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At the regular meeting of the Richmond Hill Hydro - Electric Commission held Thursday of last week, the three member Commission set the 1957 hydro budget at $73,000. Also attending this budget meeting were Ontar- io Hydro representatives Messrs. D. Ireland and A. Avery. Set 1957 ToWn Hydro Electric Budget $73,000 Included in this total budget figure of $73,000 are new street lights for the Beverley Acres and Crosby Avenue areas. The Comâ€" mission also plan to‘carry out a rebuildingprogramme on certain streets in the central part of town. It was pointed out that a small rebuilding programme each year would save the expense of having to rebuild large areas of the system over a comparatively short period of time. Streets to be included in the rebuilding pro- gramme this year include Centre Street West, Elizabeth Street, Benson Avenue. Church Street, Roseview Avenue and Markham Road. Mr. Ireland was hopeful that if the Commission "proceeds with caution" in the coming year it may escape the necessity of floating any further debenture issues. At present the town has last year’s hydro issue of $125- 000 half sold. Today’s tight money market has made sale of the de- bentures difficult. This sale will help provide the capital outlay for 1957. Budget Breakdown A breakdown of the budget is as follows: Capital required for 350 new customer distribution system meters, tranSformers, etc, $50,000; new streetlights (80) $6,000: rebuilding old system, $10,200; rebuilding streetlights (20), $1500; new transformers, central section $4,000; miscellan- eous line equipment, $2000; total $73,000. Working funds for 1957 have been set at $11,790. In a breakdown of the ML anee sheets extending over a 10- year period from 1947, it was shown that total revenue in 1947 amounted to $17,958. In 1951 re- venue amounted to $32,353 and in 1956 had risen to $160,893. The overall value of the system has also risen steadily since 1947 as have total liabilities. In 1947 the system was valued at $46,582, in 1951 $85,958 and in 1956 $527,- 602. Liabilities in 1947 amounted to $698., in 1951 $14,557 and in 1956 $411,103. The debenture debt alone as of the end of 1956 was $289,756. To this debenture figure must now be added the new $125,000 debenture issue. The number of customers ser- ved by the system has climbed steadily from 585 in 1947 to 802 in 1951 and 2.901 in 1956. Industry Would Help Mr. Ireland stated that the fin- ancial position of the Commis~ sion would be improved by the introduction of any new industry into Richmond Hill. Additional industrial accounts would help to bring about a more favourable balance between domestic and in- dustrial users. In 1956 the Com; mission had 2684 domestic cus- tomers compared to only 217 in- dutrial and commercial accounts. Mayor William Neal was optim- istic that some new industries may be forthcoming shortly. He remarked that the Town was re- ceiving more enquiries lately from industrial firms than they had for some time. Office Salary Schedule new salar dro ofl'ice Clerks, G A vwlAuvv “-4 -.. __ ing on his collateral, then he cuts down his expenses. Likewise, the municipal- ity has only a certain annual income and can only raise a. certain amount of mon- ey through mortgaging the municipalâ€" ity in the form of debentures. These debentures which are a form lof munici- pal mortgage are regulated Hy law and depend on the amount of municipal as- sessment. Assessment forms the muni- cipality’s collateral. ' .- ..‘..‘. Probably 'one of the main points not understood by the average individual is how local improvement affects the de- benture debt. All municipal councils in the area are familiar with the statement Considered one of the greatest of (all the problems facing municipal councils these days is the matter of stringent finances. This is probably one of the least understood of all the muni~ cipal levels, one that affects many work programmes and hinders progress at the rapid pace that many residents and municipal officials would like to see. Stringent finances mean this in fact; that the municipality has reached the limit of its borrowing power or is almost there. When the average h0use~ holder finds his cash resources low and realizes as much as possible by borrow- v.1..." Over the years, the municipal debt mounts up, municipalities never seem to be free of them because as one is re- tired, there are other projects which re- quire additional orrowing. But every sensible municipa ity must retain a log- ical reserve of borrowing power._ (Eb: liberal An Independent Weekly: Established 18 The THE LIBERAL, Richmond Hill, Subscription Rate $3.50 per year; J. E. SMITH. M.P., Publisher W. S. COOK, Managing Editor ‘ __-_..._~ '7 “Authorized as second class mail; ommission approved a ~y schedule for the Hy- a staff. It. is as follouvs: rade 1 - $2050 for the An Independent Weekly: Established 1878 W n Rate $3.50 per year; to United States $4.00; 10c single capy Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association