HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-11-15, Page 4PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979
Goderich`
SVNAL-STAR
The County Town New8paper of Huron
Founded In 1040 and published every Thursday at Goderich. Ontario.. Member o1 the CCNA
and OWNA. Advertising rates on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '16.00 In
Canada. •35.00 to U.S.A.; •35.00 to all other countries. single copies 35'. Display advertising
rates available on request. Plpasp ask for Rage Card No. 9 effective Sept. 1. 1979. Second
class mall Registration Number 0716. Advertising Is.occapted 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 bo charged for but the balance
of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rote. In the event of a
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Slgnal•Star Is not responsible 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.
"iROBERT 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
You are important factor in future
Discontentment and disillusionment about the
federal government has been the topic in a good
many editorials appearing recently in area weekly
newspapers.
If it isn't embassy and energy scuttlebutt, it is
interest and unity unrest. Canadians are
discovering that what happens in Ottawa does
indeed affect the grassroots population - the men
and women and children who live and work right
here at home. And it doesn't take long, either, for
things to go from bad to worse.
And editorial recently in The Listowel Banner
claimed that people are "seething with rage and
scared out of their wits".
The editorial stated: "They are fed up of hearing
about how they are going to have to make do with
less - less food, less fuel, less heat, the list seems
endless. They are fed up with hearing about how
much better the Swedes are doing in conservation
than we are. They are fed up with not being able to
make ends meet, of knowing that they will never be
able to own a home of their own and that when they
reach retirement age there likely won't be anything
left for them. Last, but not by any means least, they
are fed up with the self-righteous statements being
uttered by the present government to the effect that
if the Liberals hadn't done this and this and this,
then we wouldn't have to do exactly the same kind
of this and this and this."
On the topic of the present government versus the
one before it, The Wingham Advance -Times points
out "the new federal government seems just as
fully dedicated to letting the oil companies keep
their—billionsonrr". The editorial
concludes the kind of resigned attitude most
Canadians are demonstrating right now. The editor
says: "Let's hope they (the members of the
government in power federally) know what they're
doing."
The people of_ Canada must be among the most
fickle in the world. Before the last election, citizens
Nothing to remember
Comments in recent issues of The Clinton News -
Record explain that the people of The Hub of Huron
County are tired of all the notoriety the town is
getting because of the •continuing stories about
Steven Truscott. In fact, last week the News -
Record carried in full a column written by former
News -Record editor Keith Roulston who bemoaned
again the unfairness of the daily press for dredging
up the 20 -year old mess and putting the people of
Clinton "through it all again".
Roulston writes: "The supreme irony for the last
decade has been that the Truscotts, the Harpers
and all the other air force personnel are now gone.
The old air base is now turned to other uses. The
people most involved in the case are no longer
there. But it's the people of Clinton who still suffer.
Pardon them if they want to forget -,Steven
Truscott." •
The argument presented by Roulston and the
present editor, Jim Fitzgerald, sounds reasonable.
The people of Clinton should not be expected to
know the answers that two decades of investigation '
into the case have not turned up. It would be
disconcerting for the average citizen in Clinton
today to be questioned by prying investigative
reporters who are in tovn.looking for a new and
sensational angle an an old story'.... if that is what
is really happening.-
But let there be no mistake. This kind of publicity
is not hurting the town of Clinton. Far from it.
Clinton, the municipality, is getting a good deal of
provincial and national exposure from the Truscott
story, and while sore may argue that bad publicity
is worse than no publicity, there is no reported
evidence in Clinton to support that theory.
If the people of Clinton really want to forget the
Truscott incident ...; and there are likely those who
of this country were complaining about the
arrogant, inefficient and destructive Trudeau
government seemingly with one accord. Many
voters, hundreds right here in Goderich, said then,
"Anything would be better than what we have
now."
Now less than a year after the election, Canadian
voters are whining and whimpering like spoiled
children. They got what they wanted, didn't they? A
new government with a new leader and a whole set
of new faces to make the key decisions. So why
aren't they content?
But alas, it wasn't a new government Canadians
wanted at all. What they wanted was a saviour to
lead them out of the wilderness of self-denial and
hard work onto the plains of self-indulgence and
ease. What they wanted was somebody to im-
mediately and instantly put together of package of
legislation that would ensure not only all the
amenities of present day. Canada but an even
better, more prosperous, more luxurious way of life
for the future. What they wanted was freedom from
worry about personal and community survival, and
a magic formula whereby everyone is overfed and
underworked, transported and entertained, cared
for and pampered, but above all, free from many of
the responsibilities of citizenship that government
is trying to foist on people.
-= 61
Canadians have adopted an every -man -for -
himself attitude. The philosophy is to get the most
for the least, no matter who gets hurt. There's no
real concern for unity, for the nation. If there were,
Canadians would be much more content to tighten
their belts and get on with the tough job of bringing
order out of chaos.
