The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1967-01-19, Page 4ti'afCL coupteley toad
Wha t would
founders say?
ONE OF A SERIES
OF CENTENNIAL REPORTS A deadly habit
Old,timer
recalls past
his vehicle at a stop sign. In addition
to the seven deaths, many more per-
sons were severely injured in similar
crashes.
It may be argued that inattentive-
ness on the part of drivers led in part
to the crashes rather than a complete
disregard fot• the stop signs, but that
inattentiveness may have stemmed
from the fact drivers have acquired
the apparently deadly habit of paying
too little regard for such traffic regu-
lating signs.
While the cause of 70 percent of
last year's area fatalities is still in our
minds, perhaps there are certain rec-
ommendations that should be made to
ensure that the cause of these deaths
is not repeated in 1967.
Some of the following points
should be considered:
1. Police should maintain — or
perhaps even step up — their observa-
tion of intersections where offenders
may be found.
2. Courts may have to reconsider
the seriousness of such offences in
view of the record.
3, Drivers must be continually re-
minded that traffic signs are erected
for their protection and that they must
always be obeyed.
There are many drivers who are
obviously of the opinion that a stop
sign is to be adhered to only if traffic
is approaching or a policeman is watch-
ing.
One doesn't have to go very far to
see examples of those who pay stop
signs no more regard than that. It hap-
pens every day and there are few driv-
ers who can truthfully state they have
never failed to observe such signs at
all times.
Some drivers get caught, but court
appearances usually result in fines of
only $5 or $10, thereby indicating that
some judicial authorities do not look
upon it as a serious driving offense.
However, there are some startling
statistics for all those who are of the
opinion that failing to stop for stop
signs is not a serious matter. Giving
the statistics even more impetus is the
fact they hit very close to home.
Readers may recall that the local
OPP detachment reported that 10 per-
sons were killed in their district during
the past year. That's a sizeable num-
ber.
Now comes the surprising part of
the figures. Seven of those 10 persons
died because someone failed to stop
Creating some 'monsters'?
fun" in those times he recalls.
Baseball and football (soccer)
were the popular sports. Walking
to the maple bush with a group
of young men and women to en-
gage in a spring taffy pull from
the "last boil" of the sap was
considered a highlight of the
social calendar. Long w i nt e r
evenings, people played "Lost
Heir" and euchre to pass the
time; but Jim emphasizes that
there was not much recreation
for the younger folks, because a
living was hard to come by on
the land, yet more satisfying than
he feels it is today. He misses
the companionship of a good team
of horses, during a long 10 to
12 hour day of ploughing. He
recalls working from daylight
to dark for 24.
He feels the winters were more
intense with snow then, the Aus-
able River carried more water
and the farms In the area were
about 75% cleared even when he
Was a boy. The latter indicates
the early development of agricul-
ture and the importance of clear-
ed land to the local economy.
He is most impressed with the
benefits which the ad vent of
hydro electric power have brought
to rural people. "Hydro is one of
the greatest things ever to happen
in my lifetime", he says "where
would we be without it?"
By the same token, he consid-
ers that science and technology
have come too far, too fast and
are reaching beyond the point he
feels they should go. "What ad-
vantage is going to the moon
going to be to anybody?" he quer-
ies.
He suggests that if the money
and know-how spent in getting us
to this natural satellite, were
re-directed to solving the prob-
lems of hunger and war on THIS
planet, we'd be much better off.
Other instruments of change
he points to is rural society
are the telephone, the automobile
and the tractor. Mostly he agrees
that these advances are good, but
they also carry disadvantages.
For example the tractor is much
superior in efficiency to plough-
ing two acres a day with a
horse; the car has increased our
mobility, yet has takenus further
away from the close family and
community relationships, which
made "neighborliness" th e
trademark of country life in his
time.
"Everyone was on the same
level then, but we've lost some-
thing precious in our speed of
living today", he philosophizes.
"There's somethin' in man that
-- Please turn to page 14
Have the demands of municipal
politics progressed to the point where
only those with ample free time dur-
ing the normal working day can con-
sider assuming various public offices?
That was the suggestion made at
the inaugural meeting of the SHDHS
board last week when they discussed
the naming of a chairman, and while
a lack of time and proximity to Exeter
was listed as a reason for declining
the position, we trust it was more of
an excuse rather than a reason.
