HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1966-09-01, Page 9bain UtianctiZt mt
Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, Sept. 1, 1966 SECOND SECTION
Westward the Smileys
(6)
A Very Costly Right
In his television address to the nation
last week Prime Minister Pearson express-
ed the time-worn opinion that labor has
the inviolable right to go on strike to gain
its objectives, The same opinion has
been voiced many times by prominent
spokesmen for both government and the
unions.
Many Canadians are beginning to
question the basis of the prime minister's
statement, Should any organized labor
group have a legally protected right to
take strike action when the consequences
of such a work stoppage are so costly
to hundreds of thousands of people in
other walks of life? Is it basically just
that workers in thousands of other types
of employment should be laid off and lose
income for the sake of 120,000 railway
employees?
Any businessman who threatened a
customer with a club in order to get high-
er prices for his merchandise would
The organization of a mutual aid fire
system to cover the towns in this area is
welcome news. Such planning, when
properly implemented, should mean a far
greater measure of protection than we
have enjoyed in the past.
No matter how efficient a small-town
fire brigade may become, emergencies
are bound to arise when the locally-based
equipment is not adequate to meet the
threat of a big fire. There have been sev-
eral occasions in the past few years
when brigades from nearby communities
had to be called on for assistance at fires
in Wingham. The most recent of these
was early in July when a bad fire destroy-
ed the Beaver Lumber storage sheds and
the CNR freight warehouse.
It seems obvious that when outside
fire departments are called in there
should be a prearranged plan whereby
the least possible delay will be necessary
to bring the visiting equipment into full
and effective use, The mutual aid system
should enable the incoming brigades to
know in advance exactly what their role
will be and from whom to take direction.
• Another and very valuable protection
which can be afforded under the system
is the covering of a community when its
fire equipment has been called away. If,
One more example of the need for
modernizing the tax structure says the
London Free Press is found in the system
under which a municipality, under the
Ontario Assessment Act, is required to
levy business tax.
The case comes up here in the request
of some London merchants for business
tax relief because of serious trade dislo-
cation as the result of sewer and street
rebuilding, In ruling that there is no ex-
isting legislation to permit this, the Court
of Revision brought out several other in-
teresting points about the tax system.
Business tax is levied on a percentage
of the assessment on the land and build-
ings occupied. Rates vary with the type
of business. But no consideration can
be given to the current volume or profit-
ability of that business. In other words,
a merchant who, for whatever reason,
may be losing money in a specific year,
can find himself paying a much higher
business tax than a competitor in another
On a trip during our vacation we were
interested to discover in the town of Wil-
liamsport, Pennsylvania, a tremendous
amount of visual publicity announcing
that the town was the home of the Little
World Series. Apparently teams from all
over the United States, in the Little Lea-
gue category, come to Williamsport for
the final play-offs to determine national
championships.
We were greatly impressed that a
comparatively small town should have de-
veloped sufficient imagination and initi-
ative to work up such a valuable enter-
prise. In fact the thought occurred that
Wingham, the home of championship ball
quickly find himself in court, The use of
force to resolve human differences is con-
demned by society generally and .our laws
prevent its use. Yet organized labor not
only holds the club, but uses it in a way
which affects the livelihood of millions.
Not one single Canadian, as an in-
dividual, is permitted to get away with
demands which would influence our na-
tional welfare, Labor unions, with their
work stoppages, are jeopardizing the en-
tire structure of our economy. If the
present rash of strikes is continued much
longer we will face a drastic recession.
Of course working people must have
the right to seek higher wages. That is
only reasonable. But why is it that the
courts to which the majority of Canadi-
ans must submit their differences are not
adequate for the resolution of labor dis-
putes? Strike action denies the very fun-
damentals of the free society of which
the unions demand so much.
for example, all the Wingham men and
pumpers were called to a bad blaze in
Blyth, the Teeswater fire chief could be
notified to stand ready in case of any
emergency in Wingham — and so on
throughout the entire district,
The need for this type of interlocking
fire service was tragically underlined dur-
ing fire raids on London, England, during
the early phases of World War II, when
there was the greatest possible confusion
in effecting any cohesive plan. Fire bri-
gades called into the metropolis from the
nearby cities found that the hose connec-
tions would not fit the outlets in London;
their chiefs were completely unfamiliar
with the approaches to the fire areas and
there was no system for the delegation of
a unified and coordinated command. As
a result, the damage from enemy-ignited
fires was many times greater than it
would have been had a comprehensive
plan of concerted action been worked out
in advance.
Most of the communities in this area,
including even the villages, now possess
extremely efficient fire-fighting equip-
ment. Its usefulness should be greatly
increased when the organization of the
mutual fire aid system is in high gear.
location making money hand over fist.
And there may be other outdated fea-
tures. A wholesaler pays business tax at
the rate of 75 percent on a certain as-
sessment base while the retailer's rate is
25 percent. This may have been logical
when the law was written back in 1904.
