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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1980-02-06, Page 4V.ACE «T1 Rhinos have a point Although the political platform of the cdian Rhinoceros party is obviously absurd, its followers are actively demon- strating several absurd attitudes, not only on the part of the candidates and leaders of the serious parties. but the absurd re- actions of many voters as well. • - Ciaiming as their leader a baby rhi- noceros in the zoo at Granby, Quebec, the Rhinos make election promises, such as moving the Rocky Mountains into the Great Lakes. They'are, of course, ridicul- ing the unattalpable election promises which have been and are being made by the leaders of the three major parties in this election campaign. The activities and pronouncements of the Rhinoceros Party are political lampoons in real life action. Such a satirical approach to Canadian politics points out in dramatic fashion the ridiculous posturing of some politicians, the obvious attempts to get votes, regard- less of the consequences for the nation, and the obvious lack of knowledge or serious thought on the part of voters who can be influenced by the most foolish of promises. Although the time allowed for poli- tical advertising has been shortened by law this time around, the calibre of tele- vision advertising has descended to a new low_ The advertising placed by the national executives of the three major parties has consisted chiefly of name-call- ing and poorly disguised insults. Little, If any of these ads have carried information of the kind a voter should have to form a decision before he marks his ballot. Very little national advertising has been placed in the newspapers, for that medium does not lend itself to the sort of thing we have heard and seen on our TV sets. Newspaper advertisements demand concrete and factual information — something that seems to be particularly scarce in this campaign. A former federal cabinet minister, Judy LaMarsh, ex- pressed precisely these opinions in an interview last Friday morning on the CTV program, Canada AM. We must, however, give higher marks to the advertising placed by local candi- ates on TV and in the press, They, appar- ently, have a higher regard for their con- stituents' intelligence than do their national leaders. Now we are popular Canada has a new hero and he is just as popular to the United States as he is In this country. Canada's ambassador to Iran, Ken Taylor, has earned himself a• a. place in history for his successful rescue of six American embassy,. employees who have been returned to their families after months of hiding in the Canadian resi- dences in Tehran. - it isunfortunate that the whole thing could not have been pulled off without the fanfare which has accompanied the escape, particularly the details about. forged Canadian passports. Duplication of this feat has been made all but impossible by broadcasting so much information. However, under the circumstances there was little choice. Taylor had managed to hide the Americans for a long time. Revelation that they were being sheltered by the Canadians would certainly have led ti Violent reprisals against the Canadian embassy and: its staff. The unexpected outcome of the entire ,episode is the nation-wide wave of good will for Canada and Canadians In the United States. The daily papers have been full of stories about Canadian money being accepted at par in many American cities; Canadian flags flying side-by-side with the Stars and Stripes and "Welcome Canadians" signs at border points. It might even be that the Canadian cable television company which has been meet- ing so much opposition in Minneapolis will. have easier sledding. The Americans seemed to have gotten the message that Canadians can, indeed, be good guys. The efforts of Pierre Trudeau and Ed Broadbent to pick holes in Mr. Clark's part in the rescue seem almost' childish. The prime minister responded honorably to the situation when he was informed very early' in the rescue operation and he was likewise honorable in informing the leader of the opposition immediately. His of ponents might better have expressed their congratulations and let the matter drop. •- s An outsider's perspective The editor of The Goderich Signal - Star recently commented on the views point of a student -visitor from the Peo- ple's Republic of China, who has a high regard .for Canadian smalitown jour- nalism. The following is quoted from the editorial column of The Signal -Star: People in the community newspaper business can do all the talking they like about the marvellous services their pub- lications provide in their own areas, but there's nothing like an "unsolicited tei'imony" to convince people. - This week there is just such a piece of evidence. • It comes from Chung -wen Huang, from the People's Republic of China. Mr. Huang (pronounced Whang) was first introduced'to the Canadian weekly press since, the first of January, ism. Among the newspapers he read were, Signal -Star Publishing Company Limit- ed's Goderich Signal -Star, Clinton News - Record and Lucknow Sentinel. He was quite impressed,and in a letter dated Jan. 6, 1980, he requested more copies of the papers. Mr. Huang -.writes: "I study North ©meriren 1 iteretiure and Canadian tinswa Media at the University of