This may not appear to be of
prime importance, but it takes on sig-
nificance because such comments may
lead others to believe that it is impos-
sible to serve in public offices unless
they have considerable free time at
their disposal.
There's no question but what it
does take time to serve in such offices,
but we know of no positions that make
such unreasonable demands that they
can not be considered by most persons
in any community.
The work load for most bodies
has increased in recent years, but much
of that increased load has been taken
over by paid officials.
Examples of this exist in most
communities. The SHDHS board now
has a full-time business administrator
to assume the added work, whereas in
the past a man was hired only on a
part-time basis. Most area communities
have extended the positions of clerks
into a full-time basis and Exeter hired
a works superintendent to meet the in-
creased load that had been experienced
by members of council.
So, it would appear correct to say
that the amount of time required of
elected and appointed officials has not
increased substantially over the years,
By J, T. MCCAULEY
Secretary, Centennial Committee
"Man Must Keep on Goint .
Goin",
This was the observation of a
local resident on contemporary
society,
Continuing the thread of last
week's column, we asked Mr. Jim
Cottle of Albert Street, Exeter,
to reminisce on a few memories
he retains of pioneer times in the
area of this community. Being
one of our more senior citizens,
he speaks from a wealth of living
experience.
He was born in Exeter on June
12, 1869 and celebrated his 97th
birthday this past year. Farm-
ing was his life's occupation in
Con. 8-9 of Usborne Township
just south of the Thames Road.
He remembers driving a farm
work horse, hitched to a "demo-
crat" to Exeter of a Saturday
afternoon to get the week's supply
of provisions. Quite a difference
in the time it took then — 3/4 of
an hour with a good horse" he
said. Now it's only a matter of
a few minutes with a different
type of horsepower.
Exeter was the market town for
the whole area including the gen-
eral merchants in the outlying
communities of Devon Corners,
(where #4 now meets the Crediton
Road at Chaffe's service station),
Skunk town (Winchelsea), Rat-
Hole (Elimville), Farquhar and
P lugtown.
Before the editor is swamped
with letters of outrage from pre-
sent residents, I must hasten to
add that those names were only
the picturesque unofficial sobri-
quets given these communities by
local wags of the day.
Mr. Cottle can remember
vividly back to the time when
he was seven years old-90 years
ago. He attended public school in
Winchelsea and on the Thames
Road. He still chuckles at coming
to town as a boy with an allow-.
ante of between two cents to a
nickel to buy candy or even an
Upper Canada penny, lonely in his
pocket, to spend at the general
store.
In those days these were the
department emporiums where
one could buy everything from
dry goods to feed for the stock,
groceries to farm implements
and the patented medicines, which
were guaranteed to cure every-
thing from consumption to warts.
Eggs sold for nine cents a dozen,.
dressed pork at three cents a
pound; he said too, that some-
times it was difficult to unload
butter at 10 cents a pound.
"Kids had to make their own
ti
although isolated projects at times do
bring further demands.
If members of the SHDHS board
have come to the conclusion that the
position of chairman has reached the
point where it can only be handled by
someone living in Exeter with ample
free time, perhaps the situation should
be given some serious consideration.
It may be that some committees
do not function properly and pass on
too much work to the chairman. Per-
haps the board has failed to delegate
enough authority to some of its em-
ployees to meet problems that arise
from time to time, or it may be that
some matters are passed onto the chair-
man for consideration when these
things could either be passed onto com-
mittees or left until a board meeting.
This discussion is in no way in-
tended to minimize the contribution be-
ing made by public officials in this
area, for we are among those who
know full well that the jobs do present
considerable demands upon their time.
However, it is important that we
do not create false impressions about
the situation for fear we discourage
everyone from accepting public offices.
At the same time, if there are positions
that have built up to the point where
they are making demands that only a
few would be prepared to face, then
something must be done to eradicate
these "monsters".
The best interests of the commu-
nity are not served when only a very
small number of persons can consider
holding public offices.
This does not appear to have tran-
spired in most groups, but if it is the
case with the position of SHDHS board
chairman, then that group should rem-
edy the situation 'immediately.
When pets become pests
Better pay
In opposing merit pay, teachers'
organizations in Metro are resting their
case on arguments so flimsy or absurd
that educated people should be
ashamed to use them.
