, "Well, it's weally none of your business, but if you weally must know, this is a Westinghouse refwigerator, and I'm westing." That small story has really nothing to do with this column other than the fact that it is about rabbits. Every small Child, it seems, looks at white rabbits offered for sale in a pet store and thinks, "Now there is the perfect pet," and I suspect Now that sky-lab has returned to earth without any devastating loss of life or property damage, people around the world can heave a sigh of relief. Right? Wrong! Experts now advise that within 50 years, a belt of satellite fragments resulting from collisions in space will form around the earth. There are already more man-made bodies heavier than one gram circling the earth than there are natural metereoids. This debris includes fragments from over 30 satellites that have been explod- ed or have disintegrated in orbit. The first major collisions, scientists predict, can be expected within the next 10 to 20 years, and things will get progressively worse from then on. In short, there's a junkyard in orbit and eventually there will be a need for a space garbage collection corps and of- ficial space garbage collection and recycling operations. While many of today's school boys look skyward and dream of the time they'll be shuttling back and forth to the moon or other planets, it would appear that space travel will be just as risky as it is on today's highways as space craft will have to dodge through the junkyard in the sky. That should frighten people a little. As garbage mounds continue to grow on earth and threaten to bury civilization, the hope that future generations may be able to escape by striking out into space may not become a reality. We're slowly filling it with junk also! * * * As gas shortages continue across the U.S.A., many Canadians feel it is just a matter of time before they are forced Almost every day in the summer I drop in at The Oasis, as I think of it. I know, I know. Nasty-minded readers are already thinking it's some kind of watering-hole for dry old Bill Smiley. One of those air-conditioned bars that are so dark you can't see a thing for five minutes and have to count your changeby the Braille system. Not so. I strongly dislike those joints. Most of them are dark and dirty and stink. They have a few poor, lonely souls who have nowhere else to go, and very often a construction gang or a road gang, noisy and beer-swilling and profane, sousing it up on the company's time, Nope. I avoid those places like the plague. The Oasis is nothing like that. It doesn't have a braying television set, foul-mouthed roisters and cold-eyed waitresses. It's just the opposite. True, it is air-conditioned. But not the kind that makes you wish you were wearing a fur coat after five minutes. And true, it is not brightly lighted. But there is enough light to see what you are imbibbing, count your change without using your finger-tips, and read a book or a newspaper. And that's exactly what I do there, and why I think of it as The Oasis. It's a charming little place to stop and refresh oneself, to cool out and meditate a bit, and gossip and just plain, sip, before plunging back out to into the desert of life, What The Oasis provides for the wandering bedouins who stop there is a little peace and quiet. It has none of the plastic jazz of the chain hamburger and submarine joints, But it has a number of the things those places can never offer: charm, friendliness, good manners, courtesy. into situations where they too will have to line up for their fuel requirements. One of the more popular systems be- ing employed south of the border is the "odd-even" system of rationing, Cars with licence numbers ending in even figures can buy gas on even-numbered days of the month; those with odd numbers fill up on other days. That all seems very logical and fair, but there is a basic injustice here that seems to have been overlooked. This year, for example, there are. 186 odd- numbered and only 179 with even numbers. Six times during the year there will be two consecutive odd-numbered days, thus allowing theoddballs to fill up one, siphon the gas into a container at home, and gas up again the next morning, For those in this country having fears that they may face identical problems, they'd do well to look at the 1980 calen- dar and determine if they should have an odd or even numbered licence plate. My, life does become complicated, doesn't it! * * * Getting back to the 'topic of junk, most readers have had occasion to wonder how their names get onto lists which result in them being the recipients of rafts of junk mail. People involved in the business of compiling mailing lists for firms have many sources for their supply, not the least of which are the government agen- cies which sell mailing lists to commer- cial interests. Peace River MP Ged Baldwin was shockingly apprised of this situation recently after he had received his first Social Security cheque. The customers are not made to feel that the management is doing them a favour by serving them. They are greeted warmly, they are served quickly and efficiently, and they are thanked graciously when they leave, even though they've spent only thirty cents and taken up a seat for half an hour. How many public places to eat and drink are there like that in this country? You could count them without taking your socks off. Sure, we have fancy restaurants in this country where you can pay $50 for a so-so dinner for two, and be patronized b the wine waiter. And we have eleventy-seven thousand snack bars and lunch bars and grills where everything tastes the same, But we have scarcely any places like The Oasis. It's not much, physically. Just a half dozen or so tables in the back of a store. Very much like the sort of tearoom you can still find in England, if you get off the beaten track, The menu varies little but there's a good soup du jour, good coffee and hot tea, fresh-made sandwiches, and a lot of goodies that are baddies for the many little old ladies and all the vulnerable young ladies who frequent it: home- made pies, butter tarts, muffins loaded with calories, Part of the fun, for me, is sitting there getting a jolt from my coffee and listen- ing in, "Just a pot of