Times-Advocate, 1981-02-11, Page 4Page 4
Times Established 1873
Imes - • dY!.zJ1
Times -Advocate, February 11, 1981
Advocate Established 1 881
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Need reasons
Despite some procedural problems
last week Exeter council's committee
system appears to be working very ef-
ficiently.
However, as Councillor Jay
Campbell pointed out, it would be un-
fortunate if the system resulted in a
lack of debate on various topics around
the council table at regular sessions
He correctly noted that while the
committee system is important, it
should not result in a serious decline in
debate at council meetings.
The problem cited was much in
evidence when the finance committee
presented a recommendation that the
town transfer its banking services. The
committee did not present any reasons
for the change.
Surprisingly, no member of council
asked any questions, and the only two
comments were in regard to some
problems that may arise due to the
change.
The committee erred in not
providing reasons for the decision and
the other members of council
aggravated the situation by not asking
the committee members for their
reasons.
Now that the decision has been
made, each member of council (not
merely the committee members) must
be prepared to defend that decision,
and it would be extremely difficult in
view of the lack of information they
were given or for which they asked.
Beyond problem
Twenty years ago the idea that
government would eventually control
every aspect of our lives seemed more
than a bit far-fetched. Big Brother, the
all-pervading control influence of
government, was predicted to hold
sway by the year 1984. Apparently some
Canadians believe that 1981 would
make a good time to start.
Following the closing of daily
newspapers in Ottawa and Winnipeg a
royal commission was established to
examine the news industry in this coun-
try. The commisssion is made up of
three men under the 'chairmanship of
Tom Kent. a university professor and
and Borden Spears of The Toronto Star.
Immediate object of the hearings is to
determine the role of the large
newspaper chains and whether or not.
by mutual agreement, they are closing
out competitive publications.
As the various witnesses are heard.
however. the discussions have ranged
far beyond the immediate problem of
chain ownership. In fact some
statements have been made which
would indicate that there are quite a
few Canadians who have not the
faintest clue about the role of
newspapers in a democratic society.
Richard Martin, president of the
Manitoba Federation of Labour
suggested that the federal government
launch its own newspaper chain. Other
speakers suggested some form of
direct government involvement with
the press along the lines of theCanadian
Radio -Television and Telecom-
munications Commisssion.
Commissioner Picard (formerly
head of the CR(' 1 had this to say: "I
wonder why....a newspaper is different
9n
By SYD FLETCHER
A couple of weeks ago two
members of Alcoholics
Anonymous visited the
school to talk to our grade 7-
'8 class The first member of
the parr was a muddle -aged
man Ile said that he d been
on the wagon for eight years
now
In the calm. collected way
of a man who has come close
to ruining his life vet has
survived from that crisis, he'
explained to the class exact-
ly how he had got started
t
from a radio station or a TV station?"
That, indeed, is a good question.
One which we have posed in this
column many times. Why should radio
and television be permanently con-
trolled by politicians who, directly or
indirectly. are bound to influence what
is heard and seen on the airwaves?
A government -operated newspaper
chain... to provide unbiased news
coverage? What a laugh! How long
would it take to develop a Canadian
Pravda. telling its readers only what
the government wants the comrades to
know and leaving out anything that
might look bad for the ruling party?
So far we have not heard or read
any comments on the subject by
Borden Spears, an experienced news
man who should know what freedom of
the press is all about.
It is reasonably safe to predict
that this royal commission will prove
no more fruitful than the thousands of
others which have mulled over our
problems. at huge cost, from time im-
memorial. If chain newspaper
ownership is such a threat to our socie-
ty it is a wonder that a royal commis-
sion did not long ago recommend dis-
memberment of the K.C. Irving chain
which has owned every English
language newspaper in New Brunswick
for the past 20 or 30 years.
If the people of Ottawa and Win-
nipeg want a second daily newspaper
some smart businessman will provide
it If the market is there, the product
will arrive. How long did it take to
supplant The Toronto Telegram with
The Toronto Sun?
Wingham Advance Times)
Perspectives
and how he had finally end -
cd
During his talk. during
which you could have heard
a pin drop, he explained
�iw.ry one myth that these 13
and 14 year-olds already had
had ingrained in their set of
values
The myth that he exploded
was that an alcoholic is a
person who drinks some
torn of alcohol every day
and just has to have it,
sometime during each day.
Instead he introduced there
to the term "hinge drinker",
a person who may leave
alcohol alone for a con-
siderable length of time,
then go "on a binge".
