HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-12-27, Page 4PAGE 4
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1979
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This is the end of the line folks,
It is almost time to put the wraps on
the 70s and begin a new decade.
For myself, the new decade comes
about with a bit of trepidation. You see
I just can't help but think I am growing
old.
It seems that the memory of 1970 is
still fresh and I can still vaguely recall
the transition into the 60s. I was just out
of diapers of course.
In retrospect, the 70s was a decade of
great achievement for man. Taking
into account the appearance of Egg
McMuffins, Guy Lafleur lunchpails,
seamless underwear, electronic games
and Joe Clark one would have to admit
that great strides have been made.
There have also been some
memorable moments in the life of this
humble correspondent during the
decade.
For three years this diligent scribe
was preparing for the cruel world in a
three-year beverage ap-
t
Goderich
SIGNAL-E3TAR
The County Town Newspaper of Huron
Founded In 1840 and published every Thursday of Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CCNA
and OWNA. Advertising rotes on request. Subscriptions payable In advance '16.00 in
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rates available on request. Please ask for Rate Card No, 9 effective Sept. 1, 1979. Second
doss mail Registration Number 0716. Advertising 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 be paid for at the applicable rate, In the event of o
typographical error advertising goods or services at o wrong price, goods or service may
not be sold. Advertising Is merely on offer to sell, and may be withdrawn at any time. The
Signal -Star is not responsible for the loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts orphotos.
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
DONALD M. HUBICK advertising.manager
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
Second class mail registration number — 0716
Good guy calls it quits
A good many people in this community were truly
surprised last week when R.E.McKinley announced
he would not be seeking re-election in February as
member of parliament for the Huron -Bruce riding.
McKinley has served faithfully the voters of this_
area for 14 years. He says he's tired and wants
someone else to have a go at the job.
That isn't difficult to understand. Few people
realize the kind of dedication to duty that is
demanded of federal politicians these days. It ,is a
big country and a big world. It is all very accessible
of course, but it's a tiring life, a demanding life, a
self-sacrificing life.
It is also possible there is more to McKinley's
deicison than what he has told the media. He may
be disappointed in the leadership Prime Minister
Joe Clark. He may be disgruntled he wasn't con-
sidered for a cabinet post in the Clark government.
McKinley might well have hoped that being a senior
elected memberof the party, he would have been a
natural selection for an important job.
Still one cannot discount the fact that McKinley
may be weary of politics. The thought of a winter
campaign so soon after his last one, could very well
Be a millionaire
It is always intriguing to speculate "what if" and
some of the most interesting speculation of that sort
surrounds money.
For instance, if a person at age 25 saved $60 per
week in a retirement plan earning interest at nine
percent per annum, by' retirement age 65 that
person wuld have $1,100,000. This will provide that
person with an annual income of about $100,000 for
the rest of his life :.'which could be another 20 years
or more. Sounds great doesn't it?
Maybe you are past the age of 25 .... or are age 25
and can't afford $60 a week in savings. What to do?
Well, look at it this way. If you saved $60 per week
for 25 years at 9 percent compounded, you would
have $276,969 on retirement age 65, which isn't a
bad nest egg either.
The place to save this kind of .money, of course, is
in a tax-free Registered Retirement Savings Plan
(RRSP). This actually reduces the out-of-pocket
cost of saving by the amount of income tax you'`
would have paid on the money you saved.
Sound complicated? Here's how it works. If you
are in a 35 percent tax bracket, for Instance, each
$1,000 saved costs you only $650, dr $13 per week.
One chartered accountant has figured out that if a
young married couple, both working, saved $1,000
per. annum through a tax-free Registered Home
Ownership Plan (RHOSP) and' a further $600 per
I guess this would be the appropriate
time to do a little New Year thinking.
Not only can people set New Year's
resolutions at the end of the month they
can set New Decade resolutions.
A tall order.
Just think of it. If you plan tolshed a
few pounds early in 1980 to have that
bathing suit do something for you next
summer you can now go beyond that.
You can vow to be the envy of the beach
for the next ten years.
