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2 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville. January 24, 1979 Section Two Editorial Comment Forget a B A good test of your knowledge of Canadian history is to ask yourself the following question: What famous Canadian was born January 11? If you know that the answer to the question is Sir John A. Macdonald then you can give yourself top marks for your knowledge of Canadian facts. Our first prime minister was born exactly 164 years ago on Januaryl1 However there is a very good chance that, like most of us, you did not know the birth date of Sir John A. The fact that this day goes almost unnoticed says something about the nation's sense of pride in its past. Our neighbours to the south of the border certainly are much more knowledgeable about the birth date of their country's first president. There are probably a number of Canadians who even know the date of George Washington's birthday but not Sir John A. Macdonald's. His birth date tends to creep up on us unexpectedly since it comes on ~irthday?~ the heels of New Year's and Christ- mas. But maybe we should remem- ber it next year and make plans to celebrate it in an appropriate way. We could have sales in the stores to commemorate Sir John A. Mac- donald's birthday. (After all, 'Sir John was a Scotsman and the Scots are supposed to appreciate thrift). We could have a holiday in the schools, hold public speaking com- petitions, wear Sir John A. Mac- donald T-shirts and maybe even re- enact the Charlottetown Conference. We would have an excuse to leave the Christmas lights up a little longer if the day were appropriately celebrated with street decorations. And no doubt we have only scrat- ched the surface when it comes to listing the ways in which the day could be observed. Celebrations of Sir John A. Mac- donald's birthday would go a long way towards brightening up the month of January which tends to be too long, too cold and too dark. Shorter Meetings Needed Before Newcastle's Town council gets off on the wrong foot, perhaps a little friendly advice would be in or- der. From what we have heard so far, the. council seems to be spending an unusually large amount of time on its regular meetings. It's not that we think council members should be rushed when they are making important decisions. But on the other hand, we don't think council should waste its time debating the small and in- significant things which only take up time. The fact of the matter is that many council decisions are not matters of contention. For the good of everyone concerned, it would be best if these straightforward items were dispat- ched quickly and efficiently. This would leave more time for the com- plicated matters which really do need council's fullest consideration. Unfortunately, it is all too often true that the smallest items of business on a council or committee agenda take up the most time while the largest items of business are quickly approved or voted down. For example, a municipal council will often debate at length the correct color of paint for the dog pound's walls. On the other hand, the new tax rate for the upcoming year might be hurried though in minutes. We note that we are speaking generally of all municipal councils when we say this and are not laying any accusations at Newcastle Council in particular. However, there does seem to be a trend towards marathon council sessions in Bowmanville. A week from last Monday was one case in point. Councillors sat from nine in the morning until near midnight with only a few hours for lunch, din- ner and coffee breaks. During that time, they completed one council session. We doubt that these long meetings are useful for several reasons. First of all, nobody can make a good A Corner A Snowstorm Snowdrops falling, thickly swirling, From the north west, strong winds blowing, Feel the icy winter's blast, Snowdrifts 'gainst the fences prest. Snowshoe over to the stable, It's the only way we're able, To feed the horses their hay, Drawn on a long wooden sleigh. Passing the frozen pond we gaze, It's hard to think of warmer days, decision after working 12 or 14 hours on council business. After working that long, the mind gets to the point where it just can't think straight. At that point, it's better to adjourn than to continue. Secondly, members of the general public occasionally visit council and committee meetings either to speak about a particular issue or to just watch the proceedings. We often wonder what thoughts go through the minds of these persons as they watch council members take so much time to conduct their business. They will not leave the meetings with good impressions about the ef- ficiency of municipal government. Finally, there are some members of council who have busy schedules outside of their work as elected of- ficials. Some of them have businesses to run, for instance, and work for the municipality must take up a large amount of their time. If this trend continues, many people who are qualified to be leaders in local government will refuse to take up such a challenge because meetings and debates take up too much valuable time. This would mean that only retirees, housewives and persons who aren't tied down to the everyday task of making a living in nine to five jobs would be eligible for public office. We will be no better off if these are the only persons that run for office locally. Surely what is needed is a tightening up of rules of procedure in council and committee meetings so that debate is