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Wingham Advance-Times, 1981-03-18, Page 4„ ••• ..s.;.‘,1•"....,•,,,........1••••••••••-•• NO: :11• .vc„- • 'Nv. THE WINGHAM ADVANCE -TIMES • .‘„Frils,, bed at Whigham. Ontario. by Wenger Bros. United Barry WenteroPreeident Henry Hesao Editor Robert 0. Wenger, Sec.-Treas. Bill Crump, Advertising Manager Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member- Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Subscription $16.00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No. 0621. Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assoc Six months $9-50. Return postage guaranteed You're not obhgated Some people in this community may fear that answering the Union Gas questionnaire recently distributed by mail may obligate them to switch fuels if gas lines do reach this area. There is no obligation whatever implied in answering and returning the questions. For quite a few years neighboring communities such as Clinton, Walker- ton and Listowel have been served by the gas company and there are many in Wingham who would like to see the ser- vice provided here. Not only Is gas somewhat cheaper than fuel oil as an energy source at present, but more to You can help For the second consecutive week readers will find an extensive survey form on one of the pages of this paper. You may be wondering why the pub- lishers are seeking answers to so many questions. These questionnaires are appear- ing in selected weekly newspapers at various locations in Ontario and other provinces as a test to ascertain how much .response may be expected from surveys of this kind. If there is a rea- sonable percentage of returns similar questionnaires will appear in future, as and 'when clear understanding of public attitudes may be, needed. The professional polsters are fast the point, future domestic supplies of natural gas are vastly more plentiful than petroleum. The experts believe that Canada has a reserve of natural gas sources which could well meet our needs for decades to come. The gas company is not, of course, promising to lay the necessary feeder line to Wingham. Its present intent is to determine how many residents and businesses might be expected as pay- ing customers should the decision be made. We have nothing to lose and per- haps Tuch to gain by responding to the request for information. becoming accepted guides to political and business interests as a means of measuring public response to any given question. The professionals in this field ask their questions of compar- atively few people, albeit the respon- dents are carefully selected., A similar poll carried out through Canada's weekly newspapers would provide a vastly broader cross-section of atti- tudes in the noncity areas of thecoun- try. In answering the question in our current survey you, the reader, may well be opening a new avenue of com- munication for the people of the na- tion's rural and small urban commu- nities. Let's have your replies. •They have a point Residents of the villages of Se- bringville and. Shakespeare picketed their local branches Of the Canadian Imperial parik of COrnmerce last week ,Ark, eTtog to, comince upper bank rferit-114117 qhbie 'brandiei should not be!el&e'il be seen whether or not their protests were in vain: In a free enterprise nation such as ours the bank has. the obvious "right” to close branches which have become unprofitable. Whether the exercise of that right is compatible with moral obligation is yet another question. Each of these village banks is located within five or. - six miles of branches of the same company in Stratford -,- a distance which seems minrscule in this day of swift trans- portation and centralized shopping habits. However, five 'miles is a long walk for an aged pensioner who doesn't have a car. Pension cheques are fre- quently cashed by retail stores, butin a small village it is highly possible that all the stores combined could not be expected to meet the cash demand on the day the cheques arrive. The assumption that a bank only five miles distant provides '.adequate for In entire:cOnmuni4y seertis a' bit Taizteftliid. in 'anyone familiar * with -Tat-onto. In that city branches Of the same bank are frequently located no more than two or three blacks apart. If our chartered banks Were among those beleaguered business operations like car manufacturers, who must cur- tail costs or go to the wall, the situation ,would be different. The banks, how- ever, are very far from financial stress. The Bank of Commerce showed a 69 per cent