HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-10-29, Page 4SIGNAL ST , T WRSDAY,Qt R 29 1970
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Icommentary Letters to the; Editor
A matter of opinion
The ,Signal -Star has been getting calls
.this week from people concerning the
women's editorial last week '.Youth must
take the blame."
We have had calls for and against. We
have had comments on the streets, for and
against. It shows• people have opinions
that differ and in the newspaper business
we are no different. •
Women's editor Shirley Keller and
editor Ron Price differ in their opinions
on many points; the youth centre concept
is one of them; ,the editorial of last week
• another.
We can't brand youth for the failure of
-. the youth centre, and regardless of what
some people believe, the fact that the
youth centre is now'closed shows that the
experiment this summer.was a failure. The
problems that may have been accounted
there started many months ago when the
concept was being first drawn up.
Failure of• the project does not Mean it
was a useless project, far from it. Without
experimentation there 'would be no
progress and without trying we will never
know whether ,'thing will succeed or not.
There were many- successes during -the
1
FACTS STRAIGHT
Your ,comparison between fanners who withheld their flaws in this editorial it makes it
farmers' longstanding campaign education tax. Farmers were not difficult to cover them all.
to have the tax system changed, refusing to pay their taxes, and In paragraph four you state
The pith' centre as it was run'this and the F.L.Q. is a certainly not their fair share of that you are drawing only, a
Ydemonstration of ill-informed 'taxes. They did threaten; and in remote comparison, ,but a few
summer was run by adults; young•people irresponsibility, • some cases, implemented .the lines" later you state that the
helped out and sorne of them did a • Let us start by getting some threat, to -°delay the„payment of only difference . between, the
the education portion utheir ,c ions of the farmers' and the
tremendous job. The adults who ran that -fact.s straight:
centre provided a service for the young 1) The Ontario Federation of taxes to indicate in no u. certain F.L.Q. is in:the degree of wrong
people of this town that they had..been i Agriculture has, since September terms their disgust with, a committed to achieve their aims.
21, 1950 been demanding actfon ' thoroughly inequitable system. The word mentioned -T was
denied in other years; these adults gave up by the Government of Ontario 4) Pressure by almost all murder.
hours of their time to be Crown there to change what you describe as ()segments of society is part of the
because -it was the concensus of opinion "the present. systems of taxation democratic system as we know it:
(which) are inequitable.” It. -is i today. Medical: specialists in I was not an advocate of this'
of the adult populace that you cannot- �. .
now generally agreed that the Quebec recently went on strike withholding program. so 1am
leave "teenagers" • alone or they get into , present system of raising funds to enforce their demands..Ttade not defending that, but I wonder
ctrouble. ;.. for education is not fair. The unions, professional associations, why you feel pressure on the
' Ontario Government admitted it *corporations, citizens' groups of government is something new.
'„ It's a strange reflection on the nature of ' in'the Budget Speech of March all sorts and newspapers and Was not the postal strike
19' 0, and . in their document, their associations all employ' use pressure• On government? This
adult humans that they will trust the Ijves "Ontario Proposals for Tax ofpressure to achieve what
of their smallest children into the hands po they one even you should remember.
Reform in Canada"presented in feel to be legitimate objectives. you also imply that to give tax
of "teenagers"as 'baby Sitters but will June,' 1970. The New You do farmers a gross injustice ease' to a specific group is
deny them the trust t� take care of Democratic Party and the when you deny them this same something repulsive. What about
themselves. Liberal party also admit it. Most privilege. the homeowners tax abatement
Who is to "blame", (if that is the right newspapers, daily and weekly, Farmers now seem to have the was +' at appeasement?
