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Times-Advocate, 1978-10-12, Page 4Page 4 Time$-A4vocate, October 12,1978 Cutting some throats There was a time when death and taxes were among the only certainties in life, but the list has been extended to include postal strikes and slowdowns. The great paradox in the situation is that while the postal union leaders and their followers take such action to gain better wages or fight automation, they jeopardize their very livelihood. The fastest growing business in the country today is mail courier services. Each strike, or even the mere mention of a mail disruption, sees more and more customers switch their business over to the new firms rather than suf­ fer the consequences. In addition, many customers are finding that the couriers not only provide better and more dependable service, but in some cases it is cheaper. In one Toronto borough, the PUC has hired a courier service to deliver bills to its 80,000 residential customers. In so doing, they’re saving $30,000 a year as it costs only eight cents a bill instead of the 14 charged by the post office. It is a move that other firms will be investigating closely and one which taxpayers will be demanding their of­ ficials to look at in view of the savings involved. Meanwhile, postal unions fail to see the handwriting on the wall and continue to cut their own throats. It’s almost beyond comprehension!“Sun tan, my eye — this is RUST!” ATecd candidates While it may still be too early to tell, indications are that Exeter tax­ payers may have difficulty filling the many vacancies which exist on the local council. There are at least four members planning to retire and to date the number of candidates announcing in­ tentions to seek office is not sufficient to provide a full slate. That situation could change during the nomination period over the next 10 days. However, there is a danger that the positions could be garnered through default by people who have dubious qualifications or interests for the coun­ cil seats. People usually get what they deserve and surely one of the fastest growing communities in Ontario deserves the most qualified people possible to make the important decisions for the next two years. Ratepayers would be remiss in their duties if they failed to ensure that the vacancies are filled by conscien­ tious citizens. BATT’N AROUND with the editor Happiness isn't... new plan What are alternatives? Thanksgiving Day has come and gone for another year, and given the current state of the nation’s economic status, there may be those who found it difficult to reflect enthusiastically and thankfully on the past year. Unemployment has not shown any decline, strikes are still rampant in many segments, the Canadian dollar continues to struggle and inflation is far from levelling off. The country, in many respects, could be termed to be in a rather anx­ ious state. However, given the alternatives, is there any place you’d rather be? Changes difficult In a number of municipalities across Canada, police are switching to smaller cars. The reasoning is simple. Smaller bars are more economical. And police today rarely indulge in those wild high speed chases that re­ quire big powerful cars — dangerous drivers become more dangerous, when they’re desperately evading pursuit. Blacks, women and members of some minorities are slowly beginning to appear among the ranks of professionals, and in executive positions. In India, rats still destroy about as much grain as humans consume. What have these three examples to do with each other? Simply this — the first two are changes taking place in North America. Some people welcome them as common sense and justice. Others regard them as dangerous deviations from tradition, and fight them with all the vehemence they can muster. Both these changes, now becoming more ap­ parent, have been slow in developing although they have been advocated by thoughtful minds for years. And this is in North America, where we have become accustomed to change, where change has taken place faster, and more often, than perhaps anywhere else on earth. In contrast life in much of India, south-east Asia, and Africa continues with few differences from centuries ago. Today, many well-meaning people on this continent grow disillusioned with aid to underdeveloped nations, and argue that there’s no point in help­ ing them with food or technology until they make radical changes. If we who are fafniliar with .change find it difficult to accept minor changes in our lives, how can we so glibly de­ mand radical change from people who appear to us to have never learned how to change? The United Church of Canada Exeter’s new official plan and zoning bylaw came into effect this week and the amount of time and money spent on the project over the past four or five years would prompt some .people to question whether it was really worth the effort. That takes on an even greater ques­ tion mark when one considers the fact that the final documents are not even considered with pride and joy by those who steered them through the long, drawn-out procedure. Mayor Bruce Shaw probably summ­ ed up the attitude of most members of the planning board and council when he said he was happy the documents were passed, but he was not happy with the documents themselves. t In fact, council members were probably too lenient in acceding to the wishes of several property owners who asked for changes in the zoning designation of their properties. Out of a list of approximately 20 objections, council altered the zoning to appease the property owners in all but two or three instances. In some cases, that was justified, while in others it was questionable planning. . A However, the fact remains