The Huron Expositor, 1976-03-25, Page 2tug xpositor 11
F I
Since 1860, Serving the Community First
Published, at SEAFORTH, ONTARIO: every Thursday morning by MeLEAN BROS, PUBLISHERS LTD.
ANDREW Y. McLEAN, Publisher
SUSAN WHITE, Editor
DAVE ROBB, Advertising Manager
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Ontario Weekly Nespaper Association
abd Audit Bureau of Circulation •
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•
A
The justice system
Why are pple on bail ?
ii
In .the.,. Years *one
1.•
Some very tentative figures show
that the February' 1 reduction of
speed limits on Ontario highways has
had something to do with a decline in
accidents over the last month.
,Btit one class of drivers passing
through Seafoe,th hasn't heard about
reduced speed limits, or about speed
limits at all. We're talking about the
driVers of big.trucks, salt trucks most
people say they are, who race through
town on Highway 8 at 40 or 50 mph.
We don't want to give all truck
drivers a bad name by yelling about
the few who ignore speed limits (and
what is obviously a town) in their mad
dash for somewhere. But we don't
want to keep quiet about a menace.
We've seen--a trucker going 45 mph
pass a car travelling at 30 oP Goderich
St West. We've heard. that trucks
bound for Goderich salt mine barrel
over the hill on Goderich St. East
going at least 45 mph. Children cross
that street at the bottom of that hill
and .there are crowds of them near
both the elementary schools on
Goderich St.
there are no crossing guards at the
schools and we've heard harrowing
Cutbacks and restraints are the
order of the day on the local front and
most of usare willino to go along with
them. A lot of people share a feeling
that governments and individuals
• have been spending and consuming
too much' .:. a feeling that we've all
been on a long binge and it's time for
a diet.
Ordinary people are doing 'their bit
to Conserve and to fight inflation.
"Most of us in Seaforth have accepted
the fact that, we just can't afford a new
arena, as have . lots of other -
communities in this country. A lot of
People have had to accept the fact
that they are never going to be to
afford to own a hOuSe or a new car or
any of the. many accomPahimeriti of a
luxurious life style that many other
Canadians take for granted.
Some People in Ontarie have even
acqepted the need. for — hospital
closings around, the province ..,.
because they sincerely, believe' 'the
government's tale that this is the way
to cut health care costs that need
chopping.
Meanwhile, what are our two
senior governments doing in the
name of restraint and cost cutting?
Well, the latest word on Inflation is
that the federal anti , Inflation
administrator's office will cost
taxpayers about $100,000 a month.
The administrator's: office Is separate
from the Anti' inflation Board, which
has a'laudget of $13.4 million for the
coming year. ,
It's the administrator's- job to
• respond to requests from the board
there has 'only been one so far - to •
investigate cases where wage and
pride • guidelines have been
Contravened or would likely ' be
contravened. '
The Jed's new slogan could be
=, `pending your .dollarS to fight
• Inflation." •
VAS' of prase' releases on .thrilling
SubjeCkbOnfintle to pour. Into• every
wee* newspaper oftioe,
cquntry Recently . got thrpo
copies, ,: aft -hta led firSt clads 'in
separate brown envelopes of a juicy
.
tidbit entitled "Nott§8 far an
address ^by .4116, -17totinOurablo, Marc
stories of children almost getting hit.
What do the speeding, truck dtivers
think about that?
We hear that the end to this
reckless speeding is at hand. Seaforth
police have gotten approval to buy a
new radar unit and they expect
delivery within 10 days. They are
going to use the radar and doubtless,
truck traffic through Seaforth will
slow down a lot ... as long as the radar
is out on the street.
But what kind of maniac driver
would hurtle a speeding heavy truck
through a town where there are
people , on the streets •in the-_-first
place? Do dr&ers get paid more for a
speedy run and does that make, them
reckless?
Fear of getting caught shouldn't be
the only deterrent to , speeders.
What's needed is common sense and
just a little bit of understanding about
what would happen if one of those
speeding trucks had to stop suddenly
because there was a small child in
front of it at the bottom of the
, Goderich -St. hilt.
Trucking companies who allow
drivers to speed have a very big •
explaining job to do in. Seaforth.
Lalonde to the Ontario Physiotherapy •
Association."
Now conceivably there could have
been something of interest, to our
readers in, M. Lalonde's speech. But
we don't, need three copies to look
over.
