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Clinton News-Record, 1977-05-19, Page 1i 0 • A serious chat Anson McKinley, right, chats with• Dick Atkey of Clinton following Mr. McKinley's acclamation to the Progressive Conservative nomination last Thursday for the upcoming provincial election on June 9. (Exeter T -A photo) McKinley gets PC nod The well known McKinley name will be on the ballot in the June 9 Provincial election. Anson McKinley, brother of Federal MP Bob McKinley, was picked Thursday night as candidate for the Huron - Middlesex Progressive Conservatives. Mr. McKinley, 51, was acclaimed after 4 the only other candidate, James Hayter of Goderich with drew in support of Mr. McKinley. Mr. Hayter wa's the PC Candidate in the last election, losing to Liberal Jack Riddell by 3,790 votes. Mr. McKinley has a long record in municipal politics having served as reeve of Stanley Township and warden • or Huron County in 1975. He told the crowd of over 200 people at Exeter High School he had changed his mind about retiring from public life because of a "sense of obligation". The riding of Huron -Middlesex needs someone who will be heard by the next government, which will :be formed by Bill Davis, he said. "It is the first time in years that Huron -Middlesex has been represented by a member in a third party. His voice is ineffectual and the Liberal party will ,to not improve its position," he said. "Huron -Middlesex deserves better than that." Mr. McKinley concentrated most of his speech on "the socialist- threat" presented by the New Democratic Party. He said people do not want the regulated and rigid life that a socialist government would provide. He attacked the NDP claim that Ontario was losing farmland saying more land was in production today than • ever before. He agreed with the Ontario SI (oIidiiin By Jim Fitzgerald The dry and dusty conditions of the past few weeks have certainly started w everyone talking drought, but we're a long way ' from that w9rd yet, and hopefully, won't go nine months without rain like they have on the prairies. Don Pullen, head of the local agriculture office, says he's an eternal optimist, and those dry fields and gardens will be refreshed shortly. + + + One of the side benefits of all this dry sunny weather however, has been the - excellent progress made on the new grandstand, as Kinsmen and volunteers, the Fair board, the rec department, and the public works department scurry around readying the site for the Fair, which is only two weeks away now. If„ spring grain crop coUld be seriously you have an hour, or a day, they could affected. use all the help they could get for the "The hay crop is at a standstill right • next week or so. now, and badly needs a rain this week," + + Pullen said. We must also compliment'the public The dry soil conditions have also works department for laying our dust resulted in spotty germination of some problem' to rest quite quickly last week grain and corn crops, and without rain, when they applied oil to all the gravel - few of the weed sprays will have any roads. At our house, we were so busy effect. keeping the two-year-old off the road, we Unlikc their counterparts in Essex forgot about the cat, and what a mess County, who are rained out, Huron corn that was to clean up. Cats, it seems, farmers have had perfect sowing con - aren't too crazy about having their paws ditions for a month, and Pullen reported washed. that most of the corn is now sown, ahead + + + of the May 24 deadline. Which brings to mind an item from "We may bless the heavy snowfall we "Safety Canada" magazine about a mid- had last winter after all," Pullen said, western farmer who was so fed up with "as it has given us a very good sub -soil traffic speeding down his road, raising moisture reserve." dust, and endangering his family and Other than some light frost damage livestock, that he put up a sign reading: last week farmers could be in for an "Slow down for nudist camp crossing." average to good year, if the weather -1' + + holds.., Although it is still a week and a half Faway, we thought we'd remind all our • • • to Ut $22 000 Clinton, Ontario 25 cents. TThursc y, May 19, 1977 112th Year -No. 20 Weafiher • 1977 1976 NI LO NI 10 MAY IO 57 31 72 43 11 66 28 59 37 12 68 39 55 31 13 70 45 66 35 14 69 32 67 55 15 72 44 70 50 16 78 _ 41 73 54 No rain Rain .70 Government policy that local municipalities should take care of land use planning. " Huron County council has done more to preserve farmland than all the NDP caucus put together", he said. t The Ontario government has helped he said, pointing to the drainage loan program and the tax rebate system. If the people of Huron -Middlesex don't want socialist government they will have to vote for a Progressive - Conservative candidate. Voting Liberal would give the riding little influence, he said. "I can do no more than promise a whole hearted effort on my part," ' he said. "I will fight this election." The "we need an effective voice" theme was repeated throughout• the nomination meeting. "Jack is a good member and he works hard," Mayor Bruce Shaw of Exeter said. "But he is limited by the party he belongs to and that party will have even fewer seats after the election. I think Jack can be beaten but we will have to work hard." Cayley Hill of Goderich of the Huron - Middlesex P.C. riding association told the party faithful Mr. Davis will form the next government with a majority. "Are we going to have a member on the government side or will we be lost in the. wilderness with someone. whispering from the cheap seats!" he asked. Anson's brother, Federal MP Bob McKinley, predicted that