The Wingham Advance-Times, 1967-01-05, Page 4IT WAS A BIT CONFUSING for the pupils
from the north part of East Wawanosh
and Morris Townships as they arrived
Tuesday at the new school. This group
getting off the new bus were not long in
finding the right room and getting down
to work,
—Advance-Times Photo.
News Items from Old Files
New Brunswick
SUGAR.
AND SPICE
by Bill Smiley
What a year ugh!
New Year's Day, 1967 was welcomed
throughout this country with considerably
more than the customary celebrations, it
was the inauguration of the Centennial
Year. For many months Canadians have
looked forward to 1967 as the Birthday
Year—the time for extraordinary events
to mark our one hundredth birthday. Daily
newspapers are full of the doings in other
places from the mass burning of a whole
town's outhouses in Manitoba to fireworks
on Parliament Hill.
So far it would appear that no one in
Wingham has heard about the Centennial.
We have yet to learn of one centennial
project, either for the opening of the year
or for any time between now and next
December 31st which has been proposed in
official capacity.
It appears to be a case of everyone
leaving it to the other fellow. Each ser-
vice organization and public body in the
community could have its own plan for
special programs, hut apparently each ore
Ever since responsible ,se,lf-government
was established in ,Fan.ada in the middle
of the last e-ent*.y discussion of the im-
portanee of county councils has ebbed and
,,,r ed. It is a level of administration
which has many staunch supporters and
apparently a large number of opponents.
Last week the government Of New
Brunswick' provided concrete evidence of
the fact that county goVenment is indeed
vulnerable, for in one fell swoop the pro-
vincial legislators eliminated almost all
of the important functions normally car-
ried out at the county level, Affected were
the administration of justice, health and
education. As an example, the present 400
school areas are to be so combined and
amalgamated that only 33 large areas will
remain,
Right here in Western Ontario we
should pay close attention to what has
taken' place in New Brunswick because
many experts in the field of self-govern-
ment are talking of the same thing in our
own province. In some quarters the pro-
posal is to eliminate all the vital functions
of county council, while still others talk of
entirely re-designing the county bodies and
adding to their duties. In either case it is
clear that change as far as county adminis-
tration is concerned is definitely in the
wind.
The merits and drawbacks of the pro-
posed changes are so complicated as to
completely confuse the average taxpayer
who will eventually be responsible for the
cision. The great cry for change springs
-7-7:7779-177-7--;
is assuming that someone else will make
the effort.
Although town council certainly tends
to become overloaded with responsibility,
it seems obvious that leadership in centen-
nial planning must come right from the
top. Since no other group has taken the
responsibility for concrete arrangements
or even proposals, the town fathers, we
believe, should give thought to what Wing-
ham will do to mark the occasion.
There are a hundreds ways and more
in which the national birthday might be
celebrated, but the most fitting programs
are those which will provide a legacy of
some sort for future generations; projects
which will serve to recall the centennial
years to coming generations. Parks, tree-
plantings and outdoor beautification of all
kinds fall into this category. Others might
well be the improvement of library facili-
ties or the establishment of permanent
recreation opportunities.
Whatever the project is to be, it is al-
ready late for a healthy start. Immediate
action is a necessity.
ses County Government
from more than one motive, but greater
efficiency is the one most loudly acclaimed.
There is little doubt that in this age of
computerized operations the unit cost can
be significantly lowered by amalgamation
of small units into fewer and larger ones,
It is true in business and perhaps equally
valid in government. But one is left with
certain doubts about the continuing ten-
dency to overlook the worth of the human
element in public and business affairs.
The vastly enlarged school areas are a
good case in point. Although we all re-
cognize that broader tax bases and larger
teaching staffs have become necessary as
education at all levels has moved into more
sophisticated and costly areas, most par-
ents still regret the departure from the
less mechanized teaching methods of form-
er years. It is true that more students
receive a better grade of education _under
the moderh-ized plan; btedt,is equally true
that there is far less time and personal
interest available for individual scholars
who cannot adapt readily to the pre-set
channels of today's education "machine."
So it may be with county councils.
County government in its present form has
some definite drawbacks, chief of which
are the lobbying and string-pulling which
take place outside the forum of open coun-
cil. At the same time we are not yet
convinced that a transfer of all important
county functions to an impersonal provin-
cial authority would really improve mat-
ters a great deal.
week and in any year. As an example of
how frustrating this law can be to employ-
er and workman alike, one of our local
manufacturers has often received applica-
tions from prospective employees who ask
at the outset how many hours a week
they can work and when they learn of the
government-enforced limitation turn else-
where.
