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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1965-11-11, Page 9e a 4 v 4 4 i Nature on Loan According to the announcement at the week -end the Southampton Gun Club has plans to sow wild rice in Arran Lake, no doubt as a means of attracting wild fowl to the guns of the club members. The move, if carried out, may indeed result in more dead ducks, but it will leave the hunters' children and grandchildren with a legacy of sheer waste. Dozens of weed - choked ponds throughout Ontario attest to the enthus- iasm of duck hunters in previous gener- ations who started a underwater growth that eventually trapped all the silt com- ing downstream and ruined the water- ways for any purpose but duck hunting, Witness the magnitude of the task which faces the Maitland Authority in its intention to clean out the Lower Town pond in Wingham. We do not know that wild rice was planted here, but nature herself, through the years, has provided enough weed growth to choke the pond and bring its bottom level above the water line for most of the year. The planting of wild rice simply hastens the deterioration. No doubt the avid hunters will pre- sent arguments that wild rice does no permanent harm, but it would certainly seem that the very best of expert advice should be sought before a move which has such far-reaching consequences is undertaken, Those who are not keenly aware of conservation and its purposes tend to think only in terms of the next ten or fifteen years. Yet our entire province provides graphic evidence of the conse- quences of neglect or abuse in 40 or 50 years. What was once a land of spark- ling streams and game -filled woods has fast approached a state of destitution in natural attractions. The streams are polluted, the fish are scarce and until a few years ago the game was non-existent. Now, thank goodness, our countryside is on the road back to its intended state, due to the ef- forts of those who have the vision to work on conservation projects. Remember All of Them No matter how your observe the silent remembrance of those who fought our battles in two wars, whether it be in pub- lic before the cenotaph, or in the seclus- ion of your home—or even as you pause for a few moments at your work—let your thoughts dwell on all the types of sacrifice for which we should be thank- ful. With good reason the men and wo- men who gave their lives are uppermost in our minds as the bugles sound their sad farewell and follow it with the glad promise of resurrection, but this is also a moment to think of the years of pain borne by the men who lie in hospitals. Many have been paying the price for 40 or 50 years. There are those, too, whose minds were so dreadfully wounded by their hideous experiences that they can- not face life with any of the hope and good cheer they bequeathed to us. Perhaps there is no better reason for those of us who are healthy and clear - minded to set ourselves the never -com- pleted task of bettering the world they suffered and died to protect. These men could not conceive of a life from which person and intellectual freedom had been lost. Young as most of them were they valued the heritage of free men above life itself. Because so many who fought our battles did not return to daily life they have left to us the task of guaranteeing the freedom they loved. Ours is the re- sponsibility for keeping its image bright and clear before the eyes of our children —that it may never be thrown away nor carelessly pruned and trimmed into a form which has the shape but none of the meaning for which our brave warriors gave all they possessed. As You Like It It is not hard to visualize the rising hackles of Canadian newspapermen who read the recent remarks of Cecil King, one of Great Britain's largest newspaper tycoons. Here are a few of his observa- tions about Canadian papers: "You should hire someone who could lay out a page. You could make better use of pictures. Most good pictures end up in the waste basket. Your editorial content is too long. You fool around too much before you get to the point of the story. You have dull headlines and meaningless picture captions." And more of the same. These remarks, of course, were dir- ected at Canada's daily newspapers. How- ever, we in the weekly field have suffered the same harsh criticism in times past and are by now quite accustomed to it. Whether or not any Canadian news- paperman has had an opportunity to re- ply to Mr. King we don't know, but he is quite likely to find out that most practising journalists on this side of the Atlantic find British papers a muddled hodge-podge of typographical clutter. They think British writing practices leave news stories so abbreviated and shorn of detail that they lack background and in- terest. They consider the British treat- ment of advertising copy at least 40 years behind the times. As you may well assume, the truth lies somewhere between the two stands. Certainly we would like the opportunity to study more British papers that we might emulate what is good in them— and the British publishers might just con- sider examining ours for the same reason. Readers become accustomed to certain styles and methods of journalistic pre- sentation. As long as the newspaper is getting its message across and the public is accepting that style of presentation with interest there is no reason to declare any particular method wrong. After all, the Chinese read the lines in their papers from top to bottom rather than across the sheet. Who is to say they're wrong. Planning for Progress The decision of the Wingham town council to ask the planning board to give consideration to a zoning regulation is one which every citizen should think about quite seriously. Town planning has its distinct benefits and its drawbacks as well. Though ,we, personally, tend to be ex- tremely wary of any sort of law or regu- lation which encroaches upon individual rights, we do believe that a community such as ours cannot be truly progressive without a well -formulated plan for the future. And of course that plan must of necessity have some reference to the best locations for industries, for homes and for retail areas. Though injustices certainly do occur under a zoning by-law, such a regulation is the only acceptable guarantee that those who invest in the construction of homes or any other long-term undertaking, will be protected from encroachment by un- welcome neighbors. It is time to study Wingham's future needs very seriously. THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert O. