HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1969-03-13, Page 9r
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Within the past few months, and
following a series of accidents,' the De-
partment t of Highways placed flashing
lights at the intersection of Highways 4
and 86, souh of Wingham. Although the
effort to place adequate warnings at the
corner was appreciated by motorists who
use the highways frequently, it would now
appear that still More noticeable warn?.
Ings should -be erected,
A week -ago the same intersection
claimed the life of a young exchange stu-
dent from Hong Kong. Even though the
authorities may claim that they have done
more than would ordinarily be required
in such a traffic situation, the stark fact
remains that for some reason the inter-
section is still a dangerous one.
The rules about what measures are
adequate in other, apparently similar` sit-
uations are meaningless if this particular
corner continues to be a scene of death
and injury.
As the writer of a letter in this is -
4
cingerous
sue of The Advance -Times points out, the
new symbolic signs which have been,
erected east and west of the corner do
not have the impact that the word "stop"
might be expecte to exert. The syinbols
are fine for those drivers who can't read
English and must necessarily be on the
look -out for the international markings,
but they are less forceful than the plain
word which the vast majority of drivers
can read,
Why. not erect a sign_ that tells the
truth about that corner and brand it
with the adjective "dangerous", a descrip-
tion which it has certainly merited over
the months since it was opened.
We readily admit that there appears
to be no good reason why the corner
should be so dangerous, since there is
clear visability for hundreds of yards in
all direction. However, the reasons are
secondary to the existing record of acci-
dents at the intersection. The safety of
human lives does not permit quibbling
over the fine points.
Expensive. Age .to Liye In
The budget introduced to the Ontario
Legislature by Provincial Treasurer Charles
MacNaughton last week certainly empha-
sized the fact that we are living in a
costly age.. In fact, it is startling to dis-
cover that.. government is in such dire
need of funds at a time when the general
prosperity of the province is at its high-
est peak in history.
•Of course, all of us who use our
heads at all must realize that the price of
everything we purchase has gone up very
sharply during the past two years_ and
we can therefore expect to be asked for
more taxes than we have paid in years
gone by. Somehow or other, .though, we
all carry the hope that government rev-
enues will increase through a larger vol-
ume of business rather than by a higher
rate of taxation.. ' - •
It is -quite possible that we are.flow
•suffering the pains of growth which some-
times accompany the change from adol-
escence to adult years. With a f I century
of development behind us, duJ g which
governments had to concern themselves.
.chiefly with . the immediate responsibili-
ties 'of
esponsibilities'of their day, the emphasis .has always
been upon providing those services which
were required by a pioneer society work-
ing its Way up from the log cabin era
to the comfort of modern- civilization.
Economy was always the watchword
as far as the public was concerned, and
Last we
detail the im
District Hosp
reminded the
annual. meetin
failed to achi
for „attendant
evening was
members of t
hospital and
In view of
part of the hu
upon the hosp
health services
which were pre
of some signific
the annual mem
tal association
sent $5.00 level
that the annual m
month of March,
date as has been
Neither of th
fect• until the mo
nual meeting next
will become a grea
the public in taki
the association, an
ing the gathering
elected.
The second m
open date for the
specific purpose. I
for the board to
'town hall can be
meeting,. rather tha
the electors. were . usually inclined to vote
for those candidates who promised the
greatest protection for the tax dollar.
In . 1969 we have reached a new pla-
teau. We have, provided, in large measure
all the material comforts we can reason-
ably use and we are now required to
think about and provide the wealth for an
entirely new era.
Government people have decided
that the end- has come- •for the 'present
units of. local administration. Already
education has been moved.. to the county
level and it is expected °that within.five
years many more of our local administra-
tive bodies will either disappear or fall
into the category of local sub-committees.
Towncouncils, public utilities commis-
sions, sewage and water services—all are
likely to be taken over by regional bodies.
From the revidence now provided by.
the switch yin education. ccSf.trol. there is
good reason to' believe that these new
forms of government will cost the taxpay-
ers a great deal more than the adminis-
trations we now support.
All levels . of government have, of
course, a perfect right to impose taxes.
We have asked for., "or at least agreed to
a myriad of services and -each of them
costs money. We do believe, however, .
that governments, have failed to some de-
gree in their obligation to explain the .
benefits which are supposed to, accrue
from the costly changes they are making.
