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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-01-26, Page 10Page 10 Times -Advocate, January 26, 1994 One Foot in the Furrow CNR offered right-of-way By Bob Trotter Predicting the future of farming Trying to predict the future is a dangerous business. It is, therefore, difficult to understand why so many "futurists" are willing to go out on a limb. I remember my father talking about world threats right after the Second World War. He said the threat of Communism was real but it would kill itself in time. His big worry was what he called the Yellow Peril, a derogatory term bordering on racism because he meant China. He predicted that China would eventually conquer or assimilate all of Asia and Europe. He was certainly right about Communism. , He also predicted that radio would supplant newspapers. "You'll live to see the day when newspapers will be relics of the past" , he said. But with the advent of television, he said both radio and newspapers would soon disappear. So his predictions were far from correct although I understand some television and newspaper conglomerates are experimenting with newspapers to be printed by computer right out of your home television set. All three -- radio, newspapers and television -- have had some rough, tough years since the recession. At one time, the national average for the return on the investment dollar for radio was 27 percent, for newspapers, 12 to 15 percent although the Thomson Newspapers Corporation was significantly higher, and the return for television stations was more than 30 percent. Not so today. All three media are suffering. Newspapers are going broke. Radio stations are going broke and television is suffering mightily through fragmentation and the lower advertising dollar. Even more scary are some predictions from Dr. Owen Anderson of the international consultancy firm of BDO Dunwoody. Ninety percent of the products we will be using every day 10 years from now have not been invented yet. We are at the point where knowledge doubles every 18 months so that a degree earned 10 years ago is obsolete now. We will be spending a day every week upgrading our knowledge, said Anderson. With mighty changes on the way, even though consumer products will change, the population will not be obsessed with them. We will see many big businesses and many big institutions of today just' simply collapsing. Instead of labor making up 75 percent of industrial costs we will be faced with labor costs of IesA than 10 percent. Doesn't this scare hell out of ou'? �Augr machines with arms extending over 50 acres of land will till, seed and fertilize, then harvest, in one long swath. To compete, farmers will form many small co-operatives and buy these huge machines. What do I see in the future for farming? I see a complete switch in trading patterns from isolation here to world trade opportunities. Dozens of emerging nations will want Canadian products, especially grain, beef and poultry, and I can see the entrepreneurial skills of Canadian farmers filling a great many niche markets. I see many, many more farms with women as owners and as owner -managers as men retire and leave the land. I would be willing to bet that female farm ownership will grow from about six percent, which it was in the 1991 census, to more than 40 LUCAN - The village of Lucan N ill be putting forth an offer to Ca- nadian National Railways to pur- chase the. right -of -Lay along the abandoned railway lines in the vil- lage excluding the Langford Lum- ber and Scott's Elevators properties for the sum of $27,000. A delegation of abutting property owners attended a January 17 meet- ing. Included in the delegation were Joanne and Paul Trudgen, Donna and Russ Thompson, Liz Dale and Peter Dawson. Joanne Trudgen re- ported that 32 of the 45 involved property owners have made their 10 percent down payment. This means that only $27,000 is actually committed. All those involved are aware that all legal, survey and environmental audit costs are to be shared amongst those purchasing the right- of-way. Cost of the'hvironmental audit is estimated to be between $2,000 and $3,000. Reeve McLaughlin updated the delegation on a recu�t joint meeting of the Ausable Bayfield and Upper Thames Conservation Au(horities. An interministerial committee on abandoned C.N. right-of-ways has acquired 3,000 kilometres of aban- doned lines for nature trails. It was noted that a lot of the time the com- mittee does not acquire right-of- ways