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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-08-29, Page 5Luclmow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 29, 1979—Page 5 Fatm Management Topics Conirnunieation. gap between and owners BY JACK HAGARTY, FARM MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST I've just come across an article that tickles me, " It strikes me as funfiy. It's about a serious problem; --accountants and business men can't seem .to communi- cate with one another. The author is Leon Danco, a consultant from Ohio. He says "the business owner and his accountant usually wind up in something like those old grade school dan- ces, long armed and stiff - legged, shuffling miserably around the financial dance floor. They just never learn the advantages of the oppo- site sex." He goes on, "most accountants aren't risk tak- ers and most business own- ers aren't experts in finance. Small wonder they find they have little to. talk .about. The accountant massages the fin- ancial statement and the business owner wishes the he could go do something useful besides talking to this. kid." Recently five Agricultural Representatives met for a round table discussion with an accountant and lawyer, In no way could you describe these two as kids. They are professionals --in the best sense of the. word. Botli have grown up on the farm. They have the same gut reactions as farmers do. We talked about farm business agree- ments, partnerships and cor- portations. They very clearly said be careful about •getting farmers involved in corpora- tions and partnership. They could see a place for limited use of a corporation or part- nership --for example --to own livestock, buildings and five acres of land. But they said "have the other land owned by the individuals. Contri- bute the use of the land to the jointly owned corpora- tion --or sell the crops to the corporation." They said it works best when each person has private ownership --and pride of ownership of land. Trespass revisions on the way BY. RON REID Trespass is a thorny. issue. For some rural- landowners, unauthorized trespass, with associated problems of litter- ing,. gates left open, damage to livestock, and loss of priv- acy has been a recurring headache. For others, who want to share at least part of their land with the respon- sible public, fear of liability for injuries has been a real handicap. In 1977, The Ont- ario Trails Council added its voice to the many groups seeking changes in Ontario's legislation dealing with tres- pass and landowner liability. The Ontario government. moved slowly, partly.be'cause public use of private land is such a sensitive subject. New proposals, however, contain- ed in a White Paper released by . Attorney General Roy McMurtry, have been well worth the wait. To encourage. landowners to open their lands for recreational use, the proposals would place liability for all risks with the entrant, unless the owner. could be proven to have acted to deliberately create dangers or.. with ` reckless disregard. Landowners will benefit greatly in other ways as well. Orchards and culti- vated fields will be automat- ically closed to trespass with- out the need° to post signs. Trespassers can be convicted either' for entry without per- mission or, for refusing to leave when asked, making enforcement easier. Maxi- mum fines will be raised from 5100 to $1000, and con- victed trespassers can be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. As well, the courts will be 'able :to order compensation for damage to property or crops. ThiS new system will also permit a landowner more flexibility in controlling the use of his land. A proposed code of colour markings and signs viii allow owners to designate that only certain activities are permitted (such as cross-country skiing) -or. that some • specific activities are _prohibited (for example trail bikes). I While the government clearly would like to encour- . age rural landowners to allow recreational uses, they have recognized that this cannot come about unless land- owners have the tools to control abuses. McMurtry's proposals go a long way towards providing t.hose.. tools, and they deserve our support: • Discuss amn.mesty at Pine River meeting Torture makes everyone think -- even moves people to do something. The members. of the Amnesty International group from Pine River Unit- ed, a group of concerned women, met Friday, August 10 at the home of Patf Lowry, R. R. 1 Kincardine. Following study on human rights issues, as they relate to the principles of A.L, where the violation of rights demands worldwide atten- tion, l then the members helped each other draft let- ters to: Nepal, Argentina, Yugoslavia, U.S.S.R., Pakis tan and the U.S.A. This "Urgent Action" group are invited to the home of Gayle Lowry of Amberley for their next meeting. Anyone interested in form- ing such a group should contact: Amnesty Interna- tional Canada, c/o Accounts. and Group Affairs Secretary, 2101 Algonquin Avenue, P.O. Box 6033, , Ottawa, Ontario, K2A 1T1. The actual words were "it works best when each one can tell the other to go to hell." Now that's taking a stand --being involved --com- mitted. Dano' says "the account- ant's afraid if he becomes too involved, too committed, too understanding, too involved in the moral judgments and trade-offs the business own- er has to make, he'll com- promise his "independ- ence'." He says "like the, cowboy who's going to get saddle sores, the business owner is going to take risks. It comes with the job. What he wants to do is share the struggles of risk taking with someone else. But what hap- pens is the accountant yawns a lot, sidesteps, mumbles. He's uncomfortable peering into what really isn't his bag." Now my accountant friends are liable to say "why that sounds more like a farm ..management specialist to me". Fair enough --we're not happy with that image. We may not know and should say so or else we'll stress that it is our personal opinion. Danco says "the business owner has to get over feeling shy and misunderstood like an evil old man discussing problems with someone who doesn't care. The accountant should care and in fact can care without losing his indep- endence. The accountant should be told where the bones are buried. The busi- ness owner needs . control devices. Accgjnting is a way of measuring not only what a business does, but where it's going. An accountant who shares the business owner's problems can make judg- ments that say there's not enough cash or the inventory is too high. And he can make projections --if you do this, this would happen." To get help a business owner has to share his prob- lems; first, ask the right questions; then listen care- fully! THE ANNUAL MUNICIPAL ENUMERATION STARTS NEXT WEEK The annual ;municipal}enumeration will begin on Tuesday, September 4, 1979. During this month, an enumerator, carrying a proper identifica tion card, will call at your residence for a few minutes to check basic information required in determining: • the allocation of education property taxes between the public and. separate school systems; • the distribution of provincial grants to local governments to help reduce local tax bills; • the preparation of jurors' lists; and • population information needed for other municipal programs. The enumerator must record such information as the name, age, property status (e.g. owner or tenant), school support and residency of all members of the household. When the enumerator visits, please check that the information on the. Enumeration Notice is correct. If it is °not, revise it and verify the changes. If you are not home, a Notice " will be . left for you. If changes are necessary, please make them and mail the Enumeration Notice, as soon as possible, in the self addressed postage prepaid envelope accompanying the. Notice. For any additional information, please contact the local assessment office. J. R. Costello Ministry Regional Commissioner Bruce Grey Counties of TELEPHONE 371-1121 Zenith 64220 W. F. Jenkins Revenue Regional Commissioner Ontario Huron - Perth Counties TELEPHONE 524-7326 Zenith 66500 WE'VE GOT.YOLIR. NUMBER! • Six Sperry New Holland models to choose from -22• to 60 -hp. Gas or diesel engines. Air- or water•cooled. • Each 'model has more dump reach than any competitor in its size class. Larger models will load the center of a tandem- or tri -axle dump truck. • AII. models have an integral roll-over and falling -Object protective structure. • Quick.attach feature lets you change attachments in seconds, without dismounting. • All models feature hydrostatic drive for a smooth, even flow of power. "-, • Call for a demonstration soon. l",•7` T See why "our" loader. should be app :;• �' '+, "your" loader, too! i ie;. ' i 4 .,. #` Rea vie Farm Equipment Ltd. y.., /. . LU•C1 NOW PHONE 528-3010 Your authorized SPERRY NEW HOLLAND dealer 1. •