Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-03-29, Page 5Letters to the editor THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1989. PAGE 5. Supply management said only short term solution THE EDITOR, RE: BEEF VOTE In a recent T.V. debate with my fellow beef producer, Don Hill, Don stated that a beef agency would result in about a six, eight, or ten cent rise in Ontario beef prices and attempted to explain how this would happen. I challenged him to show with facts what he was talking about ... I’m still waiting for the facts! Some of my neighbours and I attended the annual meeting of the Beef Producer’s For Change, and were all surprised and disappoint­ ed to hear nothing about this spectacular six, eight, or ten cent price rise. The annual meeting of this so-called Grass Roots organiza­ tion was presented with a sketchy verbal financial statement (no prin­ ted statement) and most of the meeting was taken up with pro­ nouncements from the podium with an absolute minimum of participa­ tion from the audience. A few resolutions were voted on with practically no discussion by the approximately 40 - 50 people who were voting. Hear about taking care of planet THE EDITOR, Do you ever wonder how much abuse our planet can take from our civilization? Will the earth be inhabitable by the 23rd or 24th century? Is there anything we can do to stop or undo the damage we have caused? The predictions of many experts about the world of the 21st century due to the changes in climate, pollution, depletion of the ozone layer and other issues should cause us concern for our future and especially that of our children. A spokesperson from World Resources Institute, a U.S. non­ profit environmental research cen­ tre declares “We are at a crucially important time. The fate of the planet may be at stake.” Many scientists feel that the blistering temperatures and lack of rainfall that produced drought conditions across large expanses of Canada, the United States, Mexico and China this past summer are evi­ dence that the world is experienc­ ing its first effects of the green­ house effect - the invisible shroud of heat-trapping gases that sur­ rounds the globe. Are we reluctant to assess the situation and face up to unpleasant Canadian creativity gets lost Continued from page 4 spend $18 million to renovate the Pantages, why should the provin­ cial government be spending mil­ lions of tax dollars ro renovate the Elgin and Wintergarden theatres a few doors down Yonge St.? If people are willing to pay $80 a seat, why should the government be throwing away your money and mine supporting these little ware­ house theatres? But ironically the very birth of big-time commercial theatre in Toronto seems to be proving all the reasons the supporters of “alterna­ tive”, subsidized theatres have given in the last 20 years for the need for their kind of theatre. When the lowest ticket price for the cheapest of the big shows is $30 per seat, how many people aren’t able to attend theatre. And if a show costs $4.5 million to mount, how many artistic chances can you afford to take. On the plus side the big shows will give jobs to hundreds of actors and technicians at rates of pay they couldn’t hope to get from the small theatres. Yet on the other side, the talent of all those people wouldn’t Have you heard about the restauranteur who added frogs legs to his menu on the word of a friend who told him that he had a frog pond full of thousands of frogs, and could supply as many frog legs as ) he could ever need. A new chef was hired - new menus printed - 1000 frogs legs were ordered and the friend delivered only 100 legs. The restauranteur frantically asked his friend for an explanation - the friend said he was very sorry but - from the noise from the pond, he was sure there were thousands, but when he went to catch them - - there were only 50 frogs! Oh Boy! Ontario has had single desk selling for hogs for quite a few years. On March 2, 1989 the U.S. hog price was 42 cents per lb. live weight U.S. or 50 cents per lb. live weight Canadian. The Ontario hog price $1,211 per kg. or 55 cents per lb. carcass at 75 per cent dress = 41 cents per lb. live weight in Canadian dollars. The Ontario hog price was nine cents below U.S. hog price. Ag. Canada data shows this to be typical from 1983 - 1988. realities, preferring to trust to the miracles of science and technology and the promises of politicians? As members of a society with a lifestyle emphasizing comfort, con­ venience and a multitude of con­ sumer goods, we have caused these environmental problems. As indi­ viduals who choose a lifestyle that emphasizes conversation, and com­ mitment to preserving environmen­ tal quality, we can also alleviate these problems. We must all act in an environmentally responsible way to save our environment. Professor William A. Andrews, a Thanks from the heart THE EDITOR, On behalf of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, I would like to thank everyone from the south half of Morris who gave so generously when called on. I would especially like to thank the canvassers who donated their time for this very worthwhile cause. They raised a total of $1,028. This is up from $860 last year. Thanks again to our dedicat­ ed canvassers, Alice Marks $30 (S!