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer Member Audit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associ- ation; Member Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Authorized by the Post Office Department as Second Class Mail and for payment of postage in cash Subscription Rate: One Year, $4.00; Six Months, $2,25, in advance U.S.A., $5.00 per year; Foreign rate, $5.00 per year Advertising Rates on application REMINISCING NOVEM$ER 1915 The Union furniture factory which has been lying idle for some time will undoubtedly be running iTr the course of a week or so. Preparations are about completed whereby they will start on a large order for shell boxes. A representative of an Am- erican Safe Manufacturing Co.. was in town last week looking through the old chair factory with a view to buying. He was greatly impressed with the town and said the factory would, with a few hundred dollars worth of alterations be an ideal one for their work. Ile left here for Woodstock to make a pro- position to the Canada Furni- ture Manufacturers at their head office. The Misses Gowdy have tak- en up residence in the rooms over Mr. Greer's store, Mr. Thos. Drummond and family have moved from their resi- dence on Catherine St, to the residence owned by Mx. Ed. For- ler, orler, Shuter St. Mr. William Ar- mour is moving into the house lately vacated by Mr. C.C. Munro on Centre St. Mr. C. Templeman and family have moved into Mrs. Galbraith's house on Edward St. NOVEMBER 1929 Walker Stores, Limited, the other day completed negoti- ations for purchase of the north- ern part of the Hanna block, which they have occupied since opening up in Wingham about four years ago. This is splendid evidence of the success of this business firm and its perman- ence in Wingham. Margaret, four-year-old daughter of Mr. Fred MacLean, was dangerously ill for several days last week, from poisoning from an unknown cause. It is suspected however, some for- eign substance on imported grapes, of which she ate quite a quantity, is responsible. Mr. Alex McGregor of Cul- ross, last week purchased the Taylor property en Patrick St. from A. C. Adams. The manse, Belgrave, was the scene of an interesting event at eleven o'clock on Sat- urday, November 2nd, when Grace Willamine, youngest daughter of Mr. William Wight - man and the late Mrs. Wight - man of the tenth concession of East Wawanosh was united in marriage to John Francis, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh MacDonald of Teeswater. NOVEMBER 1940 Messrs. Howard Sherbondy and Clare Adams attended the pheasant hunt on Pelee Island Thursday and Friday. They both had quite good luck. Wilfred Haines, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Haines, had the misfortune to fracture his wrist, Thursday evening. A small collie dog belong- ing to Mrs, Robert Henderson, Leopold Street, died on Satur- day and Dr. J. McKague is very suspicious that the animal had rabies. Major George Howson, who for the past four months has been on full time duty in con- nection with further organiza- tion and training of the Wing - ham Battery, will resume his dental practice full time after November 15th. Mr. David Murray has pur- chased Mr. Wm. Jackson's house on Minnie Street and will take up residence there shortly. Mr. A. R. DuVal has added a splendid animal to hisbreed- ing stock at the DuVal Fox Farm. The fox is a male ring neck platinum variety. These are very rare and the one Mr. DuVal purchased has white mane, white face, white feet. He purchased it from the Col- pitt's platinum strain of New Brunswick. NOVEMBER 1951 The 'eyes' have it or should we say have had it? Two of our local grocers George Smith and George Shaw have been sport- ing bruises in the vicinity of their peepers. Could they have been arguing about each others' prices? Ask them, they both have pretty good stories; Both ROBERT HARRISON, why lived on the farm now owned by Hugh Blair on the Sixth Concession of East Wawanosh, and his team of oxen, the last in the township. The first yoke of oxen belonged to the township's first settler, Hezekiah Helps, whose place near Auburn was know as the Halfway House. Mr. Helps delivered sup- plies from Goderich to the people on the Sixth and in the Belgrave area. bran AtoancierZimui Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, Nov. 11, 1965 SECOND SECTION Kinsmen too. Town Clerk W. A. Galbraith was startled upon arising last Thursday morning to find the bow of a boat in his front yard. The rural fire brigade were called to the farm of Gordon Wright, 14th concession of How- ick, owick, where a chimney fire was under control and no damage done. Thursday night last week was Bob Groves' night, when local softball supporters gath- ered in the Hotel Brunswick with the team and management to honor the retiring veteran catcher. Bob was the recipi- ent of a fine wallet full of the folding stuff. Guests at the head table were manager and sponsor Charlie Crossett, coach Mike Carmichael, third base coach Vic Loughlean, President Alex Coutts, John Hanna, M. P.P., Mayor Jim •Guerney, Bob Groves catcher with the Cros- sett Mercurys and master of ceremonies Tory Gregg. Loss was estimated at more than $50, 000 here Sunday night when fire destroyed the Blyth Co-operative. KEEP HUNTING SEASON CLEAN AND