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Clinton News-Record, 1977-05-26, Page 4Wo PAGE 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1977 More jury pay A London, Ontario judge was oiGt- spoken recently in his criticism of one aspect of our judicial system. He said that the present rate or remuneration for persons called for jury duty is ridiculous. And he certainly is right. At $10 per day we must be at least 20 years out of step with. reality. The judge's remarks were made when a jury was being selected for a trial which is expected to last at least a month. Only 12 men and women will finally be called, but no less than 600 people were, summoned for that pur- pose. The vast majority of those called (and who cannot legally refuse to appear) will be discarded- for a thousand and one reasons as the op- posing lawyers seek to eliminate all who 'appear dangerous to one side or the other. At $10 a day the 12 who are finally selected will be kept away from their homes and their jobs at very high financial loss to themselves. The poverty level in this county is supposed to be an income of about $6,000 a year. The ten dollars daily jury fee would provide only $3,650 in a year if it was paid seven days a week. There is only one fair rate of payment for jury duty and that would be a fee equal to the wages which the juror would earn in his regular job. If the juror happens to be a housewife or someone who is not on a payroll, a minimum fee should be set... and that should be adequate to provide for child and home care or as replacement for whatever normal responsibilities the juror fulfills. The administration of justice has come under considerable criticism- in recent years, not only from the public but from members of the legal profession as well. Of necessity changes in such an important area should not be made hastily or without careful consideration, but surely it doesn't take much pondering to realize that private individuals should not be robbed by the very system which is responsible for honesty and justice. -from the Wingham Advance Times On the fence During an election, it is of ut\nnost importance, in our minds at least, that a newspaper remain fair, accurate, and unbiased in its coverage,of election happenings.. We try our hardest at the News - Record to give both sides their say, but fence sitting, as some would call it keeps no one • happy. Take last week's edition for instance. We attempted to give equal, balanced coverage to all three party nominations. We placed the stories on the front page in alphabetical order of the candidates last name, hoping we would offend no one. However, some of the Liberals thought we gave the Conservatives too muchplay, while some of the Con- servatives think we gave the Liberals too much play. So you see we can't win for losing. But our guess is that with both of them upset, then the coverage must be balanced. We haven't heard from the NDPs yet, so they must be satisfied. Yes, the editor does have an opinion and we do vote, but we try not to in- fluence our readers voting patterns. They should assess the candidates and vote for their choice. Sugar and Space/By Bill Sm ey Canada Day For years I'd been hearing about Canada Day, an annual event at which Canadian writers come out of the woods or from under stones and allow themselves to be pestered for autographs, lauded to the skies and otherwise tortured by hordes of starry- eyed students and eager English teachers. It was Jim Foley, a leprechaunish slip of a man, who spawned the idea originally, when he taught high school English in Port Colborne. Why shouldn't students have a chance to meet some real live writers? First year it was done on a shoe -string. Foley's students raised money iby collec- ting beer bottles and other nefarious means. A few authors and poets turned up and talked to the kids. It was a great suc- cess. Since then, it has grown in both scope and ambition, and is now a singular annual event in Canadian literature circles, with hundreds of students busing hundreds of miles, and a pretty good accounting of Canadian writers, good, bad and in- different, turning up for their accolades. Foley, who is no dummy when it comes to raising money, got publishers, a notably ,. reluctant lot when it comes to spending money, to setup displays. He tapped every possible cultural well, from departments of education to Canada Council. This year I attended, along with a young colleague who is a budding poet, and we had a good time and came home dropping naives all over the place and buffing our cultural fingernails all over ourselves very ostensibly. "Well, after Margaret Laurence gave me a big kiss," I noted, "the whole weekend was just one