that plan- /fl ning can never be perfect, and that no doubt was one of the foremost thoughts in the minds of councillors when they finally approved the documents. There are probably few communities in Ontario which have experienced as much growth as Exeter over the^past five years, and if that continues, "even on a smaller scale, there is little doubt that it will necessitate several amendments to the zoning regulations. To envision those required changes at the present time would be impossible. W * ★ Expediency also entered the picture, particularly in the case of the Cl (core commercial) designation granted the commercial property owners along Main St. between Wellington St. and the river. That designation certainly appeared to satisfy both the property owners in­ volved and the neighboring residential owners, but it could lead to problems if some of those commercial properties are developed to the extent possible un­ der the Cl classification. Some of those existing businesses immediately become non-conforming uses as well, a fact that could jeopar­ dize their own growth and cause them some anguish. There was abviously no easy decision to be made. As long as the status quo is maintained in that area, there will be no problems. However, the zoning designation does not guarantee that the status quo will be maintained, although that should have been the aim of the new bylaw. In fairness to the present council, it should be noted that some of the problem would not have existed for them, had their predecessors been % more diligent in enforcing the existing zoning regulations which in effect would have prevented some of the com- jnercial businesses from being located in that area' In the first place, c- -i * * * i T,- One of the more difficult aspects of planning is the fine line that has to be drawn between an individual’s freedom and the welfare of the com­ munity as a whole. Decisions in that regard become in­ creasingly difficult in modern society, and today there are even arguments stemming from a person’s right to the use of the sun, a consideration that takes on more impetus as solar energy becomes increasingly important. There are those who would argue that a person should be able to do what he wishes with his own property, as long as he does not impinge on the Sugar and Spice Dispensed by Smiley Letters a little disconcerting $ Perspectives zx. quality of life for his neighbors. On the other hand, modern planning tends to be much more restrictive, looking beyond an individual’s rights to the aspect of what is good for the com­ munity as a whole. It goes to the point of telling a lan­ downer that his property must be kept open for industrial growth in the com­ munity, regardless of the fact he may wish to use it for commercial or residential purposes. There are even rules as to the type of commercial or residential develop­ ment that may take place within those zones and in that regard, it is expected there will be further battles over the zoning status given by council to the north end shopping centre. The developer will argue, no doubt, that having allowed the commercial complex in the first place, council members are now being much too stringent in what type of businesses may locate there. An appeal can be expected, and in fact appears justified. . * ’ * * There will be many changes in the zoning bylaw over the next few years, as the needs of the community and of local landowners change. Those are to be expected. Hopefully, councils in the future will ensure that those changes are made by following the correct procedures, rather than the periodic practice of the past when councils gave permission to people to sidestep the dictates of the bylaw. That practice erodes the value of such documents and ’creates precedents that lead to charges of favoritism when others are denied similar considerations. The amazing aspect of Ca­ nada’s dismal economic per­ formance isn’t so much the fact that we have high unem­ ployment (other countries are also short of jobs) or that we have high inflation (other coun­ tries are finding the value of the local currency dropping). The amazing aspect is that Ca­ nada is widely believed to have a “planned” economy. No, it’s not like the Soviet Union or China where work­ ers are instructed to report to specific plants and perform specific jobs. We don’t follow the communist world’s philo­ sophy of state ownership (if you can ignore operations like Air Canada, the CNR and - sigh - the Post Office). But we do operate under strong gov­ ernment influence when it comes to determining the struc­ ture of our industry. The names of the folks who plan the Canadian economy are not widely known (most of our planners prefer anony­ mity - for reasons obvious to anyone who has studied the nation’s economic performan­ ce). However, these shadowy figures do exist and they do exert enormous influence over our economic operation. Unfortunately, these na­ tional planners all suffer from a common affliction known as “facilititis”. In Canada’s case, facilititis threatens to prove fatal. Facilititis develops gradual­ ly. At first, there’s nothing more involved than a vague belief that big business does things more efficiently than smaller business. Gradually, this insidious disease takes hold. Before long, the victim is convinced that production proceeds most efficiently if ail the little plants can be merged into just a handful of very big plants. Sooner or later, the patient reaches the tragic con­ clusion that Canada can sur­ vive only if the various com­ o r . i (m! <1..■■■<»......