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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-08-14, Page 20Page 8A Times -Advocate, August 14, 1985 JUNIOR FARMER PANCAKES — Dishing up pancakes at Sunday's South Huron Junior Farmers breakfast were Mike Ryan and Monty and Brian Steele. T -A photo A few months ago, I opened a can of worms that refuses to close: Canada's chartered banks. I gave my own bank a black eye for bouncing one of my cheques. It should be repeated that the account did not have enough in it to cover the cheque so the bank was quite within its legal rights. That column brought a dozen let- ters from all across the country sug- gesting that Canada's chartered banks need a lesson in public relations and an explanation of the difference between humble and haughty. I thought it was over but the cor- respondence and the complaints keep coming. Possibly the worst indict- ment of Canadian banks, though, came in a recent column called Money Matters by Mike Grenby. His column is usually carried on the financial pages of some newspapers so maybe you missed it. He quotes a 'young couple from Holland who "were taken aback at the numerous errors in statements and the general atmosphere in banks" in Canada. Dineke and Rob Mellaart just could not get used to the cavalier attitude in Canadian banks. They were more puzzled thap critical because banks in Holland treated their customers with dignity and respect. In Canada, they were charged for transfers between ac- counts. They were told to give five days' notice for a large withdrawal to buy a car from a savings account. They had their application for a mor- tgage denied even though that same bank knew they had paid off $20,000 on another mortgage. One of the big lessons they learned: Don't beg. You are important so be proud of yourself and your ac- complishments. If one place does not want your business, shopping around will quickly show you others do. And I say, amen to that. Again,.I want to make it clear that I am not a hit -man trying to scuttle Canada's (') GRAVITY BOX MODEL 2000 HIGH. QUALITY — LOW PRICE • 200 bu. capacity • Spring loaded door opener holds position • Reinforcing corner gussets • 20" galvanized sideboards available to increase capacity to 290 bushels. Reg. Price 5815 Sale price $675 Made in Canada Larger sizes also available Model 2200, 225 bu. Model 3300, 330 bu. Model 2900, 290 bu. Model 4700, 470 bu. Phone now while the choke is good V.L. Becker & Sons Ltd. E-I-i:SEI 519-237.3242 or 519-237-3673 Hwy. 83 West, Dashwood, Ontario 53 Years of Sales 8. Service Evenings 519.237.3653 (Bill) 519236-4784 (Ralph) 519.238.5445 (Bob) Tandem WinterRapeseed Considering winter rapeseed as an alternative cash crop? Grow Pride Brand Tandem winter rapeseed. Your local 'Pride dealer can supply you with Certified Tandem seed. Tandem rapeseed is the only winter rapeseed licensed for sale in Canada and acceptable to the crushers. Information on this challenging new crop is available from your Pride dealer or by con- tacting Pride Brand -Seeds at 1-800-265-5280. L � ride A Division of King Grain Limited ROSS BALLANTYNE (519) 229-6503 DON KERSLAKE (519) 229-6403 DOUG LIGHTFOOT (519) 234-6287 chartered banks. I simply recounted a personal experience and was sur- prised to find so many other Cana- dians in the same position. One of the most interesting letters came from Thomas E Ryan, Box 1103, Mitchell, Ont., who has spent, in his own words, "a lifetime in trying to educate the public to set up their own banks" by organizing their own credit unions. "I must congratulate you for hav- ing the courage to document their ( the chartered banks) extortion prac- tices," he wrote. "The government and banks are in a conspiracy on the side of Mammon." He is extremely busy now organiz- ing the Rival Life Credit Union specifically designed to help farmers who are, as we all know, in deep financial trouble these days. "The object of the credit union is to save -the -family -farm concept, help the young and beginning farmer and preserve rural life through conserva- tion methods. "If we are successful in this venture -- and I see no reason not to be -- I in- tend to go across this province and set up similar People Banks," said Mr. Ryan. "After 40 years of similar treat- ment to what you got by those sacred cows of our society, the banks, I simply ask you, what else is new?" For those of you interested in Mr. Ryan's project, his address is Box 1113, Mitchell, Ont., NOK INO. Again, I am not against Canada's big five banks. I had an unpleasant experience with my own bank and was angry enough to share it with my readers. I had no idea so many people out there were just as angry. VIE FOR SILVER A picked group of more than nine- ty senior level 411 calf club members will represent their counties in the 25th 411 Silver Dollar Competiton at Erin fairgrounds August 24. Fifteen counties are involved, from Lambton through to Peterborough. United Breeders of Guelph and Erin Jr. Farmers sponsor the show, which is unique because it em- phasizes the competitor more than the calf. Each 411'er writes an essay and answers a senior level quiz, then receives points in the showing for showmanship and finally for the calf. There are two competitions, with the beef calves going into the show ring at 10 a.m., the dairy calves at 1 p.m. Each division winner (quiz, essay. showmanship, calf) will receive a mint proof silver dollar and ten nickel silver dollars. The Champion com- petitor with the highest total points gets a mint coin set and 50 nickel silver dollars on a silver tray. The runner up and honorable mention win mint sets and 35 ana 25 nickel silver dollars respectively. also on silver trays. New and unique of this year's event include Silver Dollar show shirts and medallions for all competitors. As the Silver Dollar Dairy