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The Huron Expositor, 1984-09-12, Page 2Huron sit r SINCE 1880, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating Brus'seis Post • 10 Main.Strirt ' 527-0240 Published In SEAFORTH, ONTARIO Every Wednesday ihorning JOCELYN A. SHRIER, Publisher RON WASSiNK, Editor • f, JANET L. MacDONALD, Advertising Manager •Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc Ontario Community Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commoriwefalth Press Union GC International Press Institute Subscription rates: Canada $18.75 a year (In advance) Outside Canada $55.00 a year (in advance) Single Copies - 50 cents each SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1984 Second class mail registration Number 0696 Canadians vote._ 'Canadians wanted a change and that's exactly what they got last Tuesday when the federal Progressive Conservative party was voted into power. And voted in they were — with a total of 211 seats -- the largest majority In Canada's history. Canadians were concerned with the high unemployment rate, income tax and a staggering 'national deficit which is well into the billions of dollars — a deficit which seemed out of control. The Liberal party, having governed Canada for the past 16 years, was not the party to lead Canada for the next four years according to the Conservatives and 50 per cent of the voters. But the majority the Conservatives received, called a landslide victory by many, astonished not only Canadians, but the politicians. It's fair to say the Liberal party was humiliated. Quebec and Ontario went from Liberal red to Tory blue. But the same held true across Canada, From Newfoundland to British Columbia, the Conservatives received the needed support they had hoped for and much more. As Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff said, ",Ne now are truly a national party." - Election fever fizzled as the last polls were counted. But Canadians new prime minister, Brian tis country is going to turn must remember the changes promised Mulroney. They must also remember, that itself around, times will get tougher instead of better. Canadians wanted a change. With that change, we must be willing to give, instead of take. If Mr. Mulroney has any hope of reducing the deficit, start new programs, or support agriculture as promised, then he will at the same timehave to slash programs Introduced by the previous government. We've become accustomed to receiving 50 cent dollars, free dollars and forgiveable loans. This Is where the cutbacks will have to start. We can't continue to ask for handouts and hope the economic situation will improve. Unfortunately, Mr. Mulroney nor any politician aren't magicians. A simple Abracadabra won't make the problem go away. We have to face facts and reaiize`we have to do more for ourselves. Perhaps the time to tighten belts has come. We hbVe tb accept more responsibility for our own welfare and for the welfare of others. It's time we helped each other instead of relying on government assistance. The solution to any problem is never easy. Canadians voted for an alternative. Are we willing to pay the price? - R.W. Pope is coming, Catholics and non-Catholics have been waiting in a ticipation of the visit of Pope John Paul II. And for the first time in Cana and Roman Catholic history, a pope has set foot on Canadian soil. Like It or not, Canadian taxpayers have shelled out millions of dollars to make the papal visit possible. Some people abhore the money spent to protect Pope John Paul during his 12 day visit in Canada. Last figures showed an expenditure of more than $7 million. Perhaps the time for a papal visit couldn't have been better. Church numbers have been declining in most denominations. And the doyvnward spiral seems endless. The Pope is attracting thousands of people- at each of his pre -arranged stops in his cross -Canada tour. Maybe the visit is all that is needed to Inspire absentee church members. Pope John Paul is making two stops in Toronto and Midland. And because history is being made and due to the fact there are a large number of Catholics in the Seaforth area, a Huron Expositor reporter is planning to cover the Midland stop. Anyone who is planning to travel to Midland is asked to call the Expositor, 527-0240. We want to know your thoughts about the visit. - R.W. Closing down COUNTRY CORNER. by Larry Dillon Burns Meats Limited has threatened to permanently close its Kitchener packing plant. The company is reacting to a labor dhspute over employee wages. A company spokesman says that the ultimatum is necessary to resolve the impasse between management and union. About 450 of the unionized workers have been picketing the Burns plant since June 18. The workers claim that they are locked out. The plant management claims that the workers are striking. Both sides refuse to make any major concessions m their disagreement. The company has a valid argument. They feel that it would be better to close down. rather than to operate at a toss. They claim to he offering to pay all they can afford. They explain that they need to remain competitive in the Ontario market to make it worthwhile keeping the, plat open. The workers are upset. Their predicament is understandable: They are aware that some wage concessions may be necessary, but they refuse to accept concessions beyond those made by the employees at the Burns plant in Lethbridge, Alberta. This involved freezing the wages of present employees for 22 months and reducing the starting rate for new employees from S1I.99 an hour to 59. Union representatives have said that the union will not give in to the company's insistence that they make further conces- /i siorrs. The company refuses to meet union demands and states that it will permanently dose the Kitchener plant unless the strike is resolved. The Ontario Ministry of Labor has intervened and has convinced the company to delay its scheduled closure date, This will give plant mangement and union more time to reach an agreement. Both sides have taken positions which can be considered reasonable from their own selective viewpoint. They both refuse to give any further because the action may be taken as a sign of weakness by the other side. They have publicly stated their position and threaten to stick with them even if it costs them their packing plant and their jobs. Perhaps it would be helpful if the union could try harder to understand the position of the management: A packing plant is not operated as a charitable venture just to create jobs. It must make a profit or withdraw as much of its investment as possible before all is lost. The company must also realize that to make that profit. it needs the willing co-operation and help of its employees. They must work together so that they will both make money from the operation of the business. If one side demands all the profits generated by the operation of the business. PLEASE SEE PAGE THREE 1 The crowning touch New York is bigger and better. 