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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1977-06-22, Page 15THE ADVAACE Canada, know thyself! It has been a jolting sort of week for all Canadians who have been brought up on the myth that we are just naturally Incapable of the horrid shortcomings which plague our American cousins. We have been startled by everything from further revelations of Margaret Trudeau's indelicacies to the bald facts about organized crime in our nation's cities. Even more shocking than the television expose of mafia infiltration was the decision •of a Quebec City judge, after hearing the evidence of illegal entry and the confessions of three senior police officers who were charged. It is difficult to decide who is more guilty: the policemen who flouted the law, or the judge who let them go scot-free. The break-in under question occurred away back in 1972 when there was a well -justified fear that national security might be further threatened following the FLQ kidnappings in Quebec. Three police forces were involved — senior officers in the RCMP, the Quebec Provincial Police and the city police. They personally burglarized the offices of a news agency where they believed files of information might be stored which would lead to the individuals plotting dangerous activities. These senior officers did not bother to get a search warrant, as the law clearly demands — an act for which their own forces had laid thousands of Timis charges over the years. At the trial in Quebec City last week the officers freely admitted to the burglary and calmly excused themselves with the state- ment that what they had done was "in the national interest". What a familiar phrase! The very words of ex -president Richard Nixon! The image most seriously tarnished by this affair Is that of the RCMP, the force which generations of Canadians have been told can do no wrong. Apparently the Mountie who took part in that raid also be- lieved that myth of divine prerogative. The image has been blurred even further by allegations of at least three other illegal entries in which the RCMP has been involved in recent years. Add to that the revelation that at least one former police sergeant from China, with . a provable criminal background, was able to join the RCMP on the West Coast and the Mounties come out looking somewhat less than heroes. The outcry in the House of Commons and from the Canadian public is very likely to demand further inquiry into the complete dismissal of the charges against the three officers involved in the Quebec burglary — and well it should. Strong and efficient police forces we must have, but when the signs begin to point to the development of a police force which is above the law it is time to cry halt. Very expensive hogwash The week's most costly slice of tripe emerged in the'form of the official report of the LaMarsh Commission's study on Violence in the Media: The first of six volumes of the report was delivered to our office early last week by courier. The volume is about two inches thick and weighs 'a couple of pounds. Symbolic of the entire study was the fact that three days later another courier rushed into the office with another copy of the same volume. There, was serious doubt about the ap-. pointment- of :.the commission in the first place, because - television, which was the number one.. targe't'of• the Study is under federal jurisdiction and the commission was established by the Province of Ontario: As, might have been • expected, the recom• - mendations of the report are devoted chiefly 'to areas of federal jurisdiction and will probably. -be laughed fo'.scorn in Ottawa. Those same recommendations go into .detail about how the entire broadcast industry should, be torn apart and reshaped; the newspaper industry should submit to the dictation of an ombudsman who would, it appears, be empowered to interfere to a, dangerpus degree in freedom of the press, plus a dozen more thoroughly impractical ideas. As newspaper editors you might logically expect a violent reaction to recommenda-. tions so sweeping, but the danger inherent in many of the items in the report are as serious for the general public as for publish, ers and broadcasters.