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the HERALD Home Newspaper of Halton Hits Since 1868 A Division of Canadian Newspapers Company Limited Guelph Street Georgetown Ontario PAUL J TAYLOR Publisher and General Manager PAULDORSEY Editor 9 PHONE DAVID Advertising Manager Second Clan Mail Number Page SECTION A THE HERALD Thurtdav December Private purchase not solution Town hall efforts deserve applause We share the sense of shock that must have enveloped one particularly ambitious group of Actonians Monday night when town council decided that funds will not be used to restore hundredyear old Acton town hall It was after all councils initial sanctioning of the restoration project that spurred the group to launch a massive mailout campaign for public contributions and to conceive the im pressive Actario lottery That was almost five years ago Although cautious from the outset council generally applauded the groups ambition to preserve a part of their communitys heritage and said Yes if you can raise this much money for the restoration well contribute this much from tax revenues It bothers us as much as it bothers these forthright hardworking Ac tonians then that council would now throw up its hands because restoration is not as financially feasible today as it was five years ago Surely the sharp Increase in renovation costs could have been predicted when council gave that first tentative caution to Ac tonians to proceed with fundraising plans Now unless the two citizens committees involved can devise a plan to buy the hall privately it would ap pear that all the money raised must be dispersed among the contributors with some Actario funds probably going to charity We suspect that councillors who opposed the restoration Monday night may have had a harder time justifying their opposition had not some Ac tonians signed a petition to stop council from spending public money on the restoration There was no opposition to the project apparent in Acton when the restoration was initially proposed five years ago and thus the buildings refurbishment seemed that much more of a community identity project We wonder how much of a surprise that petition was for members of the Actario and restoration committees We also wonder how much weight Coun Harry Levy carries on council in view of his threat to quit as councils budget chairman if the restoration was approved Apparently Mayor Pete wholeheartea endor sement of the restoration did not im press council members as much Right or wrong council has decided to forget the town hall at least until the restoration committee decides itself whether to pursue the matter further Frankly it ab surd to us that private citizens would consider purchasing the building now however noble their intention without a magnanimous benefactor in the form of some corporate sponsor perhaps the continued efforts to restore the town appear financially ludicrous We feel the project should now be abandoned and the hall demolished Lets hope the demolition does not become a symbol of Actons lost iden tity as some have predicted But even if the project were scrap ped tomorrow let no council member nor petition signer forget what the restoration ana committees tried to do for them Those opposed to the restoration may feel the idea was foolish from the start but examined subjectively the committees under taking has been as generous and com munityminded as any project weve seen here We sincerely hope that the com mittee members will not be frustrated by councils decision to the point where they turn their backs on further com munity involvement It would be an understandable reaction after five years effort but with the en couragement of their fellow citizens we hope these people will now turn their attention to other worthwhile en deavors Bibles hit song Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased There is no heaven above and no hell below So sang John the rock star murdered a year ago Lennons world often appeared to be very empty bleak and meaningless Many of the songs we listen to express hopelessness bitterness and cynicism The song quoted from the Bible is the one sung long ago the host of angels as Christ the eternal Son of God was bom of Mary in Bethlehem This song was not a hit then and it is not today In all likelihood it will not ever become a hit in this world Why not one may well ask Is it because we have to believe in angels and what they do Is it because we have to believe in God the Lord and what He does Undoubtedly this is so I have to believe in the Lord and fully trust Him for his promises before I con really sing this song and it becomes part of my life Or I have to conclude that this is an old song and along with most songs it has become a collectors item Now once a year we take this beautiful old song and some other ones and we play them again There is something about this song Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace it says I may have a praising heart all the time I may have a life to the Lord I may be captured by him in whose honor this song was sung This