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Times-Advocate, 1979-02-07, Page 4Page 4 Times-Advocate, February 7, 1979 « -■ <c» f* I ''IM- I O IM .......... ....................................—/ Kot all lazy We read a great deal about those who cheat the welfare system, and who refuse to work at any job that they think beneath their dignity, or beneath the wage they require. We don’t hear as much about those who are really try­ ing to get along on their own and honestly looking for work. A recent T.V. program showed young men reporting in for temporary jobs cleaning snow at 7 a.m. the other morning. They knew that only those there first would get a day’s work. One chap interviewed said that he wanted work, he didn’t want to go on welfare and ho set off with a shovel and a smile for a day’s snow shovelling. We give such young men gredit, arid we also give the T.V. station credit for showing the news release. We have often criticized Canadian T.V. for showing only the violence in the news. At the Toronto Fire Academy last week more than 700 men as well as a few women were applying for the 50 openings in the Toronto Fire Depart­ ment. Competition for the 50 jobs will be stiff. One chap showed up at 7:30 although he knew the doors would not be open until 10. Becoming a firefighter in Toronto is not easv. and the work is dangerous. The fact that so many applicants were there would prove that there is at least a percentage of the population really wanting to work. While we are in favour of reducing the number of civil employees who have not enough work to fill their day, we are opposed to reducing the size of. the army, the number of hospital per­ sonnel and other vital services.. By put­ ting people out of work and on welfare, the government loses their services and saves only the difference between welfare payments and their wages. Looking at it that way we were getting cheap service. Think small T The Mail Must Go Through Tortoise wins again Two interesting experiments with speed took place in West Germany recently. A couple of automotive accessory manufacturers took two identical cars, fitted them with instruments that measured every detail of the trip, .and sent them out on 1000 mile journeys. One driver was told to make the best time he could, the second was told to avoid rush and move as the traffic flow permitted. The speed-demon finished 31 minutes ahead of the slower driver after jiearly 1,000 miles. He drove for 20 hours and 12 minutes, braked 1,339 times, passed 2,004 cars and was pass­ ed by only 13. The slower driver braked 652 times, passed 645 times and was passed 142 times in 20 hours, 43 minutes. The speed demon saved 31 minutes! Out of 20 hours! He had three times the brake and tire wear! He passed three times as many cars! Plus three times the accident exposure! And three times the wear and tear on the driver. Unconvinced. West Germany’s biggest motor club tried it out on their own over an 800 mile run. The fast car took 16 hours and 52 minutes; the slow one took 21 minutes longer. The fast driver used 10 more gallons of gas than the slow one! For the few minutes the fast driver gained — the risk to his life, the cost and wear and tear on his nerves proved that it’s just not worth it. So when starting out on a long journey or any trip for that matter, even around the block — it’s not how long it takes you to get there that matters, it’s getting there safely. And going the safe way is always the right way. If the German tests are not proof enough, there’s always the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. “Think I’ve got the system licked—we’ll pay with MasterCharge, the Master Charge with A merican Express, the American, . A BATTN AROUND .. . ..... . II One stubborn customer m hmm a | I' -V ...I® Perspectives he opened it. Not in a miserable, nasty way. Very calmly, in fact. It was just one of those things the teacher learned to live with because it was recognized that Billy (not his real name) had had his problems and hopefully would eventually work out some solutions to them. I was not Billy’s regular teacher. He came to me for physical education classes and fit in very well. One word would usually make him mind. At the back of my head though were two in­ cidents that made me a little nervous about how I would react if something similar came up. The first one happened so fast that the teacher never really had time to do anything about it. Billy was doing a painting at an easel. Apparently disgusted bv his progress he put a large stroke through it very