HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1975-09-11, Page 13•
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Public business in
Lae week thIS column commented On
the decision of the HurOn. County COMBO to
discuss municipal restructuring in a closed
session from which the public, including the
press ea, the public's repreSentetive, was
excluded. We expressed the opinion that the'
• Closed session was excusable only if the
question of restructuring, was being dealt
with for the purpose of providing informa-
tion to county councillors.
That meeting was not a study session. it
was a full-fledged decision-making meeting
of county, council, at which The memberS
voted against two proposals for the amal-
gamation of some of the towns, villages and
townships within the county.
A press conference was Called for Tues-
day, a time of the week which made it im-
possible for most of the county's newspapers
to report in their current issues, but of
course, made it very simple for any and all
interested dailies to "beat" their weekly
counterparts by a full seven days.
The press conference received a report
of the outcome of the previous Thursday's
session. Newsmen and women were told that
no change would be made in the present
county structUre of municipal government.
They were told what alternative plans had
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been PrOpOSed by the Restructuring Com.
h•mittee and.that either had been approved.
What both press and public were not IOW
was which counc!llorsi fevered Change in
the present system, or whatWere The argu-
ments for and against the proposals. The
roidents and taxpayers of the county have
been left to accept the decision of a small
body of men in a matter which Is of gravest
concern to every resident, without •ever
having been infbrmed of the discussions
which preceded that decision.
Yes, of course county councillors are
elected to make decisions for their constitu-
ents. However, some decisions are much
more important than others—and restruct-
uring—to be or not to be—is of paramount
importance. Its consequences will affect the
county for decades to come. It is public busi-
ness of the first order—a question which
should have been disclosed in every detail,
with ample time allowed for public reaction
to the proposals.
A few—a very few—aspects of council
and board deliberations must be discussed
behind closed doors. But those same closed
doors suggest, in instances of such wide-
spread concern, that elected councillors ate
afraid to let their constituents know where
the councillors stand.
They don't read history
The Civil Servants' Association of On-
tario must be trying to set some sort of rec-
ord for short-sightedness. Their present,
campaign carried Out through radio and
newspaper advertising, claiming that the
Davis government has robbed them of their
civil rights to participate in an election cam-
paign is not only misleading—it is stupid.
Ontario law says that employees of the
provincial government cannot take an active
part in an election campaign --for a very
good reason. There is certainly no rule
against civil servants voting any way they
want to, but the rule against active pre-elec-
tion work was placed on the statute books for
their own protection. It is a law which has
been in force for 60 or 70 years—not one
passed by the Davis government.
If provincial employees were permitted
to get right out there and boost fqr the candi-
date of their choice, it would bea simple
matter for the party elected to quietly de-
cide, a few months after the election, that
those who tried to defeat the winners should
be removed from their jobs. If civil servants
restrict themselves to exercising their fran-
chise and keep their political views to them-
selves they can remain a neutral force whose
task is to administer the affairs,of the prov-
ince efficiently regardless of which party is
in power.
In its present very costly advertising
program the .CSA0 is, of course, leaving it-
self wide open to,the charge that it is indeed
violating the law. The very wording of the
advertisements. accuses the Davis govern-
ment, of infringing its liberties, andthus
urges voters to defeat the PC party.
The Civil Servanfs' Association is a very
large organization, manipulated by skilled,
professional, union people. We all know civil
servants who are neither as.arrogant nor as
short-sighted as their association execu-
tives. It is high time these more moderate
and intelligent people reclaimed the reins of •
control in their own union.
Seeking some answers
On Thursday of last week the Federation
of Ontario Naturalists sponsored a press con-
ference at Queen's Park in Toronto, at which
time they posed some questions which are of
grave concern ball residents of this prov-
ince. The organizations represented at the
conference included Algonquin Wild Lands
League, Canadian Environmental Law As-
sociaticin, Canadian Nature Federation,
Energy Probe, Federation of Ontario
Naturalists, National and Provincial Parks
Association of Canada, Sierra Club (Ontario
hapter) and Pollution Probe at the Univer-
ity of 'Toronto.
Here are the problems this group of or-
• ganizations wanted brought sharply to the
attention of all parties campaigning for
election in Ontario:
Pickering Airport—"A classic case of
bureaucracy gone mad. It is neither wanted
nor needed. Is this wasteful project going to
be forced on us anyway?"
