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Times-Advocate, 1982-10-27, Page 44 / 1. Times-Advocote, October 27.1982 imes- ' t 1 .• dvocate. Times Established 1873 Serving South Huron, North Middlesex Advocate Established 1881. & North Lambton Since 1873 Amalgamated 1924 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications limited Shameful isn't it? That was the concluding comment in an editorial . last week regarding the apathy evident among ratepayers in South Huron and North Middlesex as shown by the lack of candidates seeking public office. If that was shameful, there doesn't appear to be an appropriate word to describe theapathyevident in Exeter pertaining to municipal affairs as evidenced by the turnout at Wednesday's ratepayers' meeting. There were only six or seven people on hand, other than civic employees, candidates and their spouses. ' IOR\E EEDi Pt.hl,.ht'r JR BECKETT Ad‘et• - \1.in.3t;et B!t l BATTEN Editor HARR1 DEN RIES Composition Manager' ROSS HAL CH Assistant Editor DICK JO\GKIND Bus ness ,Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mao Registration Number 0.31a6. Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $20.00 Pyr yam': U.S.A. $55.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS `A' and `ABs' It's too good It was hardly enough for more than a good game of euchre, which is one of the past -times that those who have volunteered their services would probably have enjoyed more than speaking to each other. As noted last week, there are probably excuses for the poor turnout and overwhelming apathy. Again we ask the question: but are there really any valid reasons? The people of this community don't deserve the type of government they're getting. It's much too good for them Need answers, not rhetoric Prime Minister Trudeau has received less than rave revues for his three 15 -minute talks to the nation last week. While some of the criticism could have been ex- pected, regardless of what he said, the maincomplaint stemmed from thefact he failed to admit that both he and his Liberal party are devoid of ideas on how to get the nation out of the quandry for which they must ac- cept considerable blame. Canadians already knew it was going to be a long, • hard winter for many of them, and while there was merit in his suggestion that those with the resources had to help those without, there was no hint that his government planned to ease the burden by reducing some of the costly progranis and huge deficit that con- tributed to the hardships being faced. • It is clearly a time for governments to show restraint. even if that leadership does not prove politically attractive. Sure, Canadians are ready to bite the bullet. Too bad the government wasn't prepared to do the same! . A costly error For •years, the Ontario opposition parties have been attacking the government about its land -banking policy. At long last, the minister of municipal affairs and housing has acknowledged that this policy has been folly. Land -banking has wasted hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money, including over $100 million annually in interest on the "investment" of $470 million in lands. Liberal leader David Peterson is correct in noting that the government's land -banking policy has been a folly of immense proportions, which has made it all the more difficult for the province to recover from the cur- rent economic distress. In the economic conditions of the late '60s and early '70s when most of the lands were purchased for everything from prospective airport sites to industrial and housing developments, the purchases may have some validity, although many were made at prices far exceeding market values of the time. However, any error has been compounded by the government's failure to divest itself of the land, even when it has been apparent for some time that the money could be used for more worthwhile purposes to finance legitimate economic recovery programs. They've waited until the market place has soften- ed considerably and the losses will be even greater than if the decision 'had been made when it was ap- parent the major portions of ` the lands involved were not needed for the purposes intended. It's still a case of better late than never, although it will probably conclude with the taxpayers facing a huge loss through a government error. .The final say up to the voters The dangers inherent in back -room politics raised their ugly head last week regarding the visit of Mayor Bruce Shaw and Huron board of education trustee Clarence McDonald to the latter's . challenger. local senior citizen Bill Hart. While the explanation provided is • plausible. the fact remains that the visit was totally improper. and ironically. totally unnecessary in every aspect. in- cluding what may have been honestly