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Times-Advocate, 1979-10-24, Page 4Mainstream Canada Page. 4 Times-Aiivocate„ Ottebet 240 197/ ... tirees,Estolstishe4 te.73 Advecete Eacsesched 1001 areregometed.1924 No one has yet been able to come up with a logical explanation for the phenominal commercial growth taking place in Exeter over the past five years, but that development in itself does provide dome explanation for a new set of surprising figures ... the town's population. Figures show that 136 people were added to the total to bring the current population to 3,668. That's an increase of about four percent in one year, which could well make the community the fastest growing one in Canada in that period. The only competition for that title is probably the oil-rich western provinces where mass immigration is also being recorded. While the local growth is unusual, it is still well below estimates that were made in the mid-60's. In 1965, the pop- ulation was already 3,200 and experts were predicting that it would reach over 4,000 by 1971. The closing of CFB Centralia, of course, helped dim that Some area municipalities are holding out on a request from the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority to adopt flood and fill line mapping. One of the basic problems is that the floodline is based upon the rainfall and flooding conditions experienced with Hurricane Hazel some 25 years ago and some council members suggest that such a guideline may be too stringent when consideration is given to development of land that may fall within the floodplain. Exeter Reeve Si Simmons explain- ed last week that had the guidelines been in force, the community swim- ming pool would probably not have As more of us are using more wood for heating the following item from the Ontario Lumber Manufacturers Association is interesting. As anyone who has had a disastrous experience with smoke and sparks can tell you. the first step to a good fire is the use of proper wood. The following poem is helpful in determining the bur- ning qualities of wood. Beechwood fires are bright and clear If the logs are kept a year. Chestnut's only good, they say, If for long it's laid away. 'ovate '} SERVING ,CANADA'S BEST FARMLAND C.W.N.As.g.W.N.A..cLASs v4° and. ABC Published by J. W. tedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY, PUBLISHER Editor — Bill Batten Assistant Editor — Roes Haugh Advertising Manager — Jim Beckett Composition Manager — Harry DeVries Business Manager — Dick Jengkind Published Each Wednesday Morning Phone 235-133i at Exeter, Ontario Sacend Ciao% Mail Rovistration Number 0386 SUSScRienoti RATES: Gonads $11,00 Por Yost; USA $30.00 :"•":"-2 ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' Growing question On high ground Ash burns best Perspectives prediction but the community appears to be back on the track in attracting new residents. While the commercial growth ex- plains part of the reason for the popula- tion increase, there is evidence that small urban communities will continue to grow in the next decade as people attempt to escape the large cities. Exeter's potential for growth is currently limited by the capacity of the Ausable River to handle sewage effluent and the matter is currently un- der study by local and provincial of- ficials. In the near future, this community will face an important question of how much money it will spend toprovIdefor further growth, or looking at its current debt load, the question may well be how much it can realistically afford to spend. It won't be an easy question to answer! Birch and fire logs burn too fast, Blaze up bright and do not last. Elm wood burns like a churchyard mold. Even the very flames are cold. Poplar gives a bitter smoke, Fills your eyes and makes you choke. Apple wood will scent your room With an incense like perfume. Oak and maple, if dry and old, Keep away the winter cold. But ash wood wet and ash wood dry A king shall warm his slippers by! been permitted at its present location due to the threat of a flood yet the water haS never reached that level even during the visitation ofHurricane Hazel. While people still insist on gambl- ing with nature's whims on too many occasions, there is a need for guidelines to protect them from themselves; but those guidelines must be realistic. Most communities in the watersh- ed still appear to have enough vacant land to negate the necessity of allowing development on land that could be en- dangered by anything even as freakish as Hurricane Hazel, particularly at a time when freaks of nature are becom- ing more prevalent. Too many stinkin` things that good fortune could be expected to keep smiling on him when that third en- counter arose. It didn't take long 'for that third meeting to take place. Again, while driving along the road, I noticed the white line in front start to move slight- ly and there he was, Number three was even a greater hazard than his other two cousins, because rather than heading for the far side of the road, he started to move back across the lane in which I was travelling. Applying more body-English than anything else because the pavement was too wet to attempt a swerve onto the shoulder of the road, I again awaited the pungent odour that signifies a direct hit. Again good for- tune prevailed and I was able to con- tinue the trip without everyone for miles around knowing that another per- fumed creature had left his final mark on the fall air. To make a short story even longer, I happened to be recounting my ex- periences to a friend when we passed by a skunk that had apparently been, snuffed out by another driver on