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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-06-01, Page 4age of e. itoridl o Mbe 111 am •ibbance®ittmeg Published at V ingham. Ontario. M Wenger e'r Bros. Limited Barry Wenger. President Henry Hess. Editor k sale features ial attractions Robert O. Wenger. Sec.-Treas. Audrey Currie. Advertising Manager Member Audit Bureau of (irculatiuns Member — Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc Subscriptions $20.00 per year Second (lass Mail Registration No (1821 Ontario Community Newspaper Assoc The visitors are back The cool, damp spring weather has delayed the visits of many weekend guests to our community, but now the tents and trailers have started to reap- pear in the park area adjacent to Vic- toria Street and the Lower Town pond. We bid them welcome to our town and hope they all enjoy their time here. Many of the weekenders who choose the Wingham park for their brief holidays are the folks who want to avoid the crowding and sometimes rowdy atmosphere which has become such a problem in the large provincial Six months $11.50 Return postage guaranteed parks. Small towns are frequently derided as places of such a sleepy na- ture that more sophisticated city dwellers would die of boredom. How- ever, we sense that there is a growing class of folks from the big places who are seeking that same quiet atmos- phere as a relief from the strains of city life. Whatever their reasons for visiting in our town, we are glad to have them with us and hope that all Wingham people with whom the visitors come in contact will make them feel welcome. A chilling pattern The involvement of • the United States in the war in South Vietnam be- gan with the apparently innocent pro- vision of assistance to the peoples •ef Southeast Asia who were fighting the Communist forces from the north. First it was food and military supplies, then came the military advisors and finally thousands of young American soldiers committed to a hopeless. cause.. Successive .American presidents and governments have carried forward a consuming fear of Communist domination in any part of the world. There. is -of course'.considerable- Usti;.. fication for such, fears. Anyone old enough to remember the years preced- ing the Second World War can recall the way in which British and French governments waited in idle pacifism while Germany rearmed. The great flaw in America's active opposition to left wing regimes, how- ever, is that her efforts take the form of active support for governments and dictators with long histories of repres- sion and disregard of human rights. Batista in Cuba, Samosa in Nicaragua, were maintained in power for years, despite their arrant respression of human rights and freedoms. The Am- ericans have backed a cruel dictator- ship in Chile because the opposition in that country was Communist led. American military authorities in Viet- nam supervised "democratic" elec- tions in which only one name appeared on the ballots Now the American "advisors" are pouring into El Salvador; and one of theft haVakieeti,theif by leff-Wing quer- rillas. How long before the advisors will be backed up by American mili- tary personnel under arms? No sensible person on this side of the world vents to see Communist gov- ernments established in neighboring countries.'What we fail to realize is the fact that people under oppression, suf- fering the injustices and tortures of cruel dictatorships, will turn to what- ever philosphy and Readership offers relief from their suffering. System needs revising The present race for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party exemplifies some of the faults and weaknesses which have developed in our Canadian system of representa- tion. As British parliamentary govern- ment developed over the centuries,, one underlying principle was maintained. Parliament -was the meeting place for those men who would speak for the people. They did not walk or ride to London to be told what to say by some particularleader; they came to speak out for those who had elected them. (The word "parliament" comes from the French root, porter, to speak.) The concept of free -thinking and sturdy men and women speaking out in Ottawa for the free and independent citizens of the land has degenerated into three groups of party hacks who say what they are told to say by (heir leaders. The price of independence for the MP who wants to speak for his elec- tors is to be silenced by the party. Thus we find ourselves interested in a leadership convention chiefly be- cause one man, supported by a close following of upper-level party lumin- aries, will speak for all of us — whether we like what he has to say or not. As the various leadership candi- dates tell the public what they would do if elected, we have Sheard all the ex- pected promises — straighten out the economy, revert to a simplistic flat - rate tax system, permit testing of the cruise missile, open the borders to American investment, efc. One prom- ise has gone largely unremarked. Joe Clark said that he would favor more "free" votes in the House - votes in which party members would not be compelled to follow official party lines. The members of • the American Congress are permitted a great deal more freedom to express independent opinion than are their Canadian coun- terparts. Just a week ago a solid group of congressmen switched from opposi- tion to President Reagan's MX missile program to its support. They will not be castigated by their party. They are free to speak for themselves. Members of the Canadian parli- ament, up to and including the prime minister have frequently referred to the pressing need for revisions of the rules under which our House of Com- mons operates. When