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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-03-18, Page 4Pogo 4 Times Established 11173 Times -Advocate, March 18, 1981 Advocate Established 1 881 Imes-Odvocate stey lima amok ti•• -•••••=. SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 ►CNA Amalgamated 1924 Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Regestration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $17.00 Per Year; USA $35.00 For want of a nail A recent article in this publication prompted by the difficulty an area employer had in securing job applicants through the Canada Employ- ment Centre pointed up some of the problems this country is facing in the work force. While the Employment .Centre's handling of the situation may have left something to be desired, the crux of the problem is that too few people who are getting unemployment insurance benefits are willing to accept work. A secondary problem appears to be that too few unemployed are registered at the Employment Centre or at least don't use it as a method of gaining employment. It is ridiculous that people are allowed to collect benefits after turning down a job opportunity, even if the pay is not quite up to the standard to which they were accustomed in previous positions. Not only are they a drain on the unemployment insurance fund, they are a further burden on the economy due to the lost production of employers who can't find enough people to fill their production orders. The latter situation is often compounding in that people waiting for orders to be filled can't operate at peak capacity either. For want of a nail....the battle was lost! It is also disconcerting to find that many people seeking employment do not register with Employment Centres. It has been suggested there is a stigma attached to it. Whatever the reason, both employers and employees should un- derstand that Canada Employment Centres are operated with their tax dollars and they should be used to the utmost, although it isencouraging to a point to note that advertising in a week- ly newspaper appears to get a better response. Perhaps it's time that personnel at Canada Employment Centres reviewed their responsibilities in an attempt to better their image and effectiveness. Regardless of who is at fault, some changes appear warranted. Some assistance from the legislators is also necessary in situations where qualified people are allowed to turn down jobs when some employers can't fill their re- quirements. Welcome news The announcement that Kongskilde Concern of Soro, Denmark, has merged with Scandinavian Holdings of Copenhagen, possibly drew little more than passing interest from local readers last week. That's partially understandable. Something which happens in Denmark may not appear to have much bearing on South Huron. However. the announcement may have more effect on the local economy than imagined, considering the fact that Exeter is the base for Kongskilde Ltd. in North America and indications are that the merger will result in an ex- pansion in the North American market. To put the announcement into con- text, it could be noted that it was hardly earth -shattering news 20 years ago when Kongskilde moved to Exeter with two employees. But what has happened in those 20 years is rather remarkable. The firm has expanded to 70 employees at Ex- eter and the local plant now covers 85,- 000 square feet. That makes it one of the area's major employers. A continuation of that expansion is obviously welcome news. Inching to metric Recognizing that the 1981 Fruit and Vegetable Production Recommen- dations will he in metric only, we asked Bob Wilcox, Extension Horticulturist at Vineland Station to write an article for us about making conversions. Apparently we are about to un- dergo what's termed "hard conver- sion... meaning containers will be labeled in metric sizes only. No doubt many will find "hard conversion" to be just that. And no wonder. Converting 100 Imperial gallons to 455 litres, 2.2 lbs. to 1.0 kg and 2.5 acres to 1.0 hectare should keep growers busy this spring with their pencils and calculators. .Just the same, we'll probably get used to spraying in metric much sooner than saving in metric. It will be a long time before we stop finding inch worms •y - . r.r.iw'i'Hl .. By SYD FLETCHER A policeman's job has to be one of the most thankless in the world. - hauling drunks out of the local pub, trying to ignore the muttered cursing of a driver he has just ticketed, coming upon the wreck of a car with its mangled bodies. or hav- ing to tell bad news to the family of some traffic vic- tim The policeman is expected to be as wise as Solomon, does he chase the speed - crazy teenager at a hundred miles an hour or let him go in our cabbages and we'll still put a foot in our mouth on occasion. And no doubt we'll continue to measure our achievements with a yardstick of some sort -or -other. During a discussion on metrifica- tion at the last annual meeting of the Niagara Peninsula Fruit and Vegetable Growers' Association, a number of opinions were expressed on the impen- ding conversion. Howard Bridgman had this to say about it: Oh give me a home, Where the metrics don't roam; Where the miles and the inches still play. Where seldom is heard, A kilometred word; And the sky is not Celcius all day. It's clear that for some, there's no rhyme or reason to the change. The Grower Perspectives because he takes a chance of a reprimand if he himself endangers somebody in the high-speed chase? Ile is expected