HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1964-01-16, Page 9Why Are We So Different?
Are the people of Wingham Tess in-
telligent than their neighbors in other
communities? Are they less concerned
about their own improvement? It would
appear that they are,
Speaking recently with a friend from
a nearby town, we were interested to learn
that he is attending night classes at the
high school there, Though his daily work
is accounting, he is thoroughly enjoying
a night course in basic woodworking.
In the same school this winter classes
are being conducted in bookkeeping, art
and several other interesting subjects,
most of which have a large enrolment and
faithful attendance.
We had night classes iri the Wingham
High School for many winters. They were
discontinued two or three years ago—not
because the teachers were unwilling to
give their time, but because enrolments
were so low that it appeared there was
not sufficient demand to merit the or-
ganization of further classes.
On the surface it does seem that folks
in Wingham are less interested in the pur-
suit of knowledge than their neighbors,
but we prefer to believe that there is an
other reason for our apparent apathy.
It is more likely that the night classes
faced too much competition from the
myriad activities and organizations which
gobble up the evenings in this town.
However, now that there has been a lapse
of a few years, we suggest that night
classes should be offered again next
winter, that the courses should be fully
described in advance—and if a sufficient
number of persons are interested, they
should be resumed.
Our high school now contains all the
equipment and teaching facilities for
many interesting and practical courses.
It seems a great pity that it should be
used only for day classes. Let's try again.
An Interesting Subject
Last week this writer expressed ser-
ious doubt about the wisdom of extend-
ing the franchise to those in the 18-21
year age bracket. Our reasons, as you
may recall, were that the vast majority of
young people under 21 are not sufficient-
, ly conscious of or informed about public
affairs to vote wisely.
Since that editorial appeared we have
received many comments about it—most
of them agreeing with our own opinion,
although a few thought we were wrong,
This subject is a basic and important
• one. We feel very strongly that the fed-
eral government is overstepping its auth-
ority in proposing to enact legislation of
such a broad and far-reaching nature with
practically no effort to ascertain the
wishes of the Canadian people.
Apparently the extension of the fran-
' chise can he made legally by an act of
Parliament, but we doubt that it should
be. It is so closely related to the con-
stitution of our nation that it is evident
it s i ulc! have deeper study and wider
approval than is possible within the time
allowed for Parliamentary approval.
Most of us can recall our own days
in high school and immediately afterward.
Those were the times when we all would
have turned the world upside down, when
the existing institutions were beneath our
contempt and when authority was some-
thing to he pushed aside.
Look for yourself at the troubled areas
c
1
of the world and see how frequently the
powers of unrest and insurrection turn
to a group of students when they want to
rouse a troublesome rabble.
We do not suggest here that Canadian
teen-agers and 20 -year-olds are all insur-
rectionists, but we do believe that like
most normal young people everywhere,
they are living through a time of life
when they are easily led to reactionary
thought and activity. Given a few more
years and the mollifying influences of jobs
to hold and homes to maintain and the
most of them reason a bit more slowly
and make more sensible allowances for
those things which are wrong in govern-
ment and what can be done to rectify
them.
This is a dangerous age as far as gov-
ernment is concerned, Even seasoned,
old politicians seem to he caught up in
the mad race to give, give and give more.
It is time we recognized this trend for
what it is—plain political bribery. It is the
effort of one party to give the public
more than the other party can promise—
and it could become the open track to
national ruin.
If you have opinions of your own in
this regard, express them, put them on
paper as a letter to the editor. We will
publish them and make sure they reach
Ottawa and the desks of those who make
the decisions for us.
Arrogance Or Dereliction
The following appeared in a recent is-
sue of The Trillium, which is a magazine
published by the Ontario Civil Servants'
Association:
"An editorial in a recent issue of one
of the leading dailies spoke of arrogant
assumption of the powers of elected
boards by paid staff.
"I was not surprised to read this. It
happens! Sometimes it is deliberate,
planned, and indeed arrogant. However,
before we go too far; before we say it's
happening here; before we join a crusade
to wipe out this arrogance, let us examine
the other side of the coin.
"I fear that an honest and sincere ex-
amination of the facts, all too often will
show that rather than arrogant staff at-
tempting to usurp the powers of elected
officials there are irresponsible officials
who are derelict in their duty, who have
shirked their responsibilities, delayed es-
sential decisions, behaved incompetently.
"With few exceptions, board members
approve the assumption of their powers
by staff just to cover up their own in-
competence. Although some have been
in their elected offices for a long time
they let themselves be hoodwinked by
hired staff. Some become so mesmerized
by the hired help that they regard ques-
tioning of the staff's activities by the few
who dare to ask questions as plain
nosiness.