the op- posite side of the road. Although my friend attempted to assure me the creature was dead, I replied it was probably just sleeping there until we had to return on his side of the road. No one's luck holds out for four times! Readers may not have had such close encounters with skunks, but if you watch closely as you traverse area roads, you'll probably notice there are a fair number of black and white car- casses. A local hunting enthusiast advises that the skunk population appears ex- tremely high and while we urban dwellers may assume the creatures are all living out in the countryside, such is not the case. In fact, one local resident suggests there are dozens of them which have taken up residence in Ex- eter and more can be expected as winter winds start to send them looking had proved themselves tne equal of any, our industry was booming, there was lots of rOorn and opportunity for everyone, and the future was rosy, Well do I remember the feeling. This was before the social revolution, the inflation, the monstrously swollen government, the huge deficits and the shadow of separatism: the things that have turned us into a nation of security- minded, materialistic cry-babies, But let me not draw a gloomy picture of "Press Gang", It's a delightful book, one that will bring a nostalgic glow to all those people who lived in small towns across Canada in the Forties and Fifties. Lonely as only a young reporter in a strange town can be, Lamb gradually became absorbed in the atmosphere and social life of the places he worked: Woodstock, Moose Jaw, Orillia. And he recreates this feeling of a younger, happier Canada, when life was simpler and society less sophisticated on those tree-shaded streets of our towns and small cities. From the author we also get a good look into the workings and machinations of those, small newspapers with their ramshackle old buildings and rickety machinery, where reporters waked for thirty dollars a Week, and loved it. It's delightful stuff for anyone who has been in the business. But perhaps the greatest pleasure in tile editor for more favourable eating es- tablishments. To that end, our associate in the next office relates a story about his daughter in Goderich becoming upset over the nightly raids on her garbage cans by what she thought were the neighbourhood cats. Early one morning, upon hearing another commotion, she decided to take things in hand and grabbed a broom to teach the night-time vandals a lesson or two, However, just as she was set to swat the creature whose rump was sticking out of the strewn garbage, she for- tunately was able to stop the swing in mid-air and beat a hasty retreat when she saw the unmistakable insignia of a skunk. But if you really want some fun, leave a cellar window open and have one of the stinkers get into your base- ment. That happened to an Usborne family last year and we pass along the successful formula just in case other readers may be confronted with the same problem. A quick trip was make to a local store to purchase some smoked herring and it was placed inside a large barrel that was placed on its side. The skunk ambl- ed in and the barrel was quickly righted and a hasty retreat was made with barrel and contents up the cellar steps. However, the retreat was a little too hasty and the barrel slipped and the whole exercise had to be undertaken again. It was successful and the barrel and the skunk were soon deposited outside where the animal finished his feed of herring and' then ambled off, without leaving any of its calling card. Actually, the ending of that story is more than could be expected, and readers would be well advised to check their basements for any access points before facing similar situations that could have less happy endings. ' the book is the anecdotes and vignettes of characters, all the way from Lamb's first meeting with tight-fisted Roy Thomson, to become eventually Lord Fleet of London and owner of the biggest newspaper empire in the world, down to the grubbiest paper-carrier, baffling the bureaucracy of the newspaper with his complete lack of organization, We meet Harry Boyle, self-made Canadian millionaire, who wound up with the Queen of Rumania as his mis- tress. And C.H. Hale, editor of the Orillia Packet and Times, "a prototype of all the old-line newspapermen across the country who ran newspapers because they had something to say, not because they thought they could get rich." There were quite a few of those around When I was in the business, but therearen't many left. The thundering of the editor has been replaced by the wiles of the advertising manager, in the pursuit of the buck. The result is an almost national blandness on the editorial pages of Sttiall-city papers across the country. Don't step on too many toes. James Lamb was one of the good Ones, and during the years he was editor in Orinia, Packet and Times Two Sets of Rules The old press gang By SYD FLETCHER When we first got married I bragged to my wife that after my experience as a cook in an army camp. that I could make salad dressing right from scratch. What I neglected to tell her was that I could only make it in 45 gallon batches. Not much use, really, when it comes down to it, I guess, in a little apartment like ours. The refrigerator would have had a problem storing it all, Maybe we could have given a little away. Before I got that job I had worked for one day in a restaurant as their night cook. You have to unders- tand that this was a real promotion for me. I had started out as night gas- jockey. The boss bad got desperate one evening when the regular cook had sudden- ly quit on him. "No