HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-01-04, Page 5the
Street
By Jim Beckett
o, you're not reading last year's T -A.
It just seems like that as the -heavyweights at the news-
paper have once again challenged each other to our annu-
. al weight -loss competition with the person who loses
the largest percentage of excess baggage collecting $50
from the other contenders.
Sports editor Wayne Proctor hasn't yet realized he's in with some
pretty heavy competition as we ty to take the title away from Ross
Haugh, last year's big loser.
For those of you who have suspected I might have a secret weap-
on up my sleeve (it has to be there because there's no room in my
pants), you're right. I've been bulking up since about last June, try-
ing to gain as much as possible, which, if my calculations are cor-
rect, I'll be able to lose just as fast and snatch the coveted T -A los-
ers' cup from Haugh.
If any of you out there feel you could be shedding a few pounds
and want to risk losing $50 to the winner please feel welcome to
join the contest. The officialweigh-in is Friday morning at 10.
Give me a call at 235-1331.
* * * * *
The Exeter Minor Hockey executive deserve congratulations for
the efficient way they hosted the Swedish hockey team last week.
Local hospitality will leave our visitors with good memories of Ex-
eter and our youngtcrs with their first experience of international.
competition.
* * * * *
England has Eddie the Eagle ....but Exeter refuses to be outdone in
the world of skiing. We have Shaw the Seagull who unfortunately.
crashed last week dislocating his right shoulder eliminating any pos-
sibity of him participating in this year's World Cup. A local doctor
who -knows the mayor well says he is still unconvinced the accident
actually happened outdoors. Cards and get well wishes can be ad-
dressed to: Bruce Shaw, P.O. Box 788, Exeter, Ontario NOM ISO.
* * * * *
If you're looking for good hockey action this weekend be sure to
be part of the excitement during the Exeter Hawks 12th annual tour-
nament this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Five Junior "D" teams
and three Junior "C" teams arc participating. Check the sports sec-
tion for more details.
* * * *• *
Well, folks, we're barely into the New Year and already most of us
have broken any resolutions we promised to keep only a few days
ago.
How about January 1 when promises of "I'll never drink again"
could barely be heard above the sounds of moming-after illnesses.
A quick survey of friends show that if even half of the resolutions
are kept the result will be noticeable. These are the top 10.
1) I'm going to quit smoking.
2) This year I'll lose at least 15 lbs.
3) I'm not ever going to buy beer again.
4) I'll count every golf stroke this season.
5) A good exercise program is good for the heart.
6) I'm going to quit swearing in front of the kids.
7) I'm going to read at least one good book per month.
8) I'm going to be a good listener and not talk as much:-
9) French fries will be eliminated from my diet.
10) I'll never make another resolution as long as I live.
Beekeepers stung
By Yvonne Reynolds
HAY TWP. - Apiarist Bill Fer-
guson's first daughter, Sherry, was
born in 1972. That year gas was
53¢ a gallon, heating oil 19.5. A
pound of butter sold for 58¢. Bread
was 19¢ a loaf. And the wholesale
price of honey was 32¢ a pound.
Sixteen years later, Sherry is in
Grade 11. Gas .prices are in the
mid-40 range - per litre. Furnace
oil is almost 300 - a litre. A
pound of buuer leaves little change
from "three dollars. . The price of
bread runs from 69¢ to well over a
dollar. And Canadian beekeepers
are getting 32¢ a pound for honey,
less than the current 400 a pougd
cost of production.
times -Advocate, January 4, 1989 '
Page 5
by pricing
Ferguson, who operates a 1,000 -
hive apiary at RR2 Hensall, points
to the present North American hon-
ey surplus as the main reason for
the devastating price depression in
Canada.
At one time, Canadian honey
was shipped to England, but a 28
percent duty was slapped on im-
ported honey when England joined
the European Economic Communi-
ty. Honey is now considered a lux-
ury in Europe, retailing at over $5
a kilogram.
On this side of the Atlantic, the
story is quite different. The North
American surplus has its roots in
the American price -support system
introduced in the fifties. The price
was tied to the inflation rate, and
remained relatively stable until
about six years ago, when it began
to climb steeply. US beekeepers
took advantage of this unexpected
bonanza by selling their honey to
the government at 75¢ US per
pound, and buying Canadian honey
at the Canadian price of 50 to 60
cents a pound to supply their retail
customers.
Beekeepers in western Canada,
who can produce almost twice as
much honey per hive as the Onta-
rio average of 88 pounds, stepped
up production to meet demand
south of the border.
