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The Huron Expositor, 1988-05-18, Page 21:Ell Huron xpositor SINCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating The Brussels Post Published in Seaforth, Ontario Every Wednesday Morning The Expositor Is brought to you each week by the efforts of: Pat Arnie,. Neil Corbett, Terra-6yron Dole, Dianne McGrath and Bob McMtOlan. ED RYRSKI, General Manager HEATHER McILWRAITH, Editor 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 Senior Citizens - '17.00 a year in advance Outside Canada '60.00 o year, in advance Single Copies • .50 cents each Second class mail registration Number 0696 Wednesday, May 18r 1988 Mom's surprise surprised us As it happens it was my mother's birthday on Monday. She has now existed for one half century. In recognition of that fact, we, her family, did something she'd been telling us for mon- ths not to do. We threw her a party. Boy was she surprised! She had no idea what awaited her when she walked in the door Saturday night - and that, surprised me. You see, I was sure she'd catch on -there were certainly enough indications something was going on. For one thing, I don't usually call home on a daily, sometimes twice-daily, basis. My life just isn't that exciting, that I have to converse with mom and dad so frequently. And Mom did admit she did wonder. In ad- dition to my frequent calls, such out -of - character occurrences as my dad checking out the beer supply, my sister wanting to get downright sgustingly domestic, and the fact everyone in the family made a point of telling mom, repeatedly, just how busy they were on the weekend, struck her as strange. But that's all. The incidents did nothing to SWEATSOCKS n by Heather Mcllwraith make her suspicious. Mom said she figured, since her birthday fell on a Monday, she'd get the obligatory phone calls, and maybe even taken out to dinner. That's all she expected - and wanted. She in no way, suspected a party lay in her wake - probably because she figured for once that her family would listen to, and abide by her wish, there be no party. We dn't. Well, actually some of us did. It was dad's idea that we pursue the party, because, he said, deep down mom really dit4 want one. Well, mom did have a good time, but I'm still not entirely convinced this par- ty was solely for her. Dad seemed to have a pretty good time, too. But we all knew he would - dad is the social butterfly of our family. Actually I think everyone had a good time, myself includes. IL was great seeing people I hadn't seen for years - people who were around during my growing up years - people who were able to embarrass you profoundly with their accounts of your most 'revealing' childhood moments. Take for instance, the time you cleverly donned snow boots to help shovel snow, but wore nothing else. It was a very enlightening evening. But as much fun as it was, II know I speak for both my sister and myself (I'm not sure how my brother feels) when I say we were just as glad when it was all over, everyone cleared out, and we could find a vacant chair on whichto relax. Parties are all right, but they sure wear you out. In fact, so much so, I think the next party I attend, will be hosted by someone else. Editorial and Business Offices - 19 Main Street. Seaforth Telephone f 5 1191 S27-0240 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seeforth, Ontario, tI06( Vwo It's a big business A recent governmental discussion paper on credit card interest charges reveals some interesting information. First of all, the credit card ,pusiness is big, with about 16 million Cana- dians holding at least one card and some having as many as three or four. Figures for 1986 showed a total of $5 billion in outstanding balances. That's an incredible sum of money. It's estimated credit card transactions are increasing by 15 per cent each year. The discussion paper reflects the concern many Canadian consumers pay more than they should because they don't understa'rrd credit and in- terest charges. Because of diffences in the way interest is calculated, a credti card's interest rate is not a reliable indicator of the charges associated with its use. - Governments at both the federal and provincial levels establish regula- tions which require disclosure in a standardized form of terms and condi-` tions that determine the cost of borrowing on consumer loans. A similar system should apply for credit cards. Interest rates on personal loans have declined markedly from the peak levels of 1982, but rates on credit cards from financial institutions declined only somewhat, and on other credit cards not at all. The rates should be closer as some uses of credit cards are to purchase larger items which could be considered personal loans. We agree credit card interest rates should be somewhat higher than per- sonal loans, because interest costs are only part of the expenses incurred. The others are costs associated with issuance of cards and monthly statements, and processing each transaction. Another reason for the high interest charges on credit cards is the fact anyone that pays his or her account withih a specified grace period does not pay any interest. The high rates are charged to those card users who only make partial payments each month on their accounts. Many consumers have the mistaken impression any partial payment pro- portionately reduces interest charges. It's worth noting that, for all credit cards in Canada, payment of only a portion of the account does not propor- tionately reduce the appropriate interest charge. For credit cards of financial institutions, a partial payment reduces the in- terest bearing balance from the date of the payment, but interest charges up to the payment date are based on the full outstanding balance. For retail stores credit cards, partial payments of less than 50 per cent of the statement balance are not subtracted before interest charges are calculated. The present application of the grace period concept by credit card com- panies favors consumers who pay their balances in full within the grace period. Probably one step to close the gap between the two concepts would be to subtract the partial payment before interest in added, if it Is received within the grace period. Exeter 1' A. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Time running Dear Editor: On March 27, 198, the Hon. Jake Epp stated to the Board of Directors of the Cana- dian Cancer Society at its 50th Anniversary Dinner that he had spoken to his Cabinet col- leagues that week and received the commit- ment that Bill C-51 (The Tobacco Products Control Act) would be passed by the House of Commons before the summer recess. Also, on March 15, 1988, the Hon. Doug Lewis was quoted in the Toronto Star that Bill C-51 was one of the "Government's top initiatives" for passage before June 30. The time is running out. The Government is only a few days away from the point where, logistically, it will be extremely dif- ficult, if not impossible, to obtain approval of the House Senate and Royal Assent before the House prorogues and the Bill dies. Government should spend less, t®x less Dear Sir/Madam, Q: What's worse than the shafting of we taxpayers in the recent Ontario Liberal budget? A : The hypocritical posturing by NDP leader Bob Rae. Rae, with a straight face, protests that the Liberals' tax hikes "gouge" taxpayers. What cynicism! Rae knows the NDP, more than any other party, has pushed for more social programs and more government spending. This is paid for by higher taxes and borrowing. Has Rae ever suggestedspending less or taxing less? We need spending cuts to make responsi- ble tax cuts possible. That's where the taxpayers' final hope, the PCs, should come in. They don't. No one speaks for we taxpayers. The chilling truth is the government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have. Yours sincerely. David Somerville, President out on bill The Federal Government by its own statements has acknowledged that tens, and probably hundreds of thousands, of preven- table deaths hang in the balance unless a gnificant intervention in the tobacco epidemic takes place. Bill C-51 is the government's promised reponse. We are simply inisisting, for an entire generation of kids, that the government act with integrity and keep its promise. Ron Potter, President, Ontario Division Canadian Cancer Society. THE 161st BATTALION BANDSMEN - Pictured in front of the Nor -o mandie Hotel in Clinton 72 years ago, this picture of the 161st Bat- talion Bandsmen was made available to the Expositor through the courtesy of Murray Draper of Clinton who owns the photo, and A. (Sandy) McDonald who had the photo on exhibit recently at the Military Memorabilia Show last month at the Seaforth Town Hall. The bandsmen are (top row) W. Richards, C. Thompson, "Tom" Herman, Basil Mundy, "Tom" Scott, H. Watson, H. Newcombe, Wm. Kerr, Geo. Cooper, Geo. Weber, (third row) Harry Pierce, C. Cooper, J. McLaren, "Thee" Fremlin, J. Park, Geo. Leith, Al Somers, D. Thompson, Theo. Mundy, F. Andrews, Dave Stewart (bass drummer), (second row) Wm. McArthur, Watson Straiton, H. Town, C. G. Vanstone, Lt. Col. H. B. Combe, Capt. W. B. Allen, Bandmaster S. D. Grant, Wm. Morgan, Glen Cook, (front) R. Gidley, W. Babb, A. Newell, the bandboy Charlie Cook, D. Ben- nett, D. White, H. Palmer, W. Akeroyd, and J. H. Barker. It was on the Victoria Day weekend in May 1916 that all four companies comprising the 161st Battalion gathered from four Huron County towns (Wingham, Goderich, Clinton and Seaforth representing A, B, C, and D companies respectively) and mobilized at the bat- talion's headquarters in Clinton. From there they departed by train for London's Carling Heights basic training camp. After six weeks they were given further training at camp Borden from mid- July to the end of October 1916. Thereafter the 161stHurons departed for Halifax where they boarded the British troopship Lapland which took them to England and the "fortunes of war." We're in for some first class shinny The first game of the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs will start tonight and it promises to be some first class shinny. Hockey fans are making all sorts of predictions, but there doesn't seem to be much of a consensus about who is going to take the cup. The Edmonton Oilers are 2:1 favorites, but I wouldn't bet on the Oilers with those odds. The Bruins may not have the Messiers and the Gretzkies, and while they may be behind the Oilers in terms of finesse there is something to be said for toughness. If anyone in the league can get under "The Great One's" skin it would be "the Rat" Linseman. Not the biggest bruiser in the National Hockey League, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in nasty. Boston has no shortage of playmakers either, and guys like Bourque and Neely put some experience in the lineup. If you're going to pick