Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-04-08, Page 17• Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 imes - dvocate Pap• 1 A April 8, 1981 Council members puff, non-smokers protest By Henry Hess Reeves and deputy reeves attending Huron County Council will continue to be allowed to puff on cigarettes, cigars and pipes during their deliberations. In a determined effort to clear the air in the council chambers, the executive committee introduced a recommendation that smok- ing be banned there as of April 1. However the recommendation was voted down, 17 to 11. The proposal sparked one of the most impassioned debates during last week's meeting ofthe county coun- cil. The smokers were cham- pioned by Cal Krauter, the cigartte puffing reeve of Brussels, who delared it's up to him and nobody else to decide whether he smokes and where. If the majority outlaws smoking in the council chamers, it Will have to be prepared to hold council meetings in the men's room, because that's where all the smokers will be clustered, he warned. He also said you can educate people not to smoke but you can't legislate it, pointing out it didn't work with liquor during Prohibi- tion. "If you don't want smokers in here, then you go to all the townships at elec- tion time and have them elect non-smokers. He was backed by Reeve Bill Dale of Seaforth, a pipe smoker, who'said he intends to keep on smoking regardless where he is. "If you don't -want me to smoke in here, I will leave the chamber." On the other side of the coin, Reeve Paul Steckle of Stanley Township pointed out nobody's saying a person can't smoke, only that within these four walls we don't want you smoking." Some members have ask- ed to have their seats chang- ed because they are bothered by smoke, he ex- plained. "I don't feel we are in- fringing on your rights to ask you to smoke outside, but you're definitely infringing on our rights by smoking in here." Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hullett Township, con- fessed he was "one of the culprits who started this." He has bronchitis and asthma, he explained, and has spent very uncomfor- table evenings following sessions sandwiched between two smokers. Morris Reeve Bill Elston suggested a compromise, proposing that smokers can be seated in one corner of the room and non-smokers in another. He used to smoke and knows how it feels to be deprived of a smoke, he said. Grant Stirling, reeve of Goderich township, had the last word. "I sat on county council when cigars were 10 cents a piece, and these peo- ple here today don't know anything about smoke!" he declared. Foreign absentee ownership doubled By RHEA HAMILTON While the portion of Huron County land under foreign absentee ownership has doubled in five years, the land is still being farmed. This was just one of the points revealed by the second phase of the Rural Development Outreach Project (RDOP) survey for the Huron Federation of Agriculture. Rental fees range from a maximum of $95 to a verbal agreement with no money exchanged and the average parcel size is 102 acres for foreign owned, 80 acres for non -local but Canadian owned and 73 acres of local owners. The majority of land is grain -corn with some acreage under other crops too diverse to mention. Whlle the .land is being used, the Huron F of A learned Thursday night at Grey Central School in an update of the first phase of the RDOP study, that the number of acres under absentee ownership has increased. In a elide presentation made by Julius Mage who spearheaded the study, graph and maps illustrated the concentration of fore ownerahlp purchases in northern lake shore area of Ashfield, Colborne, and in the inland township of Howick. In Huron county foreign owned land increased from 4,658 acres (61 percent) to 7,823 (1.03 percent) in 1980. While foreign owned in- cluded American interests, the figures showed that American owned land was down from 37 owners In 1975 to 24 in 1980 with the average size of the holding in 1980 being 100 acres. On the other end of the scale. European based land owners increased their holdings from three In 1975 to 21 in 1980. The acreage involved is up to 8,000 from 1,815 in five years. The average land holding i8 400 acres. 2,800 acres of Huron, South -Bruce farmland formerly classified as ab- sentee foreign owned became legally owned in 1980 through resale to locals or by immigration of the owners. Getting our store ready for you has been a time com- suming but very enjoyable ex- perience. We've put many long hours into the re-deForating and we -re sure that you'll find shopping in -our new surroun- dings a pleasant experience, whether you're buying or simp- ly browsing. After choosing just the right fashions with you, the quality conscious shopper in mind we are now proud to introduce our carefully selected line of fine Canadian manufacturers. • Sportrite • Hobnobber • Adina ' • Charles Carroll • Ship 'n Shore • Parkhurst • Surrey Classics • Bow 'Neets • Canadian hats The study was broadened to include the four southern townships in Bruce county after reports indicated that there were several con- centrations of absentee owned land there that could be documented with the Huron report. With these additional townships the figures of foreign ownership for the area rose from 5,327 acres in the Huron -South Bruce area to 10,674 five years later. The other classification for absentee ownership showed little or no change in trends over the past five years: Non -Ontario Canadian owned land was scattered throughout the area. The 2,000 acres or .02 percent of the total farmland fluctuated from 850 acres in 1975 to 2,142 in 1979 and 1,982 in 1980. The third category of non - local, but living within Ontario, remained stable during the past four years. This group controls 40,000 acres or 75 percent of ab- sentee owned farmland or slightly over 4 percent of the total farmland in the area. Dr. Mage