increase in profits during the final quarter of 1980, compared with the same period in the previous year, topped only by the Royal Bank, which chalitedup a healthy 76 per cent. There is scarcely a business in the . country which does not ,carry some 1ines or operate some branches -at a loss, The saving factor of overall prof- its and the obligation to serve its customers is usuallythe guiding factor. A two-way street Attending a convention in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, we were pleased to learn that a representative of west- ern businessmen would be fitted into the program. You may recall that we commented recently on the offer of 50 of these business leaders to address eastern audiences in order to clarify for us the thinking and attitudes of western Canadians. We have long contended in this column that our nation's most urgent problems are not regional differences of opportunity and language, but, much more importantly, lack of communica- tion between our own peoples. We tend to lump all the residents of a given area into "greedy Albertans", "separatist Frenchmen" or "arrogant Ontarions". When we get right down to relaxed conversation with Canadians from other parts of the country we inevitably find that they, too, are human beings rather than bogeymen. Like Shylock; we can truly say: "It you prick us uo we not bleed; if you tickle us do we not laugh!" Thus it was that our expectation was an opportunity to listen without interruption to a listing of those griev- ances which our brothers in the West have accumulated, so that we might ponder them in a quiet moment and, hopefully, measure the justice of those complaints. The speaker, however, turned out to be an Ontario professor, who suc- ceeded only in telling us how angry ail Westerners are and how central Can- ada has fattened itself on western people for the past 100 years. His re- marks, or at least those we stayed to hear, only strengthened our opinion that there will never be a solution to our differences until minds are opened and reasbn prevails over emotion. It is a serious and continuing prob- lem, not only for those who speak but for those who listen. Tough on the elderly In spite of the gradual increases doled out to our elderly, says The Ban- croft Times, Ontario's 800,000 old age pensioners are "sitting ducks" in the country's economic crisis. Many are running out of ways to cope with the soaring cost of living. Worst of all is the fear. Fear of get- ting sick, of being alone, the fate of the singles, the widowed and the unmar- ried. To most of us statistics like flatlon rate of 11.2 per cent, an all-time high bank rate of 17.36 per cent and a one-month Increase of 1.2 per cent in food prices are lust numbers - annoy- ing but bearable if we make cuts here and there. For the senior citizens of this prov- ince, on fixed incomes, every increase in the consumer index is quickly trans- lated into real suffering. They can't cut back on luxuries because they have none. And yet, this considerable portion Of the province's citizens are bearing up, managing somehow to cope without fuss or publicity. It was to these that Ontario's new lieutenant governor, Hon. John Aird, referred when he said in his, New Year's message: "I have learned anew about the role our senior citizens play in the mainstream of life, as well as the historic role they have always played in family structures." ;.:4•••• ^ - • 0. . • :;" • 'YooKeiriTe71#0 ethly: mt. /dm ceimA/6 -mot- THE oil cogetrithe0 hr:)oFF5 ,/ .." • ., vf. 14- •• ' 4 :" • • 4.: • „.` , ..................”...._--.......-s-,........ . 4,,,,‘ *4..-.' --..._............-______ , , •_ _._ .....-.....--....-........- .... --.........----...........,...----....,....,..,..... "#4 • r • . -......_ ---...,...._-...,,,:,....„-.., 4 ...4 . , . • _.....am ...,........-",........--.....-....,4.-,......446....',....1.74ft..."44... "411........... -,4.-.'".........:"". "...... ...,-",--".••=4.-",4"...---44.....-^4....-4..Z.N.....-......--....--a..-.4....".44.--.....--,....--..i...- • -^%......"•..........".•.:•--..............-...--.....-...--..._,.......... --....-..--...-.--,..... --... -.............. -....._ ....... --„,_ _ -...._-............. -- ...... -.... --- — ......-....,................ --- ..........,,,..,...... -..--......_ -_, .. .., _ ,...,-...--.......-....-......,....-..-..-...--.....,......--...--....,-,--............,-.....-..--...„, „,„,,,.., .,,,_ .„,.........,,._, ........ -.....-...-...---.....-......-- -......-........-................„,....,,,_ _,„.