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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1965-04-22, Page 9• • 1' inquest Should Point the Way Though no announcement has been made asyet, it is to be expected that an inquest will be held to investigate all aspects .of the tragic drowning accident at the Lower Town dam last Wednesday evening. It is obvious that the boy lost his life by accident, but it is high'time to review all the facts in an effort to determine whether or not every possible precaution has been taken to prevent such tragedies. Last week's drowning was the fourth in eight years in the immediate vicinity of the dam. in the summer of 1957 a daughter of Mr, and Mrs, Otte Jouwsma drowned In the head race just west of the dam; the following year, on Easter Sunday Brien Hunter fell into the raging waters at the west end of the dam and lost his life; a few years later George Glousher stepped off the sidewalk where it passes over the head race and drowned, This latest fatality certainly points to the need for a full examination of all the facts in these cases, We simply must not take the fatalistic attitude that such loss of life is inevitable. A Who Makes the Decisions? Still on the subject of public safety, it would be interesting to know what reasoning was employed in the erection of temporary fencing at the Brown fac- tory property. At the last session of the town council it was pointed out that the rear of the building had collapsed and the ruins pre- sented a serious safety hazard, particu- larly if curious children should decide to investigate the site too closely. As a result council ordered a fence placed around the danger area to prevent pos- sible accidents. A fence has indeed been placed at the Brown property --but nowhere near the dangerous part of the building at the rear. Snow fencing has been erected along the Alfred Street frontage where there isn't even a loose brick. The tum- bled ruins at the rear are still just as wide open to the public as they were a week ago Monday night when council made its decision. Not only are the remains of the brick walls in danger of falling in, but the con- tents of the upper floors are poised close to the edges of the drooping floors and at any time could come cascading out on top of anyone walking beneath. And, we repeat, there is no fencing of any sort whatsoever to prevent either children or adults from poking around the ruins and inviting disaster. Surely this erection of a token fence along the front of the property must have been a case of orders getting crossed up somewhere. Also, and just as surely, there has been ample time to correct the oversight if such it was. Tanker Proves its Worth The wisdom of purchasing a tank truck as an auxiliary water supply for the Wingham and District fire department was proven quite conclusively at the Charles Krohn fire last week. As has so often been the case with country fires, the firemen had just about controlled the • blaze when the 500 -gallon tank on the regular fire truck went dry. it has al - 1 • 4 • M ways been a heart-rending sight to see this happen; the dying flames begin to glow with fresh energy and before long the building is far beyond hope of saving. Now it is different. The 1,200 addi- tional gallons on the auxiliary tanker provide the needed reserve. ' The firemen now have a much better chance of doing their work effectively. Are Local Governments Doomed? There is considerable apprehension at present that the Ontario government favors a plan to eliminate many smaller local governments in an effort to achieve greater efficiency and economy of admin- istration. The matter is under study by a select committee and its recommend- ations suggest that progress is being hampered by the multiplicity of local boards and councils. There are some fast-growing areas where these arguments have a certain amount of validity. One case in point is that of the Kitchener - Waterloo - Waterloo County complex where there appears to be need for a metro -type council of some sort which could co-ordinate development without duplication of effort or waste of resources. Certainly it was this sort of problem which led to the formation of the highly contentious Metropolitan Toronto community. In areas such as our own, however, there is grave doubt that any such plan would have worthwhile benefits. Right at the present time a large percentage of tax- payers in both the north and 'south areas of the couny of Huron have their own reservations about the sort of legislation which can be expected from a centralized government -- even one as familiar as a county council. In larger governing bodies the interests of entire communities can be and often are disregarded in the jockeying which is a part of council politics, The Ontario government is courage- ously attacking some of our major prob- lems. In certain cases it is necessary to amalgamate very small units of authority, a prime example of which is the consolida- tion of school sections and the disappear- ance of the one -and two -room schools. It may be, too, that in suggesting the consolidation of municipal councils the select committee is chiefly concerned about the large urban areas; but in pass- ing any such widespread legislation the government must give deep consideration to all categories of local control. The Shortage Explained Striking compositors from Toronto's three daily newspapers are not only draw- ing a healthy strike -pay allowance from • their union (reputed