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Clinton News-Record, 1974-07-04, Page 4The Jack Scott Column I- NM r 1.1 "For 1.1 1/2 months we really look forward to our holidays — when we get to spend 2 glorious weeks in a house." The divorce court THE HURON NEWS-RECORD EstobliShOd 1881 MECUNTONNEWERA MPIM11.111111.1"1"1"111111.11111.1.1.111.1111. IW)11.1..11...t.i..1..1..111 111111111111111111111rnoird Established 1865 1924 eNA Agembir, Caniidlan ComMonhy Noviii06.41 Asieclittion lint on News Published *ON/ Monday at Clinton, Ontario Editor James E. Fltagetald Gerworat Manager, J. Howard Aitken igeobrni Ohm Mali !titration no. Oil? reerreer. Oman. Wee* ow MOM** Zeco-i'd COMm u $0414 Cif •61i:ADA" Who will wig With only three days left to go until the Federal election next Monday, there still doesn't seem to be any national trend in sight, No one yet knows for sure who is going to form the next government, or whether there will be a majority govern- ment. Locally, the election has been very quiet, with little political talk being generated, once one gets beyond the regular party members, The News-Record conducted our own informal, personal opinibn poll, and it looks like Bob McKinley is a sure bet to return in the Huron-Middlesex riding. Many of those we questioned, especially farmers, liked the way Liberal agriculture minister Eugene Whelan Is treating the farmers, but Mr. McKinley has done so much for the riding, and is so popular, that the Liberals would have a very tough time beating him. During this rather relaxed opinion poll, most people thought John Lyndon, the Liberal candidate was a nice man, but he had too big aihandicap to overcome to beat Mr. McKinley, Although a few people agreed with some of the policies of the New Democratic Party, they gave Huron- Middlesex candidate Shirley Weary little chance of winning here. Because opinion polls are not that ac- curate, we don't want' anyone to drai, any hard conclusion from them and presume the election is over here before it has started. Be sure and get out on Monday and cast a ballot for the party or candidate of your choice. The iocreasing death toll Highway Safety Researchers with Dominion Automobile Association say that traffic accidents could reach an all time high this summer. W.J. Vigars, safety director for Canada's largest in- dependent motor club' says, "Dispite a downward trend in 1973 in the number of traffic fatalities, statistics available to date indicate highway traffic deaths are on the increase in 1974." Dominion Day officially kicks off the summer vacation season, and Dominion Automobile Association has expressed its concern over the anticipated number of accidents that will occur in the next two months. Mr. Vigars adds "... even more tragic are the thbusands of Canadians who will be crippled for life as a result of the slaughter on our road- ways." R.W. Trollope, president of Dominion Automobile Association, has taken a positive stance on the matter and feels that if every Canadian Motorist makes a concentrated effort "this summer, the predictions of increased accidentS 'can be averfed. Mr. TrollOpe stated at a recent safety conference, "... if each per- son who climbs behind the wheel of his car reminds himself that he has a per- sons! responsibility to-his family and the lives of` others, and he takes that responsibility seriously, the increased number of traffic deaths that has been predicted, can be averted. Safe driving is a family affair." Mr. Trollope said, "The right to drive a 'vehicle carries with it four major respon- sibilities: knowledge and observance of driving rules; operation of a vehicle that is in good condition; consideration for and courtesy to other drivers, passengers' and pedestrians; determined efforts to avoid situations that cause ac- cidents. Accidents prevention can, greatly con- tribute to the reduction of manslaughter and crippling injuries for thousands. Although traffic laws vary from province to province, they are all based on gran- ting equal rights to all drivers and on ex- perience promoting the safe movement of traffic. Most traffic fatalities could be averted. As responsible citizens, you can- protect your and your fellow motorist "by earefth con- sideration of driving fundamentals and remembering the Dominion Automobile Association slogan, Sugar and Spice/By Bill Smiley Rally around the garage, boys Occasionally, something in- teresting or unusual comes along to brighten the daily routine, just when it seems to be getting dreary. A couple of these happened to me recently. First, the good Samaritans. The story really began one night last winter. I have an ancient and venerable wooden , garage, which bears on both sides of the entrance the honorable scars left by my wife and daughter as they tried at various times to get the car into the garage or out of it. My wife is the only person of my acquaintance who can try to back a car out of a