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Wingham Advance-Times, 1981-09-02, Page 4tt4 THE WINGpJAM ADVANCE -TIMES Published at Whgh. Outurio, by Wenger Bros. Limited Barry Wenger, President Henry-Hess„Editor Robert 0. Weoger, Sec.-Treas. Bill Crump, Advertising Malinger Member Audit Bureau ofeirculations 1Member — Canadian Community Newspaper ASSOC. Ontario Weekly Newspaper Assoc. Subscription $16-00 per year Second Class Mail Registration No. 0621 Six months n9.50 Return postage guaranteed Best wishes to Howick This coming weekend the Town- ship •of Howick celebrates its 125th birthday and its present-day residents have good reason to mark the anniver- sary of official incorporation of their home acres. Howick is, in many ways, unique In the County of Huron. It Is the largest and certainly one of the most produc- tive townships. Not only were the orig- inal settlers fortunate in the land they chose for their hOmes — the land was also fortunate to be cleared and tilled by a vigorous and progressive people. Containing no larger urban centres, Howick does have three charming villages, Wroxeter, Gorrle and Ford- wich, where the pioneer spirit of neigh- borliness still thrives. The Howick Central School and the nearby Howick Community Centre are fine examples of the progressive spirit which pervades the township. The big parade slated for Saturday noon will be a visible demonstration of the pride Howick people have in their com- munity. Endangered species The reports of royal and govern- ment commissions of inquiry always face uncertain fates. Obviously most of these studies must contain condemna- tion of some person, profession or cor- poratieen; otherwise they would not have been appointed in the first place. However, the reception such re- ports are accorded and the government action which they engender is always a matter of doubt. The Lamarsh coin - mission which studied violence in the media resulted in precisely nothing. The parliamentary commission which reported unfavorably on rail line clos- ures more than a decade ago did nothing to prevent the very acts it -vilified. The McDonald commission .which studied illegal activities by the RCMP 15 eliciting only snarls of con : - tempt from 'the prime minister who authotized the commission in the first place. The Kent commip,sion's report newspaper. conglomer8WA ;ever, is to be followed by ImedMe7-- government action to bridle daily newspaper group ownerships.. The fate of any one of these study reports hinges on the good faith — or lack of that commodity — which sur- rounded its original formation. Some of these studies, costing in the millions of dollars, are nothing more than a sop to public opinion. The commission on vio- lence in the media,neverbad a hope of achieving any useful results, having been established by a provincial gov- ernment to report on a problem which could only be acted upon by the federal powers. The McDonald commission report, which points directly at the fore- knowledge and involvement of federal ministers, including the prime minister himself, ' will probably be diluted, scrambled and eventually talked out of human memory. The Kent commission report which proposes legal limitations for the Aty,ierging of, newspapers will probably be forgotten A other. and more press- ing national problems arise. Finger in the pie Municipal Affairs Minister Claude Bennett is an able spokesman for a provincial government which has a persistent penchant for meddling in the conduct of municipal council business. Bennett has been advocating three- year terms for all city, town and town- ship councils and has received strong support from city ,council members. However, few town and rural people favor a longer term of office for those they elect. The general feeling is that councillors who are doing a good job will have no trouble being elected for second or third terms. Bennett has also threatened pro- vincial action to compel local councils to leave their meetings open to the pub- lic and the news media. He specifically referred to meetings of standing com- mittees being habitually closed. Naturally, as one of the media to which the minister referred, we agree, TI •ks %. • \ but we can see no need for a provincial cabinet minister to interfere on our be- half. This paper has complained many times of the tendency to secrecy on the part of public councils and boards, but the remedy should not be imposed by Queen's Park. The situation •usually rights itself when the newspaper tells the public how much of their business is being done behind closed doors. The provincial government's will- ingness to tell all the little people how to run their own affairs has produced regional government — a brand of cen- tralization which is far from popular with many of those who have been re- gionalized. Last week Bennett refused to listen to a delegation of citizens from the 10 regions