HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-04-06, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD. THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978•
What we think
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Handicapped
"Labor productivity in Canada's
manufacturing industry is about 20
percent below the American level,
while wage rates are the same or
higher. With that kind of competitive
cost disadvantage, no v Ander we're
running on $8 -billion defidtt"on trade in
fully manufactured goods with the
U.S."
For the sample of 33 manufacturing
industries studied, labor productLvity
in Canada comes in at 77 percent of the
U.S. level, while earnings in Canada
are two percent higher. On a unit basis,
this means American labor costs are
about 25 percent cheaper. (Necessary
footnote: the study's latest figures are
for 1974 in the case of productivity and
1975 for earnings. But author of the
study, James G. Frank, says that these
numbers are pretty representative of
today's relative position. He points out
that Canada's cost competitiveness
deteriorated further in 1976 and 1977
but that the devaluation of the C$ has
offset this, leaving Canadian industry
about where it was in 1975.)
We never have been competitive.
Back in 1966-67, productivity in Canada
for the 33 -industry sample was 62
percent of the American level while
our wages were 75 percent as high.
Unit labor costs in the U.S. were, thus,
about 17 percent lower.
What has happened in the past
decade is this: our productivity has
increased faster than the U.S. but our
earnings have moved up even more
rapidly, adding to an already -large
competitive disadvantage.
"Ah, the sounds of spring — people cursing while they work on their tax forms."
Sugar and Spicc/By Bill Smi
ey
Travel tips
One of my favorite indoor sports is
leafing through travel brochures, and I've
been indulging myself lately, while plan-
ning a jaunt to Europe this summer.
I revel in the colorful descriptions of
exotic and romantic places, even though I
know they are generally a lot of hogwash. It
is common knowledge that Venice stinks
like an open sewer, but I still want to have a
gander at the Doge's Palace and the Bridge
of Sighs.
I am perfectly aware that being a
Canadian tourist in Paris is like being an
open safe in a houseful of burglars. But that
doesn't stop me from wanting to visit Notre
Dame and have a dekko at the great bells
where the Hunchback thereof swung so
merrily.
I'm pretty sure that I won't be having an
audience with the Pope, but I'd still like to
stand in the Sistine Chapel in Rome,
gawking at Michelangelo's magnificent
ceiling with all the other tourists.
I'd love to ride down the Rhine guzzling
pilsener and looking at castles, with one
eye peeled in case we spotted Die Lorelei
sitting on a rock in the middle of that
polluted stream.
I'd delight in a real Hungarian goulash,
Bavarian sauerbraten, Italian pasta, or
even an honest Swiss steak.
It would be great to drop in on old prison
camp friends like Nils Jorgenson in Oslo,
Milan Karic in Dubronvnik, Jean Morai in
Liege, Belgium, Rostislav Kandusky in
Morava, Czecho-Slovakia. Even though I
know they would no longer be dashing
young fighter pilots, but pot-bellied burgers
heading toward senior citizenship.
In fact, I could happily take off every
summer and spend six weeks or more
kicking around Great Britain and Europe,
looking up old acquaintances, making new
friends, and devouring scenery and history.
There are only two things that stop me
from doing this. One is money. The other is
my wife. There's not enough of the first
item. And it almost takes dynamite to get
the second item travelling.
Looking at prices, I am shaken fairly
rigid by the way they have shot up in the
five years since we last went abroad. Hotel
prices in London have zoomed by 50 per
cent or more, to make that city, once a real
bargain, one of the more expensive places
to visit.
For example, by taking advantage of a
"special discount" connected with our tour,
we are able to stay for one night at the
Penta Hotel for a mere $56.00. Regular rate
is $62.00. Last time we were over, we stayed
at a middle-class hotel, with bed and break-
fast for $32.00. And while the Penta is a new
hotel, and no doubt very smart, it is far
from being one of the great hotels of
London. At that rate of incr-ease, a double
room at the Dorchester or the Savoy would
now set one back about $1 50.00.
