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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1965-10-14, Page 91 s. 4 • w i fir i • • • • Centennial Theme flakes Hold Although plans for the celebration of Canada's 100th birthday have been under way for at least two years, it is only within recent months that the general public has shown any real interest in what is likely to take place in 1967. This is quite na- tural, since the average individual is in- capable of enthusiasm over events too far in the future. The federal government's invitation to all municipalities in Canada to share in a multi-million dollar jackpot for centennial projects has resulted in a hodge-podge of varied plans. It appears likely that a fair- ly high proportion of the money will go into programs which will not serve as. worthwhile evidence of the nation's de- velopment. One program, however, has particular merit—the contest initiated among farm people to improve the appearance of their properties. For the past ten or twelve years farm homes and their surroundings have been improving at an astonishing pace and this Centennial project should serve to accelerate the pace of improve- ment. We have thought of one particular place where farm improvement would be the most evident to those who drive through our attractive countryside, A very small proportion of barns and farm out- buildings have been painted. Many times we have heard American visitors comment of the lack of paint on farm buildings, interpreting this condition as an evidence of poverty. Of course this is not true. One finds unpainted buildings on some of the most prosperous farms in the province—but it is worthwhile to see these drab structures through someone else's eyes. A cost of paint on the barn and the driving shed could make a world of difference. Here's another thought for a centen- nial improvement—though it has little or nothing to do with our farming friends. In Ontario great care has been taken to improve the tidiness of our highways and the green verges along the roads. There is a stiff penalty for throwing refuse from a car; the grass is cut and the weeds are sprayed into non-existence. There are strict limitations on the type of signs which may be erected and the distance from the roadway. Despite all this care to protect the na- tural beauty of the countryside the con- struction industry has been permitted to create the greatest desecration of all. Every few miles along most of our major thoroughfares the eye is offended by the scars left when some building project re- quired gravel. The entire side of a once - beautiful hill will be torn out and the gaping remains left exposed. Surely if a blatant piece of printed advertising re- quires governmental regulation the evis- cerated skeleton of a green hill should be decently covered. The contractor who removes gravel from an open pit should be required to do one of two things: Dig on the side of the hill away from the road or re -grade and sod the pit when he is through with his work. The evidence of Dutch elm disease is coinciding perfectly with the approach of the centennial year, By 1967 our fields and roadsides will I>e bearing the gaunt remains of tens of thousands of dead elm trees, They are not only unsightly; they are a stark and depressing reminder of the scourge that is ravaging these beautiful trees. In addition, the diseased remains of these trees are spreading the disease to healthy trees at a most alarming rate. Surely the farm organizations could find a worthy project in encouraging the fell- ing and burning of these skeletons. And incidentally, is it not high time that a program of tree replacement should be undertaken—or are we to leave our coun- tryside bare for all time? Another suggestion for centennial im- provements could well be directed to a couple of provincial government depart- ments. Our roadside tables should be im- proved. Mind you, in some districts the tables placed by the Department of High- ways are clean and their surroundings are kept neat and tidy. In other areas the facilities fall away below this stand- ard. Those placed for public use by the Department of Lands and Forests in the parks and along roads farther north are decidedly unattractive. This department favors the use of some sort of finish which leaves a dull, almost greasy finish, upon which the picnicker must set out his meal. Dust gathers and sticks to the sur- face of the tables and all too often one finds that the leavings of a variety of birds are added to the general grime. Since the seasonal admission to Lands and Forests parks is now $5.00 (and the fee is paid by thousands who use such parks only once or twice in a season), the least the Department could do would be to spring for some gloss varnish for the picnic equipment. If such a suggestion is too breath -taking we would urge that they send a responsible official to British Col- umbia to see how things are done in that province. Problem Recognized Only a week or two ago this column commented on the increased hazards on our streets and roads because of the swarms of motorcycles which the latest fad and a prosperous economy have brought into use. ' Apparently Transport Minister Irwin Haskett has been struck by the same thought, for new regulations have been promulgated. A new rule states that a person who holds only a temporary instruction permit • may no longer carry a passenger on the pillion seat of a motorcycle, and a person with a temporary permit is now prohibit- ed from driving a rented motorcycle. Mr. Haskett said the new regulations, which are effective immediately, stem from an intensive and continuing study of • accidents involving motorcycles. "The number of motorcycles registered in On- tario has more than doubled in the past eight months," Mr. Haskett said. There were more than 22,000 motor- cycles registered in Ontario at the end of M • August, and a total of 1,588 were invol- ved in accidents in the first