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Times Advocate, 1995-01-11, Page 4f Page 4 . Times -Advocate, January 11, 1995 Publisher Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Composition Manager. Deb Lord Advertising; Barb Consltt, Theresa Redmona awls: Adrian Harte, Fred Groves, Heather Vincent, Ross Haugh Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hem, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Norma Jones, Elaine Pinder, Ruthanne Negrijn, Mita McDonald, Cassie Dalrymple "aim co The Exeter Times -Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers gm "� providing news, advertising and information leadership • • inion I)1'1 ORI 1, Spears on right track common refrain during the recent municipal election was that town councils need to practice some new ways of thinking to "do more with less" - if our memory serves us well. The proposal put forth by councillor Bob Spears last week fits that mold ex- actly. Why should an organization with a multi-million dollar budget be pre- pared to pay high insurance premiums to keep its deductibles down? Spears is suggesting the town be pre- pared to pay for losses up to $5,000 in several insurance categories, and re- sisrve insurance for larger claims. Such a plan would not make much sense for a householder considering fire insu- rance. A $5,000 loss would be a seri- ous financial problem, making the pre- mium to keep a deductible down to $250 a worthwhile cost. At the municipal level, however, pre- miums to keep deductibles that low can add up to a several thousand dollars. Putting that money aside can quickly establish a "float" to cover small - com- pared to a three million dollar budget - claims, and can add up to real savings in the future. Council realizes that in Exeter, such claims are few and far between. Cer- tainly it is possible, even conceivable, the town could have a bad year with sev- eral claims under $5,000, and wipe out any insurance savings and cost extra to boot. After all, that's what actuarial sci- ence is for: how insurance companies calculate the risk factors on their premi- ums. Still, it remains unlikely such circum- stances could all come together in the same year, and the savings realized could be significant. Unfortunately, saving $6,000 or so on a three million dollar budget is not going to result in any drastic tax decrease for the property owner, not by any stretch of the imagination. But Spears is on the right track. If councils do want to recon- sider their cautious, and supposedly wasteful, ways, then schemes such as self insurance, are a step in the right di- rection to re -thinking the municipality's role as a small government. s Your Views Letters to the editor Faith in young people shaken I will pay a reward to anyone knowing the whereabouts of the ring that may result in its being found... Dear Editor: On New Years Eve our son had a party at our home. We were aware of this party but we were dis- appointed to find that on our return, a number of thingsd happened at our home that we do not condone. Apparently, some of the guests were upstairs in our rooms and a ring disappeared. There were no witnesses to this theft. Although we have reported the ring missing, we feel there is little chance of re- covery unless the person involved comes fcrward and returns the ring. This ring is not of any great value -- except to me. The ring was the first ring my father gave to my mother when they were high school sweethearts. When I turned twelve, my mother gave the ring to me. It is a moonstone set in a gold hand. 1 will pay a reward to anyone knowing its whereabouts that may result in the ring being found. As a result of these events, my faith in young peo- ple has been shaken. I wonder at the gall of some- one who would go into another person's home and invade their privacy, cause damage and not take re- sponsibility for their actions. Sincerely, Wendi Schwindt Exeter A View Fromm Queen's Park The Queen's champion has mounted his charger and galloped to the rescue of a belea- guered monarchy, but unfortunately tripped over his lance. Lieutenant -Governor Hal Jackman, accepting an award from B'nai Brith, acknowledged the monarchy's relevance is being questioned even by respected Canadians and tried to make a case that it is worth keeping. Lieutenant -governors traditionally have avoided taking sides on political issues, but Jackman feels that he can occasionally steak his mind, perhaps because he is so independent- ly wealthy he could almost pick up Ontario's annual deficit, and he sometimes has taken praiseworthy stands. He confessed recently that business like gov- ernment has piled up monstrous debts, for take- overs and buyouts that satisfy greed but do nothing for the economy, which must have pleased the New Democrat government. The lieutenant-gmiemoralso officially is the Queens' representative, so who more entitled • By iric Dowd Publications Malt Registration Number 0388 SUBSCRIPTION RALES: CANADA Within 40 miles (65 km.) addressed to nen latter carrier addressee $33.00 plus 62.31 G.S.T. Outside 40 ndMss (65 km.) or any letter canter address 633.00 plus $30.00 (total 63.00) + 4.31 a.ti.T. Outside Canada $99.00 plus 68.93 06T (Includes 688.