Occupational and Environmental
Health—"The media is filled with horror
stories about the plight of Native People and
• industrial workers. Clearly, these must not
be treated as brushfires. What programs'are
proposed to attack the underlying prob-
lems?"
Parks—"Despite recent expansion, On-
tario's parklands continue to be over-
crowded. Yet, funding for the acquisition of
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new parks is- being slashed year by year.
Short-sighted expedience often prevails in
the parks we do have. We still see such
totally inappropriate activities as logging in
Algonquin and Lake Superior Parks."
Solid Waste—"There is not a municipa-
lity in Ontario that does not have a waste
disposal problem. Yet there are real provin-
cial incentives tobolster recycling pro-
grams. Where is an end to such ridiculous
waste as non -returnable cans and bottles?"
Energy Conservation -7 -"The need for
energy conservation is blatantly obvious.
Where are the amended building codes, the
new transit schemes, the innovative pro-
grams which would ease the problem?"
Noise—"Th province for years has
been waffling on the question of noise
control. First it promised regulations. Now it
appears to have shunted the problem to the
municipalities. We would like to know when
this problem is going to be solved by real ac-
tion:"
Environmental Legislation—"We have
seen some excellent progress here, the En-
vironmental Assessment Act being an ex-
ample. Yet, major problems must still be
overcome. Without access to information
and to the courts citizens will remain at the
mercy of exploitation and bureaucratic
whim."
etter spread it around
A few weeks ago Natural Resources
Minister Leo Bernier announced that some
$500,000 had been set aside by the provincial
government to help various municipalities
develop waterfront facilities. The money, he
said could be used for such things as facili-
ties for fishing and boat launching, moor-
ings, parking and service needs.
The $500,000 is available this year to mu-
nicipalities on the lower Great Lakes for
land acquisition and capital development.
The program will be carried out as a part-
nership with the federal government, under
which a municipality could receive 70 per
cent of its capital outlay and a percentage of
future operating costs.
The minister was entirely correct when
he said that much of the present lake shore-
line is inaccessible to the public. He added
Member
Subsc?ip
that the program will be carefully
monitored with a view to extending ilto com-
munities on inland waters.
That last observation is the one which
makes good sense. Thousands of vacationers
have given up the fight to find camping, fish-
ing or boating space on the major lakes and
have turned to those beautiful parks along
our inland rivers. Towns such as Wingham
and Mount Forest have done commendable
work to provide pleasant parks along the
Maitland and Saugeen Rivers, but the
exhorbitant cost of any major improvements
to those waterways has been a serious hold-
up. The program announced by Mr. Bernier
could do wonders for the full development of
outdoor facilities which, in many ways, are
just as attractive as those along the shores of
the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay.
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE.TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. LimItad
Barry Wenger, President Robert 0. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
0
— Canadian Community Newspapers Assoc.
tion $10.00 per year. Six months $5.25
Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821
Ontario Weekly Newspapers Assoc.
To United States $12.50
Return postage guaranteed
47
A page
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editorial opinion Thur
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78 Alfred St. WO
Winghatti
Sept. 6, 1975
Dear Sir:
Dr. K. McGregor's letter to
your newspaper dated August
12th and which you published .in
the September 4th issue strikes a
familiar chord in my own
memory and concern.
Much of what he advocates re
identification of intoxicated
drivers and anonymity has been
expressed by myself in a per-
sonal letter to the Hon. Gordon
Carton two years ago while he
JAMPAe InielSter ,OL.Transporta.-
tion and Highways in Ontario.
Needless to say, he replied to the
effect that ridicule in public is not
advisable, since the offender
would be labelled, even though he
or she "turned over n new leaf,"
and drove responsibly after his
(her) penalty to society had
fxpired. Much of the blame must
be laid at the feet of the present
government who in their zeal to
"modernize" liquor laws saw fit
to lower the drinking age to 18.
Any responsible parent or
citizen must realize what tragic
results on our highways- through
teenage drunk driving has oc-
curred. from this nearsighted
policy.
An 18 -year-old, even though
capable of defending his home-
land in time of war (where _he
usually inflicts damage on an
adversary sanctioned by a state -
of -War) can hardly be expected
while still somewhat p,sycho-
logically and emotionally imma-
ture, to properly handle the privi-
lege of driving freely across our
province, especially when he has
exercised his right to "have a few
beers" as well. Drinking and
driving still do not mix, and even
the toll among supposed "adult"
drivers merits a thorough review
of our present laws regarding
"drinking while driving". I agree
we must identify these menaces
to our own safety while we travel
on highways and by -ways and we
should pressure whichever
government is in office after
September 18th to review this
serious situation.
