Clinton News Record, 1981-03-12, Page 41
PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, wit
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Who's in control?
Twenty years ago the idea that govern-
ment ` would eventually control every
aspect �f our lives seemed more than a bit
far-fetelied. Big Brother, the all-pervading
control influence of government, was
predicted to hold sway by the year 1984.
Apparently some Canadians believe that
1981 would make a good time to start.
Following . the closing of daily
newspapers in Ottawa and Winnipeg a
royal 'commission was established to ex-
amine the news industry in this country.
The commission is made up of three men
under the chairmanship of Tom Kent, a
university professor and Borden Spears of
The. TorontaStar. Immediate object of the
hearings is to determine the role of the
large newspaper chains and whether or
not, -by mutual agreement, they are clos-
ing out competitive publications.
As the various witnesses are heard,
however, the discussions have ranged far
beyondthe immediate problem of chain
ownership: In *fact some statements have
been made which would indicate that there
are quite. a few Canadians who have not
the . faintest clue about the role of
newspapers indemocratic society..
IEtieliard 'Martin, president of .. the
Manitoba Federation of Labour suggested
that the federal government launch its own
newspaper chain. Other speakers sug-
gested some form of direct government in-
volvementwith the press alongthe lines of
the Canadian -Radio-Television and"
Telecommunications Commission.
Commissioner Picard (formerly head of
the, CBC)- :had this to say: "I wonder
why .a ,,newspaper is different from a
radio st$ibn or`a�TV station?"
That, indeed, is a good question. One
Which we have posed in this column many
times. Why should radio and television be
permanently controlled by politicians who,
directly or indirectly, are bound to in-
fluence what is heard and seen on the air-
waves?
A government -operated newspaper
chain... to provide unbiased news
coverage? What a laugh! How long would
it take to develop a Canadian Pravda, tell-
ing its readers only what the government
wants the comradesto know and leaving
out anything that might look bad for the
ruling party?
So far we have not heard or read any
comments on the subject by Borden
Spears, an experienced news man who
should know what freedom of the press is
all about.
It is reasonably safe to predict that this
royal commission will prove no more fruit-
ful than the thousands of others which
have mulled over our problems, at huge
cost, from time immemorial. If chain
newspaper ownership is such a threat to
our society it is a wonder that a royal com-
mission did not long ago recommend
dismemberment of the K., C. Irving chain
which has owned every English language
newspaper in New Brunswick for the past
20 or 30 years.
If the people of Ottawa and Winnipeg
want a second daily newspaper some
smart businessman will provide it. If the
market is there, the product will arrive.
How long did it take to supplant The Toron-
-to Telegram with The Toronto Sun? (from
the Wingham Advance Times)
Frosty branches
5 YEARS AGO
March 11, 1976
There are still 1,1.00 customers without
electricity in the southern tip of Huron County
and northern parts of Middlesex County,
alter a crippling storm last Tuesday, March
2 There was $1.5 million damage caused to
the hydro system by the storm in the two
counties, and it will take extra work crews at
least. a month before the damage will be
repaired.
An unique event took place in the
Brucefield United Church last Sunday when
some of the Young Peoples' Groups of 1908
returned to help the church mark its cen-
tennial. The original group rang the bell they
Nought for the church in 1908, the only piece of
the church saved from the 1971 fire. Those
helping out in the celebration included Mrs.
Lorne Wilson,•Mrs. Jean Cairns, Mrs. Alice
Ilam. Mrs. Mayme I Mary t Swan, Fred
Burdge, Mrs. Gertrude Wright and Mrs.
• ;Mabel Munn.
Io YEARS AGO
March 18, 1971
Correction.
In a letter to the editor in last week's
edition from Stanley Reeve Paul Steckle, a
typesetter's error caused a number of
words to be missed, changing the meaning
of one paragraph. The corrected versions
should read:
"Common sense tells us that if a pipeline
is installed, the need to have Bayfield
participate in the early studies is most
appropriate. After studies are completed
and appropriation of subsidy dollars by the
ministry are committed, only then will we
know the feasibility of its further con-
struction."
The News -Record wishes to apologize
for any confusion this may have caused.