/2 con. 5 east), Cory Sanders $49 be there for the commercial pro­ ducers to use if it hadn’t been for long years of training in warehouse theatres. And would the audience for commercial theatre be there if there hadn’t been years of audi­ ence development carried on by the small theatres. While the birth of big-time commercial theatre seems to be progress, it also brings back me­ mories of the bad old days. For while the commercial shows bring work to actors and technicians (not to mention box office staff) the Canadian writers and directors, the creative side of theatre, are rele­ gated to the warehouses while the scripts and directors are imported from Britain. Honest Ed used to sponsor second-string touring shows from Broadway; in effect merchandising the theatre others created just as he merchandised sneakers from Taiwan in Honest Ed’s store up on Bloor Street. Today he’s moved to producing but he’s producing in that age-old Canadian way of importing all the ideas from abroad and putting a Canadian stamp on them. Ontario steer and heifer prices under today’s free market in Ontar­ io are running just over or just under the import ceiling and are the highest in North America - so where’s the six, eight, or ten cent price jump going to come from? At our farm we’ve been feeding virgin bulls for slaughter since 1968. We find this works well for us when we are free to negotiate a price with a packer and move relatively small lots, usually six to 15 bulls direct from our farm to the kill floor. A beef agency would greatly complicate and or probably eliminate this opportunity for us as well as others. Breeding and feeding cattle of a particular type for a special market is a growing opportunity for beef producers in Ontario, where cus­ tomers want to know how it was grown, where it was grown, and that you can deliver the same quality time after time. A beef agency would break the direct contact between producer and con­ sumer and complicate or probably eliminate this growing opportunity. Supply Management is a bit like native of Clinton, from the Univer­ sity of Toronto, will be addressing the community of Clinton at C.H.S.S. at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 18 regarding many of these con­ cerns. He will emphasize what each of us can do to help alleviate these problems. There will be an open question period following the pre­ sentation. This talk is being given as a program of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. For more information, please contact Susan Hay at 482-5068. SUSAN HAY CLINTON. (S'A con. 5 west), Joan Vanden Assem $118 (con. 6 east), Mary Douma $159 (con. 6 west), Pal Somers $41 (con. 7 east), Betty Kelly $144 (con. 7 west), Brenda Linton $120 (con. 8 east), Doreen Siertsema $167 (con. 8 west), Carol Haselgrove $84 (con. 9 east & County Rd. 25), Boyd and Muriel Taylor $74 (con. 9 west & County Rd. 25), and Dorothy Sholdice $42 (Walton). Kathy McNichoI No commercial producer has been ready yet to take a chance on a “Quiet in the Land” or a “Girls in the Gang”. No Canadian writer will be given a $4.5 million budget and a cast of dozens of actors. The commercial producers want shows that will come with the stamp of approval from both London and New York, the kind of show for which people will gladly line up and pay ridiculous ticket prices months before the show even starts rehear­ sal. Canadians aren’t self assured enough to do that yet tor a Canadian creation. The “sophisti­ cated” Toronto theatre audience isn’t willing to take the kind of leap of faith Blyth audiences do when they buy tickets for a season based on the past performance of the Festival. The birth of big-time commercial theatre in Toronto is a natural growth in the arts scene of Can­ ada’s largest city but until Torontonians become mature enough to take Canadian-created shows without the Broadway stamp of approval, the small subsidized theatres are still going to be more important in the long run. Ben’s alleged steroid injection - a bit of a lift for the “short run”, (no pun intended) but the after effects aren’t so hot! Here at Bodmin Farms, we’ve made some easy money with chicken broilers, be­ cause we got our quota for “being alive and breathing”, when it was voted in, but now at $15 per bird, the next generation is S.O.L. And if we capitalize our quota - we aren’t making any money - it won’t pencil out. So 1 guess the best I can say for supply management is that it rewards the first few for a little while. Yesterday a dairy neighbour of mine asked me if I had any idea how supply management could be made to work in beef. He said he didn’t know. I told him I didn’t. Blyth