HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-02-08, Page 2PAGE 2--GODERIC11 SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY' 8. 197:3
Arrogance in
G e verinnent
Every year or so a new term or phrase
is coined to describe, in a few short
words, a current problem (or., perhaps
just the current awareness of a
situation). For example remember
"generation gap" or "communication
breakdown". Or how about "credibility
gapes and -''poke&-brutality: -
There's a new onegoing around these
days, its new and perhaps not as well
known as those mentioned above but its
there and more people hear it and begin
to use it each day "Arrogance in
Government."
Recently we've seen a great deal of
government arrogance. It's blamed for
the near fall of the'federal Liberal Gover-
nment. Mr. Trudeau was too arrogant in
handling opposing views to- his govern:-
ment's policies, the political , analysts
say, and they're just about on the bull's
eye.
Provincially we live in a system of fur-
ther government arrogance. Oh granted
they pacify the natives with select com-
mittees on various subjects so the voter
can be lulled into feeling he had the
chance to express his opinion and that
his opinion ,will be -considered in the for-
mation of legislation..
Such we doubt is the case. Most often
the legislation is ,already written, ok at
least will be written, along preconceived
guidelines despite -the recommendations
of. select committees and 'the like. •
Government arrogance has reached
the County level too. The reeves of
Huron County have been presented with
--alternatives to tearing down a wall at the
former Huron County Jail but do' they
listen? it seems not. -
They accept the .proposals, petitions,
arguments and suggestions in the same
way higher governments accept the fin-
dings of Royal Commissions or Select
Committees. They pat their appointees
on the back for a job well done, thank
the voters for their opinions and interest
in the problem and then continue, along
their way as though no other ideas were
ever put before them.
And now symptoms of this same
government arrogance are creeping into
the .municipal of Goderich. They
were . so -subtle at first they 'escaped
Mnoticeor—were•. regarded., - by most, as
only minor discrepancies. In recent
weeks however they have manifested
themselves into that same disease which
seems to breed in all political bodies.
Arrogance and a complete disregard for
public opinion.
Councillor Eileen Palmer was the, first
to put such attitudes into words and ac-
tion, but we fear she may not be the last.
As an elected representative Mrs.
Palmer can not be severely enough
criticj,,ked, pr , her attitude toward the
public who elected her. Attitudes ex-
pressed in her statement at last week's
'town council meeting that petitions, to
her, represented "mob rule." .w
Further she charged that 99 percent of
those signing thepetition probably did
not know what, it was all about. We
charge that they knew just as much
about the issues at stake in that petition
as they did about the issues at stake
when they elected Mrs. Palmer ,to 'the
municipal council.
To say that petitions, the proper
vehicle through which the'public can ex-
press its opinion to their elected leaders,
represent mob rule is an affront to
democracy.
-We' would further question Mrs.
Palmer's conduct of matters regarding
appointments to the Goderich
Recreation Board. It is a fact that Mrs.
Palmer was asked by the council ad-
ministrative committee to contact Mrs,
Marion Mills, Mrs. Shelagh Sully -and
Mrs. Martha Rathburn to ask if they were
interested in serving as board members.
It is also a fact that she did not con -
tad Mrs. Mills at all, nor did she get in
touch'with long time board member Mar-
tha Rathburn. Mrs. Sully wasasked to
serve and declined.
Instead of asking a dedicated board
member like Mrs. Rathburn to continue,
or contacting Mrs. Mills as she had been
asked, Mrs. Palmer tabled another ap-
plicant for the post.
Granted, it has been explained that
since Mrs. Rathburn no, longer lives" in
Goderich (she now resides just outside
the town, limits) she was no longer
qualified to sit , on the board. Perhaps
this is the reason she was never contac-
ted.
Had Mrs. Rathburn even been told
they -.was any question about .her
eligilityhe could have easily .proven
,,that her husband is still a property owner
in this municipality and as .his spouse
she was still qualified.
In this light the explanation sounds
more like an excuse. .
We also ask why the administrative
committee of council was not asked to
discuss further nominations to the post
but' instead let the one personal selec-
tion of Mrs. Palmer slip by unchallenged.
Perhaps Mrs. Palmer had no desire to
see Mrs. Rathburn or Mrs. Mills in this
position --and went on, without direction;
to. fill it with her own choice.
What remains as the big question is
why two (of 'the four applicants now in
the picture) fit Mrs. Palmer's vision of a
ood.board member-where:-the.othr
9 ,, es;do
not?
We hasten to point out that we do not
question the new member's.ability in the
Recreation Board seat, she will doub-
tless work hard for the community, what
we do wonder at is the method through
whidh the appointment was made. A
method that might well be described as
arrogant.