Provincially things are worse. A•
reader brought us in a copy of 'a 13
page newsletter called Background
that is received every' week at every
municipal clerk treasurer's office in
the province. Background is issued by
something called the Office of
Information Services and last week's
issue was all about discussions at the
Provincial Municipal Liaison
Committee.
Some 'clerks and treasurers might •
have found the issue worthwhile but
someone close to one clerk called the
newsletter "Jr') example of the waste
of the Ontario government."
The government which is closing
our hospitals-also sends all the, clerks
a two colOur glossy magazine called
Housing 'Ontario. This comes , out -,
every two months. The latest Issue
lists housing programs available -In
the province.The information. may be
-valuable for a few municipalities, but.
does it have to be-piesented in such
an elaborate form? We are, certain
that very, very few people in local
government have time to read the
thing ... the latest is 38 pages lOng.
'information, no matter ' ow if
expensively packaged, is wa ed
.6nless people read it. It's discour B-
ing indeed mind boggling-to think of
the thousands of people who spend
their working lives sending out
government information' ' that' la
consigned to the trash can. And at the
same time as whole departments are
churning out Stories on the details, of
government program, whole ' other
departments are dedicated to keeping
policies and policy making-secret.
We have to wondOr whether the
.pOliticians and the civil servants at
high levels of government ever look in
the mirror when they call for
cutbacks. '
A lot of the cutbacks could begin
doge to their stomping grounds, not
Ours, ,
David Kennedy, a native of Brussels, is
executive' secreary of the John Howard Society
in Hamilton. He's the son of Roy and Evelyn
Kennedy, and attended elementary school in
brussels and high school in wingham. He has
a BA from Ottawa University and master's
degree in social work from the University of
Toronto.
David is married and has two, sons, Michael
and Mark. He will 'be writing' occasional
columns on justice and social issues for the
Brussels Post and the Huron Expositoy. Some
of his upcoMing articles will be on' gun control
legislation and bail.
David is hoping for reactions and comments
froin readers,He will be glad to answer any
questions about Canada's just ice and prison
systems. Write your questions and comments
to David Kennedy, care of this newspaper.
(3y David Kennedy):
Why are all these criminals roaming the
streets? Once the' police catch them, keep
them locked u p!
There is no 'doubt that over the last few
years a great mom reports have been
reaching 'US "about the nuRiber of crimes
committed by people who have been reteitsed
on bail, sometimes of ter being released more
• than, once. We might ask, "Once the potj¢e
catch a crook, shouldn't the courts keep em
caught?"
Well, let's look at the purpose of bail. In our
system of justice, a person is presumed
innocent until proven guilty. As a result, we
must treat individuals as innocent people until'
the courts declare them •guilty, Since a
substantial number of "not' guilty" findings
are rendered and since a substantial number
of charges are .eventually dropped or
withdrawn, the wisdom of the above Philtiso-
ply is ctear.
Logically, we must -then conclude- that, a-
person facing a criminal charge-(but still
presumed innocent) should not suffer loss of
freedom or other rights of a citizen. Now,
obviously, some people are jus't too dangerous
to take a chance on them.
Then how do . we balance this conflict
between the principals of innocence and the
danger to the community. The • answer
accepted by our judicial system has been to
give the courts the power to hold someone
charged with an offence if the court feels that
the Crown can show sufficient reason to
believe that this person may have-,dOnatnitted
the offence and ,would pose a serious threat to
the life or propertY of the community if he
were to be released. The onusis on the Crown
to prove why this man should not be released.
Prior to the introduction of the Bail RefOrm
Act a couple of years ago, the onus was on the
defetice,,to prove why the individual should be
- released. However that systetii saw many
individnals remaining in prison simply
becauSe they had been _charged with an
offence (not convicted) and tliEludge did not
want to believe their claims of irinoCetiCe.,
The counts wet also faced with the dilenima
presented by the destitute individual or others
who had a bad track record with the law. They
had repeatedly been convicted of criminal
offences but under the general principle of
innocence they argued that they should ,be
released until proven guilty of this particular
charge. The courts knew full well that further
offences would probably be committed
because the individual had no visible means of,
support, apparently • no change in behaviour
pattern, and an established record of criminal
offences. Thus, the courts were, given the
power to hold an individual -in prison pending
his court case if it appeared that further
offences were likely tooccur. Again under the
recent Bail Reform Act, the onus was on the
Crown to prove that such alurther offence was
likely to occur.
