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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-09-28, Page 1MATCHARMSTRONG OPENS PLOWING Armstrong, one of the select group of men who has visited the moon, officially opened the International Plowing Match Tuesday. The event is being staged just outside of Wingham. Huron Expositor photo ) Fear planning rules threaten family farm Some members of Huron county council feel that rural planning designed to protect argricultural land from urban development, has gone overboard and is threatening small family farms. Council met Friday with Harold Flaming, a field of­ ficer with the food division of the provincial ministry of agriculture and food, and received some insight into the province’s philosophy on rural planning. Flaming explained to council the reasoning behind the province’s rural plan­ ning decisions and the government’s desire to protect good farmland in Ontario and yet still give the agricultural community some flexibility. Flaming said the province wanted to prevent farmland from being fragmented through land severances to the point that individual ■ plots of land are divided up into tiny parcels that can’t support a viable farm opera­ tion. He said small parcels, if they are under the ownership of a farmer work­ ing a large amount of land, can be part of a viable farm operation but on their own they cannot be self sufficient farm units. The ministry worker said the province wanted to keep land units in rural farm areas large enough to per­ mit flexibility. He said the province was not restricting plot sizes arbitrarily but rather was trying to look at each severance application on its own merit to deter­ mine if the results of the severance leave lots that can be farmed by an in­ dividual or bought by someone wanting to start farming. “There’s no way someone today can buy a 20 acre plot and start farming but if that lot was 80. or 100 acres he may be able to,” said Flam­ ing. Morris township reeve Bill Elson told council that he felt the planning prac­ tices had resulted in many family farms being taken over by huge operations and the farm buildings left to decay. Elston said planners had refused severances to elderly farmers wanting to sell land to another farmer and stay in the house and retire. But he said in many cases the severance was turned down and the farmer left with the option to sell his land and move off the farm or lease the land and attempt to look after the buildings himself. The Morris reeve said in many cases the farms were absorbed by huge cash crop operations and the farmland was put under crop by an absentee landlord. The result, he said, was many farms buildings abandoned and left to decay. Warden Gerry Ginn told council he felt that as long as rural planning was under the control of the ministry of housing it is going to be a “farce”. The warden said rural planning is done with agriculture in mind and should be handled by the ministry of agriculture and until it is “we’re wasting our cotton picking time”. Ginn said planning Is designed to protect farmland from urban development pointing out that the province has a great deal of land of lesser quality than Huron County that could be used for urban development with no threat to the province’s agricultural base. He said he recently drove to Huron County from Ottawa and “never did see any farmland until I got within 100 miles of Huron County”. “There’s all kinds of places in the province for this kind of development (urban)” said Ginn. “Everyone is moving to the country like tomorrow is the last day they can and there is alot of land being wasted,” said Elston. The South Huron Hospital board is expected to name a new administrator in the immediate {uture, following interviews with the can­ didates for the position which was left vacant when Elmer Taylor accepted a job at Goderich. A board spokesman told the T-A this week that 13 applications were received for the job and eight of those people have already been interviewed, The remaining interviews are expected to be scheduled in the next few days and the committee will then make a recom­ mendation to the board. Meanwhile, the addition at the hospital remains ahead of schedule. It is expected to be ready for use early year. next On way to record match crowds The 1978 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show, located just east of Wingham in Huron County, started Tuesday and before the gates close Saturday at 6 p.m. an estimated 250,000 people are expected to be part of the largest farm machinery show and plowing match in North America. It was a record attendance of over 60,000 that attended the plowing match on Tues­ day and yesterday. A spokesman for the Match termed the crowds “just great.” Interview candidates Hay reeve running again for warden At least three county councillors will be seeking the post of Warden for Huron County for 1979 provided voters in their own municipality see fit to return them to county coun­ cil chambers in November. Jack Tinney, reeve of Hay township, Harold Robinson, Howick township reeve, and Ervin Sillery, reeve of Tuckersmith township, an­ nounced at Friday’s county council session that they in­ tend to seek the warden’s chair'for 1979. Tinney and Robinson were definite in their decision to seek the post but Sillery told council that he couldn’t be absolutely certain this early that he would be running for the post but would say now that “if there was going to be a race he may be in it”. Tinney is taking his se­ cond run at the warden’s job in as many years. The Hay reeve opposed Goderich township reeve Gerry Ginn and West Wasanosh township reeve Robert Lyons for the warden’s chair in 1978 and was edged by Ginn in the second round of voting. Tinney told council he felt he could fill the warden’s chair and was going to stand for the job after an “almost successful campaign” last year. He said in his 16 years of public office he had