Mrs. Palmer is a gifted woman and we
are satisfied that with some experience
she will contribute a great deal to the
municipality as a town councillor. What
he-must-c`o'me to -realize-however-is-War'
she was sent to tier seat at the council
table by the voters to represent them,
not dictate to them. She must learn to
listen.
How long will voters of this town, this
county and this country go on believing
empty campaign ',.promises bf govern-
ments listening to people only to find
their petitions, questions and complaints
brushed aside without regard. R.S. -
Frye tgoaericry
SIGNAL -STAR
y
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Published by Signal'Star Publishing Ltd.
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To THE G oDER,cf
PE'444 j. i dt rlrirc, r-li
SIV VA%
�3ofc'Q gg WIE
DEAR READERS
Dear Readers,
The moment I've been
looking forward to for a while
has arrived. Tomorrow
(Friday') I 'leave this desk for -
three weeks and begin a
vacation which, though ,not as
glamorous as the holiday en-
joyed by young Ron Shaw, will
be most . refreshing for me, I
hope.
Ron arrived back in
Goderich last Wednesday,
much to the relief of this writer.
I wondered if a - month-long
trek through the southern
climes would ''entice young
Shaw away from' the Signal -
Star .... but he told me he
would return, and he did.
In case you're wondering;
Ron reports that Alex Wilkins
is "in great shape_ and still
thinks kindly of "The Prettiest
Town In Canada":
* * *
Speaking of Goderich, I
should mention that in the
"Letters to the Editor" column
this week, _you will find a'letter'
written by a Jean Lednor of
Hamilton. I think you will find
her note most informative ....
and 'give some insight into the
kind of history which surrounds
this town,including the •former
Huron County •Jail, which
•should• be saved at all costs. --
It is truly difficult to explain
my innermost feelings in this
matter. I'm not a scholar of
history. I have no personal sen-
timental attachment to the jail.
I'm not personally interested in
the museum of penology,
although I'm sure that if -a
museum of penology was
located in Goderich I would get ,
over to have a look at it. I'm
not •even a frustrated artist or
craftswoman or singer or 'ac-
tress or guitar picker who
would be relieved if a cultural -i'
ar cen re . was oca e a e
jail so I could display my
talents.
So why do I want to'save the
jail and its wall?
I guess the real reason for my
enthusiasm for the jail comes
from a feeling of pride for
Huron County. I've lived here
.all my life and while I'm not
that old, I get a real pleasure
from hearing about the things
that went on in the past.
I'm not ,a regular caller at
Huroh County Pioneer
Museum, for instance, but I
have visited and I have en-
joyed. It gives me a, thrill to
know that at that museum is a
place where the history of
Huron County is foremost. It is
the only place in the world
where Huron County is preser-
ved .... and I'm truly grateful,
for it and do not 'in any way
regret that the museum costs
me money in taxes each year.
I have not. always lived it
Goderich .... hut I've always,
lived in the county. Along with
thottsa'rtds of other people, I've
paid 'taxes toward the Huron
County Pioneer Museum 'for
many years °.... and never once
did I think of it -as' a plum. for
Goderich but* rather, I con-
sidered it a library of history of
which the entire county could
be justly proud. It was to
Goderich's advantage it was
located here ... but it could, not
be everywhere, nod,. could it?
Let's turn our attention to
the iail
The jail is the oldest county -
owned building left. It is
unique. It is so unique that a
branch of the provincial gover-
nment has actually expressed
an interest in it .... has actually.,
offered to help out with the fur-
nishing of it for a 'Museum of
'Penology. No, the provincial
government hasn't offered hard
cash .... like an annual grant to
maintain the museum. But it
has shown it is interested ....
and that, dear readers, is in-
dication that 'the provincial
government deems 'the former
Huron County Jail worthy of
saving.
Think of it for a minute. The
jail is the only building of its
kind.-' in North America.
Something absolutely un<iq'ue to
North America -is located right
here in Huron County spot
only located here, but owned by
'Huron .County and , some
people are ready and willing to
rip away small 'poi tions of it for
the sake of one more box-'
shaped building which may or
may not be around for 50 years.
Make no mistake about it.
Huron County Council would
not consider- tearing the- jail,._
walls down were it not for the
.need.'for expanded facilities at.
t'fi-Cprase rrr...a ssessm en t.,..offi ce::.....
In hindsight now, it is
evident the assessment office
should never havefbeen located
yin its present sit. The whole
thing is too crovided to be at-
tractive, the architecture
doesn't blend / with present
surroundings' and provisions
were not able to be built-in for
expansion.
There's nothing we W can do
about the present assessment
building ..., nothing at all. It is
there. But let's not compound
the original error with another
one.
