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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1958-03-20, Page 1r. 4 it . ' • Illth. YatCNo. 2 - GOOERICH, ONTARIO; THURSDA—Y; AAA'''R"tiel-071;97r87 St;I; scription lat°0 New Industry Starts Production With :its overall staff now numbering about 20, Scotsrnith Furniture Limited i,s continu- ing to iristall machinery in its'recently purchased plant at Goderich with the hope of increasing the number of em- s ptoyees to 30 or 4o. In the photo above are shown -some of the originil employees at the plant, the former Goderich Organ Fac- tory building. They are, front row; left to right: John Vin- centS LJ. 'Scott, _president; Max Mote, superintendent; Doug Dam. Back row, left to right: Carl Schmidt; Joe Gra- ham; D. Brown; Chris •Haneen; Andri Kerszilis; Gary Ross; Peter Jergesen. On production for the past month, following their moving. from London and setting up machines here, Scotsmith Fur- niture have completed orders for furnishings for t w -o churches—West Ellesmere Un- ited Chureh at Scarbormigh and Willowdale B a pti s t Church, Toronto. At present they are working on furnish- ings for the new United church at Iroquois, Ontario, in the St. Lawrence Seaway area. Next job will •be for St. Frances Xavier church at Fruitland, Ontario. Each job ranges in value from $2,000 to $20,00Q: • When production gets up to normal, their aim is to turn out furnishings for one new church each week Of the pre- sent staff,. four men came .from Loudon and the rest are. from the Goderich area. There is a possibility of an- other industry coming to Gode- rich in the none -too -distant future which will occupy the top floor of the present Scot - smith Furniture plant, where there are 25,000 feet of floor .space available. Some three or four allied industries have recently shown an interest in renting this space for their production. • Town Colin& helda special meeting Saturday -night to „discuss a suggestion that the' Town Hall be sold, as g site for the new fed- eral building, with the present post office to be converted into.a Town all. Elston Cardiff, MP for Huron, attended the meeting and offered to contad federal authorities W. field out what stage has been readi- ed- in -the plans for the.neW federal building. The proposed -new build- ing would coetale a -office and ether govermnefit offices. Council gave officiafeapproval to a motion "that Mr. Cardiff be re- equestestetk„ contact the Depart- ment of PuhliFWEaSTaird-Prietili authorities at- Ottawa regarding progress of the proposed new post office, and that no action be taken until we receive Mr. Cardiff's re- port." It was stressed at the special meeting that Council is in no way committed to any course of action. The suggeeSion that town and fed- eral adthohties exchange ;proper- ties was made by Councillor Bruce Sully. Others felt that the idea should be fully investigate esince it might prove quite advan ageous to the town. Since it was felt that time fight be at a premium, it was de ded to call a special....Ceeend. me ting for Saturday night and invite Mr. Cardiff. • Tempers On Edge Tempers were on edge as 'Coen, cillor C. M. Robertson complainecf that he was not notified of the special meeting by letter. Reeve James Donnelly twice read him the rules governing the calling of emergency meetings, but Council- lor Robertson still objected. A local businessman, Mel Cul- bert, attended the meeting to voice the views of West street merchants concerning the proposal to move the post office to East street i1 - stead of -constructing anew build- ing on the present West street site. Councillor Robertson said at first he was not opposed to Mr. Culbert being present at the meeting, hut a few minutes later the councillor, Board Offers Teachers $100 Hike In Minimum Minimum salaries for GDCI teachers will be increased by $100 if the staff accepts a new offer made by Goderich District Col- legiate Institute Board. In February, the board rejected the teachers' requests or increases in minimum and maximitin salaries plus certain special experience al- lowances. The teachers, dissatis- fied, requested another meeting with board members. As p result, a meeting was held between teachers' representatives and the board's staff relations com- mittee. After the _committee re- ported to a special meeting of the whole board on Monday, it was decided to offer a $100 increase in minimum salaries. The board did not offer any increase fn maximum .salaries or any other co ssions. If the teachers accept the board's offer, 14 of the 20 staff members will receive $400 increases in September. This raise would be made up of a $300 increment (an automatic annual increase which is written into each teacher's con- tract) plus the $100 additional in- crease ‘effered as a result of Mon- day night's board meeting. It is understood that six teachers would not, be affected by the board's offer because, they are al- ready earning° the maximum sal- aries payable under the board's present schedule. . Under the board's proposal, Min- imum salaries Would be raised to $3,900 for non -specialists and $4,100 