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The Huron Expositor, 1985-09-25, Page 2EFar x Huron ®Sit®r v® SINCE 1880, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1985 Incorporating Brussels Post 10 Main Street 527-0240 Published in SEAFORTH, ONTARIO Every Wednesday morning ED BYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor The Expositor is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Armes, Bessie Broome, Marlene Charters, Joan Guichelaar, Anne Hotf, Joanne Jewitt, Stephanie Levesque, Dianne McGrath, Lois McLlwain, Bob McMillan, Cathy Malady and Patrick Bettis. Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc. Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union International Press Institute Subscription rates: Canada $20.00 a year (in advance) Outside Canada $60.00 a year (in advance) Single Copies - 50 cents each SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1965 Second 'class mail registration Number 0696 Tuna trials Only the best tasting tuna gets to be Star Kist -Charlie?.... Certainly in recent weeks that statement has lost more than a little credibility as millions of tins of the product have been forced off the shelves of Canadian' supermarkets. And no doubt Charlie isn't the only one questioning the process of screening the product. A recent decision by Minister of Fisheries John Fraser to overrule his own department's inspectors and allow the sale of nearly one million tins of questionable tuna was, to say the least, irresponsible. As Prime Minister Brian Mulroney said (no matter when he learned of his Minister's decision) the "rancid" tuna, which came from a Star-Kist Canada Inc. plant in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, should never have made it within reach of the consumer. "It is pretty damned obvious that tuna branded unfit for public consumption should never have been released for sale in the first place," he said. According to Mr. Fraser though the tuna posed absolutely no health danger whatsoever. And while he admits federal inspectors said from an aesthetic point of view the tuna ought not to be sold he apparently had no qualms about offering it for resale to the general/public. Certainly it is tar from reassuring to know the decision of public inspectors, who are to make sure meat and fish products in Canada are safe for human consumption, can be so easily disregarded and overruled by one individual, namely the Minister of Fisheries. As it did in this case the safety of the consumers should not depend entirely upon their own, unreliable check of smell and color once the product is opened in their home. Thank goodness in this case for the safety check type system somewhat inadvertently set up because of the bickering that goes on between the governing party and the opposition. Had it not been for this system Canadians might still be purchasing potentially hazardous goods, compliments of Mr. Fraser. Up until now regarded as a very responsible man, it is obvious Mr. Fraser slipped up here. In his position of being responsible for the lives of the people he served because he took, indirectly, responsibility for what they ate. He had to know there would be repercussion should word of his contrary decision reach the ears of the public, and the media. He had to know his decision would not be smiled upon. it is hardly reassuring that even after the initial decision was challenged in the House of Commons Mr. Fraser refused opposition demands to have the tuna seized, even though by this time it was known his decisipn went against the recommendations of two federal inspectors. Mr. Fraser finally reversed his decision but it is interesting and somewhat frightening to note his reasons for doing so. According to all reports available the decision was not made out of a concern that, one, the product may indeed be hazardous and the consumer could ultimately be in some sort of danger. Mr. Fraser made it clear that despite the statements of experts to the contrary, he still did not believe the tuna to be tainted. Secondly, it is interesting to note that never did Mr. Fraser admit he felt his initial decision was not made in the best interests of the Canadian and perhaps North American public. Instead Mr. Fraser said he changed hiS mind because of the public outrage that erupted over his decision to keep the tuna on the shelves. Mr. Fraser said he was reversing his decision in order to win back public confidence in the inspection process. While the recall is heartening the reasoning behind it is far from reassuring. That it took such a degree of pressure and harrassment from the public and opposing political parties before Mr. Fraser reconsidered his decision is appalling. Certainly it is indicative of the good that can be accomplished by public amalgamation, but in the same respect it is hardly reassuring the public and the opposition parties have to pursue so persistently such a topic before responsible action is taken. In such an area as food inspection, where great care must always be taken and where a wrong decision could ultimately mean a life or lives lost, chances should not be taken. There is just no margin for error. In any case such as this, where there is even the least possibility there could be trouble with the tuna, any decision to put it on the shelf, a decision that however remotely could threaten the very existence of mankind, can not only be regarded as irresponsible, but immoral and definitely bordering on murderous. Surely requesting the resignation of the person suggesting it is only acting out of concern for our own well being. — H.M. Letters must be signed The Huron Expositor has always published an active opinion page opposite the editorial page. Every week readers express their opinions on a variety of subjects and topics through the letters to the editor published on Page 3. We highly value the opinions of the readership and welcome that contact and insight on a