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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1956-12-06, Page 11` DAY, MCBMiikrt i U&i, •W i G Goderich Junior THE 09DERICH T @ PA T ha b►er of ce Urges You to Vote As You Please, Newcomers Spark Contest For Six Seats On Council (Continued from page 1) and the mayoralty, said he would seek re-election as a councillor. Said he: "I honestly think it's time the two Johns (Messrs. Huck - ins and Graham) were stepping aside and leaving room for younger men. I think I'll let the two Johns fight it out. If they want to scrap and let you people decide which one of them will be mayor, that's all right with me."_ Councillor Robertson said that he himself had decided not to con- test any higher office this year because he did not wish to inter- fere with the plans of Messrs. Fisher and Donnelly. But, he added, "This will be the last year I will be a councillor. If I come to Town Council a year 'hence, it will be for one of the other departments of ToWn Coun- cil." Councillor Robertson said he did not agree with the pay-as-you-go policy of Councillor Donnelly, who • }s- chairman of finance tails year. Major road work and the Court House Park project 'combined to add three mills to the tax rate this --"ItareVir'Crinteillor Robertsoii. ere , .Ditkeentioses. alines/4-1v issued,-fo E tended, so future citizens will have a chance to hat-, pay for the facilities that they will enjoy. Councillor Robertson commend - ,ed the lady whose "letter !to the editor" appeared recently in the Signal -Star. She had suggested that school board candidates be given an opportunity to speak earlier at nomination meetings. It was, pointed out that many mem- bers of the audience have usually departed before the board candid- ates have a chance co speak. School Expenditures The school board actually has "a bigger say" in spending money than does council, Councillor Rob- ertson reminded the audience. He pointed out that council has little control over the spending of a large portion of the money collect- ed in taxes every year. Councillor Robertson noted that the school board has not been in accord with council over the old collegiate building. Said he: "The question arises why didn't the town turn owner- ship over to the public school board." He said he had heard three dele- gations from the board, but, he said, "None of them gave us a just reason, as far as I am concerned, why we should turn it over to them." At this .point, Don Aberhart, school board chairman. stood up in the audience and asked to be allowed to speak. After some dis- cussion as to whether or not he was out of order, the 411dience voted that he be heard. "We feel Vve ` ro. ; safe e e' n e or. For : 13 . - d to a 'i.-ce a g�`eeai - jt,el3ter.Jrarr441,4be seboro atlfair.. ;'chi's, 4he :calculated that a p rsi??a; ea in order that th jegple we to the school board." ����� w� itTd spay $300 in principalplu.� is still unsettled, Mr Aberhart said in a brief review of other problems faced by the school board. Councillor Donnelly Councillor James Donnelly de- fended the pay-as-you-go policy of nutinicipal financing. The town's debenture debt is now about $1,200,000. That amounts to a $200 «mortgage for each of the town's 6,000 residents, he said. The town's 1957 budget will in - elude over $47,000 for interest alone, he warned. This is equal to nine mills "for money that wasn't paid ibefore." He maintained that it is wiser and safer to pay for projects out of the current year's budget, ex11 sept for large capital expenditures clike the hospital wing. Councillor Donnelly indicated that he did not necessarily agree with 'Mayor ,Buskins' Statement that no increase in taxes seems likely. . Nat only will the town soon be called upon to start paying for the new hospital wing, but there is a possibility that more money will be needed to raise the salaries of public school teachers, he. noted. "The burden on the- taxpayer has gone as far as it can go;" said Councillor Donnelly. "The money must eofne—and I think it will come—from a re -distribution of federal and provincial taxes." Also looming in the future is a new water systems -which may ctist Two sections of the attendance at the nomination meeting S -S Classified Ad for the Town of Goderich at the Town Hall last Friday evening are shown above. Both pictures were taken towards the back of the hall, many seats being vacant at the front. Judging by the expressions on the faces of the ratepayers, however, the remarks of the speakers were listened to with considerable interest. S.S. Photo by R.H. Statements From Your Candidates MAYOR HUCIKINS REEVE J. H. GRAHAM (Continued from page 1) (Continued from page 1) twined concerning the movement,with his Council? Atter all, the of new industry. There is no doubt people elect eight other men to in my mind that if the present Council to look after these affairs, clic of sendingtoo. 