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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1972-01-20, Page 9Lights Create Problem A heavy tall of damp snow on Thursday of last week brought evidence of a problem created by the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Josephine, John and • Diagonal Road. Exceptionally heavy snow- fall at the time found cars and trucks alike, spinning their wheels ina desperate attempt to get underway northward after they had been Stopped by a "red light signal at the cor- ner. As a consequence each spinning wheel created a. new spatch of ice on the surface of the street. Within a short time traffic was backing up a full block and the street surface from John to Victoria became so slippery that most vehicles were having extreme dif- ficulty in making any progress up the slight incline northwards. The inevitable happened. Drivers found they had to simply ignore the red stop light if they were to have any chanee at all of mak- ing their way up the length of the business section of town. Fortunately there were no major mishap's, tut it would require only slight imagination to picture what might have happened had a car coming down the John Street hill toward Josephine on a green light struck one of the northbound vehicles on the main street while it was going through • a red signal. By the weekend the lights were switched from alternating red and green, to a flashing yellow, Which provided a warning but did not require a full stop. The- entire problem existed,ot course, because no sand or salt was applied to the street surface when it was needed. Or if any was laid it was not done with adequate fre- quency to prevent the highly dangerous con- ditions which existed. As a maffer-of fact, the entire roadway became%o lethally slip- pery that pedestrians wereendangered as they tried to make their way across the Street or foot and one of them, was quite • painfully injured in a fall on the ice created' by the traffic. • It is highly likely thaf local officials are already aware of the problem and we sin- cerely hope they have some concrete plans to make sure that sanding and salting are at- tended to when. required. The problem, Of course, has always existed to some degree, but before the installation of the traffic sig- nals it was seldom'hecessary for vehicles to cOrne to a full stop as they travelled north through the "five corners" intersection, and fewerof them were left spinning their wheels on the grade. Some -provision must certainly be made for sanding of that area of- Jose- phine Street whenever, and as soon as weather conditions make it advisable. • Just Let Them Know •. After discussing the subject of "meals - on -wheels" during the past week with some of the people concerned withthis service • project, The Advance -Times is henceforth • providing. some" assistance. The answer to the shrinking number of users, it was pointed out, may lie to a certain degree ,in the re- moval of sonieof the original 18 participants to hospitals or nursing homes. However, it is felt that there must be considerably more than the present two aged or handicapped people who could benefit from and would welcome the.service which has been set up to deliver one hot meal a day to the homes where they are needed. Each week The -Advance-Times will carry a notice, probably in either the "mis- cellaneous" -or the "personal" columns on the classified page of the paper, to inform anyone who is interested of the numbers to call if they are in need of a meal -on -wheels. In our opinion it is one of the most worth- while services a community of good neigh- borscan provide and wehope that our week- ly reminder will make it more widely under- stood and more readily available to those Who need it. Shades of Mr. Nader . 'A few years back a fellow, by the name of Ralph Nader in the United States shoCked, our North American self-confidence by ac- • cusing the auto -makers of giving their con- sumers much less than honest value for their - .k. r• money, particularly where safety factors in •• .s, modern vehicles were concerned: /... Mr. Nader was a nervy fellow, whO had 0'47, the courage to defythe moguls of Americpn • '4? Induettry. Since that time he has become fully established as an expert critic of many of the practices of big -business, as far as they con- , cern uninformed consumers. There has been some indication of, late that he has switched his talents' frorn purely objective criticism and analysis to professional witch-hunting for the sake of profitable publicity. • Whether Mr. Nader and his staff are still pure -hearted crusaders we do not know, but it is quite apparent that he did- serve a worth- • while cause in drawing to- public 'attentiq • the fact thatthe big industrialists are'not al • ways above shoddy , Workmanship. A fe days ago it wa,s announced,that between 4 •• and 50 million cars of recent manufactur may have to be recalled to correct a fault * power brake valve. If the fault does, indeed exist, the 'recall is an absolute necessity be cause thousands of traffic accident death might be the price of overlooking the defect All of which points up another fact. The general public has become so mesmerized by the propaganda of the big wheelers tha we are in danger of being talked right into the. poor house. Last week the chief executive of one of • the "big three" car makers was pleading , •*- with the American government to extend the • deadline by another year for the develop- ment of a low:emission engine for his cars. He says it- lust cannot be donet. by 1975 and adds that with the safety iMprovements which are now in demand, along with the lower -pollutant *engines, the price' of the average car will go up at least $750 based qn today's prices- (and as most of you know, Or ti those pries are high enough now). There was no suggestion in his an- nouncement that any thought was being given to the 'production of carburetor con- version kits so our cars could travel on pro- pane gas "instead. of .gasoline. They do it, every day in Europe and as far as most evi- dence at present indicates, the resulting pol- lutants from propane fuel are only a4raction of those produiced by gasoline. A greatcry has been raised over the de- mand that auto bumpers be made to with- stand a reasonable impact' without damage to the bumper or the vehicle—in other words, to do the job it was intended fo do instead of providing an additional $100 on every col- lision'insurance claim. The auto makers are crying now that several years and hunidreds of thousands of. dollars will be needed to de- velop a bumper that Will withstand even a n five -mile -ah -hour crash. What monstrous hunks of pure .baloney we are expected to w swallow! 0 In the year 1934 our own "jalopy" of the e day happened to be a 1916 CheVrolet. Our y t est riend was one up on us. He drove a 1918 Dodge. Being, at that' time, one of "those reckless young drivers", plus the fact' that the foot brake on the old Four -ninety ,chev. had a frustrating habit of jamming, we ran fulltilt into'the back of the old Dodge one day at a- speed of something over 30 miles an hour while the latter was standing still. Result. No material . damage to either of thecars or either of the bumpers. Those two vehicles were made 56 and 54 • years ago respectively. And after more than a half century of scientific advancement we • ' are being brainwashed into believing that it's a monstrous prbblem to prevent bumper damage at even five miles an hour. There's a • name for that kind of talk—but it's a vulgar one. Just think it over the next time you are fed some of this professional gobbledygook. Most of us are being taken straight down the garden path., Obligation Must Be Met I We have a great deal of sympathy for the - aldermen of the city of Stratford who failed after several tries, to get a seconder for a motion which would provide retroactive and current pensions for members of the city's police force. They were acutely aware'of the fact that in approving the pensionbylaw they • would be substantially increasing their own and 'their cpnstituents' taxes. There was, however, a somewhat un- usual consideration involved in this case. The law required passage of the by-law and • • )te- the city solicitor warned the councillors that they were open to jail sentences if they re- fused to obey the law in this regard. Because legislation prohibitsthe right of police forces to take Strike action over wage• and fringe benefit disputes, it becomes vital- ly.. important that. the decisions of the,tri bunals which decide such matters be obeyed to the letter. We have contended for many years that labor disputes should all, be set- . tled in properly constituted labor courts, just the same as civil suits and crimirial cases. Our society long since decided that judgment by one's equals, after, the submission of all the pertinent evidence, is the best and fairest means of' settling disputes. • Since police force employees are bound to obey the "no strike" injunction, their em- ployers are equally bound to abide by the de- cisions of the courts or boards which hear these cases. Very frequently one party to a civil suit eynerges with the feeling