garage and get it wedged kitty-corner across the building. On several occasions I have almost had to have the garage demolished to get the car out. Anyway, on this night last winter my wife and a friend were trying to close the garage door. This door is as old as the garage, which will probably never see forty again. The door is not exactly electronically controlled. It is a massive thing, about six inches thick, of hardwood, It would cost about a thousand dollars to build today, The chap who installed it was quite ingenious, He installed a couple of rails, some pulleys, and two huge weights at the end of some heavy wire. While the door could not be raised and slid ,back with a couple of fingers, like those in a.ntoclern garage, a strong man, With a good heave, could get it up and sliding back along the rails. I am not a particularly strong man. In fact, I am a weak one, in more ways than one, as my wife could tell you, As a result, I usually left the garage door open couldn't see the point'in all that heaving and hauling, This annoyed my wife, lit the fall, leaves blew into the garage. In the winter, snow blew in. Neither bothered me, but you know what women are like. Well, on the night in question, the two ladies decided to close the garage door, because the snow was blowing in. They gave a great heave, the wire came off the pulleys, and the door came off the rails. Fortunately, the car was not in the garage, or I'd have been looking for a new car, The door weighs about six hundred pounds. It did not come' crashing right down, but hung, suspen- ded by the wire, at a forty-five degree angle in the garage, You couldn't have driven a kiddy car in there. I was going to organize a work party and get it back on the rails, but it was stormy, and then I got the `flu and time went on and things cropped up, as they seem to. A couple of times, I went out and looked at the stupid thing, and once tried to get it back on the rails, which almost gave me a double hernia. Well, time went on and my wife nattered away about get. ting that door fixed and the neighbours dropped a few hints but I became sort of fond of that crazy thing hanging there, as one might get fond of a cross eyed cat. One fine evening recently, I Was sitting in the back yard, en- joying my preprandial Aperitif, when an old truck pulled up and a sweaty, dirty young man elute through the gate, Under the grime I identified Jamie Hunter, whinn I taught last year. Grinning, lie announ- ced, "Mr, Smiley, I'm going to do something for Canadian literature," I was baffled. He went on, "When are you going to get your garage door fired?" "Oh, that, Any day now Jamie, as 'soon as I can find someone to do it. Why?" "Well, every time Mike and I drive by and see that door, it bothers us. We're going to fix it for you." •"Great!", enthusiastically. "How much?", cautiously. "It's not going to cost you a nickel." I insisted I would pay the going rate. He refused. They were doing it for Canadian literature. Jamie said they were pretty busy, and asked when I wanted it done. I said whenever they could get at it. I thought he meant in a couple or three .weeks. I went in to dinner, delighted at this display of gratitude or whatever. After dinner, I heard a bit of a din out back, and they were, four young men, getting that ridiculous door back on the tracks, ' I was almost overcome with something or other. All four were former students of Mine: Mike Laurin, Mike Dragoman, John Sachs and Jamie Hunter, At least two of them had been working since eight o'clock that morning, and here they were, twelve hours .later, slugging away at a brutal, awkward job for their old English teacher, was touched. They absolutely refused any payment, I was just as astonished as I was moved. Here were four young guys who, instead of moaning around about no em- ployment, or living on welfare, had formed a loose partnership, and Were doing construction, painting, anything they could get. They were immediately of- fered the job of taking off my storm windows and painting thy house, And 'that's how you get ahead in the world, Which does. NOT owe you a living, young man. In addition to this lucky strike, I have Dan St, Amend, another student, and the best cornet player in the Whole area, cutting my lawn, so all in all, it looks like a good summer, The little man wears a cheap blue suit, loosely-knotted tie, soiled white shirt. His hair is mouse-colored and he is balding. His face wears a look of intense concentration. He is a shoemaker by trade and ner- vous in the witness box, His voice is without expression. The answers come as if he were trying to phrase them in the un- familiar language of the law. "My wife was keeping com- pany with the co-respondent. When I accused her she promised me she would not go out with him. But she kept right on." The morning July sun spills in the tall windows of the court and warms the fine red leather ''splaShes'brigtity