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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-05, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1986 Missing name tickles writer's sense Editor's note: last week a column on page 4 appearing under the headline, Unless voting is by invitatiou„preview should be public, was written by Elsa Haydon. The writer's name, which has appeared in the column regularly in the past; was inadvertently omitted. The Signal -Star regrets the ommis- sion and any inconvenience it may have caused. When I opened the local paper last week and found the name missing from my col- umn, it tickled my sense of humour. I was ready to accept the omission as a compli- ment and a tribute to my personal style which is by now so easily recognizable that no identification is needed! A visual accent, so to speak. Readers who noticed the omission must have concluded, rightly, that it was a simple oversight. If one really thinks about it, is it not amazing that so few mistakes are made in a business dealing with millions of words, under constant pressure of deadlines? Not only is my style easily identifiable - I am also an enormously predictable person in my actions and reactions in public business. It is like being an old firenorse who takes off at the sound of a bell. Tell me about a public affairs underdog and my instinct sends me to see if I can help. Show me, a public situation in which the peo- ple are treated with indifference or ar- rogance by elected and appointed officials, and I see red. Indicate to me a degree of dic- tatorial tendencies and methods in public of- fices, and I recoil as if under personal. attack. It was unavoidable that 1 opposed the Huron County decision to have the Library Board dissolved, because the proposed change never indicated any benefits or ad- vantages to the public. All the talk was EIS!. HAYDON about gaining more "control” where control was already in place. When the resolution to dissolve the Library Board was recommended to and passed by the County Council, it may have been taken for granted that the Private Bill would just sail smoothly through the Legislative Assembly in Toronto. Instead, the Standing Committee on Regulations and Private Bills had an in- tense debate on the [ratter at a two-part hearing in two weeks. Last Wednesday the committee's vote resulted in support of the Bill, but the decision was arrived at like this: f humor last week The lour Liberal MPPs on the committee voted in favour of the Bill which had been in- troduced by a Liberal member; the two Con- servative members present, and the two NDP members of the committee voted against the Bill. So there was a four to four tie. The committee chairman was a Liberal MPP who said that he was leaning "slightly one way" - in favour of the Bill. Two Conser- vative members of the committee were ab- sent. It is left to our imagination how they might have voted. The Bill will go to the Legislative Assembly (no specific date) where it could be debated and will bevoted on. Will the out- come depend on the numbers present? On the committee level it was the opposition whose members appeared to do most of the work of debating and asking questions while the Liberal members were the voting numbers. The democratic process was duly THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT SINCE 1848 Goderich? SIGNAL -ST BEET ALL ROUND COMMUNITY NEWBPARER ON CANADA IClrpuWwn Class D500 4500)C C^ 4 Omar Newspaper Compnouon 1904 P.O. BOX 20 HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK OODERICII, ONT. N7A 4BB PUBLISHED BY SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED Founded in 1848 and publiehed ovary Wednesday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNAI end CIGNA. 8ubscriptione poyeble in advance $82.00, (Senior Cltimens 819.00 privilege card number required) in Cenede, 950.00 to U.B.A., 9E0.00 to all other countries. Single co,llee SOC. Display, National and Classified advertising rate. available on request. Meese ask for Rete Cerd No. 16 effective October 1, 1985. Advertising in accepted on the condition that in the event of e typographical error, the advertleing space occupied by the srraneoue Item, together' with the reasonable allowance for signature, will net be charged for but that balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of e typographical error advartieing goods or earvicee at a wrong price, goods or services may not be sold. Advertising le merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star Is not responsible for the lows or damage of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other materiels used far reproducing purpo.ew. General Manager SHIRLEY J. KELLER Editor DAVE SYKES Advertising Manager DON HUBICK FOR BUSINESS OR EDITORIAL OFFICES...pleeee phone [5191624-2814 Second class mail registration number 0716 • Member: PCNA Letters must be signed The Signal -Star has always entertained a lively forum for debate on page 4 and 5 in the Ha1lowe en welcoffie. followed and I have no complaints. Sometimes one likes the outcome, sometimes one does not, but beyond a cer- tain point, after a fair and good fight, one lives with it. It was not the case of better argument or a stronger principle of public good winning. Huron County representatives made a con- trived and weak -case of "cosmetic distinc- tion" and not of substance. Their case called for control where it has control and asked to change things where it promises to keep them unchanged. There is no need to take my word for it. I would be glad to lend my Hansard copy to anyone interested in follow- ing Huron County's quite remarkable logic. The treatment of the case was clearly