F'or him it started nut with
regular F'riday night drink-
ing. He said that liquor made
him feel Netter looking and
Netter at whatever he was
doing. whether it be dancing
or driving. Ile started drink-
ing at 15 years of age. Soon
he was drinking Saturday
nights also. and then it ex-
tended from Sundays and
Mondays into full week
drunks.
His last big drunk lasted
five solid weeks during
which he ate almost nothing.
With the help of God, the
close friends at Alcoholics
Anonymous and an un-
derstanding family, he has
licked his illness. which of
course alcoholism is.
I have the feeling that he
will hang in there too.
Next week I'll tell you
about the person who came
out with him to the school.
BATT'N AROUND
OILSON WELLS
Tough act to follow
It's going to be a tough act to follow
when the Exeter Lions commence plan-
ning for their ninth annual Sportsmen's
dinner. If attendance continues to
climb. they may have to move the
banquet out onto the ice surface of the
rec centre to facilitate the crowd of
area sports enthusiasts who dig into
their pockets to help Crippled Children.
The one disappointing aspect of the
annual event is the lack -lustre showing
of a few of the big -name stars who
appear on the program. Some of them
have the rather false idea that their
mere presence is enough to satisfy the
customers.
Fortunely, there are always enough
quality athletes on hand to pick up the
slack from those who don't take thAt
visit seriously enough to do a little pri-
planning on what they are going to say.
As impromptu speakers, several of
them are a bust, particularly those who
think they are comedians.
One of the disconcerting aspect of
some speakers is that they are univer-
sity graduates and have a tough time
putting together a couple of com-
prehensible sentences.
No one expects athletes to be gifted
orators necessarily, but even if some
had a talk they could read verbatim it
would make their appearance more in-
teresting.
Figure skating star Lori Baler was
certainly one of the premier speakers
this year. The petite Mitchell skater
was well prepared for her presentation
and gave the audience considerable in-
sight into her sport.
Jean Beliveau was another class star
who had taken some time to think of
items that his audience would find of
interest regarding his beloved
Canadiens and hockey in general.
Former NHL coach Don Cherry
pleasantly surprised the writer as he
came across as a very sincere in-
dividual. Don took time to ask the name
of each person who sought an
autograph so he could make it a per-
sonal salutation on the recipient's
program. One of our periodic colum-
nists. Mary Alderson's dog, Pepper,
even received a written comment from
Don's dog. Blue.
•
However, the real oratorical stars of
the show were not the high salaried
athletes, but rather a handful of area
' individuals who impressed the writer-
4with their efforts and showed they had
taken their task seriously and were
well prepared.
First, there was Father Joe Nelligan
of Mt. Carmel. A last-minute addition
to the program, the congenial priest
displayed a spontaneous sense of
humor. Watching him through the
course of the evening, I doubt there was
anyone who enjoyed the program as
much. or who brought as much vitality
to it.
Program chairman Frank Giffin also
excelled and kept the event moving
quickly and Lions president Earl
Wagner concluded the evening with one
of the best "thank you" speeches this
writer has heard delivered in quite
some time.
Earl summed up the evening with
some very original and thought-
provoking comments.
However. the real star was again the
Sugar and Spice
Dispensed by Smiley
Been a difficult winner
Boy. she's been some mother of
a 'Winter this time around, in the.s e
places. Six feet of snow before Christ-
mas. three or four feet since, and
temperatures that would freeze the
brains of a brass monkey.
A constant struggle with snow in the
driveway. snow on the sidewalk, snow
piling deep on the roof and turning into
icicles like tree -trunks, and, worst of
all. snow coming in over the tops of
your boots and turning your feet into
something like submarines around
Iceland.
Typical day this week. A guy was
coming at 8 a.m. to whack the ice off
my roof. That usually costs about fifty
bucks. plus the shingles he removes
with the ice.
I asked him if he had some battery
booster cables. as I knew my car
wouldn't start in the morning. I'd tried
it the clay before. Ile had cables
Goody. Two birds with one stone.
Next morning, I waited until twenty
to nine. Ile didn't show. It was below
24. and I mean Fahrenheit. Tried the
car while I was waiting. Not even a
grunt.
Knew there wasn't a hope of getting a
cab in that weather. Called the garage
and whimpered for help. "Sure, Bill.
Maybe in about two hours. There are
forty thousand cars non -starting, all
over the county."
1 abandoned hope, like all who enter
this country in this kind of weather, and
phoned a neighbour, blatantly, and
without shame, asking for a ride to
work Ile played Good Samaritan, and I
made it to the job with about forty
seconds to spare. I'm not that conscien-
tious. but dammit, I can get just as
stubborn as Old Man Winter.
