SSR RI Cam SME Aes i ih | vi x i Stacking the cards When is an election not an election? When the cards are stacked in the government's favour so the people have no choice. And that is what has happened with the vote to choose a name for this region. On October the first you will be asked to go to the polls and choose between the names Durham, Oshawa, Pickering or McLaughlin. The provincial government would like the region to be known as Durham. In fact it is already using the name. But in order to make it look like the name was chosen by the people, Queens Park has accepted the three other names from the dozen which have been suggested which are most likely to be rejected by the voters, and invited us to compare them with the name Durham. Durham is not really much of a name as compared with Pine Ridge, Ojibway or even Ontariopolis. But it sure sounds great in comparison to Pickering or McLaughlin. And who in his right mind would want to live in ""Oshawa." The cards are stacked. The region is Durham. Good place for garbage Harvey Ambrose has a huge hole in his farm which is full of spend rifle cartridges, weeds and sand. General Motors has a lot of waste, or garbage, to get rid of somehow. We have not had a chance to talk to G.M. about it, but it is likely that if anyone wants to recycle the garbage they would be welcome to go an haul it away. No one has offered to do that. Mr. Ambrose has suggested that he be allowed to fill his hole in the ground up with the garbage from G.M, and possibly other similar places, cover the garbage with clean fill, plant some trees, and so "recycled" the land so it will eventually be fit for cattle to graze on. After looking at the pit last week your editor has come to the conclusion that the hole in the ground is not good for anything but a garbage dump anyway. There are no streams, rivers, ponds or wells anywhere nearby. The mess can not be seen from any regularly travelled road. Since we have to put garbage somewhere, it makes sense to keep it as far away from where people live as possible. Mr. Ambrose sand pit is in the right kind of location for garbage disposal. No censorship please A missionary gave a native chief a mirror for a gift. The chief took one look in the mirror, disliked what he saw, smashed the glass and killed the missionary. In times of emotional stress a mirror can be an unwelcome thing, particularly when the mirror comes in the form of a newspaper which everyone can see. THE STAR realizes that and so we understand the feelings of Dr. T. Millar who embarrassed himself in public Monday by ordering a reporter who had gone to cover a fire story on the doctors - property off the place. We understand, b ut we do not condone. A fire is an emotional and upsetting experience, but smash- ing the mirror and shooting the missionary is no solution. PORT PERRY STAR Company Limited COLLY Sa ~ & Gon : (um): 10 N rari Serving Port Perry, Reach, Scugog and Cartwright Townships P. HVIDSTEN, Publisher BRUCE ARNOLD, Editor WM. T. HARRISON, J. PETER HVIDSTEN, Plant Manager Advertising Manager Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Member of the Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association Published every Wednesday by the Port Perry Star Co. Ltd., Port Perry, Ontario Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rafe: In Canada $6.00 per year. Elsewhere $8.50 per year. Single Copy 15¢ fe " GOING oN Bg TRIP?" PREK voure rruwnk with AN EMERGENCY KiT ! MILEY UGAR I ENJOY HEARING FROM ALL OF YOU BILL Did you know that yours truly was once a shy little boy? Do you know how a lady can sell all-Canadian crossword puzzles to newspapers? Do you know anyone who worked at the Milton brick works in 1914, before going off to war? Do you feel like writing a book? Do you fell like reviewing a book someone else has written? These are some of the things that came up as I opened my mail in the last few weeks. If a columnist does not have any readers, he very quickly ceases to be a columnist. That's why I'm so grateful to readers who drop a line and have a chat, tell me their troubles, or merely wish me good health. Just before my birthday in June, I had a long letter from my Grade 1 teacher reminding me that we share the same natal day, June 2nd. She was the kind of pretty, young, sweet and kind teacher who can make that first vital year in public school a joy rather than the horror that it can be. . Going through some old clippings, she came across one which she sent along to me. The heading on the news story was FO Wm. Smiley Victim Brutal Hun Treatment. The rest was an extremely garbled account that makes me wince with embarassment even today. Apparently after being beaten half to death after an escape attempt, I was so weak I couldn't move for twenty days. This is pure exaggeration. It was only five days. And when the Russians overran our camp, I walked 156 miles across Germany and stumbled onto an advanced air base. Poppycock! It was only 90 some miles, I rode a good part of the way in wagons, Russian staff cars, German wood-burning trucks, and a two horse carriage. And T didn't stumble onto anything. I arrived at the advance air base in a jeep. But that's a long story. Anyway, my teacher, whom I still think of as Laura Walker, says of the clipping: "L.admit I shed some tears over it, for all I could see was a shy little boy in