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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-05-08, Page 4Apt 111 Just start of the skirmish One of the things about modern society that bothers me is mouthy minorities attempting to impose their wishes on silent majorities. Another is the attempt by those who profess a profound belief in a vague concept called "progress" to find the common denominator in everything and try to shove the rest of us in that direction. - Sometimes I have a nightmare about the future. In it, I see the entire earth populated by beings no longer humans, who look alike, talk alike, thing alike, and even smell alike. Everyone will be a sort of creamy yellow brown in com- plexion. We'll all be the same EgloWaina.' Times Established 1873 height and weight. All individual anomalies such as hooked noses, buck teeth and jutting ears will have been eliminated. I wake up from this dream screaming, at the point where I am just about to be told that we are all of the same sex, In the dream, everyone will speak the same language, some type of bastard speech like Esperanto. Literature will be extinct, except for a few scholars studying its fossilized remnants. Shades of meaning will be lost. "I love you," "Je t-adore,"and "Eu to amo," will all come out as "Yochamo" or something of the sort. -.0112danr4VAM Advocate Established 1881 In the dream, there are no decisions to be made, because there will no longer be any dif- ference between right and wrong, black and white, good and evil. Television will tell us what to think, painlessly, and why, We will all smell alike - a subtle essence of traces of Chinese elm, Russian borscht, Congo musk and American b.s. We will all arise when the universal siren sounds. In unison, at the appointed moment, we will take our breakfast pill, our pep pill to get us going, our tranquilizer to slow us down for 41,0mgaraggetiONSWARMSEMWA4ef Amalgamated 1924 SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. and ABC Publisher Robert Southcott Editor — Bill Batten -- Advertising Manager Assistant Editor -- Ross Hough Plant Manager — Les Webb Cornposition Manager — David Worby Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 1:1386 Paid in Advance Circulation March 31, 1914, 5,300 SUBSCRIPTION RAIES: Canada $0.00 Per Year; USA S11,00 Oli.M7k.a&kt.14141,&M..mrko.iMa..ar.„ishoy,,a4,27,6Eikesaicsidazikaraiimai Phone 235.1131 Our response to now By ELMORE BOOMER Counsellor for Information South Huron For appointment phone: 228-6291tor 235-0560 The Pharisee's Tithe or many instances completely lacking, Our preacher went on to speak of the population explosion. Against a backdrop of such immense problems as are listed above the population of the world continues to rise. In 1000 A.D. there were no more than 275 million people in the world. In 1900 the people num- bered 1.6 billion. 1970 saw an increase to 3.6 billion. The projected world population for the year 2000 is 7.5 billion. There is needed war or famine or in- ternational planning. It has come to the point where social and agricultural progress go hand in hand. There cannot be one without the other. There is not time to sit and cogitate long. For desperate people do desperate things. Hunger has become an explosive issue in the world today. Hunger is much more dangerous than atomic weapons. National security for any country is not to be found in an enlarged arsenal. Rather a program that would feed the world's hungry is the chief stabilizing force. Senator Hatfield spoke of the battle between military and agricultural interests. The military and diplomatic demands an apportionment of food to allies. The agricultural interests want their produce exported to areas where there is hope for enlarged future markets, This discussion is carried on while the people die. In United States for every dollar spent on food aid, 50 dollars are spent on weapons. In 1974, 450 million dollars went to Indo China while the Sahel, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India received together 206 million dollars. Is it any Wonder that Mr, Hatfield was constrained to compare Our small contrivances concerning giving to the Pharisees tithe? A giving of convenience in a desperate world! Senator Hatfield challenged his listeners. Can we leave to government what IS really a spiritual matter? The govern- ment can rule but IS not usually compassionate. People, in- dividuals can supply this needed dimension, Can we as people challenged by the world's need be complacent with our present life-styles. A wasteful, throw-away ethie dominates our living. In its place is needed a life of restraint and conservation, The Senator from Oregon called for a spiritual revolution wherein is simpler living and greater butreach, In this is to be found an answer which will elude all other attempts at solution. .0INT OF VIEW Talk about trees From the first faint rays of human history to the product-packed