regular basis. It is no secret that letters to the editor are widely read whether or not one happens to agree with the opinions expressed. But with the expression of an opinion comes the duty and obligation of the author to stand by his or her thoughts. Subsequent to that, all letters submitted for publication should be signed by the author. The author can request that a pseudonym be used, but the writer's name and phone number must be left with the editor and available upon request. If the letter expresses the opinions of a group of people, it may be signed as such but the name and number of a spokesperson should also be available to readers who request same. The Huron Expositor receives several unsigned letters and they cannot be acknowledged. Freedom of speech is the hallmark of democracy but it also carries with it some responsibilities. Cow Wash Photo by Patrick Raftis Urban populace ignorant For anyone who cares about fai.ning. the communities that depend on far -ring and indeed on the future of the country, the ignorance of the urban population in Canada is appalling and frightening. One doesn't just have to talk to their big city cousins to grasp this. I was recently at a farm meeting in Bruce county with repre- sentatives of the weekly newspapers and was amazed at how dumb some reporters were. Government as a whole seems to reflect this ignorance. There was the ridiculous government study last spring for instance, that said farmers made more money and paid less tax than other Canadians at a time when those of us living in rural areas could see farm families tearfully giving up the way of life they wanted to take urban jobs because they just couldn't make ends meet anymore. And now comes the new "MacDonald Report" with observations and recommend- ations on farming that make it obvious Mr. MacDonald and his commissioners didn't spend any of their $21 million to buy rubber boots to go out and see what's actually happening on the farm. From the synopsis printed in newspapers at least, the MacDonald commission's farm section, it's obvious the commissioners came out of their deliberations (if they indeed even took time to deliberate about farm issues) BEHIND THE SCENES by Keith Roulston. with the same prejudices they went in with. It's impossible to establish any farm policy out of the contradictory recommendations. For instance, the commissioners complain our farm industry is too dependent on subsidies. They've got a point. But the only way to produce food without subsidies is to come up with orderly marketing (just as General Motors, law societies and other groups have found), The way to get orderly marketing is through supply management. Yet the commissioners say supply man- agement should be phased out because it doesn't promote efficiency. What should it be replaced by? Stabilization plans into which both the farmer and the government pay fees and the farmers draw out like insurance when the price of the product gets low. But isn't this a government subsidy? Only one supply management system sees any government subsidy and that's the dairy industry and only because the government is afraid to let the consumer pick up the full price of producing milk. Far from being against free enterprise, the farmers under supply management are more self-sufficient, less dependent on government than the farmers who refuse to go into orderly marketing. What's more, given the interven- ing inflation, prices for food produced under supply management have increased less than prices of foods not under such systems. The Commissioners were won ' . . `lout the amount of farm land being I . ' er for urban purposes (farmers ti.cn,sely-ts stopped worrying about that about 10 years ago and worried instead about just how they were going to manage to keep farming tomorrow). Again, there is but one answer to keep land in farming: pay enough for farm produce that land is worth as much to the farmer as to the developer. Keep people on the farms, in the small towns, so we don't have to keep expanding cities. Unfortunate- ly, through their ignorance, Mr. MacDonald and his commission are producing recom- mendations which would do just the Opposite. Duck hunters out in force in the early hours of the morning they start creeping out of bed, At least an hour before sunrise they are loaded with equipment and on their way to a rendezvous with fellow hunters. In the darkness they struggle through wet grass and shrubs to a hiding spot beside a pond or swamp. As the sun peeks over the horizon there is an explosive flurry of activity. With the morning light, the hunters attempt to get their first duck of the season. If they were lucky and ducks were on the pond, and if they were a good shot, they may succeed. This week is the opening of duck hunting season. Many of my friends are hunters and they will be taking part in this ritual. The sport is exciting and demanding. Patience and skill are necessary qualities in a hunter. Their determination and their enthusiasm impress me. The sport is not inexpensive. in order to shoot at even one duck, a hunter must have three licenses. He needs a firearms acquisition certificate in order to purchase a gun. He must show proof of having completed a training program in order to obtain the necessary hunting license. He must also obtain a migratory birds hunting COUNTRY CORNER by Larry Dillon license. Of course there is a fee for each of these. The equipment can be very costly. A good shotgun will cost about $300 and around $20 worth of ammunition will be needed. Some hunters also have decoys, duck calls, camouflage clothing and other accessories. Waterproof boots are a must for those who have to wade out after their game. When these expenses are added up, a hunter can expect to pay somewhere in the range of $50 to $80 a pound for the ducks they will get in their first season That is, if they do not add any allowance for the time they spend on the hunt. There are