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Clinton News-Record, 1974-10-10, Page 4From our early files . • • • • • • THE CLINTON NEW ERA Established 18(15 Morriltor, Canadian Community Nowspapor Aliociation Amalgamated 1924 otAN CON • A PERS *SSC, "IIVCAZIPIRS (O'"C't THE HURON NEWS-RECORD Established 1881 Member, Onto*, weekty teerisemeer Aeseelation Clinton News-Record published Ovary thUreday Mt Clinton, °Mirk) Editor - James E. Fltrtgorold Glittered Maniger, J. Howard Altkon Socondi Clots Moll riallitration no 0017 i t SUISCNOTION CANADA $10.00 U.C.A. intro itiNot.1 COPY 250 HUB OF HURON "COUNtY• The Jack Scott Column NB NM The buck tip A travelling man has written me asking if I'll serve in any executive capacity in an organization he proposes to call The Society for the Abolition of Tipping. While I'm not much of a joiner ,and I rather prefer the new American organization called Tipper's International, which provides a way to tip intelligently or not at all, I am in favor of anything that brings a little common sense to the subject. As my correspondent explains, the members of the society — men and women who are regularly or periodically on the road — would carry handsomely engraved cards which they would pass out instead of the customary gratuities. They would explain the society's objections to tipping, namely that it has come to be ridiculous, that a man or woman who serves the public should be paid a decent wage by his em- ployer, preferably through a trade union, and not be forced to rely on uncertain hand-outs. Soon, my correspondent suggests, tipping in Canada would become unfashionable and undignified, revealed to one and all as a 'nuisance and a relic of the outmoded class system, I happen to be particularly warm to the idea as the result of a' recent tripin which-,P spentAfew clays' in Montreal, New York, London, Pail's and Rome and encountered for the first time what I'll call The Buck Tip. Inflation has, of course, mixed up a lot of values, but none so ludicrously as this, Next to Richard M. Nixon it is America's most effective contribution to global ill will. The explanation is two-fold. Firstly, the Americans have always been gullible to the idea that the way to make friends and influence bell-hops is to buy them. Secondly, there are elaborate accounting mechanisms which permit the American professional travelling man to scatter his currency about like bread crumbs to hungry pigeons. I watched with dismay, clutching my thin quarter in my hot hand, as Americans ahead of me, time after time, pressed dollar bills into the mitts of lackeys who had done no more than call them a cab or open a door. This is rapidly becoming standard. For a man who has fond memories of the power of the dime and who has an expense account that still recognizes it, travel has come to seem a series of small humiliations. A Canadian begins to feel as if he's the last of the tiny spen- ders and must wage an eternal war between national pride and personal solvency. Apart from that it is almost impossible to convince the boys back at the head office, who hardly get away from their computers, that you are on the up and up. They will pass items for opium, sled dogs, dancing girls, Hebrew interpreters, diving bells and almost anything else. But the moment their beady little eyes come to "Gratuities — $120" they're convinced of the swindle. The British, I'm sorry to say, are still the worst of the tip- seekers. A newspaper pal of mine, temporarily bankrupt, once tried to sneak out of a, London, hotel,, having irid4 bis bill the night previously, bril3r ,to find on< the, back stairs othe waiting queue of the entire staff with their outstretched palms. I remember the.Swedish writer, too, who never stopped com- plaining about the British taxi-drivers. Turned out he'd bought an out-dated guide book to London which recommended a tip of six-pence for an average ride, Because of the invasion of the American Buck-Tippers this, of course, was only slightly less in- sulting than questioning the cabbies' parentage. But perhaps the final solution will come when travel is sim- ply beyond the bank books of the common man, a condition already perilously near. Police Dear Editor, A great deal of controversy has arisen in the past few weeks, concerning the Clinton Police Department. Several acts of vandalism directed towards police officers in this police department have attrac- ted many comments by the news media, As the result of the publicity generated by these events, the Clinton Chief of Police has laid the blame on what he referred to as an inef- fective Huron County Judicial system,. It occurs to this writer that the news media has not published any reports of similar vandalism directed at other police departments which are also within the Huron County Court system. WHY IS THE CLINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT SO DIF- FERENT? Perhaps this question will be answered by the Ontario Police Commission which is presently investigating this police force. I wonder if it is not the efficiency of the Court systems that is at