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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1979-08-01, Page 4 (2)Pogo 4 Times -Advocate, August 1, 1979 • Advocate Etiobinhed 1881 jmes - dvocate •�ti.tiOW0•••. looms established 1873 • -.0 ►. s) simmoroo 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 J Amalgomoted 1924 Composition Manager — Nbrry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Published Each Wednesday Morning Phone 235-1331 at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 +CNA SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $1 1.00 Per Year; USA $22.00 Improvements continue One of the basic principles involved in a successful store -front beautifica- tion program has always been seen as the pressure that one neighbour can put on the other by making the first move. Nowhere is that becoming more apparent than along Exeter's Main St. In recent years, the town has been one of the more progressive and well kept in the -entire province and the im- provements continue at a fast clip. Several property owners have had their bricks cleaned in the last few weeks and the improvement is remarkable. Probably even they did not realize how much brighter and warmer their facades would be. • However, what is also happening is that those who are not following suit now see how drab theirs look beside the ones that are done. Whether the principle aforemen- tioned will be seen at work is anyone's guess. but there's a good possibility that it will and the town will be so far ahead of its neighbours they may never catchup. Worth continuing In recent years, the educational system has been under considerable pressure and one of the main charges had been that students have lost much of their desire to successfully fulfill the opportunities provided for them. The blame for part of that attitude has been placed on the teachers. Well, it would appear that both sides have been partially vindicated in the fact that 190 students from Huron enrolled in the summer school trial program to improve their standings. In view of the length of time students and parents had to consider the opportuni- tyit would appear to be a successful rial Summer school principal Doug Ellison has already indicated he will recommend that the program continue next summer. pointing out .that he would expect the numbers to increase through earlier planning and promo- tion. While the board will have to assess carefully the costs involved and the ratio of success attained by the students, they must recognize that the trial had some limiting factors and would appear to be worth another attempt. The students who have shown the desire to improve their scholastic stan- ding while their contemporaries are enjoying summer in more normal ways are to be commended for their in- itiative. Need straight answers ' Canadians are having a difficult time trusting business people these days and with good reason. In the past, consumers were confi- dent the local butcher wasn't about to tip the scales with his finger. The meat cutter, in many cases, was a personal friend, or at least an acquaintance. Now, consumers have to contend with supermarket chains caught mix- ing low-priced pork with beef, cooly selling the concoction at higher -than - high beef prices. Fertilizer companies think nothing of short-changing their customers by selling underweight products, some as' much as 10 pounds less than the amount indicated. Many large companies have also taken advantage. of the move to the metric system, hiking prices by inor- dinate amounts to increase profit margins. Even the government operated post office joined the trend when it an- nounced most mailing costs would not rise when it changed to metric, neatly evading the fact that a lot of customers are going to pay considerably more money for the service. Then there's the quality issue. The number of product recalls has increased so dramatically that the Canadian public now takes them for granted. In fact, the automotive companies are now recalling more cars than they sell every year. Canadians have come a long way from the good old days when a Model A ran for 10 years, developing few problems that couldn't be overcome with a little binder twine and a recycl- ed wad of chewing gum. It's time all business people - specifically the executives of major companies - provided straightforward answers to the public on quality and pricing policies. By evading or stonewalling conten- tious issues, Canada's corporate elite are slowly but surely eroding public confidence in the free -enterprise system. Mainstream Canada A s o gmr, ->.;R By SYD FLETCHER A number of weeks ago i mentioned my dislike of people smoking. espCCally. in Meetings where thele is poor ventilation. it seemed that the smoke was in• variably drawn toward me salt -11:1_^ ",'c.>i'--7' . 1 fit only window. It was quite gratifying that a number of people ap- proached me and remarked that i was not the only one who found himself in the predicament of being trapped by non -thinking smokers who can't wait for a more appropriate time to indulge their bad habit. 