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Times-Advocate, 1980-02-27, Page 4Members of Exeter council are quite correct in their suggestion that the public should be given as much in- put as possible into the downtown development and restoration project recently approved for the Business. Im- provement Area. Local taxpayers have one-third in- terest in the project in view of council's agreement to repay $50,000 of the $150,- 1)00 loan being received from the On- tario government and that, of course, gives them some say in the matter. However, it would be unfortunate if local citizens were of the opinion that council called for public input into the project because they feared it would not be extended by the businessmen. In fact, the BIA have repeatedly asked the public input into the plan and established a store-front 'location for the designers when they were in town to give everyone an opportunity to pre- sent views and ideas. Members of the business communi- ty are well aware that it is important to have a plan that meets with the ap- proval of 'the public, because it is a project being undertaken to attract the public to Exeter, and the core area in particular. The project is being undertaken to make Exeter a more pleasing shopping centre and the more shoppers who get involved in helping with the plannng process, the happier the businessmen will be. Export If you can't sell lung cancer at home any more, you can .export it. That, says The United Church Observer, seems to be the attitude of the Ontario Fluecured Tobacco Marketing Board. Tobacco farmers, pressured by medical authorities and anti-smoking lobbies, face declining sales in Canada. But a recent trade mission to Southeast cancer Asia has convinced growers they can double their exports this year. And in the future they hope to multiply the 33 million kilograms a year export market Ontario has now by 25. There's an argument for helping tobacco farmers change over to healthier (if less lucrative) crops, says The Observer editorial. But "there's no argument for solving the problems by selling it to somebody else". Polls questioned Now that the results of the federal election are known to all Canadians it might be well to reflect on the methods by which public opinion was influenced during the campaign. With television as a readymade tool, the various polls carried out by the parties, by the broadcast networks and the professional analysts must have played an important role in molding the voters' minds as the days and weeks went by. There is a reason to doubt that the influence thus exerted was in the best interests of the nation. Obviously the political parties find these frequent polls highly useful. The general trend of voter preference; regional assessments of support for one or another of the parties; the degree and direction of public response to the leaders' statements - all are highly im- portant to those who plan and direct campaign strategy. Even though it is useful and important for the planners to have accurate knowledge of public opi- nion, it is quite another matter to place this information on the air every feW days, In the first place,with the prolifera- tion of opinion polls results have been proven to differ substantially, depen- ding on who is conducting the polls and duty? the methods by which information is. Wingham Advance-Times MEMZ-0720M7:7r;:;,:mmi.'q- ,MMISESSYNASIMEN gained. The basic formation of the pollsters' questions often elicits answers which favor one party over another. Then, too, there is the follow- the-leader tendency to which all of us are prone in greater or lesser degree. We tend to prefer to run with the winner. We like to feel we are on the winning side - if for no better reason than to prove to our fellows that we are possessed of sound judgement, that we know a winner when we see one. Thus the polls can swing voter sup- port substantially. When one party or one leader is shown to be well out front in the running, more and more of the "undecideds" cast in their lot with the party in the leading position. In a criminal trial jurors are carefully examined before they are im- paneled, to discover whether or not they have pre-formed conclusions about the guilt or innocence of the ac- cused. The theory is that those who will sit in judgment must approach their decision with an open mind, to be in- fluenced only by the admission of all the evidence. Why should the "jurors" of the nation not be accorded equal freedom of decision in the more impor- tant single exercise of democratic emelipemated 19 4 ainAream Canada LM Those Dangerous Polls SWING CANADA'S RBST 0114itANp CLASS, W and AK Published by .t.-Vit.Ply Publication* 1,imitoci tpltNt Editor pill ,Batten Assistant Editor — Rost 'HOMO Advertising Manager ---,Jim Beckett Composition Manager—Barry belfries. :pueinese.Menager —Pick Jengkind .Published Each Wednesday Morning Phono235-1341. at Exeter, Ontario Soeond. Clem Mail Registration. Number 0385 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $14,00 Per Year; USA $30,00 Times 'est 4- TintOsmAclvacata., Fabruary 270980 ANA aitIMMIZZ,-112Mr= Trra,Zgrc Opinions welcome Balance out of whack "In protest over inflation, I voted six times." Perspectives bV SYD FLETCHER When we have a good, open winter such as this One has been we tend to forget the previous one such as last year, when the frost was driven down five feet into the ground and water pipe-lines were frozen that had riot frozen in many years. In town this does not create much of a problem. If your outside pipes ever did chance to freeze then it's the Public Utilities Com- mission's job to get in there and dig. Out in the country it's a different story. One lady I know can remember how she dreaded