The Goderich Signal-Star, 1975-05-01, Page 2y5
PAGE .-CODE RICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1975
Caution a key word
R now appears likely that Huron and ,
Perth will join forces to. establish a
Health Council. It won't be a truly
regional health' council as was''
proposed in the oft -criticized Mustard
Report, but it will be an amalgamation
of two counties ,for the purpose of
sitting down to discuss health services
for people.
The beginning looks promising ..
equal representation for Huron and
Perth, a minimum of elected people
carefully selected for the job and a real
desire to find ways and means to save
money and improve health services for
all. This newspaper supports that kind
of progressive effort, and Huron
County Council is to be congratulated
for making these 'initial steps possible.
However, this newspaper shares
some of the skepticism displayed by
members of county council last week. `
As Warden Anson McKinley pointed
out, this' is an unknown, untried ven-
ture. There are a great many questions
left to be answered.. He expressed his
sincere hope that it was not the start of
the bureaucratic nightmare outlined in
the Mustard Report.
There is a great deal to be; said for
the concept �f health councils. Now
that health care is so much a part -of
everyday living 'dor all people, there
are more and more . areas wher`e co-
operation between counties may well
be the only answer. )
In the past, this newspaper has
pointed to some of them - sUch �as
.possible qo-operation between
hospitals for such things as laundry
facilities, eliminating some costly
duplications of equipment and ser-
vices, finding ways to put some of the
costs of»'expensive hospital care onto
the tab of the professional men and
women who use ' hospital staff , and
facilities to carry on their day-to-day
business.
At the same time, extreme caution
must be exercised to ensure
provements in medical care and
treatment; added assurances that all
persons have adequate medical at -
tent -ion; and retention of , the .vital
doctor -patient relationships now en-
joyed.
In these very early stages of
developing a Huron -Perth, Health
Council, imagination and common
sense•must go hand. in hand. There's a
.big job ahead but it is a worthwhile
endeavor when glowing: health and
longer life for everyone are the prime
rewards.
Future benefits best
The first municipal' arbor day in
Goderich was a tremendous success.
:while the -drivingforce.,,. behind_.- the
cefe.bra:ti-on was Councillor Elsa
Haydon, much 9f the praise should be
. accorded to the students. of Robertson
Memorial 'Public School, Victoria
Public School, St. Mary's Separate
School and Goderich - District
Collegiate Institute. These young
people put`their shoulders to the wheel
and did a great clean-up job for
Goderich.
The immediate advantages .of 'the
toan's first arbor day outing are ob-
vious, but the long-term benefits of the`
undertaking will , only be measured
with time. It seems safe to, assume,
however, that much lasting good .will
evolve from last Friday's positive
approach to community living.
In the . past year, the Town of
Goderich has suffered at the hands of
careless youth who vandalized 'town
property at Hallowe'en and other times
too. In recent months, many officials.,
here have _been--sear-c•hingvbe
for at4swers to' problerrGwhich finds
Goderich youth irresponsible and
destructive, lacking respect for la,ti
and order.
With this first arbor day, it is en -ire',
possible that the initial sees -=
community pride have been p=ared
the minds of some Goderich
be sure ,it is a humble becinr~ no •a
there .is not likely to be any
changes in,attitudes right alar.
There is reason to hope.'Yr oh,'-'-a-
as an annual arbor day takes -root _r
Goderich with the , involvement of
youth a -major factor, there will be in
the future a greater awareness among
_local youth of Goderich's parks, streets
and property, and a growing sense of
the rights and responsibilities of good
citizenship.
Out of blue jeans
1 Last week Huron County Council
Chambers was visited by a group of
students from Brussels. The fact that
young people take time to visit county
council is not ususual; many students
fife in and out of the,charnbers to hear
the deliberations . of Huron's . elected
representatives. . .
What is unusual about the Brussels
group is that every boy who was
present wore a shirt, fie and jacket; all
the young ladies wore dresses. It was a
joy to see these young people out of
blue jeans, Sweaters and sneakers for
Guest opinion
MJ,
their visit, to the court house. Their
attire showed their 'respect for the
workings of government in this county,
an -d several county councillors
',remarked approvingly on it.