not allowed to wander aimlessly and for several hours. Council should agree on specific hours for adjournment and keep them. Council could also enforce its rules on the amount of time allotted for people who wish to speak to a council or a committee. All of these ideas would no doubt help break the coun- cil bottle-neck and get business over with quickly. for Poets Sunlit water, clear sparkling, Move on, the sky is darkening. Could that be birdsong in the wood? Even in nature's darkest mood, She gives hope to those that pause, And learn to live by her laws. Back toward the house we're turning, Through the window, bright fire burning, Each day be it dark or fair, Good to seek and find peace there. --Mary Stewart Clarke Lonesome Wagon ugar and ice On With the Race It's hard to head into a new year with a high heart, when every second headline or smarmy news announcer hits you another blow where it hurts - right on the finan- cial bone. It doesn't tingle, like a crack on the funny bone. Rather it produces a dull, sick ache that you know isn't going to go away in a few minutes. All the staples of life in our once- wonderful Canadian standard of living are taking another spurt in the inflation race: bread, butter, cheese, milk, meat, vegetables, fruit. There's a plausible ex- planation for every increase, as usual. But I have a deep, abiding suspicion, and if I had the research facilities, Il bet I could confirm it. I have a strong feeling that when the basic commodity rises, say, 20 per cent, the middlemen, the big food chains with their handy outlets, the supermarkets, add another five per cent to make it a nice round 25 per cent, fully realizing that the harried shopper hasn't time or resources to figure out whether the increase on the shelves is justified. One would have to shop with a calculator in one hand, a copy of the Financial Post in the other, and a mind like a steel trap to be able to eti Who Will Pay Subsidy? coming out Dear Johnny, pockets wh Council and Board of Iduca- share wouidn tion are currently in a hassle too much so as to who will be responsible per cent Boar for what share of the operat- per cent. ing deficit of the soon to be Everything built swimming pool and seems to be squash courts. Note, they are For instanc not concerned with the deficit United Chur as such as much as they are you can read concerned with who is going to students are i collect the needed money from year students you know who. cent are fem Two things are apparent (1) curious, 30 p the new pool will operate at a less than 22,s considerable deficit (2) the is apparentiy deficit will be paid by the 22 - female. taxpayers in one way or Getting ba another with these two things apparently il in mind I rush into print with a with ail cai solution lest the powers that paid. Actual] be waste the whole summer seem too far f talking. The first year's deficit those who use would be split 50 - 50. After one costs. Since th year, the subsidy by the ly already be taxpayers shall be limited to being impos $48,000 yearly with the rates seem a defini for usage to be adjusted as be next best necessary to raise the cannot be set balance. $48,000 is a fair chunk figure it wou of money and many of us have some questio long since discarded our water the pool shoul wings and the pool interests us M not. However, it is probably worth something to the town to Dear Editor: have a pool hence the subsidy. Could We N Since the money wil be s On page t prove it. But I have a feeling deep in my bones that it's so. Heard of any big food or supermarket chains going broke lately, trying to keep prices down? Any liquor stores? Any big oil companies? Nope, just round it off to next figure above the in- crease, never below, and let the con- sumer make up the difference. After all, it's a free enterprise system we're living in. And devil take the hindmost. This type of swindle is only pen- nies, when you look at one item. But it doesn't take those pennies long to turn into millions of dollars when the manipulators gather in their coun- ting houses at the end of a year. And it's a kick in the solar plexus for the people on low or limited in- cornes' trying to keep food on the table. If I were an old-age pensioner and had nothing else to live on I'd be scared stiff to pick up the morning paper and learn what new item would have to be banished from the menu. If I were a young mother with a raft of kids and a husband out of- work, I'd contemplate eating the kids, starting with the youngest and most succulent, rather than trying to feed them. I'm not an economist, thank the Lord (what a mess they've made of things). But I think it makes more sense to subsidize farMers for growing wheat so that the price of bread may be kept down, than it does to subsidize American in- dustrial giants so that a few thousand jobs will be created. I know the answers: we need the jobs and the taxes industry will produce. But the farmers will still be here, growing wheat, when huge new factories have closed, the jobs have vanished, and the American are gone, laughing all the way to the bank. It's happened before, and will again. I don't blame the Yanks. If you can find a sucker willing to give you huge subsidies, and sweet tax con- cessions why not use him? When the subsidies dry up, and the tax con- cessions period ends, you can always go home, taking your mar- bles with you. No skin off yours. Don't think I like subsidies of any kind. I hate them. Nobody ever sub- sidized my father. And when he went broke in the depression, he