They say that a teacher's real
worth is not measurable because too
many factors enter in, and ask who's
going to do the rating.
That's a curious attitude for peo-
ple who daily sit in judgement on their
pupils, and rate them on a scale of
zero to 100.
The rating of teachers obviously
is a job for the school principal, guided
by the advice of department heads and
inspectors. A principal who can't do a
fair job of estimating a teacher's worth
is a misfit.
The teachers' federations claim
that merit pay increases hurt morale
and set up rivalry in what should be a
team effort.
This argument is specious at best.
No doubt the morale of mediocre or
bad teachers is sustained by the know-
ledge that they are getting as much
pay (academic and seniority qualifica-
tions being equal) as superior teachers.
But— to put it as gently as we
considerable risk to motorists
last week.
It was impossible for two large
trucks to meet in some spots
due to the snow and parked cars,
and obviously this is a very great
hazard when one considers some
of the cargoes being carried by
large trucks these days.
While it is a costly venture to
remove snow from the main drag,
it appears to be a job that is
imperative.
Fortunately for this area, we
don't appear to have any employ-
ers of the type described in the
following story gleaned from the
Reader's Digest.
The report is that a Montreal
lawyer selected a bright student
from McGill University to join
his law firm after he completed
a year's study abroad. The young
man returned with a beard. The
attorney looked him over at some
length when he reported for work.
"Young man," he said at last,
"I have no objection to that
beard. Just don't wear it dur-
ing office hours."
Such a comment wouldn't
create problems for some of the
men who sported whiskers at the
centennial church service in Ex-
eter, Sunday.
We heard one woman ask her
husband where his moustache
had gone.
"I took it off because I was
afraid it would drop into my
coffee," he replied.
Comment on the success of
the church service is hardly
warranted, other than to per-
haps point out that it indicates
that this will be a banner year
for having fun and fellowship
and it is now obvious that those
who fail to plan ahead to attend
such events will be disappointed.
times should be given some con-
sideration,
The Huron County TB Assoc-
iation has asked the weekly news-
papers to emphasize the fact that
the funds they are receiving in
donations from residents, is not
meeting their expenses.
Word is that Huron's Assoc-
iation is spending some $13,000
per year and receiving only
$11,593.30. Most of the money
comes from the sale of TB seals
and if you haven't forwarded
your donation for the ones you
received at Christmas, why not
plan to do so now.
One of the problems in attempt-
ing to get funds for the TB group
is the fact many people are of
the opinion that tuberculosis is
no longer a major disease.
This may be true to the extent
it no longer claims the number
of lives and suffering it once
did, but this fine record can
only be maintained by constant
vigilance.
To back this up, we could
mention that '772 people took
free chest X-rays at the Inter-
national Plowing M:,..tch. Exam-
ination revealed that 45 had chest
conditions that made further
medical examination advisable.
While the figures do not sug-
gest that all these people had
TB, they do indicate that the
periodic X-rays are indeed nec-
essary and these are only made
possible through donations,
Gifts may be forwarded to
Mrs. D. C. Cornish, Secretary,
Box 234, Seaforth.
While old-man winter hasn't
been too harsh as yet, he con-
tinues to create problems, and
certainly one of the most ser-
ious is the build-up of snow on
Exeter's Main St.
The piles reduce the amount
of road space and created a
The Zurich Citizens News last
week pointed out one of our
unchallenged truths: one man's
pet may be another man's pest.
That quotation was used in
comment on the recent poison-
ing of several dogs and cats in
Dashwood. The editorial was
headed "Dashwood dogs not dead
in vain".
It was pointed out that the
poisoning of pets would probably
lead all householders to take
added precaution to keep their
animals from roaming at will
in those quarters where they
may be unwelcomed.
While the editorial writer ex-
plained he did not agree with
such drastic action, he did sug-
gest that it was a very effective
way to impress upon some people
that pets should not be given
freedom to roam wherever they
wish.
It is unfortunate that there
are those in any community who
must be continually reminded
of this fact, although surely there
must be better ways than re-
sorting to the use of poison.
Stephen Township council have
entered into an agreement with
Exeter veterinary Dr. R. Roel-
ofson, so any stray dogs caught
in the township may be taken
to the Exeter pound. We see
that Usborne Township is con-
sidering a similar plan.
