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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1977-05-25, Page 11f� • sl it THS ADVAA Two ways to participate This issue of The Advance -Times carries two messages to citizens of the town and surrounding rural area which will have considerable bearing on future events. The Huron County Farmstead and Home Improvement Committee has placed an advertisement containing an entry form in all county papers, asking as many Huron residents as possible to take part in a contest, object of which is to improve the ap- pearance of both rural and town properties. The basic reason for the contest is, of course, . to dress up well in advance of the interna- tional Plowing Match to be held just east of Wingham in September of next year. The contest must, of course be opened a year in advance to permit time for plantings and painting, etc. "Before and after” pictures will be employed to determine contest winners. Thus final date for entry is June first not too many days hence. It would be impossible to overstress the significance of presenting the best possible appearance when thousands of visitors from all parts of the country will be pouring _ _ �_ __a, A page of editorial opinion through our townships and towns to visit the International. The greatest benefit to the community which plays host to the match is not the dollars and cents which are left behind. It is the never -to -be -repeated oppor- tunity to demonstrate that we are a progres- sive bunch of people who take intelligent pride in our surroundings. A contest advertisement In this same issue of the paper announces another contest .. . this one to get the ball rolling for Wingham''s centennial celebration in 1979. Prizes- are being offered to people of all ages for the best centennial logo or crest and the best slogan for the celebration. Although 1979 is a year and a half away, there is all too little time to prepare for an event of such magnitude and importance. The logo -slogan contest is one means of arousing general interest and attention in the centennial event, so the more participants the better. Both of these contests deserve strong su'ppot-t. Dogs: pets or pests It's really no wonder that the people who don't own dogs get very snarly about the folks who do. During the past few years we have noticed some improvement over the days when everybody let their dogs run free at any and all times. In fact credit must be given to the very many dog owners who make sure that their animals are kept tied or fenced in. However we are still confronted with pest 'type animals owned by people who simply don't give a damn about their neighbors. It's pretty aggravating to look out the window and see half a dozen assorted mutts digging up the flowerbeds or leaving their calling. cards on a carefully trimmed lawn. Municipal authorities have faced the dog problem so long they tend to go through the motions and then shrug the whole thing off. Most communities have by-laws on their books which provide fines for dog owners who flout the law, but a wily dog 'seems to know enough to head for home base when the animal control officer is on the prowl. In one neighboring town the Scouts do the dog -catching and .get a couple of bucks for every one they capture untagged. Sounds like a good idea. Health council turned down The steering committee which has been studying the pros and cons of setting up a district health council in the Counties of Perth and Huron last week voted against the proposal. Citing lack of public interest in the plan, they decided against the information of a council which would 'oversee all health care services in the two counties. ,Personally, we are somewhat relieved at the decision. The urge for a district council did not come from the general public nor from hospital officials. Rather it was a plan which the Ontario health ministry has been insistent upon, although making sure that adequate provision should be made for expression of public opinion. , - Hospital board members are fearful that they will lose local control of• hospital operations; doctors are afraid that the council would be the first step toward full state medicine and the steering committee feared that actual control would lie at Queen's Park rather than at council level. It may well be all 'three are right. The only question now left concerns the alternatives. Individual hospital boards "within the two counties will have to deal directly with the ministry of, health when it comes to the day-to-day operations. Will they find there is -'discrimination because they failed to fall into line as the ministry recommended? Or will they simply be forced to take their prob- lems to a much larger area of administration which' has a health council? The answer right now would be a shocked "No" from government. After all there is a provincial election in the offing. But what will the actual reality be when the voting