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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-09-10, Page 4PAGE 4--GODERI('Ii SIG NAI \it. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1986 Why does t The chairman said that he does not want to wash dirty linen in public. The question is - why is there dirty linen to wash, secretly or publicly, in the Huron County library system? Within two months, Huron County council has seen one of its department heads resign and a second department head on the way out. 'rhe administrative parting of the Fami- ly and Children's Services took place last year. It is not surprising that more council members try to ask more questions. When Dr. Harry Cieslar resigned from the county position of Medical Officer of Health earlier in the summer, he cited ad- ministrative difficulties because of conflicts between the provincial legislation and cer- tain Huron County practices. The findings of the Ministry of Health came to similar con- clusions in different words. Throughout the growing difficulties at the top, the Health Unit staff went about its e library system have dirty linen launder ESA HAYDON business with professional calm, com- petence and dignity. It carries on in the same manner and guards the high stan- dards of services of the department. The situation in the county library head- quarters reached a breaking point along dif- ferent lines. It had been obvious to an observer of county politics and administra- tion that the Chief Librarian, Mr. Bill Par- tridge, had been working against similar odds. It was only a question of who or what would place "the last straw". The headquarters staff (with the excep- tion of one employee who refused to sign) submitted a list of alleged wrongdoings teaa willing chairman, Reeve Tom Cunningham. Are Huron County employees now en- couraged to spy and inform on their superiors at work? Are the county politi- cians involving employees in unappetizing little schemes where staff members are played against department heads and department heads are being isolated? With well qualified and highly dedicated professionals heading the departments, are some county politicians fighting straw enemies, with flashing of swords and clang- ing of shields, because they are out of their depth and do not know how to deal with situations cleanly, quickly, fairly and professionally? Where is the county top administration in all this while one is left with the impression that the bulk of county council members is relegated to somewhat remoteand sometimes bevfildered players of minor parts? Under the circumstances such questions are inevitable. Of course, like everybody else, the library headquarters staff has the right to make its grievances known and they must receive proper attention, although it would have been better all around, had the legitimate and factual items been separated from the merely subjective interpretations and vague allegations listed. What does not smell like roses is the process chosen. chosen. It could be decently expected that in a municipal department such complaints, suggestions and differences of opinion are first brought to the attention of the depart- ment head, even if he or she is the one af- fected - or especially then. If he refuses to pay attention, correct his mistakes, ridicules the suggestions or fails to take other remedial action, then it becomes necessary to takethecomplaints to the next and higher level. It is a pity that the chair- man and the board also failed to make the distinction. Returning from his holidays in July, Mr. Partridge was notified of a special Library Board meeting the next day. At that meeting he was confronted with a list of quite remarkable complaints, quietly com- piled behind his back and starting with thanks to Chairman Cunningham for his guidance. Incidentally, one of the com- plaints of the signators is said to be "lack of trust". Mr. Partridge is accused of misleading the board by stating that a certain order of • books was not put in circulation late last year, when in fact it was. According to Mr. Partridge "staff are distressed and feel this is an unethical situation" when asked to type Maitland Country Club minutes after he became the club's president, a position Mr. Bill Hanly, the county clerk -treasurer, had handled similarly in the past. There are said. to be references to the staff being "con - Turn to page 19 Opinion THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE1848 GdericI, SIGNAL -STAR EBT ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWBN PAPEIN CANADA (C8t!1aunn Ciunn 3500 4500) 0 0 ^. 4 tatter Newspuper 844144Uunn 1984 P.O. BOX 220 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH, ONT. N7A 4B6 PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded In 1848 and published ovary Wedneedey at Ddderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OONA. Subecrlptions payable In advance $22.00, [Senior Citizens 019.00 privilege card number required] In 'Canticle, 080.00 to U.S.A., 080.00 to ell other countries, Single poples 800. Oleplay, National and Classified edvertlsing restos available on request. Please ask for Rata Card No. 18 affective October 1. 