The venture has merit, but
as in other cases, it creates
hardships on those being effected
by the dogs, rather than strictly
on the dog owners, as persons
must take their own time to
catch the animals (which can be
risky) and then deliver them
to the pound.
It would appear to be more
worthwhile to extend the agree-
ment to having the pound keeper
pick the dog up after it has been
caught. The added cost could
then be paid by the dog owner.
The entire issue of dogs and
cats running at large should be
considered seriously by all con-
cerned--especially the owners
of such pets—in view of the re-
cent death of an Ottawa girl who
contacted rabies when the anti-
rabies vaccine failed to work.
The odds on this happening are
great indeed, but wouldn't you
have hated to be the owner of
the cat that caused her infection!
This is the time of year when
the threat of rabies is most
prevalent, Obviously that makes
it the time of year for greater
precautions.
can — the morale of poor teachers is
not the public's first concern when it
considers the education of its children.
The morale of superior teachers is
worth considering too, and it presum-
ably would be raised by rewarding
them for their excellence, instead of
keeping their salary progress in lock-
step with all the others.
The most nonsensical argument of
all is that there will be "serious conse-
quences" when parents and children
learn their teacher is rated inferior.
The children and parents (espe-
cially the children) have already made
their own teacher ratings.
By clinging to a scale based en-
tirely on academic and seniority levels,
the teachers' organizations are in ef-
fect insisting that mediocrity be re-
warded the same as excellence—a poor
way to raise the quality of the school
system.
We agree with Metro Board Chair-
man Barry Lowes who suggests a "re-
ward for ability that will enable us to
keep the outstanding teacher in the
classroom rather than force him into
an administrative post."
— Toronto Daily Star
* * 4e
It may appear to be too late
to be talking about Christmas,
or tor) early to mention Easter,
but programs carried on at those
50 YEARS AGO
Complaints have been made
that some of the business men
of town infringe upon the Sabbath
by keeping their places of busi-
ness open after 12 o'clockSatur-
day nights.
Mr. Lorne Baskerville left this
week for Stratford to write an
examination prior to going to
London to go braking with the
Grand Trunk railway.
The Patriotic League held a
scald cream and apple pie social
in the basement of James Street
Methodist church.
Mr. Gerald Fitton left Monday
for Toronto where he will take
a special dental course in the
Dental College prior to enlisting
in the dental corps.
LETTERS TWE EDITOR exeferZines-Abuocafe
15 YEARS AGO
Authority to begin purchasing
materials for the South Huron
Hospital was given the construc-
tion committee at a meeting of
the Association last week.
A brass plaque, tribute to the
late Henry Strang, elder of Caven
Church for 50 years, was dedi-
cated at a special service Sun-
day.
Mayor W. G. Cochrane appoint-
ed a special committee Monday
to investigate the possibilities
of an artificial ice plant for the
arena.
Exeter Creamery staff took
top prize for butter at the 85th
annual Dairymen's Convention of
Western Ontario held in Hamil-
ton last week.
SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND
Member C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A., C.C.N.R. and ABC
Publishers: J. M. Southcott, R. M. Southcott
Editor: Bill Batten
Advertising Manager: Howie Wright
Phone 235-1331
Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ont.
Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept, Ottawa,
and for Payment of Postage in Cash
Guide posts
Dear Mr. Editor:
There has been controversy in
1966 over the value of the Ten
Commandments in modern living,
Rev. John Boyne gave a wond-
erful reply to Dr. Goth's version;
In our Times-Advocate he called
the Commandments guide posts.
I agree that, if the command-
ment to love given by Jesus Christ
were implemented local and
world problems of strife and
war WOUld be solved.
I believe like Rev. Boyne that
guide posts are necessary and I
quote below a verse rhyme
version of the Commandments
-- Please turn to page 14
Paid in Advance Circulation, September 30, 1966, 4,427
SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada $5,00 Per Year; USA $1.00
25 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. William Snell
of Exeter, formerly of Usborne
Township, celebrated their dia-
mond wedding anniversary Sun-
day, January 11.
The following appointments
Were made by Exeter Council:
night constable; Wm. Wareing;
chief constable and street corn-
missioner, J. Norry; assessor,
Richard welsh; Board of Health,
Ed Treble; library board, Mrs.
R. N. Creech,
Miss Mary Johns, who has
been employed in London, has
accepted a pOsition at. F, W.