deliberately, then just as calmly threw the easel right over the piano. Fun and games, eh. Then there was the day he was being Billy was a little strange. Yeah, I know. Teachers are supposed to accept all students as individuals but believe me, this fellow was a little more individual than most. At first he thought he was a truck. He wore a piece of paper around his neck tied to a string. On it, printed in large numerals, was his license plate. When he came up to the front. of the classroom he had to start his engine, put himself into gear, then slam on the brakes when he got there. That lasted for about three months until he decided that now he was a wild Indian and proceeded to go about the playground attempting to scalp his classmates. For quite awhile after that he did everything in reverse, „ when without fail. If you told him reprimanded for something to sit down, he stood up; if equally sweet in nature, and you told him to shut his book he grabbed an Exacto knife (used for art) from the teacher’s desk and pointed it at his own stomach with the words “Say another word and I’ll stab myself and it’ll all be your fault. Now maybe the logical question would be why he wasn’t in an institution of some sort. Well, the wheels move slowly and it takes a lot to get action sometimes. In the big snowstorm of ’71 that school that Billy was in was snowbound forfourdays. The drifts were higher than the school doors and the place was not your most cheerful spot to spend a winter holiday. The principal had detailed 3 grade 8 students, in shifts, to watch Billy. Somehow he managed to give them the slip. Everyone had seen him eyeing the drifts and mut­ tering, so the assumption was that he had headed for home, eight miles away. - It was fifteen hec tic fra ntic minutes before he was found, sitting motionless in a dark closet. Perhaps that was the crowning event that finally set the wheels in motion and got him proper treatment and care. Whatever, we survived and so did he. As most readers will know through experience.'missing out on the discount date on utility bills can be an expensive faux pas. Some, such as the Exeter Public Utilities Commission, tack on a five percent penalty for those who miss the due date, which is a rather excessive • amount, particularly for those who may have missed paying their bill by. only one or two days. In November, the writer was one of • _____ _____ ____ those who showed up on the 21st and ‘period/only" ^"iTis^h^kk^ was advised that a cheque for the net many customers. .The manager agreed amount was not enough, in that our that'many customers were:probably, delinquency dictated that it was the not aware there was a .grace pef iqd and gross amount that should be forthcom- also indicated there was some leeway. lnS- as indicated by his comment it, was At that time, the staff advised that., “about 11:00'o’clock”. . '. our 1:00 p.m. arrival at the office had ?■»• However, ‘Commissioners exceeded the “grace period” which is allowed. In fact, customers of the PUC can pay their bills up to 11:00 a.m. on the 21st and still receive the discount. To make a long story short, the Batten’s January bill arrived with notification that there was an arrears of $6.09, the amount of the penalty which this customer had not paid on the November account. Having informed the clerical staff that we were still not prepared to pay the penalty, the manager was quickly called for his assistance in the matter. The argument we used was that if some people received the benefit of paying the net amount on the 21st, everyone who arrived on the same date to pay bills should receive the same consideration — regardless of the time. The manager politely pointed out that the staff members were merely following policy and said he would take the matter before the Commission at their next meeting. Well, that meeting was held Wednes­ day, the Commissioners having been informed beforehand of the situation involving one stubborn customer. It would indeed be a pleasure to report that the writer gave an eloquent speech that convinced the three $6.09 Time* Established 1873 Advocate Established 1 881 imes - Advocate ktimt,i iiitan.. ...................________ 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 Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jongkind ^^Phone 235-1331 WCNA SUBSC........ .. ........ Amalgamated 1924 A IKM RIBBON Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $11.00 Per Year; USA $22.00F^ owing on the penalty November bill, there is a save the from the pleasant side to the whole matter. When the PUC manager provided members of this august body that itCommissioners with his. comments was unfair to. extend a grace, period- .about the’stubborn customer, he was: when.in fact many customers were.not considerate - enough / to. provide -yours aware that such a'period ev'eri.existed. truly withacopy, ’ - ’■ ‘ We have no’argument withJhe-grace; 1 ' ■ i ’• . r./• bt For-some ^reason.,-this prompted-a check-'of, the 'November/.bill in our • wallet; and lbw . and behold, a'.'strange ; thing appeared.. ■.' ■ .'■' . There, on 'the great circular''stamp ..used on customer’s‘’receipts. Was a. blue arrow pointing--to, the date the November bill had been paid. • ’ ; - While' it Wais slightly blurredit..Was. . ■ .evifienL;that. the, arrow, pbintep-,jiiot.to? .'■;th.e;''2i'st;'’..th.e.’d'a^ ’.’.paid./but rather to the 20t.h; which--was, ? \‘of •cpiirse;.the. due .date? '. = -.•?'• ,?■; ■ ■; Sp; with'.’ a slight- ■ flourish,;, -we as indicated by his. comment it was ‘Com miss ioner.s Livingstone and Greene suggested the’ present policy should remain, although Mayor. Boyle indicated‘he;, was?hoUin-. favor of any grace period for. cash; customers at all. :•••. •"Ah Obviously, neither position .was. of. much benefit to'this customer and. one; . ... -----t-,,. ...t member, using a motion that resembl- deposited the bill on the . PUC board.’ much benefit to'this custorrjer ahd one; rppm-. table pri . Wednesday.. ■ Oddly. • enough, it came as no surprise to-the’ ; manager, who had apparently also dis­ covered that the. clerk .had'failed to change the' date stamp when the! November bill was paid, although this information was not revealed until our .................................. . ____ , bill was presented. Presumably, he will at least know there is a grace thought it may have escaped out atten- ed a wire snipper, indicated'that may happen if the $6.09. in arrears was riot forthcoming. . .. ■ ' ■ So. while our argument fell on deaf ears and the policy will riot be changed, hopefully the information will serve some purpose in that readers of this column who are also PUC customers \.::i :__.. . ______ .period ,if they were unaware of that ^on- Reluctantly, the Commissioners agreed a technical problem had arisen and it was unanimously approved that Batten was no longer in arrears,. So, the advice is altered slightly to customers. If you are late on your PUC payment, try and get there before they change the date whenever that is! situation. You can pay your bill until “about 11:00 a.m.” on the 21st and still only be dinged for the net amount. However, we can warn you that showing up at 1:00 p.m. will not suffice. * * ★ However, before you laugh too loudly about the editor losing his argument to Bruised and battered head After about 10 days of solid blizzards and bad driving, low temperatures and a lower temperament, my social, in­ tellectual and emotional life^hovering around zero (Fahrenheit). I wondered what to write about this week. Came home from work, picked up the mail, and there was a fat package from something called AMC, Ottawa. I * turned it over a couple of times, wondering whether the initials meant Ancient Millitary Curmudgeons, from some veterans’ outfit, or All Men Cowards, from some rabid women’s lib crowd. Not to worry. Democracy is still rearing its bruised and battered head here and there in this our native land. The package was from Anti-Metric Canada, its single and avowed purpose the stamping out of the metrication of our fair white country. It contained: an honorary membership card; a bumper sticker which shouts, “Pound Out Metric”; a newsletter with a number of spelling and grammar errors: a personal letter from the president; a petition to send to my M.P.; a full page of anti-metric propaganda: and a quiz or survey load­ ed with questions along the line of, “When did you stop beating your wife?” Sample question. “Do you realize that under the metric system that (sic) the farmers will loose (sic) money and the dairy cartel win?” Answer yes/no. How can you answer a question like that? With a yes or no? Personally, I think it’s high time the farmers were pried loose from some of their money, and the whole thing is putting the cartel before the cow. Another sample: “Do you believe that people come before computers?” Well, yes and no. We were here before the computers, but when it comes to arguing with one over a boo-boo on your chargex, it’s obvious that, they come before us. And I have a secret hunch that they’ll be here long after the human race has disappeared, chatter­ ing and giggling