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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1974-06-26, Page 13Cr a:cis w. s 1 Balmer, WJ*:,gh** kilveaes. Times mid Mos* Piro* *rat, Is'mil lox UPI the "hearth* of Ml4westera I Baled os; 24 reams la **eh of s homes.) andata Series ho wintry wlii in a i ' Th 'stovrel Banner, The ihat71Advance.Times and The Wont Forest Confederate by Wenger Bros. Limited. !ads- uf. , *974 •.w ,• v •: • v •: rrr.• •: •:. � .• •J::: • n• : : v.v.:•/.•:.. • : r.•!".•.M:.•l.Y.• •. J. r rr.• v.• v • • •r • • ;• . • • • r v • •.••v • ✓ :•r • •.• :.w • v.•.•.•r.•:::: .•.M •r :.•r/. v r: vJ✓' .•r r ,• rJ : J '.• : ::XJJ f:• • J Jr r. •J J} : •;: 1 : •Y' . .. r •. .. d . r ..:... . lr ...i:•:•'f.•:.• : r.. . r, :' . ?r. l..�k 1 r . 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J:• •v•l. %r'•:•::, . r:�'.'•:. ✓,•'I.,;Srri✓r. l� Mount Forest reveals Liberal support in poll • By Doug McCann In this kick-off issue of Cross- roads' rossroads' "Mandate '74" our re- searchers have probed the per- sonal political views and opinions of more than 18 voters in the towns and rural districts 'of Lis- towel, Wingham and Mount For- est. Six people were interviewed from each town and -or its sur- rounding rural areas. In Listo- wel, five will be named but more than 20 were polled. Those interviewed were chosen at random from all walks of life: housewives, students, • farmers, senior citizens, professionals, businessmen and laborers.. They range in age from 18 and up.so as to provide a fair eross- section of opinions. Those who have made public their political annexations, such as campaign workers, have purposely been avoided so as to produce the•most spontaneous, unrehearsed and unexpected results possible. The politicalattitudes ex- pressed by one member of a • group are not necessarily repre- sentative of his or her peers. For example, a farmer expressing Liberal Party preferences does pot mean all Or even most farm - e s in our readershiparea hold` t' P h the .saute views; The poll published here is a "sounding -out" device to estab- lish a general consensus of poli- tical leanings in the area. Mainly, it gives us a 'chance to see how some of our fellow residents are viewing the election, the cam- paigns, issues, parties and leaders. All of the 18 interviewed were asked five basic questions: A) What party are you sup- -porting in the upcoming election andwhy? Have you always sup- ported the same party? B) What do you view. as the major issue in this election? Examples - inflation, leadership. C) What is the most important* change any government, whether it be NDP, Liberal or Conserva- tive, can make for the betterment of this nation before the year is out, in your own opinion! • Q) What leader has made his party's policies and intentions most clear during this campaign period? a " E) What leader, in your opi- nion, has conducted the most at- tractive and appealing campaign so far? MOUNT FOREST RESULTS: Of the six interviewed here, one supported the New .Democratic Party, one supported the Pro- gressive Conservative Party, one was undecided, and three pre- ferred the -Liberal Party. The Liberal supporters included a, farmer, a construction worker and a high school student. Mrrs.Mary Winslade, president. of the senior citizens' group in Mount ' Forest, says she will support the Conservatives this time around. "I have voted Liberal," she says, "but I vote for ° the man, not for the party." She cites leadership as the main issue of this election, adding, "I think we've had a `don't care' attitude thatI don't like ... in the last while." Mrs. Winslade criticizes the government for abusing expense accounts and taking "too many vacations'''. She says there is "so 'Mitch' t "� would r s r. ifs `cos oV his" gond- er Z7oj�i° settle right down to w ha� is at hand. ‘iere "I Mink is too much time spent in . . . well , trifling things," she adds. • . The Mount Forest , senior citizens' president is quick to add that "we (senior citizens) can't complain about how we've been used. We have been used mar- velously. We don't need to com- plain about that ... we're better off than ever before." She does not chalk up the good treatment of senior citizens to the Trudeau government, however. "I think, no matter which gov- ernment had been in, we would have had good treatment just the same, because it had come to the point where we had to have it." What party leader has made • his intentions most clear to Mrs. Winslade? "I think we need another John Diefenbaker , .. A Man who ,speaks ,what he thinks, no matter if he does :tramp on somebody's toes. This is what we need; someone who will speak out and mean what he says." Mrs. Winslade names Conser- vative (MP) candidate, in the Wellington -Grey, -' Dufferin= Waterloo riding, Perrin Beatty, as having conducted the n)ost at- tractive and appealing campaign so far'. 