The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-06-15, Page 5•
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G`oderich
SIGNAL -STAR
*CNA The County Town Newspaper of Huron
Pounded In 1090 and published every Thursday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CWNA
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Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher
SHIRLEY J. KELLER — editor
EDWARD J. BYRSKI — advertising manager
Business and "Editorial Office
TELEPHONE 524-8331
area code 519
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
Second class mail registration number — 0716
Make it strong!
Members of Goderich Town Council were
justifiably angered at the recent news that property
tax reform and marJcet ,value assessment are
currently being shelved by the Ontario govern-
ment. First indications are that local town council
will formulate a resolution, for circulation to other
municipalities, registering official objection to the
•
gov'ernment's decision.
Mayor Deb Shewfelt told council members
Monday evening that if the new tax system doesn't
come to being, this municipality will have to look
more closely at the cost of services it buys from
other municipalities and the cost of services it
provides to other municipalities. There is little
doubt the mayor is talking about the services it
purchases from Huron County - library, health,
roads, planning, social services etc. - and the
services it sells to surrounding townships - fire,
recreation etc.
To be truthful, nobody likes the idea of that.any
more than the provincial government likes the idea
of rapping Metro Toronto in the ear with a sub-
stantial tax rise, if the new system was instituted. It
is a political question - and one which the average
man in the street just can't comprehend. He doesn't
evert want to understand.
And so, the property tax inequities continue. And
according to Jack Riddell who this week wrote
about the government's decision against a change
in the tax system, there is no new date set for im-
plementation. The proposal is shelved indefinitely.
Not one of the three parties in office in Ontario
wants to press for action. It's sure and certain
suic,ide for politicians.
It is to be hoped that Goderich Town, Council will
formulate a thoughtful resolution - and that the
resolution will urge the government to be
courageous for the sake of the majority. Many
citizens throughout Ontario are paying heavily
because of an antiquated system that has been
under study for the last nine years at a cost of
millions.
Some solution must be found to the unfair tax
burden placed on many Ontario residents because
others are unwilling to accept a greater and fairer
share of the load. And the shame of it is that the
effect is compounded with every passing yeah,
leaving a large segment of this province's property
owners bitter and unnecessarily taxed. It must be
stopped!—SJK
It's about time
It's about time. After about six years of public
pressure to do so the Ontario Government has in-
troduced legislation to increase the drinking age
from 18 to 19 years, thus getting•,,liquor out of the
high schools, so -to -speak.
Were this all it had done, it would be applauded
by the people of this province who have watched
statistics regarding the accident rate for young
drivers climb steadily ever since the drinking age
was lowered to 18 years from 21 years seven years
ago. As has been noted on this page many times, the
•
problem isn't so much the fact that 18-year-olds are
drinking, but that many younger people - down to 15 •
and 16 years, are doing likewise.
And before we go on to praise the Ontario
government for its liquor legislation in general, we
would like to recall the fact that seven years ago
there was no_.great hue and cry to decrease the
drinking age. That action was taken by the Tory
government to try to rally the support of the youth
before an election; so it is only fitting that the same
party should correct what can only be considered
an error.
However, we are even more impressed with the
Davis government's move to clamp down on the
drinking driver, regardless of age.
The legislation to be introduced in the legislature
this fall will,' among other things:, replace the
current three-month license suspension for drivers
convicted of drunk driving three times with a.three-
year license suspension and allow police to suspend
for 24 hours the license of a driver who is not im-
paired, but has been drinking.
The latter legislation now exists in. both Alberta
and British Columbia where it is reported to have
the desirous effect - namely to get drinking drivers
off the road. There has already been criticism from
some quarters regarding .a further restriction of
individual rights. We're all for individual freedom
but anyone who gets behind the wheel with his
senses blunted by the use of alcohol has indicated
he lacks the maturity to handle the responsibility
of driving and deserves to be taken off the road until
he's sobered up.
It will be interesting to see what court judges will
do with another .piece. of the proposed legislation.
The maximum. fine for drinking under age, or
serving alcoholic beverages to minors has been
increased from $2,000 to $10,000. It would only take
a couple of $5,000 to $10,000 fines to alert bar owners
across the province that the government means
business.
—Listowel Banner
GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 1978—PAGE 5
Huron District assistant commissioner of Boy Scouts Walter
Thomas hoisted the Canadian colours over the Third Goderich
Venturer camp in Bay City, Michigan, recently when the
Goderich senior scouts visited the town's sister city for a
weekend camping excursion with some American Explorers. The
Explorers, the American counterpart of Venturers, invited the
Goderich troop to the three day outing involving about 30
Explorers and 10 Venturers along with troop leaders. The
Goderich troop was the only Canadian group attending the camp.
BY SHIRLEY
J. KELLER
Last ThuYsday, my
husband and I ex-
perienced a day -long
delight .... the graduation
of our • eldest from
university.
