Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-11-28, Page 4ti Page 4 Times -Advocate, November 28, 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 EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager Wit BATTEN 1 door HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONCKIND 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' Warning signs here While Canadians have responded generously to the plight of millions of starving people in Africa, they are among those who realize that the dollars and food aid are short-term solutions that must quickly be follow- ed up by steps to seek permanent solutions. Top priority is to restore viable agricultural pro- duction in a land that is quickly being eaten away by the encroaching desert. However, Canadians should not lose sight of the fact that they have been given ample warnings that some of the same problems are being experienced in their own country. This past summer, a study entitled "Soil at Risk" was prepared by a senate committee. The contents were frightening, especially when the predictions con- tained therein can be seen today in the faces of the star- ving Africans. It couldn't happen here? Yes it could, say the ex- perts. In fact, they note that the problem of soil ero- sion, urban sprawl and other damaging land practices is so serious that if not changed drastically and im- mediately, Canada could endup on the list of nations that are not self-sufficient in food production within 30 to 50 years. In the last 15 years, 1.4 million hectares (3.5 million acres) of farmland -- equal to the size of Prince Ed- ward Island -- have been lost to urbanization. Millions of other acres have been lost or severely reduced in terms of production through erosion and poor cropp- ing practices. While farmers must be in the front line of the at- tack, they certainly can not be expected to stand alone in that regard, particularly given the current cir- cumstances where most are battling just to make ends meet and will have difficulty altering their practices without some assurance that they won't be endanger- ing their fickle livelihood. First and foremost, the governments at all levels must be instilled with a conservation ethic and then pass that down the line through education and, if necessary, considerable prodding. Foodland preservation must be top priority in every region of this nation; not only to ensure that Canadians can help feed the starving people of the world, but also to ensure they will be able to feed their own future generations. Millions have starved in Africa because the world failed to heed warnings of that pending disaster. Will Canadians be caught in the same position or start now to correct a situation that could be eqully disastrous for the next generation? Resolve the dilemma "One of the major obstacles faced in countering impaired driving is that all too many people, most of them otherwise responsible law-abiding citizens, regard it as perfectly reasonable and acceptable to get behind the wheel of a car after having too much to drink." says Dick Greene of the Canada Safety Council. For this reason, National Safe Driving Week, December 1-7, is aimed at the drinking driver. This year's theme "Impaired Driving...The Social Dilem- ma" is the Canada Safety Council's attempt to educate the public as well as influence the way people perceive the drinking driving problem. "Far too many people recognize and accept the fact that a significant proportion of the population drive while impaired, and the potential to cause harm is not enough for them to stop others or themselves from driving while impaired." says Mr. Greene. "The pro- blem of impaired driving could be overcome by each member of the public accepting their responsibility towards the safety of others". The Canada Safety Council believes that all drivers can make a contribution to resolving the dilemma of impaired driving and make Canada's roadways safe for all. Further museum options possible One man's junk can still be another's treasure, but those who collect such treasures often find it can be costly in terms of providing the required space to exhibit their collections. in that particular predicament at pre- sent is Iluron County council as members wrestle with the costly question of spen- ding $2.1 million to upgrade the pioneer museum located in Goderich. That's a sizeable chunk of cash, regardless of how many years over which the expenditure is spread. Compounding the difficulty in arriving at a decision is the knowledge that the operation of the museum costs Iluron ratepayers in the neighborhood of $80,000 to $100,000 per annum. There can be little question about the necessity of having museums. They con- stitute an important link with our past and as one noted observer has remarked, those who fail to remember their past have little to look forward to in the future. But, there must certainly be some ques- tion about the number of museums and the quality of their exhibits which now ex- ist in this province. Ironically, as i sat down to ponder some input for the decision on the Goderich facility, a news release arrived from Minister of Citizenship and Culture Susan Fish announcing operating grants to com- munity museums. Of interest is the