who are unhappy with that form of local government. The confidence re-established by the election of a majority government seems to be bordering on arrogance. We're waiting, Michael Michael Warren, the man who will take the helm when the Canadian post office system becomes a crown cor- poration, believes he knows how to turn chaos into efficiency. Every Canadian ferventlyhopes he is right. Warren's number one strategy Is the rebuilding of pride in • postal workers, establishing an espirit de corps which postal workers once had, but which has been long since dead. An experienced labor-management nego- tiator, Warren says he intends to listen to the workers, find out which of their complaints are legitimate concerns, and with them seek reasonable an- swers. The Toronto Sun has already refer- red to the new corporation president as "pretty boy Warren" and we have seen and heard several other disparaging references to the man. Pretty boy or not, this fellow has a sound record of success In his time with the Toronto Transportation Commission. He would probably have done considerable for the CNE had he nof been whisked off to the post office. Let's give him a chance. His inten- tions are obviously good. If he can achieve both harmony and efficiency in the postal service this country Will owe him a great deal. The big question now is whether or not the labor czars In the postal unions are willing to sacrifice some of the prominence they have achieved by driving their countrymen to desperation. Good for the goose In accord with a general policy of inconsistency federal Agriculture Min- ister Eugene Whelan has attacked the chartered banks because of their high interest rates and the number of farm- ers who are declaring bankruptcy. Na- turally he has made no mention of small business owners and struggling home mortgages who are in the same boat. Whelan defends high food prices, of course, and has frequently reminded us that we are lust plain lucky to be able to buy food more cheaply than can the Japanese. Somehow the two ministerial attl- tudes just don't seem to ilbe. • nnn A page of e 'tonal opinion 1(NEW REAL ,E,..67 -Are WA5NARO TO MOV E gf3t/r.... Federation explains why eetings are. postpone Dear Editor, There have been several articles on the Qntario Hydro Listowel working group and its decision to postpone its future meetings to November. I thought your readers might find • the thinking of the Huron County Federation of Agriculture on • this matter of interest. The .Power Line Group • of the • federation's Energy Committee • held • four meetings Miring the winter. of 1980-81 to discuss with other farm groups the line out • of BNPD. We were hampered in ourefforts by the refusal of Ontario Hydro and the provincial govern- ment to release the South- western Ontario study. This study of alternate trans- mission systems was to have been released in the fall of 1980 and was ready 'for release. However Hydro, at government instruction, Withheld it from the public until June, 1981. Copies didn't get out to members of the farming community until late June and July. At the suggestion of the energy committee, the HCFA executive had written Hydro and the government on three occasions to express its concerns about public` involvement and request the release of the study. We clearly expressed , our concern that farmers have access to_ the study during the winter months so that we would not be trying to deal with it during our busy seasons.',While we received , bland assurances, our - concerns were ignored. The study was released Hydro scheduled " public study meetings for July, August aricSeptembe,f:' • The ,HCFAt• executive discussed whether to ' par- ticipate in . these meetings, boycott them or try to get them postponed. IN e decided on the latter course. I was appointed delegate With Nick Whyte as alternate and we went to the first meeting in Listowel July 9. We presented a' motion to postpone the next rrn ing until November, 1981, and that motion • was carried. Hydro said it would be going ahead and would prepare a recommendation to cabinet on the preferred route. this October. It is , unfortunate that Hydro's recommendations will be made without the participation pf farmers in Huron,' Perth, Wellington and Waterloo counties. However' their represen- tatives felt it would be better to study Hydro's proposals when they would have adequate time to thoroughly dig intorthem. We felt we would be in a better position to deal with the en- vironmental • hearings scheduled for this winter. The tendency for Hydro to use public participation for public , relations • was illustrated in the first meet- ings. Hydro representatives talked about the need for a • second 500 kilovolt line to get "bottled up" power out of Bruce. Upon questioning, they admitted the existing lines can handle the output of both ewe A and B and the second line is needed only