songwriter is not dead He is the ever living God Christmas is more than just a song at this time It is much much more It is truth and life and peace By Rev John Jong Christian Reformed Church Happy holiday With the last story sent down to our typesetters and Brian our press foreman having switched off his mammoth machines for the last time before Christmas Herald staff mem bers have settled into a comfortable nostalgic reflection of the season One cant help but feel the touch of Christmas joy in the air especially for our typesetters who have been busily proofreading Santas letters of reply to bis thousands of avid Halton Hills ad mirers Greeting and helping citizens at our front desk our office staff have seen the glowing faces of youngsters when theyve been given a candy cane off our little white Christmas tree Our reporters have felt the true meaning of the Christmas spirit in many ways as attended a multitude of Christmas shows and watched service clubs and charity groups sharing their- happiness and help to the less privileged But through it all weve seen The com munity at large pull together cheerily to provide for their families and the less fortunate for this special time of year We at The Herald feel very for tunate to be supported so well by the community towards our goal of the best possible news in Hills Contributing writers let ters to the editor and criticisms of ar ticles help us to improve and realize the type of community newspaper the residents would like to see To our readers contributors and advertisers we wish you ail a very pleasant Christmas season and all the best in the New Year Levesques referendum bid will scar Pequiste party Ottawa Report THOMSON NEWSSERVICE Its even difficult to come to grip with the irony of It all Premier Rene In effect holding a referen dum within ibe Parti en the luue of Quebec Independence You really have to think a bit about it dont But what I happening and the 59yearold premier is staking the remainder of his political career on the of this forthcoming roferend- have absolutely no doubts that he will win the referendum that the 350000 members of the Parti will overturn those controversial resolutions passed at the recent Mont real convention and that Levesque will continue to lead the party After all to a great degree Rene Levesque Is the Parti and with his threaten ed resignation hanging over their heads the party members will do what the leader wants And one of the Ironies is that wants this general member ship to reinstate association with the real of Canada bock Into the partys platform on sovereignty It was Lev who immediately after the other nine provinces and Prime Minister Trudeau reached agreement on a constitutional accord declared that the next provincial election would be fought on Independence By referring to Quebecs federal MPs as traitors and other unpleasant things the rankend file members of the Parti could be forgiven for thinking the premier was asking for a mil tant mandate ANGRY REACTION But after lhe delegates to Montreal convention decided to elim inate economic association from the Independence platform and decide that the election of another government even without an overall majority of votes would constitute a declaration of Independence Levesque threatened to quit The party he declared bad just ordained its own defeat Ho said that agents had Infiltrated the party he founded and were responsible for the passage of these irresponsible resolutions Even he he added would have difficulty voting for the under these new platform planks He threatened to resign not only as party president but ultimately as premier Then after brooding for he announced that before doing anything drastic ho would a referendum which hopefully would overturn the contentious resolutions passed at lhe recent convention He would he said appeal directly to the grass roots And thats another Irony of immense proportions If there Is one thing Parti is supposed to be its a truly grassroots organization perhaps the most democratic political organiz ation in the entire country at least until that recent convention AH delegates at that meeting were duly elected by their riding associations to represent the general membership Arid judging by what the premier said prior to the convention the general membership In many cases no doubt Instructed delegates to become more militant And that they did But they went too far for and now he is planning to so over the heads of the delegates and the general membership what they In turn should tell him I guess Its an democratic enough but Its also very strange While there little doubt that will get the message he wants I cant see bow the party can emerge from this without deepened wounds Since the party was founded the moderates have felt Intense pressure from the more impat ient militants who seek I with no and or but And two weeks ago finally these militants woo the day How will they feel about going over the heads of dulyelected delegates for a reversal of policies very good I suspect What the referendum can do Is to allow Rene Levesque