provincial Liberals would suffer the same fate as the federal NDP did in the last election. He said the people of Ontario never intended the NDP to gain as many seats as they did in the last provincial election. Many voted New Democrat because the Liberal leader was so bad, he said. "This time they will correct it and they won't vote Liberal. This Liberal leader is a lot worse than the last one - that's putting it mildly," he said. The Federal MP said the situation in On page 3 Rec4 board to seek new arena floor By Shelley McPhee The Clinton Recreation Committee discussed the possibilities of putting in a new arena floor at their regular meeting on May 12. The group made no motion to . definitely construct the floor but intend to check into its possibilities with more detail. The estimated cost of the new floor would be $110,000 and would take some four weeks to complete. Clarence Neilans explained to the committee that gravel, boards, styrofoam and wiring would have to be done initially and then volunteer help could be called in. Marie Jefferson noted that the com- mittee should set a budget for the floor as soon as possible so the town council can apply for grants. Neilans assured the committee that a recent report from McLaren Engineers dismissed any problem of the govern - Farmers concerned over dry conditions Despite widely scattered showers on Tuesday - the first rain in nearly a month - agricultural officials are still con- cerned about the unusually dry weather that has plagued Huron •County this spring, particularly the northern half of the county.- Don Pullen, agricultural, represen- tative for Huron, expressed concern Tuesday that if a "good steady, general rain" doesn't come soon, the hay and ment coming in and shutting the arena down. The committee has made no definite plans to construct the floor since the Kinsmen will be using it for the horse races until the end of September and it is also used for bingos all summer. Ray Garon suggested that the Kinsmen set up a tent outside, however it may raise some problems with the LCBO as well as the Fire Department and the Board of Health. In other arena business, it'was decided that the 1976 arena budget of $75,645 be Thanks to the work of several dozen volunteers, construction work on .1040t$5 , ` wrzgo Getting the flag .lack Riddell, the Liberal candidate for the Huron -Middlesex riding helps Clarence Denomme prepare the Liberal Committee Rooms in Clinton. Mr. Riddell' who has been a Liberal MPP since 1972 presented Mr. Denomme with a flag of Ontario. (News -Record photo) Riddell gets Liberal ok Huron Middlesex Liberals acclaimed Jack Riddell at a largely attended nomination meeting in Hensall Thur- sday night. Mr. Riddell vas first elected in 1973 when he captured the riding in a by- election. Referring to the by-election his nominator Reeve Aubrey McCallum of East Williams Township, described Mr. Riddell as "the man who stopped regional government in this province". He was unopposed. His nomination was seconded by Mrs. Shirley Kay of Clinton. Mr. Riddell's qualifications are particularly adapted to rural -urban combination that is a feature of the riding, Reeve McCallum said in his nomitr�ation remarks. He has used his ability 'to rcpret;ent the people of Huron - Middlesex in a dedicated way, he said. Regretting the necessity of asking for assistance for an election that wasn't needed and that has been called at such a busy time, Mr. Riddell said the minority government had been working well. The government should be working to solve problems like unemployment, raised by another seven percent to cover the costs of 1977. This would put up the arena budget to a total of about $80,000, not including the cost of the new floor. Correspondence was received from Hugh Hodges regarding the use of the arena for a referees clinic. Fifty referees from the WOAA and the OHA would like to use the arena on November 5. Garon suggested that the committee set a price for the use of the facilities and the referees be notified of this. It was decided that $200 would e cover the- cost of ice time and upstairs rental. It was also noted that the referees clinic still owes $24 from last year. The lights in the ball park will cost $6 per game for the their use by teams this summer. Dean Reid noted that due to the hydro increases the cost of the lights should be raised from last year's $5 price. Cleo Colquhoun, felt that the price was too much but it was noted that both teams playing would split the costs. Clinton's new $250,000 grandstand is still on schedule, in hopes that it will be ready for the three-day Spring Fair, which opens in two weeks on June 3. Kinsmen President Paul Kerrigan reported ,;Wednesday that a volunteer crew under the guidance of Dr. Graham Bowker had half of the floorboards in- stalled in the grandstand by Tuesday night, and by working every night this week and all day Saturday, they hoped to have the job completed by the end of the week, or possibly by early next week. Dr. Bowker stressed that volunteers have done a "fantastic job" in what looked like a monumental task, and he said that more workers are welcome anytime this week, and possibly next, whether it be for an hour or all day. "Every little bit helps," Dr. Bowker said. Meanwhile, a crew under the direction of Rick Finch has painted all the boards a and seats twice, and a finish coat of paint will be put on once the boards are in- stalled. Kerrigan said that there was a good chance hydro could be in the building for lighting the track and the grandstand by the fair, but he wasn't too sure that the paving under the grandstand would `15)e completed in