Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1981-07-30, Page 4PAGE 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, JULY 30,1981 Ms Moon on etews-T®¢.ttrti Is pubitskevi each tioneday at f' -O_ ®oro 84. Mattes Ontario. evande. MOM U.S. Td -:45&8957_ Substrietles Rata: Canada • •l9 35 Sr_ Citizen _ °14.5S par year a foreign -.°85.95 per Voter it Is nagisterad OM mad slats sten ®y The post office under eke genatt nentker 5557. The kiesrefiecord Incorponried M 511e vise ileuses f9asa4 lt'aaoad. founded in 1551. and The Cantos Pica, Era. founded La 11158. Total pass recta 8.300, Clinton YewsRecord *C A MEMBER JAMES E. FITZGERAL® - Editor^ SHELLEY McPHEE - News Editor GARY HAIST - Advartising Manager HEATHER BRANDER - Advertising MARGARET L Glas - Office Manager LRY ANN GLIDDONI-Subscriptions MEMBER Display advertising gates available oat request. Ask for hare Card No, 11 affective Oct. 1. 1159_ ammasseamessateneseereesseemessmisillfr Gambling with your life Following a directive from Ontario Solicitor General Roy McMurtry, police forces around the province are, going to crack down on people not wearing seat- belts while driving or riding in cars and trucks. According to surveys, Mr. McMurtry's department has found that seat belt use by Ontario residents has fallen from a high of 79 per cent in March of 1976 to about 55 per cent today, and despite a law that says you must buckle up, fewer and fewer people are obeying the law. In a meeting in late June with police officers representing 63 jurisdictions, McMurtry found agreement that seat belts definitely increase one's chances of surviving any auto crash. Although enforcement of the law is one of the keys to more seat belt use, all agreed that better education programs ore necessary to show the public that their use is a definite benefit. But even though, as Minister of Health Tom Campbell pointed out, seat belt legislation has done more to increase our life expectancy than any other public health measure in this century, people still refuse to buckle up despite the warn- ings, and the bare facts. Why? Because basically people become independent when they get behind the wheel. The car gives them a false sense of inpenetrable security. Accidents always happen to the other guy. This myth is a hard one to shatter and even though enforcement and education programs will up seatbelt use substantially, they will be only short term gains, for as soon as the saturation ends; use will decline again. It's just plain and simple human psychology -people like to take risks - they like to gamble: It's a natural inborn human instinct, and no law, no matter how well enforced, will ever change that. By J.F. Citizens make their point Somewhere along the line ordinary citizens appear to have made their presence felt in Ottawa. A government plan to introduce metric groceries on Canadian households has been postponed until Jan. 1, 1982. Invariably the government will now prepare a lengthy and very costly advertising promotion to,_ present metric measured groceries at this later date. Metric measurements should never have been introduced in the first place merely because one dictatorial type of government official felt he knew best what was good for Canada. Such an official should have been turfed out of office permanently but unfortunately, the general public has a very short memory. Metric conversion was thrust on..Canadians in much the same fashion as bil- ingualism. Similar unfavorable actions are currently being carried out in regard to the question of the constitution, the energy and fuel shortages and other topics almost too numerous to mention. It is small wonder the public are confused. Despite the fact Canadians clearly indicate to. their representatives exactly what they hope will take place, these same politicians irresponsibly carry on as they see fit: They are more than aware the public are often fickle and too apathetic to take a firm stand on any controversial subject. It is often suggested "what can we do" or, "let George do it", and it is upon this attitude that politi- cians carry on as they do. When a government leader can look at the problems besetting this country and in the face of all this, blatantly suggest, "Canadians should tighten their belts, face up to reality, grow up and stop acting like cry babies", then he no longer deserves the privilege to serve as the head of any country. Although it is not too well known, perhaps, the entire metric conversion pro- gram is being carried out by an appointed metric commission which is not answerable to the public. The people are forced to obey orders from a group they have no opportunity to control, orders that reach out and affect every citizen in this country. This commission was created by the government. in the majority at Ottawa, a government that received such majority because of either public apathy, or blind- ness. It is only now, with each passing day, the public are made aware of their Toss of control of their very lives. How long this loss will continue, or to whot ex- tent it will be furthered, is anyone's guess. (from the West Lincoln Review) [sugarond spice The sentimental sex In theory, women are the sentimental sex, men are the hard, unfeeling sex. In reality, this is pure horse....wait for it....feathers. Underneath all the cooing and crooning and weeping, hidden behind the ah's and oh's and other symbols of maudlinity, women are about as sentimental as turtles. This is said in no disparaging sense. I detest sentimentality. though I have nothing against sentiment. Thus, I despise myself for being sentimental about things: old shoes, old hats, old hip waders, old houses, old cars, and even old ladies. There is nothing of this in my wife. Oh, she can get sentimental about the way I us- ed to baby her, of the joy the children were