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Times-Advocate, 1985-01-16, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, January 16, 1985 Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 imes - :.3 dvocate Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario, NOM ISO Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager Phone 519-235-1331 PCNA CCRIA BILL BATTEN Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND Business Manager • SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $23.00 Per year; U.S.A. $60. C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' Temper expectations Union employees at Dashwood In- dustries are clearly among those who have painful evidence that the nation's economy is still in some serious trou- ble as it bounces through high and low expectations without any real indica- tion of positive direction. The housing construction market has always been one of the major bellweather segments of the economy and Dashwood's management and employees have come to know the in- consistencies that have faced that seg- ment over the past three or four years. A decision to accept a pay roll- back is never easy, particularly when it is not accompanied by a similar shit in the expenses with which peo- ple are faced, but the a alternative for th employees was obviously less palatable. While the decision was theirs to make alone, it is one that will be shared to some extent by- many other members of the community. The roll- back represents a loss of buying power for a large number of area t Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited \ \N k� \� ‘e,..44.47. 404; ,,k4 N rat4 .441) , . vi Oki% . #0:00044.4 , 7' in this area are also adversely hit bytillt'A) ... # any declines in the housing construc- tion industry and share the same stumbling demand for their goods and services as the area wood window firm. As noted, the situation at Dashwood Industries and with other allied manufacturers is in no way a crippling blow to the area. It is, however, a barometer that others must use to gauge their own expectations during the current year or until such time as improved expec- tations are visible. As all segments of the area economy have benefitted in the past . from the good times enjoyed by firms such as Dashwood Industries, so too must they be prepared to tighten their own belts when the situation dictates. Dashwood Industries employees are consumers and taxpayers and their pay roll -back will become more of a hardship if those whom they help support fail to temper their expecta- tions with the reality of the current situation. serious economic blow, it is a limiting factor on the area's total economic growth. Many other individuals and firms mus a so le recognized that the alternatives faced by the union employees would have been equally unpalatable for many other people in the area. - - Local government not 'they' If you're not prepared to toot your horn when an appropriate occasion arises, chances are you'll find that no one else will do it for you either. That's why it's a little surpris- ing, or perhaps even lamentable as one member of Exeter council noted last week, that the town ap- pears to be the orjly municipality in Huron engaging in any Local Government Week activities. Sotne officials in other municipalities may excuse themselves on the basis of modes- t•, but the reality is that the week is set up to acknowledge an in- stitution more than the particular individuals who may currently be most involved in directing the af- fairs of that institution Having attended more civic meetings and funct ions than perhaps any other individual in this area over the past 30 years. the writer feels well qualified to expound on the merits of local government and to draw atten- tion to the debt of gratitude that is owed by every citizen. regardless of age, 'for the past and present efforts of those who have taken their civic respon- sibilities to heart and served various terms as elected or apr. pointed officials. 1n noting the program that has been prepared by the committee set up to mark the special week in Exeter. the writer had occa- sion to remark a couple of weeks ago that the list of town -owned and adminisfered facilities is rather mind-boggling and ranges from the rather common and unsconic landfill site to such al - tractive and positive elements in the community as the South Huron rec centre. No matter how opulent or mun- dane the facilities or services rendered. they basically boil down to people serving people. More basic. perhaps. is the faci that it is really people serving themselves. $ in a democracy, every level of government is based on that precept, but when those in authority are removed to such centres as Toronto or Ottawa, it is more difficult to relate to the principles and the principals than when they are evident on a day- Batt'n Around ...with 1111kThe Editor to -day basis at the local