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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-06-27, Page 9Contrasting Interests Over the week -end we helped with the transportation of a small group of Boy Scouts who had decided to spend a few nights under canvas at London Bridge. Despite chilly weather they went out on Friday night and returned on Sunday, overjoyed at the opportunity to spend some time in the open air. In contrast we also watched the an- tics of the more "sophisticated" crowd who spent Sunday in their convertibles, roaring up and down the main street, many of them stripped to the waist, in the new burst of freedom which we con- done. The latter crowd, innocent though they may be, are providing the vital statistics for many of the accidents which are taking young lives (and sometimes older ones along with them) in the ever- increasing number of traffic accidents. It is not our intention to level harsh criticisms at the young people who like to get out for a good time in their cars. Their pastimes are innocent enough — and it is quie evident that no adults are worrying about them — or at least not enough to provide other and better forms of recreation. Scouting has proven itself over more than 50 years as an invaluable answer to the problem of youngsters at loose ends. Yet Scouting in every community of this size goes through cycles of strong activity alternated with periods of practical non- existence. The reason, of course, lies in the type of leadership available. When there are active and devoted leaders the local troops fulfill their purpose admirably, but when that leadership is removed Scouting dies a natural death. Considering the tremendous benefits to the boys themselves and to the com- munity generally, we wonder why we have failed, for so long to provide a con- tinuing program of leadership in boys' work. It is not difficult to recall the days when a valuable hockey or ball player would be brought to town and a job would be found for him which permitted enough time to spark up the local team. Would it not be possible to make some such arrangement for a boys' lead- er? The public recognizes the need for expenditures to maintain a program of re- creation activity, and it is our contention that the fund should be enlarged to allow for the Scouting program as well. Wingham Scouts are benefitting from the interested and active leadership of Bob McIntyre at the present time, and we hope that this situation will continue, but sooner or later we will find that the boys are in need of leadership again and it would be well worthwhile to make some plans for providing it. The members of the Scout Group Committee are deeply interested in the welfare of the troop, but face this leadership problem without knowing the proper solution. They need public backing in their efforts to keep Scouting alive and active. Big -Time Racketeers Last week this column reminded householders to keep an eye open for the door-to-door repairmen and salesmen who are out to fleece the unwary. A little epi - side at home reminded us that not all the racketeers are the two dollar type. The wife complained that the door of the washing machine wouldn't stay shut. Investigation proved that a small spring in the latching mechanism was broken. Reasonable cost for a replacement appear- ed to be about 15 cents. However, no such inexpensive repair was available. It turned out that the springs were not sold separately. Before we were through we had to buy the entire latch assembly at a cost of $13.82. It wasn't the local dealer's fault. The manu- facturer simply made sure that the repair bill would constitute a major sale. We, as purchasers, have been so free and easy with our money in the good years since the war that we have actually encouraged this sort of calculated and costly nonsense. You will find the same thing exists where cars are concerned. Buy a new coat for your youngster and you can start sewing on buttons after the first wearing, despite the fact that modern technology has developed threads which are strong enough for parachutes. And so it goes through all the products for which we pay our money. This is a short-sighted way to make money. The manufacturer who sells a sound product will be in business long after the firm which sells a shody one has gone bankrupt. In the entire history of business there is nothing to justify waste at any level of our economy. Everything Straightened Out? Not too many weeks ago as we all listened with rapt attention to the pro- nouncements of the various aspiring policitians we heard Mr. Pearson avow repeatedly that he and his henchmen would attack the worst of the ills created by the Diefenbaker administration—the financial "muddle" of the nation, Mr. Pearson and Henchman Walter Gordon have indeed had their chance but so far everything seems to be getting a little more muddled. Like offering a free gift of $500 to the man who builds a house in the winter months (when it can cost $1,000 more) and then slapping 11% sales tax on building materials. Or such things as tacking 30% taxation of purchase of Canadian industrials by non - Canadians and then taking the tax off in a few days because of the outcry. Just how muddled can we get? Watch Those Toes! Hal Wright, Farm Safety Specialist with the Ontario Department of Agricul- ture, emphasizes the following common sense rules to make the family power lawn mower a harmless and efficient tool: Avoid pulling the lawn mower back- wards—you could slip. Never allow children to operate the machine. Give your full attention to the job of mowing. Wear heavy boots. Never sandals or barefoot. Clear the lawn of all debris before you start to cut. Smaller objects can be thrown out like bullets from the whirl- ing blade. Don't try to cut wet grass. It is hard on your mower because the cuttings don't blow free of the mower. Also, your chances of slipping are much higher. Stay clear of the discharge opening when the engine is running. Never reach under the deck, lift the mower or adjust the cutting height without shutting off the engine. Before touching the engine make sure the spark plug wire is disconnected. Even tilting the mower or turning the blade could start the engine. Never leave the engine running if you must leave the mower. Refuel only outdoors and when the engine is cool. Always treat this helpful gadget with the respect it deserves. 