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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1974-05-16, Page 4vi eDditcial opinion TI • } } • • Back to square one The budget brought down last week by Federal Finance Minister John Turner no longer means a thing to Canadian business- men and taxpayers—except that it was the signal for another general election, the second in less. than two years. To no one's surprise the Progressive Conservatives and the NDP joined forces to put an early end to Prime Minister Trudeau's second term of office. After listening to one of the first political speeches on television a friend of ours heaved a deep sigh and said, "To think we have to listen to that baloney for the next two months!" His apathetic response to what was intended as an impassioned plea to the voters is, perhaps, 'indicative of the attitude which will pervade much of Canada for the duration of the election campaign. Vast numbers of people are already saying, "Who needs it?" It is regrettable that this election will be met by bored indifference, because for the first time in many years there is a recog- nizable 'difference in the plafforms which will be mounted by the two major parties. 'Rather than.hoth trying to outdo each other in the promises of the same sort of goodies for the populace, this time the promised ob- jectives of the Liberals and Conservatives are widely divergent. The Liberal candidates will campaign on the basis of the budget which failed to get onto the statute - books, claiming that the problems of inflation! under -employment, environment, and energy supply must be met individually as their various crises threaten. in direct contrast is the Progressive Conser- vative vow to bring in immediate price and wage cgntroist The stand of the NDP has- changed- little since the last election—a • simple, "take from the rich and give to the poor", the poor being chiefly organized labor. There is little point in presenting the opposing arguments here, for you will hear all of them a thousand times in the next few weeks. Briefly, the Liberals will contend that Canada has fared better than most other nations as far as inflation and energy supply are concerned, although they will find it difficult to convince most Canadians that Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan is right in his repeated contention that Canadian foods still come to us at "bargain" prices. The PC's will appeal for votes with the pro- mise that they can lick inflation by the single act of putting a freeze on the price of con- sumer goods and the existing level of wages • .. a course of action which has proved any- thing but satisfactory in the Uglted States. States. If alt the politicians would get together for a general policy study -before the cam- paign starts their chief concern might well be the apathy of the electorate. If they were truly wise they would agree that a sizeable reduction of television exposure would be benefial. There is no way the Canadian public' an be expected to respond with any- thing better than boredom to the eternal re- hashing of the same promises and the same accusations day after day. We live in the greatest country in the world. It's far from' perfect, but it's still the best. Our system of government has many flaws—but it could not produce a Watergate. It's worth every possible effort on the part of its citizens.—and election time is the only occasion when the voters of the land are actually irk the driver's seat. It behooves us to steer a well -:chosen course. Constitution on trial News about the woes of President Nixon and his pals no longer excites the average citizen of either the United States or Canada: Both have long since been convinced that re- gardless of who is sentenced or impeached, the whole crowd are perfidious beyond be- lief. Chief victim of the scandal is the institu- tion of, American government itself. It is not difficult to understand why the... constitution of the United Statess so impo. MO in that nation. Their constitution visas' .. written by wise and courageous men whose signatures upon the founding document could well have earned them imprisonment or death. The constitution was signed when the outcome of the American Revolution was still extremely doubtful and had their up- rising failed a vengeful British government would have' certainly exacted a dreadful price: " One o19 he ,basic concepts of the constitu- tion was what has become known as the "se- paration of powers", ^ by which the elected representatives of the people in the House of Assembly' and the Senate would enact the legislation under which the land was to be rued. However, the other partner in sepa— rate rate power was the president and his advi- sory staff. The president was to be and always has been, elected separately and even at a different time. His cabinet, unlike ours, is hired rather than elected. Over