Times-Advocate, 1978-11-30, Page 4 (2)Page 4
C
limes -Advocate, November 30, 1978
More than a pity
Two die, three badlyhurt .... crash
victim paralyzed ... the headlines give
mute testimony to the fact that traffic
collisions cause more physical and
mental pain and sorrow than probably
any other facet in our society..
Many of the hardships are self:
inflicted, while in all too many, the in-
nocent are often more grieved.
The solution t� traffic accidents is
'basically simple, involving care. cau-
tion and common sense. Unfortunately,
they are ingrefents lacking in many
drivers on today's highways, and in
many instances thbse ingredients have
been removed through the use of
alcohol.
• As the festive season approaches,
that problem will increase, and so will
the black headlines and needless suf-
fering.
Isn't that a pity? NO, it's stupidity!
Need action now
Auditor. -general J.J. Macdonell has
documented what many .Canadians
have suggested for some time — that
the nation's federal civil servants feel
that public funds are virtually bot-
tomless.
In his sixth report. the auditor -
general goes on to say that members of
the public service are inefficient and
*spend millions annualty'-without-paying
enough attention to whether programs
are working.
Figures indicate that in some areas
-of government, labor efficiency in the
public service is only 65 percent( If
public servants boosted that efficiency
by only' one percent, he said. it would
• save $25 million a year. -
- - The only encouraging aspect of the
• report is that Macdonell feels the
government is approaching a degree of
control. Two years ago he had
m
suggested the government had virtual-
ly lost effective control over spending.
While the opinions of Canadians
about the waste in government spen-
ding :has been documented, the big
question is whether any action will be
taken to correct the situation.
Bureaucrats should obviously be
subjected to the same rules as their
colleagues in private business. In the
private sector, people who don't spend -
motley economically and efficiently
find themselves in the ranks of the un-
employed, -
A considerable amount of house-
cleaning is obviously warranted in the
federal civil service and if the govern-
ment won't make the necessary moves
in that direction. Canadians should ad -
vie their MPs that they'll show their
col cern in no uncertain terms in next
ye is national election.
• • i
1 •-
Vandals everywhere
Although.vandalism has been with
us for "literally centuries, it -is a hard
act to understand. and the senseless
destruction of property in this area in
the last few weeks is no less difficu1o
fathom. •
Why, for instance- would art- im-
bec:le knock oyer 43 'stop and yield
signs in a night? What possible
satis cfion. could there be in destroy -
i public property.
>I`
By
SYD FLETCHER
Cigarettes never. used to
bother me very much.
Oh, I'd get, a little
aggravated of a meeting
once in a while. I would sit
fairly glose top window so I
could get fresh air and then
somebody would begin
smoking about - three seats
away. I'd get the smoke as it
was siphoned to the w'int sw.
But Basically it was only a
minor irritation. When I first
began teaching i had a
principal who wouldn't allow
smoking in the staff room.
Smokers had to go off by
themselves to an isolated
stock room to indulge in their
habit. I thought that he was a
little stiff-necked and
unreasonable at the time but
being a non-smoker the
restriction didn't bother me
anyway.
Two events have changed
my attitude.
Although th_g_rnost recent acts are
not to break -tie public purse, they are
ver gerous acts. Removing signs
-eau result in serious death and injury
if a car accident occurred because
drivers had no signs to -guide them at
intersections.
Would a traffic death placate the
• rowdies?
Clinton News Record
Perspectives
The firiit one was at a
friends -♦fuse: He had just
got home about a month
_got
from the hospital
'after :his second heart at-
ta About fifteen of us were
s tti in the living and
dining room areas, a
gathering of friends and
relatives to celebrate his
return.
Por a couple of weeks he
had been in the hospital
intensive care unit, often on
oxygen.
So now he was at home and
we were all there, joking and
talking, and suddenly. I
looked around the room. It
hit me. • Here we are, so
pleased -that he's home- and
alive, and no less than five
cigarettes were going in the
crowded room. The air was
blue with smoke.
