Loading...
The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1977-04-21, Page 4Page 4 Times-Advocate, April 21, 1977 Clean-up time It's spring clean-up time, and while that thought is generally used to persuade people to clean up their yards and homes following the aftermath .of winter, we suggest that area residents have a couple of other items they should clean up. Those are the canvasses being made for the area recreation facility projects, such as the arenas in Lucan and Exeter and the swimming pool for the Kirkton- Woodham community. All three canvasses have met with generous support from the communities they serve and it is perhaps surprising that it could even be suggested that it is possible to clean them up this spring. But that is the situation, All three can- vasses are nearing their goal and a final push from those who have not yet sup- ported them should meet the final com- mitments. Area residents should be reminded that the Wintario grants being received are bas- ed on the amount raised through public sub- scriptions. In the case of the arenas, every dollar that is short of the total means a loss of $3.00 in effect. It's the bargain of the year, so let's take full advantage of it'! Hensall area residents, of course, are just starting to embark on their canvass, but there is every reason to expect it will also meet its goal if the people served by the facility meet their fair share as have the majority of citizens of Exeter, Lucan, Zurich and Kirkton-Woodham. WRRT 10 FRMET All Yo TR005115? WEAK TIGIIT SROES Goodand bad news There was some good and bad news for motorists in the announcement recently that the Ontario Provincial Police have acquired several new gadgets to help nab traffic offenders. The bad news was for speeders and those who drink and drive. The OPP now have a radar unit that can be attached to a moving cruiser to record the speed of cars that are travelling in the opposite direction to the police officer. The other, is the por- table breathalizer that can be used to quickly record the sobriety of drivers along our highways. The new radar unit should serve to slow down motorists because now they will never know when they may be having their speeds recorded. Oncoming drivers won't be able to advise them in time as they do in some of the more conventional radar setups. Drivers who drink will also be under more scrutiny and the ease of taking a roadside test as compared to driving a suspect several miles to a detachment of- fice will no doubt prompt officers to be even more watchful for potential offenders. The good news is that both these gadgets should make our highways safer for those who do obey the law and it should reduce the carnage attributed to speed and alcohol, While some people may complain about the new surveillance, they are ob- viously only those who fear being caught because they do not obey the laws and they are the people who are generally responsi- ble for the accidents and for whom there can be little sympathy, Needs some initiative Canada today is facing the ever- growing danger of the break-up of con- federation. But, perhaps even more of a danger to this country is the state of apathy with which Canadians regard what is happening in this country. No one seems to be interested in which way we are going. Canadians are unaware that their coun- try is probably the most unique of any. In our struggle to attain a national identity we tend to over-look the fact that no other na- tion has the blend of cultures and languages that ours does. In what other country is there the opportunity to discover and mingle with another culture without cross- ing national boundaries? Only in Canada does the opportunity exist. The fact that we do indeed have more than one official language should serve to make us feel special, rather than be con- sidered a handicap and the source of bitterness and antagonism. How many people have you heard say, "let 'em go," when talking about the possibility of Quebec separating? How many others feel the same? How many really care whether Quebec leaves, or for that matter Alberta or British Columbia. Too many people seem to be so wrapped up in the American dream that they tend to ig- nore the Canadian dilemma. For the most part, Canadians are will- ing to sit back and allow Trudeau and Levesque battle things out. However things turn out will.be fine and if they aren't, well there is our neighbors to the south, The idea of involvement is too difficult to han- dle. Would it be so hard to become bilingual, to understand the problems fac- ing Quebec? If one looks at the history of Canada one will find that the French have been fighting since Canada was discovered, why should things be so different now? But apathy is a snag tearing at the tapestry of confederation, threatening to rip it apart. There is something to be done about the problem in this country, but true Canadians have to take the initiative to make it work. To ignore a situation until it goes away is no solution — it's simply a refusal to take responsibility. Doug Carroll Could be a good sign late exeferZintes-Ahuocate SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' and ABC Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor -- Ross Haugh Advertising Manager Jim Beckett Plant Manager — Jim Scott Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Phone 235-1331 rglarit. Prtg lal Piti NUN** L1124nr ;Lr:', Ow: (TT T =',0"'......04.