as'. an emer rency backup if one of the other lines isn't working. " iro also is using a load gro prediction of 3.3 per cent per year for the period 1981 to 2001 and suggests it might be safer to build trans- mission facilities to meet even higher growth rates. Hydro's actual growth rate was well below three per tent in 1978 and 1979, was less than one per cent in 1980 and was a negative one per cent in the first quarter of 1981. ' To deal adequately with this study, the farm • representatives felt , they must have time to Study, prepare questions and in- dependently research , figures. We felt it would be " impossible to do a good job when we would be trying to get our crops harvested and fall.woridone. Our desire is :, to Make sure Hydro does not build facilities it does pot need and that those it does build will serve. the best interests of all Ontarions, not just in providing Secure power supplies but also in preserving high quality food lands. • Hydro. will be hosting information centres in Clinton Sept. 2 and in • Lucknow Sept. 3. We hope your readers w*Il.get out and expre.es their concerns at these meetings,: We also would appreciate knewing of • their concerns. They should contact me at RR 1, Lucknow, NOG 2H0. Tony McQuail Official delegate Hydro Working Group News Items from Old Files SEPTEMBER 1934 The home of Mr. and Mrs. George Hawthorne of Lower Wingham narrowly escaped being destroyed by fire on Sunday morning. Neighbors responded immediately and extinguished the blaze before a great deal of damage was done. The cause of the fire is unknown. *Miss Bernice Blake, who made such a splendid showing in the Upper School examinations, was awarded a scholarship of $100 tuition for each of two years in Western University. The heavy frost last week did considerable damage in this district. The corn, potatoes and tomatoes ap- parently suffered the most and many field e of buck- wheat were badly affeeted. Beer went on sale in Goderich on Friday af- ternoon and on Saturday night disgraceful scenes were seen near the Bedford Hotel. More drunks were seen that one night than had been seen in a dozen years in the town. Ervin M. Ernest, who has for some time operated a brokerage office on Josephine Street, below the Brunswick Hotel, has moved his office to the store recently vacated by R. S. McGee in the MacDonald Block. While playing on the Bruce Beach Golf Course recently, Mrs. J. W. McKibbon was stieteasful in making a hole in one. The Prince of Wales is to be best man at his brother's wedding. What a difference it would make if this read "brother to be best man at Prince of Wales' wedding"! SEPTEMBER 1946 The Labor Day Frolic, the Lions annual big day for raising funds for their welfare work, was one of the most successful ever held. Winning prizes for best decorated bicycles were Audrey Henry and Lowell McDougall, Karen Swanson and Barry Fryfogle had the best national costumes and comic prizes went to Mary, Lou Dunlop and Catherine Brooks. Awards by the Belgium government to two former officers of the 99th Battery were included in a list of decorations announced by the Department of National Defence, The officers honored are Major Elmer Bell, formerly of Wingham and now of Exeter, and Capt. Richard James Roberts of Wingham. The Wingham High School reopened on Tuesday with an enrolment of 171. This' is an increase of 13 over last year, with Grade 9 having 60 students. A. farewell presentation was made by members of Sacred Heart parish to Rev. Joseph F. Paquette who will assume new duties at Parkhill; He has served the Wingham and Brussels parishes for the past 13 years. The judges at the Pro- gressive Conservative picnic at Goderich took only one look at Jimmy French of town and awarded him first prize in the contest for the boy with the most freckles. Lorne Zulauf has been engaged by the Milverton Hydro Electric Power Commission to look after their hydro system. Mr. Zulauf has had over 13 years' experience with the Wingham Public Utilities. Miss Dorothy Aitken of Bluevale left for Preston where she is engaged on the teaching staff n of the high school. SEPTEMBER 1957 Berry Door Co. Ltd., which commenced the manufac- ture of steel garage doors here about 17 months ago, has purchased the Wingham Metal Fabricating- firm. Operation' s at the Berry plant have expanded so rapidly that additional space 'was needed. Harry Lewis, H.E.P.C, employee of Lucan, has been engaged by the local P.U.C. Elwyn Chamney, who has been employed by the P.U.C. here for several years, has resigned. Mr. and Mrs. Miller Davis moved to the home they recently purchased from Jack Alexander on Patrick Street. The Alexander family has moved to the apartment above the har- dware store operated by Mr. Alexander who has pur- chased the building from Miss Grace Greer. A crowd estimated at between five and six thousand ' lined Josephine Street for the Frontier Day