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Times-Advocate, 1983-03-23, Page 4Pow, 4 Times-Advocat., March 23. 1983 Ames -. Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 dvocate cn Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager BILL BATTEN . Editor HARRY -DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mall Registration Number 0386. Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $21.00 Per year; U.S.A. $56.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and 'ABC' Secrecy is bad omen It remains to be seen what big, dark secrets the South Huron rec centre board of management have in- cluded in this year's budget, but the secrecy surroun- ding their deliberations could be a bad omen. While this newspaper attempts to cover a majori- ty of the board sessions, we were advised that last week's session was going to be primarily "in camera" to deal with the budget. The press copy f the minutes of the meeting had the motion outlining the budget request stroked out, with the figures carefully obliterated. Board members may feel they have some justification for closing the doors on their budget deliberations, but there can be none for deleting a du- ly passed motion from the minutes. That's an im- propriety that can not be condoned. The practice of escaping behind closed doors to discuss budgets is one that is unfortunately followed by many public bodies and they thereby deny those who are going to pay the bills the opportunity to be made aware of the pros and cons of various expen- ditures that are debated. Surely the taxpayers have some right to know how and why their money is being spent at any time, but perhaps even more so during tough economic times when expenditures must be watched most prudently. Elected and appointed officials who are doing a conscientious job should have no reason to deny public scrutiny of their budget deliberations. Keep on harping The music program at South Huron District High School, or more appropriately, the lack of one, has been the topic for four letters to the editor in the past month. That may not appear to,be a significant interest, but it is a topic that has drawn more. comments from readers than any other in some time. However, one letter last week suggested that the music program available to residents of this communi- ty should be provided by the local recreation depart- ment, rather than the school. Regardless of the variance in the opinion, there does appear to be solid agreement that this communi- ty is lacking in opportunities for those who wish to pur- sue the pleasures of music. While the letter writers have agreed on the need and their concerns are welcomed, unfortunately the situation will not be corrected until someone comes for- ward and sets some wheels in motion to achieve a solu- tion, if in fact one is possible. The letter writers have aired legitimate concerns for local educators and recreation officials. The area's elected and appointed officials in education and recrea- tion should accept the challenge to outline contradic- tions or reasons for the stated lack in their programs, or to *indicate some exploration for correcting it. This is not the first time the lack of musical op- portunities in the local school and community has been broached and judging from past experience, those in- terested in correcting the situation should ensure that the proper authorities are hounded until such time as some answers are received. No place like hospital There has been considerable interest of late in the idea that babies should be born at home. The midwives' organization puts forth many arguments in favor of a child entering this world in his mother's bed. However, a Kitchener doctor recently pointed out some of the ob- vious fallacies in this argument. That there should be more family participation in the birth of a baby is an acknowledged fact and most modern hospitals have accepted the presence of the father in the delivery room if that is what both parents want. Hospital visiting hours have been made a great deal more flexible so that family relationships will not .be unnecessarily interrupted during a mother's stay in hospital. Wingham Advance -Times The Kitchen doctor, however, points out that any delivery can suddenly become complicated, deman- ding skills and equipment which would not be available in the home: Since our hospitals are prepared to meet all such emergencies, it makes nothing but sense to provide this protection for both mother and new baby. One of the great blessings of life in a small com- munity is the fact that most of them have their own hospitals, by now well equipped to provide excellent health care. It is difficult to understand what real ad- vantage there would_ be in refusing to take full advan- tage of our good fortune. Everyone joining trivial quest Trivial Pursuit has taken the country by storm, resulting in a small fortune for its inventors. After joining a few fellow employees in answering some of thy questions recent- ly, I was surprised to find out what I did know in the way of trivia, although admit- tedly the lack of knowledge was more pronounced. However, after reviewing the outcome, it must