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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-11-21, Page 4Pope 4 Times -Advocate, November 21, 1984 Ames -. Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 dvocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EERY Publisher JiM BECKETT Advertising Manager BILL BATTEN ROSS HAUGH Editor Assistant Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager DICK JONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $22.00 Per year; U.S.A. $60.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' Must address philosophy Officials in Hay Township and Exeter probably knew it all along, but last week's joint meeting between the two should have reinforced the knowledge that they are friendly neighbors to sit down and discuss their dif- ferences in public. That's not to suggest they resolved those issues, but it was a major step in that direction after several weeks of shooting off some barbs in each other's direc- tion and not really taking time to fully consider the respective positions. It was a frank and open discussion, for which those on both sides should be commended. Ranking equally as high was the obvious need shown by the two municipalities and their advisors to attempt a com- promise solution over the dispute centred around a pro- posed agri-industrial park adjacent tb Exeter. One of the facets that prompted the session is costs, Each municipality is cognizant of the fact an OMB hearing will be costly for their ratepayers; costs which will be compounded in losing for one of them. Neither municipality should lose sight of the fact that compromise solutions can be equally costly from a monetary standpoint. It is evident that both will need continued expert advice even as they attempt a com- promise and if the latter is unattainable, then those ex- penditures would be a case of throwing food money after bad if the final resolution is still going to rest with the OMB. It is therefore important that both municipalities reach their "final position" as quickly as possible. Clouding the issue is the fact that Exeter is not looking strictly at one specific proposal. At stake is the entire area surrounding its boundaries. That involves three townships and the Huron County planning department. In the long term, that issue is probably of more concern than the specific subdivision proposal, par- ticularly when there appears to be agreement that a compromise can be reached regarding the uses per- mitted in the specific subdivision. It's the philosophy of the Huron planning depart- ment with which Exeter may have the greater problem and it appears to be the problem which has tote resolv- ed before any settlement -- either through compromise or with the OMB -- is reached with Hay Township. Royal visit can be educational Along with untold thousands of darting, dashing, enthusiastic school •students, I made one of my periodic forays to the Royal Winter Fair this week. Unlike the kids who were too busy writing down the names of all the breeds of sheep, cattle, horses, swine and goats they could see, the writer managed to en- joy the exhibits in a more relaxed man- ner and probably returned home feeling that the outing had some educational value while the youngsters probably had to look at it as a forced learning tour that may, or may not, have accomplished that goa 1. No doubt they can look at their notes and recite the names of all the dairy cat- tle breeds to be found in this country, but they probably didn't have the enjoyment, of looking into those big, brown eyes of a Jersey or the time to consider just what a great "machine" a dairy cow really is. Teachers may think that some assignments are necessary to justify their class pilgrimage to the Royal, but dashing about jottling down names does appear to be questionable in that regard. Some more innovative assignments could perhaps provide their charges with more insight into the agricultural scene. Specific information on the cost of buying and maintaining a cow and the expected returns on that animal and the amount of milk she will give in any given year would appear more interesting than merely knowing the names of the various breeds. Similar class assignments to find out the various merits of one breed of sheep or goats over another would probably also prove interesting in future class discussions. There is a great need in this country to make urban residents aware of what is happening out on the farm these days, and while the Royal presents an ideal showcase for such exchanges, I fear that too few avail themselves of the opportuni- ty to make it a learning experience and boin the crowds of kids merely reciting reed names without really considering what they are looking at and how it plays such an important part in their lives. • • This year's Royal truly turned into a learning experience for the writer as i at- tended my first horse show while at the event, Wednesday. While i felt a little out of place amid the black ties, tails and furs adorning some of the spectators, it was an event that % should go down on the "must" list for everyone. A horse show may conjure images of boredom for all but equestrian en- thusiasts, but the show I witnessed