Altogether, Canadian beekeepers
produced 78 million pounds of the
sweet stuff in 1988, but consumed
only 50 million pounds domesti-
cally, adding to a 20 million pound
carryover from the previous year.
Normally, a large portion of this
CONCERNED - Apiarist Bill Ferguson, shown with the Ontario Beekeepers Association trophy and rib-
bon for best creamed honey in the 1988 competition, is worried about current low wholesale prices
for honey.
would be exported to the US, but
the American government has low-
ered its buy-back figure to approxi-
mately 45¢ US a pound. In the
last two years, the US government
no longer takes actual delivery of
the honey, and is also whittling
away at the stocks in storage by
giving honey away to prisons, low
income groups and other recip-
ients.
These policies have drastically re-
duced honey imports from Canada,
resulting in a surplus in this coun-
try. The laws of supply and .de -
mad have meant lower returns to
Canadian producers.
According to Ferguson, competi-
tion in Canada has increased to the
point that individual beekeepers
who pack their own honey are no
longer competitive. As part of his
own survival plan, he is augment-
ing his income by selling breeding
stock, and has begun making bces-
Letters: book stores,
Dear S ir.
I would like to make a statement
about two unsung and largely over
looked people in Exeter two peo-
ple who deserve a great deal of
praise. I am speaking of Don and
Susan Romphf, the .owners of the
Selah book store.
I'm sure that raises more than a
few eyebrows, but I am quite seri-
ous. You see, the Romphfs could
have invested their money in quite
a number of ventures that would
have produced quite a return mostly
for themselves. But instead, they
brought us a Christian book store,
mostly as a service to us.
At this point many who are read-
ing this are not only raising their
eyebrows, they either think people
like the Romphfs are a bit off the
beam, or :they just for! sorry fnr
them. That's because they think
religion is a kind of dead issue.
What a mistake! Jesus Christ is
the one and only hope for our soci-
ety and the whole world. That's
what all the Christmas carols have
,been saying for the last month or
more. And they're right!
And so here, tight under our nos-
es is a charming little outlet run
by two beautiful, thoughtful, car-
ing people, a store crammed with
some of the most attractive, help-
ful Christian writings you could
find anywhere. I know, for I have
been greatly helped by what I have
found there.
So I would just like to say a big
Thank You to Don and Susan.
Thank you for caring for Exeter
and our other communities, bring-
ing us so many helpful things that
can lead us into God's truth and
ways. May the Lotd wonderfully
prosper you in 1989, because when
that happens we'll all benefit.
Yours sincerely,
Eugene Fox
* -Ir
Lament for a nation
"The times they are a'changing."
The election is over and Brian kept
the boys hard at it until they passed
his Free Trade hill. Now Canada is
headed down that path leading to-
ward our new status as the 51st
state on the flag of the USA. (If
you look closely, you'll sec that it
is a tiny rcd maple leaf instead of a
white star - surely they'll let us
keep that.)
The winners smirk and make
snide comments about "sour
grapes," Perhap. When the govern-
ment invoked closure to force the
bill through, a Tory MP remarked
c_ioln the lack of protest or outrage -
o irate letters or rioting in the
streets. No, it's too soon - some are
still stunned.
Canadians are immersing them-
selves in the Holiday season, but
that doesn't mean they've forgotten,
or accepted the inevitable without
some bitterness. Too many invested
their time, their money, their pass-
ing and commitment to a cause, to
let the whole issue fade away into
apathetic indifference the day after
the vote. Canadians don't easily
commit themselves to hot-blooded
nationalism, so for many it was a
new experience, for others, a last
chance. Continentalism is now the
order of the day.
International corporations are al-
Ie.i iy cuunlinb di it hrofits, and PI
tory workers are nervously watch-
ing the lists of plant closures. The
winners are planning expansions
and relocations; the losers are pre-
paring for "adjustments in the mar-
ket place."
What an innocuous, deceptive
word, "adjustments:. It doesn't be-
gin to describe the dislocation in a
worker's life engendered by the loss
of his job, resulting in a loss of
status, of control of his -life.
Family farms will be under more
pressure than ever before. Imagine
the economic impact of economic
adjustments on an entire town, city
or region?
Only time can tell what lies down
that road for Canada. Who knows?
It may bring a great improvement
in the living standard for Canadians,
and the Tories may be proved right
about that. One thing we DO'
know, Canada will have changed,
for better or worse, depending upon
your point of view.