political. This is not a complaint, just a statement. In politics, one cannot take the politics out 'of politics. newspaper, the pages where letters to the editor appear each week. Generally, the authors of those letters express personal comments on various issues af- fecting the citizens of the community: And those same writers have the personal integrity to let their name stand underneath their expressions. Over the past few months, the Signal -Star has received several unsigned letters to the editor, letters which express opinions on sensitive matters and others that merely seek to take a cheap shot at an issue or personality behind the mask of anonymity. Unsigned letters will simply not be published. Letters should contain the name and ad- dress of the author, as well as a phone Number. Sometimes it is necessary to clarify that the opinions expressed are indeed those of the person whose name appears at the conclusion of the letter. The Signal -Star does permit writers to use a psuedonym, but only under the proviso that the writer's name and phone number be made available upon request. The Signal -Star welcomes your letters. But with the right to express an opinion comes the responsibility to stand behind those thoughts. D.S. Are we mere guardians? It was a foregone conclusion that nothing much was going to come of the Reykjavik talks between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and United States President, Ronald Reagan. However, many took cold comfort in the fact the leaders of the world's two super powers were at least talking. Few would have predicted the results could have.been worse than no talks at all. For the American president to have turned down an agreement on arms control, including the elimination of medium -range missiles iri Europe in order to maintain the American op- tion to test his crack -pot strategic defence initiative in space is incomprehensible. The Rus- sian demand was that SDI testing be confined to the laboratory for 10 years. Many of those scientists who do think there something to SDI, claim the system won't be ready for testing outside the laboratory for that length of time anyway. What is far more maddening that the minuets being danced at successive summits, is the fact that leaders of all other nations seem content to either fall in line with one or other of the super powers, or sit on their hands, their mouths closed. At one time it was rumored Indira Ghandi, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau, then prime ministers of India and Canada, were attempting to form a coalition of middle and third world powers as a buffer to the super powers. It still seems a good idea, but as with the sum- mit talks, it has gotten nowhere. When one comes right down to it, the human race hasn't progressed much beyond the era of early man preoccupied with guarding his own cave against real and. imagined enemies. As far as the future of the planet is concerned, it might well be a good thing if man did eliminate his own species. However, unlike the dinosaurs, man when he goes will likely take the planet with him. (Li?towel Banner) • Making a career Well, I'm back again. Back in Goderlcn, back at the Signal -Star and back to writing a weekly column, i.e. this one. For those of you who care to remember, and I know many of you have tried to forget, when last my weekly word allotment ap- peared in this publication it was in the form of a sports column. That wasust ovgr a year ago, before I received a call' to take:my pad and pen to Seaforth, to work at the SSP weekly in that town. Now, circumstances ( and upper manage- ment ) anagement) seemed to have dictated my return to the Signal and the subsequent appearance 6f this column. 'While I'm glad to be balk in this picturesque town, I fear my constant comings and goings are going to,cause a cer- tain amount of consternation among •.ley regular readers. In fact, I am e$peet'ing both of them to march into my office any time now and demand atf explainatiOti "Look here Raftis," they will undoubtably say. "We don't hind your shuffling at' and so much, that's understandable. After all, a year or so of your stuff at a time is enough for any one community. The problem is were sick and tired of all these dadblasted hello and goodbye columns."' "That's right," my other reader will pipe up. "We suffered through your first in- troductory column in Goderich two years ago and we hardly even winced when we read your goodbye to Goderich column a year later. But when you came right back • with a hello column in Seaforth a few weeks later, we thought the whole premis was beginning to wear a bit thin." "However this time Raftis, you'vd drop- ped the last straw oh us" regular reader timber one chimes in. "It's been only two weekstince we wadedhrough more ofyour syrupy sentimental slop in your . goodbye Seaforth column and now here yet( are foisting another hello Goderich column on by Dave Sykes No To the Editor: In response to Linda Mabon's letter, I believe her facts may not be 100 per cent correct. Most of my information has come from The Signal -Star and the rest is my ,,point of view as to how the government and your town council spend taxpayer's money. ' I read about council's vote on day care and how it was put down in Susan Hundter- mark's article. She tried to stir people to .support day care. I saw it this way - the councillors who voted for day care were the good guys and the others were the bad guys. The "bad guys," she tried to lynch in , the paper: Susan wrote about the breakdown of the cost after the taxayer took over. It ap- peared she was t ng to show how -little it wouldcost the tarp vers. I saw it the other way, as a tax