and if they ever do get around to rule changes, it is the basic principles — government of the people, by the people and for the people, which must receive unanimous attention. Pictures incomplete When television cameras were first permitted to record the sessions of the House of Commons this column pre- dicted, although hesitantly, that such public exposure might result in more effective debates. We dared to hope that a member of parliament, viewing a re -run of a day's proceedings, might see himself through the eyes of his constituents and thus seek to present a more serious and productive image. So far the presence of a national television audience has done nothing to change behaviour in the House. As the public must realize by this Time, the rules of intelligent debate are nonexist- ent in Parliament. Hecklers interrup the speakers who have the floor at any given time with loud and often insulting remarks. Boos and cheers errupl, re- gardless of the seriousness of the mat- ter under debate. Nor are the cameramen left with any opportunity to provide an overall view of the House and its members. They must keep their cameras focused on fhe person who is speaking at any given time. There is no "panning" to show how many or how few members are present, how many are asleep or whether they are all sober and atten- tive. Teleivison coverage of parliamen- tary sessions should provide exactly the same overview as is available to any Canadian who has the opportunity to sit in the visitors' gallery. It is our government; we elect and pay the people who are participating in its de- liberations on our behalf. The cost of operating parliament, taken by the day, is extremely high. Why should speakers not be permitted to say their respective pieces without interruption and delay? Admittedly, the present form of raucous squabbling is a British tradition and no doubt pro- vides some excitement and spice dur- ing the long and tiresome speeches, but that is one tradition we could well af- ford to drop. Why should our parliamentarians not get down to business like the dir- ectors of a well-run business concern? Deal with the facts, listen to opposing arguments and opinions — and thus exhibit their awareness of the serious responsibilities with which they have been charged. Items from Old Fil JUNE 1336 The town hall was taxed to capacity for the graduation exercises of the, i Wingham General _ IItosgsftal-:---Thrfs - graduating were Miss Jean Coulter, Wingham, Miss Marie McKenzie, Parkhill, Miss Leila Hislop, Wroxeter, and Miss Kathleen Austin, Teeswater. This will be the last class to graduate here. A new law states that a hospital, to conduct a training school, must have 50 beds. Constable T. W. Platt, at the annual Guelph Police Revolver Tournament, scored 202 out of a possible 240, to win the tournament. Harry Danner, who has been on the staff of the Canadian Bank of Com- merce at Brussels for some time, has been transferred to the Wingham branch of the bank. Thomas E. Wilson of Whitechurch, a member of the graduating class of the Stratford Normal School, gave the valedictory address at ceremonies held last week. W. Earl Rowe is Con- servative Chieftain of On- tario. The election was a fight between the member from Dufferin and Colonel George Drew. Rev. A. H. O'Neil of Gorrie receives the degree, Bachelor of Divinity, from the Faculty of Arts, University of Western On- tario, this week. • JUNE 1948. Work of - constructing sewers on the streets in Wingham not already .ser- " -view was ibegun last week. Included are Scott Street, the north end of Centre, Alice and Albert in Pleasant Valley, the north ends of Minnie and Leopold and the south portions of Catherine and Carling Terrace where the 50 new wartime houses will be erected. Mr. and Mrs; Elmer Zinn, Belmore, announce the 'engagement of their daughter, Bethea Jean (Betty), to James Alan Darling, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Darling, Carrick. The electors of Huron - Bruce will in the upcoming election have a choice of only two candidates: John W. Hanna, Progressive 'Con- servative, and Hugh Hill, Liberal. Many have been quite interested in the road - building project west of Whitechurch on Highway 86. The provincial bulldozer has been drawing out logs, about ten feet long, that had been put in to make the old cor- duroy road across a stretch of swampy road over 60 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Harding moved to their new home in Fordwich on Saturday. A meeting was held in Gorrie to nominate a suc- cessor to E. J. Farrish, former deputy reeve of • • -Howick. E. H. Strong, for- mer councillor, succeeds Mr. Farrish as deputy reeve and McCallum is-- the—new councillor, JUNE 1959 It has been annodnced that Frank Madill has been named principal of Wingham District High School, to succeed W. Stanley Hall who has resigned to take a position in Simcoe; Among the graduates receiving the Master of Education degree at the University of Toronto con- vocation exercises was James W. Coulter, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Coulter, Patrick Street, Wingham. Members o Wingham Town Counci discussed the subject o repairs and painting the town hall. The council as inspected the on the hall and decided it is in good condition and will be left in place. Mem- bers also decided to call for tenders for the painting of the exterior of the building, including the tower. Sunday was a red-letter day in the history of Knox Presbyterian. Church, Bluevale, when Rev. T. E. Kennedy dedicated four memorials. A pulpit Bible is the gift of the Young People; two brass collection plates, the gift of Alvin Smith, are in memory of his parents, the late John H. and Mrs. Smith; a pulpit fall, the gift