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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1964-04-02, Page 9The Norwich Plan A few weeks ago we made reference to a plan of renovation for business premises which has been carried out with great effect along one block in the city of St. Thomas, Ontario. It is called I ne Norwich Plan" because it originated in the city of that name in the Old Country. We do not suggest that a project of this kind can, by itself, regenerate a com- plete community. However, it ho:, proven time and again that outward, physical appearances often have a mark- ecl effect on public morale. The experience of the St. Thomas A j merchants has been most remarkable in r this regard. They have found that busi- ness in their stores has improved and no doubt the improved appearance of their properties has been matched by a cor- responding increase and improvement in their stocks, The Wingham Business Association has made an excellent start on plans to improve the business life of this com- munity. The Norwich Plan should merit their close study as a proven means of stimulating interest on the part of both merchants and shoppers. Elsewhere in this issue of The Ad- vance -Times there is a full story about the St. Thomas project. Interesting Economies One of the more interesting develop- ments in the House of Commons last week was Defence Minister Paul Hellyer's White Paper on the armed forces, The outstanding and perhaps, to some, shock- ing revelation was that the three armed forces, army, navy and air force are to be integrated into one body. No doubt arguments are well under way, even now, about the pros and cons of the decision: It will be a blow to those officers and men who have, over the years, developed their own fierce loyal- ties to the branches of the service in which they have served. One of the more interesting state- ments in this connection was that as many as 10,000 administrative jobs could be dispensed with. Frankly, we had no idea that "overlapping" could have reach- ed such an extensive degree. If duplication of effort is so serious in the armed forces administration, we begin to wonder how much more vast and costly it must be in the administra- tion of government itself. Certainly the s > army, navy and air force were separated by no wider chasms than exist between A A li r 4 government departments, where deputy ministers and their stairs have had years to establish their own empires. Anyone who has had any experience with government affairs knows how jealously each department regards its own field of control. It has been said that it is easier to arrange a meeting of the Soviets and the Americans than to get co-operation between any two govern- ment departments. Not only have these departments tremendous staffs of clerks, typists, ac- countants, scientists, etc., but they have even branched out into their own pro- duction branches. Some departments .of the government have printing sections which would put many large city com- mercial printing firms to shame. Mr. Hellyer's white paper refers to the fact that several recommendations of the Glassco Commission will be put into ef- fect by the unification of the armed forces. If we recall correctly the same Glassco report recommended extensive curtailment of duplications within gov- ernment itself. Perhaps we can expect this urge of efficiency to spread to other and higher quarters. Fine Public Servant Though Attorney General Fred M. Cass has resigned his cabinet portfolio under a storm of public criticism, it should not be forgotten that he has served this pro- vince faithfully for many years and his services have been of inestimable value. He is a man who is endowed with much more energy that most of us. Coupled with all the faculties of an alerc and en- quiring mind, he filled several of On- tario's most important posts with distin- ction. We are not defending his proposed legislation. He realized, no doubt, when he first accepted a cabinet post, that the price of misjudgment is stiff—and he has paid the fee. The people of the province are the final court of appeal where pub- lic figures are concerned, and Mr. Cass found that their verdict demanded his resignation. Be the reasons what they may, we all have reason to be thankful that Fred Cass served us as long as he did. Voters Dislike Hard Realities The new budget very clearly illustrates how difficult a country Canada is to gov- ern, says The Financial Post. We have built-in problems of great magnitude. But what we call a democracy in 1964 makes it incredibly difficult for a gov- ernment to do the things the national in- terest calls for. Certainly, in its budget, the government has made