i for the closing of the youth centre have admitted it cin editorials in attention of the rest of the
word, recent months. Most municipal tar -paying property owners. We was
insult your, reader's
is a matter for conjecture. But attempting councils admit it. Most school hope that -they, and you will intelligence and .the integrity of
to lay blame will solve nothing. The youth boards admit it: Finally, after now rally behind the efforteof the well .entrenched Robart's
centre must be reopened. It most be a twenty years,,tarmers have made fakmers to have , the system government by saying that they
' different centre to the one this year, run their point,'butwhere was your changed to a more equitable would submit 'to this blackmail
in a different_ way.. newspaper during this long, hard system for all property -owners. as you call it. Do you not think
battle? It is clear that farmers are that they sought the advice of
Those who are critical of the youth 2) For the past five years, the pleased , to receive some the money-lerding. institutions
centre and its closing will scream tci the; Ontario Federation of economic relief from their very regarding . the farmers' present' ° gleaned from .those fortunate
..,.time the youth centre was open; there .highest treetops that children must have Agriculture has been calling for. heap••tax load, but are financial position? Do. you not few kids that are lucky enough
Pe ._., 9 ..ate. ,.v >. �n ,:>�. z , fes- .. -,_ ., �. to haver arents�that-cate�-enou ° 'ditc us' Note. The editorial
x y. eve i i. o"f ttie detehi e teat anti ill .-01041 t r' a, 1� g '
"kids" P p 3' gk . think the ,consulted agricultural:, "Ott
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•
WHY CONDEMN ALL
I was shocked by your We need a Youth Centre more*
negative and sweeping now than ever. We found a lot of.
generalizations .made in the young people that need help arid'
recent article about the youth of guidance - and bad. What do we
,Goderich and 'their- ef&*ts to do? Surely we can't just turn our
establish a Youth Centre. Why backs on the problem and hope
.do most adults always condemn thsngs, -will solve themselves. I
all of the youth for the actions know a few town .councillors,
of only a few? Were you really citizens and community leaders
fair by only printing the bad and that share this attitude. Many of
avoiding ay1 of ° the positive them were afraid to help the
aspects of our experiment? kids establish a place of their
I agree that you have the right own. If we would have had all of
to print your �tiiews on this the big talkers on the Youth
unpopular subject but 1` also Council maybe we would be
hope that you readers realize going strong yet. •
that they are views of an I hope your editorial doesn't
uninformed minority. I am fully kill all future attempts to cope
aware of the problems that have with" the solution to this pressing
been encountered but no problem. We all failed
problems arose that were not ' sornewliere along the line but if .
expected. I agree that many only one person benefited from
"kids" and -.adults alike "lost . this experiment then we must
heart" and many had good pick up the pieces and start
reasons for doing so. If you can again. What form this action
justify your opinion that.' the takes is for all of the members of
the community to decide. I hope
we. don't say "I told you so,"
but , rather say, "We'll have
better success and co-operation
the next time."
Sincerely,
Allen Schade.,
Chairman of the
Goderich Youth Council (former)
experiment failed then I am.
disappointed in your judgement.,
-Many, many people have gained
a great deal of value from our
attempts this summer. I wonder
.if you bothered to talk to the
'kids that really needed' this
activity centre. I rather think
that your' information Was
+Dw;r .,.J,aw, 1 - ,.. ::gYSr..s, . , « ':RE4:�..'".r", A.�1;... �,� ;
operation of it. about givingwhat is sore needed -some Accept Mame," contained in the
P y Note that we did not say farm May we look for your support etc. nd realized that a short homes and .allow them "to do
We don't intend here to go into the adult help. One cub • pack has closed. property only, ° During the last in these efforts. term solution must be made their. own thing." I wish it could editorial comment for, women,
details of what was or was not- the reason- beeause of lack of ' help; other packs -several- months -which led -up to
for 'the closing of the youth centre, but closed years ago as did scoi.ht troops, the withholding . action, we • President; complicated overhaul of our tax . Just isn't realistic in our pre .Shirleym • society.
x,r..
,: � > :.,� ,.. il,.--I 'caxrnot� ani}:' will -not-sit-idly,
on~' Fditra's a4ii '''ee-Edit9tia - llrz-•---- �-5
It has become apparent from the calls was a serious- shortage of coaches for pro,erty. $ut you and many R 'ill' xx by and see m
pay-/-for-=education '' a tarn taxyiein.
s� :_.....- _. ,. �,. '.. .,�ux;. ,. .,.:r^C:�.•�u�k�s, .. ...;. r�.7� �^•��r �^7s..^1 �..^.C:., ,
it own tiu
`� to have their kis ' m 'Oleg: rc erred to a�
financial •advisors d •�
Gordon L. Hill, while working ' out the be all. kep.t_.in the family but .that hi,- • ,Signal -Star Women's- Editor
sen(,, l Keller.
