Loading...
Times-Advocate, 1983-12-28, Page 7A One loot in the furrow' ,, t.tr.,. Mt .pp,.r•.411 e, OW I.01 I,a.V 110 ll,.,.. Ont Nle JC 1 "Every man persuades himself that he can keep his resolutions, ner is he convinc- ed of his imbecility but by length of time and frequency of experiment." - Samuel Johnson. Old Sam and his faithful servant, Boswell, were much wiser than 1 am so no resolu- tions will be made this year. Instead, how about some New Year's wishes? If wishes were horses, beggars might ride. For Ag minister Eugene Whelan: A much bigger back pocket. He has had a red meat plan "in his back pocket" for almost two years and finally let the plan loose with the throne speech a couple of weeks ago. He said he is going to have a tough time delivering on the promise of a stabilization program for the livestock in- dustry because he has to get every province to participate. He told the Canadian Farm Writers Federation that a ma- jority of farmers want one, national, voluntary price sup- port program for beef cattle, sheep and hogs "but what do I do if a province won't go along?" Poor Eugene! He is having trouble getting his cabinet colleagues to agree on helping farmers. He will have even more problems convincing provincial ag ministers to agree, especially when all 10 provinces have governments Catherine's Bridal Boutique Spec altttnf In Designer (,rllsm Also atter ; and Wiles por.4cear e� t 20 to S0% Off till Jan. 1 749 Hyde Park Rd. Suite 267, London 657-3370 Opon9-9 • Mon. - Sat. With the purchase of wedding gown receive free dinner for two at Seven Dwarfs Restaurant. Panty hose and garter free. with a different political par- ty In power than the federal Liberals. So, Whelan's back pocket should contain some magic potions to persuade the pro- vinces so the promise in the throne speech can be kept, A wish as well for the potato farmers of Ontario that some understanding can be reach- ed with their counterparts in Prince Edward Island. At a recent meeting of growers in Ontario, Les Armstrong, secretary -manager of On- tario's potato boards, said Island farmers have "done nothing but obstruct us." Island potato farmers will be welcome to join a joint marketing scheme at any time but "they are not going to obstruct us in the mean- time" in efforts to form a na- tional marketing agency. Surely, a group of Cana- dians in the same business can get together for the benefit of all of them without being call obstructionists. A wish for the Christian Farmers Federation for a big boost in membership in the coming year. This small but dedicated farm group is one of the most influential organizations in Canada. But the membership has dropped slightly, an ominous sign. The Christian Farmers Federation has more than just a pecuniary interest in farming. They consider themselves stewards of the land, farming the way the Master would have them farm. Canada needs more people in all walks of life who think of themselves as working for their Lord. Ralph Barrie is the next on our New Year's wish list. Elected without opposition this year, Ralph has accepted some great challanges since becoming president. He told his members he did not believe in confrontation tac- tics to get farmers what is needed. He even apologized for his gentlemanly attitude. Personally, I agree. Con- frontations only lead to more Our Specialty Is helping you to decorate the way you wont. For that personal touch in t. wall coverings and window treatments CALL Carolyn Bradford at 229-6194 (Days or Evenings) P.S. Remember Our FREE Shop As Home Servlc• .. I IF' and Other Things KIRKTON • PHONE 229-6194 ...�.�., confrontations. Violence breeds violence and/this is not a violent nation. What farmers need in this country is very plain; higher prices for their products. All other problems will fade when they get a decent return on their labor and investment. So we will lump Ralph and the federation of agriculture into the same wish basket: An increase in the price paid for farm products. That should even satisfy the farm survival organization, the rump group that believes in confrontation. "Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: This year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust for gold; Ring out the thousands wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace." - Tennyson. Trust fund established The Middlesex County Junior Farmers have recent- ly established a $2,000 trust fund, to be administered by the Middlesex County Board of Education. This fund will provide scholarships for two secondary school graduates who enrol in post -secondary agricultural programs in an accrediated college or university. The Scholarships will be known as the 'Middlesex Junior Farmers International Plowing Match, 1982 Award'. The Junior Farmers established the Award to commemorate the holding of the 1982 International Plow- ing Match and Farm Machinery Show it. Middlesex Comity. Funds were raised during the '82 Plowing Match, as the Junior Farmers hosted the Plowman's Ball Dance, and participated in many events at the Match. The interest from the Fund will be shared equally by two students. One qualifying for a secondary school graduation diploma and the other quali- fying for a secondary school honour graduation diploma, who obtain the highest average in their six best Grade 12 or Grade 13 credits respectively. Only students enrolled in a secondary school administered by the Mid- dlesex Board of Education may quality. The first of the annual awards will be made to students graduating at the end of the present 1983-84 school year. \ U1111mulnullrinu111111\tulln1lnlni111u1111111111tu11.nu1nunullu/I11 111/811IIll!II111111UIIlll111 II111111111111111111111111/111111111 /1111I111t1111111111111 CHAMPION STEER — Mike McGregor, Kippen, had the grand champion steer at the Ontario Stock Yards re- cent junior show and sale. The steer sold in the sale for $2.00 per pound to the Toronto Livestock Agencies Association. The Kippen youth is shown with three of the buyers, Len Gamble, Lex Rutherford and Murray Morrison. UCO loses in '83 reach 57.8 million The 300 -plus delegates at the 36th annual meeting of United Co-operatives