- panies in each manufacturing industry combine into one monstrous firm. “World scale efficiency” is the term that victims in ad­ vanced stages of facilititis (lit­ erally, the belief in the value of very large facilities) ulti­ mately begin to babble hys­ terically. Time and again, the patient will state categorically that Canada can’t compete with other nations because our manufacturing plants are too small. Facilititis, in effect, causes the victim to wear blinders when surveying the economy. Matters like unrealistically high wage rates, the shortage of high technology industries, foreign control over Canada’s production decisions and re­ strictions on imports of Cana­ dian-made goods by other nations escape the attention of those afflicted with facili­ titis. One doctor summed up the tragic condition of a facilititis patient under his care as fol­ lows; “The poor chap is con­ vinced that the cure for the Canadian economy is to build plants large enough to produce all the refrigerators and auto­ mobile tires demanded by the entire world. He refuses to un­ derstand that there must be demand for those refrigerators and tires, too; otherwise all those goods will end up in warehouses. It’s a truly sad case. There is almost no hope of Canada acquiring larger foreign markets.” Facilititis. Remember the term the next time our nation’s leaders suggest that Canada needs to combine more of our smaller firms into a few large manufacturing firms. They are sick men. They need your sym­ pathy. "Think small" is an editorial message from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business^ : ----------—n 7 cown memorylanej 55 Years Ago Mr. Clayton Frayne, Thames Road, had a fine flock of about 45 ducks and for some time he had been missing them one by one and could not account for their disappearance. One day recently he discovered that a cow was enjoying a duck dinner but the discovery was not made until after 20 of the flock had disappeared. Messrs. R. N. Creech, C. Pilon, H. Rivers and W, E. Sanders are on a week’s shooting expedition in the Bruce Peninsula. What seems to be some mean spite work has taken place in Usborne township during the threshing season. At one place where Mr. Chester Gorvett was threshing, half of a hor­ seshoe was discovered in a sheaf of grain and Luckily was found before it went through the separator. A short time after on another farm, another part of a horseshoe was discovered under similar cir­ cumstances. While threshing at another place a piece of sulky rake tooth got by the threshers and broke the concave. Messrs. A. Wildfong and W. J. Northcott of Sexsmith left on a hunting trip to the highlands of Ontario on Monday last. the WMS sectional meeting at Centralia on Tuesday. 20 Years Ago Frank Taylor, Exeter who Wednesday celebrated 50 years of auctioneering records the longest period of service in the profession in Canada. V. Wor. Bro. W. W. Taman of Lebanon Forest Lodge A.F. and A.M. was presented with a 60-year jewel and a 50- year grand master’s jewel Monday even by the DDGM Rt. Wor. Bro, David White of St. Marys on the occasion of his official visit to the lodge. Workmen began ex­ cavating the basement for a new post office building in Hensail Wednesday mor­ ning. Karen Heywood, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Eric Heywood, Exeter twirled her hula hoop 16,160 times and ate her supper doing it — so far no one has been reported beating her feat. She provided the T-A with the best news tip of the week and created it herself, 15 Years Ago Over 100 visitors viewed the art and market show at the library over the weekend. About 20 area artists displayed more than 70 pictures but only one was sold. Usborne School Board reports more break-ins this week. Windows were broken for entry into Hurondale and No. 5 school near the Morrison Dam, but no loss was reported. Zurich trustees reported damage to a new fence at the village hall. Pranksters in Hensail have been threatening the water supply there by opening fire hydrants during the night. In one evening the storage level dropped four feet as a result of the practice. Mrs. Jack Doerr and Mrs. Robert Southcott, co- conveners of the Hospital Auxiliiary rummage sale, repoled that the sale brought in $735 at the Legion Hall. One df the deepest satisfactions in writing a column of this kind is the knowledge that you are getting into print the angers and frustrations of a lot of other people, who have no recourse for their resentments, and consequently take them out on the old man or the old lady. How do you know this? Well, because people write you letters cheering you on to further attacks, and other people come up to you, perfect strangers, shake hands warmly, and say, “By the Holy Ole Jumpin! Bill, you really hit the nail on the head.” This can be a little disconcerting, as you are never quite sure which nail they are referring to. If the con­ gratulator is a woman, I smile weakly and change the subject. Because sure as guns, though she thought you were one of nature’s noblemen for your assault on male chauvinism last week, she’ll turn on you like a snake when she reads tomorrow’s paper, with the column exposing female chauvinism. Speaking recently to a class of poten­ tial writers in a creative writing course, I tried to pass along the per­ sonal satisfaction one gets from this type of personal journalism. I emphasized the “personal” Satisfaction, because there’s a lot more of that involved than there is of the other kind, financial satisfaction. Columnists and freelance writers have no union working for them, nor any professional association, as have doc­ tors, lawyers, teachers. They have only their own talent and wit and perseverance with which to penetrate the thick heads and thicker Skins of editors and publishers. But it’s a great feeling when you vent your wrath, say, about the rapaciousness of mechanics, and you are