The Wingham Advance-Times, 1974-11-14, Page 4The suicide course
41s modern man awakens to the impliea-
fiofls of his place on Mother Earth and the
limitations of food and resources which are
becoming more and more apparent, it is evi-
dent that we all must face some major
changes; and the greatest change of all must
be made in our own patterns of behaviour.
Emerging, as we have done so recently.
from a pioneer society, in which the basic
needs for food and clothing and shelter were
the over-riding factors of everyday life, we
are mentally and physically dedicated to
what has become known as "the good life"—
plenty of everything we think will make us
happy and comfortable. Rich food in large
quantities, fuel -consuming giant cars with
enough horsepower to carry ten passengers
instead of one driver, houses, boats° snow
machines—all the expensive over -abun-
dance of our time has become an accepted
way of fife for us.
We may be able to continue this pleasant
pattern for a few more years, but the hand-
writing is on the wall. Take a few minutes to
read part of an editorial which appeared re-
cently in The Graphic Arts Monthly and
which quotes from a book, "The Limits of
Growth" published in the United States.
"This is a simplified presentation of the
first report of the Club of Rome,an associa-
tion of about 70 experts from 25 different
countries ... This group has tried its best to
find out what is going to happen to the whole
world in the period up to 2100. None of us will
be around then, but what the report shows is
that what ail of us are doing in the next few
years will have a great bearing on the kind of
life our grandchildren will have before they
die. And the longer we postpone doing some
things differently the worse it is going to be
for succeeding generations.
"When there was a lot of land for the
number .of people, the problems of food,
water and pollution were negligible. But
world population reached 3.6 billion in 1970,
and, at the present annual rate of growth it
will reach 7.2 billion (double) in the year 2003
and 14.4 billion in 2036—thus doubling every
33 years. This is called "exponential
growth".
"Even with an optimistic forecast of in-
creased yields of food, and more acres
brought under cultivation, it appears that
the result will be widespread malnutrition
and starvation before 2100. Even today
approximately one-third of the people of the
earth do not get an adequate diet, and
perhaps 10 to 20 million deaths a year can be
attributed to malnutrition. What will it be
. when There are four times as many people in
the t if e?e ; are now? -
•
"World industrial production has also
been growing exponentially at an average
rate of seven per cent per year from 1963 to
1968. As this rate, if continued, it will double
every ten years. As a result there will be ex-
ponential decrease in- the remaining non-
renewable resources (fuels and minerals)
and an exponential increase in the amount of
pollution."
The article delves into possible solutions
at some length—but the sum and substance
of its conclusion is that we are in a hopeless
mess. With the best possible efforts at curb-
ing the birth rate and conserving our land
and other resources, mankind, •three
generations hence, will find itself in one ter-
rible situation.
Speaking to an elderly clergyman in
Toronto the other day we voiced a few of
these thoughts and he just shook his head
and acknowledged that he dared not think of
it. Perhaps all of us who are of the older
generation might take the same attitude
since the comforts of plenty are likely to last,
in reasonable measure, throughout our time
on this globe. But the situation looks re-
markably different when we watch our
grandchildren at play and imagine the
horror they may face as they try to find food
for their own youngsters.
What can we, as individuals, do about all
this? Perhaps very little—but at least we
should not shut our eyes to the facts. At the
very least we can start to train ourselves and
those who will succeed us to get along—even
to be happy—with fess of `this world's trap-
pings and non -essentials.
During the past week two major chain
food store operators publicly advised their
customers to stop buying sugar as the only
remedy for the idiotically high price which
has been forced on us by a huge business
monopoly. And remember that advice came
from businessmen who make a good profit
out of sugar sales themselves.
Inflation and its dire consequences are
an everyday topic of conversation. Ways and
means of curbing the price spiral are argued
by people and governments alike—yet the
only cure in the final analysis lies with we
who spend the dollarswhich make inflation
possible. Obviously we have no alternative
but to pay the present high prices for the es-
sentials—but if every one of us became tight-
fisted where non -essentials are concerned
inflation would wither on its giant beanstalk.
'Perhaps only the Lord Himself knows
the final outcome of the world's rush to self-
destruction but man would do well to look
down. that path as far as his vision can pos-
sibly penetrate.
