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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-03-09, Page 6editorial Letimew Sentinel, Wednesday, Mara 9, 1983—Page h LUCKN SENTIIVEL "The Sepay Town" Eatabtlobted 1073 THOMAS A. THOMPSON - Advertising Manager SHARON J. DIETZ - Editor PAT LIVINGSTON - Office Manager JOAN HELM - Compositor MERLE ELWAOTT - Typesetter Business and Editorial Office Telephone 528-2822 Mailing Address P.O. Box 400, Lucknow, CNG 214 Second Class Mail Registration Number 0847 Subscription rate, SI S.2S pet year to advance Senior Moen rate, Si 2.7S per year In advance U.S.A. and Foreign, 538.00 per year in advance Sr, tit. U.S.A. and Foreign, 536.00 per year In advance Help crippled kids The Lucknow and District Lions aub needs your help again this year to put the Easter seal campaign over the top in this area. or. The theme "Back A Fighter with Easter Seals" tells the whole story. Kids facing staggering odds against a normal life show 'tremendous courage. But the odds are better for them if those citizens who are blessed with glowing good health and mobility will help them out with the things they need to conquer their handicaps.. There is more promise today than ever before for these youngsters. New technologies and attitudes auger well for those dealt a dirty blow by fate. But it takes money - hard, cold rash - to pay the freight. Won't you help build a future for a physically disabled child? Won't you please respond to the 1983 Easter seal appeal in Lucknow and area? Just make your cheque payable to the Easter Seal Fun, and see how much better you feel, SJK to the editor Thanks everybody To the Editor: The coaches and managers and the players of the Lucknow Flea Hockey team would like to thank all the people who helped make the annual Lucknow Legion Flea Hockey Tournament a booming success, A special thank you to Lucknow Legion Branch 309 for trophies and facilities donated; to tion Alton for his work in organization; to Nancy Murray for co-ordination of meals; to parents and friends who ran the crock, took tickets, fed the players or referreed; to Lucknow Arena Manager Al Hamilton for his co-operation; and to Ross Irwin and Ken Johnston for providing a big treat - a ride on the fire truck) From the players, a special thanks to their coach, Gerald Murray and their manager, Evans Helm: "You're the best". From the coach and manager, the parents and fans to the boys: "You did it all l " Thanks. Lucknow pleas. l3anks are listening To the Editor, Last week was a busy one for farm groups in Huron County. On Tuesday the Huron County Farm Survival held a meeting in Blyth Hall when about 80 farmers were present and the guests were no less than five executives from the Bank of Montreal. Ernie Morel, the chief honcho for all South Western Ontario, was the main speaker and told us of the Bank of Montreal strategy to help the farmers with problems. He said that the Bank of Montreal is willing to help farmers in any way to stay in business, including writing off principle and reducing interest rates. He announced a new program by Bank of Montreal to lock in interest rates on operating loans for a one year term. i think this was three years late in coming but it §bows that the Bank of Montreal is concerned and willing to help the farmer by these actions. A new plan was announced by the Royal Bank to take over a farm and rent it back to the farmer which received a very negative response from the meeting. 1 believe that the Banks now have reassessed their stand in agriculture and we will see more help from them in the future. Allan Wilford, president of Canada Farm Survival Association commented on the suicides and broken homes and ail the suffering and humility of the farmer in trouble. He urged us to help each other by counselling our neighbours and inviting them to attend meetings. On Thursday night the Huron County Federation of Agriculture met in the Blyth School. The first part of the meeting was a speaker from Huron County Planning Office its Goderich . The meeting went into discussion on the new Ontario Farm Tax Reduction Program. Details concerning the Ontario Farm Tax Reduction Program, as taken from a speech delivered by Ontario Agriculture Minister Dennis Timbrell last fall are as follows: 1. The government will proceed with the package in two stages. Changes in the method of calculating rebates will take effect for the 1984 tax year, while higher qualifying requirements for the rebate program go into effect beginning with the 1982 tax year. 2. To be eligible for the 100% rebate, farmers will be required to have a gross production value of $8,000 for 1982 and 1983 tax years, and S12,000 in 1984 (Northern Ontario will remain at S8,000). This week's Jamboree pileture shows Holyrood Women's insttitutte members dressed up In their "ester bonnets" In a photo taken In October 1%3, Front, from the left, are Mrs. Ellwood Elliott, Mrs. Alphonse Murray, Mrs. Jack Ackert and Mrs. Jim Smith and back, from the left, Mrs. Harrold Haldenby, Mrs, Baynard Ackert, Mrs. Orville Elliott, Mrs. Lorne Emile and Mrs. Glen Haldenbv. Discuss recipes By Diane Mlltenburg The second meeting of the Kingsbridge Apple Dump- ling Gang was held at the home of Mrs. Nannie Scott. The girls answered the roll call, Have you ever eaten any German or Mennonite des- serts? Some girls also brought cooking utensils or cook books from the Netherlands and Germany. Discussion included chees- es, and sausages from var- ious European countries. The girls split up into four groups to make the neces- sary recipes for this meeting. These recipes were potato pancakes, dutch peach kuch- en, deli specials, and apple butter. The next meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. Delores Van Osch on March 21 at 9.00 a.m. Wingham farmer gives stern warning By Robert Way Western Ontario Farmer Beef producer Bill Arm- strong, of R. R. 4, Wingham, is dead against government handouts, and in particular one recently announced pro- gram that he feels is a "snow