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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1969-09-04, Page 4PAGE FOUR ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1969 CdI Co4 Fateful Decisions OW Air OW Military personnel and residents of the communities where bases are being closed are not the only ones con- cerned about the present program of slashing Canada's armed forces. Thoughtful people all over the country are deeply worried of a policy which seems destined to pare the nation's defences to the bone. There is no suggestion that a well -considered plan of reduction in defence spending is unwise. Geared, as we were, to a wartime state of preparedness in the early forties, and mindful of the all -too -sudden reduction of forces after the First World War, it has taken a long time to return to peace -time status. We have lived in a con- tinuing fear that the USSR might become an active en- emy. That possibility seems remote in 1969, so a further reduction in defence spending does appear advisable. The concern now is that the reduction might be carr- ied to a point where Canadian territory could become a dangerous vacuum in a world which is far from ready for unilateral arms reduction. What would happen, for instance, if the United States become alarmed about the possibility of attack over the Artie short-cut to Europe and Asia? Dare we imagine for one moment that Washington would waste any time in consideration of our rights as a sovereign nation, Certainly not. We would find American troops on our soil in a mater of minutes. It is quite true, of course, that in the event of such an attack over the Pole we would have American forces in any case, but it would be vastly different if they came in as the working partners of a viable Canadian military force with sufficient strength to merit U.S. respect and co-operation. We have a great deal of sympathy for those commun- ities, such as Clinton, where the closing of military bases will mean actual losses to their economy. However, it must be remembered that the neighboring communities, such as Wingham, have managed to survive without such shots in their economic arms. At least Clinton and the rest of the towns which were close to military bases have enjoyed 25 years of prosperity the rest of us never had. It is hoped that Mr. Trudeau and Mr. Cadieux are making the right decision. Certainly a nation's wealth is largely wasted in defence spending, for the dollars so expended produce nothing of any real value to mankind. However, if they are wrong, the price for error will be far beyond repayment. (Wingham Advance -Times) New Defenders One of the crosses elected representatives on munic- ipal councils must bear is criticism. They are, to use the words on one veteran campaigner, dammed if they do and dammed if they don't. Often, too, the press is prone to criticize those in public office for being too cautious or indecisive about some problem. Most of us have been critical at one time or another of the loccal council's shortcomings. There have been bumbling councillors and weak school boards over the years. But in the main we can't complain about the quality of part time municipal offic- ials. They were very often men or women motivated by a sincere desire to serve their community to the best of their ability. They accepted criticism or ignored it, realized their work would never be fully understood by the electorate. Now. however, it appears the shoe may be on the other foot. The government's intention to disband the municipal councils and substitute one or two elected rep- resentatives on a regional board suddenly finds the public defending the grass root's role municipal councils play in their lives. In spite of the criticism the average citizen has dis- covered that the small town councillor was his voice in the government of his environment. There is no doubt that larger regional centres can be handled more efficiently, but will it be at the cost of the small town ratepayers who wasn't afraid to accost his local representatives demanding to know what the heck he's doing ? Will all these councillors be replaced by one or two regional councillors who are remote from the ratepayers. We could be destroying the very essence of democra- cy by destroying local municipal cocuncils. They have been training grounds for politicians of every stripe, kin- dergartens for the neophytes and nursery of some pretty big ideas. Surely the Ontario government wouldn't abolish them without leaving something better in their place? (Acton Free Press) ZURICH Citizens NEWS PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 to arE Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association411111/ah Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Subscription Rates: $3.50 per year in advance in Canada; $4.50-1n United States and Foreign; single copies 10 cents About garbage and all that Summer wanes, and so does the sky, and so do I. How and why do we wane? The summer wanes with sadness and digni- ty, as is her custom. The sky wanes regularly. And I wane Violently. Some people grow benevo- lent and kindly as they, get older. I just get more violent. I hope I turn out to be an Angry Old Man. And I know I will, if I can just hang on long enough to get old. It's a world to turn anyone, even a gentle, weet chap like myself, a bit savage. Don't think that I'm just get- ting crotchety. I've been crotchety for years. You hear people going around all over Canada saying, "My, isn't that Smiley crotchety?" And others replying. "Yes, crotchety is the word. If