„,_ ....... _, ...........,...".....,`,....." . -.....7.7 • " ...--...... .................._ -- . ............ -...... --,........... -...... - . --....... -...-.........-4.-^...- --.. .., • ..,_ -..... -,...........-...--- - .....................,-...,- . . -. .....-.. z........-......,... . • Hers to the E ito _I • Mistake mace m Writer applauds Red Cross story concern for trees Dear Editor, . We are writing to you in regard to the very in- teresting a appeared in your, paper on March 11 regarding the history of the Gorrie Branch of the Red Cross. The dedication of these men and Women ill'HOWia Township is certainly comMenerable: However , the article mentioned 'homemaker' ser -vices and we would like to inform your readers that no , Red Cross money is used to provide homemaker ser- vices anywhere in Huron County., The Town and Country, Homemakers agency is . the only organization providing homemaking services in Huron County and we do not ide which receive any money from theo Red Cross. In 1980- ,pur agency, em- ployed 80 trained home - O makers and serviced over 1,400 elle* (elderly, handi-, dapped antl=or ill) in- all of Huron County. We are a prne,agoile-tirpfit, Chat: iiable organiialionrriimb.i4a.- voliinteerbaardtit directors. -- We Whtigtdhifily0e a dedicated grohik of people in each township who would do a little fendraiSing for us.1 We do get a grant from county council, but our only donations come from the friends and families , of grateful clients. • Jean Young, Executive Director; Beverley A."Brown, Board Vice Chairman Dear Editor, wishes, or whims of • in - 1 am very pleased to see dividual property owners. that council has become The only , reason W cut aware of and concerned about the destruction of so many of our 'fine .trees this winter. • . Our trees are part of the very essence •antbichaeacter '‘ofr. town. They are ,rehrtaf ur corrimb1i.. hetritagei and 'the ' preservation of them „, g -transcend the In appreciation • z4. By John PattiSen Tanning was one of the early industries of Winghent. The tannery that survived. the longest was the um: ort Victoria Street facing the river between ,f4Opoldend, Witham Streets. In the. beginning^ it was hnnwp Mason's 'Tannery, but, by - um it was owned by Wj. Chapman. 110hudt a new residence 80.106$ the street, and installed a rad glass With his name etcheti. on it, in a window en the entrance way at the front d000r. It is still there. Chapman . tanned sheep- skins anti made heavy mitts. Almost all of the skins were purchased within SOmiles of Wingham. About 200 to 250 would be processed every week. den dozen mitts Would be made daily.. A limited number . of calf skins were toiled as well , In 1989 due to tax conces- sions made to indigtry in town, the factory was put on a stone foundation, enlarged to three stores and bricked. The making of fine gloves was begun. The gloves were cut out at the tannery, but many were made up in the homes of the employees. In 1890 an addition was built on the north end of the tannery to be used as a beam house. The old one was • con- verted to house 28 new vats. At that time there was $7,500 worth of tanbark in the yard, all brought in by wagons at $5.00 per cord except seven carloads brought in by rail. The tannery was buying for cash, wool, tallow, hides, sheepskins and calf skins. In June,,i898it was announced that Chapman was making leather belts for ladies and children. down any tree bordering our In 1903 Chapman decided treets is to establishbeyond to move his glove business to any doubt that the tree is Acton to join the W. H. dead, and this decision Storey and Son Co. He was should be made oily after a elected vice-president and careful survey.antuclx sbz_Lenval jwager of the fir* rrliairt individual reaor Norm Welwood 4 were This was a hard blow for committee. HtIttr:1 tan- Wingham nery was leased to Pringle ''sWuli6 and Groves, who continued tanning and making mitts: In 1905 Groves left and W. D. Pringle carried on until • April of 1906, when* bought the tannery for $2,500. In December of that year W. H. Gurney came to ,Wirighain and leased the glove depart- ment from Pringle. In 1909 a fire from unknown causes destroyed the entered operation. Pringle had $5,000 insurance and an $8,000 stock and $4,000 on the building. Gurney lost everything, including pat- terns etc. with only $800 in- surance. Gurney moved into the old Dore Carriage Works building at the Victoria and Scott Street corner and was soon back in business. Pringle started to rebuild but asked the town for a $4,000 loan at four per cent for 10 years, which