problem," he said. "On the night shift you rare- ly get anything other than hamburgers and french fries. Just see that the ham- burger IS cooked and the french fries warmed up a lit- tld. You'll do great," he assured me, then left. Sure enough, the late crowd, in from the closed hotels across from the river just wanted hamburgers and fries, just as he'd guaranteed, and as long as the waitress was will to give me the bill to look at I wasn't totally confused, She was a frizzy-headed girl, not much older than myself, who kept on shoving her tip money into the juke-box. It never stopped. "Two westerns,"she yell- ed, "a New Yorker, medium rare, a hamburger and fries." I grabbed a Menu fran- tically. I didn't know you needed to pass a course in geography to be a took. New Yorker. Ah yes, a steak. No steaks in the refrigerator, "Where's the steaks?" I hissed, in a stage whisper, through the opening in the wall. "In the freezer, stupid," frizzy head replied. I headed there. Thank goodness the package Said New Yorker on it or I'd still be looking in the salmon steaks. I slapped it on the grill, then realized that ! didn't have a clue what westerns were, "What's a western?" I whispered again to frie-head "A western sandwich!" she' replied loudly. Several customers were beginning to look a little anxious. "Ok, Ok," I replied, then realized that that was no help. "What's in it though?" She came back and showed me how to mix a couple of eggs together, some milk, a few pieces of ham, Amazing. Now I should have known that. It was so easy. "Your steak's never gonna get done that way, she remarked as she went out. I looked at it. She was right. Perhaps if I turned the grill up a little. Maybe if I dipped it briefly in the french fry grease? "Bacon and eggs, sunny side up, and keep them cluckin", friz-head hollered, The steak was burning as I broke the eggs, five of them before I got two without broken yolks. I was mixing up the westerns and trying to keep an eye on the bacon which was cooking very nicely on that hot grill. Several customers left suddenly. Perhaps it was from my cry of despair when I saw that the french frie5 had turned from a golden brown to a deep purplish black, of the smell of that steak as it smoked on the sideboard where I was try- ing to cool it down, I don't understand why I Was so suddenly demoted the next night back to gas- jockey. My hamburgers Were delicious. Periodically when journalists sit down to write a weekly column they find there just isn't a stinkin' thing to write about. That's not the way it is with yours truly this week. In fact, it would appear there are too many stinkin' things to write about. In the last couple of weeks I've come to the conclusion, from first hand ex- periences, that the skunk population is getting slightly out of control. It's a conclusion that has been backed up with some information from other sources, and while the situation may not yet have reached epidemic propor- tions, most readers will readily realize that one close encounter with a skunk can certainly be described as an en- counter of the worst kind. While rounding a curve on an area sideroad recently, the writer was con- fronted with the similiar black and white insignia of natures most ob- noxious creature ambling across the road on the path the front wheels of my vehicle was about to traverse. An attempt at braking to avoid the collision was less than successful and the vehicle skidded to a halt with the skunk somewhere under it. Naturally, my nostrils awaited the pungent odour that was expected to soon fill the air and the car, but alas good fortune had struck. After sitting in the middle of the road for a few seconds I pulled away, the skunk apparently having somehow eluded his demise and its ac- companying final stink bomb. A couple of nights later, while walk- ing down Sanders St., I was attracted by the sound of the rustling leaves just a couple of feet away from my path and there, ambling across the lawn, was another of the creatures much too close for comfort. Fortunately, he was apparently as anxious to avoid me as I was to avoid him and again there was a lucky escape from that powerful weapon with which skunks have been endowed. Naturally, trouble comes in threes, and this writer was most apprehensive As he promised, James Lamb had his publishers send me a copy of his just published book, Press Gang, and I'm glad he did. Laid up with a dose of 'flu, I was able to escape from my personal miseries into this warm and enter- taining account of small-town Canadian newspapers and the people who ran them in the post-war era. As well as the newspaper world, the author has produced a social document of some importance, re-creating small- town Canada (the real Canada, in my opinion) in all its quickness, wealth of colourful characters, and basic stabili- ty, qualities that seem to be eroding rapidly. It is very much a first person narrative. We meet the young Jim Lamb, just out of the Navy, after years on the corvettes, and determined to become a newspaperman. Lamb recaptures the excitement and urgency of than first autumn of 1945 and the years immediately following. Canada had come of age in World War II, and Canadians knew it. Europe was shattered, Britain exhausted. This was the best country in the world to live in, and all we recently discharged young veterans knew it. There Was an almost palpable exhilaration in the air. night across the country, including Quebec, there was a sense of pride, a feeling of unity, that had never existed in this country before, and has sadly deteriorated since. Our fighting men 8y PK Roger Worth The Quebec government