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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-04-01, Page 4Page 4 Times Established 1873 Times -Advocate, April 4, 1981 Advocate Established 1681 Imes -Advocate Y„ti ,••• - ti• lam• w•• ib..441t,alle`l°Ak.i.. te2.`F' ilk' 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 Phone235-1331 H 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 AVINUMNIRCIM Just incredible Most people couldn't believe their ears. Surely it was an early April Fool's joke! But no. it was true. An attempt had been made on the life of yet another President of the United States. It was an attempt that was frighteningly close to being successful and points out again the incredible danger that hangs over the head of political leaders in almost every nation of the world. But the danger to nations is equally great. How can they expect capable people to offer their services in the face of such risk? It is a problem that should concern Canadians as well. During the recent provincial election, Premier William Davis and his wife were subjected to some harrowing experiences. The visit of President Reagan to Ottawa was marred by the ugly shouts and signs of demonstrators. Mankind has a long way to go to complete its mental evolution and, in fact, appears to be going backwards. Not letter perfect A report produced recently by Judge Rene Marin suggests that more than $4 million per year is lost to pilfer- ing by post office employees. The report also uncovered countless in- cidents of arson and worker abuse of alcohol and drugs. However, the loss may be even greater than outlined, because the report notes that the post office doesn't keep comprehensive records of such matters. Many Canadians already have a rather low estimation of the post office and the report will certainly erode what further trust that does remain. It is apparent that only major changes within the post office will ac- complish improvements to renew the faith people should have when they send personal property and information through the mail. Until that change is forthcoming, the private courier firms will continue to prosper. One suggested change is for the in- stallation of one-way observation Better than The United Church has done better as a united national institution than has the federal government, says Larry Krotz. a contributing editor for The United Church Observer. In one of a series of articles on western alienation in the April issue, Krotz says the church has been more responsive to regional concerns than the federal government although it faces similar problems: distance, and funds corning from Ontario head- quarters. Church regions got a say on the spending of money and the designation of priorities years ago. but, they still' struggle to have adequate representa- tion on national committees, and to in- fluence national policies. "In Alberta the battles are still being fought for the By SYD FLETCHER 1 wonder how sef- sufficient Canadians. even in rural Ontario. are in this the ninth decade of the twentieth century How long would we last if we were suddenly placed in a real survival situation such as peoples in other parts of the world e.g. Afghanistan, the desert parts of Africa, or the earthquake victims of Italy. have been subjected to in recent years. Let's say. just for the sake of argument that your area was suddenly totally cut off from the rest of the world in the middle of December. 4 galleries and television monitors to enable supervisors to keep a better eye on staff. A postal workers' union official has already denounced such a plan as demeaning and uncomfortable and hints that the workers would go on strike before subjecting themselves to such scrutiny. Only those who have something to hide should fear such sur- veillance. However, one idea of testing the faith of postal workers in themselves has been offered. The suggestion is that they should put their money where their mouths are and agree to have their own pay sent to them, in cash, through the postal system. To make sure they get no special privilege, the government should use a variety of unmarked envelopes in which to send their pay. If postal workers were willing to risk their own pay to the present postal system, then it would go a long way to restoring con- fidence among the rest of us who use the system. government needs of the regions," says Krotz. 'Within a decade, half a million Edmon- tonians will live in new sub -divisions that as yet have no United Churches." Albertans feel the rest of the church doesn't share their sense of urgency that these churches must be built now. Another article on the same subject says the church is moving away from a system where decisions are handed down from the ;top, and now involves more people in decision-making than ever before. The church also allows its members to petition to its highest court. if they have complaints. The fundamental thing the country might learn from the church is "a com- mitment by all parties to something greater than themselves," the article concludes. Perspectives This might not sound too conceivable but an atomic bomb dropped on London or Sarnia. or even Detroit, could put you in just such a predicament. Electricity is cut off total- ly. which means that your water supply (run by elec- tric pumps' and heat (even oil furnaces run with elec- tric thermostats are both gone Your almost immediate need would be for food. Within three or four days, grocery stores would be completely depleted or all stock. either from spoilage of just by being sold out. Money would be worthless because after