HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1974-06-27, Page 4HE ADVARC�
Room for improvement
The fundamental structure of a nation's
laws—ordinarily known as its constitution—
are always difficult to alter, even though the
framework of self-government outlined one,
two or three hundred years ago has proven
faulty. Why we usually expect that the
fathers of a nation should have been
endowed with supernatural foresight is hard
to understand.
The constitution of the United States was
pieced together by a group of exceptional
men, who did, indeed, look into the future
with keen vision. Neverthele is some -flaws
remained in their finished work—short-
comings which became apparent only when
Watergate and its noisome details were ex-
posed.
The Canadian system of self-govern-
ment, fashioned 'after the British mode, we
believe to be a much sounder form of na-
tional constitution, but in one regard it has a
distinct weakness --a shortcoming which be-
comes most apparent just prior to our elec-
tions.
- In the United States elections are never
far from the public mind, and for the most
part Americans are more active in their at-
tention to the people they elect than are
Canadians. The American constitution calls
for a different method of selecting candi-
dates for public office. In what is known as
the "primaries" the voters cast their ballots
to select the candidates for office, thus an
election'or•a primary is never more than two
years away and the electors are kept in con-
stant awareness of the importance of their
choice.
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By contrast, in Canada, we tend to forget
all about the importance of elections and
those who will represent us until we are only
a few weeks away from voting day.
Nominating conventions are 'held by the
various political parties in each riding. In
some cases the nomination is a foregone
conclusion, particularly where the sitting
member is popular and his supporters are
unanimous in wanting him to have another
chance at election.
It is a different matter however, where
the parties who have failed to elect their
candidate are concerned. If there appears to
be small likelihood that an opposing candi-
date will be elected the calibre of the -willing
"victims" tends to be weak. There are, of
course, exceptions, such as the candidacy of
such a well-known person as Ron Coll aster
who is opposing a cabinet minister in a
Toronto riding at present. By and Targe,
however, the effort of each of the parties to
have a candidate in every riding in the na-
tion necessitates the choice of some pretty
doubfful contenders.
Under the American system the electors
in each party have many months in which to
think about their choice and usually they se-
lect top-notch people to run for office.
The strains and stresses of our present
times, have opened the `seams of constitu-
tional government in many places—not only
in the United States. Perhaps we Canadians
should be giving close attention to the im-
provements which could be made in our own
way of doing things.
Increases are justified
This is an age in which lavish handouts
from governments at all levels have become
commonplace, so it was no shock. to learn
that the Ontario government is going to pro-
vide"a guaranteed income to elderly people,
more in keeping with the sharply higher
costs of living. Even more gratifying was the
decision to do something realistic for those
who receive pensions from the Workmen's
Compensation Board. In some cases the
pensions will be increased by as much. as '6
per cent.
Inflation always ° causes hardship in
some quarters—and nowhere more painfully
than to those who live on "fixed"incomes,
such at pensioners. Their incomes were es-
tabillssfar backs in'the . u.ears when a
do41 buyat .:1 A.
. ea B0 c nts or of
e
� T-
cr+ � v
f ,�� • C ` E g and shelter': Most of the cur-
\ rentadjustments have quite rightly included
a flexible level of payment which will allow
for increases in the cost of living in future
years.
Similarly, many of the recent strikes by
organized, labor have reflected this same
need ---to keep wages in line with living costs.
But let us not fool ourselves, each time an
adjustment is made to gear incomes to living
costs, the fuel for inflation is heaped a bit
higher. Parallel to the increased remunera-
tion should be a thoughtful study of any and
all means of easing the pressures which
create inflation and the upward spiral of
prices.
As an example, the Ontario government
recently announced that the legal minimum
wage will be increased this fall to $2.25 for
persons over 18 years of age and to $1.90 for
students and others 16 to 18 years of age. The
rate is not high compared with other prov-
inces, and it is certainly not too high for a
father working to support a wife and chil-
dren. But it is ridiculously high for a .16 -year-
old high school kid who is working at sum-
mer employment and has to be led around by
the . nose to keep him busy. No 16- or
17 -year-old youngster needs $76.00, a week,
regardlessofdovx
1 avehis-
lying habits
�
nd
--�� Ve `:.,,few i"rte �*m are worth that
much. The ` `increasefo'42.25 at age 18, of
course, is not because , of particularly
improved ability—but rather because the
young person at that age has the right to vote
and will be more inclined to support a
government which has ' guaranteed him
590.00 a week, regardless of his skills or lack
of them.