1 have to admit, New York is a magnifi ht city. It's a city for the young and the young at heart. Life goes on, day and night, and at night. Broadway is the best night spot in town. 1 had heard so much about Broadway, that 1 was determined to take a "stroll.' down Broadway, take in a Broadway show and eat at a fancy restaurant. Before anyone plans to do any of this, be prepared to have a wallet full of cash or charge card. it's 'very expensive. On our first night in New York, we walked down Broadway, drinking in the atmosphere of gopd times and great fun. We were told to s e the show "Cats", but alas, all tickets were sold for the next day's matinee performance. The nice thing about Broadway is if one show is sold out. there's always another to go to. "Zorba" was advertised in bright lights. two stories high, but I wasn't impressed with the advertised photos displayed on the front of the theatre. And there were seats available. We walked about two blocks and I happened to glance down a side street (I think it was 48th) and noticed a sign cmblazened with Neil Simon's name. I'm a Neil Simon fan because 1 enjoy comedy. And besides. Neil SENSE AND NONSENSE by Ron Wassink Simon is a famous author and playwright. He's written such scripts such as "Same time next year" and "California Suite". The show, a comedy playing in the Neil Simon Theatre, was called The Brighton Beach Memoirs. rd never heard of the show •before, but talked to a harried little man who sat in a small cubicle with an iron bar' for a window. Actually, we didn't talk because he seemed so busy he couldn't hive me the time of day. Yes. there were seats ava. .ale. How much did we want to pay --540. 532. 527, 522 or did we want 510 standing room only tickets. After 1 picked myself off the floor. the ticket man told the location of the expensive scats and the not so expensive. Being a middle of the road kinda guy, 1 decided on the S27 seats. He said they were on the lower messanine. And when 1 asked for good seats. he said, "Of course I'll give you good seats. They're all good." He seemed a trifle upset at my request. So much for 5108 (four seats). 1 do admit the shos0 was hilarious -- I'd do it all over again.•But thank goodness for charge cards. After the show. we went to Mama Leone's. supposedly an ancient. famous Italian Restaurant. We didn't have reservations, but seeing we were tourists, the maitre d' found us a table. You could tell that the restaurant owners were in business to make money. The tables were crammed so close together that there was hardly enough room for me to fold my legs when 1 sat down. My knees were around my ears. The place was filled with huge oil paintings and Greek statues. Simply breathtaking. There were wafters, but no waitresses. (so much for the scenery). 'and thc food was average. I've had better for less. but it was filling. In fact we were stuffed with pasta and other delicacies. Our bill was 583 and we had no wine. Thc waiter informed us that gratuities were not included and "don't make a mistake." 1 added, what 1 thought was a generous $9 to the total, and he refused to take it •- he wanted more -- 15 per cent. I couldn't believe it. To get out of the place. 1 settled for an extra $5. On leaving, decided all the water and coffee was too much, went to the washroom and a guy in white followed me in. When 1 finished. he blocked my exit, promptly turned on a water tap, handed me a bar of soap and towel. So much for another 51. We took a tour on the Circle Line Boat Tour. travelling around the whole of Manhattan Island, We saw the Statue of Liberty enclosed in 127 ton of scaffolding, and saw the many bridges leading to the island. Very impressive. A lasting impression is the commentary given by the announcer on the boat. As he pointed out the various buildings and homes. it was always. "it's the biggest in the world; the third largest in the world: used to be the largest in thc world; or. we're planning us build a 150 storey office tower, the biggest in the wtasld." And that's New York. a city that had the biggest, has the biggest and if they don't have the biggest right now, will have it soon. Is Brian Mulroney, a smarter politician? One hesitates to add to the tremendous waste of newsprint and hot air that has been expended over the election results but the euphoria of the bandwagon has led to so many stupid things being said and written that one can hardly avoid sticking his two cents worth in. Punsters, pollsters and politicians seemed to have been obsessed lately in looking at trends to the point they don't study human nature. That can be the only explanation for some of the ridiculous commentaries that followed the election. For instance, even before people went to the polls. one natinnal columnist was saying the Tories should have no trouble holding onto power until well into the 1900's. With the massive majority Mr. Mulroney won. that might seem an accurate prediction. But remember 1958 when John Diefenbaker was an even larger maiority. vet five years later was Out of office. Ah yes, the columnists says. hut Brian BEHIND THE SCENES by Keith Roulston Mulroney is a smarter jtotitielan than John Diefenbaker. He won t make the same mistakes. Well. let's say that's right. Even if Mr. Mulroney does a fairly good job in Ottawa. Many people supported him this time because they wanted a change. But they will vote differently next time either because they still want change or because they can now go back to the people they normally vote for. Probably even many of those who did support him were wondering if they hadn't voted for