pointed out that a continuous monitoring of land purchasing would assist in the next phase of the study. The third and final stage will assess the impact of absentee foreign ownership on the rural community. The RDOP group stressed, that the importance of the non -local Ontario absentee group not be overlooked. This type occurs in all the townships and has main- tained an acreage which is still four times the amount of farmland owned by the absentee foreign group. Tony Fuller, director of RDOP, Dr. Mage and George Stock, who worked on the study, as well as Dr. John Fitzsimmons, an- swered questions for the audience in small groups. Members were interested in finding out how farm prices are affected with foreign investment. Dr. Fitzsimmons intends to use a study similar to the one used in Saskatchewan some years ago with some modifications. In measuring the impact of the communities the group ger' 0000,_ foresees many difficultues in proving just where the ef- fects begin and stop. It may be far more difficult to pinpoint retail difficulties with foreign and absentee ownership. Further questions or - suggestions for the third phase can be directed to Louise Marritt, field co- ordinator for RDOP, at RR 1, Wingham, 335-3906. In other business the Huron F of A agreed to support a couple's request to Huron county that 15 acresof swampy scrub be cleared from their farm in Grey Township. The membership stipulated that they support the county bylaw in principle which restricts rampant tree cutting; and that only 15 acres be cleared and that approximately 30 acres of bush will be left on the 100 acre farm. The land use committee inspected the acreage in question after Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Ward approached the Federation for help. They had anticipated problems in getting the tree cutting permit. Mel Knox reported that the Nit) 0ENt 100 O. Slit • 00. 0, %Mu fro Os impact of the clearing would not be detrimental to the surrounding land. It was pointed out by members that each farm should be judged as a separate unit from the neighbouring farms and that one farmer not be respon- sible for maintaining bushland for a large area while his neighbours strip their land. Another member ap- plauded the fact that the federation is doing something about this matter before the final decision is made. Anyone interested in being kept informed or getting involved with a farmer's co- operative waste disposal site can contact Tony McQuail. The energy committee sent out questionnaires to municipalities on waste and the idea of an alternative to land fill sites. Of the 16 responses three were not interested. Although the concept of a waste disposal site is not within the federation's scope, farmers can be kept informed of what is going on through the energy com- mittee of the federation. GET A THANKFUL TANKFUL — More than 550 Esso service stations in Ontario will be donating two cents per Titre for every gallon of gas sold on Saturday, April 11 to the Easter Seal Society. Above, Doug Hay of Auto Rund, the Exeter Esso outlet gives gas filling instruc- tions to Exeter lions Allan Johnston and George Godbolt. T -A photo Ambulance attendant visits 4-H meeting By BRENDA BRUNZLOW The third meeting of the South Huron Snow Goers began with the whole group repeating the 4-H pledge. The secretary read the minutes from the last meeting. Each member in turn read about Outdoor 'Survival Techniques. We were visited by an ambulance attendant from Zurich, Jim Bock. He showed a film called, Safety Emergency Procedures. Following the film, we had a question and answer period and he distributed pam- Approve funeral home A release from Associated Funeral Directors Service, International with headquarters in Tampa, Florida, announced that Hopper -Hockey Funeral Service has been selected and approved as the representative firm in Exeter. AFDS, as the organization Is known, is international in scope with a membership of more than 2,500 leading funeral firms. Only out- standing funeral homes throughout the world are invited to membership. Professional standing, business policies and records of community service must be exceptional for selection and sustained membership which represents a signal honor in the funeral service field. The basic purpose of AFDS is to assure high standards of service at reasonable cost. Membership enables a firm to give the community better and broader service because of its affiliation with responsible funeral firms in all parts of the world. The Hopper -Hockey Funeral Service has received the highest of commendations since 1951 for their years of continuous service and association with the group. phlets on first aid safety. The fourth meeting was held at the home of Bill Renning. The 4-11 pledge was repeated and the secretary read the minutes from the last meeting. Each member read about, Where to operate your machine, transporting your snowmobile and off season storage. Also plans were started about having a banquet for the members at the end of the year. The fifth meeting was held at Greg Dougall's home. Each member repeated the 441 pledge, and the secretary read the minutes from last meeting. An OPP Constable, Ed Wilcox, visited the members to talk on snowmobile SAFETY. He showed a film on Snowmobile Safety Savvy. After the film we had a question and answer period. We decided to have our last meeting and banquet on Thursday April 2, at the PineridgeChalet. Also some of the members have decided to go to the Ice Capades in London, April 7. We welcome you to join us for a cup of coffee whiley ou visit with us in our brand new store • First Prize — • Second Prize • Third Prize - Be sure to enter our 7( l .: free draw /_,1' $100 Merchandise certificate $50 Merchandise certificate $25 Merchandise certificate FREE SILK FLOWERS TO THE FIRST TWENTY-FIVE CUSTOMERS EACH DAY hooking Wood FASHIONS FOR HER 375 Main Street, Exeter 235-2460 GO AorTi