The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-03-31, Page 5Coming up with the five columns it
takes to put this page together every
week is seldom an easy job. Once it
comes right down to the writing ft's not
so bad,' but the preparation, research
anslp cpnsideratlon can often take me
right up to the final dying minutes before
deadline.
Most of the preparation involves
reading. I read at least three daily
newspapers per day, perhaps' a dozen
community newspapers per week, many
other magazines, periodicals and
publications as well as a pretty healthy
mound of press releases every time the
mail comes in.
I try to pick out someting-interesting,
and if not interesting at least in-
formative. In the process I wade through
a lot of pretty dull and dreary stuff but
there are lighter moments. Somewhere
in all those miles of print there is hidden
the offbeat, unusual and sometimes
downright crazy.
Here's one from the Reuter news -
service, datelined London, England.
"British wildlife experts have solved
the mystery of the murdered goldfish in
the garden ponds. They say the fish are
being loved to death by romantic toads."
•
"The experts told a television inquest,
promoted by worried goldfish lovers,
that because of a shortage of female
toads the males have turned their at-
tentions to fish in garden ponds."
Another Reuter story out of Aukland,
New Zealand, tells the, tale of a
somewhat over -enthusiastic
policewoman.
It seems the poor girt had a most
embarrassing moment for being too
thorough. Apparently she spotted a
hindhne nn the floor of a royal reception
room and decided to search it for
safety's sake. But then the owner
walked in.
The bag belonged to the Queen ... who
was reportedly "not amused".
United Press International reports an
interesting twist in the area of new
legislation out of Columbus, Ohio. A
suggestion which I am sure many in
Goderich area would support with a
great deal of enthusiasm.
State representative John A.
Galbraith has come up with a solution to
the energy crisis ...eliminate winter.
Galbraith introduced a bill to abolish
January and February in Ohio starting
next year and to divide the 59 extra days
among June July and August to save on
fuel.
"This bill makes as much sense as
many others relating to the energy
crisis," he said. r"
Heal hear, I sayto that:'-
UPI also reports thatthe Cincinnati
boxing and wrestling 'commission : has
refused to allow women to box because
of "the difference in their anatomyto
men."
The commission member who Ied the
fight against women said the corn-
misYsion based its ruling on two counts.
First was medical. The medical ringside
physicians' report stated that boxing
wasn't for -women because of differences
in their anatomy. It was also stressed
that the commission has the job to see
that no sham is perpetrated on. the
public.
But, you guessed it, the fight promoter
they have ruled against is claiming that
the city has engaged in "sex
discrimination."
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y rising costs are beginning to
mselves in higher bills for
in municipalities across Huron
Goderich recently agreed to
cost of sewage services to
al and commercial users and
ter has bumped their water
5 per cent.
21 per cent increase already in
hydro rates, and the 35 per cent
proved for water ' the Exeter
tilities Commission is giving
tion to budget billing in an
help customers meet those
enses..
HERE
After several comments were made
about the huge bills being faced by some
Exeter people as a result of the in-
creased hydro rates and the con-
sumption demands of an abnormally
cold winter, Commissioner Chan
Livingston urged that budget billing be
considered.
He said comments from some local
residents indicated they were "strap-
ped" to pay the $150 to $200 bills they
received in February and budget billing
would ease the,situation.
With budget billing, a customer's
annual consumption would be estimated
EEK AFT
INFORMATION, BACKGROUND AND OPINION
IN HURDN
and then broken ,into 10 or 12 equal
payments for the year. This would
eliminate high bills in4the peak con-
sumption period of the winter months as
they would be averaged with the sum-
mer months.
Customers would receive one or two
billings during some period of the year
when they would be credited or debited
with an amount to bring their payments
in line with actual consumption.
Livingston noted that Ontario Hydro
has used such a system with rural
customers for the past two or three
years. Several gas and oil companies
follow the same procedure.
"It's a very feasible system and works
out very well," Livingston said.
Manager Hugh Davis wondered if the
Commissioner was suggesting that the
procedure be used only for residents who
heat with electricity. `.
Livingston replied that the PUC could
start with these customers and add other
residents if the plan was found to be
feasible and economical.
He noted that such a scheme could
actually save the PUC some money, as it
could eliminate monthly meter
readings. It was suggested meters would
only have to be read every two or three
months.
Davis said he would get some figures
to determine the feasibility of budget
billing for the next meeting indicating
that with the aid of a computer it would
not be that difficult.