Because of the irresponsible behaviour of
some and because of the obvious danger that
individuals' would refUse to' appear in court for
the court case, if released, the court was also
given the power to:hold someone in jaillif they
had reason to believe that the individual
would not return to court on the date specified
for further court action. This required a very
difficult judgment decision on the part of the
courts. How could they possibly determine if
tau individual's promise to appear in court
could be trusted? Obviously, an individual
who wanted to avoid prosecution for his-
offence might say anything in order to, be
released and provide him with the opportunity
to run away,
So, the courts were given the powers .to
require individuals to place the deed to real
property in the hands of the courts or to leave ,
money in the hands of the court in an attempt
-to assure their re-appearance for trial. The
Courts also were empowered to require the
, chOrged individual to find other community
citizens who were willing to risk their property
or money as a Sign of faith and stability that
the individnal charged would reappear.
Thus the courts can deny bail for three
reasons, First if it is felt that a serious danger
• to the community would exist if the charged
individual was released. Second, if it appears
that a further offence is likely to be
committed. Third, if it appears that ,the
individual will not return to court as required.
All of these reasons seem valid and can
generally be supported. Unfortittiately some
very serious side effects haVe Occurred. The
very poor have been unable to raise the
amount of the hail required even though they
are unlikely to violate any of the above three
I reasttils„LbA_r entrits have, as a matter of
routine, been placing a momentary Valtle on
the release on bail. In our local detention
centres, the largest' single group of indIviduala
being held are there on remand, awaiting , tneir court case. In our larger cities hil
particular, this -Wait regularly amounts' to •
several months. The ina'Ority of persons ltdld
lioVe been'4hrirgecl'‘ktith ' roPertyriffendeS, the
value of Whieli is leli.: ail tg60.1 ', . :, 1.e.'„,
Is the ost.jostifid0 I'd litO 10 lietir Mt
opinion. .
MARCH 241 '
• McKillop:` Mr. William Smith of MCIcillop has sold his farm .
on Con. 8 to Mr. Jas. Harney of Usherne. The price paid is
$6,000. The farm contains 100 acres and is said to be one of
the best in the township.
GOO Work: Mr. John Lacy and Patrick HinesofMcKillop
chqpped and split ten cords and a quarter of wood in 11 hours.
The wood was measured by Mr.Th os. Kirk who is prepared
to certify to the correctness of the above statement.
Stanley: We notice that Mr. Hugh Ross of Stanley has just
imported a. thoroughbred French Candian Stallion from the
Province of Quebec. This animal weighs 1250 pounds, stands
14% hands high and his girth is six feet.
Lot Purchased: One of the town lots offered for -sale' by
Messrs. Willson & Scott on Saturday was pin-chased by Mr.
H. M cGregor for $230.00. The other lot was bid in.at $159,00.
This shows that real estate is not decreasing' in value in
Seaforth as it is in many other towns on account of hard times.
`J Married: Pullinan - McCleonighty . In Seaforth at the
Presbyterian Manse by the Rev, T. Goldsmith on the 16th,
) Mr. Samuel H. Pullman of Hibbert to Miss Jane
McCleonighty of Mitchell.
Toronto Livestock Market: Receipts during the past week
were 399 head, against 465 the previotis'week. The market
was quiet but steady with a good demand for first class cattle
for which supply was insufficient. 'We continue to quote extra
quality at $4.75 to $5.80;-first class at $4.25 to $4.50, second
class at $3.75 to $4.00 -and third class $3.00 to $3 SP
Church Sold: The wardens of the Brussels Episcopal
Church have sold their frame church and ground on which the
church stands to Brussels Orange Lodge for $250.00 without
furniture or seatin'gs.
Huron Notes: The increase of receipts at Clinton station, .
Grand Trunk Railway for February is $4,000 in advance of the
corresponding month of last year.
MARCH 22, 1901
Brucefield: Dr. James Baird of Sudbury formerly of
Brucefield, has lately been quarantined with two cases of
smallpox. He succeeded in bringing them around safely.
Tuckersmith: Mr.George Pepper of Toronto was visiting his
brother Roger last week.
Accident; Mr. Wm. Hogg ,'fourth son of James Hogg of
McKillopmet with a serious accident. Mr. Hogg was engaged
in feeding a straw cutter when his glove was caught in the
rollers and his hand was drawn into the knives and his fingers •
and hand were sliced off to the wrist. Dr. Scott was ,sent for
and the-young man is doing,,nicely,
Agricultural Society . The Tuckersmith Agricultural Society
has purchased. the house and lot of Mr. Duggan adjoining
their new show grounds. They , now have the 'most
commodious and best. equipped grounds in the county.
Hullett: Mr, William Oke of the 12th concession of Hullett
has sold his farm containing 100 acres to Mr.Willialit Knox, a
prosperous farmer of the same locality. This 'farm is well
situated and as Mr. Knox paid the sum of $5,000 we think he
has a cheap farm.
&mall: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Welsh , who have been
visiting relatives and friends in Exeter and other places for a
couple of weeks, have returned home.
Kippen: Mr. Hugh Mustard of Manitoba , who has been
spending a three months' visit with • friends and with his
cousin, Mr. James McGregor of Tuckersmith, returned hqme
on Monday. Our correspondent is informed '-that' Mr.
Mustard's visit was not all for naught and that he may return
in the future for one of our fairer ones.
Local Brief: Mr. Thomas Brown has added to his
auctioneering business taht °nand agency and, will negotiate
sale of farms and other real estate either, by auction or
privately.,
, MARCH 26,1926
Winthrop: Mr. and Ws. Nelson Govenlock spent Sunday
with Mr. and Mrs: Win. Sproat of Tuckersmith. -
Announcement: Mr, and Mrs. Egerton Roe announce the
engagement of their youngest daugahter Lillian Ir ne to Mr.
William Machan, son of Mr. William 'Machan o Grey.
Hullett: Miss M. Adams was the guest of he sister, Mrs.
Austin Dexter last week. Mr. Peter Dunlop a d sister, Miss
,Vera Dunlop atfended the wedding reception of their cousin
in Morris. .
Staffa: Mr. S. H. Norris is visiting relatives in toronto. Miss
Ada Emmerson left on Monday morning for Woodstock.
- Local Briefs: Mrs.c.A.Barber was called to Woodstock this
week owing to the serious illness of her mother. Miss
Florence Beattie is the guest of Mrs. Clen Colbert in London.
Bible Class: The meinbers of the Pastor's Bible Class of
Northside Church met at the ,home of Mrs. Frost for the .
purpose of electing the following officers: President,
W.D.Hoag; Vice President, Mrs. Frost; Sec.-Treas., Mr.
Rands; Assistant teacher, C: H. Holland.
4 Kippen: Mr. Fulton who has been spending the past three -7
,months at the manse with his
returned to his home in Streetsville. r.
daughte Mrs. (Rev'.) Lundy ii•
William Ivison of
Kippen has installed a fine radio and h and his friends haVe
been enjoying some splendid music. , - • . _
At the Lions semi-monthly meeting held in the Commercial
Hotel last ThursdaY evening, one of the most gratifying items
was the returns from the euchre and danbe of the Right
before. •
Owing to the con'tlition of the roads in the country, the
directors of the. Seaforth Agticultitral Society have decided to
postpone their Spring Show to Thursday, April 8th , -when it, is
hoped the weather will be favourable to, both exhibitors and
spectators.
. MARCH 23,19$i s
The Family Night prograM in First Presbyterian Church.
Thursday evening was well attended.
The members of Northside United Church., along their
wives and husbands, were treated to a full course turkey
dinner as guests of the Women's ^Association, in the
schoolroom of the, church on Thursday evening March 15.
A pleasant evening was spent at the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Alex Muir on Friday evening when they 4narked the
twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding.
Over 100 people gathered at S.S.#7, Tuckersmith
Tuesday evening to honour Miss Mary Campbell, the teacher
of that school, prior to her leaving at the lend of the school
term.
The members of Seaforth Skating Club are staging a
skating carnival in the Memorial Centre on Saturday,
The St. Patrick's Day dinner served by the C.W.L. in St.
lames' Parish Hall on Saturday was well attended.
• Contributions to the Hester Seal Campaign now amount to
$207.00, less than 50 per cent of the total contributed last
year.,
hardtinie social, sponsored by the Women's Association. rat bars United Church was largely attended, each trout) in
the church taking part.
bn Friday evening of last week neighbors and friends
koth4eaf at the home of Mt. and Mrs. Peter E. Maloney, to
igd„farewell to their good friend and neighbour, Bill McKay.
The pnrchating coinntittee of the • Volunteer; Fite
„,,./ Department, rgritenfleld,• reported they have purchased a „truck andlt,lkas, decided at the meeting to ,havti this truck
11,ttd.Oetivith:,fire fig 1 g equipment at. Woodstock,
SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, .MARCH 25, 1976
Speeding trucks f
Whose cutbacks