SAFE The hunting season is with us again and brings the respon- sibility for everyone who par- ticipates in this healthful, out- door recreation to keep it clean and safe. CLEAN; by knowing and ob- serving our game laws and sportsmanlike ethics which will help conserve hunting privileg- es and opportunities for years to come. SAFE; through a know- ledge of proper gun handling and good hunting habits which will give protection to the life of every hunter who takes to the bush land or marshes. How It All Began Addressing a group of high school teachers the other night, I was recalling how I entered the . . . uh . . teaching game, business, vocation, profession or racket — what you call it de- pends on who you are — purely by accident. I had brought my family to this town one Sunday to have a look at the sights, as we hadn't been here before. On the way out of town, we drove around the side streets to admire the fine homes. "That's odd," I said to my wife. "There's a big, new facto- ry smack in the middle of the residential section. They don't usually allow that." Then I saw the roadblock, out in front of the sprawling, one - storey factory. There was a grim gent beside it, well-dressed but with a sort of wild glint in his eye. He flagged me down, I stopped. He came over to the car. "Can you see out of at least one eye?", he queried. I assured him that I had 40-40 vi- sion, or something of the sort. I thought it was some kind of kooky, plain -c loth e s -police check, the kind you run into when you've left your driving license in your other pants. "Ever been to a university?", he shot at me. I said I'd been to Oxford. 1 remember spending a whole weekend there during the war, waiting for a Land Army girl who never did show up. RAILWAY CROSSINGS PnfiaI Death Traps During the year 1964, a to- A sensible approach to level tal of 954 level crossing acci- crossings should rate the follow - dents were recorded in Canada ing precautions: by the Statistical Research De- partment of Dominion Auto- mobile Association. These accidents snuffed out 63 human lives and accounted for 6% of all motor crash deaths in Canada during rhe year. This particular type of accident has a higher ratio of fatalities than any other location, which is not surprising when one con- siders the lethal capacity of the vehicle which generally emerges the winner in the grim contest. The railways mark all cross- ings with warning signs, and active crossings or busy thor- oughfares are usually equipped with gates, lights or moving signals. Despite all these safe- guards, the average motorist doesn't treat the crossing with the respect it deserves. In most instances, "Familiarity breeds Contempt" until a close shave alerts the driver for some time thereafter. 1. Expect a train at every crossing every time you cross, until you find otherwise. 2. Don't trust your ears! By the time you hear a train whis- tle it may be too late to stop. Use your eyes in all directions before crossing. 3. If there's a steep upgrade to the track, change into low gear. Remember how many accidents you hear about where the automobile stalled on the track! 4. On double track systems, don't move until you check both directions. Many acci- dents occur where a motorist has started across the tracks af- ter stopping for an eastbound train, only to be struck by one, westbound and hidden from driver's view. 5. At night, double check that train is not either moving or stationary across the road- way. Empty flatcars are ex- ceptionally difficult to see on a crossing at night. He brightened considerably. "Have you any contagious dis- eases?", was the next question. "Like leprosy?" I told him I was as sound as any man in my condition could be. Beaming now, he went on with the questionnaire. "And you don't drink, smoke, play the horses or chase women. Right?" I started to point out that I did all of these whenever possi- ble, but not all the time, and not all at once. But he wasn't listen- ing. He had the car door open and me by the arm, and was hustling me toward that big, brick factory that looked more like a prison every second. I thought I was under arrest. When we got inside, he shoved me into a chair, and I waited, fearfully, for the bright light in the face, and the rubber hose. But he fooled me. He stuck a confession under my nose and snarled, "Sign there." I signed, wondering what had become of Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus and my fancily, out in the car. It was not until he offered to show me the gymnasium and the cafeteria that I realized the factory was a high school, and that I had just experienced the hard sell on teachers. However, it wasn't much of a switch for me. I know that the jump into teaching, from big in- dustrialist, shoe salesman or short-order cook has been a traumatic experience for some people. You can see them any day, tottering white-faced to- ward the staff room, after a double period with 10Z. the ter- ror of the school. But I had little difficulty in making the adjustment. After all, I had been a weekly news- paper editor. In that job, you spend most of your time telling people things they don't listen to, and urging them to do things they don't want to do. I found these invaluable training for my teaching career. And I must admit that things have gone well. In three years. I fought my way up to a depart- ment -headship. Oh, it took a lot of midnight -oil -burning, coffee - buying for the principal, and the fact that they couldn't get any- body else for the job. But 1 made it. And now I have my own little empire: a dozen or so English teachers who are so in awe of me that they never borrow more than $10; an assistant de- partment head who hangs on my every word, and then con- tradicts it; and the thrill of at - t ending department heads' meetings, of being on the inside. wliere the big decisions are made. Like what are we gonna do with kids who Carve "Herb Loves Elsie" on the desks.