HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-08-31, Page 4•w l
PAGE 4-CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, AL,TGO5T..1,1978
Too much secrecy
Both the public and the press
must be partners in keeping
politicians honest, and pressure
from both groups is needed to force
one branch of politics-r'nunicipal
councils -to hold most meetings in
the open.
Stanley Makuch, a university of
Toronto law professor, told the
annual meeting of the Association
of Municipalities of Ontario last
week that under existing
legislation, municipalities can go
behind closed doors for all but a
short session to pass bylaws and
confirm the spending of money.
Prof. Makuch, who is also- a
consultant to the Royal Com-
mission on freedom of information
and individual privacy, said that
many public sessions of councils
are strictly rubber-stamping
exercises, to merely confirm what
was already agreed to in private.
He found in a study of 11
municipalities in Essex County,
Hamilton -Wentworth and Toronto
area, that only constant and vocal
pressure by the public and press
can persuade some councils to
come out from behind closed doors
and conduct their business in the
open.
"Where there is a strong public,
the situation will change. Where
there is a ,strong' local press, the
situation will change," he said.
But Prof. Makuch also accused
some members of the press of
being bedfellows with some
municipal councils. He said he
found in many areas the local press
was overly sympathetic with local
municipal councils to the extent
that reporters were admitted to
closed -door meetings mon. the un-
derstanding
n-
derstanding they not be allowed to
report any of the proceedings.
AMO has proposed new freedom
of information legislation , which
would ensure public access to all
municipal deliberations except
those specifically designated to be
held behind 'closed doors.
The catch, however, says J.C.
McRuer, a former chief justice of
the Ontario High Court, is defining
the exemptions. He says it's easy to
define examples of proper closed -
door business such as personal
matters, labor negotiations, and
property acquisition, but a legal
definition must be all en-
compassing rather than just a list
of examples. •
The right of information cannot
be absolute, because an in-
,dividual's right to freedom' ends
where it conflicts with the right to
freedom of his fellow, man, says
Mr. McRuer.
The point remains, however, that
too much public , business is
discussed in private, much .to .the
determent of the public, and any
law that can get this situation
improved even a little bit, would be
a big' help.
•
• ,Y
dispensed
sugar ancl$p/Ce bill smiley
Highway paronoia
Your heading this week is
misleading. When this appears, Bill
Smiley will be in Rome or somewhere,
tossing nuns in a fountain. The per-
petrator of the following is Roger Bell,
a young English teacher, poet,,
motorcyclist and general disturber of
the status quo. He is also a wit, satirist
of the first order, idealist, lousy golfer,
and unusual farmer. His radishes look
like red softballs. Take it away, Roger.
I am, as Smiley stated in his rather
flattering introduction, a novice
motorcyclist, recently introduced to
this liberating and exhilarating
pastime. Lately, however, this freedom
and excitement have become tempered
by all -consuming fear, and I am falling
victim to a psychological malady
called Highway-Biway Paranoia.
It happens almost everytime I crank
up my two -wheeled beast and ramble
down the roadways -some idiot, in his
four -wheeled, gas -guzzling monstrosity
attempts to verify the ' natural law
which states that, if struck by an auto,
bounce 12 times on his cranium before
skidding to a halt on gravel -gouged
hands and knees.
It has reached the point where I
question how most of these pilots of
destruction received their licences in
the first place. Some, obviously, were
given the right to run over anything
that twitches, in the days when a
driver's requirements consisted only of
being able to see the end of his nose,
and having the ability to spit and walk
simultaneously. Others must have
received their permits from mail-order
universities or boxes of Crackerjacks.
A third group is those having con-
nections high up in the Ministry of
Transport. The rest, I suppose, were
granted licences out of sheer
desperation by harrassed examiners
who were afraid of further risking their
lives with those people in future tests.
By now you're feeling I have an
overblown ego. "This turkey," you
scream, "thinks he is the world's best
driver." I am. 'AI least, I have to feel
that I am, in order to survive the army
of motorized assassins who lurk in the,
asphalt jungle surrounding my home.
This army has all types of killers,
each 'trained, in his own special method
of annihilation.
There are the snails, those
decelerated demons who poke along,
waiting for some unsuspecting victim
to hurtle into them from behind and get
a mouthful of taillight.
