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I Bill Smiley Now that weve all settled down after that abortion of an election we out get back to the important things of life for dinner our bursitis raking the tost of the blasted leaves dusting off the curling boots and worrying about our Just before we bury the whole unpleasant mess however may I promise that I will make no more election Oh I was right I warned that the Canadian people are among the most volatile in the They proved And I prophesied that the Tories and NDP would gain and that it would be the liberals again with a minority government But they dldn t have to take me so seriously I dldn t mean that size of a minority From now on I shall desist from making forecasts as it seems to put the hex on Mr never did have the common touch the politicians instinct Mr StanfWd still sounds as though he d got both feet into one leg of his long Johns And Mr Lewis was never more smarmy than when the returns were coming In Despite my disenchantment at the tost moment I decided to vote Liberal chiefly because of fear that what did happen might happen A ship of state with no rudder two wheelsmen fighting for the wheel and the winds of change blowing up into a typhoon Some riding results were of particular interest tome I was glad to see that my old friend Ross Whicher with whom I shared a couple of campaigns when we were mere boys was one of the Lucky liberals to squeak in was sorry to see another old friend Perry Ryan who represented Toronto for years get the axe He made the political mistake of standing by his principles and quit the Liberals for the Tcnes when he couldnt agree with policy A pay 1 was also sorry to see Paul elected He is a politician whose ego seems equalled only by his ambiUon The record Ran for Liberal leadership Beaten Liberal ctbmet minister Quit Founded Action Canada a flop Joined the Conservatives He ma have great abilities but Ill never forgive him for unifying the armed forces You see how little our vote depends on reason I mentioned those three to suggest what a fickle creature the average Canadian voter is Id have voted for Whicker Liberal old tunes sake Far Ryan Conservative toons a good man And against Conservative because cf his many- colored coat There an old fashioned Idea that C are a reserved conservative people because we live in a stem and rigorous climate and aren t given much to either dancing or noting in the streets The idea is completely unfounded True we dont do much of anything in the streets for six months a year except scuttle along We support outdoor rinks Last year when the Board of Parks and Recreation Committee announced it would go ahead with plans to establish outdoor skating rinks in Acton these columns were elated at the prospect urging the twin halted board to proceed We were also aware of a great deal of interest from skaters In town and district who envisioned a winter of skating in the great outdoors Unfortunately somewhere between the promise and practice there was a TO THE MOTORIST snow is slippery roads pedestrians shun it and children love it but the photographer sees the white stuff as a work of art when it settles around thorny bushes such as these The seasons first snowstorm descended Tuesday catching most of us unaware but Free Press photographer Jim Jennings soft billowy cotton in this picture MiniComment But behind those steady grey facades that others see live the real Canadians pulsing passionate not grey but purple In fact sometimes that purple peeps through usually in those same noses Perhaps the most obvious example to illustrate the wild emotional inner Canadian is the Canada Russia hockey series of recent fame When our team was getting clobbered most of us went around in a surly cynical almost vicious mood snarling at wives and children scoffing at our players deni grating that vast philanthropic institution the NHL You see we were suffering Our was hurt in the way that the pride of no mere Latin could be hurt But when our team began to win we showed our true selves exuberant friendly joyous actually cheering out loud throwing our arms around complete strangers Oh it did the heart good I can tell you to see the Canadian character as it really is good losers nonsense of other northern races Our hearts were in every crosscheck and every one of us was there at least in spirit as our boys at the winning goal tossed each other and hugged each other and slobbered over each other Show me another nation that can boo Its boys in defeat and cheer them in victory as we did and I show you another nation With real heart And that what we re like in elections All heart No brains Give us a brilliant colorful prune minister and we cheer him to the rafters As long ashes winning Were a funny lot The Free Press has had some problem with delivery of papers in the large cities such as Toronto but nothing so drastic as happened to the Brussels Post recently A large post office bag containing several hundred copies of the Post disappeared and despite frantic efforts to locate them there was still no trace of them on the Tuesday after the paper was published Subscribers naturally were gnashing their teeth If post office officials want to downgrade their public relations there is no quicker way than to lose the weekly blabs from all over the country Many people of course base their opinion of the post office on the speed with which their favorite weekly reaches them On the subject of post offices the Free Press often receives letters addressed to the Action Free Press but this week one was received addressed to the Acton Free Press Action Ontario We are willing to take either one or the other and if they make the same mistake twice there wont be any squawks from this comer Warden Jim Swanborough s efforts to dress up the annual warden dinner by indicating whether you would wear black tie is likely a sincere effort to upgrade the office and the dinner but we wonder if it isnt also putting on the dog Our foreign correspondent assures us however that councillors and officials across the county are paid well enough to rent a tux if they can afford to buy one One Milton newsman asked when the editor