mad whirl." This made my students sit up. "Michael.Ondaatje's beard is neater than mine," contributed my friend Roger," but I'm a better poet, and I told him so." "At least half the writers there are regular readers of my column," I com- mented smugly. Three or five of them actually are, but wotthehell. "We had breakfast with Mayor Moore and drove him to his seminar," Roger tossed in. And so we went on. As a matter of fact, some of those things did happen, and some others that I have no intention'of revealing. - Some rather interesting contrasts popped up. For example, the novelists seem to be rather a steady lot, in comparison to the poets, who had a tendency to get into the grape. Age seems to have little to do with ability. Leslie MacFarlane, the grand old man who wrote the Hardy Boy books. (and received about $50 each for them as total royalties) away back when, was honored at the same time as young Jack Hodgins from Van- couver Island, who has just published his first novel. There's close to sixty years difference in their ages. And by the way, there's a young fellow to watch - Hodgins. He was exhausted from a' combination of jet lag and too many in- terviews. in too short a time. But he gave it everything he had, in panels and quiz sessions. He's very handsome, very eloquent, and very enthusiastic:, and I imagine the teenagers were swooning over him. Let's hope he doesn't get caught up in the snarling and back-biting that too often stains the Canadian c-ulture scene. Canadian publishers, on the whole, showed their usual uninventiveness, coming out of what seemed a deep lassitude only when John Roberts of the Federal cabinet said something about more help for publishers. That's the only thing that seems to stir them. Exceptions are a few small publishers, who show some verve and imagination in design and quality of books. Farley Mowat's beard is almost as long as he is, but he has a nice wife. Pierre Berton is still combing his sideburns over his bald spot, but looks healthy and self- satisfied as ever.' -Suave Hugh Maclennan makes most of the other writers sound as though they'd just left Hayfork Centre. Yves Therriault, a popular Quebec writer, has a new and charming second wife who seems to like him. Lloyd Person, Saskatchewan novelist, still thinks I should devote a column to a review of his book if he sends me a copy. Mayor Moore doesn't comb his sideburns over his bald spot and looks fine just as he is. Poet John Newlove has eyes like two boiled eggs at a certain point in his progress. Some of the young fellows from Newfoundland put on the liveliest show of the weekend, with music and poems. Max Braithwaite and charming wife, fit and tanned, are just back from California, and they're making movies of a couple of his books. Uh, let's see. Irving Layton is getting old, just as he threatens in his poems. I don't know why Mrs. Jim Foley doesn't go out of her nut, running interference for Jim. Politicians, about eight of them, insisted on we.lcomii`ig everybody, to everybody's dismay. Al Purdy looks as though he needs a week in a rest home. Poet Don Gut- teridge's wife, Anne, enjoyed driving us back to the motel when my driver ran out of steam. There you are. Just a few notes from the literary scene by a non -hero-worshipping weekly columnist who knows that when you peekbehind the talent, the writer is just a dogsbody, like the rest of us. Member, Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association The Clinton News•Record Ia published each Thursday. at U.O. Box 39, Clinton, Ontario, Canada, NOM 1L0. r it is registered as second class mail by the post office under the permit number 0817, The News -Record incorporated in 1924 the Huron News -Record, founded in 1881, and the Clinton New Era, founded in 1885. Total press run 3,100. Clinton NewsRecor(1 A Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoclatlon Display advertising rates available on regaest. Ask for Rate Card Na 7 effective Oct. 1, 1878. .General Manager - J. lifowaaird Aitken Editor - James R. Fitzgerald AdverthIng birectdr - Gary L. Haiat News editor - Shelley McPhee Office Manage" - Margaret Gibb Circulation - Freda McLeod • Accounting - Marian *ikon , Subscription Rates: Canada - $12 per year U.S.A.