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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-06-20, Page 9Let's Keep It For Christmas Red tape—it's great stuff, as long as it +#;: used to fancy up the presents under the Yuletide tree. It's not worth a hoot when you want to get something done. Early last year the Wingham town council made the decision to enter into a major sewer construction program, in- cluding a sewer treatment lagoon. For more than twelve years the provincial authorities had been pressing Wingham to take immediate action, And what has happened since the council agreed to take action? Nothing as far as we can see. The most recent word from the Ontario Water Resources Commission was that tenders for the job would be called by mid-May. It is un- derstood that the call has not yet been made. Three weeks are usually allowed for tenders to come in, which would take us well into July if the call for tenders were advertised at once. There is a strong pos- sibility that all tenders could be above the approved cost, which would mean more weeks of delay, Best prospect at the present time is that nothing will be done before Sep- tember. Over a year ago the need for relief and trunk sewers became very evident when flash floods or heavy rains caused a costly back-up in buildings south of Victoria St. The property owners there have put up with this nuisance for twelve months and it appears they have at least another twelve to wait. The delays will force the whole pro- ject into a costly and time-consuming winter job, every particle of it to be done out-of-doors in frozen ground. There may he explanations for these delays, but if so they should be made pub- lic. The people who have to pay for this quarter -million -dollar project would like to know what goes on. The town coun- cil has spared no effort to get the thing under way. so the responsibility would seem to lie with the Water Resources Commission. Great Opportunity For Youngsters One of the finest advantages which has accrued to the people of this area with the development of the Riverside Park is the opportunity to provide swim- ming lessons to our young people. And when we say "our" young people we are thinking not just of the boys and girls in the town of Wingham, but those in the entire rural community as well who are more than welcome to enjoy these ad- vantages. Last week's Advance -Times carried a story which related the information that bus transportation for the country child- ren was found too expensive. However, there is also the very logical suggestion that car pools could be formed to get country children to and from the classes. We feel that parents in the rural areas would indeed be well advised to pursue the matter. Every summer sees a series of tragic lirde,aths by drowning, the vast majority of which would never occur if more children were taught to swim properly. Swim- ming lessons provide not only self-confi- dence in the water, but a healthy respect for that element as well. The youngster who has learned to trust his body to the water, and who knows that cool -headed- ness will keep him alive, also knows that under some conditions he should stay away from the water. He learns to ob- serve currents and waves and becomes a great deal wiser in his enjoyment of nature's greatest natural playground. You may find that your younger child- ren shy away from their first lessons at the pool. If, however, you show an in- terest in their progress and pride in their achievements and encourage them to per- severe for a few sessions they will soon begin to look forward with eagerness to the opportunity of getting back to the pool, The instruction program at the local pool under the supervision of Bob Mc- Intyre is an excellent one, planned to in- clude "tadpoles," those youngsters who are too young to take actual lessons. With this group the staff will carry out a simple course of getting acquainted with the water, so that the children's fears will be eliminated. There is a class, too, for ad- ults who have never learned to swim. A Matter Of Pride The recent ordination of Rev. John Crawford affords a great deal of humble satisfaction to this community. John is the third Wingham man to be ordained to holy orders within the past year or two. The decision of a young person to serve his Master in these days of booming economic progress is one which gives pause to every one of us. It is quite evi- dent that a person who has sufficient in- telligence to graduate from a theological course is also smart enough to achieve success in any number of business fields. The fact that he has chosen a life, not necessarily of hardship, but certainly of very limited financial remuneration is proof that his convictions are deep and sincere. In bygone years the Christian minis- try was, at times, chosen