The Goderich Signal-Star, 1978-06-22, Page 5PAGE 4—GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1978
eiA
Goderich`
SIGNAL-STAR
The County Town Newspaper of Huron
founded In 1041 and published every Thursday at Goderich, Ontario. Member of the CWN*
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typographical error advertising goods or services at a wrong price, goods or service may
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Signal -Star is not responsible for fho loss or damage of unsolicited manuscripts or photos.
Business and Editorial Office
TELEPHONE 524-8331
area code 519
Published by Signal -Star Publishing Ltd.
ROBERT G. SHRIER — president and publisher
SHIRLEY J. KELLER — editor -
EDWARD J. BYRSKI — advertising manager
Mailing Address:
P.O. BOX 220, Industrial Park, Goderich
Second class mail registration number — 0716
Open meetings now?
There's an old saying that is appropriate in this
situation. Strike when the iron is hot. There's 'no
better time than right now to urge the board
members of Alexandra Marine and General
Hospital to open up all its board meetings to the
public.
At Monday evening's annual hospital board
meeting, over 100 interested citizens showed up to
hear the reports. Sure, many of them were curious
about the present problems at the hospital. Some
might even have been expecting to see person or
persons maligned and embarrassed and degraded.
Thankfully, this didn't happen.
But the facts remain that the people of Goderich
are terribly 'interested in Alexandra Marine and
General Hospital. That's the way it should be with a
community hospital. It is in that hospital that
Goderich and area citizens are born and die. It is
there they seek relief from pain and discomfort. It
is there they go for emergency treatment and
Medical aid. It is at AM&G their friends are em-
ployed.
AM&G, like any community hospital, stands as'a .,
monument to the people in the district who
pioneered in health care. It is a 'symbol of caring. It.
is a place of healing and a quiet daily reminder of
ready assistance in time of need.
There's little dollbt,tthospital boards deal with
Beauty pays
It was a chance remark. It wasn't uttered in an
open meeting. It wasn't even meant for the ears of
the press. It was overheard and can't be attributed
to a source in the normal fashion. But it was true.
Goderich people don't seem to mind if the town.
spends upwards of a quarter of a million dollars at
the airport, but they are getting angry and active
about a proposal for decorative lighting and new
brick sidewalks on The Square, the bulk• of the bill
to be paid by the businessmen who are members of
the Business Improvement Area.
It is the BIA which seems to be most misun-
derstood. Few people have yet grasped the fact that
the BIA is a provincially -instituted scheme to
revitalize the downtown core areas in small towns.
Few people realize that to form a Business
Improvement Area in Goderich, a majority .of
businessmen had to give approvabto the idea which
allows authority to collect a special levy on each
business in the district outlined in the BIA
agreement. Once the majority had approved the
plan, the BIA assessment is automatic ... and
legally collectable from every business in the
downtown district.
Just a few short years ago, people in Goderich
and area were saying the businessmen in
Goderich's core area were non-progressive and
non-competitive. They said a mall was the answer
to encourage the downtown merchants to work
together and co-operate for the good of the com-
munity. They ,said it was time the core area woke
from its sleepy customs, came alive to a new way of
merchandising and made The Square vibrant and
exciting once again.
Now not one mall, but two malls have been';
established in Goderich and area. And few people
would deny the downtown merchants' have com-
peted admirably for the consumers' dollars. The
Square business people are for the most part,
pulling together as a team. The recent Midnight
Solution soon
Dr. Robert J. -Uffen, who is vice-chairman of
Ontario Hydro and Dean of the Faculty of Applied
Science at Queen's University, early this year
completed a status report on alternative proposals
for the storage, reprocessing and ultimate disposal
of used fuel from CANDU reactors such as the one
at Douglas Point to the north of Goderich. In that
report, Dr. Uffen concluded that the problems of
storage and permanent disposal appear to be
solvable.
Hydro's board of directors is conscious that if
public confidence in nuclear power is to be
retained, techniques for,managing spent fuel from
the reactors must be p iblicly demonstrated to be
invironmentally safe. Dr. Uffen is now saying that
too little has been done in Canada to respond to the
legitimate questions and objections of a concerned
public because of nuclear energy. Dr. Uffen has
further emphasized the need for public par-
ticipation in assessing alternative plans to the
nuclear program.
That's probably why Ontario Hydrois dispensing
all kinds of new information to the public now.