be said that knowledge or lack of it in the areas covered is rather inconsequential. It is somewhat akin to the story about the chap who had a severe stuttering pro- blem. To overcome the impediment, he enrolled in a long course and on arriving home was soon confronted by an old friend who wanted to know how he had made out. The chap then flawlessly rattled off the old tongue -twister about the wood chuck chucking wood and his friend was truly amazed and congratulated him on the vast improvement in his speaking ability. But then, referring to his ability at spouting off the tongue -twister with nary a sign of his previous stuttering problem, the chap added: "Bu, but, it is k -k -kind of ha -rd t -t -to wor-rk into a -a -a- c -c -conversation". So it is with most of the facts one finds out in a trivia game, although some would suggest the losers use that only as an ex- cuse to cover up our lack of knowledge of such things as how many squares there are on a checker board, the names of the leading actors in the first silent movie or who completed the first double -play in the major baseball leagues. . • . • But the pursuit of trivia has opened up a whole new concept for civil servants, it seems. The public relations people from (in- tario Hydro could hardly withstand the pressure of the silent delay in telling the world that two recent television shows noticeably increased the power load on the system. Demand for hydro surged during the in- s BATT'N AROUND with the editor itial showing of "The Winds of War" and the final episode of M*A*S*H brought about further peaks. The energy demand increased 15,000 to 20,000 kilowatts when the final M*A*S*lI episode commenced, and in further pur- suit of trivia,the hard-working people at Ontario Hydro turned to their computers to impart the valuable information that the increase was equal to an additional 60,000 television sets being turned on across the province. Throughout the two -and -a -half hour finale to the Korean war gang, there was a pattern of small spurts and drops in energy demand and this was explained by "a Hydro spokesman" as being caused by viewers turning on lights and opening refrigerator doors during the commercials. Not to be outdone, the civil servants who operate New York's sewer system revealed that at the end of the M*A*S*H show, there was a great gush of water pumped throught the system, as viewers apparently jumped up from their seats to head to the washrooms after sitting glued •to their seats with their legs tightly crossed. Now tell me. how long could you survive without having all that valuable information? * * * Another chap, intent on finding some new cash supplies, has come up with another type of pursuit game. He plans to rent a large bush and conduct a type of war -game. The opponents, rather than us- ing live bullets, will be armed with guns that emit paint. Participants will be split into two ar- mies and will attempt to annihilate each other. Of course there will be no blood shed. A warrior is' out of the battle whenever he is hit with a blast of paint from an opponent's gun. or from one on his own side if there are those who don't particularly like their superior officers. It is an experiment that should be wat- ched closely by the world powers. It ap- pears to be a great way to solve the power struggle without the devastating loss that is normally associated with war. Even the pacificists would probably join the fun, or they could choose to dab some paint on themselves prior to the battle and sit on the sidelines. No doubt some kook would spoil the bloodless battle by developing a bomb that could splatter an entire nation's population with paint in one fell swoop, and in retaliation for the devious tactic, another would resort to conventional or nuclear arms to avenge the foul play. After all, people just don't enjoy los- ing...even the most trivial of games. Better buy some earplugs With the Federal government facing a tru- ly awesome deficit that makes me wince for my children and grand- children, and with the Taxman lurking just over the horizon, ready to rum- mage through my every pocket, I'm in just the right mood to be re- reading Thoreau's great essay, "Civil Disobedience." Like most Canadians, I am ripe and ready for tell- ing the state to go jump in the lake, stop meddling in affairs it invariably bungles, and get its thiev- ing hand out of my hip pocket. One of Thoreau's main themes is that govern- ments are only an expe- dient for getting things done; things that the in- dividual can't handle, such as national defence, postal service, and the like. But, as he points out, most governments are inexpedient. In other words, they meddle, they obstruct the natural flow of trade and commerce, they involve the governed in all sorts of things the latter disap- prove of, and their main purpose becomes self - perpetuation, rather than carrying out the will of the people. Think about it. Did you insist that the government go on spending and bor- rowing wildly until our national deficit is heading of $200 billion, and the in- terest on it alone is more than the entire budget of a decade or so ago? Did you demand that the government impose