HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-06-06, Page 4June 6, 1984
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Published et Whisks% Ontario. PeGeB390 • NO(. :1W0
b %neer Woe LionitiO
Bane Wenger. President
Hato Hese Editor
•
Robert 0. Wenger. See. Treas.
Audre% Currie. Athertising. Manager
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Member — ( nadian Communit Nespaper Assoc. Ontario( ommunit Newspaper Assoc.
Subscriptions S20.00 per year
Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821
Six months S11.50
Return postage guaranteed
No need for kick -backs
It is time members of the Huron
County Council took a closer look at
policies permitting the county clerk -
treasurer and his deputy to pocket
"finger's fees" for investing money
from the estates of residents at Huron -
view, the county home for the aged.
The practice, which last year
earned each man a tidy $4,000, Is not il-
legal, and it appears to have been con-
doned by a succession of county coun-
cillors for at least the past dozen years.
That does not, however, make it any
less dubiods or distasteful.
For a start, by what right do county
employees merit a finder's fee for in-
vesting money to which they have ac-
cess purely by virtue of their positions?
It is not as though they had to go out
and drum up the business or people
came begging them to handle their
money. Huronview residents are re-
quired to place their assets In a trust
fund when they enter the home and the
proceeds from that fund are used to
help pay for their stay. The investing of
monies in the fund Is clearly the re-
sponsibility of the county, a duty to be
assigned to whichever of its employees
it considers best able to handle the lob.
A second problem with such an ar-
rangement is its Obvious potential for
conflict of interest between what is best
for the investing agent and what is best
for the owner of the money. Suppose,
for example, the agent were presented
with a choice between two investments,
one of which offered a higher rate of in-
terest while the other offered a prem-
ium on his commission. Which would
he choose? Or suppose• a financial in-
stitution, on shaky ground, offered a
handsome inducement to attract in-
vestments and later went belly -up? It
has happened.
County Cou ci is not fulfilling its
trust to Huronvie residents or to
Th long, long
Forty years ago today the greatest
military action in the history of the
world took place. Thousands upon
thousands of Allied soldiers splashed
into the cold sea water and started
their long, deadly walk to the beaches
of Normandy. Although the eventual
success of that operation freed the con-
tinent of Europe from slavery and op-
pression, many of the young men, with
Canadians in the lead, would remem-
ber in later years the waiting in train-
ing camps for the landing orders which
all knew must come sooner or later.
For men who have been trained to
a superb state of readiness for battle,
the wait for action becomes almost in-
tolerable. They have been readied
physically and mentally for what they
know may be their last day on earth
and the need for action is with them
day and night.
The soldiers, sailors and airmen
were not the only ones who waited.
Wives and mothers, sons and daugh-
ters, brothers and sisters at home were
equally aware that Fortress Europe
must be stormed and that their loved
Huron County ratepayers, who must
pick up the tab for any shortfalls, by
permitting such a situation to exist.
And by extending the practice to in-
clude the investment of county reserve
funds, it is simply aggravating the
problem.
Suggesting this arrangement saves
money by quoting exorbitant fees trust
companies would charge to administer
the fund is nothing but a red herring.
Other public employees also are en-
trusted with investing money on behalf
of their employers, and they manage to
do it without demanding a kickback. At
Wingham and District Hospital, for ex-
ample, the treasurer is responsible f
regularly investing substantial sums
from the hospital's various accounts.
This is accepted as part of his duties
and the question of a commission has
not been raised.
Certainly, at salaries of $e6,000 and
$39,000 respectively, the county clerk
and deputy can scarcely claim they
need the commissions to enable them
to eke out a living. They are already
being well paid for their efforts and
should they prefer to resign to make
their living as investment counsellors
there would be no shortage of appli-
cants for the vacancies. In any case, if
they merit additional remuneration for
their work on behalf of Huronview this
should be considered by County Councii
in its salary reviews. Any finder's fees
should, in turn, go directly Into county
coffers.
The practice of accepting kick-
backs, so rife with potential for abuse,
should never have been permitted to
develop. Since it has, it should be halt-
ed immediately. If county councillors
are unable to see anything wrong with
the arrangement, then clearly it is time
to take a closer look at the people we
are sending to manage the county busi-
ness.
wait
ones would be in those fateful lines of
battle.