• The commission's budget, set upon appointment, was to have.been about three-quarters of a million dollars. Final costs are 'reported to be in excess of $1.2 million.' Whet the tax -paying public got for all that money is an exercise in impractical ideas for the reform of institutions over which the sponsoring government has no control. It was apparent from the outset that such a commission could have little or no practical purpose. The final 'report would indicate that net results are infinitely more useless than at first supposed they might be. Not even believeable 'Sometimes we are amazed at the stuff that goes into modern movies.'" One would think that when hundreds of thousands . . . even millions of dollars are going into the produc- tion of a film for either theatre movies or a television version the writers would provide for enough research' to get their.facts right, but time after time we see stupid, almost childish inconsistencies. Recently we watched a tTV movie about the infant American navy when the first warships were commissioned to run the British blockade during the Revolutionary War. A former British Navy captain was being recommended for a position of „command in an American2„vessel and the American captain who was urging his appointment •said, "He knows the British Navy as well as Nelson himself." Thenudicrous angle to the scene was that Nelson, later to become admiral of the British fleet, could not have been more than 18 years old at that time and certainly didn't know very much abouf the British fleet. We can recall another jim-dandy blooper from years ago. The movie was about the James boys and portrayed that gang's right- eous and apparently justifiable reasons for robbing everybody right and left. In the scene we recall Jesse James was. the beloved of the daughter of the small town's weekly newspaper publisher, who worked in the printing office as a typesetter for her father. Daddy, it seems, was a stalwart supporter of the reckless but glamorous Jesse and would, from time to time, become thoroughly incensed about the rascally sheriffs who were trying to put his daughter's beloved in the hoosegow. ,M Dashing into the newspaper office one day in high dudgeon over the latest affront to his protege, the old boy shouted, "Take •an. editorial!" Daughter leaped to a type case and, as her father roared out his anger to the world little Dimples started throwing type into a "stick" — undying words intended to shake the nation. The speed at which the old boy was dicta- ting could not have been matched by an ex- pert in shorthand, much less by a typesetter putting words together letter by letter in metal type. Even speedy hand setters in those days couldn't hope to set more than two columns in a full 10 -hour day. And then there are the gifted actors who have never bothered to master the fine points of the language in which they speak. Only the other night we watched' a high-strung mystery drama about a top-ranking nuclear physicist who had been kidnapped by the bad guys and was being forced to program a bomb against his will. Despite the fact that he was supposed to be his country's big brain where atom bombs were concerned, the actor never once in the entire drama managed to pronounce the word nuclear correctly. It always carne out "nucular" — an error common to so many broadcast speakers. Nevertheless, the bumbling cop in the drama got it right. He was able to pronounce the word "nuclear" correctly. And there is a difference. Leave it to the experts Eric Shackleton, senior regional architect 'with the Ministry of Colleges and Univer- sities, says amateurs should quit fooling around with experiments in solar heating. Eric says everybody should leave it to the trained people in industry to develop new methods of harnessing the sun's heat as a supplement to our dwindling reserves of cal and oil. What ever happened to the Thomas Edisons, the Wilbur Wrights, the Henry Fords, the Alexander Graham Bells? Mr. Shackleton must have forgotten that practically all of the most important inven tions which have contributed to human progress were not made by engineers and scientists. They were the result of human curiosity and perseverance. Son, if you have a bright idea about how we can heat the bath water by sun power instead of hydro power, you just go right ahead. One of these days you will get the answer — just about the time the industrial engineers are out on their coffee break. 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 Ontario Weekly Newspapers Assoc ti.ix months $6.50 Return postage guaranteed A page of editoria NEWS ITEM: Arctic drilling authorized .•'•'fr.• 4 : r? •r:•rir .r f .rf; , f•. r •: r,.;:. '•r. �$' 'r f.''f'� fr'rffli�S vi •Y .,Ff fff, ff f'+/ir� rr opinion Wednesday, June 22 • �,va.r•S�u, V�Ey(11on(1oN 3bufiNfIL News Items from Old Files JUNE 1930' ,A special meeting of the council was held Monday evening for the purpose of. striking the rate for the present year. After due consideration the estimates of W. A. Galbraith, 'town clerk, were adopted. 