parade. Elva MacDonald was chosen Frontier Queen and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Woods of Turnberry were selected Frontier Couple. Mr. and Mrs. J. P. McKibbon were named best comic couple. Miss Donna Woods, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Woods of St. Helens, left for Kitchener where she will train for a nurse at K -W Hospital. Miss Etoile Moffatt of Bluevale, who has . been employed with Mutual Life Insurance Company of Waterloo, has accepted a position with Ontario Hydro at Wingham. • Clarence Ohnn who has been serving with United Nations forces in the Middle East, returned to this country last week 0 0 0 Following a public con- troversy about a link bet- ween diazepam and cancer the Canadian government is beginning a wide range of tests to determine whether the popular tranquillizer encourages cancer growth. t. • ." • „.itt, ne.••••:• • NO LOVE LOST by Helen Van Slyke America was struggling through the Depression when Pauline Thresher, the beautiful wife of a powerful banker, left her husband of 25 years because she could no longer bear his flagrant infidelity. Sara Thresher, her wise and compassionate mother-in-law, understood too well that wealth and position could net compensa- te for marriage to a cold, domineering man. She chose to go with Pauline, even though it meant a cruel and perhaps irrevocable estrangement from her own son. HOUSEWIFE by Ruth Jernick Meet this housewife: she's bored, she's hilariously angry, and she wants to murder her husband. Once hr s ple—husoank enudt HMI% Now that shkti eXkletsted her fruitless efforts to please a domineering husband and a son who can barely drag himself awaY.frOln the TV, her fantasies have. taken a different homicidal turn, y ting a "rep chccammhsaWheniapeunsei rmnru twreiin, Cannes igt wNAmerican 0 byi; orma ecrt the r,6443 sMargaretns crack Paris -to express, Off boarded ane ,otetra!atielom, er Qld school ne -Instead, she was immediate1 nfronted by Eric Matthews, the dynamic British stage director. Torn between her own ambitions and her love for Eric, Nancy is faced with the.greatest crisis of her life. News Items from Old Files SEPTEMBER 1967 Premier John Robarts announced that the long- awaited provincial election will be held October 17. In the Huroe-Bruce riding, two parties have already selected their candidates. The Progressive Conserva- tives have named Roger West of Wingham and Murray Gaunt will again carry the banner for the Liberals. Bluevale will 6e the setting for a special centennial service Sunday afternoon when Rev. Orville Jantsi, assistant superintendent of Huronview, Clinton, \\will be guest speaker. FolloWing the service, the official opening of the neW Turnberry TowesyieenuiglOpel.1:01theg will take place. Wingham Town Council set a new record for brevity when their regular Sep- tember session lasted only one hour and 13 minutes. Enrolment at the local high school has been steadily climbing each year and 1967 is no exception as Tuesday's registration of 1,015 set an all-time record. A record 64 entries turned up for Wingham's centennial parade, the best ever seen in Wingham. Prize for the best decorated bicycle went to twins, Brenda and Barbara Stapleton. The best child's centennial costume was worn by Laurie Henderson. The winning horse was ridden by Christine Rae and the best decorated car was driven by Al Hafermehl. Two Gorrie residents begin a new year, teaching at Ontario schools. Miss Carol Robinson goes to Brantford and Robert Grainger to Sarnia, Public School. Miss Mary Ann Southam was honored at a shower held at the home of Mrs. Douglas Skinn, prior to her marriage to David Curzon of Wingham. TODAY'S CHILD BY HELEN ALLEN 1 nen The merry looking baby is Sandy, sir months old. Sandy is as sociable and happy as he appears in his picture and developing extremely well though he was born with Down'seSyndrome (mongolism). Probably because he was started very early on an infant stimulation program he is pretty well.on a par with the average baby. Though his development will slow down if he goes according to pattern, he will likely accomplish more than a Down's child who has not had the benefit of the stimulation he is getting. Children with this condition often have health problems, and like many others, Sandy has a hole in his heart. However it does not affect him at all, and it appears to be closing on its own so no treatment is needed. Sandy is a lovable baby, sweet -tempered and easy to care for. He likes other children and can learn from them, so it will be good if he can be adopted by a family where he will have older brothers and sisters. To inquire about adopting Sandy, please write to Today's Child, Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices, Box 888, Station K, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2112. In your letter tell something of your present family and your way of life.