to have the courage of a lion. Should he go into a house where a family quarrel is going on even though he knows that even if he arrests the man tonight the wife will quite possibly let the charge go tomorrow. and even though he knows that several policemen have been shot in similar situations. The policeman is supposed to be able to forget that a good number of the charges he lays, in good faith and with good evidence, are either dropped, or given sentences so light that the offender is sent on his way, laughing behind his hand about a judicial system that is more concerned with the 'civil rights' of the criminal than the rights of a victim who may suffer physical and emotional scars for a lifetime. And above all the 'cop' is supposed to retain his sense of humanity, his ability to care for fellow human beings who find themselves suddenly with no one else to turn to. The next question comes. Do our police forces live up to these standards? Do they live up to our expectations. 1 believe that they do. Our own OPP in particular are known and respected by police forces across the North American continent. As well they are respected by the bulk of the population as a fair, honest, and wise law-enforcement group. In my small dealings with them I have found them to be always polite and respect- ful. Above that I have found them to be human beings who care for other people. I'm glad they're around. "Aii. budget should show people it doesn't pay to be poor!" II e Time for retirement For all intents and purposes, it's all over now but the voting. Ontario residents will go to the polls this Thursday for their fourth such ven- ture in the past two years. After two quick federal votes and one for their respective municipal councils, voters may be excused for thinking the whole exercise is becoming a habit. It would be more enjoyable if the trips to the polls didn't cost so much, but that is one of the prices of democracy. However. it's probably good for the economy and come to think about it, few of us had that much planned for this Thursday anyway. The unfortunate aspect is, that come Friday morning, voters may awake to find they haven't resolved that much. Another minority government in On- tario is far from impossible and the result could be another snap election. One saving factor is that if Bill Davis has anything to do with it, another elec- tion won't be called until he gets a cou- ple of his kids married off this summer . The writer is of the opinion that Bill Davis will have much to say about the next election. If I had any family heirlooms they'd probably be safe in a bet on the Tories. After all, they've been in power since shortly after the Garden of Eden was established and very little has come up in the recent campaign to indicate Ontario voters will turf out the big blue machine. That's not to say it wouldn't be a good idea! In fact I'm all for it, if for no other reason that it's time for a change. You may argue that a more reasoned opinion must be given to even suggest such a thing. But why? Society tells t thousands of people every year they have toquit working for no other reason than they've reached a certain age. There's no agreement of that age as it ranges considerably, but sooner or later someone comes along and says you've got to pack it in. In fact. governments tell their own employees that. So what's the reason for forcible retirement? And, is it real- ly any different than suggesting a government should be forced to retire after attaining some particular length of service? I think not! Unfortunately, there's no legislation in place to force the Tories out for a respite, so the only course of action left to voters is to mark their ballots in a different place than they have in the past...and where their fathers did, and their grandfathers before them. Now some staunch Tories will be quick to point out that the reason for retiring people from their jobs can't be used as a parallel for governments. They'll argue that their leaders have been changed in their many years in power and that they've brought in new blood and new ideas. But, the fact remains that they, similar to 65 -year- old workers who have kept abreast of the times, are stifling opportunities for others who have to be given a chance. Who are those others? Well, the Liberals and NDP, of course! Even if this province was to return to a two-party system, it would be beneficial to the electorate if capable people, knew they had an opportunity to become premier, a cabinet minister or even a member of the civil service if they leaned towards a party other than the Conservatives. As it is, the double -standard being set by some parents is disgusting. Imagine Suaar and SpDispesed by Smiley It's a small world Isn't it amazing how little our world really is? How petty and small and mean we are underneath our professed liberalism, generousity, compassion? The situation in Poland is very dicy. The Mexican stand-off in the Middle East is a torch, loaded with pitch, just waiting for a match. There are hush fires and brush fires of wars all over the world. Canada is in a mess, politically, economically and spiritually. There are noses thumbed at the Queen by would- be head -liners. There is a big flap about the constitution. The West is howling separatism. Quebec still wants it, psy- chologically. Even Newfie is threaten- ing a referendum on separating. Shame, after all that federal money poured in to ensure the perpetuation of the Liberal government. Outside, as I write, the great February storm