Times and business procedures have
changed. This part of the Assessment
Act has not.
London's Assessment Commissioner
R. E. Ashton has properly expressed his
dissatisfaction with Assessment Act
clauses which permit business, tax revis-
ions for some disruptions but not for
others.
One reason the regulations have not
been changed is that the present is the
simplest method of collection. Local as-
sessment offices do not of course have ac-
cess to records or income tax returns,
and business taxation based on volume
might be difficult and inaccurate. But
clearly improvements are needed, and
surely this country's tax experts can pro-
vide them.
teams year after year, might give some
serious thought to the development of
something similar to the Williamsport
sports promotion,
In this present age, when there is so
much more time and money available for
sports and recreational activities general-
ly, there is unprecedented opportunity to
develop new and more interesting aspects
of such programs.
Whether it be sports or some other
activity, it is very certain that the town
needs some distinctive enterprise which
will inject a spirit of faith and enthusi-
asm into its community consciousness.
REMINISCING
AUGUST 1911
Mr, C. D. Bolinger, who
has been in the employ of A.H.
Wilford for the past few months
has opened up a creamery sta-
tion in the building next to
Bell's Music Store, where he
will be found any day in the
week and will pay cash for any
quantity of cream,
Mr. J, G. Stewart reports
the sale of J. W. MoKibbon's
property on Diagonal Road to
Mr. James Nicholson of Morris,
who will move in about the first
of November,
At the last meeting of the
High School Board a motion was
passed that the principal be au-
thorized to take the necessary
steps to introduce a course in
Agriculture in the Wingham
High School.
The sad news was received
in Wingham on Tuesday after-
noon that Lieut. Richard How-
son had died of wounds. The
news was not sent through the
war office but by a chum of
Richard, Mr. Gilson of the same
battalion. The shock received
by the family is much more
severe because they had never
been notified that he was
wounded.
AUGUST 1931
Mr. William McMichael of
the Wingham Junction, has re-
cently been appointed bailiff,
to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Mr. Geo.
Phippen.
A large barn, driving shed
and poultry house, the property
of Alfred Machan, residing one
mile north of Blyth, was des-
troyed by fire. Mr. Machan
carried no insurance on the
property. The fire was the
third which Mr. Machan has
suffered in the last three years.
Mr. J. W. Dodds reports the
sale of the Shackleton resi-
dence on Frances Street to Mr.
John Raby.
Miss V. M. Lennox was suc-
cessful in securing a certificate
for vocal music from Western
University, London, and will
teach in the junior room of the
Gorrie school and have charge
of the music in both rooms.
A new company has been
formed with headquarters and
warehouse in town, known as
the Ontario Terminals Co.with
Mr. H. L. Sherbondy as local
manager. The company is
formed to give service in this
district north of Clinton and
west of Listowel, to manufac-
turers where they may store
their goods for the convenience
of the retail' merchant.
AUGUST 1941
Mr. R. H. Lloyd treated his
Sunday School class to a trip to
the Canadian National Exhibi-
tion.
Miss Winnifred Douglas,
Reg. N., who was recently ap-
pointed superintendent at the
hospital, reported for duty on
Monday.
Mr. Charles Nixon Stainton,
Clifford, announces the en-
gagement of his daughter, Hil-
da Pearl to Mr. Herbert Alfred
Fuller, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Fuller, Wingham. The
marriage will take place in Sep-
tember.
Albert Rintoul has enlisted in
the RCAF, and is at present at
Manning Pool, Toronto.
At a well-attended meeting
of the congregations of White-
church, Langside and Calvin,
held on Monday evening, a un-
animous call was extended to
Rev. A. fl. Wilson, Eden Mills,
Guelph Presbytery. Until re-
cently, Rev. John Pollock was
minister to these congregations,
when he resigned due to ill
health.
AUGUST 1952
David Cameron, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Norman Cameron, of
Wingham, placed second in the
Junior Boys' Jump at the Can-
adian Closed Water Skiing
Championships held at the C.
N.E. on August 26th.
Miss Mary Tofting, daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Toft-
ing, of town, has been engaged
to teach at Omernee, 12 miles
north of Peterboro, at No. 9
Emilie.
Tory Gregg. well-known
CKNX broadcaster, has assum-
ed the full-time position of
MANY OF US TRAVEL hundreds of miles
to exchange the chains of urban living for
a brief exposure to the natural beauties
of Canada. And most of us completely
ignore the charming rural scene our own
I've been married for nearly
20 years, all of them to the same
dame, and I understand less at
this moment about the so-called
feminine process of thinking
than I did on my wedding day.
This admission is a result of
the latest turn in our economic
waltz with this summer.
Before holidays began, we had
discussed making a trip to the
west coast. Then my wife took
inventory of the finances and
stated flatly that we couldn't af-
ford it, even if we camped all
the way and ate at the Salvation
Army.