1945. 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KELLER DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleaee phone [$19]524-2614 Second class niail registration number 0716 Member: Push -me Pull-yu By Susan Hundertmark A goverment in trouble Student Emniovient CeILtfl, ful Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his Conservative government marked the midway success b4 with a deluge of polls that said the government is in s summer was point in their mandate, September S a trouble. Despite the polls, Mulroney says he remains confident that he and his government are do- ing good for Canada and that their achievements are being overshadowed by insignificent Dear editor, things such as a case of rancid tuna. Canadians must be pretty well off, says the prime The staff at the Canada Employment Cen- tre for Students would like to thank the minister if people can become preoccupied with tuna scandals. many people who made the summer of 1986 Indeed, the Mulroney government has achieved a new energy agreement with the western such a success. oil producing provinces, a sense of national reconciliation between the provinces and the federal government whose relationship was terribly strained during the Trudeau years, First, we must thank the area businesses, deregulation of the transportation industry, new divorce laws, and the possibility that organizations, farmers ) and homeowners Quebec may be willing to negotiate its entry into the constiution. who provided employment opportunities for students summer. The positions they The two years since the election which gave the Conservatives the largest mandate ever provided thisistudents to gain valuabley in Canadian political history, have seen steady economic growth, lower interest rates and ex erience and some financial in - modest job creation. Whether these improvements are a result of government policy or the dependence. Their response to the Student side effects of the recovery after the recession, depends on who you ask. Employment Program has been outstan- While Mulroney says Canadians are overlooking his government's achievements, the ding and it is truly appreciated. undeniable fact remains, the government is in trouble where the electorate is concerned and We would also like to thank the students Mulroney knows it.- who registered with the student office this year. The enthusiasm they showed towards He has appointed Dalton Camp, former president f th t 1 Conservative party as special advisor and Camp will be become the first person to sit in on cabinet meetings w has not been elected by the people. The prime minister's integrity is being questioned and this perhaps more than anything Local minor ball association will continue to cause him concern over the remaining two years of his mandate, The broken volunteer a er S u �✓ �`° t ® pp cessfully run had it not been for the help of those who volunteered their time and efforts during these tournaments. To all the um- pires, scorers, ground and gate crews again - thankyou. We are also very pleased and grateful to all the individuals and businesses^who sup- ported these tournaments by giving us dona- tions and by placing advertising in our sourvenir program which we had printed for the Provincial Championship Tournament we held and also to all those who allowed us to advertise these tournaments. It was great to receive your support so readily. We hope those who came out to watch the children •play enjoyed the games as.much as we hope the children enjoyed playing. We are very pleased with the support Shown to us this summer and once more a heart -felt thank you. promise on de -indexing seniors pensions, his abrupt change in support of free trade, the a ivatization of government corporations, the sacred trust of universality in social pro- grams and his own exaggeration leave Canadians concerned they cannot trust their prime minister. Dear editor, The government appears to be flying by the seat of its pants. Mulroney knew how to win With the playing of the Squirt Girls Inter - an election but he has no agenda for governing and his government seems to stumble along township Ball Tournament last weekend, minor softball is officially over for another from one crisis to the next. season. We had close to 300 children involv- e c so . We are very election campaign. His priority appears to be winning the next election and staying in power • rather than setting forth policy objectives on a clear agenda and then proceeding towards a Preoccupied with his own popularity, Mulroney appears to b onduct]ng one endless ed in minorsoftball this year proud of all the teams and their efforts they put forth. The Goderich Minor Softball Association was kept very busy this summer by hosting three tournaments for these children. These tournaments would not have been so suc- goal olborne Connections When