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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-11-14, Page 4THS ADA•flCETi Published at Wingham, Ontario, 'P.O. Box 390 - NOG 2W0 by Wenger Bros. Limited Robert O. Wenger, Sec.-Treas. Audrey Currie, Advertising Manager Barry Wenger, President Henry Hess, Editor A page of editorial opinion November 14 Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member—Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Subscriptions 520.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc. Six months $11.50 Return postage guaranteed fringing home the facts Those among us who pay any at- tention to world news have been aware for a long time that living conditions In vast areas of Africa were grim —to say the least. However, full, personal re- alization of actual conditions in that continent had to await live television coverage of the famine areas, particu- larly as they exist in Ethiopia. There human beings, adults, children and old people are actually dying by thousands every day. Joe Clark, Canada's former prime minister and a man of evident compas- sion, visited Ethiopia on his way back from the funeral of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in India. His plea to the Canadian people when he reached this country was for immediate and un- limited aid to the starving people of Africa. He was obviously shocked and horrified to see at first hand the intol- erable suffering by which he was sur- rounded in Ethiopia. Starvation is not all that new to Africans in the central and northern regions of that continent. Several years ago news stories began filtering out of ®r✓ 114)0/1IN6TCn/AND / /t O V ARA' Adgatf '7L7 NODEe /VIZa p /OTZ/A/E LEj y HOPE TN YL/PTATE THE PNO/VEBOOK Chad, where drought had prevented the growth of food crops for several years. It was the beginning of the starvation pattern which has since spread to great areas of Africa. In Canada, where food Is so plenti- ful that we permit marketing boards to set production limits for our• farmers, we would be shocked to learn that even 10 of our countrymen had starved to death. We must respond to the desper- ate situation in Africa with total gener- osity, in deep gratitude that we have been so richly blessed, Admittedly, local governments of the newly -freed nations in Africa often fail to make sure food supplies from abroad reach those who need them. Thus the task of the supplier nations must include close supervision of de- liveries, including, where necessary, the transport required In the stricken areas. If we are smart enough to put satellites into space, surely the logis- tics required to feed some of the starv- ing should not lie beyond our capabil- ities. Finest gesture is missing Prime Minister Brian Mulroney knows how to make the impressive gesture. Note that he generously de- cided to cut $6,000 per year from his salary in order to reassure the Can- adian people that he is prepared to make personal sacrifices along with the rest of us. You will note, however, that nothing was said about foregoing the usual costs for redecorating the prime minister's residence at 24 Sussex Drive. We don't know how much that little exercise will cost this time, but in other recent tenant changes refurbish- ing the official residence has cost. the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, infect over $500,000 since 1976. Nor is the Sussex Drive residence the only place where costly changes are deemed necessary, Stornoway, of- ficial residence of the leader of the Op- position, must also be renovated before a new mistress moves in. Both Mrs. Mulroney and Mrs. Turner could have scored points for their husbands had they been willing to concede that they could live with decors chosen by their predecessors. Surely the bare fact that these families are provided with reit-and mainte- nance -free homes should be adequate. If new drapes and wallpaper are all that necessary, one would think their husbands salaries should be adequate to cover those costs. Misuse of telephones A recent Canadian Press story in the daily newspapers covered the case of a woman who tried to phone for help when her 2 -Year-old son was in danger of choking to death. Reason: She had, a few moments before, answered her phone, only to find that she was on the receiving end of a recorded advertising message which could not be interrupt- ed until its three-minute duration was completed. Automated devices to carry such messages are now available in both Canada and the United States. The more expensive ones can be pro- grammed to have the message termin- ated if the person receiving the call hangs up, but the cheaper machines simply cannot be stopped. The fact that you may have an un- listed number provides no protection. The machines are usually designed to place calls in a given sequence - every fourth, or tenth or twentieth number without regard to your name or oc- cupation. if such a machine happened to call your fire department at the wrong time, you would have to wait three minutes to report that your house was on fire. Users of the machines protest that government regulation is not the an- swer. Too much regulation already, they say. However, several states in the USA have set such regulations. In California users of the machines must inform people of the nature of the call before the taped message is started. Connecticut law demands that machine users must hang up when the person receiving the call does. In Michigan machine users are prohibited from soliciting business. In this country the Canadian Radio -Telecommunications Commis- sion is pondering the problem and hopes to have a decision within the next few weeks. It's all a bit reminiscent.of the old party line, which the mouthy neighbor down the road could monopolize for hours on ,end. But in those days you could scream at the gabber to get off the line when you had an emergency. Screaming won't do a darn thing to a tape recording. Signs of the times The speech from the throne on Tuesday and the pre -budget address by Finance Minister Michael Wilson on Thursday gave some definite indica- tions of the path the Mulroney govern- ment intends to follow in coming months. Obviously the intention is to get government out of business by selling, or at least allowing private investment in such money-losing giants as Can- adair, de Havilland and possibly Petro - Canada. These are moves which will be welcomed by the business community as will simplification of