Times-Advocate, 1999-02-03, Page 10•
Wednesday, February 3, 1999
I OYEARS AGO
February, 1, 1989 - Matt
Godbolt, 12 year-old son of
:George and Lois Godbolt of
town wine singing three times
On an upcoming production at
'the University of Western
Ontario. The opera is based on
the life of Helen Keller.
20YEARS AGO
January 31, 1979 - Brian
Miller of Usborne Township is,
one of four Ontario Junior Farmers attending the
Second World Congress of Junior Farmers in Paris,
France from March 5 to 8.
The 1979 executive for the Huron County 4-H
Leaders Association was named Wednesday. They
are president Glenn McNeill, past president Albert
Van Dyken, secretary Maurice Hallahan and vice-
presidents Barry Miller and Beth Cooper.
35 YEARS AGO
February 1, 1964 - Rev. John Boyne told his
Caven Presbyterian congregation Sunday there is
ample evidence for the cynic to shout that public
morality is "going to hell". He cited examples of
political, business and moral corruption supported
by the people.
Campbell Chapman has been appointed chair-
man for the Grand Bend PUC.
R.G. Seldon, local motor vehicle licence issuer,
was rescued by fireman Gary Middleton from his
burning house just as he was overcome by smoke.
David Robinson iron the Home and School
Association prize for the best designed crest for
Exeter Public School.
J.A.D. McCurdy Public School at RCAF Centralia
has applied for approval to provide French instruc-
tion for its students.
40YEARS AGO
February 2, 1959 - The new Hensall post office
opened Thursday on Wellington Street. Cecil Kipfer
is the postmaster. . r
Harry Strang, R.R. 2;2 Hensall 'president: of the
Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association is
p Iding'at'the annual convention :tif•the organiza-
tid t tieinglfeldriti Tot -Onto this'week.'
Huron's new MPP, Charles MacNaughton tom
his seat in the Ontario Legislature Wednesday after
being introduced to the speaker and members by.
Premier Leslie Frost. `
The winter is breaking records nearly every day
for snowfall according to to RCAF Centralia's Met
Section. Already, over 150 inches of snow has been
recorded.
50YEARS AGO
February 1, 1949 - Fred Darling, Jack Doerr and
Norman Walper were initiated as members of the
Exeter Lions Club, Friday evening.
Dr. Stuart Stanbury, a native of Exeter was
named national commissioner of the Canadian Red
Cross Society.
Miss Maude Horton, former principal of Exeter
Public School, died suddenly at her brother's home
in Oshawa.
Ethelene and Eilene Johns, who have been
employed with the Times Advocate were married in
a double ceremony Saturday at Elimville United
Church.
During the windstorm Tuesday, the tall flag pole
at the school developed quite a slant. it was found
the bottom supports had been rotted.
Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Wuerth left Saturday for an
extended trip to California.
60YEARS AGO
January 31, 1939 - Tuckey Transport of Exeter
has bought out Forrest Transport of Brucefield and
extended their service to cover Hensall, Kippen,
Brucefield, Clinygo�n and Seaforth.
75YEARS AGO
February 2, 1924 - The S.M. Sanders
Manufacturing Co. has made very marked progress
'in taking over the Jackson Manufacturing Co. The
output has been steadily increasing and new equip-
ment is being installed to add to the efficiency of the
company. The latest addition is a new cloth laying
machine.
An instructive and practical demonstration on
shearing, slaughtering and dressing of sheep was
given in Exeter Tuesday and Wednesday by W.S.
McMullen and W.J. Howard representing the live-
stock branch of the Dominion Department of
Agriculture. The demonstration was given in con-
nection with the short courses in agriculture now
being conducted in town.
ROSS
HAUGH
SACK W4 TIME
Exeter Tones—Adressris
9
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Writer did not mean
to trivialize
Dear Editor: ""`
I wish to clarify recent media reports stating met 1
suggested the price. crisis in the hog industry was over.
I am very much aware of the severity of the situation
facing pork producers in Ontario and would not trivial-
ize their plight at any time. I did, however, state that
we seemed to have hit the lowest point of the crisis
given the gradual rise in actual prices; that I was
encouraged by positive signals from the futures market;
and hopeful that we have seen the end of a, four-year
price cycle exacerbated by economic turmoil in Asia.
The Ontario government was quick to respond to the
crisis with the $40 million Whole Farm Program. We
opted to proceed quickly with an interim payment
while still negotiating the final details of the national
program with the provinces and the federal govern-
ment. Farmers and their organizations told us that time
was of the essence due to the extraordinary nature of
the crisis. Many of them are facing their worst cash-
flow crunch ever.
All farmers who suffered extreme hardship caused by
weather or market instability this year can apply for
interim relief while a national disaster relief program is
being negotiated. The Whole Farm Relief Program is in
place, the applications have been sent, and cheques
will te arriving within a few weeks.
I am disappointed that some media reports did not
accurately reflect my true optimism and hope for the
future of Ontario's farmers. But mostly, I regret the
additional confusion and stress these reports have
caused our producers in troubled times.