before they grew up, or her school days in the one -room country schoolhouse. In other words, figments of the imagination. But when it comes down to things I love and cherish, she's as sentimental as a meat -grinder. Just the other day, she threw out my golf shoes. I'd had them only twenty-one years. They were a size too big when I bought them, and my feet skidded around a bit in- side thein; the spikes were worn down to pimples, many missing. But they were old friends. I felt low for two days. She didn't turn a hair. This week, she made me buy a pair of dress shoes, black. I had a perfectly good pair of black slides. As usual, I had worn them only to weddings and funerals for the first four years, then to work for the last nMM. MOST OE INE piAP LETTtsI R1I ca .ail` remembering cru r past 5 YEARS AGO July 29, 1976 Clinton can now be well remembered by tourists and area people through postcards depicting important and well known sights in town. The black and white pictures showing 15 different views have been designed and photographed by 16 -year-old Jeff Wise, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wise.of Clinton. Along with help from Hilda Monologs, from' the Radiant Life Centre. the two have started up a successful business partnership and are making a great hit with postcards: The Vanastra Community Association has for the past several months looked into the feasibility of an emergency first aid fighting unit. A fire committee has been formed to discuss the advantages with both Brucefield Fire Department and Tuckersmith Township Council. The Object of the fire fighting unit is to administer first aid and basic fire fighting until the Brucefield hire Department arrives at the scene of the fire or emergency. 111 YEARS AGO August 5, 1971 The special committee of Clinton town council and a representative of an ar- chitectural firm began yesterday afternoon to compile an inventory of existing facilities to municipal departments in the town and an analysis of futureneeds. Two members of Clinton's volunteer fire department have been given medals in honor of their long service. Grant Rath. Clinton Fire ('hief and Bob Draper. Assistant•Chief were given the medals For their 30 years of service each to the department They received the honors by mail because they were unable to attend a service at the Ontario Fire College in Gravenhurst. Dr. and Mrs .1.H. Walters- Bayfield residence was the scene Monday night of a special kind of party. "Guest stars were members of The World's Greatest .Jazz Band. whose music in the style of the 19:111'5 and 1940's. is recognized as the hottest thing around in the music world today. Certainly the talent and co-operative excellence of these music ians deserves superlative praise three. They were good shoes. Cost me $22. But they weren't good enough, in her opi- nion, for some dam' fancy party we were going to. It didn't matter to her that they were comfortable (it takes about three years to break in a pair of shoes), still quite black when sufficient polish was ap- plied, and only a few scuffs here and there, about the size of a thumbnail each. Out they went. Have you any idea what a pair of decent shoes costs these days? By George, they must be using humans for skin. Blacks for black shoes, brown people for brown shoes and 'Scandinavians for white shoes. No' animal hide, alive or dead is worth what they're asking for a bit of leather. My old lady recently bought a collection of strings of leather that wouldn't make a medium-sized jockstrap. It was called a pair of shoes. It cost $85. They were made in Italy. I'm going to write the Pope. But I mustn't digress. Latest victim of my wife's complete lack of sentimentality about old and cherished things was our car. The Big Car, as my grandboys called it when they climbed, cramped, out of the poky little Datsun their mother drove and in which she carried a pail of water to fill the leaking radiator every thirty-five miles. Those little fellows loved it. They didn't even notice the rust. It was a veritable playhouse, the Yellowbird, another pet name. They were at their happiest when we were steaming down the highway, crawling around my feet, pushing buttons, twisting dials. It was sheer bliss for them when they got everything going at once. A cold winter day. The air conditioning turned to full cold with the fan on. Windshield wipers fly- dispensed by hill smiley "Justifiable homicide!" ost Ey .aT ao` aM a Zook through the news -record files 25 YEARS AGO - August 2. 1955 The most noticeable change so far in the look of the Clinton town hall is the removal of four chimneys. Actually the four which were removed have not been in use for an estimated 40 years. An estimated 15 tons of brick has been removed from the roof. The other two will remain to serve the stove which dries the firemen's hosesNand the furnace which heats the building. A cyclone fund to aid residents in McKillop, Tuckersmith. and Hibbert Townships has been set up as a result of a meeting called in Seaforth last week. A general canvass of citizens in those townships will get under way immediately. Estimates of wind damage in recent storms ranges as high as$60,000. Last month the Clinton Community Credit ('pion celebrated its fourth birthday, with a savings total of $170,0U) and over 900 mem- , gibers_ The directors„ are now formulating dans for the new office which is scheduled for bUildingin 1957. Ever since the deadline for acceptance of fire protection arrangements with the Clinton Fire Department, two weeks ago, Stanley Township has been doing without protection by the Clinton brigacje. The council of the Township of Stanley is not prepared to agree to the request of the ('hnton Town Council for a $190 retaining fee annually, in addition to the rates which have been in effect. These rates have been $75 for the first hour on a fire call, and $25 for each additional hour. 50 YEARS AGO July :10. 