Probably the answer is simply London's
11
popularity. Although many new hotels have
been built in the last decade, there is still an
enormous demand for rooms, with hun-
dreds of thousands of North Americans,
Europeans and Asians pouring into the
fabulous old town every summer, mouths
open, wallets bulging, and cameras
clicking.
Nor does it help that the pound has got
back some stability, while the Canadian
dollar has sunk to Depression levels.
A colleague who was over there last
summer suggested, "Take as much money
as you think you'll need, then double it.
They whack you a buck for a cup of coffee."
When I was young and in my prime, as
they say, the British pound was the soun-
dest security in the world. A pound was
worth about five dollars. Today, the pound
is one of the least envied and most unstable
units of currency in the western world. It
used to be an evening on the town, albeit not
a wild one, but a couple of drinks, a show
and something to eat. Now it's an average -
sized tip after a meal. That's what happens
when you win a couple of wars and lose an
empire.
But it isn't the money that bothers me
about making a trip. It's the Old Lady.
First of all, she can pack so much stuff into
a suitcase that it takes an adult male
gorilla to lift the thing. That's why I came
home from our last trip with my arms
stretched to down around my knees.
Second of all, she is somewhat of an in-
somniac. Hot milk, nightcap, sleeping pills,
you name it and her system shrugs it off as
you or I would a lifesaver. That's at home.
Imagine what she's like when we're on
the move constantly, sleeping in strange
beds every night, eating strange food,
getting excited at new sights and sounds
and people. She knocks off one or two hours
a night and the rest of the time is an ad-
vanced case of somnambulism.
Why am I so selfish then, you may well
ask. Why do I drag her off to foreign fields,
where she'll be lucky if she sits down on the
edge of a fountain and people don't think
she's a statue?
Because she won't let me go alone. Many
a time I've offered. "Why don't you just
stay home, dear, and have a nice, quiet
time around the house? I'll send you a card
every day, and I'll be back in only six
weeks, before you know it."
She doesn't trust me, even when I tell her
it's the ladies, not the men, who get pinched
in Rome.
So that's why I'm saving quarters in the
cookie jar and refurbishing my once -fluent
French, German and Italian. "Arrivederci,
Mademoiselle, was maken sie hier? Nix
offnen der tor bevor der zug halte. Avez-
vous des bluejinsi? Mein epouse nich
schlaffen prima."
Expect there'll be no problems when you
can handle the lingo like that.
The Clinton News -Record Is published each
Thursday at P.O. Box 30, Clinton, Ontario, •
Canada, NOM 1L0.
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Newspaper Association
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run 3.300.
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•
General Manager - J,Howard Aitken
Editor - James E. Pltrgorald
Advertising Director • Gary L. Holo
News editor • Shelley McPhee
Office Manager • Margaret Gibb
Circulation - Freda McLeod
Accounting • Marian Willson
Subscription Rote:
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Odds 'n' ends - by Elaine Townshend
Better way to help
I was pleased to note this year's
Easter Seals showed handicapped
youngsters doing things that all children
do. A boy in a wheelchair played with a
baseball and a mitt; another boy with a
crutch fed a bone to his dog, and a little
girl with a crutch tucked her doll into a
cradle.
The campaign literature stressed that
handicapped children don't ask for pity,
but they do need help to overcome some
of the obstacles in their lives.
For some youngsters, activities of
everyday life, such as walking to school,
climbing a tree, writing, speaking and
even holding a knife and fork, require
skilled help and training. Many of them
also need costly equipment, such as
wheelchairs at $450, electric wheelchairs
as high as $1,600 and dental work for /
cleft palate,possibly costing as much as
$5,000 over a period of years, -
'These are the types of expenses the
Easter Seal Appeal helps to defray. The
well-known slogan "Back a Fighter!"
seems to say "give, not because you feel
sorry for handicapped children, but
because you know they have a battle to
fight and you know they can win with
your help."
A lady wrote recently about a U.S.
telethon that took a different approach to
raising money for handicapped children.
The telethon began with a film
showing a little boy and his father going
to a baseball game, fishing and playing
catch. Then the scene changed. The boy
sat in a wheelchair, and his father stood
behind him. Both looked grim..