-$15.50 Other -$18 Single Copy • 25c 1 MAY LVOt pof16 put THAT pOtSn 1 MEAN 1M NOT.' "What do 1 think of the kickbacks by Polysar? — sorry, I'm not a football fan. Odds 'n' ends, - by Elaine Townshend Pen pals Last summer a friend of mine from London visited his native land of Belgium. Before his trip, he asked Whether I'd like to correspond , with someone overseas. "Sure!" I replied eagerly, "That would be interesting". Two months later I received a letter from a 15 -year-old girl; the next week I heard from a 20 -year-old; in a few more weeks, a letter arrived from a nurse, and after Christmas came a note from a middle-aged lady. When the fourth prospective penpal contacted me, I panicked. I had an- ticipated only one correspondent, but I feared my friend had given my name and address to half the population of Belgium. As my Canadian friends will affirm, letter writing is not my forte. One girl friend, who has worked in Toronto for 18 months, has yet to receive a letter from me. But I haven't received one from her either. When she comes home to visit her parents, we catch up on all the news. Another friend lives near Windsor. Each year, we exchange quarterly up-, dates of our activities. The last time she wrote, though, she mentioned that she hadn't heard from me for so long she forgot whose turn it was to write and decided it must be hers. I hope she was right. Another girl friend moved from London to Niagra a year ago. Last fall I penned a three paragraph letter telling her I was corning for• a visit, and this spring I jotted a five -line announcement that I was coming back. I can't remember the last time I wrote to my sister, but recently I found a note from her that must have been one of the last we exchanged. She mentioned that "Davy" insisted he had to sleep on the top bunk of his new bunk beds. Now she has to look up at him even when he's standing, and if she referred to him as "Davy" she'd risk a stormy teen-age reprimand. It is unnecessary for us to correspond now, because her house has become almost another home to me. Her husband began tabulating my room and board shortly after the wedding. That's 16 years ago, arid guess how much he has collected. Not one cent. Returning to the subject of letter writing, with my track record, how can I keep up with four new penpals! I an- swered the first letter of each and ex- plained my predicament. If they could be satisfied with a less -than -prompt correspondent, we could probably learn a lot from each other. The answers spelled relief for they were all in similar positions. Although we correspond irregularly, I have already learned many things. For example, from the 15 -year-old I discovered Donny Osmond is as popular over there as he is here. She also revealed that high prices force many Belgiums to fly to England to shop for furniture and clothes. Meanwhile, the '20 -year-old talked about her job in a bakery in a monastery, which is almost a village in itself. She also explained that in the northern part of Belgium the language is Dutch, in the southern part French is spoke: and in a small region the people speak German. - The nurse sent a snapshot of her wedding. Some Belgian weedings are unusual. The bride and groom dress similar to Canadian brides and grooms, but the guests wear old fashioned costumes'. The other lady's family has been in- volved in diamond cutting for generations. She shocked this Canadian gal with the revelation that. in Belgium diamonds aren't considered a girls best friend; they're just another piece of jewelry. From me, the penpals learned one thing - Canada has rotten winters. From our early files • . • • • 10 YEARS AGO May 25, 1967 Some $2,784 has been collected in the past week to help fund the Clinton and District Community Centre Centennial project. Some, of the money was collected from events during the Clinton Retail Merchants Centennial Week and it brings tb.e proceeds up to nearly $30,000. Tradesmen and sub- contractors are rushirtg the work at the $225,000 arena in the community park. The first event which will use part of the new arena will likely be the Clinton Spring Fair on Saturday, June 3, Having spent 37 of his 42 years with Ontario Hydro as manager of the Clinton area, Arthur M. „Knight was honored with an appreciation banquet in the Clinton Legion Hall last Friday evening. Nearly 200 men attended the "Knight's Night" from businesses in the town, farmers, municipal officials, service club representatives, ' Ontario Hydro employees from Clinton and London and PUC employees. Mr. Knight will officially retire this summer. He and Mrs. Knight plan to remain in Clinton. They own their home at 67 William Street. Chief of Police H. Russ Thompson handed A.L. Colquhoun publisher of the lilews- Record a "dress violation" summons for not being in Cen- tennial dress or wearing a beard during Clinton Retail Merchants Centennial Week which con- cluded on Saturday. The fine was 50 cents and during the week the Clinton Police Force collected $20.50 which will be turned over to the Clinton and District Community Centre Centennial Fund. - 25 YEARS AGO May 22, 1952 No less than 210 cases, from all parts of the county, were dealt