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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1973-12-13, Page 18PAGE Y 8 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS Th International Scene RENAISSANCE OF THE MONARCHY I was one of the millions of people who got up bright and early to watch the wedding of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips. I must admit that there was another reason besides my desire to see a royal wedding with all its pomp and circumstance; I am habitually a very early riser. I can't seem to sleep in late, much to my disgust. Since I get up so early, I thought it would be nice to see the wedding in its entirety and nut just bits and pieces on the reruns. One thing that sustains or even increases my interest and admiration in the monarchy as an institution as its growing relevency at a time when many people would like to abolish it. Actually, in spite of this anti - monarchy sentiment, I believe that it is the republican form of government that is in trouble these days, not monarchies. If we make the head of govern ment also the head of state as is frequently the case in a republic we run into a real problem. Where a head of state rules in- stead of merely reigning, he is going to have steadily greater temptations and perhaps what are to him even reasons to breacu the rights of ordinary men. While the Watergate scandal is a good example of the weak- ness of a republic where the head of the government is also the head of state, we do not have to base a case solely on the American situation. Take a look at France] There President ( BY RAYMOND CANON) Pompidou feels that he has to keep a censorship of the country' television programs in a way that would be entirely unaccept- able in a parliamentary democ- racy. Even picking a figurehead president does not always prove to be the answer. When I was in Germany I found many people who did not even know what their president's name was. In my opinion too much importance was being attached to the chan- cellor of the day, Willy Brandt. The Germans are lucky that he is such an amiable person but the next chancellor could be entirely different and, in such a case, watch the sparks start to fly. As I pointed out a few weeks ago while talking about the Watergate scandal, I do not bel- ieve that such a thing could have happened in a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. This is partly because a parlia meat would have forced the res- ignation of a prime minister long before it blew up into the constitutional issue which pres- ently exists in the United States. In three countries where stable government is made very diff- icult by language, anti -clerical or religious splits (Belgium, Italy and Holland) it is worth noting that the two countries with a monarchy have kept their society somewhat better togeth- er even when they are between governments. In Italy the wrangl ing over the function of a new government tends to make soc- C EXTRA SPECIAL RISTMAS BONUS Two Piece Swivel Chair AND Davenport IN HERCULON COVERING) REDUCED FOR Nr X159.00 CHRISTMAS PI ;:TURES PAINTED O VELVET Regular ovN1 $49 Yes!! We're Open Notely Till Christmas "DO DROP IN AND SEE US" Zurich 236-4351 Sales 44 Service Ltd. Seaforth 527-0290 iety's splits steadily worse. On the other side of the world a good case can be made out for the stability provided by a constitutional monarchy in Jap- an. With all the different fact- ions present in that country, this form of government has surely presented some dangerously prestigeous figures within a ruling party from accululating too much personal power. All this adds up to my impres- sion that the monarchy is assur- edly not dead. It doesn't even have a bad cold. 0 Christmas trees Have you ever gone through the experience of purchasing a tree that looks perfect in the lot, but turns out to be not quite what you had in mind? Be sure of your requirements before you buy, says W.J. Devins, a farm products inspector with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The freshness of a tree is an important consideration. Fresh trees reduce fire hazards and keep their needles longer. You might consider taking the family out to one of the cut -your -own tree plantations. There you may pick out the tree you want and by cutting it yourself, know that it is fresh. Each species has its own char- acteristics. While Scotch pine is still the most popular tree, cult- ured spruce, balsam fir, and even cedars, are being used more often as Christmas Trees. The trees are pruned regularly until harvest to give them a full, yet natural shaping. "Producers trim carefully to remove undes- irable growth, deformities, and damage frominsects, rodents, or birds, "Devins adds. Mr. Devin suggests that un- less you are willing to take a chance, don't buy a 'baled' tree. Baled trees are either wrapped with twine or enclosed. with plastic netting, a process which makes shipping much easier. However, buying a tree still in its bale may hide a crooked trunk or gaps in the branches. Look the tree over well, rem- embering that the branches will come down once the tree is put up indoors. Is the trunk straight? Nothing is more frustrating than trying to put up a bent tree. Will it fit in the location picked out for it? Most trees sold range from four to eight feet; the smal- ler ones are very popular for apartment dwellers. LIVESTOCK SHIPPING TO TORONTO UNION STOCK YARDS Dunn and Levack Every M^.nduy All Loads Fully Insured! CONTACT Ca , pbeII r' Maley RR 1, ZURICH Phone 262.5430 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1973 NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS OF HAY MUNICIPAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM Since the Hay Municipal Telephone System began oper- ations in 1911, the management have endeavoured to prov- ide the best possible service available to its customers and looking into the fixture, our plans are to continue improving our telephone service with the interests of our customers in mind. We have recently placed an order with Northern Electric Co. Ltd., to supply equipment extensions for all three of our exchanges; the equipment being necessary to meet the requirements of existing and potential customers. We are continuing to replace our existing pole lines with under- ground cable; our goal being to have all major lines replaced with underground cable. We are continually work- ing with Bell Canada and other independent telephone companies in regard to establishing Extended Area Service to neighbouring communities. As we are all aware the costs of materials over the past years have increased substantially including those required in the telephone industry. To meet the costs of equipment and cable necessary to supply the demands of our customers we find that we must look at our rate structure which has not increased since 1971. The rate increases we propose are in line with other telephone companies in Ontario. Application has been made to the Ontario Telephone Service Commission for authority to make the following charges for telephone service, effective January 1st, 1974. EXCHANGE RATES - All Exchanges Per Month Individual line Business $ 7.75 Residence 4.30 Two-party line Multi-party line PBX Trunk Business Residence Business Residence GRAND BEND ZONE RATES Zone 1 Individual line Business Residence Two-party Business Residence Zone 2 Four -party line Business Residence Multi-party line Business Residence 6.25 3.35 4.65 3.25 11.00 8.5 0 5.05 6.75 3.85 5.75 3.45 4.65 3.25 If individual or two party line service is required outside the Base Rate Areas of the three exchanges or Zone 1 (Grand Bend), excess circuit charges will apply. SUBSCRIBER RATES - A paid-up subscriber shall pay 50 cents per month less than the above listed renter rates. a new subscriber shall pay the sub- scriber's rate plus $1.50 per month for ten years at which time he will be considered to be a paid-up subsc- riber. SUMMER SERVICE RATES Application has also been made to the Ontario Telephone Service Commission for the cancellation effective April 1, 1974, of "Summer Service Rates" which provided that the system charge full rates for seven months and $1.00 per month for the five winter months. It has been found that more and more people use their cottages and summer homes all year round and in any case the cost to the system is the same when the phone is used during only part of the year as it is when it is used on a year-round basis. Customers may still cancel their service in the Fall and have it re -installed the following summer, but the system could not guarantee that they would be assigned the same telephone number or that their name would appear in the telephone directory. Furthermore, installation charges would apply if a customer wished to re-establish service. This application will be heard before the Commission at its next regular meeting in Toronto. Any representations to be made to the Commission with respect to this applic- ation should, therefore, be submitted on or before Decem- ber 24, 1973, and addressed to the Chairman, Ontario Telephone Service Commission, 1201 Wilson Avenue, East Building, Downsview, Ontario, M3M 138. If you desire any further information in reference to the need for increasing the telephone rates, you may apply to the undersigned either personally, by telephone, or by letter. W.C. Horner, Secretary -Treasurer, Hay Municipal Telephone System, Zurich, Ontario.