fault' but perhaps the functioning of the Clinton Police Department itself. Are we being mislead by this police department which is blaming the courts in order to cover up its own ineffec- tiveness? Perhaps the current Ontario Police Commission in- vestigation will answer these questions for us. Yours respectfully, L.G. Chamney, Clinton, Ontario. News-Record readers are en- couraged to uprose , their opinions In letters to the editor, however, such opinions do not necessarily represent the opinions of the News-Rsoord. Pseudonyms may be used by letter writers, but no letter wM be published unties it can be verified by phone. Ellesmere Island in the Nor- thwest Territories lies in the, extreme northeast of the Canadian Arctic Archipeligo and separated from Greenland at one point by a channel only 12 miles wide. Cape Aldrich, the northernmost point in Canada, is. only 420 miles from the geographic north pole. 10 YEARS AGO . Oct. 15, 1964 Fall work is progressing favourably with the completion of silo filling and harvesting of white beans. Grain corn moisture has not lowered during the past week because of low air temperature and high moisture. Fall wheat sowing is practically complete. Most cat- tle are still out. Frost of last week would do more good than harm in bringing crops towards harvest conditions. Mr. Stewart McEwan of Goderich spent a few days recently at "Triple A" farms, Mr. and Mrs. Russel Kerr are spending a few days at Felelon Falls as guests of his brother. Brigadier Kerr, S.A., retired. Mr. and Mrs. R. Flowers, Kim, Debbie, and Gregory of Streetsville were with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Flowers over the long weekend. Area Scout Commissioner Don Rennie presented Sid Jolly of Brucefield with a long- service medal at the fall meeting in Zurich. John Mar- shall received his wood badge, thong and beads, and cer- tificate, on completion of his pack scooters course. Despite considerable discussion about whether such a move was ethical, per- triisSable or legal, Clinton Cetineil Tuesday night voted unanimously to make police constable Leroy Oesch a full, time police constable in Clin- ton. He became Clinton's fourth officer on July 27 and was on probation for six mow. ths. 25 YEARS AGO Oct, 20, 1949 At a joint meeting of Clinton Junior Farmers and Junior In- stitute held in the Collegiate Auditorium on Tuesday evening, Mr, and Mrs, Donald Jervis„. who were married recently, were made the recipients of a lovely wall mirror and humourous arldreas. Fire chief Grant Rath tells us that the new fire truck will arrive in Clinton! on Saturday and that the boys will take a real practise run then. If the weather continues fine as it has been during the past few days, harvesting of white beans will be Completed by the end of this week. Mrs. William Bernie, Goderich, visited last week with her niece, Mrs. Dia Cor- nish. Mrs. Birnie who will be 85 in November, is enjoying ex- cellent health, and while at the Cornish's was able to enjoy along with Mr. and Mrs. Cor- nish a feed of fresh raspberries picked in the Cornish garden. Mr. and Mrs. J. Fraser, Jack and Mildred, returned to Bayfield following a motor trip through Ontario and Quebec. 50 YEARS AGO Oct. 23, 1924 R. Marshall, William St, has two Easter lilies in his garden. One is now in bloom and the other one is almost in bloom. The mild weather is attributed for this strange happening, E.A. Fines and ten members of the CCI Cadet Corps are in London attending a shooting contest. Steel safety lockers have been installed at the CNR station, The Public Utilities workmen have disconnected all the drinking fountains on the street. This is a sure sign that winter is just around the cot, ner. On top of that there were a few flurries on Tuesday. Clinton orchestra is busily engaged playing for dancing in various centres, Tomorrow night the orchestra plays, for a dance sponsored by the Pastime Club and next week it will be in Brussels at the masquerade dance. The Odd Fellows have plan- tied to hold a euchre Contest in their lodge rooms once a month in the winter., Mr. and Mrs. John Ransford and Melvin are attending a ticket agents convention in Windsor. A.E.I Durnin has rdurned from al trip through. Western Canada bringing back several carloads of cattle. 75 YEARS AGO Oct. 19, 1899 ' Mr. and Mrs. William Jackson returned Monday from their trip to Winnipeg whether they went upon the annual ex- cursion of the Canadian Ticket Agents' Association. At the an- nual meeting Mr. Jackson was elected vice-president. Albert St. has been much im- proved the past week by a fine coat of gravel and is now in fairly good condition. Mr. John Hurly and family moved to Goderich on Monday where he takes charge of the Goderich beat. Mr. Ladd, his successor, moved his family here this week Brucefield has a very deser- ted looking appearance these days as the farmers are all busy plowing and picking their crops. Mr. Thomas Leeming has purchased the farm of John Crawford. The place contains 75 acres and the price is $2,850. Mr. R. Graham carried off the red ticket at Bayfield for his handsome driver. Quite a number took in the Blyth Fair. Here Mr. Graham took home second prize. 