And he was /sitting there,
very polite dboul it, not
gasping but the next thing to
it. True affection, eh.
The second incident was
with a friend and his wife.
who took square dancing
lessons with us. We teased
- him with the title, "The
Galloper': because he liked
to promenade the ladies at
about ninety miles an hour.
He was tall and gangly with
a ready smile, a man who
"Hope no one notices they're all jokers.
BATT'N AROUND :.
e p e . *
,)
with the editor
-.A sye noise in<the air
If you hear what -appears to be a
collective sigh of relief resounding in
the ea Today. the explanation is com-
patatively simple. This isthe final day
of office for the elected and appointed
officials who are joining the ranksof
the retired, either through their own
wishes or those of the electorate.
It will be a sigh of relief that will be
heard several times in the forthcoming
weeks and months as their successors
tackle thorny issues and face the
dilemma of the pro and con attitudes of
their ratepayers.
However, there is little doubt that
those same retirees will also face
pangs of regret that they are not in the
thick of the battle, because serving. -the
public is a challenging voeatfon on
• which many people th ive`
Once it gets Intiqiiiir bloodstream, it
is difficult radicate, and -there is no
better vidence' of that fact than to
:,-witness the number of former officials
who rejoin the ranks after a brief so-
journ on the sidelithes.
• There are many mundane items that
cross the table for public officials to
consider, but there are also a great
number that provide a considerable
challenge, and obviously result in self-
satisfaction when that challenge has
been tenet.
All those who are retiring today
deserve the commendation of those
whom they have served, and no matter
how many -toes they may have stepped
on during their terms of office, they
can gather some solace from the. fact
that some time in the next twoyears
their. successors will make at least one
faux pas that will prompt the elec-
torate to say they wishes they had
those other people back.
Absence does make the heart Trow
fonder!
enjoyed life 'tremendously.
There were' only four
couples in the class and we
got to know him -well. Too
well, I guess:
About six months after the
classes ended we heard that
he was sick, with lung cancer
as it turned out. And three
months after that -he was
dead; at forty-nine.
What hurt me more than
anything about the whole
thing was that it seemed so
rjtuiecessary. He didn't have
to smoke. It wae,as simple as
that.
Ata meeting that .Iwas at
recently I was'unconscioualy
cracking my knuckles, a bad
habit I've acquired over the
years. A friend, next to me
said, with a wince on his
face, "Do you have to do
that?"
Sheepishly.I admitted that
1 didn't really )lave to do any
such thing. -
It wasn't till after the
meeting that I realized that I
had lost' the chance for a
perfect comeback when he
;-just as unconsciously a few
minutes later had lit up a
cigarette. • '
With a straight face f
should have said, "Do you
have to do'that?"
wi tlrar
Times E00b1nh,d 1 173 • Advocate Et►obbshed 1881
Amalgamated 1974
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
C.W.N.A., O.W.N. A. CLASS 'A' and ABC
Published by J. W. Eedy Publications limited
WINE EEDY, PUBLISHER
Editor — Bill Batten
Assistant Editor — Ross Haugh
Advertising Manager.— Jim Beckett
Composition Manager — Harry DeVries
Business Monger — Dick Jongkind
Phone 235-1331
•CNA
Published Each Thursday Merni
of Easter, Ontario
• Wend Gloss Mail
Regis►ratlon Numbrir 0386
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada 511.00 Per Year; USA $22.
• One person in the area who will
probably notice the most drastic
change in his lifestyle in the next few -
weeks is retiring Exeter Mayor Bruce
Shaw.
There's -little doubt that he's carried
a tremendous load in view of the many
major decisions that Exeter council
faced during his four-year term, coupl-
ed with the responsibilities which he
assumed with the South Huron rec cen-
tre and the local planning board. -
In fact, one of the main faults which
was aired, was that he was perhaps top
involved, but those who levelled -that
criticism never appeared .too keen to
come fortj_and••relieve him of any of
hreslfbnsibilities and duties.
