Clinton News-Record, 1979-05-30, Page 4PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1979
The Clinton News -Record Is published each
Thursday of P.O. Roe 39. Clinton. Ontario.
Canada. NOM 1L0.
Member. Ontario Weekly
Newspaper Association
It Is registered as second Gloss moll by the
post office under the permit number 0017.
The News -Record Incorporated In 1944 the
Hyron News -Record, founded In 1001, end The
Clinton New Era. founded In 1443. Total press
run 3.300.
•CNA
Member Canadian
Community Newstraper
Association
Display advertising rotes
available on request. Ask for
Rate Cord No. 9 effective Oct. 1.
1970.
General Manager - J. froward Aitken
Editor . James E. Fitzgerald
Advertising Director • Gary L. Heist
News editor • Shelley McPhee
Office Manager • Margaret Gibb
Circulation - Freda McLeod
•
V , P
Subscription Rato:
Canada '14.00 per year
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U.S.A. A foselgn - '30 per year
Wrong attitude
Well, now that we have a new federal
government under Joe Clark, a lot of
people suddenly think that all our Devils
will be miraculously cured, and we can
continue on our greedly, more pay for
less work course, but boy, are we in for
a shock,
One typical example of the attitude
that has infected the average Canadian
mind was illustrated in a storyin last
Saturday's London Free Press about a
55 -year-old Stratford man, one Bob
Wright, who despite winning $1,000,000
in a Lottery draw last January, con-
tinues to collect $220 every two weeks
from the Unemployment Insurance
fund.
Apparently, it's all perfectly legal, as
a lottery win is not"considered, income
under government laws, and it only
matters that he is unemployed.
Says Wright: "I've paid into it ever
since I started working and, by Jesus, I
figure I have something coming back to
me.They won't stop charging me now,
so it's my turn to start collecting
back.,"
His attitude towards the unem-
ployment insurance fund is all too
typical of Canadians who think the
government owes them a living, so they
abuse the fund which was set up not as
a guaranteed income plan, but, as its
name implies, an "insurance" fund in
case one was ever out of a job.
Millionaire Wright's attitude is
comparabe to a person setting fire to
their house, and burning it down so
they can get back all those insurance
premiums they paid all those years. Or
like the school teachers in Huron
County, who last year blackmailed us
in to paying them sick leave gratuity if
they weren't sick which is tantamount
to asking the insurance company for
the full value for your house because it
DIDN'T burn down.
The above two mentioned cases are
just two examples of the kind of at-
titude that is fast dragging Canada into
the mud, and will soon take us from a
hard-working, progressive nation, to a
non-productive country of leeches, and
neither a Trudeau, nor a Clark, nor a
Broadbent will be- able to save us from
ourselves.
A gift to last
It has been almost like Christmas for
the Townshend clan for the past two
months. In eight weeks every year at
this time, the family of ten, including
great-grandparents, crams six bir-
thdays plus Mother's Day and Father's
Day.
Lining up six birthdays in eight
weeks, when there are 44 other weeks
in the year, shows a definite lack of
planning, which I had nothing to do
with. .
You probably think I'm going to
complain about the money involved in-
gift giving, but that's only part of the
problem; the main problem is knowing
what to buy.
Since Star Wars hit the scene, the.
Farmers will rescue
Eventhough we are into the last
quarter of the twentieth century, with
the tremendous technological ad-
vances that have been made, this can
still be a mighty harsh land to live in.
At the time of writing, my heart
aches for those poor devils in southern
Manitoba and in northern Ontario, who
have been victims of floods. It must be
devastating to see your fine farm
covered with muddy water, your house
or barn collapsing under the force of a
vast, callous element over which you
have no control.
We can blame ourselves for bad
judgement, faulty management or just
plain laziness. But when Nature
chooses, with her random, indifferent
power, to throw a big one at us,
whether it be fire, flood, drought, hail
or grasshoppers, there is not much to
do but weep, curse, or pray.
Modern man can walk on the moon,
drift through the sky in luxury at 750
miles an hour, keep himself warm and
clean by flicking switches and pressing
buttons. He can communicate with his
fellows over thousands of miles.
