The Huron Expositor, 1986-02-12, Page 3NEWS AND FEATURE THE HURON EXPOSITOR, FEBRUARY 12, 1986 A3
County council to change
board to committee
in a 25 to 6 recorded vote, Huron County
Council decided to change its library board to
a committee of council.
"Until 1984, the library board functioned
as a committee of council and functioned well
with all matters being presented to council for
discussion and approval. This changed in
1984 as a 'result of pressures by certain
individuals and the board decided to conduct
their proceedings in strict accordance with
the (Library) Act. It is now our intention to
legalize the system which had been in place
since: the inception of the Huron County
Library until 1984," said library board
chairman Tom Cunningham reading from a
prepared statement.
Mr. Cunningham made his continents after
chief librarian W illiam Partridge read from a
prepared statement prior to discussing the
library in the executive comrnittee's report.
"I'm pretty new at this but i've never had
anything stir up the people, I can't
understand why he's working so hard not to
change," said W ingham Reeve Bruce
Machan of the chief librarian.
in the chief librarian's statement to county
council, he addresses the "accountability and
fiscal responsibility" of the board. He notes
the hoard is concerned with restraint and
knows over70 percent of the library budget is
funded by county council.
HAS SHOWN RESTRAINT
"Of major concern to the library has
been the great increase of the cost of books.
The book budget for Huron County Library
has increased only $39,777 over the last five
years. Over the same period the beok
circulation has increased. Certainly these
figures indicate the Library has shown
restraint but continued to increase service to
our patrons by greater efficiency," comment-
ed Mr. Partridge.
The 12 -year employee of the county noted
over the years, the branch libraries, of which
there are 29, have updated their facilities.
The recipient of the librarian of the year
award of merit from the Ontario library
association, he noted the libraries formed
the county system back in 1967.
"Whatever decision is made of county
council, i will continue to remain an employee
of the County of Huron. County council must
consider the needs of the library patrons and
how best these needs can he served," said
Mr. Partridge.
Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle said while his
council didn't wish to lake a negative
position, he wanted questions answered.'
"1 question why, really why, this is
required at this time? W e've heard there isn't
going to be any change in responsibility,"
said Reeve Mickle.
He also asked for the cost of changing the
library hoard to a committee. Council will
have Middlesex MPP Doug Reycraft present
as a private members bill, an application for
special legislation which would have Huron
County Council act as the library hoard and
the current library board would, in effect,
become a committee of council. •
This, noted Mr, Mickle requires publishing
notices in the Ontario Gazette and county
newspapers, the printing of the bill and being
prepared to answer questions from the public
after second reading in the provincial
legislature,
Reading, from his statement, Reeve Cun-
ningham said, "A question has been raised
as to why one of our own MPPS is not
presenting the proposed bill. A minister of
the crown can not present a private members
bill under the rules of the Ontario Legisla-
ture. it should be pointed out Paul Steckle,
the 1985 warden, did not arrange to have Mr.
Reycraft present the bill as reported in the
press. Arrangements were made to have Mr.
Reycraft present the bill through the office of
the Hon. Jack Riddell.
W ANT MATTER SETTLED
Colborne 'Township Reeve Russel Kerni-
ghan said he wanted the matter settled, but
added as he sees it, the library board has
never been considered a prestigious board
compared to other committees of council.
"When i first came, the road committee
was the plum (sic), and the library board,
well, it wasn't up there," said Reeve
Kemighan,
Reeves talked about the amount of phone
calls they received in the past week and while
Goderich Deputy Reeve John Doherty said he
would, as one of the town's representatives,
be voting against the proposal because his
constituents asked him to. Tumberry Town-
ship Reeve Brian McBurney took a different
approach.
He said he talked to the people who called
him and explained the situation as he saw it.
The Turnberry Reeve said his callers saw it
from his point then.
"Once they heard both sides of the story.
The information they got was biased, that's
why they phoned," he said,
To continue the questions asked by the
Reeve of Exeter, the town's Deputy Reeve
Lossy Fuller asked if provincial funding
would continue after the change which won't
go into effect until January 1, 1987.