for specialists. The $300 annual increment would remain the same, as would the maximum salaries of $6,800 for non -special- ists and $7,000 for specialists. Maximum allowances for pre- vious experience were also set at Monday's board meeting. From now on when teachers are hired, the non -specialists will receive up to $1,200 for experience and• spec- ialists will get up to $1,400 over the minimum starting salaries. Teachers will be- allowed $200 for each year of experience, up to the maximum limits mentioned. It is expected that the new rul- ing on maximum experience allow- ances will tend to discourage the hiring of older teachers who have WHO ARE BEST? Who are Goderich's champ - ben 'cribbage players? Mem- bers of Branch 109, Canadian Legion, believe they are and the members of the Goderich Curling Club feel that they are best. Result? A challenge match between thee two groups, each with 20 players, will be held at the Arena Audi- torium tonight. Each of the players will chip will.be award- ed. rnereethan six or seven years- of experience. ' "We're top-heavy with older teachers," observed Elmer Robert- son, Colborne Township represent- ative. The teachers had asked for sal- ary increases much higher than the board has offered. Said W. L. Craig, Hu'llett 'Town- ship representative: "We have otheradvantages that other centres don't have—such as the lower cost - of -living here." - He -.and- other board members reported being button -holed by municipal councillors and taxpay- rs who are not in favor of giving the teachers any more increases. At the meeting, the board re- gretfully accepted the resignation of Mrs. S. Ogg from the teaching staff. POSSIBLE HOSPITAL SITE Option On Point Farm Token By Ontario Gov't With the approach of Spring comes the possibility of • the an- nouncement of the definite location of the $9,000,000 hospital for re- tarded children promised for Huron County as a memorial to the- late Tom Pryde. It is understood that until soil tests can be ..made of• the land under option on the Blue Water Highway south of Goderich, no definite decision can be announced as to its 'complete suitability. It will probably be a month or more yet before the frost has sufficiently left the grosund . so that complete soil tests can be made on the Blue Water Highway farms. Op• tions on these farms expire on July 151h. In the meantime, it is reliably reported that the Ontario Minister of Health, Hon Mackinnon Phillips, is' scheduled to visit, the Goderich area either early in April or about the middreesofe April_ He will be accompanied by a number of gov- ernment officials. It is believed that at this time he will look over the land on which options have apparently changed his mind and questioned the right ef the deputy - reeve to invite the citizen. Councillor Robertson's v ie w s were not endorsed by any other member of Council. Reeve Don- nelly stated emphatically that any citizen had a right to attend the meeting. Mr. Cardiff said he knew nothing ment. This 162 acres,of land was,- While options on other land in. looked over during the winter by Huron County by the government a representative of the Ontario have not been reported, it is not Governrneist and the deadline for beyond the realm of pOssibility the option on it is May 31st. It that other Options eeist.. Options eis the well-known Point Farm pro- might even have been taken in perty of Bisset Brothers. Perth County, which county has It is stated that if the govern- been making every effort to have ment does not take up the option the hospital located there. The on Point Farm property, it is efforts that have been made and likely to be sold to a Detroit man probably are now being made to who has' been seeking to purchase get the hospital is a warning that iteand who has offered a pulp for nothing should be left undone to - it in excess of what the goVern- wards pressuring for this hospital ment has proposed to pay. for the Goderich area. Cardiff And Cochrane Officially Nominated Changed customs from the past were. in evidence at the official nomination meeting held at Clin- ton cn Morday. Only five'persons been taken. that when he shoveed up- the Levies Fedi.,ral can - It is known is in . . this. area, he will visit Alexaddra didates, Cardiff andCochrane, the Marine and General Hospital. At' 'deputy returning officer for the this time, he will inspect -the old Huron riding,. J. K. Hunter, his portion of the building and has clerk, and "one stranger wearing asked the Alexandra Marine and a Scottish tam." General Hospital" Board to post- The number was even smaller pone any immediate plans with than at the nomination meeting in respect to the old hospital build- June of last year when a fe.w more Mg until he looks it over. A than a dozen_ people showed up. see-setteetstationefrometheehospilaleheardesitteebirgellseest, such, a meeting went to see Hon. Mr. Phillips sev- was the occeSion feifitrn eral weeks ago. .11 was composed ering and 'fiery addresses. of .1' H. Kinkead, Stan Prevett, Bet, after thenominetion paper George Parsons and Dr. N. C. of L. Elston Cardiff for the Pre Jackson. . - gressive