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Zurich Citizens News, 1969-01-30, Page 2PAGE TWO ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1969 Donors Want to Know If Help Reaches the Starving Biafrans Anything to do with the conflict between Biafra and Nigeria seems to become bogged down in indecision or controversy, or even a combination of both. So many confusing reports have come out of that area that the average citizen cannot be blamed if he throws up his hands in confusion or despair and refuses to read anything more on the whole affair. He is in good company though. Many experts are puzzled as well. The latest confusing hassle to break out is, strangely enough, not between Biafra or Nigeria and some other party, but between two organizations trying to fly in relief supplies to the Biafrans. It all started when the Red Cross reported that it had to dis- continue its flights because of a ban on flying in fuel for Red Cross trucks. In order to try to remedy this situa- tion, it had asked Caritas, the Roman Catholic agency also engaged in re- lief work, for help. Now, all this is quite understand- able. Things like this do happen, especially in Biafra. However, it doesn't sound quite the same now in view of the fact that the World Coun- cil of Churches reports that its of- fer to ferry fuel in for the Red Cross was turned down. Needless to say, the Council was more than a little annoyed that the Red Cross made no mention of this. What the real facts are, we don't know. But it all goes to make one wonder even more about one point. How much of the many thousands of dollars that have been donated in this area for the starving and suf- fering Biafrans is actually getting through to these people in the proper form? There has been so much pub- licity on the hardships of these peo- ple and so little on how much is actually getting . through and being used by them. Even less has been said about where the money donated by Cana- dians is going. People don't mind giving to worthy causes, but if the money seems to be going into a bot- tomless pit, the desire to give soon dries up. From time to time nebu- lous statements are issued that so much food or so many drugs have been bought, but we never hear if it reaches its destination or just sits on a tropical island and rots. Frankly, from now on, we would like to hear less of the bickering and more about concrete facts oh how our money is being used. For all we know, some of it might be going to feed the native soldiers or the mer- cenaries. Hopefully, there is not too much skullduggery going on, for if there is, the next needy cause . to come along won't have such an easy time. raising money, pictures or no pi c t u r e s. — (Stratford Beacon - Herald) . The Annual Meeting The first two months of the year are the annual meeting months. Most of the organizations, institutions, clubs, fraternities, governments, as- sociations, societies, companies, etc., ad infinitum, have to meet once a year to review and plan. A lot of these meetings are a mere formality, depending on what the group has done and who plans the agenda and program for the night. If there is one meeting during the year that should be important and vital to any association of people for whatever purpose, it should be the annual meeting. In most cases, whether the meeting is what it should be or not depends almost entirely upon the individual who attends. There's an awful lot that's dependant on the individual's attitude. The annual meeting is a place for honest appraisal. There are some cases where the continued existance. of group associations which are not accomplishing their aim and purpose, becomes a hindrance and a mill stone. Better scrap the whole thing. On the other hand, if the aims and pur- poses are really worthwhile, but have not been accomplished, then honesty demands that something virile and concrete be done to change the situ- ation. For these and other similar reasons, every member of any asso- ciated group which calls an annual meeting, should be present at that meeting if it's humanly possible. We'll use all kinds of excuses to avoid attending these meetings, in- cluding cold weather that doesn't keep us from other things; and the honest admission that we've a wrong attitude toward the meeting, which attitude we promptly change for a meeting we want to attend. Really, the honesty that should apply during the annual meeting should come into play soon enough so that it will prompt us to attend. If we're not prepared to attend the annual meet- ings of the association, we should relinquish our membership, disolve the association or reform and revita- lize the association. With three choices in mind from which to choose, you'd better get out to that annual ratepayers, or school, or church or lodge meeting and make it real worth while to yourself and the association this year.