society of to- day there has been an intimate but seldom appreciated relationship between people and trees. These relationships have taken many forms. Early man, we are told, read meanings in the life and death of trees much as countless thousands relate today to the horoscopes of our daily papers„ In those early days trees in failing health could in- dicate the strife of a distant loved one, a collapsing kingdom, or a doomed Marriage, Many early societies saw value in for- cing hair, nails or clothing of an afflicted person into a hole in a tree in the belief that the tree would take on the affliction and relieve the patient of his problems. Aristotle thought that trees had percep- tion, passion and reason and to this day there are those convinced that trees respond to kindness, soft words and soothing music, The early Greeks thought that man sprang from oak and ash. In the depression of the Garden of Eden the early Hebrews wrote of the Tree of Life and there are many connections between trees and Chris- tian teachings. The Arabs believed that sacred trees were haunted by angels and that pulling boughs of such trees was con- sidered extremely dangerous. In the region of the upper Tigris the holy tree in each village stands in an enclosure to which only the high priest has access and in New Guinea religious feasts are held under sacred trees on lands set aside for the spirits. Natives of Burma pray to the tree before cutting it down and the African YO0 THINK YOO'vE," GOT ill LACK ? YESTERDAYS RoT4Thil4 Political activity on upswing Re-creation From the comments of more than a dozen farmers at the Friday night meeting of Usborne township council, and the signatures of almost a hundred more who were not present, it was obvious that the Exeter Public Utilities Commission has a public relations problem on its hands. The farmers feel their livelihood is threatened by the possibility of lowering the water table in the township if and when the town of Exeter starts siphoning off more water for the use of town residents. They feel the town would be better advised to hook into the water source at the Grand Bend filtration plant. Whether or not the action by the town, if the proposed new well becomes a reality, will actually damage the farmers' livelihood is probably a question to be settl- ed by agriculturalists and hydrologists. One Usborne township farmer got a taste of what might be in store for many more when testing took place on his farm last week.After less than 12 hours of testing his well level dropped drastically. A mucky liquid was drawn into his pump causing it to burst and spread the watery substance across the floor in his basement, After complaining to the Exeter Public Utilities Commission, he was reimbursed for the damaged pump. He wonders if reimbursement for damages caused by low water wouldcontinue if the town gets final permission to sink the well. One farmer expressed anxiety over the woodsman placeS a fresh twig upon the stump as a new home in which the displac- ed spirits may dwell. Similar relationships between trees and Druids, Scandinavian and GerMollie tribes are frequently described. To the Hindu the tree is the symbol of knowledge. Through the ages few societies have missed the practical values of trees as a source of shade, shelter, beauty, wood, food, or as protectors of soil, water and, wildlife, Today we derive more than 15,000 products from trees - from paper to ice cream flavourings, from cough medicine to cattle feed. The benefits of trees in economic terms are of staggering propor- tionL New recognition is being given to their values in modifying climate, reduc- ing air pollution and noise, in neutralizing waste, and in providing a quality of life lost in many urban situations. Ontario has been well blessed with trees of many kinds. Each has its own peculiarities of growth, longevity, physical and chemical construction, uses and appearance. Many species have been in- troduced here to add their own particular charms to our surroundings. There is surely a need for us all to know more about trees, to recognize their many benefits and to encourage their care, wise use and replacement. Trees are the green link between man and his environment, his past and his future, his hopes for mere ex- istence and a life that is full and rewarding. Trees are the gifts of God and the friends of man. During National Forest Week, May 4- 11, let us talk about trees, the green link. fact, as he understood it, that if in the future he wanted to add another barn, he would require permission to drill another well to service the new barn. He wondered if he would get permission at that time since many farmers have been adversely affected by the presence of wells on their property. According to the farmers present, one Usborne farmer was refused permission to irrigate his land, another told to stop pum- ping water out of a gravel pit and a third told he couldn't spread manure on