Toronto under a program of cultural exchange arranged by the governments of Canada and the People's Republic of China. I've been here for a year and a half and i'll be going back house at the end of April, teaching English at Nanking University. "I've never done any research on small town journalism but i iike iocai papers. It seems to me that the small town paper is not merely a survival but a con- , tinuing process of response to achieve human values. Its contents are rep- resentative of a wide range of • activities, idles, beliefs andaspirations that are not given expression in the big city daily press. "It supplies a flow of specific news and interprets events in a meaningful and effectual context. It helps a reader oriel himself -herself in tulle and space in the local community by building and main- taining local traditions and Identlfi- c a"tionc. hgou •b•',•.4P0 ,I It reports the weather, the crops, town council meetings, public gatherings, weddings, illness, births, deaths, joys, sorrows, church activities.. "Ina sense It is a serial story, a poem, a pastoral, a history, a guide to politics, a •- plan to the future of the community as, well as an ext ensithl, deYek,pme a or N tinuation of the town crier, the coffee house and the newsletter. Mr. Huang claimed he wanted to know More about the small town paper, including "its reader opinion; its values in a highly developed country, its position in the process of urbanization or suburban- ization, and its future." it is, of course, difficult to answer all those questions objectively. But one thing seems certain. The future of the weekly press is assured. Nowhere else is the history of the small town and its rural neighborhoods recorded as it is in the weekly press. Nowhere else can so many pegple from that one community read so many of the names of neighbors and friends, family and acquaintances. No- where else can people buy so much information about themselves and the things they really want to know for every- day living. We might add some further observa- tions -to this interesting excerpt from The Signal -Star. Over the years we have learned that regardless of how highly our newspaper may be regarded by "out- siders", people who live beyond the con- fines of our own particular community, local residents, par+i.'^..•,iari, those elected to public office, seldom are as objective in their outlook. We have learned that, we publish a "good" newspaper as tong as It contains only praise and kind words — but as soon as the editorial column or even the news columns express the smallest whit of criticism the nespaper suddenly be- comes a "bad" Ane. The newspa's`;r;::iriitiich"carries only the happy stories, the tales of achievement and success and never comments on ttLose aspects of- community life which are due for change or improvement is no news- paper rat ail. It becomes a propaganda sheet. - nnOarns x:u 4.44.44.4444.44.4 4..4441i.44,4,4r:: 4:1•..4.4%..4.4:4,47-.a. 14444 444,44:4 4.444,4 4.4.44.4 . • THE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES Published at Wingbam. Ontario. by Wenger Bros. Limited Bo i j. Wu.,...g„m President Robert 0 Wenger. Sec Treas Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member — Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc on S15.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No 0821 Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assoc Six mcenihs 5.00 Return pcata ge guaratateed 11 Letters to the Editor Don't knock old homes Wingham Advance -Times Dear Editor, - In due respect to you, Mr. Editor, this is an open letter to anyone who, is a ratepayer in Morris Township. I am the wife of one of the ratepaYers and after reading the statements and viewing the pictures in the Jan. 30 edition of the Wingham Ad vance-Times Crossroads section, page two; ' I feel compelled to reply. It ieatnres,tWarin houses and'Aa country store, all recognized by the previous property owners. The one home described by Reeve (Bill) Elston, as narrated by Terri Politic), belongs in our family and I am proud of it, despite its sagging roof, boarded windows and, last but not least,' the No Tresspassing signs. This old, forsaken home' was the victim off trigger - thoughtless fingers shooting. 'the glass out of the windows, thieves at work by day or night taking whatever . they could - window casings, wall- " studding; anything — piece by Thanks given for support of UNICEF° Dear Editor, On behalf of the Ontario UNICEF Committee and the many UNICEF children around the world, I would like to extend thanks to the people of Ontario for their most generous support of UNI- CEF's work in 1979. • Once again the people of our province have responded with concern and generosity to our apfundraisingpeal at Hal- lowe'en and through the pur- chase of UNICEF greeting cards throughout the year. As a result of this gener- osity, $510,000 has been raised to dte from the annual Hal- lowe'en for UNICEF collec- tions and we are optimistic that we will reach our goal of $400,000 from our greeting card sales across Ontario. These contributions, when matched by the federal government through the Canadian Internationale Development Agency (CIDA)� will multiply to $i,820,000 -- monies which will go far in providing safe water supplies, unproved nutrition, health care and educational