away among’ themselves about how they so finally, and so easily, got rid of us. Just one more sample. “Do you want the Canadian public to pay $2.00 a gallon for gas?” Answer: depends on whether you think a gallon of gas is more important than a pound of beef. If the Ay-rabs can get $2 a gallop for it, and you don’t have any, that’s what you’ll pay. If the beef farmer can get $3 a pound for sirloin, and you don’t happen to have a steer tied' up in the garage, that what you’ll pay. Elemen­ tal. These questions are being sent to M.P.’s Migod, I hereby resign my honorary membership in the Anti­ Metric Canada organization. I am much more sympathetic with their aims than their means. (But I wonder where they were when I was carrying on a lonely, single-handed, but valiant fight against metrication a year or so ago?) I detest metrication and all it stands for: conformity, unification, anonymi­ ty, and confusion for everyone over thirty years of age, Ask any shopping housewife what she thinks of it? She will probably, if she has thought about it, reply that it’s a lovely opportunity for the food barons to rip everybody off, except those equipped with a pocket calculator and endless time on their hands, A gram here and a millilitre there add up to millions, over a year. And now let’s hear, from industry. According to it, changing to the metric system was going to make Canada much more competitive in the world market. We are about as competitive as Greenland, and our single biggest customer, the U.S., has not gone metric, though it is toying with the madness. When I want to know how cold it is, I tune in to an American TV weather report, get*it in Fahrenheit, subtract another ten degrees for the difference in latitude, and say to my Wife, “Holy Moses, woman, no wonder the pipes froze. It was 12 below last night.” And she knows I don’t mean Centigrade. Math and science teachers to the contrary, the world got along very well • when every nation had its own terms of currency, measurements and weights, ■ In the days when the sun never set on the British Empire, the British pound had a'Solid. ring to it, anywhere in the world. They didn’t give a diddle about changing it to annas, or yen, or marks. Same with the American dollar, for a . century or so. It was worth a dollar, not whatever the Swiss and Germans and Japanese decided it was worth, There was a quaintness and a difference and an individuality about currencies and measures and weights, that is being lost in these days of inter­ national conformity. If a British horse stood 40 hands high and weighed 14 or 44 stone, in a British novel, that was good enough for me. He was either a big horse or a little horse. I didn’t have to get out my calculator. If Bassanio wanted to borrow three Please turh to Page 15 nating any need for the gov­ ernment to take legal action against the utility. 15 years ago, the Post Of­ fice threat would have seem­ ed perfectly reasonable. De­ livery through government- financed channels was fast, dependable and cheap. If the Post Office required a mono­ poly to maintain reasonable service, then a monopoly was definitely in order. Today, it not'uncommon- ly takes several weeks for letters to move only a few blocks. Often, moreover,the block at which the letter finally stops is not the block to which it was addressed. Business is generally will­ ing to1 pay an appropriate fee in return for reliable service. . .. . HoWever, business can’t af- in. ptpnty-.o’f-tipie to qualify ford t6 wait weeks.dr moiitlis for action on orders or in­ voices. The Post Office, hav­ ing demonstrated an utter in­ ability' to guarantee anything remotely approaching re- ; spectable service, has abro­ gated its right to a monopoly .position. Any moderately. sizeable Canadian, city now contains several dozen private courier ' services, a tribute to the Post ' ’ Office’s alienation of the business community. In.'or­ der to obtain fast delivery, business has shown that it is often willing to pay several - dollars for- handling of the- . same mail processed by the hng charges alone. But ama- Post office for.