his fields; all on their own land. Perhaps the fears of the farmers are unfounded. Right now they have no way of knowing and their fear of the unknown has resulted in the petition of Usborne township, communication with the Minister of Agriculture and having the matter discussed at the Ontario Legislature last week. From the town's point of view, more water is necessary. Tapping into the line from Grand Bend may not be feasible. The only alternative might be Usborne township. If this is so, surely a little public relations would help. Information meetings with the farmers should be held to let them know exactly what the town wants, what it will mean to their livelihoods, and what guarantees of recourse they will have if un- forseen problems develop at a later date. Political activity is starting to increase in the area, although Premier William Davis is still creating a guessing game over a probable election date. Oddly enough, only the Progressive Conservatives in the local riding have failed to make any moves toward the starting gate . . . at least publicly. Normally, they are well prepared for elections, and their lack of activity to date, plus the stirrings in the other two major parties, may indicate to a certain extent the feelings of the overall situation. The Liberals and NDP are chomping at the bit to get a crack at the Big Blue Machine, while the PCs no doubt are not looking forward with anticipation to the next provincial election. Most polls show the Davis government in serious trouble with the voters, although polls in the past have indicated similar situations that turned out to be totally incorrect after the votes were counted. Certainly, the main point interest in the area political scene is the conjecture that, Agriculture Minister William Stewart may choose to contest the riding. our lunch pill, another pep pill, a dinner pill, and at 2245 hours, we will simultaneously swallow our sleeping pills and become un- conscious for six hours and forty- eight seconds. But each evening, before retiring, we will have our universal culture and recreation period. Something like counting our toes. It's only a nightmare, but each year that I live, the picture seems closer and clearer. One of these days I'm afraid I won't wake up. Two of the most recent steps by mouthy minorities and the people who cherish common denominators are the attempts at the forced application of Celsius temperatures and the metric system. Did anyone ask you if you wanted to switch fromFahrenheit to Celsius? No. Did anyone ask me? Nop. Did anyone ask either of us if we wanted to "think metric?" Same answer. I am used to attempts to brainwash me by politicians, newspapers, experts, and my wife. That is what they are for, and at least I can fight back. But I deeply resent simply being told by some Ottawa ostriches and their stooges in the media that I must, willy-nilly, switch to Celsius thermometer and metric weights and measures. I am a reasonable man, I hope. If someone convinces me that something is for the common good, even though it in- conveniences me, go along with it. Example: at this very moment, the government is removing money from me, who has never been unemployed, and giving it to some lazy bum Who wants not to Work. This is known as unem- ployment insurance. In the same way' I am helping subsidize other people's food, medical care, housing. Not a word of complaint. But what gets me is the arrogant attitude that typifies those who espouse Celsius and metric, They do not present one valid ( to me) reason for the changes, They say vaguely that everyone else is doing it, So what? If the latest fad is joining the Flat Earth Society, must I become a member? If everyone else is picking his nose . in public, does that mean that I should too? Metric maniacs insist that metric is more accurate. More PleaSe tern to Page 6 His riding has been chopped up badly in redistribution and political pundants are speculating he may choose to oppose Jack Riddell rather than toss his hat into one of the London based ridings. If that happens, the interest in the local riding would be ex- tremely high and it would cer- tainly be one of the major battles in Ontario. Hoe However, if Mr. Stewart decides against that course of action, the PCs would find con- siderable difficulty in coming up with a candidate to give the sitting MPP a strong battle, especially if they wait until the eleventh hour to get a candidate into the fray. In the past elections, the Liberals generally failed to give their candidate enough time to make a serious bid at unseating the sitting members, • and it may be that this time around, the Conservative will end up in that predicament. + + + An interesting situation arose this past week when the Huron Perth Separate School trustees decided to set up a committee to find out what is being taught in their schools. It's obviously a move in the right direction. Trustees should make themselves aware