eight months of the year. The previous peak of motor- cycle registrations was in 1950, when there were nearly 14,000. At that time the motorcycle registrations accounted for a greater proportion of the total motor vehicles and were involved in a greater proportion of accidents than is the case today. Since then the number of motor- cycles dwindled until their resurgence of popularity in the past two years. The Minister has pointed out that with the greater number of motorcycles on the road drivers of cars and trucks must be more alert for them. Motorcycle rides are urged to wear safety helmets at all times and to obey all the rules of the road which apply to other motor vehicles. In addition, it is safe practice for the motorcycle operator to keep more than the usual distance be- tween his machine and the vehicle he is following. THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES Published at Winginun, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert O. Wenger, Secretary-'l'reaaurer Member Atkiit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associ- atlon: Member Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Authiorited by the Bost Office Department as Second Class Mail and for payment of postage in cash Subscription Rate; One tear, $4.00; Six Months, $2.25, in advance U.S.A., $5.00 per year: Foreign rate, $5.00 per year Advertising Rate* on application REMINISCING OCTOBBB 194 Mr, artd Mrs, H. R. Elliott left on Friday afternoon for Denver, Colorado, where they will attend the Annual meeting of the Canadian Ticket Agents Association, which will be held in that city. Mrs. Alex Gowdy of Wing,- hani IS visiting her sons Isaac and Thomas of Mildmay this weak. Mrs. Gowdy is 92 years of age, but is still active and healthy. The postponed events on the Field day program were run off last week, In the Sr. Pole Vault the winners were Wilfred McGregor, Wm, Wallace, John Campbell and in the Jr, Pole Vault, Pat Holmes and Geo. Pocock, In the Jr. High Jump the winners were Pat Holmes, Norman Wightman and Harry Armstrong. H. E. Isard & Co. received a large box of drygoods from Liverpool this week, which had been robbed sometime before it reached its destination. The box had been broken into evi- dently by some thief, not by opening the lid but by means of a hole punched in the side and a large number of ladies skirts were missing. OCTOBER 1940 Doug Waram, Jack Bateson and John Preston are attending the air training school in Galt, Wally Miller and Bert Porter won first prize in the Doubles bowling tournament at Goderich Friday evening. Town Clerk W. A. Gal- braith had a novel experience on Thursday noon, when he captured a partirdge in the back- yard at his home. Harry Posliff is taking a course at Western University, London, enrolling at the com- mencement of the term. Ken Rintoul has enlisted with the Scotch Fusiliers, C.A. S. F. of Kitchener, Ken will be in the pipe band. Mr. C. A. Roberts will move into t'he Nortrop house on Min- nie St. , recently vacated by Mr. J. 1-1, Sloan. Mr. Elmer Wilkinson will occupy his own residence on Patrick St. , va- cated by Mr. Roberts, and Mr. Jack McLeod will move to the apartment vacated by Mr. Wil- kinson. The final match in the Alps Golf Club play-offs was held at the course Wednesday of last week when W. H. French won the championship, winning from N. Williamson, one up in the 18 -hole match. This is the second time Mr. French has been the club champion. In 1937 he also won the trophy. Mr. Alex, J. Ross, who for many years was a hardware merchant here, passed on at his home in Seaforth recently. Mr. Ross was in his 76th year. OCTOBER 1951 We got a good glimpse of what the well-dressed Wing- hamite wears to bed after Mon- day morning's alarm brought them tumbling out of bed onto the Main Street. "Andy" Scott wins top prize for the most bril- liant bathrobe, nothing conser- vative about Andy. Who was the lady in the blue nightgown? Very pretty we thought. If we had known it was going to be an informal fire, we certainly wouldn't have worn our socks. Mrs. Raymond Henning won a dutch oven at the Ploughing Match in Woodstock. Judy Baker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Baker, who suf- fered a fractured arm recently, was taken to London Hospital last Thursday to have her arm examined and treated. Miss Leslie Mac Wall was one of the procession of schol- arship -winning students in Con- vocation Hall, at the University of Toronto, last week. Miss Wall won the Joseph Wesley Mc- Callum scholarship and also the Ann Howe Reeve prize. When their car was struck by the night CNR passenger train late on Friday evening, near the Western Foundry, west of the town limits, Mr, and Mts. Orville Welsh, narrowly escap- ed serious injury. Neither were seriously injured, but the left rear side of their 1936 Dodge dar was extensively damaged. MINISTER HERE -- Liberal candidates for the November 8th election from six West- ern Ontario ridings were in Wingham when Agriculture Minister Hays addressed a rally at the high school. From the left: Dr. John Finley, Grey North; Isabel MacBeth, Perth; Gordon Green, Wellington -Huron; Mr. Hays; William Matheson, Grey -Bruce and Kent Lamont, Bruce, Mait Edgar, Huron, was not available for the picture. ingbam AbbaucoZintt Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, Oct, 14, 1965 SECOND SECTION SUGAR AND SPICE by Bill Smiley Tips For Happy Hunting It's no use. I just can't hold out any longer. It's that time of year again. And what would you do if, from all across the land, thousands of letters were pour- ing in from anxious wives, im- ploring you to reprint your Hunting Safety Tips? Hundreds of women today owe a happy widowhood and a sub- sequent happy remarriage to Smiley's Hunting Safety Tips, But it's not just the women who want the tips reprinted. Many a veteran hunter has writ- ten to tell me that he owes his life to a careful perusal of them, Here's one such testimonial. "Dear Smiley: I owe my