really cold weather because it meant that the ice on the water-trough had to be broken up with an axe before the cattle could drink, or you had to break through six inches of ice at the pond to get the water. Now farmers usually have running water in their barns and don't often have such problems. When they do have them though, there can be real difficulties. No longer is it a case of 15 or 20 cattle to draw water for in a 45 gallon barrel. A farmer may have 3 or 4 hundred thirsty animals to haul for, an all day job in itself unless you have a tank- truck available. You can get into problems with feed too. A friend of mine had his silo unloader freeze tip during that last cold snap. The silage itself was frozen so hard it took an axe to break up the corn so the cattle could be fed a bit. Climbing the sixty foot silo in the cold up that narrow chute did not prove to be a fun job either, especially when he's bothered with a bit of ar- thritis in the knee. Amazing how much vocabulary he discovered he knew by the time that job was finished. He wasn't a bit disappointed when the silo company boys finally got the machine working, and all he had to do was push the button again and watch the corn come out all by itself, that is, until two weeks later, when the ice storm hit ctutting off his power supply. At least the silage wasn't frozen as hard and it was a bit easier to pitch down. Oh, for the life of a farmer, Comes a time in life of every couple when they start-thinking, and then talk- ing, about, selling the house. After all, they solemnly nod in agree- ment, it's a bloody white elephant. Who needs four bedrooms for two people? Who needs a tax bill that gees up every year? Who needs to heat a white elephant,•or any other color, at today's oil prices? Each of the aging pair thinks his/her own selfish thoughts. And don't tell me otherwise. The Old Man says to himself: "No more beefing about the lawn being shaggy, the walk not shovelled, the basement not swept, the garage falling down, ice on the roof, my utter in- competence when it comes to repairing anything." And the Old Lady thinks: "Why should I run up and down stairs, or- dinary, cellar, and attic, eight times a day? Why should I have to call and fight with the plumbers, the electricians, the TV repair man, because He's never here when something breaks down? Why should I scrub hardwood floors that are immediately scratched, and clean rugs that are immediately soiled by Him and his two dam' grandboys? At about this point they get together and agree that they shoultisell the beast and move into an apartment. No snow shovelling. No grass cutting. Laundry room in the basement. Wall-to-wall rugs. No decorating. No tax bill. No fuel bill. No bill for cleaning the driveway. At this point they're almost euphoric. Wow! No more problems. A nice little two-bedroom. apartment on the tenth floor, overlooking the lake. And so cheap. They bought the old house for a song, spent only about fifty thousand dollars on it. and could probably get sixty for it. That would leave them a handsome profit of about $42239, which they could invest, and drag Mall that extra income. People approach them with a gleam representation on a regional basis as some have suggested. It would be more economical, and therefore be given greater support by Canadians, to have the present riding boundaries extended slightly and then add some regional seati-at-large to keep the total closer to that which now exists, National unity was not a major issue in last week's election, whether by design or accident, but the results in- dicate an entirely new unity question for the nation.. It is now very much a West against the East situation and that will be Mr. ' 'Trudeau's main problem as he resumes power. Fortunately, he has few elec- tion promises to keep, and has the add- .zed4advantage Of being able to do what., he thinks right •for the entire nation beeause he will apparently not be around when Canadian voters go back to the polls to assess the current government.., He is not without knowledge of the problems facing this country. In reali- ty, the Liberals created most of them and had nine months to watch Joe Clark and his Conservatives attempt to tyres- tie with them. Now the ball is back in their court and they'll have an oppor- tunity to amend the errors with which they found sufficient fault to ask the voters to reinstate them. If Easterners are relaxing on the hope that energy costs will stay at a low ebb due to their support of the Liberals, they should perhaps be reminded of the situation when they supported Trudeau over Robert Stan- in their eye. "If you're gunny sell, I want first chance," A colleague of Mine, with six kids to sleep, and us with four bedrooms and an attic that could be made into two more, lights up like a green light every time she sees me, and urges the sale. And this is about the point where the couple commences to shoot sidelong looks at each other, have second thoughts, and begin to query the wisdom of the whole deal. The husband thinks, "Jeez, she drives me nuts in a big house where I can go to the bathroorri when she starts playing the vacuum. In an apartment she'd have it going alI thy, and I'd wind up like tithe of thoSe old guys, squatted over the daily paper in the public library.". And the Wife thinksMouldn't he like to stick me in an apartment where he'd be underfoot every hour of the twenty- four? I can scarcely stand it now when he's on a weekend or holidays. I like to get him OUT of the house, so I can get something done.''' And they both think of the kids, and the grandkids. Sure, we have to live our own lives, but what about Christmas? They can't afford a motel,and that's sil- ly, anyWay. And the wife thinks, "The little