Conservative party was . When Hon. Mr. Phillips eines received and that of William G. to Goderich, he will undoubtedly Cochrane for the Liberal party, look over another piece of land in nominations were declared closed this area on which an option has at 2 p.m. One half hour after thee been taken by the Ontario govern- a phone call instructed the Signal, Star to proceed with the printing of the official ballots containing the two aforementioned names. By Tuesday the entire 34,000 ballots to be used in the riding of Huron had relied off the printing presses of the Goderich Signal -Star. In the Federal election last June, there were 25,092 eligible voters in the riding of Huron. Although complete figures are not yet in, the Returning Officer, J.. K. Hunter, estimates there will be at le st 200 There eligible voters this tin. The Revising Officer in Godtrich,e1I. Glenn Hays, reports Irts'ettiffirfiltetitifrtf- ditions, changes and deletions have- been recorded. this time to the number last June. Candidates nominated for the riding of Wellington -Huron are Marvin Howe (PC) and Ross Mc- Lennan (L). In Bruce the, nom- inees are Andrew E. Robinson (PC) and Chester Merriatn (L). of the announcement about a new federal betiding for Goderich until he read it in the paper. The an- nouncement was made by Federal Works Minister Howard Green. s From a reliable local source of information, The, Signal -Star learn- ed that the proposed new building may cost over $250,000. It is understood that cogent plans Call . • Seelee,S sese=esfi eeeeeeeeeersee.esessseeeeesmer'"'mrr:ir:XWST• seesesesseeesseesees sees esese-. 'eseese Sesees> "sees s'e'se",, • • , . for tearing detwn the present post dace and constructing an entirely' new building. The purchase of adjacent land is said to be included, in the gov- ernment's present plans for re- building on the West, street site. It was pointed out at the Council Meeting that, if the government buys the Town Hall property, -Mee Mere ,.esseess • ee AN: A . . • , ': • r Goderich's Town Hall is 78 years old, according to marks inscribed on the side of the building. The are of land under And around the Town Hall and owned by the Town is more than 25,000 square feet. This contrasts with the approxi- mately 10,800 square feet of land under and V.2,•:Pf around the Goderich Post Office and owned by the Federal Department of Public Works. The Town Hall is heated by one hot water heater, one hot air heater and four stoves scattered through- out the building and used when needed. Initial Steps Taken To Organize Retailers Steps were taken here Tuesday night to set up a Retail Merchants' Association.. More than- 30 -repre- sentatives of Goderich retail firms attended the meeting which was held in the Town Hall. Early next week, a canvass will be made to determine whether the majority of merchants favor stay- ing open Friday night or Saturday night. Reeults of the survey will be considered at another meeting which is to be held on Thursday of next week. Each interested meechant will be assessed five dollars as a mem- bership fee in the new Retail Merchants' Association. A mem- bership.drive will be conducted in connection with the survey re store hours. Explanatory letters will go out to all retail firms early next week before the canvassers cparlelsof the new organization' ident William Wilson was proposed as' at the meeting Tuesday night. Other officers proposed were: vice- president, Guy Emerson; secretary, John Schaefer; treasurer, Arthur Waters; directors, Carl Worsell, eOrge Wraith, iMrs. • Wilf. Rein: , Reg. Bell.and Howard Aitken. Opening the meeting, Mr. Wil- son, the chairman, said: "The firt question is do we want a retail merchants'. organization in Gode- rich or do we peed one?" If businesstnen wanted such an - organization to work effectively, he said, they would have to elect a slate of officers, pay membership dues and abide by the rules of the organization. One man suggested that the only satisfactory way to regulate store hours would be through a by-law. Another man with wide experi- ence in municipal affairs eomment- ed that there had been several un- successful attempts in the past to have such a by-law passed. The only way it could be done he said, wduld be te have a separ- ate by-law for each specific type of business—clothiers, hardware merchants, grocery men, etc. If 60 percent of the merchants in a given line Of busireeee signed a petition setting their store hOurs, Councils would have to pass it, this man stated. - It was suggested by (me busi- nessman that it might be a good idea to have a weekly band concert on Friday or Saturday night to bring more people to Goderich. With the majority of those at the meeting favering the form- ation of a Retail Merchants' As- sociation, a slate of officers was then suggested and dues were set at five dollars. Tugs Battle Ice In Vain Battling ice every day for a week now, two fishing tugs at Goderich Harbor have failed to break through to open water in Lake Huron. , They are. the boats of Ed. Siddell and Ab. Leonard, commercial fishermen. Ramming , the ice floes at the western end of