a number of sensible and constructive moves. It has extended the period of fast write-offs for new producers in depressed areas. It is actively encouraging our millions of teen-agers to equip themselves with the skills necessary in an increasingly corn- "' plex technical age. It has hopes of widen- ing Canadian participation in the owner- ship of Canadian firms. But the basic dilemma of how to maintain high Canadian living standards and create an economy more capable of determining its own destiny remains un- resolved. How long can we survive with prosperity primed by budget deficits? With unemployment and impending in- flation? With balance of payments de- ficits and rising foreign ownership that 4 e requires ever -higher dividend payments abroad? This is Mr. Gordon's dilemma. It is the dilemma of all Canadians. The first budget presented by Mr. Gordon attempt- ed to tackle this dilemma by making significant changes in Canada's commer- cial policies. Those plans didn't work. Many Canadians now think nothing effec- tive and acceptable to most people can be concocted. This year's budget at- tempts no major changes. It is accept- able to most because of the present high level of business activity and because it avoids the difficult and important prob- lems. But neither the failure of the first budget nor the neutrality of the present one should be allowed to mask the facts as to where Canada's present course eventually leads. Do Canadians care? Are they willing to accept hard and basic changes? The most challenging issue in Canadian history still faces our govern- ment but voters dislike facing hard realities. THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES Published at Winghant, 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 THE WHITECHURCH RIFLE TEAM won the Huron Rifle Cup on October 26, 1911, Members of the team back, left to right are: R. M. Shiell, P. Leaver, G. Nicholson, G. T. Robertson, S. Elliott; front: W. G. M. Reid, J. W. McClen- aghan, R. Carrick (captain), G. Shiell and D. Beecroft.— Picture courtesy Duston Beecroft. xn bttnct€imit Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, April 2, 1964 SECOND SECTION SUGAR AND SPICE And Bring Your Friends By BILL SMILEY I was lwarned by my family not to write a column about this; how- ever, no fearless columnist has ever been de- terred by threats. I can always get a room at the YMCA for a few days, if worst comes to worst. My s o n Hugh is going to present a piano recital in a couple of weeks at the Conserva- tory, in the city. The an- nouncement has created a flurry of excitement, alarm and despondency that will likely be unequalled until the day my daughter de- clares that she is going to be married. Needless to say, the one who is excited, alarmed and despondent is not I. Nor is it my daughter. Nor is it the star of the eve- ning, himself. In fact, he is quite cool about it. So cool, indeed, that he isn't quite sure of the date, the place, the time. or how much it will .cost his old man. Bill Smiley * * * No, it's his mother who is panicking. First of all, she demands to know, in the name of all that is ridiculous, how he hopes to have his pieces ready in such a short time. "IL's impossible!" s h e wails, "It's out of the question. You are a mutt!" The next minute, she's dolefully predicting that nobody will come to the recital, and that we'll be disgraced, shamed forever in the eyes of ... uh .. . 1 don't know whom, exact- ly. We fight back, of course. llugh goes into a vague, in- volved explanation of how he can get his pieces in shape. It has to do with turning over new leaves, letting no grass grow underfoot, nose to grind- stone, shoulder to wheel and stitches in time. "Hah!" snorts his mune. "The only thing that will save your bacon is divine intervention," or some- thing of the sort, she in- timates. I step in to pour oil on the fiery waters, or tears of rage, as some call them. I assure her that the hall will he filled, the applause will lift the roof, the critics will proclaim a new Pad- erewski, and we'll all be proud, rich and happy ever after. "There'll • be nobody there but the family," she say's flatly. She hadn't even heard me. "Not a soul will come." We proceed to prove her wrong. We count up the aunts . and cousins who HAVE to come. We count up the friends and students who MIGHT come. Total is about 23. "You see?", triumphant. ly. "You people aren't realistic. We'll be a Laugh- ing -stock. It's going to be a big flop. Everybody we invite will say they'd love to conte, but they just can't make it that night." Bit• terly. Then I have a bright idea. I'll probably have to do it when Kim is married, so I plight as well give Hugh a send-off. I explain