devils can do enough damage to the house to keep uS happily miserable for three weeks after they leave, What would they do'to an apartment? We'd be kick- ed out." And the husband thinks, "How tan I teach them not:to climb a woodpile in an apartment? How can I teach them not to squirt me with the hose in an apartment? How can I teach them how to fish in a rotten apartment? How can I teach them how to Stickhandle a puck in an apartment?" And the wife thinks, "We'd never get the grand piano,into an apartment. And the Indian rag. Its old, and it's shab- by, but it's beautiful, and it would never fit into one of those dumb little boxes." And the husband thinks, "Where would I put my fishing tackle? Where would I store all those pictures of me as a half-back, that are now in the attic, somewhere?" And they both think, "What would we do without the fireplace, a constant bone of contention, because nobody wants to clean out the ashes? But we do love those late winter afternoons, with our own oak and maple sending out heat and hues, and the 'grandboys sprawled before it, asking crazy questions about life?" And the wife thinks, "Sdnie days, when I stand at the sink doing dishes', and look, out at the green and the sun and the flowers, I have a piercing sense of joy, and I don't think I could ever get that looking out a tenth-floor window." And the husband thinks, "What would I have to worry about if there were no fifteen-footicicles, hanging like so many swords of Damocles, right over the back door, where the Old Lady's music pupils come in?" And he goes on thinking, "What Would I do in summer, if I couldn't listen to the birds, and watch the cheeky squirrels, and gaze up through the filter of my massive oak into the , gold-blue sky?" And she thinks, "I can cut down the phone bill, and make my own clothes, and shop tighter, and stop buying ex- pensive presents for the kids." And he thinks, "I can stop smoking, and buying booze, hang onto the old car for another year, give up one of my two daily papers." And by some peculiar osmosis, they agree, despite the figures, which are conclusive and multitudinous, that it is a lot cheaper, healthier, and generally more beneficial, to hang onto the old house for another year or two, By: Roger Worth• Souse television programs are scrapped after a 13-week run because audience ratings aren't up to scratch. Many new products don't hit the na- tional or International market because surveys indicate con- Sumer resistance, for whatever reason, Even do-or-die govern- ment decisions are many times based on random samples of public opinion. In fact, "sophisticated" ratings nd pb systems, u opinionmarke t sur- veys,r y polls, that supposedly take the pulse of the nation have become an important element in Cana- dian life. Roger Worth is Director, Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business. But are the results of such polls 'dependable? Do Cana- dians really want poll results to affect something as funda- mental as who will govern the country? The question arises because of increasing ptiblic resistance to the rising number of polls taken during recall election campaigns. Gallup, as welt as the ma- jor newspaper chains and tele- vision networks all play the one-upmanship game, endeaS% outing to upstage competitive media with poll results. The media nabobs call it freedom of the press. 55 Years ago The Goderich hockey team won the OHA Intermediate championship by defeating • Exeter 8-7 in Goderich 6-3 in Exeter in home and home games. Sarnia High School defeated Exeter High School in a scheduled WOSSA hockey game. The score was 4-3 in Exeter; Sarnia winning the round 6-4. ' Mr. and Mrs. William Kernick of Usborne, celebrated their fifth wed- ding anniversary last week. While Gordon Heater of Hay was delivering some eggs at D. Cantelon's store at Hensall, the team owned by W.C. Pearce ran away, broke loose from the sleigh and landed up in the Methodist Church shed. 30 years ago Exeter District' High School essay, winners received their prizes from postmaster M.W. Pfaff. They were John Hendrick, Wilbert Crown, John Petris, Bill Gilfillan, Joyce Witmer, Shirley Pearson, Marion McLeod, Elaine Beer, June Walters and Nancy .Tieman. A group from Dashwood, Grand Bend and Exeter are in Toronto today with Thomas Pryde, MLA, and Hon. G.H. Doucett, Minister of Highways to urge the paving of Highway 83 from Exeter to Grand Bend. The cafeteria was opened this week at Exeter District High School. The 25 cent meals were served to 180 persons, 20 years ago Strike at General Coach works, Hensall terminated • Wednesday afternoon when picketers agreed to go back to work Thursday morning. The end came during a meeting between company officials and strikers but it was indicated the firm made no concessions to union demands. The picketers started Thursday afternoon when a negotiating meeting at Toronto came to an abrupt Dear Sir, This being the first elec- tion I was involved in, I tried to be very much aware of the local and federal issues, and. I was very disappointed to discover most voters in our area merely go through the motions on election day. I am very disillusioned aS I think that Mr. Cardiff's family tree and his political affiliation seemed to be more a part of this election than the limes. I think the time has come that voters start listening to the candidates and their party's platform without the What's important is that voters can be influenced by poll results, particularly con- sidering the inordinate amouat of attention they receive. In fact, poll results are given such .0 degree of credence and au* thenticity by the media that even an incorrect poll can be- come a self-fulfilling prophecy.