Competi- tion celebrates it's 251h Anniversary, - past Silver Dollar participants in al- tendance at the Dairy Competition will be recognized during a special program. As well, an unique essay competition is now underway for past participants. FARM SERVICE Repair Shop Tools and Equipment We specialize in Air Compressors & High Pressure Washers • 500 - 2000 PSI New and Rebuilt pumps Hypro pumps service and parts Hondo Gos Engines Cecil Squire Farm Service 235-0465 Now in effect New feed grain policy The federal government has an- nounced a new Domestic Feed Grain Policy which will increase the flex- ibility of Canada's feed grain marketing system and reflect, changes that have occurred in the domestic market. The policy announcement was made in Winnipeg by Charles Mayer, Minister of State (Canadian Wheat Board), and in Montreal by Pierre Blais, Paliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture. It follows a six-month reyiew and consultation with industry by Mayer. The new policy, effective August 1, contains six major elements: * The corn -competitive pricing for- mula will no longer be used. The Canadian Wheat Board will be able to sell Prairie feed grains in the domestic market at competitive prices. * Off -Board quotas will be ad- ministered to provide greater access to users in all parts of the country. *Stock switching within the Canadian Wheat Board -designated area will be continued,when required, to meet local feed shortages. - * The use of government hopper cars will be permitted for shipping off - Board grain east of Thunder Bay when other cars are not available and when the movement of grain within the Prairie region will not be adverse- ly affected. * Licenses to import feed oats and barley will be issued by the Special Trade Relations Bureau of External Affairs, rather than the Canadian Wheat Board. * The Livestock Feed Board of Canada will continue to be responsi- ble for monitoring the supply situa- tion. In emergencies, consideration will be given to activating its authori- ty under the Livestock Feed Assistance Act to buy feed grain for resale to users. "Production and consumption pat- terns have changed dramatically over the past 10 years. The previous policy is no longer relevant to present market conditions," Mayer said. Since the previous policy was in itiated in 1974, feed grain and livestock production have increased in Eastern Canada. Ontario is now a surplus producer of feed grains and Quebec is almost 70 per cent self- sufficient. About 1.5 million tonnes of Prairie feed grain moved east in 1983-84, com- pared to 2.3 million tonnes in 1973-74. "The most serious criticisms of the policy were directed at the corn - competitive pricing formula which is being abandoned," Mayer said. The Canadian Wheat Board will no longer use the pricing formula in domestic feed grain sales. The Board has not been a significant supplier of feed grain to Eastern Canada since the fall of 1982. During periods of emergency. southern British Columbia feed grain users will have access to feed grain stocks in Vancouver terminals. In addition, the federal government will continue to seek better methods for expanding producers' access to market information. "The policy changes deal with the major criticisms and suggestions from producers and industry, Mayer said. Most of the changes were found in the more than 50 briefs submitted by feed grain users, producers and other interested groups. "The issues of Feed Freight Assistance for the feed -deficit areas and regional parietal licensing are be- ing reviewed separately," Blais said. Consultations have been held on Feed Freight Assistance with the Maritime Farmers' Council, provin- cial governments and others. The federal government is examining pro- posals relating to the program and to increasing feed production in feed - deficit areas. An announcement on Feed Freijlrt Assistance is expected in the fall Opposed to 'spi I Is' bi A. drunk driver causes a truct delivering pesticides to a farm to overturn. spilling the chemicals ove a wide area. Who pays for the cleanup and the damage done to the environment? Not the drunk driver who caused the accident, but the farmer who owns the pesticide. Why? Because the newly proclaim- ed "Spills" Bill holds the owner of a pollutant - and not the person who caused the pollution - fully responsi- ble for the control and cleanup of a spill .. with no right of appeal in a court of law. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture opposes this principle of absolute liability as an affront to out system of justice. On August 12, the Spills Advisory panel set up by the Minister of the En- vironment began two weeks of hear- ings on the "Spills" Bill. The OFA will appear before the panel to present a list of weaknesses in the bill which include: * a complex administration sur- rounding compensation unclear lines of authority between the Ministry and local municipalities over the control and cleanup of a spill • the principle of absolute liability * the exemption from this bill of On- tario Hydro nuclear operations and the transport of radioactive materials. The "Spills" Bill take full effect on November 29, 1985. If it is to live up to -its objectives of protecting the en- vironment, compensating innocent victims, and making the polluter pay, this legislation must be amended. 1.41 AT 4-H CONFERENCE — During the weekend 4-H conference at Centralia College for the counties of Grey, Huron and Bruce, Rob Black of OMAF chats with area 4-H members Marie DeBruyn, Carolyn Hoonard, Carol Willis and Shelley Horne. -A photo We're Fully Equipped for any Job Farm ponds Gravel Bailing • Trucking • Gravel, Sand & Stone •. Bulldozing • Excavating • Top Soil • Septic Systems "No job is too big or too small" Res. 482-9212 CONTRACTING LTD. Trucking - Excavating Clinton Shop 482-9926