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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-11-20, Page 2'*ig Main St, publisited at SEAPORTH, ONTARIO eVery•ThurtidaY morning by • McLean Bros. Publishers Ltd, Andrew Y. McLean, Pubill#Yor • Susan INI1Ite, Editor • Alice GIbb, NeWa Editor Member Canadian Cpmmunity Newspaper Association, ,Pnterlo Weekly NewspeOerAssoolallon and Audit Bureau of Clrpulailon $nqiosittr since 140Q, ssm,Inv too Communlfy tfrot 527-0g40 +C A • Subscription rates: Canada $16.a year (in advance) outside Canada $33, a year On advance) Single Copies 40 cents each Second class mall registration number 0696 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 20, 1980 A real achievement - 149 'OMER 19, 1880. • What' about the Seaforth and Brueefield Railway? As will be seen Exeter, Wingharn and Other neighbouring towns are agitating for Increased railway facilities and :coMpeti- Oen with fair prospects of Success'. It won't du'for Seaforth to be left behind in the race, if VVingham with its immense burden of 'debt, can afford to give 512,000 and Exeter 520,000 to secure" connection with the Grand Truck, Surely Seaforth could make even a heavierbid for a connecting link with, the Great Western. It would be well for: our citizens to make A move in the !natter, and the sooner the better. The blacksmith shoP, and carriage factory of John Dorsey, situated on GOderich street near Main was completely destroyed by fire on Thursday morning. The fire_ was first noticed about five o'clock. It orginated an the west side of the building and when first seen_the_flame_Was_just_ereeping_up the , Huron County's annual 4-H club Achievement night (see page 5) Is always an important occasion for the county's young people, their hard working leaders, and family and friende. The co-operation, participation and hard slogging work that the 4-H 7-*- program promotes has its own rewards, but for One nrght in the year, he young people get some public recognition too. As anyone who's ever been involved in the movement and seen kids blossom with the leadership skills and sense of responsibility it teaches knows, it's recognition that's heartily deserved. An especially gratifYing thing about this year's Achievement Night for this community is that the -majority of the young winners are from the Seaforth area. Name after name, photo after ,photo from the event is that of a local kid. That's something for all of us to be proud of and it augers well for the future of farming -here. Why did Seaforth area 4-H'ers do so well? A good deal of the credit probably goes to dedicated leaders. Gordan Papple, retiring this year after 20 years of volunteer work in 4-H, is an example. The nice thing about credit is we can alt... parents, teachers, employers and friends...bask in a bit of it. Congratulations to all our 4-H'ers. Christmas ,shopping Se. What do the words "Christmas shopping" mean to you? ' A chance to get to the city, jostle with the crowds and spend big bucks in the big stores?. Or the chance to wander downtown right here at your leisure, talking to merchants you know, meeting your friends and neighbours? The people who choose the first option don't know what they're missing, according to a letter to the editor in The Blyth Standard last week. The writer says: "As the Christmas season approaches once again, many of us are caught up in the bustle of Christmas shopping, the annual choosing of gifts for our families and friends. Heaving the sentimental side of gift - giving aside, thls season of the year involves some hard dollars and cents facts. In a recent article in Canadian Living, Joan Watson notes that the average Canadian family spends $600 on the celebration of Christmas. Whether Your family unit spends that amount or not, the fact remains that consumers part with considerable cash at Christmas time. My personal quarrel is not (quite) so much with how much is spent but where it is spent. what thoroughly annoys me is the oft -heard phrase (boast??) these days. "We' went to the city last Saturday and did all our Christmas shoppihg." What is the big attraction .of crowded stores, impersonal sales -help. and expensive parking, not to mention the cost of the gas to get there? What is wrong with trying to purchase the items on our Christmas lists here in our area first, and then perhaps looking further for a particular book or record? Why not try to choose gifts produced by our excellent Huron County craftspeople before turning to imported goods? Specialty shops with unique items abound in our county. merchants are most willing (in the experience of this consumer) to order special non -stock articles. And these samemerchants are the ones who offer good service year-round, the small business -men who are such a vital link in the Canadian economic chain. I feel they deserve the profits from the Christmas shopper before the large department stores and retail chains. You, as a consumer, carry a lot of economic clout. Please consider investing your Christmas consumer dollars in our local economy first - you might be pleasantly surprised! • JuSt another shopper" We. think he or she has a point What do you think? outside wall towards the roof. There was a brisk wind from the west blowing at the time and the building being of frame, the whole thing was