HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1978-03-15, Page 17TREE SURGERY? — Plastic sap lines connect all of
the 3900 trees to the sugar shacKat Robinson's sugar
bush at*R.R. 1, Belgrave. The sap is drawn from the
trees by a vaccuum pump. (Staff Photo)
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THE BRUSSELS PQSTMARCH 15, 1978,-1
Amen
Schuessler
hard and kept honest. you'd amount to
something. And all those rags to riches
stories, built on sweat, long hours and honesty
for honesty sake--the McQuffey REaders that
educated the nation were full of those kind of
things.
‘Life back then was simpler and idyllic. You
'figured with a little integrity and respect on
both sides. you could work something
out--between emplOyerS' and employees,
labour and management. With each living tip
to its responsibilities, with each one practicing
a little give, a little swept reasonableness. You
wanted to think all problems could be worked
out. in a reasonable way among reasonable
men. Certainly life didn't have to get mean
and vicious with threats and connterthrcats.
Tally and retaliation. Press for press. Squeeze
for, squeeze.
But it did.
That's the real world. That's real life.
That's the way it is. But like so many other
things in life, the legends persist. The myths
linger on. It's hard to drain your system of
them.
A teacher carrying a picket sign? Might as
well have God refuse to grant. forgiveness to a
sinner,
A teacher drOpping his books and sentence
at 3:15 because his time is up? .Might as well
have Superman not save Gotham City.
A teacher not showing up in class while all
the students wait at their desks? Because the
teachers are 'strike rotating? Might as well
have limberger ,eheese smell good.
It can't be, but it is. Our teachers—now
come of age and out to get their fair share
in the economic" pie. .
-Sure. It's all fair, legal and legitimate.
But way doWn deep it hurts. It's not easy to
watch your heroes and exemplars go out on
- strike.
by Karl
I can't get it through my head.
I just can't get used to the idea that teachers
are strikins or threatening to strike. It's
beyond me. I can't understand it. I can't put it
through my system and make it come out
good.
Let's face it. My system is geared more to
the last century. Oh, alright, put me back
another century past that, if you want to. But
this body of mine still wants to live in the
pre-industrial age. when strikes, collective
bargaining and lockouts weren't even wards
then. When no one ever heard of work-to-rule.
pupil-teacher ratios and a final offer selector.
Those were the days when teachers worked
hours and overhours; when they'd probably
admit they had too many pupils, but they
accepted that as part of the job. They taught
five and six grades at one time. Put wood into
the stove and saw to it that the kids cleaned up
the yard and washed down the windows come
spring.
That was before the time of the yellow
school bus, when kids had to walk to school;
when the school was one room and red.
bricked.
The teachers were either maiden or
married, but no matter which, chaste.
Because they were the examples to the
community.
In those days you didn't anticipate sickness
and total it up in a certain amount of days off.
You didn't wonder how you'd get your -fair
share if you didn't get sick. You probably
figured you were lucky you didn't get sick and
let it go at that.
But this is all nineteenth century nonsense.
Pie in the sky. Whoever thinks that way
today? Why don't I get real?. Grow up. When
we turned the corner of this century, we put
away those childish things. Things like,a good
day's work for a good day's pay. A college
education gets you ahead in life. If you worked
Opinion: Shalt thou eat
By D. A.,Campbell
"The cost of living rose again;
mainly due to food prices." This
kind of statement might cause the
Public to think that the farmer is
laughing all the way to the bank.
The fact is, the economic plight of
the average Canadian farmer is
desperate, and since one in every
four jobs in Canada is dependent
upon his survival, a large slice of
the nation's economy is threat-
ened.
"By the sweat of thy. brow shalt
thou eat bread."- • Since biblical
times, food has been measured
against labour. Let's get back to
basics and look at food prices
logically. In 1949, a person had to
work 39.3 minutes to earn enough
to purchase one pound of sirloin
steak. By 1976, this time factor
had been reduced to 19.7 min-
utes. The cost of all other items of
Canadian produced food have,
(when using this standard Of
measurement), been reduced
substantially. Eat hearty, you are
consuming the cheapest and best
food in the world!
The farmer is the scapegoat for
international trade. The dumping
of foreign fob(' products on the
Canadian rnatket, not only in-
creases his economic burden but
reduces the number of jobs in
urban areas' which could other-
wise be available' - transport,
processing, packaging, etc.
Agriculture is faced with ever
increasing input costs - land,
machinery, maintenance, hydro,
fuel, labotir, fertilizer, chemicals -
the, cost is enormous. Compared
to other industries, agriculture
receives little tariff protection -
the farmer must take blows from
all directions and he is gradually
being beaten to death!
Farmers' real incomes have
dropped More than 301/2 since
1975 - they have to,borraw heavily
merely to survive. Peter tlatmam,
President of the Ontario P`ed-
eration of Agriculture has stated,
"Yob can't have a sound, well run
industry , if it's losing money, If
things don't change soon, we,can,
expect more bankruptcies and a
further exodus from the farms.
The worst part is, that it is the
Younger farmers who will be 'hurt
the most. They will be the first to
leave. Who is going to meet our
future food requirements?"
The farmer is not receiving
enough for his products in order
'to ensure his survival and the
Canadian public must accept this
fact. A farmer does not demand
the income 'rises which the
average Canadian seems to ex-
pect with every passing year.
There is no threat to strike and
deprive you of food. The farmer
does not grumble about working
long hours everyday.All he wants
is a fair return for his produce in
order to make a half decent living.
Only 5'/2 of Canadians are
farmers but their impact upon the
Canadian economy is tremend-
ous. If the farmers fail - Canada
fails! How can you help? Think
about the farmer when you push
that cart around the supermarket.
Whenever possible, buy only
Canadian products. If you are not
sure, ask. "Is this produced in
Canada?"
Thus, I wind up another article.
Writing is one 'way of trying to
make a few bucks to help to
support my other occupation,
which should be supporting me! I
look out of the window across last
years acres of toil and sweat - for
what, and for whom?
loolkerwolarsWiftiarol'•n ••••••• _ roomftwoomliftisolmiftrolftramoumeasmow
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