HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-03-28, Page 9Hate That Word "Compulsory"
An air of holy rejoicing permeates a
"news release" just issued by the Cana-
lan Plumbing and Mechanical Trade As•
sociation, which announces a bill has
been introduced in the British Columbia.
legislature, The bill, if passed would give
the government sweeping powers to order
proficiency certificates for all tradesmen
and to prohibit employment of those
without certificates.
The note of rejoicing is reflected in an
editorial in the Vancouver Sun of March
9th which points out that the days of the
"fly-by-night contractor and the shoddy
workman" will be numbered.
We begin to wonder whether Cana-
dians are losing their collective minds.
Just 30 years ago now a wily little guy
by the name of Hitler managed to trick
his fellow -Germans into letting him have
the supreme power in his nation, as a
temporary measure to restore order. One
of his first moves was to enforce legis-
uation whereby all workmen had to hold
government certificates or remain unem-
ployed. The excuse for the certification
of workers was identical to that proposed
in B.C. — a guarantee of skill or ability.
In no time at all the government's hold
over workmen was so tight that those
who did not co-operate 100 percent with
the party were without means of liveli-
hood.
We do agree wholeheartedly that the
quality of workmanship in most of the
manual trades has declined to a sad level.
We also agree that better means of train-
ing workmen is badly needed. These ad-
missions, however, do not constitute
agreement with a plan of compulsory
certification ---the first step to regimen-
tation and loss of personal freedom.
There are ample grounds for training
workers who will be able to give service
of a higher grade after their graduation.
These technicians and the firms by which
they would be employed could advertise
the fact that they had reliable service for
the public.
In the course of time uncertified
workmen might find themselves without
employment by the sheer economics of
supply and demand. On the other hand,
it is quite possible that some members
of the public would continue to be fleeced
by those workmen who didn't know their
business.
The important point is that this is
still supposed to be a free country. If
you happen to need a new bathroom in
your home and the next door neighbor
convinces you that he knows how to do
the job you should have the perfect and
complete right to hire him. It's your
money and his time—ever though you
may both be crazy. When the job is
done it will have to pass inspection by
the county Health Unit, as a protection
for the rest of us.
Let's not further this evil habit of
trying to tell the other fellow what he can
and can't do. This is Canada — not
Russia.
Advance Polls This Week
Voting in the Dominion election starts
on Saturday of this week.
Advance polls will be open on Sat-
urday, March 30, and Monday, April 1.
Hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. These
polls will be open in Wingham, Arthur,
Palmerston, Fergus, Mount Forest and
Harriston.
There are no occupational or other
restrictions. Voters at the advance polls
take the following affidavit:
1. That my name appears on the list
f electors prepared for Polling Division
, comprised in the above-men-
tioned polling district.
2. That I have reason to believe that
•
I will be absent on the ordinary polling
day at the pending election, and that I
will be unable to vote on that day in the
above mentioned polling division.
Votes in the Advance Polls will he
counted starting at 9 p.m. on April 8, two
hours after regular polls close.
in the past (prior to June 18, 1962),
deputy returning officers, poll clerks,
candidates and candidates' agents had to
secure transfer certificates if they wished
to vote in a division other than where
they appeared on the voters' list. They
may still do so, but it will- be much
simpler for them to vote at the Advance
Poll.
The Forgotten Few
At election time every care is taken to
make sure that all eligible voters (or
nearly all) are given an opportunity to
cast their ballots. Advance polls have
been increased in number so that there is
no need to travel any great distance to
cast a vote before election day.
The forgotten segment includes those
persons who are confined to hospitals,
nursing home and other such institutions
through physical infirmities. Many of
these persons are vitally interested in the
outcome of an election. in thousands of
cases they are well enough in body and
mind to mark a ballot—but they are not
able to leave the hospitals for a trip to
the polling booth.
Advance polls or those on election
day should include traveling polls which
could take the vote in all our hospitals
and nursing homes. Sure it would cost
money, but why discriminate about who
is permitted to exercise the franchise?
Well Deserved Tribute
Tribute to an outstanding Canadian
writer and personality is indicated fol-
lowing the annual meeting of the Mait-
land Valley Conservation Authority, says
The Listowel Banner. This will come in
naming of a park area at Bluevale "The
Louis Blake Duff Memorial Conservation
Area." Representatives of the 29 muni-
cipalities which form the Maitland Auth-
ority unanimously approved the title.
Proposed by Alvin D. Smith, reeve of
Turnberry Township, the title will be a
lasting memory to a man who gained
more national prominence in the literary
world than any other person from this
section of Ontario. Mr. Duff, who died
a few years ago, was also recognized for
his wit and as a public speaker.