More Interest Needed-
ek we pointed out in ,some
portance of the Wingham
ital to this community and
public of the forthcoming
g. We must admit that vie
ve any very startling results,
e at the meeting on Friday
:onfined`almost entirely to
he board of edirectors, the
medical staff.
the lack of interest on the
ndreds who are dependent
ital for a wide range of
two notices of motion
sented to the 'meeting are
ance. The first . was that
bership fee in. the hospi-
e reduced from' its Pre-
to $1.00. The second,
eeting be held during the
rather than on a specific
the case in the past.
ese changes can take ef-
tions are put to the, an -
year, but if they pass it
t deal easier to interest
ng out membership in
d, hopefully, in attend -
at which directors are
otion provides for an
meeting and has a
t will thus be possible_
set a date when the
.used for the annual
n' holding it at the
MIMS
hospital training school, which is not ex-
actly central in the town and 'is difficult
for some of the older people to reach on
a cold winter's night.
Both of these notices of motion are
intended to make it possible for greater
public participation in the business of the
hospital. Although, the governing body of
that institution• is an association, compar-
able in structure to a non-profit corpora-
tion, it is very much a public enterprise.
It is financed in total through ` public
funds, and its ' services are more' widely
used than any other publicly -owned fa-
cility in our community, including our
schools. It pays out • more in salaries
than ,most industries and it employs as
many people.
There is no reason why the residents
of this community, both urban and rural,
should not considerthe hospital their
own property and support it with ,all the
pride and interest one usually associates
with progressive property owners. ,
With every passing year additional
means are found to ease the suffering of
those who face illness and pain. The la-
test of equipment is ready for instant use
and staff members are constantly• re-train-
ing and adding to their knowledge and
skill.
When next year's annual meeting ap-
proaches, we suggest that you -become a
voting member of the association and
turn out to demonstrate your interest
and support.
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited
W. Barry Wenger, President - . Robert . 0. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulation
Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association
Authorized as second class • mail by the Post Office Department, OttaWa,
and for payment of postage in cash
Subscription Rate:
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Advertising Rates on application
Ontario, Thuay, Maxc
13, 1009
SECOND SECTION
ems from ,.1d Files
MARCH 1920
Mx. Johp Johnston- has refit -
ed .the horse on Jin Street
until recently occupied by C,
M. Walker, The Walker am'.
ily have gone to Grand E.end
It is with regret that we
learn that Mr. and Mrs. Etew_
Kerr have decided to move .from:
Lower Wingham to Whitechut,
They.have purchased Mr. Club•
house in the village and have'
sold their place in Lower ToWit
to Mr. Horne, blacksmith for
Mr. William Robertson.
Mr. Gordon Hastie has Mme.
ed from Bluevale to the farm
near town which he has rec.C*
ly bought from Mr. James Fqw ',
er. Mr. Fowler has moved -into
the house on Diagonal Road
which he purchased from'Mr:
William Gannett, and Mr..Gasr�
nett and family will move in
with their daughter, Mrs. Dears.
until, they can move into their,
own house on Scott Street.
Wff
Mrs: Robert Day while down
town on Tuesday afternoon slip-
ped on the sidewalk in front of
George Mason & Son's Store
.and broke her right wrist.
Miss Marjorie Haines, daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. A r th u r
Haines, has accepted a position
as librarian succeeding Miss
Annie Cunningham.
Shorty Campbell, a typical
Western Cow Puncher, drifted
into town on Tuesday and en-
tertained the audience at the
Lyceum Theatre with his rope
throwing stunts which are really
clever. He is dressed in- true
cowboy garb, hat, spurs, chaps..
belt, whip. revolver, 'beaded
gloves, etc. He is veteran of
the South African War and the
Great War.
Mr. John Gowdy, who has
conducted a general store busi-
ness at Belmore during the past
four years, has sold out to Mr.
Hard of Holyrood, who takes
the business over on April lst.
Kintail, Ont. ,
March 16, 1969':
Dear Sir:
Better traffic signs are ur- ;.
gently required at the intersec-
tion of provincial highways 86
and 4, one-half mile south of
Wingham, Ont. Since the new
bypass section of highway 86
at this point was built, a num
ber of serious accidents have
occurred.
• The latest one, involving
collision of two motor vehicles
at this intersection, took place
Saturday, March 1. -An account
of it• appeared in the second
section of the London Free Pres:
Monday, March 3.
This accident claimed the
life of a young Chinese ex -
'change indent -Ufa Hvpg KOnge`
who was studying at McMaster
University, Hamilton..
