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CLERK BATTLES TINY COUNCIL, TO STAVE OFF SALARY SLASH
Headline County Herald March 9, 1962. 

It was a sharply divided Tiny Township council that finally settled the controversial question of 1962 wages at a special session in Perkinsfield Wednesday afternoon. Tempers flared and accusations and charges were hurled between members during most of the marathon session. Reeve Montcalm Maurice expressed dissatis­faction with the way council acted, particularly in the matted of setting the salary of Clerk-treasurer G. Marchand. The reeve was forced to cast the deciding vote on three motions. In one case he declared the motion lost and carried the other two. First motion tabled set the salary of the clerk at $4,100 for the year. It also dictated that he should provide caretak­ing for the office: for the first four months of this year, and in return would receive free rent, fuel and electricity for the same period. It was this motion that start­ed the biggest flare-up of the session. Councillor Normand Marchand opened the discus­sion, saying: “I don’t think we should cut the clerk $350 below the assessor. In a previous dis­cussion Mr. D. Holt said he felt the clerk and assessor should be paid the same.” He suggested that possibly the assessor should also be cut for 1962. Councillor Marchand: ‘’You made the first motion this year setting the clerk’s salary at higher figure than that. Then later you changed your mind after we had agreed on a salary schedule. Deputy-Reeve ‘ Holt: “We’re starting out fresh now, and deal­ing with everybody.” Councillor Mike Asselin: “His salary is more than it was last year. He’s getting a raise.” Councillor Marchand: “You are considering his car allow­ance as part of the salary. The car allowance is not supposed to be for making money.” Councillor Marchand: “Why not set his salary at the same level as the assessor?” Councillor Asselin: “When I was clerk, I was always paid less than the assessor. 

    Tiny Township would require a road budget of nearly double its 1962 approved total if the year’s expenditures continue at the level of the first two months. Nearly $30,000 has been required to carry on for this period according to figures presented at last week’s council meeting.  February’s costs totalled $11,000, with $18,000 having been spent in January. Greatest portion of this was for snow plowing which have been higher than usual this year. 

    With an estimated increase of 50 percent in the number of entries, the Midland Music Festival Committee for the first time in 16 years has found it necessary to move outside the YMCA for accommodation. Monday and Tuesday is booked solid at the Y with piano classes. This necessitates the use of the auditorium of St. Paul’s United Church for the first day of vocals, March 20. The second and third day of vocal competitions will then take over the Y halls. All instrumental classes this year were held at the Midland-Penetang District High School auditorium prior to the big week at the Y. Preparations have moved into high gear this week to prepare for the competitions to be held from March 19 through March 23. An ever growing project of the Midland Y’s Men’s Club and the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association of Midland, this year’s festival has a record-breaking number of entries. The total of 431 entries in the vocal section alone involve solos, duets, trios, double duets, two full choirs, and 59 choruses totalling more than 2500 individual voices. There are two full days of piano with 26 entries, as well as an  afternoon of recorder classes for 46 entries. Instrumental entries were heard at Midland-Penetang District High School March 2 for the woodwind and brass sections. String classes are being heard today. 

    Midland will have a new mar­ina when the boating season opens this spring. Alden N. French is the pro­prietor of the new firm, to be known as Sunnyside Marina Ltd. Letters Patent have already been granted under the Cor­poration Act, dated Dec. 11, 1961. Miss Helen French is sec­retary for the firm, which has an authorized capital of 350 pre­ference shares at $100 each and 5,000 common shares without par value. “We don’t intend to spring up into a big thing over night. It will be a gradual development.  Mr. French told this paper Thursday. The marina will be located south and east of the present property of Great Lakes Boat and Machine Company Ltd. Mr. French said some work had been done on a breakwater and retaining walls late last fall. Considerable dredging is to be done this spring to pro­vide parking space for approx­imately 50 craft of various sizes. Sunnyside Marina will be set up to handle gas, oil and re­pairs to boats. Although Great Lakes already has a large num­ber of boats in storage, addi­tional- spaces will be provided as required by the new firm. 

    It’s do or die tonight at Arena Gardens for Midland Flyers as they tackle Collingwood Shipbuilders in the sixth game of their best-of-seven semi-final series. Tuesday night’s 5-3 win in Collingwood gave Builders a 3-1 margin in games, with one tie each. They can win their way into the group finals with either a win or a tie tonight. 

And – ROBILLARD — To Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Robillard, Jr., 21 Yeo Street, Penetang, at Penetang General Hospital, Feb. 19, 1962 a son.
TURNER – To Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Turner, Elmvale, at Penetang General Hospital, February 28, a daughter. 

 

These lads brought home the first GBSSA juvenile basketball championship to MPDHS Saturday, following a 33-32 win over Thornhill in a sudden-death final at Thornhill. Left to right are, seated: Bob Clayton, Axel Duwe, Wayne Holden (captain), Gary Allsopp, Ron Church.  Standing; Alan Mostyn, Max Morden, coach Martin Bestor, Bob Weckman, Al McElroy, manager Bob Swales, Chester Graham and Fred Hacker. 

Happy smile usually go with the winners and these Midlanders had good reason to be happy after winning the annual two-day Ladies Curling Club bonspiel here this week. Holding the trophy is Mrs. Lloyd Wilcox, surrounded by team-mates Mrs. Ross Thompson, Mrs. Stan Burton and Mrs. Mac Perrin, left to right. 

