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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1980-01-30, Page 4err • solid pink -at last In an election campaign which has been distinctive chiefly for the amount of name- calling and personal insult than for concrete proposals, Mr. Trudeau hasp finally eftunci- ated something solid on the question of energy supply and pricing. At The weekend he proposed d sieven-' point program which included, among other things, a promise that Canada's domestic price for oil would be kept below world levels. He also promised a speedup in the development of Canadian petroleum re- sources; strengthening of Petro Canada and a guarantee of at least 50 per cent of our needs to be met frim our own resources within the next ten years. The most interesting point in his pet- roleum program, however, was a promise to establish a government pricing and auditing agency fa -investigate and report on industry costs and profits. • The average Canadian voter harbors the deep-seated feeling that the big multina- tional corporations are enriching themselves out of the pockets of the consumers. They can scarcely be blamed for their anxiety when one reads that the giant Exxon cor- poration made profits of over four billion dollars last year. That is very big ,money even in corporation language. Obviously the other huge oil companies are equally suc- ETI cessful at keeping the wolf from the well -head. Truth of the matter is that very few of us who pay the bills at ever higher prices are In a position to make any sort of accurate judg- ment about the moral right of a single coir- oio t.. make stee-e vest emounte of money. If that .sort of treasure was finding its way into only a few pockets we would be justified in demanding lower oil prices, but, on the other hand, if the major portion hap- pened to go into the bank accounts of several thousand people of only average means by way of dividends on Exxon stock it would be another matter again. Quite obviously, too, a healthy slice of such profits is returned to governments by way of extremely high corporate taxes,. al- though there is general concern that the tax loopholes provided by allowances for ex- ploration and development are over -gener- ous. There is no intention here to paint a por- _trait of sainthood for those who sit at the boardroom tables. All we are trying to say is that there is, indeed, a need for a well-in- formed and impartial government agency to monitor the big fellows and to make sure that our resources are not bled from the earth for the sole benefit of a few unscrupulous companies. I't's not the some here In this country we get a little tired of hearing about how lucky we are. A year or so back the former minister of agriculture was telling' us that we shouldn't say a thing about rising food prices; that our food bills were the . lowest in the world: More recently we have been "reminded at every turn that gas- oline it' three.dollars a gallon. in Britain, so we shouldpay our $1:.25 and keep quiet. Such. comparisons scarcely make sense: Yes; we are glad that food does not require half or three gbarters:of our income; that we don't have to,survive on horse meat and rab- bits. It is hardly surprising that food is lower in price here than it is in, Europe where: acre- ages peir farm ,are only' a fraction..of. Can= 4r,' 1 ci . ci c s.came°- ttoi •l a tourdin wept h di t etc 0.: brea4icing lil • of •learing, the forests and tg: -azh file Swamps for the veru-tpurpose thatfotid.witdsibe,morereadilyavailablefor However the business there were several other factors association was surprise to read :considereceby Alfred in making in The 'Advance -Times that his decision to move, although no their children. As far as gasoline prices are concerned, Britain and most other European countries do not face anything like our needs for trans- portation at reasonable costs. Their towns and cities are much closer together than ours; their areasof production are much closer to their markets and, above all, their public transportation systems have been left intact and are operated at a level of effi- ciency which we never did 'achieve in this country. Certainly it is true that in comparison with third world lands we are tedeed 'mil- liionaires. We throw away enough food from • :,n it our.tables in:a day to feed a hung family 'efo* And AO*,!Wittewor fd 'greet - est single reat-est.single problem -- how to work out a fea- sible. plan to share our bounty with those whose need is so great.. k� dsdeeee rOf • -ms �xee et- v 'tin eet4' "One advantage to all those promises you made and didn't keep during the last campaign — you can use them again." Letters to the Editor Don't blame council for business loss Dear Editor, 'Council. Council seems to be the It was with deep regret that the . popular whipping. boy for almost Wingham Business Association. e,,everything. The association feels. fficially learned....that AA' I red-wnasz that council has always acted in closing �'I sihess- Any_ rune: the' i:.e......0 '.. 1. F. �1 's 5 business leaves -_town it means,ebusiness ' �, :,6 deity thiar- residents must go other plac* business has benefited from fine for the service and .spend cooperation from council. business dollars outside the town.. : The association also feels that hoplifting must cease 44concentrated campaign is under way in some Canadian cities to put an end to shoplifting — a minor •but prevalent crime whichttas been all too costly for the average consumer as well as theshopkeepers them- selves. • Modern methods of merchandising have, of course, invited the growth of petty crime_ When merchandise is splashed out on shelves and counters within easy reach it was to be everted that not all that was lifted would be paid for at the cash register. Shoplifting even became .a game of "let's -see -who's -chicken– among -teenagers. It assumed the role of status symbol in some areas. As a consequence there has been' a tendency on the part of many merchants to pretend ignorance of the young thieves' identity rather than risk a hassle with par- ents who also