Clinton News-Record, 1956-02-23, Page 1No, 0,Tho Home Paper With the News CLINTON, ONTARIO# THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 11956
7 Coats a copy — $3.00 a Year
ifttott
THE NEW ERA-91st YEAR THE NEW$,RECORD-75th YEAR.
These are principals in the organization of a woman's Progressive Conservative organization in
South. Huron riding. At a meeting in Goderich last Saturday, the formation program was outlined.
Taking part are, left to• right, Thomas Pryde, MLA for South Huron, Exeter; Mrs. Douglass Freeman,
Clinton; Mrs. Douglas Mooney, Goderich; Elston Cardiff, MP for Huron-Bruce, Brussels, and Miss
Clarke, Seaforth,
Dedicate Protestant Chapel
Officials Who took part sn the dedication ceremony of the
Protestant chapel. at Pico. Station Clinton last Sunday included
(left to right) G/C H.
Mayor
CommandingOfficer, of
the Station; W. 3. Miller, Mayor of the town of Clinton; r/.1,
the Rev, III. Garrett, Protestant padre at the Station.; ,W/C the
Rev. 3. Dunn, Trenton and 0/C the Rev. P. W. lVfaaeari,
director of religious administration (Protestant) at Airrace
Headquarters, Ottawa, (RCAF Photo)
Clinton Kinsmen Mark 36th
Anniversary Of Founding
Clinton Woman Takes Part In Women's PC Organization Fatal Accident Blamed By Jury
On: Liquor From .RCAF Station
Two Hour Deliberation Follows
Inquest Into Traffic Fatality
71,' Fir•
Zbe
CohinIng
Lions Club Head
Campaign To Sell
Easter Seals
This year the annual campaign
for funds for the Ontario Society
for Crippled Children, is again be-
ing sponsored in Clinton by the
Lions Club.
President Royce Macaulay has
announced that Reg. Ball will be
chairman of the campaign which
is being carried out here in the
Clinton area,
To the 9,500 handicapped child-
ren scattered through the province
of Ontario, the 1956 sale of Easter
Seals means hope. Easter Seals,
to them, brings treatment and
training, and a possibility of in-
dependence and relief from the
physical handicaps that birth, ill-
ness or accident left them.
The only appeal for funds made
by the Society for Crippled child-
ren is carried out by the sale of
Easter Seals by 211 Service clubs
in the province. The objective for
the campaign, which runs through-
out the month of March, is 8625,-
000.
By contributing to the Easter
Seal Campaign you help crippled
children in many ways. You pro-
vide them with a Nursing Service,
you sponsor close-to-home clinics,
you send them to camp, you pro-
vide hospital and therapy treat-
ment for them. You help them
with transportation and many
other services too numerous to
mention. Many orthopaedic sur-
geons and physicians contribute
their time and great skill in
straightening little limbs.
It's a great team. The Ontario
Society, the Easter Seal service
clubs, the surgeons and physicians,
and YOU, who made it all poSsible
with your Easter Seal dollars.
Many a young man and woman
walks proud and upright today be-
cause you helped them.
ANYONE CELEBRATING A
LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAY?
Next Wednesday, February 29,
is a special one for a good number
of people Who will have the oppor-
tunity for a birthday celebration
the first time since 1952. If any.
one knows of any persons marking
their birthday on thiS occasion,
please get in touch with this office
by writing, or phoning 4, in time
for next week's paper. These once-
hi-four years celebrations should
gain more attention than ordinary
birthdays.
The Weather
- 1956
High. LOW
Feb. 16 21 16
17 27 17
18 30 21
19 31 6
20 27 14
2 26 12
20 11 Snow 16 ins.
1955
High Low
35 22
31 22
2
35
8
11
42 32
40 30 3 14
nowt 1 in.
On Monday night a quite suc-
cessful banquet and meeting was
held by the Federation of Agri-
culture in Huron County, at Ely-
Oa to start off the week-long cam-
paign for rural safe driving which
is taking place this week. Doug-
las McNeil, president of the coun-
ty federation was in the chair for
the meeting.
Highlights of the occasion was
the announcement of winners of
the essay contest on the subject of
safe driving, conducted in the
county, as well as the award of $10
to the Fireside Farm. Forum for
their entry in the Provincial con-
test. The essayists were asked to
decide on the greatest single cause
of accidents in their community,
and then suggest some way to
stop such accidents.
Corporal J. Lightfoot of the
Sebringville detachment of the
Ontario Provincial Police was the
speaker and showed films illustra-
ting that "Just as sure as rude-
ness begets rudeness, courtesy is
contagious and courtesy is a safe
driving rule. Mts. Lightfoot was
introduced by Jack Myers, Wing-
ham, adjuster-fielchnan of the Co-
op Insurance,
Judge Frank Fingland, Q.C,,
Clinton presented the essay
awards.
A resolution Was passed by the
gathering, in support of the Hur-
on County TB Survey to be held in
May.
The Fireeide entry was "In our
community we have no serious ac-
cidents. Carelessness causes many
accidents, Numerous accidents
have occurred at Carter's Hill, Lot
14, Con. 9, and Bridge, Lot 18,
Con. 9. The scantier and sanding
of all slippery narrow places could
eliminate much hazard.
"The forum members have sign-
ed a petition on removal of top
of this narrow hill, It has gone
to council.
"TWo lane entrances are on top
of this hill. Snowfence, trees,
fences and steep side banks clam-
spate Mr. Carter's visibility to on-
doming traffic,
"Non-licensed tractor drivers
should stay off roads. If you
drive, don't drink,"
Raving Wen a prize in the ()IAA
his first chance to hold office. "It
gives us a chance to say some-
-thing—it is a real way of getting
us out of our shells• and giving us
some measure of self-confidence.
It is very necessary that we ac-
cept responsibility and in that way
we help ourselves' and our club."
Deputy Governor McKenzie re-
lated four chides, to which every
Kinsman must adhere. The first
was to be in regular attendance
at all meetings and functions of
the club. The duty to get up and
express an opinion on contrivers-
ial matters, and finally: each
Kinsman should be proud of his
association and his club.
President K. W. Colquhoun in-
troduced and thanked the guest
speaker.
Main item of business of the
meeting was the acceptance, vol-
untarily of the treasurer's posit-
Pah by Cliffofid"Pratt.— The change
is necessitated by • the present
treasurer moving to Vancouver,
B.C., early in March. Maitland
Edgar and Kenneth Scott acted
as sergeants-at-arms.
Carman McPherson and Donald
Epps were nominated as recruit-
ers for the Huron County TB
X-ray survey, which will take
place in May.
Guest at the meeting besides
the Deputy Governor was Robert
Stevenson, St. Thomas,
ario contest, the Fireside Forum
was not eligible to place in the
county competition. Though the
provincial contest was open only
to Farm. Forums,' the one in Hur-
on also invited entries from Wo-
men's Institutes, Junior Institutes,
and Junior Farmers. However,
the three prizes were taken by
Farm Forum entries.
First prize was awarded the
Sixth Line East Wawanosh For-
um, written by Mrs. Melvin H.
Taylor, secretary, and was on the
/level subject, "The Nut Behind
the Wheel." (This essay may be
found on page two of this' paper
where it is published as the lead
editorial.)
Second prize went to the White-
church Farm Forum, RR 1, Luck-
now, entered by Cecil Falconer,
secretary: "Whitechurole F a r rn
Forum considers that the greatest
single hazard to rural safe-driving
in this community is carelessness.
"We see drivers ignoring stop
sighs, thirty nine zones, railway
crossips, slippery roads, giving
improper or. no signals, not dim-
ming lights and failing to show
common courtesy.
(Continued on Page Ten)
Skating Show On
February 24-25
Two Night Stand
A two-night performance by the
70-member Clinton Figure Skating
Club is being presented in the
Clinton Lions Arena to-morrow
night and Saturday night, as the
third annual show. Entitled
"Winter Wonderland of 1956" the
show includes a circus feature:
"Under the Big Top."
A ballet number is being perfor-
med by 18 members of the Clin-
ton and ,Goderich figure skating
clubs. D. Silverthorne, Stratford,
is the instructor this year.
Solo numbers will be skated by
Seija Kinkkuri, Timmins, a second
test medallist; Loraine Odbert,
Stratford, fifth test medalist;
Arthur Bourke, South Porcupine,
a sixth test medalist and Ontario
senior men's champion for 1955.
Arthur Dyer, Timmins, a fifth
test medalist, who was Northern
Ontario junior men's champion for
1955 will skate. A duet by Eliz-
abeth Odbert and Wayne Graham,
Stratford, both fourth test medal-
ists will be skated. This pair com-
peted for the junior Canadian pairs
championship. 0
P.C. Women Are
Organized In
Huron County
Mrs, Dorothy Downing, Toronto,
Progressive federal organizer, at
a meeting held in Goderich on
Friday' evening outlined a program
for forming a women's Progress-
ive Conservative organization in
the South Huron riding.
Named' to represent the various
municipalities w e r e: Goderich,
Mrs. Douglas Mooney; Goderich
township, Mrs. Robert Welsh; Hul-
lett township, Mrs. W. J. Dale
Clinton, Mrs. Douglas Freeman;
.Seaforth, Mrs. J. A. Westcott; Mc-
Killop township, Mrs. Earl Mills;
Tuckersmith township, Mrs. Clair
Haney; Exeter, Mrs. R. W. Kestle;
Stanley township, Mrs. Elgin. Mc-
Kinley; Hay township, Mrs. Thom-
as Meyers; Dashwood, Mrs. Letta
Taylor; Stephen township, Mrs,
John Morrisey; Crediton, Mrs,
Hugo Schenk.
Present to assist in organizing
the executive were: Thomas Pryde,
MPP, Exeter; Elston Cardiff, MP,
Brussels, and Clare Westcott, To-
ronto organizer for the Young Fro-
g) essive Conservative Association.
BR1LICEFIELD TRIO WILL
SING OVER CKNX-TV
Three young Brucefield singers
will take part in the Focus pro-
gram over CKNX-TV (Channel 8)
this evening, February 23. They
are Fred, Dick and Phyllis Lobb,
children of Mr. and Mrs. Harold
Lobb, 'formerly of Holmesville,
and for the past two years, of
Brucefield
0
Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Cooke are
spending a winter vacation in
Florida.
County Seed Fair
Here March 1-2;
Panel Discussion
The ninth annual Huron County
Seed Fair under the auspices of
the Huron County Soil and Crop
Improvement Association will be
held in the Clinton District 'Cal.
legiate Institute on Friday and
Saturday, March 2 and 3.
On Friday all exhibits will be
received and judged during the
morning and afternoon. In the
evening the entire show will be
open for public inspection from
8.00 to 10.00' p.m.
The Seed Fair will be officially
epc-ned on Saturday and a panel
discussion on "soil and crop pro-
duction" will feature the afternoon
program. Dr. D. N. Huntley,
field husbandry department, On-
tario, Agricultural College, Guelph,
will act as moderator of the pan-
el, Other prominent officials and
farmers from Huron County will
also take part in the discussion.
Following the program' there
will be an auction sale of the 10
bushel lots of grain, etc.
Since No. 1 School of Food Ser-
vices opened at Clinton last year
the school has been given a great
deal of publicity by different
magazines and newspapers in Can-
ada. The reason may be that it
is the only school of its kind in
Canada.
Recently the School of Food
Services was visited by represen-
tatives from the Toronto daily
newspapers, Kitchener TV, CBC-
TV, and a Kitchener newspaper,
and a Belleville newspaper,' and
the T. Eaton Co., Toronto. The
group was escorted through the
school and allowed to take photos
for publication and motion picture
shots for television.
F/L Johnson who took over the
school in June 1955 comes• from
Calgary, Alberta. She served in
the RCAF during World War II
before attending the school of
household economics at the Uni-
versity of Alberta. After rejoin-
ing the RCAF in, 1950 F/L John-
son served at AFHQ Ottawa, then
spent two years overseas at Zwei-
brucken, Germany before coming
to Clinton.
United Churchmen
Urge Jaycees Stop
(TA Investigation
Claiming the Canada Temperance
Act "is the best liquor law avail-
able" Huron Presbytery of the
United Church of Canada last
Wednesday urged Goderich Jaycees
to refrain from campaigning for
repeal.
Several weeks ago the Goderich
Junior Chamber of Commerce
made public their intention to in-
vestigate the liquor laws of the
County and more recently, after a
secret vote of their members, de-
cided to continue with research in-
to the question.
Rev. H. A. Dickinson, Goderich,
speaking on social service and
evangelism at a convention of over
50 ministers and lay delegates of
Huron Presbytery last Wednesday,
raised the matter, which after
-lengthy debate, resulted in the fol-
lowing resolution being passed:
"Believing that the Canada
Temperance Act is the best liquor
law available we, the Huron Pres-
bytery of the United Church of
Canada, would urge that the Gode-
rich (Junior) Chamber of Com-
merce refrain from any action
which would make conditions
worse in our county."
quired into the death of Mrs, Mor-
ella Davidson, in the town hall,
Clinton yesterday, and brought in
a decision that she "met death
when struck an Number 4 high-
way, one fifth of a mile south of
the town of Clinton limits by a
motorcar drivn by Gerald Whit-
aker, RCAF Station Clinton, on
the evening of February 12."
"We attribute part, at least, of
the responsibility for this accident
to the driving Whitaker while un-
der the influence of intoxicating
liquor purchased at the RCAF
Station Clinton and consumed
there earlier and by driving at a
greater rate of speed than the
weather and road conditions war-
ranted,"
The jury recommended that the
sale of intoxicating liquor at the
RCAF Station be more strictly
controlled. They noted that the
"evidence here revealed that a 17-
year-old civilian girl was taken on-
to the Station on this Sunday ev-
ening and supplied intoxicating
F/L LAURA JOHNSON,
Officer Commanding the School
of Food Services at RCAF Sta-
tion Clinton.
Royal Scarlet
Chapter LOL
Names Officers
The meeting of the Royal Scar•
let Chapter Loyal Orange Lodge,
District of Hallett was held in
Clinton on Sunday afternoon with
a large attendance from Clinton,
Goderich, Seaforth and Winthrop.
Five candidates were initiated in-
to the Royal Scarlet Degree by
the Chapter degree team: Murray
C. Dale, Robert W. Irwin, Everett
Smith and Wayne Smith, all of
LOL 793, Seaforth and Clarence
Cooper, 710 Clinton.
Worshipful Brother Asa Deeves
acted as Commander for the elec-
tion and installation of officers as-
sisted by Past Commander Harry
Crick, acting as Marshall. Results
w e r e: Wor. Commander, Sir
Knight Mervin- Falconer; Deputy
Commander, Sir Knight Frank
Falconer; Chaplain, Sir Knight
William Riehl; scribe, Sir Knight
Thomas Deeves; treasurer, Sir
Knight Henry Sloman, of 710; Clin-
ton; first lecturer, Sir Knight Ken-
neth Betties, second lecturer, Sir
Knight Roy Elliott, both of 793,
Winthrop; first conductor, Sir
Knight Earl Cooper; second con-
ductor, Sir Knight Gordon Bowers,
both of LOL 182, Goderich; Mar-
shall, Sir Knight Douglas Free-
man, Clinton; herald, Sir Knight
Borden Brown, Seaforth; sentinel,
Sir Knight William Cook, and im-
mediate past commander, S i r
Knight Harry Crich, both of Clin-
ton.
John Peacock
Receives Award,
Best Male Actor
John Peacock, Preston, has been
awarded the Phelps Award for the
best Male actor in a Western On-
tario Drama League entry not in-
vited to the festival.
Mr. Peacock won this award for
his portrayal of Decals Heis in
"The Shop at Sly Corner" pro-
J. J. Whitaker, 19 years, 140
pounds, repeated this account
substantially the same. He recall.
ed having been drunk the Saturday
night previous to the accident, and
went to bed at 1,30, getting up to
go en duty at seven. He began
drinking again at 2.30 and estima-
ted that he had had four or five
beers by eight o'cock that night.
Whitaker reported seeing the
lights of the parked IVICDonaki ear,
but did not see anyone, until the
deceased woman's body W a s
thrown up on the hood of his car.
He stopped as soon as he could
and went back to where her body
lay. He reported seeing another
ear, light green, approaching the
scene which skidded sidewise over
the body, and went on. He stop-
ped the next car, which later prov-
ed to be the McDonald ear return-
ing to Clinton, and he and Dort
Went into town he it.
At first Whitaker did riot state
that his girl friend was given boor
in the Corporal's and Staff Club,
but after questioning by the
Crown, admitted that Dort had
bought three beers, one for each
of them, and that the girl had
drunk some.
L. Penistan, Stratford, gov-
erintnent pathologist Specializing
in the examination of blood to de-
(Continued on Page Ten)
(By W.. 10,11L)
THIS MONTH' IT IS ONTARIO'S
turn to come beneath the scrutiny
of Canaela'e national magazine
and the descriptive pen of 13reee
Hutchieon. who is currently carry.
ing out a 1.5.pert report on a 201000.
Mile tour ecroes Canada . Sad,
ly, perhaps, but inevitably, Ontar-
io typed, as Toronto is typed .
and it is probably to be _expected
that Toronto should get the maj-
ority of attention in this interes-
ting account . . . Hutchison says,
"give Toronto time. A city will
be born here in due season, a city
of prodigious proportions and a
collective soul, The shiny smug-
rim, the well-fed aldermanic look,
the pathetic self-infatuation which
so repel the stranger will disap-
pear." In the meantime we must
perhaps be content with the adul-
ation which Toronto receives in
our province . . . and wait for her
to settle down before our more
rural areas may gain the attention
of the nation . .
AND AN OBSERVATION ]3Y
one of the world's brightest men
(according to columnist Hy Dos-
sin)—Charles B, Kettering. "If
you want to kill any idea, in the
world today, get a committee
working on it . ." y.*
THE FLASHING TRIO OF RED
lights which tops the manhole at
both the main intersection here,
and the corner of Highway 4 and
Rattenbury . . . have become quite
friendly and familiar . . One gets
the feeling of big city—the rom-
ance of winding underground pass-
ages . . . and the wonder of the
lives of people who work below
ground . . All this is rather for-
eign to the rural view of the tele-
phone lines . . . and though this
pair of holes in the ground, we
know belong to telephone and the
cables which carry so many hund-
reds of messages . , . we somehow
cannot get away from thoughts of
Art Carney . the Paris sew-
ers . . . and mysterious mining of
some sort . . . All this going on in
the middle of main street—and at
the same time we are becoming
quite used to it all . , .
*
MARTHA (OF THE RURAL
Scene) says . . , The first lesson in
Social Studies should teach the
child that he came into this world
with nothing . . that for the
years of his childhood he was a
consumer only, producing nothing
debted to society for everything he
consumes . . . is indebted to
him, for all he produ c-
Von of others . . . that he is in-
debted to him for all he produc-
es . . . and that he should aim to
.produce more during his life-time
than he consumes . . . in order to
leave the world a little better than
he found it. .
Deputy District Governor Ken
McKenzie, Listowel, was the guest
speaker at the regular meeting of
the Kinsmen Club of Clinton held
in Hotel Clinton,Tuesday night,
The meeting mared the 36th an-
niversary of Kinsmen clubs:
The speaker related the growth
from one club founded in Hamil-
ton' by Hal Rogers, to 300 clubs
with over 12,000 members. He felt
that Kin had to be good or it
would not have shown such phen-
omenal growth.
"Young men get a chance to
take an active part" the Deputy
Governor said.. "Kin's youth is
appealing to young people. We
are more free—have abounding
fellowship—are more' willing to
work and more willing to gamble.
With a group of young•men striv-
ing to maintain the ideals of Kin
we are bound to bring out the
best in one another.
"The founder, Hal Rogers, was
trying to reclaim some of the
comradeship that he had enjoyed
in the Armed Forces," the Dep-
uty Governor added, "He was
very successful."
Continuing on another thought
the guest speaker said that the
potency of Klnsmenship could not
be overlooked. He said that Kin
educated its members as in this
club, the member probably has
Sale Driving Essay
Awards Presented
e
Before the actual x,rays are
taken this spring, it is expected
that nearly 5,000 people in the
County will be Involved in the
planning of the surveys. This rad-
io broadcast is just one of count-
less plans being made by commit-
tees in charge of all phases of
publicity, of which the newspaper
campaign is not the least, to ad,
vi Se people Of what is CO take
pkia.
CKNX Radio
Interview
X-Ray Survey Men
Of interest to all radio listeners
is an interview next Monday mon-
ruing at 11 o'clock over CKNX
Wingham (920 on your dial), on
the "At Home With the Ladies"
program with Margaret Brophy..
Judge Frank Fingland, Clinton,
who is the ehairman of the Huron
County Kass '113 Chest x-ray sur-
vey scheduled to take place in
May, will be beard along with Dr.
R. M, Aldis, Goderich, of the Hur-
on County Health Unit, and also duced by the Galt Little Theatre
a former TB sanitorium patient, and directed. by John Xenia The
Preston actor is formerly front
England and is employed on the
teaching staff at the Preston kigli
school. He IS well known in Clin-
ton having been on the staff of
Clinton District Collegiate Meth-
tate for several years. This was
his first appearance with the Galt
Little Theatre,.
The festival will take place in
Woodstock from Wednesday, Mar.
ch 21 up to Saturday, March 24.
Local School of Food Services
Host to Radio, TV Newsmen
A coroner's jury of five men in- liquors in the Corporals' and Staff
Club there. We deplore this sit-
uation."
The inquest was presided over
by Coroner F. 0, Thompson, Clin-
ton, and conducted by Crown At-
torney Glenn Hays, Q.C., Goder-
ich. Jurors were Arthur Dutton,
(foreman), Brucefield; Stewart
Baird, RR 1, Brucefield; John
Peckitt and Wilbur Garrett, both
of RR 3, Seaforth, and Dean Ald-
winekle, RR 1, Varna.
The hearing began at ten in the
morning, and at 3.30 the jury re-
tired to bring in their findings
two hours later.
The first witness, Albert Jones,
brother of the deceased, told of
being a backseat passenger in a
car driven by Douglas McDonald,
Walkerton, along with his sister
(the deceased) and Mrs. A. Parry.
Mrs. McDonald, mother of the
driver of this car was in the front
seat. Mr. Jones recalled stopping
to let Mrs. Parry out of the car
at her home, and then proceeding
to the driveway leading to the
Davidson home where he lived. His
sister got out of the car first, and
he remained to shut the door,
which required a second slam. He
proceeded th the rear of the Mc-
Donald car, ready to cross the
street, and saw her being carried
down the road on the front of the
Whitaker car. He said he had not
seen lights of any :other car. He
said he went to ins sister, found
her dead, and then went home.
A Bible, which was later des-
cribed by Constable Vranlk of the
Goderich Detachment, Provincial
Police, as having been found on
the Whitaker car, just behind the
licence plate, was identified as his
sister's. by Mr. Jones.
Dr. F. M. Newland, who attend-
ed the deceased at the scene of
the accident said , that the road
was covered with light coating of
snow, and a light snow was fall-
ing. He did not think there would
be any difficulty in driving at a
moderate rate of speed.
Patrick Joseph Dort, passenger
in the Whitaker car, 19-year-old
member of the RCAF, testified
that lie had' been with Gerald
Whitaker driver of the death car,
from 2.30 o'clock until six the ev-
ening of the accident, and that dur-
ing that time in the Corporals'
and Staff Club, Whitaker had con-
sumed' four bottles of beer, and
had not eaten during that time.
Dort said that at six he had gone
into the TV room at the Club and
did not see Whitaker again until
about eight o'clock when they had
borrowed a car belonging to Har-
old W. Wright, member of the
RCAF, to come to Clinton to pick
up Whitaker's girl friend.
Dort said that the Club where
they had' been drinking was open
to serve beer from noon on, on
Sundays. Dort recalled seeing a
woman in front of the car, but it
was• too late to do anything. After
the car came to a halt, he said
he followed Whitaker back to the
body, and stopped a northbound
car, got a ride into Clinton where
they found the town constable C.
Perdue. Perdue notified a doc-
tor and an ambulance, by phone
and then drove with the two
young airmen to the scene of the
accident, where a crowd had gath-
ered.
The witness later told of trying
to drive back into town in the
Wright car (they thought they
were following the police car), on-
ly to have it stall at the Bayfield
River bridge, and they walked into
town only to find the police of-
fice closed. Then they got a taxi,
picked up Whitaker's girl friend
and went out to the Station again
where they went into the Club
and each had a beer. The girl had
only a little of the beverage, and
then Dort finished her bottle.