—(Nanton (Alta) News). When Is One "Over -the -Hill"? In a recent issue of "The Anglican", the editor of the newspaper draws to mind one of the increasingly ridicu- lous notions of our time. The idea that once one reaches 50, he is "over the hill !" has become one of the cliches of the 1960s. Just because automobiles and refrigerators must be retired at a hurried rate because of "planned obsolescence", we have come to think that the same concepts apply to human beings. "The Anglican" suggests that many congregations will not accept a man who is over 50 years of age despite the fact that he may have acculated the valuable wisdom of service and may have many active years to offer church people. The fact that Prime Minister Pearson, at the age of 71, has been given an assignment of far- reaching importance with the World Bank, suggests that notions about one being "over the hill" at 50 are nonsense. Of course, some people with rigid minds put themselves "over the hill" at a much earlier age. A closed mind in this day and age and a determina- tion not to be curious about change could put a man of 30 over the hill. But surely we have room in our churches, and in our society in gen- eral, for the wisdom of men who have seen something of life. If anything is needed in the world of today, it is the ability to apply perspective to the mad goings-on around us. And that perspective can can only mellow with age.—(The Elmvale (Ont) Lance). Zurich News PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH HERS TURi<HEJM, Publisher J. E. HUNT, Plant Superntendent Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash. Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Member: Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Subscription hates: $3.50 per year in advance in Canada; $4,50 in United States and Foreign, single copies 10 cents. The International Scene (by Raymond Canon) Hong Kong -- British Outpost My wife and I have been victims of the Hong Kong flue the past couple of weeks and while there are probably plenty of fellow suf ferers, it doesn't make it any easier to bear up under all the aches and pains and get articles out on lime. If there is a bright side to the flu, I did at least get rid of a few 'ex- cess pounds that I had been trying, not very successfully it must be admitted, to -diet off. Also I had been planning an article on Hong Kong for some time, and now is as good a time as any. My interest in Hong Kong has increased greatly this year ever since I found out that I would be teaching half a dozen Chinese stu- dents from this far-off place how to speak German. Teaching Ger- man to Chinese may strike you as a rather odd combination, but I assure you they are not going to open up a Chinese restaurant in Germany.. They need a knowledge of the German language to study scientific papers written in Ger- man, and hence the interest in that language, Anyway they are a hard work- ing bunch, and their German is now better than my Chinese. We often get talking about Hong Kong, and since there seem to be so many misconceptions about this little colony, it might be better if I gave you a few general facts about the place. First of all, this British crown colony was established in 1841. as a place where the British could carry on their trade in the Far East free from Chinese control. Although the, original colony was on an island, part of the mainland was taken over in 1860 and still more in 1898, so that today the mainland territory ns ten times larger than the island. The en- tire area is called Hong Kong as is the island on which Victoria From My Window I'm inclined to agree with Prim Minister Pierre Elliott Trudea when he told newsmen in England "It's none of your damn busines what anybody thinks about me." I'm also in agreement with Tru dean when he accused the English speaking press of "pretty erurem behavior". That may be sellin niy associates down the drain, bu that's how I feel. My basic opinion about Trudea is still the same --it's reserved He is still going to have to prov himself to me although I doub that the prime minister is away of it (or is concerned for tha. matter). But when it comes to the sexy stories about the nation's elected leader I'm on his side. I think the press has acted quite irresponsibly in their search for a ",hot tip". From the first time that Trudeau eame on the scene of the Liberal leadership race, the press dubbed him as the swinger. It claimed he was "tuned in" with the younger generation and a "cinch" to go right to the top. Then the fun began. Every- where that Trudeau went, the press was sure .to go—waiting until the girls chased him, went swim- ming with him, kissed him, tore at his clothes, presented him with a rose. In those moments the cam- eras clicked and the country's newspapers were filled with photos of the love 'em and leave 'em bach- elor with a passion for fast ears, flirty females and candlelight dinners. There was the episode when Trudeau went abroad. Rumors started to fly about a quick wed- ding somewhere or other between the prime minister and a gay so- cialite who knew him way back