gray trousers and a navy blue blazer coming to my desk and announcing his name and birthday, to which I replied, 'Why, Billie, we are twins.' There were so many of you in the same class who were in the War and my heart went out to you all for you were still my 'little' boys and had no business with. aeroplanes." Layna Bateman of Stavely, Alta., who reads me in the Brooks Bulletin, wants AND Srice advice on how to sell a syndicated Canad- ian crossword puzzle. She sent me samples and they're excellent. Anybody any ideas? Her letter ends, 'How soon do you become a grampa? Congratulations!" Every letter has a nice personal touch like that. Bill Shaker of Shifnal, Salops, England, reads me in the Canadian Champion, Milton. He likes my "cheery notes' and writes a very cheery one himself, at the age of 84. He worked at the Milton Brick Co. in 1914, joined the army, went to France in the R.E.S. Guards Div. and was of Ypres, the Somme, Arras and Cambrai, names that ring a bell with old-timers. Lucky guy. But he wishes me best of luck and good health. A Montreal publisher wants fe to write a book. He doesn't even seem to realize, or care, that I haven't got the clothesline fixed and my wife is raising hell, day after day. Write a book indeed! Mary Johnson of Winnipeg wonders if I'm the same Bill Smiley. who wrote a series of articles on education for the Salt Lake City Tribune. Sorry, Mary. "Twas another Bill. But Mrs. Johnson has written a book called "Programmed Illiteracy in our Schools" and wonders if I'd like to review it. Sure would. Send it along, Mary. On House of Commons stationery comes a letter from old friend, Ross Whicher, M.P., urging me to make that trip to England, and telling me that you can stay at the Strand Palace in London for less than $30.00 a day. He ends, 'Have a good time, old man." I will, Ross. Last time I was at the Strand Palace, they nearly threw me out because I was " sharing my reom with the bearded lady from the circus. The maid had entered our room before my old buddy Singh Thandi, a Sikh from India, had got his hair up and his turban on. His hair hung to his tailbone and he had a beautiful, curly beard. The maid gave one scream and ran. Singh was killed in Burma. Then there are the poets who write. G.H. Drabble of Spears, Sask., sent me a dandy about the beverage room and the poverty and misery it leads to. His poem is both funny and true but it's a bit long to print, and it can't be condensed. Mr. Drabble gets me in North Battleford News. Same goes for a long, lively poem by Vic Smith of Rockwood, who insists: When you are driving out this way Stop in and pass the time of day. You'll find me in my "bed of Weeds", My wife and I are just '"'hayseeds." Thanks, Vic, I will if I do. And thanks, all you other chaps and chickens. Your letters make me realize I am not writing in a void, aheartwarming feeling. 50 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 12th, 1923 At the recent examination at the Toronto Conservatory of Music, all of the pupils of Miss Florence Hill were successful. They included Noreen Roach, Port Perry; Arnold Roach, Manchester; Mary Hill, Port Perry; and Rosswell Dobson, Manches- ter. A daughter, Alice Kath- leen, was born to Mr. and Mrs. James Mead, Port Perry, June 28, 1923. Mrs. R.B. Smallman and family are visiting friends at Oakville for a couple of weeks. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 15, 1948 Hundreds of people watched the Lions Club Parade last Wednesday which was headed by the Port Perry Band. The prize winning York Lions Air Cadet Band of 180 Mosquito Squadron arrived on the scene in a surprise visit. The Port Perry Lions Ball Team thrilled the home crowd on June 30th with a 2 to 1 win over Yelverton. The next two games against. Millbrook and Janetville gave Port Perry two losses. They suffered a 3 to 2 loss to Millbrook and 5 - 1 loss to Janetville. The scout's Father and Son Banquet was held on Friday, July 9th in the Port Perry United Church. A highlight of the evening was the production of a record to be heard on the radio program, "Did I say that." 15 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 10, 1958 Port Perry Reeve J.J. Gibson formally inaugura- ted the new dial telephone system in the village. The Reeve spoke with Ivan Kerry of Charlottetown, P.E.L, a former Port Perry resident. The Port Perry Brownie Pack held a Pet Show on June 28th. Dr. D. John Price officially opened the show and assisted with the judging. Winners included: Joey the Crow as noisiest pet, shown by Jeanne Williams; Blackie, the Blackest Cat, shown by Barbara Taylor; and Sport, the Fattest Dog, shown by Brown Owl. The twenty-seventh annual re-union of the Crosier family was held in Stouffville Memorial Park on Saturday, July 5th. Members of the family at- tended from Port Perry and Epsom. 10 YEARS AGO Thursday, July 11, 1963 Local 4-H club members participated int he annual bus trip. Points of interest were the Ontario - Food Terminal . in Toronto, Malton Airport, Pioneer Village at Black Creek and Findley's Dairy Farm near Maple, Ontario. Miss Jean Bridgeman of Winona, who is home on furlough from Indore, India spent the weekend with her friend, Miss Mable Van Camp of Blackstock. Congratulations to Miss Elaine Medd and Mr. Murray Prentice of Epsom who have successfully graduated from Toronto Teacher's College.