'By these estimates it appears that the ,peak has been reached and from now on the taxes Will slowly lower. This year was struck at 50 mills, one mill lower than last year. This year's graduating class at Stratford Normal included a number from 'this district. Grad-' rates i,i the first class course were Annie Campbell. RR 2, Wingham; Kenneth MacRae, RR 2• Teeswater; George Peacock RR 2, Bluevale; Howard Pocock. RR 3, Wingham; Mary Robertson and Louise Thompson both of Wingham. Graduating from the second class course were Marg- aret Doig, RR 2, Wroxeter; Jean Sparling, RR 2, Gorrie; Gordon Mundell, Bluevale and Goldie Wheeler, Belgrave. Norman Craik of Gorrie. returned from Albert College. Belleville. Norman passed all examinations in the entrance elass and was awarded the Grimmon Prize. He also received the Chaplin Scholarship for general proficiency in his. first year. to response to a petition signed by 129 ratepayers the council it Lucknow is again submitting the by-law to raise $65.000 for improving fire protection an,i supplying pure domestic water Leonard Bennett who for the past few years has been employ ed at the local branch of the Do minion Bank" has been trails ferred to their branch Chatham. 0- 0 n JUNE 1942 Four local high school gii k have joined the ranks id the farmerettes. Margaret' ('ovinA and Louise Lloyd left the \,iag;ii District and later Ann Van 11 y ck and Jean Underwood foll,�y� ed them Margaret will he al Virgil and the others at Queenston. Miss Wannifred Douglas Id L cN., who has been superintcodei,' of Wingham General I lw,pit.+l since August of last year l.i• resigned her position ' All roads will lead to the Ho] Bridge in East Wawanosh on Jul), 1 as on that day the townshili w 11f hold a monster picnic celebration of the 75th annic er sary of the township - Miss Edith Campbell has accepted a position as secret.ir\ in the office of the Small Arms Factory at Long Branch A number from here were m London for the erarti,atinn exer- cises of Victoria WIC,01f'aI T;•-;: Wingham girls received their 'pins and diplomas, Helen Bate son, daughter of Mr. and Mrs Stafford Bateson, and Jean Cruickshank Ross Harrison left on Monday for London where he 'will report for duty with the Dental Corps Miss Isabel qinn of Wingham High School has been awarded a Parker pen and pencil set for nn essay on temperance The essay was sent to Toronto and was awarded second place by thie judges of the Temperance Ed- ucation Association. essay con- test. I' Stewart Beattie, who has been principal of the public school at Flesherton, has been engaged, as principal of the Wingham Public School. His duties will commence in Sept- ember .Colin Crozier has re- signed his position as principal :and leaves the middle of July to tom the RCAF. • 9:he home of Mr'. and Mrs. iiarr'. Ferguson, Clifford, was the scene of a pretty wedding when their younger daughter; 1my,s Alberta, was united in nicer Lige to Roderick McDonald Ireland 01 Teeswater. • 0-0-0 .11 N1. I95:i . A !ive-man committee of ex -wardens of Huron County has been yet up to co-operate • with provincial and federal agencies in relief work in Huron County for those suffering damage in the recerr windstorm in the county. An es:imate of $223,000 has been put on the damage by the county assessor. Huron County is de; positing $10,000 toward a relief fund in which 'it is hoped the governments will contribute. One of the •old landmarks of Belgrave, the elevator, which was erected over 80 years ago reside the railway sta1ioii is oeing torn down It is to be rebuilt as a storeroom for grain at the Co -Op chopping mill. T. Stewart Beattie was named president of the Lions Club at the meeting in the Hotel Brunswick Other officers are R. S. Hether- ington. H 1' Carmichael, W. Grose. A\ H ('onron and H. 1, 5herhond\ The formation of a Second Mile Club of senior citizens was discussed at a meeting at the town hall and the verdict of those present seemed to be all in favor. The meeting was the first attempt in Western Ontario to organize a club of this type. Until now, only in larger centres have such clubs been formed. The chairman of the meeting was W. B. Conron. Patrons of the Lyceum Theatre' in Wingham will be seeing moving pictures in three dimen- sions within the next two years if present trends continue. accord- ing to Alton Adams, proprietor of the Lyceum. The original' 3-D, with glasses, is now being shown in movie houses throughout the States and in Canadian cities like London and Toronto. It seems to he the feeling of the trade, however, that 3-D won't last very long because of the bother of ,wearing glasses. - 0-0-0 JUNE 