first year of employment; Grade 2 Clerks - minimum $2350, max- imum $2950; Grade 3 Clerks - minimum $2650. maximum $3250. The annual increment in each case would be $200. The meter reader will receive $1.42 per hour. The salary of the Secretary- Treasurer was set at a minimum of $3850 with a maximum of $5050. with an annual increment of $200. The members have approved the purchase of a pole trailer at $650. and a voltmeter and board at $1350. The Secretary was in- structed to write to, the Super- vising Principal of Richmond Hill Public Schools asking for his coâ€" operation in halting the practice of some students of breaking streetlights. The Commission will receive a $9669 rebate on its 1956 power bill from the Ontario Hy- dro. Last year's high rate of wat- erfall increased the available sup- ply of power and as a result the Province has made a rebate to the municipalities. Commission members Chair- man Douglas Dingwall, Sam Cook and Mayor William Neal were all present at the meeting. Secretary-Treasurer B. Ellis and Superintendent V. Snider were also in attendance. Municipal Debt of Richmond Hill has been aw- arded the Spencer Clark Schol- arship of $50 for violin. This will be applied towards his tuition fees. He is a pupil of Mme. Haydon, noted Hungarian violin- ist. Mr. Kozak's performance is particularly worthy of note as he has studied violin only for four years. He was a winner in the recent Kiwanis Festival. DONALD S. LENO, Associate Editor Telephone TUrner 4-1105 Mrs. R. H. Nell will address the annual Ladies' Night dinner meeting held by the Men's Club of the Richmond Hill United Church on Monday evening. March 18. at 6.30 pm. in the Sunday School room. Mrs. Neil is an authority on the subject of “Old Canadian Furniture". and has been engaged by the Humber Valley Conserva- tion Authority as historical con- sultant in the creation of their Pioneer Historical Museum at Dalziel Park near Edgeley. Ladies Night Mrs. Neil is a resident Thornhill and is well known her log house on John St. subject of her address will “Let‘s Rescue our Past." METRO KOZAK Ontario, Thursday, March 14, 1957 Post Office Department, Ottan' “the ratepayers will pay for it" presum- ably meaning a local improvement scheme. In itself it is a way of adding sidewalks, sewers to newly annexed areas without penalizing or taxing all the other ratepayers in the municipal- ity. However, the difficulty arises from the fact that while the ratepayers pay for a local improvement over 10 or 20 years, the municipality must guarantee the entire amount at the outset. Conse- quently, the municipal debt‘ could be raised to the dang‘er point without a re- serve for emergencies. At the same time the taxpayer feels that he has saved the municipality'an infinite amount of trou- ble and has evaded the financial prob- lem. A closer study by taxpayers of the tax structure and financing of munici- palities would be a great eye-opener to the people who seek a heavy improve- ment progiamme at a time money is not only in short demand, but when the municipalities in the district have rea~ chgd cOmparatively high debenture de t. Municipal councils are faced with a great problem, co-operation and under- standing of some of the problems of municipal finance are essential to bridge the gap. A detailed study and public re- lations programme on this subject on the part of councils, ratepayers and ser- vice organizations would prove an in- valuable aid in a greater mutual under- standing between the elected represen- tatives and the taxpayer. resident of well known for The campaign committee of the Richmond Hill Softball Associa- tion met last Sunday at the Wal- ter Scott School for the purpose of organizing a fund raising cam- paign for purchasing floodlights for Richmond Hill Park. Attend- ing the meeting were Bill Ellis, Vern Dynes, Bill Dodds. Dr. W. C. Cowan. Stan Ransom, Cam- paign Chairman and 511 Stefian. Bill Dodds. as representative from the Richmond Hill Kinsman Club, stated that the Kinsman Club had offered to organize and direct the canvass drive. Kinsmen To Direct Floodlight Drive George Gourlay stated that the ratepayers would help in any way possible. Ways and means of putting on the drive as well as other details were discussed during the meet- ing, and it was decided that the drive would take place the week of April 8 under the direction of the Kinsman Club. The campaign would take the form of a gener- al canvas of Richmond Hill to raise the funds. Personnel Committee Chair-‘ mamHarry Sayers reported to the Richmond Hill District High School Board Monday that the teaching staff had accepted the Board's salary schedule with One exception. In the case of the minimum salary for specialists the teachers had “turned down flatly" the Board's offer of $4,000. Following further negotiations, Mr. Sayers reported his commit- tee had agreed on a figure of $4,200, which is just $100.00 be- low the Metro specialist mini~ mum of $4,300. Under the prev- ious salary schedule effective last September. a specialist minimum earned $3,600 per annum. High School Teachers Approve Salary Schedule A breakdown of the salary schedule is as follows: Nonâ€"spe'c~ ialist minimum $3,700, maximum $6,500; Specialist minimum $4.