*** • CCNA BIUF RIBBON AWARD 1914 +CNA Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 1975 5,409 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $11.60 Per Year; USA $22.00 Hired Economic Guns "Think you've got troubles — I'm an English teacher in Quebec!" Royally shafted three times I was so mad when I began writing this column yesterday that there was smoke starting to come out of the typewriter keys, so I stopped and let them cool off overnight. They're still warm, but just touchable, Reason for my rage was that I had been royally shafted three times in a row by three different service stations owned by three different oil companies, to tune of about $200 and a great deal of personal inconvenience. In each case the ineptness of the so-called "service" was equalled only by the rapacity of the operators. My first impulse was to name names and lay the sordid facts on the line. But I was boiling so buoyantly that there was no way I could have written an honest, objective account of the piracy I was subjected to, so I'm glad I slept on it. I didn't want tolabel all Sunoco, Fina and Gulf service station operators as highwaymen, because that would have maligned a couple of local, operators who have not, to my knowledge, while I was watching, mugged me. They were not in- volved. Suffice it to say that the next time you see Wayne and Shuster doing one of those comedy commercials in which you are assured that a big American oil company's only aim in life is to give you the best possible §ervice at the lowest possible cost,switch to a soap ad. At least the soap merchants con you blatantly, and take you to the cleaners literally, rather than figuratively, as the oil companies do, And I thought plumbers were rough! After tangling with a few "mechanics" in a few days, I could have kissed an honest plumber who chanced along. He'd probably have charged me five bucks for the privilege of kissing him, but he'd have looked good after those various grease- monkeys who seemed more in- terested in rape than kissing. Nobody wants to hear my troubles, but I don't care. I have to purge myself of this bile or I'll be sour on servicemen all spring. I don't want to go through my life hating mechanics. Some of my best friends are mechanics. But I wouldn't want my daughter to marry one. On second thought maybe I would . She'd certainly be financially secure for life. Now, the sad saga. It was March blowing itself out like a polar walrus. Bitter cold, wind gusting to about 50, We were on our way to the city for a couple of days. Stopped for coffee at one of those big, drive-in restaurant- service stations which have nothing going for them except a monopoly. Their coffee is lousy, their food is swill, their staff is surly, slovenly, stupid, or all three. You know the kind I mean. Terrific architecture with nothing inside. You've been stung before, and sworn you'd never do it again, but there's nothing else for another 40 miles, Drank the lukewarm dishwater they call coffee, Turned the key to get going. Nothing. Couldn't be the starter. Had just had a whole new unit put in, two weeks before, at a cost of $70. Must be the battery, in that very chill wind. No problem. Get a boost. Walked around to service centre. Nobody home, Out front three young gas-jockeys pumping fuel like mad. Tried to get some help. Was almost completely ignored. Finally, one of them told me with some delight that the mechanic was on holidays, that the tow- truck was away somewhere, and that he personally was too busy to even lift the hood. Mounting frustration and seething anger commencing. But I'm a patient man, a reasonable man. Finally, kid arrives with tow-truck. Gives battery a boost. I turn key, with relief, Horrible scrailing sound. No more. Everything dead. The kid reckoned my new starter unit had just stripped its guts out. He was just guessing, of course. A little backgroundmusic here. We were on our way to hear our daughter play in a concert. Her mother had brought a complete new corduroy outfit, made by hand, for the girl to wear at' the concert. And there we were stranded at a wind-swept "ser- vice" station 40 miles