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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1965-09-16, Page 9F s R w • • 4 little Enthusiasm for Election It would appear that Canadians, at least those in our part of Ontario, havq had enough of elections. Announcement last week that a federal election will be held November 8th seems to have arous- ed the least possible enthusiasm. This attitude, though regrettable, is at the same time almost inevitable. The frequency of elections in the past five years has produced a state of near - boredom. The petty bickering between party leaders which has gone on for months has done nothing to add to the stature of federal politics, Of course this is a sad, even dangerous mental attitude for any nation. The plain fact is that there will be a federal election on November 8th, whether we want it or not. If we, who believe ourselves to be intelligent citizens, fail to give thought to its outcome we might well find ourselves saddled with a type of government none of us want. This election has been called for one reason only •— because the Liberal party does not have a clear majority in the House of Commons and Prime Minister Pearson feels he cannot handle public af- fairs any longer with the threat of defeat hanging over his head. However, it is highly possible that another minority gov- ernment, whether Liberal or Conservative, will find itself in power after the Novem- ber voting, With two major parties and three or four minor ones competing for the voters' approval it is quite likely that no one party wilt emerge with any tre- mendous majority. Horticulture Holds Interest One has only to drive around the streets of Wingham at this time of year to be convinced that there are a great many flower lovers in the community. Though this writer happens to have a brown thumb rather than a green one, one of our more interesting pastimes is seek- ing out the most beautiful flower beds and gardens to find subjects for color photography—and so we have first-hand knowledge of the capabilities of Wingham gardeners. It is unfortunate that Wingham does not have a Horticultural Society, under which the gardeners could organize and co-ordinate their efforts. Most towns in this area do have such societies and we understand that the benefits are consider- able. In many neighboring centres the annual flower show in late summer is one of the highlights of the season. Mrs. Vaughan Douglas, who is inter- ested in the establishment of a horticul- tural society here has recently received information from, The Ontario Horticul- tural Association, in which the secretary points out that special grants are paid to societies in the formative stages. This amounts to 50c per member up to a maxi- mum of $75.00 The initial membership fee is only $1.00. After the formation of a horticultural society the grant amounts to 25c for every dollar spent by the so- ciety in its local beautification program. We are sure that there are many flow- er enthusiasts in Wingham who would be sincerely interested in the formation of such a group, and suggest that a call to Mrs. Douglas would be the first step. Makes Good Sense At last week's council meeting Ted Moszkowski drew attention to the need for action to stop bicycle riding on the sidewalks in the town. Despite the fact that the complaint about irresponsible young cyclists carries the drawback of over -familiarity we believe that Councillor Moszkowski's comments deserved a more interested hearing. It is perfectly true that there are too many bicycles on the sidewalks. Should one of these riders strike an older person serious bodily injury would be all but in- evitable. Something more than public safety is involved here, for the young cyclists we see on our sidewalks today will be driv- ing motor vehicles before we know it. It is certainly not too early to instill in future drivers absolute obedience to traf- fic laws. Several times over the past ten years this column has suggested that a traffic school for bicycle owners should be held at regular intervals. At one time the po- lice personnel evidenced keen interest in such a traffic school to be operated in co- operation with one of the service clubs. Nothing more has been heard on the sub- ject. None of us are anxious to "lower the boom" on the youngsters who whizz around town on their bikes—but a well- planned system of training, followed by some form of licensing for those who can pass the tests would have many bene- fits. For one thing it is the only answer to confining bicycle operation to those boys and girls who are actually old enough to understand and obey traffic rules. There are dozens of youngsters riding around on small bicycles at ages so tender they can scarcely tell right from left. If you doubt this statement spend 15 minutes any morning at one of the ap- proaches to the public school and see for yourself. In our books Councillor Moszkowski's words made perfectly good sense. Whopping Advantage It seems very difficult for government to cure regional problems without dis- satisfaction in some other quarter, Latest example is the legislation under which some areas can be named as economically depressed, and so become eligible for grants to industries locating within the designated zones. Few people realize that such grants take the form of sizeable handouts of cash to the industries—up to one-third of their capital expenditures, The justice or injustice of the legis- lation came into sharp focus within the past few weeks when a firm which is building a plant near Hanover stopped all work on the structure at a point where $100,000 had been spent. The hold-up was called for when it was found that some $400,000 might be available