Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1977-02-02, Page 1106th 'Year - Issue No. 5 WEDNESDAY,FEBRUARY 2, 1977 Gordon Hill Ex OFA head ets roasted MANY POLITICIANS IN, ATTENDANCE — Politicians from every major political party were present at the Gordon Hill appreciation night in Toronto for the retiring president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Shaking hands with Mr. Hill is Murray Gaunt, Huron-Bruce M.P.P. .with Bob McKinley, Huron M.P. in the - background. (Expositor Photo) Cheap energy and cheap food can no longer be taken for granted, a professor who presented a report on food land and energy policy to the Porter Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning, told a meeting of the commission in Listowel last week. Professor Norman Pearson, who presented his study, done for the Food Land Steering Commit- tee, said farMers will have to learn to live with high power transmission lines but the people of the province "shouldn't allow urban areas to push lines away from their nice urban areas-on to farmland.' ' In its brief to .the Royal Commission, presented by Lloyd Moore, the Food Land Steering cCommittee also said additional information is needed on the "electrical effects of transmission Aries on human .s, animals and ),)ants." In answer to farmers' problems regarding the location of trans- 'ssion lines on their land, Prof. l'earson agreed with Nick Whyte, of the Huron Power Plant ommittee that additional lines would result in additional •roblems; but he also suggested hat perhaps farinerS should eor anize fields to accommodate he lines as has been done in ante. Mr. Whyte said that "problems crease at an increasing rate" as he lumber of lines increased. 'Enough lines will frustrate the armor until eventually he decides of to work that area any more." As implement width increases, aid Mr. Whyte, it is more &tilt to gauge the distance om thetransmission tower and itiners are 'now 0.314 to' 50 and i-foot sprayer booms." Hans Feldman,• a Wallace Township farmer, said there was a limit to how much reorganiz zation couli be done by farmers. He also noted erosion is becoming "the fastest growing problem in agriculture." and that one way of controlling erosion is the use of contour plowing. "This is going to be extremely difficult where there are transmission towers." Prof. Pearson agreed with Mr. Feldman and suggested, it might be necessary to get equipment to move valuable .topsoil back onto the higher areas of their farms to counteract erosion. Land Use Noting that "land use is a hot , potato" in this province, Mr. Feldman wondered, "Can we have a provincial energy policy without a provincial land use policy?" "Energy, development and land use must be co-ordinated," Prof. Pearson replied. Mr. Van Donkersgoed wondered about the "mandate of this Commission — is it going to be interpreted narrowly or as openly as possible?" prof. Pearson said he "read the mandate very broadly." "The terms of reference might allow for a broad inquiry, but I'm not so sure the terms of reference allow for a broad ruling," Mr. Van Donkersgoed said. Dr. Porter said he interpreted the mandate "in the broadest` possible sense, looking into planning concepts." At the same time he stressed that Royal Commissions cannot rule, "only recommend." This point was quickly taken up by Pat Daunt, a Wallace' Township beef farmer. "That's all we will get is recommendatiOns. There is no provincial land use . policy. I belieVe the government has ESTABLISHED 1872 BRUSSELS ONTARIO abrogated its responsibility in this regard and I fear this will negate y our work. We've got to have an 'overall land use policy." Another • farmer observed that the ultimate decision would be a "political" one. "And what the urban centres call 'adjacent' to cities have a way of getting pushed 20 to 30 miles out of the urban centre on to good land and this is where the transmission lines will end up." Prof. Pearson said the concern was a valid one. "But I feel more hopeful than you. I think energy and food are going to be the gut issues of the next 50 to 100 years. The urban society is going to get a terrific shock as far as energy and food are concerned and I have a feeling we'll'be able to educate the urban dwellers much quicker when they find out the facts. Up to now we have been, able to take cheap energy and cheap food for granted, but we can no longer do that." In general, Prof. Pearson "Continued on nave 1 I') by Evelyn We are weary of snow storms and frigid temperatures. We also tire of writing about them, but what else is there to talk or write about? For the third successive week we have been, along with other Ontario regions, isolated in a world of whiteness. Snowstorms of blizzard pro portion, with eictreme cold .and high winds brought traffic to a standstill, blocked highways and roads, cancelled activities, school bus service, closed schools, no The' only folks about Were those (By John Miner) Gordon Hill has been noted for roasting politicians and government officials, but Thursday night it was their turn. More than 650 farmers and members from every political party converged on the Royal York Hotel in Toronto to honour the retiring president of the Ontario Federation of Agricul- ture. Two bus loads from Huron and Perth were unable to make it because of the weather. The evening was billed as a "roast" of Gordon Hill and he was treated to a good natured roasting as well as strong praise. Roy Jewell, well-known farm broadcaster, said Gordon would be remembered for "smartening up the. Federation of Agriculture at a time when it was getting .fat and lazy." "He was a politician's poli- tician. He used the gloved fist EUGENE WHELAN when it was necessary, but not often. He's the kind of guy who could have been in politics for years and never been found out." Federal Minister of Agricul- ture Eugene Whelan told the audience that Gordon had better luck than he had had in his endeavors. . "He set out and changed the Federation of Agriculture to his liking and I'm still working like hell to change the Liberal party." Mr. Whelan referred to Gordon's favorite hobby of fishing, saying that Gordon never concerned himself about fishing seasons. "He had the exact same attitude towards -politicians. No real season was out of season for them." Everett Biggs, provincial deputy minister of agriculture, said Gordon had been abrasive and irritating to politicians at Queen's Park, "which is probably a good thing." Kennedy who had to be because of necessity, work that had to be done, and supplies that were badly needed. No sooner were people dug out after one storm when it all had to be done Over again, * * * sic * Broken water Mains continued to plague the PUC. If you were one to be without water at sometime: during these storms, we hope you Were not too Upset over it. Just think about the (Continued on Page 7) "Gordon has taken the Federa- tion of Agriculture from its lowest point in history to ' possibly its highest," he said. Mr. Biggs presented the retired OFA president with a pen set on behalf of the public service of Ontario. The pen was "specially treated" he said so that. Gordon would only think good thoughts and write good things about the government from now on. Rumours that Mr. Hill might run for a pOljtical party were mentioned by provincial treasurer, D'arcy McKeough. "I can only say that whichever party gets him will get exactly what they deserve." - Mr. McKeough said it would suit him fine if Gordon joined his patty, but warned Gordon that if he joined any other • party they were already prepared. "Our battle cry will be `Up Hill' he said. Earle Maberly from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia paid tribute to Mr. Hill on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. "There have been times we didn't agree, but we always knew where we stood with you." "Gordon is one of the greatest farm leaders this country has ever seen," he said. "At the risk of offending some people, I want to say we think you're one hell of a guy." George' McKeg, previous - chairman of the Farm Products Marketing Board of which Mr. Hill was a member, noted that Gordon had always been a radical. "His philosphy was to raise more hell and less wheat." But Gordon Hill got the last word. "The progress made in the Federation has not been made easily," he said, "and it has been made by a lot of people." Mr. Hill said the past seven years as president of the Federation of Agriculture were the most fulfilling in his life and he thanked his family for the D'ARCY MeKEOUGH strong support they had given him. He said the Federation was in good hands with Peter Hannam, newly elected president. "I have a great deal of good feeling for what's ahead," he said. In attendance along with a few Huron County Federation members who managed to drive through the storm to Toronto, .were provincial NDP leader and leader of the opposition, Stephen Leivis,Ontario Liberal leader, Dr. Stuart Striith, Huron M.P. Bob McKinley, Huron Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell and Huron= Bruce MPP Murray Gaunt. Brussels Post Short Shots