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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-01-25, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1979 Goderich SIGNAL—STAR The County Toiiin Newspaper of Huron Founded In 1848 and published every Thursdays.,9t Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CWNA and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable in advance '14.30 In Canada. '3{,00 to U.S.A., '33.0.0 to all other countries, single copies 33'. Display advertising rates avollob:e on request. Please ask for Rate Cord• No. 8 effective Oct. 1. 1978. Second class moll Registration Number 0716. A4vgrtlsing is accepted on the condition that In the event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Item. together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for but the balance of the advertisement will bo paid for of the applicable roto. In the -event of a typographical error advertising, goods or services at a wrong price. goods or service may not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer to sell, and Toy be withdrawn at any time. The SIgnal.Stor Is not respohsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts 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 .1. KELLER — editor DONALD M. HUBICK - advertising manager Mailing Address: P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich Second class mail registration number — 0716 Be fully informed It really wouldn't be fair to say the board of Alexandra Maine and General Hospital is in a panic. To be truthful, board members are decidedly calm in the face of a situation which according to some observers threatens. the very existence of the local hospital. The problem is the declaration by the Ontario Ministry of Health that within three years, all hospitals in the province will be funded to the tune of 3.5 beds per thousand...referral population. In Goderich that means 3.7 active beds by the fiscal year 1981-82; To patients, it means that only one out .of every two patients presently admitted to'AM&G will be accommodated. According to Dr. Michael Conlon, president of the medical staff at AM&G, it effectively nullifies the function of the hospital here. He says •thathospitals of 30 or 40 beds just aren't viable institutions. Dr. Bruce Thomson says the immediate ,result will be more sick people throughout the province of Ontario and the long term• result will be a failing economy because of more sick people. Dr. J,L.Hollingworth claims it will mean unnecessary hardship for the sick and their families 'who' will have to care for the sick at home because there will' be no room for them in hospital. • • But .for the present, it is only the doctors in the ' community who appear to be up in arms about the government ..proposals..Member-s of" the board at AM&G are more concerned about meeting the government's requirements than they are with fighting the ministry's edict. And while the doctors certainly do have valid arguments... and a good solid reason for attempting to raise the public to •• action .... the board members seem to be taking the sensible approach -in adjusting hospital operations to fit with ministry orders first and rallying the forces to do battle with the government second. But some cursory observations wouldn't be out of place at this time. It doesn't seem long ago that this newspaper took an unpopular stand-in this part of Huron County. That was an expression of the opinion that the government of Ontario was determined to cut health care costs in the province and that the best solution probably was the one put forth by the then health minister, Frank Miller. Miller wanted to close hospitals and Clinton Public Hospital was on the chopping block. - But public outcry 'convinced government to reconsider its position and the people of this part of the province heaved a sigh of relief. Clinton Public Hospital is saved, they said, and will. never be threatened again. Now less than two years later, Clinton Public, Hospital's beds are to be cut by 52 percent ... and not only Clinton beds are to be lost. There will be a 39 percent reduction in: active treatment beds across Huron County. Instead of one hospital closed, there will be five hospitals limping along on severely reduced operating budgets, and with seriously reduced facilities. Looking back then, one wonders about the true value of public involvement in a situation where there is no deep understanding of what is actually going on or why certain recommendations are being made. . Dr. Brian Lynch, HiUron's Medical Officer of Health, is wondering about the alternate health care procedures of which theministry of health- is speaking these days. Just last week in• Toron- 'to,Dennis Timbrell, the minister of health, told hospital representatives attending a meeting there that the government is exploring these avenues of alternate health care which are reportedly cheaper and totally adequate. • But Dr. Lynch is in- the alternate health care business and he sees no additional, money coming the way of the province's health units. Vice- chairman of the board at AM&G, Jim McCaul, a former public health inspector, is just as ap- prehensive as Dr. Lynch. He claims more money to carry out improved alternate health care services in the local health units has been a carrot on a stick for years, but it just hasn't materialized. These two men just don't know whether the public should continue to hold its breath. The doctors of this community are convinced the board of AM&G will have to enlist the aid of the public in this matter. And that isn't such a bad idea. But the doctors will also have to become much more involved in the reality of the government's statements :.. understanding what the government is actually saying. to the people of Ontario. The message of the health ministry isn't new. It is just a new way of expressing what it has'been saying for years. Health care costs are too high and the method of delivering healthcare services is too expensive. There must be some changes made. The people of Ontario_aroing to have to take a good close look at the kind of things they are demanding. Patients will have to learn to be more tolerant of delays. Physicians are going to have to be willing to adapt to a' little