Gladman's law office,
George W. Armstrong, reeve
Of Hay Township, is the 1942
warden of Huron County,
10 YEARS AGO
Tuckey Beverages, Exeter, in-
creased the price of its soft
drinks from seven to eight cents
a bottle effective January 28.
First bonded foam rubber
church pews to be manufactured
in Canada are now being built
by Exeter Furniture Co., Ltd.
for a new church at Morrisburg.
Margaret Sanders, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Sanders,
and Mrs. Robert Luxton, leader
of the local Girl Guide Company,
have been chosen to attend the
world camp at Doe Lake this
summer.
Renovation of Exeter Post Of-
fice, now one of the mostrnedern
In the area, is almost complete,
Wouldn't it be fun if we could
conjure up from their neglected
graves Sir John A. and the other
Fathers of Confederation, and
take them on a tour of the nation
they tied together 100 years ago,
with string and sealing-wax?
Would they think they had build-
ed well? Would they swell with
pride over the nation that has
emerged? Would they look with
awe on what has been accomplish-
ed? Or would they cry, as with
one voice, "Lemme outa here!
What have you done to our glor-
ious Dominion?"
The physical changes in those
10 tiny decades, a flea-bite in
the human span, would surely
impress them. The vast towers
of steel and concrete in our
cities; the ribbons of road and
rail that span the continent; the
St. Lawrence Seaway.
And surely they would be thrill-
ed by the vast technological leap
made since they stood together
for that stiff portrait in Char-
lottetown. They would be dazzled
by the simple facts of electric
light and power, flight by jet-
liner, radio, television, the tele-
phone, the automobile, oil-heat-
ing, air-conditioning, and
a thousand other things we take
for granted.
But how would they feel about
the country they created after
the fancy wrapping came off the
toys? After they'd seen the Tor-
onto City Hall, and flown across
the country in a few hours, and
plunged into the bowels of a
modern mine, and gone up in a
chair-lift at Jasper, and faced
annihilation in a Montreal cab,
and groped for their drink in a
gloomy cocktail lounge?
Behind the glittering play-
things, would they really find
much change in the country?
Not at this time of year, any-
way. It would be still a sham-
bling geographical monster, bur-
ied in White, tail turned to the
north wind. Only a sprinkling
of lights, a few curls of smoke,
and a few ants crawling about
would suggest it was not straight
out of the ice ages,
And if Sir John A. and his
fellows lifted that f am i l i a r
blanket of white arid peered under
it, would they be surprised and
delighted by what they saw? Would
they perceive a mature, virile,
independent people proudlyprov-
ing that the twentieth century
belongs to Canada?
One look would reveal a ma-
terial prosperity and comfort
beyond their dreams. But it would
show that a lot of other things
they were familiar with had not
changed or improved in 100
years. Fear of the U.S., cor-
ruption in high places, French
and English Canadians wrangling,
dirty fighting at Ottawa, the tax-
payers being bribed with their
own money, the rich getting
richer and the poor getting child-
ren: a familiar world to The
Fathers.
But the sorrow might change
to horror when they looked be-
yond the familiar things and saw
that the healthy-looking body was
riddled with disease. The pol-
lution of air and water would
make them furious. The soaring
rate of divorce, drug addiction,
homosexualism, alcoholism
would appall them. The number
of dead on the highways each
year would sicken them. The
power of huge monopolies would
frighten them. And the apathy of
the average, well-fed Canadian
would disgust them.
No. we'd have to divert their
attention quickly, and turn it to
other things that would dazzle
them. Perhaps they'd be im-
pressed by some of our great
cultural traditions, developed
since their time. Like the Grey
Cup Game, when the punks and
the drunks take over. Or Hockey
Night in Canada, one of our great
national customs, when this
entire, sprawling nation is link-
ed together into a warm, friendly
group of idiots, rising as one
man to fetch another beer when
the commercial comes one.
Maybe they'd enjoy a tour of
one of our new atomic energy
plants? But I wonder what they'd
think of the pictures of Hiro-
shima?
We could tell them what we
did in the two great wars, But
one look at the tax bill for
defense would give them apo-
plexy,
And so it would go. Personal-ly, I think that after the initial
novelty wore off, Sir John A.
and The Fathers, More in sor-
row than in anger, would re-
turn to where they came from,
without ever taking a look back.
_ • -