when. Nothing eame of that, either. At the first of 1969 the press prevailed upon the poor man to reveal that he was searching for a wife and would marry this year, perhaps, if the right girl came along. That's surprising news from an unmarried male? Now the press is keeping a close eye on every woman with whom the prime minister is seen, We've heard about and from the blondes and the brunettes and the actresses and the career girls with whom e u s y g t u e• t e t SUPERTEST PETROLEUMS LTD. GAS OILS GREASES • FILTERS HOME HEAT SERVICE Agent: Charles E. Eckel DIAL 236.4611 ZURICH immilsommosimeemiamokommommeamminz By Shirley Keller the prime minister has dined and danced. In fact, we have more information about what the prime minister did in his leisure hours in England than anything else. It may sell papers—but it doesn't do much for the Canadian image. That the prime minister arrived in jolly old England wearing a white trench coat was more news- worthy than his contribution to the conference. I'm not denying that I enjoy hearing juicy tidbits about the prime minister's social life. I'm human, too. But I always feel just a little uneasy when I think that some person reading the articles may not have the sante tolerance level as I --that they might not understand that this is just one side (an unimportant side) of a very clever and intuitive Canadian prime minister. Surely we have a right to expect a more sophisticated attitude on the part of newsmen who cover the actions of our prime minister. A little romantic prattle goes a long way, especially when one knows full well that a bachelor is entitled to a few' stolen moments with the lady or ladies of his -choice. the capital is situated. There is, therefore, no city called Hong Kong, just the island and the en- tire territory. The island is sep- arated from the mainland by a mile wide strait, which contains one of the finest harbors in all Southern Asia. Some of the older readers will recall that the island was invaded by the Japanese in 1941 and was taken only after a hard battle with the British troops stationed there. Included among the defending troops was a Canadian detachment so that we had a direct interest in Hong Kong during the war. In 1945 the island was returned to British rule and with the take- over of China by the Communists in 1948 the colony lost some .of its earlier importance. It is still important, however, as a clearing house between China and the west. What is remarkable about Hong Kong these days is the ever -pop- ulation of the colony and the wide range of products manufactured there that are shipped to all parts of the world. To be honest it is difficult to know exactly how many People are living there but an educated guess would be over 3,000,000 or 7,500 to the square mile. Compare this with Canada's six per square mile, and you get some idea of the crowding. With such a population the island really has to provide a great deal of work if the whole colony is not going to become a welfare case, and so industries of all sorts have sprung up all the place. They can compete on the world market because of Iow labor costs, but don't get the idea. that every- thing from Hong Kong is poorly or cheaply made. I have in my possession several high quality articles from there that would match anything made in Canada, As far as some Canadian manu- facturers are concerned, that's the problem. The Chinese can match them in quality at half the price. Because Hong Kong ;has both a British colony and.an outlet for mainland China for so many years, almost all the Chinese that have immigrated to Canada have come through Hong Kong and speak the dialect of Canton, the nearest large city. This is so different from the standard Chinese, or Mandarin dia- lect that the two are mutually in- comprehensible. I found this out the hard way. After learning to speak Mandarin Chinese, I simply couldn't find anybody to talk to here in Canada. They didn't un- derstand me nor 1 them. But after this year I no longer think of Hong Kong as a remote and unknown place. I think espe- cially of a half dozen boys who are willing to work like a dog to get their tongue around the Ger- man language. They are all going back home after their studies are finished here in Canada, but if things ever get dull in Hong Kong, they can always go to Germany and open that restaurant after all. Business and Professional Directory OPTOMETRISTS J. E. Longstaff OPTOMETRIST SEAFORTH MEDICAL CENTRE 527-1240 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sat- urday a.m., Thursday evening CLINTON OFFICE 10 Issac Street 482-7010 Monday and Wednesday Call either office for appointment. Norman Martin OPTOMETRIST Office Hours: 9- 12 A,M, — 1:30 - 6 P.M. Closed all day Wednesday Phone 235-2433 Exeter ACCOUNTANTS Roy N. Bentley PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT GODERICH P.O. Box .478 Dial 524-9521 HURON and ERIE DEBENTURES CANADA TRUST CERTIFICATES r. 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