recently paid a supplier $2,400 for materials, four months after the bill had been sent. No Interest was paid on the outstanding amount. A small contractor in. North- ern Ontario came close to hav- ing his business placed in re- ceivership or bankruptcy when the provincial government kept him waiting more than three months before paying a $28,000 bill. Again, the herd-pressed entrepreneur received no in- terest on the overdue account. Roger Worth is Director, Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. For people operating small and medium-sized businesses, dealing with provincial and federal governments and their agencies can be risky indeed. While governments have made an attempt to speed up pay- ment procedures during the last few years, the system still leaves a lot to be desired. The bureaucrats argue that most bills are paid on time, which is probably true. The real dilemma for entrepreneurs, however, is what happens when a cheque from Ottawa or the provinces doesn't arrive. 55 Years Ago William Elsie of Grand Bend and Melton Deitz of Zurich have the distinction of being champions in this district for wild geese shooting. On Monday they shot eight and on Tuesday they shot ten which makes it 18 in two days. A hockey association was formed in Exeter on Monday evening at the Dome Rink. It was decided to enter a team in the O.H.A. Intermediates, The colours will be orange and green. Freeman Morlock has installed a radio set with a loud speaker. Needless to say Freeman's store is quite a community centre. Huron County Council is in session this week, Reeve W,D. Sanders, of Exeter, Reeve Wm, Coates of Usborne and Reeve A. Neeb of Stephen are in attendance. 30 Years Ago Cpl R:B. Alward received from C10 W.F.M. Newson of the Centralia RCAF Station the key to the first home to be occupied by married personnel, In process of erection are 185 homes. Cliff Brintnell, Rufus Kestle and William Sims attended the 58th battalion, reunion dinner at the King Edward Hotel, Toronto Saturday night. K.J. Lampman has completed 25 years service with the Ontario Electric Power Commission. He and Mrs. Lampman are spending a month's holiday in Ber- muda. Ted Pooley picked some ripe strawberries from his garden this week. In normal business eircum. stances a simple telephone , call to the "slow-pay" ens- tomer might rectify the situa., non, or at least provide an in, dication Of the likely payment date, With, governments, though, even tracking down the unpaid invoice can be a major achieve- merit for the most concerned civil servant. The real problem, however, is # general government policy eliminating interest payments ; on overdue accounts, forcing suppliers to pick up the tab when the system fails to work' efficiently. Simply put, in late-pay- ments cases business effec- tively subsidizes government sloppiness. Businesses have to borrow money at interest rates of 14' - 0 070 or more to fi- nance their operations as they await overdue government pay • - ments. Normally, business trade accounts are charged a not un-'•? reasonable 1-1/20/0 per month to cover such losses. Not every government de- tenement, of course, follows the "no interest" principle. Just ask the person with an overdue tax bill. The message from the bureaucrats is clear. Pay up promptly, please, and don't forget to include the in-' terest, 20 Years Ago A ten-man hunting ex- pedition that left a week ago for Koko Lake from Exeter and district has returned' with the catch of two deer. Making up the members of the party were Graham. Arthur, Jack Carr, George Glendenning, Harold Holtzmann and Bill Amos Poppy day campaign here', was very successful ac- cording to chairman Harvey Pfaff. Top collector again was Fred Wells who raised more than $200 himself. A portion of the residence of the estate of Miss Helen T. Swan of Hensall and London has been awarded to the Canadian Council of Chur- ches to be used in refugee work, ts Years Ago Area police officials this week congratulated district youths on their "good behavior" on Halloween. Damage from vandalism in the area was extremely light, A sanitary engineer from the OWRC made several tests Tuesday in an effort to determine the source of the pollution in the Ausable River which caused the death of many fish this summer. The test failed to indicate any conclusive evidence of pollution. About 200 members and friends who attended the annual meeting of Exeter District Co-Operative last week learned that the organization had ex- perienced a comparatively good year, despite the loss Of their building through fire. +CNA editorials were quoted across the country. In the last few chapters of Press Gang, Jim Lamb's tone changes from a nostalgic chuckle to a tone of lament and even anger for a Canada that has been lost. He sounds off loud and clear for the millions of Canadians who must grit their teeth and suffer in silence the "inanities and incom- prehensions of a new breed of journalist", or be labelled "rednecks" or "reactionaries" by the trendy types who to- day write the news. He comes out swinging at government that governs in a vacuum. "It is probably fair to say that Most recent Cana- dian Legislation runs directly counter to the wishes of the majority of Canadians ... In a whole range of issues, from abortion and capital punishment to the metric system and the monarchy, the attitude of the rulers is at variance with that of the ruled." And a lot more of it. This is vintage Lamb editorializing, and while you might not share all his views, it ends the book with strength and sting. Give some kids a chance in life SUPPORT UNICEF COLLECTIONS THIS HALLOWE'EN \es