"It can be either way. Each must
examine his philosophy, his house, and his
principles. Let's assess the situation
carefully and critically before we act.
"Who knows—is it arrogant assump-
tion? Or is it irresponsible dereliction?"
From The Right, Number!
The cartoonists, whose work appears
in the daily newspapers, have had a field
day with the federal government's an-
nouncement that Canadian workers will
be assigned a number -- each person to
• carry this row of digits until the clay he
dies. One cartoon depicts a bride and
groom facing a dignified clergyman who
is asking, "Do you, 397-4825, take 859-
4376, to be your lawful wedded wife?"
Another shows an executive instruct-
ing his secretary to put through a call
• to 451-8379 at area code 596-835-4976.
We won't vouch for the accuracy of
the above figures, but they don't really
matter. The implication is plain enough.
This is the first step in a system which
•
might very easily become regimentation
of the sort which has been applied in the
Soviet. This process is already well on
the way in the U.S. A resident of Cali-
fornia recently told us that his own bank
put him completely through the hoops
when he attempted to open a bank ac-
count for his young son. Nothing could
he done without a social security number
for reference.
We do not deny that there is an emerg-
fng need for more efficient records of
our population. The ability to put the
finger of authority on any person at any
time has great advantages—as well as
creating an atmosphere so coldly inhuman
it makes a free man shudder.
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., $;.00 per year; Foreign rate, $5.00 per year
Advertising Rates on application
CAFETERIA OPEN AT W.D.H.S.—With construction in the
kitchen and cafeteria sections of the Wingham District High
School now completed, students were once again able to
utilize this service for the first time last week. One group
is seen moving along past the serving counter.
—Advance -Times Photo.
bbancitit7Zintre
Wingham,
Ontario, Thursday, Jan. 16, 1964
SECOND SECTION
SUGAR & SPICE
Sons Of Good Parents
By BILL SMILEY
A young couple 1 know
had an ironic experience
when they visited her par-
ents during the holiday
season.
The parents, solid folk,
had recent-
ly retired.
They bought
a new home
in a rather
swanky de -
v e 1 o pment
in a good-
sized Cana-
dian city.
They have a
17 - year-old
d aughter,
nice kid, who lives with
them.
When my friends arrived
to spend Christmas, it was
obvious Ma had been busy.
Everything in the n e w
house was sparkling for
their visit. She was proud
of her home, and with
reason.
BILL SMILEY
They had a pleasant
Christmas. A couple of
days later, the four adults
were invited to a party
down the street. The teen-
age daughter implored to
have a few friends in for
pop and music. Her mother
gave in, specifying that 10
kids ', as the limit,
* * *
The adults went to the
party along the street. and
enjoyed it.
The conversation, as so
often, turned to puzzle-
ment over teen-agers. You
know the sort of thing we
old squares discuss: the
switch - blade heroes; the
debutante party reported
in Life, which wound up
demolishing an old man-
sion; the couple in some
distant place who carne
home and found their teen-
age daughter on the second
night of a three-day, all-
night party, in their home.
Emerging f r o m the
party, at a circumspect
hour in this circumspect
suburb, my friends and the
parents were astonished to
see the quiet street lined
with cars. What was up?
They found out, in about
two minutes. Every light
was blazing in 'their new
home, and there was a
sound of revelry by night
whose location Was unmis-
takeable.
They nustled home. The
son-in-law, a six-footer, was
sent in ahead, to give no-
tice that the party was
over. He was shaken to
the tips of his number tens
when he walked in. There
were about 40 people,
mostly young males, in the
modest living room. Nine-
ty-four per cent. of them
were drinking beer. The
other six per cent. were
drinking something else.
* * *
Beer caps and empty vod-
ka bottles fought for atten-
tion on the rug, which was
a squishy meringue of spill-
ed beer and cigarette ash.
Some of the young gentle-
men had propped them-
selves in chairs and put
their feet against the pris-
tine wall. The old Dad's
most cherished possession,
a solid silver christening
mug given him by his
grandfather, lay on its side
on the floor, a discarded
beer -mug.
The Dad, with a mighty
effort, forced himself to go
around and introduce him-
self. A few were civil. Most,
including girls, sneered at
him. Eventually, because
the party had become a
drag with these old squares
around, the guests left, In
their own sweet time, lug-
ging half a dozen beer
cases.
Who were these hood-
lums, punks, vandals? A
motorcycle gang, maybe?
One of them was the son
of a national television
figure. Another was the son
of a professor. Most were
university students, as their
jackets proclaimed proud-
ly. The rest w ere high
school kids from good, mid-
dle-class homes in the area.
What happened to the
girl who was hostess?