across the thick, plum-colored carpet. The newspapers call it "the divorce mill." It is a richly appointed room not at all suited to the tawdry stories told in it day after day. "I seen her at her mother's house, I tried to come to some agreement. She refused. She turned two of the children over to me. She kept the young one: I went to live with my mother 10 YEARS AGO July 2, 1964 Alan Cochrane, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cochrane of Clinton, is a second year student in the Honor Biology Course at the University of Western Ontario, London. He received his marks this week, and found he had been awar- ded first class honors for having "A" standing in all his seven subjects. The Holmesville Public School held its First Annual Field day on Friday, June 19, under the combined efforts of all seven teachers. Stewart and Grace Mid- dleton of Clinton, won the men's and women's cattle judging classes at the annual field day of the Western On- tario Aberdeen Angus Association. Mr. and Mrs, Cecil Oke celebrated their Golden Wed- ding Anniversary. A dinner was served for the immediate family on Saturday at the home of their nephew, Mr. and Mrs, Emerson Coleman. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Brandon and children were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ken Brandon. / Mr, and Mrs. Ken Ferguson and family spent the whole weekend in London as guests of Mr. and Mrs. W, Hutton, Mrs. James Livermore, Clin- ton, is spending a ,holiday in Essex. and Grand Bend. 25 YEARS AGO July 7t 1949 Mr. Shobbrook returned to Clinton after an absentee in Western Canada. He left this week for Vancouver, B.C. after visiting his cousins J,W. Shoobrook, Mrs, E. Taylor and Mrs, R. Miller, Clinton. 3, Melvin Southcott, publisher of The txoter Timeg, Advocate, has been elected president of Oritatio-quebec and father. So I never bothered her no more." The chief justice sits, head cupped in the palm of his right hand, listening thoughtfully with the sun glinting on his silvered hair. Directly above his head the coat-of-arms and the words, "Dieu et Mon Droit." • "She come to see me. She was pregnant. I ask her what she was going to do about it. She didn't know. I asked her what she expected me to do about it. Didn't know that, either," The courtroom is quiet, cushioned from the distant, busy noises of the world out- side. While the shoemaker pauses, thinking of his next sentenco,•• the luim•• of the -- stenographer's recorder is heard. Then the shoemaker's flat voice goes. dully on. He will probably get 'his divorce. He does not look as if he will feel that he has won anything. One out of every four Canadian marriages end this way in the hushed and solemn atmosphere of Supreme Court. The death rate of holy wedlock mounts each month. Odds Division, Canada Weekly Newspapers Association. William Cowan has a Regal lily plant bearing 23 blooms in- stead of the usual 5 or 6 blooms. The 40th annual ,Snell reunion was held on Saturday, June 25, at Londesboro Com- munityliall with 120 members of the clan present. Rain inter- fered with the sports programme but the rest was fine. Cattle continue to move at a fairly brisk pace for this time of the year according to R. Gor- don Bennett, Clinton. A num- ber of cattle have gone out during the past two weeks that normally would not have been marketed for at least a month if weather conditions had been, more favourable. Haying is in full swing with a medium to light crop being harvested although the qUality is better than had been an- ticipated two or three weeks ago. Ewan Ross has purchased the property of Charles Williams on Highway 8, and he and Mrs. Ross expect to move there shortly. The farm of the late S.R. MacMath; directly op- posite, was purchased by Mr. Ross, a .few months ago. 50 YEARS AGO July 10, 1924 Teachers who have been suc- cessful iri obtaining schools in- clude; Jack Bowden at Sornbra; Alvin K. Leonard at' Collingwood Collegiate In- stitute; Grace Venner at. Staffa, Garnet Smith is the new junior at the Molsons Hank, Richard Tasker has phi'. chased the house on Ratten- bury St. at present occupied by Prank Bowden. W. Grant and his rink were winners at a bowling tour- narnerit in Hensall. Mr. and Mrs. G.A. Width- tkii and Mrs, J. Wiseman have against bliss were never, quoted higher. Psychologists put the blame on changing and confusing moral values, on the uncertain- ties of our times and the economic pressures upon the "little people." Yet the spec- tator here must wonder, too, if the new attitude toward divorce is, itself, a factor. A certain false glamor surrounds the act of divorce. There is a pathetic sophistication in the gay divor- cee, Young couples (and most marriages are broken between the third and tenth year) are apt to meet the small crises of any household with the, threat of divorce as a handy weapon. The days are gone when, a disillusioned wife went home Co mama. Now she