But when it comes to a tornado or anc
earthquake, there is little he can do but
cower until it's over, and then try to
pick up the pieces.
We are not much bothered in this
country by thosew two "acts of God."
But we have plenty of our own variety:
blizzards, floods, forest fires, periods of
either drought or rain that make the
farmer despair.
Perhaps the greatest glory of man is
that he refuses to succumb to the
desolation that follows these curses of
nature that remind him constantly that
he is a petty creature, indeed, of little
more importance in the scheme of
things than an ant or a cockroach, and
not nearly as, capable of survival,, over
the long haul.
If I were a farmer in the Red River
Valley today, I'd probably feel like
going out ,behind what was left of my
barn and quietly shooting myself.
But they won't do it, and that is why
man will survive the worst things that
Nature can do to him. He will pick up
the pieces and rebuild, with a stubborn
and dauntless spirit that makes him
refuse to give in.
I've just finished reading The
Pioneer Years by Barry Broadfoot,
about the settl'i'ng of the West. A lot of Dear Editor:
people failed in their first confrontation The week of May 2Rth, marks the
with the eternal hardships of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism's
prairies: the bitter cold, the vast official launch of year two of the highly
emptiness, the terrible daily toil, the successful "We Treat You Royally"
plagues of insects, hail, drought. tourism awareness campaign. The first
But even more of them fought back, year of the program had great support
with little but their human refusal to from the business community, with
cave in ' under almost unbearable over 5,000 companies in the Hospitality,
• conditions. And their ancestors are still retail and service industries par -
there. And they, too, will go on fighting tikipating.
the savagery of this country of ours,Generous media support and ex -
and triumph in the end. ads re at special events, fairs and
Today's farmer in the West has exh bitions helped spread the message
equipment his ancestor could not even to eople in Ontario, that all visitors
dream aiout. He can farm four sec- Should be treated "royally".
tions in the time it took.his grandfather
to extract .a meagre crop from a
quarter -section, with horses, and
brutal, dawn -to -dark human labor.
With the advent of the telephone and
the automobile the appalling loneliness
of life on the prairies, of which Sinclair
Ross writes so movingly, has disap-
peared. Today's farmer may even have
a small aircraft to flip him into the
larger towns, or across the border to
the fleshpots of the States.
But there still isn't a darn thing he
can do about the weather. If there is
drought, his crops 'burn and his cattle
don't fatten. If there is hail, he can
have a year's work wiped out in a few
hours and be off to the bank to borrow
for next year.
He may have modern, technical
advice from government. He may be
part of one of the great breadbaskets of
the world, providing food for millions.
But if it rains all summer, the bank still
wants the interest on his loan, even
though his crop is a disaster.
Sure, I grouse just like you, and you.
when bread goes up a nickel a loaf, beef
prices soar, milk costs more than beer,
or nearly as much, and I can't afford a
head of lettuce, without cutting down
on cigarettes.
But when I think of the gamble a
farmer takes, the amount of work he
must do, and what he gats for his
product at the rail -head, 1 can only
shake my head and mutter, "Why do
they do it? I wouldn't."
Well, my friend, it's going to get a lot
worse. With the millions of acres of
junk land in this country on which to
build houses, our blinkered politicians
continue to allow industry and
developers to buy up rich farmland,
and turn it into factories that pollute
with essences, highways that pollute
with gas fumes, and high-rises that
pollute with people.
Take a trip abroad. Check the prices
of farm products. Ours are still among
the cheapest in the world.
When you have to pay $5 for a pound
of meat, 40 cents each for tomatoes,
and $2 for a loaf of bread, don't cry.
Just remember that you read it here
first.
The farmer in this country has beeia
getting royally screwed for decades,
and he knows it. Prime Minister
Trudeau chooses to call the farmer's
anger "whining."
My hat goes off to them. Pick up the
pieces, boys and rebuild. We need you.
Very much.
by :
elaine townshend
dilemma of choosing a gift for my
seven-year-old nephew has been
solved; anything associated with the
movie pleases him. I gave him two Star
Wars figures, but I'm still not sure
what they are.