was going to write an editorial about Miltons proposed four region Halton with facts instead of fancy Last weeks was called an exercise in creative writing Ac cording to him it pictured Milton as the county ogre swallowing township chunks instead of pretty maidens This newsman also suggests the real reason we want Milton in the North Halton borough instead of all by them selves is because we need them He s right The north does need Milton to balance voting power Somebody up here likes cm Reeve Anne MacArthur is one of few town or township heads being challenged for the top job Mayor Lcs was returned by acclamation in Acton Erin township reeve LJoyd Long and Eramosa reeve Warren Parkinson were also acclaimed as was Mayor Norm Jary of Guelph Mayor Brian Best of Milton has a race on with reeve Ron Hams Mrs MacArthurs post a feminine preserve for two terms is sought by two males deputy reeve Don McMillan and former councillor Gordon Agncw lull and the promised rinks never did materialize to the disappointment of a number of people young and old This year we notice that once again the committee Is going to investigate the feasibility of two outdoor one at the west end and another at the east end of town on the suggestion of board member Diane Splelvogel Again we commend the Idea Providing the weather cooperates we can see no reason why they could not be established Georgetown has had success with the outdoor rinks which alio take some of the pressure off the arena busy schedule through the next four or five months We think the skaters of Acton and district would really appreciate outdoor rinks especially if they can allot time and space for skaters only Much of the time at he arena is taken up with organized hockey while skaters are literally out in the cold While they are out there they might as well be skating The Acton Free Prow Wedneiday November 15 1972 The real drug problem Minicomment Statistics published in the last issue provide at least some evidence that the drug causing the most problems in Canada comes in a bottle rather than as a pill In his Faith and Life column Rev BUI Perry quotes the Commis sion report as saying alcohol dependency times more prevalent in Canada than narcotic addiction and is thus our most widespread drug dependency problem In fact other studies in dicate that as a public health problem alcoholism ranks third after cancer and heart disease Of ill of the statistics quoted in the column perhaps the most interesting and surprising pertains to the type of people who are alcoholics Mr Perry points out that a study on alcoholism in the United States claims to have put to he the conception of the alcoholic as an unemployed derelict That study shows only three per cent of the alcoholics on skid row while per cent are em ployed and socalled family oriented individuals The same study found that per cent of all alcoholics hold white collar professional or managerial jobs and 50 per cent attended or graduated from college Perhaps the message to be learned from these statistics applies most of all to the social drinker The drinker who readily recognizes a tendency toward alcoholism in others but refuses to think of himself as anything more than a take it or leave it man who just happens to take it more often than he leaves it So while the younger generation is bombarded with facts figures and warnings about illicit drugs many from an older generation are content to warn the young people and ignore their own special drug problem The Chilbwack C Progress A lady subscriber with an ear to the radio often chuckles over disc jockey comments such as the sign on a car wash which guaranteed satisfaction or your dirt back Another one noted was a sign in Northern Ontario declaring For Sale This Property and Cow Dont forget to vote in Actons plebiscite on liquor Monday November There are two questions on the ballot which could have a bearing on the land of town you want and it is up to residents to signify their wishes Remembrance Day observances this year were greeted with leaden skies and spitting rain weather traditionally associated with November This was followed by the seasons fust snowstorm which should be followed by Indian summer we hope Back Issues of The Free Press 75 years ago Taken from he Issue the Free Press of Thursday November 1897 Guelph hotel keepers have adopted and published the following tariff Owing to the advance in the price of liquors the hove adopted these prices brandy rum gin Scotch and Irish whisky 10 a glass or for 25 cents Ginger beer and whisky 10 cents and ginger ale and whisky cents Collins drinks 15 cents or for ii cents All hot liquors cents Indulging at these prices will surely be considered too much of a luxury for ordinary pocket books Abstain now The and the baker and the merchant generally will give you more for your money than offered above is thanksgiving a statutory holiday Mr Philip has returned home from Western States He many compliments for Wisconsin lumber camps Tommy Turner of Milton has put up his having smoked for half a century without missing a day He says tobacco Is too high in price and not as good as it used to be An experienced man tells how to cure Klondike fever When the mercury is below zero shoulder a pick and go into the woods before breakfast dig a hole 16 feet deep come back to the house at night and eat a small piect of buffalo robe and sleep in the woodshed Repeat as often as necessary Anticipation or Christmas good things is having its effect in swelling the attendance at the Sunday Schools Mrs Christina Sinclair has purchased for Mrs James McLennan a house on Young St A subscriber writes from Vancouver to thanks us for interesting and spicy news in the Free Press years ago Taken from the issue of the Free Press of Thursday November Last Wednesday evening the members of the Acton Junior Baseball Team were tendered a sumptuous banquet by the Junior I on their winning of the About 150 or 175 citizens sat down to the banquet In the town hall which was a most elaborate one White sweaters with the club crest were presented to George Jigglns catcher Neil Gibbons pitcher Ell Masters Laid Mc Donald Leonard Dore William Kaley Elmer