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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-10-10, Page 41 THE A jc Published at Wingham, Ontario, P.O. Box 390 - NOG 7WO by Wenger Bros. Limited A page of editorial opinion October, 10 %g jan fibbaucc®t tme Barry Wenger, President Henry Hess, Editor Robert O. Wenger, Sec.-Treas. Audrey Currie, Advertising Manager Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member—Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Subscriptions $20.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No. 0821 Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc. Six months $11.50 Return postage guaranteed Good men and true In our preoccupation with national and world events, it could well be that this column has too frequently over- looked people and events much closer to our own homes and hearts. Although many of the citizens of Wingham and the surrounding rural community de- serve mention the presentation last week of a Salvation Army plaque to Bill Henderson Sr. Is worthy of note. Bill has contributed much to the life of this community, not only as an active leader in the Wingham Corps,of the Salvation Army, but as a dedicated band leader. Many younger and mid- dle-aged people would never have learned to appreciate music without Bill's guidance. As a local barber until his retire- ment a few years ago he was a personal friend to dozens of his patrons. In many years as one of his customers we never heard him utter a disparaging remark about anyone. He has borne many per- sonal burdens with quiet dignity. He Is a man we are personally proud to call "friend". Then there is yet another man who deserves mention here. His name is Harry Gerrie — a quiet man who car- ries with him an air of eternal good nature. He was one of our employees at The Advance -Times office for many years and in that time he added im- measurably to the atmosphere of friendly co-operation with which we have been blessed. Harry usually saw what needed to be done long before we had to ask. Whatever the problem, he responded with a quiet chuckle and a workable solution. Since he has retired from Active duty with us the place is not quite the same. We wish him long life and good health. Outstanding choice There have been several news stories during the past week to the ef- fect that the Mulroney axe is about to fail on a considerable number of senior government bureaucrats who do not fit the new Conservative role models. it is gratifying, therefore, to learn that Stephen Lewis, leader of the On- tario NDP for eight years, has been named Canada's ambassador to the United Nations. Lewis is a man of great intelligence. and is able to judge politheal events with a lack of bias which is surprising in a man who played such an active role in government. He voices his thoughts in an extremely cogent man- ner and has a broad understanding of international affairs. His presence at the United Nations should enhance the Canadian membership In that as - sembly. Quite naturally everyone is waiting to see whether the Conservative land- slide Will translate itself into a totally PC -oriented bureaucracy. If Mulroney does carry out his declared intention of selecting his civil servants on the basis of merit alone the Canadian public may yet have good reason to regain its faith in a truly liberal democracy — one which seeks for efficiency, good man- agement without political opportun- ism. Since Mulroney's visit with Presi- dent Reagan observers have expressed the fear that Canadian interests will be sold out in a new atmosphere of subser- vience to our powerful neighbor and ally. It is too soon to tell. In the mean- timeit is all to the good that the two leaders can at least get together and discuss the future of their two nations. Religious network possible The announcement last Friday by the Canadian Radio -Telecommunica- tions Commission that a November date has been set for a hearing on the application for a religious, cable net- -work may usher in a new era In broad- casting services. A group of 15 religious denomina tions will ask the CRTC to consider its application for a network which would include many of the major Christian denominations as well as Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. So far neither Jews nor Roman Catholics are among the applicants, chiefly because they do not have a central national body to speak on their behalf. Both re- ligions are said to be carefully studying the proposal, as are the Mennonite sects. If the application is approved the religions programming would totally occupy one television channel on cable TV. Costs of production and program- ming would be borne by each of the Participating faiths on a pro -rated basis. Some loW-key advertising might also be carried, and there would, in