That. this young Chinese
scholar,' aged 20, ,dost his life
as a result of injuries suffered
in the mishap, becomes all the
more tragic if one considers
that more sufficient -warning of
this highway stop night have
avoided the collision.
A much larger, checker-
board sign, equipped with flash-
ing lights, should be erected at
this junctionto replace the pres-
ent inconspicuous stop sign.
The one presently` in use may
serve adequately for a country
,crossroadsbut it should hardly
be .expected to give sufficient
warning of a stop on a modern
provincial highway.
Following the accident, this
correspondent talked to an of-
ficer at the Wingham headquar-
ters of the OPP. When asked
why the existing small sign was
used instead of the much larger
type which is in evidence at
other highway intersections,
his reply was to the effect that
if the'Ontario highways depart-
ment erected the larger, chec k-
erboard, flashingstop sign at
.this. intersection, then motor-
ists would expect the maximum
size at all highway junctions.
Is that OPP officer's explana-
tion acceptable? Hardly! •It
would appear to reflect a nig-
gardly attitude in our provincial
highways or transport depart-
ment if they prefer saving dol-
lars to safeguarding lives. •
Yes, there is an overhead,
red flashing light but it too, fails
to give motorists on highway
86 an adequate stopwarning.
At night it becomespecially
difficult to judge one's distance
from this corner, whether east
or west -bound, regardless of the
flashing light.
Let's consider the warning stop
signs on highway 86, erected
1000 feet from the junction. Al-
though much larger than the
actual stop sign at the highway.
intersection, they too, it would
appear, fail to check a driver's
'speed enough to allow him to
bring his vehicle to an abrupt
halt within the required stopping
distance.
One ;nut re"mind himself that
a vehicular speed of 60 miles
per hour equals 8.8 feet per sec-
ond. Thus a motorist travel-
ling highway 88 at only the le-
gal speed limit is allowed only
11 seconds to, react to the ad-
vance stop sign and bring his
vehicle to a complete stop be-
fore encountering highway 4's
through traffic. Surely this one
/I
•
advance sign is all too little
warning for drivers accustomed
to travelling the province's
multi -lane highways at speeds
of 70 miles per hour, plus.
if Actually, the present ad-
vance stop sign is unfamiliar to
motorists. It does not appear
in the "Driver's Handbook",
published by the Ontario De7
partmen1 of Transport. Incom-
parison, the discarded highway
sign, warning of, a stop, seemed
more effective than the one
presently in use. " Although it
gave only 500 feet advance not-
ice, it did carry the p r in ted
word "STOP"; in c 1 ear bold
lettering.
Through the use of a series
of speed regulation signs, mot-
orists. on highway 4 are slowed
down to 45, then 30 miles per
Hour, before' entering this inter-
section. Why shouldn't .the.
same speed zones be posted on
highway 86 within one-half mile
of its junction with highway 4?
Despite all their efforts, On-
tario highways, transport and
OPP authorities cannot entirely
eliminate traffic fatalities'oc-
curring within our province.
However, .prompt action, taken
by one or more officials from
within these departments, could
soon correct the present unsafe
traffic conditions existing ,at
the intersection of highways 86 ,
and 4, one-half mile south of
Wingham.
Yours sincerely,
A. N. McDonald.
0--0--0
• Port Elgin, Ont. ,
March 3rd 1969
Wingham PeeWee
Hockey Club,
Dear Coach,
Manager and Players:
It was the pleasure of our
bogs to 'meet your club in the.
final round of the WOAA cham-
pionship series.-
During the year we have met
many fine players and coaches
throughout the circuit and have.
enjoyed the year very much.
In hockey it is not very of-
ten that teams meet and enjoy
the thoughtfulness and hospital-
ity as was displayed by your
team in our recent series. While
it was a thrill for our boys to
gain the title, the most delight-
ful and unexpected compliment
•was received in your arena fol-
lowing the game.
While it may nnthave seemed
much to ydu. at the time, the
presentation of the Get -Well
card to this coach for our young
player who broke his leg was
one of the most generous and
pleasing actions we have ex-
perienced with our team.
The words of your Captain
Tom Lee and the signing of the .
card by your team, together
with the initial "thoughtfulness
of getting the card, will long '
be remembered by this coach
and the injured boy.
Fellows you were eliminated
from hockey action, but you
certainly receive the best wishes
of our club and rank at the top
of the list for your most gentle-
Madly and generous conduct.
To each and everyone of
you., the very best in the future
And on behalf of all of us here
In Port Elgin, our most sincere
thanks.
