HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-08-30, Page 24
PAGE 2. ---GODSR*CH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 19
Youth will. remember
r
The end of August is'upon us. The first
of September is looming. Summer
vacation has ended ... and so has
another season of The Pendulum
Players, a group or enthusiastic young
actors and actresses who worked long
and tedious hours to produce low-cost,
open air drama for residents and visitors
alike.
The Pendulum Players are youthful
citizens with nothing more than a sin-
cere desire to make people happy, to
contribute to their community and to in-
dulge themselves' in their love for the
stage. It is a happy combination of
exuberance and talent rolled into what
could be one of the area's most
meaningful summer experiences ... an
example to their older, more staid neigh-
bors who give little and expect all. ,
It would be surprising if The Pendulum
Players are not puzzled and
discouraged at the end of this, their
second season.. Their efforts have been
spurned by what they have been told are
the far-sighted leaders of the county.
They have been shut out of the large
courtyard at the former Huron County
Jail on the flimsy pretence of physical •
danger to themselves and to their
audiences due to construction activity/at
the Huron -Perth Regional Assessment'
Office next door, construction which by •
the way still has not begun. They have
.been forced to play out the summer in a
noisy Harbor Park while the -acoustically °'
perfect courtyard sat idle and -empty.
If The Pendulum Players are not bitter
because of the shabby treatment they've
been handed, it willbe because youth
has a way of excusing petty political
poppycock. Perhaps they look forward
to better times when it will be their turn
to govern ... hopefully more wisely and
with considerably more vision. •
Parks or beauty
•
A drive around Goderich any day this
summer has been a treat and providing
. the autumn'weather is suitable, the same
drive will be just as rewarding for many
weeks to come.
One reason, of course, is the fine ef-
fort put forth this summer by the Parks
Department for the Town of Goderich.
The growing numbers of little parks and
beauty spots in the municipality are a
credit to the townspeople many of whom
are energetic gardeners about their own
homes, and do much to give credibility
to the town's motto "Thee Prettiest Town
in Canada". " ,
Perhaps the most neglected park area
i►r Goderich is the one which is the most
often viewed by visitors and residents
alike. That's the unique Court House
Square, the grounds of which are, main-
tained by the town.
While green grass and shade trees are
important to the ,type of relaxing, and
dreaming which is synonymous with the
• Park in The Square, it is surprising in -
Reflections
deed that definite areas of this park are
.not reserved for the kinds of bright and
lasting blooms which fill so many of'the
.other parks around town..
For another year, consideration may
be given for the Parks -Department to
seek professional advice about how best
to dress up the Park in The Square:
Tourist attractions such as the parks in
Niagara Fall'S and the gardens surroun-
ding The Festival Theatre in Stratford
may be studied for ideas as well.
The triple fountain at the Town Hall
also appears to''require some color and
greenery to take atay from the severe
grey cement of the stark containers.
Some imaginative plantings in that area
next, summer would put the crowning
touches to an already exciting
decorative piece in Goderich.
Still, the Parks Department deserves
the commendation of the citizens for
their work this summer. Without their
faithfulness, Goderich would be all the
poorer for natural loveliness.
for Labor Day
Reflections on Labor Day will vary
across Canada. In the Maritimes people
will be concerned about the railway
strike and what it is doing to the
economy of a place like Prince Edward
Island, or the fact that new industries,in
the Strait of Canso are being jeopar-
dized by the threat of strikes..
In parts of Ontario, such as Hamilton,
the strike , of civic workers (garbage
collectors) will be high on the agenda of
some minds.
In the west the new minimum wage
law in British Columbia, the high cost of
farm labour on the prairies and many,
other factors will constitute Labor Day
reflections.
Over against this is the increased
profit reported by large companies, in-
cluding food chains. This, too, is part of
the ' increased cost of living. So is the
difficulty the average worker hasin
securing a home and the near thi-,
possibility of paying for it after he gets
it; the increasing bank rates and interest
is all part of the total situation, as is the
public pressure for governments to get
more involved and their hesitation about
doing so.
