HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1980-09-25, Page 4Page4
Citizens News September 25, 1980
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Harvest time
Appalling situation
In a July editorial, this newspaper suggested
members of the Huron County board of education
deserved an apology for having aspersions cast
against their integrity.
The suggestion was made on the heels of a
rumor that the board had reversed an earlier deci-
sion to reduce their salaries from $3,600 to $3,000
per annum. The rumor indicated the move had been
made behind closed doors and our editorial was in-
tended to discount the rumor on the basis that no
responsible group of people would take such action
in secret, particularly after their move to reduce
salaries bad been given so much ballyhoo and
applause for their effort to reduce education costs.
The defence of the board members was ap-
parently ill-founded. They did in fact rescind their
earlier motion to reduce salaries and they did in
fact perpetrate the deed behind closed doors in an
apparent move to keep the situation from the tax-
payers.
Their actions are appalling.
The Times -Advocate, Exeter
Bottoming out
"The world is in a much worse condition than it
was ten years ago" says Dr. Aurelio Peccei.
He should know. In 1968, he created the world-
renowned Club of Rome, bringing together 100 of
the best brains in the world to ponder its future.
Their computer projections of population growth,
energy shortages, famines and droughts were call-
ed pessimistic at the time, but in the last decade
have come repeatedly - and frighteningly true.
Looking back at the 70's, the founder of the Club
of Rome challenges anyone to show any major area
of human affairs where things are going better than
they were ten years go.
Looking ahead, he sees increased problems.
The world's population will rise to about 6.5 billion
by the end of the century, straining still further the
planet's declining resources. The economy,
generally, will decline. The risk of nuclear war will
increase, as stockpiles grow and more nations
develop nuclear capabilities. And as forests are cut
down, oceans polluted and deserts expand, the
earth's ability to sustain life will be reduced.
Little wonder that The Toronto Star noted:
"The world begins more and more to resemble a
richocheting bullet careening from disaster to dis-
aster ...."
Another analogy seems equally apt. The world
resembles a drunk, hitting rock bottom, staggering
from one booze fix to another, fixes that provide
temporary relief but fail to improve anything.
Alcoholics Anonymous has a remarkable record
of enabling hopeless addicts to remake their
shattered lives. One of their principles is that no
alcoholic can be helped until they admit that things
are out of control, and until they learn to depend on
a power greater than themselves.
We suspect that our world will continue to
richochet along, out of control, as long as nations
and leaders continue to believe that they as humans
are still in command.
Idealistic as it may seem, we may be coming to
the time when we, like an alcoholic, may have to ad-
mit failure and rely on a source of power greater
than ourselves.
A 'do-or-die' issue?
Like the gaggle of geese honking their way
across the nation's television screens, Canada's
eleven political leaders flew into the nation's
capital recently to attend what was billed as a sum-
mit meeting to "create a new constitution for
Canada."
The geese are bit players in the federal
government's $6 million advertising program
designed to convince Canadians they need a new
constitution,now.
As it turned out, the nation's leaders were also
little more than bit players in what was essentially
a media event designed to placate the natives back
home, rather than a concerted effort to come to
grips with the issues.
For the politicians, the Ottawa summit provid-
ed a national soapbox (complete with 700 media
personnel) from which they could reiterate en-
trenched positions, some ofwhich the various
goyernments have held since 1928.
That was the fateful year when the suggesttbn
to create a "made -in -Canada" constitution wits
first broached. As it happens, Canadians have been
forced to operate on the basis of the British North
American Act (quite nicely, some would say) which
presently rests peacefully in London (not Ontario).
Surveys indicate Candians don't place a very
high priority on constitutional changes.
It's not that we're an uncaring lot, but after 50
or more years of discussion it's difficult to make
people believe the constitution is a do-or-die issue.
How do you explain to the country's 900,000 un-
employed, for example, that the constitution is
more important than new jobs - for them. Or to the
business people about to go into bankruptcy as a
result of what they perceive as a recession created
by governments.
The fact is, Canadians want their politicians to
get on with the job of running the country.
There's no question that constitutional reform
is needed. But in the midst of the long winded and
sometimes . bitter wrangling over who gets what
from whom in the reform process, the day-to-day
bread and butter issues are getting short shrift.
Which is too bad. .
Canadian Federation of Independent . Business
By
TOM CREECH
Of balls
and pucks
Members of the Zurich men's rec fastball league
should be congratulated on another successful rec ball
tournament.
The week's delay worked out just right with Satur-
day being a fine start for fall and the teams left in the
tournament showed their appreciation by putting on a
fine showing.
Representing the Zurich league quite well in the B
final were the Pontiacs. This veteran squad although a
step slower on the base paths compared to their
younger counterparts more than made up for this
deficiency by their experience in the field.
The A final between the Seaforth Mainstreeters
and the Carpetbaggers of Exeter was somewhat of a
come -down with the Seaforth squad scoring a decisive
win.
Now that the tournament is over with, the Zurich
teams can get down to the serious business of their
playoffs.
Will they be• finished before the first snow falls?
Sunday marked the first practice for the defending
champions of the South Huron Hockey League and if
the initial outing is any indication, the Buckeyes
appear to be in pretty good shape.
A total of 16 players showed up at the Huron Park
arena including Kerry Bedard, a member of the Ex-
eter Hawks for the past two seasons.
Bedard who is attending school in Windsor will
provide the Bucks with another good skater who
doesn't mind mixing it up along -the boards.
Practice coach Glen Nicholson put his charges
through a spirited workout although there was some
indication from a few players that it was their first
time on skates in a number of months.
The Buckeyes plan on making several changes in-
cluding the possibility of new uniforms and the naming
of a player of the month.
It should be another good season of senior level
hockey in Zurich.
* * *
Talking about senior hockey, reminds us of the
fact that the Zurich Has -Beans will be lacing on the
blades in about a week's time.
This will be the third year of operation for the oldy
but not moldy pucksters and if nothing else, they prove
an interesting comparison to their sons who play the
game.
You can tell where Kerry Bedard gets his legs by
watching father Dick make an end to end rush and the
same also holds true when comparing the puck handl-
ing abilities of Don and Jeff O'Brien. •
If last year was any indication the Beans should
have another good season.
* * *
One of the many pieces of mail which we receive
every week is farm business management topics from
the ministry of agriculture and food.
In their latest release a forceful case is made for
marriage in a farm situation.
According to associate agricultural representative
Barbara Alves having a wife and family provides an
incentive to farm well and that "a family provides a
very accessible source of dependable and cheap
labour.''
She also notes that the farmer's wife in addition to
running the houshold often acts as the farm's
bookkeeper, an increasingly important position on
today's modern farm.
In some respects farming and the newspaper
business have a similar philosphy with all of the
Please turn to page .5
Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publlkatlons Ltd.
Member:
Canadian Watkly Newspapers Association
Ontario Weekly Newspaper* Association
News Editor - Tom Creech
8eoond'Clap Mall'Apbtrotion Number 1385
Subrcriptior Rates: SR.50 per year, in advance In Canada
S19,.50 per year outside Canada. Single copies 251
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