1 guess that my attitude about smoking was shaped by two parents who set an example of not smoking Perspectives themselves, rather than just saying "Do as i say. but not asido" This conviction that smoking was morally wrong, as I remember it, must have been particularly strong for me as an eight- year-old. We were riding along in the back of a .ck-up truck one cousin was about sixteen years old, a big strapping fellow, who had made his own way in the world for a ,Jong time- already. been smoking for a rrinritlet- of years. Now`he proceeded to pull out a full pack and was going to light one up. Impulsively, full of self- righteousness convinced that I was doing him a fa our, I reached out to grab the full pack and throw it behind the speeding truck. Only when. i saw the light of real rage int, his eyes did 1 realize how wrong i had been in trying to make, a moral decision for him. i expected him to really hit me hard. instead he looked quite sorrowfully and disbelievingly at the distant package and muttered, "1 worked a whole blinking hour for those blasted things " Then he grinned at mei was lucky, --he un- derstood why i did it My 4 school used to have a policy that he didn't carie if his students carried cigarettes or not, but if he could see W` --ifconfiscated mt p ckage. Then of course, he would take them down to the staff room and distribute them as he was a pipe - smoker himself. i laughed one day as he opened a package thus ob- tained. inside was•a bunch of dried leaves and a note saying, "Buy your own, Sir!" Whatever, i certainly \ recognize your right to waste your money on them, but ease keep 'em to yourself. c o- 1iigh ` • BATT'N AROUND with the editor Won't go away by itself The hazy. lazy days of summer appear to be a rather inappropriate time to be discussing noise complaints. but that was one of the main topics on the recent agenda of Exeter council. Ironically. while councillors were giving first and second reading to a noise bylaw. they also received a letter from a local resident complaining about the noise at the rec centre. Much of that noise. it would seem. is already covered by existing laws in that the screech of tires is one of the major complaints. As legislators make 'new laws on a regular basis. the end result is merely that people just have more laws to break. While it does give law enforce- ment agencies ample grounds to con- trol the problem, it would take a mam- moth staff of police personnel to effec- tively keep people from breaking law's. In fact. it's difficult to control people to that extent. Until they are prepared to consider their own actions in terms, of ) is effect on other people, many will continue to do as they please. A fine may. or may not, impress upon the need to consider other people or to be responsible for their own actions. The writer has no difficulty in sym- pathizing with the residents in the area of the rec centre regarding the noise level following many of the social func- tions at the facility. • However. it is questionable if the bedlam can be controlled to any satisfactory extent. The real problem is that there was a lack of planning when the parking lot was placed at the rear of the neighboring properties. Anyone who has arrived at the tail - end of a party where alcohol is being served will fully understand the' con- cern of the neighbours at the rec cen- tre. The noise 'level steadily increases through the evening inside the hall and that peak continues as patrons make their way home. People talk above their normal tones, slam car doors more forcibly than usual and hit the gas pedal a . little harder than custtTmary. Ironically, many people who com- plain about the noise of others, have many times in their own lives sub- jected others to that same unpleasant situation. although perhaps not know Short of having a policeman standing at the exit door as patrons start their exodus, the noise level will probably not abate. It would appear impractical and too costly at this point to move the parking lot to the east side of the building. Perhaps the only •solution to the situation is to consider a buffer zone of trees or something of that nature to reduce the annoyance for neighboring property owners. They certainly deserve the con- sideration of some type of study to that end. While I agree wholeheartedly that local citizens have to play a greater role in the policing of their corn - Sugar and Spice Dispe- sed by Smiley How then, brown hen? It's a little like being an observer of the Fall of the Roman Empire That's how I feel as I read and hear the latest energy crisis news. One of these days, in the not -distant future, the last drop of that black stuff is going to drip Into the last receptacle. How then, brown hen? Will we freeze in the dark? Well, a heck of a lot of red-blooded Canadians will need every bit of that red blood to avoid doing so. It's not as thoughthe hand -writing has not been on the wall. it's just that nobody has been looking at that par- ticular wall. We've all been looking out our picture window, instead. i've been thinking about it durin: a particularlyth i 't e tfyC 41iti .,,r:r-t a., m r.... a doctor gave me an allergy shot, and a barber removed some of my ancient white hair. Needless to say, i drove my ancient car to each of these places. None of thein is rit'dtti'tNary eteft-n'ifnute waiTt On my way to one of them, 1 drove down to the dock, parked, and watched about three thousand boats trying to wiggle their way out of marinas, so that they could open her up and cut a swatch across the lake with their oilburners. At the doctor's, people were com- plaining because