A minimum punishment for
drunk driving would in m
opinion forfeit the privilege to use
our highways for a minimum of
one year, with mandatory attend
ance at driving clinics and at
tachment to a local police force
officer who would monitor that
person's behaviour while under
suspension; with the object of
assessing the likelihood of the
same problem occurring as soon
as the suspension is removed
A second violation should result
in a minimum 5 -year blin on
driving. Publicity should he
mandatory so that all offenders
are easily identified and recog
nized for their harmful potential
in the Ontario newspapers sery
ing the area in which the offender
resides. If he moves from the dis
trict the names goes to wherever
he later resides and this informa
tion is passed along via the ap
propriate police jurisdiction
If the government we elect
cannot act in some effective waN
(and soon) the earnage will only
be that much &eater sooner or
later.
Yours truly
E. C. Beard
*ow 'TITANIC?
s to the Editor
Dear Editor:
Your issue of Sept. 4 containing
an article, "Maitland Authority
Planning Major Expansion Pro-
gram" and the letter from Andy
McBride wereof much interest to
me' and I presume many others.
First the mention of the banquet,
Sept. 24 and the annual meeting
in November. No place or time
mentioned for either. This is like
someone telling you they are
taking -You on a blind date with
someone you don't know, to
somewhere unknown.
As for expansion, this seems to
irtiAtipical of all government busi-
ness of the last few years. Mr.
McBride mentions the almost
near tragedy of the new dam in
Wingham beingWashed out again
in August because of the stop logs
not being removed in time.
' This was the very reason the
dam was washed out at Gorrie in
May, 1974. The stop logs were not
removed, even though warned by
local people of the danger.
In the first place it was an
engineer's blunder that facilities
were not made available to
remove these logs in case of an
emergency. The authority repre-
sentatives should have seen that
this was incorporated in the
plans. However, this was not
done and today we have a real
eyesore in the village.
Before the authority took over
the ConumnOty C3ub had estab-
lished a beautiful community
park that was used almost every
summer day by people from far
and near for family and com-
munity picnics. They would
number in the hundreds. There
were nice bathing and swimming
facilities below the dam and
boating facilities above the dam.
These were all established by the
TODAY S CHILD
BY HELEN ALLEN
Bobby, 12, doesn't want to move anymore. Through no fault of
his, he has had to move twice from foster, homes where he felt
secure. Now he very much wants to be adopted so he will have a
family he can stay with — for sure.
Indian and white in descent. Bobby is a handsome lad with
brown hair, very dark eyes, medium complexion and a
disposition to match his pleasant smile. He is in excellent health.
A sports -minded lad, Bobby plays hockey whenever and
wherever, he can. He enjoys camping, swimming and bike
riding. Though not an aggressive boy, he likes rough games like
wrestling. He is looking forward to joining army cadets in the
fall.
Bobby was in grade six last year but because he was behind in
the basics he will be repeating that grade. However his teacher
said he showed great improvements and she found him en-
thusiastic and eager to learn.
Bobby hopes to maintain some contact with an older sister
who is not being adopted. His winning personality will make him
an asset to a family
To inquire about adopting Bobby, please write to Today's
Child, Ministry of Community and Social Services, Box 888,
Station K. Toronto M4P 2H2. In your letter please tell something
of your present family and your way of life.
For general information, consult your local Children's Aid
Society.
community before the Authority
twit over. The dam was estab-
lished over 100 years ago and was
the source of power for the flour
and grist. mil which.Was`built in
1867 and still -stands, though not in
use now.
What have we now under the
Authority that is talking of ex-
pansion?
A washed out dam behind
which is a massive growth of
weeds (which possibly the weed
inspector should investigate). A
park that is seldom, if ever used.
I went down one *nice summer
Sunday in August and saw two
cars and six people where once
there were hundreds. A.stagnant
pool with bloodsuckers in abund-
ance. Some children have had to
have these removed from their
bodies. The change houses and.
outhouses have been removed.
The parking lot has been a mud
puddle all year and it is possible
to get stuck or stranded there at
any time. What was once a
beauty spot where people enjoyed
themselves is a disgrace to the
village and the Authority.