and my mother had to scramble to keep us off the relief roles. But they did. That of course, was in the days when individual enterprise was possible, before everything got so big and faceless and unwieldly, to of the same o collects what 't seem to matter let's say town 55 d of Education 45 these days so complicated. e in the Dec. rch "Observer" "the theological up a bit to 73 first S of whom 30 per ale." If you are ercent is slightly so the enrolment 51 + male and ck to the pool, t will be opened pital costs fully y, it would not fetched to expect it to meet all the his has apparent- en written off as sible, it would te subsidy would . If this subsidy at a reasonable ild seem there is n as to whether d be built. organ [ot Re-Phrase? wo of Jan. 10th Statesman 1979 A.D. appeared a very archaic legal "notice of a highway-closing." The English used is probably impeccable but it goes back beyond The King James' English. More like King John's at the time of the famous Magna Charta sign- ing. The spelling has been up- dated so why not-the wording? People cannot understand this ye olde type of legalistic English. Why should they? This is 1979! The Bible, the best Law- Book for Good Living, for many years was beyond the sensible comprehension of the ordinary person. It has been reworded without any loss of the original meaning in a more modern way for the understanding of the many. If the most venerated Law-Book in the world can be up-dated, why not men's legal laws, their signs and wording? The Commissioner of Works' sign was just under- neath our Town Hall sign. The Region is newer than the Town of Bowmanville but just as legal . . isn't it? The region's sign was quite comprehen- sible to'all. Simple every day English. It just may be that all the people in Town would simply like to know where the highway-elosing is to be!! Puzzled, A. Peto Dear John, There were two good editorials which need com- mendation and thought in the issue of Jan. loth, 1979. "Foreclosing Our Options" was indeed a fine piece of writing, something that need- ed to be said. The first one "EVERY- BODY NEEDS A CRUTCH" was good too but it needs a few comments. First, religions may be a crutch BUT Christianity is not a "religion"; Christianity is a way of life. Colossians chp. 2. vs. 8, says "Don't let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men's thoughts and ideas instead of on what Christ has said. 9, For in Christ is ail of God in a human body." Christ did say, "Comfort ye one another". If that is a crutch then let us all use this crutch! Just look at the societies and cultures who do vhen a person was still a human being, not just a number buried in the bowels of that vast conglomerate that is government today. No, I don't like subsidies, but I do believe in fair shares, or as near as we can get in our system. And that brings me from food fiddling to taxes. Every year I read the early January reports of changes in the tax structure. And every year I almost weep. It's the rich wot gets the gravy, it's the poor wot gets the blame, as the old song goes. This year, as usual, the poor get a few minor concessions, but with in- flation, wind up shorter than ever. The rich get the same concessions, but with their money invested at fat interest rates, come out ahead of the game. The poor don't have invest- ments. They have to operate in the market place. It's all very complicated, and I won't go into it here. But putting it roughly, I reckon that if you were a totally disabled veteran with 12 kids and a working wife, you might, just might, have the same income, as the pension of a politician who served two terms, was soundly thumped the last time around, and had returned to his fat law practice. Editor not have Christianity or have had it and turned away from it. Look at what is happening to our own culture and society. Yes, let us think on that some. Sincerely, R. Lilley. January 15th, 1979. Re: The Reconstruction of Stedmans Department Store, Bowmanville, Ont. Dear Mr. James, Stedmans Head Office, Toronto is pleased to announce that a contract has been drawn up with Bowman Construction Ltd. for the reconstruction of the store damaged by fire on August 20th, 1978. Construction will commence on January 15th, 1979 with an expected completion date of May 4th, 1979. The interior of the store has been designed in keeping with today's modern concepts and will provide Stedmans' old and new customers with a pleasant shopping environ- ment in air-conditioned com- fort. Althought it was necessary to remove a portion of the upper floor, the facade of the building will remain, there- fore keeping the outward appearance intact. Every effort will be made to return to business as usual in our traditional location, when we can continue once again to supply all of your everyday needs. Sincerely, J. Sayers Sales Promotion Manager Stedmans Dear Editor: Mr. Rene Thiebaud will talk about 'Plant Requirements and Greenhouse Construction' at the next meeting of the Durham Chapter of the Solar Energy Society. The meeting will be in the lecture theatre at Durham College on Wednes- day, 31st January, at 8:00 p.m. It is anticipated that this meeting will lay 'the founda- tion of knowledge' for those who would like to build a 'solar' greenhouse. The talk should be of general interest to gardeners, All are welcome. Mr. Thiebaud is owner of The Oshawa Garden Centre, He is a Garden and Landscape Consultant, and bas diplomas in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. J. Stephenson Publicity Agent J r t ers