1963 The death rate from accidents is higher, in proportion to popula- tion. in Huron County than in Metropolitan Toronto, and the same is. true of deaths from motor vehicle accidents alone. In a health unit report to county council, Dr. R. M. Aldis• Medical Officer of Health. cites the statis- tics to emphasize the importance of certain safety measures He said the greatest risk as around home for 36 per cent of fatal acci- dents occur there. The roads account for 22 per cent Tom Wilkinson, son of Mrs. Runa Wilkinson, graduated as radiological technician from St ,Joseph's Hospital School of Radiography. London TO DAY'S CH 110 BY HELEN ALLEN That cookie_ is almost as hog as Marks face hut ,r)u can see he is a cute tun scar old with blonde harr and fair skin His eves are blue Mark was horn 'with i)owns Sr. Irome mongolism Children with this condition are eypected to he hel,•v, average both mentally and physically but Alark'is more ads anted than some An acti%e fellow he calks and runs around his foster home and he lines climb stairs He goes to nursery school where he Imes the other children. hut he can also pia} cnntenteillr aline He is alwa cheerful and good natured He likes people and animals and is pot afraid of anything Mark foster family are French speaking and he has both Fielk h and 'English 11e understands whatever is said to him in either language Lovable affectionate. healthy Mark needs parents who will appreciate his siinn. nature and .ct will realize he kill have limitations as he grows up Ontario has many fa'ilita/s to aid children like Mark in reaching their full potential To inquire about adopting Mark please write to Today s Child. Ministry of Community and Social Services Box 888, Station K. Toronto,M41' 2H2 in your letter tell something of your present family and your way of life For general adoption, contact your local Children's Aid Society 11. At the regular meeting of Howick Township Council, coun- cil decided to ask the Ontario Rural Hydro Commission to replace 28 of the present street lights in Fordwich with- 15 fluorescent lights. Depths of human depravity and cruelty and the grim side of Children's Aid work were ex- posed to Huron County council in the report of Miss. Claire McGowan, local director. ' She stressed that many children are 'kicked around'. from place to place and have never felt they were really wanted anywhere and are dreadfully afraid. She also said that foster homes are• badly. needed. Most of the people in the village of Belgrave turned out to watch the interesting sight of the house moving up No: 4 Highway. This is the new home of Mr. and Mrs Clarence Hanna and it was purchased from Karl Krug of Wingham. It was moved ontd the new foundation built by David Hanna on the lot next to George Jordan in Belgrave. Ray Keating of Shelburne was top winner in the Search for Talent contest sponsored by district Kinsmen Clubs in coop- eration with ('l<NX Mary 5 Hamilton of Bluevale was among 34 students awarded continuation of admission schol- arships at Assumption Univer- sity. Windsor These scholarships are awarded to all students who maintain a first class honors standing in their courses Work on the Belgrave Arena is 'progressing rapidly The footings have been poured and this week the arches will be raised by means of a crane. The arches weigh about INA() ions each LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP ESTABLISHED Dear Editor: ' I would like, through the medium of this paper, to an- nounce to the public the for- mation of a Mission in this area, called the L'Arabian Fellowship, Box 1034, Wingham. The committee is made up of the following: chairlady, Miss Elsie Williams of Gowanstown; secretarial branch, Miss Gwen Williams, Gowanstown and Mrs. Idona Krotz, Listowel; financial branch, Mrs. Jean McGuire and ,' Mrs. Mary Stapleton, Wingham. This Fellowship is now recog- nized by the Canadian govern- ment to promote mission work in the Middle Easl." primarily amongst the Arabs in Israel, Since 1963 i have worked as an independent missionary, doing Sunday School lesson helps for teachers, in• Arabic, with visual aids, which have been well re- ceived by the Christian Arab community. - 1 am indeed grateful to all who have supported me during the past years. The Fellowship has been granted permission to issue tax-deductible receipts for in- come tax purposes, for the pro motion of .this work, i am pri- vileged to be the first missionary assigned by the L'Arabian Fellowship to represent ,hem in the Middle East My flight date'Trom Toronto was June 19 with a stop -over in England, arriving in Israel June 30 Sincerely yours, Laura Collar