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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-02-23, Page 6editorial Febna11y 23, 196.1 --Page 6 LUCKNGW_SENTINEL,. -line *say Iowa„ betabilshed 1873 THOMAS A. THOMPSON - Advertising SHARON J. DIETZ Editor PAT LIVINGSTON - Office Manager JOAN HELM - Compositor MERLE ELLIOTT - ll.pevetter Manager Business and Editorial Office Telephone 5214-2822 Mailing Address P.O. Box 400. Luck nova, NOG 2H0 Second Cless Mail Registration Number 0847 Suasertptiett tate, 515.25 per yeat in aadvamee Senior Citizen rate, 512.75 per year in arivanee U.S.A. and Foreign, S38.00 pet year in advance Sr. Cit. U.S.A..an+d Foreign, 536.00 per year in advance Tactics are harmful The runt 'penny auction" of farm machinery during a bankruptcy sale near Palmerston has sparked another round of banking bashing, The event, which was a perfect public relations display for a Middlesex farm survival group, drummed up a great deal of hostile feeling towards the banks,, and possibly some support for strongarm tactics by some farm groups. However, the event has done little to help farmer -banker relations at a time when co-operation is the key to many farmers maintaining their livelihood, As a media event, the takeover of the auction by the farm survival group, had all the ingredients of a good news story. Irate farmers helping out one of their own against the merciless Canadian banking system, a farmer who has declared bankruptcy and lost his operation and some strongarm tactics, all add spice to a news story. What the rash of stories in the media failed to cover was the fact that the creditors involved had been working with this fanner for over a year in an attempt to salvage his operation, It is normal procedure for many farm survival groups to portray the banks as the farmer's worst enemy, ready to pounce on any farmer in financial difficulty; That is not the fact, Banks have gone a long way in helping farmers work out viable financial solutions for their farms and are interested in keeping their farm customers. Much of the blame for farm bankruptcies has to be placed on poor management, an over extension of credit and a poor economic climate. The approach taken at this particular auction can only be termed "simplistic" in its goal of blacklisting banks for the hardship faced by farmers. A better approach would be to find ways of increasing the co-operation between both groups in working towards feasible financial solutions. The Perth Federation of Agriculture is moving in the right direction with its recent establishment of arbitration committees to help in negotiations between banks and farmers, It is a local approach that will aid local farmers. It will also eliminate a confrontation between the two groups. —The Seaforth Huron Expositor Jamboree sign stolen To the Editor: We hope that the art lovers who took the Jamboree '83 sign from Lucknow's north entrance have it hanging in their home and have not destroyed it, The sign is certainly one of the most valuable souvenirs anyone could have chosen to steal, Perhaps they would like to spend the same amount of time painting a replacement as we did producing the original. Many people have volunteered their time to bring the town toegether for our 125th celebration. Whoever stole the sign could be a great asset to the reunirtn because they certainly appear to have an excess of time and energy. It took a lot of effort to cross a snow filled ditch and remove the serewnails to steal the hand painted Donald Dinnie sign that advertizes the Jamboree, There are many tasks of a much more constructive nature to be performed b fore the end of June. Contact any one of the many committees and we will gladly put you to work. Souvenirs are already on sale and if anyone is desperate for a memento we will gladly give them a pin or a balloon to prevent any further destruction. Anyone knowing where the sign has gone, please help us get it back where it belongs. If it is returned intact we will forget this incident ever happened. Jamboree '83 Decorating Committee. Will attend Jamboree To the Editor: You may be interested to know that one of my patients here tells me that he went to school and grew up in Lucknow, India. He has old photos of that city, and went to the only boy's school known to have its military colours. The colours were earned by the efforts of the students during the seige of Lucknow during the mutiny in 1858. 1 thought you might be interested in this information because of the connection of the mutiny with the naming of Lucknow Ontario in 1858. His name is: Mr. A. Woodhouse, 8 Hill Drive, Aurora, Ontaro. LAG 3A8. Telephone 727.6444 (Code 416). Since he has expressed an interest in attending the reunion in July in Lucknow, Ontario perhaps you would have his name added to the list of those who will be contacted re the reunion, so that he will be included in any advertising. Thank you, Dr. Wilfred Black, Aurora. Federation president says auction naive Ron Christie, president of the Perth County Federation of Agriculture says the penny auction staged by members of the Canadian Farm Sur- vival Association at the farm of John Otto, R. R. 2, Gowanstown, was a "naive and sensationalistic action". Mr. Christie, in an interview with a daily newspaper, said he doubts the demonstration will have positive re- sults and says that instead, it may damage the image of farmers. "Chis is not the type of image we want," he said. "It's irresponsible and contributes to a false impression of farmers," He described the Otto farm as "an unsalvageable operation" and said some farmers "will be lost in this economic climate. You can't save every farmer," "It's unfair to make the bank managers the villains. Bankruptcy is an action of last resort." Mr. Christie said legislation the Survival Association is lobbying for - a revival of provisions of the Farmers Creditors Arrangement Act - is not "a magic bill". It's cruel to hold out hope to tanners that some magic bill will save them. There just isn't one." Asks For Action