I remember- when our
boy was born, 22 years.,
ago. At that time we
envisioned a graduation
day in the future. It was
perhaps,`) one of our
fondest' dreams. Neither
of us`had the privilege to
attend university ... and
we wanted that so much
for our son. Looking
back, I'm sure that
wasn't an unusual hope
for young parents.
Also etched on my
memory is our son's first
day at elementary school.
It was a one -room school
in the Stephen Township
school section where we
lived. I remember it well
because I recall watching
our flye year old swinging
off down ° the country
road. I was thinking:
"This is just the begin-
ning of it all. Someday
years from now, he will
DEAR
graduate from univer-
sity."
But it seemed so far
away then, so doubtful.
Now suddenly,
graduation day is here
and gone. I'm contented
'yet somehow empty. A
son launched. A child
grown. A family changed.
Like all young men and
women who have worked
for 17 years • toward a
goal, our son was happy.
But as you would expect,
it was my husband and
me who really beamed
throughout the entire
day. Not often one's
hopes are fulfilled in such
measure, we thought.
Before the massiVe
Convocation for about 450
graduates in four
streams of endeavor at
the University of Western
Ontario, there was a
more intimate gathering
at the School of Business
Administration where
our son had spent the last
two years of his
university career.
Mothers and fathers of all
75 YEARS AGO
In the honor list of
Toronto University
published last week, F.R.
Munro receives first-
class in political science
in fourth year.
The first meeting of the
stock holders of the joint
stock company that is
taking over the business
of the Organ Factory was
held yesterday evening in
W.L. Horton's office. The
;following were elected
;directors: Jas Clark, A.
gaunders, T. Elliott, W.L.
Horton and W. Proud -
food, K.C.
The District Council of
-Iuron Royal Templars of
Temperance, held its
semi-annual meeting in
j oderich on Thursday.
'i The'; beautiful steamer
reyhoutid of the White
Line came in about 6:30
in Tuesday evening with
bout 250 from Detroit for
Koderich and 45 for
incardine.
lk Several visitors are
Already at the Goderich
bummer hotel and a
'lumber are expected to
Arrive at the beginning of
,text week. Some 28
families have engaged
rooms and the prospects
:tor the season are better
Than last year,
v.• f), 1.0
LOOKING BACK
25 YEARS AGO
Prime Minister Louis
St. Laurent_ will visit
Goderich on Wednesday,
June 24 as part of the
Western Ontario
itinerary of his national
campaign. He will arrive
at Goderich late Tuesday
night on his private car
attached to the rear of the
regular C.N.R. train.
A Goderich boy, Flt -
Sgt. Donald G. McBride,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil
McBride and a member
of No. 532 Maitland, Air
Cadet Squadron has been
awarded a flying
scholarship at the Royal
Canadian Flying Club,
London, Ontario.
A severe electrical
storm accompanied by a
deluge of rain visited the
Goderich area Tuesday
evening. Reports of
electrical light switches
knocked out,• •a few
electrical .household
appliances affected,
controls on stoves and
water heaters jolted and
other such slight damage
have been made.
The table setting
contest of the Maple Leaf
Chapter, I,O,D.E, held at
the Goderich Pavilion
Thursday last attracted
many exhibits and
spectators. Winner of
first prize was the
Margaret Seager Chapter
of St. George's Anglican
Church.
5 YEARS AGO
Goderich Town Council
is giving some serious
consideration to a request
from James Fraser of
Eldon Street to operate a
Good Humor Ice Cream
franchise in the
municipality this sum-
mer. Councillor Frank
Walkom said he was
"reluctant" to give ap-
proval'to the request. He
said that debris from
such an operation would
be a problem.
The Knights of
Columbus 25 mile walk-a-
thon held Saturday was
Answers please
Dear Editor,
We, . the executive, of
the Goderich Ratepayers
Association, think it
would be appropriate to
ask the citizens of
Goderich the following
questions in your "Letter
to the Editor" column,:
1) Are you in favor of
new lights on the Square?
successful as about $2,000
was raised to support
anti -abortion. About 70
out of 130 participants
completed the route.
Sixty-four year old Harry
Dykstra went as'far as 22
miles.
At Goderich Planning
Board on Tuesday
evening a battle began to
take shape around just
what the effects of the
DEAR E
2) Are you in favor of
your tax dollars being
used for such a project?
3) Are you in favor of.
replacing the existing
sidewalks on the Square
at a cost of $40,000.00
(plus) ?
4) Are you in favor of
paying an increase of 45
per cent in cost of hydro
for the "decorative,'
lighting on the Square?
If you are not in favor,
of the above waste of
taxpayers' dollars, send
your letter NOW to the
Clerk's Office, Town
Hall, Goderich, Ont.
Yours sincerely,
Goderich Ratepayers
Ass'n.
Jim Searls,
President.
proposed shopping centre
south of town would be on
the downtown district.
