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Times-Advocate, 1982-08-05, Page 4dvocate, August 5,1982 Imes - Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 Serving South Huron, North Middlesex. & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limped LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager BILL BATTEN Editor ' HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager 41. ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND • Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Nun'tber 0306. Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $20.00 Per year: U.S.A. $55.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and `ABs' A • Well worth the price While Exeter firemen have been extolling the merits of smoke detectors for several years, brigade. member John Gaiser has probably become the greatest proponent of the devices. John was awakened by a smoke detector in the re- cent fire in Exeter's core area, and while it may not have solely been responsible for saving his life in view of the fact another tenant was on his way to warn John, it was instrumental in his reaching safety without injury. The value of smoke detectors is incalculable, but recent statistics released by the Ontario Housing Cor- poration indicate they have saved' many lives in buildings managed by the Corporation. A 1981 survey showed residents were first alerted tofires by detectors in 87 of 138 fires in corporation units and were awakened by detectors in 27 percent of the fires. A spokesman said the survey indicates that lives Some naive People have every reason to be concerned about the state of the nation's economy, but there are am- ple indications they are being incredibly naive in some of the suggestions they are putting forth to correct the problem. Among the popular suggestions is one that all our ills would come to a sudden and miraculous halt if Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau stepped aside. One group has started to gather funds to entice him to retire, while yet another is calling on members of the Liberal party to absent themselves from the House during the next non -confidence vote so the government will be defeated. While the Prime Minister wields considerable power in this nation, it is absurd to think that he alone is responsible for the predicament or that his depar- ture will change things drastically. Contained in the plan is a rather obvious suggestion that his leadership leaves much to be desired, and that perhaps is one of the few positive points it contains. The other plan, fostered by a group calling itself The Cornerstone Alliance, is seeking much the same course of action, although it is difficult to comprehend how they think it will succeed. While some Liberal were probably saved in 33 percent of the 600 fires reported since the corporation first began installing the devices in 1977. Local residents shouldn't need much more evidence than that to ensure they acquire the relatively cheap devices for the protection of • themselves and their families. Strange as it may seem, the OHC report showed that there were 11 fires in units where detectors had been disconnected because they were considered a nuisance by the tenants. Yes, they are often activated by such minor pro- blems as burning the toast, but that nuisance appears small in comparison to the life-saving benefit they can provide. The early warning, of course, often leads io less property damage as well. • To coin an old phrase; no home should be without one, larger -homes should have two, or even three or four. approaches back -benchers may be in agreement with the conster- nation over Trudeau and the government, absenting themselves so the government would do. down to defeat in a non -confidence motion is a rather suicidal move on their own part as there is no guarantee they would be returned in the ensuing election. The movement may appear sound to some, but as stated they are probably being rather naive, not only in thinking it would work but in also sending • 1 t : their $10 cheque to the organization involved. It ' • ' d most assuredly draw support from the 'Conservatives and NDP. • - However, politicians should not dismiss the naivete entirely. The movements do suggest that Canadians want some changes in government policy and if the grassroots continue to show discontent there is reason to believe changes will be made. It is difficult to criticise any such movement, but people should consider the soundness of their plans and realize that they must becredible to be effective. Nor is it sufficient to suggest that changes should be made without considering what changes they want. A change for the sake of change alone will do nothing. Be positive, list the changes. Hope they live to graduate While psychologists have conducted studies on most aspects of human behaviour, there has been little research into one interesting and intriguing facet that should be explored. That involves the madness that erupts when a fire siren sounds. Just what is it about the sound that sends people into a frenzy and brings out the latent quest to throw caution to the wind and do ridiculous things? The question was uppermost in my mind when I headed out for a fire late last Sunday night. As usual, I waited at an in- tersection to see which way the fire engines would be heading and from this vantage spot the madness could be easi- ly seen and heard. Cars came screeching out of laneways heading for the fire hall, and while this is expected from members of the brigade, the majority of the vehicles were not driven by firemen, but rather the usual fire chasers. On seeing the flashing