This sort of legislation is a distinct in-
fringement upon the personal freedom
which is understood to be the founda-
tion of our Canadian democracy. If an
employer who wants work done and a man
who wants to earn money can agree on the
hours of employment and the rate of pay,
that is their personal business and not the
concern of government. No land is free in
which an energetic worker can be told how
many hours a week he must spend in un-
wanted leisure time. There might be some
excuse for such a law in the middle of a
great depression when the public interest
demands that a limited amount of avail-
able employment be spread over the maxi•
mum number of workers, but in this time
of manpower shortage this law is pre-
posterous.
When will governments ever learn
that their own doom is invariably spelled
out in exact proportion to their intrusion
into the lives of those who place them in
office?
The beginning of a new year
is a sort of "hello-and-farewell'
effort. It's a bit like having a
party, You are fresh, bathed
and charming. Your "Hello" to
the first guests radiates
warmth, affection and vitality.
But your "Goodbye, goodbye"
as the last guests totter off into
the snow is a combination of
exhaustion, relief and cold hor-
ror as you realize what time it
is.
And that's pretty much the
way we feel about the year
that's ahead and the year that
has passed.
It's a sign of the indomitable
human spirit that we can look
back on a year that was nothing
but an unadulterated mess, and
yet look forward with the
greatest cheer and optimism to
12 months of what will proba-
bly be exactly the same.
Or is it plain stupidity, the
irrationality of man, the only
rational species?
For most of us normal hu-
man beings, each year, like life
itself, is a mixture of pitfalls
and pratfalls and victories and
conquests and frustrations and
accomplishments. It's a good
drink, but it has more than a
dash of bitters in it.
Maybe your husband had a
heart attack. But your daughter
produced a beautiful grand-
child. Maybe your teenage
daughter became pregnant. But
your old man finally went on
the wagon.
You lost some old friends,
but gained some new ones.
Your hair grew whiter and
your teeth blacker. But your
arthritis improved and your
Aunt Gerty died and left you
$284.
You worried, for app.to:qi-
mately four hours, about thle
state of the world, and the
starving in India, and the war
in Vietnam.
And you worried, depending
on your age, anywhere from
two to 3,000 hours, about: your
hair, your complexion, your
constipation; your job, your
boss, your bills; your wife, your
husband, your children; your
roof, your basement; your ina-
bility .to sleep, your inability to
hold your liquor as you used to;
your mother-in-law, your
To the Editor:
Again a year has passed in-
to history and we at Huronview
have enjoyed another Merry
Christmas. As usual our resi-
dents had the pleasure of being
entertained by the Glee Club
from the Sergeant's Mess of the
Canadian Forces Base and the
Seaforth Lions' Club. The pu-
pils of Walton Public School
were here, as well as pupils
from five of the schools of Mc-
Killop Township, and each
group put on a very enjoyable
program. The Christian Re-
form Church of Clinton was
faithful in presenting an hour of
fellowship.
The groups from the differ-
ent churches in the county cer-
tainly did not forget the people
who came from their locality,
but remembered them with
many parcels. The Exeter Le-
gion treated all former resi-
dents of their area.
All this, combined with the
gifts of many individual friends
daughter-in-law; your smug-
ness, your lack of security;
your brain tumour, your stom-
ach cancer; your waist-line,
your bust-line. And eleventy-
seven thousand other things of
equal importance. Yes, Jack or
Jill, you worried. Silly, wasn't
it?
But this year, Wow! Things
are going to be different. Your
children are going to do what
you want them to. Your wife
(or husband) is going to real-
ize, finally, that your were
right all the time.
You're going to be a Better
Person. That's it. A Better Per-
son. And no goll-dang fooling
about it, You are going to stop
nagging, You are going to be
more tolerant of your nutty
children (or nutty parents).
You are going to go to church
every Sunday. You are going to
get more sleep, more exercise.
You are going to have a baby,
write a book, join a club.
That's the stuff, chaps.
Well, good luck, Mac and Ma-
bel. You may need it. I have
the utmost faith in the human
spirit, but you can't kill a dino.
saur with a pea-shooter. And
that's about all we have to fight
with when we enter the jungle
of another year of life.
