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Times-Advocate, 1979-02-14, Page 4Times-Advocate, February 14,1979 Parents take note There’s little doubt that most peo­ ple realize the value of sight, but the number who suffer accidental blin­ dings through their own carelessness or thoughtlessness points up the fact that prevention is an area that does not receive enough attention. In this year’s White Cane Week message, it is reported that every year approximately 2,000 Canadians suffer severe or total loss of sight. Of these cases, half are considered preventable. So, it is obvious that people must become more conscientious about preserving their sight. While industrial safety associations have made steady gains in decreasing the number of work related eye injuries, there has not been a com­ parable effort on the “home front” and household injuries continue to be high on the list as the cause of sight loss or damage. People continue to gamble with their sight by failing to wear safety glasses for home maintenance work and this laxity also shows up in the careless storage of toxic cleaning fluids which result in serious damage to children’s eyes. Parents are also reminded that many games in which their children participate are risky, in­ cluding such favorite sports as snow­ ball tossing, bows and arrows, pellet guns, darts and even ping pong. However, parents have an even greater problem facing them later this month, when the country will ex­ perience an eclipse of the sun of February 26. That has prompted the Ontario Association of Optometrists to embark on an extensive program to warn peo­ ple of the dangers involved in looking directly at the eclipse. It is a warning that should be heeded by parents, because few children probably realize the dangers involved and their curiosi­ ty could lead to serious consequences. There are safe indirect methods of viewing the eclipse, but the best way is to watch it in on television. Hopefully, area school officials will join parents in an educational campaign to ensure that children know the dangers of even a slight peak at the sun during .the eclipse. Close supervision is imperative, and there’s no better time than White Cane Week to be considering the im­ plications of carelessness in this and other dangerous practices that can cause total or partial eye damage. Think small All Strings Attached Canadians come in all shapes, sizes and colours, speak two official languages and hundreds of unofficial tongues, work at professions ranging from scallop fishing to computer engineering, may be poverty stricken or spectacularly rich. There is, in other words, no such thing as a “typical” Canadian. On the other hand, within geographical regions, there are likely to be more com­ mon features than would be found between regions. The wheat farmers of the Prairies have different occupations, different ancestors, different geography and different cli­ mate than the miners of Que­ bec. Naturally, the farmers have many values which are different from the miners’ values. Moreover, the eco­ nomic differences between Programs of interest to only one or two provinces are not subsidized, even though they may be more important to those one or two provinces than any of the subsidized projects. The result is too many federally- favoured programs and not enough programs dealing with regional issues. There’s a very definite federal plan in ail of this, of course. And the plan is this: if regional distinctions can be minimized, unification should follow. It hasn’t work­ ed out that way, however. The provincial differences haven’t vanished — they’ve intensified in this environ­ ment of neglect. Regional unrest - in Quebec and the West, for example — can be traced back to the govern­ ment’s “unification” reliance Aation on its knees Another overwhelming success Those who lived through the trying years of the Second World War can easily recall that the biggest single threat to the free world for many months was the submarine blockade of Great Britain by the German navy. More threatening than the clash of arms and the roar of bombs was the loss of ships and crews on the storm- tossed Atlantic. What the Germans failed to ac­ complish in the war years has come close to reality this winter as the British labor unions strangle their own country and their own families by nation-wide strikes. Britain’s stores are running out of stocks while food rots on the docks. Obviously British working people must believe themselves in dire need of higher wages if they are willing to br­ ing their nation so close to the brink of ruin. One can find a great deal more sympathy for them than for