programs for millions of children in the developing tnt of our r world. The message of 1978 --the International , Year of the that children are the world's most precious The people of OS- talrio should be proud to know tb3li W 1e19, their supp,ort of IINICE1' has helped bring a brighter future to inasee of the world's Maggie Smiley autirman piece , and making their get- aways, just hoping they wouldn't get caught in the act. Reeve Elston went on to explain that the owner is no Monger interested in the house, just nettle to fall or be torn down. Did reeve Elston notice that altholigh the owner used the barn and land, there had. been considerable renovations donate improve the barn and land? A new • addition was added to the barna short trine ago, -a eeiii yard to imin i bur the worn ngconditions and the roof and barn doors painted a becouling red; considerable bulldozing had been done to improve fencerows of brush, Stone piles, etc. I wonder just which side of the road Reeve Elston was standing on when he stated the. owner lived across the road. He should have said: "Across the field in the old homestead, where his father was born and raisedi " Rnme of cuff menst cherished memories are of that `old skeleton" of a,home,,. which once rang with child- hood laughter and our friends and neighbors visited us there. Some of these people have since departed this world, but that doesn't mean we let death deprive us of our memories, - our rights or our dignity of the old days in our home. Did he tell this to Terri Polillo or just what he felt the .narrator needed to know? The next time Reeve Elston takes a swipe at anyone else regarding their old homes let it be himself he knocks. As for the other buildings in question, I leave the proprietors the epttnr, to speak for themselves. Mrs. Beth Goll RR 4; W' Ingham Oxford Co. offers thanks to Drumlin The following was sub- mitted to The Advance -Times as an open letter. It follows a fioert danc given lasttcyear by and Dri es, ae local band, to raise money for tornado relief in Oxford County. Dear members of Drumlin, On behalf of the Oxford County Junior Farmers I would like to theme Pon for showing your` concern for the victims he torfl ado by donating youof a°the and'talents to help support their rebuilding efforts. Nothing but favorable comments were heard about the dance' and anyone `tee uidTi' L atetu eu S ' ,r94 on- aJ tremendous opportunity to enjoy themselves as yell ae to practice the Judos' Fad motto of self Help a -d com- urnamemunity bettennevt. Duetothefacttbat ivestsamswere and the financial status of -the dance took time to complete, this message is late in coming. Nevertheless it gives me great pleasure to inform you that we were able to donate over ;3;200 to the Tornado Relief ' Fund. Thank you once again for your generosity. Mary Ann Van Wyk, Secretary Oxford County Jr. Farmers •,•:•.:M1�.:f•`•:'t::::s>•;;:.;•:.,-:V-::::.,:;-:.::y 1,,.iv,:;;::.z•;,:;:2 };•� ••::y:!G:�+�'�;:?; ;.Y:eco-;•:may.":`,•?::k`:}•y;'C%�'•:'c' uh.1. .:: ` >,:•``rk.` ::;:::?-'rt,'. .:,.�,•r:;r S:, {{. ;'•• .;..•. •a?:Y.;4, ,ri,1.• `.;yi`: '• ow lucky. ireI' } • . 4r1 One of our readers who recently re- turned from a trip, (to the U.S., perhaps) sent us a small tent -card he had taken from a restaurant table. The message on the card was as follows: "Let's all `help conserve water. We can save 200,000 gal- lons daily in area restaurants. The water shortage is real." Reverse side of the little card ,reads: "Water served only on request. To raise every 1,000 gallons of water 180 degrees in temperature (for sanitary purposes) re- quires 15.3 therms of Gas or 437.4 kilowatt hours of electricity. An eight -ounce glass of water requires another 16 ounces to wash it . a total of three glassfuls of water for every one served. Every 100 racks of glasses we wash equals 15.2 kilo- watt- hours of electricity." - Now that's really getting down to the basic facts. It might be noted, however, that there is no suggestion that glasses should not be sullied by alcoholic bever- ages which, of course, have to be washed, just like water glasses. Perhaps the fact that there Is no charge for water has something to do -with this earnest plea for water conservation. , Although we usually have to ask for a glass of water in Canadian restaurants, we have, so far, been spared the printed sermons. • • ss Over the years many nodus-- and'3 tries located in Wingham (lure #tire by 10.1 eel *hal" were eneeP-Al4ftl values 111.4 for 'a reasonable length of closed and bantte`i% time, but some werenot. Sere November. The new is the story of a few of thel however were used ihat hada relatively short life. Western Founiden Following the closing of the started. Inglis Woollen Mill on Alfred Through the efforts of A. Er Street, the building sniod idle Wilford; President of th by .a- ,Wingharn Board of Trade, untilit was purcha,� group of men heed by Cliaton Towing' ` Comp,,,, George McTavish in March Ltd., openett a .branchr-lit� 1894. McTavish & Co. installed *Milbank la May 1917. It Wart a new roof and equipped it to located on the second floor of make furniture. The firm was what is now the Sunrise Dairy. known as the Standard Fared- It began with twelve ture Factory. The Machine machine's, lint more were in - shop was fitted up with stalled as girls were trained to machines of the latest and operate them Cotton and most approved pattern for woolen stoejaings for women manufacturing furniture. and children were made here They were soplaced that there but they were dyed in Clinton. was no unnecessary handling This industry lasted a little of material while it was being over four years. By the end of processed. The finishing room October 1921, the shop was was quite large and located on ,cldsed, the machinery re - the second floor. A splendid moved and returned to Clin- dry kiln heated by a 'hot air ton. Thirty tons of kennel coal blast was situated a slight dis- were left behind. Lance from the factory, The Federal Rubber Manu - connected to it by a wooden facturing Co.