one, thing is quite clear, the adult brownie packs and' guide companies. So oontrnuously called for .all The Ontario Federation syste y•
w . - : • . , , . ... -i -t'n w.- A. year a -o - there
o tt.let�onof.odec��rab..lsn .t.blaeless... the problem -is no new,- y g
R R � . �•
of. the--e€lu�ation • t�
property owners to be relieved of Agriculture:
y farmer' friends,
ends,
• CI S
received that many people believe that e minor hockey. Happily this has been others, over -the last few years, neighbors, and colleagues in this
what was written in the editorial last week overcome through the help of those same--, and more particularly during the area, who work as hard as
last failed to support our anyone or`'" iy group towards
h� "kids' had adults h get out d d things all' the thebeingand
p•aign contained the truth; that the
I S a a u s w o an o Ings a e. INSULTED well stability of
earn with sufficient force
.asked to be allowed t�' run this thing time, through the Minor' Hockey this community so outrageously
to persuade the Government to
themselves, had made promises of how •
they would. .do it etc. and failed,
miserably, to keep up their end.
The idea of the youth centre was to
allow the young people of Goderich to
have 'a: say in what they could do. They
wanted to do their own planning,
organizing, supervising and show they •
"were responsible people, not just
"teenagers." This concept .was never
carried out. The young- people of
Goderich were allowed a say in the matter
through a committee of young people and
adults of equal proportions..
Supporters Club and the Minor Hockey
Association. Similar groups* could and
should be set up to provide help in other
areas.
Unless we start giving direction to the
young people of Goderich while they are
very young, parents will continue to
refuse to trust teenagers with other
teenagers, and the problems that exist-
today
xisttoday will still be with us tomorrow.
But there is no use expecting the same
adults to do the work. Many of them have
had enough now: Many'of them who have
served on many organizations in Goderich
Unfortunately, some of those young a will not be available next year. So it's
,people were away for the summer months, getting -to the point where we •must start
and with the . conception - of 'the believing the United Appeal motto that is
"chaperone" idea with an adult running being used in London now and give it
things at the youth centre each night, the great. consideration. That motto is "If you
initial idea went out the window. don't do it, it won't get done."
In reply
The letter from Gordon Hill and
Russell Kernighan in reply to the editorial
last week "The wrong way" are nothing
more than we expected. As stated there
are always those who will start jumping
when comparisons. are made however
remote.'
Neither Mr. Hill nor * Mr. Kernighan
seem to know the difference between
pressure and extortion and whatever they
may say to the contrary, that's about
what the manner • in which the farm
organization made its attempts at
changing the tax system turned into.
One thing we would like to -make clear
to all, just in case there are others who fail '
to get the point of the editorial as these
two gentlemen have: we are not, and have
not been opposed to the far.mers
attempting to change the present system
of taxation.. a That it is unfair we have
stated many times in editorials on this
.page. We did not in any way compare the
farmers 'with the members of the F LQ
all,ait stands for," as' Mr. Kernighan
irresponsibly states: we- cornpar ed the
ACTIONS of -the farmers- ie: .,.using
methods other than those prescribed by
law to gain their ends with the
ACTIONS of the F LQ - ie: usii g•methods
other than'those prescribed by law to gain
their ends - and asked of the provincial
government, not the farmers, "where
would you draw the line?" To what
degree should this difference be allowed
to go"?
If- we must have law and order it must
start and stop somewhere. Where will that
line be drawn; If the farm organization is
prepared to go` beyond the ways
prescribed by law - ,please note Mr. Hill,
the criminal code is not the only law we
must follow in this land - where will it
draw the line?
Farmers have been described as the salt
of the earth. We would all. bein a sorry
plight without "them. They are, in the.
majority, hard working men who want
only what is just and right. They want an
equitable tax system that will `relieve them
.of the added burden of .taxation they
,must bear through ,having to own large
portions of land in order to make a living.
We doubt that anyone, this newpaper
included, will every argue with the right
of that.
We argue only with the methods used.
'That these methods were as unpalatable to
many farmers as they were to us is evident
from the large numbers who did not agree
with the policy, Mr. Kernighan included.
if we are to have change, it must be
through the due process of law. It rft'y
have taken 20 years. It took 200 years to
abolish slavery in the United States and it
still exists in places. All we ask is that the
farmers and their - ' organization ask
themselves the question: are we to have
an equitable tax program - at any price? or
do we want it, whatever the cost?
ESTASLISNBD 12304 YEAR
lug. r Oklilertrlit uat-tar _.4.