the many strikers in this country who seek only to make a good life even better. However, it is the old story, with both sides obdurate in their demand that the other side must surrender. There are no easy choices for Bri­ tain. She is caught in the vise of a world economy which is squeezing the life blood from the nations which are short on natural resources and arable land. Gone are the days when Britain’s in­ dustrial know-how and wide spread colonies made her a world leader. She is now a small nation...big on tradition and short on wealth. For a time her economy improved on the basis of new­ found money from North Sea oil, but now it appears that road to salvation may be too far over the horizon. During Britain’s last economic crisis several reliable writers express­ ed the same fear: that continued monetary pressure would lead to the emergence of one determined leader who could easily become a dictator. It was, after all, just such conditions which led to the replacement of a democratic government in Germany by Adolf Hitler. / Perspectives The sixth annual sportsmen’s dinner sponsored by the Exeter Lions was again an overwhelming success, not only from a financial standpoint, but also for the entertainment value. While there are always a few “duds” in the lineup, this year’s roster of speakers was of particularly high calibre, with J.D. Hill of the Detroit Lions and Canada’s legendary hockey mogul, Frank Selke Sr., stealing the show even when they gave some frank comments about- life itself. Of course, Bobby Bragan lived up to his advance billing, reeling off one-liners that kept the audience in a state of uproar. Prior to the dinner, this writer en­ joyed a lengthy chat with Frank Selke, savoring his candor in comments on the present hockey scene, and being amazed at the memory of this 80-plus senior statesman. Given the chance, Selke can probably name every player with whom he has been associated during his lengthy career in that sport and he even has vivid recollections of many of the im­ portant or humorous plays and situations with which he has been in­ volved in the past 60 years. He expressed some serious concern over the way professional sports is heading in terms of player salaries, fearing that in the not too distant future, the price of tickets will be beyond that which the average sport fan can pay. He points much of the blame at the player agents, who have little interest in the welfare of the game beyond their 10 or 20 percent split of the player’s salary. Surprisingly, perhaps,.he was quite candid in his criticism of Montreal star Guy Lafleur for reneging on his con­ tract early this season. It would have been interesting to see how Selke would have handled that situation had he still been in the front office. It’s unfortunate that every area youngster wasn’t on hand to hear the comments of Selke and Hill when they explained to the young people in atten­ dance that their most valuable asset in life is their parents. Selke pointed out, that despite the trying times they may face with parents, or the discipline standards set, they will find no one who will provide as much love or make as many sacrifices for them. - Bragan vividly displayed his affec­ tion and joy in meeting young people, when he spent most of the pre-dinner time holding court with his “quiz team", feeding them one crazy ques­ tion after another, and dutifully han­ ding out big league baseball souvenirs to those who came up with the answers. No doubt many of the young people whom he mystified for almost an hour will be trying some of the ques­ tion on their parents and friends. -‘•Here’s an example from the Bragan bag of tricks. A farmer had 17 cows and Wanted to dispose of them to this three sons. He wanted the eldest to have half : the cows, the next son to have one-third and the youngest to get one-ninth. How did he do it? After laboring over the initial problemof splitting I7into an equal half for the eldest son, the farmer went to a neighbor and borrowed a cow, giving him 18. The eldest received nine as his half, the next ended up with six as his third of the 18 and the youngest receiv­ ed two as his one-ninth share of the total. That added up to 17 and the farmer returned the cow he had borrowed from his neighbor. If you want some more fun with ' figures, try this one. Three hoboes and their monkey were extremely hungry and in searching for food, one dis­ covered a stalk of bananas. He came back, gave one banana to the monkey and ate a third himself. The second hobo later got up and gave another banana to the monkey and ate one-third of the balance. The third hobo did likewise, giving the monkey one