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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1970-09-17, Page 14THE BARBECUE SERVERS — Wives of members of the Exeter and district Co-Op were on the "serving line" at Friday's pork barbecue, Shown above are from the left, Mrs. Earl Neil, Mrs. Torn Triebner, Mrs. Gerald Dearing, Mrs. Arthur Ford, Mrs, Harold Penhale and Mrs. Jack Schell. T-A photo Six counties claim support for tax withholding program THIS WEEK'S Blue Tag Special NEW FORD ONE ROW Corn Pickers PRICED TOO LOW TO PRINT Used Equipment Ferguson 3-furrow plow $ 70 Case 6A pull-type combine 100 MF 2-furrow 12" plow 130 Freeman loader, fork and material bucket to fit AC 'D' 14 195 Case blower and 60 feet of pipe 225 Ford 3-furrow 14" plow 340 IHC No. 36 3-furrow 14" plow 350 VAC Case tractor with loader 350 Overum 3-furrow 14" plow 480 Ford 20410-foot wheel disc, good as new 625 Ford 612 Forage Harvester, 2-row cornhead and pickup 875 Ford Super Major 1550 MF Super 92 SP Combine with pickup and 2-row cornhead 2900 65 Ford 6000 Diesel 3275 Massey Ferguson 180 "D" loaded with extras 4900 Ford 4500 tractor, loader, back hoe 8850 Larry Snider Motors LIMITED FORD TRACTOR EXETER 235-1640 LUCAN 227-4191 See Us Now For Your SEED WHEAT TALBOT GENESSEE — YORK STAR AND FERTILIZER BAGGED and BULK At Lowest Prices! Contracts Available CALL US NOW HENSALL DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE BRUCEFIELD HENSALL ZURICH 482-9823 262.2608 236-4393 , II ho ilikere you eon /facie wil4 con/Vence WHEAT CONTRACTS AVAILABLE IN THE SEED WHEAT OF YOUR CHOICE! • YORKSTAR • TALBOT • GENESEE We can also supply your FERTILIZER REQUIREMENTS "TRADE WITH CONFIDENCE" TRADE WITH cook's DIVISION OF GERISRO CORP. 262-2605 HENSALL USED EQUIPMENT 1 — Mauer 2-row bean puller 1 — Fox Harvester with corn head and piCkup 1 — IHC 105 Combine with grain and bean equipment 1 — New Idea No. 325 2-row 30" Corn Picker 1 —John Deere FBB Grain Drill, like new N. T. MONTEITH EXETER LTD. 235.2121 "The best in service when you need it most!" Attention Dairy Farmers A mass rally for all dairy farmers and other interested persons is being held Thurs., Sept. 17 — 8:30 p.m. ST. MARYS MEMORIAL ARENA, St. Marys, Ont. for the purpose of informing the farmers of the shortcomings of the recent major changes in dairy policy dictated by the Ontario Milk Marketing Board. WHITE BEANS NO WAITING FAST TURN AROUND OUR NEW 111011-.SPEED PIT IS OPEN FOR BEANS. This pit doubles our receiving capacity and provides you with fast service. OPEN SUNDAYS DURING THE PEAK OF THE HARVEST WE WILL BE OPEN SUNDAYS FROM 2 P.M. "Trade with Confidence" Trade With COOK VS DIVISION OF GERBRO CORP. HENSALL PHONE 262-2605 increase 10 per cent this year, too." "I expect quite a reasonable number at least 50 per cent, will hold back. Our last meeting (OFA) indicated the program had quite a following." Mr. Maynard said some farmers in Chatham Township have already held back education taxes when they came due June 15. Alistair Littlejohn of Wallacetown, Elgin County federation executive, says, although the organization hasn't held its county meeting yet, he expects "100 per cent" of its members to be behind the program. "There's no relief in sight from the government," he said. "I don't want to withhold my taxes, I think it can be resolved by direct negotiation ... but I'm in favor of withholding taxes unless something is done." He said the education portion of taxes averages about 60 per cent for farmers in the county. The situation in Huron County for farmers was called "serious" by Mason Bailey, of Blyth, federation executive. "Most farmers in the area have had to enlarge their holdings to make a living . . . then their taxes go up," he said. He said in his own case the education part of his taxes amounted to $600, or more than half of the total tax bill. "People I've known for years and never suspected would get involved are in favor of it," Mr. Bailey said. Area dairy farmers told of market quotas The National Farmers' Union will be outlining to area dairy farmers and other interested persons, the implications of market sharing quotas at a series of meetings throughout the province of Ontario. Maxine Miller, Lady Director District No. 5, NFU, stated that after the recent district conventions covering most of the province it is evident that the Canadian dairy farmers are not prepared to accept controlled production without a substantial increase • in price., Present conditions in the market indicate that an increase is justified and long overdue. The membership has instructed the National Board and Executive of the NFU to hold mass rallies in order to ascertain what action is necessary in order to achieve a satisfactory price. Mrs. Miller also indicated that the NFU