there's a word for it, it's crotchety." Mind you, I love the world around me, and up to half a dozen people, and I laugh like a mental case at some of the things I see. But there is a limit to the amount of garbage I can stand being thrown in my face day after day in this year 1969 A.D. That makes me just like the Prime Minis- ter, For instance. We have so much surplus wheat that we have a national hernia, trying to lift it from here to there. Politicians go white trying to figure out what to do with it. Why don't we give it away? I don't mean the farmer. I mean Canada. Pay the going rate to the farmer and give it away to people who are starving. Up go the taxes. So what? They go up anyway. For instance. Our education- al system caters to the medio- cre, to mass -production of the mediocre, just like big indus- try. The intellectual elite among our kids are starved to death, that is, bored to death, and the kids who are below average are swept under the rug. This means our schools are full of fat, lazy kids who are there only because they don't want to face the lean, cold world. I'd turf out on his or her tail, at 16, every kid who wasn't interested. And I'd let him back in, with generous help, when he became interest- ed. For instance. Daily newspa- pers lie daily. Not downright lies. They merely slant, distort and colour the "news," depend- ing on their policy and politics. However, it's a free country, and I guess they're free to lie. For instance. Television could be a tremendous force for spreading peace and love in the world. What it does is spread jam on cake, and vio- lence on ignorance. With a few notable exceptions, it serves its patrons garbage in a fancy wrapper. Its entertainment does not entertain. Its news seeks out the sensational or the silly. Its commercials are aimed at a world of morons. Do you really believe, for example, that a certain brand of beer is mak- ing Canada famous throughout the world? Or that you. can get clothes cleaner in cold water than in hot? Or that you'll never make it if your armpits sweat? And for all this obscenity the three big U.S. networks last year split Over two billion dollars in profits. The CBC, which gives us the same ref- use, generally, came up with its usual deficit. This shows the superiority of Canadian television. Somehow. For instance. There are two laws. One for the rich and one for the rest of us. And any lawyer and any policeman knows it. If you're a dumb kid from Newfie, or an Indian who got drunk, you can rot in jail for a month or two before your case is even heard. If you're a middle-class doctor or business- man, and you have the money and the right connections, you're home free and every- thing is hushed up. For instance. Poverty. Twen- ty million people living in one of the biggest countries in the world, with enormous natural resources. And millions living in sordid, squalid poverty. For instance. The Church. Again with a few notable ex- ceptions, it does not face life. It wrings its hands, or washes them, Pilate -fashion. You don't see many preachers charging into a finance company and brandishing a whip these, days, do you? For instance. This column is about garbage. And I just re- membered this is garbage day and I forgot to put mine out. 0 TIIE INTERNATIONAL SCENE (continued from page 1) lever does business. The biggest competitor in many countries is Proctor and Gamble, who make, among other things, Tide, So the next time you buy a detergent, or any other number of associated products, you may be sure that, as likely as not, the company is not owned by Canadians at all. Judging by the array of products which Uni- lever has on the market, there's a good chance you will buy one of these. B.R.A. To Become Active Again Soon Bayfield Ratepayers' Association dormant for two years, may soon again erupt into activity. There are rumblings of discon- tent and signs that some residents are main ready to call a public meeting. More than 20 taxpayers met last week and planned to call a full meeting of the B,R,A, for Sat- urday, September 20, Several members -eel that while council cannot accede to the requests of every individual taxpayer, pet- itions presented on behalf of a large number will always carry more weight. Another group felt that, being unable to vote, U.S. citizens should have a chance to ask questions and ex- press opinions, at a public forum, instead of appealing to council as individual taxpayers, A final reason, which might find considerable support across the province, is the feat that, unless a group of interested cit- izens exist, and is active, before the advent of regional govern- ment, villages such as Bayfield will lose all autonomy and be completed bereft of representat- ion. THEY FEATURE QUALITY AND FAIREST PR/CE, ARE ALWAYS READY WITH ATA HONEST TIMELY" ADV/CE Waiper's Supertest 262-9910 Hensall 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 J. W. I•IA SERER Authorized Representative *— 4 and 3 years 73/4 1.2 years eyZ -- 3 years Minimum $100 DIAL 236.4346 — ZURICH FUNERAL DIRECTORS WESTLAKE Funeral Home AMBULANCE and PORTABLE OXYGEN SERVICE DIAL 236-4364 — ZURICH AUCTIONEERS ALVIN WALPER PROVINCIAL LICENSED AUCTIONEER For your sale, large or small, courteous and efficient service at all times. "Service That Satisfies" DIAL 237-3300 — DASHWOOD INSURANCE For Safety... EVERY FARMER NEEDS Liability Insurance For Information About All Insurance — Call BERT KLOPP DIAL 236.4988 — ZURICH Representing CO.OPERATORS INSURANCE ASSOCIATION Robert F. Westlake Insurance "Specializing in General Insurance" Phone 236.4391 -- Zurish