In a day when denim 'is the most
popular .fabric among the younger
crowd; it is worthy' of editorial. com-
ment when an entire classroom 'of
students makes its appearance in
dressier garb. Such examples of youth-
ful decorum are appreciated - and •
nsted - by others. ,
They're loqking after our money
The people of Huron Coifnty should
be grateful to the trustees of •the Huron
County Board of Education for being
such fearless watchdogs of our purses.
The Board "members . last " week
decided to close a school, the North`
Ashfield Public School. The school was
only 10 years old. The move will" mean.
that '40 students will have to travel
farther on buses every day, but it will
mean that our trustees have saved us
over $2,000 a year.
Let's see now, that'll cover just a bit
more than, the increase in wages for
one s'rhool trustee who. voted to double
his salary some time back: It might
pay about half of the raise expected to
be granted this year to senior ad-
ministration officials. Just think, if we
could close about a°dozen more schools
this year, we might be backto where
we were last year as far as salaries go.
:The Blyth Standard -
,.„GA
IlEhc Ooacr[ch
SIGNAL
STAR
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Second dais Imam' ragllltrallpn number -0714
Published by Signal•Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBERT G. SHRIER—president and publisher
SHIRLEY J. KELLER--editor -
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IF 41E. PIPN' T WANT A 5,05CRIPTION TO MACiti s, SIMPLE'ND' WpoLD SUFFICE
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Jack's J0t,tingj::FrQTh. Q?!'LP!!k
1 the
:- . .7. =,,,x� ��'=-tern
•.• 7..ast
, :c the
--. 1 5 in -
with
as much
•-,_.-: : `4 rainfall
��_-+ _ •r w i- 711 € . ling of
err ••,r _ ::-: G.r . Duff e tin
and . e .:r. ._.. c_.. -...:;es rr.ade
for some very high evels�onthe,
' rivers. • On some rivers .the
flows were the,highegt recorded
in more than 20 years.
The minister said that the co-
ordinated effect of preplanning
for flood control.. awareness of
flood prone are,as, the .alerting
of conservation authority staff
and municipal officials in-
volved. as well as the co-
operation.
o-
opration. of the genera: public
and.ensuring the availability of,
equipment. all played a, major
part in keeping flood damage to
the minimum" '
Mr. Bernier stated that the
flood 'damage 'was relatively
light but. that he fully ap-'
preciated the difficulties some
residents had suffered
especially those living close to
the flood plain areas. The
major .damage. problem
seemed to be the • flooding of
house basements and• the first
floor level of factories built on
the flood, plain. The minister
reported that 'more severe
damage was prevented
because of. steps taken' in ad-
vance. His ministry warned all
conservation authorities
earlier this year about the
impending seasonal crisis
situation. When, the storm
struck Friday afternoon the
ministry alerted conservation
authorities and municipal
officials, therefore, the flood
danger was well anticipated by
all responsible parties.
- As for', the outlook for the
immediate future. Mr..Bernier
said, according to the con-
servation authorities , branch
experts. in Southwestern
Ontario the flood water has
reached the Great Lakes_pr is
approaching them, or • ,has
subsided throughout the area
and because. no', precipitation
was. expected, flows on all
rivers were expected to return
to normal quite soon, and no
problems were .anticipated in
the near future.
Robert Nixon, Leader of the
Opposition, asked the minister
of natural'"resources whether he
could assure the residents of
those communities that suf-
fered flood damage that the
assistance program approved a
year ago will •be in force this
year, at least that level of
assistance, so they can be
assured they were going to
have the same kind assistance
for home damage and business
damage. Mr. Bernier replied
that when a full report from all •
those areas where flooding, did
occur was rev'er'ed,' then he
will take it to the government
fit,- hat decision. ,
14a statement made in the
Legislature, by the Provincial'
secretary. of 'resources
development, Allan.,Grossman
said that a new approach to
protect Ontario workers and
residents from occupational
an,l environmental health
hazards caused by industrial
activities is being initiated by
the 'Government. Recognizing
that employers, workers,
unions, community groups and
government are 411 responsible
in achieving sucdessful
•protecutive and preventive
measure's, an advisory council
. on occupational and en-
vironmental health matters
be established. This body
will provide • the formal
mechanism for industry,,
labour and other ' interested
parties to advise government
on health hazards as Wellsas to,
recommend new policies and
programmes'. It will assist the
government in defining how
health safeguards can be
engineered into plants at the
design state and it will be a
central reference source for
public information about all
aspects of occupational and
envi ronmeritai` health.
