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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-01-23, Page 4 (2)OUR POINT OF VIEW Sharemutual concerns It is interesting to note that three area municipalities listed waste disposal among their priorities at inaugural meetings.. The three are Exeter, Usborne and Stephen. This is not a new topic for area com- munities, because waste disposal has been one of their nagging problems for the past five years since the ministry of the environ- ment stepped in with stricter laws and en- forcement regarding waste disposal sites. In view of the added expenses now in- volved in meeting these new standards, it is becoming obvious that the communities must consider some joint effort in the .matter of waste disposal. Exeter councillors have talked about arranging a meeting with their neighbors on many occasions in the past. but no ac- tion was taken in this regard. However, with the•Matter being listed among the priorities of so many for the coming year, such a meeting should be at the earliest convenience to ascertain if some mutual cooperation can be im- plemented to meet the needs of all com- munities and their ratepayers. Presumably. other neighboring municipalities must be in a similar situa- tion. and should be invited to join in those discussions. In addition to waste disposal sites. municipal leaders must also be prepared to give some considerat ion to other topics such • as separation of garbage, recycling and in- dustrial waste. The matter of dog control is also a topic that is causing some concern among area municipalities, and a tentative meeting has been scheduled to see if any joint action can be taken to bring about some solutions to the benefit of all concern- ed. There are a number of other topics which arise periodically and stimulate some member of an area council to suggest meetings with their neighbors, but those seldom come to fruition. Perhaps the time has come for all area councils to sit down and draw up a list of topics they would like to discuss with neighboring councils and then all a meeting where all are represented. Some worthwhile results may be at- tained through such discussions and it would appear that in many areas, some cost saving could be implemented. While restructuring of municipal government in Huron is proceeding slower than in many other counties. it may well be that area communities could harvest some of the benefits -of sharing their problems, and resources while at the same time avoiding many of the liabilities associated with government enforced restructuring. Area councils have an opportunity to show some progressive leadership in com- bining their efforts on several matters. and hopefully that leadership will come forth. Helping the handicapped As accidents, strokes, age, diabetes and arthritis increase the number of physically - disabled adults annually, more and more people are finding they have to lend a help- ing hand to a handicapped relative. friend or neighbor. For those who find themselves in this position. the March of Dimes has just published a handy booklet entitled "What You've Wanted to Know About Helping the Handicapped- But WereAfraid to Ask". This pocket -and -purse -sized guide provides the answers to such questions as what to do when coping with dressing, toiletry and feeding, the best and easiest method for getting a wheelchairinto a car. even "how to overcome your em- barrassment". The purpose of the booklet, according to James Good. community development director for the new March of Dimes organization, is to help people, especially volunteers. overcome their fear and ap- prehension so that they will work with. rather than for. the handicapped. "Although more and more oppor- tunities for participation in community ac- tivities are becoming available for physically disabled adults," he said, "paradoxically, the adult with a handicap depends more and more on volunteer assistance in order to take advantage of these new possibilities. Often the lack of family. for example, can put someone into an institution whereas with a little outside help, the individual could live at home." This assistance might be as simple as preparing meals or helping with personal care or transportation, which would be too expensive if done professionally. "What You've Wanted To Know About Helping the Handicapped, But Were Afraid to Ask" is available free from your local March of Dimes centre or from the Provin- cial office, 12 Overlea Blvd., Toronto. Tel: 425-0501.. The local March of Dimes, or Ability Fund.' canvass will be held on Monday. January 27 when you can share in a monetary way with those lets fortunate than yourself. Some hair-raising questions There are a lot of questions floating around in the murky depths of my mind. and oc- casionally one floats to the surface. It is usually slapped down by someone (my wife?), or just given a good shot of Raid. and lies over on its side and ex- pires. But recently. the questions have been boiling up like bubbles - in a thundermug. I felt I should share them with my long- suffering readers. and among the six of us. we might be able to come up with some answers. (By the way, if you don't know what a thundermug is. ask your Mum. Your Dad would be too shy to explain.