from the federal government if a new location were picked within the Georgian Bay de- pressed area. It would have meant aban- doning .the work already done, but a site only eleven miles to the north would have made the grants available. Fortunately for Hanover the firm is reported to have decided on its original location. Basic reason for the designation of de- pressed areas is to provide more employ- ment for the workers within that area. However, it is obviously going to cause trouble. Even wealthy firms may claim this un- believably generous assistance, since the only aspect with which the government is concerned is the stimulation of new jobs. Nevertheless we in the Wingham area might well contend that we need more in- dustries too. It seems that the depressed areas were determined by figures obtained from the National' Employment Service, indicating the numbers of persons seeking employ- ment when the survey was made. Many and varied factors should be considered in determining the need for such open-handed assistance, one of most important being the overall need to dis- perse the nation's industries more evenly throughout the rural areas. Until a gen- eral program of this kind is carried out our economy is certain to be lop -sided. THE WINGI-IAM ADVANCE - TIMES Published at Wingharn, Ontario, by Wenger tiros, Limited W. Barry Wenger, President Robert U Wenger, Secretary; -Treasurer Member Audit 13urcau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapefrs Assocle ation; Member Canadian Cominunity Newspapers Representativert Authorir:ed 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.g5, in advance U.S.A., $5.00 per year; Foreign rate, $5.00 per year Advertising Rates on appifeatioin NEARLY COMPLETE—The new bridge being built by the Mowbray Construction Co., of Wingham, on the second line of Morris Township is almost completed. Work is still progressing on the handrails, but the major work has been finished. Grading up the approaches has not started as yet and will take some time to complete. The bridge replaces an old iron structure at the Stone School. —Advance -Times Photo. Leon Cantelon's Diary Recalls Last 100 Days of First World Conflict Leon Cantelon, of Wingham, went overseas to England with the 161st Huron Battalion in 1916. Later he joined the 47th Battalion (from Vancouver and New Westminster, B.C. ), 10th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in France. The First Great War series on TV recently has brought back many nostalgic memories. Perhaps the follow- ing entries from his war diary of the "last 100 days of the war with the 47th Battalion" will bring back many memories to his comrades of those hectic days. August 1, 1918: Marched with full kit to Agnez Les Dui - sans --in huts-- weather fine and hot. Bombed at night by Fritz; close call, Spent two days in that camp; downtown in eve; bath in creek --water cold. Aug. 3: Proceeded by lorries to Tinques and that night we entrained (in box cars as usual) and travelled via Etaples to Pont Remy, south of Abbey- ville; weather wet. Aug. 4: Marched from Pont Remy to Hallencourt. Billeted in barns. Country very peace- ful; fine weather. Aug. 5: Marched from Hal- lencourt to Fourdrincy (not sure of name), a distance of about 20 miles. Marched at night to keep movement of troops sec- ret, kept under cover in day- time in barns, etc. Fine wea- ther. Brilliant display of searchlights --about 20 working at one time spotting enemy planes. Aug. 6: Marched to Sailu where we changed from full marching order to Battle Order --issued with two water bottles, extra ammunition, etc. --bil- leted in large brick factory building. Fine weather. Aug. 7: Marched at night from Sailu to Gentille. Woods, our "Jumping Off" point in the big drive to start next a.m. Dense masses of Infantry, Artil- lery, Cavalry, Tanks, etc. , on the move --roads jammed, ar- tillery active, fine weather. Slept out back of Gentille Woods waiting for the attack to start at dawn. BATTLE OF AMIENS Aug. 8: Canadian drive start- ed before dawn in a fog--lst, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions attack- ed with 4th Division in reserve --Australian Corps was on our left flank and the French on our right flank just south of the Amiens-Roye road. Splendid barrage in a.m. and excellent co-operation between all branches of the service --Infan- try, Artillery, Cavalry, Tanks and Airplanes. Canadian at- tack a great success, We ad- vanced eight miles. llth and 12th Brigades of 4th Division were in action in p.m. Weath- er fine. Aug. 9: More progress made in a.m. 10th Brigade moved up into supports through LeS Quesnel and Beaufort. Weather fine. Aug, 10: 10th Canadian Bri- gade attacked Foqueseourt from Watt/fliers at noon (1 NM.) and after heavy fighting, on the second attempt, succeeded in capturing it. Poor support from artillery, tanks, and airplanes. Infantry had to attack the old Somme trenches which were a mass of machine gun nests practically unaided- -cavalry unable to help on account of barbed wire entanglements and trenches. Heavy casualties. Weather fine. Aug. 11: 10th Brigade (47th Battalion) holding and straight- ening line --local operations -- heavy shelling from enemy guns across Somme river --in old Somme trenches. Weather fine, very warm. Aug. 12: Slight progress made. Waiting for flanks to come up. Many narrow escapes during scrap. Fine weather. Aug, 13: French Poilus re- lieved 47th Battalion in Front Line (old Somme trenches). Moved back into Rosieres and later near Les Quernel for rest and reinforcements. Weather fine. Aug, 14: Resting and rein - SUGAR AND SPICE by Bill Smiley Farewell To A Friend After a couple of thousand miles of traveling, there's noth- ing so delightful