the harbor en- trance, the boats have been able to negotiate .only as far as a" point near the end of the north break- water. They have found the ice exceptionally thick this season with every 'indication of a late opening for navigation. Despite the fact that he broke the rudder on his boat twice, Ab. Leonard keeps battling on in an effort to cut a laneway through to open water. The last of the boats of the winter fleet is scheduled to be unloaded today. This is the John A. Roebling. It is not likely there will be much stir or the boats in preparation for the opening of navigation until the end of the month. With Spring just around the corner now, loungsters are getting in is Much skating as they can before the ice at the arena is, taken out to end hnother season. Here is shoWn 5 foursome taking a pause 'before going for another whirl around the arenti. They are,' from left -to right: Janke White, Brenda Mugford, Wayne ,Fisher and Ken Meriam. 8-S Photo by. R.H. HOSPITAL AUXILIARY DISCUSSES NURSERY NEED. Mrs. J. H. Kinkead presided at the meeting of the Hospital Aux- iliary on Monday afternoon. After discussing tfk purchase of a washing machine for 'the nursery, it was decided to leave the decision until a later meeting. Representatives were appointed for the cancer canvass, also P new telephone. committee. Mrs. H. Rivers 'and Mrs. D. E. Campbell were appointed delegates to the regional meeting in St. Joseph's Hospital, London. Tickets are now available for a draw to be held on Hospital Day in May. A social hour folio wed with a cup of tea. R.N.'S TO GET MORE LIONS - POLICE GAME FRIDAY which_ extends from' East street back- to Newgate street, .fl 1iii -wouldn't have to worry about Our- chasing',any adjacent lends. If the federel eeverAntent is in- terested in the:Council; proposing" the 'twice it would pay for,,,the old ' Town Hall would be a key factor in whether further diseusSione would'be held, ' Renovations Necessary A substantial sum would prob- ably have to be spent to convert tthe- -present-post office- into--towlo..- • offices. On the other hand, it tifi said that Council is faced with..the prospect of having to carry out expensive .renov.ations_al Hall before long. Reeve James Donnelly acted, as chairman for the discussion when Council went into "committee the whole," The reeve explained to Mr Cardiff: that it had been suggested that the Town , Hall site be used for a new post office and the oldi post office converted into a ToWs Hall. Council was not committed) one way or another on this pro posal, he stressed. Reeve Donnelly explained that Mel Culbert, a West street busi. nessman, was present to represene the interests of retailers • whose "walk-in" trade might be adversely affected if the post office was moved to East etreet: Met Cardiff commented that he had'talked to a number of people about the matter and one con- clusion he had reached was that the present post office location isn't entirely acceptable to the people of the town. He referred particularto traffic congestion on West street. Rut the MP emphasized that he would not take sides on the matter of location; that should be decided by the people of Goderich. "I'll do my best to put it where you want it," he stated. Once the town decides where it wants the new pest office, he will put pressure on the proper. author- ities to have the towns Wish car- ried out, he asserted. A Shame" Regarding the present post of- fice, he said:. "It's a shame to teal that building down; it's a stone building and a go'od one. Why couldn't it be used for something else?" Councillor Bruce Sully said that federal government plans appar ently call for construction of a new, two-storey building, which would. house National Employment Service, customs and immigratipn offices as well as postal facilities. He- tontinued: "It would -be -a shame to tear the post office down and leave this (the Toven Hal» standing. There's no comparison between the two buildings." . The town is faced with having to make repairs to the Town Hall, said Councillor Sully, and "I think it's a waste of money to repair this building." At the same time, he said, the town can't afford to build a new ,Town Hall. New *ire Hall? Councillor Sully suggested that perhaps town offices could be mov- ed into the present post office, then a building to house equipment ot„, (Continued on •page 4) The annual Lions -Provincial Police hockey match, schededed for 8 p.m., Friday, is expected to draw a packed house at the Mem- orial Arena. Both teams have been practising hard and the Lions are counting on a victory to even up the series over the past few years. Provincial Policeman Alex Twad- dle, who is in charge of the enter- tainment has arranged a variety program for in between periods which should be a crowd-pleaser. Clowns will be imported in addi- tion to the local eollection which will form a clown band. Fans are reminded that the tick- ets which they have purchased not a month to $200 at the board meet- only entitles them to admission ing Monday evening Salaries for to the arena but also to the door other hospital employees are to prizes—and there