The film ended with the warning, "this
could happen to your child."
As she sat in her own wheelchair, the
lady wondered why the father and son
weren't still going to baseball games,
fishing and playing catch, for she knew it
was possible for jhem to do those things
in spite of the chair.
She acknowledged the purpose of the
telethon was a worthwhile one, and it
showed that the old custom of people
helping other people hadn't died. But she
feared the technique played on the
sympathy of the 'non -handicapped
viewers, and in so doing, stripped the
handicapped of something all people
need - dignity and hope.
I presume the purpose of the telethon
was to raise money for research to
determine and treat the causes of
cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy,
cystic fibrosis, spina bifida, etc. There is
no doubt such research is vital and the
organizers of the telethon meant well,
but their method could have hurt the
very people they were trying to help.
For example, boys and girls could
have been sitting in their wheelchairs at
home watching TV. What a bleak picture
the film painted for them! They might be
old enough to understand the gist of the
film but not quite old enough to realize
that life does not have to be hopeless for
them.
It takes money to design and buy a
wheelchair or a crutch or an artificial
limb for a handicapped child, but it takes
the child's will to make it work.
What you think
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Doing terrible thing
Dear Editor:
A copy to the Editor of a letter
sent to the Huron high school
Mrs. Weary
Spokesperson for OSSTF:
The teachers are doing a
terrible thing to our students
in Huron County. It has made
a great number .,of them
decide not to go back to school
as what you have done is
depressing them ,so. They
really are disillusioned.
Most of them that I have
contact with are not on the
teacher's side of this dispute.
They can't understand why
you can't all be fired. The
majority of the taxpayers are
in the private sector and
would never ever get away
with your actions without
being out on their ear.
I think we, the taxpayers,
should have made our
thoughts known to you all,
long before this. Will you
Survey
Dear Editor:
The Awareness League for
Physically Handicapped
Adults (ALPHA) is con-
ducting a survey of private
accommodation in Huron
County suitable for use by the
handicapped.
We will appreciate your
cooperation in making this
known to your readers and
would ask any person who has
such facilities available to
write ALPHA, P.O. Box 1388,
Clinton, NOM 1LO.
Thanks for your assistance
on behalf of ALPHA.
Elaine Townsend
President.
please realize that the school
board has the backing of
every parent that I have had
contact with and that is
many!
Maybe it would do you all
some good to get out and
compete for jobs, where you
would have to work harder,
longer and get less pay and
privileges.
A very concerned
parent,
B.U. May,
Exeter.
Write now
Dear Editor:
The Concerned Parents
Group wishes to thank you for
giving us the opportunity to
express in your paper, the
attitudes of both the Board of
Education and the OSSTF
regarding the teacher strike
now, approaching its 27th
day.
To date many of your
readers have been somewhat
confused as to the actual
issues. We urge them to read
the facts, and send their
opinions, suggestions and
further questions, if any, to
the following: their local
trustee; the OSSTF, Hotel.
Clinton; the Huron County
Board of Education, Clinton;
and the Education Relptions
Commission, Mr. D. S.
Lawless, Chief Executive
Officer, 111 Avenue Road,
Suite 400, Toronto, Ontario,
M5R 3J8.
The situation is serious! We
public should not un-
derestimate what their let-
ters can do.—Concerned
Parents.
Class size important
Dear Editor: 1
Parents and taxpayers - are
you really concerned about
Huron County children's
education? No letters to the
editor, only uninformed
complaining to each other. It
is easier to criticize than to
learn the actual facts. The
media has slowly given facts
to the public - only as the
trustees gave it.
Teachers, being
professionals, are not
downgrading others, but
explain their position when
asked. Did members of
county council talk to a
teacher before they resolved
to back the trustees? Why are
the trusteees 'refusing ar-
bitration? Settle it first as
last; save bad feeling and
money. The public has not
known about,the trustee
negotiator, hireall this year,
at the cost equivalent to
another teacher. Was that
money well spent? Why are
the trustees truing to remove
From our early files .
