Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-11-03, Page 4PAGE 4 --('ODER ICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1977 tots 111611111110444,01 • Goderich` SIGNAL iGA STAR The County Town Newspaper of Huron founded M 1141 and pwblhMd every IMr•d.y et Oederich. Ontario. Me.wbar of the CWNA and OWNA. Advertising rates on rawest. Subcrlptlons payable in shames •17.41 la Ganda. 97.41 to Y.S.A.. 98.41 to ell other cwnrhlee. single copies 1» cents. Wepley ochres, tieing rotes evelle►le oe rogues$. Neese ash far Dote Card No. g affective Oct. 1. 1117. Second claw .nail $egletretlen Nnnnber I111. AdvertWng is accepted on the condition that. In the event of typographical ever. the edsertWM spoof eon/plod by the erroneow Reece. together with nasoneble allowance for slgneture. will not be charged for but the balance o1 the edvenlse.nent will be MN for at the applicable rate. In the event of • typognpMgl error advertising goods or services ate wrong price, goods or service nosy not be sold. Advertising Is .merely en offer to sell. end trey he withdrawn at •ny thee. The Signal -Star 1s not responsible for the lou or damage of unsollclted atenuscrlpts or photos. Business and Editorial Office TELEPHONE 524-8331 area code 519 Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd. ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher SHIRLEY J. KELLER — editor EDWARD J. BYRSKI — advertising manager Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich Second class mail registration number — 0716 Be a blood donor Another blood donor clinic will be held in Goderich, at GDCI next Wednesday. Just about everything that can be said about the need for blood has been said at one time or another. The necessity for blood never ends. Over and over again the call goes out for more blood, and over and over again the faithful donors line up to give this precious renewable commodity so that others may live. What is required more than anything is new blood donors - new sources to help fill the growing demand for blood and blood by- products. Editorials won't ensure an adequate blood supply. Only your participation - whether you are a new blood donor or a donor who has given many times before - will help. Action always speaks louder than words - and no where is action more vital than next Wednesday in the blood donor clinic here in Goderich. - SJK Fall's quiet by Dave Yk Wanted: exchanges Goderich's Sesquicentennial Year is fast drawing to a close. One or two Jubilee Three activities remain to be carried out but in general, the festivities are about -over. Some of the things started in the Sesquicentennial Year will continue on as reminders of the great celebration. That's the way it should be This community should remember for years the festivities and the fellowship which turned Goderich from a bustling, enterprising community into an exciting holiday haven for a fort- night. One of the best relationships that was initiated during the Jubilee Three Celebrations was the sister -city arrangement between Bay City, Michigan, and Goderich. While it was unanimously agreed by Bay City and Goderich officials that the family feeling should be per- manent, the exchange of people and ideas between the two communities is dwindling along with Sesquicentennial enthusiasm. That's unfortunate. If the feeling of comradeship between Bay City and Goderich is to strengthen and grow. there must be an effort on the part of Goderich people as well as Bay City folk to extend the hand of friendship in as many different ways as possible. And it must be an' ongoing effort - something which becomes as natural to the civic sisters as the relationship enjoyed by blood sisters and brothers in human families. One of the first steps which can be taken is for Goderich's service clubs to develop ways to communicate with their Bay City counterparts. Letters should be -sent out, inviting Bay City friends here for special activities; suggesting that Goderich people travel to Bay City for their service club affairs. There could be an exchange of speakers on occasion; an exchange of members for some meetings; an exchange of pins and badges or bulletins. The list is practically endless. The schools, too, could keep the family feeling alive with an exchange of letters between grades or an exchange of teachers and -or students similar to the relationship Victoria Public School used to enjoy with Violet Elementary School in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. The church groups might participate in some sort of an exchange program with church groups from Bay City. Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies; 4-H groups; businessmen; theatre groups; skating clubs; sportsmen; policemen; yes, even the newspapers could exchange people and ideas from time to time to keep the Bay City-Goderich relationship healthy and thriving. Think about how you or your organization might benefit from cultivating a -strong tie with Bay City, Michigan - less than 200 miles away but in another country. Then act right away. Be positive and aggressive. The sisters need you. - SJK BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER This newspaper is fortunate to have readers who take the time to write letters to the editor. Most weeks, this newspaper runs about three letters on various topics from people who have something to say. Sometimes it - is a bouquet; sometimes it is a complaint; sometimes it is a thank you; sometimes it is just an