from anywhere. Only by dint of great for- bearance and awesome threats of law-suits did I get one of those turkeys to call a garage in trig nearest town, and arrange to have the car towed there and repaired. We hitched a ride down the Can you imagine what would happen if the Huron County board of education wrote letters to municipal councils complain- ing about the increase in their local budgets and asking those councils to explain the reason for the increases? Well, they'd be quickly told to go mind their own business in most instances. In other cases, the language would even be stronger as municipal coun- cillors advised the board in no uncertain terms that they had no justification in asking councils for explanations about their municipal budgets. With that in mind, it must seem a little unusual therefore for area councils to be endorsing a letter from Exeter council which asks the county board of education for an explanation of the school budget. The members of the school board are an autonomous group. They prepare their own budgets, make their own decisions. They are elected by the ratepayers of Huron County' to do just that:, Similar to members of counci1,4 they must answer only to the ratepayers for their actions and in fact have little obligation to explain their decisions to municipal councils. Those councils are involved only to the extent that they act as a "collection agency" for the board's funds. However, that is not to suggest that Exeter council and others following their lead are acting improperly in requesting an ex- planation of the large increase in the board's budget. Any citizen has that right, and in fact the county board have already met with Goderich coun- cil to detail their expenditures. But municipal councils should keep their request in perspec- tive, remembering •that they have no say whatever in the board's business other than the right bestowed on any taxpayer to question how his money is spent by those officials he has elected to positions of respon- sibility. However, it may be a good sign road with two lovely women from up north, bless their good souls, and they took us into the city, getting themselves thoroughly lost in the process. Taxi to con- cert site. Daughter doesn't want new outfit. Missed concert. Taxi • to hotel. Total taxi bill, $14.00. OK. No sweat. Next morning, phone garage to which car towed. Sure he can fix. No problem. "You pick up tomorrow. Before noon. I quit noon." Next day, taxi 45 miles north (no bus) to garage. Car fixed. Bill $99.00. Garageman won't accept credit card though sign in window says he will. Borrow enough from cabbie to get car out of hock. Decent cabbie, took cheque, was sym- pathetic. His cab bill, $40, Drive car all way back to city, Something wrong; doesn't steer right. Whole day shot. Arrive hotel, no parking space left at the inn, And I'm skipping over the bad parts. I'm sure this bitter little tale has mechanics everywhere slapping their knees in hilarity, But I'm afraid it left a slightly rotten taste in my mouth, One service station made a mess of the job in the first place. The second oneadvertisedservice and gave none, The third guy hosed me to the hilt because I was comparatively helpless, and was ugly about it into the bargain, I'm sure there are some good service stations, somewhere. I'd like to come across one. And maybe there is One among the many American Oil Companies operating in Canada which is more interested in good service than selling gas, Maybe. that municipal councils are star- ting to act as "watch dogs" for their ratepayers. Perhaps we can expect them to continue their area of concern into the spending of county councils, provincial and federal governments. Again, they have no jurisdic- tion over these budgets either, but as taxpayers themselves they have the right to question, and ask for explanations of how their money is being spent. But perhaps the brightest aspect of the whole situation is the suggestion that municipal councillors are becoming con- Huron Hope Newsletter Parents and Friends: The children and staff of Huron Hope put in a long day at school on April 5. Arrangements were made for the children to remain at school through the supper hour to wait for the arrival of CFPL- TV star, Pirie Mitchell and his Saint Bernard dog, Peaches. Mrs. MacGregor's class planned and prepared the hot meal of ham, scalloped potatoes, peas, corn, carrots, rolls, jello and cookies, while Mrs. Scott's class set the table for 15 people. Since the kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Allison, was working late at school too, she accepted our invitation to dinner. (By way of thanking the children she baked cupcakes for our Easter Treat the following Thursday.) Special note to Moms and Dads: All the children ate everything