A native of Bluevale, his sisters still
reside in that community. In later years
his literary talent developed. The name
Louis Blake Duff became widely known
as publisher of The Welland Tribune, not
because of the size of the Newspaper but
through his writings and publications and
also through the contribution he made as
a historian for the Niagara district, His
works were acknowledged when a uni•
rjr
versity conferred upon him a doctor's
degree.
It is now fitting that at the place of
his birth he should be remembered with
such a memorial. The Authority might
well adopt a policy of honoring others
of national importance wherever possible,
in naming conservation areas. Not only
do they represent a well-deserved tribute,
but they add something to the areas
which is lost in flat sounding titles such
as "Bluevale Conservation Area."
The Louis Blake Duff Conservation
Area actually will be only a small park
of about five acres but it is located in
one of the most scenic spots in this sec-
tion. It should also be noted that,it is
being deeded over to the Authority by
the Bluevale Recreation Commission
without cost.
The transfer of responsibility for the
park area will ensure its continuation as
a spot for the public to enjoy. The small
group of interested people in Bluevale
who have made such a fine start will
now be assured of the perpetuation of
their work.
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited
W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert O. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associ-
ation; Metnber Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives
Authorized by the Post Office Department as Second Class Mail and
for payment of postage in cash
Subscription Rate;
One Year, $4.00; Six Months, $2.25, in advance
U.S.A., $5.00 per year; Foreign rate, $5,00 per year
Advertising Elates on application
Musk I-lgthl Charms. arca' the Harmony Men Prove It!
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Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, March 28, 1963
SECOND SECTION
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UGA
2.11
SPICE
illiiltIlluulfIIWiuliBy Bill Sri i l eyi hIfIIwslliil w
There's nothing quite as destroying as being torn be-
tween two wom .n. Some fellows are ripped asunder by a
wife pulling in one direction, a mother .hauling in the other.
Other chaps are split down
the middle by the big de-
cision: should I marry Mabel,
who is good, kind, sweet,
homely, dull and crazy about
me; or should I run after
Torso, who is bad, cruel,
mean, eye-popping, exciting,
and couldn't care less if I
dropped dead?
I remember one time
when I was about 18. It may
be hard to believe, for those
who know me now, but that
was the year I had two girls
keen on me. At the same
time. I was pretty fond of
both. One was sweet and
innocent. The other was a
red -head with a wicked shape.
* * *
I don't know how it hap-
pened, but by some miracle
of mismanagement, I made a
date with both girls for the
same night, same time. When
I realized the pickle I was
in, I knew that each would
be furious if I stepped out
with the other one. So I took
the sensible, cowardly way
out, stood them both up, and
went to a country dance with
the boys. Both girls recovered
from the blow with amazing
speed and eventually had the
good sense to marry some-
body with some guts.
It is only we cowards who
get into these jams. And I'm
in another one, right now.
This time, my wife and
daughter are tearing me in
two. They're worse than poli-
ticians. Each bends my ear
with intensity when the other
isn't around, trying to per-
suade, bribe or inveigle me
into joining her side.
It's all over those crazy
kittens. Four more arrived
two days ago. It's the fourth
batch in two years. Our cat,
needless to say, is a real sex -
pot,
The first batch was an
event. The kids witnessed the
wonders of birth. There was
tremendous excitement. The
kittens were nourished and
cherished. The maw was fed
dainties. I bought cigars.
When the kittens were
weaned, I had a talk with my
daughter. She wept, but
agreed that we might have
a problem if we kept them
all. I put an ad in the paper.
It was on a pretty lofty tone,
demanding a good home, sug-
gesting that nothing but the
best would do. We got rid
of them all, easily.
* * *
Next time around, a little
of the gloss had worn off. It
took two ads in the paper, to
get rid of only two kittens.
Finally, a little boy turned up.
He wanted only one, but
I told him they were in-
separable twins, bullied him,
threatened him, cajoled him,
and finally, he took them,
when I gave him half a dollar
apiece.
The third batch brought
ultimatums from the Old
Battleaxe. And I don't blame
her much. Have you ever
tried to get dinner with four
mewling Little beasts tottering
about underfoot, widdling on
the floor at every step? Even
their own mother became fed
up with the grocery -gutted
little punks, who gave her
never a moment's rest.
Three ads in the paper pro-
duced one reluctant customer.
My sister came to visit, and,
her normal good sense de-
stroyed by a pre -dinner
martini, in which I craftily
tripled everything except the
olive, she was a fairly easy
victim. That left two kittens.
We couldn't move them
The market for kittens was
apparently saturated. There
were two alernatives—kittens
or wife. Kittens can't cook.