burden for life. Susan said the salaries could start at $15,000 to 817,500 for the staff. If the day care staff doesn't make that much now, why should they make that much after the taxpayer takes over? The salary for the top man for Childen's aid shows my point - they had to start at a certain wage and it climbed and is still climbing and we all have to keep digging deeper into our pockets every year. His salary wasn't represented as a true fact, only an example to make a point on all government spending. As for foolish, comments, I have said a lot less than the day care people have. The only way I learned about the antics of the day care people was. because Elsa Hayden gave them a good tounge-lashing in her column two weeks later on their foolish and childish behavior. To me, they seemed like children themselves and should have been spanked and sent home with no milk and cookies. This happened in the council meeting, not on the street. ood guys, bad guys in day care LETTERS Why was this not brought out in Susan Hundtermark's column on how good day care is. I- thought if she had said this it would have made day care look bad and the rest of the people would look at them as evil -doers who would stop at at nothing and say anything to get their way. We can't call out the lynch mob on both sides? Some people have written great letters • great. Words like �7 don't care "I care what it costs," and "I need the best for MY children". This makes me think you are saying "I don't care what it cost you the taxpayers, you can give MY kids the best of everything you have". One very im- portant point the 60 people who supported day care at the meeting have forgotten is that there are others in Goderich and area too, and we all pay taxes. You have your views, I have mine. If you win I'll be waiting for your lynch mob, but if you lose, better luck next time. on the need for day care, others. not so T. A. McGuire Credibility of writers is challenged Dear Editor: has always depended on volunteers to help In response to T.A. McGuire, (Signal -Star with our work. Presently we have a network Oct. 22/86) . The credibility of writers of let- - of volunteers throughout the county larger ters to the editor is seriously challenged than any time in the past. We have when irresponsible statements are made. I volunteers who drive, co-ordinate the am referring to his comments in his letter "Christmas Bureau' for the entire county, on day care, concerning Family and assist in families; work with troubled Children's Service�s. children; help with special office duties and Firgt of all, staff at Family and Children's much more. We also have a terrific group of Services do not earn any where near the Foster Parents who care for the children in $45,000 salary he claims. What a wonderful our care. thought! The staff and board of directors and the Secondly and most important, his state- community recognize the work of the ment "used - to be volunteers" must be ad- generous group of people. dressed. Family and Children's Services Mrs. Norma Jeffery Chairman thanks people for input Dear editor, The Goderich Recreation Master Plan Committee would like to thank all the par- ticipants who attended the • Recreation Public Meeting on October 22, 1986. The Committee was pleased with the excellent input derived from the participants. We realize that all your questions were not answered at this time. Ron Bushell, At .resent, the consultant is continuing to Chairman. analyze all the information gathered. The needs of all age groups in our community will be addresacd. The next step will°be the presentation of the results of the collected data to be available at the next Public Meeting on December llth'at 8 p.m., at Vic- toria Public School. Please plan to attend. out of hellos, and goodbyes rom this by . Patrick Raftis "Really Pat, this is a bit Much, You've on- ly been• writing a column for two years and you've already spent [[tore than a month just announcing your impending arrivals and imminent departures. What with time off for holidays and all those weeks in bet- ween when your column was pure bird -cage liner, we think you've been short-changing us just a tad." I have to admit they have a point, and one hates to have their readers, no matter how few, feel short-changed - even "a tad". (Just what constitutes a "tad" depends on whether you are referring to the metric tad or the imperial tad. Either way, I presume it's not a large amount.) Still, it's seems obligatory to offer sone sort of introduction (explaination? excuse?) when beginning to write a column which may someday become almost as widely read as the fine print oh toothpaste.cartons. So, having said hello once again f hope that in the weelfa ahead,. the words in this space will offer you some measure of enter- tainment, enlightenment, diversion, pervet- sion, subversion — or whatever you may be looking for in a column. Okay, so you won't likely find any of the latter two qualities unless you have an exceptionally vivid im- agination. No harm in reading it just in case. This time around, I'll be covering topics of a general nature, rather than confining my critisisms and witisisnis to the world of sports as in my previous Signal column. While this wider scope may or may not add to the reader's enjoyment of these rambl- ings, at least it will mean I will no longer need to hang on every word of people like froward Cassell and Dave Hodge in search of column ideas. Speaking of which, I suppose I'd had bet- ter sign off and get back to performing the rest of the requirernenis of my employment. Otherwise, I may set a new record among columnists for the shortest time period bet- ween hello and goodbye columns.