Dairy POlicy complements the Ontario Milk Marketing Board's suggestions dealing with market sharing' quotas. The OMMB plans to implement its policy perhaps ,as soon as October 1st, 1970. Mrs. Miller further stated the implementation of market sharing quota will allocate the volume of milk each producer can sell on the domestic market. This is a major change in dairy policy and the fact that very few consultations were held with the dairy farmers is deplorable. The NFU intends to inform the farmers of the shortcomings of the OMMB's proposal on this matter and to permit the farmers to have a democratic voice in deciding the future of their industry. Mr. William Langdon of Lakeside, Ontario and Mr. Hubert Earl of Addison, Ontario will be the key speakers at these rallies. Property tax produces more than $800 million annually for education purposes in Ontario and it would be impossible to find that kind of money in personal and corporate income tax, Agriculture Minister William Stewart warned this week. "To say we could lay our hands on $810 million is impossible," Mr. Stewart told about 150 farmers attending a Middlesex Federation of Agriculture meeting. Mr. Stewart said that of the total take from property tax for edueation purposes, about $80 million comes from farm lands and buildings. The agriculture minister, who said he had come to the meeting "as a farmer, to listen," said if all education taxes were removed from both farm and urban property — the objective of the OFA — it would cost more than $800 million. Of the $800 million paid toward this figure by farmers, almost half was on land, he told the group gathered to hear the OFA s proposal for a withholding by farmers of the education portion of their final tax instalment. A deadline of Sept. 28 has been set and farmers are being urged to deposit the education share in a joint trust to protect themselves. Mr. Stewart reminded the farmers they are able to deduct their municipal taxes from their income tax, something urban residents cannot do. He said he does not "Embrace with wild enthusiasm" Ontario jumping into the personal income tax field because in a way it is merely a tax on top of a tax. The minister said there is a need for tax reform and it is coming and he referred to the residential tax rebate program and assessment changes as a start. Gordon Hill of Varna, president of the OFA, said farmers are not asking to be relieved of all education tax, but only want it based on a man's ability to pay. The OFA, he said, would like to see the issue resolved around the conference table without a "bare-knuckles fight." "We hope the government doesn't decide to put the boots to some small farmers (who might withhold their taxes)" he said. Instead, he suggested, any action should be taken against the OFA and the addresses of its executive members would be published for those wanting them. The farmers were told a municipality with an enabling bylaw could seize and sell at a "distress sale" the goods of a farmer but this was unlikely since such action has not occurred since the Depression Days. Such action can be taken within 14 days of a tax, default, Ask surplus to education The Ontario government surplus of over $50 million in the 1969-70 fiscal year could go some way towards funding government payment of more of the cost of education, according to Gordon Hill, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. The final budget figures released recently show that revenues exceeded budgeted expenditures of $303 million. Higher growth than anticipated accounted for the buoyant revenues, Provincial Treasurer Charles MacNaughton explained. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, in its campaign for a more equitable system of raising funds for education, is calling for the whole cost of education to be paid out of provincial finds, The cost could be phased in over two or three years, carried by the natural growth in revenues. The present system of property taxes unfairly discriminates against property owners, claims the O.F.A. The farmers' organization points out that removal of property taxes would actually speed the growth in provincial revenues. The government would receive its share of the higher disposable income available to individual property owners. And similarly, the government would receive increased revenues from businesses in the form of corporation tax, as property tax is presently a deductible expense. Comments OFA's Gordon Hill: "The time has come for action on the part of the Provincial government. It cannot delay any longer. When it asks how it can carry all the costs of education, it has the answer itself. This financial report spells out the solution loud and clear. Natural growth in revenues could provide the funds." Local horsemen