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Times-Advocate, 1981-08-06, Page 4Page 4 Times Established 1873 iinke.0WNMaa- -+O. v Times -Advocate, August 6, 1981 Advocate Established 1881 Imes - • dvocate rr,IM11.r --. •tib Leming.. �. i44g,,'42 isf SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W N A CLASS 'A' AND ABC MEMBER ONTARIO PRESS COUNCIL Published by J W Eedy Publications Limite LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor -- Ross Hough Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 Amalgamated 1924 Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $17.00 Per Year; USA $35.00 Flunked the test OPP Constable Gary Gaeler, com- munity service officer from Mt. Forest. attended a playground session in Zurich last week and during his stay, safety checked the bicycles and tricycles of 30 youngsters. The report card was far from en- couraging. All 30 flunked the test. The safety problems ranged from loose handle bars, poor tires, lack of reflectors or horns, and inadequate brakes. One of the entrants had only bare pipes where the pedals attach. While the officer reported that the group of bicycles was the worst he's ever seen in 13 years on the job, there's every reason to suspect that youngsters in Zurich are not far below average when it comes to the Condition of their two and three-wheelers. The report cards sent home with the Zurich kids should prompt their parents to take some corrective action, but parents throughout the district should be prompted to take a look at the safety of the bikes their youngsters are using to ride. The riding habits of many youngsters is already frighteding enough for many motorists and pedestrians, without adding the problem of mechanical deficiencies. However, there is also a suggestion that the bicycle manufacturers are partly to blame. Some of the products they are turning out are extremely poor. In addition, some do not even come equipped with the necessary safe- ty equipment required under the Highway Traffic Act. That's a situation that should be corrected: Constable Gaeler recommends that parents give their offspring's bike an inspection twice a month. The responsibility for bike safety must obivously rest with the parents and they have no one to blame but them selves if their failure to do so ends up with tragic results. Fly -by nighters Fly-by-nighters- the people who are here today, gone tomorrow: the con ar- tists who do a little work for a max- imum fee and then disappear; every community suffers their visits. Whether it be repairs, roofing, insula- tion, siding or whatever, fly-by- nighters are almostguaranteed to do a sloppy jeb.'By the time the injured par- ty has discovered his error, they have disappeared into the night. It's recommended procedure for people planning on having work done on their properties to have it done by com- petent, reliable professionals who are local and who are capable of being ac- countable. It doesn't make sense to save money by giving a job to someone who doesn't care about the quality of his work and won't be around if things go wrong. In order to survive, small town tradesmen must depend a great deal on word-of-mouth advertising. They aren't liable to do sloppy work knowing that the local grapevine is going to cut their future business. A sales tactic of the quick con ar- tists is work that the owner "should" have done. Such words should be ig- nored. If doubts are raised, a homeowner should contact a reliable local tradesman for his opinion - never some out of town sharpie who only cares about his commission. Welcome holiday Few people need to be told that the politicians and civil servants in Ottawa are poor financial managers. There's not a single Canadian unaffected adversely by some of the poor manage- ment evident in the nation's capital. However, the crunching blow came recently when it was revealed that a major error was made in the figures on the pay increases MPs granted themselves. The MPs would havehad us believe that their pay increase was 23 percent. In fact, it ended up being upwards of 43 percent. In addition, they blundered into being paid more than they were en - By SYD FLETCHER Last week I was talking a little about the "hungry thirties A lady told me about the following incident that happened during those years. She worked in a little grocery store down in the heart of Toronto. At eight she opened the store for the first deliveries and stayed until six. The wages were *7 a week which suited her all right as the owner would let her take home wilted v titled to in retroactive pay and as a result, will have to repay some of their unjustified windfall. Some would suggest the MPs made an honest mistake. Others have charg- ed that it was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public as to the actual amount of the pay increase. Regardless, it was scandalous and evidence that our economy is in bad hands. The lone consolation is the fact they are now on holidays, giving the floundering ship an opportunity to right itself without the bungling and mis- management if its helmsmen. Perspectives vegetables and things he couldn't sell. It wasn't much but it was a job. The room she and her sister stayed in Iwas E6 a month. A , girl she went to school with in Timmins, Edith, looked her up, and used to come around to the store sometimes or up to the room for a meal. She was a good friend to have, one from the old hometown and all that. One Saturday afternoon the store owner asked the lady if she could work for 85 a week. She said she was supporting her