Rather 'than expand we suggest
that they reconstruct and rebuild
something they inherited from
the hard work and efforts of the
people of this community.
In an article in the London Free
Press, Aug. 29, coming from the
office of The Maitland VCA
regarding this expansion, men-
tion is also made of a proposed
museum to be operated by them.
We have one of the best museums
in Ontario at Goderich now and
one being established at Wing -
ham. Any other being established
in the district would be a duplica-
tion of what we already have and
a waste of taxpayers' money.
Mention is made of land
donations to the MVCA. Who
would want to give this authority
land and expect it to be main-
tained, when property they
inherited, like the facilities at
Gorrie, are allowed to deteriorate
to the point of ugliness and use-
lessness? Instead of expansion let
us have reconstruction and ef-
ficiency of management and
have something to show for our
fax dollars. We in Howick pay
over $4,000 a year and have less
than nothing.
el' Yours sincerely
Elmer J. Farrish,
Gorrie, Ont.
EWPS has four
new teachers
BELGRAVE — The East
Wawanosh Public School opened
on September 2 with an enrol-
ment cif 195 pupils with 17 in
kindergarten.
The new teachers are Mrs.
Linda Campbell, half time,
Grade 8; Mrs. Nancy Daer,
Grade 6; Mrs. Caroline Lentz,
French; and Wayne Nicholls,
Grades 4-5.
The Nursery Centre which is
jointly sponsored by East
Wawanosh Township Council and
local parents will be conducted on
a part time basis at the school.
Miss Joyce Nethery is the in-
structor. Joyce graduated in the
spring from Fanshawe College in
Early Childhood Education.
Libr
Drugs At My
IA -Metter
Qa Oct. 6s, 190, 207Yeat/Old
,Plane Linkletter jumped to her
death from the window of her 6th
storey apartmentwhile under
influence of ISP., Since that t
her father has been investigating
all the aspect( of the OrutIent-
ture. The boOk analyzes" the
dilemmas which stem from 4tvg
abuse and alsolOggestAP°F".4!)*
solutions as well as prow
helpful, informed advice.
. .
The Proteus Pact by Geoffrey St,
George ti
-This is the story of a toplee-
ret Nazi armaments project dur-
ing11rgliirsillteedinfirsacostwvYrrldFtla°tInf hl7isilwlollecWtafarerl.
the Germans involves
siave-
labour he attempts' to contact
British intelligence. However,
London must first be convincedof
his sincerity befog his desperate
messages will be acted On,
Turtle Diary by Russell Hoban -
Two lonely strangers,
and Neaera, visit the rim and are *.
bothered by the small space the
sea turtles have. They dream of
setting free the turtles and them-
selves. Their diaries record the
details which eventually lead,
them all to the open sea.
FOR CHILDREN:
Eddie's Valuable Property by
Carolyn Haywood , . •
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Although Eddie is Lised to cop-
ing with just "about anything,
even he is startled when: his
father announces that the family
is moving. How he manages his
departure, complete with *310-
able property he has collected; '
and establishes himiert, in
strange surroundings is the
theme of this latest Addie' story.
The Mystery of the Ivory Fhann
& The Signof the 'Twisted Can-
dles by Carolyne Keene
Both these mysterystories
feature famous sleuth Nancy
Drew and her- two pals George
and Beth. The threerdetectives
get involved with kidnapping a
young boy and learn a lot about
antiques before they solve the
latest puzzles.
Dr. Alex Strong
attends seminar
Dr. Alex Strong of Wingham,
recently attended a nutritional
seminar conducted by Animal
Nutrition, Inc. at Belleville,
Illinois. ,
Dr. Strong was one of 32 veter-
inary practitioners from across
the nation who attended this
meeting. This Seminar outlined
the application of nutritional
fundamentals to improve Herd
Health Programs.
Upon returning to his local
practice, Dr. Strong said a new
trend in animal nutrition had
developed, far superior to any
previously thought possible. He
DR. ALEX STRONG
stated that the role of a large
animal practitioner today is in
sharp contrast to his former role
of being called only when an
animal was sick or injured. The
difference today is his interest in
applied nutrition. as a means of
improving productive efficiency.
Recognizing the long existing
need for progress in applied
nutrition, Dr. Strang predicts
new achievements for the large
animal practitioner, Whereby the
veterinarian will forge the links
in the chain of reproduction,
growth, health and productivity.
He is now equipped to consult
with his clients and offer them
the benefit of this new program.
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