• • •
• • •
5 YEARS AGO
April 5, 1973
Bill Riehl of Gamester
Advertising in Clinton presented
a novel idea to Clinton's Cen-
tennial initial m.eeting last night
in Clinton. Mr. Riehl suggested a
license plate cover that
proclaims Clinton's 1975 Cen-
tennial. An executive and
committee were set up last night
to plan Clinton's JOOth birthday
and make it the biggest
celebration ever.
Tony Kyle, 15, of Hensall won
the Pilgrimage for Youth trip to
the United Nations at New York,
when he topped four girls in a
public speaking contest in Clinton
last Friday night.
Mrs. Viola Nelson of Clinton
received a long service ap-
preciation award from the
Clinton Citizen's Horticultural
Society last week in Clinton. Mrs.
Nelson was presented with the
award for giving 30 years service
to the society. Mrs. Florence
Pullen, past president of the
society, presented the award.
Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Brown
have returned home after
spending the winter months in
Florida.
Ron McIntosh, president of
Bluewater Cable TV Ltd., an-
nounced this week that there are
about 150 homes hooked up at the
present time in the Clinton area.
There are currently seven men
working on installation and
construction of the cable system
in town
10 YEARS AGO
April 4, 1968
More than 45 per cent of the
employees of Clinton's major
businesses live outside of the
town and the industrial com-
mission wants to know why.
A month iong study, of i5 local
businesses, by the eight man
commission has shown 158 of a
total of 356 employees have
rejected Clinton and chosen to
live in surrounding communities.
Central Huron Secondary
School, the largest employer is
typical, with 26 of its 67 em-
ployees commuting to work.
Come fire, flood, airplane
crash or any other disaster,
Clinton Public Hospital can now
handle large numbers of
casualties.
The Ontario Department of
Health has provided a complete
packaged emergency treatment
centre designed to accommodate
large numbers of injured people.
In exchange the hospital has
given up a little storage space for
the equipment and prepared an
area - where an emergency
treatment centre can be set up.
25 YEARS AGO
April 9, 1953
New store on the corner
opening next week, keep watch
for the grand opening of Pickett
and Campbell's new men's
clothing store at the corner of
Albert and Ontario Streets. We
hear it's going to be just about the
most modern business place this
side of Toronto. Bob and Ken are
planning a real opening on•
Saturday of next week. Call in
and see the changes they have
made.
Miss Joan Graham, Toronto, a
1953 graduate of Ontario College
of Education has been hired by
the Clinton District Collegiate
Institute Board to teach Physical
Education and some lower school
subjects during the year. There is
still need for a teacher of special
commercial, to make the staff at
the school complete.
The Clinton Council at a special
meeting on Tuesday evening
enacted as follows: 1. "Bottle
Club" shall mean any premises,
not being a private dwelling
place, where beer, wine or liquor
as defined in the Liquor Control
Act is kept by anyone for his own
consumption. 2. It shall he
unlawful for anyone to operate
within the Municipality of the
Town of Clinton a "Bottle Club"
save and except on premises
abutting on certain streets.
50 YEARS AGO
April 5, 1928
The paving contractor was in
town the other day and the
prop;lhility is th;11 p:ivine will
start very soon.
The stage of the town hall
auditorium is undergoing
alterations and repairs and it is
hoped will be finished in time for
the concert next Thursday night.
New ceilings and floors are being
put in stage and wings and the
scenery is being redecorated.
New velour curtains are in the
plans but they may not come for a
little time yet. The matter of
repairing the stage was taken up
by the Women's Institute and the
council is assisting.
The many friends of Mr.
Duncan McDonald we regret to
hear that he has been confined to
the house for a number of weeks.
We hope for a speedy recovery.
On Cut Line, between
Holmesville artd Porter's Hill, a
new 31-440, semi -balloon,
Goodyear tire, on rim. Finder
kindly communicate with J.R.
Torrance, RR 2, Bayfield. Phone
600r24, Clinton central.