that he has not received justice, -but that cannot al- ter the basic requirementof a full hearing apd.a fair trial.; • • ° • T1 -IE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES Published at Wingham, "Ontario, by Wenger Bros, Limited. Barry Wenger, President Robert O. .Wenger, SecretaryTreasurer Member .Audit Bureau of Circulations Member Canadian and Ontario Weekly Newspaper Associations. Subscription Rote: Subscription $10.00 a year, $550 for six months, in United States $12.50 in advance Second Class Mail Registration No .0821' Return Postage Guaranteed JUNK GO(M) FOR •• A CAPITAL GAIN Either I'm slowing down or life • is speeding Up. Probably both, which is one reason I'm so COO - fused these days.. The other' rea- son is that I've always been con- fused. For one thing, the new tax legislation. It may- be Manna to lawyertand accountants, but to the ordinary, rather stupid Cana dian, like me, it's like wandering. around in. a bog in a fog, blind. folded. What did I do betbre Valuation Days were announced? Nothing, • I didn't have_ a clue where to start, and besides, the whole thing had about as much fascina- tion for me as a January sale. Now I discover that I should have valued some of my precious antiques and stuff, so that I could pay taxes on them when they in- crease in value. Well, I' haven't any stamp col - elections or coin collections or paintings that are going toin- crease in price steadily. I •don't have a summer cottage, which seems to be a bad thing to have, according to the papers. But I do have some antiques. There' s the violin, for example. It's an authentic hand -made in- strumpnt. My Uncle Tom made it about 'fort); years ago, and some- how it came into my possession. No one has played it, because there is only ,one string, the bridge is broken, and the frame is slightly warped. Therefore, it's not just junk, but almost"pristine, and surely is increasing in value daily. The case in which it is en- closed is equally antique, (I'd say about 1850 vintage). I definitely slipped up there. That thing could' be worth as much as $38 in ten or twelve years, and I got it for nothing. flow 'much will a rapa- cious gbvernment snatch from \me in capital gains for that? • And the beds, of course. They are genuine antiques. My mother bought them at an auction sale, 'Y and they must have been 100 c Years old then. We inherited i them, and they're probably c priceless by now. • • c How about my hip waders? If they're not antiques, I'll eat your' p hip waders. They're so old I can't w remember when I bought them, I and they are full of genuine holes, , just, like old furniture. And where does my wood -pile te come in? One of my oaks blew th down last summer, and I had it o cut into firewood. Now I didn:t teath pay for the oak when 1 bought the property, and I have about $35 worth of wood there. Do 1 pay capital gains tax on it? Enough of that. I'm becoming steadily more worried. I can see my entire estate going down the dram to.the greedy tax collector. Somethingelse has me just about as puzzled, It's the educa_ tional system. It's different in every province so that you can learn as muck in twelve years in Manitoba as yOu can in thirteen years in Ontario. That is under- standable, because of the differ- ence in climate (the only reason I can think of.) But a whole new, frightening aspect of the blackboard jungle is being introduced in my province. It's probably something the Yanks tried out ten years ago and found unworkable and have since abandoned. That's the way Cana- dian education, at its worst, seems to operate. Beginning next September, the kids and their parents choose what subjects the kid will take in high school. So far, solood. I've always been opposed to the old, rigid system under which you had to take math or French or some- thing you were hopelessly inept at. I think there should be 'lots of But surely, this is going a bit far. The provincial government, with the aid of federal help, has spent millions and millions of dol- lars setting up schools with all manner of equipment; especially in the technical departments. Different subjects, 'let's say English and history, will be Vying for students so that teachers won't lose jobs. The history de- partment will make its ploy by showing pictures of nude statues of Rome and Greece and the .Renaissance. But I've laid my plans too. We're going to lay\in a supply of ,dirty modern novels, and also give everybody at least 75 per cent. Don't tell me that a 13 or 14 ear old will choose anything ex- ept what he thinks are the "eas- est " subjects. This could lead to ourses in basket weaving, ar- hery, or mope and ,gawkery." And what :do j.do if the princi- al informs me that nobody 'ants to take English next, year? 