different way of practicing medicine. Taxpayers are going to have to accept, a greater direct ._share _of .. the_ ..burd.en.,. perhaps at the'municipal level. Hospital boards are going to, have to become innOvaters, -showing. leadership in cost cutting while maintaining a satisfactory level of health care. It will need to be a solid unified effort across the board and it will need to be imaginative, progressive and positive: It is up -to' the people •of Goderich and area to become well informed about the ramifications of this latest ministry proposal. And it is i n> portant that they are informed before they begin to make public appeals to the various levels of government. Nothing- is more dangerous than an uninformed citizentrying to help ..:. and nothing is more per- suasive than a knowledgeable, open minded tax- payer working to change things for the good of all. Health care is probably the single most important service to the public. It is a proud industry, a compassionate industry, a human necessity. Let's look before the leap ... and let's leap where it will do the most good for the most people for the greatest length of time. -SJK ooray The residents of Auburn will be celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of their village this year and it is hats off to that community in 1979. Plans have been inthe making for the past two years and as 1979 begins, activities are getting closer and closer to reality. -Auburn-is one of the most active little -villages irr- the area. The people- there get th'ings•done through plenty of co-operation and lots of hard work. There is little doubt that the celebrations there will be well planned, well executed and most entertaining. It is to be hoped the people from throughout this entire distrl'ct will get behind the Auburn folks to help them make their 100th birthday more memorable. Keep a good eye on the village of Auburn this year and when there's -something going on there, get out to help them celebrate. You won't be sorry.-SJK r,�a�PCo • Write it ti OPEN LETTER Mrs. Jo Berry, Chairman of the AM&G' Hospital Board: The Ministry of Health has issued a policy which proposes to cut the acute care beds in this hospital from seventy-one to thirty-seven. This - is a drastic reduction and will inevitably lead to patients being denied hospital care which they deserve. Cases of pneumonia, heart attacks and strokes etc.•may have to he cared for at home if hospital beds are not available in the future. If this oce-urs, unnecessary hardship will be forced upon the sick and their relatives. The proposal to close these beds is a political one, based on such in- formation as population distribution and hospital discharge data. This type - of in- formation can he biased to produce the politically desirable answer - in the case of the Alexandra Marine & General Hospital the desirable answer was thirty-seven acute care beds. Maybe. the next survey will show that this hospital requires twenty-five acute -care beds. .... Neither the Board of this • hospital, its Ad- ministrator.,nor its medical staff • are responsible for the proposed reduction in beds. I request that the Board of this hospital notiTy,the. public Of the political .nature of . this decision. 'At the same tithe, the Board should urge our local people towrite to the Ministry of Health, the Premier of Ontario, the leaders of the op- position parties and our local . Mem•ber of Parliament. stating their objections to such a plan. Once the beds are closed, it is not the Board members or the medical DEAR EDITOR staff of this hospital who will -suffer, but the many patients in our com- munity who have been denied access to their local hospital' by political decisions made in Toronto Respectfully yours, J.L. Hollingworth, M.D. Dirty site Dear Editor: One of the most ex- plosive issues to envelope the Town in recent months, is the proposed rezoning of the Goderich Harbour Industrial Area. While not wanting to take sides at the present time, I have to wonder what would possess intelligent beings to desire Co build -a restaurant in a heavy industrial area. One cannot oppose a new restaurant for Goderich. More com- petition will surely bring down prices and provide better quality food. But how could a town, sup- ported by heavy industry, agriculture included, change a zoning to allow a non -industrial unit in a heavy'• industrial area? Unless of course certain decision makers are bent on lining their. own pockets. Can you imagine going out for dinner, dressed to the nines, driving down the 'dock hill' in your long greasy Cadillac, which no doubt is financed h -y one of the local money len- ders: only to find a great pile •of potash blocking your view from the restaurant? And having to listen to the rumbling of train engines to the south, while you have intimate conversation with your companion? And going out to your long greasy Cadillac only. to find that it is covered with 'red dpg' from . the new - --corn' . dry-ing- o p e ra t -o n-? A -n -d s h -e n having to wind your way up the hill again, all,.the time dodging` trucks oozing stinking black exhaust smoke? Trucks that are loaded with Ontario .Corn, destined for the export market, or to be distilled into spirits, or to be fed to livestock? But wait until the restaurant is actually built. Then there will be no piles of potash allowed, (to hell with better transportation facilities for agriculture ,inputs) no more trains .( who .needs them in Goderich anyway, and won't Elsa be happy) and no more lines of truck traffic to fight. Ship v the grain somewhere else. Heck, we may as well demolish the elevators and build houses. Well, enjoy your food, all you restaurant and zoning change sup- porters., Goderich can get along quite, well without trains, trucks, Goderich Elevators, The Mine, Dominion Roads and any other industry that might just sit in the path of development and growth. It is time all Goderich industry got behind the Goderich Elevator, 'and opposed any zoning Turn to page 5 Frozen custard by Jeff Seddon 75 YEARS AGO The deep snow on some of the sidewalks have brought pedestrians near "'the branches of the town trees. Businessmen are complaining of injury to trade through the snow blockade of rail and other roads. A number of anglers were out on the ice the past few days trying their luck at -perch and herring. The Big -Mill was closed down this week through the blocking ' of the warehouse owing to the want of -cars and thus about 50 men are thrown out of present em- ployment. . Mr. H. Caverhill arrived here Saturday from Merrickville where LOOKING BACK he was in charge of a dental practice to take the position of assistant.to D -r. Hayden. It is said that an equal number of County Councillors favoured the nomination of Councillors Bowman and Connolly and. that the flip of a copper decided the tie in favour of Mr. Bowman who was duly elected Warden. Mine host J.J. Wright has added a telephone to th,e equipment at the Park House. 