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Clinton News-Record, 1974-05-16, Page 4Speculation 40. Mamba, Canadian Conwhiantly NowspapIt AsseastIon favosber, OntiON 11V4isidy over aloistsdei THE HURON NEWS.RECORD Established 1881 VI:: CLINTON NEW ERA Established 1865 Amalgamated 1924 '14 WOW OADAO (ACAINO (.Hinton News-IZecord Published every Tlairsoley sit vellnion, Enter - Jinni* L Pliagersla General Manager, J. Howard Aliases ascend Masa Mall is Written nO. Hug OF Auk* tolitoY ailisilin101111011111111011110 4—CLINTON NW6-11CORD. THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1974; Editorial .Comment town We here at the News-Record fully on, dOrae the plan presented by Gordon, quern of Clinton at last Monday night's * Clinton Council meeting to restore .and renovate the town..core. For probably what will be a cheap in- vestment, Clinton'S main streets could become new looking, exciting and Or tractive without .a massive wrecking program. Using the Georgian theme, all the exteriors of the buildings could be Painted, perhaps shuttered in a facelif- ting program that would change a dirty run down street into a brilliant, highly at ' tractive, viable business section that Would attract shoppers as well as tourists. Behind closed doors We have to agree with Clinton Deputy- Reeve Frank Cook in his battle last Mon- day night to have a wrong righted. It's a principle that many councils should also endorse. Basically, Mr. Cook was against holding special open council meetings when only a closed committee meeting was announced. It gives a chance, even if it never happens, for something illegal to be carried out. Opening up a closed meeting in the middle to pass a couple of motions and then closing it doesn't give the public much chance to discuss the matter, Many times, because they are only corn- The death wish Since mandatory seat belt legislation was suggested as a possible con- sideration in the current session of the Ontario Legislature, newspapers across the province have been inundated with letters voicing opposition, not only to legislation, but to seat belts themselves "The majority of the objections in- dicate to me an unreasonable, irrespon- sible attitude on the part of uninformed writers," says Terry Thompson, Public Information Manager for the Ontario Safety League. Thompson has been collecting newspaper clippings for his files since the. Throne Speech mentioned, possible legislation. "Whether or not you agree'With manl datory seat belt legislation is beside the point at the moment," he suggested. "The point is, seat belts work and we've got the figures to prove it. They've been published time and time again, yet people seem to dismiss them so easily. "A report released, last year by the Ministry of Transportation and Com- munications stated that out of the 827 drivers killed in Ontario in 1972, only 40 were known to be using seat belts. A fur- f But there is a warning, as Councillor Roy Wheeler said last Monday night, "Let's hope it's not a flash in the pan." We hope it isn't either. There are going to be many problems in such an undertaking,, and there is definitely going to be some money involved, but the business area, for the most part, has been stagnant for some time and a restoration plan would do wonders for the town. Now if we can only get some of the Private citizens on a few of the residen, tial streets to take the same attitude, then Clintonians would indeed have a clean, fresh looking town for next year's Centennial, mitteo meetings,-where talking is done and no final decisions are made, many councillors are absent and hence the voting isn't representative. The press too is excluded and sometimes we find out about these special meetings up to a week after they have happened. And being the public representative at open council meetings, the press as well as the public is thusly denied information. Let's hope that in the future such back, room dealings will cease and any decisions that are made will be ap- proved with everyone concerned knowing about the agenda beforehand. ther look at the Ministry's figures shows that one out of every 895 belted drivers involved in collisions that year was killed. One out of every 447 unbelted drivers was killed. "You don't have to be a mathematician to see that wearing seat belts can decrease your chance of dying in a highway collision by some 50%," he stated. "And these figures are not from Australia, Sweden or France...they are from Ontario!" According to the MTC report quoted by Thompson, 42,8 percent of all the people fatally injured..in motor vehicle collisions were driver, and over .half of the drivers'killed'(54.4 percent) had seat belts in their vehicles but were not using them. 46.1 percent of , all the people non- fatally injured in motor vehicle collisions were drivers, and the proportion not wearing available seat belts, was even higher - 63.2 percent. "When you look at the figures," says Thompson, "seat belts make so much sense....) can only surmise that the 'death wish' is stronger than many of us realize." Another excellent rule for maintaining a happy marriage is to never, never take your wife on a fishing trip. Nothing can lead as swiftly to divorce or homicide. For one thing, wives make it almost