with at Huron County Crippled Children's Clinic, held in Clinton yesterday morning and af- ternoon. The 210 cases comprised of 100 orthopaedic, 37 speech, 48 vision and 25 hearing. Of the or- thopaedic group, 16 were polio cases. Age of the children ranged all the way from a baby of two months, to a youth of 18 years. In the clinic held two years ago, the total number of cases treated was 132. The clinic was operated by the Huron County Crippled Children's Committee, under the sponsorship of the Ontario Society 'for Crippled Children. Huron County Health Unit and the 10 Lions Clubs in Huron County and one from Grand Bend, Lambton- County also of- fered their help. Clinton's 48th annual Spring Fair is being held on a Saturday this year - for the first time in many years. The date is May 31. According to A.J. McMurray, secretary -treasurer, the fair will be "bigger and better than ever" with prizes totalling $3,200, and entertainment at a new high. Clinton RCAF Trumpet Band will be in attendance and will provide music for the crowds and will lead the school children and stock parades. A special feature this year - one that is expected to prove very attractive - is the evening per- formance in front of the grand- stand, highlighting the judging of horses, Junior Farmer's square dance competitions and the old time fiddlers' contest. These latter should provide plenty of hilarity. 50 YEARS AGO *May 26, 1927 As the News -Record intimated some weeks ago, Mr. John Ransford has been appointed by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, issuer of permits in Clinton, The public should be guided by the following rules governing sale of permits.. Applicant must be of the full age of 21 years and have been a resident of the province for one month prior to making ap- plication. Special permits may be issued to druggists, physicians, dentists, veterinaries and those engaged in mechanical or scientific pursuits. To all of the above the fee is $2. Also manufacturers needing supplies for hospitals, homes for the aged, sacramental purposes, for use in educational or government in- stitutions there' is no charge but they are only • issued from the head office in Toronto. No permit is issued to: a. Any person under 21.years of age. B. Any Indian. c. Any disqualified under the provisions of sub section 3 of any section 37 of the Act. d. Any whose permit has been suspended or cancelled under any provision of the Act. Tuesday was not an ideal holiday at all. Rain during the night and some rain and constant threatening all day, made it.. a very good day to remain indoors. Those who had planned a long day in the garden (a real exhibition of loyalty, by the way); or those who had planned to play golf or bowls or tennis or to have a picnic were disappointed and the disappointment was all the keener owing to the fact that the summer heat of Sunday had prepared most people to hope for the best for Tuesday. However, the first of July is not far off and this year everybody is planning on a real celebration, rain or shine. 75 YEARS AGO May 23, 1902 Politicians beware, between the 22nd and 29th of May, both dates inclusive, it is illegal for any person' to wear political buttons, badges or colours. Be sure and remove them from your lapels before the nomination day or you will be subject to a fine of $15. Our readers will remember the alleged assault that was com- mitted on the late Mrs. C. Carline, about two years ago, while she was confined to her room by illness, by 'someone who was supposed to have beaten her cruelly with a stick. The matter remained a mystery until a short time before her death last week, when she confessed to her daughter that th? injuries were self inflicted done to arouse greater sympathy than she thought she was receiving. The White Star Line of Detroit who for several years has run a very successful excursion by boat Canvass Dear Editor: The following letter was received by a local Red Cross organizer, Mrs. F. Fingland. Dear Mrs. Fingland : We acknowledge with gratitude the cheques for $2,270. being the amount collected ,jn Clinton for support Of the Canadian Red Cross Society. It is difficult to express ourselves adequately in appreciation for what you and your volunteers have achieved in this campaign. It is an outstanding success and exceeds past campaigns What you think Bayfield beds 41 Dear Editor : Praise is music to anyone's ears - but when it is un- deserved the record should 1* set straight. Two weeks tgo, on this page, Milvena gave me the credit for taking care of the flower beds at Bayfield's Clan Gregor Square and other places in the Village. True, I have been co - verned that they be to care of, but many othe deserve as much or