What that basically means is that
instead of having a severe guilt com-
plex for a few months you can now have
one for a few years. '
before you scoff at the notion'give it
some thought. The guilt complex is
something everyone who sets a New
Year's resolution`,,suffers from sooner
or later.
The spirit of the28ig evening, grabs
you and before you can come to your
senses your telling everyone what you
plan to do in 1980. People that know you
well scorn your plans because [they
preciation...excuse m,ee journalism
program at Conestoga College.
The 70s also took me to' the back-
woodsof the earth, Goderich, for the
first time. During my second year at
college I was hastily dispatched to
Goderich to work on the Young Canada
Week Daily News covering a peewee
hockey tournament.
That was five years ago and as an
eager, young reporter I interviewed a'
shy and reserved 13 -year old hockey
phenom by the name of Wayne Gret-
zky.
That skinny little hockey player, five
years later, is a millionaire. And I am
still a skinny little reporter in
Goderich. Somewhere, something went
wrong but I can't put my finger on it.
But. I had made a career selection
and although I vowed that Goderich
was a brief starting point it soon
became home.
The 70s also brought us a women's
liberation movement in which the fair
sex traded in short hemlines for equal
opportunity.
Women burned their bras and threw
an extra yard of material on their
mdini-skirts in a strong lobby for a fair
shake.
Men may have been startled by the
feminist thrust but all they asked for in
return was that the ladies respect them
in the morning. We just, wanted to
preserve some dignity.
While -women shaped their destiny in
the 70s the world produced such great
men as Richard Nixon, Idi Amin an'.
Ayatollah Khomeini as well as other
who did much to foster peaceful
relations among nations of the world.
The 70s brought us record inflation
and demands for salaries to keep an
even pace. Our house prices doubled
and our spending power decreased
every time we went out for groceries.
We complained bitterly about our
plight and our country was among the
world leaders in strikes and work
ere-„,,aq We wanted more.
The 70s brought us. wars in many
parts of the world. Africa, the Middle
East, Vietnam and Cambodia and
countless revolutions in countries we
really cared little about.
The 70s brought us boat people.
Destitute people looking for a place to
call home. We took some in.
The 70s started with gasoline selling
for 50 cents a gallon, letters required a
six ;cent stamp and houses were going
for $30,000. But those are now just fond
memories.
Average earnings went from $132 in
1970 to $285 in 1978.
Faam�ilies were increased but were
smatItr in number. Suicides were up
and the divorce rate increased in
record numbers. Canadians were
drinking more and crime had sub-
stantially increased.
The 70s brought us increases in
nearly everything. It was an up decade.
We don't really need,another one like
it.
have been just enough tcsl'make him decide to call it
quits.
There will be mixed feelings in the riding about
McKinley's decision. The Liberals and the New
Democrats. will see ,it as -a time to capitalize
. opportunity. Some Progressive Con-
servatives will be eager to get on with the business
of selecting a younger, perhaps more aggressive
member. Rumor has it that not all PCs in Huron -
Bruce were happy with McKinley's efforts. That
isn't surprising either.
But by far the largest number.,of voters in the
riding will be sorry to see the end of the McKinley
years. He was a friendly kind of MP, a dependable
man. He was always out front when it was expected -
of him, seldom controversial, and never far from
the grassroots folk.
As the voters say 'thanks' to McKinley and to his
wife Audrey and to his family, they will be hoping
the next . member ,of federal polictics in hluron-
Bruce will enjoy the same rapport with the people
as did R.E.McKinley. He wasn't a ..dynamite per-
former in the House of -Commons, but to the
average Canadians in Huron he was a good guy who
represented them well wh,ere it counted.- SJK
wan—
unexpected
Tragic. funny
year in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan,, it
would cost each of them $30 per week out of salary
before tax savings.
Then, assuming that they are both in a 35 percent
tax bracket, each will receive an additional tax
rebate of about $560 and this, in turn, will allow
each to raise their RRSP contributions to $1,000 per
year after the first year.
After five years, each spouse will have about
$6,500 in an RHOSP, for a total of $13,000 for use ,as
partial downpayment on a house.
At this stage, mortgage payments might make it
hard for the couple to save $60 per week between
them. One spouse might even stop working for a
while to have a family.