It is a, confused reflection we see, in,
the mirror on Labor Day.
But one thing remains certain:
whatever our position, our philosophy,
we had better learn to think these togs
through with others or we'll all come to
ruin. Not because of "the demands of
labour" but because we have not
fulfilled the demands of common sense
and common concern one for the other.
—Unchurched editorials
Tourney
support
One of the biggest softball tour-
naments Goderich and area ' folks are
ever likely to see will be held this
weekend at, Agricultural Park. Teams
from all over the province will be spen-
ding the entire weekend right here and
there will be plenty of excitement for sof-
tball fans of all ages.
Last year, Goderich fans were sadly
outnumbered at the games by" fans .from
other,..towns..__That's_ a poor showing on
the part of district boosters' and it isn't
'the admission price that is prohibitive.
At two bits for as many games as you
have time to watch, that's economy in
these days of soaring prices.
Sandy's Clippers and the DRMCo nine
are entered in the contests for local in-
terest. Why not lend your support this
weekend? Why not get down to the ball
park at least once?
• �qe e.eerft4
SIGNAL -STAR
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Published by Signal -Steer Publishing Ltd.
ROf1ERT G. SHRIEA--prisident and publisher
tlwsiness and Editorial Offic. SHIRLEY ,J. KELLER-.__alfa_
TELEPHONE 524-1431 R. W. SHAW-..adf+gial Wolf
aa►e1 —t� d. 31! • KSLLESTpt - editorial stases
EDWARD J. NYR$KI—advertising menage_
!sem classmailregistration number -071$ - DAVE R. WILLIAMS--advertising representative
Strife over - who wort?
BY
RON SHAW
When, a strike of long
duration. such as. the 13 week
work stoppage at DOMTAR
chemicals Ltd. Sifto Salt mine
'locally, is finally settled and
the men back to work one
question is always
asked "How much did they
win?"or "Did they win?"...or
"Did the company lose
money?" or "Was the com-
pany almost happy to close
down?"
To answer those questions
definitely, one way or the other,
is almost impossible, especially
when no one has all the facts
and figures with which to work. -
The contract settlement itself
can be studied though.
Let's approach the Abject
this way. if the strikers had ac-
cepted the company's final of-
fer before the work stoppage,
the total increase in wages for
the average employee earning
the average `wage previous to
the strike, would have been
$4336 over the three year term
of the contract.
That figure is arrived at by
taking the final $1.05- offer of
the company (previous to the
strike) and breaking it down
into, a series of raises over the
three years on a percentage
basis arrived at by computing
the percentage raises „ of the
final settlement, which we
know,
That would meanthe
workers would receive a 34.cent
increase as of March 31 this
year, another 7 cents this Oc-
tober, 25 cents as of March 31,
1974, 7 cents in October 1974, 25
cents March 1975 and 7 cents
October 1975.
..,....This coinpai•es With the .
raises they will receive through
terms of the new agreement
amounting to 45 cents paid
retroactive to March 31, 10
cents this October, 35 cents,, in
April 1974, 10 cents in October
1974, .35 cents in April 1975 and
10 cents in October of that year.
Compiling those raises shows
that the new agreement will
mean a raise of $5550 to the
workers over the ' three years
under the signed agreement as
compared to the possible raise.
of $4336 over three .years had
they accepted the company's
$1.05 offer and not gone on
strike.
Had the latter been the case
they would have received an
extra 13 weeks pay at *4.73 per
hour (the average wage
previous to the strike of $4.39
1: -
plus the computed first increase
of 34 cents.)
The negotiated agreement
signed last week therefore gives
the workers $1,214 more` in
raises over three years than if
they had 'accepted the com-
pany's $1.05 offer and not
struck the plant.