That's what it will take, after' all. Personal
sacrifice and personal commitment to a •national
problem by a multitude of Canadians. With that
kiind of people power, there's no telling what this
country could do in the next decade. - SJK
Aftermath
Dear Editor:
Permit me to stress two
subjects about which
there are also ad-
vertisements in your
paper. Although the
DEAR
and the glittering per-
formance of this en-
chanting Christmas.
fairytale- create .an event
of memorable . beauty
that has become a
tradition of many years'
standing to a great
number of Toronto and
area families, as it is a
delicious Christmas treat
for any age or generation.
There is no reason why
the children i•n"Goderich
should be deprived of this
enjoyable and inspiring
experience. There is no
reason why grownups
should not go, some to
repeat an already known
enjoyment, some others
perhaps for the first time,
even if it is ,just to con -
projects are not con-
nected by organization,
they -are very much
related in spirit.
1. If there is enough
interest, the Recreation
Office will organize a bus
trip to Toronto, 10 a
matinee performance of
The Nutcracker at the
O'Keefe Centre, by the
National Ballet of
Canada.
The tentative dates are
nothing to forget Saturday or Sunday,
December 22nd or 23rd.
•
The delightful music
do .... perhaps the local Raper should co-operate by
ignoring the story. The Clinton News -Record for
two weeks in a row, reviewed on its front page
every detail of the current furor created by Bill
Trent's newest book, "Who Killed Lynn Harper?"
(the book title in bold face type to catch the reader's
eye). •
If the people of Clinton really want to forget, they
should start by facing facts - Steven Truscott's
name is well known to Canadians ; Steven
Truscott's name is associated with Clinton; the
right or wrong of Steven Truscott's`trial has been
disputed for 20 years by people from all walks of
life, and will likely continue to be disputed for long
years to come; the result of Steven Truscott's trial
has never, and probably never will be, accepted by
-some people including Steven Truscott.
If the people of Clinton want to forget they should
begin to view any future investigations into the
Truscott case as normal and predictable, not
sinister and demeaning. As long as there is any
doubt in anyone's mind that Steven Truscott is -
guilty as charged so long ago, the questions will
continue. And they should continue. Naturally,
much of that attention will focus on Clinton. Who
cares?
If Clintonians are determined to forget, they will,
no matter who wants to worry about the past and
wonder about the future where Steven Truscott is
concerned,
In fact, Clintonians who claim they have nothing
to remember should have nothing to forget.
But Steven Truscott remembers. After 20 years
and a life of torment, he still insists he's innocent.
Who could blame him and the people who' believe
him, if they wanted to make absolutely sure people
even Clinton people -don't forget? - SJK
DEAR
READER
By Dave Sykes
EDITDR
vinee themselves in
person that ballet is not at
all sissy -stuff where girls
in white tutus glide
across the floor, but that
it is also strong athletics
paired with grace and
beauty or presented with
a force of the characters
of the story, be they sad
or funny.
In some cases the
finances may present a
problem. Children can be
partly or fully sponsored.
We work on the honoui
system and 'financial
arrangements are con-
fidential.
To indicate your in-
terest and for further
details please get in touch,
with the Recreation
Director Jim Moore (524-
2125) or the undersigned
(524-6520) as soon as
possible. The per-
formances which run
from December 18 to 29
-are always sold out and
we have to hurry, if we
want ' this trip to
materialize. Don't you
think it is worth a try?
2. The Livery Theatre
on South Street is serving
lunches on Thursdays
and Fridays from 11 :30 to
1:30.
We have tried to adapt
to winter conditions; the
front part has been
partitioned off tem-
porarily and in it a degree
of kitchen at -
mo has been
country
sphere
created (with a varied
menu) by a group of
,dedicated auxiliary
members to whom the
Foundation owes much
gratitude for many ideas
and hard work in creating
money -raising projects.
Every little bit helps
while we are doing our
utmost to find a suitable
financial solution on a
grander scale, in order to
bring together, for the
benefit of the community,
the need for performing
and visual arts facilities
and the reality of- the
'building we have saved,;
creating new life ,and
truly exciting
possibilities in the unique
Turn tp page 16
75 YEARS AGO
Since the removal of
the fence around the
Square, there have been
several instances of
people with rigs, mostly
from out of town, driving
along the foot -paths. Will
the public at large please
take note that the only
roadway for vehicles is
that from South Street to
the Court House door.
The Cloak Factory on
Kingston Street is beittig
roofed.
The Goderich Organ
Company shipped a car
load of organs to
Liverpool this week.
Manager Thomson of
the Engine Works has
moved into the dwelling
next to the Saults House
on East Street.
A family on East Street
had a very close -call from
coal gas on Friday night:
Last Friday 'a farmer
B Y SHIRLEY J.KELL E R
The Delhi News -Record carried an
editorial recently that called for the
Delhi churches to "band together" to
make a canvass of • the area. The
purpose? To discover what church, if
any, families were attending and to
issue a warm welcome. to people who
didn't go to any church., to attend the
church of their choice.
The e41rtorial pointed but that after
five years of research at the Canadian
Church Growth Centre in Regina, the
Rev. Dennis Oliver reported that only
about one-third of Canadians. have
"any functional relation to God in the
traditional sense".
The editorial went on to say the other
two-thirds of Canadians are
LOOKING BACK
Offering - a load of cord-
wood for sale on the
market refused to sell it
any other way than by the
load, though the town
bylaw says that it must
be sold by the cord.