1411 It is with many deep felt regrets that we mark the removal to Toronto of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hawke who have been citizens of Clinton for more than 20 years. Mr. and Mrs. Iki wke were of a cheery disposition and were possessed of unlimited ambition in doing little things for others. They were active members in all branches of church work in the Ontario Street United Church and Mr. Hawke has on many occasions preached in other pulpits. After a lapse of six years, lawn tennis was again started on Monday evening in Auburn ing at top speed, and one kid pushing the window wash button, the other punching buttons of the radio, turned to full volume, or trying to put on, simultaneously, the headlights and the emergency brake. Do you think any of those good times, those tranquil moments, meant anything to my old lady. Not on your life. This week I bid a fond farewell to the Yellowbird, wiped away a surreptitious tear and climb- ed into a new car she'd made me buy. No fun there for the kids. No air condi- tioning to switch • on suddenly, making Grandad's hair stand on end. It's a two - door, so no more playing with the locks and leaning against the door and watching Gran go out of her mind. Caged in, like animals. Have you bought a new car lately? Neither have we, but it's fairly new. Our last one cost $2,000 and was only five years old. It lasted over three years and was still valiantly breasting the waves of traffic on the highway. When I asked for prices on a new one, I turned red, then white and had to be helped to a seat. Had the sales office not been so magnificent rather like the lobby of a bank, I think I should have, perhaps vomited. There are more ways than one in which a car agency resembles a bank. Their in- terest rates are similar, though, to be fair, slightly lower than the eighteen -odd per- cent our banks, those holiest of holies in our economy gouge. Their salesmen are somewhat like those well-groomed young men at the bank, not exactly accountants, not managers, who guide you smoothly through a maze of figures and papers to the stony reality that there is no easy way out, no way to really save money, no way to beat inflation. There was one pleasant difference this time. The car salesman was a former stu- dent, Ernest Moreau, a craggy young man with a sense of humor, a sweetness of spirit and a sense of the ridiculousness of things that was a charming change from the dull, humorless, unknowledgeable young men I've met in the bank lately. Yep, we've bought a car, new shoes, the works. And my wife showed no more senti- ment over the old ones than she would have over last week's laundry. I wonder if she could discard an old, Well -used man with the same equanimity. I fear so. Protecting the animals Dear Editor:. Every year in Canada thousands of animals used in research are subjected to pain and distress.. Atthe very least, they suffer mental distress; at worst, they endure agony and slow death. The common justification for inflicting such stiffering on animals is that the ex- periments will eventually result in "benefits to mankind." r But how on earth can exposing dogs to massive doses of nuclear radiation, an experiment recently announced by Canada's Department of National Defence (DND), ever benefit mankind? Surely, tinder the circtunstances which would exist after .a nuclear holocaust, there would be no one left to benefit! when the first games were played on the new courts. The wet weather which delayed their making had the beneficial effect 'of packing the earth together and gavethe surface of the new courts a much harder and faster shape than was anticipated. The appearance of the courts has been improved by the erectionof a trellis back stop screen on the south side. 75 YEARS AGO August 3, 1906 A friendly baseball match was played in Brucefield on Saturday. evening between a team of Indians and a picked team from our village. The Indians are from 'a group that have come here to pull flax. Although -a baseball has not been thrown in our village for years, our boys did fairly well. Their opponents did better, however, and were very proud of their victory. W. Cooper & Co. have issued a very neat 'souvenir writing tablet in two sizes. There are three views, of places in town, and one of the London' road bridge, the whole making a neat and attractive heading for souvenir correspondence. A whistle now summons men to work at the Foundry:.instead of the bell Which has done service 40 years. 100 YEARS AGO August 5, n*11 It affords us great pleasure to recommend the Clinton High School to parents in search of a desirable establishment to finish the education of their children- Special attention is given to the work prescribed for the intermediate and University. Matriculation examinations. Those desirous to study for those examinations will do well to start at the beginning of the session. There is no necessity for anyone to go so. far afield to be prepared for examinations of any sort. People should always remember that there is great deal of disappointment attending the search for "those foreign cows that wear inordinately long horns " The wife of Mr. .lames Young of Clinton. who is at Stratford, visiting the Meribah Mineral Springs for the benefit of her health, is very steadily improving and we hope to see her come home in the best of health. A large number of persons have left Hensall and vicinity lately for the province of Ma itoba and the North West Territory We are pleased to note the.impr,,y.ments, which are being made daily at Cherrydale Farm in Colborne Township near Benmiller. Mr. LaTouzel i5 almost constantly doing something to improve its appearance. Having excellent water privileges and good scenery