to carry on with personal dignity But the scars from this incredible will never be entirely eradicated Canada faces quandary deciphering native rights Queens Park By Derek Nelson DEREK NELSON Queens Park Bureau Anyone following the verbal war over aboriginal rights must have trouble guessing what the real battle Involves that is who owns the land most of us live on Listening to native peoples why are they more native than anyone else born here i spokesmen over the years one slowly understanding of Ihclr of aboriginal rights Simply put It Is hat residual ownership of most of the land In Canada lies with the Inult Indian and Metis The rights they demand are at base property rights Former MPP Morton Shulman who has an Interview show on Toronto television once managed to pin down a spokesman for the local Indians to the effect that the tribes aboriginal rights include ownership of most of Metro Toronto Now what happens if the vague undefined term aboriginal la entrenched In lhe constitution thus automatically precedence over all federal and provincial laws First courts would have to make clear what aboriginal rights are If lhe Justices confirm the Indian view hat ancient possession of land Is one of Ihose rights then all whove immigrated here since Indian settle ment could in theory be dispossess ed At the very least enormous sums of money billions would be required to rent or buy land that people think they There Is the possibility that lhe courts will take a narrow view of aboriginal rights excluding residual ownership of land or at least exclud ing Ihose Indian bands whove signed treaties This incidentally is why some Indian groups opposed the wording of the aboriginal rights section They wanted heir title to Canada clearly spelled out and then they wanted a veto over changes to that clause Bui even a narrow decision leaving out claimed land leaves large areas of rederal and provincial law from which Indians might be exempt HUNT AND FISH For example the Ontario govern ment and various Indian bands have been in continual struggle over what limits should exist on Historic Indian rlghia lo and fish as they please Some Indians consider commercial fishing a legitimate right and that such conservation pressures as bag limits ami seasons dont apply to Or take a highway lhat passe through Indian such as Highway 17 It could be blocked from widening by he band something no other could legally get away with Attorney General Roy MMurtry summed up the genera principle at stake in a controversial letter be sent to his federal counterpart Jean Chret ien last I would be surprised If there is any nation in lhe world in which any private property right enjoys under the national constitution the absolute Immunity from law apparently con templated for aboriginal rights The federal MPs who defeated a qualified right of us all to own property by refusing its entrenchment on the other were willing to rapport this unprecedented elevation of one property right he said And I see a further worrisome aspect null and reserve or status Indians are easily defined but aboriginal rights are to Include nonstatus Indians and Metis too Why the Metis Is beyond me a people they exist as a consequence of European settlement They are hardly aborigines How do you separate ihern out of the general population What percentage blood and type males you an Indian or MellsT Rhonda Fleming find romance adventure and plenty of trouble on a perilous voyage through the South Seas in Paramounts film CrODswlnds coining to the Rosy Friday and Saturday Esqueslng Township will have Its first election In five years next Monday Ratepayers will go to the polls to choose a new deputyreeve and three councillors George Leslie deputy for three years steps up into the by acclamation succeeding George Cunie who Has relinquished the post but is seeking a council seat Wilfred Bird and H Craig Held district fanners who both have sat in council for five years are other in the election for deputy reeve Walter is again a candidate for council is newcomer William Sehenk of Glen Williams proprietor of Credit Valley Bottling Works Another nominee Spencer Wilson didnt qualify for election Reporting on his years administration Reeve George Currie said that at present has no debenture debt but In 1853 there will be In debentures for the new home for the aged Both be and deputy reeve George Leslie bad opposed the building of the home and Mr Currie said be was still opposed to il I have always stressed the advantages of being free of debt Mr Currio remarked linking this with the fact that the Form Motor Company had Chosen a site In lhe county to build what will be one of the biggest plants In Canada TWENTY YEARS Riviera dance ball will open New Years Eve The entertainment for the evening has been hired already and arrived to try out the sound system this week They pronounced the excellent The Herald learned this week that motorists who take a wheel after Using enough alcohol to even slightly dull their alertness will be charged on spot and taken to jail in Milton Chief Haley explained