Another matter that prompted the
suggestion for budget billing was an
increase in the amount of hydro arrears'
being experienced by the Utility.
Secretary Marilyn Sillery said that the
arrearsat the end of February would be
around $10,000 when they were only
$6,000 in January. _
After Mayorr,Bruce Shaw asked if this
was usual, manager Davis re -plied that
the staff have noticed an increase in
arrears.
More people in the commercial ac-
counts are not taking advantage of the
early payment savings, he explained.
Shaw suggested that with hydro bills
running so high, a few dollars more in
penalty doesn't seem asr much.
Davis said the penalty for late
payment is five per cent and noted that
no firm with which the PUC deals gives
that much of a saving. "It is sub-
stantial," he added.
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provincial policy for managing
raction of sand, gravel and
e was recommended in a report
e Ontario Mineral Aggregate
Party presented the Natural
s Minister Leo•Bernier earlier
eport says the policy should
consideration of local interests
yextraction begins.
ernier released the Working
eport, "A Policy for Mineral
to Resource Management in
for public reaction upon
g it. He said the report calls for
PROVINCIAL POINTS
maximum discretionary authority at the
local government level, leaving
responsibility of overall resource
management with the Province.
A major recommendation is for a new
Aggregate Resources Management Act
to cover relevant provisions in the
present Pits and Quarries Control Act of
1971, and other legislation covering
extraction of mineral aggregates in
Ontario.
"The location, operation and
rehabilithtion of gravel pits and stone
quarries have been subjects of concern
to the public, the industry and the
ing to a scientist making a
to the American Congress,
n experiments on rats that
ancer to a heavy saccharin in -
e been "over -interpreted".
oup , of scientists, testifying
the Food and Drug
tration's July 1 ban in the
tates, said the benefits of sac -
especially for that nations 11
abetics, outweigh the risk of
cancer.
if diabetes can .be controlled
artificial sweeteners, Dr. Arnold
of the Mayo medical schools
's possible, it's awfully tough."
various levels of government for a
number of years," Mr. Bernier said.
"As the population, of the Province
increases, so does the demand for
mineral aggregates to build and rebuild
highways, high-rise buildings, houses
and the rest of the infrastructure of our
modern society. Yet our aggregate
resources are decidedly limited, and
those that remain are constantly being
threatened by subdivisions and in-
dustrial areas being built over them."
At the same time, there is un-
derstandable environmental and
aesthetic concern at the municipal level,
Mr. Bernier added.
Residents of areas being quarried
have frequently voiced strong objections
to the effects of the proximity of ex-
traction sites to their property, possible
damage to water tables, and the
aggravations of dust, noise, vibrations
and truck traffic.
To investigate and report on these
issues, and recommend a provincial
management policy, the government
appointment the Ontario Mineral
Aggregate Working party .in December
of 1975.
From more than 600 written com-
a
CANADA IN SEVEN
Former FDA commissioner Herbert
Ley has predicted that public protest
will considerably delay the saccharin
ban here in Canada which is to begin
going into effect by stages on July 1,
starting with diet soft drinks.
Dr. Kurt, Isselbacher, a Harvard
medical professor, testified that the
possibility of saccharin's causing
bladder cancer in humans was
"remote" and "the results of the
available rat experiments appear to
have been over interpreted in regard to
their application to man".
Six scientists were asked if they would
vote to uphold the FDA's action,
•
prompted by Canadian studies showing
rats getting cancer from heavy doses of
saccharin. None said they would.
Subcommittee chairman, Paul
Rogers, asked them whether they
thought saccharin's medical benefits
outweighed its risks.To that one; all but
one answered yes.
The exception, Dr. Marvin
Schneiderman, of the National Cancer
Institute, did. not say why he disagreed
but he had testified earlier that "we are
left with the impression that if saccharin
is a carcinogen (cancer causing sub-
stance) it's not a shopping carcinogen."
The general opinion south of the
border of our findings is not very high
apparently. Even the scientists seem to
think the chances of getting cancer from
using saccharin are slim and seetn to
suggest it's a toss up which way you
choose to go. Cancer from saccharin or a
heart attack due to overweight.
One congressman, speaking on behalf
of fat Americans, is quoted as saying,
"Canadians are sane, sensible, rational
people...why did they do it?"