"As far as funding goes, there will be
absolutely no change," said county admini-
strator Bill Hanly. He didn't know what the
cost of the private members bill would be, but
suggested Elgin County could be asked that
as they recently went through a similar
procedure for its library board.
NOTAFRA1DOFCHANGE
Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling,
immediate past chairman of the library
board, became quite agitated over the issue.
"Why shouldn't county council have some
say... W e've been accused here of having
closed meetings. if you want it open (he
turned to face the press table and the
television cameras and waving the micro-
phone) I'll give it to you. Fm not afraid of
change," said Reeve Stirling.
The former chairman of the library board
was told by the current library board
chairman, Reeve Cunningham, that the 1985
(Continued on page A10)
IN THE YEARS, AGONE
VISIT TO AFRICA — Egmondvllle resident James Sampa, recently
returned to his African homeland of Zambia for a visit to his family.
During the two-week trip last December, Mr. Sampa had a chance
Zambia takes
BY PATRICK RAFTIS
When the western media focuses its
attention on the continent of Africa these
days, it is usually in connection with the
seemingly endless struggle for black inde-
pendence from minority white rule in South
Africa. Egmondville resident James Sampa,
a -native of the central African country of
Zambia. recently returned to his homeland
fora visit Ile paints a different portrait of his
country, showing it as an example of a
nation struggling through a development
period, initiated when the country gained
independence from white -ruled Rhodesia, in
1964
M r Sampa. who was a high school teacher
in Zambia, emigrated to Canada in 1983.
after becoming engaged to a Canadian
citizen • Reverend Che 4bn StadelbaUet-
- Sampan- minister of mondville--United,
Church. The couple met in Zambia, in 1982.
while Cheryl -Ann was deing Geld work
overseas. toward her ordination. He is
currently studying at Guelph University.
toward a masters degree in landscape
architecture. Mr Sarnpa's two-week trip to
Zambia last Christmas was a combined visit
to his family in the Zambian capital of Lusaka.
and a chanav to work on his thesis on
community design in developing nations
FA Its UNFOUNDF11
Much of the difficulty encountered in the
effort to end apartheid in South Africa today,
stem.s from the fears of the ruling white
minority. that they would he t:Lst out of a
Mark -run country.
Mr Sampa points to Zambia's experience
with black independence as an example "the
white men's fear was unfounded."
"The whites were afraid they would be cast
out into the sea, or something like that." said
Mr Sampa. adding "that never happened "
instead. 7.amhia is now a "multi racial"
country, says Mr Sampa. with no segrega-
tion in schools. work places or in the streets.
Bladt nationalism first began to organize in
the 1950s in Zambia. Even so. on the eve of
Independence in 1964, there was no univer-
sity in the country and statistics showed there
were fewer than 20 graduate students in an of
Zambia.
After independence. the government em-
barked on a widespread education program.
which was successful to the point that now
"there are sdroots everpw'here," Mr. Sampa
said.
Zambia's economy thrives basically on the
exportation of raw materiaLs and is the
world's second largest exporter of copper.
"They were lucky to have a lot of revenue
from the sale of copper" in order to fund the
1886 constable paid $400
100 YFAI1S AGO
Mr lS. Lusby was re appointed town
constable at a salary of 5400 to perform the
duties defined. His salary last year was 8400
and the fees amounted to 520. so that this
year We increase in salary will amount to
about 520 ,
Messrs. McIntosh and Swan, of Bruce•
field. have leased the premises in this town
lately occupied by the late Mr Houghton and
have opened a sale stable where they buy and
sell all kinds of horses
An effort is being made to have the
Seaforth High School transformed into a
Collegiate institute , The school Ls now one of
the largest. best and mast successful in this
section of the country and if the government
is going to increase the number of Collegiate
Institute% there is no school more deserving
of recognition and elevation than ours
TS MANS ACO
Despite the storm raging on Monday
morning. Mr. Andrew Scott drove out to his
school at Brumfield. He had eight pupils that
morning and five of these he drove to school
himself. Mr. Scott has been driving back and
forth to his school daily for years and has
never got stuck yet
The Seaforth Junior hockey team have won
out in the first round of the semi-finals with a
victory over Chesley
A party of young people from town drove
out to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Barbour, of Staffa, on Fliday evening and
enjoyed a social evening.
