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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1970-08-13, Page 4PAGE FOUR. Written Lately? Written a letter lately? Canadians may just be getting out of the habit. The mail service is deteriorating daily, but nobody seems to care. This country—one of the biggest in the world—has de- pended heavily during its growth on an efficient postal service and, closely related, the railways. Both, to put it mildly, are not what they used to be. The most surprising thing is that no one seems to be doing anything about it. The rotating postal strikes and lockouts are increasing and mail volume is down as much as 50 percent. Deliver- ies are running up to 10 days late in many centres, but no one seems to be surprised. That is, the average citizen doesn't write many letters any more. In normal times he may receive mail in his mailbox al- most every day, but most of it is magazines, advertising and bills, and he doesn't even notice if they are late. He may even welcome their absence. A great deal of business is now being conducted by other means of communication, particularly the telephone and air express. But the firms which have no alternatives—in- cluding those putting the magazines, advertising and bills in home mailboxes are suffering, and some are in trouble. And so, too, are the post office and the postmen, although they don't admit it yet. The strikes are costing the post office $10,000,000•a mohth in addition to the 1970 budget of $82,000,000. And the post- men have lost more than $2,000,000 in wages. But apparently, neither side is hurting enough to start giving way. Negotiations for the treasury board, which acts for the post office, and the council of postal unions, are now meeting only twice a week, sometimes briefly. At this point there is no end in sight. The interrupted ser- vice has not yet angered the public to the point where it will do something about it. At present, they are writing only about five to 10 com- plaining letters a day to the prime minister's office. Per- haps such a protest seems ludicrous. Would the letters ar- rive on time—or at all? (New Hamburg Independent) Study Needed on Envronment Since pollution became a major concern, it has opened up the study of man and his environment from various angles never before considered. Ecological study is something we should all be interest- ed in since a working knowledge of it is necessary for our survival on this planet. It is a study we can share with our children for young people these days are taking an active interest in their environment. Recently a group of citizens tried to stop their city's pub- lic works department from cutting down some sturdy shade trees on a street marked for widening. The adult verbal protests had little effect until a boy in the group shinneyed up one of the trees and refused to budge. The up- shot was the mayor called a halt to the whole project. This group was taking constructive ecological action to protect the trees which not only provide shade and beauty, but purify the air and add oxygen and moisture to it, for man's benefit. As individuals we need to study our environment and see that we are not adding to or subtracting from it in a negative way. If we garden, instead of being trigger-happy with the pesticide spray, let's delve into alternative meth- ods of pest control such as those of organic gardening. Let the earthworms work for you - don't kill them with heavy chemical fertilizers. Learn how to use your table left- overs (formerly garbage -destined) to make compost to en- rich your garden soil. 'On October 14, Canada will observe Survival Day to co- ordinate all groups across Canada who are concerned with environment. Find out about prospects planned for your locality through radio or press and plan to participate with your family. ZURICH Citizens NEWS PRINTED BY SOUTH HURON PUBLISHERS LIMITED, ZURICH HERB TURKHEIM, Publisher Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Member:�! Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association 'Animaf. Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association .yl,+e Subaeription Rates: $4.,00 per year in advance in Canada; 'mg in United States and Foreign; single copies 10 cents. ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS NOW IT'S BACK TO THE STRAIGHT LIFE By Bill Smiley Summer floats by, as aimless as a cloud. Nothing seems to get done, but we seem to be doing something all the time. Last week was no exception. It's nice to live like rich people once in a while, be it ever so temporary, We used to do it once a year when I was in the newspaper business. We'd go to a convention in some exotic place, stay in a posh hotel, hobnob. with such exalted people as public relations men, and in- dulge in such sybaritic delights as breakfast in bed. It's hard to come down from filet mignon and baked alaska to hamburg and butter tarts, but we always felt it was worth it, no matter how long it took to pay back the money we'd borrowed to make like million- aires. This is against the puritan ethic, but I've never regretted it. I've seen too many people postponing a real spree of a holiday trip because they've needed a new lawnmower, or had just bought a new vacuum cleaner, or simply had to trade in their car. And then, when everything was finally right for the trip, Dad discovered, to his horror, that he had to have all his teeth