( They are not exactly burning questions, but they do create a small smoulder, from time to time. Why are so many men addicted to hairy appendages to their craniums these days? I can understand any chap growing a beard to hide a weak chin. I can understand any young man trying to grow a beard. It's part of growing up. Times Established 1873 But why all these Fu Manchu moustaches? They add nothing whatever to a face that has no character. and they detract from one that does. I'm glad I'm not a girl. It must be revolting to kiss a young man and wind up with a mouthful of hair. When I got back to England from prison camp. I had a beautiful handlebar job which had taken me nine months of constant upsweeping to achieve. It came off 20 minutes after I'd looked up my first old girl friend. She said it was like kissing a cow's ear. Blunt but honest, she was. And why do all those older guys. who are skin -bald for the first two-thirds of their skulls, insist on growing those long, greasy forlorn ringlets at the backs of their heads, falling down over their collars? They fool nobody. It doesn't make them look more virile? It merely makes them look scruffy. and silly. They remind me of the guys who - used - to comb carefully - Advocate Established 1 881 toceferZimesatmorate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Editor — Bill Batten — Advertising Manager Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh Women's Editor -- Terri Etherington Phone 235-1331 across a completely naked pate eight strangs of long hair from their sideburns. Why not face it. chaps? If you have a big belly, stick it out and pat 1t. If you're a baldy. you're a baldy,and you wash your hair with a face -cloth. It doesn't seem to bother the ladies. Yul Brynner has been a sex symbol for years. And that Telly Savalas, or whatever his name is. that mean -looking guy on TV (Rojack? hojack? Wojak? ) seems to be on every second program, bald as an egg, and about the same shape. T remember an elderish lady whose chief delight was putting a needle into people. She was as bald as a billiard ball on top. but. by a clever contrivance of buns and piling -up. she managed to cover it. Or so she thought. In her joky way one day. while I had my head bent over a book, in my usual scholarly fashion. she scratched my crown and*chor- tied. "My,you're getting a little thin on top." It didn't bother me- I.was. If it Amalgamated 1924 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Poid in Advance Circulation March 31, 1974, 5,309 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $9.00 Per Year; USA $11.00 Wate` .s `',,6+rl:,< MU( 01E804 **AIM I/77 imoiNE TFigT KOOK MACj(f.NZIE KING ACTUAI.ty (3E11E111% IN SQIRITS! • Misery enjoys company A couple of weeks ago, many readers Ito doubt chuckled over the editor's obvious lack of mechanical aptitude as we related how the train purchased for the kids at Christmas had beaten u§. However, the old adage about he who laughs last may yet work in our' favor. Since that column was written. at least two of our friends have mentioned that they too purchas- ed the same type of train set. They too had difficulty. That trestle was just too much for any father. we suggest, and it appears the incline was just too much for the engine provided in the set. So. the editor's case may not be entirely hopeless. Or if it is, at least we are encouraged by the fact we have some company. + + + One of the ironical situations in the world today is the -fact that some countries are over- producing food. while at the same time people in other lands are starving. There are some economics in- volved in that unfortunate situa- tion that baffle the average'joe. but it has also been noted that even Canada will find it dif- ficult in the next decade to provide enough food for our pop- ulation. So we are faced with the had. I could have said something cruel. Like, "O.K. Rapunzel, let down your hair and we'll climb up and have a look at what you've beenhiding all these years." I couldn't. But I didn't like the old hat, and it was time someone blunted her needle. So, I stood up, walked around her twice, my eyes glued to her bum. which looked like the east end of a cow going west, smiled, and said gently, "Yes. my dear. but perhaps it's better to be getting a little thin on top than gargan- tuously thick on the bottom." She scuttled to the coffee urn, eyes atwitter to see if anyone had heard, and shut