govern- ment level. More surprising perhaps than the number of facilities and ser- vices rendered in area municipalities. is the number of people involved in the ad- ministration level. Attendance at a community's annual banquet where all the elected and ap- pointed officials are gathered at one tirne, helps bring' home the point that it takes a Targe number of people to carry on that which has been built upon the founda- tions established and embellish- ed by each succeeding generation. The work undertaken by any local government as a group in any given term may never ap- pear out of the ordinary, but none has probably ever passed the gauntlet without establishing or improving some new facility, ser- vice or law which will be of benefit to its successors. While officials may get caught up in the near drudgery of the proverbial "dust and dogs" pro- blems that remain virtually con- stant through the ages, it is safe to say that all, without exception. can look back at their terms and see things that were done to make their communities better places in which to live, work and play. * * Local government week should be a time to reflect upon and aug- ment the community spirit and pride that has trade the municipalities in this area among the best in the world in which to live, work and play. It is also a time when the ef- forts of our predecessors and cur- rent leaders should Ix. considered and lauded for they have shown the leadership and dedication needed to maintain and generate the numerous advantages each resident shares. But perhaps it is more impor- tant that it be a time when every citizen takes stock of the amenities which heishe enjoys and, of equal importance, to con- sider the responsibility each has to share in the task of protecting and expanding them. For some, the sharing can be direct through offering their ser- vices to fill the many roles that must he taken by citizens for the benefit of themselves. their neighbours and future generations. Those unable to accept that challenge should at least consider what is being done on their behalf by others and show an ap- propriate response Too often, we look at our com- munities and see deficiencies and wonder (aloud many limeswhat "they" are going to do about it. Local government is not they. it is we. Communities in which that attitude is most prevalent are communities in which it is a joy to live, work and play. it was yesterday, will he today as well as tomorrow. Evrronrron J34.1FTI ofem "I can't decide who's more responsible for my present economic plight — the Liberals, the Conservatives, or my ex -wife? - The price of things It's pretty difficult these days to ignore inflation, unless you live in a cave, have a good, warm wife, a root cellar full of spuds, turnips and carrots, and a private income of about $200 a week. But somehow. I've managed, though I've done my share of whining, until recently. I've done some shopping, and for a change looked at the prices. My conclu- sion is that capitalism is a lost cause. • I know it dates me, but somewhere back there in the murk of my mind, I still had the- -idea that a loaf of bread was a dime, around of but e � �� _._ o mi ^ 10 cents, ham- burger was something you ate a lot of but was cheap, coffee was 10 cents a cup, beer was about 15 cents a pint, and cigarettes had shot up to about 35 cents a package. I knew better, but I pushed it to the back of my mind, as one does thoughts about death. Back there in that foggy area. I still felt that bananas were a nickel apiece, lettuce, carrots, cabbages and radishes were something you grew in the back yard, and eggs ran about two or three cents each. On Sunday you killed a chicken, and had a big dinner, for a total cost of about 85 cents. On Saturday night you went to the movies, and it cost you about 75 cents for two, and they threw in a piece of china or something. After the show, two hamburgs, two pies. two coffees for 60 cents. Well. my dreams have been dispelled. and i know now that. after working for 35 years, I have no money in the bank, no cattle out west, and it costs me about five dollars a day to avoid freezing. asked about the prices of some staple items, and almost went into a coma. My mother used to send me to the butcher's for two pounds of hamburg, "and tell him we need some dog bones." The hamburg was a quarter, or 25 pennies, and the dog ,bones, were free. We made soup from them. Today, if there were such a thing as a real, live butcher t they are now meat -cutters), the ham - Sugar &Spice ispense by Smiley little curls, keeping an eye on who is hogging it al the party. Party?- What party? About 20 years ago, people still had par- ties, and supplied all the food and booze and coffee. Nowadays, the acronym BYOB has crept into the language. It means bring your own booze. And a salad. or a hot dish, or buttered rolls, or a dessert. Perhaps it's a good sign. in- stead of everyone trying to out do everyone; by having a bigger and more lavish party than the last couple, we've got back to the pioneer r Cluck id _ _: _.