50 YEARS AGO
Seaforth Council tolled the knell of
remuneration for members of council on
Monday evening, when it recinded the by-law
providing for salaries. The salary bylaw,
passed early in 1935 by the previous council
was the subject of considerable comment
both at council and in the town.
Mr. John Foster, of the Babylon Line, two
miles from Zurich is now 85 years old and
walks daily over snow -filled roads to the
village. His health is perfect and no matter
how cold the weather he enjoys the walk.
A large caterpillar snowplow was ordered
to open the Mill Road from Brucefleld to the
lake on Thursday and citizens in the lakeside
resort are now able to get out of the village.
Continued storms and impassable roads had
created the threat of a fuel shortage.
25 YEARS AGO
K. Bruce MacMillan was elected president
of Seaforth Chamber of Commerce Monday
evening when the organization held its
annual meeting. He succeeds James A.
Stewart.
Reading of books continues to be a favorite
pastime among Seaforth residents, the
annual report of Seaforth librarian Mrs.
Gordon Wright revealed this week At the
annual meeting of Carnegie Library Board,
the report showed book circulation of 21.055
during 1960.
Seaforth Bantams trounced Mitchell Wed-
nesday night 11.0, to take the best -of -five
series in three straight games of the first
round of the semi-finals of Group C, of the
WOAA playoffs.
to work on his thesis, toward a masters degree In architectural
landscaping. Mr. Sampa points out Zambia's relative position on a
map of the continent. Raftls photo
over where
apartheid ends
educational initiatives, he said.
Construction of dams, hydro -electrical
projects and other signs of industrialization
were also initiated around the time of
independence
'Things have changed really dramatically
in the last 20 years," said Mr. Sampa.
One result of the massive education
program has been an overabundance of
Zambians with secondary and post -second-
ary education - a number too large to be
absorbed in the urban work force. While
some consider this a regrettable situation,
Mr Sampa does not. He feels these educated
Zambians will "he forced to take advantage
of opportunities in rural areas of the country,
which are suffering from the trend toward
urban migration.
• BACK TO TIIEI'AND
Zambia has a potential for a good
agricultural base, a potential which has not
been utilized because the natives have been
conditioned to view working the land as "a
dirty job," said Mr. Sampa. Conversely, the
7.ambians•consider working in the mines and
factories as prestigious
This urban mindset came about because of
the efforts of early European settlers' efforts
10 create a labor pool for their mines and
factories.
When the "scramble for Africa." took
place in the 10805, there was no army of labor
available to the European developers be-
cause most of the Zambians were land-own-
ing farmers. Consequently, they imposed
heavy land taxes on the rural population,
forcing them to seek outside employment to
eam extra income. Mr Sampa explained.
This brought about a sort of westernization of
values. as the Zambians became more
urbanized
514 t.Nt'ITU TION
The standard of Irving in Zambia. Ls better
than in some underdeveloped counties, said
Mr. Sampa
"it's very rare to find peasants starving,"
he said. However, because they often do not
eat the proper foods "there is some
malnutrition, among the rural population.
he added.
Such crops as corn. tanuba (similar to
potatoes). sugar cane. bananas and estrus
fruit, are all grown by the farmers of Zambia.
Unfortunately, "instead of processing this
food for their own consumption, they take the
stuff to market to sell for profit." said Mr.
Sampa. Then, instead of re -investing the
proceeds in their fanning enterprises, "they
want to buy white sugar, baker's bread and
candy. 'These are prestigious things for them
to have, they think," said Mr. Sampa.
Since the Zambian work force is so
city -oriented, most of the able-bodied people
leave the rural areas at the first opportunity,
leaving only the very young and the very old
to run the farms.
For this reason, Mr. Sampa, sees the
increasing number of educated Zambians
returning to the mill areas, as a much
needed injection of new blood into the
country's ailing agriculture industry
' 1 can see things starting to improve in the
rural areas," he said.
ciTIF:S ('ItOW DEF) •
While the rural areas struggle due to
sparse population, Zambian cities are bur-
dened with the opposite problem, overpopu-
lation.