her mouth for three whole days. I think it was the word 'gargantuously' that flang her. This started out as a question period and is turning out -to be a piece about hair. Sorry, I've nothing against hair. as such. t'm not one of those back -to -the bruslicut people. Lordy, if someone made all my students (male) cut their hair, I'd have to learn their names all over again, and it's already taken me three • months to identify the shaggy dogs. In fact, I rather enjoy the modern novels, which state that, "She ran her hands through his long, silken hair." just as much as I enjoyed the old novels which stated that "He ran his hands through her long silken hair." Men's lib. If you can find some silken hair, -which is a -lot scarcer - than you think, grab onto it and run your hands through it. One group I do feel sorry for during this fad is the old- fashioned barber. There's no such thing as a young barber. The young ones are all hair stylists. For the oldtimers. business is pretty sketchy. Some of them are cutting so little hair these days — the odd gray lock here. another there — that they don't even need a broom to sweep the floor. They just use a garden rake. I'm sorry. This started out as a column of questions about the energy mess, politicians who need a 33 percent raise in pay and other such, and it wound up as nothing but another of my hairy columns. No wonder my life is such a mess. I can't keep to the trail. I'm like a finely trained deerhound who goes haring off after a hare when he should be persuing a Kuck. prospect of shortages in the future, while in the present many farmers are suffering because their high production levels are keeping prices down. The same situation exists in Australia and New Zealand, where farmers are finding it hard to secure sales for their products. Concerned about fall- ing incomes, they are threaten- ing to cut back on raising sheep and cattle for meat unless somebody comes up with an in- centive for them to maintain herd numbers. The problem is one of storage, to a great'extent. After all, .you can only pile up so much meat in freezers around the country without that practice becoming too expensive. Someone has hit upon the idea that the excess meat should be shipped off to the Antarctic. where it can be stored relatively cheaply because the temperatures are around minus 40 degrees C. and the ice is said to be 10,000 feet thick. This would then allow farmers to keep up their production and provide food for those who will -,,follow at a time when it will be difficult to feed the growing masses. + + + Last weekend the writer ac- companied a couple of Exeter minor hockey teams for a series with our friendly rivals in Tren- ton, Michigan. As usual, our American friends treated - us royally. However. some of our own contingent were Tess than hospitable. At least. that's the only conclusion one could reach after being un- ceremoniouslydumped out of bed at 2:00 a.m. and dragged off to some party down the hall. Fortunately, we managed to escape, and unbeknown to a few of the 'revelers, returned with our camera to get some photos through the window. Those are now being developed for publication and should be available shortly. + + + A few of the largest industries in Trenton are associated with the automobile industry, so un- employment is a growing problem in that community. As one of our hosts pointed out, it is a situation that ends up effecting everyone. Those who are still working will have to carry the load for those who aren't. However, there is little visible evidence that times are tough south of the border. We had to stand in line at a restaurant for Saturday supper, after leaving another eatery where we were told it would be an hour before we could expect to be seated. Actually, we've come to the. conclusion that American housewives have given up the role of cooking entirely. There's a restaurant or one of the chain take-out spots every 100 yards it seems. + + + Local sports fans who have dif- ficulty swallowing the fact that the American boys have caught up to us in hockey, may be in- terested in one of the reasons that situation is happening. The team our atoms played on the weekend were completing their 43rd game of the season. By the end of the year they expect to play about 70 games.. Talking to some of the enthusiasts, we find it is not un- common for minor teams to play upwards of 100 games in one season. That's counting only the "fall and winter" leagues. Many of the youngsters then sign up for "spring and summer" leagues and probably play almost as many games again. By comparison, most of the minor teams in this area play less than 30 hockey games in the entire year. • There's no question that the extra ice time helps develop the youngsters south of the border to a greater extent, but we did note that the increasing activity was being