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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1965-03-11, Page 9Complicated Solution A week or two ago Robert J. Boyer, M.P,P. for Muskoka, and second vice- chairman of Ontario Hydro, gave a com- prehensive report to the Ontario Legis- lature on a problem which has assumed major proportions for many residents of this province—the level of water in the * Great Lakes. Since so many of us have theories about what causes low water levels and how they can be raised, it was worth- while to gain factual information. Mr. Boyer, who has been responsible for reporting on studies undertaken by Ontario Hydro, points out that the low water problem has been created chiefly by natural causes and not man-made ones. Unusually light precipitation, both of rain and snow in the basins of Lakes Michigan, Huron, St. Clair, Erie and Ontario is one • of the main contributing factors, along with above-average evaporation. Economic losses in terms of light car- goes on freight vessels, costly dredging of channels, extensions to docks and harbor facilities, loss of revenue for resort operators and loss of power potential at • hydro -electric plants, reaches an Incalcul- able total in any extended period of low water levels. The low water problem has been under study by various interested groups on both sides of the border and active programs of engineering and construc- • tion will be undertaken at once to mini- mize the Toss of water from the Great Lakes Basin. Among these projects is an extensive construction of underwater weirs at the foot of Lake Huron to delay the run-off which will be handled by the American authorities. Since Lake Superior has not been af- fected by low levels, a higher -than - average run-off has been permitted from that body of water into the Michigan - Huron lake level. As a result Lake Su- perior was lowered a few inches and Lakes Huron and Michigan raised slightly. • Some arm -chair experts have contend- ed that the whole problem is created by the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the consequent loss of water through the new and deeper ship channels. The fact is that run-off at this point can be and is controlled, but the amount of flow reduction must be governed by the down- stream installations, such as Montreal harbor facilities, the ship channels in the Lower St. Lawrence and the hydroelec- tric installations below the Seaway channels. Mr. Boyer's report makes interesting reference to two plans which have been put forward as an all-time remedy for low water conditions in the Great Lakes. One is the plan propounded by a Sudbury engineer, under which a river in the Hudson Bay watershed could be dammed and the water pumped back to feed through the French River into Lake Huron. Cost of the plan would be in the neighborhood of two billion dollars. Although the benefits might conceivably merit this large expenditure, other factors cast some doubt on the usefulness of the scheme. A second and much more grandiose plan has been proposed by an American engineer. His project would trap the waters of the rivers in the Pacific North- west, such as the Fraser, Yukon, etc., and turn a portion of their flow back through a series of tunnels and canals to provide water not only for the Great Lakes drain- age basin, but for irrigation purposes over a vast area of the central Canadian, American and Mexican plains. It would entail a 500 mile -long storage lake in the Canadian Rockies some 3,000 feet above sea level. , The project is so vast as to appear mere fantasy ... but it must be borne in mind that the financial benefits would likewise be fantastic. The report concludes, however, with the advice that the most urgent task before this generation is the development of better methods for controlling the use of water from the sources which now feed the Great Lakes, and is notably op- timistic that worthwhile progress is be- ing made in this direction. Is It Parliamentary? ▪ There always has been doubt as to the interpretation of what is proper in debate. Generally the standards as es- tablished in the House of Commons at Westminster have been regarded as final, and as a result there is keen interest in the rulings of Mr. Speaker in the British • House. We are reminded by "Industry" that Mr. Speaker's decision on these occasions is rarely challenged by the Commons assembled and invariably establishes a precedent as to what is and what is not permissible. That it does not always *escape criticism in the country at large, however, is evidenced in the thunderous attack mounted in the columns of The Times on his recent ruling that Prime Minister Harold Wilson was not out of order in suggesting that an opposition * M.P. should be treated as a "parliamen- tary leper." One indignant correspondent has gone so far as to unearth all the (to him, lesser) expressions which previous Speak- ers have required to be withdrawn since the beginning of this century. • A partial list tends to confirm that British parliamentarians, like our own, have not always seen eye to eye over the past fifty years and is something of an education in itself. Among the more choice phrases which w • have been ruled out of order are "im- pertinent puppy"; "cheeky young pup"; "villain"; "murderers"; "stool pigeons"; "ruffianism"; "hypocrite"; "stooge"; "ratter" and "Pecksniffian cant" (Dick- ens' "Martin Chuzzlewit" refers). Even