all, it's only paper at hest. (Perhaps with inflation that's nothing new anyway Sewage systems would hack up shortly because of no pumping system to carry the waste away. Crime would become a serious problem because police would no longer be paid as usual. and also would be busy scavenging for food, and wood for warmth.' Hunting would be back in style, and people would learn to live off the land again A barter system would spring up quickly with needed items . being traded for something you consider of little value. Your car, TV set. dishwasher. etc. would come under this category, I would imagine. People that have learned to grow big gardens, preserve food and store it each year in their cellars would not feel the pinch nearly as much as others who think that beans grow in a can. People who are used to be- ing independent would probably survive that first winter. A goodly number would fold under in the first month. 047/K„O„ .AKMI • ,e ! _ • CaII of the great outdoors Along with John Lyman Kehoe and several other thousand people, the writer attended the Sportsmen's Show in Toronto last week. It was a great show for those who enjoy the outdoors, although the many signs around Exhibi- tion Place in Toronto urging govern- ment action to save our lakes from acid rain. calls into question how long that enjoyment may survive. It may have been that question which prompted John Kehoe to decide to take advantage of enjoying the great out- doors before it is too late. Visitors to the show were told that it took less than 15 years to totally destroy the life of one of this province's beautiful northern lakes. Several have already met their demise and hundreds of others are endangered. I came to know John Kehoe only through press reports and while that is hardly enough to form an opinion about his personality. I have some com- prehension of how he could view the show and decide that the great outdoors was just the thing for him. One large section of the mammoth exhibition contained the booths of the outfitters who lure people to the nor- thern woods for hunting and fishing expeditions. Many of them had stuffed examples of what the would-be hunter and fisherman could expect. Some of the fish were so large they were almost intimidating. The razor-sharp teeth of the muskies on display would make some people think twice before even hoping to get such a foe on the other • end of a fishing line, much less hauling one into the rather limited confines of a small boat. "That was a three-hour fight," one resort owner was telling a group of onlookers who stood in awe in front of one of the 48 -inch specimens mounted above his booth. Some restful holiday that would be! Your arms would ache for a month and you'd have to cancel next year's holiday just to pay to have the darn thing mounted. Perhaps John Kehoe considered that dream a little impractical too. He may have considered that his idea of a holi- day was renting a floating houseboat to explore the deep blue waters of Muskoka or getting behind the wheel of the lavishly plush inboards to fly across the waters with the wind and the spray whipping through his hair. He may have dreamed of standing on the edge of a cliff with one of those flimsy harnesses strapped to his hang- glider. waiting for the right air current to send him soaring through the canyons and cavorting with eagles, finally descending to his sporty Japanese 4 -wheel drive to once again test its durability against the muddy wilderness trail which had taken him far away from civilization. The assortment of exciting pursuits is almost beyond imagination, ranging from the luxurious motor homes to water scooters, sleek sail boats to swamp buggies. If John Kehoe is one of those who prefer a holiday of a less exhausting and challenging nature, there were plenty of ideas ranging from the dis- play of luxury cottages to the finely crafted log homes which include a verandah railing on which one can rest his feet while listening to the sweet music of silence at his remote hideaway. It was a great show for daydreamers who were returned to reality only when they checked the price tags. Unlike John Kehoe, the writer had Sugar and Spice Dispensed by Smiley some help with his daydreaming. I had taken along three offspring, who in the short period of four hours, had gone through several hundred thousand dollars in wishes. John didn't take his kids to the Sportsmen's Show. He smothered his two young daughters in their Scar- borough apartment of April 22, 1972 and was sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found him guilty of non - capital murder. John, along with five other prisoners, was brought to the show from Warkworth medium security peniten- tiary near Brighton and was allowed to freely roam through the show after promising to meet his two prison guards at 5:00 p.m. for the drive back to Warkworth. John didn't show up and is now the ob- ject of a province -wide police hunt. He failed to abide by the honor system that constituted part of his rehabilitation program disigned to prepare him to re- enter society. Apparently, John thought he was already prepared...or at least was overcome by the call of the great out- doors. The Sportsmen's Show is a great place to visit, although it may be best to be a little leary of some of the corn- pany you meet. Some of the murderers with whom you rub shoulders just can't be trusted! I echo the thoughts of the Metro Toronto Police Chief who said, "It's hard to believe that a prisoner brought from penitentiary is allowed to roam free just like children on a field day from school". Mainstream Canada Tackling the