was not only one of the most colorful, but cer- tainly one of the most exciting, I've witnessed for some time. A hunter class started off the pro- ceedings with an interesting twist. A number of jumps were set up in the arena with each being given a score ranging BATT'N AROUND with the editor from 50 to 100 points, depending on its degree of difficulty. Imaddition, there was an optional "joker", the highest and most difficult jump, worth 200 points. However, those failing to leave the bar intact, lost 200 points. The object was then to see how many points each rider and horse could accumulate in one minute. I've witnessed football and hockey games that were far less exciting and entertaining than what followed and the fans really "got into it" as they watched the horses and the clock to cheer on their favorites. This was followed by three teams of high-stepping hackney horses, the aristocrats of the equine world and later there was a class of about 15 hackney ponies driven by amateur drivers that was most pleasing and, at times, frought with some consternation over whether the animals or drivers were in control as they pranced haughtily before the tuxedoed judge. • • • • The roadsters then came prancing into the ring with their drivers set upon sulkies and in full racing colors. There were about 15 entries and the horses were judg- ed in great part on their speed. Now, it may be difficult for some to im- agine, but here's the scenario: Fifteen horses with drivers racing at nearly top s around a ring that appears to be a t the same size as the playing surface at the South Huron rec centre. The drivers leaned out at angles becoming a sailor at- tempting to balance his craft as they rounded the corners with their wheels skidding as wildly as any of the local car jockeys, could imagine. Following that was the international jumping event, featuring Canada's top riders against four -member teams from the U.S. and Great Britain and single en- tries from France, Germany, Australia, Sweden and Belgium. The night's program was the "power and speed" class and it turned out to be one of the most strenuous tests of rider and horse imagineable. Entries which completed the initial course without any faults in the prescrib- ed one minute, went immediately into a timed event over six jumps that was in ef- fect the "jump-off" and this was highlighted by one manoeuvre that re- quired a complete about-turn in a space of approximately eight feet after landing -iron" tilt previous jump. Watching the world's best riders and horses in person is an experience which enthusiasts should certainly take advan- tage of when they attend the Royal. In fact, i'veust realized my previous visits were far from complete by not attending the horse show. • • • • • • However, the best was saved for last and this was the four-in-hand obstacle course. I was not prepared for the sight which was to unfold. Into the ring came four spirited animals hauling the most lavish coaches you could imagine. The "whips" were accompanied by authentically clad coachmen in a scene reminiscent of movie portrayals of the life of English nobility a couple of centuries ago. in fact, the coaches were all made in the 1800s, and were imported from England. The brass fittings and coach lamps shone brightly and made fora colorful exhibit. But the event was even more in- teresting to watch as the whips guided their high-stepping horses through an obstacle course that was 20 inches wider than the coach wheels. it even included one figure-eight move that was a test that even an individual on horse -back would have had trouble executing. The winner was a young lady from Rhode Island who managed to cover the course without tipping any of the tennis balls set on the pylons through which her four horses and huge and elaborate coach proceeded. It made for a late drive home, but was well worth it. Little light and cheer Aren't you sick to death of the gloom and doom the media is imposing on 'us? I am. Let's have a little light and cheer in the country for a change. Sure, our economic situation is a mess. Of course, we have high unemployment. Natural- ly inflation is not wrestl- ed to the ground, but has us pinned two rounds out of three. But this is happening all over the world, and we're about 500 percent better off than most of the rest of the people in said world. Do you live on a sampan in Singapore or Hong Kong, existing on a hand- ful of rice a day? Those people don't have high mortgage rates, high in- terest rates. They have nothing, except what native cunning and hard work feed their bellies. Does a nice lady in Somaliland or Eritrea bring you into the office and chat about which welfare program you should apply for? Your children are eating mud, because there's nothing else. Are you stuck in Ulster, as a Catholic, without a hope of getting a job from the Protestants, your children dirty, hungry, growing as vicious as small animals who are straying.? Are you black, with a good chance of getting your head pulverized by a white policeman if you sa anything but, "Yes, sir"? Are you suffering from "nerves" and taking all kinds of pills from your very well fed doctor, while millions of people in the world have rickets and