Yours truly.
Hank Smith.coach f
Mr. Gowdy his purchased Geo.
Westlake's SO -acre farm on the
Wroxeter road dear Salem and
will move there after April
1st. *
MARCH 1934
Dr. J. H. Lockhart has pur-
chased the home of the late
Mrs. J. C. Roe, corner of Pat,
rick and Centre Streets and Mr.
Gordon Machan has purchased
Mr. C. P. Smith's residence.
A monster four wheel drive
truck has been operating on the
Highway between Clinton and
Wingham and has kept the road
open. The 'road was badly
drifted after the last snow
storm but the plow continued to
snake many trips and from Sat-
urday on the road was in good
shape. The ground drifts how-
ever fill the road in very quick-
ly and only the continued ef-
fort of the plow allows the cars
to pass through.
Mrs. J. M. McKay and her
sister, Mrs. R. Boos of Chesley
have been singing over CFRB
as a vocal duo under the name
Rene and Belle. Mrs, McKay's
friends who have listened in on
this program were greatly pleas-
ed that they have broken into
the big time broadcasting.
MARCH 1944
Mr. fu\t Field has sold his
farm on the Bluevale Road to
Mr. Fleming Black and will hold
a sale offarm stock and imple-
ments on Thursday, March 16.
One.behalf of the people of
this community'we extend to
•Miss• Doris Fells congratulations
on her appointment as a Sub -
Lieutenant in the Women's Roy-
al' Naval Service. Miss 'Fells
was commissioned at Ottawa
last week4ollowing the comple-
tion of a course she was taking.
She will report to an Eastern
Canadian naval Depot for duty. '
Recently a Walkerton truck
driver was .given a great boost,
and rightly so, for driving 1,000-
000 mile$ without an accident.
We have ,a. driver in this 'com-
munity that is deserving of great
praise also. He is Mr. J. C.
Higgins, who was for 23 years
with the Bluevale Creamery.
During.this' long term, he esti-
Mated that he has driven close
to the million mark and he did
not have an accident of any
kind at . any time.
Word has been received here
by Mr. and Mrs. • Walter Van -
W yck that. Frank. Hill .is. safe in
England. ' Frank was a member
of that class of navigators from
Port Albert who made their
headquarters here. VanWyck's
was Frank's Wingham home.
MARCH 1955
On W-• . - day Bruce .Mac
Donald, 0 - ar-old son of Mr,
and . Ke eth MacDonald,
R. R. ' Tees ater; injured his
left hip and - g when - - jump-
ed off a pil - of lu ' • er. . e
was x-rayed at . e hospital • d
alio ome.
Ani y nn, who this year
completed 15 years of service
with the Supertest Oil Company,
was honored at a banquet for
Supertest employees on Friday
night at the Hotel London in
London. He was presented with
a 15 year service award and a
three piece silver service.
Preliminary dance tests for
Wingham, Goderich and Sea -
forth figure skaters were held in
Seaforth last week. Due to the
large number trying and short-
ness of time not all were able
to try the tests, but successful
candidates were: Sandra Mac-
Lennan and Alice Hayden, pre-
liminary figures; Judy Lunn and
Pennie Gerrie, swing dance; Is-
abel Willie, swing dance, Dutch
waltz, college tango; Marlene
Stainton, college tango; Elva
McDonald, swing dance, Dutch
waltz; Sylvia Alexander, col-
lege tango; Karen Smith, Dutch
waltz, college tango; Jean
Gurney, swing dance; Marion
Farrier, swing dance, Du t c"h
waltz; Betty Purdon, college
tango; Diane -Radford , college ,
tango; •
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Hutton
and son Bill, who have been
residents of Wingham and vicin-
ity all their lives, moved on
Monday to their new home iii
Kincardine, Lloyd has been
employed by the Purina Feeds
Ltd. for some years, and was
recently put in charge of sales
for the County of Bruce and
Manitoulin Island. The move
to Kincardine makes it much
more convenient to handle the
new territory.