"In cities there is incredible pressure on
urban authorities to create housing. Housing
is the largest problem even in the industrial-
ized world," said Mr. Sampa. A major
difference, however. Is "Third World popula-
tion treads are not stabilized." he added. The
urban migration, combined with natural
population increase, which in Zambia where
the average family has three or four children
is significant, has caused (lie cities to swell
Unfortunately, there is just not enough
housing for the people, so they throw up
make -shift lodgings wherever they can
"When the mull( -national companies and
international relief organizations come in and
see this, they bulldoze the squatters'
settlements in the middle of the city. They
think if they relocate the people on the fringes
of the city where they have more land. they
will stay there." said Mr. Sampa, "But the
ppeople don't want to live on the fringes
use of transportation. so they move
back." he added.
To solve this problem, the government has
initiated programs aimed at allowing people
to build their own houses. in areas in and
around the city The people can.dmose their
location and build homes al their own pace.
while the government provides ammenitles
such as roads and water systems.
This Sort of program "instills confidence in
people." said Mr. Sampa. Confidence, he
feels, is what the people have been lacking for
some time.
" After independence. the people looked to
the government for everything." says Mr.
Sampa, which is why he feels the country has
developed slower than it should have. Now,
he says, the new progr'ains are helping people
to take charge of their own way of life.
'Continued on page A101
r` 'i1?,'4.-44,41 r' ‘;"/P:t 10 ilk ' 414 AS
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Wednesday, February 12 Saturday Cont'd
1-3 p.m. Moms and Tots Skating
1:30-4 p.m. Senior Shuffleboard
5:30.6:30 p.m. Midget Practice
6:30-7:30 p.m. Minor Broomball
7:30-8:.30 p.m. Jr. Belles vs Exeter
8:30 p.m. Ladies Broomball
8 p.m. Horticultural Society Meeting at
Public School
Thursday, February 13
4.15-5:15 p.m. Atom Practice
5:15-6:15 p.m Bantam Practice
6:30-7:30 p.m. Minor Broomball
7:30 p.m. Men's Broomball
Friday, February 14
4-5 p.m. Sr. House League Pradiee
5-6 p.m. Jr. House League Practice
6-7 p.m Pee Wee Practice
7-8 p,m. Atom PcadiCe
830 p.m. Centenaires vs Brussels
SEAFORTH FIREFIGHTERS were called into action teat t uesday,
airound 4:15 a -rt to put out fire In the back of a dump truck owned
by Bill Eisler, of Se (forth. The fire was limited to s toad of garbage
in the back of the truck, which was parked at the donatre° factory's on
0
West Wiliiani Street. Seaforth firefighters ansa acetated the Otintorr
departritent, at a barn fire on the'farrn of ken Wtltharn`s, RR 4,
Girton, On Saturday night. Raftls photo
A} 30-3 p.m. Public Skating
3-4 p.m. Mites
4-5 p.m. Novice vs Brussels
5-630 p.m. Atom vs Milverton
610-8 p.m. Pee Wees Game
8-930 p.m. Beavers vs Dorchester
Saturday, February 15
7 30 am. Bruins vs Canadians
8'30 A.M. Oilers vs North Stars -
930 a.m. Leafs vs Flyers
10:30 a.m. Penguins vs Jets
11:30 am Flames v5 Whalers
1230-1:30 Huron Park in Seaforth -
Ringette
Sunday, February 16
1:30-3 p. m. Public. Skating
5-6 Godericit in Seaforth - Ringette
6-7 p.m ttmgette Game
7 p.m. Canadians vs Rangers
8:30 p. m Hawks vs Flyers
Monday, February 17
4:30-8:30 p.m. Figure Skating
Tuesday, February 18
530-630 p.m. Novice Practice
6:30-8 p.m. Bantam Playoffs
8:15-10 p.m. Midget Game
Wednesday, February 19
1-3 p.m. Parents and Tots Skating
1:30-4 p.m Senior Shuffleboard
4:30-5:30 p.M. Jr. Ringette
530.6:30 p.m. Midget Practice
630-730 p.m. Minor Broomball
7:30-8:30 p.m. Centenaires Practice
1.10,-2 ... p.m. Ladies Broornball
u, to Story
3b at the Lbrary. 8.30
.41