banana and eating one-third of the balance. In the morning, the three hoboes gave another banana to the monkey and split the balance evenly among them, How many bananas were on the original stalk? You can go bananas trying to figure that one out, but if you come up with the answer of 79 you’re right. * * * the two regions are enor­ mous. These differences were obvious even 111 years ago. Consequently, Canada was set up as a federation rather than a unitary state; federal­ ism leaves room for expres­ sion of regional differences. Somehow, Ottawa lost ‘ track of the benefits of fed­ eralism. Over the last 20 years, the feds have moved us closer and closer to a unitary government opposed to regional differences. The same federal programs are imposed on all the provinces, regardless of whether the programs are in harmony with specific regional or pro­ vincial priorities. Ottawa hasn’t'actually held a gun to the provincial heads. But it has subsidized the programs which it fa­ vours — and a subsidized program is much more at- However, the real highlight of the program was the fantastic result of the auction sale of two footballs and a ’ tractive than a full-cost pro­ gram. So the provinces have implemented virtually identi­ cal health, welfare and edu­ cation programs in response to federal ^financial manipu­ lation. soccer ball and jersey by J.D, Hill and Jamie Bone of the Western Mustangs. The auctioneering of two footballs had raised $360 fol crippled children at the London banquet the previous night, and if Hill thought that was something, he obviously wasn’t prepared for what was to happen in Exeter. When the final gavel had been pound­ ed, cripped kids were the recipents of a total of $1,265 for'three pieces of pig skin and Hill predicted “they’re going to be talking about this all over On­ tario’’. We’re not certain what human characteristics spurred the bidders on, nor are we going to suggest any ul­ terior motives It was simply a display of charity that possibly even surprised some of the donors ... but then, that often happens when handicapped children are the recipients. That was worth more than the price of admission alone! on conditional grants. Any other outcome is hard to imagine. A fancy health care scheme loses much of its value if it means, in turn, that the province can’t afford to provide ap­ prenticeship training pro­ grams or maintain reasonable local services. And the only way the provinces can realis­ tically choose between pro­ grams is by comparing the actual costs of those pro­ grams. If Ottawa truly wants to help the provinces, federal funds should be provided on a no-stringsrattached basis allowing the provinces to freely act on their own pri­ orities. The consequences of conditional grants are waste and regional dissatisfaction. To demonstrate that it is sincere in its concern about constitutional reform, Ot­ tawa should start with revi-. sions of its own adminis­ trative practices. "Think small" is an editorial message from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business «own memory lane When some people retire it seems to be the end of the road for them. Without their 9 to 5 routine and the daily contact with fellow workers they wither up and soon die. With earlier retirement dates and more leisure time built into each working week people are going to have to adjust to a third life much earlier. It seems you’ve just nicely figured out how to cope with adults from a child’s point of view when you’re married and coping with the problems of a wife (read that husband if you wish) and kids, and then right away you’re put out to pasture. I got a letter recently from the superannuation com­ mission saying I can retire in the 2000. At first that seems like a long way away, the start of another century, put believe me, 20 years can go pretty fast. One fellow I knew though, isn’t worried. He’s got the retirement situation well in hand. I have to feel that he really enjoys life. It would have been better still if his wife had been around still to enjoy it with him but even so he makes the best of life. In the spring he puts in a garden about five times as big as he needs for himself. With his asthma a constant nuisance, he snorts around, bending over the finest squash this side of Lake Erie, and hoeing the corn in heat that would make most people quit. He puts up a lot of the vegetables and fruit, can­ ning it himself and storing it to give away in the winter and fall. I’m one of the lucky ones that gets some of the free samples. - I won’t tell how old he is but he’s been getting a pension for a long long time; yet he still drives more miles than most people do