the years the size, power and. privi- lege of the president and the cabinet have in- creased so mightily that the Watergate ..:affair has igen its culmination. The .arro= cs., ,. ,, r garice, .dishonesty, , and which 'tX greed for control were made evident by the Washington hearings are the direct consequence of a system which does not require any responsi- bility on the part of the White House staff to the voters of the nation. If the United States is to emerge in a healthy state from its present troubles and if similar woes are to be avoided in future, some form of electoral responsibility on the part of the president's Staff is a vital neces- sity. Above all, the president's powers as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, with the power to single-handedly declare war must be removed before some accident or some dire political expediency throws the whole world into a conflict from which it would never emerge, in recognizable form. The quiet. revolution Normalization: The word may not mean much to you. You may not even find it in your dictionary. But for more than two mil- lion Canadians, or one-tenth of our popula- tion, the word is becoming increasingly Im- portant. The Canadians in question are the ap- proximately 640,000 mentally retarded citi- zens and their parents and families. For them, normalization brings almost revolu- tionary hope and new expectations. Normalization, simply put, means letting the mentally retarded person obtain an existence as close to the normal as pos- sible. It means, for example, that the men- tally retarded personbe given the chance to do things we've long denied him, because our expectations of him were so low. It means we must free him to live in more normal set- tings. Sleeping in wards of fifty or more, taking every meal in huge cafeteriake or bathing in mass showers will never produce normal behaviour. So we must change that. This...and that About three or four weeks back some idiot predicted in this column that we would enjoy "a warm and early spring" --based on the absence of ice on Lake Huron. How It means we must free him to move and communicate in ways typical for his age, to use typical community resources, be they recreational, religious, medical, social or whatever. Being isolated in remote institu- tions or hospitals where one is labelled as a patient or inmate, and where one cannot mix with other community residents or enjoy community amenities, is hardly conducive to normal behaviour. So we must change that. No one summed up the nation's obliga- tion and opportunity better than did the late Georges P. Vanier, then Governor General of Canada, in his plea for a rightful place in our society for the mentally retarded. Here is what he said: "I throw out this challenge to all those who believe in the value of'the human being. There are hundreds of thousands of inade- quately cared -for persons who need your scientific knowledge, who have need for your heart, your affection and your love. They have already been waiting too long." wrong can a guy be? Seems too bad that the same guy fills this space every week. He'll stay well away from prophecy in future. THE %*/ ►I#! JJ A All • • E .w i�wvr.rv�� ? VJV M VbC• 1 1IYI Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wer Bros. Limited Barry Wenger, President Robert O. Wenger, Secretary -Torr Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member --- Causdian Community Newspapers Assoc. Subscription moo per year. Six month $5.25 Ontario Weekly Newspapers Assoc. To United States $12.50 Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 Return postage guaranteed 4. • •ERR �`. 1 R \ R '\ " R} LR}R .. .4 \ .^ `} '141 ay, May 16 • DAYS CHILD Council battles mess als BY HEI,.EN ALLEN, In 'the picture, Robby looks older than, five, but you can likely see he still has all his ``baby" teeth. Robby is a tall,sturdy boy of Angio -Saxon descent with dark eyes, unruly brown hair and fair skin. He 14 a shy, rather aloof child who comes from a greatly deprived background where demonstrations of affection were probably unknown. Though he is perfectly agreeable and co-operative in his foster home, he has not yet learned to relate warmly to adults. He gets on well with children his own age or younger. Information on Robby's family tree is limited but there is no knowledge of any hereditary illnesses. He is healthy and energetic, keen on the outdoors. His foster "home is on a farm and he likes all the animals, especially the dog which is his constant companion. Robby's attention span is short but he has enough imagination to play happily alone if no other children are around. Since he is just five, Robby has not started school but is looking forward to going in the fall. This laddie needs parents who will give him .love without expecting an immediate return and who will understand that at this time his ability is unknown. It will be best if there are other children in the family with Robby the youngest. To inquire about adopting Robby, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social. Services, Box 888, Station K, Toronto M4P 2H2. For general adoption information, please contact your local Children's Aid Society. • /`� • .f�f I'f��J • rj %/�%!