life to a careful perusal of your Hunting Tips. Last fall, I was lost in the bush. For the first two days and nights, I didn't worry, because I'd done every- thing in the standard manual. I didn't panic. I changed into dry socks, as they suggest. I looked at my compass and my watch regularly, which told me I was lost and what time it was. "But as night drew down for the third time, I became dis- couraged. I thought of my wife and kiddies. Yes, that's how dis- couraged I was. Suddenly I re- membered your suggestions for lost hunters. You had told us, if lost, to panic like hell, run wild- ly through the woods in circles, shout at the top of the lungs, pray like an archbishop, fire the rifle madly, and if all else failed, set fire to the bush, I tried it and it worked. I was rescued within 15 minutes. I fin- ish my term for arson this month, and am looking forward to meeting you in the woods. Yours, Veteran Hunter." That gives you an idea of how impractical the ordinary hunt- ing rules are, and how down-to- earth are mine. That chap might be in there yet, changing his socks and gawking at his compass. Well, let's get on with the Tips, revised and brought up to date, On one -thing, I am in full agreement with the old-fash- ioned safety rules. Ws the orae which says,„ Never mix gun- powder with alcohol.” Ever taste it? Ugh! The reason for that rule is that some hunters will drink anything. Never shoot at a partridge hat resembles your hunting companion, even if it's sitting in a tree. He may have a perfectly good reason for perching on that imb. It is considered unsporting to shoot tractor's While the farmer is riding on them, And, of course, it is considered danger- ous to shoot at farmers. They have a nasty habit of shooting back, and are crack shots. It is bad form to retrieve your own ducks, especially when shooting from a boat. Let the dog go after the duck. If you have no dog, forget about the duck. It is extremely unnerving to other sportsmen to see you frogging it through the reeds, fully clad, with a duck in your teeth. Always carry a few hand -gre- nades slung from your belt They come in handy when you arrive at a barbed-wire fence you can't get over, under, or through. Never take a chance when you approach fallen game that you have winged. That rabbit may be playing possum. You can avoid a nasty kick right on the hunting boot if you pum, about five more shots into him. If you hear something that sounds like the snarling cough of a lion, don't shoot. It's proba- bly your hunting partner, enjoy- ing his first cigaret of the day. Never hand a gun across a fence or into a boat with the muzzle pointing toward your- self. Always make sure it's pointing at the other fellow: Do learn to operate your safe- ty catch. It's humiliating, in the field, to have a deer walk over and Iick your face while you're struggling with it. And it's em- barrassing, at the inquest, when you have to admit you don't know when it's on, and when it's off. Just a few simple rules to take the tedium out of plodding about in a swamp with a dirty great musket. Good hunting, chaps. "Doctor, is there anything you can do to cure me of snor- ing?" "Does it disturb your wife?" asked the doctor. "No, " replied the patient, "it only embarrasses my wife. It's the rest of the congregation that's disturbed." The First Thirty Years With Canada about to launch its new tax -paid pension pro- gram, a review of our neigh- bor's long experience in this field could be both interesting and instructive. Since the U.S. started its Social Security program 30 years ago both benefits and con- tributions have risen sharply, but the pension tax has climbed a good deal faster then the pen- sion cheque. Also of interest is the point that even after 30 years the maximum benefit un- der Social Security is not much higher than the maximum the Canada Pension Plan will pay to start, but after those 30 years the U.S. worker pays about three times the pension tax that the Canadian worker will pay to start. With the avowed aim of keeping the pension out of poli- tics, the original Social Secur- ity law provided (as does the Canada Pension Act) a fixed schedule for future pension tax increases. Originally, the maximum cost to the worker was $30 a year, and the legis- lation set a future ceiling of $90 a year. Despite the good intentions of the U.S. Congress in 1935, an American worker's maximum liability for the Soc- ial Security payroll tax is now $174, and will be $277.20 in 1966. Benefits have increased, but not in proportion. To start, the maximum pension at age 65 was $85 monthly; now it is $116, and it will rise to $127 in 1966. By way of comparison, the Canada Pension Plan's maxi- mum on retirement at age 65 after ten years of contributions will be $104,17 a month. This is somewhat less than Social Security's maximum of $127, but starting in 1966 the maxi- mum employee contribution here is to be only $79.20 a year, compared to $277.20 in the U.S. The Canada Pension Plan is not exactly comparable to U, S. Socia] Security but our neighbor's 30 -year experience is certainly fair warning that, unlike private pensions, a gov- ernment -operated "insurance" program can he radically alter- ed from a long-term, fixed - cost contract, A new point of concern in the U.S. is that now some poli- ticians propose to double the public pension's benefits and charge the additional cost to general tax revenues. " While welfare in today's complex society needs a powerful engine one responsible publication says of this proposal, "it also needs a good set of brakes. There is a point beyond which society can- not transfer purchasing power from its productive members to those who do not produce lest it inflict mote damage than it cures, The best way to keep Social Security from going be- yond that point is to make the public who pay for it clearly if need he, painfully -- aware of the cost." To keep the public so in- formed is becoming a prime responsibility of the press.