all probability, be appeals for fund from the viewing audience. Perhaps the most innovative as- pect of the proposal is that non-Chris- tian retigloris are included in the plan. One can visualize considerable. opposi- tion from some of the established churches, at least in the initial stages, to providing equal time for erstwhile foes in the race for souls. It is indeed a measure of Canadian maturity that our outlook has broadened to this degree. Harsh lessons learned There should be no tears over the demise of the federal Sports Pool, says The Financial Post. The new Con- servative government deserves full marks for canning the thing — and not just because it was- losing money. It's expremely unseemly, to have govern- ments rooting around for money from lottery players. The money left over after paying prizes and administration costs does go to a variety of worthy causes. But do governments really need to exploit the gambling instinct to raise these funds? It is also not in keeping for our poli- ticians to be exorting everyone to work harder and cut back on expectations, while at the same time they're up to their necks In a business that holds out the promise of becoming a millionaire overnight. The wrangling between Ottawa, and the provinces about the Sports Pool highlighted the tackiness of govern- ment involvement In lotteries. When Ottawa scrapped its previous Tottery It gave a commitment to the provinces that it wouldn't get back Into the busi- ness. Then, in an effort to raise money for the 1988 Winter Olympics In Cal- gary, it launched the Sports Pool — which it said wasn't really a lottery Calls for referendum on capital punishment Dear Editor, The Victims of Violence organization, from its beginning, has had as one of its goals a national referendum on capital punishment for all persons convicted of first-degree murder. With the recent murders of Freedom party three Metropolitan Toronto area police officers, the police departments end. the explains platform public are calling for the reinstatement of the death Dear Editor, penalty. Prime Minister Brian Mutroney stated he would be willing to have a free vote in Parliament. We feel on such an important issue as this it should be put to the public. We do not believe that a free vote in Parliament is a true democratic process and do not think that any one person should be allowed to vote for another person, whether it be an elected member of Parliament or not. The politicians will vote according to their con- sciences or the party line. How can they decide which way their constituents will vote on this issue? Some constituents will vote yes; some will vote no. Which way will the members of Parliament vote to represent the public's wishes? We believe every citizen has the right to vote on this very important issue. Let's have a national referendum. Let the people of Canada decide. G. Kearns Ont. Chapter Victims of Violence Bolton, Ontario As an officially -registered provincial party, the Freedom Party of Ontario believes the purpose of government is to protect our freedom of choice, not restrict it. Our organization is an action -oriented political party that believes the Con- servatives, Liberals and NDP have gone too far in in- terfering with our economy, our private property and, of course, our individual free- dom. Having successfully achieved our tax creditable status, we would like to broaden our base of support by inviting your readers to write for our material. We think our many issue papers, combined with -our record of activities in the area around London, Ontario, where the party is headquartered, will offer positive proof that we have the makings of a viable political alternative in. Ontario. We would be pleased to send your readers material if they write to us at Freedom Party of Ontario, Box 2214, Station A, London N6A 4E3. Huron board Marc Emery to hire teachers Action Director Freedom Party of Ontario- ' for spec. ed. The Huron County Board of Education must find a slot IT'S NICE MOM— Kathy Baird of RR 2, Wingham with her sons Mark, six, _and , Shawn, 1 6 months, pauses to admire a quilt at the Howick Fall Fair. (Staff Photo) tr. for teachers of Huron e on �Y handicapped students. Paul Carroll, development- ally • dent yf special education, re- invest rnent commlssloflS h ch ofd Starting in the new year.» commissions from the in- vestment off talust funds will be paid to the Corporation of the County of Huron instead of to the clerk and deputy clerk. At its October meeting, Huron County Council, in a recorded vote of 18 to 10, ap- proved the administration change. The issue has sparked considerable con- troversy over the past few months. However, council has in- creased the salaries of both the clerk -treasurer -adminis- trator and deputy clerk - treasurer by $3,900 a year. Currently the clerk -treasur- er -administrator receives $46,228 while the deputy clerk -treasurer receives $39,000. The question of com- missions received by the two employees was turned over to the county's executive committee earlier this year. The recommendation of members of the public," said the executive committee the Bayfield reeve. calls fore any commission Some reeves suggested payable from investing trust that the employees continue funds or other county funds to receive commissions or be at Standard Trust and Vic- paid a bonus at the end of the toria and Grey Trust year. Company, both in Goderich, However, to be turned over to the corp- Bill Mickle oration. 