sister so how could she. It wasn't fair, she told him. Wasn't her work good? She didn't steal from Y him. Ile said he was sorry but he'd have to let her go. One, hour she had a job and without actually saying she would n't take the$2 cut she was out. She went back Tuesday to get some things she'd left behing and guess who was clerking behing the counter. Good old friend Edith. She'd gone around and told the store owner she'd work for 5 dollars a week. Without too much bit- terness in her voice, the lady went on : "That happened a lot those days. When it was between friendship and al job, friendship just went out the window. It was four months before I got another "Just think of all the things money can't buy . job." "This cauntry's got a real dope problem ... hut then, we elected them." BATT'N ARO JO - Many early risers Judging from reports on the number of TV sets that were turned on during the early morning hours of last Wednesday. area residents are among those throughout the world intrigued by a royal wedding. Arriving at my desk shortly after 8:15 a.m.. I was advised by a telephone caller about a champagr:e breakfast be- ing staged at one local household in honor of the occasion. The immediate reaction was to take camera in hand and rush off to the scene to record the gaily -bedecked par- ticipants. But common sense prevailed and I desisted, knowing the difficulties that can be encountered in taking pic- tures of people who have been imbibing on the bubbly for two or three hours. It was. however, an example of peo- ple being caught up in the excitement of the pomp and pageantry of royal nuptials and was obviously a welcome break from the normal fare of riots, strikes. falling dollars and escalating interest rates. Nervous brides and grooms throughout the world must have taken some consolation in the fact the main characters in the fairy tale ceremony blew a couple of their lines and that a few minor hitches occurred despite the hours of practice that preceded the event. • They are, after all, human. • • However. the young couple did not enjoy the many experiences of other brides and grooms, and that is truly a pity. There were no kitchen showers for Lady Di nor mock weddings. She probably didn't even get three toasters in her gift list. Unlike local groups, Prince Charles did not have to go through the agony of wondering if his rented wedding suit would fit when it did arrive. There was no need to rip through his dresser to dig out a pair of bright red socks to wear because he had forgotten to get his black ones washed up in time for the event. The reception was rather staid in terms of local celebrations. The visiting heads of state did not merrily tinkle their glasses with assorted silverware in a raucous invitation to have the bride and groom stand before the invited guests to kiss each other. There wasn't even any confetti to stick under the sweaty band of the groom's underwear to test his ability to, use his hands for welcoming guests rather than relieving the itch. No one managed to plunder the bride's suitcase to tie her frilly nightware in knots and the couple left on their honeymoon without the smell of limburger cheese wafting freely from the car's heater or the stones clinking in the hub caps. They didn't even get the bar receipts from the reception to help cover travel costs and nowhere has there been any account of who caught the bride's bou- quet or who bid the highest for thegar- ter gingerly extracted from her leg by a blushing groom. Only in Canadar, you say? Pity! While many of the loyal subjects over here in the colonies may consider the English to be staid, there's little doubt they have something going for them when it comes to throwing a good bash. The influx of tourists didn't reach the expected proportions for the wedding, but the sale of bunting and souvenirs should give the English economy a much-needed boost. There's nothing comparable in Canada to a wedding of such stature. In fact, the only events that come close to attracting such attention in this nation are a state funeral, the Grey Cup festivities of the Santa Claus parade. Following close behind are turtle races, frog jumping contests and similar national highlights. Here in Canada, you have to be dead for a minimum of 10 years before the government will consider putting your face on a postage stamp. We prefer to give numbers rather than names to highways and roads, although oc- casionally the esteemed have their names given to darns. Even the role of the monarchy is under constant debate and criticism. But the detractors have yet to come up with anything comparable, and while even the English have their com- plainers, the monarchy does bring about a national pride and provides a figure that serves to anlfy. We have the Governor-General, but no sooner do we get acquainted and start building up a love affair, than the relationship is ended and someone new takes over the job and Canadians are back to square one again. ..like all the things it could buy last year." MQIUAR SEASE Cut energy consumption and enjoy big savings By Allan C. Gunn, CA Save energy and save money. that's the message we've been hearing for some years now -- from governments, from utilit- ies, even from oil compan- ies. Saving energy in the home means basically using _less oil, gas or electricity to heat the house, and using the minimum energy to light the house, to cook and to supply hot water. The keys to a lower home Dollar Sense offers general financial advice by members of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. heating