ringworm and elephan- tiasis and bleeding bowels because they don't even know what a vitamin pill looks like? Are your little boys run- ning around bare foot in the rain, selling their sisters for a cigarette or a chocolate bar? Nope, they Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley • are probably riding around on bicycles, and whining because their allowance doesn't run to more than a carton of frencti fries and a Dairy Queen every day. Are you worried about whether you should spend $50 or a little more on a wedding present when in most countries most mothers are wondering whether a cow or a bushel of maize is a suitable dowry? And they haven't a cow or any maize. Tut and tut and tut. We are in an economic depression, many people are unemployed, our government seems to be iiving in Alice in Wonderland, with its ridiculous six and five desperate attempt to ap- pear, credible. But when have you last missed a meal? When have you been cold, cold, cold? When is the last time some cop stopped you on the street and asked for identity papers? When is the last time somebody pounded on your door at 4 a.m. and you shivered with fear, knowing what was com- ing? When have you last been hit on the head with a club for saying "Trudeau is a fink?' There's lots wrong with this country, but there is a hell of a lot more right with it, when we take a look around. We read about farmers and small businessmen and big companies going broke. Well, that's the capitalist system, and that's the system we embrace. We don't hear much when the farmers have a bumper crop and spend the winter driving south in their Buicks. We seldom hear about the small businessman who's mak- ing a quiet fortune, unless he s suddenly become an entrepreneur and is a BIG businessman. We scarce- ly hear a word when a huge company makes a huge profit. But now the tears are flowing, we need a Wailing Wall, located about Win- nipeg, and thousands of paper towels to wipe up the tears. Ilelp from the fovernment means help rom you and me. Come on, Canadians, let's stop whining. My father arid mother didn't whine during the Big Depression. They did the best they could, and desperately tried to avoid going on Relief, now euphemistically called Welfare. Get rid of your boat. Sell your second cat: There is such a thing as walking. Cut your kid's allowance to zilch, and let them earn it by working. So you like steak? Eat hamburg. Stop buying that crap from California and Florida in the winter: lettuce for $1.50, mostly water; grapes, oranges, celery, those little hard bitter tomatoes. Eat spuds and porridge. They're good for you. Dig a root cellar under your patio deck and fill it with carrots and turnips. Get a couple of chickens, and if they don't lay, eat them. Cut out those long- distance calls about nothing, and write a letter. Wear a sweater and keep your thermostat down. We can lick inflation, but not by living the way we do. We can lick unemployment, with some guts. But not government guts. There aren't any. And if you're out of work, take your U.I., but get looking for something else. This country still has limitless opportunities, if you want to work. Ask the immigrants. If you don't, you'll become like those millions in Britain, during the first depression who just gave up and sat around on the dole, steadi- ly eroding their very souls. End of sermon. But cheer up and forget the headlines. There's a place for you, if you have any guts. An interesting world Baby Fae. A few weeks ago no one had heard the name. if you didn't know about it that is the name of the lit- tle girl who was the reci- pient of a heart transplant. Nothing really new these days until you realize that the donor heart was not that of another human be- ing but a baboon. A considerable number of moral, ethical and legal questions have already come out of this incident and since the child has since died the issues are even a little more clouded. If the child had lived people would not be quite as quick to point the finger at the medical research team who conducted the operation perhaps saying that the baby was being used as a guinea pig for an unproven research techni- boon's rights to a 'normal life' are being infringed upon. Another concern is that Perspectives By Syd Fletcher que. One could argue that the transplants should have taken place from one animal to another first, for example from a baboon to a chimpanzee. Animal rights activists are saying that the ba- s F F : >�� et medical people may be shifting their research away from improving the availability of normal human organs. Another interesting question is how far we can proceed with this type of thing. If the heart can be replaced, kidneys, livers and other major organs would be the next targets. Perhaps donor animals will be kept in major hospitals to meet the de- mand from the human population. There could be a whole new service in- dustry created with ba- boons donating their bodies out of the goodness of their hearts. Bad pun! Then again, before I criticize anybody for being a littlebarbaric I have to remember that steak I had for supper last night. Some steer had to donate a little of his hide for my meal, I guess. Interesting world we live in, isn't it'?