was granted after a vote of the people. A two-story brick structure was erected "along with a Dear Sir: I would like to express my appreciation to the staff and management of Wenger O Publications for their con- sideration. • First of all Marion Duke, editor of The Listowel Banner, considered the din-. tribution of Mrs. Carrie Bar- ton, a correspondent for her paper for many years, worthy of entering in the On- tario Weekly Newspaper Writer calls for electoral reform Dear Editor, With another provincial election on the 19th and an obsolete election act as far as ballots are concerned, we are faced with the fact that many. candidates will be elected with less than 50 per cent of the electoral support. In a recent federal elec- tion, using the same type of ballot, we found there was a candidate elected with 12,322 votes while 22,254 opposed his election (the latter amount being split among five candidates). Other examples can be cited which certainly in- dicate democracy defeated by the ballot. It will be noted that when Australia evolved a multi- party system like Canada's, it adopted a preferential ballot to ensure the winner would be the preferred choice of the electorate. It will be noted as well that in the opening of the federal Parliament. the speech from the throne indicated the necessity of electoral reform. Centennial book wanted Dear Editor, I would like to find a 1979 Wingham Centennial book and as a last resort I am asking for your help. I was of the impression that I was receiving one, but it has not yet materialized so I have given up on that. Any help will be gratefully accepted. Mrs. S. E. MacMillan RR 1, Lucknow 528-2923 We know thatcountries like Nicaragua, Venezuela, El 'Salvador dnd many others which are trouble spots in, the world today are places where the governments are supported by less than the majority of the electorate: In view of the strife, turmoil and bloodshed, I can see that in another 30 years if this situation is not taken care of our court* will be in a similar Condition. This type of balloting is not neW in Canada. It was In- stituted on a provincial basis in both British Columbia and Alberta and for a number of years they had good govern- mentThis was disposed of in both provinces in the '50s by Social Credit governments. The reason at the time was party Weakness. and so they reverted back to the system of a simple plurality ballot. When one looks at those countries in turmoil and looks ahead to the possibility of this happening in Canada, one would have to assume that political strategists who oppose reform in this area are being little short of. treasonous. Due to the experiences of those two provinces, I see the necessity of having the electoral system handled in such a way in the Con- stitution • that no federal, provincial, municipal or' school board member could ever sit in any of the elected offices without a clear majority of ofeCtOtal sup- port. hope the reader a of this article will demand from the candidates in ,their con- stituencies their eupport ill electoral reform. Osborne Fansher Bayfield Association's annual news- paper competition in the Champion Correspondent category. Secondly that when, she was selected as the winner of the prize, the Wenger family hosted the Barton family at the awards dinner at the association convention in To- ronto. This recognition by the Wenger staff of the way correspondents Contribute to our community newspapers, and the way the company made sure that the family of -the winner could see her honored speaks highly for small newspapers which serve our towns so well. Would you accept the thanks' of the Barton family and • make sure that this letter is printed in' your letters to the editor column of your newspaper so that a little praise is added to the letters often less complimen- tary to your weekly efforts on our communities! behalf. Yours truly Bruce Barton Janette Fallis and Lloyd Barton Freedom of the press Is perhaps the freedom that has suffered the most from the gradual degradation of the Idea of liberty. -Albert Camus It is time for a new generation of leadership, to cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there Is a new world to 'be won. -John F. Kennedy TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN ••••Nor Johnny is two -and -half, a busy, sociable t • • • er with fair hair and blue eyes. Though he was born w h Down's Syndrome (mongolism) he has none of t health problems sometimes associated with the c dition, but his. development in general is belo age. Nonetheless Johnny is