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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1985-12-18, Page 31yotpte, December 18, 1985 Blessed Be He May this holiday - season hold a special meaning for you. Cecil & Ruth Squire r Exeter •23S-0465 AthiLt WAS I30RN... I. Lett every heart rejoice in the hope and promise born on that g holy night. Our gratitude for your kind support g June, Barry, Greg, Vic If farmers think they have won the battle of supply management, they ain't seen .nothin' yet, as Al Jolson once said. Consumer groups and big business have been carping for decades at the clout farm marketing boards have. i thought the sleazy remarks were over; that farmers had made their point and justified the legality of their actions. I was wrong. -Or didn't you see the quote by Pierre Lortie, chief ex- ecutive officer of Provigo Inc.? Pierre spoke at the second annual. agricultural outlook conference in Toronto in October: Marketing boards "will be dismantled because they certainly don't help the con- sumer" and shoppers "won't put up with it much longer if they have to pay twice the price as in another pro- vince or country...so you'll have to find a better way to do it"...and "there may be a -lot of yelling and screaming in the p?ocess." I should hope there will be a lot of yelling and screaming. I jiope the yell, ing and screaming from the farmers across this nation will be too loud to ignore. ° Too many farmers worked too hard and too long in the fight to get legisla- tion to form marketing boards. What bothers me is that board such as the Ontario.Milk Marketing Board have been in operation for 20 years, a generation. Dairy producers could become complacent. Their marketing Nensall Livestock Saled Ltd. g HENSALL �1 .1;444mrt" See" Nat" Ithat- 144:5-4.4t' sa�0instinaesWait board could be dismantled while they squabble about buying windshield washer for their truckers. I have heard it said that Christiani- ty has no grandsons, that the fervor of new believers must be rekindled every other generation. Much the same could be said about freedom, too. An the fight for marketing boards. • The outlook conference was attend- ed by 300 of the most influential food industry leaders, farm organization leaders, marketing board officals, government agencies and food cor- portations. There was a standing - room -only -crowd 'this year and the problems in agriculture attracted them. Then, in late November, the annual Ontario Federation of Agriculture convention was held in Toronto. Harry Pelissero, re-elected president made it a point to plead for unity among farm organizations. He is quite aware of the attacks against .quota -setting marketing boards. He stressed that farmers must be united in their stand against detractors. In my many years of associating with farmers, I have always been im- pressed with their fierce in- dependence. They are ready to take on the world, all alone. But this in- dependence could become_ their albatross. They must speak with a single vole. It is no longer possible to have three or four or a half -a -dozen different organizations making separate approaches to any level of government. Politicians know that farmers make up only four or five percent of the total population, down from six percent a decade ago. Until that four or five percent are united, their pleas will be ignored. Gi'EEt ings The magic of Christmas, the joy of toys, the won- derful warmth we all feel! May this special time be filled with merriment and happy memories for you! Only three sources of revenue are ,open to farmers: 'sales to Canadians, exports and government subsidies. Canadian farmers depend on exports for almost half their revenue, pro- bably to a greater extent than any other country in the world. But world markets are depressed and govern- ments, our own included, are forlorn- ly trying to balance the books. An in- crease in government help will be a long, fierce fight. Only a concerted, united front will work. It's a lesson not yet learned by Canadian farmers. They had better learn it soon. Sir Winston Churchill in his first statement in the British House of Commons as prime minister in 1940 said: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." It will be almost as tough a fight for agriculture. JAPANESE LUNCH - - GBPS principal Norm MacPherson, center, tastes some of the chicken teriyaki, while students Andrew Sharen, left, and Warren Haist, master the art of chopsticks. The grades 3 and 4 classes ate their lunch this way last Monday to honor visiting Japanese teacher Yoshiaki Taniguchi, who was here on the Interna- tional Internship Program. He has increased his awareness of our western world and also improved his English language. as... The true meaning C Christmas unites roughout the May this Holy e &son be filled understanding and' love. We're Going Out For Business We value your business and we'll prove it with our quality service, equipment and special prices.- We rices.-We have special prices on: Hesston Tractors Deutz Tractors New Idea Planters and Spreaders Kongskilde Cultivators and Plows MODEL NO. 698 TRANSAXLE Lawn Tractor 11 H.P. Synchro-Bol. Engine 38" Cutting Deck 5 Speeds Fwd. and Safety Reverse Transaxle Spring Assist Lift Mechanism Key Electric Start Win this 11 H.P. Yardman Tractor and mower with machinery pur- chase. Contest runs from December 15, 1985 through April 30, 1986. Come in today for full details and check our special prices on new and used equipment. KONGSKi1LDE DEUTZ FAHR HESS'I�ON 1 NEW IDEA FARM SUPPLY LIMITED Soles and Service - Repair Phone 236-4934 236-4321 Sox 39, 22 Main St. E. Zurich Ont. GRADUATES — Lorrie Mothers• graduated with a Bachelor • of Science and Engineering from the General Motors University in Flint, Michigan. Lorrie is the son of Ila and Arnold Mathers, Exeter and is presently employed by GeneralMdtors in Oshawa. Photo by Bart DeVries - fro?*.. the management and staff N. T. Monteith Ltd. INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER Exeter aiisIVAINAMisMiafties040%ts s .. ari.wi.am aaw►yes+asa wvws►asa►waieaiiaiiisails- '14 1 in this season of happy thoughts and warm hearts, we extend a special "Thank you" to all our good friends and patrons for your confidence, loyalty and support ... a Merry Christmas to all! l 1 1 Mitchell Granton Ailsa Craig Port Albert 348-8433 225-2360 293-3223 529-7901