Consider these recent facts from Ontario Hydro's
information centre:
1. Canadian nuclear -electric stations have so far
produced more than 100 billion kilowatt-hours of
electricity worth $1 billion, enough energy to Supply
Metro Toronto's current needs for about five years.
The total volume of spent fuel, about 1,900 tons,
could be contained in a 30 -foot cube or seven 40 -foot
railway boxcars.
2. Half of Canada's current resources of uranium,
many personnel matters which should not be
reported. This newspaper is aware of that element
and has no desire to invade the privacy of the
board's deliberations where such things are con-
cerned.
As well, much of the day to day operation of a
community hospital is routine, not really all that
interesting from a news point of view.
But this newspaper has an obligation to go where
the public should be...and to be a watch dog in all
types of instances, in dozens of different ways.
At Monday evening's meeting, it was pointed
that the board should have a recording secretary
separate and distinct from the hospital ad-
ministrator. Some argued that minutes of board
meetings didn't truly reflect the events of the
meeting
GODERICH BAND
Winners of 3x4 Prize at the C. N' Exhibition. Toronto, 1927
Can you name these bandsmen?
•
The . Signal -Star was indeed grateful for the
reports of the hospital board meetings, prepared
through the administrator's office at AM&G. It was
better than nothing in view of the fact that the press
was not welcome at board meetings.
But•surelynow is the time for a clean break away
from old habits...and a fresh new start:Surely now
board meetings will be opened to the public and the
press, since the community hospital is everybody's
business. —SJK
Madness, so successful and •so nicely promoted,
was a united effort of business people on a,common
mission. And it was good for Goderich, all the
people who live here, work here and play here.
How many times has this newspaper said
Goderich's unique Square could be a showplace,
attracting people from all parts of the province,
inviting business and commerce from many
quarters, interesting industry, beckoning tourists,
delighting residents?
How many times have you envisioned a square at
the heart of Goderich which is different enough to
pull traffic off Highway 21 and Highway 8 and
lovely enough to make shopping a pleasure year
round for you and your family and friends?
How many times &n a holiday have you seen a..,
place that looked so exciting you had to get out of
your car, just for a few moments? And how many
times have you wished that Goderich could be like
that?
Decorative lighting and brick sidewalks aren't
earth -shaking. deviations from, the norm. One sees
them everywhere where there is attention to beauty
and colour and design. There may be some ad-
ditional costs involved -the homeowner who chooses
natural wood finishes over permanent colored steel
knows there is a price on maintaining the wood, but
willingly pays the difference for the enjoyment it
gives to the eye.
' Just why does this community keep such a close
watch on the cost of things of beauty? Why is it that
Goderich taxpayers aren't alarmed by the airport
committee's desire to build a runway that ac-
cording to some members of the committee is
unnecessary? Are citizens here penny wise and
pound foolish? Or are they simply unconvinced that
pleasant surroundings can be as economically
sound as concrete and steel, big business and high
finance.-SJK
about 300,000 tons, could operate Ontario Hydro's
Pickering A Generating Station continuously for
1,100 years.
3. Ontario Hydro nuclear -electric stations, which
use domestic supplies of natural uranium, have so
far produced the electrical equivalent of 30 million
megagrams of imported coal. At current prices,
this coal would cost more than $1 billion.
4. Working in an Ontario Hydro nuclear -electric
station' is one of the safest occupations in the
country. Since the late 1950's, there has not been a
single fatality in the workforce nor any lost time
attributable to radiation in close to 40 million
manhours.
But still the major concern of many citizens is for
the long-term effects on society. And the questions
are still put: "What about the nuclear waste?
Should we continue to produce deadly nuclear
• waste, leaving its management and its problems to
unborn generations? Is that morally right? Is it an
econologically sound practice?"
Ontario Hydro's annual report in 1977 pointed but
that the Ministry of Energy is actively pursuing the
development of a joint proposal by the government
of Ontario and the government of Canada which
would commit both governments and their agen-
cies, Ontario Hydro and Atomic Energy of Canada
to the development and the demonstration of the
safe disposal of spent fuel frdm nuclear reactors.
Dr. Uffen says the permanent disposal of nuclear
waste appears solvable. Let's hope so...and let's
hope scientists in Canada will shortly find all the
answers for the future..--SJK
BY
SHIRLEY J. KELLER
Every so often, a topic
needs to be aired about
which this writer has, only
limited knowledge...more
like gut reaction than
anything else. One of
these topics is what's
happening in Canada
today regarding inflation,
unemployment and the
whole ball of wax. Now
that's a weighty subject.