'm not. a bit worried. 1 am con- inced I can cook better than ome of the Home Economics achers, and could fit in nicely ere. I know the first four letters f the Greek alphabet and could Greek in a pinch. TODAY'S CHILD • BY HELEN ALLEN Wall///112/1/0110.1mg H E • NE I)S A FA M I IN Looking at those big eyes and that wistful little face, don't you feel like reaching out to gather Joes into your arms and telling him everything's going to be all right? This baby is 13 months old, Irish and English in descent. He is a sturdy boy with engagingly dimpled hands, blue eyes, light brbwn hair and medium.complexion. Joey does not seem afraid of anything but is sociable only with peoyle he knows. Perhaps that explains the sad look in the picture, because the photographer was a stranger. Dear little Joey was held up for adoption because he was diagnosed as hydra -Obi -ale, means Mete Was an ihnorintil build up of fluid inside his head. Successful surgery was performed and an internal drain called a shunt installed. Sometimes this condition results in brain damage, but not in Joey's case. He has had no further trouble and is now in excellent health. Joey is an active baliy, at present, much interested in the contents of cupboards. He is very fond of other children and also is good 'friends with the dog and cat in his foster home. He likes to be outdoors. Joey needs a home where he will have older brothers and sisters ' and where the parents will be patient and understanding while he learns io trust them. To inquire about adoptinr. Joey, please write to Today's Child,.Box 888, Station K, Toronto. For general adoptiqn information ask your Children's Aid Society. THIS VIEW of the Salvation Army hall gjyes some indication of,the popularity of the rum- mage sale held Monday night as customers crowd around the tables. —Staff Photo. Lt bum Abtnte, Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, January 20, 1972 SECOND SECTION News Items from Old Files Thomas Fells was again elected president of the Wingham Horticultural Society. Other officers are vice presidents W. S. Hall and,Mrs. Harry Angus; secretarl Mrs. E. J. Nash and "treasurer W. A. Galbraith. "• A tongue of flame which spurt- ed across the sidewalk at a fire Helen Beattie's Beauty Shop • , Sunday night severely burn two firemen and two other fir men narrowly escaped bei burned. Walter Lockridge a Howard Fuller were' bad .burned around the hands an face. Both men were 'taken hospital. The beauty parlor w wrecked inside, all the conten being destroyed. Mrs. James Showers fracture her wrist on Friday afternoo when she slipped and fell on th slippery sidewalk on Patric Street. " • , A. M. Bishop, W. Phair, Manuel R. Johnston and Mi Cora Phair were among the ne r 1y-electedofficers of St. Paul Anglican Church at its annu meeting held last week. R. Mun dy is the organist • and cho leader. Rev. E. L. Roberts is re tor of the, church. While playing hockey for th Eagles on Tuesday night Ear Gray was cross-checked and on of his ribs was cracked. Last Friday, A. R. DuVal purchased a fine young male fi) from W. H. C. Rutheven of Allis ton, Ontario.. This animal, born i March last year, ;is of,the pur Callbeck strain which is c' sidered to have produced mor outstanding foxes than any othe strain. • Just north of Lucknow there is an epidemic of scarlet fever affecting several people and necessitating -the closing of S.S. 7 school.. Every effort isbeing made to prevent the spread of the Mrs. E..W.• Carson was elected loresident of the Gorrie Evening Auxiliary a( its annual meeting. Other officers are Mrs: .C. R. Black. Mrs. V. Shera, Mrs. A. 'L. Stephens and Mrs. R. Grainger. Dr. William Fowler of Bayfield has bought Dr; William Connell's residence in Lucknow and will coin menCy lis practice there thris week. He succeeds Dr. R. J. Bowen -who left for Lambeth in October. JANUARY. 