compensations, it is difficult to place a value on the time spent enjoying the natural beauty of our countryside. There is a thrill in a successful hunt, that is hard to describe to nonhunters. It is a tradition that repeats some of the activities of the early settlers of our country. f do not object to hunting as a sport, but i sometimes wonder if it is really worth all that effort. To tolerate the indignities of the multiple licensing restrictions must strain the patience of most hunters. The increasing expense of the sport makes a mockery of the tradition of hunting as a source of food. Not only do hunters put up with these conditions, they cheerfully endure the cold and dampness while waiting for first light on opening day I can respect the dedication and the drive those fellows have, but it's just not my game. On opening morning, while they are wet and shivering and waiting for the sun to break through the morning mist, I have better things to doi intend to be snug and warm at home and in bed, Old people not most boring I was going to say, "There's nothing more boring than old people talking about the 'good old days' when they were young." Then I realized that i was out in left field, with nobody at bat, the pitcher chewing tobacco and spitting juice, the catcher fumbling around trying to adjust his athletic protector. as they now call a metal jockstrap. There are many things more boring. little children who want one more horsey ride when your spine feels fractured in eight places from the 10 previous jaunts. Teenagers babbling endlessly about rock stars, boyfriends. girlfriends, and the money they need to keep up with their friends. "How come we only have a 21 inch TV^ I'm 16, why can't i stay out till 3 a.m. if i want to? I'm the only girl in the class who doesn't have construction workers boots!" University students, perhaps the most boring creatures in our society. After the initial chirps of recognition: "Oh, Mr. Srfriley, how are you? How's it going?" And then 40 minutes of straight, self-centred description of their university courses or their jobs, their professors, their disenchant- ment with their courses, their unspoken admission that they can't hack it, as you knew they couldn't in the first place. I manage to brush them off after about eight minutes with a cheery, "So long, Sam, great to hear you're doing so well, and best of luck. i have to go to an orgy for senior citizens that starts in four minutes, with the pornographic movie." It's great to leave then there with their mouths hanging open. Next worse, in the boring department, are young couples who have produced one or two infants, and talk as though they'd swum the Atlantic, or climbed Mount Everest. "Let me tell you what Timmy (or Kimmy) said the other day. He was sawing wood in the nursery school, and his saw slipped, and he pointed at his saw, and he said, 'Don't you dare do that', and the teacher told me, and she said it was the most hilarious thing SUGAR AND SPICE by Bill Smiley she'd ever seen, and blah blah blab. Boring. B -o -r -i -n -g We can all top that type of story. My daughter. age 7. Grade 2, just getting over the Santa Claus bit, came home one day and told my wife she knew what a certain familiar four-letter word that she d seen scrawled on the sidewalk meant At the time, rather absentmindedly, with Dr. Spock lurking in the background, she enquired, "And what does it mean, dear?" The response was, "When men and ladies lie down on top of each other and go to the bathroom." That was the end of any birds and bees instruction. Next in the descending line of boring conversationalists are middle-aged grand- parents. The women, young enough to still elicit a whistle on a dark night, the men old enough to suck in their paunches when a bikini walks by, they act as though they had invented grandchildren. They whine ex- changed whimpers about the babysitting they have to do. They brag that their grandchildren are the worst little devils in the world. Boring. And finally, we get to the elderly. Certainly some of them are boring, but they are the ones who have been bores all their lives. But the others, the salty ones, even though slowed by the body's increasing frailty, retain their saltiness, and even improve on it, because they don't give a god damn anymore. They can say what they like and do what they like. And they do. I've met or talked to three men in their late 80s recently. My father-in-law, 89, seemed rather frail when we arrived for a visit. at 3 p.m. At 11 that night we were still arguing religion and politics, at top form. I've told you about old Campbell. the 85-er who dowses wells and is set to go to Paraguay. Talked to my great-uncle, riddled with arthritis. and his voice and welcome were as warm and crackling as a fireplace freshly lit. This whole column was inspired by a dipping my sister sent me about 88 year old Lawrence Consitt of Perth, Ontario. Lawrence was present when the last man was hanged in Perth. His comment: "It was strange.' The man had turned to the crowd and smiled just before his death. He had murdered his wife. Today he'd be given a manslaughter and six years, Lawrence started playing piano 79 years ago, at dances, at the silent pictures theatre. He got five dollars a night for a dance. The talkies knocked him out of a job in 1930. But he kept on playing ragtime and jazz wherever there was an opening. I listened to him improvise for the silent movies. i danced to his piano at country dances, with his nieces and great-nieces. He always had a crock. Took the pledge in 1925. It lasted 13 months. Got sick on a ship to France in 1918, and was too late to be killed. He never married: "But i drank a lot of whiskey." He's in one of those Sunset Havens now, but when they ask him when he'll be back from a day in Perth, he says, "it depends on who I meet." That's boring? Hang on, Lawrence. You gave great pleasure to many people. I hope i can stay as salty as you. le