Nothing. She's tempera-
mental and might leave
home if crossed, or upset.
WASTE OF DAYLIGHT
"Do we turn the clock back-
ward or forward one hour?"
This often perplexing querry,
which faces millions of people
twice a year is, of course, re-
lated to the Daylight Saving
Time system. Blame it all on
William Willett, an English-
man who published in 1907
"The Waste of Daylight," a
book aimed at securing more
daylight leisure for recreation
and lessening the work perform -
cd by artificial light during the
summer months.
Rem iniscing
JANUARY 1914
Mr. A. M. Scully, who has
been acting manager of the
Dominion Bank at Guelph, has
been appointed as manager of
the Wingham branch of the
hank and entered on his new
duties on :vbnday.
In the Wingham Glove Works
the town has an industry which
is growing. The orders have
been crowding in on Mr. Prin-
gle so rapidly that he has found
it necessary to put in thirty-
five new machines and now re -
operators.
quires a number '..'f new lady
JANUARY 1928
Claimed by its sponsors to
be the most distinctive low-
priced automobile yet offered
to the public, a new Chevrolet
goes on display for the first
time here on Saturday, January
14th in the showroom of A. M.
Crawford.
Built on a 107 -inch wheel-
base, the new Chevrolet is four
inches longer than before and is
impressively large, low and
racy. From the massive new
radiator— deepened in a fashion
reminiscent of the LaSalle --
the lines of the car sweep back
to blend into the graceful con-
tours of the bodies. Sharp cor-
ners have been entirely elimin-
ated and in the closed models
the roof curves into the rear
quarters in unique manner.
The new features include: mas-
sive, deep and beautiful radia-
tor, 4 -wheel brakes, extended
wheelbase, an improved en-
gine that gives 34.6 p.c. more
power and five mile an how
more speed, longer and room-
ier Fisher bodies, new Duco
color combinations, thermo-
stat control of cooling, shock
absorber springs, motor enclo-
sure and indirectly Lighted in-
strument panel.
JANUARY 1939
Mrs. Charles Elliott, Blue -
vale Rd., fractured her right
wrist on Monday afternoon. She
was crossing a room at her
home to answer the telephone
when she slipped on the waxed
floor taking a nasty fall.
Mr. Robert Weir of the Uni-
versity of Minnesota, St. Paul,
Miss Elizabeth Weir, Columbia
University, NOV York and Nliss
Edith Weir, of MacDonald Insti-
tute, Guelph spent two weeks
with their parents, Mr. and
Mrs. John Weir.
Ten per cern off all Ladies'
Winter Coats and Dresses, For
real value visit the GreenFrortt
Store. The store formerly
operated as the Shelag,er store is
now owned by the Green Front
Department Stores, who have
no connection with the former
owners.
JANUARY 1949
Mr. and Mrs, Gordon Hall,
Bluevale, wish to announce the
engagement of their daughter,
Roberta Irene, to Robert George
Casemore, son of Mrs. Alfred
Armstrong, London, Ont. The
marriage to take place early in
January.
Mr. and Mrs, J. A. Morton,
announce the engagement of
their daughter, Betty Iris, to
John Charles Wellwood, son of
the late Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert
Wellwood, Winghai:4. The mar-
riage will take place on January
22nd, in Bedford Park United
Church, Toronto.
BOX 390
Wingham, Ont.
Jan. 13, 1964.
Advance -Times,
Wingham, Ontario.
Gentlemen:
On the Friday night be-
tween Christmas and New Years
I was one of the few who had
the privilege of seeing thehock-
ey game between our local
juveniles and Ripley.
It looks as though this year's
juvenile team is one which will
"go all the way". It is one of
the best balanced minor teams
Wingham has iced since the
days of Vic Loughlean's boys
who brought many trophies
home, and at the helm is none
other than Vic's nephew, Wayne
Brown, who seems to have come
up with a winner.
But alas, how few the num-
ber that turned out to support
the team that Friday night. 1
can almost count them on my
fingers; there was a small hand-
ful of teenagers, the parents of
about four of the local players,
one high school teacher and at
the most eight or ten other
adults.
Disappointing isn't it, when
a town like Wingham with a
population in the neighbour-
hood
eighbourhood of 2, soil can have only
about one percent of Its popu-
lation out to support their loc-
ket team? Olt, shame on you
citizens of Wingham!
It takes a crowd to give that
extra touch of excitement to
any game -- especially. hockey.
You can't complain about the
cold now, with the itwdern new
front. The boys are playing a
good brand of hockey -- they
deserve mote support -- your
support. Let's get behind them,
The admission price Is only
"two hits". The next home
game is friday night. See you
at the game.
Yours sincerely,
A Minor Hockey
Supporter.