I follow the rule that along with any
impractical present goes a practical
one. This year I gave him a shirt, and
as he unwrapped it, I waited ap-
prehensively for a disgusted "Oh, it's a
shirt" at the worst or a polite "Thank
you" at the best.
To my amazement, he unfolded the
shirt, looked it over and announced, "I
like it, Thanks Elaine." Then, instead
of throwing it on the floor or at his
mother, he neatly folded it and laid it
on the table. Either he put on a good act
or the kid's growing up.
My teen -aged niece is easy to shop
for; earrings or money keep her -happy.
My teen -aged nephew is not so easy
to shop for. His interests include rock
music, -horses, welding and mechanics,
:and my -knowledge of each field is slim:
His present usually contains a "You
can exchange it, if it's not what you
need" guarantee.
When it comes to mothers and
grandmothers, thank goodness for
flowers and chocolates, and for fathers
and grandfathers, shirts, socks and ties
are "old reliables."
My dad always wants a Charley
Pride record. I've tried to tell him
there are other country singers, but he
remembering
our past
5 YEARS AGO -
May 23, 1974
The ground was so saturated with the 10
inches of rain that has fallen in the area in
the last seven weeks, that a tank on the Esso
distribution property on Victoria Street in
Clinton floated to the top of the ground.
When the 10,000 gallon gasoline tank floated
up, pipes were snapped and the platform
broken.
January 1st, 1975, was set as the start of
the beard growipg contest that will be one of
the highlights of Clinton's Centennial
celebrations next year.
The Clinton Ladies Rifle Club beat the
Kincardine Ladies Rifle Club in an interclub
competition held last May 16 in Clinton.
Kincardine club president Bernie Colwell
presented the trophy to Clinton club
president, Elaine Boyes.
A letter of appreciation to the members of
the Tuckersmith Township council from the
Vanastra Community Ratepayers
Association took away the bad taste left by
the letter of resignation last week by
Councillor Vince Fowlie of Vanastra.
10 YEARS AGO
May 22, 1969
Workers this week started to build a base
for the CFB Clinton radar antenna which
will stand just south of the main corners,
The Rev. Grant L. Mills, minister of
Ontario Street United Church for 12 years,
leaves June 30 for his new charge,
Thamesview-Fullarton United Church, six
miles south of Mitchell. No successor has
been named.
Huron County Board of Education will not
locate its offices and board room at CHSS
after all. The offices will be in the former
nurses residence in Clinton.
Reasons for the switch were given as ex-
cessive costs of remodelling at CHSS and the
uncertainty of future space requirements of
the board and the school.
doesn't listen. Now I think he owns
every record Charley Pride ever
released.
My sister and I haunt recordbars at
Father's Day, birthday .time and
Christmastime, looking for the latest
LP. One of us spies a new record; the
other buys socks.
This year, I don't think Charley has
released a record, at least not in this
area. Oh well, dad can take comfort in
knowing he will probably never have to.
go barefoot.
Celebrating six birthdays plus
Mother's Day and Father's Day in
eight weeks is hard on wallets, feet and
brains, but it does save on candles and
birthday cakes., Two or three "special
days" usually satisfy the bunch.
"I'II bet you thinkI'm just a com-
plainer, but before you brand..me
Scrooge of the Townshends, let me set
the recd straight: _I enjoy gift
shopping.
h...enjoy shopping _for that perfect -gift
for each person, even though I seldom
find it. I like wrapping the present
attractively and finding a suitable
card.
I try to consider each person's in-
terests and needs and to choose a gift
that is just right for them.. It's worth
trouble, because each of them is en-
titled to their special days; they
deserve it. Besides, I have a birthday,
too.
a look through
the news -record files
The annual Clinton Lions Carnival, for-
merly an outdoor event, will be held in the
Community Centre next Thursday evening.
Before the start of bingo, children's
games and entertainment, there will be a
"mutt parade" led by the CFB Clinton band,
from the post office to the arena. Prizes will
be awarded to youngsters and their pet
dogs, but no specific classes have been
established for competition.