In Queen's Park last week, Bob McKessock, MPP for Grey, said the demonstration at the Otto farm was an indication of how grim things are in the agricultural community. Mr. Mckessock, a Liberal back bencher, said the Conservatives should spend more time worrying about farmers and less time worrying about depositors in three seized trust companies, letters to the editor " W e worry about the person who has $60,000 to deposi j 4ien farmers cannot make ends mast,'' he said in the legislature Friday. Pointing out that about one in five Ontario jobs is related to agriculture, Mr. McKessock said if the Ontario government doesn't act soon, "we're going to lose a large part of our farming community". He asked for subsidies that would enable farmers . to pay a maximum interest rate of eight per cent on outstanding debts, preferably over a 30 -year period. Agriculture Minister Dennis Tim- brell said that if Mr. McKessock was suggesting the government should start giving eight per cent loans on between four and five billion dollars, "he's a dreamer....he is not living in this world". —The Listowel Banner ive farmers a chance February 21, 1983. To the Editor: First of all I would like to thank you for last week's editorial, Some Farmers Destroy the lmmage of their Colleagues. It did bring the desperate situation of today's young farmer out in the open - Survival. 1 found some of your statements questionable, however, example: "It seems the squeaky wheel always gets the most attention". Well. that's a statement 1 must agree with. It didn't take the government long to bail nut "The Ranks" when the big boys got into trouble namely, Dome, Massey and Chrysler, along with the Trust Companies that are involved in the $500,000,000 Cadillac -Fairview deal in Toronto, 1 see that Dennis Timbrell is still patting his own back for his most recent farces, assistance programs such as subsidies on barn painting and the Farm Assistance Program to reduce interest rates down to 12% and his latest slander, the 100% tax rebate on farm land. And I see the boys in Ottawa are engaged in serious debate over Pornographic T.V, programming. So what's new? i must also question the statement "Some farmers who have deliberately over extended themselves". Was it really the farmer who over extended himself? Before a farmer gets his hands on a loan he must produce I , cash flows; 2, net equity statements; 3. his and his wife's mortgage papers to the local banker. This must then be processed by the Agricultural Brains and Experts in Toronto before the application is approved. On approval the farmer must sign all section 86 notes and securities to the local loan sharks and all is well. The bank has 100% security on ail assets and the young farmer has faith and determination to make it work, not fully realizing that if the unforeseen happens he has all to lose. Yet now the banker, not the farmer, has the sole authority to make the final unilateral decision to sell. Well it seems the banks are beginning to realize that there is no money in farming so they are on the retreat. Not due to poor business practices on the farmer's behalf but to the low rate of return and Tosses in the agriculture business. The banks have seen farmers use all of their equity in holding up a sinking ship, waiting for things to turn around and get back to a profit situation. Well this takes time. Hopefully we're through the worst. We've seen 25% interest and the harm that has been done. But now we need time not government subsidies to use some of these better economic times to get ourselves back in the black. So i say let us not turn farmers on farmer. Our Canadian Chartered Banks have deterred five billion dollars in loans to Mexico because of fear of default. Should they not be ob- liged to help with the survival of the Agricultural industry in Canada. Today's farmers have guts, courage and faith. There is something eloquent about a man who says to government "Leave me alone and 1'11 show you what 1 can do with the old fashioned virtues of hard work and self reliance". 1 say many good honest farmers are going out of business to the whims of banks and I believe it's wrong. Let's stop it now. We can only do this by survival and unity of all farm enterprises, not only survival of the fittest. They are going to be next. Never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate. Yours gratefully, Cletus Dalton. Brookside hockey team loses to Ripley By Nancy Hunter and Kim Rintnul Brookside junior girls hockey team skated to a one all tie against Ripley juniors. Scoring our only goal was Jodie Kerr. Kindergarten registration was held on February 11th. There are 42 youngsters who will be attending Kinder- garten in September. Blyth Public School senior volleyball team challenged Brookside Boys and Girls senior team. Brookside lost the best two out of three series. Kindergarten to grade 6 enjoyed having the Carousel Players from St. Catharines perform last Monday. Col- borne Public School also came to watch the show. Mrs. Farrish's kindergar- ten 1 class had their Valen- tine party on Wednesday. February 9. The students of Grade 3, room 4 have just completed research projects on ele- phants with Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Worsell. They have learned many interesting facts about elephants. Robert Skipper has com- pleted the grade 8 art instruction. They did some fascinating art projects. Mr. Davies came from the Regional office of the Board of Education to observe the intermediate history course at the school. The results of the public speaking on Friday are: primary, grade 1, Daniel Greene, Donald Holmes, Sarah Dauphin; honourable mention, Tammy Roberts, Donna MacAulay. Jeffrey Taylor. Grade 2, Maribeth Daw- son, Darrell Scott, Jodi Web- ster. Grade 3, Holly Dauphin, Darryl Graham, Warren Andrew and Matthew Sproul tied, Grade 4, Melanie Wylds, Billy Curran and Jason Cam- eron, tied, Adrian Rau. Grade 5 and 6, Ken Strong, Laurie Hayden, Michael Millian, Grad 7 and 8, Heidi Fillmore, Bonnie Henderson, Audrey Bos.