are $350 worth he reviewed in June. of these. Basic salary of registered nurses at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital was increased from $180 Survey Here Shows Need For More Rental Housing A survey of need was conducted last week by Mr. R. B. Bradley, Supervisor of Rental Housirig, and Miss E. Goring, Research Assistant of the Department of Planning and Development, and it is their opin- ion that further rental housing is required in the Goderich area. At the present time, Goderich has two Federal -Provincial pro- jects, the Dunlop MeMorial, which is a subsidized project of 25 units and the Strang Memorial, which is a nen-subsidized or Full Recovery project of 26 units. In carrying out the survey of need it is import- ant that two things be thoroughly investigated: (a) The obvious overcrowding and lack of adequate accommoda- ti o n, puate housing to respond and fill .out a questionnaire, returning it within the' .next two weeks to the places mentioned above. The Fed. eral-Provincial governments will ndt undertake to build a project where need has not been indicated through response to the question- naire. The 'yardstick that the partners use for such a need is that there must he two bona -fide applications for each unit to be built and unless this is evidenced they cannot undertake to recom- mend further building in Goderich. In Ontario. there are 27 Housing Authorities. similar to the Gode- rich Authority administering 40 projects, which will total some 5,000 units when completed. In each town, it is moot gratifying to find the projects serving the people Who otherwise could not -compete on the open market for adequate accommodation to bring up their families. At the present time there are some 15 surveys of this nature being conducted and in each • case the individual seeking accothrhoda- tion has a major role to play. It is, therefore, suggeted that if your feel that you need better accom modation _fill out,. a questionnaire and return it leo Mr. Hunter of the Goderich Rousing Authority or Mr. S. Blake, Clerk of the Towr Hall. (b) aTrheea csoalnacreyrnwAg. e scale for the YOUNG PUPILS' IRISH ,TuN.Es, In their findings during the two ‘111,41 U • . day survey it was quite b that rental accommodation is at a obvious e1ENn cAy ATmospHERE To in %11 aAJP e t premium in the Goderich area. e.r ' n There appears to be no houses for families available at all and the r ATRICK S SUPPER OF CW.L. rental accommodation that is avail- able is largely apartment dwelling houses which do not lend them- selves adequately to family living where three or four. children are involved. Also, the breakdown of salary and hourly wages paid by evening at. MacKay Hall at their the various employers of the area annual St. Patrick's buffet supper. would indicate that a Subsidized During the supper, lovely Irish housing project would be the most tUtieS were played by an orchestra practical for the area. The Sub- eomposed of pupils of St. Joseph'S sidized prdject is where the rental School of Music. The event was charged is geared to the family under .the convenership of Mrs, income. In Other words, -if the Clyde Everette,_. family income amounted to $30I1 Green candles in glass holders, per month the rental charged tied with green and white ribbon, would be approximately 207- of were leyekv accents on the in, that income or $60 a' month. This dividuaL tables. rental fluctuates with the family A table centre of white pons sseincsomeaseeleijeee if„the fareilyele- and green and whiteribbon grac- come declines the rentaranti-, Ihirfinitertitlf; Guests. were welcomed by the clines proportionately. The number of uniesstsrlee built president, Miss Helen McCarthy, depends on the regponse to the Mrs. J. Sharratt anti the -dining questionnaire in the hand§ of the room hostess, Mr. Chas. Gibbefer. Housing -Authority and Town Clerk, In charge of the tables WAS Miss' S. H. Blake, at the ToWn Hall; It Margaret Evans, assisted by Misses is, therefore, the responsibility of Ann Stiller, Martha Bedard, Pat - the people who need more ade- ricia Simpson, Mary Lou Halle- .. In the midst of a colbrful St. Patrick's setting of traditional green and white, St. Peter's C.W.L. entertained malty on Saturday .• „ ghan, Veronica Terpestee, Marie Johnston, Rita Johnston, Jane Las- sOline, June Carter, Susie Enzene berger, Rosemary Chisholm, Ellen Pickel, Mrs. Raymond Boyle Decorations throughout the hall were arranged .by Miss Clara Leddy. Other assistants weres Mrs. Leo Ouelette, Mre C. Schneiker, Mrs Con. Baechler, Mrs. Josephine Chisholm, Mrs, Leo Walzak, Miss Mary Lacey, Mrs. Bert Baechler, Mrs. C. Camleitm, Mrs. Clarence Pollock, Miss Elizabeth Tobin, Miss Helena teddy, Mrs. W. Kinahate Mrs. E. Carney, Mrs. J. Donnelly, Mrs. Norman Boyle, Mrs. L. Foster. Mrs. C. Ramer, Mrs. Prank LeddY. Mrs, Ellis Jeffrey, .Mrs. Clare Bed trirtftl-Ten Members of St. Joseph's Qteb, estra were: conduettit,EdWartt Walzak; pianist, ThortithY',P1 • berger; violinists Vivienne'. Reed Webb, Marlit Ittetitnbnitebtette drurri, •Kenneth .JerftreYe, 'Matt drum, Billy Jeffrey; xyloiktiont,, Leonard Bedour. ( • .. 4. f