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 u Second Class Mail and for payment of postage in cash Subscription Rate: One Year, ;4.0O; Six Months, $2.25, in advance U.S.A., gm per year; Foreign rate, $5.00 per year Advertising Rates on application REMINISCING JUNE 1913 A very pleasant time was spent on Friday evening at the home of Mrs. W. J. Howson's, when a social hour was enjoyed by the members of the W.M. Society of the Wingham Metho- dist Church. Prior to the re- moval of Dr. Rutledge to Clin- ton, Mrs, Rutledge was present- ed with an address, after a few well chosen words by the presi- dent, Mrs. Jos. hall. Our popular druggist Mr. A. L. Hamilton has sold his drug business to Mr. J. J. Davis of Wiarton. This is an old esta- blished business here for the past 15 years. Corning to Wingham in 1898 he bought out the busi- ness from Mr. James Chisholm who opened what has been known as the Corner Drug Store, and kept the business for ten years. Master Frankie Sparling, aged ten years, has developed into an expert fisherman. He and his grandfather, Mr. F. S. Sparring, on Friday last went fishing somewhere five or six miles from Wingham and among a large number of others Fran- kie caught one speckled trout 13 inches long, weighing one and a half pounds and another 16 inches in length which weighed two pounds. Dr. and Mrs. W. F, Gal- braith and family of Lethbridge are the guests of Postmaster Fisher this week. 0--0--0 JUNE 1926 The regular meeting of Wing - ham Town Council was held on Monday evening. Those pre- sent were Mayor Fells, Couns. Mitchell, Spotton, Wilkinson, Elliott and Haney. The tax rate for 1926 was struck at 47 mills which will be made up as follows: County rate 3.8 mills; public school rate, 5.0 mills; high school rate, 5.0 mills; and town rate 28.7 mills. This is an increase of 1 mill on the dollar over last year. Many old friends of Wm. H. Netterfield, a former resident of Lower Wingham, will regret to hear that he passed away in Winnipeg General Hospital on June 29th, in his 59th year. Mrs. August Homuth of Wing - ham is a sister of the deceased. The members and adherents of Wingham United Church ga- thered in the school room to bid farewell to Rev. W, D. and Mrs. McIntosh prior to their departure for Embro this week. A. H. Musgrove was chairman and an excellent program was rendered, including solos by Miss Jean Christie and Bruce Edgar; guartet by Misses Vera Frendt and Irene Donald and Messrs. Christie and Mitchell; readings by Mrs. W. Vanwyck; instrumental duets by Misses Mary and Celesta Carr and Mis- ses Hazel Brandon and Peggy Garniss and music on a saw by Gerald Gray. 0--0--0 JUNE 1938 Mrs. E. McLaughlin and daughter, Miss Verna, left to- day for a six weeks trip to Vic- toria, Vancouver Island. They intend stopping at different places enroute. A party was held at the home of Mrs. Harry Towne last week In honour of Mrs. W. Connolly, prior to her departure for Strat- ford, where her husband has been transferred by the Bell Telephone Co. A large number of relatives gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Tindall on Sun- day, to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Hunter and son, Earl, who are leaving on Thursday for their home in Manitou, Man- itoba. Rev. E. M. Loney and fam- ily, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Lloyd and Donald, motored to Callen- dar last week to see the Quints. On their return they stopped at Stokes Bay on the Bruce Penin- sula. While there on Sunday, Mr. Loney killed a 28 -inch rattle snake with a small stick. The rattler had nine pair of rattles. 0--0--0 JUNE 1948 Mr, and Mrs. Gordon Sim- mons will he at home to their friends on Sunday afternoon and evening, on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniver- sary. Mr. R. G. Gannett received A HAPPY REUNION—Mrs. Ian Hammer- ton, Mrs. John Langridge, Ian Hammer- ton, Mrs. Miles Overend and Miles, who had all been friends while living in Wingham, enjoyed a pleasant time at the Hammerton home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, while Mrs. Langridge and the Over - ends were visiting in England. Mr. and Mrs. Overend now live in Vernon, B.C., and have recently returned home from a six weeks' vacation in Great Britain and Italy. Mrs. Langridge returned home on Sunday after spending seven weeks with her sister and other relatives in England. The above photo was sent to us from the Camden Studio and was taken by Coralie Hammerton. ingbain anceL-2eintto Wingham Advance -Times, Thursday, June 27, 1963 SECOND SECTION '-411L4911111111111111i1I 11jT,MIe!l " cilli111L'21i lllil; III .iI11 II! 1111111 mmmmm+mlmmmmmmmor msmmnuamllmr!R^Rmmmla SUGAI and SPICE Illllll➢IIIIIIIIIINIsmBy Bill Sm ileypg;pllIllllllllllllfr Dominion Day is on the way; Let's have a celebration. It may be our last chance, they say, To mark it as a nation the face of their insults and insinuations, their sneers and their sniping, I remain a cool, I happy reactionary. 