/���fi�./i`f/`/f i•�l%�•!•!;;ji�j �, r.. r � Mfr /, Editor, Advance -Times To your readers: May 12th to May 18th, is Police Week in Canada. May I,take this opportunity, as commissioner of. the Ontario Provincial Police, to invite you, your family and friends to visit your local OPP detachment and meet the men and women who serve you. Our 185 detachments in the pro- vince will be open. Your police- men will be only too happy to show you these .facilities. Feel free to ask any questions you may have. A close relationship between the police and the community "must exist if we are to maintain a safe and orderly society. Take a few minutes, visit your police- man — he would like to meet you. • H. H. Graham, Commissioner: Kincardine, Ont. Dear Editor, In May and June we will be re- searching the history of the rail- road that was to have been built from Goderich to Kincardine. This project is being financed by an Opportunities for Youth grant. To our knowledge the railroad was begun around 1910. We be- lieve that it was generally known to the residents of the area as the Lakeshore Railroad. Before constuction stopped the tracks —Mr. and Mrs. Mac Newton, Brian and Linda of Gorrie, Mrs. and Mrs. Bill Hart, Doug and Dale of Oshawa were dinner guests of Mrs. Alice Newton on Mother's Day. —Mrs. George Galbraith of Wingham and Mr. and Mrs. Don Haines and Deborah Ann of Guelph attended the christening of Peter George, son of Dr. and Mrs. Jack Galbraith of Essex, at �•. , C,uurcn on Sun- day. —Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Claire Hodgkinson ,and family of Josephine Street, were Mr. and Mrs. Alex Ormsby of Meaford, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hodgkinson of Rocklyn and Miss Della \Wiley of Markdale. They also attended morning worship service in the United Church where Lori Ellen Hodgkinson was christened. were laid from Goderich as far as Amberley. We would like to hear from any persons who know anything about this railroad. This includes any- one who worked omit or who knew someone who was employed in the construction. As well, we would like to speak with persons who observed its progress. or who have anyy informzition at all about the Lakeshore Railrohd. Anyone who would be kind enough to help us is asked to call 396-2888 or 395-2789 between .7 p.m. and 10 p.m. or write to Box 486, Kincardine, Ontario care of the Lakeshore Railroad. Yours sincerely, James Moore Sandra Robinson Dogs and vandals ha prompted Howick, Townahi Council to take acti . It � too mancompl have come in from•the villages the township regarding dogs Clerk Ivan Haskins- said, "Th dogs in towns have been gi�ring the trouble. They're digging gardens." Ttte motion which was carried will rewire all owners of d running. at large to make s_, their dogs are tied or on a leash a all tunes as Per by-law. Mr Haskins said the resolution wa directed at dogs runfing free the villages, not farm dogs, a long as the dog is on his owner' farm. In another motion, comic sought to rectify' the acts of van -dais. Clark Haskins said, "Th Howick cenotaph. at Fordwi was damaged about a year ago especially last Halloween. Egg and tomatos were thrown, sides other stains." The resolution passed will have the ' Howick Cenotaph cleaned Clerk Haskins said, - "This will make it look a little more respec tab e." In the ' same motion names of World War II service- men killed in action will be added to the Wroxeter cenotaph. In other council business the new Township Recreation Com- mittee, which oversees activities such as hockey and senior citizen events, submitted its first budget of $9,700. Previously groups fund- ed their own activities private ly. Now many functions will pass through township hands acquir- ing township money in the pro- cess. Council approved the bud- get. It' was', Moved the clerk be in- structed to call for tenders for the purchase and dismantling of the Fordwich arena. The purchaser is to clean up' all the rubbish and foundation; and to leave the site in a satisfactory condition sub- ject to council approval. The deadline for tenders will be five p.m,, June 1. ALmofon was passed to endorse the resolution bb ithe +City�of Mis-i sissauga regarding a provincial government subsidy on a per capita bas for the purpose of fire u protection, p ,services. It was moved that the clerk for- ward a letter of offer for.fire protection from the Harriston Fire Department and the Clifford Fire Departinen�t. As it stands now the Listowel Fire Depart- ment covers the southeast corner of Howick Township, Harriston the middle -east