opinion. But The Goderich Signal -Star has good letters to the editor column, and the staff here is grateful for the participation of readers. The policy regarding let- ters to the editor may not altogether meet with the approval of readers. That policy is simple: every signed letter to the editor received by this newspaper is published unless it is deemed to be libellous - that is a written statement damaging DEAR READERS to a person's reputation, a false defamatory manuscript with perhaps some malicious misrepresentation. Very few letters of this type are received by the editor. When they are received, they are usually • easily recognizable. When there. is some element of doubt, a legal opinion is sought. In all cases when a letter is not printed in the paper, the writer can assume it was ruled libellous. The letter has been left out of the papers for the protection of the letter - writer who may not even realize that he or she could be involved in a libel suit. It could also be a nasty business for the newspaper. It is always avoided if at all possible. Occasionally, people charge the newspaper with printing only those letters which are "nice". Regular readers of the Signal -Star letters to the editor will be the first to admit that this isn't true. Some letters published in this newspaper are anything but "nice". Whether the letter calls the editor stupid or the town council a bunch of clods or the system of justice a farce, the letter is published. It can be truthfully acknowledged that ALL signed letters, with the rare exception of those which are considered to be libellous, are published as soon after they are received as space will allow. +++. The part of the letters to the editor policy which is most often criticized is the use of pseudonyms - a fictitious name assumed by the author of the letter. Many newspapers do not permit pseudonyms to be used, and there are many reasons why that is a good policy. The Signal -Star, however, believes that in a small town like Goderich where everybody knows so many people - and when it is a well- known fact that the average persons are hesitant to voice their opinions in an open forum for fear of being branded a fool or worse by their neighbors and friends - there is -some justification for pseudonyms. The Signal -Star policy is a kind.of the middle-of-the-road policy which appears to be working. Pseudonyms are permitted, but it is also un- derstood that if another reader takes the time to telephone the editor to determine the name of the letter writer, the name will be revealed. (Most times no one calls - occasionally there will be one pr two inquiries). All letters, therefore, must be .signed. Whether pseudonyms are used or not. the editor will not letter which isn'tsi +++ The greatest pr editor arises when writer will not accept that his or her libellous. Maybe writer doesn't care he doesn't care. letter writ_er doubts is libellous at all, and newspaper editor is om itting the letter personal reason kn to the editor. It is those people the most difficulty editor. Usually that will tell anyone he the newspaper bigot who protects and supports only causes. More often the letter writer telephone the e complain bitter!! disregard any eff Turnto 0 a Postal pace The postal service in Canada comes in for more than its share of criticism most weeks. At this newspaper, where so much depends on mail delivery, there is often concern for subscribers who do not receive their papers until long after the acceptable period of normal mail delivery has passed. From time to time, there are reports that Signal -Star readers in Toronto, for in- stance, do not received their issue of the paper until as much as two weeks past the publishing day - and then sometimes only part of the paper arrives leaving the subscribers angry, disappointed and frustrated. This week the shoe was on the other foot. This week the Signal -Star received a newspaper neatly bound with tape and 'paper wrapper. It had been mailed in Ireland sometime in 1976. The year is quite easily recognizable by the stamp can- cellation marks. The month is Tess recognizable although it appears the mailing might have been made in December. The newspaper, an edition called People, was addressed to a couple in Labrador City, Newfoundland. It was sent airmail by a person whose name and address was neatly displayed on the wrapper as well. It arrived at the Signal -Star in good,condition in the bottom of a mail bag which was to have been filled with papers mailed from this office. According to the staff in the mailing room, this is the third time mail has been found in the bags which are supposed to be emptied when they arrive here. When one considers the millions and millions of pieces of mail the Canadians post office handles in a month, it doesn't seem surprising that some things go astray. But until this newspaper from Ireland was discovered by the Signal -Star mailing crew, it had been travelling for something like ten or eleven months - and still hadn't arrived at its destination. That seems a little riduculous, especially in light of the fact it was to be going by air mail. Such reports do not foster confidence in the Canadian postal system. Still, the little parcel from Ireland has been set on its way once more toward the addressee in Labrador City, Newfoundland. Hope certainly does spring eternal in the human breast - and in the post office where neither snow nor sleet nor dark of night.... SJK Put away squabbles The