The minister of health, Mr.
Miller, to whom the advisory
council will 'report, • will be
announcing 'lfurther details on
the structure, membership and
responsibilities of the adivsory
council cep occupational and
environmental health, to `
en-
sure that it is a strong voice in
future programmes.
Mr. Grossman stated that the
Go- ernment is' moving .to
strengthen its Own activities in
occupational and en-
vironmental health. Greater
emphasis- will be placed'on the
prevention of known ,health
hazards through the, setting of
guidelines and the search for
unknown health hazards in
industrial processes.
The ministry' of health will
have clearly • delineated
responsibilities to assure that
standards are properly applied.
The cjecision to assign standard
setting'and,applied research to
the ministry of health clarified
which ministry is primarily
responsible: for,determining the
effects of industrial emissions
on human physiology although
the iiiinistr„y of health will
consult with other agencies.
The ministry of ' ,alth will
publish every _ar its
guidelines on in -plant
emissions and out-of-door
ambient conditions. This .an-
nual disclosure of information
will mean that industry and
labour are fully aware of ap-
plicable standards. , Ministries
and government agencies will.
incorporate , these official
standards, in appropriate'
legislation and regulations.
The responsibility of in-
specting, monitoring and en-
forcing health standards
outside the plant Mr. Grossman
said, remained with the
ministfyof environment.
Because health hazards from
industrial processes in some
cases take as long as 20 to 30
years to show up. in humans,
ways . are being examined of
requiring the employers. Tri
specified industries, including
mining, 'chemicals, and other
companies currently using
known hazardous ,substances,
to keep records on employees.
Such records will include, the
type of work performed;' the
employment location in the
plant and the equipment used,
The Legislature has been
debating the bills concerning
the changes ire the provincial
tax structure announced in the
recent budget, such as the
reduction of the Retail Sales
Tax from seven percent to five
percent which is' 'only ap-
plicable until the ' 31st
December, 1975. Removal of
the sales tax on production—
machinery
roductionmachinery and equipment was
discussed at some length and
,Liberal M.P.P. Ray Haggerty
proposed an aniendme o the
effect that' machine and,
equipment imported into
Canada should be subject to
taxation, if similar machinery
and equipment, to be used for
the same purposes, can be
manufactured in this country.
This amendment was not ac-
cepted, although the minister'
indicated that it had con-
siderable merit.
There were considerable
discussions on the subject of the
part-time Justices of the Peace.
Ontario „Attorney General John
Clement told the Legislature
that ;. there are some 648
qualified part -tin=e JPs in the
Province, paid on a fee basis
for their services. He said that
394 filed claims for payment in
197X-74 and five were paid more
than $20,000. One JP in the
Brampton area was 'paid
$30,000, and' Mr. Clement said
that he will consider appointing
a full-time official, which would
probably be cheaper ,than
paying a part-time justice who
works long hours. , _..
Albert Roy, Liberal Member
of Ottawa East, pointed out that
in , • the view of the former
Ontario : m
McRuer, Chief expressedJusticein hisJa1968es
report on civil rights, Justices
of the Peace paid by fees must
remain on good terms with
police to "promote and
maintain business' „And that
Mr. McRuer had recommended
that all Justices of the Peace be
paidby salary so that they
could notmake more money -by
swearing more information' on
minor offences.
The Ontario Lottery is
proving very popular. Of the
2,160,000 tickets printed, for the
first draw on May 15, 1,620,000
have already been sold out. It is
hoped the, Lottery will raise
$100 million in three years. It
was pointed 'out by the
.Opposition Members, however,
that the real ,winners of the
Ontario lotterwill be the of-
ficial dist=ributors of the tickets,
Mr, Richard ,Smith, 'Liberal
Member for Nipissing, told the
Legislature of a distributor in
Northern Ontario, who stands
'to realize a profit -of $3,500
every two weeks or about
$85,000 per year.