through urban areas because of increased cost. McLaughlin said the local author- ities were not especially concerned when they learned of council's wish to acquire the right-of-way within Lucan and deed it back to abutting property owK-s. Most lo- cal councillors were in favour of this proposal. The township of Biddulph has al- ready signed an offer to purchase a portion of the right-of-way through Granton for the purpose of building a fire hall. McLaughlin added, "Even though the conservation authorities are holding public meetings, it doesn't prevent us from proceeding. We must give notice of our intent to purchase to C.N. by the end of February of this year. Paul Trudgen was concerned :v:.; ::..,� Ffi} ...' j': j�y;::.�9.,'ii:iS' f'hiii:: •.Y.� �•;; ::;.2-}'r: i:.�:. CANAD 4-H news percent in the next 10 years. Ori Favour e clothin But, remember, I predicted the Tories would be the official opposition to Jean Chretien's government and that the NDP would never get a majority in Tory Ontario. it Water and sewage rate set LUCAN - After . considerable discussion at a January 17 meeting, village council set the water and sewer usage rates for 1994. The water rate will remain the same at a flat monthly rate of $6 and the sewage surcharge will rise to 130 percent from the present 100 percent. The present water rate in addition to the flat charge is 50 cents per cubic metre for the first 25 cuhic rnnt�rc. �n runic a r,,hi. metre fpr the next 15 and after that it is 70 cents a cuhic metre. Reeve Tom McLaughlin was in favour of decreasing the flat rate charge for water down to $4 per month and increasing the sewer surcharge to 166 percent. This would have had the effect of a 15 to 20 percent increase in the average monthly utility hill. He felt taxpayers are at their limit with respect to increases. The reeve said he polled 10 ratepayers at random and found four of these wanted to stop all projects. McLaughlin noted that there was $152,200 in the water operating account and $91,300 in the water reserve account. In the sewer operating account there is a deficit of $26,100 and about $85,000 in the reserve account. Over the last five years Lucan has spent $200.000 plus on water projects and $29,700 on sewer projects. These figures do not take into account any monies that were paid over to the water and sewer capital projects. Deputy reeve Harry Wraith felt that Lucan got a bargain on the water project and was pleasantly surprised at the number of people who paid up front. He has not heard any complaints from ratepayers regarding thcir water and sewer hillsc'�[ Wrait cor':^..ed to :ay that the new water system is going to need maintenance in the next five years and therefore was not in favour of lowering the water rates. McLaughlin said he was in favour of reserves for both water and sewers but questioned whether this was the right time to add to reserves. Clerk Ron Reymer suggested that both the water and sewer accounts should have a five year capital works forecast in order to better budget for future projects. Councillor Reg Crawford was in favour of leaving the water rate unchanged and raising the sewer surcharge to 143 percent. Councillor Bryan Smith would like the village to take over operation of the sewage treatment plant with a possible saving of up to $30,000. Reeve McLaughlin added, "Maybe another option would be to leave the water rates r ► 4 ► 4 4 Bob Stuckless, Area Sales Rep. . Allen Stubbs... First In Entertainment is ; proud to announce the addition of our ► new sales rep. in Exeter and area. For your ► Country Kable hook-up or information '. call Bob at 296-5565 ; 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 • • • the same and only increase sewer surcharge to 130 percent . First Sew with the view of either operating ; the plant ourselves or privatizing its I .operation by mid 1994' Easy meeting The final motion to leave the water rates the same and increase the sewer surcharge to 130 percent was moved by councillor Rob Brady and seconded by Wraith. the EXETER - Monday, January (7, Exeter II held their second 4-H meeting. They began with the 4-H pledge, then each member intro- duced themselves to a new mem- ber, Katie VanderBurgt. Jenni De - Block wrote the roll call this week and each member answered her question using 'true' or 'false'. The reports were read by the sec- retary and press reporter. Leader, Linda Russell read parts of two pamphlets which were handed out in the first meeting. Each member Council will be asking C.H. Lewis Lucan