to be $80.00 per week) but are also receiving unemploy- ment insurance benefits. The unemployment insurance fund is provided by deductions from the pay cheques of other Canadian workers who • are slugging away at their jobs every day —and by employers all over the country who match the earners' contributions dol- lar for dollar: Among those contributing employers, of course, are the publishers of the Toronto newspapers against whom • the strike is aimed. Is it any wonder that the unemploy- ment insurance fund periodically falls to dangerously low levels, even in times of high employment? These strikers who are drawing unemployment insurance from the rest of us were offered guaran- teed jobs with their newspapers at weekly rates of about $150 per week—and they chose to remain out on strike. Why, then, must the rest of us pay the shot? Let's keep the unemployment insurance benefits for those people who are actually out of work but are willing to pull their own weight as soon as they get a chance? THE WINGI-IAM ADVANCE - TIMES Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Eros. Limited W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert O. Wenger, Sectetary-Treasurer Member Audit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associ- atioh; Member Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Authorized by the Post Office Department as Second Class Mail and for payment of Postage in cash Subscription Elate: One Year, $4.00; Siic Months, $2.25, in advance U.S.A., $5.00 per year; Foreign rate, $5.00 per year Advertising Rate on application REMINISCING APRIL 1915. A pretty wedding toox place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wm, MacKersie, Gorrie, on . Wednesday, April; 14th, when their youngest dattghter, Clara Irene, was united in marriage with Mr, James A, Halliday, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Da- vid Halliday, of l 1owick Town- ship, Mrs. Archie Simmons is the justly proud mother of having all her sons, three in number, to defend the Empire, Will, Archie and Harper have all en- listed, The family until recent- ly ecently were citizens of Wingham„ Moving to Brandon. From what we can learn Wingham holds the record for enlistment. Mr.Joseph Guest, a valued member of the Methodist choir for many years, was presented with an address of appreciation and well wishes and a magnifi- cent desk on Thursday evening, Mr. Guest made a suitable reply, thanking the choir for their token of esteem, Mr. T, Ralph Willis of Gana- noque has been engaged to take charge of Wingham Citi- zens' Band and commenceshis duties at once. APRIL 1929 The home of Rev. A,A. Holmes, Clinton was the scene of a quiet but pretty event when Miss Dorothy, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rob- ert Baird, Blyth, was united in marriage to Mr. James Cruik- shank, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Cruikshank, of Wing - ham, The members of the W.C. T.U. spent a most pleasant hour at the home of Mrs. Thos. Field last Thursday afternoon, when Mrs. Geo. Hanna, Mrs. James Gilmour, Mrs. Geddes and Miss Pringle contributed to a literary and musical program, Afterwards Mrs. Anderson pre- sented Mrs. R.J. Tyndall with a gold life membership pin in recognition of nine years effi- cient and sacrificing services as President. APRIL 1940 The local Battery are all set for a training period as two guns arrived last week. The guns are 18 pounders and are similar to the guns the battery previously used for training, and which were shipped to another place a few months ago. Sappers Frank Vanner and John Knox have returned to Queen's Park, London, after spending the past two weeks at the former's home here. The High School students at the noon hour on Wednesday last had visions of a holiday as a spark from the chimney igni- ted the shingles. Fanned by the high wind the roof took fire in several places but the fire- men quickly put out the blaze. The damage was almost negli- gible, and school was held as usual. Lorne Gardener was the table tennis champion and Jack Ernest the runner up in the re- cent Public School tournament, DIGNITARIES VISIT—Worthy Grand Patron Avery Day, right, of Brantford, along with Other guests made an official visit to the Eattern Star on Tuesday evening. From the left are: Alex Robertson, Worthy Patron; Mrs. Alex Robertson, Worthy Matron; Mr. Day; standing: Mrs. Betty Sanderson, Grand Adah, Grand Chapter; Mrs. Viola McClung, Past Grand Matron and Mrs. Elsie Day, Past Matron, all of Brantford.—Photo by Cantelon. ingbain AbbancoEi -Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, Apr. 22, 1965 SECOND SECTION APRIL 1951 Doreen Hulme, of Sault Ste. Marie, niece of Mrs. Thomas Parker, Wroxeter North, was one of the Canadian artists reaching the semi-finals in Singing Stars of Tomorrow, a radio program planned to de- velop talent among young Can- adians. Doreen's voice was hears over CKNX on Thursday evening, when she took part in the Voice of the Army program Wingham town council met in special session on Friday eve• ning, when Mr. Stewart, of the Kilborn Engineering Com- pany was present for further dis- cussion in regard to the new sewage disposal plant which is to be installed here. Resident groundhog licenses are now available and may be secured from Conservation Of- ficer, John Neeve, 59 Carling Terrace. These licenses re- main valid until the end of August, at which time the new hunting license will be avail- able. Fred O. Wilson, B.S.A. , Assistant Agricultural