is all over? That is a question which should be put directly to the candidates who are seek- ing public Support. And their answers should be; for once, straightforward and clear-cut. o they headed south A recent issue of Canadian Aviation recounts the sad tale of one more potential industry lost to the United States. The Canadian owners of the manufacturing and marketing right to the Schweizer Teal single engine amphibian aircraft encountered ,so much government red tape' and delay ih obtaining Canadian certification for the air- craft in this country that they gave up and moved to St. Augustine, Florida. With them went a potential for 150 jobs and a possible $3 million in export sales annually. The air- craft, which would sell for about $37,500 (U.S.) has already been ordered by a Swedish distributor who will take 12 on which he has already paid deposits and another 12 as soon as they can be completed. There ere firm inquiries from South America as well. A 'I'Oepartment of Transport spokesman said that the delay in certification was oc- casioned by a shortage of manpower in his branch. It would have taken another 18 "months to complete all the Canadian tests, despite the fact that the American government's Federal Aeronautics Author- ity had already certified the plane. Not only did the State .of Florida welcome the Canadian concern with open arms, but 'the state's Small Business Administration' guaranteed 90 per cent of a $250,000 loan to the firm. Sounds all too familiar: Remember the Avion of Georgetown and government's refusal to assist further after $90,000 of fed- eral funds had already been invested? And then there was the Avro Arrow. Don't do it again! If the post office employees yield to the goading of burr -tongued Joe Davidson and go out on strike they will be making the greatest mistake of their labor -ridden lives. Canadians suffered through the last postal walkout at an aggregate cost of untold millions. They are not likely to put up with Much more of this disruption without demanding government action so punitive that a career in the postal service will become extremely unpleasant. There is a widespread and very deep dis• s tisfaction with our postal service even hen things are "normal" Thousands -of 41 rIt4emlier — Canadian Community Newspapers Assoc. fi A: ubscription $12.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 firms will no longer trust important mail to the post office, instead using more expensive courier service. The private individual, however, who doesn't have access to or the money for special services of this kind is the real victim. Along with all other Canadians we resent sharp increases in postal rates when service seems to get slower and more inefficient every day. The post office employees would do well to demand that their leaders iron out their differences at the conference table without any further flouting of the national interest. •THE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES Published at Wingham, Ontario. by Wenger Bros. Limited Barry Wenger, President Robert O. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer Member Audit Bureau of Circulations 'Ontario Weekly Newspapers Assoc. Six months $6.50 Return postage guaranteed dt .a< , {?"%r?:}?:??:.; ;Il,.rl::)i'.;�,:.j.,r.;irr' �'rrf :� r:{i :v. l/: r�4'•} / .. ... ;i:; i:: • \•+i:?:'•:•;•:r.•}'ti::rr. ri.1 •.?yv.;..r ...i •.rf � : ... :..,..:.::. ..f...... r$dnesdcry, cr 6 'm afraid you'll have to give up smoking, drinking, and thinking about Kerr says province working to elimate fish contamination A report summarizing On- information we've previously. re- Ontario has been active for mor tario's testing for mercury, PCBs leased over the past 18 months." than a year compiling an inven (polychlorinated biphenyls) and Mr. Kerr said that public in- tory of PCB users and tighten Mirex contamination in fish from formation, while important, was up their handling and spill pre 143 lakes and rivers and' 25 10- just part of Ontario's attack on vention methods. cations on the Great Lakes was these fish contaminants. released by Environment Minis- Mirex, which is confined With mercury, he said, th ter George A. Kerr. largely to Lake Ontario, is,an in major industrial sources, in The summary is taken from ` secticide or fire retardant which eluding six chlor -alkali plants detailed report • on fish contanilt- has never been licensed or per- have been virturally eliminated nation which will be distributed mitted in 'the province. Some In Lake St. Clair, for example in June As a guide for anglers. Mirex, imported many years ago, we can see mercury levels in fis Mr. Kerr said the guide will pro- has been traced and Environ- declining as a result:' vide a more detailed lake -by -lake ment Ontario has determined Environment Ontario is now analysis designating the appro- that this importing has stopped identifying and working to con priate level of caution which and the