1 still be- lieve that the twentieth cen- tury belongs to Canada, even j with an 11 per cent. sales tax on building materials. And furthermore, I fearlessly pre- dict that Quebec will never leave the confederation. * * * There are a number of good reasons for my opinions. They are not just a lot of off-the- cuff ideas based on a pile of statistical evidence. Nossir, they have a solid base of pure emotion and prejudice. First of all, our politicians, while comparatively green compared to those of older nations, are internationally recognized as masters of the compromise. Canada, as a nation, has a reputation for horse -trading. She is not one to let any foolish ideals stand in the way of an honest buck. And this, I fear, will present the greatest obstacle to the secessionists of Quebec. Yep, according to the gloompots, this may be our last opportunity to celebrate with our customary fervour that glorious national holiday revered by all Canadians: The First of July. Such eminent hysterians as Pierre Berton are sounding the tocsin, raising the storm signals, and making like Cas- sandra. Quebec, they sob, is gonna pull outa the confeder- ation. All will be lost. Canada will become a banana repub- lic. * * * It is rather a paradox that the groans of anguish emerge, for the most part, from the very people who devote a great deal of time, and a vast number of words, to- wards convincing everybody that Canada is already little more than a banana republic. They are the people who have unselfishly volunteered to act as the conscience of this country. They are the people who blat endlessly that we are the people who hang, with embarrassing obsequi- ousness, on the every word of every foreigner who speaks of this country, its habits and Its people. They are the people who, via Dawson City or Glace Bay or Hayfork Centre, de- scend upon our cities and set themselves up as arbiters of our taste, our opinions, our morals, our manners. Armed with incredible gall and a fa- cility with words, they are happiest when they are re- vealing their ineffable scorn for Canadian custom, cooking and culture. A plague upon them all. In word of the sudden passing of his brother-in-law, Mr. George McMurdo of Toronto, in Tole- do, Ohio. His wife was the former Miss Edna Gannett of Wingham. Congratulations are extended to M . Dick Irwin, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. II. Irwin, Wing - ham in passing his first year exams at the Ontario Veterin- ary College, Guelph. Mr. and Mrs. W. Lock - ridge accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. D. Fleury, attended the graduation exercises at the Canadian Mothercraft Society, Toronto, of June 28th, when their daughter, Miss Donna Lockridge, graduated. Second, our French-Canadi- an friends, bomb -planting to the contrary, simply are not wild-eyed La tin s, forever cherishing cobblestones to hurl at authority. They are a little more volatile than our British elements, perhaps, but don't forget that they're de- scended from the shrewd, tough, logical, phlegmatic folk of northern France, for the most part. They are practi- cally stoics compared to some of the exotic strains in our population. The Irish, for example. Third, they already have as much independence as they can possibly use. Don't tell me that a fellow in Riviere du Loup, for example, has any less freedom than I have. Especially if he's married. And I'll never forget a Cana- dienne I took out in Montreal one night. Boy, was she in- dependent! Fourth, the people of Que- bec, should they pull out of confederation, would have to give up one of their primary pleasures in life: blaming everything from the last two wars to the low pensions on the sacred Anglais. * * * As for my other opinion, that the twentieth century be- longs to Canada, this too is On Sharpening Pencils Many people now use ball- point pens on jobs where they formerly used pencils. This change has made work harder to put off, as a fellow used to be able to start the day by sharpen- ing a pencil. If he had several pencils, giving the impression of a big plan for doing a lot of work, the sharpening operation could go on for quite a while, well towards the first coffee break. A man could look busy and feel busy and this was good for the nervous system. Now, with a ballpoint pen, the only escape is that it may not write, which has been known to hap- pen; there's always a hope. Otherwise, immediately at the start of the day's first work period, a man is in danger of being faced by the reality of needing to do some actual work. This is well known to be bad for the nervous system, unless one goes ahead and really does the work. Those who have tried theex- periment of working report that they feel fine; there are cases of people who found that achieving things was stimulat- ing, so that they almost forgot to stop for the coffee break. —The Printed Word. Tom: "So you met your wife at a dance. That was romantic." Dick: " Hardly, I thought she was home taking care of the kids." based on a bedrock of hope, not a lot of silly facts and figures. The main reason for my hope is that the twentieth century is becoming more and more expensive. Pretty soon, nobody will want it, at any price. But Canadians will buy anything, if the down payment is low enough. Leaving y o u with these comforting predictions, I wish you a happy First of July, serene in the knowledge that you will spend it as usual: Reverently explaining to your children the meaning of con- federation; listening to fiery orations about our great Ca- cadian mystique; dancing in the streets with your neigh- bors to express your joy; and decking out your house or store with flags. And if you have to don water-skis to catch your kids for the reverent explanation, don't worry. If the only fiery oration you can find is Earl Cameron with the CBC news, don't worry. If your neigh- bors have all bogged off to the beach, don't worry. If the only flags you can find are a couple of Union Jacks, an old Red Ensign, and a tattered Stars and Stripes, don't worry. It will be a good, average, typical Canadian celebration of the birth of our glorious nation.