tea, thanks. Well, what are you going to have, Ida? You are? Well what kind do you have? Well, maybe just a square of pineapple cake, And just one butter tart to get started on," And half an hour later, those the gentle ladies are walking out with about six hundred' calories they didn't need, Each. A few days later, he received an envelope of advertising material from a mortician. ¤ * • An oddly named periodical devoted to academic humor, the Worm Runners Digest, recently carried a tongue-in- cheek study by a professor at Guelph University, in which he discussed the strangely appropriate names of some of the writers of scientific papers. While many were too risque for this family journal there were some useable examples. A writer named Hatch studied birds, a man named Chow devoted his time to nutrition and a writer for the British dairy institute bore the fitting name of Cheeseman. One that may send chills down a few spines was a paper called "Vasectomy, the Male Sterlization Operation" by Gillette, The local library would undoubtedly unfold other unusual examples, such as Folk Names of British Birds by Robin Wild; Animal and Human Behaviour by Michael Fox; Birds of the Pacific Northwest by Dickey; Genetic Studies of Fish by Wourms; An Encyclopedia of Fishing by Bates; Perennials by Bloom; The Imperial Animal by Tiger and Fox. * • Our final quote of the week comes from Sidney Harris: "The self-employed middle-class cheat the government out of far more millions in taxes that the people on welfare take in fraudulent payments, and with less excuse and justification". Even when The Oasis is busy, there is no sweat, No barking of orders, No get- ting cross. There's time to laugh and joke with old customers, be pleasant to new ones, and make sure nobody is be- ing neglected. I've watched tourists come in, a little uneasy because they're not used to such informality. They tentatively order soup and a sandwich, find them excellent, wind up with a whacking great piece of pie, pay a modest bill, and go out look- ing as though they couldn't believe what had happened to them, It's a place that brings out the decency in people. Seating is limited. The other day, four people walked in and there wasn't a table for four, A young couple, with a babe in arms, offered to move to a table for two that had just been vacated, transferring their food, utensils and baby. The newcomers were so shocked they could scarcely say thanks. Very often, The Ticket-Seller is there, He sells tickets on every lottery you've ever heard of. He loves children and jokes and talks to the little guys in The Oasis. He drinks a coffee, displays his tickets, usually selling one or two, and hits the street. The Columnist observes, Two teenagers grab a table. The Columnist listens. "So, I said to him, not on your life." Giggles. "So guess what he says?" Giggles. And so on. Despite what my wife thinks, I am not enamoured of the lady who runs The Oasis, though she does have a beautiful face, figure and walk, In fact, she doesn't walk. She sashays. I am in love with a little place of sani- ty, sense and seteniity in this increasing- ly ugly world, A nifty ploy indeed. More important, though, is the potential adverse effect of such hidden taxes on smaller weekly newspapers and radio stations, particularly if adver- tising taxes are introduced in other provinces. Many of these newspaper and broadcast businesses are not big moneymakers. But they provide a crucial service to the public, pulling together the diverse elements in the com- munities in which they operate. These smaller enterprises will be the first to suffer if advertisers incorporate cut- backs as a result of the tax. Instead of creating another layer of tax-collection related paperwork, making life dif- ficult for the small town media, the Newfoundland government would be better advised to tap people's pocketbooks directly through provincial sales or income tax increases. Then the public would know who to blame. By introducing the unique advertising tax, Newfoundland is out of step with the rest of the country. Hopefully, other provinces will take a long, hard look before they follow New- foundland's lead. And if it's not too late, per- haps the legislators in Canada's easternmost pro- vince might reconsider. The advertising tax is a precedent of the wrong kind. presented with Bibles for outstanding assistance at the vacation school at Exeter Pentecostal Church are Lorraine Bradley, John Richards, Larry Stire and David Parker. Charlie Wong who has been at the Exeter Grill for the past five years, left Tuesday to become a partner with his brother in the operation of the Aero Grill, Kingston. It is expected that close to 500 children will be par- ticipating in the Lake Huron Zone Recreation Council's first annual Play day that will take place in the Exeter Park, Wednesday, August 26. 15 Years Ago Bert Clark, Exeter suf- fered the loss of one eye and a badly severed nose and other facial lacerations when he fell through the glass in the front door of Huntley's Drug Store. The Dashwood Hotel, used as a grain storage building for some time, will be renovated in the near future following the granting of liquor licences by the Liquor Control Board. Quick action by the Exeter Fire Brigade prevented flames from doing serious damage to an Exeter home owned by Mrs. Ludwig Schultz, Hillsgreen, when fire broke out at noon, Saturday. A record group of 104 campers attended the 3rd annual Boom's Kin camp at Goderich Summer School last week. Despite the fact that it rained four days and a "flu bug" had 21 on the sick list one day the kids ap- parently enjoyed them- selves. Directing the camp was Gravett's final duty as Exeter's Rec Director. By W. Roger Worth The trend by Canadian gov- ernments to tax everything in sight gained further momen- tum recently when the Con- servatives in Newfoundland made history of sorts by Pin- ing a 4% tax on media adver- tising. Quebec introduced a 2 07o tax on broadcast advertising two years ago, but Newfound- land is now the only province in the country that taxes all media advertisements worth more than $20. Roger Worth is Director, Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. • • • Visiting The Oasis ePrf7/ Or4orerarr ieukrue..