1917, The Dominion Bank will open a branch in the, King block in iorrie on February 3rd. It will be ipen two days a week and will be iperated in conjunction with the Wingham branch. reeves atelty the race for he wardenship Of Huron County. They are Brown Smyth of West Wovanosh, Cecil Wheeler of lorris Township and John Arm- trong of Hullett. The Warden chosen'atthe opening ession next. week. ' Miss Norma Van Camp who is t present on the Staff of Victoria London. was successful receiving hem. keg. N. degree. The firemen were called aturday morning to a chimney re at the home of Harold Foster t the south end of Josephine treet No damage.' was done. Hobert Hill of Kincardine ho- I or tilt past_yeat and a.alf as bef .1 emploed by the istowf1 liatmerhas joined the all of the Ad% ance-Times. Ro) Bennett suffered painful juries to his left hand when it as crushed bet ween the side of le house and the car dootaX- iys revealed broken fingers and c injury also required several dhes. - A blacksmith shop was opened Saturday at the rear "of the (won barn It is being ,operated by Mr. Sangster of Fordwich and L. G. Bryce of town. • Gorrie streets are being plowed thiswinter by Huron County snow plows, another instance where horses are giving way to power driven equipment. Vern Denny of Wroxeter is at at. present a member -of—thesnow on plow crew of the C.P.R. with ed headquarters at Orangeville. e - ng JANUARY, 1958 1 nd The' annual meeting of the , -Ladies' Auxiliary to the Wing - d HoSpital was held to last week. Mrs. Norman as • Cameron is the new president ts succeeding Mrs. W. A. Crawford. Other officets include Mrs. Jas. d Hamilton, Mrs.. Don .Nasmith, n Mrs. W. J. Greer and Mrs. A. e Peebles. k Two local skaters, John Wild and Nancy Elliott, competed at R. the Western Ontario and Niagara ss Peninsula Figure Skating Com - w_ petition held in Stratford last ,a week. al William Elston of:•_Morris _ Township left for Ottawa on the ir weekend as one of the delegates c_ from the riding of Huron to the national convention of the Liberal e party. • R. S. Hetherington was named e chairman of the Wingham Dis- trict High School Board. Retiring chairman is Dr, W. A. McKibbon. The two new members of the Boardthis year are' William King of Bluevale and Gordon Moir of Gorrie. Roy Cousins of Brussels is deputy -chairman.. Five members of the Brownies became girl guides at a meeting last Monday. They are Helen Runstedtler, Helen Currie, . Beverley Cunningham, Sally Crawford and Sandra Cameron. The first proficiency badge to be awarded was won by Jean Jones. • R. E. McKinney was named chairman of the Public Utilities Commission. tither Members., are R. H. Lloyd and DeWitt Miller. A new employee, Fred Vyse, has been engaged by the Commission and he commenced his duties here about two weeks ago. Edward Harris was appointed assessor of Howick Township by members of council at their first meeting, of the new year. Ivan Haskins was appointed Howicles • representative on the board of the 'k • Wihgharn General Hospital. • , Mrs. C. 11'ingland is the new president of, the W.M.S. of the. • Wingham United Church, with other members of the executive Mrs. E. Lewis; Mrs. G. N. Under. wood, Mrs. Chas. Hopper and Mrs. Frank Edgar. nX Contract awarded or training equipment a 11 11 5 h 1. st w rz th st on F 16 .The Canada Post Office has awarded a contract for $684,000 to • Computing Devices of Canada • Limited for training equipment related 10 the Postal Code and the Department's mechanization program. The contract calls for 21 coding operator training sys- tems to be delivered by April • 1972. This equipment has, been developed specifically to train post office personnel in the use of coding equipment for the Postal Code System already released in Ottawa, and which will be fully implemented across Canada by early 1974. — The Postal Code is a com- bination of numbers and letters which identify destinations. The Canadian Postal Code is unusual in that it is one of two , coding systems in the world which will sort down to a city block, office or apartment building complex. In order for mail to be routed tei its specified destination under . this new system, a letter bearing a Postal Code will pass through a /sow mote_ ? • coding desk where the code will be imprinted in phosphor. The • alpha -numerics are invisible to the eye but recognizable to ' a letter sorting machine. In order for. the proposed • systerp to be effective, operators must be trained to a high degree of efficiency. Operators respon- sible for imprinting the correct code will be trained on the com- puting devices equipment which Simulates the flow of live mail and displays the coded envelope by rear -screen projection., The system is designed so that the student is forced to correct mistakes before proceeding with the next code entry. This ensures that the student rapidly and ef- ficiently assimilates the coding procedure. &printed copy of any `* .s, student's progress can be avail- able on demand through a mini- computer controlling the training system. .One of the heaviest burdens a man can shoulder is to carry. a feud. rif 'WON COHE YOU CALL ,togs coopeR A Ga s sit) AMC, 71,614 r4L1e1-0 1* -,e ,411. 14YLAA