The Wingham Advance-Times, 1974-11-28, Page 424,
ping from our
With municipal elections slated for next
MoIlday mrioat people are, hopefully, just a bit
11e conscious of the importance of their
responsibilities as voters. The widespread
tiny Made evident during the time left
open for nomination of candidates would not,
• hoWever, point to any new spirit of partici-
paitlon-
Each sepivate municipality has its own
problems and its own issues, but there is one
Over-riding question which virtually all
communities face, and that is the possibility,
even the probability of regional government
at some point in the future. How long it will
be before we come face-to-face with that
spectre only God and the elite guard of the
Ontario government can guess.
To condemn change simply because it
will differ from the past is stupid. Many of
the laws and regulations by which we are
supposed to govern ourselves are outdated
and should be rewritten. The pressing
question is whether or not the over-all solu-
tion lies in the sacrifice of our local councils
to a regional authority.
In those areas where regional govern-
ment has already been established we find
mixed reactions — favorable in the places
where grave problems had been created by a
lop -sided mix of rural and city development,
but much less favorable where rural consti-
tuencies predominate.
The only guidelines we have in this area
are the county school boards — and again
reactions to centralization are mixed. The
county boards of education have already
proven that in certain areas of administra-
tion and instruction they can provide a better
service than was the case when we had sepa-
rated boards for each,school. Even so, most
of the county boards have failed to make it
clear to the elector exactly where and when
such improvement over the older system
have been affected.
in Huron County, where school matters
have created fewer problems than in many
other counties, several of the weekly news-
papers have expressed concern. Chief criti-
cism is that the vital link of communication
between board _ members and the ,general
public is virtually non-existent a charge
with which we agree.
These papers point to the fact that after
a board member is elected there is no at-
tempt to report back to those who have given.
their seal of approval. In fact, the only way
the public can learn anything whatever
about board decisions is through the colurhns
of thelocal papers.
7 ' 4
t-
ands
The Goderich Signal -Star recently said:
"This county needs trustee candidates who
will do everything in their power to bring the
board to the people. They will visit the local
councils from time to time to make reports
and answer questions. They will call on their
local newspapers to inform staff there of
pending policy making, issues of local con-
cern or new decisions having special effect
on their ratepayers ... They will not sup-
press criticism, they will welcome it, thrive
on it, invite it."
Another danger signal in the develop-
ment of these big and very powerful bodies is
the tendency to discuss business, other than
that which is purely routine, in closed com-
Mittees from which the public, and thus
news reporters, are excluded.. It is true that
certain aspects of a board's discussions
should be held in private —those which deal
with personal aspects of an employee's be-
haviour, for example. But the frequent use of
committee discussion which cannot be pub-
lished creates an information gap between
the board and the public. Unfortunately most
people simply resign themselves to one more
phase of government they do not understand.
Readers of this column are aware that
we are slow to criticize the councils and
boards which bear the responsibility of ad-
ministering our public services. We believe
that they are trying to do their best for us
and that, since they are not professional
politicians, their errors of judgment are
innocent ones — the sort we would make
were we in their shoes.
When county school boards were first es-
tablished by provincial legislation it was
made clear that they were not answerable to
municipal councils in any way. Most boards
have been over -zealous in the protection of
their independent status. Only last week the
Bruce County board re -acted with indigna-
tion to a questionnaire from the consultants
who are studying the structure of local gov-
ernment in that county.
'Although boards of education should be
free to make their own decisions and set
their own policies it would be ludicrous to as-
sume that the, millions they spend have no
bearing on the over-all pattern of regional
development. ' Fierce independence is no
substitute for sound planning.
Until such time as centralized boards
and councils respond with proper sensitivity
to the right of the public to have full and com-
plete information, we are opposed to any
more centralization — be it local govern-
ment, hospitals or police forces.
Backed up to the wcill
A strange and frightening contradiction
has developed within the years since the
second world war. Our civilization has
reached heights' of • achievement never
dreamed of, even as• recently as the time of
our .parents' childhood. Man • has placed his
feet upon the moon, science has found the
cyre for diseases which scarred every.
family even 50 years ago — like polio and
tuberculosis; we can enjoy fresh fruits and
vegetables and eggs all year round. The list
of marvels is endless.
In those same years we have Ipst control
of our own society. Presidents are assassi-
nated; innocent people die by the hundreds
because a few fanatics make bombs; thou-
sands of airline passengers are terrorized
and some die at the hands of hijackers. Most
frightening of all, our own children have
made the streets of our big cities and some of
our towns unsafe for pedestrians after dark.
Momentarily we have sidestepped the
recurring tragedy of war, but all its ingre-
dients lie within the present energy crisis
and the failure of nations to comprehend the
vital need to share all resources, chiefly
food, so that the pressures of desperation
may be relieved.
Who can blame the people of Birming-
ham for wanting to spill the blood of Irish ex-
tremists after 18 of their friends and rela-
tives have been blown to pieces and over 200
are in hospital with serious injuries? On the
other hand, why has it taken more than five
centuries to find a peaceful solution to the
Irish problem and 2500 years for Turks and
Greeks to live together in Cyprus?
Such questions are, of course, merely
pointless cries in the darkness of civiliza-
tion's long nigh' `perhaps we are living
through that sig 'ss period before the
dawn — or so we hope.
Asking for the moon
Ontario's civil servants are, to say the
least; an ambitious lot. Pressing for wage in-
creases, they have declared they will stage
an illegal strike in January if their demands
are not met. And what are their demands?
No less than 61.5 per cent increase over their
present wages.
Along with many other unions which are
making similar, though less costly demands,
the civil servants are seeking a settlement
which would set the precedent for an
economic convulsion with repercussions in
every aspect of our daily lives. Witness, for
example, the desperate plight of Great Bri-
tain, where organized labor has brought a
proud nation to its knees and the brink of
ruin.
The attitude which says "I'll get mine
first" is understandable when inflation re-
duces the purchasing power of the pay
cheque dollar — but those who are so insis-
tent on looking after themselves have not
lived through a total economic depression, a
time when the average person faces not only
curtailment of his purchasing power, but ab-
ject want of even the necessities of life.
If a 60 per cent increase became a pat-
tern for wage settlements small businesses
by the thousands would founder and unem-
ployment would reach such proportions that
we would be hurled right back to the condi-
tions of the mid -thirties.
This is an age of greed — excused on
every hand by the pressures of inflation. It is
a disease which extends all the way from the
Arab states to the governments of the west-
ern nations. Unchecked it will spell catastro-
phe for a l l of us.
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wongar Bros. Limited
Barry Wenger, President Robert O. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Member — Canadian Community Newspapers Assoc. • Ontario Weekly Newspapers Assoc.
Subscription $10.00 per year.
Second Chess Mall Registration No. 0821 Return postage guarantee
Six months $5.25 To United)States $12.50
TQ1IY$ CILD
BYHELENALL
111111110111111.1Ken looks all dressed up to have: bis picture taken, but this. 10 -
year -old is often seen that way. Ken is particular about his
appearance. That appearance is p4easant, as the -picture shows.
Ken is a slice good looking healthy boy with dark eyes, brown
hair and fair skin. He wears glasses for short-sightedness.
Ken recently moved to a farM foster home where he is
discovering a whole new life that he hadn't known when living in
the city. Ile loves the farm, the outdoor life, gardening,the
animals (he is especially fond et dogs) and says he hopes his
adoption home will be a farm.
Ken's foster parents find him, co-operative and helpful. He is
especially kind to small children.
Ken enjoys sports. He plays hockey and badminton and other
games when there are enough people around to make up teams.
He tikes swimming and enjoys camping and is fond of music.
Ken is not a top student but is With his age group in grade Five
on a trial basis. If this proves too difficult, he may have to repeat
some or all of Grade Four.
To inquire about adopting Ken, please write to Today's' Child,
Ministry of Community and Social Services, Box.888, Station K,
Toronto M4P 2112. For general adoption information, consult
your local Children's Aid Society.
fl
4r WL
wQ+�iiJ.�YTYFCs'
SAN OF CEf$BRATION8
A fat of Mud this have been
said by poets, preachers and
playwrights about the month of
November. We all know that
dreaded feeling that comes with
the darker days:
No sun --no .Moon!
No morn—no noon!
No dawn—no dusk --no proper
time of' day.
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no
healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any mem-
ber--- •
No shade, no shine, no butterflies,
no bees,
No fruits,'no flowers, no leaves,
no birds—
NOVEMBER!
Thomas Hood's words will find
an echo in many a heart. But
November isn't all gloom. Indeed
for many folk -particularly the
young 'ens it's\ season of cele-
bration.
First there's Hallovfe'en.