--(p-�- Thr County Town Newspaper of Huron ---Q— PUBLICATION
Published at Goderich, Ontario every Thursday morniti�g by
Signal -Star Publishing Limited
• TELEPHONE° 524-8331 area -code 519
ROBERT G.
RONALD `P:
SHIRLEY "J.
.EDWAFtD J.
SU IER, president and publisher
V. PRICE, managing editor
KELLER, women's editor
.YR SKI ftdvprtising manager
Just a few lines •of comment
on the editorial regarding "The
Wrong Way-"
First of all. may I say that I
admired the literary jousting
with Mr.• Donnelly last winter
over two-bit local politics. Then
I was bewildered when that
noble pen became rather anemic
xrying to explain the goof -up or
,• cop out in passing up the human
interest story at Colborne"
Central when our children tried
o show a ray `of light in this
xdark world with their' student
exchange.
introduce a fair system of insulted by comparing them to
taxation. Had you and other the F.L.Q. and all it stands for.
sections of society helped to If you are so prone to attach
rsuade the Government to act labels .call us hicks, hayseeds,
perubes, alfalfa -kickers but please,
on a long overdue need, there
would have been no need to
withhold, or even to threaten
such action: Your criticism
should be directed at the -
Government for failing. to act at
a much earlier date, not for
finally taking. action to offer
some relief to farmers -and senior
citizens in special need.
3) The actions of the F.L.Q.
are clearly illegal and clearly
Criminal, even : before the
introduction of the War
Measures Act. The withholding
of'taxes is not illegal. There is no
criminal act involved,- although
there are penalties prescribed for
those who do not pay their taxes
on the due date: Many "bill's"
for many services are' not paid.
on the due date. In fact, most
persons who are billed for an
incorrect ...amount to satisfy an
account do not'pay the bill until
'a correction has been made. This
describes the action of those
Subscription Rates $6 a Year - To 1';.A. $1.50 tin dvancel
Second class mail registration number — 0716
Now I am appalled to seethe
editor of a newspaper be one of
the first to fall into that trap
which we all .Must be wary• of.
That is of hurling an epithet
such as "Commie" or "hippie.'"
on any .group we do not
understand or care about their
hopes, problems or .aspirations -
From this crucial time on, in
Canada's history the temptation
will be to label any • differing
body or person This, to
'The is the basic flaw in your
comment. There are so many
never associate the farmers of
this province with the-F.L.Q.!
J. Russel Kernighan.
Lditor's .Vote See Editorial "In
Reply
BELATED THANKS
Please accept this belated
acknowledgement of our
gratitude ' to you for, providing
tours•of the Signal -Star plant nor
our campers last August. You
can be assured that the
voungst,ers enjoyed. the
-experience very much.
Again, thank you.
Ian Carmichael, '
Captain,
Salvation Amy, .
Welfare and Counselling
Services.
�member When ? ? ?
60 YEARS AGO
"Elizabeth Jane Anderson
came to her death on the night
of the 20th of September, 1910,
at the town of Goderich by
having her `throat cut with a
sharp knife or similar
instrument, and the evidence
submitted points strongly
towards Edward Jardine as
having committed the crime."
This was the verdict rendered by
the coroner's jury' yesterday at'
the conclusion of • the inquest.
Edward Jardine was arrested
October 26 in connection with
the death of Lizzie Anderson. `
A temperance field day is to
be held in the county'of fluron
on Sunday, November 6 when
from most of the pulpits in the
county addresses on temperance
are to be given.
25 YEARS AGO
Dr. William N. - Watters of
London has purchased the
residence of Mr. and Mrs. Hector
Hays on St..Patrick's Street with •
a view to engaging in the
pi?actiee of his profession there:-
He
here:He has been with the Royal
Canadian Air Force, latterly..ati
TorontorMand expects -to be able
to commence his practice here
about the middle of November.
Headlines. Bell of H,M.C.S.
"Goderich" To Be Presented To
The Town." •
After 33 years of service,
10 YEARS AGO
The. Kinsmen Club, at a
meeting on. Monday night,
decidedin favor of dropping its
option on the property at'� �.
corner of South and Brit Iiia
Streets. On it they plan d to
build a.$100,000 Senior Citizens
Housing Centre. Inability to
finance the venture was the
reason given. .