the metric system on Canada without a yea or a nay from the people? Was it you, or any of criminals in jail, to adver- sneaky these days. They your friends, who insisted tise the glories of the wouldn't dare throw ten that the government set government in publica- thousand solid citizens in itself up in the oil and gas tions..." and whatever jail. But they could gar - business, without adding else turns your crank. . nishee ther wages, seize one single gallon of But, you'll say, I'd never their assets, haul them in production? get away with it. They'd to the courts and general - Perhaps it was you and seize my bank account, ly harass them to death. people like you, who fort- cash my bonds, grab my It was simpler in other ed the federal and provin- property, put me in jail. Of times. They crucified cial governments to rely course they would.. I told , Christ, excommunicated Luther and Copernicys, pronounced Washingtell'a rebel, and dealt in similar summary, fashion with other great reformers, patriots and saints. I know what you're say- ing: I ain't no saint. True. But then neither are you a slave, to be bought and sold depending on the so heavily for revenues on you it wasn't easy. whims of the majority: their taxes on poison: All you have to do is per- big business, big govern - booze and cigarettes. suade another 9,999 honest ment, big labor. men of conscience to do There's many a man - the same, and the revolu- and woman - walking the tion would be over. Would streets these days, who the government throw in thought he or she was an jail ten thousand other- individual, a person of wise honest, upright character and conscience citizens? No fear. It would and loyalty, tossed out like lose the next election, an old broom by the aside from not having system, which is not ex - enough jail space to put actly based on the New them. Testament. But surely we can dig in our heels a bit. Tell you what. We'll work like a chain letter. You find nine other honest men or women. I'll do the same. On the 29th of April, the ten thousand of us will send a telegram to Trudeau, saying, "We ain't gonna pay our taxes." It might take us a while, thirty years or so./ Honest Thoreau himself refused men are getting as scarce to pay his poll tax and was as virgins. But one of put in jail, which he found these years. We'll issue highly amusing. Imagine our clarion blast and the the government thinking walls will come tumbling they could lock up his down. mind,•along with his body. Politicians, take note. But the big trouble is Better buy some ear - that governments are so plugs, just in case. Sugar and Spice Dispensed By SmNey Or maybe it was you who whispered in a ministerial earhole that taxes should be increased for the poor and the middle-class, but held steady for • the rich, because to increase theirs would "destroy initiative." Poes the government really carry outyour wishes. about capital punishment, foreign aid, urban sprawl in choice farmland? No! No! I hear, in great volume. Then why don't you do something about it? But what can I do, you say. All I can do is vote, you say, and it's usually picking one turkey over another. Agreed, but there is a solution, according to Thoreau. It's simple in theory, difficult in prac- tice. Just don't pay your taxes. Get up on your hind legs, and say it:. "I won't pay taxes to buy oil com- panies, to support Of course, finding the rest of the ten thousand might be a mite dicey. Finding ten honest men these days, men of cons- cience and integrity, who are willing to stand up and defy is about as easy as being appointed coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs and told to go out and bring home the Stanley Cup. Weather is mixed Somehow this winter vincial Park there were seems to have got itself a little mixed-up. The weatherman in South - Western Ontario must have got us confused with someplace about four or five hundred miles south of here, Tennessee maybe or even Georgia. The kids out on the playground have been able to play on the asphalt tarmac all winter and have hardly ever had any trouble seeing the hopscotch lines. There's been more mud than snow tracked into the school. Out at the Pinery Pro - only three days of skating on their outdoor rink and snow or selling a lot of snowmobiles but I have to admit that as much as I Perspectives By Syd Fletcher y y,11111111111111111111111111111111 the cross-country skiing like winters its that I trails hardly ever got haven't minded not ever used. having had to shovel out I suppose some people my laneway, or plug the are complaining, the peo- car in on those really fros- ple who were counting on ty nights. making a killing plowing I suppose I should real - up ly feel badly about the electric company getting a hosing for the last few months but I kind of have to snicker whenever I think about my fuel bill be- ing about two-thirds of last years. Some people keep on saying, their voices full of gloom, that we're sure to get it sometime, but here we are in the middle of March and though I've been faithfully wearing my boots to work every day I don't think I'll worry about the broken zipper that one of them has. Not this year anyway. 1,