happen to be good custorners of / the same stores. Rather than pressing for return or payment of the merchandise some store owners simply accepted shoplifting as a cost of doing business and recovered their losses by way of higher prices_ Apparentlysome of the bigger stores have come to the end of this easy-going road. They are employing innocent -looking detec- tives who are constantly on watch for shop- lifters of ail ages and they are laying charges right and left. One cannot feel any sympathy for the habitual adult thief who is brought to justice, but young people who indulge in this risky pastime on a dare should be nrtade aware of, the consequences. A conviction for shoplift-' ing can leave a young person with a criminal record — one which he or she will have to carry for years. Jobs and careers can be permanently blighted and self-esteem is bound to be ruined. Shoplifting is just not worth the risk in- volved. Like vandalism it must and will be stopped A little bit one�sided There was an interesting bit of program- ming on Television last week- It seems that a Canadian firm which has 'large cable TV systems in Canada is bung for the right to wire the city of Minneapolis — and running into all sorts of epposition based chiefly on American nationalism. Cable television technology has a- chieved much high soph•isticatian in Canada because our sparse population made cable a saleable service tong before the Americans were interested. Now, however, it seems the Americans, at least in some centres, are de- termined that no Canadian company should be allowed to operate and snake a profit in the United States. The Canadian firm in this case has been sandbagged at every turn, all the way from city council down. In view of the very large range of American enterprise in this country it seems more than a bit ridiculous that Canadian en- terprise should meet such determined op- position in the states_ However, it is perhaps unfair to brand an entire nation because one particular city is less than conscious of what is supposed to be a generous international relationship. To balance the scale it might be noted that busi- nessmen from Quebec have successfully es- tablished° many resort establishments in Florida. THE1 WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES Published, at Wingbam. Ontario. by Wenger Bros. Limited Barry Wenger. President Robert 0 Wenger • Sec ,Trews Member Audit Bureau of Cirtulatsorms Member — Canadian Comrnnunity Newspaper Assoc Subscription *15.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No 0521 Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assoc Six months 18.00 Return postage guaraneed into his location he felt he could do business from the site without water and sewer systems. The sewer and water factors have remained constant over the period so that something else must have influenced his decision. The association urges and endorses the installation of sewer and water systems on Diagonal. Road and acknowledges the, inconvenience caused by their.., absence. It is not appropriate,- however,' ppropriate,-however,`under the cir- cumstances as the association knows them, to lay the blame at council's feet. J. Watt, Chairman Wingham Business Association Alfred is laying the blame for his other factors were mentioned. It departure at the feet of Town .appeared that ,when he. moved Appeal issued. fur TODAY!S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN Allison is a bubbly, delightful lo -year-old girl with brown hair, dark eyes and beautiful fair skin. An enthusi- astic child, • Allison participates well in school and in Guides, and she is keen on music tob. It's thought that Allison will finish high school, and this is real progress, as she was in a s'peciaieducation class but is now in regular grade 4, and moving right ahead. Allison is good company, and makes friends readily. She loves the outdoors and has enjoyed camping for several summers now. She is especially fond of animals and regards them as friends. ' Another of Allison's enthusiasms is learning to cook. She is happy doing domestic things around her foster home, especially working along with her foster mother. It will be best if this child can be youngest in a family who can give her lots of loving attention and security. To inquire about adopting iiison, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vice, Box 888, Station K, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2112.' In your letter tell something of your present family and your way of life. used hearing aids Dear Editor, On several occasions during the past five years I have ap- pealed to your readers for discarded hearing aids., The response to my appeals has' been richly rewarded as hearing aids poured in from cities and towns from coast to coast. I have since retired from the Ontario Ministry of Education, but my interest in helping hearing -impair' children in the West Indies has not waned. This program, now known as the Canadian International Hearing Services is in' its fourth year under the able coordination of Gordon Kerr, a staff member of the Humber College of Applied Arts in Toronto. He, together with Dr. Donald hood, an audiologist, and Mrs. Nancy Hood, a teacher of the deaf, make an annual trip to St. Vincent, West Indies, where hearing- impaired children and adults are fitted with heariing aids. The time has arrived for this program to be extended to other West Indian countries, as the need to help their hearing- -impaired is equally great. Once again I ask your readers to dig out any old or discarded hearing aids and mail them to: Canadian International Hearing Services, 54 Strathburn Blvd., Weston, Ont. MSM 2K7. All contributions will be ac- knowledged and receipts will be issued for all cash donations. Thank you once again for hearing our appeal made on behalf of Waring -impaired children in the West Indies. George Mason .by w fu her 'x at?Qved member eF the Royal' F., The book traces e !err frottt: .NIPPY' C #� a �Fatalglu8 at g Si, mare fCai Bury through the early yeas of Lex Iaaerriage, the s of ll lcation and the Waal ts