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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1977-06-01, Page 13-Time More than language at stake Anyone, particularly Quebecers, who believes that the aims of the P.Q. are limited to the re-establishment of French language and culture should pay more attention to the new legislation which is presently before the National Assembly in Quebec. Bill No. 2, according to The Financial Post, is slipping through the Quebec provincial legislature with little attention, being paid to. the dangerous implications of some portions of its phraseology. Bill ,2 is directed toward the control of elections within the province. The bill calls for the appointment of a director general who would have control of financing of all political parties during an election campaign, This official and his staff would have full authority "to enter any premise to inquire into any matter relating to the exercise of his duties." Any person hindering him or failing to assist him would be liable to a fine on the first offense of as much as $500 and. for subsequent offenses as much as $5,000. The director general would also be empowered to "prescribe the conditions on which political parties and candidates may hold meetings or demonstrations to collect funds" and he may prohibit such meetings. With those sweeping powers in his grasp, any official appointed as director general would be in a position to effectively cripple the campaign of any other political party, thus assuring.the continued re-election of the Parti Quebecois. Legislation of this kind is a direct blow at the fundamental freedoms which Canadians have always believed were part of their heritage — whether British or French. In fact, this sort of control over the concept of free voting is reminiscent of the methods by Which the Nazi party gained electoral control in pre-war Germany. We believe, along with most other sensible Canadians, that the people of Quebec are entitled to, every consideration for their language and culture, but legislation which is so completely contrary to our concept of freedom shoulcPbe a matter for concern and action on the part of the federal government, whether or not it makes bad friends in Quebec. Doctors are nervous Prominent among the delegates at a recent convention of medical doctors was a group of American recruiters who made no bones about their effort to interest Canadian medics in moving to the United States. The lures were big incomes, absence of govern- ment control, and in most American states, acceptance of the competency of Can- adian -trained doctors who would not have to pass qualifying examinations. In the states where such examinations are. required; the doctors were told they would have no diffi- culty in passing the tests. According to reports from the convention many of the Canadian doctors were sincerely interested and quite a few made the decision to depart There is widespread belief that doctors make so much money they hardly know what to do with their wealth. That opinion was re-inforced several months ago when several Canadian daily newspapers published a long list of doctors in this province who gross o -ter $100,000a year. That list was not qualified by any explanation that in most cases the gross figures had to cover the cost of office space, equipment and the salaries of employee's. How you happen to react to your doctor's bill depends upon how badly you needed his services. If he manages to pull you through a heart attack brought about by your own folly in ignoring all the danger signals, you tend to believe he would have been cheap at twice the price. And there's another point few of us seldom think about. The average Canadian doctor is a pretty brainy fellow. In fact he had to be pretty smart even to gain,admit- tance to a medical school . . . only the "cream of the crop" are accepted for training and they have to prove their ability for quite a few years before they can practise in Ontario. Our doctors are understandably nervous at present. Most of them receive the major portion of their income from the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, which is tightly controlled by the Ontario government. They get an increase in the fees they can Charge only when government says so . . and during the past few inflationary years those increases have been .minimal. Canadian doctors, too, look over their shoulders at Great Britain, where medical practitioners are salaried employees 'of government. Neither doctors nor patients are very happy with that arrangement: Yes, there are rogues among the medics; some of them, no doubt, charge the oft -mentioned arm and leg when they can get away with it. However, most of us have some pretty close personal relationships with one doctor or another and darn few of us really think the man we depend upon -is a thief. Withfew exceptions the doctors we have known