• An example of the inherent weakness in the system: two polls taken recently by Cana- da's Major television networks differed by 20 percentage points on the number of people who were "undecided" about how they would vote, to say nothing of estimated support for the various political parties. By overplaying poll results, Canada's major media outlets are asking for trouble. Already election polls have been outlawed in British Cu- lumbia, and the Quebec gov- ernment is taking the same tack on the referendum. Freedom of the press is a fundamental principle in Ca- nada, but it carries with it the concomitant responsibility not to overemphasize such "news" as poll results for competitive reasons. The danger is that poll re- sults may influence voters to hop on a party bandwagon as they attempt to support a winner, rather than making a thoughtful decision on the basis of policy, leadership; and the issues of the day. end. Police patrolled the plant Friday, Monday and Tuesday to make sure nonstriking personnel could get in and out of the plant. A rink of Sarnia lady curlers were guests of a rink of Exeter ladies on Wed- nesday. The game ended in a tie. The Exeter ladies were Mrs, Harry Ailey, skip, Mrs Charles Shane, vice-skfp, Mrs. Morley Sanders, second and Mrs. Gerald Webb, lead. Approximately 14 inches of snow fell on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, plugging roads, according to the aviation weather service at RCAF Station Centralia. Wind gusts Friday were .as high as 50 mph. Township crews worked night and day over the weekend to clear roads of one of the heaviest snowfalls of the decade. Some snowdrifts in Hay• and Usborne townshipS were 12 feet high. 15 years ago Kathy Buxton,a 17 year old student of SHDHS was crowned queen at the annual At Home dance by the use of the telephone. A snow blizzard kept voting students home, so members of the student council phoned as many students as possible for their votes. Two area students won awards at Western Ontario Agricultural School, Ed Hern placed first in dairy showmanship class and Danny Coward RR 1 Woodham, walked off with the wheat showmanship honors. Public speaking and verse speaking contests were held at Exeter Public School this week with the judges having considerable difficulty picking winners among the many fine young per- formers. Winners were Mary Wilson, Bruce Fulcher, Michelle Harrison, Claudia Barrett, Kathy Bentley, Dan Jory, Joe Darling, Roberta Barrett, Steven Luxton, Ross Huntley, Bob Dobbs and Stan Rawlings. local Conservative preference that seems to prevail so strongly in our area. I guess the fact that an- cestors were Conservative is all it takes to make up minds on election day. It may well be that Mr. Cardiff is 'the best man for the job but I'm afraid the majority would vote P.C. if Jack Horner himself was parachuted into our riding as a born again Conservative. Shannon Mgt-lefty Exeter While Canadians will be cheering the fact they have elected' a majority government, there must be con- siderable concern across the nation about the obvious regional disparity shown in the election results, Generally speaking, the government is formed from Eastern Canadian representatives and the opposition comes from Western Canada. Obvious- ly, that's not the type of balance that is required for good representation on both sides of the House of Commons for the next four to five years. It takes on more ominous tones, es- pecially given the normal partisanship of the political beast in our society. The problem, of course, is easily identified. The solution is much less lucid. The option exercised by Joe Clark in naming senators to the cabinet is open to Pierre Trudeau, but this is an inadequate substitute for elected representation within the caucus. To help alleviate such problems,-the. Pepin-Robarts task force on national unity recommended a limited form of proportional representation in that the parties would be allocated seats in proportion to their share of the popular vote in each of the major regions of the country. While the Conservatives were vir- tually eliminated in Quebec and the Liberals had a Shutout west of Win- nipeg, each party was supported by hundreds of thousands of voters in those losing causes. However, it is questionable if the na- tion would be better served by adding as many as 60 seats to the House of Commons to allow for proportional W .::.:; ar and Dispe sed by Smiley Keeping the white elephant rPinogTOK field when the latter hinted 'that lie may invoke a form of wage and price con- trols to bolster the economy. Stanfield never made it, but wage and price controls did! The Liberals may have convinced voters that the days of cheap energy are not necessarily over as the Clark government evidenced through their proposed increases that helped shunt them over to the opposition benches again. It may have .been one of the few elec- tion promises made by the Liberals but there is little doubt that it will be the most difficult for them to fulfill. While hindsight is a great weapon, there• is little• doubt that many Canadians who voted'against Joe Clark 'Would now probably reverse that vote if given the chance to do so, In defeat), the PC leader displayed a considerable amount of character, honesty and hidden steel, a rather direct opposite of the.image with which he was Viewed throughout the cam- paign by many Canadians. The Liberal advertising campaign, which went blow for blow with the Conservatives in an image and per- sonality attack against the parties' leadership, did Mr. Clark in when it was considered with the stumbling he experienced in the early days of his reign of power. His political future is now very much in doubt, but in defeat, he came of age in the minds of many Canadians, even those who helped oust him. 1