25 YEARS AGO
May 27, 1954
Do pay particular attention to the en-
trance gates to the Clinton Commtanity Park
when you go to the fair. These have been
erected through the efforts of the Clinton WI
and they righ.tly complement the handsome
posts and lamp globes at either side of the
gateway.
Chairman
of the property committee,
Deputy -Reeve Melvin Crich, reports that
the parking behind the town hall has been
levelled and gravelled ready for parking.
The suggestion is made that business
people should park their cars there during
the daytime at least, thus making more
room for their customers to park on the
main streets. Sufficient use of the lot will
perhaps warrant black -topping and lights in
the near future.
Ebenezer United Church, situated just a
mile -and -a -half west of the Base Line, near
the Maitland River, will be closed by the end
of June this year. For many years it has
served the surrounding area and until
recently was part of a' three-point charge
which included the Holmesville and Zion
churches.
25 YEARS AGO
May 23, 1929
The picture play, Lilac Time, was put on
in the Star Theatre Monday, Tuesday and
Wednesday evenings of this week under the
auspices of the choir of St. Paul's church. It
is an interesting picture and was well
Dear Editor: treat tourists "Royally"
To launch the program this year,
mayors, reeves, and heads of council
all over Ontario will be announcing a
"We Treat You Royally Season", local
fairs and exhibitions will feature the
"We Treat You Royally" symbol, and
in Eastern Ontario a special "We Treat
You Royally" boat will be spreading
the tourism message throughout all
towns and villages on the canal system.
While at Nathan Phillips Square in
front of Toronto City Hall, on Wed-
nesday, May 30th, there was to have
been a series of noontime festivities.
All of these events will help make
people more aware of the importance
of tourism, to themselves as
dividuals and to the province
general, because tourism is respon-
sible for the employment of 12.5 per-
cent of the Ontario work force, and
brings in $5 billion a year, making it the
province's second biggest industry.
I wish to thank you for your support
last year, and I will also thank you in
advance for any support you may be
able to give the program throughout
the upcoming year.
Less Blood
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the Red Cross, The
Kinette Club and myself, I would like to
convey my thanks to everyone who
came out to our Blood Donor Clinic.
The donor count was very low this
year as compared to other years, which
I presume was due to the beautiful
weather we have been having.
I would especially like to thank all of
the volunteer helpers as we very much
appreciate them giving time from their
busy schedules to help out with this
most worthy cause.
Thank you to Huron and Erie
\beverages for donating the pop and
Beckers for donating the milk.
A very special thank you to Mr, Gord
Philips for his co-operation, the
secondary school for the auditorium
and the very congenial school
custodians for their most helping hand
in preparing and dismantling the
furniture in the auditorium.
There will be another Blood Donor
Clinic on Monday October 15th, so I
hope you will keep that date in mind for
the autumn as blood is very much in
demand.
Yours Sincerely,
Bev. Riley
Important role
Dear Editor:
With the annual meeting of the
Hospital Corporation coming up in the
very near future, on June 25, it is ap-
propriate at this time to make the
public of Clinton and the neighbouring
communities aware of the role of the
hospital trustee and inform the com-
munity how these trustees are elected.
Any person over the age of 21 years
who pays to the Corporation, 15 or more
days before the annual meeting, in any
year, a membership fee of $15 shall be
a member of the corporation for the
following 12 months, and would
therefore be entitled to vote at the
annual meeting and would be eligible
for election -to -the board. - -
A position on the board of a hospital
may . be ..'attained -'tl rough -...eleetinn; --
delegation, appointment or personal
invitation. Once ' an , individual has
reached the board room,-he'or she is‘'
there 'to represen the c6 lective '3n-
terests of the whole community -
responsibilities of which the com-
munity may be only dimly aware, but
which are real and demanding.
Hospital trustees, in Ontario number
just more than 4,000 individuals who
have voluntarily chosen 'this w -ay to
--serve their community, and upon their
shoulders rests the legal and moral
responsibility for the proper
management of the hospital, and the
quality of care provided to the patients
it serves. Other groups and
organizations also play a part in the
day to day function of the hospital -
these include the hospital's medical
staff, the Ontario Ministry of Health
and other ministries, and professional,
municipal and voluntary groups and
agencies including the Ontario Hospital
Association.