-. •_ —_, — - burg would cost me about four bucks, and the dog -bones. without a shred on them, another 60 gents a pound. Poor Rover. When i was a kid, we "put down" a barrel each of Macin- tosh and Spy apples, in the cool cellar. They lasted most of the winter. Today, with four ordinary Delicious apples going at a quarter each, you'd have to take a second mortgage to do that. Since my boyhood. putter is almost 10 times as much. bread. the same, milk the same. Eggs are only about six times as much. Hamburger is up more. than 10 times as much. I wouldn't even guess on cheese, which used 10 be about 20 cents a pound. A head of lettuce is no longer something you feed the rabbits. Recently it was running about $1.50 a head. and there was almost a riot when a local store offered some at 48 cents a head. Pastry white junk, full of water. Celery was something you us- ed to chomp by the stick. maybe with some cheese tucked into its cleft. Now you hoard it, and eat the leaves in soup and serve it in m: o su er. Ten years ago. backyard barbecues were the thing, and people vied to see who could cook the thickest steak. Nowadays, you've got to he practically one of the jet set to see steak once a month. The rest of us just see it as we walk past the meat counters, looking for some stew- ing beef or a nice bit of brisket or tripe. Twenty years ago, we could go to a hotel in the city. spend $22 on a double room, take in a theatre, top quality. for eight bucks. and order delicious cold roast beef sandwiches from room service, for about $1.20 a throw. with all sorts of chips and pickles and a pot of coffee for 5t) cents. • Today, a similar room would be about $85, the theatre $50. the sandwiches $10, the coffee $5. We scarcely ever go to the movies any snore. Seven bucks for two and mini chocolate bars, stale popcorn at about 50 cents a rattle. No %yonder people watch re -runs of 1 Loge Lucy. No wonder our doctors and lawyers and politicians need about $100.000 a year just to keep up. They can scarcely put bread on the table. And no wonder old people are ea ling dog -food. They can't ev*'n afford a cyan of beans. Stay off accelerator When i was in • elementary school it was considered great fun on the part of teachers to cast an eye around the classroom near the end of the year with a view to finding some eligible candidates for skipping. Skipping was not something that you did with a rope. it was a benefit package for little goobers who seemed to be doing very well in their schoolwork. They might he good readers or if they Were lucky had a pretty strong handle on the math- ematics line too. Kids who were big for their age at eight or nine had an even better chance. if so the teachers suggested that they would he proper candidates to 'skip' a grade next year. They lik- ed the term'accelerate' Netter hul the kids all called it skipping. - Every year. especially down in grades two or three you'd find a few of these budding Einsteins pushed on by admiring teachers and proud parents on a combin- ed year. maybe grade three and four together. All the basic facts were taught to them. Everybody felt that it was important to squeeze those in. Now mind you, a few of the skills like good hand- writing might be forgotten along the way but good kid like this would probably all be doctors anyway. it was quite a fad at the time. By the Way by Svd Fick her hul believe me,il has pretty well died out as a common practice. Too many of those youngsters are now teachers themselves and realize the problems that sudden- ly hit the kids when they got to high school almost two years younger than most of the other children there. ( Almost three years if one of their friends had repeated a year). if they were lucky they stayed big for their age and weren't misfits that way as well Otherwise they were always on the fringes of the social life that went on in their peer group. Then you goka seventeen year old going inns university or teacher's college. very much aware that he!she was a Mlle young to he there. out on one's own. Worse yet, many of these 'gifted' students had had a poor background in elementarysch(x►l because of being pushed nn without being thoroughly tested for ability and readiness to han- dle the additional load 'Thus they often missed a year in secondary school and had to make that up if they didn't ,lust get discouraged and dropped out. I'm glad to see the 'skipping' habil being dropped by much of the school system 13right children are lar better served by encouraging them to delve more deeply- into topics of study than pushing them on too quickly into new ones. and also by broadening their experiences out of school so that they can develop heaIthy in- terests and hobbies whwh will help them enjme life more Life is too short without ac- celerating its pace.