over the years proved to be men who served their fellow humans with kindness and patience. In this category we could include, from personal experience, several specialists who, proved on the first visit, that their desire to' alleviate suffering far out- weighed their greed for a fat fee. • As a general class our doctors in this country are the sort of people .we want to keep in our midst. We can't afford to see them leaving for greener American pastures. Just a bit too much! Organized labor group neder ceases their strident cry that government 'is bought out by big business. Naturally that is what we might expect.,It's justgood politics for the labor groups. But once in a while one cannot escape the feeling that there could be some truth in that allegation. Last week "Big Mac" MacDonald, our federal chief of finance, announced publicly that it is quite legal for a corporation president, or other top-level executive to get a salary increase well beyond the guidelines set down by the AIB. In fact the figure of $60,000 increase in one year was justified as quite acceptable as long as the other executives in the same corporation were willing to accept much less than the $2,400 increase which, away back in October of 1974, was specified by Prime Minister Tru- deau as the maximum salary increase any person could be legally granted. Mr. MacDonald however, has come upon a few formula. It's perfectly 'alright to give Good Old George a whopping $60,000 raise as long' as the average increase for all ex- ecutives in the company is not above the approved $2,400 a year. Isn't that just great? The pecking order in executive rank will guarantee that the under levels of prestige will quietly, accept the fact that they dare say not one word about George's gigantic raise . . . even though he needed the extra money likea fish needs more water. Those guys who still have a few steps to climb before they can grab for Geprge's job aren't going -to squall out loud. They are going to be good little boys and wait for the chance to grab for the other guy's jugular. Anti-inflation controls had only one chance to become effective ... as long as you and I and all the rest of the other Joes believed that the controls were a sincere and totally fair method of bringing inflation back to reasonable levels. At the first indication that any one segment of the economy was getting special favors the general spirit of co-operation would be doomed. Well, it looks to us from where we sit that Big Mac has pulled the plug of believeability. Fie has -set the pattern for an end -run around the very plain and understandable guide- lines set out by his boss two and a half years ago. When labor says that big money runs this country they may well be telling the truth. A time to buy Canadian During the past few weeks we have been paying more attention to advertising messages. In particular we think about the messages which come at us from the TV set. Granted, most of them are simply boring ... effectively convincing the general public thatits hygiene is terrible. Without body filth the TV advertising business would surely die. Mixed with those armpit odor ads, however, come a few advertisements which, right now, must be harmful to our nation's economy. We are thinking of the stores which seek appeal for furniture made in Denmark, or silver from Italy. Surely, with Canadian business faltering and unemployment high, it would be a good idea to push Canadian products to the hilt. We do make good merchandise in this ,country. Why not sell it to ourselves? 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 Member — Canadian Community Newspapers Assoc. Subscription $12.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No 0821 1 0 page-- o e rtor i i lr -Wednesday; Ju 71 - "Not only in Canada, you say? Pity!" etters to the:,.Edit NOT SATISFIED WITH REPLY • Wingham, Ontario . May28, 1977 The- Advance -Times Dear Editiir: I read with great care the letter from John G. Anderson, of the Ministry of Community and Social Services, which appeared in the Letter To The Editor column, May 25th as a response to your ediotiral of April lith. (That editorial raised concern regarding the withdrawal of the minstry's family and marriage counselling facilities fro'n the area.) Mr. Anderson "can appreciate the concern ... and anticipated that both Mrs. Hinz and the services she provided would be missed," but concludes that "we acted responsibly in withdraw- ing the counselling services." I am puzzled, Mr. Editor. How can one be responsible in withdraw- ing ,a service whose need is ack- nowledged? There are indeed personal social services provided in the county as Mr. Anderson pointed -out. However, are the Children's Aid Society (with its focus on broken homes), the Psychiatric Department of the Alexandra General' and Marine Hospital (with its primary concern the mentally ill), and the new Chil- dren and Youth