the crackdown It takes only a couple of drinks or a motorists reactions to become sluggish and tardiness in applying the brakes or turning the wheel could easily cost someone perhaps even lhe driver himself their life or Injury and would cripple him for life Our officers have been instructed to take the drinking driver off the road so other people may get to their destinations safely The Georgetown Police Department is within three days of another fa tali free year and a new safety record in the number of accidents The points system and stricter enforcement of traffic laws have been credited with the drop Transportation minister announced today that lhe new 1962 drivers licences and motor vehicle permits would go on sale at all Issuing offices Jan 1962 In the interest of the departments continuing accident prevention program we have had Imprinted In red across the face of all licences and permits the words Safety The minister warned there would be no extension of the dea for the purchase of new licence plates The deadline is March 1963 minor hockey officials huddled last week In a general meeting which Included in the agenda the question of classification of teams Its felt that some of the teams In the league are considerably stronger than others The thinking Is that certain teams should be classified to their TEN YEARS or no snow Georgetown High School Is planning a Winter Carnival again this year The Carnival will run from Jan to Feb 5 There will be a variety night with local groups and a Toronto group euchre tournaments pingpong tournaments snow sculptures if the weather cooperates a car rally and a Snow Queen Pageant Girls will be nominated well before the event and gradually eliminated until the night of the pageant when only the finalists will appear Rick one of the pros at Georgetown Figure Ska ting Club la training an Oakville brother and sister for the Canadian Championships to be held In London In January Debbie and John Dowdlng succeeded In coming first in the senior dance section to earn the right to compete in the championships Georgetown will be fortunate in having them as part of he show at the Skating Carnival planned for Feb 12 and 13 at Georgetown arena The Credit Valley Conservation Authority Creek CooservsUon Area In Township northwest of Georgetown This property Is in addition to acres already purchased this fall In the same Silver Creek Gorge area The land will be bought for multiuse conservation purposes The Ontario government assists the conservation authorities with per cent grants on the purchase of Escarpment land The Authority now owns approximately 3000 acres In the Credit River watershed ONE YEAR Christmas day fire which gutted a Glen Williams house and left a family of four homeless could have been much worsethey might have been home at the time Believed to have started In a basement stairwell the blase spread up the walls of the Confederation Street home quickly engulfing the wooden frame and aluminum siding Mayor Pete Pomeroy predicts things at the region will get worse before they get better in The mayor who will be heading up the regions finance and administration committee this year said he hopes to convince council to reevaluate the regions capital expenditure program in an attempt to hold the line on expenditures until the region organizes Its finances region Is reasonably buoyant economically when compared to the rest of Ontario but residents are going to have to fight to keep that way MPP Julian Reed says Mr Reed said that although unemploy ment Is technically In the federal Jurisdiction his office Is increasingly being called upon to assist the unemployed people in the riding While the Ontario Labor Relations Board lifts through almost grievances filed against Nervals Maple Lodge Farms Ltd a supervisor at the chicken processing plant faces a charge of assault against an employee the supervisor a Brampton resident will appear In court Jan charged with assaulting Helena Mauls 23 of Brampton It Is alleged that Ma was struck on the legs with a piece of steel used to sharpen knives The union filed a grievance with lhe company but It was rejected POETS CORNER The tree trimmed a thrilling sight And alt room In bright Candy and presents under the tree Thtooting boy hoping something for The concert was thrilling a He didnt know what he bad face Then Clans appeared on the Christmas hal night to him Just a Santa called out lie names one by Walled and walled for Mm there was Christmas Party All the children bad and toys Silence then ended laughter noise All he wanted la belike one of them But somehow he was oat agate As he left tie room sere with Held back the tears thoughts of distrust Headed for home a ceM night What he wanted was to hats Ml at algal II wasnt the first tuns Was he the black sheep his chances were slim When as a child the life that you get Though yon grow older yon never forget Remember at Christmas no name win you lis Or some poor lit tin soul will end like this Up In his manhood he prospered a lot Some one sod some place be was never forgot By Albert Brooks Acton