DAY'S CHILD'
BY HELEN 4 .NN
You could imagine Blair is looking so wistful"because
he has no Mummy or Daddy. Of course this handsome
little boy, who will have his third birthday in two monis,';
is too young to know he is one of Ontario's many children
without parents. But he is puzzled, because he has had
several moves and really doesn't know where he belongs,'
Blair very much needs to be adopted so he can have f til'
love and security of .a home of his own. This is a friends
affectionate child who loves attention and enjoys • con..
versation, though his contribution isn't always undo
standable. He is not demanding and can entertain Write
easily with TV, coloring books and mechanical toys,.
especially anything with wheels. Blair has big . broWn
eyes, light brown" hair and fair skin. • He was slow in
walking and has not yet fully developed leg co-ordination
but is in good health. with no hereditary diseases in .h,s
background. He has been learning both English an
French so could fit well ,into 'n family where either
language is spoken. To inquire about adopting Blair please
write to Today's Child, Department of Social and. Family
. Services, Parliament Buildings, Toronto 5. For general
information about adoption ask yours local Children's Ai
Society.
�ennSiHI+INsS
K s
•
•
ty
Well, I'm back to normal
Last week I wrote a column
which must have made faithful
readers believe I , was either
taken with drink, or _breaking
down mentally. It was full of
joy and good spirits, looking
.on the bright side, and reveal-
ing silver linings.
It's a great relief to me, •and
it must be to you, to go back to
normal. Last week was a brief
mental abberration. This week,
I'm back to my old sane, snar•
-
ly, misanthropic self: the makmy wife calls "Old Stoneface.'
What I propose to do today
is act as your alter -ego, the -
brooding, dark self that is hid-
den behind your bright, sunny
exterior. I'm going to let you
take out your: aggressions, vi-
cariously, through mine.
I'll list what I despise and
detest in our society. Send in
your own specialbeefs, and
we:11 keep the column going
for months. Everybody hates
something.
There is no particular order
to these items. My venom ex-
tends with equal virulence to
each.
First. Non - returnable bot-
tles. I know. The old ones were
bad enough, cluttering up
shelves 'and basement floors
until you had a car -load. It was
a half -day's work to take them
back to the store and haggle
over them, because the store.
said they didn't sell this brand
or that.
But you could get rid of
them: And for 'kids, they were,
in many instances, their sole
source of income. Many a Sat-
urday I spent as a boy, sgareh-
ing ditches for miles, and com-
ing home with 32 cents for a
day's work.
The non -returnable bottle is
about as easy to get rid of as
•chronic arthritis. I demand
that their manufacturers give
every customer, free, a, plastic
bucket, filled with a solution
which will instantly dissolve
the cursed things when they're
dropped into it.
The same goes for cans that
hold drinks, whether beer or
pop. In ten years, you won't be
able to step on a piece of
nature south of the Arctic Cir-
cle without twisting your ankle
on an empty beer -can.
Next. Long-distance dial tele-
phone' calls. A few years ago,
you gave your number to good
old operator, and within a rea-
sonable time, you got you? par-
ty, or didn't.
On the do-it-yourself - plan,
with a string of digits as long.
as your leg, anything can hap-
pen. A friend of Mine called
. his son in Montreal .the other
night. He . didn't have his
glasses on, and wound up talk-
ing to the secretary of the.
Sheep Breeders' Association in
Aucklan ; New.Zealand;
Invention,
about zippers? Great
invention, but it should have
been strangled at birth. What
ever happened to the good old
button? Every time I tangle
with a . zipper, whether it's on
my galoshes or my fly, there is
a moment of sheer, cold appre.
hension. Often it's justified —
and there Lam with my galosh-
es flopping around like a pair
of drunken crows.
Politicians. Not all of them.
Only those who promise to
hold . the dine on expenses,
while providing better serv-
ices. And then do the opposite.
Taxes. `The rich are hit hard,
but have enough left to avoid
starvation. The poor pay none,
or very little. It's the middle-
income bird who gets it. where
it hurts. One of these days, I'm
off to Bermuda, where "taxes"
is a dirty word.
Social slavery. We know that -
as individuals, we have free
will. But we are strangled with
so many regulations and tradi-
tions and - pressures that our
free will becomes a broken -
Winged bird in a cage tasteful-
ly decorated with red tape and
ridiculosity.
Love. If there's anythhig
that turns my stomach, It is
people who preach love, in.
eluding hippies, and spend
most of their time telling you
about all the people and things
they hate.
Hate. How can people hate
other people? Yet they do. I
hate but I can't remember ever
hating a person in my life.
Lots of people are despicable,
contemptible, malicious or just
plain boring. But you don't
hate them. You pity them. 1
hhte hate, and there's lots 'of it
around.
O.K., chaps; It's your turn.
Let's hear from you. This is
hate week. '
Fibrinogen is made from
blood collected by the Canad-
Jan Red Cross. It produces a
dramatic cessation .of bleeding.