Liberal Member'Albert Roy
objected to a distributor in his
area who is not even an Ontario
resident who stands to make
about $10'0,0('0 a year from
distributing tickets.
DEAR EDITOR
Position clarified
Dear Editor:
With an increasingly un-
pleasant feeling of being_made
party to an attitude and action
which is thoroughly against my
better• judgment and which is
likely to make an unfortunate
situation worse; I wish to be
openly clear about my stand in
the regrettable situation in-
volving the daily • work
relationship between the"Arena
staff, Recreation Board, Town
Coui ei1 and , individual council
members.
The situation has been
simmering in a questionable
state for a couple of years and
judging by some recently
added ,remarks at the council
table will not get better unless
the basic principles, rights and
obligations of our system are
openly reviewed and put in a
reasoned and workable per-
spective.
My own reaction is to openly
apologize to the Goderich
Rec. reation and Community.
Centre Board and most
specifically' to Mr.�Bill Lumby,
the Arena 'Manager, . for the
unsettled and uncertain con-
ditiothS, the pushing and pulling
of some council motions which
amount to a put-down resulting
from political interference in
the daily Work which municipal
employees and Board members
should be' al lowed to perform in
good faith and under fair and
businesslike conditions.
Citizens ,giving of their time
qn` the. Board must see some
meaning in their work and
cannot be treated like puppets.
A man who has given many
yeaPs of faithful service to the
Town is entitled to respect and
consideration, particularly by
those whose authority is only
very' temporary by com-
parison.
The legal right to hire and
-.fire; promote and demote by
those who are in a position of
such authority for two years
must be balanced with a strong
feeling of responsibility and
decency towards those for
whom such « work, is their
livelihood, if there is to be a
meaningful and progressive or
even ' tolerable Work at-
, mosphere, with proper chan-
nets of communication clearly
known on every level.
Municipal employees ,ati..,
council members all work for
the Town, only in different
capacity. .
After setting the basic policy
guidelines in specific fields the
Council and its individual
members must allow municipal
employees to work in peace and
dignity: ,
In the current Arena staffing
controversy it has been my
unchangiig opinion ' that the
well -considered recom-
mendations of the Recreation
Board should have, been ac-
cepted, particularly as. wehad
nothing better to offer,' and all
the subsequent situations and
confrontations added nothing
constructive.
In matters of basic
philosophy. on which • I have
strong feelings I refuse to be
swept under the cover of a
common blanket.
Sincerely,
Elsa Haydon
Need donations
Dear Editor;
About two months ago,I made
a request of your readers for
pictures of the -interiors of
houses of the 19,00-1916 period.
Perhaps the timing was wrong
in that it was then too cold to go
to one's attic. At any rate the
response was disappointing.
However we are still seeking
direction in 'our' attempt to
refurnish the governor's' house
at the Huron Historic Jail in the
style -of that time, We would
most appreciate pictures
showing wall paper designs as
well as furniture. `
Donations :,or loans of fur-
niture or draperies in the early
1900s style will be most
gracefully received.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Wallace, 5249372
. Chairman, Refurbishing
Committee,
.Huron Historic Jail Board
Thank you
Dear Editor,
St. Joseph's Kingsbridge
Catholic Women's League
would like to take this op:
portunity to thank you for, your
excellent coverage of ow• news
reports in yeti!: paper 'during
the past, Yea r. Sincerely,
Mrs, Jim Martin.
Cough, cough
Dear Editor:
Re: "Smoking" By -Law.
.While the By -Law is com-
mendable, I am surprised at
the number of people 'Who are
'physically bothered by a few
days of leaf burning each year.
On the other hand, 365 days of
tobacco -smoking a year seems
to be tolerated without any° ill
effects whatsoever, ' e.xcept
possibly some 'cases of
Emphysema, Cancer, maybe
Jaime Heart Disease, and a .
whole , bunch of clinically
-proven smoking-related
diseases, .,
E. Tnfeit