‘FOLLOWED ACT TO THE LETTER’ EX-CLERK DENIES CHARGES
Free Press headline of March 14, 1962 

Former Penetang clerk-treasurer Arthur Argue claimed in a letter to Penetang council Monday night that charges levelled against him at a previous meet­ing were unfounded. Mr. Argue is now reeve of Mid­land. At a Feb. 26 meeting Mayor Jerome Gignac stated that Mr. Argue did not employ proper procedures in seizing machinery from Payette Foundry after it had ceased operations. Mayor Gignac said seizure proceedings had not been completed. He told council the machinery had been purchased by G. J. Robillard following a fire in the plant about a year ago. In his letter, Mr. Argue out-lined all steps he had taken, and gave reasons for taking them, including a conference with the town solicitor. He also pointed out that he had advised the mayor of his actions. Mr. Argue stated he had followed instructions from the mayor. Following reading of the let­ter, Mayor Gignac asked clerk­treasurer A. Doucette to explain what procedure should have been taken. The clerk produced several ‘’warrants” and other forms to be used in obtaining lands and chattels for nonpayment of taxes. He explained how each should be used. He concluded by saying: “Sometimes it’s a very com­plicated thing.” At this point Mayor Gignac asked the clerk. “When it was made known things were being sold from the factory, didn’t we go to the plant? Did you find this procedure had been carried out? Didn’t you advise me we’d better keep our noses out of it?”  The clerk answered that he had visited the plant with the mayor and said. “I didn’t look for posted notices. I couldn’t find anything in the office to prove it had been done.” Councillor Lionel Dion: “Does anyone know who authorized the sale?” 

    Kindred Industries Limited announces that it has completed  negotiations for the purchase of land in Midland on Highway 12, across from Greening Industries Ltd. As soon as weather permits, construction of the factory will begin. Kindred Industries Limited is showing the Ductless Range Hoods, which will be manufactured in this plant, at the National Home Show in Toronto from March 30 – April 7. It is expected that the Midland plant will be in operation this summer. The company has been extremely pleased with the kind reception accorded by Midland officials, local Industries, and the Midland Chamber of Commerce. 

    After an absence of almost five months, parking meters will again be in operation on Midland streets starting April 2. Town council Monday night authorized Police Chief George Wainman to proceed with the installation of heads March 28 and upon completion to start enforcing the parking meter bylaw. Midland has 325 meters on downtown streets. Of these, 200 use nickels only, the others operate with both pennies and nickels. Alderman Fred Horton told council the parking situation was acute on King Street. He urged that the meters be put into operation as soon as possible. Deputy-reeve Bill Orr con­curred with Mr. Horton’s re­marks, stating that it was al­most impossible to find park­ing space in the business area since the meters bad been re­moved last November. 

     The advantage of home ice looms larger and larger as a major factor in deciding whether Penetang Hurons or Orangeville Dufferins will triumph as their current playoff series progresses. Up to the past weekend four games have been played in this best-of-seven set for the district OHA intermediate “C” group title. On each occasion it was the home team that came up with a win. This Huron’s 3-2 victory over Dufferins at Penetang Sunday afternoon knotted the series up at two wins apiece. 

TEN YEARS AGO
James Lennox, Midland, chairman of the South Georgian Bay District Boy Scouts Association, announced a decision had been made to increase the number of Boy Scout and Wolf Cub groups in Midland and the association was seeking some organization to sponsor a new group. * * * Tenders were being called for the new Ernst Leitz (Canada) Limited plant in Midland. The plant, with 15,000 square feet of floor space, was said to represent an investment of $200,000. * * * Huronia and Georgian Bay Development Commission emerged as a full fledged organization following a meeting at Elmvale Community Hall. Officers elected were: Reeve Anthony Beck, Wasaga Beach, chairman; Mayor Charles Parker, Midland, vice-chairman and Major A. C. McCaul, Midland, secretary treasurer. * * * Port McNicoll fire brigade, was sponsoring a skating carnival with many residents taking part in the costume parade. * * * Penetang’s Huronia Credit Union, which had started 14 years previously had assets totaling $83,169.98. * * * The appointment of Captain Alex MacLennan, Midland, as commodore of the CSL fleet was announced in Montreal by T. R. McLagan, president of the line. * * * Armed with axes and saws, 40 volunteers from the Coldwater district invaded the forest near Severn Falls and cut logs, later to be made into lumber for a new grandstand at the village’s fair grounds. * * * It was announced that archaeological excavations of the old naval and military barracks’ site at Penetang were scheduled to start in May. * * * Owing to increases in salaries and upkeep costs, Penetang Separate School Board was asking council that year for $13,500, an increase of 32,100 over the previous year. 

Potatoes are one of the main attractions at the annual North Simcoe seed fair held in Elmvale, and this year was no exception.  NSSCIA president Mervyn Parker looks over some of the types on display  with R. A. Gooden of the field crops branch, department of agriculture. Grand champion potato grower for this year was Telesphore Forget, R.R. 2, Penetang, seen in photo 8253. Flanking him are reserve champions Armand Genier (left) and Ida Maurice, also from the Lafontaine area. 

Start Shovelling. Heavy melting snows pose a new threat to many thousands of cottages in the North Simcoe area, particularly those which have not been tended to earlier. This cottage at Grandview Beach, Port McNicoll, came a cropper Sunday afternoon when the roof collapsed, pushing out the rear wall, as seen in the picture. 

There’s one parade in the army nobody wants to miss, and that’s pay parade. Friday saw the first pay parade for the 100 men of the National Survival Course being held at Midland Armory. Trooper George Denis gets his $40 from Capt. W. D. Bean of the Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps. Capt. Bean is a brother of Rev. G. Bean of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, Midland.