enveloped in less time than it takes to tell it. So rapidly did the flames spread that very few of the contents of the shops could be saved, and before the citizens and firemen could reach the spot, the fire had gained such headway that nothing could save the building. The fruit evaporating establishment of Messrs. Wilson and Robertson in this town is now in full blast, with a day and night gang of hands. The first sleigh of the season appeared on the street On Mondy morning. James Burns has rented his farm on the 10th concession of Tuckersmith, to John Pybus, for seven years at 5200 per year. The farm contains 100 acres. Mr. Burns has removed to near Port Perry where he has another farrn. NOVEMBER 17, 1905 Judging from the experience df other towns the people of Seaforth did not make any mistake a few months ago, when they voted down the by-law empowering the .council to purchase the electire lighting plant of this town with the view of having it run To the'editor: Writer enjoys vet banquet I had the pieasure to attend this year's Veteran's dinner at the Legion as a guest of ma sister Mrs. Gerry Fraiser. Such a pleasure to see so many old friends -sonic I haven't seen since thc Second World War. I grew up in SCaforth. attended Seaforth Public School. Scaforth Collegiate Institute. and Egniondville tinned Church. so it was a trunion. The wall plaque done ba Frank Phillips is erelit to him. I knew them all. Honourable mention to the Ladies AUXil. tars what a terrific job the ladles are doing in helping to make the Seaforth Legion so 410C6*cs4u1 that you plan to expand. A former Scaforthite Anna (Dennis) Brown ambridge ((,alt). Ontario under the direction of the Connell. GOderi011 ,. owns its gum lighting and water plant and it has been run for several years under the direction of the mina Last week the Signal said; "The people of the town wantto have ' °the water and light systems taken vigorously in hand and placed upon a Properbasis and many of them, perhaps • a majority are looking to 'a -commission to Au, this, having ' despairedpf the council. After doing nothing all summer, the council has finally awakened to the fact that a water supply system needs some attention and has engaged an engineer to make a report on it" It is the Same pretty much all over. The fad will have its day and in the end a good many municipalities will be the poorer for their experience. 4 • There-was-a-gasoline-famine-itr-town- last week, and those who used gasoline as a motive power had to do some hustling to get a sufficient supply to keep things movink. A mail car has been placed on the 3:30 train going east and on the 10:30 train going west so that there will hereafter be an open instead of closed mail on both these trains. John Cuthill of Winthrop recently sold to Mr. John G. Scott of Cromarty, a three year old roadster gelding for 5150. This colt was sired by Hackard, and was raised by Mr. .Cuthill who has three others equally as good, and he thinks some of them are better, Mr. Scott has secured a cracking good driver. The marriage of Agnes Kraushoff, of • McKillop, and Daniel, O'Conner, of Hibbert was solemnized on Wednesday morning by Rev. Thomas Noonan. The newly wedded couple will begin keeping house at their cosy home in St. Cobunban south. May all their troubles be little ones! , NOV41V,C80 tit 1930 very happy event and one Which but few are PelViler0800 to 0C1Orate't occurred afthe hoiae, of Mr, and Mrs. Henry Taylor, in Seaforth on. Monday :Iasi, Whall'Ois worthy pioneer 'couple celebrated the Nth. anniver- sary Of their marriage, , • The Seaforth Collegiate Institute will held their Seventh annual commencement irk- ,Cardmi's Operal Hall on Friday evening, November 28th at 8 p.m. There vvili be dances by junior and senior, girls, chorus by the *hole school, 'gymnastics, drills and a play„.."14r. _13oh.!..' _The play, opens at Aberhart's drug store On Monday at 8:30 a.m. Little Maud Epps held a birthday party in Varna on Saturday. Over thirty little guest celebrated. Mr. Bratherton of Varna had the misfor- tune to step on a nail recently and is suffering more or less from the effects. Melvin Crich of Tuckersmith, the well know Shorthorn breeder and exhibitor has recently disposed of four young stock bulls at fancy prices. One, a 15 month old, was purchased by Leiper Bros. of Hullett; a year old to F.J. Powell of Wingham; a year old to John Carter, flullett, and a year old to J. Rowntree of Toronto. All these calves were sired by a Rodney Rosewood bull and were from • such dam strains ' as Nonpareil, Cruickshank,WatetiOn Princess and the „Diamond •" ,NOVtMBER 18, 1955* • Construction' will commence immediately On a 23,000 font addition to General- Coach Works of Canada Ltd. plant at Hensalk. it • was annorrened this week by General Manager Wm, Sinith. The addition, estimat- ed to cost 580,000 will give General Coach Ithe largest plant devoted to the manufacture of; mobile homes in Canada • The Friendly Few Farm Forum met at the • home Of Wilbur Jewitt with about 25 persons in attendance'. The topic, "Local Gevekm- . irient", was -discussedwith some thinking that a few changes could be made here and there in local government but on the -whole they are most satisfactory, while others thought the question in the guide was rather -useles A spark from a tractor ignited a