trots to her at- torney's office. Whatever the reasons, it is rapidly making a bad joke of the marriage vows. The clergyman who intones that deathless phrase, "until death do you part," may be forgiven for a certain note of cynicism in his voice. Divorce is necessary with many couples who confront a been recent .visitors in London. Mr. and Mrs. Peter, Cole celebrated their golden wed- ding anniversary at the home of their son and daughter-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Percy Cole. Misses Isobel Draper and Helen Rodaway have resigned as teachers at Clinton Public School. Miss Freda Schoenhals is supplying at the hydro office while Miss Shirley Bawden is on vacation. Mr. ani Mrs. M.D. McTaggert and family have gone to Bayfield for 'the sum- mer. 75 YEARS AGO July 6, 1899 Mr. and Mrs, Turnball, who have been visiting friends and relatives in Scotland, England and France--arrived home last week in good condition and relate having had a fine trip and seeing many beautiful sights. Mr. James Sims arrived stone wall of incompatability. It is unimportant to a higher- income strata who treat marriage as lightly as any other respOnsibility. But for the or- dinary men and women who file through the Supreme Court it is simply a tragedy. You might think the gallery would be filled with sensation- seekers. There are none here. They discovered long ago there is no erotic thrill in the mut- tered story of adultery. No glamor girls living the reckless life, here. Just a plain, unat- tractive girl in a black , short- length coat, an edge of bitter- ness in her voice and a cheap wedding ring on her hand. "We separated in ,1972. He was cruel to rne. He had what they call a very uncontrolled temper. He threw me around once." She's a clerk in a store. No movie stars here, The chief justice dictates his verdict in the pure, dispassionate terms of the law. The girl in the black coat goes out in the marble hallway and a companion shakes her hand. Inside the sunny court the next case has already begun. home on Monday night with his bride. They will occupy the house on Mile Street lately owned by John Kelly of Goderich. ' On Sunday morning Mr. A. Allan of Colborne preached and in the evening Mr. Wilson of Benmiller gave an excellent discourse. The pastor was ab- sent, taking the services at the Nile. Miss Annie Ferguson, accom- panied by her mother has gone to visit friends in the state of Illinois. At Monday night's meeting of the town council, Mayor Shaw was thrice placed in the position of having to decide a tie vote, One of the motions was in regard to the purchase of a Sawyer-Massey stone crusher, The streets will be im- proved as soon as it comes. Mr. William Tiplady sold a span of horses to a Seaforth buyer recently and has since bought one if not two in the `Harlock section. Florence Joy Martin, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Mennp Martin of RR 1, Clinton, graduated on May 31 from the University of Toronto with a B.Sc, N. degree. A graduate of CHSS, Florence has accepted a position with the International Grenfall Association Hospital at St. Anthony Newfoundland. W. Murray Neal, son-of Mr. and Mrs. Grayton Neal of Clinton, was recently promoted to the rank of Corporal in the Ontario Provincial Police and was tran- sferred to the Mount Forest District headquarters. CpI. Neal will bp responsible tor the in service training of personal within the district. PUC rates to go up Clinton Public Utilities customers will be paying more for •their electricity effective JtilY 'first, as, rates weretraised 111.8 percent; gi it ,q.t w The PUC received notification last Friday that their application to put the rates up was approved by the Ontario Energy board. All municipal PUCs buy their power from Ontario Hydro, and Hydro raised their rate 12 per- cent on January 1, 1974. R.J. Boussey, PUC manager, said the local Utility had absorbed the loss since then, but couldn't afford to any longer. Mr. Boussey said the in- crease would show up on Clin- tonians September bill, and on the average bill, it would mean an extra $2 to $3 per bill. One year ago, the PUC raised the rates eight percent after an earlier cost increase from On- tario Hydro. Meanwhile Ontario Hydro in Toronto Tuesday asked the On- tario Energy board for another 15 percent increase in rates, ef- fective next January 1. If ap- proved, rural customers will feel the pinch immediately, and PUC customers will have it delayed for a few months. Police report Clinton police reported only one accident in the last week. On Friday morning, about $700 total damage was caused when a car driven by Wilfred Balch of RR 2, Thorndale struck a car driven by Larry Agla of Wind- sor. Of the $700 damage, about $100 damage was done to the 1927 Chev driven by Mr. Agla. Mr. Balch has been charged in connection with the -accident, From our early files . 4 —CLINTON NEWS-RECORD, tfuiSpot JULY 4) 1974 Editorial Comment