fact that there are 214 Ontario community museums and the provincial coffers will he tapped to the tune of $2.6 million in grants. Add to those totals the provincially - sponsored museums, private museums and all the operating funds provided by municipalities, counties and other private and public donations and gate receipts and it probably reaches a rather stagger- ing amount that is spent on providing op- portunities for pehple to examine their history. The statistics would appear to suggest that Ontario citizens and their museums suffer from an over -kill in the number available. in addition, museums such as those at Goderich, suffer from being too limited in 1 scope and of being static in nature, com- pared to the working museums and pioneer villages which abound in this province. Given a choice, which we all are, the writer would quickly choose a visit to a working museum or pioneer village such as Fanshawe, Black Creek or the agricultural museum at Milton over view- ing the static displays at Goderich. Reading descriptions of exhibits and • BATT'N AROUND with the editor trying to imagine how various items were utilized is far less enjoyable than seeing working exhibits where the customs of the past are actually being practiced or demonstrated. Judging from the small number of peo- ple who annually visit the Huron museum, it is perhaps indicative of the fact it is not the choice of many people. including residents of the county. Based on the lack of appeal in com- parison to other museums and the lack of attendance weighed with the sizeable refurbishing and operating cots, it is dif- ficult to muster much support for urging that the proposed plan be undertaken. • . • • . However, that fails to consider the im- portant fact that many of the exhibits at the pioneer museum are unique to the history of this county and should be re- tained here for the enjoyment and educa- tion of this and future generations in Huron. it also fails to accept the challenge of revamping the administration and opera- tion of the facility to make it more viable through more pronounced promotion and 1 the use of demonstrations and special events to attract larger crowds to offset the operating costs. Two suggestions that came out at the Exeter council discussion last week are also worthy of further consideration. The first was made by Councillor Ben Hoogen- boom that any duplicate articles at the museum should be sold off to help pay for the project costs. This suggestion should be expanded to have a knowledgeable person in the field of historical artifacts do a complete inven- tory of the museum to determine what items should be retained and what could be disposed of, either through sale or donation to another museum that would be able to make better use of it; such as some of the farm implements being of- fered to the agricultural museum. That would probably reduce some of the space requirement while at the same time making the museum more unique to Huron and its history. The second suggestion was that the municipalities in the county should con- tribute their share to the restora t ion pro- ject and then turn the facility over to the Town of Goderich with that municipality being charged solely for its upkeep and operating costs. Certainly, a strong case can he made for the argument that Goderich benefits most directly and substantially from the museum and should be prepared to carry a greater share of the operating costs, although perhaps not all. By one municipality being given the responsibility, there is the added advan- tage of the operation being carried out on a more cost conscious basis. The impetus to generate more revenue is probably greater when any losses are being carried by one municipality than when those costs are spread over a number and don't always get the concern that is warrented. So, to summarize, the writer endorses the need to preserve Huron's unique history in this county through a judicious examination of the artifacts to attempt a reduced cost in facilities (either new or refurbished) and to pare the operating costs by turning the major share over to Goderich. % �i V\tt. z Tighten my belt? I just cooked it!" Life cis a widower One of the worst things about being a widower and living alone is that there's no one to whine to when one becomes ill. One can sit or lie around feeling pretty ghastly, but there isn't much fun in it unless one can moan and groan and clutch one's bel- ly and hack and cough and wipe away the sweat of a fever, with an audience. That's why I've been particularly frustrated for the past week or so. What's the point of stay- ing in bed to get over your illness when there's nobody to bring you hot lemonade, fluff up the pillows, and put a cool hand on your brow? You might as well get up, paddle down in bare feet, survey the desert of dirty dishes, scummy pots and greasy pans, pickup the mail and file ah the bills, and pour yourself a medicinal potion. This week, I was ahout to go out on my first date in a year: a dinner date with a lady. When I called and told her she'd have to take a raincheck because I wasn't well, it was more like old times. She was even less .sympathetic than my wife used to be. She didn't believe a word I said. Anyway, we patched