'The recommendation states that Huronview trust funds "shall be invested at all times to the benefit ,of the resident and within the guar- anteed limits of the trust company," and that other) county funds "shall be in- vested to the best interest of the County of Huron." Earlier this year, deputy clerk Bill Alcock said both he and Bill Hanly, the clerk - administrator, received finders' fees for investing about $3.4 million of Huron - view residents' assets. This year, the two county employees also received for the first time a finders' fee for investing county reser%e funds. In 1979, county council authorized the clerk and deputy clerk to become agents for Victoria and Grey. At that time Victoria and, Grey was the only trust company in the area, but re- cently Standard Trust estab- lished 'a branch in the county. At the beginning of this year county council added Standard Trust to the agreement. The $3,900 is an average of the fees received by each of the two men over a five-year period, said executive com- because lotteries are strictly chance and in the Sports Pool there was an ele- ment of skill. Oh no you don't said the provinces; it certainly is a lottery, and because you welched on your commitment we're going to deny you access to our retall outlets. So the provinces effectively never gave the Sports Pool a chance to get off the ground. Nonetheless, they them- selves remairi,as hooked as ever on the lottery business. They run all sorts of them and there's a strong possibility they may even offer their own version of the Sports Pool. Now Ottawa is faced with the prob- lem of finding money for the Calgary Olympics. The required federal contri- bution Is estimated to be about $200 million. The Tories, who Inherited the mess from the previous government and are boxed in by the huge federal deficit, are putting up a brave front about finding the money from corpor- ate sponsors and other sources. Well, good luck to them. Meantime, we're saddled with the sorry example of making the Olympic commitment on the basis of raising money from a lot- tery. mittee member Reeve Brian McBurney. Morris Township Reeve Bill Elston asked if the $3,900 would be added to the em- ployees' salaries. He said he was concerned about the $3,900 "mushrooming" if it were part of salaries which " are increased by percent- ages every year. The executive committee report states the employees' salaries are to be increased by $150 bi-weekly (or $3,900 a year) . Executive committee member Dave Johnston said that "rightly or wrongly the two men have received the finders' fees in the past. He compared the situation to a hypothetical case of an employee who has the bene- fit of a company car taken away but is. compensated fi- nancially. "This is straightening out a matter that does not seem proper in the eyes of some Exeter Reeve suggested that the subject of renumeration be dealt with at contract . time. He added that the role of investing money is part of the clerk's and deputy clerk's job and there should not be extra remuneration. Reeve Johnston said the county had accepted thepast practice for a number of years and to do away with remuneration now would be going too far the other way. "We'd not be supporting our employees," said Reeve Johnson. Several reeves told their colleagues that the extra money covers extra time spent by the two men ad- ministering trust funds. Con- siderable time is spent, said the reeves, on clearing up estates and selling the homes of Huronview residents. The clerk -treasurer -ad- ministrator told council that one of the trust companies will not return a commission to the county corporation be- cause it is against the policy of giving a finder's fee to a municipality. RECORDED VOTE Those voting in favor of turning the commission over to the corporation, and of granting the $3,900 increases were West Wawanosh Reeve James Aitchison, Ashfield Reeve John Austin, Hay Deputy Reeve Tony Bedard, Tuckersmith Reeve Bob Bell, Goderich Deputy Reeve Jim Britnell, Warden Tom Cunningham, Exeter Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller, Reeve Johnston, Colborne Reeve Russel