Reluctant candidates
•
The slowness with which candidacies for
municipal office were filled' during thel past .
week may be indicative of a trend which is
becoming more evident each year. Public
office is no longer a symbol of status in the 1
community—it ..is more like a "joe job"
which will be assumed only by the citizens
who have an unusual sense of responsibility.
Whatever the cause, it is a regrettable
trend. It is the vacuum into which the ogre of
regionalization steps and by which the once -
independent Canadian citizen is robbing
himself of the right to speak out plainly for
those values which have made Canada the
greatest homeland on earth.
We can recall, in our early years as a
newspaper reporter, that every nomination
meeting was marked by heated debate and
every election was fought with vigour and
conviction. During the passing years, how-
ever, much of that spirit of community in-
terest and participation has ceased to exist.
The average voter stays home to watch the
hockey game when town meeting time rolls
around and the public offices go by default to
the few who are willing to take some active
part in self-government.
Nor can we particularly blame those
who will have nothing to do with town council
or the other public boards which control the
progress of local affairs. Those same citi-
zens who stayed home from the public meet-
ing are always highly vocal about the short-
comings of the council they failed to select.
In addition, the elected council members are
under continual pressure from higher levels
of government to conform to the myriad
rules and regulations passed in Toronto ,and
Ottawa. Further, they must frequently sit
through abusive bargaining periods with
their own civic employees who loudly and
sometimes insultingly dictate the terms of
their employment, in utter disregard of the
fact that the council members are bound by
oath and conscience to be frugal with public
funds.
This newspaper has been accused, at
times, of failing to criticize our public bodies
and it is a fact that we seldom do so for the
simple, reason that we know those people
who hold office are doing their best. That
doesn't mean that our councillors and board
members never make mistakes. They can be
in error just about the same percentage of
time as would you or anyone else who held
those offices.
Our over-riding attitude about these
people is that they are doing jobs no one else
wanted—jobs that are vital to the continu-
ance of a progressive community. They de-
serve our support most of the time—and they
get it.
Next year shaping up
The possibility of a severe recession for
Canada in the coming year can't be ruled
out, writes Anne Bower in The Financial
Post. The current spate of economic fore-
casts suggests it's not likely. What's en-
visaged now, to judge by recent predictions,
is a period of slow to non-existent growth in
economic activity through the next few
months with new strength emerging by the
second half of 1975. A review of eight detailed
economic forecasts shows that the calls from
the experts on next year's real GNP growth
range from a low of 1.2 per cent to a high of
3.7 per cent. These rates unfortunately al-
most guarantee a fairly pronounced rise in
the jobless rate to an average near 7.2 per
cent in 1975 from this year's average of about
5.5 per cent. Whether the slowdown also
guarantees a winding -down of inflation is
Tess certain.
THE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES
Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros. Limited
Barry Wenger, President Robert 0. Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Member — Canadian Community Newspapers
Assoc. Ontario Weekly Newspapers Assoc.
Subscription $10.00 per year. Six months $5.25
To United States $12.50
Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 Return postage guaranteed
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION president David Hines
opened the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Wingham
Cenotaph on Monday by thanking all the participants for
-being. present. He then turned the ceremony over to Mayor
DeWitt Miller who read the honor roll of those who paid for
freedom with their lives in the First and Second World
Wars. (Staff Photo)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the EditOI, °-, ; 4iuStated immediately.'. The
It would seem that any hopes of
holding a Santa Claus parade in
Wingham this year are slowly
going down the drain. The event,
which yearly evokes praise and
contributes to the magic of the
annual Christmas • season, this
year seems to • have a terminal
case of non -participation.
We, the executive of the
Wingham Business Assoc. are
appalled that members of the
Wingham business community
can stand by and watch its
agonizing death.
Of course the situation is not a
new one — every year parade
participation becomes • weaker
and weaker. This year, however,
the amount' of support through
funds, donations of time and
effort and ideas has decreased to
the point that we must seriously
wonder if anyone really wants us
to continue with the annual
parade.
Unfortunately, it seems that
members of the business
community cannot put aside
some -of their individual differ-
ences even during the Christmas
season, a season when fellowship
and goodwill are paramount in
almost everyone,s mind.
Perhaps the people of this town
would not care if the Santa Claus
parade goes the way of the fall
fair, and annual midway, both of
which have followed the Dodo
bird into oblivion. After all, we
can always watch the big city
parades on TV. Somehow, we feel
that they would care.
Even at this point we hold out
hopes that local merchants,
organizations and industry will
join forces to save the parade by
participating.