75 YEARS AGO
April 16, 1903
Captain H.B. Combe, who has
for a number of years been a
prominent figure in Clinton
business circles, has at last found
time to devote to that more
responsible phase of life -
matrimony. -
The park committee are
considering a few necessary
improvements in the park
grounds. The ground will be
levelled and put into condition for
the use of the many clubs in-
terested in the various games in
town. This is highly com-
mendable in the committee as we
lose annually several promising
young men who procure and
accept situations in other towns
because they are experts in one
or more of the manly sports.
Lacrosse, baseball, football, and
golf players are always in
demand. Keep the boys at home
and let them have recreation that
makes them men instead of
loafers.
Mr. Wili Mason of the Queen's
in Blyth ii;' busy making
preparations for altering and
enlarging the hotel for the ac-
commodation of the travelling
public. He intends adding 12 more
bedrooms and two sample rooms
besides other improvements.
100 YEARS AGO
April 11, 1978
The "blue ribbons" formerly
all the rage here, have almost `"r'
entirely disappeared.
Quite a number of the youth of
town find employment with
Street and Walker - a firm, by the
way, that are poor pay - when
their time might be more
Profitably employed, even if only
at household chores.
The grass is quite green, the
trees are budding out and
vegetation in general has a
"springy" aspect.
The new driving park in this
place, being completed, will be
opened on the 23rd and 24th of
May, next, when a number of
pursds will be offered for com-
petition on which occasion it is
supposed quite a number of
horses will be present.
The chances are that Blyth will
not have a woollen mill this
season. The property for the
same was bought and every
preparation made to get it into
running order early this spring,
but it now occurs that the title is
imperfect, and a lawsuit is in
progress.
At an auction sale of Mr. R.
Rye's farm stock last week, a
three-year-old male was sold for
$77, certainly a good figure.
On Tuesday a team of horses
walked down the street with their
owner lying flat on his back in the
wagon, with no hat on and so
"hefungled" that he was un-
conscious of the pelting rain.
Complaints are heard from
some of the residents of the St.
John's Ward. who say that they
are frequently annoyed by being
awakened from their midnight
slumbers to give directions as to
the location of a disreputable
house said to exist a short
distance above the two tanneries.
This should not he.
clauses already in contracts?
The media has stated that
teachers in Huron have
sacrificed wages for better
working conditions. These
working conditions directly
affect students. Does this not
say something about the
calibre of our teachers? Does
the public really understand
pupil -teacher ratio? How
many students could you
watch in a wood • working
class - working with saws?
Can a teacher do justice to
students if she sees 200 per
day in English or history or
math? Parents know how
many tests their students
have, when do you think the
teacher prepares and marks
them? Does the public un-
derstand the sick -time
clause? Ask a leacher.
The media has stated the
average wage of our
teachers, but seldom
discloses that it includes
principals, vice -principals,
department heads and the
fact that most of our teachers
are at the top of their
category. All teachers do not
earn that figure. A few years
ago the Department of
Education stated the
qualification required for
teachers. A person is sincere
if they choose to spend 4-5
years preparing to be a
teacher to work with young
people.
What would you do without
them? Not all parents are
coping well with their own
students. What do you expect
from your teachers? Do you
help the teachers? Too many
parents find fault in front of
their children - does this
instill respect? Our students
are very worldly young
people. The teachers know it.
I feel strongly that smaller
classes in elementary school
would eliminate the need for
remedial classes. Each
student would get more help.
To this point, Huron County is
noted for a good record of
high -achieving students
moving on, into other fields.
Has this been due to con-
cerned parents, dedicated
teachers and board policies?
I suggest it has been all three.
Our country's future is in
parents and teachers hands.
Is money to be the criteria? If
we cut the wrong corners
now, we will regret it in
future years. Parents and
trustees must not place our
students in jeopardy, we must
move with the times. Our
students are not standing
still. It is trustees respon-
sibility to keep children in
school.
Talking since September
'77 is too long. Don't let our
students down. Stand behind
our teachers, they are here
because they like your young
people.
Sincerely,
Mildred McAdam,
Clinton