impossible to go at the sport in the traditional way. You take Ed and me, now, when we get in the boat. First thing Ed does is put on his deer-stalker's cap. The cap is made of tweed and is covered with old flies (fishing-flies, that is) and the cap is probably about three sizes too big for Ed, so that if it weren't for his ears the cap would come down over his eyes. Ed's had the cap for years and he'd just be lost on a fishing trip without it. , Naturally, I respect this, being:1n a man, and ,Ed ,never ,says word about the pith helmet I wear. But I'll never forget that fatal morning when we agreed to let our wives come along. I can still see them standing there in the boat howling with laughter and pointing at our hats—pointing and howling. For men only The Jack Scott Column IMO NI Another thing is that wives are either overly optimistic or overly pessimistic or—like Ed's wife—they're all on the sidebf therfish. Poor Ed! His wife star- ted this crazy talk about how she hoped we wouldn't catch a fish. "Oh, I think it's so darn cruel," she kept saying. "I just won't be able to bear it if we really catch a fish. Oh, those poor, innocent little..,." howling and pointing. I have worn lampshades at parties countless times and my wife never cracked a smile, but she goes crazy at the sight of me in a pith helmet. The upshot was we had to take the hats off and the whole mood was changed. It wasn't only that, of course. Ordinarily Ed and I talk pretty rough when we're fishing—we use quite a lot of the words you see in current novels, I mean—but naturally we couldn't express, ourselves freely with ladies in the boat, and what with that and not having the hats it wasn't like a fishing trip at all. She's going on like this and Ed and I are sitting there get- ting nothing, feeling completely luckless without our hats on. There were two or three times when it would have been quite simple to shove Ed's wife over- board and I like to think it's testimony to the man's charac- ter that he resisted the temp- tation. My own , wife is the pessimistic type. We'd fished about five minutes, I guess, when she declared: "Well, looks like they're not biting today. Why don't we all go ashore and light a bonfire?" We fish a little more and she says, "Oh, what's the use of going on like this? Ob- viously"--with a wave at 400 square miles of water—"there aren't any fish here." Another terrible thing about wives is that they establish themselves as experts once they get a line in their hands, I'll never forget that day, for exam- ple, when Jimmy's wife, Hazel, talked herself into coming along for a trip. Hazel had this "If-I-were-a- fish...." approach' and it was pretty hard to take. There's no escape when you're in a boat. Hazel would say: "If-I-were-a- fish I wouldn't be here. I'd be in one of those cute little bays." Hazel would say: "If-I-were-a- fish I wouldn't bite at this nasty old piece of tin. I'd want a nice, juicy worm." That was the trip when my wife showed her complete con- tempt for artificial lures. To her it's just an accident that a fish will strike at something made of metal or plastic. So this trip she got about a half- dozen of my fanciest lures and tied them all together. She and Hazel were tittering away. "This is a new way to fish—it's a salad," my wife said. "If-I-were-a-fish.' I'd ,' go' for that," Hazel said. They put this thing over- board and—and may I be struck dead if it isn't true!—an eight-pound trout, obviously an insane fish, went for it, I could put up with all the rest of it, but that, of course, was un- forgivable. Dear ditor: The land speculation tax recently tabled at Queen's Park is cruel legislation which heavily penalizes thousands of rural land owning Ontario residents whom I suspect have no idea that they are being ac- ted against. When the law is passed, these people will find they are subject tp a tax of 50 per cent on their lands when sold. The tax will be in ad- dition to any capital gains tax they have to pay the .Federal Government. All of this amounts to expropriation of lands with little compensation. The following is a partial list of properties which are taxable: ▪ All lands owned by rural residents, unless the property is smaller than ten acres. and is lived on. If it is lived on and greater than ten acres then it becomes taxable., • With few exceptions all rural income producing 'proper- ties which are not a place of residence. The tax is unfair to farmers, lumbermen and other rural* people who have worked all their lives on their lands and have their life savings tied up in this asset, You really have to stretch the 'imagination far to classify them as land speculators, as the title of the bill suggests. The government has stated that they intend on driving the price of real estate down by passing the land speculation tax and another tax of 20 per cent if a rural resident sells any of his property to a foreigner. This, of course, will enable the government to buy rural lands at cheap prices. They have also 'conveniently worded the legislation to read that if land is sold to the Crown instead of private persons, the tax will not be payable. The government will now be in a position to force the farmer or lumberman to sell his land to them. Land" specuIation '; a'nd' skyrocketing house Prices strictly a' City PrObTerii.''Tiiite" being the case, why should the farmer and the rural resident have to suffer because of the situation in the big cities and surrounding areas? It is unfair to harness country people with this legislation. These laws should only cover certain cities and towns and not the whole province. From our early files . • • • • • • Yours truly, Marvin Lee, Toronto, Ont. Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley The German house of pleasure Several items this week, none of them large enough to write a column about, but each of them of such vital importance to the state of the world that they must not be ignored. Germany: a couple of lef- tovers. Prostitution is legal there. In Kaiserslautern, there's a rather bleak four- storey building. Probably finan- ced by American aid. It is a (uh, shall we say?) house of ill repute. In their rude and licentious way, the soldiery call it, "Four floors of whores", which has a nice echoic ring to it. But what caught my eye, at 11 a.m., was the huge neon sign on top of the building, It read, "SEX MIT heart." The word heart was not spelled out, but represented by a huge, red, Valentine-type heart, in neon. A nice touch. Another place in the same city was "Harry's". He has a good gimmick, which I'd like to see Eaton's and Simpsons adopt. It is a clip joint for suspecting North Americans, There are no Germans in the place. But you can buy anything from a Hummel figurine to a vast, lousy pain- ting. However, his gimmick get- sem. When you walk in the door, you are offered a Coke, a coffee, or a beer, And when you leave, you are offered a free gift; comb, nail-file, plastic car- key-holder, something. It's chicken stuff, but it's smart. In lot of Canadian stores, all you are offered is a slice of told Shoulder, Trees. The Germans treat their trees as we would roses. They lire carefully husban. ded—and even wifed—and produce the expectant harvest. They are then cut up as carefully as bread. We whack ours down and burp Chet, Not that I'd want to live in Germany. Who wants to live in a country where the trains run on time, and highway signs say something as vulgar as Ausfar- ten? MOVIES: Recently I was in- volved in the making of a movie. I am here to declare, by the grace of God, that I do not now, or ever; want to be a movie star, a supporting actor, or an extra. You guessed it. I was an ex- tra. Unpaid. I spent a beautiful spring afternoon running up and down hills, shouting, "Get him! Kill him! Hang him!", in a soldier's uniform, and bran- dishing a stout club. Why I, as a soldier, was carrying a club, instead of a musket, I don't know, but ex- tras don't question De-Mille, do they? Trouble was with the movie, that we extras didn't know what the hell was going on, We puffed up and down the hills, 'got slapped in the eye by willow switches, and jumped over logs, waving our clubs menacingly. It was pretty exciting, The first time. Then we did it over and over again, because someone had forgotten to take off the sun- glasses, or the watch. It was a period piece, and the beer cans and Coke bottles didn't fit into the 19th century milieu. Must admire the cameraman, though. He climbed about May feet into a tree, to take "down" shots of us idiots running through the woods, yelling, "Kill hire! Get Him!"', and such. Then he lay under a log; shooting up, getting crotch shots and feet shots as we did the same thing. Then he waded into a river fin April) and did the Same thing, finally, be ran backwards with a hand camera' while we raced (or stumbled) toward him, shouting the same stuff. He tripped a couple of times over trees cut down with a 1974 chain saw. Biggest problem was not to laugh during shooting (as we call it). There is something eminently hilarious about a collection of middle-aged people, some of them with hernias and heart attacks, walking back up a hill, for the fifth time, in order to come running down it again, because some silly ass had cried, in the excitement, "Go get him, Mike!", instead of "Kill! Kill" and the sound man had picked up the modern expression, DEPRESSION: Not the psychiatric kind, the economic kind. I feel it in my bones. There's a big depression coming. Jolly good, is what I say. We haven't had a decent depression in this country for years. There's almost a desire for one. The kids, of course, don't even know what one is. Heard a girl say today to another, "Vu gotny money?" The other replied, "Yabudy. Yabudy god- dagetsum cigrets." Priorities. But the old folks now. In fact, they almost have a nostalgia for it. They brag about it. Lumpy porridge in- stead of Krinkly Krunehies. Hamburger, two pounds for two-bits. Mailmen working and clanged glad to have a job. Railwaymen ditto. There are books, "Ten Lost Years", and plays dramatizing the Depression. And it was dramatic.. I was there. For the ten Lost Years. And I didn't feel they were lost, Ask anyone. If you can find hilt. Or her? 10 YEARS AGO May 14, 1964 Tag day for the Clinton Public Hospital last Saturday, proved to be quite successful and a total of $110.51 was collected by members of the Girl Guides who carried out the taging. A Clinton team won the 8th Western Ontario Calling five- pin bowling