One of six lovely girls will be crowned
schoolqueen whenCaul aTFluronSecondary
School holds its annual at home dance on
Friday night. Students will vote on Friday.to
choose from Jo -Ann Bates, Diana Brochu,
Betty Snell, Agnes Lawrie, Rhea Sturgeon
!and SiiaironKeys. Could be a tough decision.
Effective March 1, Mr. T.A. Dutton,
assisted by his wife, became the postmaster
of Brucefield. The Scott families held this
position for three generations. This ends the
kindness and obliging service of the Scotts of
100 years.
25 YEARS AGO
March 15, 1956
In 'Trinity Anglican Church Parish Hall in
Bayfield on Monday evening, Miss Margaret
Howard, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.E.
Howard received the Gold Cord. It is the
-by Marg Makins
a look through
the n ews - record files
highest honor awarded to a Girl Guide in
Canada.
Proud possessor of the gleaming Hislop
Memorial Juvenile Vocal Trophy, is Miss
Bonnie Boyesr seven-year-old daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Boyes, Huron Street,
Clinton. The trophy was awarded at the
Kiwanis Music Festival in Stratford to the
best singer in the juvenile classes, 11 years
and under.
56 YEARS AGO
March 12, 1931
Motors cannot climb over snowdrifts as
horses can and traffic on King's Highway 8
on Sunday between Clinton and Stratford was
pretty well at a standstill due to the weekend
snow storm. Even the big snowplow got
stalled for some hours, but when it came
through: the line was open and is now in fine
condition.
However, it is an ill wind that blows nobody
good, and the late fall of snow will add to the
amount of moisture, of which the earth has
not had too much during the past year, and
will be a blessing to many .
75 YEARS AGO
March II), 1906•
___---� gam`s`— e• o "eiikieii e`rs-wili_bej) ayed,.._in—
Holmesville this evening, between players
from Holmesv ille and the 16th concession, six
on a side.
Much is being written in some of our
' journals cin "the'=liachelo't'' tax, that is, the
imposing of a fine on the:men who do not see
fit to enter into matrimony, for reasons of
their own. Any sane person knows that this is
the land of freedom, of which we roudl r
Ixlast. What right has anyone to meddler J1I
a bachelor's private affairs? The long and
short of it is, is it anyone's business? .
Messrs. James Fair and A.J. Morrish are
both hav ing the electric light installed in their
houses. it is just five years since Mr. W.J.
Stevenson assumed the management of the
Electric Light plant in Clinton. At that time
there were not 10 houses using the lightm now
there are nearly 100.
Clinton needs 50 comfortable houses that
would rent at from $5 to $7 a month; there is
scarcely a house to rent in the town.
100 YEARS AGO
_ March 1 I, I88i
The "Record" would like to see: a book
agent who hasn't much "cheek:" street
lamps placed On the main street; a few more
of our business men advertise in the
''Record; " plenty of work and good wages for
the poor man; those who attend religious
service and behave improperly, mend their
ways; a good road opened out to Varna.
it is currently reported that Clinton is soon
to bevisited bya marriage mania soon.
Our enterprising townsman, Mr. W.H.
Cooper, intends going into the manufacture of
artificial stone, as soon : as necessary
arrangements can be made. This will be a
great boon to all intending to erect public
buildings, shops or residences, and we
bespeak for Mr. Cooper the best of success in
the undertaking,
Clinton Carriage Works, H. Cantelon,
Proprietor, manufacturer of buggies, cutters,
wagons, sleighs etc. Lumber and shingles
taken in exchange. Give me a call and I will
give you prices that cannot be beaten in the
County. Repairing and Horsehoeing done
with despatch. NOTIC.E - Ail indebted to the
late firm of H. Cantelon taros„ either by Note
or Book Account, as requested to call and
settle by cash or note. H. Cantelon.
On Wednesday evening last, a large party
of young folks paid a visit to the residence of
Mr. Thos, Churchill, 16th concession of
Goderich Township. Mr. Churchill has
erected a very handsome brick residence
sugarandspice
dispensed
by
bill smiley
l��
No accounting for tastes
It's extremely difficult, as any columnist
knows, to please all of the people all of the
time. In fact, if this column had done so, it
would be extinct. Half my readers get so
mad at me that they can't wait to read the
next column so they can get madder. The
other half sort of enjoys it, forgives my
lapses and looks forward to what the silly
twit is going to say next week.