a favorite it would MY TWO BITS by Neil Corbett have to be Edmonton, if only based on the number of times the flatlander's names are on the cup already (not to mention better goaltending, an unstoppable power play, and the fact that Messier Gretzky and Kurri are the respective leaders of the playoffs points race). But it's not going to be a four game sweep, and the Oilers are going to have to prove they deserve to win. To weigh the odds a bit: The Bruins haven't won a Stanley Cup since Bobby On and Phil Esposito left them. The Oilers have sipped champaign with Stanley (and thrown a good bit of it around and on each other) in three of the last four Stanley Cun playoffs On the other hand, Edmonton's record against Boston isn't that impressive. Since the Oilers joined the NHL their club record against Boston is 7-6-2 on home ice, and in Boston Gardens their record is 2-10-2. This season the two clubs each won a game in Ed- monton, and tied a third game on the Bruins' turf. Hockey fans have seen some good hockey this year with the Canada Cup and the Olympics, and no matter who wins this year's playoffs the series will put a cap on the hockey season that'll give fans something to talk about about during the off season. Seasons are backward as snow storm hits MAY 18, 1888 TOWN STATISTICS - From the assess- ment roll of Seaforth for the present year we glean the following statistical information: There are 694 children between the ages of 5 and 16. The real property is assessed at $515,500; personal property $59,500; income $17,880, total assessment $592,880. The population is 2,646. There is a substantial and satisfactory increase in every depart- ment, showing that the town is making satisfactory progress. There are in the town 116 cattle, 191 horses, 25 sheep, 28 pigs, and 109 dogs. There were during the year 40 bir- ths and 22 deaths. There was quite a lively snow storm on Sunday last and on Tuesday morning the ground was white with snow. The seasons seem to be going backward. Mr. A. G. Ault is erecting a new house in the vacant lot adjoining his residence on Goderich Street. ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS - The election for two councillors to fill the vacan- cy in the South Ward was held on Monday last and passed off very quietly. The follow- ing is a statement of the votes cast: A. Beam 61; M. R. Counter 49; James Gillespie 44; S. Trott 28; Messrs. Beam and Counter were accordingly declared elected. Both will make good councillors. MAY 16,1913 A special meeting of the town council was held on Monday evening. The principal ob- jective of the meeting was to confer with the Medical Health Officer as to the sanitary condition of the town, consequent upon the recent outbreak of the typhoid epidemic. All information went to show that with the exception of the one place concerned, the wells and premises are in a sanitary and safe condition, and steps were taken to have the point of trouble promptly and properly attended to, so as to avoid any future danger. MAY 20, 1938 Consumption of beer in Seaforth dropped during the last fiscal year ending March 31, 1938, it was revealed this week when Town Clerk D. H. Wilson received a cheque for $295.77, representing the municipality's pro- portion of taxes collected from local hotels. The taxes are partially based on gallonage sold and this year totalled $1,478.85, of which the town gets 20 per cent. Last year the town's share was $311.60. Speeding on Main Street will in future pro- ve costly for motorists it was shown here in police court on Tuesday, when Magistrate J.A. Makins found Francis Elliot, Mitchell. in 1888 IN THE YEARS ALONE from the Archives guilty on a charge laid by Chief Snell. He paid a $5 fine and $6 costs. A Tuckersmith lTian, found guilty of non-support had his sentence suspended providing he pay $10 per month. The third case before the magistrate arose following a minor collision on Main Street a few weeks ago and as a result Ernest Radscheldt, of Bornholm, pleaded guilty and paid $7. Criticism of the manner in which Perth roads within Hibbert Township are main- tained was brought to a head when the township council unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by William Kay and Joseph Atkinson. Seaforth and district will see something new in the way of entertainment on Satur- day when Dr. E.A. McMaster and C.M. Smith of the Palace Rink, present a full card of amateur boxing and wrestling at the arena. Huron County townships are strong in their oppostion to any move to abolish coun- ty councils in Ontario, if resolutions which have reached County Clerk J. M. Roberts are any indication. MAY 16, 1963 Damage to McKillop Township roads will total at least $4,000 as result of traffic directed over the roads when sewer con- struction in Seaforth forced detours, members of Seaforth council were told Mon- day evening, when a delegation represen- ting McKillop council appeared before them. A pledge of $5,000 toward the Seaforth Community Hospital campaign was given by members of Seaforth Branch 156 of the Royal Canadian Legion Thursday evening. The amount will provide for a four bed ward and will extend up to 10 years. Fire which broke out about 8 p.m. Thurs- day evening completely destroyed the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Evans, 14th concession of Grey. No one was at home and the fire was first noticed by Jack and Leslie Knight who were working a short distance away. tl 1 1