as to sit in one's own backyard and con- template the folly of the world. And that's what I'm doing right now. Two kittens are tight -rope - walking the back fence, as grave and cautious as Blondin crossing Niagara Falls. They have survived the attentions of Wilson, our two-year-old neigh- bor, who has a utilitarian ap- proach to picking up cats: ears, tail, stomach -fur, or whatever's nearest. The garage sits there, brood- ing. When summer began, it was a faded blue. Kim began painting it as a school project. It is now two-tone, half faded blue, half dazzling green. Peering through the picket fence on the left are the Little Horrors. There are five of them. I'll swear they're all the same age, about two and a half. They lurk like Indians watching a wagon train. The minute we leave the place even to go shop- ping, they bat down the Ioose board in the fence and sack the place. They use our lawn chairs as trampolines and the picnic table for mountain climbing, dismantle my power mower and employ our hose to squelch civil demonstrators among each oth- er. Across the street, where there are two teen-agers, swirls the daily ballet, a kaleidoscope of sound and color. Kids arriving and departing; swim suits and shorts and pyjamas; motorbikes' and sports cars, tennis rackets and golf clubs and footballs. From the great oaks spread- ing over the house drop the acorns, thumping the ground with a gentle irregular rhythm. Two lazy pigeons have found an old starlings' nest under our eaves and are squashed in there, purling their throaty growl. The lawn sprinkler is turned eff, but there's a dribble from it, and a young robin is revelt• ing in a shower, doing every- thing but soaping his artnplts. Up a maple tree, twice around the trunk, along the hydro wire, jump to the cedar, leap to the vine, scrabble up the side of the house and straight into my at- tic, lickety-split, hurtle two black squirrels. Object, either love or war. Backyard smells: new -cut grass on the lawn; fresh -washed sheets on the line; cedar and spruce from the trees; and, gently stealing through the back door, the excruciating waft of coffee. Color everywhere. Six shades of green in spruce and cedar, elm and oak, maple and walnut. Vivid splash of tiger lilies. Yel- low sun dappling trees and patching grass. One delicate pink rose and pale mauve of phlox. Gay striped lawn chairs. And what more pleasant place to look back over the pattern of summer. Early -morning golf with dew -thick carpet underfoot and air like champagne. Beach afternoons: warm, silky sand and hot sun, the world a million miles away; water like cool sil- ver. Home for cold beer, barbe- cued steak, new, little potatoes and juice -spurting corn. Luxury of boat cruise abrupt- ly changed to roughing it in a tent. Tense Iong-distance phone calls from remote outposts to learn whether son had passed his year. Huge relief to learn that he had done well. Sunday jaunts to visit daughter at camp, going with great gobs of goodies, sitting around for two hours trying to think of some- thing to talk about, returning with load of scummy camp clothes to wash. Son claiming an 18 -year-old can get along on four hours sleep, and trying to prove it. Daughter busting out all Over, as fourteens are wont to do, Wife like cat with cream be- cause 1 haven't been away from her side for more than four hours all summer. Father prom- ising to write a book, and barely able to find time to write a col- umn. Goodbye, Sumpter, you seduc- tress, There'll never be anothet like you. forcing. Weather fine. Aug. 16-19: Holding Front Line at Fresnoy Les Roye in front of Foquescourt. Very heavy shelling. An enemy ration wagon ran down a road into our front line. On it were '75 loaves of black bread, 3 cases of mineral water, 3 cases cakes, pies and tobacco, M. G.A. (machine gun ammuni- tion), mail, etc. Weather fine. Fairly heavy casualties during trip. Aug. 20-23: In Reserve in front of Warviliers. Finewea- ther. Aug. 24: 47th Battalion mov- ed owed back to Transport Lines be- tween Les Quesnel and Beaufort Woods. Men glad to be going out of the Front Lines for a change. Fine weather. Aug. 25: Marched to Caix for bath and change of clothes, then marched to Gentilles Woods. Chalk dugouts. Weath- er wet. Aug. 26-27: At Gentille Woods. Fair weather. Aug. 27: Marched to Bouvis (or Boves) where we entrained. Wet weather. Aug. 28: By train to Aubig- ny, buses to a point near the city of Arras, marched east of Arras. Arras badly demolished in sections of the city, Wet weather. Aug. 29: In trench system at Beaurains. Saw Tom Fixter, one of the Westlakes, Bar John- son, and Carl Mitchell, one of my old corporals in #4 Platoon, 161st Battalion in England. Weather fair. Aug. 30-31: Still at Beau - rains, east of Arras. Met Cap- tain Ermine Copeland,' an old high school mate from Wing - ham. (An earlier entry in the diary, dated March 28, 1918 reads: Marched in full marching order to Noeux Les Mines. Billeted in barns. Met an old school- mate, Lieutenant Ermine Cope- land in Y.M.C. A. there. Weather fine. All this country is a mining country.) (next week Mr. Cantelon's diary continues with the Battle of Arras.) General Election A general election would be relished by Canadians (a) If Prime Minister Pearson could be decisive and could sur- round himself with more people who would not injure him po- litically, or (b) If Opposition Leaderllief- enbaker were an administrator and could stop believing that he alone can run the country, without help from Conserva- tives, or (c) If T, C. Douglas were not a professing socialist bent on undermining stability and growth, as he did in Saskatche- wan, and as his fellow -believe ers did and are doing in Brit- ain. -- Letter -Review,