In the last couple of weeks, I've had
some letters from both sides. A Manitoba
editor is thinking of cancelling the column.
Reason? "Too many columns dealing with
personal matters." I quote bits from his
letter:
"While it is understandable that family
members are dear to Bill Smiley...I feel
our readers might tire of too much wife
name-calling and how the grandboys are
behaving. Once or twice a year would be
sufficient, for the grandboys' visit. But I
have never called my wife a name, unless
you consider The Old Battleaxe or The Old
Lady to be pejorative. You should hear
what some men call their wives.
And from Vancouver, a young mother
writes to say, "Keep on writing about your
family and grandboys. I love these col-
umns."
The editor was fair. He added:
"Columns, other than family -related, are
good and have received favourable com-
ment from our readers." Thanks.
I get letters from religious people who
accuse me of being the right-hand man of
the Devil, when I jestingly remark that
God must have been out to lunch when he
was drawing up the menu for this year's
winter.
I get letters from other religious people,
mostly clergy, who enjoy quibbling with
me over a point but urge me to continue
writing as I do, to make people think.
I get letters from Tories who accuse me
of being a Liberal because I don't think Joe
Clark is the Second Coming (there I go
again). And I get letters from Liberals who
swear that I'm a blatant Tory simply
because I don't believe the Second Coming
has already come, in the form of Petit
Pierre.
But on the whole, it is not exactly a dog's
life. I remember receiving a fairly vicious
editorial blow from a weekly editor who
said I wrote too much about teenagers,
because I am a school teacher.
I retorted with a bit of tongue in cheek.
In high dudgeon, he cancelled the column.
It's still going. I wonder if he's still editor
of that paper, deciding what his readers
can read. (Had a number of letters from
his subscribers supporting me, none sup-
porting him.
I receive letters from places like Baker
Lake, N.W.T. excoriating me for talking
about the tough winters down here, which
to them is almost the deep south.
And I get a letter from my kid brother,
retired and living in Florida, with pictures
of the house, flowers, pool and an outline of
his day: coffee and morning paper, walk
down the beach with the dog, etc. The
swine. Wait till the Florida flies get to him
in July and he wants to come north and
visit_for.a_month....No-room -at the -Smiley
inn, little Smiley.
On the whole, the letters I get ar-
delightful. A typical example came in the
other day from Bill Francis, Moncton, B.C.
He says such nice things about the column
that I blush even to read them, and would
never put them in print.
But more to the point, his letter is witty,
informative, alive. He's no chicken, a
W.W. I infantry private. I'll quote a bit.
"Though obviously a man of sound com-
mon sense, I wonder how, in your youth,
you got involved in flying a fighter plane,
let alone risking combat in one. (Ed. note:
me too! ). I remember during those war
years, watching a young fellow land his old
Avro Anson like a wounded pelican in the
middle of our freight yard and walk away
from the wreck looking a little sheepish.
Soon after, and nearby, another boy 'flew
his Harvard trainer at full speed into a
grove of trees one foggy morning. He
didn't walk away from that one."
Speaking of education, he says he at-
ten'ed five different schools and doesn't
think much of today's big schools. Of the
new permissiveness: "Anti -social
behaviour today may be blamed on
everything from sun spots to Grandpa's
weakness for women and hard liquor,
which'all agree is a vast improvement on
the old concept." A strapping at school and
another at home for being strapped at
school.
His last school was graded "superior,"
because it taught to Grade 11. Equipment
consisted of tray of mineral specimens.
the remains of a cheap chemistry set and a
leather strap, but managed to turn out a
number of people who went into the profes-
sions.
Bill Francis says: "The school's rather
good record was due not only to excellent
instruction, but also to drawing, from a
radius of five miles around, those whose
eyes were fixed on distant goals and whose
legs were equal to hoofing it back and for-
th. There was nothing wrong with my legs
and I lived nearby.
"Just a little light upstairs, they said; a
handicap I've learned to live with.