on their plates and behaved amirably. Pirie Mitchell and Peaches arrived shortly after seven and couldn't have received a more enthusiastic welcome. Mr. Mitchell is a school teacher, as well as the host of Junior Talent Hour and has a wonderful rap- port with the children. He gave each child a personally autographed picture and signed extras to send to the four pupils who were absent. Our thanks go to the staff for volunteering to stay the extra hours and also to Mrs. Simmons, the grade five teacher who returned to the school in the evening to take pictures for the school yearbook. The bowling and skating programs have finished for this school year and we hope to begin swimming lessons at Vanastra sometime in May. The bowlers took home their crests which they earned for achieving certain scores. Listed below is the top score for each bowler over the season: Cindy, 148; Tom, 133; Nelson, 134; Susan, 96; Eileen, 115; Larry, 94; Eloise, 101; Mary Lou, 87; Becky, 86; Andy, 51. . Our friends Cheryl Smith and • Richard Keelan paid their third visit to our school with their puppet show. We had requested them to give their presentation of Jack and the Beanstalk in the gymnasium this time so that we could invite seven classes from McCurdy to share our enjoyment. The invitations were personally delivered to each class by our pupils, Once again this couple put on a delightful performance. The children enjoyed another visitor last week when Constable Wilson from the Ontario Provincial Police showed them a film on vandalism, The film portrayed four young boys who discover that destroying others' property causes a great deal of sorrow. Constable Wilson also discussed Some of the dangers of electricity. Eileen has had her operation on — Please turn to Page 5 cerned about spending at all levels of government and ob- viously that should indicate that their own budgets will be scrutinized extensively and pared to the bone. And obviously, they will have no qualms in fulfilling requests from ratepayers (and even the press) for explanations of their decisions, as they expect other autonomous groups to answer their requests. What's fair for the goose . . ! * One of our readers dropped into the office this week follow- ing a vacation in Florida. While sunning himself in the south, he apparently had some time to catch up on his reading and the following article caught his attention and he felt it was worth sharing with us all. It is a reprint from the "Masonic Tribune and we pass it along. Square! Another of the good old words has gone the way of love, modesty and patriotism. Something to be snickered over, or outright laughed at. Why, it used to be that there was no higher compliment you could pay a man than to call him a "square-shooter". But today, a square is a guy who volunteers when he doesn't have to. He's a guy who gets his kicks from trying to do a job better than anyone else. He's a boob who gets so lost in his work, he has to be reminded to go home. He hasn't learned to cut corners or goof off. This nut we call a square gets all choked up when he hears children singing "My Country 'Tis of Thee." He even believes in God, and says so, in public. A square is a guy who lives within his means, whether the Joneses do or not, and thinks his Uncle Sam should too. He doesn't want to "fly now and pay later." A square is likely to save some of his own money for a rainy day, rather than count on using yours. A square gets his books out of the library instead of the drugstore. He tells his son it's more impor- tant to play fair than to win. Imagine! A square is a guy who reads the Scripture when nobody's listening. He wants to see America first in everything. He believes in honoring Mother and Father, and "Do Unto Others" and that kind of stuff. So, will all of you who answer this description please stand up? Stand up and be counted, you squares who turn the wheels, and dig the fields, and move moun- tains, and put rivets in our dreams; you squares who dignify the human race; you squares who hold the thankless world in place! This "square" never needs to look for a job or ask for a raise—he is in demand everywhere. Times Established 1873 55 Years Ago An interesting debate was held by the Main Street Epworth League Tuesday evening, the subject being resolved, "That the World is Getting Better". The affirmative was taken by Lyle Statham, Bruce Medd and Ed Aldworth; the negative by Howard Dignan, Maurice Ford and Benson Tuckey. This section was visited by a hail storm about six o'clock Monday morning accompanied by a heavy downpour of rain. The farmers are anxiously waiting to get on the land. All lo'Vers of the beautiful, who attended the meetings last Wednesday and Thursday evening in the Carnegie Library and Town Hall, were delighted with the lantern views shown. The first night by Mr. Hartry, of Seaforth, and second night by Prof. Tomlinson of the 0.A.C., Guelph. The addresses given were good, entertaining and instructive. 