Clinton News-Record, 1981-12-09, Page 411
PAGE 4 —CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 ,1981
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Reaping the bitter benefits
The Toronto Globe & Mail's recent series regarding the effectiveness of the
Children's Aid Society is not unexpected, since were in an age when nothing is
beyond that extra scrutiny that accompanies a disiilusioned society. Perhaps its
only shock value is that the series relates to how well our children are being
treated by a system that was created to harbour that phenomenon of our times;
the disposable kid, says Ric Wellwood in a recent editorial on CFPL Radio.
These are the children of the flower children, that wonderful bunch of empty-
headed dreamers who would rather drop out, cop out and strike out, says Mr.
Wellwood. It's inconceivable that people who couldn't take responsibilities for
their Own actions, should believe they are capable of being responsible for
children. But here they Are...the disposable children of the eighties. We read
about them in the Globe..in the latest issue of Toronto Life..Weekend
Magazine..and you hear about them on the air, bored, confused,over-privileged,
underloved..and born at a time when the family unit is split by people who want
too much, too soon, at the lowest possible cost in time or money.
Isn't it about time that someone exploded that myth about free lunch?
Everything has its price—absolutely everything. The price could be in money. af-
fection, attention or whatever currency you name..but let's not kid ourselves that
anything_.particularly a solid family life is purchased with anything Tess than
maximum effort. But how to do this? Most working mothers are there because
they contribute to the family budget. The notion of the mother who works for
frills is as outdated as the notion that our institutions are too good to fail. Ifs not
fair to nail the Children's Aid Society for failing to do thejob we've thought could
be ideal. I don't think they're capable of fighting more than a holding action in an
on-going bottle with child neglect that Canadian society is losing. with more fre-
quency and certainty that even the greatest cynics could hope for. The Children's
Aid Society is nothing more than a govemment-funded group of people who do
no better than any other bureaucratic group..but better than most. The media can
act as a factor in exposing incompetence.. but in this case, they've exposed
hopelessness..a group of paid servants who are competent, but not perfect..fac-
ing a social problem; that benign neglect is neglect—and that pure neglect is
criminal. To paraphrase Shakespeare..the fault lies not in our stars..but in
ourselves. The difficulty were experiencing to date is just the beginning. The
seeds are sown, . the crop is repening, and the harvest is bitter, says Mr.
Wellwood.
Budget may hurt farmers
"The federal government's budget smacks of short-sighted decision making,”
Ralph Barrie, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) said
recently. "At first glance, the budget looks alluring, but the longer you peer at it,
the less attractive it seems."
Barrie said the $50 million in low-interest money for the Farm Credit Corpora-
tion is a "drop in the bucket". If 250 farmers apply for the full loans they're eligi-
ble for --$200,000 -- that money will be used up in no time."
One of the worst things about the budget. Barrie said. -is that it doesn't address
long-term financing. "There is no money available to make it possible for farmers
to hand farms over to their sons and daughters. It's irresponsible. The govern-
ment has signed the death sentence of the family farm, and it has put Canada's
food supply into jeopardy," Barrie said.
The budget announced that al Business Development Bonds would be
available to unincorpo arms. "The OFA has been lobbying for this for quite
a while. and it could be a feather in our cap. But I'm worried because it's tied to
the floating bank rate."
Barrie said he fears that interest rates will slide up again and since the bonds
are for a five-year term. this would "lock farmers into a dangerous position."
"What really riles me," Barrie said, "is that farmers, homeowners, and small
businessmen anxiously awaited some substantial help. All we got was a few
crumbs from the federal government, the very same government that deliberate-
ly put us in this situat' • n through its monetary policy."
andp
su ars ice
g
Ready for winter
by James Fitzgerald
remembering
our past
a look through
the news -record files
5 YEARS AGO
December 16,1976
Donald R. Kay, Clinton's mayor elect of
only a week died in Victoria Hospital in
London yesterday morning, December
15th. He was 46.
Mr. Kay who never took office, died
after being in hospital two weeks. He
entered Clinton hospital several days
before the December 6th election, and was
transferred to Victoria last Thursday.