Millions of bitterly oppressed Eu-
ropeans from Norway to Greece waited
and prayed for the invasion which
would spell the end of Nazi tyranny.
Russian leaders and Soviet troops
waited less patiently for the second
front which would ease the burden of
cruel occupation.
End of the waiting came on June 6,
1944 and it claimed the lives of thou-
sands of young men, despite the fact
that the invasion plans were the most
carefully prepared and executed mili-
tary manoeuvre of all time. The vast
German defenses could not be breach-
ed without tremendous human sacri-
fice.
Though 40 years have passed since
that fateful day, it is well that we recall
what happened then and that the story
of the brave men who saved civilization
should be told to our children and
grandchildren. These young people live
in a free world because an entire gen-
eration offered their lives for those who
were to come after.
Added safety factor
Have you noticed the number of
cars on the highway which are running
with headlights turned on, even in day-
light hours? Safety -conscious drivers
are adopting a practice which has been
proven to save lives and decrease In-
juries in the Scandinavian countries.
Multi -vehicle collisions have been
reduced by as much as 20 per cent in
the countries where daytime lights
have been 'made mandatory. The Can-
adian Transport Department believes
that 200 deaths and 2,500 personal in-
juries might be averted and property
damage reduced by $200 million if the
same regulations were applied here. It
has been suggested that automatic
running lights will be required on all
new cars by 1986. Headlight's on such
vehicles would be turned on atito-
matically during daylight hours.
Well, why not? It doesn't cost one
cent extra to drive with lights on so why
not start right now?
Big mouth — big foot
Some people never learn to think
before they talk. '
Prize blooper the past week came
from Eugene Whelan, Canada's min-
ister of agriculture and a candidate for
the leadership of the Liberal party.
Questioned about why he has
adopted his famous green cowboy hat
as a permanent trademark, Whelan
said It keeps his head warm in the
winter and cool in the summer. Then he
added that the hot summer sun cooks
one's brains. According to this expert
on human behaviour, Africans don't
wear hats and that's why they have
such a low I.Q.
Later he tried to soften the blow by
stating that he really did know the
African sub -level I.Q. is caused by
malnutrition.
Now that's the sort of diplomacy
we really need in a Canadian leader.
The liar's punishment Is not in the
least that he Is not believed, but that he
cannot believe anyone else.
--George Bernard Shaw
TODAY'S CHILD
BY JUDITH ADAMS
Andre is a charming
ten -year-old boy who
endears everyone to
him with his affection-
ate nature. He loves to
talk and has a terrific
sense of humour, so
people just naturally
gravitate to him. Andre
was born with Down's
Syndrome and is devel-
oping at a borderline
rate. He's in good
health but proneto
colds and an occasional
eye infection that
clears up easily with
medication.
Andre is an indepen-
dent fellow who wants
to do things for him-
self. He takes pride in
his appearance, ties his
shoelaces, brushes his
teeth and washes with
very little prompting.
He is in a special class
in the regular school
system and his teacher
Items from Old Files
JUNE 1937
Miss Muriel C. McDonald
has resigned from the High
School staff, having ac-
cepted a , position at
Newmarket High School.
Miss McDonald has been on
the staff of the local school
for five years as teacher of
mathematics.
Gordon Stonehouse of
Belgrave successfully
passed the Faculty of
Medicine (Doctor of
Medicine) examinations at
Western University, London.
Thomas Gilmour was
elected' Worshirital Mater of
Wingham Lodge No. 280'AF
& AM at the annual meeting
held in the Masonic Temple.
His supporting officers in-
clude Fred Fuller, Walter
VanWyck, T. H. Gibson, W.
A. Galbraith and H. L.
Sherbondy.
D. A. Arbuckle, son of Mr.
and Mrs. William Arbuckle,
who has been attending
Osgoode Hall, Toronto,
passed his third year
examinations with honors,
also winning the Clara Brett
Martin Memorial Scholar-
ship.
In a simple ceremony at
BuckinghatiOalaeniNeVIIN.
Chamber became Prime:
MiniSter of Britain. Former
Prime Minister Stanley
Baldwin tendered his
resignation and retired to the
House of Lords.