out. Or Mother sudden- ly needs a hysterectomy. And the trip fades into never-never land. Sad. Never take my advice about anything, but `Gather ye rose- buds while ye may' isn't a bad idea. Don't wait until you're too old and stupid and cripped with arthritis to stoop for a rosebud. And besides, there aren't that many rosebuds left. Last week we had a couple of days of gathering rosebuds. As usual, it was balm for that lacerated secret little corner in most of us that knows we could have been wealthy and success- ful and rich if we'd just had a break. We spent two days at a beautiful lodge in Ontario's Haliburton Highlands, just south of Algonquin Park. It's incredible country: rock, woods, and lakes everywhere. The lodge was everything it should be for one of these escapades. Handsome lounges, huge stone fireplace, magnificent chandeliers, courteous and unob- trusive help, and a sweet, pretty and even competent waitress for our own table. And lots of 'rich people around. That's essential. It wasn't a swinging place. No bar, no entertainment, and, thank heaven, no organized games and such. Just a place to lie around, swim or fish or play horse -shoes or walk through the woods, eat like a hog, and wonder what the poor people are doing. We had a cottage overlooking the lake, with a big fireplace and everything else but the kitchen sink, an item most women are quite happy to be without on a vacation. Privacy, peace and luxury, the perquisites of the rich. Second shearing of formal dec- iduous hedges should be done now, say horticulturists with the Ont- ario Department of Agriculture and Food. If possible, shearing should be done during a period of dull weather, so that the freshly -cut tips aren't burnt by bright sunshine. The best way to ensure level trimming is to stretch a cord a- long the hedge at the desired height. Care should be taken to shear indentations only lightly so that they can grow out to me level of the rest of the hedge. The sides should also be trimmed to maintain even growth. First night at dinner, met an' old friend from College. Was rather aghast when he told me he'd recently married Susan Kee, daughter of another old College friend. He's more than twice her age. "Dirty old man", I thought. Was even more confused when he introduced his 8 -year-old son. Finally remembered he'd gone into the ministry. What he meant was that he'd performed •the marriage ceremony. Next day, into town for a seminar on Creative Writing at the Haliburton School of Fine Arts. Naturally, the school was overlooking a lake. There's hard- ly anything else you can over- look there. Everything I know about Creative Writing might fill the back of a business card, but had an enjoyable afternoon with about fifteen ladies ranging from about nineteen to — well, you know. They didn't get much out of it, but I thoroughly enjoyed boasting, telling them how I handle my wife when I call her the Old Battleaxe, and some of the hazards and rewards of writing a weekly column. (By the way, girls, I've thrown out two perfectly good paragraphs from this column.) After the seminar, a visit to the Haliburton Echo, a warm welcome come from editor Ber- keley Fair, his wife, and his son Creighton, and a. whiff of print- er's ink. Back to the lodge for a swim, dinner, canoe jaunt, and a long lively evening by the fireplace with friends and some pretty unusual conversation. Hard to climb into the battle -scarred '67 Dodge and hit the •long trail home. Depressing to get there and make your own hot dog for dinner. Horrible to see that pile of bills and hear the phone ringing. But worth it. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1970 Heavy Sales In Waterloo County More than half of the farms in Waterloo county sold products valued at over $10, 000, comp- ared to a provincial average of only 27 percent. For the region as a whole, the figure was 40 percent. The region is well -endowed with prime, or "Class I" agricult- ural land --land whose soils have no significant limitations in use for crops, the report says. Fifty percent of the region's land is of this class and this represents 24 percent of such land in the entire province. The value of farm products sold in the Midwestern Region of Ontario increased by more than 124 percent between 1951 and 1966, compared to a provincial increase of only 76 percent, ac- cording to a provincial govern- ment analysis of the region's soc- ial and economic needs. FOCUS: One Moment of Time Our camera records a child's First Smile . . . makes an official report on the bride's radiance . . . • Commemorates a trio posed for Dad's birthday surprise. Moments like these can never be recaptured unless they are per- fectly preserved by HADDEN'S STUDIO. Your family's pictorial history should be an qualified hands. Contact Hadden's Studio GODERICH 118 • St. David St. 524.8787 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 Robert F. Westlake Insurance "Specializing in General Insurance" Phone 236-4391 -- Zurlsh Guaranteed Trust Certificates 3, 4,5Years --81/z% 2 Years -- 81/ %a 1 Year — 8% J. W. IHABERER ZURICH PHONE 236.4346 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 FUNERAL DIRECTORS WESTLAKE Funeral Home AMBULANCE and PORTABLE OXYGEN SERVICE DIAL 236-4364 — ZURICH ACCOUNTANTS Roy N. Bentley PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT GODERICH P.O. Box 478 Dial 524-9521 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 .