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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-07-26, Page 4Goderich` SIGNAL-STAR The County Town Newspaper of Huron Founded In 1898 and published every Thursday at G`odorlch, Ontario. Member of the CWNA and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable in advance '14.SQ In Canada. 'pm to U.S.A.. '31.00 to all other countries, single copies. Ir. Display advertising rates available on request. please ask for Rate Card Nb. 8 effective Oct. 1. 1978. Second class mall Registration Number 0710. Advertising Is accepted on the condition that in the event of typographical error, the advortlsing space occupied by the erroneous Item. together with reasonable allowance for signature, will not he charged for but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for et the applicable rote. In the event of a typographical error advertising goods or services ata wrong price, goods or service may not be sold. Advertising Is merely en offer to tell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The Signal -Star is not responsible for the Toss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. Business and Editorial Office TELEPHONE 5,24-8331 area code 519 Published by Signal -Stas 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 Police contract fair It was interesting last week to learn of the new contract with the Goderich Municipal Police, and to attempt to equate the job with the salary. It was even more interesting to gauge the reaction of people in the community to the one-year contract with the men in blue. There is always the danger when publishing such salary settlements that people will have a negative reaction. No matter how fair the settlement is, there are always people who can only judge the situation from their own vantage point. For a taxpayer in the town of Goderich where annual tax bills are perhaps uncommonly high in relation to services provided, it can be a bit disconcerting to read that municipal employees are paid wages that in some cases may be considerably higher than one's own. That's a purely human reaction that is predictable. . Still it is gratifying to note the growing numbers of people who are able to look at the police salaries, for instance, and put those salaries in the proper" context. Police officers even in this peaceful community, have a specialized and sometimes dangerous task to perform. They work crazy hours and are at the whim and the mercy of •all kind of people every hour they are on duty. They must keep the peace, apprehend the law breakers and maintain order in all kinds of chaotic situations. Moreover, policemen have a private life which must be lived right here in the community. They have wives and children and property. They have personal needs to fill just like everyone else. And they have strengths and weaknesses which limit their performance to something less than perfect. Their lot isn't easy, and it was especially en, couraging to hear some informed citizens remark that for the job the policemen do in Goderich, their salaries are not out of line. The town can be satisfied that the contract is fair and equitable; From the viewpoint of the policemen, the con- tract may leave something.to be desired. And that too is human. But perhaps some of their reward for a job well done will come in the knowledge that for the most part, Goderich citizens are appreciative of their efforts and feel that their contribution is made at a reasonable expenditure on the part of the tax- payers. - SJK Things on the upswing One doesn't have to have the gift of prophesy to tell that things are on the .upswing for Goderich. One only has to look at the flurry of activity in every corner of the community to discern that the economy here is as stable as anywhere, and that it is probably more buoyant locally than in some places. A drive around the town will reveal plenty of construction. New houses are going up, and at the same time real estate salesmen seem to be kept busy putting 'sold' signs on established homes that are for sale. There are new apartment dwellings nearing completion. There is a new church going up, the second in three years, with another congregation waiting now to build. Industry too seems to be expanding and growing; business is experiencing -am-odest building boom in town. And, of course, there's the road and bridge construction .... blessed by some and cursed by others. But it is all a sign of progress. Progress right here in Goderich. There is a tendency for Goderich people to beat their breast in collective pride. And there is some 'reason for that to be sure, for many Goderich people have been at the helm of development here throughout the years. Still it shouldn't be forgotten that the community around Goderich is a tremendous indicator of the resulting prosperity that should occur .... and now is happening .... in the .town serving the needs of the district. The rural areas in. the vicinity show all the signs of , success ... new barns, new, houses and housing additions, well kept properties, fine herds, good crops. Yet one cannot stop with the immediate surrounding area either when measuring the prosperity of the town. One must also recognize that this particular part of the province is generally flourishing .... and that Goderich shares in that good fortune to a great extent. And still that isn't the end of the story. For Goderich has the unique advantage of being situated -on a well -travelled portion of road that' winds along one of this country's ,most beautiful fresh -water lakes, and that brings to this town people and money and prosperity such as some communities never enjoy. For Goderich and area citizens, life is full of the ood things. Just look around you and observe the positive things that are happening