Canadian tax laws and a less accusatory stance by our federal tax collectors. Observers close to the scene in Ot- tawa range from those who are taking a "wait and-see''-ettrttale to others who are carefully optimistic about an im- proved relationship between the gov- ernors and the governed. If you don't like surprises pay at- tention to the muted warnings that the next year may see an end to universal old age pensions and the baby bonus. Mulroney has spoken several times about the needless payments of assist- ance to families and individuals who don't need help. He would prefer to in- crease aid to those in real need and cut off those who have adequate incomes of their own. True, he spoke of the concept of universality as if it was the holy grail during his election campaign, but it ap- pears likely that politicians can and do change their minds. However close we sometimes seem to the dark and final abyss, let no man of peace and freedom despair. For he does not stand alone. If we all can per- severe, if we can in every land and office look beyond our own shores and ambitions, then surely the age will dawn in which the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace pre- served.-=-John,F. Kennedy aim 11 Horrified at articles, editorials about hospital Dear Editor,. It is with horror that I have read with each passing week articles, editorials and letters to the editor which are implicating that our hos- pital is being badly run. The facts, which have either been glossed over or ignored by the people writing these items are as follows: A) The hospital is staffed by a dedicated group of professionals wishing to provide the best care possible to the members of the community. B) The physical facilities in out-patients, emergency and X-ray are seriously inadequate, and we desperately need our new additibn, both for fixing the short-term problems and for insuring the long-term role of the hospital in the area. C) The vote at the June annual meeting was not, as some articles have said, in favor of opening board meetings, but in favor of the board reviewing the reasons behind their decision not to. allow the general public into the board meetings. As one who voted in favor of this motion,' I would have not voted the same way had the motion been worded that the board definitely open the meetings. D) In our democratic society, we hold elections, These elected individuals, whether they be members of Parliament, members of the school board or members of thehospital board, are elected to run the country or facility to the best of their ability until another election is held. If they do not do a good job then they are voted out. The federal cabinet is responsible to the com- munity and for the com- munity, even more so than the hospital board. The public is not allowed into their meetings. Even the press is not allowed into their 'meetings. Why should democracy work any dif- ferently in Wingham? E) Finally the whole thing boils down to com- munication. The people writing the articles in the paper recently feel that there is a lack of com- munication between the board and the community. This is why the board invites the press to attend the meetings. The public deserves the right to know policies, decisions and the reasons behind those decisions. It is up to the press to print this information. However, the hospital also has the right to have the news printed in a more positive manner. Constant criticism and bad press would make anyone nervous. No wonder the board are having more and more closed -door sessions. The members of the board are elected members of the community, doing the best job that they know how. If they feel that they cannot do that job when everything they do is criticized in front of the whole town, then I don't blame them for asking the press to leave. So who are the losers in this ongoing battle? The people of Wingham! They need the hospital and the hospital needs their support. We need our new emergency wing. Let us get behind the hospital and support it now more than ever. Then, next June, if you have any new or improved ideas about running hospitals, come to the annual meeting and do something about it, the dernocratic way. Jennifer Cummings Director of Physiotherapy Wingham & Dist. Hospital Editor's note: While it is our general policy to print letters to the editor, however critical, without comment, the writer raises several points which require clarification. First, if the public indeed deserves "the right to know policies, decisions and the reasons behind those decisions" and "it is up to the press to print this in- formation", how is that to be accomplished if neither press nor public are per- mitted access to the in- formation? Second, how does one go about balancing the public's "right to know" against the hospital's "right to have the news printed in a more positive manner"? In the event that the public has a right to know something which the hospital board or administration deems to be Dissent can damage a most worthy cause Dear Editor, For more than 75 years, the Wingham and District Hospital, staffed with competent and dedicated people, has ministered to the health care needs of the community. The current fund-raising campaign provides each of us with an opportunity of ensuring, through our financial support, that such service will be enabled to meet the changing delivery demands of health care in the 1980s and beyond. It is regrettable that or- chestrated howis of protest against the actions and decisions of incumbent members of the hospital board of governors and administration are being echoed through the columns of The Wingham Advance Times. An apparent and ongoing "power struggle" of sorts is currently' manifesting itself in the issue of open board meetings. Dissent, when channelled constructively, can be a very positive force. However the nature and timing of this latest vociferous outburst cannot but be damaging to a most worthy and deserving cause. "Service Above Self" is the motto of the Wingham and District Hospital. Perhaps it could also be interpreted as "Service Above Self -Interest"? It is my sincere hope that those who so readily, put their pens to letters of criticism will likewise put their signatures on substantial cheques of support for the hospital. After all, the Wingham and District Hospital will long serve our community while members of the board of governors, chairmen of the board and administrators come and go! Jack Kopas Wingham Letters voiced