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Zurich Citizens News, 1978-02-16, Page 17Strike would make little sense Survey shows little support for teachers Secondary school teachers in Huron county won't be receiving much support from Zurich and area residents if they choose to strike, a survey conducted by the Citizen's News in- dicated. The county's 273 secon- dary school teachers re- jected the board's latest offer in a vote held last Wednesday. Bev Thompson, chairman of the provincial negotiating team for Huron county, in- dicated that the salary issue has been settled with only working conditions separating the two sides. In a fact finder's report authored- by Professor J.W. Samuels of the University of Western Ontario and which was released to the press in November, one of the 32 areas in which the board and teachers disagreed upon was the pupil teacher ratio. For schools with over 500 students, the teachers desired a P.T.R. of no more than 17,2 to 1. The -Board stated at the time, that the hiring five more teachers which would be necessitated by the lower P.T.R. was not possible due to the financial constraints which the province had imposed upon the bodrd. Thompson said that ac- tions taken by the teachers could range from a full scale walkout to a work to rule campaign which would cur- tail extra-curicular ac- tivities. At press time it was indicated that the teachers would take some form of ac- tion Wednesday, with the start of a work to rule cam- paign or the commencement of rotating strikes. While most of the persons surveyed indicated that the -teachers should have the right to strike, almost 100 percent felt that they had no reason to strike. Mrs. Ed Datars of Zurich expressed the opinion of many people when she said "I don't like this striking business .. . I think it's a poor example for the children. We should try to make do more." Peter Degroot of RR 2, Zurich said that the facts which he had heard, in- dicated little reason for the teacher's strike. "I'm not too crazy about public ser- vants striking, but then again you have to look at their side," he stated. "The teachers are off two months during the summer. Why can't they settle these things during that 'time?" Jim Wildfong of Zurich ask- ed. He said it was a waste of taxpayer's money to keep the schools open if the teachers were not be there. We asked if the high school teachers have a reason to strike, Ralph Geiger, replied "no". He said it was an act of hindsite on behalf of the teachers to ask for a lowering of the pupil -teacher ratio. He said that the rest of the public has no guarantee as to the number of jobs available and asked why should the teachers be treated any differently. Mrs. Louis Farwell hoped that the secondary school teachers would not have to resort to such action, She felt that if the teachers did strike that it would not be ' good for the children. Many of the readers felt that a strike would make lit- tle sense considering the fact that the wage issue had been settled. "Our prices are down and our costs are up. I think they're getting plenty," stated Mrs. Elmer Beierling of RR 2, Zurich. Mrs. Albert Clausius said that salaries have to stop somewhere and that the salaries are "high enough". FIRST WITH LOCAL NEWS Call fuel tenders THURSDAY,FEBRUARY 16, 1978 Approve Federation grant Hay township council met last Wednesday and authorized the issuing of a grant to the Ontario Federa- tion of Agriculture in the amount of $400., Council also announced that tenders for furnace oil, diesel fuel and gasoline will be issued. Advertisements will appear in the local press. Tenders are to be in to the clerk's office by 12 noon of March 1. Five persons hurt in crash near Hensall Five people were injured in a two -car crash south of Hensall, Sunday. None of the injuries was of a serious nature. Drivers involved in the crash on Highway 4 were Patrick Waterfield, London, and James Pickering, Ailsa Craig. Injured in the crash were Elizabeth Waterfield, • Patrick Waterfield, James Tweddle, Ann Tweddle and driver James Pickering. OPP Constable Larry Christiaen investigated and set total property damage at $2,500. It was one of three ac- cidents investigated by the Exeter detachment this week. The first accident oc- curred on Wednesday when vehicles driven by Alma Griffith, Huron " Park and Karen Pres t, RR 2 Centralia, - collided at the junction of Algonquin Drive and Huron Road 21 at Huron Park. Damage was listed at $600 ,by Constable Don Mason. Constable Al Quinn in- vestigated the other accident which occurred on Friday at the intersection of sideroad 15 and concession 2-3 of Usborne Township. Vehicles involved were- - driven by Ronald Doiron, RR 3 Exeter, and Kenneth Stoll, RR 2 Seaforth. Damage was high at $3,000, but no injuries were sustained by the drivers. During the