At the opposite end of the spectrum
are the quicksilvers, who feel that
dogs, kids and little old ladies are
hindering them in their attempts at
setting a new land speed record. •
The gawkers usually inhabit country
roads. These are rubberneckers who,
slackjawed at nature's beauty or in-
toxicated by the aroma of fresh cow
dung, allow their vehicles to meander
drunkenly across centre lines, onto the
shoulder, wherever.
There are also the creepers, those
timorous souls who halt at stop signs,
then nose forward into traffic, and their
black -ship cousins the ignorants, who
feel that God put them on earth to be
aggressive. Why should they yield the
right of way? Let the other slob stop.
We have the opposites, a curiously
contrary, bunch who signal a left turn,
then swing right, catching unwary
fools who follow the rules by surprise.
Occasionally they will cross up
potential victims by not signalling at
all, then abruptly changing direction.
Finally, we examine the just plain
malicious, those loonies who delight in
scaring the hell out of others by ap-
proaching at Warp Factor Five from
behind, then tailgating for five miles.
They gleefully speed up when someone
attempts to pass them, leaving the
passer stranded and fair game for
oncoming cars. They slobber with joy
when they can run a cyclist into the
ditch or squash someone's family pet.
They are the most formidable and
dangerous road opponents, because,
instead of being incompetent, they are
irrational.
What frightens me more is that,
instead of declining, this horde of
motorized maniacs is proliferating. In
view of this, I have some solutions for
self-defense.
I could mount a recoilless 30 mm
tank cannon on my handlebars.
Whenever the need arise, I could blast
the offender to Kingsom Come, and sail
obliviously onward. I could buy a war
surplus tank and clank fearlessly
The Clinton News•Record Is published each
Thursday at P.O. lox 39, Clinton, Ontario,
Canada, NOM'/LO.
Member, Ontario Weekly
Newspaper Association
If Is registered as second class -41 by the
post office under the permit number 0117.
The News -Record Incorporated In 1924 the
Huron News -Record, founded In 1881, and The
Clinton New lra, founded In 1863. Total press
run 3,3110.
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along, crunching snails and opposites
undertread, secure in the knowledge
that whoever ran into me would suffer
more than I.
The government could come to my
aid and institute a new licensing
system with only two categories -Good
and Bring in the ' Ambulances.
Those drivers in the latter category
would be required to have flashing
neon signs on their car roofs to warn
good drivers of their presence, giving
us time to seek sanctuary.
It is unlikely, however, that these
solutions will prove acceptable to the
powers that be, so I will continue my
present tactics • of self -defense -riding
along with fear in my mouth and a wall
of profanity around me so thick that a
jet -powered Mack 'truck couldn't
penetrate.
Bring'em back alive
This week's paper carries an-
nouncements of special events taking
place in our community 'this weekend.
If we want to trayel., farther afield,
daily papers, TV and radio give ad-
ditional information. There is,no end to
the places we can go and the exciting
things we can do to make this last
holiday of the summer a memorable
one.
Amid our happy anticipation, we will
hear warnings. We will be urged to
practice safety in whatever we do.
Referring to the number of fatalities
recorded on previous holidays,
predictions will be made about how
many Canadians will die on this Labor
Day weekend and the estimates will
remembering
our past
25 YEARS AGO
September 10, 1953
Dr. and Mrs. P. Yates are leaving today
on the first leg of a journey which will take
them via New York and an ocean voyage
aboard the Queen Mary to England for a five
month course in tropical medicine at the
University of London and from there to
Nigeria, Africa, where they will be engaged
in missionary work.
The doctor and his wife came to Clinton
just ode year ago on September 15 and since
then, Dr. Yates has been working as an
assistant to Dr. W.A. Oakes. Before coming
to town, he and his wife had lived in Van-
couver for two years. Dr. Yates is a 1950
graduate from the University of Western
Ontario Medical .School and his wife is a
graduate of Victoria School of Nursing,
London. They have one son, David'Paul.
From our Bayfield correspondent...A
scream rent the darkness. The city gal,
wending her way home fled back in terror to
the home which she was visiting gasping her
breath. The local constable was summoned.
Four stalwart men stood at a respectful
distance while the constable turned the sods
by beam of a flashlight. Expertly he drew
the intruder of the domestic scene, caught in
the trap over to the pit. Bang, bang, bang,
three shots in quick succession failed to
lower that tail poised for action. A shovel
full of earth, two more shots and thus one of
Bayfield's skunk population was dispatched
from this world but he was buried with his
flag up.