~ 200 and maximum $7,100. The annual increment will be $200.00. The teachers’ proposals were somewhat higher, as follows: Non- speciallst minimum $4,500, max- imum $9,000; and Specialists minimum $4,700 and maximum $9,400. They asked for an annual increment of $300.00. On recommendation of the Per. sonnel Committee the Board has raised the extra allowance for department heads from $200 to $300. The Board employs a total of 10 department heads. The committee alsd recommended that supply teachers be paid $15.00 a day if properly certified, or $12. a day if otherwise. Previously supply teachers were paid a flat $12.00 a day regardless of their qualifications. All these new sal- ary increases are efiective Sep- tember lst. No Action Business Administrator On motion of Vaughan‘s two representatives M. Kinnee and P. Macfarlane and carried by a majority decision the Board granted Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. J. R. McAlister a $600.00 increase for 1957, raising her salary from $4,200 per annum to $4,800. The Personnel Committee recommen- ded that; no immediate action be taken on the hiring of a business administrator. Mr. Sayers felt the delay in the Board's building pro- gramme made it advisable to funnn‘ .unrr UREA“ withhold further action, Dear Mr. Editor We were sorry to read your articile, re “Richmond Hill may vote on liquor”, in your issue of February let. A further recommendation of the Personnel Committee was the setting up of a Blue Cross hos. pital plan to cover the 15 mem- bers of the nonâ€" â€"teaching staff. The committee recommended that the Board pay 40% of the cost of premiums and the indivi- dual 60%. It will cost the Board $6851.00 annually. “Dear Mr. Editor” Just why would local busin- ess men support fiuch a meaS. ure? Would not money for liquor mean a diminishing of buying power for other comm- odities which are necessities? We have read that some years ago, when Richmond Hill was a struggling Village, there were several Tavens. and it remained a struggling Village. These out- lets are all gone; and 5 years ago the population was a little over 2.000.‘ There are no out- lets now, and the- small Village has grown to be an active. thriv- ing young Town, of over 8.000. and still growing. _ speaking in support of the re- commendation Trustee R. Wood of Richmond Hill felt “most peo- ple have come to expect fringe benefits”. Trustee W. Middleton of Markham township advocated that the premium payments should be the full responsibility of the individual. Both Trustees Middleton and Rumble, moved that the Board assume no share in the cost of the plan. "There is a large number of people right in this district who have to pay their own hospital insurance”. stated Trustee Middleton. How- ever the Board overruled Messrs. Middleton and Rumble. and on a resolution moved and seconded by Trustee Sayers and Endean approved the Board’s 40% par- ticipation in the insurance plan. 7 Wouldn‘i it be nice to try to keep it a pleasant and safe place in which to live? Campaign for Softball Lights Dear Mr. Editor: In the near future a group of public spirited citizens of Rich- mond Hill will be conducting to raise $5, 000 to provide flood- lighting and other improve- mean to our baseball diamond in the local park. Not so long ago, other cit- izens organized and successfully completed a campaign to instal artificial ice in the Richmond Hill Arena. The benifits that have accured to the Community as a result of this endeavour are apparent to everybody. Win- ter sports and other recreat. ion for youngsters and adults alike are in full swing from October to April every year. However, the development of supervisied sport and other reâ€" creation activity in the other months of the year are only just now getting underway. For approximately one-sixth of the cost of installing artificial ice , suitable floodlighting and other improvements in the base- ball diamond can be provided in the Park, and supervisied baseball made possible in all the age groups interested in this game. The Board took no action on the suggested hiring of extra part time caretaking staEE for the Thornhill school. This extra help would have been paid at the rate of- $1.00 an hour. 0 The committee in charge of this campaign is to .be comm- ended for their willingness to make this campaign a success and I for one, will support their' efforts to fhe best of my ability. If we all contribute when the canvaser calls, recreational facilities can be extended to cover all seasons of the year in Richmond Hill. Good luck to them. Dear Mr. Editor I think it appropriate this week to extend a vote of com- mendation to the teachers and pupils of the Richmond Hill Public School system for their fine Oratorical Contest held‘ire- cently. Both the.speakers and the choirs did an excellent job, of which their teachers, parents and the community at large may be proud. As one of the judges, I also think worthy of comment is the new judging system, which en- sures fairness to the speakers and relieves the judges of the risk of partiality. I “on w y In the past, th‘ speakers names have been announced as they present their address. thus occasionally putting a judge in the peculiar pusition of feeling some loyalty or prejudice. This year, however, contestants were unknown to the judges in al- uu. uLu-Av.’ . Opposes Sale of Liquor in Richmond Hill Yours truly, Misses A. and L. Cunningham [Richmond Hill Miss Anne Stephenson, talented young Richmond Hill soprano, gave a recital of cléssical selections at the Toronto Art Gallery last Sunday. Among the capacity audience were many from this district. During the programme, the young artist distinguiShed herself with an excellent per- formance. Her selections ranged from opera to lighter concert music. She received three curtain calls and an encore. unusual for the gall- ery recitals. Oratorical Contest Recital At Art Gallery Yours very truly, Ken Tomlin most every instance, and even to some of the audience until the winners were annopnced. The judges were spotted sep~ arately through the audience and at the time the marking on the individual speeches was made, the speaker was knOWn only as a number. Each judge received a list of points to be used as ,a guide in marking and also a scare card on which to register his or her marks for the candidate speaking. Judgâ€" ing was based on material. style, language. effectiveness and voice. The marks were allocat- ed to each speaker as he or she concluded and the only work that was left to be done when the judges retired, was to total their marks and on that basis place the contestants. In the case of ties, the total marks given by the four judges were in turn totalled to select th winner of tie place. a A The whole thing was much like an examination -â€" the marks were given on the indi- vidual speech and as it is in school, the person with the highest marks received top place. It was definitely not jud- ged on the old system where the judges could sit around afterwards and consider one speech compared with another and consider whether the child belonged to one of the town's leading families or whether his father was mayor. It was based on merit and marks. Last Friday the pupils of Grade 9 held their assembly in the au- ditorium of Richmond Hill High School. The play presented at this time was an Irish comedy called. “Spreading the News”. The directors of the play were Miss Fawcett, Mrs. Huckle and Miss Strathdee. The actors and actresses intthe play were: Peter Kingsley, Michael Burnie, Eliza- beth McLeod, Rosalie Campbell, Lots Perkins. Paul Sampson. Bob Robson, Brad Bellis. Bruce Bridges and David Rutherford, all of grade nine. Their promp~ ter was Freda Constable. The play was a great success and was enjoyed by all pupils of the school. The grade 9 instrumental music class. under the direction of Mr. Warren Atkinson provided \the music for the assembly. The 1members of this group displayed the wonderful progress which they have made during the year. Grade 9 Play Well Received Dear Mr. Editor: In everyone’s mind there should be a memory of taking part in some public entertain- ment â€"- with the excitement of wearing a glittering costume and staying up late. The Second Annual Richmond Hill Figure Skating Carnival will be that memory for some 150 children. . I would like to express my appreciation of the wonderful Carnival put on by the Rich- mond Hill Figure Skating Club on Friday and Saturday even- ing at_ the local Arena This was 77.-.--L ..l-. “‘5 n» u..- .v-.-â€" __- 7, , a real community project ach- ieved by the hard work of mem- bers, parents and co-operative local businessmen. .vnu. y“--- -.._ It is unfortunate that the small seating capacity of the Arena resulted in people being turned away but perhaps in the not too distant future a new and more spacious arena will be built. Dear Mr. Editor 0f recent ”date We have not- iced letters in your column written by irate townfolk com- plaining about dogs running loose. A _ _ I'd like to change the trend of the gripe and complain ab- out children running loose in our subdivision. Now. I like children, but not rude ones who have no respect for other peop- le’s property. Since we moved here nearly two years ago, we have had holes dug in our driveway, mud slung at our white fence and our wire fence has been bent to the ground by children who deliberately opened our garden gate, and climbed the fence. Our neighbours at the back and across the street had the same thing happen and next door their gate was broken and chil- dren walk their fence. Maybe we are old fashioned, but we were raised to respect the pro- perty of others. The children aren’t to blame, but the par- ents are! , Also, many times little child- ren are playing on the road and cars have to stop for them. The children are too young to know better but someday just‘ one