fire which destroyed,a barn on the farm of Dalton Hinz, Brodh_agen late Tuesday morning. The loss, partially coverealrY insurance, was estimat- ed at 512,000 by the owner. Word was received here over the weekend that Robert Cochrane of Grand Prairie Peace River District, Alberta had been chosen "Wheat King" of the World: Mr. Cochrane was born on the town line, west of Kippen. A soh Of the late Mr, and Mrs. James Cochrane, he attended school at 55 No. 3 Hay and College at Belleville. Ernest Adams is among those who have continued in harvesting raspberries in November. Mr.. Adams brought a heavily laden bunch into the office this week. • :•,‘"' DARKENING SKIES OF WINTER (Photo by Alexander) Meeting in public isn't always best Dem/wrath, was saaed last week in Om% a At least that's what yond behest- if sou listened to the rhetoric coming out of the national capital. Democracy was saved. well if not saved al least not murdered. When it was agreed that television and radio erage of the committee studying constite anal reform %mild he permitted. i am about to say a heretical thing It s enough to get me • bamahed as es en a partoime tournalist in thsi country, I think democracy might survive those committee Behind the scenes by Keith Roulstort meetings not being televised In fact. to he even more traitorous, to the current concept of full coverage of all news events. I think the country might have been even bettor served if the committee meetings hadn't been covered. Indeed. to get me burned at the stake at the entrance to any press club in wonder how my old classmates are doing? eareettmes wonder if my cellege contemporaries are as happy as 1 . hapoier. or es happy and jugs watkirg the old treadmill until they reach the end of the road and the dust to dust business My wonder was triggered hy a recent letter from no less a body than Sandy Cameron, the • Ambassador to Poland He seerns happy, but that's only on paper. We used to kick a football around when we were ten or twelve until we were summoned home in the gathering dusk. He's since returned to Ottawa. after three years in Yugo-Slavitt and two in Warsaw, and has invited as to drop around. I shudder at the cost of that, if my Old lady thought she was going into ambassadorial regions. Can yrea rent a mink coat for an evening? Another .guy I knew at college has emerged'into a fairly huge job, much in the public eye. He is Jan (now John) Meisel. a former Queen's professor who has been appointed head of the CRTC and is determined to move that moribund body. Jan is, as I recall. a Czech. gentle. britdiant. fairly frail but strong in spirit. Let's namedrop some more. Jamie Reaney is a playwright, poet, novelist and professor of English at Western. Two Governor -Gen- erals Awards for literature, but he's just the same sweet, kooky guy he was at nineteen, a real scholar, absotbed in children's garries, yet a first rate teacher and writer. Alan Brown has been a dilettante with the Sugar and spice By Bill Smiley CB( programs from faraway Oasesand lately emerging as a translator of French rioaels He carne from Millbrooka hamlet near Peterborough How we small town boas made the city stickers look sickwhen it came to intellect George McCaw an was a brilliant English and Philosophy student who w as kicked out of school for writing an exam for a dummy who happened to live around the (urner from me when I was a kid He went off to Stratford as an actor and director. and' suddenly disappeared to Hollywood, after marrying and being di- vareaed from Frances Hyland. He is now on his third or fourth wifehas an Weerand directs Grade B movies. .- I knew Don Harron casually. His first wife was a classmate of mine, who later married that Hungarian guy who wrote In Praise 4 Older Women. made into a movie. Harron. with tots of talent. energy and ambition. has parlayed his Charley Fan:parson into a mint. and is still producing a lot of creative stuff. Another of the drifting mob was Ralph Fficklin, a dwarfish kid with rotten teeth. and a wit with the bite of an asp. He still owes me $65.00. because he had no scruples about borrowing money. He became a movie and ballet critic, and a good one, but died in his tate forties There were other drifters in and out of the gaug. including my kid brother sho w as mainly there for the girls. And bov Id better not start on the girls, or I'm in trouble was the onls one who was about half pac&. that seat y and anoniatous name that Es pinned on 15.'nas Fd teachers today I plaaed football. and my intellectual friends had nothing but scorn for this I loved it And I made some &mends among the jocks. or the hangers on. the sports -writers Notable among them tx as Dave McIntosh. who still wrires a mean letter to the editor from Ottawaand spent most of his adult life working for The Canadian Press and newspapers. I also had other friends in the college newspaper, I was a couple of years behind the bumptious Wayne and Shusterbut knew Neil Simon and others whose names appeared as bylines from all over the world What 1 wonder is whether 1 would trade places with these bright guys 1 used to hang around with. I think not. I doubt if three of us are still married to the same woman, not that that is any hie deal. don't have the ego to hustle myself as some of them haae donenor the brilliance that many of them had When I go up and shout at my noisy Oracle lifs or try to coax my four-year elevens into sOTTle sort of intellectual moyernent. 