con- sidered by the two men as a fact-finding mission to ascertain the seriousness of Mr. Hart's candidacy. The very fact that he had submitted nomination papers made him a bonafide candidate in the same way that the other two men had properly declared their in- tentions by filing nomination papers. That is a personal decision in which no one else has the right to question: mat certainly not a candidate being directly challeng- ed by that nomination. While there may be an appreciation for the concern of spending money on an elec- tiorL it is obviously an improper concern. although it is one that has been cited many- times in the past by candidates for either withdrawing their over, zx'rn nation. or. suggesting that others should When the time corm that any electwc far public office is cons dered a -waste- • of money. then ow democratic *stern is certazril}- in jeopardy The pnce paid by others to protect that freedom of .choice makes ons- expers.e appear very palm Y . we may complain about the cost invoiced, sihoi our displeasure by voting against whom we have perceived to have "caused.. the expense. but sorely we ruff never reach the point where we will sug- gest that person does not have the right to ruin for public office even in what may be the face of certain defeat That re nairss one of the basic freedoms for people qualified to seek public.office. and while there are those who suggest candidates should be required to post a deposit to be forfeitted in the event of a dismal showing similar to elections on the provincial and federal scene. there ap- pears no justification for any such "deter- rent- in municipal politics where can- didates face More than a monetary loss in drawing the ire of friends and BATT'N AROUND with the editor neighbors if it is perceived that their can- didacy was less than serious. The very fact the Mayor noted he and the Reeve talked tc -'many" people en- couraging them to lest their nam stand for %ana offxe< thcbca:es he was not concerned a tsar the cost o; an election He was. t seems proper ;ti attempting to encourage one even Sugg t.ug he would has'e welcomed an opponent for his own pocvtwn • . • . . Fortunate) .y for the two visitors. Mr Hari was note dissua ded frorr, running for office and -properly ptit the stere on the other foci, by stugge~ctzng zf Mr McDonald was concerned about the cost the latter had the easy means of preven- ting that cost by withdrawing his own cantbdacy He gains full marks for .that astute display of one-upmanship In case there is any misconception about the situation. the writer should note that the visit did not come to light through any direct action taken by Mr. Hart. The information was received through an anonymous telephone call from a voice that was clearly not Mr. Hart's. It should also be noted he was reluctant to draw any conclusions from the intent of the visit and the content of the discussion was gleaned primarily from comments made by Messrs. Shaw and McDonald. The challenger was extremely discreet and more than generous with his com- ments regarding the visit. although cer- tainly not to the point of naivete. • . • • . . What now becomes of interest is how • the electors of Exeter and't'sborne will preceive•the-situation in their ballots on November 8. Each ratepayer becomes the judge and jury. and While it is not the sole consideration to be given in the race'bet- ween Mr. McDonald and his opponent. it • is one that obvioush must be given due consideration. The incumbent may find it difficult to elicit support from an electorate whom he apparently attempted to denv the right to exercise their freedom of choice at the ballot box .Adding to his woes is the non-' • appearance at last week's ratepayers'• meeting . His illness regrettably negated a splen- did opportunity for him to apologize for his actions in the same manner in which the Mayor has admitted the in'ipropriety of the visit. Voters can disregard the incident or they can show their displeasure for the qu tionabie conduct when they mark their ballots on November ,8. - it has certaidy made for an intting situation in an election that otherwise ap- pears to have few other issues at stake. .w...•..,sn..p. .,. '11.