Wes Holland, 1-ligh Street, Clinton,
smilingly receives the keys to his new car
from Mrs. Don Kay, vice-president of the
Kinnette Club of Clinton, who sold him his
winning raffle ticket. Proceeds from the car
raffle and from other projects, at the car-
nival 'will be used for community projects,
including the Kin Park development on the
Bayfield River.
50 YEARS AGO
September 8, 1928
A curious little incident occurred here
recently, resulting in a Woodstock lady
recovering her car, which had been stolen in
Stratford, by the prompt action of the
Clinton police chief.
Chief Strong got wird' a car which was
standing on the side of the road near Mr,
Noble's in Hulled. It had been standing
there for a day so the chief had it towed into
town. He then wrote the department to find
out who it belonged to and on learning the
name, notified the owner.
At high noon on Saturday, September 1 at
the /Ontario. Street parsonage Mary Ella.
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Wright was
united in rnarriage to for tnaa Clifton Mair,
probably turn out to be low.
But we won't pay much attention.
Who wants to think about such sombre
things? Why should we worry,
anyway? -Things like that can't happen
to us. -
Unfortunately tragedy can strike any
of us. Pretending danger doesn't exist
will not protect us from it and neither
will staying at home, afraid to do
anything. We can still have fun and
keep safety in mind; taking safety
precautions doesn't mean being a `spoil
sport.'
The most frequent causes of traffic
accidents are drunk driving, fatigue,
speeding, tailgating and general
recklessness. How many ,of us are
guilty of some or all of' these in-
fractions?
How many of us have passed a slow-
poke on the highway and 15 minutes
a look through
the news -record files
son of Mr. and Mrs. George Mair, all of
Goderich Township. The Rev. A.E. Doan
officiated.
The bride was prettily gowned in white
georgette with satin trimmings with shoes
and hose to match and wore the groom's
gift, a handsome string of pearls.
Kippen is glad to claim once more an
exceedingly clever young scholar. The
young man is Mr. Clarence McLean, son of
J.B. and Mrs. McLean, who recently won a
scholarship and we believe a gold medal at
Exeter High School. We extend our hearty
congratulations to Clarence.
Mr. George Brogden in Londesboro has
had a telephone put in his home.
Quite a number from Constance took in
the sights at Seaforth and Clinton on Labor
Day.
The 'celebration on Monday night along
the Huron Road was an unqualified
success. At all points were special services
which held vast numbers present to witness
and take part and very impressive
ceremonies were conducted.
A very large number gathered for the
unveiling of the cairn of St. Paul's Church
lawn, Clinton. The cairn, a solid stone base
topped by a white cross, bore a tablet with
the inscription: Erected in -memory of the
Pioneers of Clinton. This marks the site of
the First Church. erected A.D. 1835 and the
Burial Grounds of the Pioneers of the
district. "They only die who live their lives
for self alone." September 3, 1928.
The hospital board was delighted recently
with the gift of a handsome dining table
from two graduates of the institution, Miss
M. Trewartha and Miss McTavish.
Chief Welsh's collie "Scotty" passed in his
checks on Friday last, a victim of distem-
per. "Scotty" possessed an intelligence that
was almost human and was a great
favorite. The Chief received many offers to
,purchase him, but refused to consider them
at all so attached had he become to his
canine friend.
Friday last at the hospital there wereno
less than five major operations performed.
The patients, who came from all parts of the
county, are now doing well.
Mr. H.P. Coombe has let the contract to
Mr. Thomas McKenzie for the erection of a
fine two storey brick block on the corner of
Victoria and Optario Streets.
Ifi the corner will be a banking office in
which it is expected the Sovetrlgn Bank will
locate. In rear of this will be a suite of of-
fices,. Facing Victoria Street will be a large
store in which Mr. 'tombe will carry on the
drug business. Between this and the W.
Cooper Co.'s establishment will be another
store.
The contractor is to begin work at once
and have the building ready for occupancy
in December.
This new building will much improve the
appearance of our front Street.
Mr. Thomas Jones, who had his hotel
burned at Leadbury some two or three years
ago, has been unfortunate in getting burned
out of Brucefield.
The families of Bankers McTaggart,
Tisdale and Brewer have returned home
from Bayfield where they spent the months
of July and August.