Mr. and Mrs. George
Doubledee and daughter
Lena have moved into the
town of Wingham from
Concession A, Howick, and
are residing in the Davis
house on Centre Street.
JUNE 1949
George Gammage, son of
Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Gam -
mage, has joined the staff at
the Dominion Bank and
commences his duties on,
June 1, •
Jim Hall, son of Mr. and
Mrs. W. S. Hall, has, been
successful in securing first
. .
THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY of the Allied invasion of France, better known as D -Day, is
being celebrated all over the world today, June 6. George Tervit Jr. of Wingham, first
on the left, participated in that great invasion and is joining other members of the 1 9th
Army Field Regiment this month in Europe at anniversary services commemorating
D -Day.
class honors in his first year
pre -medical at Toronto
University.
The Wingham Fire
Department named Jim
Carr as its chief at the
monthly meeting. Ross Orvis
is Lieutenant, David
Crothers is Captain and
William Bain will serve the
group as secretary.
JUNE 1960
A group representing the
Wingham District High
School won the Dr. B. N.
Corrin Trophy in a Bible quiz
at the Tri -County Youth For
Christ banquet. Members of
the team were Thelma
Dobson, Lois Sinclair,
Laurie Stuckey and Lynn
Stuckey. Miss Stuckey was
also crowned Queen at the
banquet.
Miss Marie Brown of
Fordwich was elected
president of the Huron
Deanery Young People of the
Anglican Church, suc-
ceeding Pat Deyell of
Wingham. Murray Alcock is
vice president, Yvonne
Pollard of Brussels is
secretary and Ted Worm -
worth of Wingham is
treasurer.
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley
Bride have purchased the
home in Fordwich formerly
owned by Mr. and Mrs.
William Davis of Toronto.
JUNE 1970
Beginning June 1, a
province -wide assessment is
being conducted for a new
provincial census. Last week
a training session was held
for Huron County enum-
erators. Attending from
,this area were Mrs. Roger
West and Mrs. George
Thomas who are in charge of
the town of Wingham; and
Mrs. Jack McBurney and E.
E. Walker who will work in
Turnberry Township.
Twenty graduates of the
Wingham and District
Hospital's Training Centre
received their pins and
awards at a ceremony
Friday. Receiving special
awards were Janet Elliott of
RR 2, Bluevale, Robert
Arbuckle of Fergus, Dona
Sprung of Owen Sound and
Janice Wall, Lucknow. Class
valedictorian was Onia
Robbins of Hanover.
Among new teachers hired
by the Huron County Board
of Education are Miss
Brenda Bradley, East
Wawanosh; Miss Donna
Malick and Miss Georgina
Scheurman, Howick Cen-
tral; Dale Matthies, Turn -
berry and East Wawanosh
principal relief; Miss Anne
Meyer, Turnberry Central;
Richard Orr and Miss Anna-
belle Ritchie of Brook-
side; David Perrle, 'Brook-
side; Miss Jane Robinson,
Wingham Public School;
and Miss Sheila France,
Blyth Public School.
Alex Corrigan of RR 1,
Bluevale, has been re-
elected president of Royal
Canadian Legion Branch 180.
Vice presidents are George
Tervit and Bert Morin.
Mr. and Mrs. Doug Layton
moved into the Crewson
LLOYD ELLIOTT of Wingham Is shown, far right, second row, In this 1944 snapshot
with Some of his army friends around the time of Allied Invasion of France, or D -Day.
People all over the world are celebrating the 40th anniversary of 0 -Day today, June
6, including some local veterans, ilke Mr. Elliott, who have traveled back to where it
all happened on the beaches of Normandy in France. Also shown in the photo are Art
and George McClure of Blyth, third and fifth 1n -the second row.
home on Angus Street on
Monday.
Whose
satellites?
Dear Editor,
I would like to know to
whom the satellites with
which we are surrounded
belong, and their purpose.
My husband and I have been
watching them for the past
six months. Have also talked
to other people who watch
them. Maybe our MP for the
district could enlighten us.
Thank you.
Mrs. George Taylor,
RR 1, Wingham
is pleased with his
efforts, for he has
shown a lot of improve-
ment this year. He
answers questions well
in class and uses com-
plete sentences. His
speech is developing
nicely but is still not
always clear enough.