•,. • • ,-rc•y • • "This needle doesn't hurt." ioug • This is a time of year when my heart goes out to city -dwellers. It's a time • when rural or small town living is immensely superior to that in the con-. crete canyons, the abominable apartments. the sad suburbs of metropolia. In the city. day ends drearily in the fall. There's the long, weary- ing battle home through traffic. or the draughty. crushed. degrading scramble on public transportation. The city man arrives home fit for nothing but slumping for the evening before the television set. And what greets him? The old lady, wound up like a steel spring because she hasn't seen a soul she knows all day. there's nothing to look at but that stupid house next door. ex- actly like their own. and the kids have been giving her hell. He's stuck with it. For the whole evening. That's why so many city chaps have workshops in the basement. It's much simpler to go down cellar and whack off a couple of fingers in the power saw than listen to Mabel. Life is quite different for the small town male. He is home from work in minutes. He surveys the time for city dwellers ranch, says. "Must get those storm windows on one of these days." and goes in, to the good fall smells of cold drinks and hot food. .His wife saw him at -,:*413r'...;;":--; 4x �. Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smlky romantic than the back streets of a small town in the dark of a fall evening. Piles of leaves spurt orange flame. White smoke eddies. Neighbors call out. lean breakfast, again at lunch, has hada good natter with the dame next door, and has been out for two hours. raking leaves with the kids. She doesn't need him. Instead of drifting off to • the basement. the small town male announces that this is his bowling night. or he has to go to a meeting of the Consenation and Slaughter Club, and where's a clean shirt. And that's all there is to it. While her city counter- part squats in front of TN'. gnawing her nails and wondering why she didn't marry good old George. who has a big dairy farm now. the small town gal collects the kids and goes out to burn leaves. There is nothing more on rakes. Women. ker- chiefed like gypsies, heap the dry leaves high on the fire. Kids avoid the sub- ject of bedtime. dash about the fire like nimble gnomes. Or perhaps the whole family goes to a fowl sup- per. What. in city living. can compare with this finest of rural functions? A crisp fall evening. a drive •to the church hall through a Hallowe'en landscape. an appetite like an alligator. and that first wild whiff of turkey and dressing that makes your knees buckle and the juices flow free in your cheeks. Bute it's on weekends that my pity for the city - dweller runneth over Not for him the shooting - match on a clear fall Saturday, with its. good- humored competition. its easy friendliness. Not for him the quiet stroll down a sunny wood road. shotgun oyer arm. par- tridge and woodcock ris- ing like clouds of mosquitoes. It's not that he doesn't live right. or doesn't deserve these pleasures. It's just that it's physical- ly impossible to get to them easily. If he wants to crouch in a duck -blind at dawn. he has to drive half the night to get there. Maybe on a Sunday or holiday. in the fall. the ci- ty family decides to head out and see some of that beautiful autumn foliage.. They see it, after driving two hours. And with 50,000 other cars. • they crawl home in late afternoon, bumper to bumper. the old man cursing. the kids get- ting hungrier, the mother growing owlier. Small town people can drive for 15 minutes and hit scenery, at least around here. that leaves them breathless. (ir they'll wheel out a few miles to see their relatives on the farm. eat a magnifi- cent dinner. and sit around watching TV in a state of delicious torpor. Yup. it's tough to live in the city. in the fall. Why bother to work? On a recent trip to Toronto I was walking down a busy section of Yonge Street just south of Eglinton. A young fellow. about eighteen or nine- teen. casually matched strides with me. and said. "Can you spare 'me a quarter? -. "Not likely." 1 said. aith a grin. "All the quarters I've got I've had to work for sol guess you're going to have to• do the same. Not a big ashamed of himself he grinned back and said. "Don't you think I'm working? -I've been gang up and down this going block for a good hour and half and it's blame cold out here " 'Just out of curiosity... panhandling but the cops don't enforce it I guess they've got better things to Perspectives By Syd Fletcher I remarked. .'.don t the police ever bother you' if I'm not mistaken there's bly a law against in this city.- yes." ity.- yes. " he said non- chalaatly, "they call it 1 1 - 1 do with their time." and off he went. falling into mv with a man who .was wanting the other .way. A moment later i step- ped into a fast-food establishment for a ham - Purger. On the wall in great big letters there was a sign saying "Part-time help needed. Please apply within". f felt like going back out and hauling that young character back in there and putting his nose about six inches away from,the sign so he would be sure not to miss it. Then again i got think- ing. He's probably seen lots of those signs already and figures, why work as long as there's people around who are willing to give me a free hand-out. I wonder how many more there are here in Canada just like him?