side, Clifford the northeast and Wingham the rest. In other council action, tenders were called for weed spraying and for .supplying 20,000 yds. more or less of pit run gravel for road construction, both due by. June 1. Other motions passed were: that Elmer Miller be appointed as trustee to the Howick Town- ship Cemetery Board to replace Jack Brown; that the tile drain '. loansfor Glen Pyke and Walter Hahn be accepted; that building hay p. airlts n us out sure t in s • it c1 be- - • Davidbe issued to John Hutton, vl Burbidge, Robin Bolander, Wim and Jean Sothera, Alvis Litt, Karry Mulvey, W. R. Vie, Leslie Halliday-, John Hunyady, Steve Owen and Gist Guides to build additions to housia, barns and sheds and to Donald J.to build a rabbitry. The Girl Guides, who own a farm in "the north part of the township ,are planning to build a small cottage. A resolution . was passed to donate $10 to the County His - 4 to r S'oclet , and that tbe tic join the Association and • thereby„attend the Ably M COO- tlon, Accounts approved to be paid were: to Ont*► Hydro for energy :for the office ond. Wrox- eter^ rink, $254.56; to Johann Inv stores Agency, '$1,544.15;, to road account, *6,578.7$; to Wel* con Ltd the Hoek Community Centre, $O,905J0; and .to' the Dept. of National Rev- O enue, $133.07. , Full staff is hired at Camp Menesetung Miss Margie Whyte B.Sc., B.Ed., R. RR 2, . Seaforth, has been appointed as the 1974 direc- tor for Camp Menesetung, God- erich,which is a project of the Huron -Perth presbytery of the United Church of Canada. She has had leadership exper- ience as a teacher and counsellor at Camp Menesetung as well as participating in the • Operation Beaver program in PEI and a Crossroads volunteer project in the Philippines followed by ex- tensive travels around the world. Her seniorstaff has also been selected: The Bible resource dean is Joyce Bonello, B.A., B.Ed,, an elementary school teacher from Weston, who has graduated from) a summer course at the Regent 'College of Christian Studies, UBC, Vancouver. She has led Christian education study groups for a number of years. A The new craft director is Nancy Day, Stratford, who has had much camping experience at Camp Bimini, Menesetung, Ryde Lake CGIT Camp Council, and Five Oaks Family Camp. Along with her g. a Ig studies, she teaches' Sunday School and leads her local CGIT group. John Williams, 8.AV, R.Ed,, a teacher and sem.tjrofeesional folk singer from Toronto joins the staff as camping. skills . and nature lore director. He has had °much outdoor , camping ex- perience in Western Canada. Holly Jordan.. Brampton, has been appointed scrim instructor. She holds her leader patrol and bronze certificate, and has ,.had previous swim instructi% land counselling experience at Camp Menesetung and. Bark Lake. Jamie Richards, Stratford, re- turns for. his second w year as Sports director in charge of the sports program at Menesetung. In the past, he has, taken an avid interest in hockey school and day camp, and enjoys refereeing hockey and basketball games. Applications for counsellors are still being received for this camp near Goderich, which has special' programs' for boys, girls, co-eds and parents during July and August. wag Mr. and Mrs. Elgin McInnes, Tom and Billy of Oshawa visited Saturdaywith Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. McInnes. Mr. and Mrs. Al Morrison and Mr. and Mrs. William McInnes of Tees - water visited Thursday at the same home. Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Gowdy, Janna and Philip visited . Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. John Moore of Orangeville. Barry bane was home from Waterloo University over the weekend with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Dane. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Edgar of St. Thomas visited Sunday with Mrs. Charles Finlay at the home of Mrs. Harry Gowdy. Ross Earl, Miss Marlene Earl and Robert Earl also visited at the same home. . Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Ferguson and Jan of Georgetown visited Monday with Mr. and Mrs. Jack Ferguson. onals 0 Mrs. Murray Edgar visited at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Cameron of Stoney Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Carson of Brockville visited Mr. and Mrs. Dick Carson on Wednesday. Mrs. A. Wearring has returned to her home in Listowel after visit- ing at Brockville. Mrs. John Van de Kemp Sr. is a patient in Listowel Memorial Hospital. —Major and Mrs. L. R. Eld- ridge and family of Burlington spent Mother's Day weekend. with Mrs. M. Blatchford. Mrs. Mary Lowes and family and Harry Totting all of, Kitchener spent Sunday at the same home. —Mrs. Ruby Cranston, Mrs. Roy McInnes and Mrs. William Robertson of Goderich visited Tuesday with Mrs. Annie Ken- nedy, Frances Street. "it's nothingserioua — he found an item on which the price hadetually been reduced"