No, we are not out to trample all young
people. We simply contend that there is a
proper value for everything in this world and
that more young people would be able to find.
jobs if they were not over -priced.
Are we ripe For change?
The current election campaign has
brought out a few new slogans, chief , of
which, naturally, is inflation. Every political
candidate has rightly'assumed that clothing
else is so much in .the public mind—although
we have yet to•hear a feasible solution to that
problem.
Anotherpopular whipping boy is the
profits of big business. The NDP, particular-
ly, is loud in its declarations of what it would
do about the profits realized by big business
and, of course, it's a popular theme. The
great mass of voters will agree that it would
be great to take from the rich and give to the
poor. Few, however, seem to be aware that
laws which would make it legal and possible
to dip into the profits of a large corporation
would also make it equally easy to skim off
the profits of a small business concern or a
well-to-do farmer.
This nation was built on a system of free
enterprise, whereby the person or the
company with sufficient ability and foresight
could make a profit. That profit motive has
provided Canadians with their jobs, their
homes and the fold on their tables.
If we have, indeed, examined that sys-.
tem and found it so bad that we are prepared
to scrap it, aM well and good—but we should
take a careful look at places like the Soviet
Union before we make the final and fateful
decision.
A point of procedure
A few weeks ago this column carried an
article headed, if we recall correctly, "Tail
Wags The Dog" in which we suggested that
the multi -billion dollar program of expan-
sion announced by Ontario Hydro, and the
consequent sharp increase in its rates to
consumers, should be carefully studied by
independent experts. Apparently we failed to
make clear the fact that Hydro cannot de-
cide on„ its own to increase the charges it
makes for energy, and afew of its senior
officers were deeply perturbed because we
failed to explain that the higher rates are at
the 'present time a matter of presentation
and examination by the provincial Energy
Board.
In order to clarify the question of
sharply increased Hydro selling prices you
will find a story elsewhere in this issue which
was sent to us by Ontario Hydro, outlining
the reasons .for its request for increased
rates and the procedure which will be fol-
lowed by the Energy Board.
Our original contention, however, that
any publicly -owned utility which seeks to
embark on a program of the dimensions o6t-
Iined by Hydro, should be prepared for the
most intense sort of cross-examination by
independent experts. Hydro may be totally
justified in embarking on a program of ex-
pansion which our children and grandchil-
dren will be paying for 75 years hence—but
we who must underwrite the staggering cost
need to be absolutely sure the decision is the
right one.
Whether the decision to jack up the rates
to consumers Hes with Hydro or with the
Energy Board will be of small concern to the
consumers after the price goes up.
THE WUNGHAM AUVANCE•TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited
Barry Wenger, President Robert 0. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Member -- Canadian Community Nlisespapera Assoc.
Subscription $10.00 per ear. Six months $5.25
Ontario Weekly Newspapers. Assoc.
To United Sues 02.50
Socond Class Mail Registration No. 0821 Return postage guaranteed
editorial opin
Mary May Sckwatzentr,ber
writes of African mission.
GORRIE -- The (0110% 14
letter was received recently.,by
Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Farrah
from Miss Mary May Schwart-
zentruber. Mary May is a forger
resident of this area and was a
student at F. E. Madill Sece d r
School in Wingham.
o--0--0
April, 074
B. P. 560, Kananga, ZAI tE.
Dear Friends,
It's threeand a half months
that I've been in Zaire now . R. .
and I'm glad to be here. To some
of you, Africa probably sotuids
dream-like, exotic, imaginary,
mysterious, BUT somehow when.
you're living here, it's only real,
and even ordinary. I can't ver-
balize it very well ... it's just that
the reality of having a home here
outweighs the "exotic". And the
palm trees, mud huts, sunshine,
and everything different from
our N. American way of life --
accept as the norm; but I hope.
never to ignore the beauty of it.