We're not certain on what criteria a
mayor's record should be judged, but
perhaps the true test came when he
.gave his farewell address at last
week's civic banquet in front of the
many people with whom he has been so
closely associated during the past four
years.
'Let the record show he was given a
standing ovation, which has long been
recognized as the spontaneous method
by which people acclaim those who
have performed their work in an above
average manner. ;
His enthusiasm, dedication and
leadership will be sorely missed,
although there is every indication his
retirement will be short-lived in terms
of community involvement.
. . .
Joining Bruce orf the sidelines of
municipal affairs are three other -
veteran performers, Jack Delbridge,
Wally Burton and Ken Ottewell.
It's the termination of a long and
colorful'' career for the former,
although Ave know it is fair to say that
his retirement will not end his concern -
for this community. Jack has given un-
told hours to Exeter's betterment and
the Mark of the man is the fact he
•
Su ar anti Spic
Dispe1sed by Smiley -
1'
I
never complains bhind anyone's back.
We've had enough experience- with
him to know that when he finds fault
with what you're doing, he's going to
draw that to your attention and not join
the guy on the street corner who hasn't
enough gumption to get to the sourced
the matter. __-
It -♦was particularly noteworthy that
Jack set a few people straight this
week when he stated rather
emphatically that he was among those
who had no worry whatever that in-
coming mayor, . Derry Boyle, can
capably fill the task. And, as we've
done on many occasions in the past,
well second that, Jack.
While Ken Ottewell and the writer
crossed paths over the town hall -issue,
it was one of the few times in which
there has been occasion to argue with
his clear thinking.
Ken never shunned controversial
issues and usually beat back his detra
tors with sound arguments that—left
them speechless. His leadership. in
looking about the community for ate-
of concern will be missed on
• It may come as a surprise for some
local citizens to learn that Wally Bur-
ton is retiring. Probably many of them
didn't even know he was a member of
the planning board for the past five
years.
Wally has always had a low profile in
public matters, but has probably had
mord-input into town affairs than most
would realize. He was often been
sought out for his sound advice by local
leaders, a fact mentioned by Bruce
Shaw at last week's banquet.
In his -quiet, unassuming way, Wally
has served the community well, and we
know that he will follow the other
retirees in providing assistance
whenever asked in the future.
Disasters e. ruAin threes
iffany a can tell me why disasters
ru in th es, I'll be happy to listen.
And do t think I'm superstitious,
because I'm -not.
I know from experience. During the
war, it used to happen on my squadron.
We'd lose three pilots in two days, and
then none for ten. And then three more.
During the peace, it was the same.
One night my wife would give, a black
eye for some inexplicable reason:.The
next day; one of the kids would come
down with appendicitis or something.
And the third day I'd get a parking
ticket for parking in the same place I'd
parked for weeks, free.
Last Saturday was no exception-. We
were delivering our older car to my
daughter,' in the city. Shehad finally,
obtained a position — not a job, mind
F ou'. - as.a secondaryichool teacher.
-or one month.. - - ,
Hut "she has to'commutefor an hour
and a half, at each end of the day.
That's a pretty hefty commute, es-
pecially *hen you have to cope with
, two of the wildest boys in Christendom,
at each end.
So, in her inimitably modest and self-
effacing way, she phoned her old man
(collect) and suggested he loan her the
old Dodge, market value $15b, real
value about $500, sentimental value
about $12,00. This would cut her,com-
muting-timPPtootorty minutes.
s ,
So, in his inimitably -stupid- way, her
old man agreed (why doesn't she move
to Vancouver?) And in his ineffably
idiotic way, her old man started worry-
ing about her safety. The old Dodge —
.it's only eleven - requires a combina-
tion of jockey and a tractor driver to ,
handle it.
So the old man, to cut a long story to
ribbons, spent Aollars $125 in a check-
up and repairs so that his baby
wouldn't cream herself on highway and
leave sal old man with two
grandchildr nto raise.