However, this is a different
New Year. It's the 100th anniv-
ersary of the Fathers of Con-
federation, or something. I
know how that stirs every Can-
adian to the marrow.
There's no doubt that every
one of us feels a thrill of pride
as we enter this particular year.
One hundred years ago, we
were a patched-together, un-
e a s y, suspicious, resentful
amalgamation of distinct areas,
worrying only about local
rights and how much it was
going to cost us.
But what a change in a 100
years! Today we are a proud,
glorious nation. Worrying
about how much it's going to
cost us, local rights; resentful,
envious, suspicious, uneasy and
patched-together.
One cannot help but think, as
one looks with shining eyes
into the shining new year, our
centennial year, that we have
made tremendous strides. Side-
ways.
and relatives, made this Christ-
mas one long to be remember-
ed. The personal calls and
cards make our residents feel
they are not forgotten and that
they are still a part of the com-
munity.
My personal thanks for the
many floral tributes sent to the
Home during the past year.
They were appreciated by the
residents and helped to add a
little beauty to the surround-
ings.
A Happy New Year to all
from the residents and staff of
Huronview.
Harvey C. Johnston,
Superintendent.
Ontario Hospital,
Goderich, Ontario,
Dear Sir:
The Christmas Spirit of
good will was truly exempli-
fied this year at the Ontario
Hospital, Goderich. The con-
tributions of gifts and enter-
tainment from the members of
JANUARY 1918
At the home of the bride's
parents, East Wawanosh, the
marriage took place of Ella
Pearl, youngest daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. B. H. Taylor to John
J. Campbell, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Campbell, East Wawanosh.,
Mrs. H. T. Perdue and Mrs.
H. Deacon of East Wawanosh,
have been doing their bit to
assist with the increased pro-
duction during the past season.
They each raised a consider-
able amount of poultry and
when they sold their flock the
former secured ,$83 and the lat-
ter $79,56.
Mr. Elmer Hastings received
the sad news that his brother,
Alvin, had died of wounds. He
was only 17 years of age and
enlisted in New Ontario.
The new Wingham Cream-
ery is now in A-i running or-
der. They are receiving a nice
the Ontario Hospital Goderich
Volunteer Association, the Ser-
vice Clubs, the various organi-
zations and individuals in your
area was beyond all expecta-
tions. It was a major factor in
making the Christmas Season a
pleasant one for the patients of
this hospital.
The hospital is truly grate-
ful, and the patients wish to
express their sincere thanks and
appreciation. May we also take
this opportunity of expressing
Best Wishes for the Centennial
year to our many friends in this
community.
Sincerely,
Dr. M. F. Conlon,
Acting Superintendent.
R. McDaniel,
Business Administrator.
lot of cream daily and indica-
tions are that they will have a
busy season. Their large churn
holds 1200 lbs. of butter.
Lieut. Walter H. Burgess,
whose home is at Bluevale, was
awarded the Distinguished Ser-
vice Order. His many friends
here extend congratulations.
JANUARY 1932
A quiet, though interesting
wedding was solemnized at
noon, Wednesday, December
30th, 1931, at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. W. G. Hamilton, of
Gorrie, when their only daugh-
ter, Alta Kerr, was united in
marriage to Herman Alexander
Nethery, the youngest son of
Mrs. Nethery, and the late John
Nethery of Belgrave. The Rev.
Button, of Fordwich, officiated,
A pleasant evening was
spent at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. W. J. Currie on Tuesday
Wroxeter
Misses Elsie and Marion Gib-
son attended a family party in
Toronto over the Christmas
holiday.
Mr. Terrence Clark, Scar-
borough, spent the week-end
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Vern Clark.
Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Hig-
gins were New Year's guests
with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gra-
ham in St. Marys.
Mr. and Mrs. Carman Nix-
on, Grant, Lori and Andrea re-
turned to their home in London
on Friday after spending the last
week with her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Fraser Haugh.
Mr. and Mrs. Mac Sander-
son and family visited New
Year's Day with Mr. and Mrs.
Ross Sanderson.
night of last week, when a
miscellaneous shower was giv-
en to Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Showers (Miss Irene Taylor).
A quiet, but pretty wedding
took place at the Presbyterian
manse, in Wingham, at 12 o'-
clock noon, on Tuesday, Jan.