The county, holds little "real
hope that it can convince the'
provincial government that •
Huron -County should be ' a
region • unto itself. `Although •
they are willing to whittle away:
at the jail, a piece of real estate
that money could never replace
once it is defaced to build the
addition to the assessment of-
fice; they are trying to convince
the people that the assessment
office must be accommodated
on that sight in order that
' Huron County have just one
more government department
to show as a "toehold" toward
Huron becoming a 'region.
The county was'not willing to
send $9,300 ; 'on the ,chance --
that Midwestern Development
-Council. could strengthen their
voice at the provincial level
By Shirley J. Killer
but they are willing to knock a
gaping hole in a historical site
on the vain chance that the
provincial government will
look more favorably on them as
a possible region.
If you don't think the county,
is losing faith that Huron will
ever be recognized as a region,
witness these statements made
just last month at county coun-
cil's session `regarding MDC:.
"We're not getting our
value," said Bob ' Lyons.
"There's no proof they're going
to get for us what we're asking
for."
"It's one big waste of
money," said. Derry Boyle. "In
rib way is MDC going to in-
fluence the government." '
not.
"MDC will.;;. `
....carry
fight," ' "said Deb Shewfelt.`"I
see the handwriting on ' the
wall. Gentlemen, regional
government is coming. It is a
new ballgame."
"It hasn't been done," said
Bill Elston, referring to MDC's
getting the government sym-
pathy. "I don't know whether it
can be done."
You bet, _dear` readers.
County Council' is disillusioned
about the chances of retaining
Huron County as a region unto
but they're:still .waling-•
to sacrifice the jail as a. last
ditch hope to save Huron's
autonomy.
Dear Editor,
---Since the-fate--of-the-old-jai
is still not decided it seems -
may I add one more plea to the
many who have written in to
save the old building and what
-remains of the old wall.
There must be some left who
restored to some of its past
glory.
Goderich, The Prettiest
Town in Canada, so the adver-
1_6sing literature statesl_yvhet1-.L_.a
and rain to destroy the interior.
Later this was taken down and
sold.
Why. do ,they not buy bricks
nd_I.umbex....a.n L.buitd-_one...-to
will remember when this wall
extended all across the front. I
wonder if Mr. Elliott,or any of
the older °generation remember
- when the loose stones were on
top. of the wall. I was told this
was to prevent anyone climbing
over.
A Scot uncle coming out over
a hundred years ago wtio had
built a lighthouse on the East
Coast and also one on the West
Coast, was brought in to do
some repair work on these
loose stones: These old country
stone masons did their work
well - they expected . it to last.
"In the elder' days of art,
builders wrought with greatest
care."
Westminster Abbey is still
' therafter" almost 1,000 years
thou h now getting some
repair, , Many .old castles, ab-
. keys, churches are still there for
folks to e, some proof of the
past. So are "still in use.
' Even their "ruins are -not
. destroyed but left for those in-
terested history of the past.
Canada has not 'many-cat~stles
- we are still a young country.
Toronto ...has preserved Casa
Loma which some coming from
the old country smile atm;
Hamilton . has ,Dundurn, now '
the old summer hotel was built
in 1902, is an old Canada Com-
pany Town. This may not mean
much to the present generation, --
but Goderich and Colborne had.
%many of the "400 long ago.
Goderich had the beautiful
old court house taken down as
it was said not suitable for
some. I do hopethe old post of-
fice on West Street, now thea
municipal offices, will escape.
When "The Maples",' the
home of the Hon. M.C.
Cameron was not used by that
family, it *as made over for the.
hospital. I remember the late
Mrs. Cameron was in what was
known then Its McDermitt's
Castle .on the bank of the lake
but when she wrote me once
rhe called it "Lochail's Tower"
- and anyone familiar with -clan
history will know' , this is a
branch of the Camerons.
Goderich cannot boast of
castles, but many fine people
lived there - still do - and those
who moved away still love the
old 'town and. the old. building`s.
Children grow up.beside the'
lake. Do they ever look at the
sunsets which are said to rival
the sunsets of Italy..One might
go on to speak -of alt the 'nice
'things in the old town, •but it is
the old jail that we want to
save.
If a building was needed for -
municipal arid civic affairs, °the �.
old summer hotel was empty
years enough, vandals breaking
the windows, letting in snow
•
•
•
their biking? Why want . to,
destroy one of the few last,lan-
dmarks of the old town?