everywhere. Believe that you are a part of it ... and that you will reap your share of the benefits. And be happy. Be• content. You are one of the lucky ones in God's creation. - SJK Straight answers, needed Canadians are having a difficult time trusting business people these days and with good reason. In the past, consumers were confident the local butcher wasn't about to tip the scales with his finger. The meat cutter, in many cases, was a personal friend, or at least an, acquaintance. Now, consumers haveto. contend -with super- market chains caught mixing low-priced pork with beef, cooly selling the concoction at higher -than - high beef•prices. Fertilizer companies think nothing of short- changing their customers by selling underweight products, some as much as 10 pounds less than the amount indicated. Many large companies have also taken ad- vantage of the move to the metric system, hiking prices by inordinate amounts to increase profit margins. Even the government operated post office joined the trend when it' announced most mailing costs would not rise when it than ed to metric nee 1 evading the facttthat a lot of customers are going to pay considerably more money for the service. Then there's the quality issue. The number•of product recalls has increased so dramatically that the Canadian public now takes them for granted. In fact, the autoni•otive companies are now recalling more cars than they sell every year. Canadians have come a long way from the good old days when a Model A ran for 10 years, developing few problems that couldn't be overcome with a little .binder twine and a recycled wad of chewing gum. It's time all -business- people - specifically -the executives of major companies - provided straightforward answers to the public on quality and pricing policies. By evading or stonewalling contentious issues, Canada's corporate elite are slowly but surely eroding public confidence in the free -enterprise system, -----Mainstream Canada: - PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR•, THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1979 Ueadin' home By Dave Sykes cl," c.,Q Congrats Dear Editor, On behalf of the Port Elgin Road Runners Club, I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved in your "Goderich 10 KLM Classic" Road Race. All of the staff were very congenial and handled their tasks efficiently. It was a pleasure to take part in such a well organized initial effort. I would also like to thank the Fire' Depart- ment and local residents who provided water hoses to cool the runners down. Their role was crucial in the success of your race DEAR EDITOR and they are to be highly commended. Best of luck with your `future runs and welcome to the circuit. Gerry Geddes, President P.E.R.R.C., Box 2125, Port Elgin. Thankyou Dear Editor, "To feet ... to feet .. " the call went out across the hay fields and corn fields of Ashfield Township! ! ! From the sandy shores of Lake Huron along the muddy banks of the Nine Mil River up to the fish ladder itself the call resounded. The tiny hamlet of Port Albert shook with the thundering clump clop of size 2's, size 6's and even size 101/2's Adidas, Pumas and Nike track shoes as the volunteer Port Albert track team stumbled its way to Petrie's General Store to hear the in- spiring words of coach Peter! ! ??? After the athletic oration by coach Peter (there wasn't a dry eye on the team - the fact that the public facilities were closed for repairs might have had something to do with it!.) ; ... the team jumped into their two cars and roared into •Goderich for the 10 a.m. - event. The rest is history! Thank you Goderich for a great event! Regards, Frank R. Gardiner. P.S. ... Of the eleven members that made up the Port Albert track team, one finished 84th .... one finished 132nd just ahead of the ambulance one had to drop out to have his diapers changed . two ran only as far as their grandmother's on West Street ... one rode a bicycle ... one fainted at the 3 mile mark ... and the remaining five went shopping at the Art Mart on the Square!! Society formed Dear Editor, The Pollock Family Society is now being formed. The purpose of the Society is the same as those of Clan and other Scottish Societies --- to perpetuate the preser- vation of our Scottish heritage. For those who may not know it, the International Gathering of Scottish Clans and the 92nd Robert Burns Council, are being held outside of Turn to page 15 75 YEARS AGO The secretary of the Board of Trade __ has received intimation that the Guelph Board of Trade contemplate visiting Goderich with their family and friends in August for a day's outing. « . The buiidings of the Goderich . Cement Brick Company are now ..in. running" order. The buildings are frame, placed on the Harbor Beach. On Tuesday evening there were many carriages round the Square and their num- bers made things rather unpleasant by raising considerable dust. Most of the contractors for the Central School improve'nieats are LOOKING BACK making good progress. Swaffieid, who has the masonry and brickwork, is nearly through with his part; Lee will soon have the .roof tinned; and the Planing Mill Company is pushing their part along. Four generations were recently photographed by Brophey in town. The group was composed of Mrs. James Wilson, great-grandmother, an old resident of Goderich; Mrs. Andrew Ferguson, _grandmother, a well- known resident of Auburn; her daughter, - Mrs. William Lynn of Buffalo and baby, Cecil Andrew, aged eight months. 