One of my favorite experiences is
the approach of a rain storm. As
frequent as that may be during
rainy season, its effect doesn't
diminish at all. Small, light, cool
breezes introduce the symphony;
billowy, dark clouds drag low in
the sky; bass thunders in the dis-
tance; sheets of lightning
brighten the stage, and the con-
cert has, begun. The palm
branches and the grass shiver
"and then sway to• the rhythm of
the orchestra., deeper. and faster
as the tempo increases, and soon'`
the staccato splotching of big, fat,
wet drops sets a steady beat.
Soon each small grain of sand iso,
transformed to a minuscle
puddle. Faster and harder the
beat: louder and heavier the
volume. A sheet of rain slashes
through the grey valley across
the dusty road, and advances
majestically toward us, until the
sand is a river of swirling, red)
water, rushing around out house,
leaving us in an island of (Iry,
safe shelter, with the outdoor '
orchestration accompanying our
movement and work, rhythmic,
soothing, relaxing. In the gr : `'t
'pause following gthe stor
Mother e Nature rests, clean
and refreshed.
Since I started teaching, letter 1
writing has suffered con- a
siderably. As I said in my first
letter, I am teaching French .. .
but with great difficulty. In the
first plate, Bch is . a Second
language not only for Me but also
for the students. Secondly, f Was
trying to teach .three French
courses, the last three classes
secondary school: that might be.
feasible for some rreneh, teach;
ere, butrhardly when the average
class site is 50. So finally after
two months of struggle, I quit
teaching the 6th year class;. much
to the astonishment and dismay
of both the director and the
pupils. The most unfortunate part
of it is that not having a teacher
for a course is quite frequent here
in Zaire. Many pupils here are
accustonied to no teacher, or to
having an absentee teacher much
of the time; It would bequite an
experiment to have a class ex-
change for about one week, ,May-
be only ai�handful of N. American
students would make it to a 7h30
class first :thing in the morning
after an hour's walk! And several
would call it quits at the end of
the first hour in an over -crowded,
under -lighted, underventilated,
under -equipped classroom! How-
ever, I have enjoyed learning to
know a bit of the way of thinking
of some students. Considering the
odds, some of them do exception-
ally well. They are most interest-
ing to talk to! Oral commun-
ication is of great importance .. .
talking is the key to knowledge.
This is easily understood when
you consider the lack of books,
T.V., . and even movies. Their
whole tradition and knowledge
has been transmitted orally for
generations. Many of their con-
cepts are linked to proverbs,
which ' exist in abundance. In
many a discission, they are used
to express or support an idea. So,
getting acquainted with students
has proved valuable.
Communications are generally
slow and unpredictable . . . no
telephones, few telegrams, few
magazines ... and even letters
aren't sure of their destination! I
have been wondering how,many
of mine are getting thru'. It would
be so ;ouch easier to share ex-
periences in person, but paper is
second best . I'm sure that you
woukI have to er �'o?�dttel h e m�. er
to
g4) h5t
Peen . , • -r buI varlet ,as, really
Y
the„ }spice of life here, and I'm
earning that too many spices are
ble to burn! But they are only
second degree burns so far! haha
Mary May Schwartzentruber
A former F. E. Madill Student
•
•
on thsday,June 30, 1.974
DAVID HAR DING( David Scott, Maureen Beattie and Sandra Robinson were the top four
cyclists. In the gait 1 and 2 division at the IA/Ingham Police Bike Rodeo last week. The
children were presented with their awards at the.'Wingham. Armories on Thursday even-
ing. (Staff Photo)
'IN THE GRADE 3 AND 4 division of the Wingharn bicycle,.rodeo on June 17 these -four
children were the top riders:. Julane Adams, fourth; Tim Bain, third Cheryl Beattie,
s : q. d, and John L. ha , -laced first !�,..� , .. m rst,in�� a diva," o t- I'so Plc t t v rayl
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As you tray slip and fall and be
Ambulance\advises never cutfiles
injured by the mower, St. John
rO
up
and down a slope with a power
mower. Always cut sideways of
the hill. .
•
FLY UP TO GUIDES—Four Members of the Fordwich Brownie pack "flew up" to the
First Fordwich Guides at a ceremony held at the Mother and Daughter banquet last week.