he does set out his policies and objectives, his government is always sidetracked by the next scandal or crisis. His government cannot manage its own timetable even though IlaS agrievous �,y�®y. -error 11 jj the opposition has been particularly disorganized . Once the Liberals get their act together _ as they are sure to do before the next election, the government will be even harder pressed Dear Editor, to manage the show. Today I received my copy of "Colborne While Mulroney is dedicated and he works hard, it seems the Tories lack experience in be-. Connections" and find it has been extremely ing a government, the type of experience gained from years in power. Unfortunately unless well done. they can pull things together, they may find themselves ousted from power or shifted to a On page 275 I find a grievous error has minority situation before they have time to gain that experience. been made. The information under the pic- ture of the McPhee house is wrong. • James and Margaret Wilson Huston not Terrorism requires solution Houston1908their settsonledRobeone rt Jtheames property in 1859. In • 11 Huston built the Mills of • house. In 1910 he married Mary Ann Following a brief respite of several months after the United States bombed Libya, ter- rorism in all its unbelievable horror has arisen again. The hijacking of a Pan -Am jet and the bombing Of a Jewish synagogue in Istanbul pro- vokes the question once more of how to bring an end to terrorism. Retaliation is not the answer. President Ronald Reagan's bombing raid on Libya seemed to end anti-American and anti -Israel terrorism for a while, but the events of last week in- dicate that retaliation will not deter people who are prepared to die for their cause. The solution to the problem is not for the Americans or anyone else to bomb innocent peo- ple in their homes attiight in retaliation for the shooting of Americans on cruise liners and airplanes. - What is required is, an agreement by all countries who are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization to prosecute or extradite those who commit acts of violence in airports as well as hijackers of aircraft. Stricter airport security measures are in place at many airports, but obviously airport security is still a major problem as the terrorists in Karachi got through security when they sta gel their hijacking. West Wawanosh. In 1919 the farm was sold to Wm. Cory who lived there for a very short time (2 years if I remember rightly): It was then purchased by Dan McPhee- for his son Chester. How do I have this information? I am Robert Huston's daughter. I wasr in that house. Yours truly Margaret Huston, Sec. The Goderich Minor Softball Association Week needs community support Legion pleasant and worthy reality for each who Neil Shaw attends. Legion Branch 109 Publicity Chairman Dear editor, Goderich Legion Branch 109 and the Ladies Auxiliary to Branch 109 are again this year, from Sunday, Sept. 21 to Satur- day, Sept. 27, marking Legion Week with a full program of daily events. We direct the attention of the members of our branch and the members of the com- munity to the information found in the Signal Star and other Branch 109 advertis- ing of our Legion Week activities. Branch 109 Legion Week as planned will only be•a success with the full support of the members of our branch'Snd our community,• t te serol Co tries must also co-operate in their efforts to.thwart terrorist attacks by co-ordinating Veteran's Piot of the Maitland Cemetery to something for each age group an c m to enjoy during Legion Week in Goderich. Most significently, however, we must address the problem of international terrorism by We trust that the plans of the Branch 109 finding solutions to the age-old racial and religious conflicts where terrorism finds its roots. Legion Week committee will prove to be a information and sharing intelligence reports which indicate terrorist acts are being p anrt r the Legion Week dance on Sept. 27, there is ed. Reports this week say there is some evidence that officials were warned that a terrorist7 interest attack ' Karachi was being planned Yours truly, Local "young offenders" cause more concern than Bluewater residents Dear editor, I Would like to�amddi'ess the letter from "Sincerely Concerned", which appeared in the paper recently. This person feels that the Bluawater Cen- tre should be converted- back to its original purposd' "the home for the crazies" or to some other undesirable name given it by many of the - local town people in letters to the editor a few years back. I feel we have more to be concerned about with our own "local young offenders" who are not at the Centre and should be, than the ones who are there getting the help they need. As a parent and grandmother I feel that the Centre and its occupants do not give cause for concern or present any form of danger to the community. The danger at the present time is the poor attitude of Some to accept progress and in not practicing being Christians. A Former Employee of the Cetitte