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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-06-02, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 2,1917 •••cNntiv., . • ::••"„ ' • • 1•; 4, • *4 ighter rein Jim Searis has brought out into the open something that has been -sticking in the throats of Goderich PUC customers for years. The annual PUC excursion to the American Water Works Association con- vention has been a source of complaint by many people but this year, w ith 12 persons flying to Anaheim, California on local PUC funds, was the clincher, at least for Jim Searis. It is truly difficult for.. people who are burdened with a multitude of sky -rocketing costs , - among them PUC bills - tQ un- derstand the need for spending sonieitter like $12,000 to attend a convention of, any type anywhere. In fact, it is proven vir- tually impossible for the local PUC to adequately justify the expense now that it has been questioned. There may be valid reasons for the PUC to be represented at the AWWA convention each year, but the PUC is hard pressed to explain why it.was necessary to send all four commiisionerS, the mayor, and officer manager and their wives. When one looks at the overall • PUC budget for water only - and PUC customers must bear in mind the expenses for the AWWA convention come out of the water • • • account and has nothing to do with their electrical bilis - one could say $12,000 is only a drop in the bucket. But to the average householder who only dreams about a holiday in California, the decision to send 12 people - six of whom have little to do with PUC matters - is irresponsible, ex- travagant and infuriating. This newspaper has in the past supported the premise that conventions can be useful to elected officials, and that money e,x- pended to attend conventions iswisely used. Certainly- in this case, this newspaper would trust the judgement of the PUC concerning the worth of the AWWA con- vention for a limited Amber of com- missioners each year. The `community has an obligation to provide learning ex- periences for public servants from time to time, and PUC commissioners are no exception. However. when next year's AWWA convention is announced, this newspaper and many of the citizens of Goderich would expect PUC officials to pull tighter rein on the approved expenses. Perhaps a system of two go, two stay would be satisfactory with wives travelling along at their husbands' expense. - SJK Need ground rules The lowered voting age in the Province of Ontario has initiated a new form of election campaigning. It is now customary for candidates in any election race to visit the high schools th the Riding for what is sometimes called a "tfear pit session" with the students of voting age. In the current election campaign, Liberal incumbent Jack Riddell and his opponents Progressive Conservative Anson McKinley and New Democrat Shirley Weary have been appearing at the secondary schools throughout Huron -Middlesex. All three of the local candidates accepted an invitation to GDCI last Friday and from the reports of students who attended as well as comments from the participants themselves (and -or their spokesmen) the session would have been well worth reporting. Oddly enough, the local high school of- ficials expressly refused toallow press coverage of the event. Charles Kalbfleish who organized the affairs, said it was the school's intention to keep the whole thing "low key". He said there was no desire on the part of GDCI staff to allow the school to become embroiled in any kind of political campaigninig and that the candidates had been invited to the School to give the 4. students the opportunity to compare party policies and perhaps question the politicians concerning those matters of particular interest to young voters. On the other fiand, election candidates from all three parties would have welcomed press coverage. In fact, much pressure was brought to bear on the GDCI staff to allow reporters into the session, but without success. Just why the local high school organizers feel that the politicians would be any less political without the press in attendance remains a mystery. Indeed it has been the experience of most newspaper reporters that with members of the press on hand, the participants at any meeting are more aware of the impression they are creating, Two views Claude Ryan, the well-known and ar- ticulate editor and publisher of Le Devoir, Montreal, was recently the speaker at the conference of Canadian municipal politicians. Ryan told the delegates that it is the duty of municipal politicians to keep abreast of provincial and national affairs, and to speak out on issues which effect their local areas. In his speech, Ryan outlined the terms of a new constitution he thinks would unify Canada. Among those things suggested by Ryan would be a national charter of right, the preservation of certain federal powers, the guaranteed use of French or English in 'legislative and judicial proceedings, and the better definition of federal -provincial power with the remaining unspecified areas left to provincial jurisdiction. more careful of the statements they make as well as how they are expressed, and more apt to observe proper meeting decorum. If there was a complaint from those at the GDCI studentecandidate session, it was that the students were short-changed by a lack of orderduring what turned out to be a date between two invited guests. Second- hand