of the programs in the schools over which they have jurisdiction, particularly at a time when some of the "modern" approaches are being questioned. For too long, trustees have been more concerned with the method of transporting students to schools and the physical aspects of those buildings without getting down to the more im- portant question of what is being taught within those schools. This is not to suggest that those who have been given the 50 Years Ago Early Wednesday morning, Mr. Thomas Kestle of Sharon discovered that his road driver had disappeared together with harness, cart and overcoat. He and his brother started out to locate his property and after an exciting chase, with the assistance of Detective Westcott of Exeter, found their man five miles below Clandeboye in the act of trading off the horse. lie was brought before Magistrate Gregory and committed to Goderich for trial. He was sen- tenced to three years in Kingston Penitentiary. From a letter sent to W.A. Westcott by Richard Reynolds, a member of the Canadian Mounted Rifles, written at mid- ocean while on his way to South Africa, we quote, "We are now 14 days out, and I wear a thin suit and the heat is something awful. We expect to cross the equator tomorrow and the boys expect to scorch. We had not been out many days when all the boys were sea sick. We are having a bad time with our horses. We have thrown 17 overboard and we expect to throw a lot More as we are no more than half way there. We have 400 horses, 600 men, and six 12-pound guns, beisdes 5,000 tons of hay together with her cargo, "We have not had a bite of bread today and some of the boys Made a kick, some people think We have a fine time, but it is no picnic, I assure you," 5 Years Ago John P. Metres, coach of the UWO's champion Mustangs was responsibility of education have been doing a poor job, but rather the move by trustees provides an .opportunity for more people to be involved in the decisions. What students learn must be given higher priority than the type of buses they ride or the color of their classroom walls and the move by the Separate School trustees should be welcomed by parents, teachers and ad- ministrators. + + + The Ontario Housing Cor- poration may have justification for their delay in choosing tenants for their new senior citizen apartments in Exeter, but it appears to be perplexing to those who have applied. Many of the new tenants will have to make arrangements for their move and for some, it may require the disposal of some personal belongings if they are living in larger 'quarters at the present time; Older people.% often have dif- ficulty in making such changes easily and it appears unfortunate that they may find themselves rushed into decisions. On the other hand, those who have applied and will not be accepted, have been subjected to some false hopes perhaps, and this too creates a situation that older people have difficulty accepting, Surely the decision could have been made earlier to give all involved ample time to make the necessary arrangements or to prevent the concern of not being accepted dragging on for such a long time. Through previous experience, the OHC officials may have justification for their handling of these matters, but to an outsider they appear questionable. on hand to see Exeter Maroons, Junior B winners of the Ontario Basketball Association title, feted at a Kinsmen banquet Thursday night. A new executive for Huron County Tuberculosis Association was 'set up Friday evening. Frank Fingland was named Chairman, succeeding Rev. W.A. Beecroft and Elmer Bell succeeds R.N. Creech as Exeter representative. The Huron Old Boys' Association of Toronto, will celebrate its fiftieth birthday at a golden jubilee dinner May 15. Peter Fraser who graduates this year from the University of Western Ontario will go to the University of Wisconsin as a teaching assistant in the department of physics this fall. Miss Lauren Zurbrigg has accepted a position on the staff of the VON of Hamilton for the summer months. The Exeter Lions Club voted $50 to the Manitoba Flood Relief Fund. i5 Years Ago Dr. 11. James Bell, 91, native of Hensel' And benefactor of South Huron Hospital, died in that hospitel on May B. Miss Alice Claypole, superintendent of South Heron Hospital, was elected to the executive of District No. 2 Regional Hospital Council at its recent annual meeting. Exeter has been designated as a planning area by Hod. W.M. ,Mickle, Q.C., minister of plan- nhig and development it was annOuned this week. Mrs. Ored ReVington, Ltiean, will join the staff of Exeter Public Sitting on the bank of a stream, last weekend, watching two male members of our family cast their lines for trout, I seemed to become submerged in my surroundings. With the warm sun falling on my back, listening to the water running clear and free, which a few weeks ago was ice bound, observing the grass turning from dead brown to living green, seeing small