to the Old Battle Axe. It's the only way to assemble a crowd in these troubled tinges. She agrees, feels better, even grins. * * * At the bottom of the in- vitations we will have printed: "Refreshments afterwards at the Blank hotel, Room So -and -So." They may not know Tschaikovsky from Khrush- chev, Beethoven from beet soup, a Bach score from a sore back, but our friends will be there, even if they have to drive 300 miles. Won't you, chaps? Then there was the gentle- man who keit complaining be- cause his young daughter's mar- riage had been .1 ":May-aud- L)crctnher" affair -- she was married in \hty, and he's still paying for it in December. Reminiscing APRIL 1914 Miss :Margaret Colvin, of San Francisco, is visiting with Mr. and Mrs. W. J. llowson. Miss Colvin will leave in a few weeks for New Westminster, B.C., where she will take the position as Lady Superintendent in the General Hospital in that Cita. \!r. J. 11. Christie, the con- ductor of the Wingham Choral Society, was presented with hcautiful watch fob. at the close of the final rehearsal oil Thursday evening last. \ll. N. T. Sinclair who made the pre- sentation, said the gift was in no way liivant to show the tunic of \ir. Christie's work, but just as a token of their heart\ ap- preciation of his matting ef- forts on rhe Society's behalf. Mr. Christie suitably replied. Miss Ally Pearl Hiles, the talented elocutionist, who l:as been . isiting for a few eliaal with Miss Mac Lloyd, Mr for \home 111 KineardItl: on Manda'. APRIL 1928 Norman Butcher, of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, London, has been spending a few dais with his mother, N'rs. Mary Dutcher. Miss Bertha McGee isspend- ing a week with her sister, Mrs. F. Williams in Iianover, WIIO was in town a few do'.s last week. llcrbert Collar returned home on Wednesday, from a tisit with his parents to London, Eng. Twen:y tears had elapsed since lie had last seen thein. Ile reports a tory enjoyable trip W. A. Miller and J. II. Mc- Kay who recently disposed of their business in town, hate joined in a wholesale cigar and confectionery business and pur- pose sorting this district from Wingham. k1r. and Mrs. Wm. Gannett celebrated the :,lith anniversary Of their marriage at their florae in Winglann last week, where Mrs. Gannett, formerly Miss Nlary Messer of Blue\ ale, carne as a bride ,ti years ago. APRIL 1939 The guest speaker at the Paster Thank -Offering tneetin of the Goforth Young Women's Amiltary last Wednesday ete- ntng was Mrs. George W. \tac- Kay of Formosa. Mrs, i`LtcKay hilS been with het hnshand tor twenty -set en years in service on the Formosan field, and is, therefore. well qualified to in- terpret to her western audiences present-day Oriental conditions, as well as missionary work on the field in which she is par- ticularly interested. \}essages from many nations approving President Rouse\ e It's appeal to Chancellor littler and Premier Mussolini for a pledge of ten years of peace arrived at the State Department, where officials gravely studied world reaction to the dramatic effort to end Europe's series of tense crises. Rev. T. 1:. Kennedy, Of Norwich, will preach at Blue - Yale and }?adic's Presbyterian Churches next Sunday. Mr. George W. Schaefer, foriner Winghalnite, on Mon - da t e.ertmlg was elected presi- dent of the Goderich Soard of Trade. Duncan \icDougall, of !ilia - tale, had a contract for the building of a Sltl, 000 post of- fice at Twe cd. On Saturday :.!clougall ree.i'.cd word froin the department at Ottat:a not to proceed with this won.. Recently the Council at Tweed passed a resolution that tins work be not proceeded with the to the unsettled conditions of world affairs at the presclit t line. APRIL 1949 The condition of Carl Jenkins the i 1-year-oid sill of Mr. and '.lrs. Borden Jenkins, who teas operated on in Totontt i.'ellc;al lluspttal on Monday is consider- ed satistactort . Earl rete i, .d a fractured skull and other bruises o11 Sarurda, afternon. Ile had been g1.c11 money to purchase a rap and a short time after leaving home returned and col- lapsed, atter saving tie had been hurt. lie was taken to the of- fice of Dr. W. A. \1cKibbon, who found a large limp on the hack of itis head, and ttn- nie d iate R orde red hip: to he taken home to bed. Later when his condition became worse he was taken to rbc Winghann e:ctteral Ik,spital where an \- rat re'i,.tled a severe ilaeturt of the skttii. later that eve- ning he was re1110%cd ht ambit - lance to Toronto. Chief of Police, '1', W. Platt, who has heen to charge of lllta'stigatiollt unformed us that from the et 1- denee he has r.ceited it is established that he was hit h\ a fairly taw black car, occupied by the drlte r only.