Hallowe'en or All Hallows Eve as
it's more correctly called falls on
the eve before the First of
November when the Christian
Church celebrates •not just one
particular Saint . but all Saints.
November 1st used to be called
"All Hallows" or "All Saints
Day" and that is why the evening
before is called "All Hallows
Eve" or "Hallowe'en". But today
the celebrations have little to do
with saints or churches.
Lilian McCrea in her little book
Calendar of Stories reminds us
that this is the season that is as-
sociated with, fairies and witches.
Fairies were good folk who did all
ews Items fr
NOVEMBER 192/ • a
Thanks 'to the prompt meas•O
ures taken by the local' Mord of
Health', and co-operation ons .13e -
half of the citizens, an outbreak- of
a very mild form of scarlet fever
in town. has ,peen effectively
checked.
An important business deal to
the farming community went
through, when A. T. Nelson, on
behalf of the United Farmers Co -
Operative Co., bought W. T.
Coombes' creamery interests.
The UFCC will now look after the
patrons of the Bluevaie Cream-
ery.
His Worship, Mayor Fells, has
tossed his hat into the municipal
ring and will again be a candidate
for the town's chief office in 1928.
No other name has been definite-
ly brought out but it is believed
that Councillor Haney has de-
signs on the mayoralty.
J. S. McLean, T. C. King, Dr.
Redmond, Dr. Irwin, C. P. Smith,
R. Vanstone, J. A. Mills, Dr. Ken-
nedy and H. B. Elliott were re-
elected directors of the Wingham
General hospital Board at its an-
nual meeting. •
Fry and Blackhall Limited,
successors to Walker and Clegg
in the manufacture of living -
room furniture here, who have
successfully operated in the old
Walker and Clegg Factory for the
past six and a half years, are now
compelled to seek more com-
modious quarters for their grow-
ing business. They now have
forty hands on their payroll.
At the regular meeting. of the
Lebanon Chapter No. 84, Alex
Reid, T. McK. Smith, R. H. Gib-
son, Harry McGee and J. W. Mc-
Kibbon were elected officers.
Miss Dorothy Champ, night
operator at Listowel Bell Tele-
phone, placed a call to Red Deer,
Alberta, 2,360 miles distant, the
conversation being very distinct.
0-0—p
NOVEMBER 1939 I
A pretty wedding was solem-
nized at the home of the bride's
parents, when Mabel Mullen was
kinds of goodheir
dl,
happiest time of activity was
summerthne when they danced
among thesunbeam in the
meadows and played . and,
pranced the live -long day. TheY
were sad at the app oas of
winter --November 1. MST as we
be sad today. Bat winter was
the joyful season for wig*
Witches were wicked folk who
often rode on broomsticks and
cdutd work evil spells. To ward
off the wicked witches people
wore charms and sang songs to
frighten the witches. away.The
festivities were associated with
Winter's Eve and were taken
over by the church, and are still
part of our folklore to this very
day.
Another season of celebration
falls . on November 5—Guy
Fawkes Day. On this day chil-
dren celebrate the abortive at-
tempt to blow up the Houses of
Parliament during the reign of
King James I in 1605. On that day
the plotters led by Robert
Catesby planned to put paid to the
king at the opening of parliament
and to start an uprising in the
Midlands. But the plot was dis-
covered when the vaults under
parliament were searched. And
Guy Fawkes, reputedly a York-
shire soldier of fortune, who was
in charge of the barrels of gun-
powder was summarily dealt
with. Today effigies of ° Guy
Fawkes are burned on blazing
bonfires, and rockets and fire-
works are let off in memory of the
barrels of gunpowder that thank-
fully didn't explode.
A fhe tested With Guy
Fawkes day is often repeated in
.words suct4 as these;
"Let int 're ,ember the irifth of
November—
Gunpowder treason and plot,
1 see no good why ►*
pawtler teen
Should ever be wholly forgot!"
. It's doubtful if It ever will be,
But Guy Fawkes Day isn't just
celebrated in the, British Isles,
Indeed we've just received a
report that in far off New Zealand
when the kids• were celebrating
the festival a rocket went off.and
inadvertently lodged in a by=
standee's ear: She had toll. be
"rushed to an Auckland hospital
where the surgeons worked with
feverish haste to remove the
missile. That's one Guy Fawkes
night she'll never wholly forget!