The Ad. Hoc Boundary Committee of the
Huron County Board of Education brought
in a recommendation at the regular
meeting on Monday afternoon that the
Board enter into an agreement with
Conestoga College to lease a part of their
bunkding in Vanastra for the purpose of
establishing an elementary school.
The Clinton Mustangs may not make it
in the Guiness Book of World Records, but
they sure could come close after they
annihilated the Hanover Barons last
Friday night by a score of 33-2.
According to the OHA statisticians, they
can't remember when the last Junior C, or
any Junior team for that matter, scored 33
times in one game.
10 YEARS AGO
December 16, 1971
A nation-wide contest to find a name for
the former Canadian Forces Base Clinton
has been launched by the new owner, John
Van Gastel, who has offered a house as
first prize.
Fifty-eight row type housing units are
being offered by John Van Gastel on a 10 -
year lease to lirckersmith Township for
senior citizen housing. The offer has been
made to the township, if they do not accept
the units will be offered to the county. If
the county does not want the units, they
will be offered to the town of Clinton.
Mayor Don Symons has indicated Clinton
would accept. The units are of two and
three-bedroom size and with a stove and
refrigerator. Rent would be $58 per month
exclusive of beating and taxes.
25 YEARS AGO
December 20, 1956
Ron McKay was named the mayor of
Teen Town on election night held for that
dispensed
by
bill smiley
The Ba -ha -i juggler
My son the juggler. Yes, he was able to
"fit us in" for a visit last weekend. We
were honored. It's not often that he can get
zea. -atut f
little more of him than we did when he was
8.000 miles away in Paraguay.
I'll try to describe him objectively, then
move to a more subjective point of view.
He looks like his Dad, from behind, I've
been told many times. Something about
the tilt of the head, the way we walk- About
the same height and build. though Pm
thickening a bit about the waist, dammit,
and the hair is a different colour, his
brown, mine white.
From in front, he's more hie his mother,
especially the brown eyes that can turn in
seconds from misty sentimentality to a
couple of orbs that Merely burn when they
hit you.
In temperament, he's a good mixture of
his parents. He has his father's sweet,
gentle, reasonable manner and complete
disdain for the trivia of life.
And he has his mother's ferocious anger
over the trivia of life, her compassion, her
desire for perfection, her urge to talk until
the very bones of a listener are exposed_
like me, he's lazy as a coon dog, but can
work like an ordinary dog when it's
something he's interested in. Like her, he
wants to be loved and to have it demon-
strated. We kiss and hug every time we
meet, rather unusual in these days for a
father and son who usually shake hands
and start talking abort money and cars
and other such fascinating things.
He's also a product of his times: the
sedete fifties, the roaring sixties, the
confused seventies_ No wonder he's a
juggler.
I rallied hirn that. because from alae
meeting to the next, Fm not quite sure
which balls (no pun intended) he's
throwing up and catching. And sometimes
failing to catch.
And I guess the reason he's a juggler is
that he has a streak of adventure and
audacity in him, which forces him into a
=u:111n,an
inothreitsitioil withlid' s
they are_
He was a model kid until about 16: good
marks in school, polite behavior with
adults, hair neatly cut, practised his piano,
under pressure, but faithfully. Band-
master in the school orchestra. Altar boy
at the church
Then, one summer morning, he went
missing_He was 16. There was a thougltful
note in the bread -box telling his parents he
was taking off for Quebec to learn French -
Panic. His Ma insisted I visit the police,
who were rather amused_ He was only
about the sixteenth kid in our community
who hal taken off that summer_ I wasn't
too worried, but what goes on in a mother's
heart? I don't know. I've never been a
mother, except to my two kids and their
mother.
He came home. Spoke pretty good
French Finished high school, went off to
college. Then disappeared a e. in. Was on
his way to New Orleans when we nailed
him in Baltimore. Went to three different
universities, tasting and testing. Found
them all wanting, at that particular time.
Don't blame him, Regret the years I
spend acquiring a knowledge of English
and philosophy and history, all of which I
could have got on my own.
He travelled all over Canada - east and
west coasts, selling vacuum cleaners in
Calgary, working as a waiter on coastal
pleasure boats.