by men of radi- cal and even fanatical views. The pioneer- ing days in this country provided openings for some ministers who were chiefly notable for their emotional instability. Today, however, it is encouraging to see young men of the very highest calibre turning to lives of service. The best wishes of the people of Wing - ham go with Rev. John Crawford as he commences his ministry. New Development In Welfare Most counties in Ontario are slowly approaching a distinct change in the ad- ministration of public welfare. The pro- posed change is the establishment of county welfare units, roughly comparable to the now familiar county health units. The proposal has been made to many county councils and to date has met with reserved agreement to study the plan in most cases. The great fear seems to be that local autonomy would be lost if the unit plan should he adopted. We heartily agree that caution is needed. Local govern- ments should indeed be careful not to sacrifice their freedom of decision care- lessly. In the long run, however, it seems very likely that such autonomy will be trimmed back — not necessarily thrown away. The strongest argument, was made several years ago when increased grants were accepted from the provincial depart- ment of welfare. It is unreasonable to expect a provincial government to provide a larger proportion of the funds without having a stronger voice in administration. At the same time there is little reason to believe that the advantages to be gained would not offset the possible loss of some power of decision at the local level. In Huron County we see little reason to change, for by and large public welfare has been thoroughly administered. Our Children's Aid Society, for example, is one of the finest in the province. There are other areas, though, where these happy circumstances do not pertain. The attitude toward public welfare pay- ments of any sort is viewed in these coun- ties and districts as a "handout," be- grudged from the first and paid with niggardliness. This is what autonomy can produce at its worst. 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; Member 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 Rates on application • PARK IMPROVEMENTS—Work at the Riverside Park this spring has consisted of cleaning up and grading the old railway right-of-way south of the swimming area below the CNR overhead bridge. This picture shows the swimming area with the levelled and graded a section running into the middle distance. The whole park area is fast becoming one of the prettiest parks in the area, and represents a tremendous amount of work on the part of the Park Board.—A-T Photo. bam town cieNZi Wingham Advance -Times, Thursday, June 20, 1963 SECOND SECTION 11IIli 111111!1IIIIII!IIIIIIII! I1111111111111 !PIN! I1II!111111!Illillllll11I111 l!IIIIIIII!;Ilg111111llltlll;l!!III!I11!1!II1111;!ll!I!IIIIL!1111111!il!I!II'II!19111111111111!- SUGAR and SPICE ,r Ilmliiummum mB y 8111 S m i l e y!ml; Iit!!miiI Twelve years ago last September, their mothers watched with a mingling of smiles and tears as a hundred children set off for their first day at school. The little girls were curled and ribbon- ed and starched and adorable. The little boys were scrubbed and slicked and scared. This month, the remnants of those 100 tots, and thou- sands like them, will gradu- ate from Grade 12, their school days just a nostalgic ache. Fewer than half of the original hundred are still together. Some have failed and been left behind. Others have quit school and gone to work. some because they wanted to, some be- caus they had to. One is in reform school. Another was killed in an accident. Two are married. Seven of the original hun- dred will go on to univer- sity. Five of these will grad- uate. The remaining thirty or forty will be swallowed up by ban:ting, nursing, in- dustry, business. Within a few years they will be par- ents, citizens, taxpayers. * * * Perhaps one will be an alcoholic. Three will be di- vorced. One boy will enter politics. One girl will enter a mental institution. But most of them will be up to their ears in life, even as you and I. What kind of people are they right now, as they pre- pare to break out of the shell of school and home and stand on the windswept plains of adult living? What do they think about? What do they feel? Are they bet- ter than we were, or worse? Far be it from me to boast that I can see clearly into that maze of emotion and imagination that makes up the teen-age mind. But as their English teacher, reading their last essays, I learn a lot about them. One thing they are is pretty hon- est. Thus, 1 get a peek into that murky maze occasion- ally. Join me. On "going steady." An amazing number, of both sexes, agree that it's stupid. One lad says it's great at first, because ' you always have a