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday Morning at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 136 by 1.W. Eedy Publication Ltd. Telephone 1413-2381331 • Fax: 618-2350T66 as.T. ea1052301135 ONTARIO ELECTION 110 ON WATCH FOR FLYING Your Views Letters to the editor Carry on Christian traditions What is even more disturbing is that most of the opposition comes from people we took under our wings be- cause of the oppression they faced in their country of origin. Dear Editor: As a refreshing wind came the news from Paul Carroll, Huron County Director of Education, that religious exercises in Huron County is alive and well. A week later we were shocked by the news of a local newspaper that a move was afoot to ban all Christian related activities. Minority pressure groups find it offensive to be exposed to our tradi- tional, age old custom to celebrate and practice what we have held dear for so long. What is even more disturbing is that most of the opposition comes from people we took under our wings because of the oppression they faced in their country of origin. Canadian tolerance gave them the opportunity to free expression. I can't believe that they now want to restrict ours. More important, are we holding still for it? The Government is apparently weak enough to consider it. It is time to show some spine, defend and promote our Christian way of life founded in love. We must let our lawmakers know that we will not let them take away the values we have learned at our mothers' knees. Carrying on the Christian tradi- tion is not a sign of intolerance of others but rein- forces the basic truth revealed in Matthew 22. 34- 40. Adrian Keet Bluevalc to defend a monarchy under criticism? But his defence is not much of a shield. Jackman said Canadians should separate the individual from the institution -- they should not lose faith in the monarchy because of some Royals and their personal behaviour any more than they should lose faith in the democratic parliamentary system if a prime minister is cor- rupt. But one difference is that a prime minister can be kicked oui at the next election, while the Royals who have cost their institution respect show every intention of staying and in the case of the current heir to the throne, who has led the parade of personal failings, taking an even larger role. The 1-g went on to spout mumbo -jumbo be- loved of loyalists. He claimed that Ontario was first populated by United Empire Loyalists who came after the American Revolution 'because they believed the Crown would protect their rights and allow them to have opinions which were then unacceptable in the new republic'. Crowned idols with feet of clay But the Loyalists came for varied reasons in- cluding wanting to protect their privileged posi- tions and the vast majority of Ontarians are not of Loyalist descent and even those who are need not hold, on to beliefs some of their ances- tors had two centuries ago. Jackman argued that while democracy en- sures that the majority rules, this does not guar- antee that the human rights of the minority are protected and the monarchy provides 'the checks and balances.' But monarchies often have failed to provide protection against tyranny. Monarchies co- existed comfortably enough with fascism in Mussolini's Italy and several other European states in the Second World War. The Commonwealth officially has the Queen as its head, but many of its 50 member -states are or have been dictatorships intolerant of rights. Saudi Arabia has a king, but is noted for its protection of human rights. Jackman said that laws are proclaimed and justice dispensed in the name of the Crown and if Canadians gave up the monarchy they would 'surrender much of what has made Canada more human and such a special and wonderful place.' Canadians have a reputation for tolerance and fairness, but it stretches imagination to suggest this would disappear if lawsuits were no longer brought in the name of the Crown and laws no longer given archaic Royal Assent. Since 1991 policemen in Ontario have sworn allegiance to their country rather than the Queen without any noticeable harm to law en- forcement. The legend Royal Mail was dropped from vans decades ago without this making mail delivery any slower (or faster for that mat- ter). The lieutenant -governor also is irked at what he calls the 'unwarranted fascination' with the younger Royals. But these are people the estab- lishment brought over often and parade as role models --. even on the legislature steps -- and the public cannot help being interested when idols prove to have such feet of clay.