bill are of course an energy-efficient furnace, and insulation. Here are a few rules to observe. First, if the thermostat is normally at 22 degrees Celsius, cut back to 20 degrees during waking hours and 17 while you sleep. Not only will that save 15 per cent on your fuel bill, it will also add 12 billion barrels of oil, or its equivalent in gas, to Canada's supply, if every- one does it. Next, bringing your attic insulation from a standard of R 10 to R 30 can save 10 per cent on your fuel bill, while insulating basement walls can save a further 15 per cent. Putting up storm wind- ows, again remembering the basement, can cut heat loss through windows by half. Pulling shades and drapes at night can save another eight per cent. Modern burners can be easily installed to old furnaces, and are much more efficient. In any case, treat your furance or boiler Dear Sir: to a tune-up every year, and if you have forced -air heating, keep the filters clean. Tune-ups can save *30 - $40 per year. Remember that the gov- ernment offers incentives to save energy in the home. The federal CHIP program will pay up to $500 toward the insulation of a home built before 1963, while the new "Off -oil" program will pay 50 per cent of the cost of converting from oil heat- ing to gas or electricity, up to a maximum of *800. Both these payments are, unfortunately, taxable but they can help you save in the long run. Use less hot water. Turn the water heater down from the usual 60 degrees to 43 degrees Celsius and save 25 per cent. Fix leaky taps. Use washing machines and dishwashers with full loads. Don't let the hot water run while you wash your hands or shave. Buy a watersaver shower head. How much can you save by following these simple energy-saving rules? Even if your house was built to 1972 building standards, you can reduce your total energy bills by as much as 45 per cent -- and that's at present rates. The average Ontario ' home uses 750 gallons of oil per year, or the equivalent in gas, for heat. The current price of *1.05 per gallon for home heating oil is expected to double by 1985, and double again by 1990. That's the best reason yet for reducing your home energy consumption now. Alan Gunn is with Deloitte Haskins & Sells, Chartered Accountants, Scarborough. he readers write I have followed the news accounts of the con- stitutional crisis in Canada for several years. As a former Canadian, graduate of the University of Toronto, with pioneer British forbears in Ppterborough�County (18337 and in Huron County (1845), and as a person who is privileged to own property in Ontario, I would like to make three observations: 1- The government of Great Britain and the Netherlands are the only two governments in Europe which recognize that a queen may reign in her own right where there is no male heir. This is based on the Zelophehad law of ancient Israel. All other countries in Europe are under Salic law which excludes a female from the dynastic suc- cession. Whether or not one regards the British monarch as a figurehead these days, the fact remains that in times past the monarch did rule, and under British law a woman could come to the throne. In a time of struggle for women's rights, this incredible fact has the most far-reaching implications. 2- A christian twoman by adoption through Christ is a spiritual descendant of the freewornan Serah, not of a slave woman subject to the bidding of her master. Every woman can become a free woman through Christ. This in turn means that every Christian woman is a queen not a servant, in her own household, with a place of respect in the community. She is not a slave. She is not to be exploited. She is sup- posed to assume her own responsibilities in every generation. 3 -The dialectical relation between federal authority and states or provincial rights in the American Constitution and in the British North America Act also embodies this unique relationship. Men in leadership positions have called federal authority and provincial rights the two sovereignties, but furthur clarification is necessary. The sovereignties are those, not of two masculine principles, but of the masculine principle of federal authority and the feminine principle of states or provincial rights. In short, this is the equal and paradoxical recognition of both order and freedom. contract and consent, structure and vitality, platonic Being and Aristotelian Becoming, the "Yes" and the "No" of Abelard's SIC ET NON, the top-down and the bottom up, the great and the small, the universal and the particular, the Bridegroom and the Bride. A synthesis of opposing viewpoints or compromise at the highest point of tension is possible in the context of good -will and sacrifice for the common good. There is no other Utopia. J.B. Priestley in the 1950's stated that the masculine i , such s the hydrogenprincomb, wasain the ascendancpleby, while the feminineprinciple was in the ecl Ipse. If thefeminineprinciple is in eclipse it is only because we have either allowed this to happen or are dominated by matriarchal rather than VI bride -centered society. The world-view embodied in the British institutions of state, church and family is the guarantee of freedom under law and two-party thinking. It is our precious heritage. My hope is quit the present constitutional crisis will be resolved through a new manifestation of these two fundamental principles. With every good wish, I am Your sincerely, Judith Brigham, Ph, D. 1356S. Brook St. Louisville, Kentucky 40208 67 King St. Grand Bend, Ontario NOM 180 WATER SAFETY