of the family of Mrs. Nora Moffatt, is in memory of their father, the late -Oliver Brown Moffatt; and a pulpit Book of Praise is the gift of Mac -Scott- and ---Mia; -Garniss; iw memory of their sister, the late Olive Scott. JUNE 1969 The Wingham Parks Board has had about 40 young trees planted in the area just east of the Hanna brid$e on the south side of the Maitland. Plans call for a further extension of the improvement area along the river front at the Berry Patch. The congregation of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church made a decision in/ - the form of a unanimous call to Rev. Robert H. Arm- strong, presently pastor, of a Hamilton church, to succeed Rev. Gordon Fish. Douglas G. Coultes, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Coultes, received his Bachelor of Mathematics degree at the University of Waterloo. Miss Ann Gibson, a graduate of Stratford Teachers' College, has been hired to teach in Wingham. Miss Grace Thompson, presently with the London Board of Education, will teach at East Wawanosh. Barry Heffer, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Heffer of Turnberry, finished his course in barbering in London and last week commenced work at his trade in Listowel. Dear Editor, On Saturday, June 4, and Sunday, June 5, the Blyth Centre for the Arts will sponsor its fourth annual used book sale at the Memorial Hall in Blyth. This popular fundraising event not only provides us with revenue for the operating account of the Blyth Summer Festival, but it also provides the public with the opportunity to take specially conducted tours through the working areas of the theatre and see first- hand what goes on behind a production. This year the board of directors has invited authors Edna Staebler and Harry J. Boyle to join us during this event and give readings from some of their material in the art gallery. Mrs. Staebler, author of Food that Really Schmecks and More Food That Really Schmecks, will be reading from her Thanks for supporting the cancer campaign Dear Editor, On behalf of the Wingham branch of the Cancer Society, I would like to sincerelythank everyone Who responded so generously to our fundraising activities during the month of April 1 would... also like to especially thank the many volunteers who went door-to- door, sold daffodils, rode bicycles, donated time, donated materials. We all know who these special people are and- appreciate their ongoing commitment to helping beat cancer. A special thanks to those who organized special events: Judy Nevery who ran a splendid Daffodil Tea, the Opti -Mrs. who organized a tremendous Ladies' Great Ride for Cancer and Bill Matisz for coordinating our publicity. Bill Keil Cancer Campaign Chairman Wingham Please return stolen flag Dear Editor, We are proud to be citizens of Canada and proud to fly the flag of our country in front of our home. We are not sure we are proud of all the citizens in it, because someone removed our flag from our lawn. If the party who took it would like to return it, in the wee, small hours of the night, we would be very happy. George & Eileen Hamilton Wroxeter recently -published book, Whatever Happened to Maggie and various short stories. This will take place Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. Mr. Boyle, whose book Mostly in Clover inspired a play by the same name in the opening season of the Blyth Summer Festival, will be reading from some of his books Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Both authors will gladly autograph copies of their books for visitors at their readings. In addition to the readings, a special performance of folk music, songs and stories will take place Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m, for all children, large and small, in at- tendance at the book sale. Merrick Jarrett, a talented musician and storyteller from Kitchener, will in- troduce children to traditional folk music, using a combination of guitar, recorder, dulcimer and lumberjack dolls. A special art show will be held in the art gallery on the weekend of the book sale. This show consists of weaving by local weaver Toni Vos, pottery by Rob Tetu and Addie McPhee and ceramic works by local artist Pat Cook. Many of the pieces on display in this show will be for sale. Also, a bake sale spon- sored by the Friends of Blyth and the Blyth Festival Singers as well as a luncheon _0.ounter will be -in operatii n= throughout both days of the sale. The London Children's Book Shop will also be present at this fundraiser, selling new children's books. Throughout this two-day event, puppet shows presented by the children who participated in the Festival children's workshop last year will take place. The Goderich District Collegiate Institute mime company will • perform on the lawn outside, weather permitting. Marian Doucette Booksale Coordinator Blyth New Books in the Library , EAGLE SOUND by James Houston Author of The White Dawn and Ghost Fox, James Houston has written a third novel, beautifully illustrat- ed, about the West Coast Indians, their treatment of the white crew of a New England trading ship and the subsequent adventures of the only two survivors. It is a compelling tale, written with deep understanding and re- spect for an indigenous cul- ture which is part of our heritage. l • • THE WINGHAM COMMUNITY BAND played its heart out with an excellent con- cert in the newly -painted auditorium above the Town Hall on Sunday afternoon. U'nfortuna'tely the concert was poorly advertised and only a few people showed up, but the music could be heard right out on main street. Selectiols ranged from rousing marches to "Let There Be Peace on Earth" and "Love Me Tender" as the band proved if has come a long way in a very short time.