The . Goderich. Lumber
Company's logs have
been taken from the
Island beach and placed
near the mill, so that the
h'trbor is now clear.
The tower at "The
Castle" has been nicely
completed and adds to
the many improvements
that have been made to
the property.
25 YEARS AGO
A Goderich Township
farmer, Garth Postill, 23,
was -awarded damages
totalling $7,578.58 in a
Supreme Court non -jury
action completed here
Tuesday afternoon,
arising out of a traffic
accident in which he was
injured on April 19, 1953.
In a colorful ceremony,
graduating students at
G.D.C.I. received their
diplomas last Friday
night. Those receiving
honor graduation
diplomas were Ruth
Daer, Shirley Leitch,
Eleanor Lauder, Jane
Graham, Elizabeth
Bowra, Ruth Dockstader,
Mary Joyce Ellwood,
Clarence Daer, Benson
Richt, Douglas Reid,
Donald McBride, Glenn
Feugan and John
Hawthorne.
What will. Goderich's
nomination meeting be
like this year? Will town
council, PUC and Public
School Board Trustee
posts he filled by ac-
clamation? These are the
questions that Goderich
ratepayers are asking
with nomination night a
little more than a week
away.
Town Council's Court of
Revision at a special
m eeting'on Tuesday night ,
to consider appeals of
ratepayers, reduced 13
assessments and con-
firmed four others.
5 YEARS AGO
The demolition of the
original section of Vic-
toria Public School is
underway. Unfortunately
for the students, three
portable classrooms have
been ordered and classes
are continuing.
Demolition and recon-
struction will be com-
pleted next summer at h
cost of $744,243.
The administration
committee of Goderich
town • council, yesterday
recommended to council,
salary increases for the
mayor and councillors.
Mayor Harry Worsel,
chairman David Gower,
and councillor Eileen
Palmer, proposed an
increase of $1,000 per
councillor to $2,500 and a
$2,000 increase for the
mayor to $5,000.
Harvey M. John3ton
will run against Stan
Profit for Reeve ' of
Goderich in the
December 2 election.
I)on McKee and . John
West. brook are
challenging one another
for the job of school
tr•I;;tee for Goderich and
Colborne Townships to
the Huron County Board
of Education.
Harry Bosnell has
decided to stand in op-
position to Deb Shewfelt
for the mayoralty of
Goderich.
Mayor Harry Worsell is
running for the position of
PUC commissioner in
Goderich.
"Nothing but good can come of it."
The United Church Observer had an
editorial too, on the same subject. That
editorial pointed out: "But as a nation,
our life is a pretty poor advertisement
for the Christian faith. Not to mention
an embarrassment to Canadian
missionaries trying to explain to so-
called heathen how come in a Christian
country people waste food and energy,
beat up their babies and abandon their
old folk."
Then last week, The Mitchell
Advocate carried a letter to the editor
from a Stratford man, John Davies.
That letter disputed the Observer
viewpoint. It pointed out that maybe a
"declining church is setting people free
to be more Christian and to do a far
"secularists who live for pleasure -an -d- —better jol55 in their society".
self-interest". And their members are The letter went on: "Fewer people
growing, the editorial claimed. today live in terror of hell, or base their
"The results of these studies ought -to bekfaviour on the promise of pie in the
make church workers get serious aboutskyby and by. Broader education has
evangelism," the Delhi editor wrote. resulte, d i n a growing religi-ous
"It is hoped Delhi churches will band maturity, and has rid us of much that
together and make the suggested was non-Chri$tian and superstitious.
canvass," the editorial concluded. This has liber ted people from the kind
of fear from which we were once taught
only the church could set us• free.
People are once more in a kind of Eden
where they themelves must make
moral decisions and accept the con-
sequences of them."
The letter writer took the position
that things are better today than they
ever were before .... when the church
was a strong influence in the lives of
most everyone.
The writer lists the improvements in
working conditions, the abolition of
slavery, readily available education,
better social servicts, the liberation of
women, universal suffrage, new laws
protecting children from exploitation,
the war on disease and hunger as solid
examples of Canada being more
"Christian".
It's easy to see from all these
fragments of writings about the same
subject that people are in
disagreement.
For someone who accepts without
reservation Biblical and historical
accounts of the life and death of Jesus
Christ, it is difficult to imagine how
others can miss the point so completely
when it comes to Christianity.
By the same token, folks who think of
Christianity as a kind of socially and
morally acceptable lifestyle, 'desirable
for comfortable existence on this earth
but having no real substance or truth as
regards to immortality, can com-
prehend little of what disciples of
Christ believe.
The Delhi editorial was courageous
in the face of'the odds - two to one
against "any functional relation to God
in the traditional sense".
Here in Goderich there are some
equally ,courageous acts - people
reaching out people in an attempt to
reacquaint them with this relationship
to God and His church.
But just for the record, let's point out
that Christianity is tied to Jesus Christ
and His teachings. Not all whd profess
God also profess Christ. Let's be
certain we're all talking about the
same thing when we discuss
Christianitv. s n
4