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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-12-18, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18,1991. Editorials Who knows what1? There was a business meeting in Blyth the other day in which the professionals gathered talked about medicine, chemical reactions, nutrition, the environment, recycling industrial by-products, computer programs, debt-load management, even the complexities of international politics. Who were these specialists who could deal with so many areas of expertise? Huron County dairy farmers. A Dairy Day was held in Blyth, bringing more than 100 Huron dairy producers out to hear speakers on the health problems of dairy cattle, the nutritional needs of cattle, computer programs that can help farmers manage their operations better, even the events in GATT talks in Europe that could determine just what the dairy industry will look like in the future because of changes the talks could bring to supply management. Pretty high-falutin' stuff for people a lot of urbanites still tend to think of as simple-minded country bumpkins. Never mind that most of the people in the room have college and university degrees. Never mind that they manage businesses that would make the eyes of most business-people glaze over because of the complexity of the operation. Never mind that they invest hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars in their operations. One of the speakers at the meeting was still seething over an article he read in a consumer magazine that attacked supply management and claimed that the cost of production formula, used in setting the price of raw milk for dairy products, valued the work of farmers too high when it-used the Ontario average industrial wage of $12 an hour for farmers. The guy who wrote the article probably made more than twice that per hour. Supply management has been under increasing attack of late as its opponents seek to undermine the support the federal government has given to dairy and poultry producers in supporting marketing boards at the GATT talks. Some of that criticism comes from ignorance and misunderstanding, some from pure philosophical belief in the marketplace setting all prices, but all of it has behind it a basic underestimation of the value of agriculture and farmers in general. There is a perception in urban areas that our farmers are inefficient and backward and...well, a little dumb- the way they're portrayed in all those television shows. Well, there probably are some dumb farmers around, just like there are some dumb journalists and lawyers and even doctors. But today's farmer in general is better educated and more knowledgeable than most urban residents. He has to be an expert in so many areas that the rest of us can just ignore as we concentrate on our own little specialized worlds. Our farmers deserve our respect, and they deserve a decent return for the work they do. They do not deserve ill-informed, stereo-typed comments from columnists and editorial writers and consumer advocates who are too lazy to get out and find what the real facts are before they shoot their mouths off. Peace on earth As Christmas approaches there is a peace on earth that has seldom been as wide-spread as it is this year. Sure there is concern about the future of nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union, there are IRA bombings in Britain and the bitterness in Yugoslavia continues, but people in most parts of the world have seldom had to give so little of their attention to the possibility of war. Strange then, that in Canada, one of the world's most peaceful lands, we should be hearing debates about the possibility of civil war if Quebec should separate. Yet there it is, almost daily now, in our newspapers: some historian or politician or constitutional expert talking about the possibility we could actually tear this country apart with a war on our soil for the first time in nearly 200 years. It would be naive not to recognize the possibility of bloodshed if Quebec separates. The nationalists in Quebec have tried to paint a picture of an amicable settling of accounts if (when, they say) Quebec separates but in any divorce, the potential for bad feelings is there. Once the split began, there's no telling what might happen. But talk about the use of the army to keep Canada together or to seize federal assets is provocative and stupid. While there's no telling what might happen in the heat of the moment, Canadians should be thinking about how to keep the peace, not making scary predictions. You can't hold a country together by force. You shouldn't even contemplate trying...especially in the season of peace. Frosting Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO DECEMBER 18,1990 Third time wasn't lucky for McKillop Reeve Marie Hicknell as she lost out again in her bid to become the county's second woman warden. Burglars broke into the Brussels Variety, and stole $2,000 in cash and cheques, in addition to about $250 worth of lottery tickets. An attempt to break-in to the Diesel Car Diner was also made the same evening, though the thieves left without taking anything. Royal Homes Ltd. in Wingham announced a plant shut-down for two months in the winter, which affected production workers not office or construction staff. Dr. Walter Wong, a Wingham physician opened a practice at the Brussels Medical/Dental Centre. Blyth and District Fire Depart­ ment's new pumper-tanker cost vil­ lage taxpayers an extra levy of $8,076.52 in 1991. Carol Irwin was re-elected presi­ dent of the Blyth Centre for the Arts Board of Directors. THREE YEARS AGO DECEMBER 21,1988 Dave Johnston, Reeve of Bay- field was named Warden of Huron County after defeating Marie Hick­ nell, Reeve of McKillop. The former Brussels Stockyards closed its doors to business again, with no clear indication of when it would be back in operation. Brussels Legion was back in business, fully recovered from the damage caused by arsonists. Jack and Dorene McGee of Blyth celebrated 60 years of marriage. FIVE YEARS AGO DECEMBER 17,1986 Blyth Festival marked its eighth year in the black. Some Huron County principals, vice-principals and teachers were given an early Christmas present by the board of education in the form of retroactive salary increases of four percent. Turn berry reeve Brian McBumey was acclaimed warden of Huron County. Mr. McBumey was the youngest ever Huron warden. Hullett council set December 30 as the date for a special meeting to fill the seat left vacant by the resig­ nation of Vic Stackhouse. Mr. Stackhouse, who had moved to Wingham said he felt the ratepayers of Hullett would be best served by a local representative. Audrey Bos, RR3, Auburn, won the Congeniality trophy at Hallrice 4H Club Awards Night. Long-term 4H leader Simon Hal- lahan of RR3, Blyth was honoured for half a century of service to the youth of Huron County at the Hall- rice 4H Dairy Club Awards Night in Westfield. In recognition Mr. Hallahan was presented with a gift and a plaque. Arthur Bos, RR3, Blyth was the winner of the Kennaim Farms tro­ phy for Top Jr. Calf as well as the UCO Belgrave trophy as Top Jr. Showman at the Hallrice Dairy Club Awards Night. Lisa Boonstoppel of RR1, Auburn was named Top Senior Showman at the Hallrice 4H Dairy Club Awards Night. CitizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1 HO Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $19.16 + $1.66 for each month after March 31/92 + G.S.T. for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and Foreign. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copywright Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Sales Representatives, Sue Wilson and Jeannette McNeil Assistant Editor, Bonnie Gropp Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships.