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Clinton News-Record, 1971-05-27, Page 4Speaking to a meeting of the Clinton Lion's club recently, Huron County Development officer Spence Cummings said that lack of recreation facilities hurt the chances of a town like Clinton in attracting industry. Criticism has been directed against the statement by some members of town council since the remark was made, but it is hard to see their reasoning. • For one thing, Cummings did not suggest that Clinton was doing a bad job on recreation, he just said there were deficiencies. Taking a look at what we have shows we have some of the best publicly-supported facilities of any town our size. We have one of the most modern arenas around and a good pool. The Kinsmen have given the town the best baseball facilities in the area and ,we have a good racetrack. There are also some good parkettes.' Certainly if Cummings had attacked the job being done by the recreation committee or suggested that we need to spend more money on recreation when it is already one of the most costly departments in town, he could have been criticized. But his observations are the same .as many others have been making. He sees the need for a movie theatre, and who doesn't. He calls for more parkland and a camping grounds for tourists, something this newspaper has advocated many times and nearly all town councillors have agreed is needed. He also said the town needed a YMCA or some organization like it, and it is hard to, imagine anyone who would argue that point since such an organization would not be using tax • money and would provide needed programs that could alleviate the burden on the town's recreation programs. It is notable that most of the programs he has suggested would cost the taxpayer little. This is an important point. We need more facilities in town, but we cannot expect the town to keep picking up the tab for more new facilities that cost a lot of money and require more and more staff. Other organizations and individuals must begin to help meet the need. And we must begin to make our recreation dollar stretch farther. One way is by making full use of the facilities we have, not only the arena and swimming pool but the gymnasiums at the schools, the high school track and the football field. And we need more facilities that require little supervision such as tennis courts and outdoor basketball courts. Having good recreation facilities doesn't require money so much as it requires ideas, enthusiasm and good old fashioned muscle. We may be short on money, but surely we have the rest. A new Finance Minister The news out of Ottawa has been so gloomy lately, what with unemployment worse and inflation threatening to arise from the grave, that most people would agree that Edgar Benson has failed, if many even felt he tried. So let's fire him and get a new finance minister. But who? How about Paul Hellyer, who this week formed a new political movement? Mr. Hellyer has said the way to lick the problem is through compulsory wage and price controls. He's always been one to take the bull by the horns and he sure picked a big bull this time because if he tried to implement his suggestion he'd have both business and labour after his edam's apple. Still, he's a courageous man (he proved it in the past by taking on the armed forces) and if it would save the situation the effort might be worth it. The problem is, that everyone doesn't think it is the answer including three well-known economists, Richard Lipsey of Queen's University, John Crispo of University of Toronto and J. Douglas Gibson of York University, who recently said so before the Senate's national finance committee. They said it wouldn't work and they said voluntary guidelines of the Prices and Incomes Commission wouldn't work. But they didn't say what would. How about Robert Stanfield? The Progressive Conservative Leader has been saying all winter that the way to stop unemployment was to stimulate the economy through "selective tax cuts". The term sounded good even if he didn't exactly spell out what he meant. But then last week Stanfield blew his whole cover of quiet knowledge about how the economy should be run. When the news broke that the cost of living index had risen sharply, Stanfield confidently urged the government to solve the problem with selective tax cuts. Anyone who knows anything about economics knows that if Stanfield can solve both unemployment and inflation by that one move, he has a job far higher than finance minister or even prime minister. It's up THERE — walking on water. It's becoming obvious that no one has the answers to the problem. When the government embarked on its fight against inflation it was following the recognized, textbook solution for fighting inflation that every economics student learns in college. Most of the economists in the country agreed the policy was right. Now they don't, and while blasting the government for its hard heartedness in creating unemployment, no two economists have been able to agree on what should be done long eough to tell the government. One of these days we'll stop fooling ourselves and realize the economy of the country is like the weather, we may influence it, but we can't control it. That, of course, would be a blow to the pride of all economists, both inside the government as advisors and outside in the universities, who have talked themselves into believing economics is a science, It would also be a tough break for opposition parties who couldn't claim that the government is bungling the whole situation every time the gross national product dipped a percentage point. But it sure would be a boon to finance ministers. Think back — how long is it since you remember a finance minister who wasn't almost hated by the people? How long since one rose to be prime minister after holding the portfolio? How long since one was ever heard from again after finally getting out of the job? It's getting so that when the next prime minister organizes his cabinet and appoints a finance minister, the poor unfortunate will beg to be sent off to the Siberian salt mines instead. You don't think so? How'd you like to be the finance minister. THE CLINTON NEW ERA Amalgamated THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1865 1924 Established 1881 ' Clinton News-Record. A member of the Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) second' class mail registration number — 0817 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (in advance) Canada, $6.00 par year U.S.A., $7.50 KEITH W. ROULSTON Editor HOWARQ AITKEN — General Manager Published every Thursday at th MEd 'of Huron County ii Clinton, Ontario Population 3,475 THE HOME OF RADAR IN CANADA His conscience causes conflict 4 Clinton News-Record, Thursday, May 27, 1971 .FRIS8gE Letters Editorial comment, to the Editor LISTIM To 1-14IS... ""DEAR CONSTirtie0T2 lisl AASLJER To rwri-r9pito,0 vficchtm Soft or stern? Another aspect of the continuing Battle of the Sexes that interests me is the problem of establishing a policy for the upbringing of the children. More and more I seem to be encountering husbands and wives who disagree on the fundamentals of child-raising. In most homes, I expect, a brisk argument may be launched by any innocent remark about the relative merits of love and discipline. As a father of three, I have gone all the way with Dr. Benjamin Spock who believes that love and discipline are partners; or, rather, that they should be. But in actual fact it rarely seems to work out that way. It is usually love or discipline. Two things, I believe, are true of the average modern child. One is that he's spoiled. The other is that he's spoiled by his mother. There! My neck is out. It seems to me that a vast number of women have misunderstood the advice of the child psychologists and their emphasis on love. They confuse love with softness. Many a little moster is reared „ . • 75 YEARS AGO May 27, 1896 The Clinton New Era The rain interfered with the baseball and lacrosse club parades, but at 12:30 the London Orients and Goderich Clubs met on the Park and London went to bat. The match was well contested, Goderich on the start having the best of the "Forest City" visitors. However the tables turned and the Orients won an 18-11 victory. Several hundred people gathered at the skating rink to witness the concert there. Elaborate preparations had been made for it and a first-class program prepared. At 7:80, one of the heaviest and most severe thunder storms hit and lasted about two hours, greatly marring the success and pleasure of the concert. 55 YEARS AGO May 25, 1916 The Clinton News-Record Lieut. Broder McTaggart eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. D. MeTaggart, received promotion last week to the rank of Captain. He is on the Intelligence staff of the artillery at the front. His old friends in town offer hearty congratulations upon his military success. The executive of 'the Women's Patriotic Society request the attendance of members at the Council Chambers on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. There will be a short business meeting, after which Lieut. Bower, recently returned from the front will give a short speech on the distribution of socks at the front. Mr. A. J. Holloway, had his new five-ton scale Weighing on Thursday last. 40 YEARS AGO May '28,1931 The Clinton News-Record The town council Will 'meet Monday, June 1 at 8:30 Mr. Bert Huller is busy building tourist cabins at through the excessive, demonstrative affection of mothers who nourish the wistful dream that tenderness alone is the answer. They dare not be stern because they dare not risk the chance that a son or daughter will feel unwanted. And so you can count on the fingers of one hand the children you know who are truly well-behaved. Most of the husbands I know agree with me that the old-fashioned, out-dated methods were the best. True, these were often dictated by the times. In the day of the big family, for example, discipline was absolutely necessary. A home may survive with one rotten kid on the premises. It might not survive with 12. They are before my time, but they must have been wonderful days when a small boy or girl would respond to the word of command, when a child was just naturally expected to be polite and decent to his elders. And if we're to believe the hundreds of writers who have told their stories of such a childhood this discipline seldom got in the way of love. Conodate on the Maitland. The Hospital Board will meet on Tuesday evening June 2, at 7:30 in the Board Room of the town hall. A softball game will be held between Clinton and Seafotth in the local recreation park on Friday, May 29, at 6:15 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Andrews and children of Scarboro Bluffs were weekend guests at the home of their parents, Magistrate and Mrs. S. J. Andrews. They came especially to visit their mother, who has been ill and is not yet fully recovered. 25 YEARS AGO May 30, 1946 The Clinton News-Record George Vanderburg, Clinton, has in his possession an old violin which he thinks is rather valuable. Mr. Vanderburg bought this violin over 40 years ago at Thompson's Music Store in Goderich. He says it has all the characteristics of a Stradivarias violin. Inside is found this inscription: "Antonius Stradivarious Cremonensis Faciebat Anna 1730". If this instrument proved to be a genuine Stradivarias violin, it would be worth thousands of dollars. George H. Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. George T. Thompson, was awarded the William Wyatt Scholarship in the third year honor English at the University of Western Ontario, London. History was made at Brussels Public School, when injections to prevent whooping cough arid diptheria were given to 'the student body. it was the first time for either injection belug used in an organized school health campaign. 15 YEARS AGO May 24, 1956 The Clinton News-Record Blossom Sunday in the Niagara Peninsula was first slated for May 13, then postponed to May 20, because of the cold But this must be a two-way deal in which mother and father agree. A home in which the father is playing the role of sergeant-major and the mother is playing the role of comforter is bound to be unhappy. It's a particularly tragic situation when a mother uses the father's discipline as a threat, the You-be-good-or-Daddy-will- spank-you technique that's all too common. I know of two fathers who have reconciled themselves to a more or less inactive role in the shaping of their children because of this. You can hardly blame them. Every form of punishment, or any insistence on strict behaviour merely drives the children into their mother's soft, ever-ready embrace, the retreat from reality. I have dined in homes where the children ran the gamut from temper tantrums to open insolence simply because the parents couldn't get together on a method. Nothing demonstrates this division so much as the question of spanking. No other subject will produce the quantity of irate, indignant mail from spring. Blossoms shout e at their peak this weekend as they are running about two weeks late, On May 20 the peach blossoms had not even begun to appear. An anecdote came to our notice concerning a salesman for a local bakery. It seems that an elderly customer of the bakery had given him what she thought One of the most annoying qualities with which man has been afflicted is the conscience. How much more simple and pleasant life would be were it not for that small, niggling voice that cannot be drowned out no matter how loudly one's other voices shout. Constantly shouting are the voices of our sensual nature, urging us on to venial sins. "Go ahead, have another piece of chocolate cake with whipped cream. It won't hurt to get off the diet for one day. Life isn't worth this torture. And I'll swear those scales are wrong." And the little voice mutters, "Liar." And you hear it. "Come on, one more drink won't hurt you. You've always been able to handle your booze. So you'll have a little hangover in the morning. So what?" And the little voice'whispers, "Idiot." And you hear it. Then there is 'the voice of rationalization, not so noisy, but resonant and insidious. We've all heard it. Mother 'has. "'I'd feel far more like getting a good dinner ready if I just lay down and watched that afternoon movie," lather has. "I don't get enough exercise, It would`tio me a lot more good, and I'd probably be a better Christian if I got out golfing in God's wonderful world, instead Of sitting around in a Stuffy old The real proof of this is in the private schools. I do not like the idea of sending children away from home, but in case after case I've seen boys and girls who were so-called "problem children" but returned after a single semester with astonishingly good manners and a sense of participation in the family group they'd never known before. What causes this? Why,of course, discipline does and since children are remarkably reasonable when given the opportunity they take to it not only naturally, but often gratefully. was a dollar bill. She had actually given him two one dollar bills stuck together. The salesman was several blocks on when he realized his mistake, but he went back and returned it. The elderly customer was very pleased and felt that a mention of this would not be amiss. church with a bunch of stuffy people." Student has. "If I study all evening for my exam, I'll only tire my mind and get all up-tight and probably study the wrong things. I'd be far better off to go to a movie and have a fresh, open mind tomorrow." Kid has. "Well, if all the other kids are saying that word, there can't be much wrong with it. Why shouldn't I?" But lurking in every one of them is that nasty little voice which never shouts, but always. comes through loud and clear. It takes half the fun out of life. May is a terrible month for a man with a conscience. All the voices seem to be shouting at once. I'm not much for astrology, but surely Satan was born in May. Every May I go through a terrible inner conflict that would psychologically devastate the average man. Opening weekend of the trout season, in this benighted climate, inevitably coincides Ninth the final disappearancer of the last iceberg on the property. There you are, All those lovely fish waiting to match wits with you. And all that accumulated, filthy muck lying around waiting to be raked up, There lies the golf course, greening, beckoning, shouting thati, your game is loing to The Editor: In regards to the recommendation by Mayor Symons for a county take-over of recreation, at the earlier meeting I felt the,agreement was that the townships did not object to paying that portion which the township's people used. If the county took over recreation, I would remind you that the budget would be raised in the same method as now used by the school boards. Compare the population of Clinton with the population of Hullett, with the' assessment of Clinton and Hullett, and see how fair that is. Congratulations to Mayor Symons on the job he is doing. I have more than once been proud of the Mayor of "my" town. Yours truly, John Jewitt, Londesboro. particularly encouraging people to assist us once again this year in view of the anticipated increased demand. I would ask that you bring our request to your readers in the anticipation that the people of Huron County will once again support our Society in its efforts on behalf of the many children in the County. Sincerely, (Mrs.) Frances Ball, Chairman Auxiliary Committee 10 YEARS AGO May 25, 1961 The Clinton News-Record Beth Cook entertained 13 of her little friends at her home on Saturday, May 20 in honour of her ninth birthday. The girls enjoyed a recreation period of games and were presented with prizes. Lunch and a birthday cake were served. improve immeasurably this year, if you'd just get an early start. And there, even closer, smack in the middle of your wife's favourite flowerbed, lies the neighbours' fence, felled by the winds of winter, whining to be propped up for the tenth annual season. As the month progresses, the conflict deepends. There lies an invitation for a fishing-and-poker weekend up north with the boys, on the holiday weekend. And there, in ambush, as is her wont, lies your wife, pointing at things. Women have a certain obsession with things; a certain blindness about the true essence of life. In this case she's pointing at a cedar lawnchair, lying on its back, hopelessly crippled after 12 feet of snow. She's pointing at the wooden back stoop, which resembles a snaggle-toothed hag, with its broken and Totting timbers. She's pointing at the peony bed, which looks like a bog wallow. I am proud and 'happy to state that once again, I have come through the conflict of May 'unscathed and pure 'of heart. The trick? Put in a pair of spiritual ear-plugs for your conscience, and a pair of physical ear-plugs for your wife. The property lookS exactly as it did on May 1. It isn't opinion that counts... It's the thought behind it. Need for diversified recreation IS tVEA.1 No* gE'A)f YoaR Lk 7TE R ExPtESs 'mg cox) CE 124 F:i Soar Tilk FuTuRk OF TdE 7-041AI OF CLIMToid, You_ mAy REST ArSu 12E0 T>IAT Youe go.VEIZAJNEAJT J$ FICUTEL9 notlfe Of youR ikrqd -r: SPLevEo To YOcr.E. Cot4iftbd TY. YOWES readers as a column suggesting that spare-the-rod-and- spoil-the-child is good advice. And all of it is from women. The editor, The Huron County Childreh's Aid Society for several years now has been actively engaged in a summer camping program for both its own wards. and in particular, children in the community at large. This program of referral to several church sponsored and Single Parent camps has progressively increased in volume over the last several years. In the summer of 1970, over sixty children attended various church camps and seven mothers and twenty-eight children went to Single Parent camp. This activity of the Huron County Children's Aid Society hai been financed by the very gracious voluntary contributions of the many service clubs, I generalize wildly, of course, church groups and individuals in but obedience in children these Huron County. We are days is rare because "Momism" has become a disease of the times. And a spoiled child who must eventually face life on his own is ill-equipped for the demands of citizenship simply because he never learns them at home.