Somewhere along tine line, after he'd
been to Mexico and the southern U.S., he
became a Ba -ha -i. That meant he had to
make a pilgrimage to Haifa, in Israel.
Which he (lid, stopping off in Ireland on the
way home. Then off to Paraguay for five
years.
The juggler? Right now, he's in Toronto.
He is taking courses at the University in
astrology, music composition, and playing
jazz_ He is an expert, or thinks he is, on
Speaking Spanish, French and English,
he has a variety of friends and acquain-
tances that would boggle the mind. Young
women, old men, Brazilian waiters,
blacks, French-Canadian playwriters_
How does he support himself? Well, he
works two days a week at a classy
restaurant in the city, as a waiter. And he
is also a reflexologist. and gets $25 a
rattle for treatments.
Reflexology? That'sa system of probing
and prodding your nerve ends to get rid of
the pains and poisons in your body. He
gave me a two hour treatment last
Saturday morning, and I. (thinking I was
in good shape) hurt so much that I would
have given him $25 to quit.
He'll keep you up until three a.m.,
talking, then either bounce out of bed at
seven, insisting you go for a walk, or sleep
until noon_
His mother had bought a roast, a rather
rare occasion around our place these days,
baked a pie with special love, and had all
sorts of goodies ready for him. He was
fasting, and had been for a week, taking
only liquids. She was miffed.
And among all his juggling, he spends
countless hours working at the Ba -ha -i
faith, attending meetings, speaking, etc_
An interesting character, the juggler.
generous to a fault, when he has some
money. Completely unscrupulous about
borrowing when he hasn't_
But, boy oh boy, I wish he didn't get so
angry when I can't tell him the exact
minute and hour his sister was born, so he
could do her horoscope.
thriving teen group. John Elliott, who was
runner-up in votes for the mayor's chair
was named reeve. Judy Cluff is secretary
and Mary Helen Yeo is treasurer.
The six councillors to serve for the
coming year are Sandra Addison, Sylvia
Bell, Frank McDonnell, Jack Finlay,
Wayne McGee and Douglas Norman.
Last year the Christmas Pageant was
enacted at St. Paul's. It aroused such wide-
spread interest that it has been decided to
do something along the same lines this
year. And so, another Nativity Play has
been chosen, ' this time with speaking
-5.
50 YEARS AGO
December 10, 1931
A small cemetery, nicely fenced in and
with a memorial cairn, has been made at
the Huron County Home for the members
of the home who die there and whose
remains are not claimed by relatvies. This
as it should be and the committee and
manager are to be commended for
arranging it.
Owing to the wet pavement one of the big
trucks used by the bridge builders, loaded
with cement, skidded into the ditch near
the bridge the other day and a wrecking
crane had to be called in from Stratford to
get it onto the road again.
A citizen suggests that as there is a
tendency to economize this year, Clinton
could very well do without an election,
following the example of the township of
Goderichand some other municipalities.
7SYEARS AGO
December 14, 1906
BRIEFS. - The splendid sleighinghas
brought in a large quantity of wood....A
handsome red granite pillar has been
placed at the entrance to the Sovereign
Bank... Some people cannot understand
how a whistle can produce such terrific
shrieks as does that of the Foundry; it is
what is technically known as a siren, and
runs up and down a music scale - but the
"music" is awful....The skating rink was
opened Tuesday night, the ice being in
fairly good condition and a good crowd of
skaters present...Miss Emily Turner has
been engaged forS.S. No. 6 Tuckersmith at
a salary of $450; she would have preferred
returning to the west, where she has
taught before, but her friends wished her
to remain here._..
100 YEARS AGO
December 9,1881
Mr. T. Tipling has refused $450 for the
trotting colt "Baby."
Mr. John Whiddon of Bayfield, while
rafting logs on the mill pond fell headlong
into 18 feet of water, and would certainly
have been drowned had not it been for the
assistance of Mr. M. Miller, who rescued
him.
in Clinton and the hall was packed full, the
subject being, "Testing the liquor traffic."