every day. I’ve met him early in 55 Years Ago Mr. Richard Davis and team had a thrilling ex­ perience Friday morning while hauling ice from the river above the dam. The ice suddenly gave way and the team and load were per- cipitated into the icy water. They were finally pulled out and suffered very little from the experience. The Exeter Horticultural Society are offering their premium list of ten choices for 1924, The slogan of the society is ‘Every member of every family a member of the Horticultural Society in 1924’. A leap year skate was held at the Dome rink on Wednes­ day evening last and many enjoyed a pleasant time on the ice. The finale was a grand march led by Mr. and Mrs. F.M. Boyle. At the meeting of the Hurondale W.I., held at the home of the Misses Oke, Rev. Donnelly gave an ex­ cellent address on ‘Filling Your Neck’. A demonstra­ tion on icing cakes was given by Mrs. J. Bolton, Miss N. Keddy and Miss J. Strang. 20 Years Ago Kaye Worden, Staffa, won the district spelling cham­ pionship and the Times- Advocate plaque. Runner-up was Joan Smith of Crediton. Sandra Lee Jory captured first prize and Margaret Howey and Pauline Ac- quilina placed second and third in the PUC public speaking contest. Dashwood village trustees honored Charles Steinhagen last week for his 50 years of faithful service to the com­ munity. He was appointed a county constable in 1909 and has performed since then as PUC and utility man. Three members of Stephen 4-H calf clubs were presented with winners cheques at the annual meeting of the township federation of agriculture. They were Glen Sharpe, Doug Russell and Ernest Morenz. 15 Years Ago Most Rev. G. Emmett Carter, administrator of London diocese of the Roman Catholic church was the guest speaker at the an­ nual brotherhood-week meeting of AOTS men’s club at James Street United Church. The new system of arithmetic favorably im­ pressed principal Arthur B. Idle and a group of teachers whq viewed classroom work in Kitchener schools last week. Over 200 attended the of­ ficial opening of Lucan’s newest restaurant, The Shamrock, Monday. All visitors were treated to donuts and coffee. A Centralia rink, skipped by, Mardi Johnston, won the second draw‘’of the ladies' invitational bonspiel held at the airport club Wednesday. Other members were Lil Walker, Helen Burton and Grace Skinner. Tenders have been called by the federal department of public works for construc­ tion of a new post office in Grand Bend. the morning as I’m on my way to work, pulling out of some back road. He avoids the highways. People are in too much of a hurry on them, he says.At that time of the morning he’s coming back from some distant restaurant where he’s gone for breakfast. They all know him, and he knows every trucker for a hundred miles distance if they eat in any place around here. He reads a lot - mysteries, westerns or whatever he can lay his hands on. And his mind is still as sharp as a razor. Fiercely independent, he lives a long way from his daughter and grandchildren. They worry about him sometimes, like when he decides to head south, still avoiding the main roads, visiting every backroad restaurant from here to Florida, entertaining its owners with his dry humour and stories from fifty years ago. You know, looking ahead to a busy set of retirement years may have some ad­ vantages after all. v •> ■ ;W. . m Amalgamated 1924 •’ -v— ....... „ ...... . Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Times - Keren, MMdWses 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 (5kjna SUBSCRIPTION RATES! Canada $11.00 Per Year; USA $22.00 -Advocate s a tax* UeAese ftw? MT7] Published Each Thursday Morning af Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mpil Registration Number 0386 I’ve bitten my lip until I drew blood. I’ve tried not to let the hurt show. But my close friends have noted something behind the too-bright smile, the overly- casual manner. So I might as well let it out. No use getting an ulcer. I felt slighted to the point of humilia­ tion when Ed Schreyer was named Governor-General instead of me. I wasn’t too disappointed when Trudeau passed me over for- the Senate. I wasn’t old enough, decrepit enough, or liberal enough. But I didn’t think his petty vindic­ tiveness would go so far as to overlook me for the G.G.’s job. Just because I’ve written a few columns suggesting that Pierre Elliott is something less than the Second Coming. There were only the two of us in the running, obviously, but I can’t figure out why the Prime Minister turned his back on me. Perhaps to garner a few hundred votes in the west, which is probably all he’ll get, come June. I have nothing