"Now, some seventy years later and a
little wiser, I have become just an old
fellow round whom the wind blows in the
laugh of the loon and the caw of the crows
and the wind whistles by so dreary and
cold, in chilling disdain of ways that are
old. But this feckless old fellow just putters
around- and -heeds--not ..the wind nor .its..
desolate sound. Cares not a whit for what
• the winds say; just listens for echoes of
things far away."
I think that is wise and honest and real.
May I feel the same. I'll be in touch, Bill
Francis. You're a literate man with some
brains in your head. An unusual
phenomenon.
during the past year. It is of the latest design
and one of the best, if not the best building in
the township. The party accordingly visited
him for the purpose of assisting hint to
"warm" up the house for the first time. Mr.
and Mrs. Churchill readily surrendered
everything to the party, and did all in their
power to entertain them. A large number of
the party amused themselves in tripping the
"light fantastic" to excellent music, until the
"we sma' hours."
Harry Fisher. Practical Barber, Tonsoria
Artist, Cranium Manipulator, Facial
Operator and Capillary Abridger - next door
to the Commercial Hotel, Clinton. - Your
patronage solicited,
Mr. W. Jackson has had a new sign put over
his doorway. It is beautifully painted, shows
good taste and reflects much credit on Mr.
Bowers who did the work .
Trade was brisk in town on Saturday,
numbers of farmers came in to make pur-
chases, and our merchants no doubt did a
good day's trade.
Dear Editor:
It would seem that our Liberal gover-
nment has, once again, put the proverbial
cart before the horse.
In the March 7 issue of the London Free
Press, I read that "Legislation
providing, loans to students in short-term
courses at community colleges and other
post -secondary institutions whizzed
through the Commons Friday." The ar-
ticle also states that there is "Increased
enrolment in technical, community and
vocational institutions..."
However, on February 27 it was an-
nounced that the Federal government is
decreasing its support of social and
educational programmes. The purchase of
Canada Employment Trainee Days has
been reduced 20 percent. As a result, the
community colleges are forced to cut back
their services, leaving fewer programmes
available to the "increasing enrolment."
I suggest that our Ottawa magicians
check under their hats before they pull out
rabbits of different colours.
Yours sincerely,
.,,.. Ken. Dawson,
Goderich
Reunion planned
Dear Editor,
On July 3, 4 and 5, Newmarket 'High
School in Newmarket, Ontario will be
holding a reunion to celebrate its 110th
year.
Every effort has been made to contact
former staff and students. If you wish to be
involved in our reunion and have not been
contacted, please write in care of the
Newmarket High School Reunion Commit-
tee, 329 Prospect Street, Newmarket, On-
tario. L3Y 2V5.
Yours truly,
Lynne Mertens,
Reunion Chairperson.
Do you have an opinion? Why not
write us a letter to the editor, and,
let everyone know. All lettere lern
published, providing they can be
authenticated, and pseudonym.
allowed. All letters, however,
are• subject to editing for length
or libel.
CAGE needs your support.
Dear Editor:
Last Monday night, March 9th, the first
meeting of the `Citizens Action Group for
Education' was held at the Clinton Public
School. This meeting was organized by a
11 -group of people concerned about
what is happening in the education field -
namely, that it costs more for less. It
believes that, some kind of action should be
taken.
It is obvious that, with enrollment
continuing to decline, more teachers will
become redundant and more courses
dropped. This year is just the beginning.
This small group thought it had the
support of the 130 or so persons who at-
tended the Board Meeting on the afternoon
of March 2nd, plus the many others who
couldn't get to that meeting. The Press and
T.V. and some political candidates and
board members were there last Monday
night, but only 70 people from the com-
munity were present.
Many good ideas and suggestions came
from these people, but this small number
was disappointing in view of the fact that
there are 800 students at Central Huron
Secondary School and more in the
elementary schools. Many people con-
nected with these students will need to
become involved if this organization is to
be effective in influencing the policies of
the Board of Education in Huron County.
If you care, participate. There is still a
chance to get some answers and it takes
only a little effort on the part of each of us.
Drop a line or give a call to the un-
dersigned and indicate if you agree that
someone should take the part of the
students.
More on electoral reform
Dear Editor:
With another Provincial Election on
March 19th and an obsolete election act as
far as ballots are concerned, we are faced
with the fact that many candidates will be
elected with less than 50 per cent of the
electoral support.