Last Thursday the Signal- Star
carried a story re the awarding
of the contract for the new
hospital south of Goderich. On
Saturday the daily newspapers
carried the release story from
Queen's Park. In it was a
statement in which Hon. Ray
Connell, Minister of Public
Works "described it as being
more of the nature of a home
for the aged than the popular
concept of a mental hospital".
Mr. and Mrs. Walter' Tigert CENTRE SLICES
were guests of honor October 18
at Port Albert school at a
surprise going -away party and
social evening. n
Congratulations to Mr. and
Mrs. Frank • Doherty,
Kingsbridge, on the -arrival • of a
.baby daughter.' •
• .R•
n...i.....* a. c7
ONE YEAR AGO
begin his new duties as Superior
Generalof the Fathers of the
Society of St. pail.
.T '"h1 -AT I VET H IN K iNG'
reply to last week' -s front ,
page editorial "YOuth Must
Accept Blame", , please le,t me,
clarify the position of the
Goderich Youth Centre Board
and myself. I find that I cannot
argue that the article is wrong,
but I Ado feel its con j is a lot of
negative thinking. ,It failed to
mention the fact . that the
operation • 'n July was a very
definite success. In a lot of ways,
the August operation was a
failure, but even in failure, much
has,been learned.
The article failed to mention
that some kids really did try to
make it "go", even through the
hardest times- I hesitate to
mention names for* fear • of
missing someone, but there were
a number -of. kids _who really
spent a lot of time and energy
trying to keep things -running
smoothly. -
• \`; hen 1 1 hoped s
would 'be available
said againfacilitienext
year and interested people to
. help the kids start again," I am
voicing the- opinion of the
Board. I- have become more
personally acquainted with a lot
of the kids . that attended and
worked at the Youth Centre and
just as in any large group, there
are some that I respect ,more
than others. On the whole, they
are basically good kids and I
consider it a privilege to have
gotten.to know them better. The
real pity is that a few can spoil it
for the rest by irresponsile
conduct.
What we really needed to
make the Youth Centre more of
a success was a ° professional.
Director: Not just someone to
organize baseball ,games and
ping-pong tournaments, but a
trained leader who can detect
deep-rooted 'problems in, kids.
People, who are busy from 8 to
5 every day, can really do little
more than supervise discipline at
a Centre such as this and this is
very frustrating for all °
concerned.
In closing, I would like to say.
that what this Town, should
work towards is obtaining a
qualified ''Director for an
organization such as this, which
would bridge the gaps between a
number of our social service
organizations" and the youth* of
today, I. :also realize that 'our
local Town Council is already
over -burdened with financial
problems and so the ultimate
answer to this problem is a long
way from being found. In the
meantime, this should not stop
concerned people from
attempting to help young people
in their own amateur way and in
all sincerity. Stu Shanks.
DESERVING THANKS
It was with regret that this
council learned of the closing of
the Goderich Youth Centre.
We are certain many fine
people did their utmost to make
this venture a success and many
young people ,also contributed
many hours 'of effort to the
project.
May we, saay to all ,these
people, young and not so young
Thank you for your efforts. You
tried to doYsomething for the
youth 'of Goderich, and we feel
that is 'something deserving of
thanks.
St. Peter's Parish Council.
MADE FRESH DAILY
Goderich Town Council is
considering. a proposal made at
the last meeting by Councillor
Paul Carroll, chairman of the
town's harbor ' committee, for
the development of the South
Beach area as a trailer park and
r, +TMM•«'•,dM,^9S iT.TIK.,wigni 4gj1i•I.'M7u.34amp' incl <Y144Zr *,0-, . 1ut..tr..6•!1.'ioi'uk� •P
position as carter for -the CNR Headlirtess Booster Club
Express. In all that time, Mr. disbands Junior Bs:
McLeod proudly states, he has .
missed the early morning train
Reverend Father H. Galea,
only semen times.. SSP, has departed for Malta= to
AGE
BACK BAC• N
ROUNDSTEAK
and ROASTS
3 13,.$1
lb. 894
Ib. 99
SWEET PICKLED COTTAGE:
J: a Ib. 59
LET 08 ° FILL YQIJR. -FRE
,EZER
tESALEPfiiCE
•
We Buy Direct From The Producer.— Saye the Cost,Of
„The Middle Man - All Our Meat Is Government 'inspe>1 ted
M
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