A suggestion by another American
legislator that saccharin bottles carry
the warning, "This substance has
proven dangerous to Canadian rats' is
ments and suggestions received from 800
participants at public hearings the
working Party made a number of con-
clusions.
Problems of the aggregate industry
are primarily local.
While there is general acceptance
within the' Province that aggregate
extraction is necessary, there is also a
very real concern by citizens involved to
see that their interests are protected.
There is concern that consistency be
established in the administration of the
legislation, in enforcement, and in en-
suring that demand is met equitably
gaining more than a little support.
A complete ban is proposed in the
United States on July 1, the same day a
partial ban is to get underway in
Canada. rn
It is claimed, mainly by fat people,
that a person would have to drink 800
cans of diet soft drinks a day to reach the
equivalent amount of saccharin fed to
the laboratory rats.
Canada's findings are being disputed
on another front. It is said that the lineal
project from rats to humans was not
universally recognized as valid. One
scientist's calculations suggest it would
from the available sources within the
province.
A mineral aggregate policy is needed
to improve the level of enforcement, to
overcome weakness in the existing Act,
and to ensure adequate rehabilitation
across the province. ,
The need for aggregate production,
the Working Party report says, must be
looked at from both a regional and a
provincial viewpoint, and cannot be
established without due consideration of
demand, supply, productive capacity,
competition, alternative sources, un-
derground mining, transportation and
provincial policy.
take about 25,500 rats and about $4
million to do the tests that some scien-
tists would like, and would accept as
being valid.
Another Congressman argues that the
ban prompted by Canada is
"bureaucratic insanity".
Saccharin, he says, has a "small risk. .
.when we don't ban cigarettes or require
people to wear seat belts".
Of course, in at least some provinces,
seatbelts are required, but perhaps we
Canadians should consider the cigarette
argument. The Congressman does seem
to have a point.
11
years in i
Congress power,
arty have suffered ha
ng defeat in general elections in
ven Mrs. Gandhi herself has lost
rsefentary seat in the disaster to
V.'
Minn who brought on India's
dofanti-governmentneY aois' which threw
s
osfof leaders
politicians into jail and
most dictatorial power in her
ds, sounded somewhat different
ke of her election upset.
Collective judgment isf.the people
re
WDR LD WEE K
a statement. "My colleagues and 1 ac-
cept their verdict unreservedly and in a
spirit of humility."
India's opposition Janata party and its
allies won an absolute majority in the
general election. It represented the
biggest election upset in India's history.
Even with more than 90 seats to be
declared the opposition parties,,,, had
captured a majority of 27,2 seats out of
542 in the new Parliament.
The new government announced that
it would free all remaining political
prisoners, repeal all laws containing
apected," Mrs, Gandhi said in ,,p strictions in the press, remove bans
k
on various social and cultural
organizations prohibited at the start of
the emergency, and ensure that no one is
jailed without benefit of a full trial.
They also promised that the new
government members and party leaders
would disclose their personal finances.
The Congress Party was blaming their
losses primarily on the government's
sterilization drive during the
emergency. That campaign touched off
riots 'in northern India and met strong
opposition throughout most of the
country.
Janata Party chairman Morarji Desai
said, "This is the country's finest hour.
India has been vindicated. With any
other `election result, the world would
have lost respect for this country. God
ha§ been kind."
Within hours of the revocation of the
emergency and the removal of ex-
traordinary detention powers held by the
government, officials began releasing
hundreds of persons who were still held
after Mrs. Gandhi's relaxation of the
state of emergency shortly before the
election. -
' Mrs. Gandhi' controversial son
Sanjay, considered one of the major
powers behind the emergency, lost out
on his first try for Parliament. Sanjay
was also seen by many as one of the
driving forces behind the unpopular
sterilization program.
Despite the new freedoms which have
resulted from the election upset, India's
future in terms of strong, capable and
stable government may not really be
that bright„ The union of opposition
parties was dictated far more by a
unified desire to see Mrs. Gandhi
defeated and her state of emergency
ended than it was by much common
political ground.
Desai, in saying that India had
regained the respect of the world, has hit
upon perhaps the most important result
of the Indian election.
Of all the former colonized countries in
the world, India has traditionally led the
way in terms of democratic freedom
until Mrs. Gandhi moved nearly two
years ago to bring most power into her
own hand through the state of
emergency. The election proves that the
people of India themselyes still believe
in democracy and are willing' to vote to
prove4hat.
Si
ai