Within the hospital itself, however, it
is the trustees who are the governors.
Although the government provides
what it considers to be the necessary
operational funds, it is the task of the
board and the administrator to provide
the services ordered by the doctors.
Trying to keep within a controlled
budget can be a headache for trustees
and administrators, alike.
In addition, other matters now
demand the trustee's attention. These
primarily include, the quality of
patient care, and the efficiency with
which the hospital resources are being
used. The hospital trustee must con-
cern himself with seeing that the
overall health needs of the community
are being dealt with effectively and
economically.
The health care field is undergoing a
period of rapid change and develop-
ment. As well as reviewing the total
health needs and demands of the
community, to -day's trustees will find
themselves having to rationalize those
pressures within the limitations im-
posed by the government'
The citizens who use your hospital
will expect and demand a high quality
of care. It will be up to the board of
trustees to assure them that, not-
withstanding government financial
constraints and rising 'costs, every
effort is being made to provide the best
care possible.
Sincerely,
Board of Governors
patronized each evening. Many had? to be
turned away the first two nights. --
Commencing on May 30th, the merchants
in Varna will observe the half holiday every
Thursday afternoon.
This idea that a man's usefulness is over
at 60 doesn't seem to work in the case of Mr.
David Cantelon, who, while over 80 years of
age, did $160,000 worth of business last year.
The rough places in the sidewalks are
being levelled up the past week.
Mr. Geo. Dawson of Auburn has pur-
chased a new Ford roadster.
Mr. Chris Parker of Stanley Township had
the misfortune lo have his house demolished
by fire on Sunday last.
75 YEARS AGO
May 26, 1904
The Misses Hamsphere, who arrived from
London, England, last week, have taken
charge of the dressmaking department at
Newcombe's. They have had several years
of experience, notably in the establishment
of Madame White of Regent Street which
included among its patrons several mem-
bers of royalty. Newcombe's is to be
congratulated upon securing the services of
such well-qualified ladies for this depart-
ment of his business.
A smart and obliging girl girl wanted at
the telephone Central to learn the business.-
J.B. Rumball.
Reports from the Sauble Line say that the
fall wheat on that line is a complete failure.
Not in the memory of any of the residents
has this happened before. Many farmers are
now busy turning it under and will sow
another cereal in its place.
The smallpox scare in Morris Township
has well nigh died out although some
families are quarantined yet.
100 YEARS AGO
June 12, 1879
Although there is no understanding to that
effect, we believe that the stores will not be
entirely closed on Saturday the 24th, as on
this day the best business is generally
transacted; so that parties desiring to do
business will be accommodated as usual.
A native Canadian lady, of this town,
while out for a drive the other evening
remarked to her male companion, on
hearing the croaking of the frogs, "I like to
in- hear those birds singing; it seems singular
in they sing at night time, don't it?" On being
assured that the noise was cuased by frogs,
she seemed a little annoyed at her
ignorance.
On a late trip, one of the egg collectors
'passing through town, took away with him
2,333 dozen, that he got from the merchants
here.
Nearly all the stores in town are now
adorned by handsome window blinds, which
are not only pretty in appearance, but they
prevent the goods from being exposed to the
sun. One store uses lace curtains.
Mr. Jas. Gordon of the 15th con. of
Yours sinderely,, Goderich Township has rented his farm of 80
Larry Grossman,, :....-acres to Mr. Thos. Potts of Clinton, for six
minister. month, for $105.
St. Jacob's reunion
Dear Editor :
This is to inform you of the St. Jacobs
Public School Homecoming on
Saturday June 2, 1979. The school will
be open at 1:30 to view displays and
renew old acquaintances. A short
program will be held outside at 3:30.
The Homecoming commemorates 50
years in the present school building and
127 years of education in St. Jacobs.
We invite'all friends, former students
and staff memisers to attend this
special occasion. Formal invitations
may be obtained by writing to St.
Jacobs Public School, P.O. Box 93, St.
Jacobs, Ontario NOB 2N0.
Homecoming Com Mittee,
G. Chambers, Principal