Peace Day or Remembrance
Sunday (the Sunday nearest
November 11) is another occa-
sion for celebration. On this day
people in England and Ireland
and throughout the world
remember and ' give thanks for all
those who fought and fell in two
world wars. Ideally this should
also be a season of dedication
when we all decide to be more
worthy of the sacrifice that
others made on our behalf:
"They shall grow not old as we
that are left grow old. Age shat)
not weary them nor the years
condemn. At the going down of
the sun and in the morning we
will remember them."
And this is a remembrance in
which we and you together share.
mOId Files
united in "marriage to Frank E.
Madill of Wingham. They Will re-
side in ' 'Wingham where°` the
groom is on the staff of the Wing -
ham High School.
A Red Cross society has . been
formed in Belgrave. Named of-
ficers were Charles R. Coultes,
Mrs. A. Manning,. Rev. J. B.
Townsend and C. Wade.
Wingham will not have an elec-
tion as all offices have been filled
by acclamation. J. H. Crawford is
Mayor and R. S. Hetherington is
Reeve. Councillors are Murray
Johnson, Frank Sturdy, Walter
VanWyck, R. H. Lloyd, J. J.
Evans and E. Wilkinson.
Lorne Gardner and Charlie Lee
were named Public School table
tennis champions.
L. R. Blackwood, who ' has been
manager of the local branch -of
the Canadian Bank of Commerce
for the past five years, has re-
ceived notice that he is being
transferred to the Sarnia branch.
The new manager, George
Northwood, has been in charge of
the Brussels branch ..for .the past
three hears.
Quick -action on -the :part of a:
few early • arrivals at Sunday
School on Sunday morning un-
doubtedly saved the United
Church at Fordwich from being
burned to the ground. Fire was
caused from an overheated furn-
ace but a few pails of water soon
had `it out.
Stanley Dennis of Ashfield has
bought the farm owned by Jim
Halliday on the sixth of Turn -
berry.
0-0-0
NOVEMBER 1949
One hundred and twenty-two
adults have enrolled in the night .
classes at the Wingham District
High School. The classes in sew-
ing, shop, typing and bookkeep
ing are very popular. There is
still room for students interested
in the agriculture . and leather -
craft classes.
On Sunday morning the Rt.
Rev. G. N. Luxton, D. D., was
A%%Hifi. TO UT HOME FNM DORM% `fit. elkEth reu. v .
present r at St. Paul's Anglican
Church when the Bishop of Huron
made hid, first episcopal `visit.
Rev. E. O. Lancaster ptbsented
the following candidates for con-
firmation: Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur
Hogg, Mrs. Kenneth Johnson,
Mrs. Jos. Marshall, Glen Golley
and Jack Salter.
Congratulations are extended
to Miss Alice Laidlaw, a graduate
of the Wingham High School who
has won a Huron County Scholar-
ship. She is now attending the
University of Western Ontario in
London.
0 0--0
NOVEMBER 1960
Ten student teachers from
Stratford Teachers' College are
spending this week at Wingham
Public School. Among the teach-
ers are Mary Elliott of Wingham
and Paul Higgins of Wroxeter.
Thirteen district ladies entered
a rifle shoot, under the sponsor-
ship of the Wingham Sportsmen's
Association, at the club range.
Top score was posted by Mrs.
Jack Henderson who received the
Capt.,T. W. Platt Trophy.
Tenders for Wingham's liquor
store, which have been pending
for the past month, have been let
to the Ross Urquhart Construc-
tion Co. of London. The firm will
Start construction shortly.
The Beaver Lumber Co. Ltd.
started initial work on a new
building on its property on Jose-
phine Street last week.
The Beaver Lumber Co. Ltd.
started initial work on a new
building on its property on Jose- 10
phine Street last week. The new
structure is being built im-
mediately south of the present
building. It will measure 38 by 66
feet.
Harold Elliott was elected
president of the milk producers of
the community when they held
their annual meeting. Other of-
ficers are William Robertson,
Sparling Johnston, Wiliam Mun-
dell, W. J. Peacock, Charles
Johnston and Vance Baker.
Wig -wags have been installed
at the C.P.R. crossing on the
main street of Gorrie, and will be
a good safety measure.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Brciiphy
moved to their new home, the
former Mrs.•Joseph Wilson home
on Shuter Street.
•
•
9
Bridge results
The Howell system was used.
First, Mrs. A. R. DuVal and Miss
Y. McPherson; second, Mrs. J. 11.
Crawford and Mrs. F. Forgie;
third, J. 11. Crawford and L.
George; fourth, O. ilaselgrove
and A. Wilson.
0