5th, when Eva Kathleen, eld-
est daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Swanson, of Wingham,
became the bride of William G
Bain, son of Mr. and Mrs.W.R.
Bain, of Ayr, Ont. Rev. Ken-
neth MacLean officiated.
JANUARY 1942
Mr. William Reid, Cather-
ine Street, has purchased the
property on Catherine Street
from Mrs. C. Chittenden, of
Cainsville, Ontario. This pro-
perty was recently vacated by
R. Chalmers, who is on Active
Service.
Word has been received here
that Private Wornald R. Finley
has been married to Miss Glad-
ys Haylerwood of Milford, Sur-
rey.
Mr. W. H. Wade's parents,
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Wade
of Fordwich, celebrated their
golden wedding recently.
Men of the Royal Canadian
Air Force who spent the Christ-
mas holidays at their Bluevale
homes were, Arnold Lillow,
Montreal; Jack Lillow, of Monc
ton, N.B., A. D. Smith, St.
Thomas and Russel Barnard,
Guelph.
The N.C.O.'s of the 99th
Battery stationed at Camp Bor-
den held a surprise party re-
cently for their Battery Serg-
eant Major, Bert Mitchell.Dur'
ing the evening they presented
him with a cocktail cabinet ant
wished him bon voyage on the
sea of matrimony.
JANUARY 1953
The first baby born in 1953
in Wingham General Hospital
was a girl at 11.37 a.m. Janu-
ary 1st. Mr. and Mrs. Williarr
Taylor of Wingham are the
proud parents.
John Roxborough of Simcoe,
has joined the staff of CKNX
here in Wingham.
George A. Beanie, account
ant at the Dominion Bank here
for the past five years, is leav•
ing to assume the managership
of the Gorrie bran of the
same bank. He will replace
C. D. Walmsley, who is open-
ing a new branch in Simcoe.
Mr. F. D, Blakely has been
sent here from Montreal to tak
over the accountant's position.
A piano recital was held by iifik
the pupils of Mrs. 0. B. Ma' IT,
fat at her home on December
31st, Solos and duets were
played by the pupils also clari.
net solos by Dick MeCutcheon,
Those taking part included: Ka
en Greenaway, Margaret Mc-
Cutcheon, Susan Sellars, Eliza
beth McKinney, Tommy Mc-
Cutcheon, Cavel Ituttan,Carol
llobettson, Betty Ann Ruttati,
Marie Johnston, Dick McCut-
eheon, Kathleen Mccutcheon,
Kay Johnston, Susan Yeo.
Page 4 Wingliam Advancv,Thrws, 'rhunday, Jan,, 1967
Has Wingham No Centennial Plans?
Are We Really Free?
passage of a new law in British Colum•
ia which prohibits payment of overtime
to workers in that province points up what
we believe is a basic transgression of the
rights of the individual. Under the new
legislation it becomes illegal for an em-
ployer to pay his employees for extra
hours of work except in special cases of
emergency.
The excuse for this questionable enact-
ment is that employment will thereby be
spread over a greater number of workers.
How foolish can a government be? Per-
haps these people have not yet heard that
our whole country is so short of reliable
and trained workmen that there would
be better grounds for a law enforcing a
longer rather than a shorter working
week.
Discor.tent with the law will affect not
only the employer who is in desperate
need of more work time, but the employ-
ees as well. The man who has a large
family to keep and is paying for a car
and a house cannot be expected to cheer
a law which dictates a limit to the number
of hours in which he may work for his
income.
The situation in Ontario, though not
quite as extreme, is quite similar. The
provincial government has long maintained
a statute which limits the number of hours
an employer may hire a workman in any
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE a TIMES
Published at Wingbatn, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited,
W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert 0, Wenger, Seeretary-Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Cite:flatlet:
Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association.
AA-heel NI by the Post -Office Departittent. as Second Class Mail and
for payment of postage in easti.
8ubscriptiott gate:
Ate, 0.00; 6' months, $1.15 In advance; U.S.A., $7:60 per yr.; Pottle: tate, $7.00 pet ye,
Advettiiing: bates itori
ril:Alf",,000;01,' /7TY.051(7
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
GRADE I CHILDREN from the north section of East Wa-
wanosh and Morris Townships arrived at the new East
Wawanosh school which opened its doors for the first time
on Tuesday morning. The new school is just west of Bel-
grave on the county road.
—Advance-Times Photo,