Represen- tative for Huron County, since June 1940, has returned to active farming with his father and brother on a 400 -acre farm in Caledon Township, Peel County. Mr. Wilson has been in charge of Junior work in Huron County and has been efficient and well liked, Letters to the Editor (Intended for The Advance -Times, Wingham, Ontario. Dear Sir: In your paper of April lst there was a picture of No, 4 School in 1•lowick. Well, I laughed and I cried. I went to that school but not when that picture was taken in 1902. I would he six years old and in those days, you didn't start school until you were eight, but 1 knew every one in the pic- ture, hut not the teachers. So many have passed away now. In the little pinafores and bare feet, oh what a change today! My cousin, who loaned you the picture was Myrtle King and now Mrs, Jas,Mc'ravish. She sent me the paper. Site is one of the pupils in the picture and how I appreciate it, tread every inch of the paper. 1)o you know if that school is still there today? 1 don't get last week) down that way much now. Only to the Gorrie Cemetery, where my parents, brothers and sister and my husband and daughter are buried. We have all gotten away from that part of the country, but CKNX gives us a good coverage of the news. Also I appreciated the picture and paper very much, and 1 do thank you. Mrs. Pears Mothersell, nee Pearl King, Owen Sound. The Advance Times, Wingham, Ont. Dear Sir: After reading this week's paper 1 was pleased to see that council is going to join the Mid -Western Development As- sociation again this year. Even though I no longer live in Wingham, it is still home to triy husband and thyself and we hope to make our hoose SUGAR. AND SPICE by BiI1.5miley Sour Note On Festivals Every year, the Music Festi- val throws our establishment into a ring-tailed tizzy. And this year it was the same old story. In the first place, it always takes place at the worst time of year. One year it will be in the middle of the opening of trout season. By the time I get out, after listening to a I 1 those crumby little kids play the same old crumby pieces, the big fish are all gone, and 1 have to thrill over the leftover seven-inchers. Another year, it strikes at the height of those first golden, green days on the golf course. This year, it caught me right in the middle of about 100 hours of marking exams "in my spare time," as the taxpayers put it. But I'm not complaining. I'm used to sacrificing the liner things of life for what my wife thinks are the finer things of life. No, I don't worry about me. Nor do I worry about my son. He's like me; a steady reliable, gentle, sweet type, who takes things as they come. It's the women in our family who cause the trouble. My wife and daughter, who operate on high C at the best of times, hits a new note, way above that, when Festival Titne arrives. Young Kim has a penchant for seIf-destruct1onbefore the event. At her very first music festival, when she was six, she played a piece called "The Lit- tle Mouse." And you should have seen her. Under her left eye she had the biggest little mouse ever hatched — size of a rat. The day before, in a rush for the teacher's desk, with a brilliant piece of art work or summat, she had collided head- on with a little boy. She had an eye like a rainbow with a hang- over. Another year, she got the flu', there again someday. But what chance do we have? With only a few industries and hardly any vacancies, the young people have to go else- where for employment. So come on council, keep up the good work and someday we'll be able to come hack home to Iive. A Wingham Lover and played with a temperature of 102. Feverishly. Last year, she came up to me about three weeks before the festival and said, "Guess what, Dad?" She'd broken a finger playing basketball, and later lumbered through her pieces with a cast on it. The other day, she decided to ski down the last 40 yards of the ski slope on her nose. It was the day before the festival. She played in a state of shock. And her parents listened in the same state. It's disturbing to have a nut of a kid like that around. But she's merely a physical case. Her mom is a mental case. When the bugle goes for the music festi- val, the Old Girl leaps on her hobby -horse and rides off in al directions. At one time she was an Mlle nary festival mother. Lipstick gnawed off, hair like a hay- stack, eyes wild, fingernails bit - 'ten down to the first knuckle, nerves like strung piano wire. But now she's a music''teach- er, as well. Not only does she bleed for our own kids, but her pupils as well. There hasn't been a bed made in our house since the festival began. Not that it bothers her; she hasn't slept a wink anyway. She gallops off at 9 a.m., pen- cil and program like sword and shield. And she sits there listen- ing to a lot of little kids playing a Iot of little pieces for about 14 hours. Then she comes home and gives me a three-hour post mortem. I reel into bed and fall asleep like a wet towel, she lies there in a state of warm rigor mortis. going over all the mistakes her students made, replaying their piece;;, arguing furiously with the stupid adjudicator, grinning wildly at the other teachers, saying "just wait until next year". Music festivals are for crazy people. Crazy kids, who think they are musical. Crazy par- ents, who think their kids are musical, Crazy music teachers, who think they are musical and their students can't help show- ing it, How'd you like to be married to two crazy people?