Times-Advocate, 1986-03-19, Page 2Pope 2 Times -Advocate, March 19, 1986
Polftldans dIsagr.. abut
Futuro of fanning Indisiry
If farmers aren't making any
money, should they quit - well that
depends on Whom you are talking to.
Perth MP Dr. Harry Brightwell
gives a qualified yes, while Perth's
MPP, the Hon. Hugh Edighoffer says
no, farmers should fight.
Both men were speaking at the MP
and MPP dinner held every two years
by the Perth County federation of
agriculture. The meeting was held on
February 22 in Gravelridge.
Bill Denham of RR 1 St. Marys,
first vice-president of the Perth
federation, asked for comments from
Perth's two members of parliament
on remarks he had heard. A member
of the corn producers' asociation, said
Mr. Denham, had said there are four
categories to solving the farm pro-
blem ;
ro-
blem; reduce production cost, in-
crease commodity prices, govern-
ment protection or quit.
"I have no fear for farming, it's a
strong part of the economy," said Dr.
Brightwell, but he added with em-
phasis, "I have fear for farmers."
He agreed with the comments
about reducing production costs and
increasing commodity prices, and
added that `corporate farmers are
now a reality.
"Corporate farming is a fact. It's ,
here, Protectionism is forcing
farmers into bigger and bigger
ownership. I have concerns about
that," said the MP.
He also noted that some farmers
are over their heads in debt and they
got that way because they have loans
that are based on equity.(Usually
land) not cash flow. Dr. Brightwell
also said farmers were led there by
banks and governments.
When asked if the banks and
governments have some responsibili-
ty to assist the farmers, Dr.
Brightwell said yes.
"We do have some responsibility,"
the MP said, adding, "But you don't
want to be farming for the
government."
He caustioned that with the
"tremendous" federal deficit, the
government has to have Some limits.
But it was his remarks on quitting
that got the ire of some farmers.
"As for quitting, yes I think some
Many resolutions for
Ontario cattlemen
Approximately 55 resolutions were
forwarded from county and district
Cattlemen's Associations to the An-
nual Meeting of the Ontario Cat-
tlemen's Association for debate.
The outcome of the debate provides
the policy directions for the Associa-
tion and established the basis for
discussions and negotiations with in-
dustry and government.
Delegates to the meeting adopted
the following positions: requested
rebates on fuel used in farming to
make gas and diesel costs com-
parable to Alberta; strongly endors-
ed in concept "right to farm" legisla-
tion; divided evenly for and against
restricting single residence
severances proposed recently by the
Hon. Jack Riddell in the discussion
paper on Foodland Guidelines; en-
dorsed a comprehensive computer
generated market information pro-
gram to be operated by the Associa-
tion; requested that the Arkell bull
test station (which was destroyed by
fire) be rebuilt; endorsed the concept
of a public stockyard facility at the
present location; rejected a central
selling agency and supply manage-
ment for cattle; requested that
licence fees be made non-refundable;
requested enhancements to tripartite
stabilization programs; endorsed
continued funding of the national beef
advertising program; endorsed con-
tinued research on electronic probe
technology in beef grading; and en-
dorsed third party debt review for
farmers facing financial difficulty,
but rejected court or tribunal impos-
ed settlement on creditnrs_
JOLLY HOLIDAY -- Chr9stal Jones and Elyshia Denomme skated
a duet in a� number from the Zurich Figure ,Skating Club's 1986
carnival.
PUPPET PERFORMANCE — Marion Doucette, information services
coordinator with the Huron County library, held at audience of
approximately 150 children enthralled as she performed o puppet
show "Up A Tree" at the Exeter library during school break.
farmers should quit. All business pee -
*
should quit when they're not mak-
ing dollar," be said.
"A lot at us sitting here might have
quit by now," federation director
Wayne Hartung of RR 1,,Gowanstown.
said to Dr. Brightwell."
"I'm not one to say quit," Mr.
Edighoffer said in his remarks. "As
a small businessman myself, I would
say farmers should fight."
The speaker of the provincial
legislature started promoting provin-
cial agriculture programs such as
Fanners in Transition (FIT): These,
he said will assist the farm communi-
ty in getting over the difficult finan-
cial times.
"I don't like to see too many quit,"
ca'a Mr. Edighoffer. •
Elston to speak
to nurses group
The Hon. Murray Elston, Minister
of Health will be the guest speaker at
the Perth/Huron Branch of the Vic-
torian Order of Nurses annual
meeting.
The Minister is the son of Bill
Elston, a Huron County resident who
was a municipal representative to the
VON Board of Management until
1985.
This will be Elston's first speaking
engagement in Perth County.
The VON Annual Meeting will be
held on Thursday, May 29 at the
-Knights of Columbus Hall in Strat-
ford. The meeting will take the form
of a dinner meeting and will be open
to members of the general public.
4
ALL EYES FRONT — Shown are some of the approximately 150 children who aft = • the puppet show
in the Exeter Library performed by information services coordinator Marion Doucette.
.1
LET'S DANCE — Skaters in one of the numbers from the Hensall Skating Club's -second annual carnival
"Music is in the Air" are (back left) Debbie Lawrence, Lori Faber', Jennifer Taylor, Lisa Faber and
(front) coaches Lesa Butt and Kimberly Marsden. -
c
•
-41
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