4' ;like him: very ;uch,"" she emphasizes; "Be is; an up and, going young man . ; He is a good' man and a very appealing young man." She adds,- "And I haven't. listened to any of, the rest of them." Howard Wollis, a farmerin the Mount Forest district; has always voted Liberal, and this election is no. exception. . Would he switch if he honestly thought the Conservative or NDP could do a better job? "Oh, I sup- , pose I would. The question is 'Can � ' "" they?' What can government do for bim? "Getting. .some \ of these 'farm prices back up is what I am most interested in:" . He says the price of beef and pork P aid . t o • the farmer has drd ped Considerably during the past, few ?nmonths'and "this iir the biggest problem as far as I am concerned. i Mr. Wollis admits that he has noreal preference for any candi- date as far as one who has made his party's policies and intentions most clear: - Mrs. David Murdoch, a Mount Foresthousewife, has been a strong supporter of the New Democratic Party for some time. The main issue in this election, she says, is inflation. Can the NDP do something about inflation? "Oh, yes. I de- finitely think they could. I just wish they could get the chance." She says she would like to see ``the taxes re-evaluated in every aspect. They need readjusting Cri�i�'fiiir�► terrible. the entire tax Please turn to o Page 2 WILL VOTE LIBERAL—Art Gibson, (centre) a Mount Forest area construction worker, says he will vote Liberal in this coming election. Three of 'the six people polled in the Mount Forest district suppo't the Liberal Party, orte is behind the Conservatives, one sup- ports NOP and one was undecided. (McCann Photo) : ! •. .: r. / Y• 1 r 1•}.. r.•• r... :VY : . r. •. .•;•> . • .- :v' : .vY:` :•'� '•::. .•:.. r : : rl . ::.• r d!. ! . ✓r. w:: • i •Yrs.%:•' . . l .•Y'rr v... r :•:Yr:.. 1. r ? Ir ..: r :vy d v. rf .r ..♦.✓ r .r :r. r v. .•r/: . .tl .r: /j d /1 Idl fr:•: .. r •� 'rt � r •.�{� Jf:Yr'.%f ; r f}{.,�1 ff J.;�: y:J•:%{f Y:Y; •�,.fr,.}r }' ? :?Jr •f •;r,;:•?Y}f :,r: fri::Y��i;:%�,•,? vr:'rvff ;:!{ �?i j :}� ?{r :%r.:{•/.'•.%JrJ : rrrf:;{Jd:rX . J✓J.f .Jj �''{rr� r ?i r r.• ; Y%Ifi•�/; f dr f . d• r. } l :. rl. � . ,. 1.•X::.•Fr. :�:•'in r. f:. . % f df fr�r• • . .. f . J t' f% :+' ✓Jl f l . 1 f ✓ , J J✓,. ...,.. f. .Jrr.... r.,,•....•.?.:.::YF, d. : v R•r�X• J..i .r fXrr.•r. ,. . vl. /..r afl,. .�.rd.JJf.. f If• r.•• r r � .. , { :r•. rr l.ff✓....J'r'fflr.4.0}{1 HAS OT YET p ��D � _ �,t r five de� .. 'tied l Pl ��1 ic in �is. tQ �tdarea, ." Dn John f?ll - 4f� � i41ul'10to says fhe -campaign has'not yet. Mimed ay him full consideration of the tssues'aif stake. (Vandertee Photo) Poll shows that Listowel is strongly Conservative By -Peter V'anderlee In the Listowel area, political feelings are strongly Conserva- tive. Although the Liberal Party does have supporters in this part of the Perth -Wilmot riding, the prevalent mood here is dissatis- faction with the Trude u govern- ment and its inability to slow down inflation and bring down the cost of living. While doing a small survey, in which we asked people to identify themselves, we encountered many, in fact most, who wanted to keep their political feelings private. However, after taking away the standard questions and closing the notebook, people spoke more freely about the up- coming election. Obviously their biggest con- cern is the escalating cost of living and the constant battles to keep income in line with day-to-day prices. To most it's a losing battle and it is from this standpoint that many have tired of the Liberals and want a new government, a Conservative one. This fell in line with those who did name themselves in the sur- vey. Out of the five people we in- terviewed, only -one person said he would vote Liberal with three throwing support su rt behin dthe Conservatives and one who had not yet made up his mind but confessed a leaning to the Con- servatives. The survey started with Bob Uptigrove, a chartered account- ant. He said that although he supports the Liberal Party in principle, he has decided to vote Conservative because of the candidate (Bill Jarvis) in the riding. In his opinion, the major issue of the campaign is strong and flexible leadership. Before the end of the year he wants to see a government that will provide in- centive to small businesses and reduce personal income tax in all income brackets, not just the poor and lower middle-class. His reflection on the campaign so far was that no party has yet made its policies and objective clear but he added that at the time we. asked the questions It was still early into the campaign. When asked which campaign has the most appeal, he thought it to be the Liberal campaign. He felt Trudeau's refrain from coming up with a "cure-all solu- tion to our economic ills" makes his campaign "honest". Our lone Liberal supporter was a housewife, Mrs. John Bos. She feels food prices and inflation are the major issues of the campaign and that only