Services facilitj in Clinton (with its mandate the assessment and treatment of emotionally distrubed children, and adolescents) in a position to undertake and perform preven- tive family and marriage coun- selling? It is apparent to us all, Mr Editor, that family and marriage breakdowns continue to increase at a distressing rate and that Ontario Weekly Newspapers Assoc. Six months $6.50 Return postage guaranteed government and other agencies • are scrambling to pick up the pieces. But, must w.e wait until these relationships are shattered until we act? Does it not behoove us to make counselling facilities readily available no matter whether one lives in an urban or rural area? Accessibility is the crucial factor! Must such a service be, rovided soley on the basis of papulation concentra- tion? Is there `the suggestion in Mr. Anderson's letter thatif we in the rural areas want such ser- vices, we must provide them our- selves? (Our taxes already sup- port such services in the cities!) I conclude, Mr. Editor, with the continuing impression' that we in this area of the province will be provided with needed ,social services only when the size of the need,reaches a statistically -satis- factory level' Alas the rural dis- advantaged!• If, as Mr. Anderson states; "the province shares your concern about prevention and the import- ance of providing counselling services to families," this con- cern will be transformed , into action! Sincerely, Jack Kopas SUMMER SOUNDS Advance -Times Dear Editor As you will agree with me, the sounds we hear in Spring and Summer regarding nature are lovely to hear. • Sad to say, this season also brings out some very bad sounds, one of these being the one of a noisy car. Those of us who live on Cather- ine and Patrick Street area, were awakened the other night; during TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN it is hardly nc4ssary to that Ross is ti pleasant likable boy. Just look at his smile Just turned 10. Ross is till. sturdy and health. v,ith hrnun hair, fair skin and ros cheeks 11is background is :login Saxon. Ross is in special cdirr,ilion working at the c;rade tun level in reading, phonics and ,i rt ,ind (;rade three in maths Nis teacher says he has latcl> developed 0 keen interest in reading but needs to -work harder in most suh.1e(ts 11ouevcr it appears academic subjects will not he his strong point Ile likes mukic, especiallj. singing Ross used 1n he a loner but now mixes well with other children He is not keen nn rnmpet itive sports but will join in games when invited Ne prefers activities shared with one or two friends like camping or fishing. and he really enjoys helping his foster parents ,i round the house Ne is fond of animals. Ross will he a fine son Inr a mother and lather uhf) do not worry about academic achievement To inquire about adopting Ross. please urate to Today's Child, Ministry of (ommtxli* and Social Services, Box 888. Station K. Toronto Mil' 21.1 in your letter tell something of your present family and our way of life For general adoption, contact your local Children's aid Society. 5' the early hours of Tuesday, May 24 to a noise.of squealing brakes, speed, etc. The hospital is in this area and many a patient must. have been awakened, as 1 know many of us were. So please let's keep our sum- mer to lovely sounds. This includes all of us, for it is not always our teenagers as we so often think. Yours sincerely, Mrs. Corrie Nixon SOUTH AFRICAN WAR The Advance -Times Dear Editor • It is 75 years since the Peace of Vereen'iging brought the Anglo - Boer War to a close. The Boer War was the occasion of Canada's first major overseas military campaigh, and- rela- tively little has been written about the participation of the Canadian contingents. I am engaged in researching the role of the Canadian forces in this conflict, and I am anxious to get in touch with surviving veterans or with relatives or friends of veterans. Volunteers from Ontario were • especially prominent in the Canadian con- tingents in South Africa. I will be travelling and researching throughout Ontario during the next few months and I would be most grateful if readers could as- sist me in this proJect. 'I am especially anxious to gain access to papers in private pos- session pertaining to the War. Should readers be aware of the existence of letters, d\aries, scrapbooks, photographs, paint- ings or any other pertinent ma- terial, i would be most apprecia- tive if they would write to me at the address below as soon as pos- sible. • In addition to the troops, there were also Canadian corres- pondents, doctors, nurses, priests and teachers who went to South Africa. Any information about these participants would also be greatly appreciated. Hugh Robertson, 224 Springfield, Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1M elEc2 NURSING HOME IS PART OF COMMUNITY Wingham .Advance -Times Dear Editor 'Our nursing home is participat- ing in a province -wide program observing Ontario Nursing. Home Weekend on June llth and 12th. Our Home — 'More than a place to • Live' — expresses what all nursing homes are endeavoring to ,provide for the residents who' live in nursing homes. This weekend is also an oppor- tunity to thank the staff, volun- teers and the community who, through their combined efforts, help make nursing homes good places to live for' the young, middle-aged and older people who are our residents. The volunteers who serve in nursing homes deserve a special thank you at this time. We would also like to thank all the groups and organizations who, from time to time. put on special programs to enrich the daily lives of nurs- ing home residents. We want our community to re- gard our nursing home as part of the community and participate in the activities of the' home, either as volunteers, friendly visitors or as friends. During the weekend of June llth and 12th, refreshments will be served and all are most cor- dially welcome to be our guest. Very truly yours, Roger N. Keay Administrator SEEKS HISTORICAL ITEMS The Advance -Times Dear Editor : The national ' board of the Cana- dian Postmasters and A$sistants Association has asked me to com- pile the history of our organiza- tion. For this reason, I am asking your readers to contribute items of interest such as amusing anec- dotes, photographs, clippings of important postal events, and stories from the pioneer days of mail handling in Canada. I am especially interested in hearing from past and present members of the CPAA and their families. All material will be acknowl- edged on arrival and a receipt issued. It will then be returned to the contributor as quickly as pos- sible. Thanking you for your assist- ance, I am, Sincerely yours, Betti Michael, CPAA Historian, Port Robinson, Ontario LOS IKO BOOK REVIEW DARK QUARTET: the story. of the Brontes by Lynne Reid Banks The Brontes 'began their creative endeavors in childhood, fabricating an imaginary king- dom and writing epic poetry in the style of Lord Byron. They suf- fered the harsh discipline of boarding school with equanimity, although they rarely had enough to eat, their. rooms were damp and cold, and the mistresses cruel and unforgiving. The ter- rible conditions were 'grist to Charlotte's and Emily's crea- tivity — the ideas for Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights 'orig- inated there. These amazing 'young women probed the depths of human ex- perience, and have rightly taken their places as important and honored members in an elite so- ciety of great writers. This vivid anfl unusual biography intro- duces the reader 'to a family \of amazing talent whose works changed the entire future of the novel form. TEILHARD'by Mary Lukas and Ellen Lukas Teilhard de Chardin ex- perienced adventures such as few men of our time will ever know. M priest and scientist, he trekked through Asian deserts to the Himalayas, dug for clues to man's ancestry in Africa, sur- vived both the Japanese and the Communists in war-torn China and aided in the discovery of the several -million -year-old Peking Man. As philosopher, he fused Catholic doctrine and .evolution- ary theory into a blinding vision of mankind growing toward a universal unity, for which he was silenced and exiled by the Church he sought only to serve. • This running controversy' with the Church forms just a part of an inspiring and appealing life story. The authors probe the man — revealing new and unique in- sights into his personal life, the men and women he knew and' loved and the events in which he participated. THE GARMENT by Catherine Cookson Motherhood is every woman's right and the natural outcome of a happy marriage. What then is the answer when a normal and even beautiful young woman is forced to recognize, after two years as the wife of a country parson in the north of England, that her own marriage is a hollow shell which will never bring the kind of fulfilment she most deeply needs and wants? ,This is the situation faced by Grace Rouse, and like many other women in that position she seeks to escape a mounting sense ,frustration and despair by turning from the husband she has tried to love in vain to the comfort and release offereerh r lay -an- other man. RETURN TO THEBES by Allen Drury Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Allen Drury concludes the story of the all-powerful but ill-fated Eighteenth Dynasty with the deaths of Akhenaten and Nefer- titi at the hands of the vengeful priesthood of the god Amon, aided by members of Akhen- aten's own family; the coming to power of Tutankhamon• his brief and poignant reign violently ended when he too sought to place Akhenaten's "Sole God", the Aten, above Amon; the reign of their aged uncle Aye; and, finally, the reign of the ambitious and pragmatic Horemheb, Aye's so and last Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. 4