The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-12-29, Page 16PA PAGE 2A—GODERICHSIGLAL-STAR, THURSDAY. DECEMBER 29, 1977
Jack Riddel12offers year en
BY JACK RIDDELL,
M.P.P.
At this season of the year,
we all have a tendency to
relax with our families and
friends, in our own com-
munities. We try to forget for
a while the problems and
anxieties of the world, and
concentrate upon our many
blessings. However, this is
not always easy to do.
Often over the Christmas
Season, we hear the words
•"Peace on Earth, Goodwill to
All Men", and sometimes I
wonder if this has become an
impossible dream for
mankind.
Today, telecom-
munications have tran-
' sformed the world into a
Global Village. Whatever
happens to one group, or one
nation, touches us all deeply.
Nor can we ignore the suf-
fering of our fellowmen.
Here in Canada, we are, in
many ways, very fortunate
compared with people in
•other parts of the world. We
live under a democratic
system of government, in a
land of peace and com-
parative prosperity. It's true
that inflation has had a
considerable effect on all,our
lives - in some cases causing
very real hardship, but.
comparatively speaking, we
still have many blessings for
which to be thankful.
Certainly, at this period in
Canada's history, we are
confronted with problems -
many of them quite serious.
Inflation has adversely af-
fected our lives. Unem-
ployment has reached crisis
proportions - we are par-
ticularly concerned about
lack of job opportunities for
the youngpeople who will be
coming on stream at a rate of
about 200,000 a year for the
next few years. Crime and
violence are increasing,
particularly in our cities. The
very future of our country, in
its present form, is in
question.
Little wonder that many
people talk about the "gold
old days" and bemoan the
fact that times have changed
- and not for the better.
It is, perhaps, some
comfort to remember that,
throughout history, there has
never been a time or a people.
which did not applaud the
past, and worry about the
present. The Papyrus of
Prisse, which is about 6,000
years old - possibly the oldest
piece of writing known to man
- begins with the words,
"Alas, times are not what
they used to be". One, way or
another, people have been
saying that ever since.
We think of the Refor-
mation as having been a
glorious age, but Erasmus,
who lived in those days,
described it as "the ex-
crement of the ages".
The 17th century, which we
consider a period of ad-
venture, of exploration and
discovery, which opened up
an entire new' world, was said
by Bossuet, in the middle of
events, to be "a wicked and
wretched age".
Many people look upon the
18th century as a period of
political liberation, which
witnessed the French and
American Revolutions. yet
Rousseau, in a moment of
disillusionment, described
the times as "a great state of
rottenness in the midst of
which we are living
One thing is clear, we all of
us must accept some
responsibility for what is
happening today, , and for
what the future will bring.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once
said "This age, like other
ages, is very good if only we
knew what to do about it".
That is as true today as it has
ever been. We know many of
the problems. SomehQw we
must find the answers.
Many people feel helpless
to cope with today's dif-
ficulties. There is a tendency,
sometimes, to feel there is
nothing one con du - that
someone, somewhere - the
go't'rnntent, the leaders, the
politician'., someone with
more knowledge. more skill,
more power - will have to take
over There seems to he little
incentive to make an in-
dividual effort to improve or
change the situation.
If a student in school
believes that, whether or not
he works, he will go into the
next grade, then it is un-
derstandable that many
young people succumb to the
temptation to drift through
school.
If a worker comes to
believe that how he works -
how hard, how well - makes
no difference to his job
security or his pay, then there
is little encouragement to do
one's hest, except a sense of
personal pride.
If Canadians come to
believe that nothing can he
done about our serious
problems - rising unem-
ployment, the situation with
respect to Quebec, etc. - there
is a tendency to let things
slide, until they do indeed get
out of control,.
Some of you may feel you
-have little to contribute. This
is not so. We all have a part to
play. Perhaps, now that we
are faced with quite serious
difficulties, this is the time to
remember the old motto
"United we stand, divided we
fa11".
Winston Churchill once
described socialism as "a
philosophy of failure, the
creed of ignorance and the
gospel of envy. Its inherent
merit is the equal sharing of
misery." Perhaps the time
has come to preach a
philosophy of success, the
creed of knowledge, the
gospel of work, not forgetting
the inherent merit of en-
thusiasm and dedication.
Whatever happens in the
New Year, I'm sure we can,
together. meet every
challenge. overcome every
obstacle. The pioneers who
came to this country many
years ago must have faced
problems and difficulties
which seemed to them in-
superable, Because of their
efforts and determination,
Canada has become the great
country which it is today. I
believe we owe it to them,to
ourselves and to future
Canadiansfto do whatever we
can to prt"tect and preserve
our inheri4ance and the way
of life which we value so
highly.