That's why this week
I'm turning this topic
over to a friend from the
Ontario Weekly
Newspapers Association,
Peter Brouwer. Peter
took the time to review a
book entitled "The
Responsible Society"
written by •Stephen
Roman and Eugene
Loebl. The book is
distributed. in Canada by
Methuen Publication and
in the hard cover edition
sells at $9.50.
Peter's book review
came to my attention
when Signal -Star
Publisher and President,
R. G. Shrier, put it on my
desk. I found it so in-
teresting ... a n d
n-teresting...and so
fresh...I thought I would
simply turn Dear
Readers over this week to
Peters book review
which he • called "Corri-
mon sense, low interest
rates seen as aid for
ailing economy".
BY
PETER BROUWER`
It doesn't take an ex-
pert in economics to
figure out that there are
sorne problems in the
Canadian economy these
days,
No matter where you
look or what your special
interests may be, the
signs of trouble are easy
to find.
There's inflation, still
the number one enemy of
the economy, according
to government
DEAR READERS
spokes -men. And there's
unemployment, running
at a record level of over a
million. In _:industry, most
plants are running well
below their top capacity
(some say an average of
only 80 per cent output),
and there's an unhealthy
lack of interest in new
investment for plants and
machinery — and new
jobs.
The only growth is
government
bureaucracy.
As if that wasn't
enough, there's the
looming shortage of
petroleum and other
resources within 20,
years, plus pollution
problems of all kinds and
general deterioration to
the "quality of life", and
just ' when we thought
science and technology
had provided us with a
bright future!
Fortunately,' a few
people have been looking
for answers to these
questions.
++
Two of them are
Stephen Roman apd
Eugen Loebl, who have
written a book, just
published, called "The
Responsible Society".
They are convinced.
that if the foursteps in
their ' new economic
program are taken, the
difficulties of unem-
ployment and inflation
(they call these two
things "crimes") can be
removed permanently,
then Western Society will
go on to enjoy a freer,
more rewarding
existence in which the
"quality of life" is
secure.
This book — considered
by some experts to be one
of the most thought-
provoking volumes to be
published in the '70's —
clearly states what the
four steps are which will
bring about "the
responsible society".
The first step they
propose is that •the
nation's central bank —
the ;Bank of Canada —
should extend interest-
free credit 'to the com-
mercial banks.
Second, they call for a
conversion of present-day
government "spending"
to what they term
government "lending" in
all cases except such
special situations as
defence.
Third step: all types of
income taxes — cor-
porate and personal —
would be entirely
replaced by a new system
of sales tax (they call it a
"variable skimming
tax") to be applied at the
retail level and
•manipulated so that
higher -income people will
pay a greater share.
And fourth, the authors
believe profit-sharing
should be a feature of the
entire economy.
+++
The authors view
economics from two
entirely different
backgrounds.
Stephen Roman is a
Canadian industrialist,
well-known as the
chairman and chief
executive officer of
Denison Mines Limited,
one of the world's largest
producers of uranium.
He's a capitalist and
proud of his
achievements in a
country which supports
free enterprise.
On the other hand,
Eugen Loebl is a
recently -retired
professor of political
science and ' economics
who was a leading
Marxist theoretician in
Czechoslovakia in the
'30's and director of the
Czech State Bank under
the Communists curing
the mid -'60's.
Amazingly, by working
together, they have, been
able to come' up with -'an -
ecgnomic program which
they are convinced will
end unemployment,
inflation and uncontrolled
growth of government
bureaucracy and create a
more meaningful society
of responsible citizens.
+ + -I-
Here,
Here, as they see it, is
how the four -'step
program would work
(although in their book
they expand these basic
ideasto over 200 pages).
The key to a brighter
economic future, they
say, is credit. It would be
issued by the central
bank, but under
Parliament's control,' to
the commercial banks
interest -freta and in
sufficient quantities to
meet the needs of an
economy functioning with
full employment.
The book estimates
that this will reduce the
cost of bank credit to
customers "by ap-
proximately 5Q per
cent": mortgages would
be available at only 3 to 4
per cent.
