Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-01-05, Page 4Page 4 -Citizens News, January 5, 1977 WE WERE so Pooil WIZEN I WAS KID.WE. Wog Afroom R Do6- 1 14Al fNE FAMILY PET 04?„,,,ortTbr J011F`HRL "It's been so long since I've had a job, I've forgotten what line of work I'm unemployed from." At the miraculous age of 18 many things happen to a person. They are deemed old enough to be responsible for themselves, to enter bars, to manage their own affairs. They become a `legal' adult and as such they are cut off from the sum of money extended to them from the government in the form of baby bonus. Unfortunately, having the government declare a person is old enough to look after themselves at the age of 18 does not necessarily make it so. Most people are in grade 13 during their 18th year and this is a costly year for the parents trying to keep their children fed and clothed and for the student who is likely starting to date serious- ly. Not many students are able to have part- time jobs; they may not have transporta- tion; they may not have the time after home responsibilities are taken care of, and most of all, there are not that many jobs available. Therefore the full brunt of taking care of that child falls on the parents and having the baby bonus cut off does not help at all. On the other hand, there are students who Dear Sir or Madam: We are writing this letter to all the clubs, businesses and people concerned in any way with outdoors. We're making an impassioned plea to the con- servationists to help save Ontario's game fish. Incredible as it may seem Ontario traditionally has allow- ed the killing of undersized, immature game fish. (Muskie being the only exception). This has resulted in a castas- trophic depletion of Ontario's game fish—repreated denials of the Ministry of Natural Re- sources notwithstanding! With game fish now as scarce as dollar bills on a collection plate, let's take a look at our neighbor to the south. There the most important game fish is the largemouth and the smallmouth bass. have excelled in their studies and who have reached university by the time they have reached the age of 18 and with the help of extended summer vacations for jobs and student loans, they do not really need the added help of the baby bonus. Why not gear the baby bonus to a stu- dent's position rather than to his or her age. If a student is in high school, he or she is likely being supported fully by his or her parents and the baby bonus is needed whether the child is 16 or 21. On the other hand if the child has graduated from or for any other reason left high school, the baby bonus should be cut off as he will either be working and making his own money or attending university and therefore able to get government grants in the form of student loans. It is hard enough these days to raise child- ren with the increasing costs of everything. Why does the government make it even more difficult that it already is by denying parents of 18 year olds any help at all, re- gardless of whether they are still supporting the child through high school or not? Somehow, it just doesn't seem right. rio the Edilor Almost all those states that have largemouth bass have im- posed size limits to protect it, and presently 18 out of 49 states (Alaska doesn't have bass) impose general minimum size limits on smallmouth bass as well. Reasons: 1. They need size limits to allow for repro- duction. 2. To allow adequate predation of the forage fish species (the smaller game fish being the only ones plenti- ful enough to keep the forage fish under control). 3. To pro- vide a continual catch -and - release fishing of sub -legal yet quality -size fish throughout the year with no need for shorten- ed seasons. 4. Because sub - size fish are not a worthy adversary for the true sports- men. In all these states it's against the law to kill undersized game fish. But in Ontario we're still allowing such immature off- spring of game fish to be slaughtered by the million. Let's stop it. The government will only be as careful with the fishery re- source as we force it to be. If a handful of determined sportsmen in Oregon (pop. 2,000,000) could gather over 90,000 signatures on game fish petition—and then go on to win a landslide victory at the pools in the 1974 election—why couldn't the sportsmen of Ontario (pop. 8,000,000) do at least as well! If we don't do what we can do, we have no right to complain. To obtain petition sets, ' con- tact me at 641 Alymer Street N., Peterborough, Ontario, K91•I 3X3. Sincerely Joseph Leslie on behalf of POP (Preserve Ontario Pickerel) The Rai Kbrd by Cathy McKinley Well done whoever is clearing the streets of Zurich of the snow, I presume it is the village. Since several complaints were aired a couple of weeks ago the situation has improved considerably and it isn't due to lack of snow. The main corner of the village especially has become much less a hazard than it was previously for pedestrians. Reaching the sidewalk on that corner now poses very little problem and I hope those responsible realize that it is much appreciated. *** The City of Ottawa has set a precedent which I feel could be a very important step in the development of our society. They have started an intensive anti-smoking campaign. No smoking will be allowed in public buildings such as banks, stores, public buildings, bus terminals. No smoking will be allowed over the dinner hours in restaurants and no smoking will be allowed on public transportation vehicles. It's about time someone had the guts to support the rights of those Canadians who choose not to smoke. I have asked many smokers to stop smoking in front of me, specifically in restaurants where I am trying to eat, in theatres when I am sitting in the supposed non-smoking section and on the non-smoking sections of buses. The usual reaction I get is a stare as if I am some sort of ridiculous animal and, more often than not, the smoking party, will not only continue to smoke, they often begin blowing the smoke deliberately in my direction. Usually I will then move as I have no desire to create problems for anyone else. Now I think I will being to create problems and ask that the smoker be moved, by the person in charge of the particular area I am in if necessary. You see, many smokers seem to feel that a non-smoker is infringing on their rights by telling them they can't smoke. However, there is a serious flaw in this logic. While it is true that an individual has every right to smoke, they do not have the right to do so if it means infringing on anyone else's rights. They are welcome to smoke in their own home, their own car, on the street where the pollution dissipates in the air, in their own office or anywhere else they want so long as they do not infringe on the rights of anyone else. By being around people who smoke a good deal, a non-smoker can actually damage their respiratory system. At the very least it can be extremely unpleasant. Now, I don't particularly care wheth- er or not some smoker kills themselves by using tobacco, if that's how they want to die, let them. What I do object to is having a smoker ruin my lungs or my dinner or even; my breathing pleasure just because I hapen to be close by. Now that is not fair. Ft seems to me there is something wrong with a society which gets all excited when a mysterious virus kills a few hundred people when thousands upon thousands are killed through the use of tobacco in the form of cigarettes. No one seems to be demanding a cure for the common smoker, now are they? In fact, it is only recently that we as a countty have even started advertising against smoking rather than for it., Some of the more recent commercials are very well done—especial- ly the one with the attacking lion. Well it is just about tirne we put the smoker in his place. Smoke anywhere you like, anytime you like, and I won't bug you at all, unless you happen to be polluting the air I am trying to breathe. Smoking, in my mind, is a filthy dis- gusting habit, and I am very glad to see the city of Ottawa at least is trying to protect the innocents who have enough self - pride not to smoke. I just wish more people would have the courage to stand up for their convictions and `Mind very much if they smoke!" 7:/iulcrtleg[h) RIGwo Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. CNA Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Manager - Betty O'Brien News Editor - Cathy McKinley Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rates: $6.00 per year in advance in Canada; :.�� in nited t e an u F•rei±n•sin .:Ieco'ie 200