|4^. • ■ : . Ztng y.enough, the 'b.Us’also Communication is too ita- won d end uR in the custom- ]t t0 be left in the ers hands on time as well. , , f . , . , . The net result: less cost for » . r e> better seryice. ‘ But, late in December, a funny thing happened: the S.P.U,C. received a letter . from the local postmaster, • pointing put that the Post .Office has “the sole' arid ex­ clusive, privilege of collecting, conveying and distributing” the mail in Canada. The post­ master- suggested that the S,PiU.Cr return fo thfe Cana­ da Post fold , (hereby elimi-. Some days it’s hard to know whether to laugh or to cry. Try this example on for size: Like utilities all across Ca­ nada, the Scarborough (On­ tario) Public Utilities Com­ mission (the S.P.U.C.) faces the monumental problem of providing each and every cus- tomer with a regular bill. Moreover, like every user of the Canada Post Office, the S.P.U.C, has experienced hor­ rendous suffering stemming • from inept postal service. A spokesman for the S.P.U.C. was reported in the local press referring to the “complete inefficiency" of the mail* system. Bills were delivered late-(if at all).and customers rkgulqrly com­ plained of returning payment. for prompt payment dis­ counts but having their remit; tances received'after the due •;,'^e. Finally,’ of course; there is the small matter, of postal strikes•’.(*‘Neither r ain nor snow nor sleet nor hail shall keep-, this courier from his appointed picket.duty”).- • ; -In mid-1978; the S.P.U.C? administrators, decided .that : matters had reached rock bot­ tom. They arranged for a lo­ cal firm,- Riteway Distribu­ tors, to bills. The service S3,000 per month on hand deliver the utility’s nization. If the Post Office wants to handle all Canadian mail, it must demonstrate competency in the field. As it stands right now, even Ot­ tawa uses private couriers for . any mail ’that must be del.iy-j ered the following day. . / ■" ’ ‘'Think small” is aii editorial • message from the Canadian ’ Federation of.Independent.' business ctov^nmemorylane 45 Years Ago Messers Fred Ellerington and Alex. Stewart returned Saturday from a trip to England having shipped some of their cattle to the old country market. W.J. Oke, of Usborne, was the winner of the first prize in the Times-Advocate sub­ scription contest. The draw was made by Reeve W.D. Sanders. Mr. Oke won five dollars. W Turnbull, who for the The coldest temperature KAI? AT8 hK ATthe “•= ™r?fehry" Monday with 11.2 degrees’ treasurer of the Usborne hplnw wm nrrnrdinrf+✓> tho and Hibbert Mutual Fire In­ surance Company, resigned his position on Monday. B.W.F, Beavers has been appointed to take his place. 'Hie first carnival of the season was held in the skating rink Wednesday 20 Years Ago One-year-old Mary Crossman died during a fire at a Huron Park home, Tuesday morning. Her mother and two other children were able .to es­ cape. Fire destroyed the barn of Usborne farmer, Harry Squire. Also lost in the blaze were 20 pigs, 200 bushels of oats and a large quantity of - ha^. past 22 years has been the SsSX. below zero, according to the Met. Section of RCAF- sta- tioq. Appointment of Wilmar: Wein, Crediton, as assessor, of . Stephen township was . . confirmed by council Tues­ day afternoon. ' . Rev. Bren de Vries gave’traS nnla ntfW|htlt Urlmt ’the PrinclPal address at the. crowds In several* vears 8 1 Ftt* ■ at.lngu class bantlu'et CFTh« rs/ d held In 016 home economics-.W1 ^raln616Vator °f R°y department at S.H.D.H.S. Fairless, of Lucan, which contained a considerable amount Of corn, wheat, barley and chop was destroyed by fire Monday morning.. 30 Years Ago W.G. Medd and C.V. Pickard have resigned as members of the Exeter Arena Board. They were members of the original board and Acted on the building committee for about a year before the arena was built. The congregation of Caven Presbyterian church last Sunday hohored the memory of one of its most faithful and devoted members the last Miss Laura Jeckell in the dedication of a memorial to her. Mr, and Mrs. Herman Powe, Stephen Township, have moved into the residence they recently purchased from A. Proctor, Sanders Street. Norm Hockey is com­ peting his 31st year of jarbering in his present location. • department at S.H.D.H.S, this week. 15 Years Ago Dennis Hazelton,. Kirkton, and Ann Marie Krafbwon the senior public speaking contest at SHDHS this week.' Town council unanimously: agreed to make a $5,000 ' grant to the Exeter and dis­ trict swimming pool fund. » Ray M. Creech, a native of Exeter, took over as area manager of Canadian ' Canners Limited plant here this week. He succeeds Donald G. Graham, who becomes manager of the company’s major fruit • processing plant at St; Davids, in the Niagara area. Members of the staff of Jones MacNaughton Seeds were entertained at the .• Dominion Hotel, Zurich,' Wednesday, on the occasion- to mark the retiremerit of Herb Schenk and Rufus Kes- tie. Mr. and Mrs. Ward Fritz recently returned from a cruise to Kingston, Jamaica, Haiti and Nassau.