But banking on increased earnings, the RRSP
contributions should continue ,at at least $40 per
week, which actually will cost only $26 because of
the tax break.
By age 65, the couple will have about $590,000 in
RRSP - and this does not include other savings and
investments and the appreciated value of their
property.
This should bring them an income of around
$56,000 per year on retirement.
It's not a million, but is should be enough to
provide a base for a secure, worryfree old age.
Think about it. - SJK
doubt you will live up to them. Instead
of backing away from your predictions
you make a special effort to convince
your friends you intend to go through
with them.
It goes like this.
"In 1980 I'm going to quit smoking,
lose 20 pounds and take up jogging to
get in shape." '
"Yah sure," say your friends.
"You've quit smoking 17 times now, the
last time you vowed to lose 20 pounds
you lost three before putting on five and
your idea of jogging is dashing to the
refrigerator to grab a snack during a
television commercial."
"Okay I'll show you. When the clock
strikes 12 the smokes go in the garbage
and tomorrow morning I'll be knocking
at your door with my jogging suit on."
Then the clock strikes 12. After all
the commotion and k'ssing and
hugging celebrating the a rival of the
New Year you sit down an light up. As
you do you grab your drink and stuff
some potato chips injyour nouth.
Dear Editor,
If it were not so tragic,
it would be amusing.
In your edition of
December 13, on page 9A,
an article appeared:
"Get back to the Bible”
which concluded: "Back
to the Bible could ac-
tually be the summons- to
advance and a step in the
recovery of our spiritual
resources and energy",
an acknowledgement of.,
the church's lack of
spirituality, in these
critical times when
Christians need to have a
Be careful
If you are getting ready for a night out this New
Year's Eve, please remember to be careful. A bit of
the grape may make the evening seem like more
fun, but too much of it can take all the enjoyment
out of it for everyone.
Don't take any chances with your life ... or the life
of others. If you drive, don't drink. If you drink, call
a cab to get you home .... or stay where you are.
Enjoy 1980 - all in one piece and with your loved
ones. - SJK
SEAR EDITOR
sincere desire to please
God and do His will.
Then, on page 8A the
article: "Church scholars
explain gifts for- Christ"
states: "They were the
first Christmas gifts of
'all." and "The Wise Men
were also believed to
have had occult powers."
Matthew, chapter two,
tells us that the •"wise
men" were led by the -
"star" to King Herod at
Jerusalem nearly two
years after the birth of
the babe Jesus; that
when they did find him he
was "a young child" in`a
house with his mother
Mary. Since wicked King
Herod subsequently
schemed to kill Jesus by
having 'all the boy
children in Bethlehem
"from two years old and
under, according to the
time which he had
diligently enquired of the
wise men", how could
any reasonable person
believe that ° Almighty
God had anything to do
with the 'star' seen by the
"wise men"?
Furthermore, to
protect the Israelites
from being, deceived and.
harmed by wicled
spirits, Jehovah made the.
practice of divination
(occultism) an offense
worthy of death. The
Bible says at Exodus
22:18: "Thou shalt not
suffer a witch• (one with
occult pows) to live."
By really getting back
to the Bible: - The ac-
count at Luke, chapter
two, verses five to 12 tells
us that, "Ye shall find the
babe wrapped in swad-
dling clothes, lying in a
manger." The 'shepherds,
following the directions of
Jeho'vah's angel, "came
with haste, and found
Mary, and Joseph, and
the babe lying in a
manger.", (v.16). But no
mention whatever of any
"Christmas gifts"!
These facts may help
some sincere persons to
appreciate why many
persons who have a great
love for Christ and for
what He taught along
with a sincere desire to
get back to the Bible have
stopped celebrating
Christmas as a religious
holiday.
Sincerely,
C.F. Barney
75 YEARS AGO
The Lake Huron and
Manitoba Mil:li-ng
Company (Limited) of
Goderich contemplate
enlarging their plant on
May 1, 1905 to 1,500
barrels of flour daily. A
modern chopping plant
will also be installed.
A special meeting of
the Public Library Board
was held on Monday to
accept a tender for
putting in the, electric
lamps, chandeliers, etc.
at the Carneigie Library.
