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- . had a ry i a ZH CE Pd end, a, 3 Ld re pr ar Clr nine ti STN "= a Fer - ra Rr ri rd in ,, ~- SAT Nar vs [ Is this necessary? _A terribly disturbed father arrived at the Star Office recently and in our opinion he certainly had good reasons to be disturbed. He placed in front of us, a book, apparently part of the English curriculum at the Port Perry High School and presumably high schools throughout the Region of Durham and perhaps throughbut the Province of Ontario. Granted, we did not read more than a few paragraphs of the book, but felt we had read more than enough to understand and sympathize with the disturbed father. Perhaps we should have read the complete novel and perhaps found we were reading a literary master piece, even a future Nobel Prize Winner. If, what we read is the trend of future writing, one can never be to sure who could become a future winner. It was suggested to us, the Star should quote a few of the passages in the book, but we are afraid, that, what is acceptable to those responsible for the education of our youngsters would not be acceptable to the Star readers. And until the very persons responsible can convince us that this is proper and beneficial education, our opinion will remain the'same and we cary, jonly deplore the waste of taxpayers money" and the filth added to the beautiful English language. Best wishes, Bruce Again we have to part with an employee and this time only after three short months. We at the Star have had a considerable 'turnover' of editorial employees during the past three years, and at times we begin to wonder, "what are we doing wrong'. We don't seem to be able to hold on to the writers we engage. The last one to leave is Bruce Stewart, an imaginative and productive writer with whom we had hoped to have a much longer relation- ship, but, alas, this was not to happen. However, despite the brief association it was a most enjoyable and rewarding one. Bruce has the youth, ambition and desire to do a good job and should have a bright and promising future in the newspaper field. We at the Star, as much as we ""hate" to see him go, join in wishing him all the best, not only in his newspaper career, but equally much as far as his private life is concerned. He is joining the editorial staff of the daily Hamilton Spectator next week. Now is the time! The 70 people who attended Monday night's public meeting about the Durham's Official Plan should know more about what the region is doing than they did before they went to the meeting. Probably more importahtly, they also realize that if they have some feelings on how this area should develop, this is the time to say something. There are two displays next week in this area where people can see what information the region have gathered. There will also be a staff member on hand to talk and listen to people. The department has promised to everybody who has anything to say. If you have something to say, this is the time to say it. listen to PORT PERRY STAR Company Limited f @ow (om): Serving Port Perry, Reach, Scugog and Cartwright Townships P. HVIDSTEN, Publisher J. PETER HVIDSTEN, Advertising Manager Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association Member of the Ontario Weekly Newspaper Associalion Published every Wednesday by the Part Perry Star Co. Lid, Port Perry, Ontario Authorized as second class mail by the Post Office Departmen), Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash Second Class Mail Registration Number 0265 Subscription Rate: In Canada $6.00 per year. Elsewhere $8.50 per year. Single Copy 15¢ I PC USO AETISSNS -- J ONE Lump, OR TWO crm] iy BILL MILEY UGAR ano IT'S ELECTION TIME AGAIN About this time of year, every year, all sorts of queer things come creeping out of the wcodwork and the underbrush and proceed to create a storm in a saucer. I'm referring to municipal elections. It begins back in October, when the local paper starts writing trenchant editorials urging people to offer themselves for public office. This is somewhat like urging people to offer themselves as volunteer guinea pigs to see whether or not the guillotine is working. But any weekly editor worth his salt will be able to demand the paradox of "new blood' and "solid experience' on the town council or whatever. a These editorials have almost no effect whatever, except to fan the tiny ember in the occasional guy or gal who has a secret ambition to be called "Councillor" or "Alderperson", or even "Your Worship," and to be on the "inside", helping "Shape . the future of our community". Then the papers, in a creditable effort to drum up some interest, begin to interview the incumbent members to town council, public utilities commission, board of