the most distinguished parlia- mentarians, it seems, have had their lapses, the late Sir Winston Churchill among them. Had he not been ordered to come up with another expression for "liar!" the world might never have heard of his now classic substitution "purveyor of terminological inexactitudes." Yet the prize for admissible insults bearing the stamp of greatness and wit probably should go to Disraeli, prime minister a hundred years ago. It was he who, asked by his arch -rival Glad- stone to explain the difference between "calamity" and "catastrophe," replied: "If the Honourable Member fell into the Thames that would be a calamity; if someone pulled him out that would be a catastrophe." And it was Disraeli again who, call- ed to order once for declaring that half the Cabinet members were "asses," re- plied: "I withdraw that, Mr. Speaker. Half the Cabinet are not asses."—Huron Expositor. Lack of Wisdom An unusual demonstration of the fact that minimum wage laws are not always wise and beneficial has been reported by the Toronto Globe and Mail. In pro- 4test of a government -decreed wage in- crease, says the paper, sheep shearers in New Zealand have walked off the job. The sheep farmers and their workers obviously know a great deal more about their business than does their govern- ment. Wool from the second shear of New Zealand sheep is exported to carpet makers in Canada and the United States. But it is a highly competitive market. The government, in its wisdom, set a limit of a 40 -hour week and established holiday and overtime pay for shearers, shed -hands and cooks. The farmers and their employees protested that this was lack of wisdom since the higher labor costs would price their product out of the North American carpet -wool market, end the second shearing and result in unemployment. When the government said there could be no appeal against the new wages -and -hours regulations, the shearers called a strike. The incident is unusual not only be- cause of the protest against higher pay but also because it so clearly illustrates that wages are set by the market, and not by decree.—BowmAnville Statesman. THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited W, Barry Wenger, President - Robert 0. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer Member Audit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspaper Associ- ation; Member Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Authorized by the Post Office Department as Second Class Mall and for payment of postage in cash Subscription Rate: One Year, 54.00; She Months, $2.25, in advance U.S.A., 55.00 per year; Foreign rate, 55.00 per year Advertising Rates on application THE HURON PRESBYTERY of the United Church held its spring meeting at Wingham United Church last Wednes- day. Rev. Clifford Britton, of Seaforth, seated right, was acting chairman. To his left is secretary Murdock Mor- rison, of Varna. Standing are Rev. Hugh C. Wilson, of London, a former chairman of the Presbytery, who spent 30 years with the group; Joseph Snider, of Goderich, treasurer, and Mrs. A. McTaggart, president of the Huron Presbytery United Church Women. —Advance -Times Photo. bain Utenciegiline Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, Mar. 11, 1965 SECOND SECTION Anniversary of United Church Set for June 6 Huron Presbytery of the United Church of Canada met last Wednesday in Wingham United Church. Rev. J. Clifford Britton of Seaforth was chair- man. Presbytery was informed that 14 ministers are entering The United Church of Canada from such churches as The Bap- tist Convention of Ontario and Quebec, The Evangelical Re- formed Church of Northwest Germany, The Chinese Christ- ian Church of Formosa, The Church of Scotland, The Re- formed Church in America. These ministers will be receiv- ed by Presbyteries across Can- ada. Rev. Clifford G. Park of Clinton, a member of the Lon- don -Huron Committee on Church Union, commented up- on the prospects of union be- tween the Anglican and United Churches: "There are two re - Letters to the Editor Advance- Times, Wingham, Ontario. Dear Sir: Sincere thanks for your editorial of March 4 regarding sewers. As residents who are in fa- vour of sewers for north Wing - ham, may we voice our disap- pointment at the strongly neg- ative attitude displayed by both council members, and many taxpayers at the recent meet- ing. Be assured we, too, feel the cost is high, and are in sympathy with all concerned who feel it would be a burden. But by deferring it 10-20 years, are general rising costs going to make the project absolutely prohibitive for the future? The suggestion to wait until more homes are built seems, to us, a very hopeless solution, since there have only been two homes build in this area in the past 10 years that we have resided here, Is there a reason? As lot owners we know too well the question of prospective buyers, "Are there sewers?" Is North Wingham an ob- jectionable part of town to de- velop? We think not. The scenic value alone of the river cannot be overlooked, and the creditable job done by the Ri- verside Park Committee has added greatly to North Wing - ham. The proposed new Hanna Memorial Bridge will, I'm sure, be a credit to the North- ern entrance of our town. The Planning and Develop- ment Board will surely not over- look verlook the potential that exists for industry in the area directly east of Lloyds North Plant, it being served with