opinions of many Dear Editor, Your editorial and the subsequent letters to the editor in last week's paper voiced the opinions of many citizens in our community. I applaud all of you and sincerely thank you for taking the time out of your extremely busy and tfi pressure -filled lives itTast .challenge the many policies set by the hospital board that have been altered, misinter- preted or ignored. I have served many years on several boards and executives in this com- munity. I find it appalling that the Administrator still hasn't given the board or community a report on his trip to Puerto Rico. In all my past experiences, this is done immediately at the next board meeting. This is only one of the many suspicious items that permeates through our community causing a breakdown in trust, support and strength. Mrs. Vair and Mr. Hayes, what has happened over the past two years to bring us to this disgusting and upsetting situation? All concerned citizens should now start asking questions. Talk to your board members — ask them what has been going on at meetinge. The more questions I ask, the worse the situation appears. Our support now can help save our hospital's future. Dianne Simpson Wingham Thanks to all who remembered Dear Editor, We would like to thank all the members and friends of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 180 who turned out Saturday night to make the Remembrance Dinner and Dance such a success. A special note of thanks to Wingham's last two sur- viving World War I veterans, Mr. J. Jurrie MM MSM and Mr. G. Anger, who attended looking very spry for their. years (they sure don'tmake many like 'em). On Sunday, in spite of foul weather, the Remembrance Day parade and service held at the Anglican church was a "packed house". The service at 2:00 p.m. at Branch 180 was well attended by the Air Cadets, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies, Guides, schools, clubs and organizations of Wingham and area. Thank you to all the people who gave a little of their time to remember those who gave their all. negative, which right should take priority? Third, references to "constant criticism and bad press" and to "everything they do is criticized in front of the whole town" need to be substantiated. It is easy to make vague charges of this sort; it is another thing to back them up. If the writer indeed has evidence that there has been consistently biased or inaccurate reporting, it is her duty to make it public. We are convinced that an impartial review of the printed record will show that this newspaper has over the years taken a very uncritical and supportive approach to the hospital and that this continues to be its stance. However to deliberately avoid reporting on both sides of an issue or to ignore disputes and AlifferenceS of opinion which arise within or around the board would be to fail in its duty to both the hospital and the community. In any case, if someone is convinced there is "bad press" — which we take to mean inaccurate reporting and not simply the reporting of things they would rather not read — there are several avenues open, any of which would be more constructive than retreating behind closed doors. They could raise the matter with the newspaper itself, citing specific facts, or they could take it to the Ontario Press Council, of which this news- paper is a member. So far, neither has been attempted. v New Books in the Library Steve Trapp PRO, Branch 180 Wingham Girls' team appreciates support Dear Editor, On behalf of the Wingham Girls' Bantam Baseball Team, a big thank -you to Harley Gaunt for leaving a World Series baseball game on TV to arrange for a ride on the fire truck. It made our victory complete. Thanks also to Mr. Crothers for permission for the ride and to B. Gaunt, L. Hickey, S. Montgomery and .B. Chambers for leaving whatever,they were doing to make the ride possible. To two coaches, Dave Loughran and Arnold Taylor: you stuck with us through the season and when things looked bleak you had faith in us. Good coaching and advice have made us the champs! This win is yours too. To all the parents who have cheered -us on and supplied us with rides to the games, our thanks to you. Debbie Henry on behalf of Wingham Bantam Girls Season Champs, 1984 OPIUM by Tony Cohan For generations the Lin family of Hong Kong has held a huge share of the opium trade. Suddenly on the eve of the Vietnam War, this empire is threatened by new competition from the European syndicates and madness, murder and defection occur within the family. SINCE DAISY CREEK by W. O. Mitchell This is a philosophical exploration of corruption and morality, a satirization of university life, a complex reflection on the two-way street between learning and teaching. It is yet another demonstration of Mitchell's priceless, irreverent humor and lively dialogue. JESUS, THE EVIDENCE by ian Wilson This book offers a fascinating, new perspective of the facts surrounding the origin of Christianity. it reconstructs the Jesus of history using all available circumstantial evidence. Written by the same author as The Turin Shroud it gives Christians and sceptics food for thought. Don't waste money on trivia Dear Editor, What do you think of this (N.B. see Editor's note)? My donation was meant to be used to build the new,wing to the hospital. I object to that money being wasted on these unnecessary things, and furthermore, when I want to join the corporation I'll pay the dues myself. And as to the other trivia, I do NOT want them. What think you? If this is done for all donors, the sum would be considerable. We donors are not of the ilk who have to have props to our egos. I feel insulted. M. Mac Ritchie Wingham Editor's note: Enclosed was a letter which the writer had received from the t.ha rman of the hospital bard thanking her for her donation and informing her that she is now a life rnem, er of the hospital corporation and entitled to vote at the annual meeting. The letter also explained that she will receive a life membership certificate suitable for framing as well as a wallet -sized card, and is entitled to request a second life membership for a person of her choice. PRESS COUNCIL The Advance -Times is a member of the Ontario Press Council which will consider written com- plaints about the publica- tion of news, opinions and advertising. If a com- plaint can't be resolved with the newspaper, it should be sent to the On- tario Press Council, 151 Slater St., Suite 708, Ot- tavia, Ont. KIP 5H3