Drone White Walter Baver Hector McDonald James Earl Cooper William and Norman Wilds Misses Olla Armstrong and Alice Johnstone assisted in the presentations The boys of the club presented their manager Mr Root Scott with a box of cigars The history of baseball in Acton was outlined by the veteran McDonald who traced Acton s career from the which he first played with until the present He pointed out this was not the first time Acton won a championship Reeve Barber pointed out council had done little lately but planned to spend about in the park Including the diamond Little Miss Helen with her Scotch songs was a delight Mr Amos Mason In a cornet solo and with his sister Miss Lottie in a comet duet as always were appreciated Miss Hazel Mason accompanied them Mls3 Betty Lowrie sang accompanied by Miss Grey The tables were cleared away and dancing was Indulged In for a couple of hours David Robertson of Everton In partnership with his cousin Lome Matthews opened the Five Pointed grocery in Guelph 20 years ago Taken from the of the Free Press Thursday November netting a new high in attendance Acton liens heard complete reports of municipal activities during the past year and registered nominations Nominated for mayor were V Oakes J Margrave and is mayor by ac clamation Nominated tor reeve were J J Stewart Coon and J Hargrave with Mr Stewart acclaimed Nominated for deputy reeve were Thompson and J J Stewart with Mr Thompson acclaimed Councillors were J Greer A Irwin C Lindsay McLeodE Tyler L Others nominated were L MacSwam A Fryer Thompson W G McCutcheon School trustees are C Bradley C Heard and Wolfe Public Utilities Commissioner is J R MacArthur Esquesing township also has an ac clamation reeve George Leslie deputy- reeve Wilfred Bird council George Currle William Walter Lmham school board area No 1 Davidson Hector Bud Nassagaweya will have an election Stanley was acclaimed as reeve Four council members are to be elected and those nominated are John Milne Mrs Lillian Thomas Edgar Calms School area trustees two to be elected Claude Duncan Moffat VangicUe Ernest was returned as reeve of Fred Cox as deputyreeve councillors Franklin Armstrong Fred Frank Ostrander village trustees Frank John Lloyd and Chaj THE ACTON FREE PRESS PHONE Business and Editorial Of free What happened to federal Liberals There are many versions of what happened in the recent election that turned the country upside down but this one from the pen of Andrew McLean editor of the Huron Expositor made a lot more sense than that of any stalled political experts Mr McLean is a former Liberal Member of Parliament for Huron so is entitled to speak from his own experienceas well as from his assessment of the situation from an editor viewpoint The results of Monday election par- those In rural western Ontario probably reflect a combination of concerns As Ontario population growth becomes more concentrated in large urban centres the influence of rural Ontario decreases This too frequently has contributed to a tendency oh the part of government at higher levels to regard desirable for the cities as equally acceptable for the rural community There has been a failure to recognize that those lhing on the farms and in the towns and small cities of rural Ontario have needs and hopes and lions Just as entitled to recognition as are those of the cities is not the unemployment and welfare requirements in rural Ontario as are present in the cities The merit of work is not a dead issue in these parts and farmers and the business men the small towns are accustomed to paying their wBy and adjusting their needs to their resources The have difficult in accepting what they regard as high payments to unemployed and to those on welfare when the themselves often have difficulty in obtaining help The resented what many suspected was a wide spread practise of quitting or turning down jobs for the benefits of insurance Increasing municipal taxes which in fact reflect Ontario Conservative policies in education and assessment have been related in the minds of man to the cost of unemployment and for which the federal government was blamed While the D cry of corporate bums didnt produce many additional NDP votes in rural Ontario it did have the effect of rawing the question of the credibility of the government in the minds of some voters and was an added factor in their decision to register a protest vote But what possibly was the major factor in the election resulta was mat too many voters reacted against steps being taken to provide the people of Quebec with the rights and privileges which had been guaranteed them under confederation In this attitude unfortunately they were encouraged by continuing demands by Ontario for more Ottawa dollars which by inference were being provided Quebec and other have not provinces at the expense of taxpayers in this province While we would hesitate to think of Oils as bigotry certainly a number of releases sent oat from Ottawa by some opposition MP for consumption in their ridings have been couched in terms that njpftf that Quebec was receiving particular assistance at our expense Some Conservative can didates exploited the same theme In the campaign Mr Stanfleld deserves foil credit for repudiating such an approach The voters who were Influenced by this kind of and French backlash didnt think of Canada when they voted They thought only of themselves The fact is of course that if we are to continue to have a viable and united Canada it must include Quebec It la the res ponsibility of those of us In other parts including Ontario to ensure that are given those opportunities guaranteed them a hundred years ago and that tbey are assured of standard comparable to those enjoyed by the rest of Canada The vote tells us many things We hope for the sake of Canada that It mean there Is majority in Ontario who want to put down Quebec When an election results in swing each as that of Monday the relative merits of the issues and of the candktatM In awry rktog are lost sight of any way detracting from the congratulations on there were at the mm time many equally the concern net regard this as typical bat win offer tbHf services again HRtnapetftirbikiM