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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1975-04-03, Page 4PA 15 77,1 Taxes stin climbing Property taxes in rnost Canadian cities will jump at least 10 percent and perhaps as much as 25 percent this year as municipalities attempt to meet dramatically higher costs,. reports The •Financial Post. "Taxes will probably rise $50-$70 per average house, depending on the area of the country and the amount of provincial government support the city is receiving," one municipal official says. The reasons for the tax increasesare as numerous as the municipalities that have to collect them. Every com- munity, it seems, has the same dismal story. The Post's cross-country survey shows labor costs are up 15.2(1 percent, education costs have sky -rocketed, the cost of•repairing streets has risen 30 - 40 percent, fuel prices are up 20 per- cent, and even the cost of all that bureaucratic paper has ' almost doubled. In addition, welfare and education costs are rising repidly. In some parts of the country, such as Alberta, the provinces have come to the aid of the municipalities, but most city officials still think they aren't getting enough support from provincial governfnents. Look at the other side The inadequacies of the present system of financing municipal, school and county budgets have long been known., It's about time something was done about correcting the situation. How would you like to be'a municipal councillor this year? He sees costs of his own level of government increasing due to inflation and knows' that taxes will have to go up. He sees the need for improved facilities in his. *own. municipality and worries where he can get the money. And on top of all that, he knows that he'll be getting an order to . provide a good deal of money for the • county and school board levels of government. They are spending the money, but the local councillors have the responsibility for raising it, and he also gets the blame when the taxes go up. It's like the husband or wife who has to earn the money which the other partner goes out and spends like crazy. The only difference is that a partner in marriage can legally refuse to be responsible for the debts of the other" partner. Municipal councils can't. The provincial government has been busy re -organizing everything in sight in the past decade yet it's done nothing to clean up this archaic fiscal system. The government, for instance, unloaded a ridiculously expensive education system on us, but leaves it. up to the; ocwal municipal councils to raise a good Ileal of The. money to run the system, even though the minicipality has virtually no say in how the money is spent. The only solution seems to be for the govern- ment to take over 100 percent funding of education. The situation at the county level is just as bad, but the solution, seems harder -to come by. Due to government pressures, the county level has grown enormously in the past few years as county library county planning and county health systems have been set up. This year alone the county budget jumped 20 percent. If the county is going to continue this growth pattern, it should have its own source of revenue. At present, it sets a budget and leaves it up to the municipality to figure out where the money is to come from. Many times, to try to keep tax increases from the ridiculous stage, local councils have to cancel their own programs which would have been far more.beneficial to the local taxpayers than some pie -in - the -sky county dream. Some sanity in financing is needed. Maybe if the provincial government would put its mind to work on that problem instead of far-fetched government re -organization plans, we'd be better off. Then, again, looking at the govern-. ment's track record over the past decade, maybe we'd to getter to Dave well enough alone:``'` ". `' •'" —The Blyth Standard. • Sugar and Spicc/By Bill smiley You're never too old to learn This may seem an odd time of year for it, but LTn heing.lorn.hetween•t o o1r .Adages. That is better than being torn between two old harridans, but not much. At my age, of course, the chances of being torn between two young harridans is rather slight. As a matter of fact, there hasn't even been much of a line-up of old harridans lately, so I guess I'll have to settle for those two old adages. One of them goes thus: "There's no fool like an old fool." As adages go, it fills the bill. It is short, blunt, and, if you happen to be an old fool, brutal. I don't like that one much. The