We sincerely hope that they do;
and so do a lot of other people in
this town.
•
Signed,
Executive,
Wingham Business Assoc.
0-0-0
Nov 6, 1974
Dear Editor:
During May of 1972, the very
important Transport Committee
of the House of Commons con-
- ducted thorough, and extensive
public hearings throughout
Southwestern Ontario on the
need, the desire for, and advis-
ability of restored rail passenger
service in our area. The response
from citizens in our area was
swift and complete, and the good
M.P.'s returned to Ottawa to
table an unanimous report. This
Unanimous recommendation of
the Committee was quote 'That
all rail passenger service
discontinued in Nov. 1970 be re -
majority of the Transport
Committee were Liberal
Members. — No government (or
cabinet) action followed this "re-
commendation.
Following 1972 Summer recess,
Parliament was dissolved, a
general election called, and a
minority Liberal government
was returned to office. Once
again, NO ACTION on the recom-
mendation was undertaken.
Now, with a majority Liberal
Government re-elected, we
believe we have the right to ask
the Prime Minister, and the
Minister of Transport a few
questions, and in return to
receive some straight -forward,
yes or no, black and white
answers.
1. Why would the Government
spend hundreds of thousands of
dollars on public rail hearings for
our area, ifit did not intend to
take' action?
2. Is not the running and control
of our railways a Federal respon-
sibility?
3. Are not vital issues such as
preservation of the ecology, the
control of pollution, rising traffic
fatalities, sky -rocketing costs of
Highway construction and
maintenance sufficient reasons
for immediate implementation of
the Transport Committee recom-
mendation of June 1972?
4. When are we going to get
honest -to -goodness, yes or no,
black and white answers, instead
of evasive tactics or stony
silence?
You, as a tax -paying resident of
this area, have the right and pri-
vilege of asking the Prime
Minister and the Minister of
Transport these questions
through your own M.P.
Correspondence to M.P.'s in
Canada's Parliament mailed
postage -free.
Remember, with the total
elimination of rail passenger
service in this area, we have be-
come second-class citizens
transportation -wise. Remember
also, no issue is dead, when it is
kept continually before the
attention of our country's elected
REPRESENTATIVES.
Sincerely yours,
Robert S. Cherry
Palmerston, Ont.
SEEKS WARDENSHIP
Reeve Allan Campbell of
McKillop Township stated last
week that he will be a candidate
for the wardenship of Huron
County next year. He has served
on the McKillop council for
past 14 years, six of them
reeve.
News Items from
NOVEMBER 1$27
Discovery of six c of an ex-
ceedingly light type of scarlet
fever in town, brought prompt
action by the Board of Health in a
strict quarantine of the premise*.
It is the duty of every citizen to
comply with the request of the of
ficials and thus prevent a spread
of this disease.
Richard Wilton of RR 1, Wing -
ham, was named the winner of
the field crop competition, for
turnips held by the Turnberry
Agricultural Society. Other top
winners were Adam Robertson of
RR 5; Isaac J. Wright of RR 1; W.
J. Currie and George Currie of
RR 5; and Frank Powell of RR 1.
At the meeting of Wingham
Town Council, a by-law to make a
loan of $6,000 to the Wingham
Arena Limited, for the purpose of
fostering and developing ama-
teur sport, was provisionally
adopted.
Mrs. Richard Clegg, Jack Mc-
Kibbon and Clarence Armitage
were prize winners when the
young people of St. Paul's held a
Hallowe'en masquerade party.
About two hundred attended the
dance.
James Strong, Junior Trade
Commissioner of Ottawa, is
spending a few days with his par-
ents in Gorrie prior to his leaving
for Liverpool, England. Mr.
Strong is another Howick young
man who is making good in Can-
adian life.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gallaher of
Salem purpose moving to Bel -
more before long, where Jack
will work in the chopping mill.
In the Bruce County Home
Garden competition; with 106
competitors, Athol Purdon, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Pluton of the
village of Whitechurch, received
third prize.
The members of Belgrave
Orange Lodge gathered at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Irwin to
honor them before they leave for
their new home at Goderich.
0-0-0
NOVEMBER 1939
Dr. Harry Thompson, Can-
adian Secretary of the Canadian
Hygiene Council, spoke in Clinton
where he explained the objec-
tives and the workings of the or-
ganizactipn::and stated Agit :m the
Council was anxious . to organize
in Huron and district. It is ex-
pected a meeting will be held in
January to set up an organiza-
tion.