whatever against Ed Schreyer as a person. I don’t believe in mudslinging, even when it comes in a sinecure. But let’s look at the record, and you may begin to understand my bewilderment at Trudeau’s mistake of the century. Ed Schreyer is a politician. Governors-General should not be ex­ politicians. I am not now, never have been, and never will be, a politician. Score one for me. Ed Schreyer is too young. Governors- General should be fairly ancient, and look wise even if they aren’t. I am in my prime, and by the end of my term would be approaching the drooling earnestness that my speechwriters would prepare for me. And for the se­ cond part of the above qualification, I. am perfect for the part. I can look as wise as an owl about things in general, while having the intelligence of a rab­ bit about same. Score two. No use getting an ulcer Ed Schreyer is a family man. So am I. But I’ll bet my kids were a lot more rotten than his are, and I coped with them. And how many grandchildren does Mr. Schreyer have? I wonder if Trudeau gave any thought to the millions of grandparents in this coun­ try, when he made his abominable choice? Is Ed Schreyer a war veteran? Well, I am. There goes the whole Legion vote, Trudeau, which you might have got if you’d had your head screwed on right. It is now 4-0 for me. Do you begin to understand my astonishment when the no doubt worthy, but undistinguished Mr. S. was chosen over me. Ed Schreyer was a failure. He couldn’t hang onto his premier’s job. I have never failed at anything. I gained my pilot’s wings in W.W. 2, took an honours degree in the toughest course in University, was a successful, if poor, weekly editor, have risen to the astronomic height of department head in a high school, and have been honoured as Outstanding Columnist in Canada. 5-0. Ed Schreyer is singleminded in politics. An Endeepee-er. I have voted for all three major parties, some of them several times. Though not a politician, I have been closely involved in politics. I have been publicity man for a liberal, and NDP hopeful, and a Tory, The Liberal won twice. Both the other guys lost. It’s obvious Trudeau didn’t check my dossier. Much attention has been given to the fact that Mr, Schreyer has an ethnic German-Austrian ancestry. So what? I am not from one of the so-called foun­ ding races either. Scottish, Irish, and a little splash of Danish when some sailors were wrecked in the Hebrides a couple of centuries ago. That sure ain’t British nor French. Speaking of French, does Mr. Schreyer have any bonds with Quebec? Well, I have. Both my parents were born and grew up there. My mother spoke fluent French. And I spent the first two years of my life in Shawville, Pontiac County, Quebec. Never mind that there was not a Jew, a Chinaman, nor a Frenchman in the village. It was still in Quebec. Perhaps you think that, as a former politician, Mr. Schreyer knows more about patronage than I do. Nonsense. When I was the linenman on the dear old Hamonic on the Great Lakes, before she was burned at the dock at Sarnia, I knew the ropes. Give the Chinese cooks a couple extra bath towels a week, and you ate better than the passengers. I don’t want to go on and one like this, pointing our Mr. Trudeau’s folly and Mr. Schreyer’s shortcomings. But it is a fact that I am better known in Canada, except among media and politicians, than he. Ask anyone in Kamloops or Moosomin or Sutton or Bridgewater. They’Ve never heard of him. Just a few loose ends. Does Mr. Schreyer have a son who is devoting his life to the spiritual welfare of the Third World, and speaks five languages? Or a daughter who can wheedle thousands out of her father without even asking? Or two grandchildren who can reduce a fine old house into an ancient ruin in two weeks? Let him answer that. He has a good-looking wife who cool$ exotic European dishes. I have a beautiful wife whose grilled pork chops with canned mushroom soup spread on top make you weep with gastronomic delight. Score? About 14-0. It was a sorry day fpr Trudeau when he mistook gold lettering for solid gold. 30 Years Ago Exeter’s oldest resident, Mrs, B.S. Phillips, passed away on Wednesday even­ ing. Arthur Haist of Grand Bend suffered the loss of his left eye from injuries received in a hockey game at Thedford, Wednesday. Preston Dearing was in Toronto last week attending a meeting of the Ontario Sheep Breeders Association. Clark Fisher is in Toronto as a delegate from the Ex­ eter Fair Board to the Provincial Fairs Associa­ tion. Gordon .Ford, Winchelsea, had the misfortune to be in­ jured Monday morning while assisting to cut down a tree. He suffered from bruises and severe shock.