'policy .out someone +to I Anything that isn't finished this interview the industrialists who are contemplating expanding or building new plants is maintained, we are sure to secure our share of the expanding progress for the tention will be given to any mat - Province of Ontario, as predicted tern concerning industries, new or by the Ontario Department of Plan- old. ' No one is more interested in ning and Development. Based on the town's future prosperity than statistics over the past sten years they predict that by 1967 Ontario I am. will have a population of 9,000,000 In the past, you have perhaps with its attendant progress and heard Mr. Huckins make reference prosperity. We cannot permit our to the prettiest town in Canada." affairs togo into a period of stag- Such words are fine, and they are p g finer when followed by action that nation. Either we go ahead or slip produces results you can actually back. If we are to secure our see But some ratepayers recall share of this assured expansion that Goderich was "the prettiest and security, we rapt have men town in Canada" even beffore John Of vision to administer our affairs Huckins 'became mayor. for us. As for myself, most of you have year will most certainly be at- tended to by the 1957 Council, without delay and no matter who is elected Mayor. Immediate at - Those of us who offer our time some ,knowledge of cry record in and, servtiee in piublic office must the !public service. As in the past, -I will always strive to do my best dl�.f+��thaxq t1»a •4' - ' Jo" +w w p . . d This .would eliminate complica- substantial interest, over the years tions in connection with insurance until the project is paid. matters, said he. The Ontario De Regarding the dispute over the partment of Education would also old collegiate building, Councillor be more favorable to expenditures on the building if the school board owned the building, he contended. He urged ratepayers to use their influence to help convince Council that the transfer is wise. The matter of teachers' salaries Vote JOHN GRAHAM AS � y} Mayor for 1957 sm w. s MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE A MERRY ONE AND THE NEW YEAR THE MOST HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS YET. V 0 T E V 0 T E SUPPORT A PROGRAM OF INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION AND FUTURE PROSPERITY REELECT Mayor John E. Huckins Donnelly reviewed the reasons which the board' gave in making its request to Council. "To my mind," he commented, "those aren't adequate reasons for turn- ing the school over to the board." ' He found that the board would not receive any additional grants if it owned the school. Deputy -Reeve DeputyJReeve Fisher, chairman of public works, reviewed the 1956 program of re -surfacing and main- tenance carried out on Goderic streets. Due to re -surfacing, the Squar and highway No. 8 from the tow limits to the Square are now i 'buring itte's honored me a has been my intense desire to make "The Prettiest Town in Can- ada" the most desirable town in Canada in which to live and raise a family. I know you will agree that there have been more changes in our town during the last' six years than.in any comparable time on record. ` And this despite the fact that things are, perhaps, a little quiet at the present time. Please, if a stranger stops to talk to you on the street, and wants to know how you like your town, always be a good salesman. Tell him it is the best town in h Canada. The stranger may be an -industrialist making a survey of e our town with a view to establish- ing a new plant. In asking you to re-elect me as Ends Cat - astrophe As a result of a classified advertisement he placed in the Signal -Star, F. E. Cote, Regent street, found there are, appar- ently, more lost cats around Goderich than he ever realized. Placing an ad in the "Lost" column of the issues of Novem- ber 22 and 29, telling of the two cats he lost, Mr. Cote had both cats returned as a result of the ad. One was found near the Vanstone farm on the Bayfield road and the other near the Fina Service Station. Both cats had marks on them as if they had been bitten by a dog. Both cats were brought back by persons who had seen Mr. Cote's advertisement in the Signal -Star. The ad was tow run a third time but Mr. Cote had it cancelled after his cats were found. Mr. Cote says" -tie is still getting dozens of calls from people who have felt they ,found his lost cats. "There must be hundreds of lost cats • around Goderich," mused Mr. Cote. 0 0 0 The population of the Yukon Territory in 1951 was only one- third of -its population in 190-1. ix years you havetry atrrne'ca7rpaylerb- �iiack a`nd °forii to "wheedle" an s dour ° mayor it There is only one thing that I agreement out of Council. excellent condition, he said. If the same amount of re -surfacing is carried out for the next six or !seven years, then all the major hard -top roads in Goderich will be in good condition, he suggested The deputy -reeve reported saving of, $2,600 this year in th maintenance of the town's !s major vehicles. The cost of ope atin.g the grader is practically ni he said, due toethe provincial sub sidy. He thanked the local PUur for its co-operation ding th year. .Touching briefly on the int trial picture, he made a plea fo citizens to !give their whole -hearse support at every opportunity to th town's older industries, not just t prospective new industries. Peter S. MacEwan, one of th younger nominees for Council p mised: "If elected, I will do in in the best interests of th town." While he admitted he h not had previous experience i Council, he said that he has bee engaged ,in industrial promotio work. He is a vice-president Mid -Western Ontario Developmen Association. Councillor Jahn Vincent, wh has been a member of Town Coun cil for five years, reviewed th work of the parks committee, of which ,he is chairman. The mittee was in charge of the work arried out in Court House Park his year. J. A. Wilkinson, who said he was willing to run for Council, tated: "I have no bones to pick your mayor, I feel I have the education, the experience and a willingness to give all .my time to make "The Prettiest Town in Can- ada," the most attractive town in Canada and most beloved. Help a me to help you by returning me e ; to the office of mayor for 1957. fx Your obedient servant, r_ JOHN E. HUCKINS. 