I was rather relieved. I love
to travel, but I hate traveling
with women. They fuss about
missing trains. They worry
about hotel rooms. They take
enough clothes on a week's trip
to take them around the world
on a cruise, And they constantly
put their hair up and take it
down.
Therefore, I looked forward
to a quiet, restful summer. Lots
of golf. Plenty of swims. A few
fishing jaunts. An occasional ex-
cursion to see a play,
manager-secretary of the WO-
AA with offices in the Stone
Block, at the corner of John and
Josephine.
A native of England, Chas.
Bonnett, died here in Wingham
General Hospital on Monday.
For many years he was a har-
ness maker in a shop located on
Victoria St., near Josephine. St.
A very enjoyable evening
was spent on Friday last at the
home of Mrs. John Ernest, when
she was hostess to a number of
ladies of Sacred Heart Parish,
who gathered to honor Miss Pat-
ricia Brophy, who has been or-
ganist at Sacred Heart Church
for the past three years. Pat
left on Monday to enter St. Jo-
seph's Hospital, London, as a
nurse-in-training.
county affords, often within walking dis-
tance of our homes. Here the Maitland
River trills and bubbles its way by the
McKinnon farm at Bluevale on its journey
to Lake Huron at Goderich.—A-T Photo.
Z W.0710~,MONIONMWM
LETTERS T° 112 EDITOR
VISfeeriffiff," Iffe ./feeik ..., A
Dear Sir,
The Elmer Summer Safety
Contest is over for its 8th con-
secutive year and once again it
was a resounding success.
Children entering the con-
test demonstrated a thorough
knowledge of the safety con-
cept involved. Possession of
this knowledge indicates to us
that parents and community ag-
encies are doing an excellent
job in teaching their children
the art of safe living.
We feel that the Elmer Con-
test plays an important part in
keeping children reminded of
traffic hazards during their sum-
mer vacation and we hope for
its continuance.
The success of this contest is
due mainly to your generosity in
donating so freely of your space.
Sincere thanks from the On-
tario Safety League for helping
to make this summer safer for
Ontario children.
Yours sincerely,
George G. Ham,
Child Safety Director.
by this time next year.
Have you ever noticed that
when you take a plunge you
can't afford, like this, every-
thing else starts to go wrong, as
if to compound your folly and
rub it in? This week, I got a
speeding ticket, first in my life,
the vacuum went on the fritz
and required expensive repairs,
the lock on our back door broke
and had to be replaced, I broke
a tooth, and our tax notice ar-
rived, substantially fatter than
last year's.
Oh, well, such is life. By
the way, if there's no column
next week, it will mean we have
crashed in the (Rockies. And
Hugh will be free to go to Mexi-
co.
After he's paid all those debts
at the bank. Which will take
him about four years at hard la-
bor.
Replace a life jacket when
it becomes heavy or when it
fails to dry in a reasonable
length of time.
Welcome Mutual Aid System
Outdated Taxation
A Sporting Tradition
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 Association.
Authorized by the Post Office Department as Second Class Mali and
for payment of postage in cash.
Subscription Rate:
1 year, $5.00; 6 months, $2.75 in advance; U.S.A., $7.00 per yr.; Foreign rate, $1.00 per yr.
Advertising Rates on application.
Then came the refrigerator
fiasco, already related here. Net
loss of $350. That really put the
clincher on our trip to the coast.
Then came the call, collect,
from Vancouver. The son and
heir informed us casually, but
with a tremour, that he didn't
think he'd go back to college.
You see, the boat he's working
on plies the Pacific to Acapulco,
Mexico, in the winter. And you
see, he could get a job on her as
a waiter. Anti you see, he'd be
making $10,000 a year, at only
19, which is pretty good, eh?
And you see, it would be a great
chance to see the world. And you
see, he'd be more mature in a
year, and besides, would be able
to pay for his whole year at
school, when he went back. And
so on.
Well! I've seen his old lady
fly off the handle. Many times.
But I've never seen her go
straight up in the air and re-
main suspended there through
most of a phone call that cost
me eleven bucks.
So, logically, we are going to
Vancouver. I mean, after all,
you only live once. And why
shouldn't you take. a trip when
you're young enough to enjoy it.
And what the heck, it's only
money, isn't it? And so on.
It's nothing to do with seeing
Hugh, or dragging him home in
chains. Not at all. What ever
gave anyone that idea? Why,
he's only ashore 10 hours in
Vancouver and who'd spend a
thousand dollars to fly out there
to see him for that length of
time? Especially when we sent
him out there to save $800 to-
ward his college fees. That
would be ridiculous,wouldn't it?
In fact, insane.
Well, with the aid of several
federal banks, the fly-now-pay-
later plan, and a credit card
some unsuspecting idiot gave
Me a couple of years ago, we
leave tomorrow for a holiday
that will be about halfpaid for