The lecturer, gave a sound,' practical
temperance address, showing the
necessity of prohibiting the traffic, and
answering the arguments generally put
forward by anti -temperance advocates, in
such a satisfactory manner, that is was
evident to all present that she was master
of her subject.
W. Doherty and Company are prepared
to pay cash for cherry, butternut,
baswood, maple and pine lumber, inch
thick,Fclear and wide.
Mr. Wallace of the first concession of
Goderich Township found an anchor and
tackling on the beach a few days ago.
Services in the Bayfield C.M. Church
will be cancelled for a time, owing to the
church being newly plastered and painted.
Operation Eyesight
Dear Editor:
When Canadians are very much aware
of poverty and suffering in Third World
countries, it is timely to mention Operation
Eyesight Universal (O.E.U., which is a
totally Canadian project, initiated by
Art Jenkyns and other Calgarians in 1963
to provide funds for the surgical treatment
of blindness in Sompeta, India, where the
Canadian surgeon, Dr. Ben Gullison, had
first set up a clinic in 1933. Since then,
150,000 impoverished blind people have
received sight and although Dr. Gullison is
now retired, living in Vancouver (and like
president Art Jenkyns, has received the
Order of Canada), the work of O.E.U.
forges ahead in 15 Third World countries.
To inflation -ridden Canadians, the cost
of bringing sight to the blind, compared to
the unmeasurable benefits, is very small,
as 625 provides for surgery, hospital care
for one week, and spectacles. Overhead
costs of O.E.U. are less than 10 percent of
the total budget - i.e. more than 90 cents
out of every dollar raised are spent on
curing blindness. Funds raised are mat-
ched by the Federal Government through
the Canadian International Development
Agency. The Alberta and the British
Columbia Provincial Governments
provide annual financial support to O.E.U.
To those who wonder about the real
value of foreign aid by Canada, O.E.U.
provides the best deal anywhere. The costs
are low, the benefits enormous when blind
citizens in poor countries can receive sight
and then become independent, productive
and helpful to others in their own country.
O.E.U.'s annual campaign for funds is
now on_ Donations are Income Tax
deductible and can be sent to: P.O. Box
565, Victoria, B.C. V8W 2P3. Donors will
sir: airsaahith _—.-re
farm of 71 acres to George Middleton of the
Bayfield concession, Goderich Township,
for the sum of $`2,474.
Mrs. Youmans lectured in the town hall
-s- -,7414--t;he--Tre—aids-df
the person whose sight was, restored- To
the friend who has everything, at
Christmas time why not give the precious
gift of sight to someone in the Third
Tuan to page 3'•
the
readers
Get the facts first
Dear Editor:
For over a year now Adrian Vos has
been writing his one-sided articles about
the pork industry in Ontario and Canada.
He has also been commenting regularly on
the opinions and intelligence of those who
hold different, views. I recall he is the one
who said "Squealing is the privilege of the
weak." There is hardly any farm publica-
tion that doesn't have some of his "squeal-
ing" in it.
In the November 17th issue of Farm&
Country, Adrian states in his "Wait For
Market Facts" that Del O'Brien, Lorne
Henderson, and myself should wait until
we have all the facts before we form opi-
nions on what is good for the future of the
pork industry. I suggest he practice what
he preaches.
The HCPPA chairman and I agreed to
hold an information meeting to discuss the
pros and cons of supply management and
have a vote of producers to see if they
wanted to pursue supply management or
not. The general.meeting was scheduled
for the end of July. Then at an executive
meeting Adrian Vos persuaded them to
reverse the decision to hold a vote. What
was Adrian afraid of? Did he want to wait
for the BOWMAN marketing research
report? If so, then why did the HCPPA ex-
ecutive send a letter to the Bruce County
Association stating that only 10 percent of
Huron's pork producers were interested in
supply management' On what facts was
this figure based? There are none.
Next, recommendations were sent to Dr.
Gordon Bowman's market research com-
mittee that clearly stated the HCPPA were
against any type of supply management in
the pork industry. On what facts were
these recommendations based? Both these
things were done before pork producers
have had a look at the Bowman report. Do
Huron - pork producers want a small
number of men making these decisions for
them without first having a vote?