He is acquiring a much
larger vocabulary.
A father to joke with
and at least one older
child to be his "buddy"
would seem to be a
must for Andre in his
new adopting home,
since he has benefited
so much from these
relationships in foster
care. His foster family
are skilled in preparing
children for adoption
and will help, Andre get
used to the big transi-
tion. He's a lovable,
easy going person. He
needs an adopting fam-
ily who will truly
appreciate him and
help him reach his
potential through the
use of all necessary
community resources.
To inquire about
adopting Andre; please
write to Today's Child,
Ministry of Community
& Social Services, Box
888, Station K, Toronto.
Describe your present
family and way of life,
and your experience
with children.
Bicentennial tie-in for
Junior Citizen program
Ontario's Junior Citizen of
the Year program takes on a
Bicentennial flavor this year
with the addition of airline
tickets and Bicentennial
books to the list of awards.
Up to 24 of the 1984 nomin-
ees will receive an airline
ticket good for any Canadian
destination, courtesy of the
program's patron, CP Air.
The awards program, now
in its fourth year, is co-ordin-
ated by the 235 member
papers of Ontario Commun-
ity Newspapers Association
(OCNA) and by CP Air. Dur-
ing Ontario's Bicentennial
year the Ministry of Tourism
and Recreation is supporting
the program with the gift of a
Bicentennial book to each
young person nominated in
1984.
David Wenger of Mount
Forest, chairman of the Jun-
ior Citizen Committee said,
"We have developed a fan-
tastic program to honor the
good young people of this
province and the added sup-
port of the Ministry in mak-
ing this a part of the Bicen-
tennial celebrations indi-
cates 1984 *ill be a truly
memorable year for our
Junior Citizens."
He said in the first three
years the program received
a total of 428 nominations
and "all 428 were certainly
deserving candidates for
awards." In 1984, organizers
hope to bring in a minimum
of 250 nominations.
"The added incentive of
airline tickets and Bicenten-
nial books should help us
meet our goal," he said.
The Junior Citizen pro-
gram annually honors up to
12 young people chosen for
outstanding contributions- to
their communities, courage-
ous acts of bravery or re-
markable fortitude in over-
coming physical limitations.
"We are not just looking for
the 'super -hero' — we want
to recognize those ordinary
young people who perform
noteworthy deeds in their
communities simply as an
example of good citizenship
or leadership," said Mr.
Wenger.
The 12 outstanding nomin-
ees in 1984 and their families
will be guests of Ontario
Community Newspapers As-
sociation and CP Air at the
newspaper group's conven-
tion in Toronto next March,
when Ontario's Lieutenant
Governor the Hon. John B.
Aird will make the presenta-
tions. The guest of honor will
also attend a reception with
the Lieutenant Governor in
his Queen's Park suite. Each
recipient will receive a fam-
ily portrait with the Lieuten-
ant Governor, a plaque and
lapel pin and a CP Air ticket.
An additional 12 nominees
will receive an airline ticket
and a certificate, to be pre-
sented in their community
by the publisher or Junior
Citizen co-ordinator of the
community newspaper re-
sponsible for the monination.
"This award program.
give§ some tangible recogni-
tion to the province's 'quiet
celebrities' — the young
people who exemplify such
values as courage, ingen-
uity, resourcefulness, initia-
tive, leadership, fortitude
and selfless performance,"
said Gordon Clauws of Dres-
den, President of Ontario
Community Newspapers As-
sociation.
Individuals or groups,
boys and girls between the
ages of six and 18 can be
nominated by citizens
through their community
newspaper or nominations
can be submitted directly to
Ontario Community News-
papers Association at Box
451, Oakville, L6J 5A8, tele-
phone 1-800-268-5054. Nomin-
ation forms are available at
all member newspapers, lo-
cal schools and the Ontario
Community Newspapers As-
sociation office.
A final deadline for 1984
nominations will be estab-
lished this fall. Meanwhile,
organizers urged citizens to
get their nominations in
right away. The spring dead-
line is June 20.
Co-ordinator for the Wing-
-ham area is Barry Wenger at
The Advance -Times, 357-
2320.