25 YEARS AGO Eight years of waiting ended last Friday af- ternoon when Huron County Council in the closing minutes of its January session, decided to tear down the centry old court house and build a new one with con- struction expected to start earry next year. A grant of $5,000 to help pay off bills was made by, Town Council to the Recreation and Arena Commission at a special council meeting last Wednesday afternoon. Goderich's second nomination meeting in two months is slated for tonight. The meeting is being held to obtain nomination for the office of councillor to fill the vacancy created by the resignation- of Frank *clow early this month. John Moss who has been operating a barber shop to evenings on East Street, has purchased the barber shop business frcm William Burgess, South Street and • the Square. • Enrollment in No. 32 Maitland Air Cadet Squadron of Goderich increased to 78 duringthe past week with the ad- dition of nine new cadets. Plans for a proposed recreation complex in- God'erich are slowly forming with selection of a building site still the main concern of the study committee'' looking into the. possibility. Meals on Wheels started rolling through Goderich on Monday. It will serve eight to ten people in need of hot, nourishin-g meals daily. Goderich escaped the wrath of the ice storm which swept through Southwestern Ontario Sunday, but a Clinton man wasn't so lucky. He looked out his window just as a tree limb crashed into the wind- shield of his 1968 Cadillac. At last week's regular meeting,, council went into Committee of the Whole to select the people to fill the vacancies on -several boards'withinthe municipality. For the first time council had invited applications for these positions from among the citizens in- terested in serving the committee in some capacity. There were seven applications. DEAF REALE S BY SHIRLEY J.K'ELLER Is conversation a dying ar ? That's really quite an-/ interesting question that shouldn't a taken too lightly. While exchangir�}} words goes on every day in every ray, there may not be much sharing, -of ideas simply because there has been no meaningful, purposeful, conversation. Two people "talking at each other" don't a conversation make. And when you analyse the reason that conversation is a dying art, you will usually find itis plainly and simply because people do not "listen to each other, ++ There is really a world of difference in hearing and listening. One person will hear a symphony and be compelled to expo,und on its beauty. Another person will listen to a symphony and be better able to give an assessment of the , concert. Why? Because the one who merely heard it can only give a superficial kind of report from the aspect of the concert's quality while the person who really listened can provide an in-depth kind of review dealing with the individual sounds and impressions that were there. , Every once in a while a youngster will complain to his parents,"You never listen to me." And parents will indignantly reply that's pure nonsense because they have heard every word the youngster 'has said? • In point of fact, both the parents and the youngster are perfectly correct. Mom and dad could well have heard the words but the youngster's assessment that they didn't listen could also be dead accurate. I know because I've done it myself. As someone is speaking to me, I am hearing the statements and for- mulating in my own mind a reply. I may not be • actually listening to the person who is talking to me .... that is really listening and attempting to figure out exactly what he's saying, what he's meaning, what's he's hoping to convey to me, what he's actually said. And of course, without listening I am unlikely to really reply in a meaningful way. I can only give part answers and as a result, any conversation we have is less productive than it could,have been had I listened before answering. + + + Newspaper people, I suppose, become better listeners than some others. In many situations, newspaper reporters are'"compelled to listen and never have a chance to respond .... to make any comment at all. That's excellent training in many respects for becoming a good con- versationalist. Listen first. Respond second, . - _ This orderly approach to con- versation is a must if the ultimate is to be achieved from talking to someone. Listen first. Respond second. Not only would the personal con- versations between people improve, the whole world would be a happier and more progressive,efficient place to' live. Imagine the difference if the world's leaders would all master the art of conversation. Just think how many more differences could be resolved through understanding and mutual agreement if each one listened first, responded second. Sometimes as I sit in on municipal meetings and other group discussions, I can predict , problems fairly ac- curately. Whenever you have a person who while someone else is speaking seems to be formulating his.or her own response and is already motioning to the chair that he or she wants to speak next, it is safe to assume trouble could be brewing. Occasionally,that person will get up on his feet and give proof that he hasn't been listening to what went before. Either he'-wili alka questionthat has already been answered or he will ex- pound on what he thinks he heard rather than on what has actually been said. There can of course, be misun- derstandings even when one is listening, but the chance of -that hap- pening is greatly tedueed.To listen first and respond second is a proper and largely fool proof formula for improved, communication.