K. J. Hueston of Gorrie won the
car given in the draw at the Sea -
forth Lions Club Frolic.
Bert Johnson, a farm hand of
Kintail in Ashfield Township,
while hunting for wild geese, shot
a timber wolf three miles west of
Kintail. The pelt is that of a year-
old and measures five feet, six in-
ches, from tip to tip.
Nelson Higgins has purchased
Charles Hopper's •.farm on the
third line of Morris.
At the regular meeting of town
council, a by-law was approved
stating that no U—turns would be
allowed at Josephine and John
Streets, also at Patrick and Jose-
phine Streets. to stop speeding
through town, Reeve Hethering-
ton suggested signs be erected at
entrances to town, stating the
speed limit and notice of enforce -
meat P
The ;tic School held elec-
tions for Studer*" Council.
Rep-
resenting Grade VIII are Nor-
man Anderson and Dornthy
Han iltoni Grade VII, Wbcafired
Andrew and Bill Lee; Grade VI,
Tommy Lockri+ e; Grade • V,
Leslie Mite Wall,
R. H. Lloyd was named to head
the `Wingham Hospital Board,
Other officers cers are R. S. Hether-
ington and Abner Cosens.
The D.umbclls, famous Can-
adian company of soldier enter-
tainers during the last war, will
perform in a special engagement
for troops in the capital on
Armistice night. They may re -or-
ganize on a permanent basis.
Miss Isabel McKinnon, Blue-
vale, who has recently finished a
term at the London Business Col-
lege, has accepted a position with
the Mutual Life Assurance
Company at Waterloo.
0-0-0
NOVEMBER 1949
The new Bell Telephone Direct-
ory contains 72 pages in its alpha-
betical section, five more than
last year. There are more than
3,500 new and changed listings in
the new book. It contains listings
for Durham, Hanover, Harriston,
Drayton, Lucknow,' Mount For-
est, Palmerston, Walkerton and
other centres.
Cecil Merkley attended the dis-
tributors' meeting and display of
1950 Hudson cars held in Toronto
recently.
J. Howard Campbell of Bel -
grave was elected president of
the Huron Temperance Federa-
tion. Roy Cousins of Brussels is a
vice-president, W. C. Pearce of
Exeter is secretary and Frank R.
Howson of Wingham is treasurer.
Miss Marian Walwyn, a Blue -
vale girl now °of . Toronto, was a
guest of the Mexican government
in Mexico City,' as a member of
the American Society, of travel
agents, and' was also at the Hotel
Reforma Casablanca in Aca-
pulco.
Lorne Johnston has sold his
store in Whitechurch to Mr. and
Mrs. Chapman of Aurora who get
possession the end of November.
Wroxeter is welcoming a .neev
CPR station agent and his wife,
',Mr. and Mrs. Webster, who conte
to the village from Peterborough.
Miss Mary Gibson of Wroxeter
was elected president df the How -
ick Township Library -Board at
its annual meeting. Vice-presi-
dent is Mrs. Abe Sanderson,
Wroxeter; secretary -treasurer is
Mrs. Tom Vittie of Gorrie.
A Hallowe'en, party was held at
the Bluevale school with several
children.,winning prizes for cos-
tumes. In the humor division,
winners included 'Marilyn Park-
er, Douglas Fischer and Loretta
Fischer. For the seniors, it was
Jean Thompson, Jack Elliott and
Phyllis Hamilton.
0-0-0
NOVEMBER 1960
Alvin D. Smith was honored re-
cently when the area postal
superintendent, I. E. Jones of
Walkerton, called at the Bluevale
post office to present a silver
lapel pin .emblematic of 25 years
continuous service with the Can-
adian Post Office Department.
Id Files
llvo`and Mrs. Q Stanley
Newman have been promoted
and pre now Auxiliary 'Captains
of the Salvation. Army In Can-
adian Territory Newmans
are clue tinct two people in tile
Dominion of Canada to be given
the new rank,
'Work will begin shortly on the
construction of a 20 -foot addition
to the soul sate of the curi
club rooms on Josephine Street.
A prayer desk and candle hold-
ers were dedicated at the service
on Sunday at Trinity Anglican
Church, Fordwich, by the rektor,
Rev, E. C. Attwell. The desk was
given by the Graham families
and the candlesticks by Mrs. Ida
Verchoor.
