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The Huron Expositor, 1976-06-10, Page 15pproximately 1.25 acres of land o increase the area surrounding - he Kirkton-Woodhim .7ommunity Centre. was approved t the regular meeting of the Isborne township council last 'uesday evening. The land, part A 8, S.E.B. Concession, 'at iresent belongs to Ross S. Tufts. Council also heard a report swimming pool committee which outlined the proposed. project to council, The report presdnted by Ross Robinson, Fred- Miller, and Norman Amos 'estimated the cost of a 40' x 80' open pool at $100,000. - In the absence of any report from the Ministry of Agriculture concerning the proinised review of ceilings on tile drainage loans, accidents in 1976, 'We haee to have a united effort of all the farmers in Ontario to clean up their acts. On the way up here I saw a guy on a tractor ( hanging out of the cab wiping off the window while he was discing. Now that is an accident just waiting for a place to happen.- A farmer should be careful to replace all guards on machinerY Mr. Whitworth said. , "I know when you're.in,a hurry and it is about to rain it is easier to leave a guA-rd off. But if you lose an arm or a leg it is going to rain anyway and you won't get your crop in." , The Federation passed several resolutions at their meeting. A proposal by Bev Broim to initiate a program whereby memhers would be trained to speak to different orgainizations (such as consumer groups) on farm problems was unanimously adopted, It was also agreed to accept a resolutionr to set up a .program whereby farmers would invite an urban dweller to dinner some time. It was felt these actions -would help increase the understanding between producers and consumers of their separate problems. Two resolutions presented by ' I ANNIVERSARY SALE IA 5th ANNIVERSARY SALE Sth ANNIVERSARY SALE Its STRICKLAND MOTORS 5th ANNIVERSARY With Purchase of any 'Anniversary Priced' 1976 New Car FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE L's Here's One Example: 200 CC 2 DOOR ••• 198. YOUt Toyota, AMC, JEEP DEALER 'T V S AO V SM I 3 AI N NV 976 TOYOTA COROLLA 00 + Freight & Dealer Prep ($132: + Lie. Plate & Tax + FREE 1,,0 SPEED RACER Sith - ANNIVERSARY SALE . " 5 it h ANNIVERSARY SAL Sth ANNIVERSARY SALE Sthi THE' RON, PcposiToil, ioo 1071 e I furrow' nape. Ontario farmers have to clean up their act and change their attitude towards farm safety,, members of the Huron Federation Whitworth of the Ontario Farm Safety Assocation. "Farmers have, the -highest accident frequency and the biggest single factor,is attitude. You could get all sorts of 'information, but if. you don't pay any attention to it, it won't do any good," he said. Mr. Whitworth pointed out that it is estimated Ontario farmers 41 nay $30 Million because of night. The speaker was Ted. A $5000 expenditure for from the Kirkton-Woodhani members of council decided to hand to discuss with council the borne to pa •y $5000 for 1.1/4 acres. mofeAegrnr itiriurecwiienrteont,oidnautrtsiideaiyr Two politicians to quote this week, a Liberal and a Con- servative. To be fair, a New Democrat should be quoted, too, but I couldn't find one who had said anything pertinent about farming since last week. To digress for a moment I have been accused of being a died-n-the-wool Liberal, a red Tory, an out-and-out social- ist and even a uinko by some readers If the truth were known, I probably straddle a number of fences. Tradition- ally; I vote Conservative but have voted for all. three parties. Not during the same election, you understand, First, Perrin Beatty, a young member of Parliament who now represents a sprawling 'riding known as Welling- ton-Dufferin-Waterloo-Grey. When the new distribution dis- tricts are set out, he will lose some of his area. Mr. Beatty is not a farmer. As far as I know, he has never been a farmer. His heritage as a Canadian goes back to the famous Beatty washers so his ancestors were industrialists. But because he represents a rural riding— one of the few left in the province—he ,bas become most articulate in speaking out for farmers. He has done his homework, so to speak, in representing his riding. He knows something about farmers and farm- ing problems and never hesitates to speak out for agricul- turalists. , Not long ago, he spoke in Owen Sound and told a group of farmers that he is worried about the diminishing of the farm voice in politiCs. I share this concern. He echoed a refrain of mine that has been running through, this column for almost a decade. "It is your responsibility as farmers to make your voice heard to Canadian 'politicians and the Canadian society as a whole. You must maintain the lines of communica- tions," he said. "Each farmer must make his own case. Don'til it for governments: Educate the consumer groups. Do it through the press." Exactly. Every farmer must be his own public relations counsel. I wonder how many farmers are knOwn to local newspaper editors? Granted, few farmers are going to have much clout with the huge metropolitan papers such as. the Teronto Star. But lines of communication Are wide open' to. other news media. Most weekly editors are ex- us Lows ere.appreeietedbY Bob Trotter. Eldale Rd.. Elmo& Ont N3B 2C7 tremely happy to print farm news if it is written properly. And most radio stations appreciate some communication with the farming community. Newspapers have an obligation to explain agriculture and its problems to urban people, most of whom now know next to nothing about farming. Few people today have ever had manure on their boots. A problem arises, too, in the fact that few newspaper people today know much about farming and don't really care. This