Perhaps Canada was never meant
to be an independent, sovereign na-
tion, dependent for so long as a
British colony, it now leans toward
she political sun of the U.S., ever
drawn into its orbit.
Look around you in this new
year of 1989 and store up lots of
memories, so in 1999 you can tell
your children how things used of
be in the Canada of old. Now we
arc headed for the new statehood of
free enterprise, to worship in the
winner's circle at the high altar of
profit.
Losers need 'not apply here. It
will be more difficult to enforce
environmental controls or institpte
trade and carollers
new social programs to help the
wcak, with Big Business accorded
the place of honor at the Round
Table of this new Camelot. Those
who valued the slower pace of
Canada and its gentler ways will
have to look elsewhere.
So bang the drum slowly, boys
and sound the bagpipes in a
mournful cry; Canada of old is
passing by. Take a moment to
sigh and remember, perchance to
shed a tear...
Robe, to Walker
G rand Bend
* * *
Dear Sir.
We eight carollers would like to
thank all of the people who donat-
ed an amount of money to help
support a young girl in Ethiopia.
Your money will help the child
learn to communicate, receive med-
icine, and lead a much healthier and
happier life.
Have a great 1989 from your
singers: Jenny Ellison, Jenny
McLean, Melanie Phillips, Melis-
sa Brock, Nicole Eccles, Erin
Workmen, Brcnyn Baynham and
Kristie Sargeant.
wax candles on an ingenious
sprocket and chain dipping machine
he built himself.
Ferguson•is worried about the fu-
ture of commercial apiarists in On-
tario. He is past president of the
Ontario Beekeepers Association,
representing the 185 commercial
apiarists who account for 80 perccnt
of the more than 100,000 bec colo—
nies in Ontario. (Ontario boasts a
total of 5,500 beekeepers, but the
majority are hobbyists.)
"A lot are going broke on the
prairies, and if the situation is not
corrected, there will be a good num-
ber of commercial operations for
sale in Ontario", Ferguson predict-
ed
Ferguson offers two solutions -
incrcased consumption, and govcm-
ment assistance.
Canadians now cat two pounds of
honey per person per year, and con-
sume 100 pounds of sugar in that
same period. The beekeeping in-
dustry would be strengthened con-
siderably\if each Canadian would cat
just one ore pound of honey an-
nually.
Fcrguso has no qualms about
stating he thinks Ontario should do
more for its beekeepers. Aside
from honey production, bee colo-
nies supply a vital pollination ser-
vice. Figures from the Ontario
ministry of agriculture and food es-
timate that pollination added over
$53 million dollars to the value of
Ontario farm commodities in 1988.
"Ontario is the only province that
has done nothing for beekeepers in
the 25 years I've been in the busi-
ness", he said. •
Assistance in other provinces
ranges from a yearly 51 1,500 sub-
sidy for"chemicals in Nova Scotia
to S2,000,000 in Alberta in 1988
to compensate for border closure
and price declines. Ferguson will
be among those arguing for provin-
cial help when representatives from
the beekeepers' association meet in
Toronto on January 5 with the
"rural caucus", a group of MPPs
representing rural ridings.
Ferguson predicts a number of
factors will adversely affect Ameri-
can honey production in the next
few years. Thc problem with vcrroa
and tracheal mites is growing in the
US, and the African bee, now in
Mexico, is moving closer and closer
to the American border. Hc main-
tains that a healthy beekeeping in-
dustry in Canada is in this country's
best interests.
J. Chris Little and
Randy Evans.
of
Little & Evans
are pleased to announce
.the admission of
D. James
Grant
into the partnership of
Little, Evans
& Grant
71 Main St. N Suite 201
Exeter, Ont. Standard
235-0670 Trust Bldg.
Goderich
524-5311
to the advertisers of
Exeter and surrounding
communities
We are now into 1989 and want to say 'Thank You". It is only
fitting that we advertise our appreciation to the people who
make it possible for us to publish one of the best community
newspapers in the area. In 1988 hundreds of advertisers,
retailers, classified and national advertisers used frequent
and consistent space in the Times -Advocate, stimulating our
economy and promoting employment. You, our readers re-
sponded by buying food, clothing, shoes, TVs, sound equip-
ment, paint, lumber, microwaves, books, houses, farm ma-
chinery, sports equipment, jewellery, yard goods... the list is •
endless. We enter 1989 with great confidence that this area•
will enjoy greater prosperity and we look forward to the role
our newspaper and its advertisers play in the economic
growth. Once again "Thank You". We believe 1988 was a
prosperous and good year...
'235-1331