job" farmers will forever re- gret. It's call the Ontario Farm Tax Reduction Program, an- nounced at the OFA's annual convention last fall, the pro- gram promises to reduce taxes starting in 1984, by offering farmers 100 per cent rebates On taxed farm build- ings and land. Such a rebate, during these tough times for agricul- ture, may seem harmless if not extremely helpful to hard pressed farmers. Hut Arm- strong would rather look this gift horse in the mouth. He feels the proposed rebate can do nothing but damage agriculture's image in the public eye, especially with other businesses that must pay full taxes. "Why shouldn't commer- cial businessmen get his taxes paid for him as well," he asked. "And how are city people going to feel about paying our taxes?" Speaking in Elgin county Monday, Agriculture Minist- er Dennis Timbrell, however, argued that the program is strictly voluntary. "We don't see it as any form of welfare," said the minister, stating that the concern shown is somewhat "overrated". "Any farmers -who feel that strongly about it\,don't need to apply." That reply isn't enough for Armstrong, however, who feels the government picking up the tab could lead to further problems down the road. The farmer quickly points out the so-called re- bate may in fact be a burden much worse than farmers bargained for. Currently, producers may apply for a 30 per cent rebate on their property tax, includ- ing land, barns, and farm - 3. Beginning with the 1984 tax year, farm tax rebates will cover all property taxes on farm land and buildings - 100% of taxes on these productive assets will be rebated to the producer. 4. Farm residents will no longer qualify for tax reduction. One acre surrounding a farmhouse will be considered a residential site, except in cases where a smaller or larger area is actually used for residential purposes. This lot, however, will be assessed as 50 per cent of the value of similar properties in the vicinity. 5. Any farmers who feel they have been unfairly denied rebates can take their case to the farm tax appeal board which will be established to settle disputes regarding production criteria. 6. in the 1984 tax year, the total cost of the rebate program to the Canadian taxpayer is expected to be $85 million. Jim Armstrong gave his address to the meeting in opposition to the new program and after a lengthy debate and some emotional comments, the Huron County Federation of Agriculture defeated a motion to accept the new program and there will be a committee set up to consider alternatives. History is being made in the agricultural area. Come out and be a part of it. Support your farm organizations by your attendance at the monthly meetings. 1 believe the new tax program is immoral. Small minds talk about people Average minds talk about events Great minds discuss ideas. Cletus Dalton. house, which can be deduct- ed as an expense against farm income tax. Under the rebate program, however, farm buildings and land become separate from the farmhouse and one acre parcel on which it is situated. Everything will be reasses- sed, and while farmers will receive a 100 per cent rebate on the farm buildings por- tion, they will have to pay tax (which is not deductable) on their residence, just like any other homeowner in the municipality. Having the option to choose between the proposed 100 per cent rebate or noth- ing at all, isn't a fair decision to be forced into, says Arm- strong. And in his opinion, the government has lost sight of why the tax rebate was even there in the first place. "The 50 per cent rebate was intended to compensate farmers for paying education tax," Armstrong noted, "be- cause it should be a people tax, and not tied into land." Having the 50 per cent rebate replaced by a 100 per cent program loses that benefit, he claims. putting it back on property. This, in particular, angers Armstrong who foresees sev- eral dangers in the planned 1983 reassessment. "What if you have more than one farmhouse, such as in a father and son operation. What will this do to the assessment?" he question- ed. "And what about other utilities, such as hydro. Will they follow suit in charging us one electricity rate for our residence and another for the barn?" in Mr. Timbrell's announ- cement of the program, higher taxes were foreseen for only those farmers having "high residential assess- ments, small land bases. and few building". A general cross-section of Armstrong's mail shows a common fear that govern- ment will take over control of farm property. As one woman wrote: "We always felt the government had too much control, with- out being obligated to them for taxes as well, and taxes are a very small percentage of farm expenses - not even as much as fire insurance." The rebate program is not, hower, without consider - ab a support from some parts of the farm sector. The OFA itself, was instrumental last fall in having the issue brought forward for discus- sion, and supports the pro- posed scheme. This wasn't the first time taxation was discussed, says Armstrong, as four or five years ago there were motions at the annual conventions to have farmland made tax ex- empt, an idea that was subsequently abandoned af- ter considerable opposition. "It's been quiet since then. That's why I was startled by the announce- ment last fall," says Arm- strong. "People seen to be dumbfounded about what's been dumped on them. I think the federation's been sold a bad bill of goods." While . Armstrong says he intends to go as far as possible in fighting the re- bate proposal, he claims he's not in it for the personal glory or satisfaction. "All 1 want to do is stir people up, so that they know there's another side to the story than the one the gov- ernment's handing them," he commented. "If nothing comes of it, than at Fast 1°il know i've made them think, and that 1 tried." Those interested in joining him in his cause are invited to write him at the following address: Jini Armstrong, R. R. 4, Wingham, Ontario, or call, (519) 357-1651. Write a letter to the editor