Murray . Mulvey, president of
Howick Junior Farmers, and
James Renwick, both of the Bel -
more area, won the Huron County
debating and public speaking
competition when the finals were
held in Seaforth.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Adams
and baby son, ,moved into the
Coulter house iri Whitechurch last
, week. Mr. Adams has secured
work for the next few months at'
the new hospital at Goderich.
There was an excellent turnout
at the Wingham Sportsmen's As-
sociation club house for competi-
tion and Slim Boucher won the
Gold Medal in the pistol shoot.
Three members of the Wing -
ham Girl Guides, Jean JOnes,
Brenda Conren and Karen El-
liott, were presented with All -
Round Cords, the second highest
award in Guiding. The Wingham
company has only been organized
for about four years.
MILDMAY CUB RECEIVES
BRONZE CROSS
Patrick Raymond Kramer, 11 -
year -old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Raymond Kramer of Mildmay,
has been awarded the Bronze
Cross in recognition of his
successful efforts to save the life
of his seven-year-old cousin,
Mark Schumacher last winter.
The younger boy broke through
the ice of a beaver pond. Mark
held onto the lad until adult help
'airriVed. "3
The presentatiOW the Bronze
w
Cross as made
All ceremony in
Ottawa.
PROVINCE FORMS
HOCKEY COUNCIL
Premier William Davis of
Ontario annouced the formation
of the Ontario Hockey Council
last week. The new body has been
ordered into action as the direct
result of the'McMprtry report on
violence in amateur hockey.
The council will consist of 14
members, plus one represent-
ative from the government's
sports and recreation bureau.
One of the objectives of the new
body will be to define the
purposes of amateur hockey and
to examine the rules and
structure of the game to
determine whether they meet the
needs of productive recreation. It
will also be active in the develop-
ment of referees and coaches and
the education of parents and
players.
GREY SKY BLUES
What's your weather like over
there in Ontario? Cold, wet and
windy has been the weather fore-
cast here for ages. And some-
times the weather has been even
worse. Statistics show that this
September has been the coldest
for 50 years. And the wettest for
15.
Good thing perhaps that the
fashion designers have decreed
that the MINI skirt is out, and the
MAXI is definitely in. But pity the
poor fellas who found that the
sight of a shapely leg was the one
thing to brighten their sunless
hours. Now with the approach of
winter --shorter days and longer
skirts—it's "Further Outlook—
bleak."
Bleak too is the prospect of
heating our homes. Coal, gas and
electricity prices have rocketed
to an all time high. So high in fact
that the Northern Ireland Elec-
tricity Board has just started a
new advisory service. District
representatives have been call-
ing on the homes of old age pen-
sioners advising how to save on
fuel costs. From a recent report
on television it seems that their
advice consists of "If you burn a
one bar electric fire it will use
less than a two bar fire." And.
"The more power you use the
more you'll pay for it."
Good advice. But I didn't think
it would take an expert to tell us
so.
Residents in one all -electric
housing estate in Ulster have
been protesting that they're
billed for as much as $250 a
quarter just to cook their meals
and keep their homes warm. "We
didn't think It would cost that
much" they said.
Maybe that's the epitaph we all
deserve.
WE DIDN'T THINK .. .
DRESS TO IMPRESS
Local newspapers have been
carrying an advice column tell-
ing our public representatives to
pull their socks up. And British
Labor leader Harold Wilson has
been told to take a good look at
his other cabinet—the one he
keeps his clothes in.
According to Basil Moss, presi-
dent elect of the Menswear
Association of Great Britain, Mr.
Wilson is an outfitter's night-
mare, and a strong contender for
the world's worst -dressed na-
tional leader. Maybe the
workers' idea of one of the boys,
but not the Menswear Associa-
tion's idea of one of the bosses!
Moss says that Wilson's task,
like that of all elected leaders, is
to disprove the suggestion that
Britain is the "poor man of
Europe".
His advice to Harold: "Wear
with -it flared trousers, a maroon
and white striped shirt and a wide
moroon matching tie and hand-
kerchief—not your baggy pants,
bootlace ties and curling col-
lars ! "
Good advice if you're a con-
tender for the Mr. Universe con-
test. But if you're only a con-
tender for Prime Minister, who
cares? Unless, of course, your
name's Pierre Trudeau.
•
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