more credit than I for the actuaf work. The Lionesses took on a gardening project at the Seaforth Road junction to help "Keep Bayfield Beautiful", and last year Mildred and Ross Merrill planted and cared for the two beds in the Triangle for the entire summer, and,have offered to do so again this year. Many others "took their turn" for a week on the other flower beds. Actually, my letter to the Village Council included a suggestion that maybe it was time to HIRE someone to do some of the harder hor- ticultural work. I have had no reply so -am assuming the answer is negative. I have tried to carry on in the tradition of the Westlaie family and May Hopson, but I think it's time for a Ali system and -or some n workers. Should we form a Bayfield Horticultural Society - NOT for the purpose of having meetings but so the workiran be carried .on and so that we can perhaps obtain a grant to do so? from Goderich to Detroit for the very small sum of $1, good for three days, propose running the same trip on the 18th of June. They will use their beautiful new boat the ,"Greyhound" this year, which accommodates over 3,000. A special train will be run from Stratford, on the morning of the excursion and the boat will leave Goderich at 8 a.m. They also propose+ running a moonlight trip the evening previous at Goderich. All_who intend making the trip to Detroit this year shduld take advantage of this opportunity as it will be the most pleasant ride of the season. 100 YEARS AGO May 24., 1877 On F•zturday evening last Messrs. Keyes and Elliott, grain buyers of Bayfield, left that place so suddenly that one of them left his bobehind him. It appears that they had received money from a Seaforth grain merchant, to buy wheat, . but, instead of doing this, they used the money for other purposes, and then gave a warehouse receipt for wheat that was not in existence. We understand, there were also forged names on the receipt, and, that the bank will suffer to the extent of between $3,000 and $4,000. A 75 pound sturgeon, caught at Bayfield, was on exhibition at Yuill's on Saturday, and excited considerable curiosity. Over 50 new dwelling houses have been and are now being erected in Seaforth this spring and several more are spoken of. These are exclusive of the business blocks that are being erected on Main Street. in the Clinton area by a very considerable amount of money. Would you kindly express our appreciation to all your fellow workers for a job very well done. We thank you on behalf of all the people who will benefit from the funds' you have collected, helping Red Cross to do its job better in its outreach to help others. Yours most sincerely, J.W. Routledge Executive Director, London Area Branch, Canadian Red Cross t� Let's have ONE meeting to talk it over. Come to the swings in The Square at 8 p.m. tonight - Thursday, May 26 - or to my house on Main St. if it rains. This meeting . is for EVERYONE interested in "Keeping Bayf»eld Beautiful". I hope this will include all Bayfield membegp of the Clinton Horticultural Society - whether they will be able to do any actual work or not. We will need their advice and expertise. Lois Lance Fireworks Dear Editor: Regarding Monday night's Firework Display at Vanastra, the -.organizers of this Community event wish to express their appreciation of your attendance. As it was the first time such a ,display 'wAs organized, many lessons were learned regarding the length of the display and the amou,dt of refreshments required. We hope -that too many people were not disappointed - if you were, we are sorry - we'll make it up to you next year starting a little later with a bigger and b display. To avoid disappointm t next year, spectators should endeavour to arrive at the published starting time. 'd Sincerely, Ben Bridges, president Vanastra Community Ass'n Cable Dear Editor I would like to bringto your and your readers attention that Bluewater Cable TV once again requesting an increase in their rates from $5.75 to $6.50 per month. This is an increase of over 13 percent, and seems totally unreasonable in view of the continued poor picture quality. If you are not happy with the rate increase or the picture quality, there is something plu can do abo ! it! You can object directl the Canadian Radio Television Commission at 100' Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, KIA ON2. Make your objections known NOW! Sincerely, Arthur Coombs, RR 5, Clinton. News -Record readers are encouraged to express their opinions in letters to the I editor, however, such opinions do not necessarily represent 1 the opinions of the Newt - Record. Pseudonyms may be used by letter writers, but no letter will be published unless it can be verified by phone.