change a little on the side of the ridiculous by Wednesday morning. The huge majority is bound to shrink by next election at the best of times and by the election after that. the mood could be for change again. But who says Brian Mulroney, as inexperienced as he is. can be more successful handling a huge majority govern• meet than Diefenbaker, the old professional. The right-wing westerners in the party see this as their chance to get rid of all the policies they've never liked. a chance to get what they want for the west. But Mr. Mulroney attracted many new votes. particularly in Quebec and Oniano by moving into the centre of the policy sector. if he manages to stay there. he may have trouble with the right-wingers in caucus. If he doesn't. he'll quickly lose the support of many of the voters who put him in office, In addition. such a huge majority means people expect much. but it will be almost impossible for the Conservatives to fulfill their expectations, iliefenbaker found out in 1958. Trudeau found out in I%8. And there's the media. Having found out that John Turner wasn't the god they'd made him out to he (good lord. the man actually made mistakes) they jumped on the Mulroney bandwagon. Mr. Mulroney may hold that honeymoon feeling a few months longer but within months, the new•shounds are likely to be snapping at his heels. The lifespan of politicians in this age of media overkill is shortening every year. From talking about Canada being a one-party state under the Liberals. some are now predicting the disappearance of that party. But if you study human nature, you can see that the Canadian people are a long way from burying that party more than temporarily. Poor planning caused accident h's still too danged hot and dry to get steamed up +about anything, if you can figure out that mangled metaphor. so I'm going to give you something light. yet not without weight. This came to me via Jack Ryan. who clipped it from someone who had reprinted it from the newsletter of the English equiva- lent of the Workmen's Compensation Board. Therefore. it's at least fourth hand. but I'm sure it will tickle the risibiilities of any person who has ever had to deal with the civil service, whether it be Revenue Canada. the County Weed Commission. or the Sewage Committee of the Town Council. it`s a bricklayer's report for compensation for an accident. h might he entitled Poor Hanning. Here it goes: "Dear Sir: I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block 3 of the accident reporting form. 1 put "Poor Planning" as the cause of my accident. You said in your letter that 1 should explain more fully and i trust that the following details will be sufficient. . "lam a bricklayer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six -storey building. When 1 completed my'work. 1 discovered that 1 had about 500 pounds of brick left over. Rather than carry them down by hand. 1 decided to lower Them in a barrel by using a pulley. which. fortunately, was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor. SUGAR AND SPIC E by Bill Smiley "Securing the rope at ground level. I went up to the roof. swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. Then 1 went back to the ground and untied it slightly to insure the slow descent of the 500 pounds of bricks. You will note in Block 11 of the accident form that my weight is 135 pounds. "Needless to say. 1 was jerked off my feet so suddenly that I forgot to let go of the rope. Due to my surprise. I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building. "In the vicinity of the third floor. I met the hazard. which was now proceeding in a downward direction at an equally impressive rate of speed. This etiplains the fractured shoulder. "Slowed only slightly. 1 continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the two fingers of my right hand were knuckled deep into the pulley which 1 mentioned in paragraph 2 of this -correspondence. "Fortunately, by this time. 1 had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope. in spite of the excruciating pain 1 was now beginning to experience. "At approximately the same time.. how- ever. the barrel of bricks hit the ground — and the bottom fell out of the barrel. Now, devoid of the weight of the bricks. the barrel weighed approximately 50 pounds. "1 refer you again to my weight in block 11. As you might imagine. 1 began a rapid descent down the side of the building. "In the vicinity of the third floor.'l met the barrel coming up. This accounts for the two fractured ankles. broken tooth and severe laceration of my legs and lower body. "Here my luck began to change slightly. The encounter seemed to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when 1 fell into the pile of bricks. and fortunately. only three vertebrae were cracked. "I am sorry to report. however, that as lay there on the pile of bricks in pain. unable to move. and watching the empty barrel six Stories above me. 1 again lost my mind and let go of the rope. "Sincerely XYZ." I know that Workmen's Compensation Boards get stories like this, and even more fanciful. hut they're a hardnissed lot and 1 hope this bricklayer. got full compensation. and was out moonlighting on a construction job two weeks later. purely for his imaginations - We have a pretty good social assistance system in Canada, one of the hest in the world. even though I'm one of the "Middle-class'' who get stuck for most of it There aren't too many people really hungry in this country There are very few people who can't get medical attention when they need it. We talk about a "poverty level" in this country that would he riches to most of the people in the so-called Third World. 1 was talking to my son the other night. swatting mosquitoes in the hack yard. He's lived in a dictatorship. I've fought against one. We talked about the hest place in the world to live. We don't always. even often. agree. But we decided, unanimously that Can- ada. despite its vagaries of politics. economy. and weather. was just about the first choice in the world to be born. recreate. find a decent living, raise a family. and die. Without someone breathing down your neck every minute. 1 thipk 1'11 stick around. as long as The Lord lets me. Where else can you feel morally superior to a vast nation next door to you?