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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1980-05-21, Page 411.1111,),. By W. Roger Worth It's time to repeat a mes- sage that seems to get missed by the major media: by any measure, Canadians are among the richest people in the world, with lifestyles to match, Amid the constant shouting over constitutional changes, the federal-provincial fights over who owns what, and the On-going debate over Quebec, people tend 'to miss the obvi- ous. That's the fact that we're very well-off indeed. Somehow, we have found , a way to "accentuate the neg- ative," a masochistic feat that Roger Worth is Director, • Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. makes Alice's forays in Won- derland 'appear normal by comparison. Consider what's really hap- pening in the country, from an outsider's point of view: *While the rest of the world is searching the globe for long- term supplies of energy (at any cost), Canadians pay cut rate prices and still have the poten- tial to be self-sufficient. Gasoline in many European countries, for example, costs $3.50 - $4.50 per gallon, three times the price in Canada. It's true that energy prices have gonle up in Canada, but at least the prodUcts are still available. If we lived in Japan where the country regularly impot;ts more "than 90 07o of energy, Page 4 Homecoming should be hit 4 4.4 i54,0' Times Estnblished 1.47'3 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N,A., CLASS 'A' and ARC Published by 4.1At.ILedy: •Poblications Limited LORNE EEDY. PUBLISHER +CNA Over the past month or so, this newspaper has received a number of letters to the editor on various topics from area residents. To say that we appreciate them is an understatement. It is an indication that people have concerns about local topics and are prepared to publicly ex- press those views for the consideration of other readers. It's a very healthy situation and one which this newspaper hopes will con- tinue and evemimprove. Among last week's letter writers were three students from area schools. Two of the letters appeared to be part of a school program at Precious Blood Separate School and we certainly give No one can blame a retiring farmer for selling off his land to the highest bidder, for aftei all, it's his only retirement plan and in these days of runaway inflation, the farmer needs every cent he can get during those twilight years to live a full life. But the specter of foreign buyers coming in and bidding up the price of land to values two or three times what it will return in production will, in the next 10 years or so, spell doom for the future of the owner-operator or family farm in Ontario. Maybe even in most of Canada. No matter how you-do your figuring on paper, there's no possible way a young person can go out, buy a farm, machinery, put in a crop and still have money left at the end of the year to make mortgage payments. Sure, they say the prices of commodities and livestock will improve, but when and by how much? Is there even a guarantee they will? Are those product increases going to keep up with the sky-rocketing input cost? Why just this spring alone, the price of fertilizer has jumped nearly 40 per cent from last year, while farm gate prices have either held the same, or nosedived in some cases particularly to hog farriners. 2752MTMEMMELEO A,XMAR With the recent Boston Marathon race and its ac- companying scandal with the young lady who was said to have cheated by slipping in somewhere before the finish line, I was reminded of the fantastic marathon race that I competed in a couple of years ago. I bet, looking at that pleasantly plump face at the top of this column, that you would never have taken me for a champion runner, a jogger even, Appearances can be deceiving. Those who really know me realize that at this time of the year an uncontrollable urge grips me, urging the to get out the worn sneakers, the T-shirt that has shrunk considerably, along with the staff their full marks for having youngsters take the time to consider some topic on Which they wanted to ex- press themselves and to send those letters along to us. Unfortunately, a couple of letters were not used because they were signed "anonymous". This newspaper can not print letters that do not carry a signature of the letter writer. Obviously, there are many more readers who have opinions to express on topics of local interest and we hope they will join the trend to do just that. Printing such letters is one of the most important jobs this newspaper has as a lively public forum Is basic to our democratic way of life. Huron-Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell, who- is the Liberal opposition