,During the strike, however, a.
DOMTAR employee, drawing
the ,average wage, lost $2,460.
That figure is arrived at by
multiplying°13 weeks, times 40
hours per week, times $4.73 per
hour. The $4.73 figure is used
because had the strike not oc-
curred that would most likely
be the wage paid to the average
worker if the first 34 cent per
hour raise is figured in.
The final agreement realized
an additional wage increase for
the workers of $1,214 over what
they would have received by ac-
cepting the- company's March
offer.- Subtracting that sum
from the lost wages leaves the
worker with a loss of $1,246.
Strike pay during the work
stoppage amounted to $25 per
week, or a. total of $325 .to the
striking worker. Subtracted
frdm the first loss figure this
represents a final wage loss of
$921 which can not be regained
if the employee works only 40
hours per week over the 156
week contract , term.
These figures reflect only the
wage side of the DOMTAR--
Chemical Workers
„ negotiations. There were also
key matters'of fringe benefits
and the mine workers did make.
considerable gains on that
front,
Life insurance' has been in-
creased to $4,000 over the con-
tract term, weekly indemnity
increased from 26 weeks to 32
wee�ts .a'sliifE preiniurri realized--�
for the afternoon and night
' shift, vacation improvements
will provide four w_sekaafter 15
years service with the company
and five weeks after 25, years
and an additional floating
holiday, arrangements for,
bereavement leave have been
improved and overtime meals
will be ..paid for by the com-
pany.
None of those gains are earth
shaking but they will make con-
ditions better for -the employees
and they Will,cost the company
money, although just how much
it will cost is 'impossible to
calculate.
Perhaps costs incurred for
these new fringe benefits will
offset what at firstlooks to be a
$921 loss poer employee because
of the strike. Perhaps they will
even surpass that figure.
An educated guess might be
that, .monitarily, the Chein'ical
Workers came out even on their
strike' and negotiations over a
new contract.
There's more to it than
that, however. The fri;tlge_
benefits will continue long after
the term • of the new contract
has expired and negotiations in
1976 will start from, a higher
wage scale than had the em-
ployees accepted .the DOMTAR
March offer.
Winning or losing from a
strike is only a matter that
could be judged in degrees and
only the workers will know -the
final outcome.
The company has refused to
discuss any losses it might have
incurred and Mine Manager
11.
Gordon Muir said on Ti essay,
"There would be no point in
discussing losses. It's all over
-now and the men are back to
work." •
He indicated that was the at-
titude both sides had assumed
and they are.to be commended
Tor that.
The economy of Goderich
must have felt the effect of the
strike as well. The loss of
$411,200 in income cannot be
good for any economy no mat-
ter how large or small.
What is really important novo"'
is that theworkers are back on
their job. The mine swung Tnto
full production on Wednesday
and that relations between the
company and workers appear
to be. back to normal.
Dear Jane
Dear Editor,
In regard ,to Ja.ae Clancy's
letter to the Editor on .July
19th.
. Abortion or Adoption? -
While .her tribute to her
parents was beautiful , - the
positive, unselfish solution
which made her life possible
was contradicted . by her
opinion that if a Woman wishes
to have an abortion it should
be within 'her right'.
Of course she has a right' to
her own body. But this is not
an unconditiohal right. TMore
fund -amental is the right to life
itself and abortion destroys the
body and the life of apother
human being. -
An unborn child has „legal
rights- to inheritence - to
damages received while yet un-
born - to get a blood tran-
sfusion over his mother's objec-
tions - to have a guardian ap-
pointed, and other rights of
citizenship.
A mother deciding on_ an
abortion is exerting her power
and authority in taking away
the equal rights of the child -the
most basic right of all - the
right to Life.
Link !rifle trifle (:odo'rh'I,
Dear Editor,
Mrs. P.M. French, of New
Plymouth, New Zealand, whose
enquiry about the Thomas
9t
Hood family of Goderich
resulted in a recent Signal -Star.
story, has written to thank "all
the good people who came for-
ward with- information".