30 Years Ago The Salvage Committee of Exeter recently disposed of 11 tons of old paper, receiving a cheque for $112. Enumerators are this week compiling the voters' lists to be used in the coming plebiscite. Fine weather is being anxiously awaited to put the finishing touches to Centralia Airport. Asked whether daylight saving time had been the means of saving power in Exeter, Superintendent K. J. Lampmen replied hecould see no difference. Mr. Sandy Elliot has purchased from the estate of the late Thornton Baker, the business property on Main, Street, for- merly occupied by Mr. Baker. by JIM SMITH If all the economists on earth were laid end to end, someone once said, they wouldn't reach a conclusion. • • • • Actually, there's a practi- cal reason why economists never seem to agree: vested interests. Big business eco- nomists are hired to protect the interests of big business. Labour economists protect the interests of big labour. Government economists pro- tect the interests of govern- ment. And so it goes. The little guys, of course, don't have economists so there aren't any economists to pro- tect their interests, • .• • In other words, there's really no such thing as a com- pletely impartial economist. Moreover, since economic studies can be biased to show whatever the economist wants them to show, there's generally lots of impressive data to back up every side of just about any argument. 0 0 • The recent federal budget for 1977-78 provides an ex- cellent example of how pro- fessional economists can come up with policies that won't do much good for the country at large but do help out special interest groups. • • • In preparing the national budget, the government had to consider two forces — in- flation and unemployment. Inflation was given top prior- ity, particularly through con- tinuation of the wage and 20 Years Ago Rev. Hugh Wilson, minister of Wesley Willis Church, Clinton, has accepted a call to Thames, Road United Church effective, July 7. Local Girl Guides sold 5,640 Hot Cross Buns last week. Margaret Sanders sold the most— 54 dozen. Hensell arena, unique in that it was designed and built by local tradesmen, now has another distinction — it boasts one of the most stylish public auditoriums in Western Ontario. Hensall Pee Wees won the Pfrimmer Brothers Trophy, emblematic of "D" supremacy in the Goderich Young Canada Hockey tournament last week. Bev Sturgis, one of South Huron District High School's top athletes, has been named to the University of Western Ontario Leaders' Club. 15 Years Ago Town Council, Monday night, defeated a motion which would have established two hour parking on Main Street. Paul Wilson, Exeter, presently studying honors English at the University of Toronto, has been chosen one of 25 Canadian youth to serve on the 22-member "Operations Crossroads Africa" this summer. It will be an Elston Cardiff- Ernest Fisher battle here in the June 18 federal election. Cardiff, the veteran Huron MP for Huron will carry the Conservative colors while Mayor Fisher of Goderich will lead the Liberal voters. W. G. Cochrane, QC, who becomes Huron crown attorney, May 1, will relinquish his law practise here and resign from his town positions immediately, he indicated this week. price controls. The "fight" against unemployment con- sists solely of a few dollars pumped into the neediest re- gions through traditional pu- blic works projects. • • • But there are attractive options to those hidebound traditional vested interest ap- proaches to economic policy. In particular, there are ra- dically different programs which can fight both infla- tion and unemployment as well as save precious energy and strengthen national uni- ty. Government economists haven't recognized these op- tions because they are un- conventional. And eco- nomists are nothing if not conventional. • • • The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has dozens of programs which can meet all of these national goals. For instance, a nation- wide insulation program would provide widespread employment, save money for consumers, and conserve our energy. Or a program to sub- sidize travel within Canada would keep tourist dollars at home, create numerous new jobs, and help Canadians bet- ter understand their country. • • • Still, the government con- tinues to dip into its time- worn bag of traditional eco- nomic tricks. Its economists are too narrow-minded to find alternatives. And the big business or big labour econo- mists are merely modern-day mercenaries, hired financial guns protecting the vested interests. Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924