agriculture crate, has accused the provincial government of closing its eyes to the increasing foreign, ownership of Ontario farmland and the ruling Conservatives have finally said they are going to maintain at all times an inventory of land ownership. But just watching the land dis- appear is not enough. The damage is being done right now. •While the rest of Canada enjoys a 'fairly young popula- tion, the average age of a farmer is over 50, indicating that the situation is already serious. The crises will come in 10 years when farmers will either find themselves tenants in some feudal like settineor Canada will start importing vast quantities of her food at the mercy of wide fluctuations in the world market. Already, many young Ituron Coun- ty farmers must rent their land and ac- cording to recently retired Huron crop's specialist Mike Miller, the trend is accelerating. • Despite the myth that farmers are constant complainers, many are quiet- ly tightening their belts, praying that things will be better. But for those forc- ed to get out, there,won't be anymore "next years." Clinton News-Record use a whole lot more of them, outside all our public buildings and in promi- nent places in our parks. That accomplished, those who are walking around with litter have a duty to use the garbage receptacle. That's by no means certain to happen, but we're willing to suggest it's worth a try. Seaforth can be a beautiful place in the summer. Think about that the next time you go to drop something on the street or on someone else's lawn. Remember, you are your own litter control board. - Huron Expositor ' hardly sweating, hardly out of breath, the local newspaper there ready to in- terview me. A New record set by local teacher. Can't you just see it? One of life's better moments, eh? Would you believe a little closer to the middle of the pack? Try about third last. The only ones who came in after me were a seven year old, and a little old lady who was crossing the street trying to register for a night course at the' high school. The supreme indignity happened about a mile from the end of the course. A fellow in his sixties whom I had seen at the starting line, and had figured to be an ear- ly quitter, met me. He was coming back, heading for the starting line where he had left his car. I somehow doubt that be qualified for Boston by next year. Interest in the June 21 homecoming at South Huron District High School is starting to escalate, and from all reports, there should be a good crowd on hand when former students and staff get together to reminisce. Doug Ellison and his crew of enthusiastic students and staff are put- ting together an interesting program for the day, while at the same time providing plenty of opportunity for peo- ple to just mill about and attempt to recognize people whom they haven't seen for many years. It has already been indicated that former students are planning to return from coast to coast, giving some hint at how far they have fanned out since leaving the local halls of learning. In looking over the various pictures from yesteryear that we've been using in the T-A for the past few weeks, it is interesting to see that a very small percentage of those pictured are still living in the South Huron area. In one girl's basketball team of 15 People, for instance, there are only five who have remained here and that is one of the higher percentages. Many of those being pictured, of course, now have children attending the high school and it will be in- teresting to see on June 21 how many generations of graduates can be located from one family tree, Secondary school education facilities have been altered significantly over the years and it was interesting to read through the 1950 Ink Spot in which Bar- bara Hunter had prepared a brief history on the occasion of the opening of the present facility. What are you going to do if the votors of Quebec say, "wee-wee-wee-wee" all the Way home? Are you going to pack everything into a covered-wagon and head west, the only refuge any more for Anglo- phones? Are you going to grow,a beard, obtain some false papers. and slip across the Quebec border some dark night, to fight in the underground? Or are you going to sit on your duff, *go right on trying to take care of your own life, and let the politicians sort out the whole sordid scene? I would ,venture that 93 per cent of English-speaking Canadians will choose the third of the above alter- natives, Certainly I will. I have no intention of fleeing into the right-wing arms of Alberta, or the moderately left-wing arms of Sa'skatchewan, or the materialistic arms of B.C. or Ontario, or the salty, slow embrace of the Maritimes. Or even the hearty bear- hug of the Yukon. I'm