other one says: "There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle." This is also short and to the point. It is usually delivered with a wink and a leer by some old fool of either sex, speaking of which, that is what it usually refers to. I like that one better than the first, though I am not given to leering or winking. Not for years. Anyway, to get to the heart of the matter, I've taken up cross-country skiing and those ancient adages ride with me, one on each ski. They are heavy, as well as old. When t state that I have taken up cross- country skiing, I must confess that it is not a reciprocal deal. I have taken it up only once, and it has taken me down more times than I care to t -la ,_ But that's beside the point. Cross-country~ skiing is not for everybody, though you'd never know it on a Sunday afternoon. No, it's really a sport for us romantics, the few of us left who are loners, who ve a fierce, overwhelming urge to pit our muscles and will against a fierce and alien Nature. Even before I_.strapped on the skis,.I knew I would love it. Pictures rolled through my mind like a film, with me in the major role. Gliding, swift and silent, along a lonely winter trail. • Slipping through the stilly woods like a wraith. Stopping on a peak for a belt of brandy and a munch of bread and cheese, before plunging, eager -eyed, into the terrible, hurtling danger below. It's a tough world for us romantics. For some reason, the picture seldom lives up to the ad- vance notices. I didn't exactly glide, not at first. I sort of shuffled, rather like an old man with a double case of gout. Nor vias the trail really lonely. Not if you count dogs, little children, and old ladies who came up from behind, shouting, "Track!" . and went by me as though I were standing still. Which I was, a good deal of the time. Stopping on a peak for a bracing, solitary brandy is also a little difficult, when the only peak for miles around is about eight feet high, and is already populated by eleventy-seven of your friends, every last one of whom loves brandy, but doesn't have any with him. Not to Mention those woods. It's hard to keep therrrn stilly, when every time you get anywhere near a tree, everyone in sight shouts, "Timber -T- r -0," IIT$ STMT WitM WIESE You'll_ t011140 90111C1 11 0$ IRIS tot IN`$‘ .1•Ne, rW The Jack Scott Column - IOU N IIN A goodword for the misunderstood teenager We've had some youth trouble in our parts and while it's too close to home to comment specifically, I think it's time somebody said a good word for the misunderstood teenager. The reactions to this particular incident vary a good deal, of course, but I found it hard to escape ah overall feeling ,of vin- dictiveness. Most of the people advocated harsh, stern treat- ment of the boys involved. This was summarized best, I think, by a good friend o1 mine, 'ordinarily gentle by nature, who said, "We've got to throw the book at them as an example to others." I heard another say, "If a dog runs wild you put him away and that's what you've got to do when a boy runs wild." All right, it was a nasty business. Six boys apparently went out deliberately to harass a youngster's house party. They were drinking. When one of the boys at the party ordered them away a fight broke out. The boy was so severely beaten that he was hospitalized. The marauding boys were subsequently arrested, tried, convicted and put on probation. The public reaction, so much rougher than the court's, comes, I suspect, because we're all somewhat confused by the term "juvenile delinquency." The ne*spapers and the magazines have given such a heavy play to the incidence of violence by junior hoodlums that the term has come to embrace every form of mischief or trouble peculiar to that disturbing age between adolesence and maturity. There seems to be a wide -spread opinion, in fact, that the younger generation is a special problem peculiar to these times, a feeling I suspect that is a kind of transference of the guilt for the lack of serenity in our adult lives. After this local incident and because we are a small com- munity there was much talk and speculation about "this juvenile delinquency. "I think that's too neat, too all-inclusive, I have taken up other sports, like golf and too over -simplified. I listened to men talking about this, almost curling, and have learned that unless tremely vigilant, the beginner may develop some bad habits which are hard to shake. ' I was determined that this would not happen with skiing. On my very first time out, I thought I was