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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1981-09-09, Page 11THE BRUSSELS POST, SEPTEMBER 9,1981 — A11 The war effort Morris during WWI The second year of the war, 1915, brought many letters published in the local newspaper as .the War Office struggled to heighten awareness of the war situat- ion with a population more concerned with the ravages of the army worm and the spread of rabies in the County. None of the wound- ed soldiers had yet returned to the immediate community and reports were still scantly from the front. The general feeling was that the war would not last long and then life would quickly return to the way it had been. In Bluevale, the first bale was assembled and shipped on January 25th by the W.I. and the Red Cross in that locality. Walton held a Pat- riotic Concert and canvassed directly for donations of mon- ey to send to the Patriotic Fund. They also started a canvass for jams to send to the servicemen, receiving 175 jars, plus $15. in cash. The Morris Council decided to forego their usual munici- pal election and donate the money Saved to the Patriotic Fund. The play, "Trial of the Kaiser", was popular, per- formed in many villages in. eluding Foresters Hall, Bel• grave, by the young men of Knox Church. But on the whole, there seemed a feel- ing of lassitude. Life was going on as usual except for the arduous work performed by the Women's Institute and the Red Cross in the various villages. On October 21, 1915, the _Red Cross mounted a special Trafalgar Day appeal. Donat- ions were falling sadly be- hind what was required to provide for the wounded that the War Office knew were streaming from the battlefields of Ypres, Fland- ers and the Dardanelles. On :his one day, all municipali- ties and incorporated villages were asked to make a special effort and contribute gener- ously. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, October 29, 1915 Red Cross Contributions in Huron. The following are the amounts contributed by the different municipalities of the county for the Trafalgar Day grant to the British Red Cross in response to the appeal of Lord Lansdowne. Brussels $1,200. Goderich 3,500. Exeter 1,750. Twp. Stanley 2,000. Twp. McKillop 500. Wingham 6,500. Seaforth 4,000. Twp. Morris 250. Blyth 871. Clinton $1,000. Egmondville 125. Londesboro 400. Twp.. Hay 500. Twp. Tuckersmith 5,000. Twp. Hullett 1,000. Twp. Colborne 500. Hensall 1,200 After this summation was published in area papers, the Wingham Advance Times heaped scatching criticism on the size of the Morris grant. It stated that some Morris residents should give that much as a personal donation and worked out the amount of 50c an acre. There were many Wingham volun- teers in the 1st contingent. Perhaps to the residents of Morris Township, the grim facts of this Great War were still distant and did not become a reality until men with actual battlefield injur- ies returned to the township and lists of casualties includ- ed names that they recogniz- ed as their own. In 1916 the Morris Muni- cipal Council donated $100. to each of the four area Red Cross organizations. A local branch of the War Auxiliary was started in Belgrave un- der the direction of Richard Procter, County Represent- ative, with the Executive being Garner Nicholson, Joe Brandon, Jack Stewart, Dr. Henry Kirkby, Jack Arm- strong, Robert Menzies and all enlisted men. A contri- bution of $200. was then made by the Morris Town- ship Council towards a mess tent for .the enlisted men of the 161st, who were now camping in London. Con- certs, plays and entertain- ments were regularly pre- sented in the area for the benefit of the Red Cross. But in spite of a steady response to the appeals for money, Morris Township was becorqing hard pressed for young men to enlist as volunteers. In 1916 many of the Morris Township young men who were not actively engaged in farming had already followed the railroad west, hoping to make a future there in the new provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. An Ottawa politician, E.N. Lewis, tried to get special concessions made to the sons of farmers, ensuring that the manpower would be available in the townships during the seed- ing and harvest. Motion: "Can you get me authority to say to the county council now in session that the farmers' sons and farm labourers enlisted in the 161st Battalion will be avail- able for a period of 30 days to help put in the crop next spring, and also for a period of 10 days to help harvest the crop, should the Battalion be in the country at that time?" The township farmers couldn't just cut back on the amount of the crops that they grew. There was a world- wide demand for food being relayed from the government to all farm areas urging the maximum effort toward in- creased crop production. The urgency of the war effort had finally been effectively car- ried to all sides. from Jeanne Kirkby's book Morris Township, Past to 'Present. ANNIVERSARY SERVICE Knox Presbyterian Church Belgrave Sunday, Sept. 13 11 a.m. Guest Speaker: The Rev. John Honeyman SPECIAL MUSIC [There will be no service at Melville Presbyterian Church Brussels on this Sunday] SENIORS... ONTARIO PROPERTY TAX GRANT APPLICATIONS. Last year Ontario replaced its system of Tax Credits for seniors with a new program of Property and Sales Tax Grants to help offset municipal, school and retail sales taxes. The Property Tax Grant of up to $500 per household is provided in two installments annually. The Sales Tax. Grant-is an automatic $50 paid each year to all Ontario residents 65 and over. PROPERTY TAX GRANTS APPLICATIONS The 1980 Property Tax Grant was paid to recipients in one payment. In 1981, the Grant is being paid in two installments. The first payment, sent automatically in the spring, was equal to one-half the amount of your 1980 Grant. To qualify for the final installment you must submit an application to the Ministry of Revenue. If you receive the federal Old Age Security pension, and are eligible, you will receive this application for your Property Tax Grant during the first half of September, 1981. Those who reach the age of 65 between now and December will receive their applications early in 1982. Seniors who are not eligible for federal Old Age Security payments, but who have previously established eligibility for"the Property Tax Grant will also receive an application. The Ministry of Revenue is mailing applications only to those seniors who are thought to be eligible.. If you do not receive an application by September 21 and feel you qualify, please contact our toll-free Information Centre. ELIGIBILITY If you're 65 or over and own or rent your home you're eligible for the Property Tax Grant of up to $500. If you rent your grant will total 20% of your rent or $500, whichever is less. If you own your principal residence your grant will equal the amount of your property taxes or $500, whichever is less. If you are married and reside with your spouse or if you share accommodation with someone over 65, only one grant will be paid per household. If you share your home with anyone over 65 other than your spouse, the grant will be apportioned according to rent or property tax paid. Take care to complete your application form accurately! Take a few extra minutes to fill out your application; and then check it again for accuracy. This makes it much easier for the Ministry to process your form and get your cheque to you. Cheques will be mailed beginning the latter part of October. EXCEPTIONS If you reside in a nursing home, a home for the aged or similar institution, you're not eligible for the Property Tax Grant unless you pay for the full cost of your care and the institution pays municipal and school taxes. If you reside in a tax-exempt property, you are not eligible. However, if you move into a tax-exempt property or a nursing home, home for the aged or similar institution during 1981, you are eligible for a Property Tax Grant based on your occupancy costs prior to your move. If you moved permanently to Ontario during 1981, your Property Tax Grant is based on the time you resided in Ontario. SALES TAX GRANTS The $50 Sales Tax Grant cheques will be distributed automatically to all Ontario seniors in October. TOLL-FREE INFORMATION In Metro Toronto, dial 965-8470 In Area Code 807, ask the Operator for Zenith 8-2000 In all other areas, dial 1-800-268-7121 Ontario of Revenue Ministry , George Ashe T.M. Russell Deputy Minister Minister ONTARIO TAX GRANTS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS