The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-07-19, Page 4PAGE 4
GQDERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1979
Goderich
SIGNAL—STAR
The County Town Newspaper of Huron
founded In 1405 qad published every Thursday at Dederick. Ontario. Member of the CWNA
and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable in advance '14.50 In
Canada. '35.05 to U.S.A., '33.00 to all other countries, single copies 35'. Display advertising
rates available on request. Please. ask for Mato Card No. 0 effective Oct. 1, 1970. Second
class mall Registration Number 0710. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that In the
event of typographical error, the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item,
`/'ogether with reasonable allowance for signature, wilt not be charged for but the balance
of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. In the event of o
typographical error, advertising goods or services et a wrong price, goods or service may
not be sold. Advertising Is merely an offer to tell. and may be withdrawn at any time. The
Signal -Star is not responslbla for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts or photos.
Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher
SHIRLEY J. KELLER — editor
.DONALD M. HUBICK - advertising manager
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
Second class mail registration. number — 0716
Business and Editorial Office
TELEPHONE 524-8331
area code 519
Bad grammar?
It had to happen. Signal -Star went all out this
Canada Week to help the country celebrate its
birthday in style. Even the national slogan
"Canada, it's you and me" was splashed all over
the newspaper. It was a really patriotic edition.
But it had to happen. It was predictable. One
reader carefully clipped a birthday advertisement
from the Signal -Star and noted - not too sweetly -
that - Signal -Star staffers had used "very bad
grammar".
The reader scribbled,"The verb "to be" takes the
subjective case. It's you and I. The Signal -Star has
lots of poor English grammar. How can you expect
school kids to learn correct English when you don't
use it?"
To be truthful, the Signal -Star is guilty from time
to time of poor grammar, just as the reader
charges. Although much effort and energy is ex-
pended each week to avoid these errors, they do
occur much to this newspaper's regret and em-
barrassment. Apologies are•inorder.
But on the other hand, much of the Signal -Star's
problem stems from a school system that just
doesn't put as much emphasis on English grammar
as was once the case. Young journalists are often
lacking in such basis skills, and while everyone is
capable of making mistakes, some . recent
graduates of journalism schools can neither spell or
use proper English grammar. It is a common
failing.
Whether , or• ,not it is the . responsibility of the
Signal -Star to teach the children of the area
grammar is debatable, but the fact remains that
44
9
any newspaper should strive for grammatically
correct news and advertising columns. Signal -Star
is, of course, pledged to that end and the helpful
comments of the readers are always welcome.
In this particular case, however, the gram-
matical error was not the fault of Signal -Star
personnel. The slogan - indeed the camera ready
copy - was from the Canadian government. The
slogan "Canada,it's you and me" is,as Canadian as
the beaver,the Maple Leaf and the ten provinces.
Sometime ago, this same slogan came before
Goderich Town Council, with the notation that it
should be considered the town's slogan and used on
official town mailings as a subtle reminder to all in
aid of national unity.
At that time, Councillor Elsa Haydon commented
on the fact that the national slogan was gram-
matically incorrect and that she objected to such
sloppy methods on the part of the Government of
Canada.
A national slogan is.something like the national
flag it seems. Nobody, but nobody, tampers with it.
What is written stays written.
So we're stuck with a grammatically, incorrect
national slogan but who really_ cares? The idea_-_
behind the slogan is what matters most. And the
idea is that Canadians should work together, ,play
together and stay together.
The, Signal -Star doesn't apologize for its Canada
Week edition. •As far as this newspaper is con=
cerned, "Canada; it's you and me" is just fine. It's
the way it should be for the good of everyone. - SJK
Will they be sorry!
Sweden, that land of eternal social ex-
perimentation has just passed a" new federal law.
The Swedes have never hesitated to thrust
government into -personal life, but their latest sets.a
record of some kind.
It is now illegal, in Sweden, for a parent to strike
his own child. Spanking is out. Not real child abuse,
mind you, but regular run -of -the -kitchen spanking
as well, ,
In self-protection Canada should immediately
place a quota of zero on Swedish immigrants to take ,
effect about 1.0 years hence. We don't 'need any
young people who have been raised in homes where
the flat of the hand to the seat of the pants is against
the law.
Personally, we don't believe in mistreating
children any more than the Swedes do, but show us
a kid who never needed a spanking in his Life and
we'll show you a freak who should be in a sideshow
exhibit. Nor do we believe in over -frequency of
corporal punishment.
The child who is .spanked too often, when other
forms of discipline would produce results becomes
inured to these mild helpings of pain.
But, by golly we have yet to seethe youngster
who could not learn something from a paddling
' administered •by a loving but firm parent.-
Wingham Advance -Times.
Army needs support
When people are in distress, the Salvation Army
always seems to come to their aid. This week, the
local Salvation Army Corps is giving Goderich and
area people a chance to help the "Boat People" in
Hong Kong.
The Salvation Army is throwing its energies into
a "socially ,approved concentration camp". to use
the words of.. the Array's man on the spot, Major
Glen .Gilden. He says you really have to "see it to
believe it".
The Salvation Army in Canada is urging -its. -own
people to support the work being clone on behalf of
Vietnamese" -Refugees in the Chi Ma Wan camp,
Lankau Island, H.on.g Kong. The Army has already
responded to requests from the Hong Kong
government to supply food supplements - fruits,
salted eggs, clothes and reading material beyond
the daily ration of rice.
On July 4, the Army was asked to take charge of a
camp program at the one-time prison site on
Lankau Island. At that time, the Army moved in a.
four -member team who are now living and working
in the burgeoning camp Originally designed -for -600
prisoners, •Chi Ma Wan' will soon accommodate
10,000 refugees.
The team's first task is to set up a program of day
camp activities for children. Canvas shelters are
being erected to accommodate classesin English
and Cantonese. Evening programs are also being
developed for adults including language classes,
family -life education, films and recreation. .
The team of Salvation Army workers is livingin-
tents and is helping to solve the many daily
problerris arising in the terribly overcrowded
community that is growing faster than 'the
corrugated steel buildings can be built. Each new
building will accommodate 400 sleeping in three -
tiered bunks set side by side touching each other.
Lieut. Neil Watt of Goderich's Corps, hopes some
people in Goderich and area will be•interested in
supporting this work. Those who are should make
their cheques payable to The Salvation Army, but
somewhere on the cheque it should be indicated
that the contribution is to go towards the work with
the Boat People.
Donations can be forwarded to: The Salvation
Ar -ray; -P:O.' Bos 4021, Postal Station A, Toronto,
Ontario, M5W 2B1. - S -JK
oner
By Dave Sykes
DEAR EDITOR
Elsa Haydon tosses a few bouquets
Dear Editor:
- Here are a few quick
bouquets tossed to some
of the people whose ac-
tions and ''attitudes are
making our summer days
more inviting,_ eventful
and pleasant.
Mr. Jim Hayter
deserves special thanks
and appreciation for'
supplying, at no cost, a
courtesy car at the
Municipal Marina.
Visitors to Snug Harbour
are delighted ' with this
special hospitality. As the
Waterfront Committee,
Coup. Stan Profit and I
particularly wish to
express our gratitude to
Mr. Hayter. ,
Next in line is our
Recreation Director, Mr.
Jim Moore, and his staff
who organized - very
capably and with en-
thusiasm - a new event
for Goderich - the 10
kilometer road race and
fun run held last Satur-
day.
As reported elsewhere,
the race_ attracted_. 12.1
.runners, most of them
from out of town. It puts
yet anotheraspect of
Goderich on the map of
human relations. Using
this first race as a
learning experience, Mr.
Moore and his staff will
no doubt build it into an
annual event of our
summer festival. —
Mr. Moore " had con-
siderable help .,had
the, Police, the Firemen,
the CB-ers-and from the
members of the newly
formed Optimist'Club.
Are there still people
who moan that there is
nothing to do in town? I
think not.
My last little bouquet
goes to the Garden. Club
whose' annual donation to
the Parks supplies the
lovely . display at the
JubiI.ee_P-ar-k,-- so well
received by visitors and
townspeople alike. Ever
since that park was
createdduring the
Jubilee year when they
also planted the white
oak, the Garden Club has
English not
Dear Editor,
The information
contained in our Alliance
for the . Preservation of
English in Canada
Newsletter -has been
presented to several
Members of the Ontario
Legislature. These
members were surprised
at the extent to which the
present Ontario
Government had in-
stalled a French
language network of
treated the project as one
of their babies and helped
provide for it. 'Thanks to
the Garden Club.
Sincerely,
Elsa-H-a-ydon
informed
services. Because of this
reaction we feel it is
imperative to forward
this information to all
members of the
Legislature. It is our hope
that you will read this
Newsletter in its entirety
so you too can be in-
formed..
It is apparent that
ACFO and other
organizations
representing French
speaking people in
Ontario a being con-
sulted oregular basis
with ernes t to the im-
plemen S t o ' .; of French
language .ervice . The_
English spea ing people
on the other hand are
being shown only the tip
of the iceberg but are
never advised, informed
or appraised of the
massive network that lies
beneath the surface to
support that tip.
Turn to page 5 •
75 YEARS AGO
Complaints are many
about young men and
boys bathing at improper
hours and improper
places daily, but
especially on Sundays.
Citizens say they are not
able -toga -heat their boat
houses or walk along
some partsof the docks
or piers on afternoons,
without meeting bathers
exceedingly scantily clad
or not clad at all.
Last Saturday, Mr.
John Griffin, the
energetic travelling
salesman of the J.I. Case
Threshing Machine
Company of " Racine,
Wisconsin, made a
display on the Square of
one of the . company's
famous threshing outfits.
The Big Mill Company
LOOKING BACK
is putting up a large
warehouse for the
storage of salt. It is being
erected near the R.R.
track so that cars can be
easily loaded.
The new cement blocks
look nice when in
buildings, as maybe seen
at the dwelling Reid and
Company are erecting for
F. Smeeth on Brock
Street.
The work on the Cen-
tral School .is being
pushed with vigor and
present appearances
indicate thecompletion of
all contracts by school
opening time.
25 YEARS AGO
A cut from four hours to
two hours a day in the
time ;permitted for ,
watering lawns in
Goderich during summer
months was made by the
PUC in a by-law passed
on Monday.- The by-law
states that it is now
permissable to water
lawns only from 7 to 9
p.m.
Expected to be com-
pleted • sone time this
summer, 'erection of
street signs on Goderich
corners was started on
Tuesday.•
A. new teacher for`
Goderich Public School
staff, Miss Eileen Cun-
ningham of • R.R. 1
Auburn, was hired by the
Public School Board
recently.
In and out of hot water
with the Western Ontario
Athletic Association in
recent weeks, Goderich's
fastball team., the Flyers,
has received assistance
from the town.
Rain is badly needed in
most sections of Huron
and because of this, fall
wheat is ripening much
quicker than anticipated.
John Cartwright
resigned as a constable
on ,the Goderich Police
Force and left last week
to join the O.P.P.
5 YEARS AGO
The Ontario Municipal
Board . hearing into the
proposed shopping plaza
on Bayfield Road may not
be over 'until ' next
October,' it was noted
Tuesday by lawyers
presenting arguments for
and against approval of
the plaza and the two-
man OMB panel.
Although nobody .liked
the idea very much,
registered nursing staff
at Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital staged
a demonstration Monday
afternoon on the streets
bordering__, hospital
property. The purpose
was to show that they will
strike if the hospitals do
not settle the salary
dispute by July 22.
Heavy, sticky, black
bunker oil made a mess
of boats on the Maitland
River last weekend after
an oil leak at Sifto Salt
spilled the gum into a
pond below the plant.
Harry Bosnell of
Goderich has been hired
by the Huron Historic Jail
Board • as a full-time
employee for the season.
Ontario Hydro has
announced that plans for
the generating,,station on
the shore of Lake Huron
have been suspended for
the present.
READE:
BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER
Getting' back to work after a tWo-
week holiday isn't much fun. Even if
your holiday really isn't much more
than staying at home and doing exactly
what you want to do when you want to
do it. r
That's what our vacation was this
year. Just a ' smorgasbord of little
outings. Not much of anything but a
delightful variety that stretched our
fortnight into what seemed like a
month.
There were some things I didn't do.
For instance, I didn't watch a news
broadcast for two whole weeks and I
didn't read a newspaper for anything
'more than pure entertainment.
I didn't clean the house except to pick
up dirty socks and toss out faded
flowers. I didn't cook full course meals
and I didn't watch the food budget. I
didn't worry about the laundry basket
overflowing with those items that
weren't absolutely essential to day to
day living.
Actually I became a tourist right at
home. I pretended our Widder Street
home was a cottage whereI was based
for two ful4 weeks of indulging myself
in whatever was fun at the moment: It
was one of the nicest holidays I've had
in a long, long time. •
We took an overnight jaunt to
Tobermory and dangled our toes in
Georgian Bay. We got some --super
peanut brittle at the Fudge Shop there.
r. We called on a cousin we hadn't seen
in about seven years and got caught up
on all the news from that front.
We had a day in Bayfield complete
with afternoon tea at The Little Inn. We
strolled up one side of the street and
down the other, browsing in all the
quaint „little stores there and chatting
with the proprietors.
We0went south of the border for a day
or two to check out the gas lines and to
see some ,old friends: I think I can
safely say we were more pleased than
usual to get back into Maple Leaf
territory. By'the way, gas lines do exist
in Michigan and Ohio.
Ne spent a great afternoon at The
Country Spire and Miller's Barn in'
Perth°County. We even managed to get
a little Christmas shopping done. How
about that?
We entertained some friends at our
house and had all the time in the world
to do it.
We had a little boat cruise one stifling
evening on refreshing Lake Ontario.
We got in on some summer sales in
an air conditioned mall at Guelph.
We had dinner with a brother-in-law
and his wife in London in their back
yard.
We sat on the beach at Goderich for
an afternoon, something I haven't done
in all the years I've lived here.
We picked some black currants and a
few cherries for the freezer.
We had a leisurely drive through
some of the district's prettiest country
roads and stopped off for a swim with
some friends.
We got together with .the whole clan
at a family picnic and renewed
acquaintances with a special friend
• who just happened to "show up" in the
area for a couple of days.
We had a night out on the town in
Stoney Creek complete with some
excellent Chinese food.
As you can tell, there was never a
dull moment and seldom a time when
we weren't experiencing something
different from the norm. But there was
;,. always time for a good book, a lazy
meal and a good night's rest.
If I have my way, there will be more
holidays'like this one. Why there were
all sorts of things we didn't get to do.
Like camping overnight by 'one of
Huron's' pretty streams, and fishing off
the pier some early morning. Like
having a late picnic in some quiet spot
while watching the sun set: Like
visiting those people we promised so
long ago to see. Like stopping at one of
those ' fascinating Saturday morning
.garage, sales that everybody
everywhere is having.
Who says holidays can't last forever?