championship in Walkerton, Saturday. The team had a total score of 4444 pins, The closest entry was 450 pins below the local team. Robert Love, a native of Hensail and graduate of GDCI has been appointed assistant at Berkley College, University of California. Roger Jackson of the Clinton office of the Department of Tralisport Vehicle Inspection Branch has been transferred to the Welland county branch. He will live in Welland, The Clinton Kinsmen are promoting Mait Edgar to represent them in the 73 Kin- smen Club in Western Ontario as their district governor for the next year. Don McNall has disposed of his farm to Carl Nesbitt, who will soon be taking possession. Mr, and Mrs. McNall will go to Blyth. Janis Galbraith and Karen MacLean, Clinton were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bell, Hayfield. 25 YEARS AGO May 19, 1949 The steady downpour of rain in this district last evening was badly needed and came as a great relief to fanners and gar- deners who had seen growth almost at a standstill during the past week. The heat was in- tense yesterday readliing 85. Concrete has all )seen poured in connection with the abut.- client, and iinderpinning being done at the rear of the Town Hall. Cattle are all out on grass R. Gordon Bennett, Clinton stated today. Milk production has risen sharply because of the very fine condition of pastures. Frank Fingland Jr. who has completed his second year in the Faculty of Arts, University of Toronto has spent a short vacation at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fingland. The Council approved the placing of a street light on Rat- tenbury St. W. as requested by a signed petition of ratepayers. The sidewalk at Layton's ser- vice station is to be replaced making it earier to walk past the Supertest Petroleum. The Council approved the issue of an additional taxi license to Clifford Ashton. Jack McKenzie Jr., who has been attending the University of Toronto, is with his parents for the long vacation. 50 YEARS AGO May 22, 1924 Those taking part in the play sponsored by the London Road Club were J. McKnight, Scott Davidson, Miss Ethel Lane, Miss Sheila Stackhouse and Mrs. Roy Plumstell. E. Wendorf H. Lawson and 'W. Mutch were in Stratford at- tending a lacrosse meeting. Mr. and Mrs, H.E. Rorke' and Mrs. A.A. Holmes attended the May bay exercises at Alma College, St. Thomas. Mrs. T.J. Watt and J.H. kere have been in Goderich for the day, J.W. Moore and G.E. Hail were the delegates from elitv. ton Lodge to the district meeting of the 100F Lodge, The Ladies Aid of Wesley Church entertained the choir, R.E. Manning acted as chair- man, Willis Cooper left for Toronto on Tuesday and on Saturday sails for Bligland where he will spend a couple.of months: Mrs. H. McBrien is having new siding put on her house she recently purchased. George Van Horne was presented with a Post Masters jewel at the meeting of Mount Olivet Lodge Thorndale. E. Rozell, C. Venner, W. 'Clemment, G. Van Horne and Frank Jenkins attended a Masonic meeting in Stratford. Miss Jessie Granger has been visiting Mr. and Mrs. William Wright, Seaforth. Dr. J.W. Shaw is attending a convention of Medical Health Officers in Toronto. The weather this week has been very cold, frost every night and some snow earlier. 75 YEARS AGO May 18, 1899 There is a considerable dif• ference of opinion as to the amount of damage caused by the frost of Saturday and Sun- day nights but it is generally supported that it will not be very great. The early vegetables and grapes were hit but the hardier fruits escaped. The farmers up Summerhill way raise good horses and so command high prices. Mr. John Lovett delivered a four-year old gelding weighing over 1700 pounds and realized over two hundred dollars. Mr. George Hill sold one which was a per- fect match for Mr. Lovett's and brought him a like figure. Mr, George Stanbury of Toronto, returned home to Hayfield for a few months. Mr. Arthur Cook moved into his new residence on the corner of Albert and Mill streets while Mr. J. Stevenson rented Mr. Cook's cottage. Mr. Samuel Rathwell celebrated his 63rd birthday on last Tuesday. Mrs. Rathwell, who was born in the clearing where Goderich now stands never moved from the area. The seeding is almost done and farmers are busy planting potatoes now. Miss Maud Rorke, who has been visiting , her brothers, Messrs. George and Hugh Rorke for some time returned to her home in Meaford on Saturday. fiews-Record feeders are en- couraged to express their opinions In letters to the editor, however, such opinions do not necessarily • represent the opinions of the Hews-Rsoord. Pseudonyms may bs used by letter writers, but no letter wIN be published unless' it can be verified by phone. WORK-AT-HOME SCHEMES Consumers' Association of Canada warns consumers to beware of work-at-home schemes. Most advertisements promise large profits for little work. Be especially suspicious of ads which require you to pay money to obtain further infor- mation, The Association ad- vises you to ask for the names of others who have been em- ployed so that you can learn of their experiences. You should also check out the company with your local Better Business Bureau. CAC National Headquarters is located at 100 Gloucester Street, Ottawa.