car won’t stop in time, then we'll have a tragedy on our hands. If each parent who reads this would take a few moments to explain the meaning of respect and courtesy to their children. then perhaps our brotherhood of community living would beâ€" come of greater value to all. Mrs. D. Taylor. Richmond Hill Wants Children To Be More Courteous Yours sincerely. J. Beresford Anderson, Richmond Hill Skating Carnival Huge Success CECILIA B. ANDERSON was awarded the Gordon V. Thompson Scholarship of $400 at the annual Kiwanis Festival held in Toronto recently. She was in- vited to perform on Stars of the Festival, presented in Masgey Hall on March.6. She played a Beethoven piano Sonata. Leon- ard Isaacs,» noted British adjudi- cator predicted a “brilliant fu- ture for her." Miss Anderson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Beresford Anderson, Centre St., fiichmond H111 “The custodians of Township School Area No. 1, Markham and Vaughan have one of the best fringe benefits plans in operation in Ont," says Maintenance Su- pervisor of Area No. 1. W. J. Downing. Mr. Downing is an ar- dent advocate of a comprehen- sive benefit plan for all of in~ dustry and feels with a good one much of the friction between em- ployees anq employers could be eased. Good Fringe Benefit Plan In School Area1 In the area, the minimum sal- ary for the, custodians is $2.700 and $3,300 the maximum. There is a yearly increment of $150 and overtime on permits is $1.59 per hour. Tradesmen have the same minimum and maximum plus $400 per_ year trade pay. For this allowance, tradesman would work as a custodian but would also work at his trade for the Board at such as might be necessary. Part- time help is paid at the rate of $1.25 an hour. Fringe Benefits The custodians are permitted all statutory holidays. Two weeks vacation with pay up to 10 years service; three weeks from 10 to 20 years service; and four weeks with 20 years service. Additional days may be given by the Super- visor in cases where work has been completed in the summer months satisfactorily. There is cumulative sick leave with retirement gratuity is paid up to 50% maximum of last year‘s salary. There is a comprehensive plan of insurance; P.S.I. for medical, Blue Cr05s for hospitali- zation, and London Life for life insurance. The Board pays 40% and the employee 60% of this cost. ’ A pension plan, approved in January, 1957, is now being set up and will be made retroactive to January 1, 1957. The Board will split the cost of the pension plan fifty-fifty with the em- ployees. Vaughan Passes Garbage By-Law Vaughan Township Council last Monday gave final sanction to a new garbage bylaw designed to more adequately control the bur- ning and disposal of garbage in the municipality. While the town- ship has had.unfortunate exper- iences with garbage by-laws in the past, it is felt that this one will have sufficient force to en- able the township to control gar- bage enteijing the township. Under the new legislation, only lands presently under use as dumps may be used and they may only be used if the provision of the by-law are observed. The by- law provides that no paints, lac- quers or highly volatile refuse may be dumped in the munici- pality and no industrial waste may be disposed of by burning. No more than two feet of,gar- bage may be placed without cov- ering and the covering must be complete and to a depth of one foot. Every two feet of garbage must be covered every 24 hours and there must be constant sup- ervision. The by-law provides for a $300 maximum fine for viola- tion. The building is designed for a later addition of a sec- ond storey to accommodate a permanent brigade. The building would cost about $15,000, the land was pur- chased at $4,900 and it would cost at least $25,000 to equip it with pump truck and other necessities. "In other words it will be a $45,000 deal," said the Reeve. Last Monday. Vaughan Township Council viewed plans for a proposed $45, 000 firehall for the Richvale ar- ea The plans and list of e quip ent were presented by co- rdinating Fire Chief J. Davidson Council viewed the plans briefly but no decision was made. There has been no in- dication from council yet that the plan will be approv- ed and there is strong objec- tion of some members of council from the finance standpoint. This matter will likely be considered ageln in the 'near future after members have had an op- portunity to study the plan and consider its financing. $45,000 Fire Hall tot-phone ‘l'Urner 4-1212 FREE PARKING REAR 0F THEATRE Show Times 7 and 9 pan. Continuoul from 6 pm. Saturdays and Holiday: Hydro Users in Richmond Hill are requested to PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT EFFEC- TIVE IMMEDIATELY THE NEW TOWN HYDRO TELEPHONE NUMBER IS TUrner 4.3511. THE NEW HYDRO POST OFFICE 'Box NUMBER IS 240. IT'S HILARIOUS! IT'S APPEALINGI IT'S CfiRTAIN TO GIVE YOU THAT WONDERFULVFEELINGI Mon., Tues., Wed., March 18, 19; 20 NOTICE 'Adult entertainment Pmmount Pruenu VAM‘ Secretary-Treasurer B. ELLIS; 1ECHNIOOLOP' Mm"