educat- ion, and dog catcher, to find out who is going to stand again for office. This probing also has meagre results, at first. Most of those asked reply that they haven't yet made up their minds, or that it's time for someone else to take on their exhausting work load, or that they have found the work very rewarding, but... Behind this smokescreen of generalities, the potential candidate, im many cases, really means, 'I'll see how the wind blows"; . or, 'Yeah, I'll stand again, if I'm assured a seat by acclamation'; or, "Wait till I see how tough my opposition is." This is not so in all cases, to be fair. Some small-town politicians have a rare combin- ation of honesty and pugnacity,love a fight, and coume out swinging at the bell. These are often elected by acclamation, because they scare off potentially excellent candid- ates who don't want to become involved in a verbal donnybrook. But behind all the smoke of municipal elections, there is, in most cases, very little fire. Occasionally,. there is a stand-up slugging match in which personalitites, mud, and other such items are slung about with reckless abandon, while the public looks on with glee. As a rule, however, the people elected are chosen for public office not because they are honest, fearless crusaders for the taxpayer, but because they are not quite as bad as the alternatives who are running for the job. Many a man, or woman, has been elected because nobody else wanted the dirty job. And many a strong and capable canidate has been defeated for these very qualities. He has trod on too many toes in an effort to get some action. More and more women are running for various municipal offices, which is a very good thing 'indeed. Women can be quite ruthless when it comes to getting things done, and are much less apt to sit around and bicker or gossip, when on a committee, than are men. Then there is a certain loathsome type who wants to be elected so that he or she can go to meetings. They usually have a rotten home life. They love meetings. They adore points of order, addenda, and amendments to the motion. They make a brave show of (continued on page 5) 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 11, 1921 The new officers of the South Ontario Plowing Association are: Thos. Hall, 1st Vice, E. W. Wedder, 2nd Vice, Gardham Tran, Secretary, W. S. Crox- all, Treasurer A. J. Howden. A very interesting debate "That the automobile has done more good then harm" was presented in Port Perry by George Crawford, Miss Susie VanCamp and Mrs. Wallace Marlow of Black- stock on the affirmative, and for the negative C. Coulter, Miss M. Goode and Grant McMillan. The negative side won. The Port Perry Band elected their officers for the season. They are Pres. George Jackson, Vice-Pres. F. W. McIntyre, Bandmaster Ross Roach, Sec. Treas. George R. Davey. President 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 8, 1919 Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Peters celebrated their 60th wed- ding anniversary, messages were received from King George and Queen Elizabeth. 6000 chicks left Peel's Poultry farm for Campbell- ton, New Brunswick, a trip of 800 miles. This is the largest order of Peel's Fast Feather- ed Barred Rocks to be shipped at one time in a single shipment. Mr. Grant Christie of Man- chester attended the Warden's banquet at Broug- ham. Mr. Wesley Jackson has obtained a position with the Hydro ¢ffice in Toronto. 15 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 10, 1959 Mr. Alex Johns of Man- chester had a very success- ful farm sale. Under the direction of Mrs. Francis Sandison, a pageant of Christmas Carols "Come and Adore Him" was held in Utica Church. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mahaffy celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary at Purple Hill. At Scugog Council meeting a letter was read from the Platten Island Ratepayers Association complaining on conditions at Lakeside Park. Dr. G. M. Rennie, M.O.H. was present. This was discussed and a motion pas- sed that it be left to the New Year. 10YEARS AGO | Thursday, December 10, 1961 The members of the Offic- ial Board of the United _ Church honoured Mr. Roy St. John who had been caretak- er of the church for eight years. Mr. Jon Hamilton was elected deputy-reeve of Cart- wright Township at Mondays elections. Mrs. Bert (Lucille) Gray received second highest in the voting for councillor in Reach Township and is the first woman to ever sit on council in the history of Reach Township. Mrs. A. Fisher was elected President of the Ashburn W.M. at the December meet- ing held at the home of Mrs. Edgar Heron. Mr. and Mrs. Tuscan have purchased the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Holtby of Prospect. <* YU Vn © ---- h -X ®