reports show that charges and counter -charges we're exchanged while students were left with many unanswered questions. What was supposed to have been an educational opportunity for the students:free from petty political banter, turned into a sorry spectacle and a bit of a shouting match.. Surely the overall impression as far as ,the students are concerned would have been no less disappointing with' the press present than without. And maybe - just maybe - the whole tone of the gathering would have been vastly improved had the watchful eye of the press been on the meeting. This election will soon be history. But more elections will fallow. As long as there are students of voting age in the high schools, election candidates will be invited to the classroom. It would be well for the Huron County Board of Education ' to prOvide soine guidelines for the high schools within its jurisdiction in time for the next election. Some things which might be considered would be the need for all students of voting age in the schools to have eqtial opportunity to attend such meetings; the need for such meetings to be treated as newsworthy school activities with the press invited to sit in; and the need for careful establishment of strict ground rules to insure that the students who attend will be afforded the greatest possible measure of meaningful, useful dialogue about issues of interest to young voters. —SJK Ryan also feels that five provinces, ,rather than 10, would work more equally within confederation. He warned that municipal leaders must look beyond local issues and have a more open attitude, toward changes in the political system. The majority of Huron County municipal politicians would see Ryan as some kind of a nut. Politicians here have resisted all suggestions to restructure the municipalities within the pinpoint on the Canadian map which is Huron. The thought of restructuring the whole of Canada would undoubtedly -seem ludicrous to elected representatives here who say simply,',' There's too much tradition within the present townships to attempt to change boundaries." —SJK �iteobtrith SIGNAL -STAR — The County Town, Newspaper of Huron l'ounded DM and published ey pry Thursday al findetkh. lintariaa. tienahc, 4iha• CISAA and OWNA, Advertising rates on requeNt.SubsiTiptions payable in atfi an, .• S4.' in Canada. 115.50 to U.S.A.. 120.00 to all other countries. single copies 23 vent.. advertising rates available on request. Please ask for Rale I 'ard No. 7 fiffectIs fh 1I Ora. Second class mail Registration Number 0710. Advertising is accepted earl the , dition 'that, in the event of typograpitichl error. the advertising space occupied h thr erroneous hem, together with reasonable a ilatvance for signature, will not be charged for but the balance o the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of • typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or service may OM be sold. Advertising is merely an offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star is not respoWsible for the lois or damage of intsolkited maanscripts or " photos. Business and Editorial Office TELEPHONE 5244331 swot cede 5110 Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd. ROBERT a, SHRIER — president and publisher SHIRLEY J. KELLER — ad ,itior. EDWARD J. BYRSKI advailleing Manager Melling Address: P.O. BOX 220, Goderich • 4'• • al, •V° Do you gee the sheep? BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER I had theRrivilege this last week to intrview all three provincial election can- didates in the Huron - Middlesex Riding. I' told the candidates I hoped to convey to the Signal -Star readers a little about them as people - not just politicians in the heat of an election campaign. The results are published elsewhere in this issuez-and it is recommended reading for all voters in the Goderich area. I have some personal ob- servations, of course. Oddly enough, the can- didate I know the least is Shirley Weary who lives right here in Goderich. Mrs. Weary's path and mine have not crossed that often in the past, although I felt I was acquainted with much of her political philosophy from previous election campaigns in which she's been involved. DEAR READERS 1 went to Mrs. Weary's home for the interview on Sunday, the only day she could fit me into her busy schedule. Somehow it was an ideal setting for our talk for it provided the inspiration for some straight conversation about the one common in- terest in our lives - young people. Mrs. Weary is the mother of four children, the youngest in her early teens. And while it was evident we were both devoted to our families and tremendously impressed with young people in general, it was also clear we were miles apart in our thinking on some issues involving our children and young people. I made the statement that all too often, young people appear basically lazy and spoiled. They say -they are looking for jobs, but they, just Aren't prepared to work at the jobs which are available . . . • and there are jobs avairle. In too many cases, I feel, today's young peciple want good paying jobs with ideal working hours and excellent working conditions handed to them on a platter when they finish school in April, May, or June. What's often sadder is the fact that when young people find jobs, their at- titude toward work leaves much to he desired. The whole work ethic is screwed up, as far as I'm concerned, and our young people generally do not have the same