The happy Brownies are shown above with their leaders. From left to right are: front -
Donna Brears, RR 1, Fordwich; Brenda Mann, RR 1, Gorrie; Donna Martin, Fordwich
and Anne 'Robinson, Fordwich; back - Myrna Penney of RR 1, Gorrie, Tawny Owl; Fay
Demerling of RR 2, Clifford, captain; Sharon Kelly of RR 1, Fordwich, Brown Owl.
JUNE 1927
A special meeting of the
Winghain Town Council was held, 0-0-0
JUNE .1939
At the Conservative convention
'which will be held at Wingham
next week ex -mayor John Hanna
will seek the federal nomination
for North Huron. Mr. Hanna
served as mayor of Wingham for
five years and also has four
years' experience in the council.
At the Achievement Day for
members of Ju>ior Institutes in
Bruce County, Agnes Gillespie,
Doris ` McClenaghan, Catherine
Mowbray of Whitechurch were
among the twenty girls awarded
certificates of achievement.
There will be one change in the
High School staff next term as
Miss M. McLarty has resigned.
All other teachers have accepted
their contracts.
Mayor J. H. Crawford was
elected president of the Wingham
Conservative Association at its
organizational meeting. R. H.
Lloyd is vice-president,' J. W.
Bushfield is secretary and
Charles Lloyd treasurer.
Miss Elizabeth Weir, daughter
Of Mr. and Mrs. John Weir,
received her Master of Arts
degree from Columbia Univer-
sity, New York City. She has
accepted a position as teacher in
the State School at Providence,
Rhode Island.
Marine ` and General Hospital,
Goderich,
whenthe tax rate was'fixed at 50'
mills. This rate issomewhat
higher than last year, the in-
crease being accounted for by a
heavier county rate.
Miss Eva Dolan of Wingham
won a gold medal in the June
contest sponsored by the United'
Typewriter Co. Ltd. of Toronto.
Miss Glenna Spotton won a silver
medal and other medal winners
were Miss Mary Carr, Bruce
Edgar and Smith Hutton.
Miss Jean Earls, having taught
school on the Howick-Grey
boundary for four years, has
taken a position in a school at
Snrinufield.
An impressive congratulatory
service is announced for Thurs-
day evening in St, Andrew's
Church, when Miss Mae
Williamson, a town girl, will be
designated to the foreign mission
work of the church in India. •
Joe Foster, formerly of Win-
nipeg, is visiting. his home in
Whitechurch prior to leaving for
Montreal where he has accepted
a position in the C.N.R. offices.
Miss Kathleen Kerr of
Wingham and Miss Annie M.
Kennedy of Whitechurch are
members of the graduating class
of nursing schools at Alexandra
PRESENTED WITH CANADA CORDS—Three members of
the First Fordwich Girl GuideS received their Canada
Cords, the highest award given ft) Guides, at the Mother and
Daughter banquet last week. Above, Beaver District Com-
missioner Nancy MacLennan of Goderich (left) presents
the red and white striped. cora to the girls. From left to
right are: Mrs. MacLennan, Fay* Demerling of RR 2, CIif•
ford, troop captain; Guide Linda Brers of RR 1, Fordwich;
Sharon Armstrong of RR 1, Fordwich, troop lieutenant;
Guide Nancy Dementia of RR 2, Clifford; Bernice Noble,
Gopha district commissioner of Palmerston; and Guide
Brenda Brears of RR 3, Palmerston. (Staff Photo)
JUNE 1949
A new telephone system came
into operation in Wingham last
week, when the magneto ex-
change that had been in effect in
this community for many years,
was cut off and immediately
replaced by a common battery
exchange. The first outgoing long
distance call to be connected
through the new board, was
placed by Thomas Fells who
officially opened the new service
by talking to his daughter, Miss
Doris Fells of Toronto, a well-
known former resident of this
community.
Superintendent of the hospital,
Mrs. I. E. Morrey, gave the
statistical report for the month of
May when the Board of Directors
of Wingham General Hospital
held their meeting. There were
135 anissions, 25 births, 4
deaths, 60 operations, 172 x-rays
and 44 out-patients treated.
Mrs. Jack Walker and Miss
Ruth Gannett' entertained at the
former's home on Patrick Street,
in honor of Miss Gwendolyn Cook,
whose marriage takes place on
Saturday.
1