we should not be surprised to see Cherrydale become a leading summer resort. Have courage you may suffer from scrofula or some foul humor, your liver may be congested, your lungs diseased, your kidneys deranged. your joints distorted by rheumatism, may almost be a walking skeleton. yet despair not. Burdock Blood Bitters has curedothers it may cure you in fashion notes. lace pins are much worn and wide red ribbon is being worn for sashes. The latest artificial roses have thorns and some of the evening bonnets are little more than big bows with long strings Blue and bottle green are fashionable colors for riding habits and ginghams are also very fashionable this season For the most part, the medical and scientific communities in Canada have tightened up considerably in recent years on experiments which subject animals to unnecessary pain and suffering. Twenty years ago there was very little formal restriction on the use of animals in research. Today, although we have by no means reached a desirable level, most of Canada's universities have animal care committees to review and monitor ex- periments xperiments using animals. . In Ontario, such experimentation must meet the requirments of the Animals for Research Act. The DND, however, has always assumed the right to do whatever it chooses in the interest of "national security." Thus we have the dog irradiation experiments. Sure1 i this kind of "idiot test" demon- strates the need for an independent National Review Board for Animal Experimentation. It should comprise representatives of the legitimate humane movement (excluding, of course, the lunatic fringe), health organizations, and other bodies with an interest in the overall problem. Sucn an independent review board would be required to review all experiments which propose to involve animals, and would have final say on whether such research would be allowed to proceed. The DND would be required to submit its proposals to this review board in just the sameway as any other research facility or establishment in Canada I appreciate the dilemma such a board would face trying to "play God" in this controversial and highly emotional field. It would require a very brave group of people to block experiments which might possibly produce a cure for cancer or some other dreadful disease. But at least a review board would be able to eliminate stupid, frivolous and unnecessary animal experiments, some of which are funded and conducted in Canada under the existing system. For example, do we really need to use animals to know that lead, when injected into humans, may affect the libido of the male? And how far can we go in trying to duplicate human disease and injury when we are not at all sure the results can be properly applied back to humans? I could provide a long list of the sort of experiments I believe would keep a National Review Board for Animal Experimentation very busy. Certainly it would not have any difficulty justifying its existence. After a few years of operation, I suspect we would all wonder how on earth we got along with the board in the "bad old days." Yours truly, T.I. Hughes, Executive Vice -President, Ontario Humane Society 1 1115 von 11,1re an opinion? 1,t ho ne►i write its a letter If, the evlito►r, and lei e°re're•e►ne know. 111 letters are I►ublisllevl, providing there is su/lerie.nl space available, and they can authenticated. 1►.ae°lobo'7►l.'- lju'ii names) are alle►irrel it the letter is signed elsewhere, bud all letters are' subject to editing tor length or libe l:, Just kidding folks With my theme song blaring in the background, I'm typing this ditty to you. What is my theme song? It's a tune sung by Billy Joel and called You May Be Right. The part I've adopted as my motto goes like this: "You may be right; I may be crazy, But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." Surely by now, dear readers, you know when to take me seriously and when not to. Sometimes we all take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is needed to relieve the tension. For example, this morning I walked into the office and turned on the fan to move the heavy hot air. Instead I sent sheets of typewriter paper, carbon paper, notes, letters and envelopes flying around the room. Myfirst impulse was to kick something, which could have resulted in a broken toe. Laughter, although forced, seemed like a safer choice. There is one misconception I must clear up with you. Those of you, who read this column regularly, have probably noticed i occasionally take pot shots at my brother- in-law - safe in the knowledge I can keep the paper out of his sight. A few weeks ago, someone asked me if he was as bad as I made hirn out to be. Of course, he's not that bad: he's worse! (Just kidding, folks! ) To fill space every week, columnists need someone to poke fon at. The most obvious victims, of course, are the writers. But we need variety. Some writers use their spouse, their kids or even their grandchildren. What better person for me to choose than someone i've traded quips with for 20 y ear's! We don't take exception to each other's remarks. We just consider where they came from. We understand each other, sort of, and we've had some good laughs. Once in a while we agree or at least reach a compromise. About three years ago, for instance, he asked me one day to move the pile of junk from his driveway. I said i couldn't drive his car. He said that wasn't the pile of junk he meant. in the end, we decided we were both driving piles of junk, but his was more expensive. If the truth were known, I've come to think of him as a brother and to depend on him as many sisters depend on big brothers for support and advice. But, if you think I'd admit that to him, guess again. I am more likely to tell him 1 don't listen to him half the time and ignore him the rest.