gonna stay home and cultivate my own garden. It may be all weeds, but that doesn't give me the right to point in scorn to the wrecked cars and dirty gravel that make up my neighbour's yard. You may have noticed that I have not addressed myself to the topic of Quebec separation in the past couple of years, except for my opening salvo, which said, more or less, "Let them go.. no big deal. I cited historical parallels: Britain backing gracefully out of India, Ceylon, Burma, and a dozen others; the French being badly burned in Indo-China and North Africa, when they tried to hold on by force; the Americans trying to fight ideas with napalm and bombs in an ill-conceived and ill-fated war in Viet Nam. And I still feel the same way. If a majority of the people of Quebec think they would be happy if they kissed the rest of the family good-bye, then let's return the kiss, throw in a hug, and let them go: No names. No recriminations, Just a gentle severing of the ties, which, after all, are only a little over a hundred years old, a mere fly-speck in the history books, There's been a great deal of bewilderment and belated sentimen- tality over the possibility, among English-speaking Canadians. There's been a lot of sloppy soul-searching that resembles nothing so much as a rotten mother whining, after he kids turn rotten, "What have I done? I always meant the best for them." "What do they want? Why do they want out?" are the pitiful cries of the complacent Anglo majority. I know why they want out, or many of them do. They have managed to retain their pride of race under two hundred years of subservience and second-class citizenship. Why did the Irish want out of the British Empire? Why did the Indo- Chinese want out from under the benevolent rule of France? Why did the Phillipines, and now the Canal Zone, want to kick out the Yanks? Yep. Many, many French-Canadians volunteered and served loyally and gallantly, in World War II. Know what they were called, almost invariably? Frenchyl With condescension. I was at a "bilingual" newspaper convention a couple of decades ago, in Quebec. The announcements were made first in English. Then, when they were repeated in French, the mainly English-speaking editors were all babl- think the writer is making out that things were tougher, the old school had its advantages: Occasionally, the students would get a couple of hours off each morning while the pungent coal gas fumes were cleared from the aging structure. On these occasions a loud cheer was heard to echo through the halls for caretaker Tom Collingwood, although students always knew the penalty for such free time was bone- chilling morrients as the coal gas could only be exhausted by opening all the doors and windows. * While one notes with amusement the difference in the hairlines and waistlines of many of those pictured in the Ink Spot, one of the other in- teresting aspects is to look through the names of the advertisers to see how the business community in , the area has changed so drastically. You're getting old if you can remember some of these names: New- ton Motor Sales, F. W. Huxtable, Highland'Hill Dairy, W. G. Simmons & Sons, Buswell's, Brady's Sanitone Cleaners, Lyric Theatre, Glenn's Auto Wreckers, W. 0. Goodwin General Merchant, Thos. Welsh & Son, Pop's Taxi, Harvey's Food Market, Lex McDonald & Son, Beaupre's General Store, Southcott Bros., S. B. Taylor, George Wright's Towne-Hall Clothes. The humor too was an important part of the book and to conclude we offer this morsel: Mr. Mickle: "How can I avoid falling hair?" Gordie Cann: "Jump out of the way". • N.144,7 ing away, drowning out the French. This is the sort of thing that creates fury among proud people. Quebec is one of the most vibrant and lively societies in the western world. Its residents have kicked out the iron paternalism of the Church, exposed and scorned its corrupt politicians. It has produced more in. art and music and writing, proportionately, than all the rest of Canada, in the past decades. It has also sent wise men,. and a few fools, to Ottawa. Rene •Levesque is no Idi Amin, a buffoon leading cloWns. The province has vast national resources. Its leaders are,no jumped-up parochial politicians, but intelligent, far-seeing, opportunistic maybe, but tough, prac- tical men and women. You can't toss -all that aside with a few sentimental platitudes about one-country, On the other hand, many, many Quebecois don't want to leave the fami- ly. I'm more worried about Quebec be- ing torn in two than about Canada breaking asunder. Two years ago, on a bus tour, in France, a lady from Montreal who spoke little English, told me vehement- ly, "I no Pequiste. Rene Levesque win, I go Ottawa. Take my business." Again,' it's like a family. We've all been brought up, including the people of Quebec, to the idea that We are one, that we stretch from sea to sea, that we are "different" from the Yanks and the Brits, and the French. In a family, some are willing to see one go. "He's a bum, a drunk. She's a trollop, a tramp." But at'the least sign of reform or a change of 'heart of habits, the outsider is welcomed back, smothered with kisses. So may it be this time. Canadians would ha* real cause for concern. *Food, that most imam.