100 YEARS AGO Sept. 8, 1974 'On Monday night last there was a slight frost in this place. The Swiss Bell Ringers will give an entertainment in the Town Hall on Wednesday night. Notwithstanding the heavy rains that have fallen, of late, many wells in this neighbourhood have run dry, and people are compelled to carry water, some quite a distance, to supply the deficiency. Last week Mr. A. McLagan, Brucefield, advertised in' the New Era his farm for sale, and the paper had scarcely got cir- culated when he found a pur- chaser in the person of Mr. Jas. Davidson, Tuckersmith. Goderich has voted a free market and in the discussion about it. Mr. Garrow stated that Clinton was about to do the same. Where he got his in-' formation from we cannot say but can only suppose he thought there was sufficient sense in the village to prevent suicidal policy. Yesterday for the first time, we began to feel the approach of winter. During the preceeding night considerable rain fell and the wind being from the northwest, it was cold. Although we do not want win- ter for another month, we believe farmers are better prepared to meet it than for some years past. The amount of fodder in store is not more than will be needed and every economy should be practised in its use. In 1970, the world economy produced $3,200,000,000,000 of Gross World Produce. Canada was 'responsible for $86 billion or 2 1 /'2 per cent. co* TVP":0^4Tar3/4 "Get me the prime minister's office. I've just discovered the major cause of ,rampant inflation in this country . my wife!" Let me tell you about the future PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS RECORD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1974 The retarded need us An old lady In Clinton will soon be buried, and with her will be Interred countless memories, and a piece Qf our local history. They're tearing down the old CNR Railroad station. Built before the turn of the century, ' the old station really died on November 5, 1970 when all passenger and freight service halted in the town. She has been vacant since, little used. and silent. Once she was the centre of commerce and transportation for the town and the surrounding countryside. Most of the goods that were needed in the area were brought in and most of the products that were manufactured in Clinton went out by rail. Now where lovers said sad farewells, or families had happy reunions, only the thump of the wreckers hammer can be heard. Thousands of persons passed through her doors, some to fame and fortune in another city or country, some to a war in a far off country from which they never returned. It is tragic in many ways that the old station has fallen into disuse, subject to the whims of wandering vandals, who smash her windows out at will. Once railroad stations in a town made life or death for that town, and many towns ceased .to function or never grew because the railroad didn't stop there. Reeve Anson McKinley, of Stanley Township, is to be commented for the stand he took when Huron County Coun- cil met recently, says the Goderich Signal-Star. Reeve McKinley, chairman of the Board of Management for, Huron- view, told council that elected officials as well as the general public would have to develop "a bit of understanding" if the young adult retardees in this county are to have the kind of facilities they will require in the coming years. Mr. McKinley, was speaking out in regard to, a Or9blem *hick) is taking'' shape at Huronview - a problem whereby young adult retardees are being admit- ted to the county home for the aged 'because there is no other suitable place for them to go. It was also pointed out by Mr. McKinley that while efforts are being made to find foster homes in the com- munity for these people, there are few citizens who come forth with this kind of accommodation to offer. About two years ago, the South Huron Association for the Mentally Retarded along with the Goderich and District Association for the Mentally Retarded held some very promising discussions concerning the possibility of a workshop This week, I'm going to make two predictions. For too long, I've been hiding my light under a bushel, when it comes to forecasting, and it's titre to come out from under the bushel and reveal that I am somewhat of a seer, when it comes to the future. Years ago, I came out against capital punish- ment. It was done away with, I said we should let Red China into the U.N. It was done. I said the trout were disappearing from our streams, because of pollution. They did, I suggested I would never be rich. I'm not. But nobody paid any attention. Only within the family did anyone realize that I had the gift of prophecy. I told my son, "If you don't stop goofing around, you're going to flunk out of college." He did. I told my wife, "If you don't stop worrying so much about everything, you'll be a nervous wreck." She is. I told my daughter, "If you pick that baby up every time he utters a Whimper, he'll be spoiled silly." He is. You see,\ even my own family didn't put much faith in me, even though I'm always right, I'm somewhat like Cassandra, the lady from ancient Troy, who was given the gift of foreseeing the future, and, at the same time, the curse that nobody would ever believe her. O.K. It's time to go public. If I'm right, I'll have politicians 'and poets, actors and authors, beating a path, to my door, Will I win? Will I be famous? Will I wow them? Will I write the great Canadian novel? I'Ve decided to take on an assistant, though it's only to keep his mother from' starving in a cockroach-ridden apartment. He will be Nikov Chen, my grandbabby. He's half fey Irish and half romantic German and half blunt Canadian. That makes him 150 percent, A natural, If he chortles, tell my whining clients "Yes", If his face wrinkles and he starts to whimper, as he does, give my customers a blunt, "No," We shotdd Make a million. With the new child labour laws, probably have to give him ten percent, Well, here's my first prediction, This is being written after the first half of the Canada-Russia series, They are all tied up. With that group of tottery old men, who have Many persons in the area should jour, ney clown to the old station before she is laid to rest, The wrecking crew will have her torn down by the end of the month. As a final tribute to an old. girl who served us well, here is a poem by John Hagan entitled "The Old Train Station": I see the old train station, Its platform filled with carts, Where once friends and neighbours stood ,. Expectant joy in their hearts. It seems I hear the laughter That filled the waiting room. I could swear I see bright faces Still shining through the gloom. How many joyous greetings there, How many sad farewells Were muffled in the hiss of steam Or the clamour of the bells. All too many institutions Such as this are fading fast. These new modern innovations Are blotting out the past.. But memory still gives to me A most welcome invitation To journey to a bygone day When I see an old train station. and residence for young adult retardees in the heart of this county. Had this plan been approved - had it caught the imagination of the people of Huron County - it would have meant that young retarded adults could have contributed to society through the workshop at- mosphere and at the same time, found a comfortable and friendly home away from home in the accompanying residence. But the talks fell through. South Huron Association now nos ,previded a workshop for young retarded adults in that part of the county, but there is still nowhere for these people to live once their home environment has been altered ,or destroyed by illness or death. Goderich and District Association has had a workshop for many years, but here again the young retarded adults who find satisfaction and companionship at this centre must rely on their family homes for a place to live. Reeve McKinley is right. Some proper facilities must be found for these special people who through no fault of their own must always rely to some extent on the understanding and the compassion of others. Let it be soon. given a great account of themselves, and those unknown young players, make up the WHL team, it takes a lot of courage to come out with a blunt forecast of the final result. But here it is. I predict — and if I'm not right on the nose, I'll drink a bottle of vodka on the town hall steps — that 2,400 of the 2,500 Canadians going to Russia for the games there will be drunk sixty percent of the time, and hung over the other forty percent. As for the series itself, what does it matter who wins? It's only a game, though a rather entran- cing combination of ballet and mayhem. Besides/Canadians are the biggest sports cry- babies in the world. If we lose, we were robbed. If we ,win, it's a victory of free enterprise over authoritarianism. This is a nation of Monday morning quarterbacks and late Saturday night referees. We're a nation of experts, especially in hockey. After all, for several generations, all that the world knew Canada was any good at was producing maple syrup, rye whiskey and hockey players, I've heard women who wouldn't know a shift from a nylon slip castigating the Canadian players for all sorts of sins. I've heard mature men, who couldn't even Skate on their ankles when they were kills, shouting obsCenities at our players because, "They're not hitting enough, fergawsake." I've 'heard teenagers of both sexes cheer when some Canadian ape rammed his stick into a Russian's teeth. Well, that's my first prediction. The second is that I'm going to Witt Mayor Drapoo's lottery. First price. A cool million, tax free, This prediction is based on a combination of prophecy and logic, not just a wild huneb. Look. In the past two years, I've broken my toe, my nose, two ribs, and the law. I'm not saying that the Lord is picking on me, I just don't think he's been keeping an eye on this little sparrow, when he falls, It's time for a different kind of break, and the law of averages suggests to the occult side of Me, that it's going to be the big Million. Comment She served us well