developing a bad habit. My left ski seemed to want to veer to the left, and my right ski to the right. This seems logical enough, but it was not conducive to skimming. along the trail, especially when the skis took turns falling off the boots. Quickly, I checked the harness. Sire enough, clinically, as if they were talking about a new disease that's suddenly afflicted, eenagers and this seems wrong to me. I can recall pretty vividly the conflict that I went through in those difficult years. We had our gangs, too. We had our escapades. We had our fights, our introduction to drinking. We misdirected our energies often in deplorable ways. But nobody confused this behavior pattern with criminality as so manyieem to do today and that, I think, is why we emerged out of it not too badly damaged. What we did was often wrong and we were punished for it, but we were not looked upon as wild dogs. I feel strongly about this, I suppose, because I've a lot to do with teenagers and I like them. I think they're doing pretty well in' a difficult world. Indeed, one of them is one of these "bad" boys. *He has some wildness' in him. He has the kind of tough - guy bravado you encounter so often. But delinquent? I can't see it that way. There is, too, the drinking. People said of one boy that he showed cold-blooded, vicious brutality in beating up the boy at the party. Well, I.wonder. The evidence clearly showed that he 'Was intoxicated: And when you look around you at the adult World and the drunkenness on alt economic levels, the so-called "social drinking," it seems a wonder that more youngsters don't get into trouble that way. We've made drinking a thing to do, a raison d'etre for en- tertainment, and het we're astonished when teenagers attempt to imitate the accepted pattern. The fact that the boy was drunk does not excuse him and certainly I don't condone the stupidity of these six trouble -seeking boys. But I think their case should be considered with sympathy and with the understanding that this sort of jungle warfare just naturally happens to boys and often to very good boys at that. From our early files .... . . Rec. complaint Dear Sir: This is a long overdue letter ,the intent of which is to make public 'the disappointments and complaints of many of the men who play in Clinton's recreational ball and hockey leagues. During the 1974-1975 season many of us feel the leagues were given unfair treatment which seemed to point to a disc egard for recreational sport by those who are responsible for recreation in' Clinton, The main complaint was the fact that we were forced to play one game each week at a completely inadequate diamond outside town. Before the ball season began we were assured that we could use the Clinton diamond on Monday nights and, if we needed it, forA two hours on Thursday nights. Shortly afterward§ we were informed that this decision had been reversed; we could have the diamond only on Monday ,tight. * The reason given was. that people from outside town did not have the right to use the diamond very much since the townships do not contribute any money for the upkeep of Clinton's recreational facilities. This was a completely biased decision and I understand it was made without the knowledge of the entire recreation committee. As a result of having to play out of town I feel we lost some players and the league was the loser. Those of us who suffered through the 74-75 hockey season have far more reason to complain. On several occasions we were denied our scheduled ice time. We had Monday nights booked for each week from mid-October to March 31 with the exception of Christmas and winter carnival week. The first disappointment came on election night last fall. We were informed that there would be no hockey, because the. arena was being used as a polling station. This was an invalid reason. Our hockey could have in no way interfered with the polling if the, polling was done in the auditorium On top of that the overlap between hockey and polling was only one half hour and for that half hour the entire night was cancelled. The next cancellation came about as a result of a Junior ' "C" hockey game. Our scheduled games were can- celled because someone else wanted the ice. It was just not Joseph's; after they get the good business to cancel ice time 10 YEARS AGO ' betting on the land very soon. The W.T. O'Neil ad reads $1 will requisite number of votes they that had been booked since April 8, 1965 demand for seed continues to be buy 17 bars P. and G. Soap dr 9 intend to petition to get a license. October for a game which The tender of Cale Doucette, brisk with most supplies of packages Lux or 10 lbs. Cocoa or J.E.