In a recent Federal election, using the
same type of ballot, we found that there
was a candidate elected with 12,322 votes,
while 22,254 opposed his election (the latter.
amount being split between 5 candidates).
Someother examples are: 19,756 ballots
(elected )-29,967 ballots (opposed -
between 4 candidates); ,13,610 ballots
(elected )-26,373 ballots (opposed -
between 6 candidates); 11,619 ballots
(elected) —23,904 ballots (opposed -
between 2 candidates). These examples
certainly indicate democracy is defeated
by the ballot.
odds 'n' ends
by
elaine townshend
A little understanding
If you could be where I am and I could be
where you are, for just a day or two...
1f you could take my place and I could
take your place, for just a little while ...
If you could fit inside my shoes and I
could fit in yours ...
If you could travel the road I travel and I
could walk down yours ...
If you could see the world the way I see it
and I could see the world the way you see it
If you could live the life I've lived and I
could live the life you've lived, for only a
moment or two ...
If you could see yourself through my
eyes and I could see myself through your
eyes ...
What an eye-opener that might be!
If we could listen to each other and
realty Clear wnat is said, INA wiiat we ex-
pect to hear or want to hear or think we
ought to hear ...
If we could understand the words and the
true meaning behind them, not try to twist
them into the meaning we think they
should have ...
If we could read between the lines, yet
not invent something that is not there ...
If we could say what we mean and mean
what we say ...
If we could show our true feelings ...
If we could look at each other and see the
real person, not the person we expect to
see or want to see or think we ought to see
If we could accept each other as we are
and not expect the other to change ...
If we could realize that each of us is
sometimes right and each of us is
sometimes wrong ...
If we could accept that each of us is
different and has the right to be ...
Understanding might come a little
faster; criticism a little slower. Jealousy
might fly right out the window; argument
might become obsolete. This is the dream
of many; the accomplishment of few.
If we could remember the ancient Indian
Prayer and recognize the merit within it:
"Great Spirit - Grant that I may not
criticize my neighbour until I have walked
a mile in his moccasins."
We don't want to get Inside each other's
head and find out what makes each other
tick, for that would take away the gift of
individuality and the mystery of life.
But, if we could try a little harder to
understand each other better ...
If we could respect each other's right to
think our o vn thoughts, speak our own .,
mind, live our own life, be our own person
Our list of friends would grow longer;
our life would be enriched, and our world
would have more peace.
Sincerely,
Marg Coventry,
482-3508, Clinton
Brenda Whyte,
527-0613, Seaforth
Archie Couper,
565-2522, Bayfield
Mildred McAdam
482-3657, Clinton
Ann MacLean,
482-9018, Clinton
It will be noted that when Australia
evolved a multi-party system like
Canada's, it adopted a preferential
(signal -transferable ballot) to ensure that
the winner would be the preferred choice
of electorate.
It will be noted as well, that in the open-
ing of Federal Parliament, the speech
from the throne indicated the necessity of
electoral reform.
We know that countries like Nicaragua,
Venezuela, El Salvador, and many others,
which are the trouble spots in the world to-
day, are places where the governments
are supported by less than the majority of
the electorate. In view of the strife, tur-
moil and blood shed, I can see that in
another 30 years, if 'this situation is not
taken care of, our country will be in a
similar condition.
This type of balloting is not new in
Canada. It was instituted on a Provincial
basis in both British Columbia and Alberta
and for a number of years they had good
government. This was disposed of in both
provinces in the 50's by Social Credit
governments. The reason at the time was
weakness in party strength and so they
reverted back to the system of a, simple
plurality ballot.
When one looks at those countries in tur-
moil and looks ahead to the possibilities of
this happening in Canada, one would have
to assume that political strategists that op-
pose reform in this area are little short of
being treasonous.
Due to the experiences of those two pro-
vinces, I see the necessity of having the
electoral system handled in such 'a way in
the constitution that no federal, provincial,
municipal or school board representatives
could ever sit in any of the elected offices
without a clear majority of electoral sup-
port.
It is hoped that the readers of this article
will demand from the candidates in their
constituencies their support in electoral
reform.
Sincerely,
Osborne Fansher
Bayfield