Kernighan, Hensall Reeve Harry Klungel, Brus- sels Reeve Cal Kreuter, Reeve McBurney, Reeve Mickle, Reeve Steckle, Stephen Reeve Alan Walper, Stephen Deputy Reeve Ralph Weber and Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell (two votes) . Opposed were Grey Reeve Leona Armstrong, Clinton Reeve Ernest Brown, Sea - forth Reeve William Camp- bell, Blyth Reeve Tom Cronin, Morris Reeve Bill Elston, McKillop Reeve Marie Hicknell, Wingham Reeve Joe Kerr, Zurich Reeve Isidore LaPorte, Us - borne Reeve Gerry Prout and Hay Reeve Lionel Wild- er. Absent from the meeting were Howick Reeve Jack Stafford, Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling and East Wawanosh Reeve Neil Vincent. Capital punishment motion defeated23t0 5 What was described as an "ambivalent" resolution favoring the return of capital punishment was turned down by Huron County council in a 23 to 5 recorded vete. At its October meeting, many irreeves said a resolution from the United Counties of Stormont, Dun- das and Glengarry was too broad, particularily a state- ment that "the Government of Canada be requested to re- introduce and apply capital punishment, through the judicial system, for the wrongful and -or intentional killing of human beings". "Killing is wrong — of any nature,"said Stanley Town-. ship Reeve Paul Steckle. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston, a former police officer, said while the threat of capital punishment may act as a deterrent he too felt the notion was too broad. He requested a recorded vote be taken. The county's executive committee had ' recom- mended that council agree with the resolution. Reeve Steckle and Reeve Johnston serve on the executive committee. Another executive com- mittee member, Colborne Township Reeve Russel Kernighan, said while he had considered supporting the motion, he would 'vote against it because the resolution makes too broad a statement. He personally does not support capital punishment, said Reeve Kernighan. "I wonder if the executive committee thought of having a resolution that could be supported. I believe there is a place for capital punish- ment, but 1 can't support this either," said Morris Town- centl told trustees that this type of teacher is new to the board. Currently teachers ers . 0_07., velopmentauy handicapped, students are recognized as teachers by the provincial' ministry of community and social—services. They are graduates of a community college, said Mr. Carroll, and are classified as non - certified. As part of its special edu- cation package, the Huron board will be hiring three of these teachers by September of 1985, one each for Huron Hope in Huron Park, Queen Elizabeth in Goderich and Golden Circle in Wingham. The board's personnel com- mittee must decide whether to classify these non -certi- fied teachers as union or non- union personnel. This step will take the board closer to fuller imple- mentation of a special edu- cation program. The Minis- try of Education has set next September as the target date for full implementation of what started out as Bill 82. Conestoga could leave Vanastra There maybe no future for Conestoga College in Huron County, says college presi- dent Kenneth Hunter. Mr. Hunter told the Oc- tober session of Huron County Council thateit is n "very likely" that Conestoga will not continue in its location at Vanastra. The college president made the comments while presenting an annual report to reeves and deputy reeves. The report show$ that in 1979-80 the Clinton campus had a full-time enrolment of 50, a number which has dwindled to 16 for the current school year. However, there is an in- crease in the continuing edu- cation enrolment. From 595 in 1979-80, this figure is expected to reach 745 this school year. Besides enrolment figures, Mr. Huntersaid the college has entered into discussions with the Huron County Board of Edbcation regarding possible purchase of the school facility. The Conestoga president said the major reason a school keeps going is stu- dents in sufficient numbers. He suggested that the college might operate a division in Huron County in "less ex- pensive ways". ship Reeve Bill Elston. No rewording of the resolution was considered by the executive committee. Reeve Steckle suggested corporal punishment be im- plemented, noting there is no recourse if an innocent pars, is hanged, but "you can always say you're sorry to a man whipped wrong- fully". Those voting in favor of the motion were Deputy Reeve Tony Bedard, of Hay, Warden Tom Cunningham, Turnberry Reeve Brian McBurney, Usborne Reeve Gerry Prout and Hay Reeve Lionel Wilder. All other county coun- cillors at the meeting voted against the motion. Absent were Howick Township Reeve Jack Stafford, Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling and East Wawanosh Reeve Neil Vincent.