Just han in there. The saga has
barely be n. All you've got so far; is
background: is gets worser and worse "
Satuiday morning, Old Lady and sell
having breakfast before setting off for
city to deliver old Dodge. Self breaks
tooth while eating toast and jam, leav-
ing him looking like a 9taand-in for
Dracula. • .
However, dentists being the robber
barons of the new era, doe9n't even
phone one. Cheerily sets off for city,
tongue flicking like a snake at edges of
ruptured tooth: Old Dodge runs down
highway like a rocket. •
Enter city. Enter Disaster Two. On
one of busiest thoroughfares, suddenly
no brakes. NO brakes. checked out the
day before.
Red light comes on. Self, with nerves.
of steel of old fighter pilot juggles stick
judiciously u etween forward and -
reverse and- c'mes to rest,,unharmed
but shaking ike proverbial leaf,
against bumper of car on sidestreet.
There's only one thing more hair-
raising than a car without brakes, and
that's an aircraft without brakes. I've
been through that caper too. But in a
car. you can always throwthething into
reverseYou might tip out the transmis-
sion, but you'll stop. In an aircraft,
•there ain't no,reverse, and you hit the
ground at abouts 100 miles' per hour,
with .several -tons -of metal: The only
brake is the end of the runway, which
can be a bit hairy.
,,_.Anyway, got the old Dodge stopped.
A delightful young Englishman, who .
lives on the quiet sidestreet on which I
came to rest, saw Trey predicament,
and gave great aid and comfort. He
checked out my master cylinder, which
Think.smait.
byJirnSmith 1
Who Can Afford Help?
Two lines best tallcen with,
a grain of salt:
"Your cheque is in the
mail."
"I'm from the govern-
ment. I'm.here to help you.
Canada's small business-
men may buy the first'story'.
But they sure don't fall for
the government aid routine.
According to _results of a
membership opinion survey
conducted recently by the
Canadian, Federation of In-
dependent Business, small
businesses would ge n e ra s l y
prefer no help at all to gov-
ernment "assistance".
The survey - conducted in
every part of the country' -
asked CFIB members to iden-
tify their principal sources of
business advice. The vast ma-
jority turn to their account-
ants and lawyers first. A sec-
ond substantial group relies
on its suppliers. And trade
associations and other small
businesses are also important
But virtually no small bLsi-
nessmen use the government -
funded institutions.
Not that there's a short-
age of government programs
purportedly designed to help
small business. There are so
many programs that govern-
ments have departmentnts,,to
do nothing but keep tracft'of
the other programs.
And none of these pro-
grams is cheap - or particu-
larly effective. Only 3 per
cent of the Federation's
members have placed pri-
mary reliance on the federal
agencies (including the Fed-
eral Business Development
Bank). Tyle provincial agen-
cies attract only about 1 per
cent of the CJJB-s-members.
llniversr y and community
college business 'schools -
also heavily funded by gov-
ernment - work with only
another I per cent.
In other words, taxpayers'
money used for bureaucratic
programs doesn't contribute
to a"better small business en-
vironment:Small business-
men don't like bureaucracy
and they don't trust civilser-
vants, But that should come
as no surprise. Why should
the government's track rec-
ord in managing its own af-
fairs inspire confidence in
• any reasonable business man-
. ager?
Interestingly, the most val-
ued sources of assistance do
not cost the taxpayers a nic-
kel. Governments would,
therefore, be well advised to•
scrap_theircurrent bureau- ,
cratic horrors and work di-
rectly with the trade associa-
tions that smaller businesses
already find worthwhile.
Trade associations know
their members' needs, they
know the potential of the in-
dustry - and they are not
part of the civil service.
Business schools should
be reorganized to truly re-
flect the requirements of
small business; currently, the
business schools specialize in
turning out big business -ori-
ented administrators.