lights of the trucks heading north, I drove along the Main St. to join the procession, being re- quired to slow quickly in one spot when a citizen coming out of a sidestreet just couldn't endure the anguish of having to wait any longer to get to the scene and pulled out unceremoniouslyandcarelessly in front of the vehicles ahead, But car drivers were not the only obstacle to consider. Near the fire hall in- tersection, four kids on bicycles came fly- ing around the corner without any con- sideration for the oncoming traffic or the stop sign. Near the intersection of Highway 83, the driver ahead decided that some evasive action was required in view of the red light that just turned on to confront him.. He abruptly, and without signalling, pull- ed over in front of the southbound traffic to bead through the Laidlaw lot, and with more speed than was prudent,was soon spotted coming out onto the highway near the William St: intersection. By my count he had saved at least t seven seconds, which to him was probably an eternity, although as I made the left turn onto Highway 83 I could see from the speed with which his tail lights were lengthening the distance between us, that he was making up even more time. The fire turned out to be a "dud". A lady driver had panicked when her car over- BATT'N AROUND with the editor heated and mistook the steam from her radiator for smoke. The fire chasers quickly assessed the situation and brake lights were flashing as some of the late 'arrivals had to slow quickly to avoid collisions with those mak- ing' U-turns on the highway in front of them. However, the madness that warps the sense of care and caution can not be easi- ly dissipated, it seems. Having jumped from their vehicles to get a first-hand in- spection of the distressed vehicle, the fire chasers dodge oncoming traffic in their haste to get back to town. Four more bicyclists havejoinedthe lads from downtown to careen wildly down the highway, none having the required lights on their bikes 'or the apparent sense to realize that they are taking their lives in their own hands by pedalling along the dark stretch of busy highway. As I make my way back into town, the car ahead suddenly brakes. The lads from downtown are pedalling furiously back home. Of course, it is easier pumping to stay on the highway rather than the shoulder. One rides on the south side, and the other three are on the north side. They leave little more than a single lane bet- ween them. If they live long enough, the lads on the bicycles give strong indications that they will have the necessary intestinal for- titude and reckless abandon to graduate to the ranks of themotorized fire chaser brigade. Membership appears to be open to all walks of life. There are no particular re- quirements, although I suspect some may howl when they see a full moon or other- wise engage in some aboriginal activities. Some members may have been frustrated race car drivers or have a latent wish to engage in demolition derbies. I have a theory that whatever thrills and excitement the fire chasers enjoy is not from the fire itself, but rather in the order of finish of getting to the scene and then back again. The fire is secondary. In fact members could probably enjoy their sport even without a fire. Just sound the siren and the game is on. Of course, it pro- bably reaches a more frenzied height when the fire trucks and their sirens and flashing lights are leading the pack, but again that may not be an absolute necessi- ty either. Some members will charge the writer - with a holier-than-thou attitude, given the fact I am often among those at a fire scene. However, for what it's worth, I learned early in the news business that haste is not a requirement when it comes to covering fires. - If it's a serious fire, there will still be plenty to see by arriving a few minutes after the firemen. If it's not a serious fire, there won't be much to see regardless how soon you arrive. That probably won't drastically change the attitude or actions of the die-hards, but hopefully the parents of a few bicyclists may pass that message along to their sons. I have yet to see a fire which was worth killing oneself to attend, although there are always those who appear willing to try• • "Don't tell me the wife is sick again?" Won't tackle I seem to have been writing quite a bit about community newspapers lately, but it hasn't been deliberate" So, if you'll forgive me, I'll write one more. Unless you want me to tackle, once again, Jim Ross of Exeter, who is furious at me because he pays more in income tax than I receive in salary, if you can figure that one out. Recently received a monthly statement from the syndicate that carries my column coast to coast. Started looking over the old familiar names that have been running this column for 20 years or more, and got a bit sentimental. They run from Nova Scotia to Hay River, NWT, and if I ran a quiz, I'll bet half my readers couldn't spot, by province, half the newspapers. But my personal rela- tions with many of their publishers go back a long way. Never hear from most of them, but bump into them at the odd con- vention, and renew the old bonds. I'll just mention some of the real old-timers, who have stuck with the thin gruel and thick porridge of this column for more than two decades. Dutton Advance. Hello, Herb Campbell. I know you're semi -retired but hope you're still stroking a golf ball. John and Randy, Neepawa Press; George and Sandy, Estevan Mer- cury; remember that fishing trip in North Saskatchewan? Are you all alive and as well as can be expected? Remember the big fish dinner in my three-bedroom cabin, when the rest of you, in- cluding Barry Wenger of Wingham, were crowded into little cabins? ..,.. -weFes. Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley Exeter sense? Say the word Pete, and we'll have another round of golf, with an am- bulance in close attendance. Where is Gene Mac- donald of the Alexandria News,, who could get a party going in a mausolium? Not a word 14., : ,Yo-" 'a.royy� WEV Little did I know that Ir- win Maclntosh and wife Barbara, when we saw them courting at a conven- tion about 30 years ago, would wind up as Lieutenant -Governor and His Lady of Saskat- chewan. Irwin was with the North Battleford News and Barbara's father was with the Creemore Star if memory holds. And they wind up entertaining the Queen! The Blenheim News Tribune, the Bolton Enter- prise and the Bowman- ville Statesman are old customers, and I knew well their owners at that time: Russ Schearer, Warden Leavens, and John James. Where are you guys? Port'Perry Star. I know Harry Stemp is still around, but where is Peter, the flute -playing lino operator with a vast amount of Norwegian good humor and common, for years. I know Don McCuaig of the Renfrew Mercury is out to pasture, cutting wood, catching trout, but let's have a word, old bud- dy, from the depths of the Ottawa Valley. I've neverseen a copy of the Creston Review, the Parkhill Gazette or the Glencoe Transcript, but they've been old friends for decades. And what's this about you, Andy McLean selling out the Seaforth Expositor to a young upstart, after 112 years in the business? Andy was a man who looked middle-aged when he was young, young when he_ was middle-aged, and almost juvenile as he grew older. Last time I met him and his charming wife and their daughter, Susan White who is going to carry on as editor, I thought the McLeans were indestructible. I suppose that any day man now, I'll hear that Mac and Val of the Tilbury Times will be hanging Up their hats while still in their prime. (In fact, Mac, I think you're already slip- ping. Had a letter sent along by your son Terry, who said he'd found it on your desk but you obvious- ly hadn't dealt with it.) Perth Courier, Win- chester Press, Meaford Express, Wheatley Jour- nal, Yorkton Enterprise, Swift Current Sun, Lacombe Globe, Lachute Watchman, Exeter Times - Advocate, Atikokan Pro- gress, Glencoe Transcript, Oxbow Herald, Weyburn Review (hi, Ernie), Westport Mirror (hi, Your TV Repair Man); Orangeville Banner, Hanover Post. And the rest of you guys who have put up for years with the bleatings and blurtings of this writer. Thanks. You • represent something I admire and respect. You work under continual stress to pro- duce a product that is valuable rather than sen- sational, controversial rather than merely in- flammatory, optimistic rather than depressing. Hang in -there those of you who are left, and you young fellows, carry on the traditions. You may not be the New York Times, but you are probably more important to your community than it is to the world. Last note: George and Elda Cadogan, veterans both, hope to see you again before we hit, the wheelchairs. Love, Bill. Supporting us .old geezers replace them. Suddenly though, in the late 70's the boom disap- peared. -School boards called it 'declining enrol- • ment' but in reality school 'Black Power' was one of the key phrases in the sixties, as the negro population in the United States became aware of their civil rights, and ag- gressively fought (although sometimes by passive resistance) for the privilege of sitting anywhere they pleased on public buses or of using the same washrooms as white people did. Even more important was the right of equal op- portunity in the job market -places and in schools. After twenty years of struggling many of these rights have been established though there are yet many problems to be solved. Since the term 'black power' has come and gone many other groups have either seriously or half - jokingly adopted similar slogans; for example, 'kid -power' T-shirts have appeared. One group which few people have thought about yet, but will certainly be a strong one in the near future could well be refer- red to as 'grey -power'. Perspectives By Syd Fletcher This is the group that hit the schools of North America with a,tremen- dous explosion not twenty years ago, the group known as the'baby-bdom'. • They caused a rapid ex- pansion of school and related services. In Sar- nia, for example, Sarnia Central Secondary School was built and filled to the brim almost immediately. One -room schools were closed and new township central schools built to • were shrinking back to the pre-war normal size. Schools like Central had to be closed. The baby -boom has moved on to another age bracket, late thirties and early forties. What is go- ing to be its effect on the Canadian economy and way of life ton to fifteen years 'from now? Well, you can bet that any wise politician will not criticize old -age pensions, retirement subdivisions or the development of ser- vices for senior citizens. School boards will have to tighten their collective belts considerably or will find themselves voted out by a strong, knowledgeable group of voters. Travel agencies will boom despite their tem- porary set -backs right now. Income taxes will rise as the workers have to support more and more elderly people's free drugs, hospitalization, provincial parks; and many other social pro- grams which have been user -pay in past years. I'm not complaining, mind you; I'm one of the baby -boom so I'll benefit from all those goodies too. I just hope that the youngsters coming up are ready and willing to work hard to support the rest of us old geezers.