week the local detachment officers charged 12 people under the Highway Traffic Act, nine under the Liquor Licence Act, two under the Narcotic Control Act and one under the Criminal Code. Building Inspector Harvey Clausius was authorized to inspect the work done for renovations and repairs con- ducted under the Ontario Home Renewal Program, before funds to the, building owner are allotted. In a council meeting held January 16, C.P. Corbett of Lucan was appointed as the engineer for the Datars- Miller drain. A bylaw was passed to im- pose a special tile drainage rate upon the following properties: Elwood Truemner, Con. 14, Lot 19- $679.50, James H. Taylor, Con. ,3, Lot 12- $394.11, Estate of William Fischer, Con. South boundary, Lot 32- $1100.79 and Jerome Ducharme, Con. 12, Lot 14- $1155.15. These amounts are to be imposed annually for a term of ten years. The clerk is then to apply to the Province of Ontario for the principal sum of $24,500. In the report of the last Hay township meeting that appeared in the Citizens' News, it was reported that the tenders for the supply- ing, loading and spreading of gravel would close June 9. The date should have read March 6. The Citizens' News regrets any embarrassment to members of council that was a result of this error. ADVANCE TO LEGION COMPETITION — The first, second and third place finishers in the Zurich Public School senior intramural public speaking competition will advance to the Legion zone competition that will be held tonight in Hensall. In the school competition, (left -right) Darlene Steckle finished second, Kathy Love took first place -and Mark Heimrich placed third. Staff photo Price Per Copy 20 Cents FARM TALK — Roy Jewell for many years host of CFPL TV's farm show was the guest speaker . at the Exeter Lion's Farmer's Night held Thursday at the Pineridge Chalet near Hensall. Prior to the start of the evening, Jack Fuller of the Exeter Lions and Lionel Wilder talked things over with Jewell. Staff photo Owners to be chargedfor drivewcsy snow clearing Residents of Zurich will have to pay the village $3.00 if they wish to have the front of their driveways cleared out by the village work's department, it was learned at Thursday's meeting of Zurich council. Councillor Isidore Laporte head of the streets, sidewalks and drains com- mittee said that it would be a financial hardship on the community if no charge was made for the snow removal. The meeting which had Chamber of Commerce members Jack Eckel and Jack Hamilton present, heard recreation committee chairman Claude Gelinas report that much progress has been made recently in the construction of dressing rooms at the arena. Council learned that at a special meeting of the recreation, parks and com- munity centre board, an agreement with regards to the proposed park area was nearing completion. The agreement which will be drawn up by Peter Rum- ble of the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority allows for the continuance of the various rights-of-way and puts on paper the Authority's commitment to develop a park for the village. The agreement has been drawn up due to the fact that the village, conservation authority and agricultural society all own land in the affected area. One light standard and the outfield of the new ball diamond will be on the agricultural society's property. Council approved the ex- tension of the building per- mit for Bob Merner and Per- cy Bedard for renovations on the apartment building across from the village's of- fice. The permit which was issued in September of 1976 was valid for one year and building inspector Harvey Clausius felt that he had no authority to extend the per- mit unless he obtained coun- cil's permission. Clausius recommended that the permit be extended providing the smoke detec- tors and an outside fire es- cape be added, plus that off street parking for five cars be provided, When Merner and Bedard appeared before council, they expressed their dis- pleasure over the require- ment for such an extension and noted that no expiry date was indicated on the building permit. Reeve Fred Haberer stated that the village had nothing to do with the prin- ting of the notices and that it was the national building code which specified the ex- piry date for the permits. In other news, council; Filed a resolution from the county of Grey that call- ed for a restructuring of county boards of education to make them more recep- tive to public concerns. A portion of the resolution that said boards of education are top heavy with ad- ministrative staff drew criticism from Haberer and Councillor Leroy Thiel with the two council members saying that considering the workload, the present staff allocations are not top heavy. Deferred a request from the Huron Plowman's Association for funds until the village's budget has been set.