the air-conditoning wasn't working. The dentist used a high-speed electric drill In his air- conditioned office, with all the fluores- cent lights on. The barber was sweating, turned trp his air- conditioning, washed' his hands in hot water, and switched on the electric clippers. By George, I thought, it's going to be quite a change. f visualized the dentist pumping away with his old foot - powered drill. The doctor giving me a shot by flashlight, because there are no windows in the joint. The barber using the old handpowered clippers and shav- ing my neck with cold water, in a steamy -hot barber shop. it wouldn't bother,me toomuch.1 was brought up on wood .stoves. coal -oil lamps, •a block of .Ice in the refrigerator, and a coal -burning fur- nace. munities, it must be recognized that people have- a general reluctance to "get involved" and even knowing that they can do it anonymously in many situations does not alter that attitude. - Judge W.G. Cochrane made an in- teresting comment recently when he said that people are more afraid of ap- prehension than they are of punishment... In other words. "you get out and catch them and it will do more to stop them than any sentence I hand out." Based on that theory, what is necessary is an all-out crackdown on the joy riders who are causing un- necessary hardships for residents in several areas of the community. If it requires hiring some extra per- sonnel for a period of time to make it known that Exeter will not put up with such antics. the price may be small in comparison to the annoyance being sustained. If some of the money used to prepare new laws was used to enforce existing regulations,it may be found that people would more clearly understand that they have to be more considerate of their actions and it would spill over into other areas of their lives. Talking about the problem won't make it go away. Some action is necessary and any discussions should be aimed in that direction. It's time that the dog started wagg- ing the tail! the three for $24.95. "And _here's today's super -special. She's only thirty-five years old and guaranteed to work day or night. not like those electric things that were always breaking down. An almost automatic dishwasher. Yes, ladies and gemmun: the real thing. This little lady came on hard times. Her husband had a heating oil franchise. She's willing to wash your dishes like they've never been washed before. Only $300.00 a week," And so on. Snow mobiles, aircraft. But it sure would bother the doctor, Itis going to be a etiai�t�� the dentist and,the b . be , al.r. l *' f'z' ror iiprea eve'tY' human being in bright side. Just as people today pay North Anierica under the age of sixty. fabulous sums for junk furniture dug it's going to be quite an auction sale, 1 thought, when that last drop of black stuff flows from the last spigot. Listen to the auctioneer. "Lincoln Continental, 1982 model, like new, lt'ear out the Jhsides and you havegI grand out -door rec room for the kiddies. What Awayback there, I failed to continue am i bid? Do I hear thirty dollars? > the analogyto the Roman Empire. But Mainstream Canada Newcomers May Prove a Point By W. Roger Worth Canada's unemployment benefits, among the highest in the world, may be fouling up the system by providing real incentives for people to slay out of the labor market, sitting al home wailing for a job that tickles their fancy. In an unusual way, we're about to find out if the $400 or more per year each working Canadian pays in additional taxes to subsidize the unem- ployment insurance fund is money well spent. Big chunks of tax money are also spent supporting welfare recipients who don't qualify for unem- ployment benefits. Roger Worth is Director, Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. During the next 12 months, Canadians will welcome more than 12,000 so-called boat people, refugees from Viet Nam and Cambodia who stak- ed their lives on a final bid for freedom. Their success in find- ing employment in this strange new land where 831,000 people claim they are unemployed will provide remarkable insight into the number of jobs that are really available. Across Canada, irritated business people have been complaining about a shortage of workers, contending that overgenerous unemployment insurance benefits of as much as S160 per week have seriously eroded the work ethic. So if the boat people find employment - proving jobs are readily available for those who want to work - the case for again tightening unemploy- ment insurance regulations will become even stronger. Undoubledly the newcomers will, in many situations, be taking low-paying, unskilled positions that don't enthuse unemployed Canadians, par- ticularly when government support is so readily available. IL's not unusual, for ex- ample, to find students accept- ing unemployment benefits on the basis of contributions made the previous summer. Employers also complain that many potential workers are purposely unkempt and obnoxious during job inter- views. The reason: these unem- ployment recipients want to be refused jobs, meanwhile proving to Manpower officials that they are actively seeking work. Naturally, the poten- tial employers are forced to fill out yet another govern- ment form to record this charade. The situation has become so pervasive that many busi- nesses have simply stopped in- forming :Manpower when jobs are available, thus saving them- selves the aggravation of use- less interviews. Needless to say, there is in- deed a serious unemployment problem in some parts of the country. But there are also people ripping off their fellow taxpayers. The job hunting success of the boat people should indi- cate whether Canada's unem- ployment difficulties are more imagined than real. ti ,4n memory lane SSYears Ago Hydro has been extended to the village of Bayfield. A business.place on Main Stwas raided on Thursday last and several empty cases and a part bottle of booze was found on the premises. Mr. C. B. Smell has made excavation and put in the foundation for a new home on Anne St. Dr. Moir, of Hensall, has purchased the farm of Mr. John Bell, a mile south of the village of Hensall. Mr. Frank W. Tom has been nominated to the General Assembly of Ohio State. A 17,000 by-law to provide for an addition to the High School was passed by the council. - 30 Years Ago A new firm. Exeter Farm Equipment, has been es- tablished in the village to take over the J. I. Case agency formerly handled by Snell Bros. Dick Jermyn, a native of Granton, is the proprietor of the firm. - Mrs. Lois Baker, R.N. has been appointed local public health nurse - the first con- tact of the Huron County Health Unit in this district. Jack Doerr, local photographer. has been in- vited to join a panel of judges to pick prize winning photographs at the Western Fair - Hon. Brooke Claxton, Minister of Defence. presented pilot's wings to Canada's largest post war graduation class at RCAF Centralia, Thursday. 20 Years Ago A big market for turnip growers was assured this week with the announce- ment that the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. Ltd. had leased the Centralia plant of toriae to .. u i 1,ga; — the firm is 500,000 bushels. Paul Wilson, former editor of the SHDHS "ink Spot" topped this year's graduating class with eight first class honours and one second. He scored an out of attics, the good folk of 2010 A.D. might go as high as $200 for an ancient, beautifully -finished Cadillac or a fine specimen of four -burner electric stove with infra -red oven. They'd make nice conversation pieces. . "Here's a real steal. A fdrty-foot cruiser with built-in cupboards, septic toilet, sleeps six, Get a teamster to tow it into your back yard and you have a dandy sleeping cabin for guests. Will somebody start the bidding with twelve dollars? "And here's another beauty. Three 1980 Thunderbirds, worth .$23,600 the day they were bought. Cut the tops off, remove the wheels, and they'll make beautiful flower beds. Not ten dollars apiece, not 'even nine dollars each, but • it's there.'ittey had their bread and cir- cuses as the count -down approached. Our arenas, liketheirs,are packed solid with sweaty, sadistic spectators watching the gladiators. We don't have enough Christians left to throw to the lions. But we can always fire the coach, which is almost as good. And we have something Romans didn't. We have an almost -Instant view of disasters all over the world. So I guess mankind has made one giant step Hs • \average of 84.4 percent. Sylvia Johns Woodham, has recently joined the staff of Westervelt Business School. Miss Johns is a graduate of S.11 D H S and Westervelt. New prices and new hours will be established by local barbers on • Monday August 17. Regular. cuts will in- crease from 85 to 90 cents with brush and crew cuts ad- vanced from 90 cents to 11.00. Children's prices will remain the same 15 Years Ago Hay Township School Area board has authorized their solicitors to proceed with expropriation for lands needed in the vicinity of the Zurich public school for the planned addition and playground About 105 Exeter children are attending the annual camp for members of the summer playground north of Goderich. Don Gravett is director and house mothers are his wife and Mrs. Fred Simmons. The six playground supervisors are camp teachers. Two Exeter ballet students have received signal honours from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music, Jo -Ann Whilsmith and Gayle Ecker have been named medal winners from the school for the seaggp Dial Switching equipment is now being installed in the new telephone buildings in both Hensall and Seaforth in preparation for the introduc- tion of dial telephone ser- vice in November. The readers write • • Dear Editor, As readers of the T -A, and as friends of the Battens we were moved by .vprrr gen rt)rdkltrt{'..Z ` r' week's paper. We wish for both Kaaren and you peace of mind and we hope and pray that you will achieve it together and as a family. Al & Ena dellaan backward In the past 1500 years. it looks as though the hand-in-hand waltz of the oil com- panies and the car manufacturers, which has lasted nearly hall a century, Is ggoing to become, "Good Night, Ladies". But the merry Walpurglsnachtof the western world con- tinues its mad whirl as oil companies and airlines and Car manufacturers and boat makers furiously advertise their wares, And the test of us just as wildly rush out to buy them. Of course, I don't mean a word of all this. Somehow, the human spirit, though at one of Its lowest points in cen- turies, will survive and prevail. We'll find something. But In the meantime I'm going to sharpen my axe and get busy Installing a windmill. See you in the bush lot •