questioned by some of the parents. If our lads had to play as many games, we would suggest that the committee studying a local sports complex consider adding apartments in the structure to facilitate those of us who would be living there for most of the time. OLD 'TIM: SO Years Ago Goderich defeated Exeter by a score of 5-2 in an OHA game. The line-up for Exeter: goal, Walper; defense, O'Brien & Knapp; centre, L. O'Brien; wings, Wells and Statham; subs, Shaddock and Hey. Andrew Allison of Roland, Manitoba is visiting his sister, Mrs. Hamilton and other friends. Reeve W. D. Sanders, of Exeter, Reeve John Hanna of Usborne, Reeve Alex Neeb and _ cTeputy-reeve John-Aaye§ of - Stephen are attending County Council at Goderich. Mrs. J. W. McIntyre and three ehildren of Watson, Sask are visiting with the former's parents Mr. & Mrs. Thos.Sanders. 2S Years Ago The grand opening of Brady's new laundeteria with four new automatic washing machines and two large dryers will be this weekend. Exeter Senior Citizens marked their first birthday Tuesday night in the Legion Hall. "The Exeter Club is the model for Ontario", said Bob Secord, district ad- visor for community programs. Rev. A. E.Holley tendered his resignation to the official Board of Main Street United Church to be effective July 1., Jim Carter and Marion Creery won the public speaking contest sponsored by Exeter Lions at SH - DHS Monday afternoon. 1S Years Ago The Ontario Society for Crippled Children has announced the election of W. W. Haysom, Goderich as chairman of district council No. 5 which serves Huron and Perth. Bruce Biggart, who has been in charge of the RCAF and the Grand Bend branches of the Bank of Montreal is being transferred to the Kingston Branch. The family of Mr. Lesume Desjardine, MatnStreet. gathered at the home of his son, Byron Desjardine,Ailsa Craig to honour him on his 80th birthday. ' Ross Robinson McKay, prin- cipal of Hillsburg school for over 30 years passed away on January 6 following a long illness. 10 Years Ago Reeve Glenn Webb of Stephen Township was elected warden of Huron County and Reeve Ivan Hearn of Lucan was elected warden of Middlesex County. Both men won elections after being defeated in contests last year.. Douglas Palmer of Wiarton has accepted the position of principal of SHDHS to succeed H. L. Sturgis who retires at the end of the term. At a meeting in Grand Bend members of Stephen Township school area board agreed to commence proceedings to have a new central school erected. Vate/a 9aty# 7e/Kd4InetK Mixed set of priorities I was extremely interested in a TV interview with Jeb Stuart Magruder after he was released from prison where he had been sent along with several others connected with the Watergate affair. Asked about the characters of the others involved in the break- in and cover-up, he said that these men were not evil men but were, for the most part, am- bitious, competitive men, who from childhood had been taught to compete and that to win and succeed was the most important thing there was to life, whether it was done honestly or not. He went on to say he believed his in- volvement stemmed from having a mixed up set of priorities. Surely, there is something here for all of us to think about and learn from. Don't most of we parents label the key to life, which we dangle over our children's heads; - as SUCCESS--- Be --a winner," we urge them. "Win the hockey game, win the popularity contest, win the scholar- ship ... be the best, finish on top of the heap no matter what the cost." Certainly we need winners but we can't all fit that category ... and neither can all our children. Whether we win the race or just keep on jogging along steadily surely doesn't make us more or less important in the purpose God has for us. Our minister told a fine story recently. He said there were four brothers, one of whom became a doctor, another a lawyer, and another a minister. . Someone asked the fourth brother why he didn't leave the farm to attend university and 'make something of himself.' His reply was simply, "Somebody has got to stay home and sack the oats!" Each of us is born as an in- dividual, absolutely free within the area of God's love. But from babyhood to young adulthood we get rolled together in a. great mass. We are taught to talk alike, to think alike, to act alike. We tend to become what we read in the newspapers and see on television. We become stan- darized in the clothes we wear, the jargon we speak and the thoughts we think, and above all we believe we must succeed. What a pity that we humans beings who were meant to Almighty God to be free become victims of the stereotype. Someone has said that God is a great individualist ... he does not stamp out a whole lot of faces like Coco Cola Bottle tops. He gives each of us an individuality different from everybody else . He gives each of us