plants pushing their way through the spongy earth, listening to the frogs grumping, the birds singing in the bush which was taking on the first faint haze of springtime yellow, green and pink, I felt at one with God's creation, In fact, I began to feel I was all part and substance of this new recreation that was taking place around me, Somehow I sensed a new strength creeping into my bones, and a newawarenessibeing born within of everything that was good and beautiful provided for us by a bountiful Father. I like to read the story in Genesis of how God created the universe, and especially do I love to read the words, "And God saw that it was good." Those words paint a lovely picture of God, seven times, looking over His work pleased with the result and enjoying it. He saw it was good. And His creation is good. If He took the time to admire and enjoy it, surely it is only right that we do so, too. It's not hard to sense God's presence in nature . out, on a walk by a quiet lake, or under a starry sky. We see Rim when we look into the depth of a perfectly formed rose or at a glorious sunset spreading its colors across the hemisphere, I "Alas for you, Pharisees, you pay tithes but you have no care for justice and the love of God. It is these you should have prac- ticed without neglecting others." Senator Mark Hatfield was just back from a week at the U.N. World Food Conference in Rome last November, and was preaching in the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Bethesda Md. He spoke of the Pharisaical life-pattern of modern America, In the Rome conference 111 countries were represented. There was some consciousness of urgency in the meeting. 1972 was a bad year crop-wise. Grain stocks had dwindled. Food prices were increasing. A twofold problem faced the delegates. The short term problem of present starvation and lack of food pressed its claims. There was also the recognition that long term' planning was needed to prepare the world for other emergencies. Any bona fida answers to these problems would be earth shaking for social economic and political structures would be moved. There was a knowledge that in many countries there were not the necessary organizations even to move food and aid to those for whom it was sent and on a long term to plan for increased agricultural production. Senator Hatfield deplored the fact that small farmers were being squeezed out by large corporate enterprise and went on to speak of the slow course of land reform. The few hold so much land selfishly. Transportation and marketing facilities, making an equitable distribution of food and money possible, were seen as not enough School in September. She was engaged by the board to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Mrs. Ronald Heinrich last December. 10 Years Ago Don Grattan, a former Grand Bend resident, has returned to Exeter to establish a dental practice. Dr. Grattori opened his practice Monday in the same building as pr. H.H. Cowen at 346 Main St. Each dentist Will maintain a separate practice, although they will share some of the facilities. Although they have received approval from a Majority of the eight supporting municipalities the SlibliS board Tuesday night indicated they would Wait until approval had been received from One of the remaining three before proceeding with in• structions for the architect to commence detailed working drawings, Where it seems difficult to see Him, sometimes, is in the problems and the nitty-gritty things of life, But perhaps if we got to know Him better outside in nature we'd find we could also find Him indoors where we spend most of our time wrestling with life's complexities. Not only is it good for us to appreciate God's creativity but I believe it's almost equally im- portant to enjoy and give thanks for the creativity of our fellowmen, It was Paul who urged the Philippians to fill their minds with things that were true, honest, pure, lovely and of good report, While we admit man has often used his creativity to produce the base, the ugly, the destructive and the evil, we also know he has used his God-given knowledge for the betterment and enjoyment of mankind in thousands of ways. Much of what surrounds us, both God-made and man-made, has the qualities that Paul describes if we will only see it, appreciate it and take advantage of it, Unfortunately many choose to fill their minds with what is corrupt, making for themselves a hell instead of a heaven that God wants for them. It's not much wonder, of course, since so much that is rotten and filthy is fed to us through books, through movies and TV, and advertising. We can, if we will, replace evil with good, the ugly with beauty, the destructive with something life-giving, but to do this each of us must open himself up and using God as his Great Example, let his creativity flow out into the lives of those around him in ways that are honest, just, pure and lovely. Public relations helpful 4