of World War to the on a her rile as rattans of - THE ONO TIC -GOSPELS by Elaine Er Mels Some years ago, near Nag Hammaitlim the Upper Egyptian desert are ,Arab peasant made an astonishing discovery. What he found, buried in an ancient earthenware jar, were 52 papyrus tents, including gospels and otter secret writings, some dating from the beginning of the chrietian ere. FLOOR by Richard M. Stern. Two towns' lie in the valley, one bustling and thriving, the 'other submerged and forgotten, in- tentionally flooded beneath the waters of a big new dam. Jay Harper's mind is on'the oldtown ashe rows across the lake. stone buildings clearly visible beneath the placid surface. He doesn't know why he has come to see this place, but something inside him, a premonition, has led him there. Probably the street that has changed the most over the years, is that part of Victoria Street 'extending from Macintosh Street to Diagonal Road. It was a very' important link between Lower Wingham and the roads running east, north and south. This ;was shown even in `recent times when itwaspa ton; hili eitirough Wingham... 7, c , - e r It was a street of churches, fac- tories, stores and shops as well as homes. The Presbyterian Church was located where the Legion is today. When it was destroyed by fire in 1881, the new church was built up, town. Behind it on Arthur Street was the Wesleyan Metho- dist. When it was no longer used as a church it was moved out onto Victoria and Made into a home. It is still there. On the Minnie Street corner the .Primitive Methodists had their church: Later it was used by the Salvation Army before it was turned 90 degrees and made into two dweilitigs. In the late 1920s a Baptist church was located in the building west of the Kent Block. Two doors east•of the Primitive Methodist Church was the office of Dr. Ridd VS, who was suc- ceeded by Dr. Golley and then by ' J. J. Elliott. The stables used by them are still there. Dr. Murray MacLennan was the last veteri- nary to have an office on Vic- toria. He located at No. 86 Vie- - toria where Dr. Fowler had a medical office 100 years ago. The salt block was built on the Presbyterian Church site with the CPu, tracks and stock yards on the west side of it. When the salt block was torn down in 1928, the lot became a lumber storage yard for Lloyd Doors. A.:ross William Street was the site of the town gravel pit before the turn of the century. Next to it Was the Chapman Tannery, a three storey wooden building. After it was taken over by Pringle, it burned down and was replaced by a red brick building, which ended up being a car wrecking .yard. There were at leastthree car- riage works on the street. Per- haps the best remetnbered name in that business is William tore. He first operated out of the two storey brick building at the east Snowmobilers warned Ontario Provincial Pollee are warning snowmobilers.to beware of thin ice following a number of tragedies so far this winter. In a statement released last week the OPP warn that mild weather over the past weeks has led to a number of fatal snow- mobile accidents when the machines broke through thin ice. Four persons died near Sault Ste. Marie and We more drowned in the Kingston area. Several skaters also died when they tried to take advantage of clear, snbw- free ice`for some winter exercise. the OPP urge people to stay Off lakes and rivers until the weather has been cold enough to build a good, solid layer of ice., Until then the recommend snowmobilers stay on the' trails and off the watera+'ays. corner of Scott St. Next to it on the triangular piece of ground on the corner was William Gannett's blacksmith shop. When Gannett started to sell farm implements' Andrew Murray took it over. Dore moved to a building on the southeast 'corner of Josephine ct:V a= He was burned out there but built a new, larger, btick ; biiildiiig. When the car- riage works closed in 1925, itwas used as a rubber works and then as an implement sales office and finally as a creamery before it was wrecked in 1961.. to provide parking for the Red Front Grocery, whidi had been built on the site of L. Loa's Sale Barn. The building Dore left at the Scott St. Corner, once housed the Wingham Times and a wholesale leather sales office, followed by the Gurney Glove Works. After the glove company moved to the Kent Block in 1917, it was con- verted into two apartments. On the Minnie St. northwest corner was the Wingham' Foun- dry ou n -dry until 1901, when the present home was built. On the Edward St. corner was the Scott ;pork • packing plant, processing upto110 hogs a day. This stone building was also used as a machineshhp• and a steam laundry beforebeing converted into living quarters. "There was also a machine shop and factory at No. 39 Victoria before the present house was built. - On the Leopold northeast corner was the Fisher house which was the„Post Office for a short time. The first chartered bank in town was in the balding facing the end of Edward St. At one time it housed a soda 'water works. Thomas Abraham had a boot and shoe factory three doors east of it. One of the first schools in Wingham was run on the. second floor by a Miss Murphy, sister of the Anglican rector. The empty bake shop next door was operated by the Bradleys from the 1880s. Up at the Diagonal Road corner was the Gilchrist and Green factory. This was also the site of the first electrical generating plant. It is the Cones- toga Chair Co. today and is 'the. only industry left on the street. Across the road was the Ontario Carriage Works. It was later used as a blacksmith shop, steam laundry, public hath, and in more recent times as a welding shop, garage, body shop and now con- tains apartments. There were sales barns, machine agent harness makers, pump manufacturers, dress makers, tailors, and all kinds of shops large and small. According to the assesemeht roils some of them were as narrow as nine feet. Today away from the commercial aspects of Josephine St., Victoria is a quiet residential street hearing little resemblance to the busy thoroughfare it` as in,. the early days of Wingbam. }�Y