the.Liberal Party is capable of Voming to grips with the problem. It is this belief in the Liberals' capability .that makes her feel their campaign is the most at- tractive. She also believes that Trudeau is the only one of the Party leaders who has outlined his party's policies and intentions clearly. Another person who feels high food prices and inflation are the major issues of this campaign is Barbara Farrish, a grade 12 student at Listowel District Sec- ondary School. Barbara will have her first chance to vote in this election. Her support is with the Conser- vatives. She feels the party. is "the only alternative government that can stop inflation", a goal She feels is most important. She also says that y k y only Stan- field has made his intentions and policies clear out of all the party leaders and she feels the Conser- vative campaign is the most at- tractive because party policy concurs with her ideas on a gov- ernment's priorities and her be- lief "Stanfield really cares." At the other end of the voting -age -scale in this election, we interviewed Mrs. Henry Anent, a senior citizen. Her support lies with the Conserva- tives although she confessed it was almost a family policy as she has been a staunch Tory fof most of . her life. / She feels the.major issue in the election is reducing personal income tax, and understandably, setting a fixed income for all people. She also thinks inflation is an important issue along with rising food costs. She couldn't say which of the parties has conducted the most appealing campaign but without hesitation named Stanfield • as being the party leader who has made his policies most clear. The man who had not yet de- cided which party he would support was John Lane, a farmer. Mr. Lane felt the campaign had not yet allowed him full consideration of the issues at stake in the election. However, he confessed dissat- isfaction with the Liberal govern- ment and indicated a leaning to the Conservatives so far. He outlined the major issues in this election as price controls. He set strike prevention as a priority he felt any new government should adopt and added that put- ting an end to strikes by the end of the year would go a long way toward battling total inflation. Mr. Lane said he thought Trudeau had outlined his party policy most clearly thus far. "However," he cautioned, "it's still early in the campaign." Mr. Lane added that the Liberals have conducted the most appealing campaign because they "deal with the issues more directly." And so the survey carried the mood. Priorities most people out- lined were the halt in rising costs, a slow -down of inflation at on andP rice and wage controls. Although dissatisfaction was a strong feeling, the mood was not devoid of optimism. Most people felt party leaders are capable men and many reflected that al- though we face problems we are faring better than our southern neighbors and are blessed with an honest, if not quick -moving, system of government that pro- vides Canadians with alterna- tives. Another Strong feeling was the hope the new government' would again be a minority one. Many felt "it keeps them (the govern- ment) on their toes" and with the ever-present reality of another election "decisions will be made for Canadians that are pleasing to the electorate." Although some favored a majority situation, most reflect- ed on the faster pace of a mino- rity government and higher amount of legislation passed this camp By C. E. Jackson ,All three political parties aregoing; to have to do some hard campaigning, ` in. the Widghon1 area if they want anything more than a marginal victory ut the July 8 election. • • Of the six Winghant and area residents pofled, only Don Carter, ,Who splits his time working for a local snowmobile and motorcycle dealership and. 'acting as. the towns sanitary engineer, 'is openly throwing his vote for 'thee NDP. Mr. Carter stated, that ' finitely thought the issue ;of ;tnfla= IA tion. and rising; prices :Was the paramount -one of, the ,campaign. He also'\favors. the NDP policy of price controls 'Without a freeze on- Wages. That,, according :to Mr. Carter, is the major change he would°like to seethe government make. Without those controls he suggested • the country could be facing ominous. consequences. David Lewis ranked .number one as the party leader who has best presented his party's plat- form and ,aims, • Storeowner Archie. Hill has decided he will vote for a candi- date in this election rather than a rLys and his vote will Qt o the ti ervativ,l lnni i. Huron: Middlesex, BobMcKinley. Mr..Hiill ranked inflation as one of the major `issues in the cam- paign as well, but added that a government that is more respon- sive to the issues concerning the people of the country should take a high place among government priorities. What was the major change he would like lo see? Mr. Hill would like to see the government cut down' on what he terms "hand- outs" in the form of unemploy ment 'and welfare benefits, except in the case of those in dire need. In Mr. Hill's view Robert Stan- field has presented his party's aims more forcefully than the other two leaders. He commented that the Tory chief has made quite an issue of wage and price controls. However, Mr. Hill is not in agreement with the policy. Mr. Trudeau was his choice as the best campaigner of the three major party leaders and he gave a reason that cropped up quite often in the answers to that parti- cular poll question. Mr. Hill approves of the idea of Mrs. Trudeau joining the campaign team in the election. The PM's train campaign also appealed to Mr, Hill. Karen Edmunds, a University of Toronto student who now lives in Wingham, hasn't decided which party she will favor when she casts her ballot. Inflation and the cost of living were also her choices as the major campaign issues. When she was asked what change she would like the government to make she an- swered that she thought the fed. eral government' should try' ,to q h. th0 controversial 9uebee • languages legislation which would ntakeFrencht e working language in that prow- '. .in w- in . Miss iEdmunds' stated that 'all of oda should be bilingual, including,l moo. Province? AlthOugit no leader • pressed`ber with the Way, he• -presented arty platforms, Pi• erre„ , n ,and :ham wife agalr,; were' 'Amber t tcanipsigniotega While' Mrs.John Tempi Wingham has chosen the party Which -she w:Bl.give her vote in Jltny, ' she declined tomake that 'choice public Sherdtdeve label housing costs andiat as= the <campaign's maaor<item Concern. Mrs.Templeman suggeste that higher pensions for senior citizens would be a`change for the better in the country At The 'best campaigner during • this campaign? You ;g sed;' it, the Liberal leader and lovely wife . Margaret were.' her choice, 'Faye Moir was our rePreft0P, tive of the area's legion of:arc Jog. girls. Miss Moir • thels a qShPrted s �t P l l� ilei ;ging'lnflation as the biggest blac cloud over the heads of" the aver-. age Canadian. Better wages, and • lower prices are two thin�gs 'she-. would like to see the governm'ont ` insure for the nation. Miss Moir. backed Mr. Trudeau as the leader who has conducted the best campaign and has: best presented" his party's stance on the issues.. Why? Because in her opinion, the PM isn't making "wild promises" that he has no hope of honoring. ' Brian Taylor owns a farm near the town and for this election at least he , will vote Liberal, although he is not a staunch sup- porter of the PM's party. The major change he would like to see is for the government to lessen its interference in the' farming industry. He feels the government shouldn't have its fingers in the agricultural pie as much as it does at the present time. Although he doesn't neces- sarily agree with NDP policy, he did feel that David Lewis and his party have been the most effec- tive in getting the views and posi- tion of his party across. As seemed to be the case with the majority of the voters polled, he gave Pierre Elliott Trudeau the nod as the election's best campaigner. So, when Wingham voters go to polls on July 8, they will have inflation on their minds and al- though they may not vote for the most recent government, Pierre and Margaret will be fondly re- membered as "Campaigners of the Year". last Parliamentary session as compared with when the Liberals governed with a comfortable majority. There was also a great feeling of confidence in the Perth -Wilmot Conservative candidate and last term's MP, Bill Jarvis, as the earlier comment by Bob Upti- grove indicated. Many feel Mr. Jarvis is the only proven capable candidate and to some, what the individual MP can do for his riding, is more important to them than deciding en which party should rule the country, since party policies ate all similar anyway. Others remain cautious, point- ing out that the Liberal candi- date, David Bradshaw, a former Stratford alderman, is a sharp ,politician and also a capable con- ' tender for the seat. He is a good organizer and an eloquent speak- er and they feel election results •n . w• \1 Lf • might be much closer than some want to realize. Support for the NDP was very weak and many did not know the name of the candidate, Mrs. Joan Rankin. It was felt by most inter- viewed that she is a token candi- date and deserves no real con- sideration, pointing out the NDP had followed this "token candi- date" policy last election as well when a young university student was named. There was a feeling of resent- ment by some against this type of action by the party and one man, who said he was an NDP support- er, claimed he would not vote for the party as a backlash to the lack of consideration the party gave to the riding. However, many said, the NDP candidate could i1' an impor- tant role if the election is a close one as some have speculated. Please turn to Page 2