- Crealy will have his apparently did not even have to Clinton • was Tuesday night ac- registered and good commercial 9 lbs. currants or 13 lbs. of cepted by Goderich •Towskimming station in operation be played. Decisions such as beenpicked nulated sugar also free nship 1Vo.1 seed paving pic a up. gra - here about the end of ,the month. this are completely unfair and School Area Board for con- Dr. J.A. Addison is in Toronto delivery with any order. He has rented for a term of five h' k Miss Sybil Courtice has left for prejudiced against recreational struction of five classrooms and a on business this wee years part of.,Jacab Millex.'s shop, Hamilton where she will spend a sport. playroom to be added to the 50 YEARS AGO which is being made ready for The third cancellation came few days before going to Van- occupation for the 1st of May. -1s the chap from whom I'd bought the outfit had put public school at Holmesville. April 9, 1925 couver and then on to Japan to . positionabout as a result of an equip - it on cockeyed. My toes fitted into it, but my` --Ba to oats are acting as the Mission work which she had Clinton is in a central of heels. didn't even touch the skis. They were ice -breakers in Bayfield Har- Mr. and Mrs. R. Mennell have been engaged in before her the dairy district, it will be ment failure. The reason given moved from Huron St. to A. furlou h.gathered,separated and then was that, due to a boiler dragging in the snow. Right there, I decided to bour. They managed to cut a g p ge g mile -wide swath through the off- sent to Seaforth to become butter. problem, the ice could not be Raise Cain with the installer. Seeley's house on Mary St. ; R.S. At Clinton Council meeting it flooded with hot water. Well, so Fortunately„ a friend came along.When he shore ice banks. Smyth has moved into the was recommended that premises Y , A Hensall baker, Beverly Doherty now occupied „by Massey+Harris April 8, 1875 Beaton, puts his artistic talents to vacating the Bouck house on High agent and Mr. J. Seeley as a shoe be flooded with cold water but use in a very useful manner and it St., which has been purchased by repairing shop be procured from Dr. Cartwright, of Stratford, it's not good over a long period f This t tl 'd' 1 now seems his "hobby bread" is A. Seeley. the PUC and used as a fire hall. will be at the Commercial Hotel of time. One night wouldn't A ski is a ski and a foot is a foot. But he receiving public acclaim. Mr. Clinton and especially Ontario today and tomorrow. hurt. At any rate the ice didn't presevered. Sure enough, the ski I'd had on my Beaton fashions alligators out of St. Church, will greatly miss Mr. 75 YEARS AGO Mr. R. Irwin started on have to be flooded between right foot was marked with a large L, for 'Left, bread dough. When baked, the and Mrs. Roy'Ball and family April 6, 1900 Tuesday on a visit to the mother alligator loaves' "are about 15 games, just scraped. Why did and vice versa. inches long with life -like feet, tail who are moving to Sarnia, and Many were busy last week country, expecting to be absent we lose the night? Once that bad habit was resolved, I was and prickly back. Mr. and Mrs. LIE. Weir and taking advantages of the snow, for about six weeks. The final cancellation was skimming along like a bird. Dodo? For the second year in a row a family, who are moving to and woods and logs were rushed Mr.. Griffin, of Kingston, has I hada couple of other bad habits, but solved Clinton rink won the final draw oflel ole. been engaged .by the High School the last straw and prompted p - Em leees of the Stevenson- C. Mackrow, who has been Board to fill the situation of is a er. i��s � , a - � . _ .:. _ �- Inge �C�ritti� .o.�.- a :. a .. _ _ - - " fi`a �. :. wioi.k;.n. ..._. o�::�. o g»ass-r _ .. ,,; - �... - .. _ , . _ �. m ski instead of into the snow: This intended to team was skipped by Doug home of Mrs. Elmer Harness duringthe winter months has the retirement of Mr. Thompson. booked-since-bCter, gam es throw me off my stride not t0 mention off my Bartliff and consisted of Carl on Mdnday evening and recently been hired with J. The new postal bilf will carne P on Marsh 31 would the played. noticed that my skis seemed to want to go in opposite directions, he suggested that I had them on the wrong eet. was pa en y ridiculous. ous. h b b I 1 d Dunnville. out as quickly as post this letter. We were assured • p scheduled previously > nm they of th= cuxliia Stub �1a e.. acaea t 014 ©le t i tha bb d ..t'�� • 1 �4ne�u s` 1� wit � �+ wd Y the feet.' I put a stop to this by wrapping the sharp Powell, Clayton Dixon and Bill presented Mr. and Mrs. Ron Shanahan in Hullett. F. into operation by the first of next The ice couldn't be coded but one the reportorialMacDonald is the former mer's brother. package must ave pos age poi . sMargaret K. Brown of Clinton Quite an agitation is caused by r. J. very Needless to saythis decision Another was a habit of making the sign of the Week. She is not entirely new to d was married on April 2. Thecanvassing signature P Y the for si ature for travel his fine road and carriage was reversed. The ice -making nff Sunday. tips of the poles in wads of foam rubber. They're Grigg' MacDonald with a cut glass Denomme has also been engaged month. After this all letters must it would be scraped and the Mrs. Ken (Shirley) Keller from with a Hullett farmer, the for- carry postage marks and a not much good in snow, but it's a lot easier on the Dashwood j i d water set and silverware Mrs.games would be played h t d skis toff of Clinton News -Record last M J A has decided to cross with my skis. This seemed to bring about a Clinton area having lived at 420 an precipitation, or downfall. I solved this by cut- James Street as a young girl. will reside on East St. ting off my skis, right, in front of my boots. I hardly ever get them crossed any more. 25 YEARS AGO Some people have trouble getting up hills. I April 6, 1950 I use the Do 1 an er method (hands don t. ppe ganger and knees) . All in all, it's a fine, bracing sport. Here and now, in public print, I am ready to take on anybody over a 50 -meter course. Anyone under four or over 80. There are only a couple of things I don't like about it. One is my wife. When I get 200 yards behind her, she stops and waits for me. When I get to where she is, on my last breath, she's had a five-minute rest, and takes off. Another thing, more embarrassing than otherwise, occurs when I get off the trail and hide behind'a tree, trying to get the blood out of my eyes and my heart out of my ears. A couple of young punks sail by, and I overhear, "Jeez, it used to be stilly in these woods, but nowadays there seem to be great, noisy gusts of wind." Little do they know it's only old Smiler trying to get his breath back. I've come to a decision. Either I quit smoking or I quit skiing. Anybody interested in a pair of almost brand- new cross-country skis? Dr. John W. Shaw, one of Huron County's most widely known and highly esteemed residents, was signally honoured at an informal meeting of the directors of Huron Central Agricultural Society in Bartliffs Thursday night last when he was the recipient of a Departmental certificate "for meritorious service to agriculture" and a com- plimentary address. The maple syrup season promises to be short and sweet. So far the nights have been cold but the days have not been warm enough. Clinton's new chief of police - Jack P. Hinchberger - moved into his new home on Albert St,, in the Snider apartment - on Friday and assumed his new duties on Saturday. Weather conditions during the past week haven't given much indication that farmers will be the . erection, of .a hotel in St. stallion in Middlesex Counties". equipmen T SE CLIN'I'ON NEW ERA •" Established 1865 Moralise, CanadianCommunity Community Newapaprr AModatlon Amalgamated ' 1924 Ap1AN COM 04 sir 'Iw,c4p(Q, (C) u 0 Clinton News ge ,87s 1075 ¼;)• HUB OF HURON COUNTY Published ovary Thursday ' at Clinton, Ontario Editor - Jamas E. Fitzgerald General Manager, J. Howard Aitken Second Claes Mall Istrdtlon no. 0517! Established 1881 ld of TH iIURON NEWS -RECORD The powers -that -be cou n see their way clear to leave the ice in for just 4 hours more (and they were asked). Not even for a league that paid their way every Monday. Not for a league which had the ice booked for the 31st. Not for a league that had already suf- fered three arbitrary and unfair cancellations. It is my opinion that rOreational sport in this town plays second fiddle to too many things. If there is a conflict of interest any decision made invariably brings recreation out on the short end. I challenge the recreation committee to do something to change this situation before the men of this town become completely disenchanted and give up on the Clinton recreational leagues all together. • Sincerely, Ward Hodgins. ec()r(T Association SUBSCRIPTION RATES: CANADA 110.00 111.00 SIMS COPY .1110 Tod NOM! 2N IAOAY SN CAI. ADA'.