All right. I admit it. 1 did
it. I still shudder when I
think of it. I've never been
the same since. But I don't
want to go into details. Just
call me Eichmann, for short.
* * *
Never again, I swore silent-
ly. Especially after my daugh-
ter came down in the morn-
ing, immediately spotted the
empty box, pointed her finger
at her parents, and screamed,
"Murderers!"
......11..,.1.1....,.1.,<...,10.,«11 v 0.0.041111111P
REMINISCING
MARCH 1913
On Monday last Messrs.
Swanson and Jacques purchased
and took possession of the bar-
ber shop conducted by Mr. Mc-
Donald next door to the pool-
room. Mr. Swanson has been
in Wingham for a number of
years and is known to be an ex-
pert in his line. His many
customers are pleased to see
him again in possession of the
shop.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston and
son Fred, spent a few days in
town prior to leaving for Saska-
toon. This family was one of
the most respected in the com-
munity and will be greatly
missed. We join with their
host of friends in wishing them
every success.
The Picture Business has
come to stay. Wingham will
have the best picture machine
in Canada. The manager has
installed one of the greatest
projecting machines known to
the moving picture world. We
intend to lift the moving pic-
ture business to a very high
standard and would ask for the
citizens of Wingham to support
us in this matter.
Mr. J. F. Dinsley of Van-
couver is the guest of his bro-
ther, R. A. Dinsley.
0--0--0
MARCH 1926
Patterson Bros. are opening
up a Ford garage in the liolmes
block this week. These gentle-
men were in the hardware busi-
ness in Aylmer for some time
and pre%iously in the same
business in Walkerton. They
arc highly recommended as
good reliable business men and
we welcome them to Wingham.
The remains of the late
George A. Kerr, who passed
away in Crecmore, Ont., on
Sunday, were laid to rest in
Wingham Cemetery on Wed-
nesday afternoon. The de-
ceased gentleman will be
The battle is on now. The
old Trouble 'n Strife says
they've got to go. Young Kim
is watching me like a hawk,
and reminding me of my past
perfidy.
I haven't the nerve to
murder them. I haven't the
nerve not to get rid of them,
somehow. The only way out,
as far as I can see, is to take
them in a basket, suitab-
ly decorated, with an appro-
priate note inside, and leave
them on the doorstep of our
next-door neighbor, whose
big, black tomcat is at the
root of the whole dilemma.
kindly remembered by many of
our older readers. In 1873, he
and his brother John, came to
Wingham and conducted the
planing mill here under the
firm name of Kerr & Watt.
This mill was later owned by
Mr. S, Bennett. The deceased
was in his 80th year at the time
of his death.
The Western Foundry Soft
Ball Team, winners of the Ad-
vance -Times Trophy for 1925,
re -organized at a meeting held
in their office on Thursday eve-
ning. The following officers
being elected. Hon. Pres.,
H.C. McLean; pres., A. Hing-
ston; vice-pres., F. Fuller;
sec. treas., J. Sell; manager,
Frank Seli,
o--o--o
MARCH 1938
Mrs. Rica MacLean Farqu-
harson, of Toronto, was award-
ed the Lieutenant -Governor's
silver medal donated by His
Honor Albert Matthews, Lieu-
tenant-Govenor of Ontario, as
the writer of the best original
Canadian play produced during
the festival at Toronto. The
play was named "They Meet
Again." Mrs. Farguharson is
well known here being the
daughter of Mr. Fred MacLean,
brother of the late John A.
hIacLean.
Miss A. Simpson of Jasper,
Alta. , is visiting with Post-
master A. H. and Mrs. Mus-
grove and other relatives.
Mr. John Rogers has pur-
chased the Durnin house, Cath-
erine Street. The transaction
was made by T. Fells.
The belfry at the Town Hall
was struck by lightning during
the thunderstorm on Wednes-
day last week. The damage
was slight, several boards being
torn loose. The lightning struck
quite close to the fire siren and
when the firemen tested this
apparatus a few minutes later a
large crowd gathered. It was
indeed fortunate that no great
damage was done.
o--0--0
NIARCII 1948
Air. David Cathers of Gorric,
has purchased the home of the
late David Halliday, on Minnie
St. Mr. Cathers has disposed
of his farm and will move to
town in the near future.
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Small -
man have sold their residence
on Frances Street to Mr, and
Mrs. Malcolm McCammon of
Toronto, and are moving to
Grand I3end, where Mr. Small -
man has purchased a business.
The family of Mr. and Mrs.
Cletus Rettinger was well rep-
resented at the Music Festival
held at Bluevale last week,
when William, Frances and Ar-
lene were among the prize
winners,