chain stores By If : Roger Worth Unless changes are made, the family-owned neighbor- hood grocery store may go the way of the do -do bird. Consider the differences in the regions: In Atlantic Canada, chain - supermarkets held 55°70 of the market in 1980. In Western Canada, the chains control about 65010 of the market in British Colum - Roger 1f orth is Director, Public Afjnirs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. bia and Alberta, 58°'o in Saskatchewan, and 68°'0 in Manitoba. In Ontario, the super- market chains held a whop- ping 75°'o of the market in 1980. To independent grocers, these figures are downright depressing, particularly when the share of market held by chain stores has risen striking- ly in many provinces. Yet Quebec's independents are tackling the chain stores head on, and winning. In that province, the chains hold only 40070 of the market, down slightly from the pre- vious year. One reason: the Quebec government has supported in- dependent grocers by allowing them to sell a selection of beer and wines, thus offsetting some of the buying power and advertising advantages held by the large chains. Even the supermarkets in Quebec are complaining that wine sales provide a drawing card for independents, and the competition is _ causing them trouble. In Ontario, where the chains hold 750'0 of the market, the opposite is hap- pening. The province has allowed wine to be sold in more than 30 kiosks attached to supermarkets, providing a drawing card for the chains, rather than the independents. Meanwhile, British Colum- bia is seriously considering beer and wine sales for in- dependents, and many other provinces are discussing the issue. As the Quebec situation in- dicates, wine sales for in- dependent grocers could help save the smaller stores from extinction. The readers write To the Editor: We've done it again! The enthusiastic directors of the ladies division of the Exeter Agricultural Society have been working overtime to bring you an interesting and specially worded prize list for 1981 Exeter Fair. A full page is elsewhere in this weeks paper and please save this for your future reference. The flower section in- cludes african violets, Lady Diana's Nosegay to honour her marriage to Prince Charles, Pot Fleur and an arrangement honouring 1981 The International Year of Disabled Persons. We have tried to gear the prize list to the arts and crafts that you are doing. New crafts include bread dough artistry, stained glass, wood inlay and very attractive specials. Three classes are included in the photography section; one being for cameras under 35mm, one for the photography students and prints of a special nature. Please inquire about the photographic competition sponsored by Ontario Association of Agricultural Society. Men do not seem to wear blazers now. We learned that the term is sports jacket and a cushion is under twenty inches diameter. Many sections for cushions are in the sewing, crewel, crochet, knitting and hooked. Canada Packers are again sponsoring the Best of Show Quilt and a new rule is that a quilt may win Best of Show at one fair only. How many loaves of bread are we going to have in the best homemade white loaf of bread. 1980 had a showing of fourteen. Other' classes in- clude a special cake honouring 1981 the Inter- national Year of Disabled Persons, turnip cake, the re- wording of the Bean Producers special and the new "Give a Gift of Christmas Goodies". Huron South Women's Institute competition theme is The Nursery, while Nuts, Cones and... is the curious theme for organizations. I would like to encourage old and new exhibitors to enter at this years fair. By paying a 82 membership, you can show as many articles as you wish and also admits you to Saturdays fair. Our ladies draw will in- clude a quilt for first prize, a needlepoint cushion for second prize, and placemats for third. All of this is a result of many enthusiastic directors and citizens in our area. We appreciate the support of donations to make this list so attractive. Get ready, set and show. We'll see you at 1981 Exeter Fair. Shirley Cooper TAX TALK... Marking papers something else Marking examination papers brings out the best and the worst in a teacher. Any tomfool can set an examination. Any other idiot can write the thing. But marking the finished, or more often un- finished product is something else. In some ways, marking exams is the absolute anus of the sometimes creative body of teaching. It is to the teacher what an over -flowed toilet is to the plumber. Normally. a plumber's life is a fairly happy one. Whanging away at pipes. Cursing gaily as he tries to unscrew a rusted nut. Dropping a dirty great wrench on the customer's new tile floor. And writing out a whacking great hill at $14 an hour, plus parts which must be made of 24 -carat gold. On the whole. a satisfactory, fulfulling life. A plumber is usually a smiling, affable chap. much like the highwaymen of olden times. who grinned gallantly as they stripped the passengers of the stage of their valuables. It's the same with teachers. You seldom see a teacher who is not smil- ing, except between the first of September and the end of June. They too have their little joys in everyday life: bullying kids; cursing the principal, under their breaths; gossiping venomously about colleagues who are having more fun than they; happily whining about being underpaid and over-worked; thanking God that it's Friday. A challenging life of dedication and idealism. But both parties have one craw in their ointment, or fly in their throat, or whatever you call it. When a plumber walks in, rubber - booted. and faces a floor covered with water. sanitary napkins, toilet tissue, and semi -dissolved feces, his normally serene mien becomes one of stony stoicism And when a teacher finishes a term at school, utterly exhausted, empty of ideals, drained of dedication, and faces the marking of about 180 exam papers, his normally congenital expression turns into something resembling the agony expressed in a cheap reproduc- tion of the Crucifixion. Nobody looks quite as crucified, staggering home with both arms full of exam papers, as the English teacher. Ilisiher thoughts about Phys. Ed. teachers, shop teachers, business teachers and others who don't have for- mal exams are unprintable in a family journal. Their attitudes toward science teachers and geography teachers, with their true -false exams, are barely less charitable. These ruminations, none of them original. recurred to me as I sat serenely during this year's March break, pursuing the current crop of regurgitations, wild guesses, and hopeful meanderings that constitute the average student's exam. This year, 1 sat in something resembling a white man's igloo, and marked my papers in Moosonee. Unperturbed by my grandboys' fighting, crying, challenging me to a game of chess or dominoes, walking across my exam papers with dirty rubber boots, I sat like Solomon, alter- nately bemused, amused, bewildered, and occasionally bewitched, the out- pourings of adolescence. Some were simply stunned. Others were desperate, seeking any port in a storm. Some had a clue, but couldn't solve the case. And very occasionally, there was sheer delight in seeing a keen, original mind at work. I mentioned the chore as bringing out the hest and the worst in the harassed pedagogue, peering, pencilling, pouting over the papers. One becomes a philosopher: "Oh, well, what the hell? We can't all be brain surgeons," after reading the ef- forts of one who has professed the desire for such aP rofession. and ypells it "brain surjen. One becomes a philanthropist: "He's flunking badly. But he did clean the blackboards and plug in the record players and said 'Have a nice holiday, sir', and he's going into the old man's business because there's nowhere else to go, so I'll give him 10 marks for co- operation and attitude. That'll please the Guidance Department." One is amused. She wrote on the out- side of the paper: "I did my best, Mr. Smiley. I hope your in a good mood when you mark this." 1 took off a mark because she misspelled "you're." One is appalled. Question: "Use a sentence containing the word morale." Answer: "A hero thinks he is greater than ordinary morales." Things like this make the young teacher panic and ask self, "What's happening. I'm not getting through to these kids at all." Not to worry. The kid will probably be a good mother. Occasionally, one is enchanted. One of those students who is a wall -flower in class. obviously shy, hiding behind drooping eyelids, flowers on paper, all inhibitions forgotten in the sheer joy of expression, and turns in a brilliant piece of creative thinking. And the teacher is momentarily elated, realiz- ing he has kindled a flame: All in all, an enriching experience, giving the marker a good look at a good cross section of youngsters, a few good laughs, some self-doubts, a certain humility, a delightful feeling of playing God, Jr., and the odd flash of sheer satisfaction, if not joy. M c� General Reminder Taxpayers — Have you read your 1980 Tax Guide? By following the steps in your Guide, you will probably find that most of the questions you have about the re - tum are answered in the Guide. And, if you read it carefully, you will reduce your chances of mak- ing a mistake or forgetting to in- clude all necessary documenta- tion. It is important that you attach to page 3 all necessary official re- ceipts. Without them, your return isn't complete and its processing will be delayed unnecessarily. Any schedules that are required must be completed also and at- tached to page 3 of your return. Without these schedules and re- ceipts, your return is incomplete and Revenue Canada will have difficulty processing your return. But you can help Taxation pro- cess your return efficiently by re- membering to do the following. First, if you are paid a salary by the person you work for, you should receive a T4 slip. It tells you how much money you earned last year, what deductions were taken from your pay, and how much income tax was deducted. Revenue Canada needs a copy of that T4 slip to verify the income you are reporting from your job and to substantiate certain deduc- tions you may be claiming. If you are claiming medical ex- penses, charitable donations, political contributions, tuition fees, union dues, or certain other expenses, you must include re- ceipts with your tax return. If you are self-employed, Revenue Canada needs statements of in- come and expense. Check also that your name, ad- dress and Social Insurance Number as shown on the return are accurate. Any incorrect in- formation on the return should be changed. Enter other information requested, such as birth date and marital status, in the Identifica- tion Area. The next thing to check is your arithmetic. Double check that you have put the correct amounts on the proper lines of the return. Often when taxpayers transfer fi- gures from the working copy to the final copy of the return, they make errors. Once you have completed your return, remember to sign it! In- clude your telephone number and the date on which you are filing your return. And don't forget, April 30 is the deadline for filing your 1980 income tax return.