"Uncle" David Cook left on Tuesday to
attend the Toronto Fair and visit his many
relatives including his two sisters who are
too far advanced in years to undertake the
trip to Clinton. Mr. Cook who will be absent
a week or more, will be gladly welcomed
back, by none more heartily than that group
of friends who gather at his place of business
in the evenings- to discuss the questions of
the day, political and theological.
Miss Lillian M. Andrews leaves on
Tuesday next for Alma College, St. Thomas,
to continue her musical studies and will pay
special attention to the pipe organ and vocal
culture.
100 YEARS AGO
September 5, 1878
The first gang plowing match ever held in
the county of Huron took place yesterday on
the farm of Mr. S. Andrews, contiguous to
this town, under the auspices of the Hallett
Branch of the Agricultural Society. There
were four entries of gang plows and one
ordinary plow entered for trial. They plowed
little over half an acre,
Blyth has a tame weasel that makes itself
useful killing rats and mice.
On WednesdaT, Mr. Chas. Van-
volkingburg of Hensall perfbrmed a feat, the
equal of, which we have seldom heard,
binding 6,400 sheaves of spring wheal in,the
most incredibly short time of two hours and,
a quarter. The wheat was cut with a reaper
on the farm of Mr. J. Stewart in Tucker -
smith.
Mr. A. Gorrell and wife of Toronto drove
all the way from that place to his father's
residence on the Base Line and back again,
for the benefit of his health.
On Monday last both the High and Com-,
mon Schools of this town were opened all the
teachers being present, except Mrs. Preston
who has not yet returned from the European
Exhibition. 'two' new teachers in the
Common S`ci+iool commenced their duties at
the opening, Mr. Taylor taking the p'iace of
Mr. Fraser and Miss McCulloch that of Miss
Croley. The attendance of the Children was
later, while waiting for a red light or
following a string of' cars, glanced into
the rear view mirror and spotted the
slow -poke on our tail? We didn't gain
much, did we?
How many times have we hurried
someplace, when leaving 15 minutes
earlier could have avoided the rush or
arriving 15 minutes later wouldn't have
mattered?
Besides being fun, swimming is one
of the best ways we can exercise.
Inexperienced swimmers may under-
estimate the danger of swimming alone
or venturing out too far in the water
while experienced swimmers may
become over -confident and ignore the
safety rules
Overloading a boat or ignoring.
weather signs can cause boating ac-
cidents. To strong swimmers, wearing
life jackets may seem bothersome, but
someday they may owe their lives to
them.
Camping is fun for the whole family,
but all that `Smokey the Bear' talk is
kids' stuff. We know what we're doing.
Or, do we? Do we stop to consider the
consequences of carelessness in a
forest? Do we always take a few extra
minutes to make certain the fire is out?
Do we watch small children closely
and try hard to impress upon the older
ones the importance of safety, whether
they're, bicycling on the street, playing
at the beach or swimming in a back
yard pool?
We all make mistakes and take
needless chances, and sometimes we
argue: "It's my life; if I want to take a
chance, that's my business."
But innocent people can suffer
because of our daring, stubbornness,
stupidity or whatever you want to call
it. Life, theirs and ours, is too precious
to be gambled with. Let's make sure
the happiness of this `Labor Day
weekend continues next week by
keeping safety in mind and "bringin'
'em back alive."
What's your
Opinion? Write a let-
ter to the editor
today and let us
know too.
good and most likely would have been better
if the day had not been so wet.
Mr. J.D. Ronald with two assistants from
Chatham, gave an exhibition of his steam
fire engine to the members of council and
inhabitants of this area at what is commonly
known as Whitehead's pond. From the time
of starting the fire to commencing to work
was about eight minutes., After testing it
with one stream, two were tried and then
1,500 feet of hose was attached and the
engine was put to work. In all the trials it
worked well, throwing the water clear over
the briek mill, and about 130 feet horizon-
tally out of an inch -and -a -quarter nozzle. All
who witnessed its workings appeared to be
entirely satisfied.
The old Farmer's Hotel building is un-
dergoing repairs. They were much needed.
Several of the verandahs along the brick
block are being removed. When the
remainder are likewise treated, the hp-
pearance of the buildings will be much
better.
S.C. Gilroy has adopted the cash system in
business.
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