kind of ambition that their forefathers had. Mrs. Weary does not, of course, want to see young people sitting idle and agrees that a working experience is valuable. But, she pointed out, there is no benefit in taking a low paying job and rendering oneself unavailable should• a higher paying job come along - or tieing up one's time so that there is no chance to look for something with better remuneration. She ...Is° felt that good paying jobs were absolutely essential to young university students since the costs of attending such institutions are getting higher every year. Two trends of thought - miles apart. , Shirley. Weary bas definite socialistic peint,--it view, and I discovered my theories were definitely not in tune with hers. Still I found it easy to ad- mire the woman - her frankness and intelligence were refreshing in a time when there is so much apathy and ignorance regarding government, both provin- cially and federally. +++ I've known Anson McKinley the longest of any of the three candidates. I wasn't surprised when he came forward to Progressive Co banner in this been making no serious politician time now. Anson has alwa of my favor councillors. He's something of v -•4 the discussions • lever and he ..,,what he mean ticulate and cone ' I met with corridor of GDCI. his session with at the high school opponents. As esu him easy to talk to genuinely cone affairs of this relation to the scene. 1 th nk. Anson w first to admit paigning for a • election is a whole • bag than r (continued, rs 0 y ni f nk hi of CO e Or of ni ur 11 ve a, Main attraction Dear Editor: I wish to remind your readers that the town of Goderich is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The main attraction is our, mammoth Sesquicentennial Parade commencing at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 9. Thus fir we have 18 bands coming - pipe, bugle and brass types - and they include the Preston Scout, House Band, Nor- thstars, Entertainers, Ontario Massed Legion Pipes and Drums and the Dutch Boy Cadets. We titan ' on having the biggest and best DEAR EDITOR parade ever staged in this area. I invite your readers to participate. We are looking for more floats of all types, antique vehicles, horse- drawn vehicles or wagons, clowns, costumed figures, old-fashioned cycles, hor- seback riders or any 'other type of thing which can make up a parade. Clubs, groups and families are urged to consider taking part. The route is 21,4 miles in length and after the parade there will be precision band demonstrations by several groups. The Honorary Parade Marshal is that famous rodent ' Mickey Mouse, courtesy of Walt Disney Studio, California. There will be lots of fun and nostalgia in the parade. Afterwards the Shriners are holding a gourmet fish - fry. Any person interested in taking part please contact me at 65 West Street, Goderich, Telephone weekdays! 524- 8333. After 5 p.m. and on weekends 524-9293. Yours very truly, Patrick D. King Chairman, Parade Committee, Jubilee -3 Celebrations Searis right Dear Editor: Thank goodness for citizens other taxpayers, did not, in - like Jim Searls. Personalty, I hope that his petition asking for a public forum on the 'subject of P.U.C. "ex- travagances" *ill prove to be unnecessary. The P.U.C. has a duty to the public to clear this matter up by making a public statement giving all the details for which Mr. Searis is asking. , We citizens of Goderich elected these men to ' the Commission in the faith that, among other things, they would devote themselves to a policy of responsible fiscal actions. If this means that they must attend American conventions, so be it. .• However I, and surely most . tend to suptplYaboala I,: to California, N wives. Hawaii ormMr, , "guessed$pw6eoI, d0Ouf 1 le0diit orce5o7a is, kityhea.vit 80 5cfoolr'n0v00eanliotio$snlix,,MbytoP: metic, the, coonst at ho' mtle.°f iteoavimig:: thisMnyeMarascMcnisil. rt ° payer ameantes3: supposed6iQ0nn theIwouldCyh 1 ih alht On gVe/nie*''' this? Another si (contisu t I ce! e IX it 10 BI s. p ti 75 YEARS AGO The Goderich Yacht Club has rented Robert Clark's boat and made several journeys on the lake, and 'when the Warm weather comes the yacht will salt on the lake afternoons or evenings every day. Manager Sauaderii of the Goderich 040 Company, returned kik*** business , . • • ••-• ••• L OKI ‚.4 .. , trip to England on Wed- week tornakea grand total up interests of the district and ;yEARS , , 4' ,V neaday and as many of the to noon on Wednesday of this ,,the town. factory ernployees belong to week or$4,614. - . the PObliC School Board and strike againat the Goderieh , miller real , Goderich go° CoAllte gitahtee 18°11 Assembly lor , the band they turned out to *Inflations- broke down play a few appropriate tunes The 0.3).C.I, Boar has, when 36 members of Federal to welcome him home. asked for a )(Ant meet tig of Union 23,736, A.P.L., went on 25 YEARS AGO the Tawii;'Countil together Manufacturing Company, peachey with ,the, focal Public School which declined to accept the while the apt, Contributions to the Lion's inagietoriand the Coilegiatei rectitheriendatiotif of a edit- Trophy went A Ni , *CIernorial Arena pet. Board.: to 'disetts* 'the best, ukilation: board ..for alhlettA trianent,, floor campaign Meant 01 dispOsingrof the old ''.$titemiseOtti'tents an'hour fd','Grahapi moved.Uo,470 during the paWCnUs�te. hilifdittetttiaHiefak*thwiitioattitaii-of 'Y • 4,D4i5,1ekit?' iria:.V.k55.47,10artWe4;4'...A.;