substance is not a signifi- trol any possible secondary in should be applied in consumng cant contaminant from Ontario dustrial or institutional sources various ranges of a number of sources. In Lake Simcoe and three Mus species. The specific source for present koka Lakes where there are no While fish from 18 waters test- levels in Lake Ontario' has been known mercury sources, a major ed can be consumed freely, Mr. traced to a U.S. company near research program was launched Kerr said some marginally con- the Niagara River and this situa- as a re ult of the discovery of �e1e- taminated species in 97 lakes tion is being -dealt with by U.S. vated ,mercury levels in some should not' be eaten as a steady authorities. fish. This extensive investigation diet. No consumption is advised Environment Ontario staff is of fish, water and sediment is di - for certain fish, mosty large and still investigating and tracking rected not only to determining older predators, , from the 53 down anysimilar substances areas in which high levels of con- which, under other names, could the extent i co ca but also to tracing possible.causes. tamination were detected. be present in the province. "Our testing program' has fo= PCBs, found as a significant "Where a man-made source cused in areas where we suspect- contaminant in 14 Great Lakes can be found,- we can and will ed we might find contamination locations, are man-made chemi-. control it," Mr. Kerr said. "But because of their proximity to in- cals used widely in large-scale we are left with the virtual cer-' dustry and their frequent use by electrical equipment . such as tainty that in a number of cases large numbers of people. The test transformers and capacitors. fish have -been contaminated by results do not reflect the situation Both Ontario and federal authori- naturally occurring mercury and in the bulk of Ontario's 250,000 ties are committed to eliminating that this natural contamination. lakes and rivers which form our this chemical from use. has always existed." .great, natural heritage," Mr. By June 1 of this year, all non- Mr. Kerr concluded: "This Kerr said. 'essential uses of PCBs in Canada control activity is the end result He stressed that the test re- will be prohibited under the fed- of our contaminants ' monitoring sults, throughout all the sample eral Environmental Contami- program. We have committed areas, apply only to fish. "Our nants Act, Mr. Kerr said. "Ulti- ourselves to investigating our recreational waters are safe mately PCBs will be prohibited environment on a scale which no playgrounds where children may completely as soon as we are sure other jurisdiction has attempted. swim and boat freely," he said. of practical substitutes which are And we are using this informa- Mr. Kerr said that all fish from themselves environmentally tion to control existing contami- approximately 70 per cent of the safe." nants and to stop the spread of waters tested are suitable as long He added that Environment new ones." as they are not a steady diet. uebec." TO THE EDITOR Advance - Dear Editor:.: SIGNATURE mes I have 'recently received a e letter which Was addressed to me - as, chairman of the Public' Re1a- ng tions Committee of the Wingham. - and District Hospital , Board of Governors. The letter was un- signed. e I welcome the opportunity to act on behalf of anyone making use of our hospital facilities. We feel it is the function of our com- mittee to represent not only those h working for and with the hospital, but those patients and families making 'use of the hospital _ facilities. _ If the person' who has written the letter will contact me with _ specific comments, we are pre- pared to act as your representa- tive to help make our hospital second to none in Ontario. With- out this information, I am power- less to act. , Very truly yours, Donald P. Kennedy Chairman, P.R. Committee Wingham and District Hospital The average fisherman won't catch enough large predator fish to worry about exceeding the recommended guidelines," he said. In the remaining 30 per cent • of waters tested reflecting higher levels, small predators and other species are suitable for occa- sional meals. Caution is advised with respect to older and larger predatory fish such as lake trout and walleye in which contami- nants have accumulated over long periods. Testing got under way in 1970 following the discovery of high levels of mercury in the Great Lakes and was extended on a comprehensive basis during the past two years. "The testing and analysis of a range of species of fish is conducted co-operatively by the Ministries of Natural Re- sources, Health and Environ- ment on a scale which has never been attempted in any other jurisdiction," Mr. Kerr said. "Our ongoing testing program has produced a Targe amount of information which has been care- fully checked and analysed be- fore its.dissemination to the pub- lic," the Minister said. "The summary I'm releasing includes