rail facilities adds another favourable aspect. As an alternative, should the town decide to purchase this area for a sub -division, who knows there may be quite a number willing to build modest homes, in the $12,000 figure, but who would not wish to obli- gate themselves to such homes as grace some other parts of town. In either case develop- ment of this area would help ease costs for those persons having frontage here as well as on Josephine Street. With at least one industry not wishing to support the pro- ject at the present time, it handicaps private owners be- cause of the necessary 50°Jo as- sessment required by a two- thirds majority for a petition. Should citizens be deprived the right to have modern sani- tary facilities? There does ex- ist property on North Josephine Street where because of space and hard pan soil conditions, septic tanks cannot be satis- factorily installed at any price. Surely a town can, in some way, plan to have sewer ser- vice provided for their main street, at least. The taxpayers in North Wingham are of course paying, and will continue to pay, their share for the lagoon disposal project. Why not then do our part to have some use of this service? We will, individually, have costs in maintaining our present systems, regardless. With a corner lot and pro- perty equal to approximately 4 •§tandard lots, we speak as own- ers who would have consider- able costs, but still feel in the long run we would do both our- selves and those who follow us a service by supporting a sewer project. Yours truly, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jardin Advance -Times, Wingham. Dear Sin Do we need more homes for our Senior Citizens? Yes, I think We do --not so much in the way of additions to our county home, or smaller ver- sions of that home elsewhere in the County, but more in the nature of the privateor nursing home type. Basically the purpose of our County Home (Huronview) is to provide a home and care for our Senior Citizens who are not financially able to do it for themselves. However, it is a known fact that our County Officials concerned with the County Home, have been soliciting paying residents, and giving them accommodation at a rate which is subsidized by the tax- payer. No public institution such as Huronview, which is financ- ed by the taxpayer, should be in competition with Nursing Homes which have to support themselves. If our County Homes were used strictly for what they are intended for, there is some doubt additions would be nec- essary. I submit that as long as people are able to pay their own way, they should do so -- but not in an institution that is financed by the taxpayer for another purpose. Some people argue that because of the won- derful facilities at the County Home residents receive much better care than they would in a nursing home. One case comes to mind of an elderly lady who was in the hospital for a while, then in a nursing home. Her son discovered she was being better cared for in the nursing home than in the hospital. Yes, we see lots of marble and granite in our large insti- tutions --but too often with a staff, with no time for the per- sonal touch --which is more evi- dent vident in the smaller home. Hospitalization should be extended, at least in part, to qualifying Nursing homes, be- cause many patients in these homes are more difficult to look after than some in our hospitals. M. Ross Smith, Morris Township. quirements for a successful un- ion between the Anglican and United Churches - (1) the ac- ceptance of bishops by the United Church and (2) recogni- tion by the Anglican Church of the United Church ministry as valid without re -ordination. In the proposed new church the method of establishing andcon- secrating bishops should satisfy the Anglicans; then again, the fact that the bishops would be responsible to the church courts should make it acceptable to the United Church. We should also point out that this will be mutually acceptable to mem- bership as well as ministry. It should be kept in mind that the London -Huron Committee's findings have no authority out- side London Conference and Huron Diocese; we do hope that our plan will spark discus- sion and action." The United Church Women of Huron Presbytery reported that 2, 957 members raised a total of $110, 000.00 in 1964. The Centennial Committee initiated plans for the observ- ance of the church's 40th anni- versary when it designated Sun- day, June 6th as the day to hold such an event; it recom- mended that each congregation plan a local service with a speaker from another denomin- ation as guest. "In such a way," the committee chairman, Rev. Cecil Jardine, reported, "we can emphasize our member- ship in the Church Catholic (or world-wide.)." A solemn note was expressed regarding the shortage of or- dained ministers. Ninety men are lost each year in the church through death, retirement, etc. With the increase in the num- ber of new churches being es- tablished and a poor enlistment in the ranks of students, the picture does not look good for rural areas which would be the first to feel the shortage. Bridge Club North and South: Mrs. H. Fisher and Miss Y. McPherson, and Mrs. C. Hodgins and W. Wharry tied for first; B.Ortlieb and J. Martin, second; Mrs, J. H. Crawford and Mrs. B. Mathes third. East and West; Mrs. F. Forgie and C. Hodgins, first; O. Hasel- grove and W. Laidlaw, second; Mrs. D. Nasmith and A.M. Forbes, third.