"I, feel I have established a
link with Goderich," she adds,
"and should you ever hear of
anyone from' Goderich coming
to N.Z. I would be very pleased.
to . have them visit us and
would do anything rI could to
assist them." A
Mrs. French said in an
earlier letter that she went,, to
New Zealand (from Scotland)
for a holiday 35 years ago and
was married ' there. Her
hlrsbarrd--brad migretited--from--
Scotland at an early age.
W.E. Elliott
Dear Editor,,_„
We concerned with Project
S.N.A.P., (Students Working in
Nursing:Home Activity
Programme) wish to thank the
Signal -Star for your extensive
and fair coverage of our sum-
mer program.
I have often heard govern-
ment projects criticized as a
waste of taxpayers' dollars
spent oh lazy,' scaly kids who
aimlessly do their own thing.
This summer's success of
Project S.N.A.P. in area nur-
sing homes has proved the
above statement to be false.
The Signal -Star overage of
'f Cont nuod on pa0• 3
LOOKING 1111
70 YEA%
We
days ago were, privily �.
Mr. Mel o look
Y's inters
tion old documentselhpl'
curios, most ich
aa�.
some connection wt
se
sely quently t ti ry
entl aq �,
q y ighly prik
owner. Mr.
heirlooms out 250 h4'
about
Among the ,
papers we
copy of the
Samuel w►11 of
ely, peat
at
Mos
of Mr. Mosely oft t
a number of years a
suot
ter on the Island
of d
The will is dated
attested by the governor
tnot
John Balling,'
,sealed with the
Jamaica. A list of the
owned_ by Samuel )4. .
his estate is among the
tion. There
are forty
men, women and
their estimated value at
on the list, which
date 1780, is $4,12(
Samuel Mosely meh;
above was ,born at Sar
the county of Not
England in 1732 and
the parish of Hanover,M,
Bay, Jamaica, 1780. He
out to Jamaica in the}
ew
and seven years Ia
brother William started
to him but never rea.,
destination. The vessel,
shipping in was a priva ..
in an encounter with)'
vessel of much larger sig
to the bottom with all
Mr. Mosely has a Targe,
tion of similar curios
look over them and a
the owner is like a chap,
of the history of the
25 YEARS
August 26, .1941
On Friday night
o'clock Bert Ma
received a message
berley to the effect that)
off shore was sendingup
apparently as distress
Irpmediately Bert ni
two launches, Captain
and Annamac, and witi
MacDonald, James
Gordon. Sullivan„ �'
operator, set off to. tit,
reaching „Point C1uA,
two miles away, at of
When they arrived the
was just disappearing'
distance and they were
med that the engine
had been adjusted
yacht had proceeded on'
to Tobermory. The
men with the two
made al) easy trip
Goderich, arriving at30'
Dr. R.O. Staples,,
been inspector'of public
in South Huron for
years, has been granted
absence by the Ontario!
ment of Education is
that he may visit
schools and other 41
institutions in Eur,'
Western Canada.
Dr. Staple's su
school inspector in
Huron is Glen Gardintr,
whose duties here id
September 1st.
5 YEARS
August 29, 10
Huron County Qv
special session 1n
Tuesday afternoon, 1
the Warden and Clerk
general building con,
Monteith -McGrath
Waterloo to erect s y
assessment
stipulated suo Of $11
extra costs
total of $134,378
The two-storey.
be built on coon
property adjecenttotk.
Gaeol in Goderich.
start this haooderrc
_.,.served notice that*
E$eGintrOdiW Tiit nton
would pe
of fluoride
intoMO
The
Water supply
sal
following presents
council
Dr• G.A.p`
medical by officer
County end
Huron erich ,
Peters, God
both made strong
d
dations in favour
troductlon of nu
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