Ontario Hydro,) an-
nounced plans last
Thursday for a massive
expansion of its nuclear,
power facilities at the
Bruce Nuclear Power
Development as part of a
$3.8 billion construction
program.
D
READERS
walks of life were
welcomed into a giant
lecture hall where the
professors spoke warmly
about the class, in-
troduced all the
graduates, gave out
special awards of merit
and • generally said
"Hooray for the school.
Horray for us. Hooray for
the grade."
Then came sandwiches
and cakes, and an in-
formal time for students
to meet and greet old
friends. There was also a
flurry of ' introductions -
mom , and dad to a
seatmate, a room -mate to
mom and dad, a
girlfriend to a professor,
and so on.
I actually got to put
faces to names I had been
hearing over four years
... and to meet the
parents of the fellow with
whom our son had been
living in his final year.
There was plenty of
comparing going on ..
parents sizing up other
graduates, graduates
forming an opinion about
other parents, university
buddies comparing job
opportunities.
And on the sidelines
Were the members of
faculty, proud in a sense
for as one professor
remarked, "It is
somewhat of a miracle
that these graduates
emerged from that batch
of raw recruits that came
tells four years ago.
-But for, faculty
members, it was just
another duty ... another
day on the job. It wasn't,
for them,, the once-in-a-
lifetime thrill it was for
the graduates and their
parents and friends.
And because of it, there
was a depressing chilly
atmosphere about it all,
almost a clinical sterile
approach to an occasion
which for so many
hundreds of people should
ITDR
Spuds to pate
Dear Editor:
In reference to Mr.
Stewart Thomson's letter
in the June 1st edition of
the Signal -Star, I felt I
had to get a few things off
my chest and voice my
opinion on our town
council's doings.
First of all His Worship
the mayor said to
someone from The
London Free Press
something about a "meat
and potatoes budget"
(unquote).
Well how on earth can
brick sidewalks and new
more expensive 'lights,
that we do not need on
The Square come under
the above quote.
The Businessmen's
have been made more
exhilarating, more
friendly and more
memorable.
+ + +
Watching our son stroll
across the platform in his
robe, kneel before the
university president to
receive his hood and then
leave the, hall with a
paper degree ready for
framing, may have
seemed dull and in-
consequential to the rest
of the assembly. For my
husband and for me, it
was the moment of
moments. ... and we
sincerely thank our son
for giving us this great
joy.
Certainly our son will
benefit from his .years at
university, but we really
wonder if he understands
what his achievement
means to us. I wonder if
any young person really
comprehends what it
means to parents to see
their son or daughter
reach out, struggle and
finally attain a goal.
In the case of our son, it
was a university degree.
But it doesn't have to be
that. It can be anything
from a ribbon at the
elementary school track
meet to an executive
position in some large
corporation.
The main thing is that
youngsters fix their eyes
on a goal ... and then
work with everything
they have to make that
goal a reality. When
parental goals and the
goals of their children are
the same, the thrill is that
much greater. But goals
are goals ... and it is
always exciting to see
goals reached, battles
won, obstacles cleared.
Goals are absolutely
essential for everyone if
they are to be successful
in anything. With a goal,
you are motivated, eager
and happy. Without a
Association say they will
foot most of the bill but in
the long run the hard
working taxpayers of our
town will be paying.
Secondly, at the council
meeting of June 5, 1978 .a
letter from the Post
Master General's office
was voted on to buy a
$22.00 postage meter
plate. This plate Was to be
used on all town mail to
goal you are confused,
listless and miserable.
Is it any wonder then
that parents are so richly
rewarded • when children
attain goals, short-term
or long-term? Are my
husband and I excused
for our pride in this in-
stance?
+.++
Now:that convocation i$
over, it is time to set new
goals.
There are many
graduates in the area,
and many parents who
are just as proud and
happy as my husband and
me. I urge all of them,
with me, to set out to
achieve another
milestone for the future.
. Not long ago, a very
successful businessman
said to 'nie, "I've
achieved all my goals.
Now I feel useless. I wish
I could go back and do it
all over again."
I looked him straight in
the eye and said," Do you
want to feel useful again?
Young again? You. can't
go back. But you cer-
tainly can set yourself
some new goals, some
new challenges for the
future."
And so I urge
everyone out there - most
especially my son .,and
other grads in 1978 - to set
new goals for the future.
Set some goals for
tomorrow, some for
next month, some for
next year, some for ten
years from now, some for
20 years hence.
You'll find you will
automatically begin to
achieve again because
your life will have new
direction, new purpose,
new excitement.
Young -or old, rich or
poor, male or female ....
set those goals now. Don't
wait another minute. The
sooner you set your goals,
the sooner you will reach
them
help promote national
unity in this country
which I feel we do need
badly. It was voted down
as (quote) "window
dressing" (unquote) by
His Worship again and
the majority of council.
In closing it seems we
have gone from "meat
and potatoes" to "pate
Turf) to page 6