Andre J. Durand,
RR2 Zurich
Huron needs chronic
care home program
Dear Editor: ,m
As you may or may not know, there is a
course being offered at Conestoga College,
Clinton entitled "Home Support Workers".
I am a student enrolled in this course,
which is now in its fifth week. My attention
was directed to this course by Jean Young,
the administrator for "Town and Country
Iloinemaners".
-This program is proving very beneficial,
for before entering the course, I was
employed by Town and Country
Homemakers. During this program we are
taught the basic needs for caring for per-
sons from ' runtil death, and in our 12
week pros . i i `� `e come in contact with MS
patients, cancer patients, developmentally care.
handicapped persons and many more in-
dividuals who require chronic
It has been brought to our attention that
chronic care is not available in Huron
County, so as persons working in homes
with terminally ill patients, we feel the
need for a chronic care program is very
essential. With this program individuals
remain in their own homes, instead
of being institutionalized.
If more persons would open their eyes
and see the need for chronic care we might
have it in the near future.
Mary Jean Betties,
RR2 Bayfield
Merry Christmas
from Vanastra
Dear Editor:
We live at Vanstra and this will be our
third xmas. We have heard that Vanastra
has hal a bad name, bit we didn't believe
it. Every year we decorate the outside of
our house to give it a xmas look as so few
people do, but this year somebody or
somebodies have taken the liberty of
removutg over 40 of our outside lightts...,,.-_._.__
bit vanastra people or is it outsiders?
Who ever it is I know you won't return
them but have a Merry xmas anyway.
Gloria Clark,
Vanastra
odds 'n' ends
by
elaine townshend
Still not ready
Last week I mentioned seeing jolly St
Nick in the televised Santa Claus parade
from Toronto on November 1. I was startl-
ed because, until then, thoughts of
( hristma_s had not entered my mind.
Seeing him reminded me of things to
come - things I was not ready for. He
reminded me of things I was not even
ready to think about, especially on an In-
dian Summer day at the beginning of
November.
For example, Santa leads to Christmas;
Christmas cosines in winter; and winter
means snow, wind and cold. I did not want
to think about wearing heavy coats and
boots. Nor did I want to search for the
shovel for the trunk of the car or the
scrape)- for cleaning the car windshield. ( I
know where the scraper is. It's behind the
closet door which one opens at one's own
risk. And I was not willing to take the
risk I.
I did not want to be told there were only
46 shopping days left until Christmas_
Everyone knows how quickly the count-
down goes.
I was not ready to prepare a shopping
list I ran out of ideas last year. People are
not helpful when i ask what they want
They either want nothing or everything.
My youngest nephew and 1 go through the
same ritual every year_ I ask him what he
wants- He rattles off a list that would stag-
ger even the most stable mind_ Then I ask
him for his list for his "poor relatives".
That request is followed by complete
silence.
inevitably 1 take part ip the annual last-
minute rush with hundreds of other
desperate shoppers. In November, i was
not prepared to contemplate crowded
stores and ling line-ups, frazzled nerves
and aching feet_
Nor was f ready to think about signing
Christmas cards, addressing and stuffing
envelopes and licking stamps- Over the
past few years, my letter writing has
become less and lessprlunpt Many letters
are now left until they are slipped inside a
Christmas card_ The letter -writing bug
had not struck in early November.
I was not prepared for wrapping
presents, either. Have you noticed how
stubborn price tags are, when you try to
remove them in a hurry? Wrapping paper
is pretty, unless you measure too long
making the parcel look bulky or you cut
the sheet too short making the wrapping
job look half finished_
I did not want to think about the sweet
treats of Christmas, tempting though it
was. My winter clothes shrank just hang-
ing in the cosset this summer. Goodness
knows what they'll be like after Christmas.
Of court» the Christmas spirit will come
to me sooner or later_ I enjoy shopping for
gifts and wrapping them; i look forward to
sending and receiving cards_
I was just not ready for those thin the
first time I saw Santa this season. But that
was way back on November 1. Now it's
December 9_ And l'm still not ready.
i