Sincerely,
NOBLE. A. VILLENEUVE
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Town of Port Elgin
M8
Dear Editor,
"Don't Be A Sap
y;come dome and --Hug A Maple In
`9% --Port Elgin, Ontario Homecoming `99*- August 12 -
1S" Port Elgin Ontario., known far and: wide as the
"Town of Maples" is asking all former residents, sum-
mer'vacationers; cottage owners, visitors to Port Elgin,.
and those who have worked at BNPD(the Bruce
Nuclear Power Development) to come back to Port
Elgin for Homecoming '99, August .12 - 15.
Port Elgin will be celebrating its 125th anniversary of
incorporation and has events planned for all ages
including our ever popular street dance on Saturday
August 14th. Over 30 events and attractions are
planned.
Registration for this event is $5.00 per person.
(Cheques or money orders only please - no cash).
If you've been to our town's past celebrations you
know just how much fun this will be! And if you weren't
by now you've heard what you have missed.
So this is one event you will want to book your holi-
days for - so don't delay register today or to get more
information on this event
1. Phone: 1-800-387-3456 or (519) 832-2332
2. e -mailing: portelgin@sunsets.com
3. Faxing: (519) 389-3725
4. Visit the Chamber of Commerce's website at
vvww.sunsets.com/portelgin
5. Mail - The Port Elgin Homecoming '99 Committee,
c/o Port Elgin and District Chamber of •Commerce, 515
Goderich Street, Port Elgin, Ontario, NOH 2C4
On behalf of our Homecoming Committee we ask that
you help spread the word and get your friends together
for one great party! We welcome you back for unbe-
lievable fun and four days of nothing but good times,
stories and laughter. You don't want to miss all this.
Sincerely,
ROB DUNLOP
Chairman, Homecoming
ethers to the Editor
The Tlmes. Locate welcomes letters to-:tbe editor as
a forum f>en discussion of local issues, concerns,
conagiaint. and kudos,
P:Q Box 850,. Exeterthlta.rio NOM 1S6
6y fax ($19) 2354766
By e-mail: editoreSouth Huron.cotn
Please include your name and address.
Ano . tellers wilt not be published.
The Times -Advocate reserves the right to edit letters.
for brevity.
Harris looks after friends
TORONTO -- Premier Mike
Harris is determined his
Progressive .Conservative party
will run the best election cam-
paign money can buy, no matter
what it costs taxpayers.
Harris's latest move to make
taxpayers pay for his campaign
has been to put his top strate-
gists on the public payroll so
they have enough money to
maintain themselves while
thinking about and planning for
a vote within months.
According to figures extracted under the
province's freedom of information law, Harris's
senior communications adviser in the 1995 elec-
tion and since, Paul Rhodes, was paid the not
insignificant sum of $225,000 in the 15 months just
ended to provide "strategic communications coun-
sel" to Ontario Hydro, the provincial utility which
does not Click a switch unless Harris approves.
Leslie Noble, Harris's campaign manager in 1995
and again in the coming election; also was helped
to keep the wolf far from the door by Hydro, which
paid her $91,000 again for strategic advice.
And Tom Long, Harris's campaign chair for both
elections, similarly found Hydro eager to commis-
sion his services, because it paid his company
$250,000 to recruit a chief executive and $650 an
hour to write speeches.
The Tories have been totally unable to justify
these hirings. All parties in power have political
staff in government, paid by the public but watch-
ing mainly over their party's interests, and Harris's
already had its share.
They include the notorious whiz kids responsible
for most of his legislation and his former principal
secretary or chief staff political adviser, David
Lindsay, who switched to head a new board osten-
sibly creating jobs which also provides him with a
base to plan an election while still paid by govern-
ment.
Lindsay as good as admitted where his thoughts
ateetPecentry 'Mien, he pointed- oat that Ha '_can-
not campaign agairi on the issues on which he won
in 1995, cutting government and taxes, but will
have to come up with new issues.
Hydro claimed it hired Rhodes and Noble to give
strategic advice which its own staff cannot provide,
but the only ability they have which Hydro staff
lack is quicker access to those in Harris's office
who can get things done.
Others will find it unacceptable that one branch
of the Harris government says it has to pay huge
amounts to outside consultants who are cronies of
the premier to get its message heard by those in
the premier's office who make decisions.
The fees Harris had Hydro pay his strategists also
are outrageous, particularly for a premier who
boasts constantly that he saves taxpayers' money.
Rhodes, who has now moved to another well-
paid contract back in Harris's office, was a TV
reporter covering the legislature and in that role
competent but average and probably earning less
than $50,000 a year.
He was communications adviser to Harris when
he won the 1995 election and should get the credit
that goes with it,because winners always are
geniuses.
But.the campaign consisted merely of sticking to
the policies laid down by others in the Common
Sense Revolution platform without deviating, while
the New Democrat government after its huge
deficits never had a chance and the Liberals threw
away any by waiting too late to unveil policies.
Rhodes also was press secretary to leader Larry
Grossman in 1987 when the Tories won only 16
seats, their worst performance since
Confederation, and Grossman lost his and
resigned, which shows media gurus do have off
days..
Harris ensured Long was paid .$650 an hour,
which is probably more than Margaret Atwood,
although judged by speeches he delivered as party
president a decade ago, mostly deploring govern-
ments squandering money, he is not quite as
handy with words.
Harris also had no qualms cutting welfare bene-
fits so many single adults have to live on $520 for a
whole month. They must wish the premier would
see their needs as well as he does those of his
friends.
ERIC
DOWD
A VIEW FROM
QUEEN'S PARK