25 YEARS AGO Letters have been rolling into Auburn from former rpt:-'---' parts of Canada and the U.S. telling of their in- tentions to be present for the Old Girls' and Boys' Reunion during the village's three-day Centenary program on July 30-31 and August 1. The population of Auburn is expected to hit over 2,000 during the celebrations. Even the,new standpipe with a capacity of about 208,000 gallons, which went into operation in the spring of 1950, failed to meet the heavy demand for water this month until a warning was posted by the P.U.C. regarding use of garden and lawn hose. Receipts at the new Judith Gooderham' Memorial Swimming Pool will have gone over the $900 mark by the end July, according to John Berry, secretary - treasurer" of the Recreation and Arena Committee. Daily at- tendance at the pool since it opened last month has been between 300 and 350. Curator J:H. Neill reports that the Huron County Pioneer Museum. welcomed its 4,000th visitor Friday. 5 YEARS AGO The news in this part of Ontario that plans for a Hydro plant in the Goderich -area have been shelved for a time has been greeted with mixed... reactions. .Earl.y, this spring a new ... club for junior hor- ticulturalists was formed when 32 children _met under the leadership of Mrs. Jean Barnett. The club has been named Green Thumbers. A Goderich family escaped injury but two firemen were taken to hospital as the result of a fire early Sunday mor-• ning which gutted the home of Roy MacLnnes, 202 Shore Crescent. Firemen estiamted the loss at $75,000. Remember the in- festation of earwigs about three years ago? Well the summer of 1974 brings something new to Goderich and vicinity. It is spruce moths this year and according to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food at Clinton,__there'.s-no...truth. to the rumor that spruce and cedar. 'trees are threaten ed_..b ..._the. -fl in Y Y g _ creatures. DEAR REALE BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER It seems everrhe word 'mall' can send the townsfolk into a tailspin. Not intentionally mind you. And not always the same people. But you can be cer- tain when someone says 'mall', someone, somewhere in Goderich is going to get upset. As an individual taxpayer,now - never mind that I'm the editor of the local paper - I was rather startled when I heard that Goderich could possibly be getting another mall, albeit a mini mall. No, more to the point, I think I was surprised that some developer wanted to put the money into another mall site in this municipality. I asked myself,"Would you want to sink your hard earned savings into a.lother mall in Goderich?" And the'answer came back lound an'd•' clear,"No siree." But then, that's probably why I'm living on a modest middle-class income in a modest middle-class house on a modest middle-class street. I'm a typical modest middle-class citizen who will never amount to anything financially. No gut4.'That's me. As far ,as I can see thou h, the mini mall or plaza, whatever is the proper name, won't really be a shopping mecca for the county.' From the list of specified permitted uses approved by council, it would seem that•it would be a rather dull place for those people who like to browse and window shop and poke through racks and- be inspired about spending money. One could stop in to buy a new fan belt or cash a cheque or get a quart of, milk or grab a sandwich or have a prescription filled or pick up a box of beer or leave a colored film for developing. But one could, 't expect to be entertained by rows and rows of stores that would hold an attraction for the entire family.. - - In that sense then, one can readily agree with town council that the development is probably quite ac- ceptable and shouldn't threaten the livelihood of the downtown merchants or, in fact, the merchants anywhere else in this community. But it was proper for county planner Roman Dzus to warn town council that maybe, just maybe, the time will come when highway commercial desi'nations will have to be rest+'al^i' in order to prevent the deterioration of business in town. I think it is Councillor Stan Profit who always holds the free enterprize flag high. Stan usually says business should be allowed to locate wherever and whenever it chooses ... and may the best effort win. That's good for everyone, says Stan. And basically, I agree with Stan. If 1 want to invest in a taco stand on a strip where there are already enough taco stands to feed the entire Mexican ar- my, I should have that right in a free enterprize •system. I may go belly up, but then, maybe I won't. Maybe my tacos will be the favorite and my business practices will be best ,.. and the taco stand across the strip will lose out. Either way, the public need is • served or is it? What happens to the taco stand across the strip? Who goes in there? What kind .of a business will thrive there? Is there anyone to fill the void? Or will the taco stand site simply stand ,empty and finally become an eye sore? Do I have any responsibi'lilty for that empty building? Anh:t about t e restrictions as set out for highway commercial property in Goderich? Are they too tight? Could •a doctor's office or a dentist's office be located in such a spot moreproperly than on some residential street? Are the restrictions too loose? Is it possible, for instance, that a hardware store would be better located in another business atmosphere? And if a hard- waree, store can locate in a highway commercial site, why notagift shop? Dzus is right. There is just so much highway commerical land available -in Goderich ... and it behooves legislators to protect that land for the proper use? But what is that proper use? And what happens if the proper use businesses just aren't interested in locating there? Does it sit idle? Reeve Eileen Palmer is correct when, she says a new mall will increase the town's total assessment. And that has to be good for all taxpayers. But it is one of those things for which there are no black and white answers. Times change,. Hindsight is keene than foresight. And t"nlaybe in the future, everyone or no one will be righE at some time or another.