data double-checked according to this process on 89 new waters incorporated with TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN THE TORONTO '� Lit SYNDICATE Carl is a charming; six )ear old healthy and gueid looking with hrowri hair and dark eyes Ili' is French Canadian in descent and English speaking Ile need., glasses to correct ;i turned -in eye. hut wears them nnk in.chnol Because of neglect in his early lit( Carl has developed slowly and is behind his age level But he h,,, made great strides during the past ccr Ile is nmc in a ;pedal class hot i! is felt he \+i 11 catch up and \ill gradually he integrated into the regular classes Ile Ickes school Carl loves attention trnrn adults ;inti is gentle uith small children Since he is immature tor his age he tends to pl;i', with children younger than hirnself Carl likes the outdoors swimming arui hike riding especially Ile is gond with his hands, able to make com plicated structures with construction sets Carl will be -a lo ahle son for family where there are feu other children so the mother and father will have couch lime to devote to him To inquire about adopting,. Carl, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social .Services. Box 48. Station K• Toronto \1-11' 2112 In your letter tell something of your present family and your w ay of lite For general adoption. contact your local Children's ,lid Society. Angry goose An unidentified man dis- covered last week it is not wise to. tangle with nesting geese. It seems this fellow was riding his dirt bike on the side of the river in Wingham when a goose decided he had ,had enough and chased him. The spectacle ended when the goose knocked the man off his bike. A stick was needed to frighten the goose away from the bike and after all this, it was about an hour before the bike would start again. Spectators to the incident claim they were cheering for the goose. TO THE EDITOR JUSTIFIES CHANGE IN COUNSELLING SERVICE The Advance -Times, Dear Editor: 1 have had the opportunity to read your editorial of April llth in which you deal with the matter of the counselling services which had been provided to the residents of Huron County by Mrs. Lois Hinz of the Ministry of Community and Social' Services. I can appreciate' the concern which you and others. might have in learning that residents of Huron. County no longer have available the services of Mrs. Hinz. We anticipated that after. being available for four years, both Mrs. Hinz and the service she provided would be' missed. Several factors entered into our very difficult decision to7discon- tinue this service:. Firstly, it was established that Mrs. Hinz was serving about eight to 1.0 families or individuals on a weekly basis. We felt that this number did not justify the utilization of a full-time counsel- lor. As you' may know, the London District Office, did establish an Advisory Committee m October 1976 to review Mrs. Hinz's ac- tivities. This committee was comprised of individuals from Huron County who were familar with local social services. It is my' impression that 'the committee acknowledges that we acted responsibly in' withdrawing the counselling services, given the data and information available to us. It is the responsibility of our Ministry to utilize each staff complement to the fullest capa- city. We felt that to leave Mrs. Hinz providing this level of service mould not be utilizing her to the fullest extent possible. A' second consideration prompting our decision involves the policy of our Ministry that. voluntary counselling services should be available from local community agencies and not offered directly through our own District or Local offices. The province does contribute, as you, well know, to the development and maintenance of a ' great number of personal social ser- vices, including family counsel- ling services. In Huron County, the Ministry of Community and Social Services contributes about 80 per cent of the cost of operating the Children's Aid Society, which is one source of family counselling services. The Ministry of Health contributes to the Alexandra General and Marine Hospital which provides ' counselling services through its Department of Psychiatry. The Ministry of Health is also in- volved in funding the new Chil- dren and Youth Services which is presently located in Clinton. My point is that the province shares your concern about prevention and the importance of providing counselling services to families. Our Ministry is prepared to as- sist communities in develping. good 'preventative social ser- vices, including family counsel- ling. We are presently giving consideration to purchasing counselling services from an agency in Huron County for those families who .receive Family Benefits and who require more intensive counselling than our Field Workers can provide. i trust this letter will serve to clarify the position of our Ministry in this matter. Yours sincerely, John G. Anderson