doing Many of the things expected at his age. He goes to n rsery school where his teacher says he is an asset to the lass. He's le: ing to dress himself—can even handle-1.1pp d he loves to bounce on the trampoline and play » 1 and climb. He doesn't talk much but understands a :ood deal of what is said to him. An affectionate, cheerful boy, Johnny is easy to live with because he can amuse, himself, he sleeps right through the night and he amiably eats everything offered to him. He needs parents who will value his happy disposition and will enjoy helping him progress as far as he can. -To- inquire about adopting Johnny, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices, Box , Station K, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2H2. In your letter tell something of your present family and your way of life. boiler and coal shed and a gine-star ' In 191-0000 Were built :14i,ea, I 2 .414-tiOn4 ''.40! ',More 'sewing machines Or glove making were:: ltdded, A clicker machi* the first itt ' this area, waSing0e04111:03 Machine "wns:460abie- „ of cutting out 104 dozen 'glove shapes in one day. In 1913 the . power 4WBS., Skali,fpd, to electric, 'with 'tiOdlOotors developing 25 hp113.stalled. At the .peak of piedhetiekabout 75 people were employed, Due to ill health Pringle gold out to William. 'Stewart of Lueknow in December of 1923. Stewart continued with extensive tinning operations for some time but gradually the fanning was phased out, but glove making continued on a smaller scale,ppto1117 ill- ness Mr, St!wart,,ralked in 1939. The, building was used for storage by Lloyd Doors until it was.pbrethAsed1We Clark in 1943, who conducted k radiator repair service an an auto. wrecking ;;businesi until he retired in1,97f. , Today the . tannery buildings are gone and all that is left is Chapman's name on the window at 08 Victoria Street West. SCOTLAND FAREWEI4 by Donald MacKay : This is' the story of the Highland Scots who sailed to Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 1773 on the ship Hector and who pioneered the large scale emigration: Of Scots to Nova Scotia. Fleeing the over- crowding, srvation. peiaailonlhal.08116.74ine 'Went' of princecharles ''.1-iciiebite army by the English at Culloden; they' sailed fn search Of land they could call their &fn. FAREWELL, LEICESTER SQUARE by. Kate Caffrey Here is told the story of the Old Contemptibles - those British soldiers who, as the British Expeditionary Force, embarked for France in August 1914 and took their proud title from the Kaiser's order to .his troops to 'walk over General French's contemptible little army.' Kate Caffrey" tells the story of their battles with pride and enthusiasm. AN AMBASSADOR'S WIFE IN IRAN by Cynthia Helms For nearly fobr years Mrs. Helms was the official, United States government hostess in Iran, residing in an, embassy compound that later was besieged by the militants who seized more that 50 American hostages. During that time she enter- tained or was entertained by some of the world's most powerful people. She also travelled extensively throughout the country in order to understand the Iranian people and their great Persian culture. , r,,,,.....__, New: Books': 2 in the Lihititv .' ......."......".1,....."* --I-, ...-.... SCOTLAND FAREWEI4 by Donald MacKay : This is' the story of the Highland Scots who sailed to Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 1773 on the ship Hector and who pioneered the large scale emigration: Of Scots to Nova Scotia. Fleeing the over- crowding, srvation. peiaailonlhal.08116.74ine 'Went' of princecharles ''.1-iciiebite army by the English at Culloden; they' sailed fn search Of land they could call their &fn. FAREWELL, LEICESTER SQUARE by. Kate Caffrey Here is told the story of the Old Contemptibles - those British soldiers who, as the British Expeditionary Force, embarked for France in August 1914 and took their proud title from the Kaiser's order to .his troops to 'walk over General French's contemptible little army.' Kate Caffrey" tells the story of their battles with pride and enthusiasm. AN AMBASSADOR'S WIFE IN IRAN by Cynthia Helms For nearly fobr years Mrs. Helms was the official, United States government hostess in Iran, residing in an, embassy compound that later was besieged by the militants who seized more that 50 American hostages. During that time she enter- tained or was entertained by some of the world's most powerful people. She also travelled extensively throughout the country in order to understand the Iranian people and their great Persian culture.