differing talents to be used in varying ways. It's true we need top doctors, scientisits, lawyers, politicians, teachers, etc., but there is also a tremendous need for those who stay and 'sack the oats.' And who is to say which makes the greatest contribution to society and to the kingdom of God. What humanity needs, and what God wants is honest, in- tegrity -filled people in every phase of life to fulfill His pur- poses here on earth; people who dare to stand out and proclaim the truth about good and evil. The other day someone quoted the "llth commandment' to me, "Thou shalt do whatever you want providing you don't get caught." God help us to root out this terrible malaise that seems to creep deeper and deeper into our lives. There are. more than Jeb Magruder who need to straighten out their priorities. Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 235-2715 or 235-2474 Nellie McClung Privy Council Declares That Women Are Persons. So read the headlines in the newspapers throughout the British Empire. This was in 1929. Four women along with Nellie McClung had challenged an 1874 British law which stated, "Women are persons in matters of pains and penalties, but are not persons in matters of rights and privileges." Then five women, called the "Alberta Five" had sought a ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada against this law but were turned down.* They then proceeded to the Privy Council of England which ruled in their favour. ' No doubt it was a surprise to most women to learn that they had not been counted as persons before. But to Mrs. McClung and others, very conscious of women's plight, the personhood of women was always cast in doubt by the male establishment. Nellie McClung is now honoured as one of the truly great leaders in the liberating of women. She was born in 1873 in Chatsworth, Ontario.and died in 1951. In the summer of last year she was honoured by the Canadian Post office with an issue of special stamps in- corporating her portrait. Mrs. McClung's career was rooted in prairie farm life which was hard but also satisfying. There was a closeness to life, which love of life was to suffuse her activity down through the years. Even then the strictures on the activities of girls -were palling to Nellie. Girls were ndt to put themselves forward. She was not -to run In met—with boyii lest she should show her legs. And shinny was out. Her bloomers might droop. One sister married a farmer and, looking back, Mrs. McClung felt she had been trapped by domesticity. Another sister went. to normal school in Winnipeg and 1Rt volt 7#1 a PP rnrir/" air jr Yr! TNMnras Orinu uijLm4 "*, N/rt,YN/K/N4 this course of action was followed by Nellie. However much Nellie looked to the example of Queen Elizabeth I as one who suffered no emotional entanglements to interfere with her work, she married in 1896. The birth of her first' baby, Jack, roused her maternal feelings and she looked upon this love as the force that most needed harnessing for the salvation of society. The W.C.T.U. was the centre of her interest outside of her family in her early years of marriage, for female liberation was dependent on temperance and Christianity in Mrs. McClung's thinking. The W.C.T.U. was Mrs. McClung's practical training ground in public speaking and working together with other women. She became a successful author with the publication in 1908 of Sowing Seeds in Danny. There were nine other best sellers to follow as well as other volumes. In 1911 the McClungs moved to Winnipeg and here our lady became involved with the Canadian Women's Press Club and later the Political Equality League. These people were • dedicated to the task of obtaining the vote for women, Sir Redmond Roblin was the Manitoba premier of the day. The women latched on to one of his utterances - "nice women do not want the vote" - and made it famous. In January, 1914 the league organized a mock parliament in which Premier Roblin's words were used against a group of men supposedly ap- plying for the right to vote. This -even-t was climactic. Manitoba was the first province to give their women the vote - this in 1916. Others followed suit until in 1940 all of Canada afforded women this privilege. These were the times of sweet victory when every day seemed like the day before Christmas. Mrs. McClung was stridently against war especially as she saw her oldest son enlist and de[Sart for Europe. This anti -war posture seems a common feature of many reform movements. J. S. Woodsworth of the C.C.F. was to take the same stance at the time of World War II. Mrs. McClung was one of the first Canadians to charlppion birth -control, feeling that no child should be unwanted. Mrs. McClung lived courageously, actively, ac- cording to deep roots in the soil and a practical religious faith. With good humour she crusaded. for womankind.