The savings could be pass-
ed along in tax cuts for small
business; tax cuts always
work wonders in the business
- community. Cut out paper-•.
work; bureaucracy and waste
- three millstones around
business' neck.
Government's heart is in
right place. But actions speak •
• louder than
ds-'"
'Think small" is an editorial
message from the Canadian
Federation of Independent
Business
tf wn memory lane,
55 Years Ago
The Exeter Juniors are
grouped with/ Clinton,
Seaforth and ,Milverton in
the 0.11_2.A.
,rife annual shoot under the
auspices of the Hensall Gun
Club, of which Mr. J.
Passmore is manager was
held on Friday last and was a
decided success. Some good
scores were made.
Rev. Prof Potter of Vic-
toria University delivered a
very eloquent and forceful
sermon along education lines
in James Street Church on
Sunday morning.
Mes s. Harold Gower and
Emer on Roeszler of
Credit have returned from
the wes where they helped
with the arvest.
Rev. W. E. Donnelly gave
his popular. lecture on
"Marriage: the Pike's Peak
of success" in James Street
church on Monday' evening
and there was not a dull
moment in the whole en-
tertairtment.
. 5.
30 Years Ago
Reeve B. W.,Tuekey- hag
announced -this retirement
,from municipal office after
11 years;. two years as
councillor and nine as reeve,
Explosion of sort waxing
cloth which- she Was wiping
across the kitchen stove
caused burns from finger to
elbow to the arm of Mrs.
Clarence Datars, Zurich. ,
Mr. and Mrs. William
Morley served a dinner to
friends on Thursday to
celebrate their 40th wedding
anniversary.
• Milton Webb was elected
president of Dashwood
Hbekey Club at a meeting in
Hayter's Garage Friddy,
night.
,At the Exeter Lions Club
supper meeting it was
decided to sponsor the
United Emergency.FUnd for
Britain and the sum of $500
was voted to head the list.
•
20 Years Ago
A total of 18 inches of snow
have blanketed ' this area.
since Saturday bringing to 38
inches the total for the past
two weeks.. Temperature
according to Centralia's Met
Section have stayed well
below 20 degrees.
Joan E. Thomson, rmer
SHDHS student a now a
fourth year s dent at
Macdonald Institu Guelph
was the winner of the
Adelaide Hoodless emorial
Scholarship for ou tending
proficiency in all phases of
her studies during the first
three years of her course.
Over 1,000 toys, repaired
and painted by members of
RCAF Station. Centralia's
Fire department are being
distributed to Children's Aid
Society, Goderich and or-
phanages s in London this
week. -
1S Year! Ago
The T.A. Choristers under
th ,.rtreenail of Ronald
Heim h are busy with
engage knts-iis the festive
easo approaches, • • .
e two new trustees
elected to Hay Township
School Area this week are
Ian McAllister and Ross
Turnbull. Both hope to seek
an alternative to the Zurich
school addition for con-
solidation ,of elementaty
education. . •
A group of young singers
has recently formed the first
choir in many years at St.
Paul's Anglican urch,
Hensel]. The oir is
directed by red
Broadley and is com ed of
Marion Roberts, Kathy
Anderson, Cathy Roberts,
Susa6 Broadley, Brenda
Lavender, Jim Robert
David Jackson and Clayrk
Forrest. - - , •
Keith Hodgins, son of Mr.
& Mrs. Kenneth Hodgins,
Centralia recently was
awarded the Rho Alpha
Kappa trophy for proficiency
in the radio course at
Ryerson Institute of
Technology.
for all 1 knew, was In the trunk, and
.there was fluid in it. He suggested I try c i"
driving ow gear, with 1hEim dr ving 1�
right ah d to act as a buffer. Tried
this and nicked when horns started
hooting vic ously.
He took a to the garage, insisted on ,..
waiting un 1 I was served, com-
miserated with me over the $14 towing
— Pledse turn to Page i e
to mak a garage, two bloc s away, by op, Qt
1 i
ome
auiftnas