hockey program promotes fair play THE EDITOR, As President of the Blyth Minor Hockey and Ringette Association I feel as if I have to write a letter in response to your published letter in the March 15 edition of your paper (concerned hockey parent). Our Association takes exception to some of the comments raised in this letter. Normally we would not respond to an unsigned letter but since this takes particular aim at our Association, coaches and par­ ents, we feel that our response is needed. If a person would look in the minutes and by-laws of our Associ­ ation they would see the years that we have tried to promote good sportsmanship and fair play in all our decisions. Many meetings have been held over the years debating things that we can do for the good of Minor Hockey in Blyth as well as in our neighbouring towns. I think this spirit has been shown in our method of coaching and our fan behaviour at games. As president and parent, I, too am concerned about the quality of refereeing in Minor Hockey. As to the particular game in question I will say that over the years I have seen better refereeing and I have seen worse. Whether or not a penalty should have been called is not up to me to say. If I would want to be in that position I would have become a referee. To concentrate on one single play does not do justice to the entire game that was played. During the course of the game there were other incidents that I felt warranted a call but none was made. Likewise some calls that were made 1 could not see the reason for. The idea of the writer that the Blyth players were taught by their coaches to win at all cost is a little unreal. I have watched the Blyth Man jumps gun, suspended 6 more months A London man will lose his licence for another six months after being caught driving with his licence under suspension, one day before he would have had his licence reinstated. Paul Stashuk of London pleaded guilty in provincial court in Wing­ ham Wednesday to driving while his licence was under suspension. Evidence showed Mr. Stashuk had been stopped on Feb. 4 on Highway 4 in Morris township for a speeding violation. A check showed he had a licence that was suspend­ ed until Feb. 5. Judge R. G. E. Hunter said he would take into account that the Beef Producers For Change haven’t given any concrete details. So I’ll leave that one with you. Please call or write as soon as you have it figured out. I’ll sign off now with something I saw on an office wall in the 1950’s. I don’t know who wrote it, but here it is: I hate the guys Who criticize The guys Whose enterprise Helps them rise Above the guys Who criticize! I’m voting “No” so my kids and grandkids have at least something they can try, without paying for, and or answering to, a board or agency. Ross S. Procter RR 5, Brussels. team for this past year in their games and think that they have been taught fair play and good sportsmanship. I know that the three coaches would not extend an attitude of “win at all costs”. When two teams play each other in a lot of games over the course of a season, personalities are bound to clash as each team learns more about the other. The game in question was aggressive but 1 think that both teams’ coaches were not telling their young players to be extra rough. I saw the refereeing in that game and thought it to be fair to both teams. The Blyth fans at the game were not laughing at the player that was hurt. The laughter was for a much different reason. I know, because I was the only fan that was laughing, not all the Blyth fans as stated in the letter. Fans talk to each other about different things and to take one thing and blow it all out of porportion does not to do justice to everyone that was there. A few years ago a few Belgrave players came to Blyth to play Pee Wee hockey. I could see that it was good for all the boys involved. They all had fun and they all could play in a centre close to their home. This makes it better for the players all around. That is what we in Blyth try to bring to the forefront in our entire hockey program. “Give hockey back to the kids”. An attitude which downgrades an organization does not do this and gives hard feelings to both parties. The letter in your paper was very critical of the Blyth hockey pro­ gram. I do not think this criticism is justified and would thank you for the opportunity to tell our position in this matter. RALPH A. DATEMA PRESIDENT, BLYTH MINOR HOCKEY & RINGETTE ASSOC. man was only one day short of having his licence returned and fined him $500 but noted there was an automatic further si« months suspension for driving while his licence was under suspension. David Cooper of Blyth pleaded guilty and received a $750 fine and 12 month suspension of licence after pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated. When mixing liquid pesticides that carry WARNING or DANGER signal words on the label, always vear eye protection ... ‘Farm Chemical Safety Is In Your Hands’.