- taut of all commodities, is an- other area where Canada Is self-sufficient, With half the world going to bed hungry, it's nice to know that bacon, eggs ,and toast will be avail- able for breakfast. And the price of our food bills Is among the lowest in the west: ern world. *High interest rates and unemployment that surpasses 900,000 are very real prob- lems. But Canadians have developed a social welfare sys- tem that effectively protects everyone froth the dadle to the' \ grave. All this is expen- sive, mind you, and we pay the piper at tax time. Still, it's nice to be able to, point out that no one starved to death in the country yesterday (be- cause they couldn't afford food), or that hospital ,care wasn't available because it was too costly. Somehow, -we appear to lose sight of the fact that sim- ple schoolgirls in Afghanistan are prepared to get themselves shot protesting the Russian invasion of their underdevel- oped country. Or the Cambo- dian refugees who find it dif- ficult finding one square meal a day, let alone three. Or even the mighty 'Americans, with 50 of their countrymen held to ransom in far-off Iran. - Canadians may appear to have problems, but how signif- icant are they. Really. $1,000 prize in London's bingo this week . Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Elston, Biddulph, won three trophies, four first prizes and a second, at the music festival in Lucan last week. They are Wendy, 9, David 11, and Sheila 12. Reg Beavers was elected president of the Exeter Lions at their supper meeting at Armstrong's Restaurant Thursday evening. Hensall and District Teen Town held theirweekly dance in the community centre Saturday. Chaperones for the evening were Mrs. Frank Wright and Mrs. Aubrey Farquhar of Kippen. Carolynne Simmons of Exeter Public School won the senior girls "B" division at the South Western Ontario Elementary School's Athletic Association track and field meet in Chatham Saturday. 15 Years Ago , Retiring principal H.L. Sturgis, who has guided the progress of SHDHS for the past 17 year's, was described as a man "who had done more for South Huron than any other," in one of the many eulogies spoken during a testimonial banquet in the Exeter Legion Hall, Saturday. Approval of the latest plans for the $1,687,041 vocational addition at SHDHS has been received this week from the depart- ment of education, Toronto. The Bethel Reformed Church on Huron Street, was jammed to capacity to hear Rev. Richard VanFarrowe prior to his departure for Leamington. A fellowship supper for the congregation and friends was held at Thames Road Mennonite Church Sunday evening followed by a ser- vice for pastor Stanley Sauder, who is leaving. The read is Vito Dear reader: things. Their names are too The news section of this numerous to mention in a paper carries the report of money raised in the 1980 appeal for funds by the Exeter and District Branch letter. I hope it will be suffice for me to say on behalf of and appreciation to the 225 thirty captains our thanks canvassers who worked so of the Canadian Cancer hard and achieved so much. Society. The objective of We also wish to thank the $12,500.00 was met and Exeter Lions Club in the surpassed which once again promotion of our first ski-a-substantiates the excellent -thon for cancer in March. support of this community in Although the weather did not the fight against cancer. co-operate the participants However the report does made very recordable not indicate the number of showings. Rene Boogemans people involved, the hours of of Hensall completed the planning, the telephone calls course in the fastest time of to solicit canvassers, the One hour, 5 minutes. Don miles of concessions driven, Kells had the highest the blocks of streets walked, sponsorship of $41.50 and and the number of docis receives the Jerry MacLean knocked on. and Son Challenge Trophy. A The unsung heroes in this Special word of thanks to Jay campaign were of course the Please turn to page 5 people who did these very Timex-Advocate, May 21, 1980 dvone '41440-1ed lest Arnol9prnated 1924 Mainstream Canada No need to complain "I've got' the government to thank for everything I've got today — unemployment , cheque, shrinking dollar, high mortgage payments, an ulcer. . ." Recent warm weather has brought Seaforth people out onto the streets, the sidewalks and the lawns. That's great. But along with an influx of people into our street has come an increase in litter, the garbage and debris that these people leave behind them. Those who live on popular throughfares, the walk route from SDHS to downtown, for example, don't enjoy the train of candy wrappers and potato chip bags, cigarette packages and kleenex that gets left behind. Although there are some litter receptacle on Main St;, the town could Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor -- Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Composition Manager — Harry Delfries Business Manager — Dick Jong kind Published Each Wednesday Morning Phone 235.133'1 at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail aegistretion Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES; Canada. $14.00 Per Year; USA $35.00 Keep 'em coming Selling the shop Litter control board Perspectives those shorts that somehow are a lot tougher to get on than they were last year. Ah for the joys of pounding down the street at a full gallop, drinking in the jealous glances of those fellows whose wives have thrown out their running gear during spring clean-up. Ah for the satisfaction of squarely connecting my size 11 with the size 12 teeth of the corner house's German Shepherd as it charges out remembering last year's victorious chase with me running for my life through the vacant lot, through the senior citizen's home up into the safety of the monkey bars in the school playground. Ah for the pleasure of showing all the young guys from the high school what a real runner can do in the Canada Day 6 kilometre race. Picture me coming in, Her concluding remarks were "So thank your lucky stars grade niners, that you were born 'five:years too late', and so can enjoy the pleastire of warm corridors, ventilated, attractive rooms,. lockers, a wonderful gymtorium and a cafeteria". Conditions prior to the opening of the, current facility may be difficult to comprehend for present students or newcomers to the community. That conditions were not ideal is it an un- derstatement. Life prior to 1950 at the high school was similar in many ways to a universi- ty campus where students had to run back and forth to get to various cla\sses. The mosrinfamous facility of all was the,. structure known as the "chicken Ow," ,which was located east of the stiv&ure which was huilt in 1938 and constitutes the original section of what is now. Exeter Public School, The chicken coop was basically well named and Barbara relates,. the "ex- hilarating" experience of spending a couple of classes• there breathing in smoke and oil fumes. Students and staff were revived periodically by being forced to dash through snowbanks to the mouse-infested old school or to a physical education class .in the auditorium of the old arena. Students and staff had four different facilities for classes, and while they were in close proximity to each other, it was a 'real challenge during incle- ment weather and the lack of showers in the arena was never a problem dur- ing cold weather as the sweat froze very quickly as students made their way back to one of the other three teaching areas. However, lest today's generation So may it be this time 55 Years Ago Thomas MacMillan, Tuckersmith,, was nominated to carry the Liberal standard at the next election for Dominion parliament. John and Percy Passmore, R. -D. Bell and D. Brintnell took part in the Ingersoll trap shoot Monday. The New Commercial Hotel, Hensall, received their licence on Thursday to sell the new 4.4 percent beer and quite a number took the opportunity to test the new drink. William Thomas Huxtable, well-known Centralia far- mer, died suddenly at the age of 54, "' 30 Years Ago Families of V.L. Becker and Harry Hoffman won $2 each for horse and buggy outfits at the May 24 Sports Day in DashWood, The stock pens are being torn down at Kippen at the Canadian National Railway yards giving way to long- distance live-stock truckers. William Middleton was elected president of the Layman's Association of Huron Deanery. Mr. Allison Morgan who recently graduated from the OAC, Guelph, with his BSA degree has accepted a position with the Purina Company. A general meeting of subscribers to the South Huron Hospital Association Fund is called for Monday, June 12, for the purpose of choosing a site and electing a board of trustees for the construction of the hospital. The. Manitoba Flood Relief Fund passed the $1,300 mark this week. 20 Years Ago Mrs. W. Gordon Appleton, Marlborough Street, was one of the two ladies who split the t