time. The Fair Board has sold out all con, cessions in the arena, and hoped to use some space under the grandstand for the fair,and the baby show. A new racing secretary's office is nearing completion at the north end of the park, near the paddock, and lighting is being installed in the two cattle sheds for use during the fair and races. Richard Lobb of Clinton, who is donating his services, will guide the auction this Saturday near the arena to sell off all the wood and steel salvaged from the old grandstand and mutuel area. Weary to carry NDP torch Shirley Weary, 42, of Goderich was acclaimed NDP candidate in the Huron - Middlesex riding for the provincial election, on Monday night in Brucefield. Some 16 people attended the meeting at Huron Centennial School and heard Weary speak on health care and car insurance rates. ,‘ She noted that Ontario residents pay a provincial income tax rate of 30 per cent while those in Manitoba pay 42 per cent. However, she added that Ontarians must pay another $300 for hospitalization while Manitoba residents have this in- cluded in their taxation. Weary also placed some concern over the fact that she is a secondary worker, despite the fact that she has been in the work force some 20 years. She added that along with all women, men under 25 years of age and those over 54 years old are also considered as secondary workers. "I find that scary, I. don't want that energy agriculture and housing, he said. But instead the Progressive Con- servatives and New Democrats had forced an election. While the Liberals in the House were proposing economic strategies to create jobs, Mr. Davis and his backroom ad- visers were holding secret candidate training sessions in an obscure Toronto hotel. Mr. Riddell said that for 19 months the Liberals had made the compromises that were necessary to make minority government work, as other parties enjoyed grandstanding and con- frontation. We were criticized, he said, but we were determined to keep our promise. "Davis and the Blue Machine called this election without a thought for the people of Ontario and for no other reason than the fact that Davis likes to rule by divine right and he has to have a majority government in order to do that", he said, and added "It's time for a different kind of government in Ontario - it's time for a government that cares On page 3 bleeders in town that a blood donor's prLIZg a trgive clinic will be held on Monday, May 30, at the Clinton Public School, and please, note the change of location. Remember Over $22,000 in prize mdney, will be Pony Express. an hour of your time giving the gift of given this year at Clinton's 123rd Spring It is hoped that some of the booths can life, could save someone's life, .Fair which begins on Friday, June 3 and be placed under the grandstand since the especially during the accident prone runs until Sunday, June 6. The prize arena concessions have already been summer months. monies are $8,000 more Chan 1976's filled. + + + $14,000. This year, the Holsteins Association The Fair, sponsored by the Huron and the Ontario Jersey Club are going to And one last comment. This is the first big holiday weekend of the year, so if Central Agricultural Society, was moved show their cattle on Friday afternoon. to a class "B" standing two years ago The second day of the exhibition you're travelling, be extra cautious. And if you're not, drop out to Vanastra, or to and has become one of the largest Spring consist:; of heavy and light horses, beet the Nullett Public School and watch the Fairs in Ontario. . cattle, hogs, sheep, poultry and pets. Clinton's new grandstand will be put to Sunday will he set aside for the Western fireworks display Monday night. A the test for the fair and the featured Horse Show with pleasuic classes and couple of dollars a car will help either • organization continue the practice in entertainment at the evening grand-games.stand show on Saturday night will he The Queen of the Fair and the baby future years. contest will be held again this year and an amateur talent night is scheduled for. Friday evening. The Muir parade will be held on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. It will leave the Legion Hall and will be headed by two hands, decorated bicycles and floats. Prizes will he awarded to the best floats in various classes, the best decorated bike :ind the hest clow.n or comic charac•ter. Master of eert';tionics for this year's event will he Don Itesley of Si . Paul's. Ontario type of government„” she said. Guest speaker at the meeting, London Centre NDP candidate Stuart Ross, spoke to the group on health care and the loss of agricultural land. He noted that Ontario Health Minister Frank Miller announced the hospital and health cutbacks on December 19, 1975., This was only one day . after the ' provincial parliament rose for its Christmas recess. Ross felt that this was done to avoid a public forum and any political pressure on the issue. Ross also noted the contradictions in Miller's proposals. He explained that while Miller was announcing his policies, his officials from the board of health were negotiating in good faith with the board of directors at the Paris Hospital for improvements and changes. Ross also spoke on another major NDP concern, the loss of prime far- mland in Ontario. He said that southern On page 3 A warm welcome Stuart Ross, NO)Peandidate from London Centre welcomes Shirley Weary to the provincial election. Mrs. Weary was acclaimed the NDP ca&1`dacy in the Huron- N1iddlesex riding in a nomination meeting held in Brucefield on Monday evening. itnss was the guest speaker at the meeting. (News -Record photo)