it up, and I think she's go- ing to bring her boyfriend along when we fix a new date. A bit down, i sought solace in the written word. Recently, I wrote a col- umn including a couple of hate letters. After burn- ing these, I dug out some others, which cheered me so much that I decided I deserved another medicinal potion. The only people who seem to like me any more are my former students. Nice, warm letter from Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley Julie Noack, who has gone off for a year's immersion in French at Montpellier. She has discovered French bureaucracy, balconies, bread, and bidets. She had to ask a boyfriend what the last was, and was properly embarrassed. Any red- blooded Canadian knows that a bidet is either a foot - bath or a baby -bath. Bill Jory, another old student, wrote a laudatory article about yours truly in the weekend edition of the London Free Press, where he is a reporter. Bill sat with me for an hour one afternoon and we chatted. in his story, he said my manner was "brusque but avuncular". That sounds pretty good, but when i taught him, he couldn't spell brisk and uncle," so i don't know whether he knows what those words mean. At any rate. he did learn something from those bor- ing English classes. He learned to back up general statements with specific references. I was amazed. He'd contacted other writers, syndicate boss, weeklies using this col- umn. Twenty years ago, he was out in my backyard, helping to put together the annual year- book, at the picnic table. And, despite my deep fear that nobody would ask me to speak on Remembrance Day this year, I was wrong. Another former student, Bob Coghill, asked me to speak to his public school kids: "For all my years as a student, the most mean- ingful Remembrance Day assembly was the one when you spoke of your feelings of that day," Thanks, Bob. Perhaps i shouldn't say only former students cheered me up. I had a couple of terrificnotes this week. From Doris Senicar of Milton comes a missive saying she met a cousin of mine, Kaye Thomson, who was playing in the band at her niece's anniversary dance in Saskatchewan. They got talking and Cousin Kaye sent along a card. I've never met her but she's a genuine first cousin.. Hi, Kaye. Hi, all the Saskatoon cousin. Sorry I didn't make the reunion. And another note from Mary and Ron Hunt that warmed the cockles; "We were quite thrilled to discover that Bill Smiley... lived here. We have driven by the 'big, brick house' frequently, and I always crane my neck trying to see you - or some of your family. Lucky people who have met you - who have had children taking English from you." I agree, Mary, about the latter, but thousands wouldn't about the former. She goes on, "Any chance of you writing an autobiography - incor- porating a great deal of your articles? I would stand in line for one... Thank you, Bill, for touching our eart strings and our funny bones. Please keep it up - and think about a book," Love- ly lady,I think about a book althe time, but all i do is read one. Well, there. Somebody loves me, and I feel a lot better, I guess the reassurance helps, though it seems self-seeking. It's just a year ago that my wife died, and to all those dim-witted people who go around nodding sagely and saying' "it takes a year; it takes* a year," i say Phooey. Rural areas hit too Not too many weeks ago two children were murdered in Orangeville. At last word a juvenile is being held as a prime suspect in the crime. On the cash register of my local convenience store there is a notice ask- ing if anybody has seen a little girl, missing since October 3. This last one really bothers me every time i go into the store. She's a cute little tyke who obviously wouldn't hurt a flea. There's no justice in this world it seems sometimes. Whatever, it seems to me that we as parents and caring adults had better realize that we live in a changed society and that even though we live in small quiet towns and villages in southwestern Ontario that there are some strange people out there. Of course we can't instil from home as well since you are the ones enforcing the rules. I saw a little girl corning home from Guides the Perspectives a terrible sense of fear and paranoia in our children. That is no way to live at all. however there are certain precautions that can be taken quite easily. We are hammering away at these concepts in school but we need help By Syd Fletcher other night. 8:30 and pitch black in between the street lights. That strikes me as foolishness even though it may have only been two minutes on her hike to the safety of her home. Leaving three children under the ages of eleven for two or three hours (the Orangeville situation) is not common sense really, is it? Besides the law says a baby-sitter should be at least twelve years old. Not taking rides with someone your parents haven't authorized should be drilled into children from an early age. Procedures at home for answering the door or telephone when parents have stepped out for a mo- ment should be gone over thoroughly too. People in the cities take things such as extra locks on doors, Block Parents, and the above precautions for granted. It would seem that we must be prepared in our rural communities as well. )