is raging: snow, high winds, rain, freezing. Tomorrow will be one of those days when the school buses don't run, the smart kids in town will roll over and go to sleep after look- ing at the snowbanked windows. And a few dumb kids, and a lot of dumb teachers, will stagger through the storm, at risk of life and limb, to keep the stupid school open. And yet, all these storms, inter- national, national, and local, don't bother me half as much as the one in my own household. Here's where the suspense begins. Wife left him? Nabb- ed by the cops for mope and gawkery? Poles and Russians have been clobbering each other with ten -foot poles and vodka for hundreds of years. The Jews and Arabs have been doing the same for three thousand years. Likewise the North and South of whatever: Viet Nam, Korea, 'the U.S. Likewise all sorts of black people ail over Africa. In Toronto, the cops punch up the gays, who respond with violence. In the West, a whole can of worms has been opened, and the worms all turn out to be from Ontario and Quebec. In parlia- ment, lies are told, fingers pointed, desks thumped, and the government goes right on dazzling us with one hand, and with the other, lifting money from our wallets to help out poor little old Massey -Ferguson, poor little old Chrysler. poor little old Petro -Can. While that bulwark of idealism, the NDP. nods and smiles, and taps its foot to the Liberal tune. Right outside my window, the snow is coming down so hard that the wind has One is try- ingtime for sculpturing.guy to climb the hill sideways, in his car. Another has just rammed his into a snowbank and walked away. He is the one who boasted that he never used snow tires, because he had /›.) if you will, the questioning glance a father would receive in telling his offspring to shoot for one of those positions and at the same time suggesting he be an adherent to the Liberals or NDP. This may be a province of opportuni- ty for any race, color or creed, but we've reached the point where it is also necessary to be Tory blue...or be a good friend of someone who is. The writer is also of the opinion that a 'stint' in the opposition would be good for the Tories. It would make them leaner and keener. It would also make them envious; en- vious of the fact that another party could go out across the province come election time and make all those promises of the type Bill Davis is using to buy up votes this Thursday. It's a rather strange phenomenon that the provincial coffers were short of money a few months ago and the Tories were urging restraints and now that we're into an election, there seems no end to the dollars available for the goodies they have up their sleeves. There are a couple of catches. To receive them, you have to vote Conser- vative. Then you have tp pay for them when they're elected. So, if you don't agree that the age of a government is enough to force them into retirement, perhaps you'll agree that one that has to buy votes rather than being able to stand on its record, should be given a rest. It may also give us time to repay the the debts from the Frost and Robarts election promises which now cdnstitute the second largest expenditure in the provincial budget. radials. Across the country, people are driving under insane conditions, taking their own lives and those of others in their hands, to get from nowhere to nowhere. And yet, as I said, all these storms seem trivial compared to the domestic storm. More suspense. To generoulsy, not to say wildly, papaphrase King Lear: "Blow, storm; lie, politicians; smite, Middle- Easteners; plot, Slays. Go to it, and the best of luck to yii all." But your plight brings little sym- pathy, no tears, from one who is spider webbed into a binge of decorating. As 1 am. Most women do their spring decorating in the spring. Mine, just as perverse as the day I asked her to marry me, and she retorted, "Why should I?" does hers in mid -winter. Don't ask me why. I'm likely to erupt in a fountain of bad language. I'll swear my eyes are permanently crossed from looking at wall -paper samples. After the first four books, they all begin to look alike. Same with paint. After inspecting peach, Ivory, mushroom, off-white and six others, I wouldn't know a red cow from a purple (Mainstream Canals Ottawa's spending problem By W. Roger Worth open-ended commitments on federal -provincial spending programs, it Is evident the federal government Is having a great deal of difficulty con- trolling expenditures. Unlike the small and medium-sized firms that are forced to bite the bullet and dramatically cut spending as interest rates rise, Ottawa con- tinues to depend on increased borrowing to survive. Taxpayers, of course, pay the huge bill. For most Canadians, it's tough to come to grips with the astronomical numbers that comprise lunch-hour discus- sions in the nation's capital. Money, money and more money. That's the depressing word in the nation's capital these days as the government attempts to come to grips with spending plans for the coming year. The word from Ottawa is that the federal government Roger Worth is Director. Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. will spend next 12 months, up almost 1307o from the previous year. S67 billion in the Again, we'll be adding about $13 billion to the $70 billion -S80 billion we now But here's one figure that is owe. Interest payments on worth mentioning. In fact, it past overspending will cost tends to put federal govern - Canadians 31% of all the ment budgeting in perspective. money they pay in taxes. While inflation is running at a 1207o annual rate, and Ottawa is forced to meet In the next year, it will cost the average taxpayer a whop- ping S795 just to cover interest payments on the federal debt! To the Editor: On behalf of the Ontario UNICEF Committee, UNICEF Canada and the many UNICEF children around the world the world, I would like to extend thanks to the people of Ontario for their most generous support of UNICEF's work in 1980. I would also like to extend UNICEF's sincere gratitude to those representatives of the Ontario media who supported the efforts of our many volunteers so ef- fectively, throughout the year. Once again, the people of our province have responded with concern and generosity to our fundraising appeal at Hallowe'en and through the purchase of UNICEF greeting cards during the year. As a result of this generosity, $414,542 has been raised to date from the annual Hallowe'en for UNICEF collections and we are optimistic that we will reach our goal of ;450,000 from our greeting card sales across Ontario. These contributions, when matched by the federal government through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will multiply to approximately $1,800,000 – monies which will go far in providing safe water sup- plies, improved nutrition, health care and educational programs for millions of children in tie developing countries of our world. As we move into the 1980's we are becoming more aware of the in- terdependence of all people – and the impact we each can make. Through their con- tributions to UNICEF, the people of Ontario have helped to provide a brighter future for many children around the world. We thank you and look forward to your continuing support. Sincerely yours Maggie Smiley Chairman Ontario Unicef Committee Dear Bill: I believe enough time has passed for me to comment on our municipal scene, not as a defeated mayoralty can- didate but, as an interested and concerned citizen of this Town. I would like to say, Bill, that I agree with some of the points raised in your editorial comment of March 11. It would appear that we are not getting debate and information about the issues for which our elected council are responsible. Now, there is no doubt that it is important to consider issues facing the Province and the country as a whole. But, as far as I'm concerned, I don't care what our council thinks about the Con- stitution, about Alberta and its oil, about the Russians in Afghanistan or about the death penalty. I do care, however, what they think about rising municipal tax rates, in- dustrial development in Exeter, the utilities including water and hydro and longer range planning and development of this Town. Our Council's number one priority is to manage this Corporation under the guidelines of the Municipal Act and when that is done, their views on more lofty issues can be entertained. Do our councillors know what is going on as far as Committees with which they are not involved? We are not getting debate and questioning on important municipal issues. There would appear to be a "rubber stamping syn- drome" occurring which suggests that all Council members are either com- pletely harmonious or uninformed. We are not so naive as to think that debate should all occur on the public floor of council. Naturally, much will occur in the com- mittee stage. But if the committee system is so organized that it eliminates some "political" discussion and debate on the public floor to bring out the decision-making system and its facts then surely the committee meetings should be open to the press and organized in such a way that the press can conveniently attend them. This letter is not to question the integrity of Council either. They are good people doing a thankless job. But, as citizens, we have a right to know what is going on. And Bill, if that is being arrogant and demeaning well so be it. Sincerely, Don Cameron. pig, if I bumped into one or fell over the other. Not that there's a difference of opinion. We did agree on the wall -paper. At least the design. She liked the stuff that was $14.95 a roll. I was swept Away by the stuff, identical design that was $4.95 a roll. But the difference is chicken -feed, as you'll agree. Some chicken. But it's not that. It's not the money. After all, you can't take it with you. Though I doubt if I'II be around long enough to take anything anywhere, even the gar- bage out to the roadside, after the latest decorating omit s the little details. She can't seem to sort out the order of things. She makes a deal with the painter - decorator to start'on a certain day. The day before he is to arrive, she rushes out to pick the wall -paper. Wall -paper is like the Canadian mail. It gets there when it gets there. If ever. Next day, she arranges for a cleaning lady to wash the woodwork. The lady, much sought after, can come only between theainting and the papering. This means that the paint goes on over dirty woord- work, and there's nobody to clean up after the plasterer, who makes such a mess that the wall- paper looks like the dunes of the Sahara. And so on. I could write a book about decorating. All I'd have to do is listen to my wife before breakfast, before dinner, after dinner, and before bed. Which I have to, do anyway. No wonder colleagues say when I arrive at work: "You look exhausted," Substitute "harassed," "frightened," "desparate" ' or "frantic,' and you have the average Canadian male when his wife decides that the homestead is shabby, disgraceful, . slummy, and so on and on and on. s