1 simply haven't time to wish I Ys as the Ambaasadot to Polanda director of B's in Hollywood. a translator of rather obscure French novels. or the head of the CRTC. I haven't time. Tomorrow night I have to drive 140 miles and give a speech about -honour" to the Honour students of another school. Tomorrow I have to go to' a Department Heads' meeting where we ;11, for the fourth time this year. -ht ass "Smoking" in the whoa Tonight. I have to call my old lady in Moosonee, tell her l'ae been a model bachelor and have only burned six holes in the rug. Thursday night. 1 have a Parent' Night. at Which the parents of bright kids will come to have me praise them and the other parents will stay away. !bought the paint for the back stoop, but it's been too wet to paint. Yesterday. 1 had two young lady visitors. who caught .me my pyjamas. bare feet. and dirty dishes all over the kitchen. No. There's no way. I just haven't time to be an intellectual, a success. a good father, or a good husband. But I'm going to keep an eye on all those old friends of mine. and if they stutter of stammer or stagger under the load, I'll be laughing. Canada I might try to visit for the rest of my life. I think that if we hadn't insisted that television camera a peer into Ow Ned- of our politicians and record their every whimper and facial tick. we might not, have the current constitutional storm in this countra By televising every hiccup of the constitut- ional conferences in the past few years , may have saved democaracy and started the -- country on the road to ruin_ The constitutional contemned were in effect bargaining sessions. The rules of the conferences. ten premiers against one prime minister. made it tough enough to get agreement. but the fact that everything was being recorded made it virtually impossible to get any kind of agreement. There wasn't likely to be much give as tong as the folks hack home in British Columbia or Nova Scotia were watching every move their champion made. Instead of bargaining, we got speeches. The smphasia was riot on substance hut appearance. Every speaker had his mind on the millions of potential voters out there and how his agrument could best win him support NO CONFEDERATION AT ALL 1 don't know for sure that we could have had a more favourable end to the constitutional negotiations if the television, cameras and reporters' note pads hadn't been present but rri guess it would have. I doubt for instance, that given the conditions that the present political leaders worked under, that the fathers of confederation would have fathered a confileration at all. Writing in a recent issue of Atlantic Monthly, Warren Bennis, a research profes- sor at the Graduate School of Business Administration, University of Southern California said The mere fact of discussions becoming know. at the wrong stage of the procedure, can prevent a desirable decision from being carried out. Bennis was commenting on the current Mania for full disclosure in the government and media in the U.S. and how, rather than increase public confidence it has undermin- a ed it. "No one would argue with John Gardner's statement that 'confidence is our most important currency today.' yet I sense that the post -Watergate cram for maximum opervess. reflected in the laws of the land and augmented by the media's penchant for catastrophe coverage has actually reduced confidence" s. Bennis calls for a happy medium between total secteca and full disclosure. something he calls "optimum openness." He points n the amusing case of the famous Pentagon Papers in the U.S. where the Nixon administration did everything it could to suppress publication of the papers. to keep their sectets from the people The New York Times won the right from the Supreme Court to publish the secret studies of Vietnam War de visions. "Yet the editors themselves surrounded their prepar- ation of these stories with a secrecy the Pentagon might envy." The newspaper rented a suite of hotel rooms, swore members of the small staff to total secrecy, confined them for weeks to the suite, allowed them to talk to only certain people and set the stories on sequestered, guarded typesetting machines. Such secrecy is never seen as a reporter (or a whole news organization) protecting .a "scoop." CRAZE FOR OPEN • Bennis argues that because of this era& for oneness "The public will be learning more and more about things of less and less importance." When things must be record- ed to be official there will be more done unofficially, he says. Any journalist can give you long lists of the problems with secrecy1 have, over the years. been" at meetings where the discus- sion was all held in closed committee meetings and a simple yes or no vote taken ,in public. It is a perversion of democracy. a "safe" way,' for legislators to protect their necks (or some -other part of their anatomy). It does a disservice to the public Who should know what arguments were advanced for or against the position. But it is also a disservice to the public to hamstring the very process of decision making by too much exposure. To make our syttem work, it seems to me, we have to tread that very delicate path between the wrongs of the two extremes. mei