date' and never feel left out. But, he adds, after a spell of the same routine with the same girl, week after week, you always have a date and it's as bor- ing as being married. A girl points out that "going steady" is a pres- tige deal at first, but inevit- ably leads to a feeling of being left out of normal fun, because you're segregated. It ends, she warns, in one of two things: a too -early, tragic marriage; or bitter arguments and recrimina- tions, just like being mar- ried. You can't win, it seems. * * * On making friends. One young lady, with a mind like a cold chisel, observes that we never really look for friends — only for love and security. The same girl suggests wryly that, "Some old friends should be savor- ed; others should be severed." On noise in daily life. They like it. Tuned to a noisier society than the one in which we grew up, they thrive on the squeal of tires, the squawk of the transistor, the shrilling of the tele- phone and the thump of the jukebox. Although one lad remarks,„ Those signs at the street corners which spell STOP don't necessar- ily mean Squeal Tires On Pavement.” On manners. Good man- ners are a must, the es- sence of society. They are based not merely on polite- ness, but on consideration for others. On teachers. Pretty vile things, but not so bad, on looking back. They detest the grouch, the sarcasm artist, and the person who can't control a class. They like the teacher who com- bines c our t e sy, common sense, reason, a sense of humor, a n d professional competence. On leaving school. Even the lunks and the renegades of boys feel an overwhelm- ing, almost indescribable, sense of loss and sadness. But it's mingled with a cer- tain eagerness to take on the big world. * * * Are these young people different from their parents at the same age? Yes, on the surface. They seem more confident, better ad- justed, tougher. They are definitely less inhibited, in thought, word and deed. Which is not a bad thing. They appear casual, care- less and callous. They are more knowledgeable. They are less bigoted, but just as conventional, in an un- conventional way. Remember, they were born into a different world. While they haven't known the desperate, frightened years of the great depres- sion, as we did, they know the era of transience, loos- ening family ties, chang- ing morals and standards of living, and the great mush- room cloud. Personally. I have a lot of respect, and a great deal of hope, for them. Probably more than I had for my own generation. Beneath the teen-age facade of cock- iness, they are just as troubled and lonely and scared and uncertain as you and I were, Maggie, when we were young. They are just as eager to do the right thing, as rebel- lious against what seems wrong. They are just as good, in the moral sense, as we were. And just as bad, with a lot more opportunity. All I can say, as they ex- change the morass of the teen-ager for the bog of the adult is, "Welcome to the human race. And may you be fleet of foot." REMINISCING JUNE 1913 On Tuesday evening, about 10:15, one of the most disas- trous fires, which has visited the town of Wingham in years, occurred when the saw mill owned by Mr. J. A. McLean, was completely destroyed, to- gether with a quantity of lum- ber. The fire started, presum- ably in the engine room, al- though it is difficult to deter- mine just where it originated as the whole building was in a seething mass of flames before the alarm was given, and was practically destroyed before the firemen reached it. A very pleasant time was spent at the Epworth League on Monday evening when a social hour was enjoyed by the mem- bers of the League prior to the removal of their pastor, Rev. Dr. Rutledge, to Clinton. The Dr. was presented with an ad- dress, read by Mr. Benson Cruickshanks, and in reply thanked the young people for their kind sentiments expressed. The Drug Business of Mr. A. L. Hamilton has been purchas- ed by Mr. A. J. Davis of Tor- onto. Work will begin at once on Main Street and before the snow flies, Wingham will have a paved business street which will reflect credit on our progres- sive town. 0--0--0 JUNE 1926 Rev. A. C. Cummer, grand chaplain and Rev. J. W. Hib- bert, chief patriarch of the grand encampment were the speakers at a meeting of Breth- ren of the 1.0.0.F. held in Strathroy one night recently. Both of these gentlemen are former residents of Wingham and both have been highly hon- ored by the Oddfellows. Walkerton Lawn Bowling Club held their Annual Scotch Doubles Bowling Tournament on Thursday last, with an entry of forty-one rinks. Two rinks from here attended and the one composed of Jack Mason and Alex. Crawford won the Trophy Event, bringing home Leather Club Bags. Capt. J. Evenden and Lieut. 11, G. Wright who have been in charge of Salvation Army Please turn to Page Eight.