Immediately phoned the garage and
told them not to send help until later in
the day. when I'd be home to flood the
carburetor. reverse when I was sup-
posed to put her in drive, get stuck in a
snow -bank just after the tow truck had
left. and all the other things people do
that drive mechanics crazy. Fine.
My wife was in bed, ill, and I'd told
her not to worry about the iceman com-
ing or the thunderous crashes as the
icicles came down like Douglas firs.
Just twenty minutes after I'd got to
work. the iceman cameth, rang the
doorbell. and kept her standing in the
f rigid air in her dressing gown while he
discussed a price for the job. It seemed
his car would not start either, thus his
late appearance. She thought I'd
arranged a price for 'the job.
Finally. in exhaustion, desperation,
and danger of losing some toes from
frostbite. she told him to go ahead with
the job. at the price (fairly exhor-
bitant) that he suggested. He said he'd
he back in a few minutes. She thought
he'd gone to his truck for extension
ladder. axe. and other implements for
knocking off shingles, as well as ice.
We haven't seen him since.
She tottered back to bed, and was
barely warming up, when the doorbell
rang again. Once more into the breach,
bless her indomitable spirit and her
rage at me about the iceman. This time
i t was a nice young fellow from the gar-
age, with the tow truck.
There had been a breakdown in com-
munication. and he hadn't received the
word to come later in the day, when I
was home to flood the engine etc.
All he wanted was some keys for the
car. and instructions on whether to just
get the Bang thing running, or to tow it
away for a check-up. I had the keys at
work.
Another doorway encounter, with the
Exeter area's own Tammy, Christine
Easterbrook. Such a worthy represen-
tative! Her talk was worth the price of
admission alone.
•
The entire membership of the Exeter
Lions should be commended for their
efforts in providing an evening of enter-
tainment for area residents when they
can meet some of the stars of the spor-
ting world. but also for the more !audi-
ble aspect of helping handicapped
children.
Few of us have any real insight into
the amount of time that is expended by
the Lions in organizing the event and in
particular handling the last-minute
changes that crop up.
Members make several trips to Lon-
don to meet with the dinner committee
organizers there to co-ordinate efforts,
while others are busy making local
arrangements.
It is a major production and is
successful only with a major effort.
Several speakers are almost
bewildered when they arrived in Exeter
to find a small community and a local
service club staging such a vast under-
taking.
The attendance, of course, is one of
the most surprising aspects to them,
because it matches many of the similar
events staged. in cities where the draw-
ing area is many, many times greater
than here.
It's relatively easy to think big, of
course. The secret of the success is to
have the enthusiasm and dedication
necessary to bring it to fruition.
temperature 'way below zero, her feet
turning blue, and her near -pneumonia
on the verge of turning into double -
pneumonia.
The only thing that kept her going was
the increasing heat of her fury at me
for not organizing anything except two
young men who were forcing her to
make decisions when she had scarcely
enough strength to decide whether to
go to the bathroom or just curl up and
die.
Again. she rose to the Occasion, found
another set of keys and told him to ,do
whatever he wanted, though she flt
like adding a few other suggestions.
Naturally. he towed it away. Know
what they rap you for a towing charge
these days? I can't bear to mention the
figure.
By this time in her weakened condi-
tion. she couldn't even go back to bed,
she was so passionatelyangry with her
slob of a husband.
She called me at work, tracked me
down. and gave me a piece of her mind.
It was a fair-sized chunk, about half a
glacier. I'd say, not hearing a word of
my explanation of ho* clever I had
been in my morning arrangements,
against impossible odds. It ended in one
of us hanging up. Me. And instructing
the girls in the office not to accept any
more calls for me that day.
It all blew over,of course.After work,
I picked up the car, and when I got
home, she had several errands for me
to do. out in the blizzard.
My whole and only point in this essay,
or true story, is that a good, old-
fashioned Canadian winter can not only
break you physically, economically,
spiritually, and emotionally, but even
maritally.
Mainstream Canada
A Small Business
Viewpoint
By W. Roger Worth
The great debate on the
constitution continues, with
one politician after another
choosing up sides on what
should happen, and how.
While the Canadian public
appears to be displaying more
interest in the subject, argu-
ments between experts over
technical points has reached a
crescendo.
Roger Worth is Director,
Public .4ffairs,
Canadian Federation of
Independent Business.