is all the more reason for farmers to become more vocal. Now to the Liberal politician. Dr. Stuart Smith, leader of the provincial party, has been quoted a number of times recently as favoring a comprehensive land use program for Ontario and an end to the gobbling up of some of the finest farm land in the world by urban encroachment, He has also said that farm- ers definitely need a reasonable — and he stresses the word reasonable — return on their investment and their labor if they are to stay on the land. Mr. Beatty is .a federal. member,. ,Dr. Smith is- a provin- cial member. Their farm philosophies do not appear too far apart. Many other politicians are saying the same thing in both parties at both levels of government. The point here is this: If all these politicians are saying much the same thing, how come a well-delineated farm policy, a long-range farm policy, has not been established in Ontario and in Canada? How come dairy farmers, for instance, have to wait so long every year to make their plans' because the feds drag their feet on policy? And even when that policy is an- nounced, a subsidy is cut back by more than half in the middle of a policy year? How come beef farmers are fighting an import policy that allows millions of tons of American and Australian beef to come to this country? How come Canada's trade negotiations 'in • the past have too Often traded away tariffs on agricultural goods for manufacturing goods from other countries at the expense of the farmer? I could go on but I'm sure you understand. • It has been said before but bears repeating: All farmers are. seeking in this country is the opportunity to produce quality products to sell at a reasonable price. It isn't ask: ing too much. postpone any decision on an new arena and hall project for allotment policy. ' reduction in the number of County Clerk be a`dvised that this representatives on County council is. not in favour of any Council." A motion was carried that "The the draft of a building by-law recommended by Hurbri Counly planners but agreed to postpone the passing of the by-law pending Exeter which Usborne has agreed to support. CounCil studied and discussed further discussions with the, Mayor Bruce Shaw and Reeve department. Derry Boyle of Exeter were on a f a a r as old Old, discarded and obsolete machinery seems to collect around a lot of farms ever the years, but Joe Hastings of R,R, 2, Staffa must have the jackpot on his, farm. Mr. Hastings, who is 68, leas several walking plonghs which are well over a hundred 1 years 'old, including one that originally belonged to the father of Jimmy Gardner, one time Premier of Saskatchewan and later federal minister of agriculture. Three of Mr. Hastings' ploughs were specially designed for ploughing match competitions only and used by him mainly during the 1920's. - "I was always a half decent ploughman and several people got at me to try it. I got into it and went at it," he said. Mr. Hastings competed at Kingston in 1929 for Perth County in the Ontario ploughing match competition along with Lloyd Scott and Austin Nairn. Although, as a group, they failed to bring any prizes home, in the individual competition for boys under 21, Mr. Hastings came third, But the competitions today aren't what they used to be according to Mr. Hastings. "Once the horses quit, a lot of • the interest died. You don't have to' be a great ploughman to win today. Mr. Hastings has had offers to buy the plough that belonged to. Jimmy Gardner's father which Mr. Hastings bought in 1927 and PO for two years, but so far has rejectutl.theM• - • "A eoliple of buy Wettlen WmcINor wspte(I to . lfi And put it on a gate peat/. hitt Y wouldn't sell it to. th ero,'' he said, ."It wouldn't last any titne: *tin outside," Mr. fiaging4keeps.. competition ploughs algng With another field plough 41 Sile0. Ptt his property with 441 a-WO** of other early farm lInplaWnta. A . couple of other wall*. plopelis are stored in his haO, Hastings iceep.4hls vlooshs well greased to prevent. them from deteriorating. "I bet there aren't many walking ploughs left in the country. I don'tknow why people don't take. care of them," he added. But the changing farming methods which left the walking _ ploughs behind,. aren't all that has changed, Mr. Hastings feels. "People used to be more particular about their work. It isn't like now when they drop the plough in and miss a piece. People took a pride in their work, but now it is get the job done and get it over," "I don't think people are as happy. They handle more money, but they don't know if they're going ahead or behind." "The pace is alright when you're a young lad, but when you get up to fifty, it starts to catch up with you." • Jake Van Wonderen were discussed.One asking that the • Canadian Federation of Agriculture petition the federal government to "allow a lot more immigrants, who could create a living for themselves and be able to buy food, that would mean less htnigry people and a broader market for agricultural produce" was tabled for further study. The second resolution presented by . Mr. Van' Wonderen asking that the- OFA bargain with the provincial government for "sufficient funds for tile drainage at an interest rate of 2 per cent helmV prime" was adopted. EVERYTHING BUT THE HORSES — Joe Hastings, 68, of R.R.2, Staffa seems to have everything in ploughs stored on his farm from early farming days, but the horses to pull them. Above he stands behind his prize walking plough which was designed specially for ploughing match competition. The plough originally belonged to Jimmy Gardner's father. (Staff Photo) Farmers are asking questions, Farmers can cut accidents F of A hears