1, e us- d e 0 e ro- e as n n n of 0 e coart c t with the Town Council though I have criticized them someti:mes." He said it was .the democratic privilege of anyone to seek elec- tion if that person felt he or she !might be able to do some things bettedesthan some of those now serving 'the public. Another of the younger nom- inees, James A. Bisset, said: "What I lack in the field of municipal affairs, I can compensate for in enthusiasm and regular attendance at council meetings." He added that the elected representatives t, Gcderich must be alert to cap- ture Goderich's fair share of the progress and prosperity which this province ifi destined to enjoy. Councillor Walkoni Announcing his 'willingness to serve again, Councillor Frank Wal- korin said he had served for the past three years as head of the special committee, which has re nponsibiility for poliee matters. "I know it is a touchy subject," he .said. "1 have talked with people on the streets about it. We, in our police meetings have had some very -hot discussions: But I feel we have the upper hand, as it were, now." He expressed regret at losing the services of Constable H. D. Hobbs, who recently joined the Ontario Provincial Police. Councillor Wal- kom said that the constable had been "a gentleman" and he pre- dicted a bright future for him. "As far as the telephone is con- cerned, it might as well not be there," the councillor stated as he continued to review police mat- ters. When an officer is out of the office, there is a flashing light which warns of a phone call. But by the time the officer dashes to the phone, the caller has hung up, Councillor Wa'1kom said. "Central will not relay a message," he claimed. He added hopefully that, with the co-operation of the town public works department and the PUC, it may be possible to install a rgdio service in the police cruiser next year, This would help to alleviate the difficulty of contact- ing the police department. Joseph Allaire aid it had been his pleasure to serve on the Coun- cil in the period of 1949-54. Al various times, he said, he had been chairman of the finance committee, court of revision and industrial committee. Be concluded, "I'd like to take a slice .at it again if you'll give me yolir support." School Board Mrs. Madeleine Edward, nomin- ated for another term as a trustee of Goderich Public School Board, minced no words in challenging Councillor James Donnelly's re- marks about the matter of who should own the `old collegiate) building. "They were rather a misrepre- sentation," said Mrs. Edward in reference to the councillor's com- ments. Stie continued, "We felt at times there was some personal reason! ask in return. That is that you accord me the same splendid sup- port at the polls this year as you 'have so many times in the past. Thank you. Faithfully yours. J. H. GRAHAM. • why there was a lack of co-opera- tion between the two public bodies." At other times, she .said, the school board wondered whether or not the Council had grasped the significance of the situation. Mrs. Edward stated that Council- lor Donnelly had referred "very glibly and very deftly no doubt" to an agreement which was sup- pesetP to be made between the Council and School Board. The agreement was to set out the re- sponsibilities of the town, as own- er, and the board, as operator of the old collegiate building. Saw No Agreement The board chairman has never been presented with the agree- ment, at least to Mrs. Edward's knowledge. She admitted the pos- sibility that the board's secretary may have received the agreement since the last board meeting. The present set-up is too vague, claimed .Mrs. Edward She said At present, the heating system 1 in the old building needs revampi ing, she stated. The question arose of which body . shou•ld be re- sponsible for authorizing this work. On recommendation of the fire .marshal's office, the school board is faced with the prospect of hav- ing to spend $9,000 Co make the main public school building safer in case of fire, she said. It is, likely that similar steps will have . to be taken at the old collegiate building. The present ownership set-up makes these matters and other problems more complicated than necessary, she maintained. Trustees have ti ied their best to co-operate with members of Coun- cil, concluded Mrs,i'Edward. "We would' like a reciprocal action on their part.",, Her remarks were greeted with hearty i plause. Four nominees for municipal offices did not appear when the chairman called on thein to speak at the nomination meeting.. Absent were W. A. Tipple, nominated for Council; Dr. J. R. Leitch, nomin- ated !for Goderich Public School Board, and R. G. Johnston and Thomas Taylor, nominated for Public 'Utilities Commission. VOTE TO RE-ELECT FRANK WALKOM AS COUNCILLOR FOR 1957 Jim Wilkinson COUNCILLOR POR 1957 fS VOTE JOE ALLAIRE COUNCILLOR FOR 1957 FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE POLLS PHONE 389 R I ri "k+i" .!* ..111 # / p• , .. 4. ►- ■ . W dei. s want �....-4`41' tvull'ULIVK BE SURE WITH -A VOTE FOR JIM BISSET MAY I SOLICIT YOUR VOTE AT THE POLUS ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 10 FOR FOR COUNCILLOR FOR x957 PETER S. MaEWAN TO THE ELECTORS OF GODERICH TOWN COUNCOL— O ASK FOR A•CONTONUANCE OF YOU CONFIDENCE IN ME FOR 1959. Charles M. Robertson FOR COUNCILLOR YOUR VOTE AN INFLUENCE FR TOWN COUNCILLOR WOLL BE r.>EE,PLY APPRECIATED BY (Bill) TIPPLE 435 VOTE TO RE-ELECT JOHN VINCENT FOR COUNCILLOR IN 1957 1P ELECTED 0 WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK APTER NtIOUR BEST INTERESTS AS IN THE PAST. 4