Some years ago when it was
considered a fine thing to build
a railroad out through
Goderich, -Colborne, Ashfield,
Colborne "said "No" they didn't
want this, but it went ahead
outinto Ashfield. But Colborne
boys went out at night and tore
up what was put down in the
daytime. Later the promoter.
slipped away to the US. and
Goderich and Ashfield were felt
to pay in their taxes till the last
World 'War. Colborne could
laugh -- they didn't have to
pay for something they didn't
get or want.
Has the spirit of Wallace and
Bruce departed along with the
old Claymores and Dirk?
Come, Colborne, and help the
friends in Goderich save -the
old jail. Sound the pibroch
"alt" the blue bonnets over the
border" of apathy and indif-
ference.
Sincerely,
Jean' Lednor
Hamilton
Dear Editor,
Snowmobiles evoke gut read
.tions—both pro and con. Con-
sequently, in my brief to the
Select Committee on Motorized
'Snow Vehicles, I attempted to
avoid hearsay, personal opinion
(continued on .page 4)
25 YEARS AGO
FEBRUARY .8, 1948
The largest meeting in
history of conservation
Goderich, took place at t
town hall on Wednesday nig
The meeting sponsored by
Maitland Game and Fish Co
servation Club, had repres4
tatives from Exeter, Uric
l✓limon, Lucknow an
Seaforth.
The cold spell of the pat
week with below zero tem.
peratures recorded on thr
days in succession, was t
most severe Goderich has ex.
perienced• since 1934.
Mrs. Walter Newcombe will
shortly be wearing a made t,
measure fur coat. She guessed
correctly the name of the piece
"Peggy O'Neil" as played over
the radio on Saturday night of
the Mother Parker Tea Party
show.
In a . free 'scoring Inter,
mediate "B'' O.H:
engagement at Exeter 04Saturday night, the Goderick
Kinsmen edged the Centrale
Flyers 13-12: W. Westbrook
scored the winner with only4
seconds left in the game.
A public library is beio
established at Whitechurch to
operate in conjunction with the
Huron County Library
A_ ssociation.
The Park House was the
scene of a pleasant function on
Wednesday evening when at.a
Valentine dinner the
organization of a Kinette Club
took place in conjunction with
• the Goderich Kinsmen Club.
Highlighted by a huge cake
with one candleon it, the
Bayfield Lions 'Club celebrated
its first birthday in a party held
last Wednesday.
70 'YEARS AGO
FEBRUARY 8, 1903
The school house of S.S. (Qo,
6, Goderich , township, was
destroyed by, fire Saturday aft
ternoon last. It was the second
fire in the last month at the
school.
' The mild weather this week
has been good for building, ani,
a large staff of men has been
employed at the. organ factory;
completing the brickwork oft'
East Street
The first hockey match of the
season in ,the senior class came.
off at the . rink on Tuesday
evening with the: .Goderich
team defeating the Clinton
team by a score of 12-0.'
The treaty. between Columbia
and the United States for the
control of a strip of territory for
the ,Panama Canal: has been.
completed and Uncle Sam can
now goahead and dig the
ditch.
-A :.German- _Lieutenant who
had shot and killed a lawyer in
a duel was sentenced to two
years imprisonment.
The Morris planing mill on`
Cambria ' Road, was sold by
auction on Saturday, the put
chasers being Messrs Buchanan
and Lawson.
Steps are currently being
taken by Mayor Lewis to secure
an outside breakwall for the
•. Port of Goderich. Petitions
,,have been received by council
pertaining to the matter.
5 YEARS AGO
FEBRUARY 8, 1968
J. Howard _Aitken of
Goderich,, has been appointed
to the campaign staff of Hon.
J.J. Greene, Minister of
Agriculture, until the Liberal
leadership convention in Ot•
tawa is completed.
Ice and snow piled within a
few feet of the bottom of the
bridge on highway 21 north of
Goderich. The structure Was
not damaged by the resulting.
flood which left mountains of
ice on the river flats around the`
bridge.
Goderich voters will likely go
to the polls some time in April
to' register their' feelings on
beverage rooms for men and
women in the . town of
Goderich.
There are currently 8,832
elementary public school pupils
and, 5,582 secondary school
pupils enrolled in Huron
County Schools, a survey
showed.
A Goderich rink skipped by
Pete Graf took top honours in
the first draw and ended in 'the
runner-up spot overall in the
recent Base Commander's Bort'
spiel at the C.F.B. Clinton.
The Owen Sound Greys took
a bt"utal 12-1 lashing at the
hands* of `the Goderich Siftoa
here Friday night in a O.H.A.
Jr. • "B" gime. . .,.
,Goderich %rill play host to the
All,Ontario senior boys basket
ball tournament March 18 and
19. This' will, be the first time.•
the' etrent will be held West of
•
Toronto.
ts. Sal
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Jan Be
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