Although "it might
seem that the govern-
ment . and its banking
agency would have a
tremendous con-
centration of power under
this new system (as it
does today)...its sphere of
influence would be
limited", the authors
point out.
It would be up to the
commercial banks to
ensure "that the credit
will be used for efficient
production, and so no
inflation will occur".
Far from merely
substituting the word
"lend" for "spend" in the
second phase of this
startling program,
Roman and Loebl explain
that an entirely new
concept of government
activity is involved.
If a particular sector Of
the economy (they use
housing as an example)
needs special help to get
moving, government
loans would be available
but the money must be
repaid. Therefore, "taxes
and prices would not be
affected".
The authors admit,
however, that assigning
credits would be "a
difficult process that
requires...a true un-
derstanding 'of the
economy and
society...Because the
programs will affect the
,entire nation, they must
be concerned with human
desires, needs and ex-
pectations".
+ + +
The third element —
this business of a,
skimming tax is con:
sidered a governmental
tool for removing from
the economy the
superfluous purchasing
power which the
government has pumped
into it through its
budgetary expenditures
(defence, for example).
This potentially in-
flationary pool of pur-
chasing power would be
skimmed off through a
tax which could be ap-
plied to most, if not all
goods and services
purchases by consumers
— a relatively simple
form of sales tax.
"Under our new
system," say the authors,
"we shall create a new
climate of concern for the
economic well being of
the nations...Citizens
--would have to consider
carefully whether (any)
new program would be
worth the resulting in-
crease in the skimming
rate".
They suggest that
elections should be fought
Turn to page 5 •
75 YEARS AGO
The vault for the new
Bank of Montreal is being
built this week.
On Sunday; July 5 the
pulpit of Victoria Street
Methodist Church will be
occupied by the new
pastor, Reverend W.H.
Graham, B.A., now of
Sparta.
The organ factory had
steam up yesterday for
the first time, to test the
engine. •
Thomas Tilt has sold
his barn on South Street
to E. Swarts.
Dr. J.L. Turnbull of
town has been elected "a
vice-president of the
Ontario Medical
Association.
25 YEARS AGO
Prime Minister Louis
LOOKING BACK
St. Laurent was met at
the C.N.R. station in
Goderich by a delegation
on Wednesday morning
and taken on a brief tour
of the town prior to ad-
dressing the school
children at Court House
Park. The Prime
Minister came• to
Goderich Tuesday night
by private railway car
attached to the rear of the
regular Toronto-
Goderich night train.
The Town of Goderich's
application • to annex
some 260 acres of land at
its southern limits, which
has been part of Goderich
Township, was approved
by the Ontario Municipal
Board sitting in
the board's Chambers in
Toronto Tuesday mor-
ning. Present area of the
town of Goderich is about
1,000 acres.
Fresh from their win at
the Toronto Trumpet
Band Festival recently,
members of the Goderich
Girls' Trumpet Band are
practising earnestly for
competition this weekend
at the big Waterloo Band
Festival on Saturday.
The political' battle for
the 23 Western Ontario
Seats in the House of
Commons will have one
of its scenes of action in
Huron County when John
Diefenbaker comes to
Goderich on July 8 to
speak. Mr. Diefenbaker,
member for Lake Centre,
Saskatchewan, will visit
at least three counties in
his Western Ontario tour. -
5 YEARS AGO
our.5YEARSAGO
Goderich Town Council
made history last
Thursday evening when
its members, functioning
in committee, decided to
recommend at tonight's
regular council session
that the building permit
requested by James
Dixon of London to build
an apartment building on
Waterloo Street be denied
because the design of the
building is not suitable to
the surroundings.
Alex Wilkins, Marina
Supervisor,' advised
council last week at its
committee meeting that
certain local individuals
have complained
regarding the price of
gasoline at the Marina.
"Our price is 58 cents,"
said Wilkins. "All other
Marinas, both north and
south, are charging 60
cents."
Margaret Bushell,
Wingham, a graduate of
the Library Technician
program at Fanshawe
College, has recently
joined the staff at the
Huron County Public
Library. Miss Bushell is
the first library
technician to- be hired. in
Huron County and County
Librarian Miss Ethel
Dewar expressed her
pleasure that the library
could hire someone from
Huron County.
Bruce Wheeler of 206
Shore Crescent became
the first member of the
'Goderich Golf and Sports
Centre to register a hole -
in, -one on Monday night.
4J