My hest wishes to you all
for the coming year. May you
all find peace, prosperity and
happiness.
commefl ts
Discount DAVE'S
After Christmas
AT ALL 16 BRANCHES
INCLUDING OUR NEWEST
WANT TO DECORATE
WITH A DIFFERENCE?
Save 1.50 Per Carton
IN A CHOICE OF
ATTRACTIVE COLORS
Cristal
Ceramic
Spacer Tile
1'
11
,o
CARTON
COVERS
41/2 SO. FT.
ATTRACTIVE
CLOUD
SERIES
They're easy to Install and they make your bathroom look bright and new again! Our
1su;+i .Iyr . carry prices 5 49 per carton .
Moveable -
Louvred Pine
Shutters
Do It Yourself So Easily With
FLINTKOTE DRY MIX
4'x8'ALGONQUIN BIRCH
A First Quality
Paper Overlay
ATA TRULY
ScNSATIONAL
PRICE
For interior use. In sizes ranging
from 6" wide by 16" high to
12" wide by 36" high. Sale ap-
plies to "In -Stock" shutters
only!
DECORATIVE
STUCCO
Only your imagination
limits the beautiful
designs you can make
with ordinary around•
the -house utensils.
44 Ib. Bag.
OUR USUAL CASH & CARRY 10.25
SO YOU SAVE 2.05 PER BAG!
ALL
ITEMS
ON SALE
FOR ONE
WEEK
ONLY!
Comes in big 12' rolls you can install yourself
without seams in most rooms
Sundial
VINYL FLOORING
MADE BY
Armstrong
It's cushioned! 11* shines
without waxing! You can in-
stall it yourself! And it's on sale
now at Discount Dave's for.
less than eight dollars a square
yard!
NOTICE
TO ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS
OF THE TOWN OF GODERICH
The Town Council would be pleased to receive
applications for appointments to the following
Boards and Commissions. If you are Interested in
serving on one of these Boards of the Cor-
poration of the Town of Goderich, please submit
your name to the undersigned on or before
December 30th, 1977 at 12:00 noon.
Committee of Adjustment
Goderich Area Planning Board
Tourist Committee
Maitland Cemetery Board
Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee
Larry J. McCabe
Town of Goderich
57 West Street
Goderich, Ontario
STANDARDS AND BRACKETS
Here s your chance to buy beautiful KV shelving, brackets
and standards at 20% otf'our usual cash and Carry prices
In to only youSo hurry while need and we'll cuttheprices by
selection
ick out
the20 per
pieces
cent
STORE HOURS
MATTHEWS MON •THURS S A M- 6 P M
FRIDAY 8 A M• 9 P M
SATURDAY 8 A M •530PM
KITCHENER
KINCARDINE MON •THURS 8 A M 5 30 P M
WINDSOR EAST FRIDAY 8 A M 9 P M
WINDSOR WEST SATURDAY 8 A M- 5 30 P M
All Prices
Shown are
Cash & Carry
Amherstburg, Goderich. Kingsville. Owen Sound,
R,dgetown, Southampton
MON-FRIDAY 8 A M - 5 30 P M SAT 101 4
West Lome. Exeter, Thedford, Grand Bend. Harrow
MON •FRIDAY 8 A M • 530PM:
SATUROA'v till 1 00 P.M
r!I
589 Fairway Rood South near the Hwy. 21 Noah opposite the Sutton On Highway 21 at Springmounl Hwy. 82 approx. 11/2 miles west of
Mall. Phone 744-8371 Park Inn. P one 396.3403 Comm. Phone 376-3181 Thedford. Phone 296-4991
HOME CENTRES
A DIVISION OF
• LUMSER CO LTO
16 Branches to Serve You
AMHERSTBURG 736 2151
EXETER 2351422
GODERICH 524 8321
GRAND BEND 238 2374
HARROW 738 2221
KINCARDINE 396 3403
KINGSVILLE 733 2341
KITCHENER 744.6371
KITCHENER Oot-ol town Can Free of Charge
OWEN SOUND
RIDGE TOWN
SOUTHAMPTON
THEDFORD
WEST LORNE
WINDSOR EAST
WINDSOR WEST
MATT HEWS
376 3i81
674 5465
797 32i5
2964991
768 1520
7276001
7341221
2541143
1 800 26S 8990 0,8991