Queen's address to the nation Sunday evening was a welcomed respite from the carefully phrased mudslinging that is beginning to creep into the debate over Canada's future. In her address, the Queen captured the essence of the Canadian spirit: the freedom to pursue individual ways of life but at the same time maintaining a unity of spirit that only this nation fosters. Out of line Dear Editor: Appointed as well as elected public officials expect to be subjected to public scrutiny and possible criticism. A sense of fairness would dictate, however, that this should be for something these persons actually say or do. Irate Citizen's letter is out of this line. Mr. Larry McCabe, at present tem- porarily carrying the com- plex burden of the top town employee, has not asked for the amount of money in question. Indeed, depending on the time element and circumstances, little of it may be actually used. DEAR EDITOR I did not take kindly to the way in which Mr. McCabe's name was used for whatever the writer had in mind. I was all set to defend him as one member of the Council who placed him in this situation; I was ready to explain the good and valid reasons the Council had in handling this ex- ceptional situation. It suddenly occurred to me that there is no case. After bringing another person's name before the public the letter writer avoided using her own. A cowardly com- plainant who does not trust her own case does not deserve an explanation. But Mr. McCabe deserves an apology. Sincerely, Elsa Haydon Poor upbringing Dear Editor: Once again Halloween has been the excuse for children to be out until nearly mid- night soaping windows and throwing eggs. Our children's "trick or treating" was ruined by having eggs plastered on them and their candy stolen from them. This is the first time that they have been allowed to go out without a parent accompanying them for the simple reason my husband is in hospital and I was home with two younger children. Some windows were soaped and this involved treading all over flower beds. (Other windows could have been soaped without damaging flower beds!) I am not against children having fun but when it causes damage and distress then it is no longer fun. The children are not alone tohlame, but i blame a lack of parental control and guidance during the entire year (Hallowe'en is not an isolated instance) and a breakdown of Christian living and principles. If more parents brought up their children to follow the teachings of Jesus, then I feel that the youth of today would be less troubled and less troublesome. Yours sincerely, An irate parent and householder Open Letter Dear Judge Carter I am writing to and your colleagc Jubilee 3 Committet kind hospitality of during my recent Goderich, It was a pleasurt Goderich on its tennial and to 1501 portunity to playa" in celebration of event, Even a r' Brampton can, al envious of those communities which so typifies. May I express �y. wishes to yoad residents of yoandTO la c, p III ft re tit tl e e( LOCKING BAC It's at times such as this when the words of an individual who is removed from the day to day milieu can help us to do one thing: slow down, sit back and think what this country really means to us, Let us put away our day to day squabbles and work toward a country where a high pressure public relations campaign be it federalist or anti -federalist, will not divide this country.—Exeter Times -Advocate 75 YEARS AGO .On Friday at noon the steamer Strathcona arrived at this port with a cargo of wheat for the Big Elevator and the Big Mill. The captain said he touched bottom near the harbor entrance and when his bows were opposite the elevator, he ran on a loose piece of rock and was fast for ten hours. A tug was soon attached to the stern of the steamer and lines laid to the dock but the Strathcona held fast forward and it was finally decided to take 5,000 bushels out of her. On Saturday about 5 p.m. the shanty on the commons just above the Grand Trunk Railroad bridge caught fire and before the wailer could be turned on to it, it was prac- tically burned up. A well known bee owner in the Riding sold 21A tons of honey this season, which at nine cents per pound means $450, a nice return from the busy bee. Yee Sun, the proprietor of the Chinese laundry on West Street, has found business too limited- for so many rivals here and has gone to the city to open up shop. 25 YEARS AGO The final session of the 1952 Huron County Council resumed on Wednesday morning with reports of the committees being heard. The historic committee re r'ted a successful year at its county museum. Visitors registered numbered 5,811 with a revenue of $1,342. Nineteen school classes visited the museum. A new workshop at the cost of $325 was erected at the rear. J.D. Thomas, who was Goderich resident manager for Imperial Oil Limited from 1938 to 1952 has been ap- pointed by the. Ontario Plowmen's Association to represent them at a meeting in Falkirk, Scotland this month to discuss the possibility of holding a world championship plowing match in 1953. 5 YEARS AGO Robert E. McKinley is victorious. Political analysts in this county had predicted a win for the chicken hatchery tnhae from StanleYT Of the 36,851 eligchlt. idn Huron County, 29, out to the cKial y votes to M Charid' to Liberal, 1,869 votes to Shirley WearYe Ed Bain, inde� Gode ic!''S Hallows evening:: Tuesday the ticipated for Gods in a row, butMb„ Chief Fred .Tel thanl19h1 AO Jamar MY nd ou out it co tic on do e de