But now at least one thing
is eminently clear. The coun-
try's small business communi-
ty does not want a Bill of
Rights added to the British
North America Act (the con-
stitution) by the British before
it is returned to Canada.
Recently, members of the
non-partisan 57,000 -member
Canadian Federation of Inde-
pendent Business voted 75%
against such a move, thus sup-
porting most of the provinces
in their battle with the federal
government. About 17% of
members favored the change,
while 8% held "no opinion."
The question was not biased
against Ottawa. In fact, fed-
eral government constitutional
experts agreed the question
was fairly presented in advance
bf the vote.
The results are important
because Federation member-
ship reflects a broad cross sec-
tion of people operating
smaller firms in every province
and territory.
What particularly irritates
the small business community
are the seemingly heavy-
handed methods used by the
federal government to push
for constitutional amend-
ments.
The business people believe
making basic constitutional
changes without more provin-
cial agreement violates the
spirit of Confederation, and
threatens national unity.
They also agree that the
proposed Bill of Rights is ex-
tremely far reaching and com-
plex, requiring extensive de -
bale in Canada.
Indeed, the country's en-
trepreneurs appear to believe
that traditional Canadian
methods of reaching a consen-
sus on contentious issues
should prevail.
DolUAR. SEAM
A penny pincher's guide
for living with inflation
By John G. Sayers, CA
Has your income kept
ahead of the 11.2 per cent
rise in consumer prices in
November from a year
earlier?
No? Then if you haven't
yet- learned to pinch
Dollar Sense offers
general financial advice by
members of The Institute of
Chartered Accountants of
Ontario.
pennies, now's the time to
start.
Here are some tips to
make your family's dollars
go further:
• Be a careful shopper for
clothing and footwear. If
you wait long enough, what
you want will likely come on
sale. January sales are
often among the best of the
year for saving money.
• Don't be trendy with
your clothes. It doesn't
take a genius to know that
half the clothing fads you
see today will be outdated
six months from now. This
doesn't mean you're not in
style; it means you buy
classic styles that stand the
test of time,
• Toys can go out of fashion
as quickly as clothes, and
often you'd swear they're
designed to break. Ask
yourself if there are unusual
mechanical pans to replace,
if there are extra parts in
the set, if you have been
happy with toys by the
same maker,
• With games, look for
ones of proven popularity,
such as monopoly, back-
gammon, card games,
chess, checkers. Consider
buying an easel and poster
paints for tiny tots; you'll
find they quickly become
absorbed in their creativity.
• Use public transit when
you can, and consider a
monthly pass if it's avail-
able. You really can, as the
ads say, save *500 a year --
it's amazing how much
more time you have for
reading when you ride a
bus and someone else does
the driving.
•If you have a pre -1961
home without adequate
insulation, you probably
qualify for a CHIP (Can-
adian Home Insulation
Program) grant of up to
*350 plus up to a third of
the cost of labor for having
your insulation brought up
to current standard. Just
remember the grant is
taxable. For information,
call toll-free information
number, 1-800-268-1818,
or 365-6000 in Metro
Toronto.
•Though the program
won't be in place until next
April 1, the federal Govern-
ment has also announced a
taxable grant to encourage
people to have their
furnaces converted from oil
to cheaper, and more
plentiful, natural gas. The
Canadian Oil Substitution
Program will cover 50 per
cent of the cost of conver-
sion, up to *800. The toll-
free information number:
1.800.267.9563.
John Sayers is with Dun-
woody & Co., Chartered
Accountants, Toronto.
The readers write
Tribute to Norton
From the first moment we
saw that ungainly pup
Those eyes fortold, just
where he would end up
Forever loving him in good
health, or in pain
As part of the family entered
Norton, a great dane.
He was easy to train, and he
never complained
Whatever our moods, his
loyalty remained
Seeking that cuddle and a
friendly pat
Whilst suffering resentment
from our siamese cat.
He watered the trees for
blocks around
And wouldn't let other dogs
near his ground
He knew how to com-
municate, when needing
that walk
There was never any need
for him to talk.
Somehow he took over and
ruled in our home
With dignity, and class, he
was free to roam
By nodding us gently when
tempers flared
Those gaps in our family
were quickly repaired.
Though only five years, he
became gravely ill
But never a whine from his
throat did spill
He died after surgery con-
firming our fears
For weeks the familywere
often in tears.
Though he has left us, his
work has been done
We have him on films
through which we can run
Norton bound our family, as
long as he lived
Binding us closer in death... -
for that he achieved...
Fred Short