Ltd. to extend the present garbage collection and disposal contract until the end of 1995. OV ARID MARC—I Ibb4 OF 3I"ES 1 EXETER - On January 10, the Exeter II 4-H club had its first Sew Easy meeting. Members include Melinda Nethercott, president, Me- ghan Straw, vice president, Juanita Chappel, secretary, and other mem- bers Amy Regier, Jenni deBlock and Tracy Snell are looking after the press reporter position. Leaders arc Norma Cockwill and Linda Russel. They started the meeting with the 4-H pledge, and then took t11 roll call and learned the differ- ent parts of a pattern and a sewing machine. Members then made scissor hold- ers. The next meeting is January 17, at Melinda Isiethercott's. Plant a Tree -Grow a Future The Ministry of Natural Resources and Your Local Conservation Authority Invite You to a "Tree Planting Workshop" The MNR and your local conservation authority are conducting two workshops which will provide some helpful ideas on planting trees. Learn more about ordering trees, site preparation, planting programs, handling trees, grass control and long-term management. Technical assistance will be available to help plan and organize your planting project. Information handouts and order forms will also be available at the workshops. Date: Place: Time: tate: Place: Time: Tuesday, February 1, 1994 Embro West Community Centre (from Oxford County Rd. 6 at Highland Tours turn west onto Commissioners Rd. and continue on to the "t -intersection". -Turn south and the Centre is on the east side of the road. 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 2, 1994 Thedford/Bosanquet Community Centre 1 Allen Street, Thedford y 7:00 p.m. For directions you can contact your local Ministry of Natural Resources or Conservation Authority office. Individuals and Groups Welcome!! Ontario ACAO brought in one piece of clothing and were to say why it was their fa- vourite piece of clothing. Most members said it was because it was comfortable or it went with almost all their clothes. about any encroachments on the right-of-way and felt that C.N. would not likely accept the $27,000 offer and will likely not accept the environmental audit clause. When Mrs. Trudgen asked about policing of the right-of-way if it was used for trails, councillor Bra- dy replied, "It would be basically self -policed." McLaughlin wondered if it were possible to first agree on a purchase price, have C.N. draw up the offer to purchase and send it to the vil- lage for sjenatures and the village not sign if until the property owners have paid the entire $27,000 to the village. Brady thought this was un- usual. hut possible. Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company Exeter, Ontario NOM 181 (Established in 1876) Provides Full Insurance Coverage for Farm Properties New Applications are Welcomed DIRECTORS & ADJUSTERS Larry Gardiner. RR2. Statfa ........345-2678 Lloyd Morrison, Mitchell 348-4589 Lorne Feeney. ratchet' 348-8853 Jade Hodgen, RR Kirkton 229-6152 Joseph Chaffs, RR5 Mitchell 348-9705 Michael O'Shea RR3 Granton 225-2800 AGENTS Ross Hodgen. Exeter .235-3250 John Moore, Dublin 345-2512 Joseph Uniac, Mitchell 348-9012 Bryan Lavis, Clinton 482-9310 Head Office. Exeter . 235-0350 A refund from surplus was de- clared for all policy holders who quality, are on record and In good standing as at Decem- ber 31, 1992. Have us prepare your 1993 Personal Tax Return Accurately and Efficiently Starting at 19°° Receive your refund from Revenue Canada in as little as 2 weeks by filing electron`cally with us. Call for an appointment at our offices located in: Hensall, CI- intRn, Exeter, Grand Bend ,263-$01,39 or 1400-567-0844.. • ' Fax: 262-3111 16 years experience W. H. MacGregor Farm Accounting Service 114 King Street, Hensall, Ontario NOM 1X0 The 8th Annual CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL FARM EQUIPMENT SHOW FEBRUARY 811,1994 9:30 atn - 5:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm Friday And what a show. Over 700 exhibitors. More than 5,000 leading manufacturers and distributors. Over 380,000 square feet of exhibition space. The largest and most exciting collection of farm equipment, products and services you'll ever find under one root. It's a really big show. Don't miss it. You COULD WIN $1,000 JUST FOR REGISTERING AND ATTENDING THE SHOW. :-u your local farm equipment dealer for detail.. Toronto International Centre 6900 Airport Road, Toronto, Ontario Sponsored by: DVI E►I ® Supported hy-O.W.F.E.A. For more information contact: (705)741.25 36 /1