C.J. Harper was given
the job.
In most instances,
Contractors for out-of-
door work cease
operations when the first
fall of snow comes but
C.P.R. contractors Pigott
and Company have a
It's then that your good buddies start
to ridicule you and force you to either
put up or shut up. Somebody reminds
you that the smoke should be in the
garbage instead of your mouth.
Someone else notes the chips your
happily munching on and a third
suggests that instead of getting up
early to jog you can trot home beside
the car as your wife drives.
"I was only kidding when I said 12
o'clock. Tomorrow morning I'm going
to start. You come on over tomorrow
and watch the football game at my
place and I'll show you."
Later in 1980 after you have tuned in
the football game, laid out some tasty
snacks and puffed up the cushions to
catch the ball game your big mouth
brings you more misfortune.
You're stretched out in your easy
chair an arm's length from the snack
tray, the ash tray and a package of 25.
"Por a man about to tune his body
into Olympic condition you look like a
slob," points out one of your friends.
LOOKING BACK
good number of men
working on their contract
in Colborne, near Elmira
and at other points along
their 40 miles of work.
The 18th annual
Meeting of the Dominion
Dra'iight Horse Breeders'
Society was held in the
town council chambers in
Clinton on' Wednesday
last.
25 YEARS AGO
With the foundation
poured, workmen are
preparing and erecting
forms for the' first storey
of the new Huron County -
Court House and County
Building he built in
Goderich. The new
building, slated • to cost
over $700,000, will replace
one destroyed by fire last
February. According to
A.H. Erskine, County manager here for the forward at last Thur -
Clerk -Treasurer, 'five past 10 years, who is sday's meeting of
carloads of cement have retiring. Goderich Town Council,
already' been used in the Huron County's newest the final meeting for 1974.
construction of the and most modern bridge About 40 of Goderich's
building. , over the Mait1'and River senior citizens were
A stone building at the at Auburn is slated to be treated to a tour of the
harbor more . than 100 opened officially today. town to view the
years old, known in the Christmas decorations by
early days as Seymour's 5YEARS AGO the Kinsmen Club
Warehouse but later as Tuesday evening.
the cooperage shop of the Gail Louzon of The arena sub -
"Big Mill", is slated to be Goderich has won $1,000 committee of Goderich
torn down soon. in the Coca-Cola Com- Recreation and Com -
Just back from war- pany of Canada's "What munity Centre Board has
torn Korea, a Goderich You're Hoping to Find" recommended fees to be
man, Lieutenant Donald contest. • charged to the Kinsmen
Thompson, was Jiappy to Mrs. Sharon Scruton, a Club which plans to open
he home for Christmas resident of 169 Bayfield a bar at hockey games
with his wife and parents. Road,. has expressed her this season.
Mr. F.A. Waters concern for. the proposed Ontario had a huge
arrived from Sault Ste. plans to widen Bayfield surplus of eggs for
Marie on Tuesday to Road and the safety of several weeks but now its
assume his new post as school children crossing seems there is a shortage
manager of the Canadian that road. She put her of eggs, according to
Bank of Commerce. He concerns. in the form of a Huron M.P.P. Jack
replaces W.A. Hay, letter which was brought Riddell.
"And you certainly don't look like a
man about to quit smoking," quips
another.
You have a few seconds 'to make a
major decision. You can go back on all
your New Year's resolutions and
humbly accept the riduculing" from
your friends or you can thumb your
nose at them and push the cigarettes
and snacks away.
Preferring ridicule to torture the
average person will accept the former
and beg his friends to get off his case.
That's like asking Revenue Canada
to exempt you from paying income tax.
"Not only are you a fat, lazy slob
hooked on nicotine but you've got a big
mouth," one of your friends will
probably say.
But their. true friendship wilj shine.
Rather than humilirate you they'll help
you. They will make you a little bet.
You quit smoking for a year and they'll
each give you $20. But if you don't you
give:them $20.
You'd be advised to tell them you've
decided on a different New Year's
resolution. You're going to keep your
big mouth shut.
It's cheaper.
jeff'
Seddon
-7
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