only been acclaimed twice and was noted for elections. Harold Robinson said he realized council may think he was in “a hurry” to be warden since his present term of reeve had only been since 1977. But Robinson pointed out that he first served the county in 1965 as deputy reeve and returned the following year as reeve of his township, a post he held until 1972 when he was defeated “over a little problem in the township”. He said he served on the county land division com­ mittee during his absence from county council and returned to the office of reeve of his township in 1972. Sillery said he wasn’t prepared to make a decision on running for warden but since he was asked by warden Gerry Ginn he would say that he would stand for the job with some “ifs”. Usborne reeve Bill Morley told council that ’he wished was named queen of the 1978 Exeter Fall Fair Friday night. She is shown in the centre of Joan Skinner and Brenda Ballantyne. At the back is last year's Queen Barb Wein T-A photo FAIR QUEENS — Tracey Campbell the above picture flanked by runnersup between contest organizers Alice and Gerry MacLean. in**! The newest tractors and farm implements from Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan will be there as well as entire homes, barns and silos. Programs for ladies will run continuously from 9 each morning to 6 p.m. in three 50 by 100 foot buildings, featuring crafts, floral displays and seminars, fashion shows, cooking exhibits and more. There will even be a midway for youngsters. The tented city at IPM ’78 is the biggest ever. A seventh street has been added to the to clear the air about his in­ tentions. He said there seemed to be some indica­ tion that he would let his name stand for warden but personal commitments wouldn’t permit that to happen. “However 1980 is another year,” said Morley. Please turn to page 2 Serving :-S: One Hundred and Fifth Year STEADY THERE — The pony on the right had his knees buckled, but the tiny team still manag­ ed to earn top honors in the Exeter fair pony pulling coniest. They had 5,000 pounds on the sled in this, their final pull. Staff photo Many lost their bets? Ideal weather conditions prevailed Saturday to help entice the largest crowd in many years to the 124th edition of the Exeter Fall Fair. Hundreds of spectators lined Main Street at noon Saturday to watch an excel­ lent‘parade and followed it layout of the tented city which is the world’s largest. One hundred and twenty acres are covered with the tents, permanent buildings constructed just for the five- day show, and with fully- serviced streets. Growth of the plowing match has been phenomenal, organizers say. When the site was chosen in 1974, plans were for a tented city with four streets. Now there are almost 800 exhibitors and caterers in tented city, with almost five miles of road frontage. A total of 176 Huron County people have combined to form the local committee to work with the Ontario Plqwmen’s Association and present IPM ’78. The work of these people provides not just the huge tented city, but the planning behind parking for 20,000 cars daily, wagon trains to transport the thousands of visitors to IPM from parking to the tented city and from tented city to the plowing competitions and farm machinery demonstrations, and dozens of other huge projects. The demonstrations are a new feature of the Inter­ imes - Advocate erving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Huron wide Hicks with many others to view the exhibits at the South Rec Centre and a variety of activities. Secretary Garnet estimated Saturdays at­ tendance at more than 2,500. About 800 attended Friday nights official opening which included a talent show and national Plowing Match, as farm machinery manufacturers, distributors and dealers get a chance to show how their tillage, harvest and other equipment performs in the field. Though many people who visit the International Plowing Match don’t get past the hugh tented city, there is plenty to be seen beyond. Plowing competitions are held daily, featuring both horse-powered plows and tractor drawn plowing classes. Special plowing classes in this year’s match feature Queen of the Furrow con­ testants, mayors of Ontario municipalities, wardens and regional chairmen of municipalities and members of the media. A list of plowing and location is morning in front of the IPM Headquarters Building along Headquarters Avenue at the west edge of the tented city. Winners of the plowing competitions and the Queen of the Furrow contest will be announced Friday night at the prize presentation banquet at the Howick the classes the plowing posted each >!?<■ EXETER, ONTARIO, SEPTEMBER 28, 1978 -a *Price Per Copy 25 Cents ioard okays pact with school teachers crowning of Tracey Campbell as Miss Exeter Fair 1978. The two runnersup were Brenda Ballantyne and Joan Skinner. Fridays door prizes of $50, $25 and $25 in cash donated by local jeweller were won by Harry Van Gerwen, Ruth Skinner and Clare Swartz. In a ladies nail driving contest, Bea Dawson was the winner in 5.2 seconds. Next were Mary Margaret Jeffrey and Diane Lovie. There were 20 contestants.’ The talent show included the McQuaid family, Jerry Smiths band, Town & Country, Dave and Beth Prouty and the Verlinde sisters. Norm Tait and Bev Rabbetts were masters of ceremonies for the talent show and Alice and Gerry MacLean were in charge of the Queen contest. In the parade, the best decorated car was entered by Murray Green. Next were Four Winds Radio and Stedmans. Winners in business floats were Exeter Ford, Weston’s and Zehrs. Taking prizes for clubs and organizations were the Kirkton WI, Exeter minor baseball and the Beavers. The best horse drawn vehicles were Thompson’s^ Cook’s and Northlanders Mobile Homes. Comic float prizes were won by Old MacDonald’s Farm, A. Ellerington and Allanline Taxi. The classic car prize went to Eric Kints. Taking best decorated bicycles awards were Shari and Shelly Black, Pattie O’Toole and Jeff and Charlotte Miller. Karen Robinson, Kevin Robinson and Jason Wein were the tricycle winners. Winners in Saturdays’ skateboard competition were Rodney Masnica, Steve Horn, Randy Ford, Danny Morley and Annette Ver- maeten. Community Centre between Gorrie and Harriston, Plowing champions will display their talents Saturday at 10:30 a.m.Jn a special plowing demon­ stration. It is the third time in the 65-year history of the International Plowing Match that it has been held in Huron County and the first time it has been held in the Wingham area. The tented city site is located one mile east of Wingham on Highway 86. Routes to the match and parking areas are clearly marked with plowing match signs. The main parking areas will be to the west and north of the tented city, with special parking for buses and bicycles. Anyone who wants to see the whole tented city should take more than one day to visit the farm implement displays, the feed, seed and fertilizer company exhibits, silo and feed handling shows, the ladies programs, household displays and all the other attractions. The finesse displayed by experienced plowmen takes some time to appreciate as A settlement was ratified Wednesday night by the Huron-Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board and its 155 teachers. The agreement reached specifies an increase in the salary grid and responsibili­ ty allowances of 7.25 per cent. This increases the average annual salary, in­ cluding increment, from $16,960 to $18,480 for the con­ tract year 1978-79. This represents an increased cost to the board of $206,700 for the school year. The new salary grid ranges from $9,415 for level one teachers with no ex­ perience to $24,960 for teachers who have attained level seven with twelve years experience. The new contract also provides for an increase in the accumulation of sick days from 220 to 230. A new method has been in­ troduced for the calculation of the responsibility allowance paid to principals. The classroom provision, formerly in effect, has been converted to a percentage of salary to . recognize ex­ perience and qualifications. Area firms Agency shipment amount, to W.G. get contracts Five Southwestern Ontario firms have received federal government contracts totalling more than $700,000 to supply beans to the Canadian International Development (CIDA) for abroad. The largest $231,819, went Thompson and Sons for two contracts, while the Ontario Bean Growers Co-Operation in London received $180,762 for five contracts with CIDA, the federal government’s foreign aid agency. Two other Hensall firms, Gerbo Corporation (Cook’s Division) and the Hensall District Co-operative, got $161,376 and $96,000 respectively for a total of five contracts, while Waters Elevators Ltd. of Parkhill received two contracts totalling $49,325. Last week, the federal government announced in its weekly list of contracts that the flour mills division of Dover Industries Ltd. in Chatham had been awarded a CIDA contract for $159,470 to supply flour. The department of supply and services which an­ nounces government con tracts, supplied no in­ formation on what kinds ol • beans were being purchased or to what countries they are being sent. well, as competitors from all Match and Farm Machinery largestShow, agriculture’s showcase. over the world compete in '■ j International Plowingthe YOUNG PARADER — One of the youngest participants in Saturday's Fair parade was Jason Wein. T-A photo '<?■ iiS i Clauses contained in the agreement for the first time include principal’s tenure, pupil-teacher ratio and transfers. The teachers met, 125 of them, the same night to ratify the agreement with 95 per cent voting for the pact. Trustee Vincent Young, chief negotiator for the board, and Terry Craig, chief negotiator for the teachers, said they were pleased with the settlement and felt it was fair to both board and teachers. Mr. Craig commented that Mr. Young had ap­ proached the negotiations in READY FOR PARADE — Kristin Lovie and Sandy Pratt make good use of all day suckers while waiting for Saturday's Ex­ eter Fair parade to get started. T-A photo Biddulph arranges liquor plebiscite Application for a vote under the Liquor Licence Act to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages with meals has been made by Biddulph Township. Clerk-treasurer Austin Hodgins said provincial approval has been sought for the plebiscite to be con­ ducted during the November 13 municipal election. The township has been dry since 1916, according to Liquor Licence Board of Ontario records. Mr. & Mrs. Charlie Skolly, owners of Forresters Restaurant, a new Granton business, petitioned for vote, Hodgins said. The municipality required to hold after obtained the is the the more required plebiscite petitioners a fair and honest manner and he himself was happy with the results. PLAN OPENING Four days of special ac­ tivities will herald the'’ opening of the new Hensall Community Centre. The official opening will be held on Wednesday evening, November 1. The following night Thursday will be family night and dances will take over the spotlight for Friday and Saturday nights. Organizers are hoping to stage an old timers hockey game sometime during the opening week. than the required signatures of 25 percent of the qualified voters. The petition carried 410 signatures of the 1,576 potential voters on the most recent list, now two years old. Residents will be asked if they favor sale of liquor, beer and wine with meals. A majority of 60 percent of those voting is required for a liquor question to pass. Jean Skolly said they opened the restaurant July l in the former Independent Order of Foresters building in the centre of the village. More than 90 percent of residents approached signed the petition seeking the plebiscite, Mrs. Skolly said. She said residents contacted “don’t want an open hotel type thing but they do want a licensed dining room.”