- came to Wing - tramway. The engine ° and ham in 1926. from 26 Duncan boiler, rated at 40 horsepower, St. Toronto, looking for expan- was in a building .separated sion. It located in the building from the drain building and that had been used by the Dore made as fireproof as possible. Carriage Works on the south. The factory was large enough east corner of Victoria to employ about 40 men, but it Josephine Streets. • ey. commenced with about 15. manufactured all sorts of Later on about 30 were rubber goods, such as rubber. needed. They started to Manu- soles and heels, water facture bedroom suites and strainers, sink stoppers, stair later dining room and centre treads, door mats and hockey, tables. Before long they had a pucks, 'Some local men inea salesman on the road selling vested in the firm. Dr. ItiA their product. Business was was president and IL E. Isard, Merchant,w vice- rest t. time butthe good fora by P ,� . spring of 1896 an assignment It was announced on February was made in favor of A. E. 16, 1928 that the company was Smith, banker In -April 1896 leaving town because not Smith sold the assets of the enough capital could be raised Standard Furniture to the in Wingham. This was verified le Bell. Furniture on when 11. Griffin of G. L. Josephine Street... • Griffin & Son bought out the The firm that .had the short- shareholders on March 12s d est life of all was the National later moved the rubber works IroliWorks. Opened as'a brass to Stratford, • ,l. 'New Books -in the Library DARK CALYPSO by Dulcle Gray When Imogen arrived on the Caribbean island of Renata she revelled in the beauty of her Burrow -4;4%s'. Her huliday. would also be an interesting insight into the character of her fiance, Tom Lanyard, who had been born on Renata and who was to join her in a few. days. From her first evening in the hotel when she met the Lumlaide priests - she felt disquiet, and during the next few days her unease in- creased. It was only when Tom arrived unexpectedly early that Imogen realized the frill horror of the situation. COPING WHEN YOUR FAM;. ILY FALLS APART by Dian- na D. Booker Surviving the disaster of divorce it can be done, and with grace. This book tells you how to do .it; how to solve the :xr.+•a:.s::;;•}:•x.•:•�--:•x. ::aYS•i.:":yc- xt;:f/f r: xr {r:Frfr:>z: •;:ocx-::;>` .:•931 .a.•:tr :;ir:g �{ n. �t ` r} •: x}e •• v..: .; . .:. 1 W -.,;•.9.G::? . x..-r�-i�d�'fWri:%n, .vv:i :yh;lh.,...: N.,..[�nrn.fr..:x..,.fl,.-'4:C.'V'... .. ,•:•}.fi'J1-,.9.� .F on TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN Five-year-old Bernie is a happy natured little fellow who obviously enjoys life. He loves piggy back riding or being taken for a spin on his foster brother's bike; and he gets along fine with other children. Bernie was born with Down's Syndrome, which means he is below average in development and will continue to be limited as he grows older. He has a heart murmer which is not regarded as serious, and doesn't require any treatment. He Also has tubes in his ears to drain off fluid_ At present he is attending it school for the trainable retarded, and later can progress into a sheltered work- gkM nwhilef Bernie plays well with bis friends and is gentle and amiable about sharing toys. He has a small vocabulary of about 10 words, and filett �ty of other ways to make himself understood. Bernievs alWays ready for a good hug. This lovable little boy needs to be in a family where he is youngest, and where he will he appreciated for his happy nature and encouraged to learn as muga as ha rain To inquire about adopting • Bernie, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vice, Bog Station K, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2112. In your lettertell something of your present family and yow - way of life. ::✓-.'•^lti;sir `„ problems of a suddenly shattered life, of shifting family groups; how to handle the anger, the anxieties and the fears. More than that, it shows hnw to Huse Hip psnntinns and pain in positive ways to grow as a human being. THE TOTEM by David Morrell On a quiet Thursday evening in a small valley; in the West, a sheriff discovers the corpse of a young hitch- hiker, apparently the victim of a bit -and -run driver. Later that evening the coroner Who' was to perform a ... routine autopsy is discovered dead of a heart attack — and the corpse of the young hitchhiker is missing. FOR THE CHILDREN THE JUNGLE BOOK by Rudyard Kipling and illustrated with characters from the Walt Disney motion incisure. e:T:.`r,,.in::::Gvn:::;.S.t£iar,Hi:.i»�:'k iti;-,• r;- • 40' Happy Natured ✓.t'/ J M4eennk ir".,, .w t,,....,',