button-holed six times in the n&d three days by people with horror stories about mechanics you can seareelv holieve Trouble is, they all want you to write another column about mechanics, and put some real meat into it. This means, in effect, that they would happily stand in the wings and applaud when you were sued for libel. Some readers would like you to be constantly attacking whatever it is that they don’t like. Capitalist friends are aghast when you refuse to launch an assault on capital gains taxes. Welfarist friends think you are a traitor and a fink when you won’t at­ tack the government for not providing color TV for everyone on the take. I am not by nature an attacker, and I think there is nothing more boring than a writer of any kind who tries to make a career of being a “hard-hitting” jour­ nalist. Once in a while my gently bubbling nature boils over. Throwing caution and syntax to the winds, I let my spleen have a field day and try to throw some sand in the grease with which many aspects of society are trying to give us a snow job. And that’s one of the finest paragraphs Fve ever written, if mixed metaphors are your bag. Fair game for the hard-hitter are: garage mechanics, plumbers, postal workers, supermarkets, civil servants, and politicians. Most of them can’t hit back, and everybody hates them, ex­ cept garage mechanics and their wives, plumbers and their wives, etc. etc. 5 Smaller fry are doctors, lawyers, teachers, used salesmen. They all squeal like dying rabbits when at­ tacked, but nobody pays much atten­ tion to them except doctors and their wives, etc. etc. There are a few areas that even the hardest-hitters avoid. When have you, lately, read a savage attack on greedy farmers, callous nurses, or unloving mothers? And yet, there are lots of them around. One of these days, perhaps, one of these hard-hitting writers will muster enough guts, after about five brandies, to launch an all-out attack on the audacity of women, thinking they’re as good as men. Boy, that fellow will learn what real hard-hitting is all about. Personally, I can’t stay mad at anybody long enough to be a voice of the people, or a public watch-dog, or any of those obnoxious creatures who try to tell other people how they should feel. The only constant in my rage is the blatant manipulation of self-seeking politicians who will twist and warp and wriggle and squirm and bribe for self­ perpetuation in office. Best example of the moment is the Tory government in Ontario, which has called a totally un­ necessary election in that province through sheer hunger for greater power. Otherwise, I get a great deal more joy from touching the individual life than inflaming the masses. When I get a letter from an old lady in hospital, crippled with arthritis, .Who has managed to get a chuckle out of my column, it makes me feelgood, Recently, I got a letter from a young Scot who has immigrated to Canada. He says: “I have learned more about Canada and Canadians through reading your column that all the accumulated wisdom from the Canadian newsmagazines, novels and TV programs I have absorbed.” Now there is a man with his head screwed on right. If I, as a newcomer, tried to get my impressions of this country from newsmagazines and TV programs, I’d catch the first boat or plane home. So, I guess I’ll try to go on talking to people, getting sore, havihg some fun, looking for sympathy in the war between the sexes. That’S what life is all about, not plumbers and politicians and other horrors of that ilk. the city streets. When they came to a garbage can they would turn it over, going through the messy piles to find* any morsel of food or worthwhile piece of clothing. Then, very careful­ ly. they would place every bit of it back in the can so they wouldn’t get into any trouble. Hard times. I doubt that a weight-watchers club would have been much in demand. Imagine the laughter when somebody suggested that a group of people should pay three dollars a week to not eat. This summer I was sitting Please turn to Page ,5 were the days before un­ employment insurance, when welfare was still a dir­ ty word, and people knew what it was like to be without all the things that we consider as the necessities of life. He told me about the hun­ dreds of young men who rode the railway freightcars from town to town. At each they would be given some soup and if they were lucky a place to sleep. The next day they were told to move on or face vagrancy charges In the city of Hamilton he remembered that vou could see young fellows walking of in In the . wealthy Canada it would seem that nobody would need to go hungry. My father told me about how it was back in the thir­ ties. the ‘hungry thirties’ people called them. Those SYDFLETCHER this the latter part 20th century, here vocate Advocate Established 1 88 1 Amalgamated 1924Timei Established 1873 f Times 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 — Jihi Beckett Cornposition Manager — Harry DeVriesr . — • *• *■ * ___Phone 235-1331 (♦CNA SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $ 11.00 Per Year; USA $22.00 Business Manager - Pick Jbngkihd Published Edeh thursddy Morning jjjp"'*1- Ontario Second Clast Ma it Registration Number 0386 30 Years Ago Gerald Regier, ll-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Regier, Ml. Carmel died from injuries received when he jumped from a truck on his way to school. Mr. and Mrs. Mel King were feted on the occasion of their silver wedding an­ niversary, Jim Wilson, who has been with the RCNA’s at Esquimqlt, B.C. has been posted to Halifax. The hew pellet mill for producing pellet feeds now being erected at Cann’s mill is hearing completion. Mrs. Hugh Taylor Toronto, formerly Thames Road was guest speaker at