win at Western District horsemen were frequent winners at the western horse show held at Western Fair in London over the weekend. Nelson Bilyea of Granton placed first and second in the open flag race, third in the open stake race, fourth in the cloverleaf flag race and fourth in the rescue race event. Raymond Lang, also of Granton riding Thunder won the flag race and stake race competitions. Lang also placed fourth in the rescue race. C entral ia's Bruce Hicks finished in second spot in the stake race and western pleasure class. Brad Mousseau of Hensall placed fourth in the cloverleaf barrel race and stake race while Eric Vanneste of Clandeboye was fourth in the flag race. Jim Rundle of RR 6, St. Marys placed second in each of the stake and rescue races while Janet McDowell of Centralia was third in pleasure class. Kanes Don Soncho owned by Jack Darling of Exeter placed second in the Morgans and Arabians class and was the winner of class 2 — Section 2 for Morgans. NO CONCERN — Pansy, a 15-year old cat owned by the Bob Cook family in Hensall appears to show little concern about getting her annual rabies shot at the clinic held at the Hensall arena, Monday afternoon. Pansy 18 shown above being held by Mrs. Cook. T-A photo In seven counties, Middlesex, Perth, Kent, Huron, Oxford, Lambton and Elgin, Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the National Farmers Union where representatives were surveyed, estimates of farmers who would, or have, withheld taxes ranged from 50 to 100 per cent. The only county where strong support was not expected was Oxford. In Middlesex County, OFA executive John Timmermans of Parkhill said he expected 75 per cent of the farmers would withhold. "With both farm organizations working on it — despite the difference in opinions — we expect to put a lot of pressure on the government," he said. Some of the older farmers are not expected to withhold taxes, he said, but the majority of young farmers realize "something has to be done." County crops were good this year, Mr. Timmermans said, but most farmers feel they can't cope with taxes that "go up every year."_ Bill Sim of Sarnia, NFU representative for Middlesex, Lambton and Elgin counties, said he knew of some farmers who have already withheld taxes, although he didn't want to estimate the number. "I expect a majority of NFU members in • my district to withhold all taxes," he said. "We're in this game to,win, or we're not going to play it." Mr. Sim said the NFU's general withholding date was June 24. In Perth County, OFA executive John Vander Eyk of Listowel said "we're all mighty fed up with it." When he moved to the county six years ago, he said, the education portion of his taxes was about one-third. "Now it's up to two-thirds and it'll probably be three-quarters pretty soon." He predicted "easily 70 per cent and probably more" would withhold education taxes when they are due in November. "Even some of the people in the towns have signed the petition (to withhold education taxes). In Listowel and Atwood, everyone signed." He said support was not limited to any age group. "I've talked to farmers 60 to 65 years old and they said it should have happened 20 years ago. L a in b t o n, County OFA representative Howard Huctwith of Forest, said many of the older farmers have been selling some of their property and are not as affected by the rising tax rates as others. "But the majority are fed up with the property tax system," he said. "It doesn't apply today . . . it's archaic." Mr. Huctwith said 50 per cent of the working farmers in the county have already committed themselves td withholding their education tax. "And I expect another 25 per cent will." He said farmers are being "penalized" by the property tax system in which the education portion "probably averages 50 or 60 per cent of a farmer's tax bill." "It's getting so ridiculous," said Kent County federation representative Ian Maynard of Chatham. "Last year my taxes were $1,859 and the education part was $1,300. It's going to Corn men urged to check stalk rot Corn growers are urged to check their fields now for corn stalk rot. This may be done by grasping the corn stalk at ankle height from the ground and squeezing the stalk firmly — if the stalk crumbles, exposing a soft or hollow centre, stalk rot is fairly well developed. Likely early planted, corn will be most affected and drought stricken areas in the field (sand or gravelly areas) will be much worse. Producers should harvest the worst affected field for silage wherever possible or plan to harvest for grain at higher than normal moisture to avoid excessive field losses due to stalk breakage and ear rots which develop later. Palo 1 rimes-Advocate, September 17, 1970 Ag minister says impossible to replace property taxes