of On- tario, ( UCO+ gave a resoun- ding vote of confidence to UCO's Board and manage- ment, for their activities this past year. in leading the agricultural co-operative through major structural changes. The show of support care after a day -long meeting. in which the delegates, who represent the • 48,600 shareholders in the Co- operative, heard both good news and bad news. They heard that UCO had lost $7.8 million in fiscal '83 but that this loss is tempered by the sale of assets and by actions finalized in the third quarter, taken to eliminate losing operations, thus pro- ducing the best fourth quarter results since 1979. Also• the positive fourth quarter trend continues into the new fiscal year with a profit of over one- half million dollars in the first two months. "We've gone through a year like no other. in a marketplace with abnormal weather set -backs and in- tense, almost irrational com- petition in all of our commodi- ty businesses," Albert Plant, chief executive officer, told the meeting. "We may be a bit shell-shocked, but we are proud of our tenacity, flex- ibility and dedication to the co-operative spirit, that I feel is just waiting to fire up." In fiscal '83. UCO sales in• creased to $501,000,000. a one percent increase over the previous year --a significant increase, however. when con- sidered that the whole farm market in Ontario declined by two percent. Gross margins declined by about 59.5 million and member equity dropped to 15.2 percent of total assets. As part of UCO's three-year Renewal Plan a number of negative assets were sold, in fiscal 83, including the poultry processing business, a car and truck fleet. and the head office building in Mississauga. both of the lat- ter being leased back. UCO also terminated it's boat charter. There was extensive re -organization of the retail structure, a 'back to basics' program with delegates, directors and members, and a reduction of employee numbers by about 500. "We can see, that these ac- tivities, along with others, began to have a positive im- pact in the last quarter, when they were first im- plemented," said Ron Wilson, vice president, planning and control, while presenting the financial statement, "I feel we have also eliminated potentiallosses for next year of about $14 million. We can now look forward, and be con- fident that the worst is behind us and that we can forecast at least a break-even for 1984 and a profitable 1985." Bob Down. UCO president, in his speech. re-inforced to the delegates that a great deal had occurred this past year to give a sounder financial base to the Co-operative. "It's now up to us (elected represen- tatives) to tell our members about it," he added. "Everybody wants to be on the winning team. Today, that's us. We have to spread the word. against all the rumors, misconception and misinformation. The future of our business is very much brighter today it was a year ago." Ml four members of the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Board of Directors, of United Co-operatives of Ontario. I UCO) have been re-elected to serve in their same posi- tions for another year. Robert W.M. Down, of Ex- eter, who has served as presi- dent for two years. continues in this position for a third year. John S. Black, of Markdale, continues as the first vice-president Murray J. Allen, of Vankleek Hill, continues as the second vice- president and Stuart W. Luckhardt, of Owen Sound, remains as the fourth Ex- ecutive member. Times -Advocate, December 28, • 1983 Gay Lea holds annual Pogo 7 Miller returns as director At Gay Lea Foods Co- operative Limited annual zone meeting held at Atwood, Edwin Miller of Exeter was elected a director of the Co- operative for a three year term. Among those elected voting delegates were John Stafford, RR 2 Crediton and Elson Lynn, RR 1 Woodham. Robert Turner, Owen Sound, President of Gay Lea Foods stated that this 25th year of operations represented a marginal decline from last year's record sales volume and that earnings were down substan- tially from last year. Milk volumes at but- ter/powder plants had decreased dramatically in the . last half of the fiscal year, adversely affecting this year's results. The primary reason for the reduced milk supplies to the co-operative, was due to milk being diverted away to other pro- cessors for the manuf2cture of specialty cheeses. It was strongly urged that changes to the milk marketing system must take place if the co- operative is to operate a financially successful business on behalf of its 3,800 members. It was also noted that shareholder equity had in- creased to over $12,000,000 and assets now stood at over $32,000,000. Out of this year's earnings, the Board of Direc- tors declared a dividend of $1.20 per common share, plus a patronage dividend to eligi- ble producer members of ap- proximately $264,000. Earn- ings returned to members in the form of common share and patronage dividends totaled approximately $600,000, payable to eligible member shareholders in ear- ly 1984. Huron man is director Tom Oegema from Talbot- ville has been re-elected President of the Christian Farmers Federation of On- tario. It will be Oegema's se- cond year at the head of the 600 -meter confessional fami- ly farm organization. Oegema is 38 and runs a large turkey farm with his two brothers in Elgin County. Bill Jongejan, a 35 -year-old hog farmer from the Goderich area in Huron Coun- ty was re-elected Vice- president. It will be Jonge- jan's second term. Others on the Federation's seven -member Executive Board are Past -President, John Sikma of Newcastle, and Directors Neal Buiter of In- nerkip. Martin Duimering of Moorefield, Rennie Feddema of Strathroy and John Mulder of Bloomfield. Elections for 1984 Directors will be held at the Federa- tion's January Provincial Board meeting • P.A. Mclinden, Chief Ex- ecutive Officer, reviewed last year's operations and in- dicated that the co- operative's balance sheet re- mains strong and that $2.2 million of long term debt had been retired during the year. Sales volumes for the year were reported to be $144 milhon, net earnings dropped to $1.5 million from last year's record high of $2.3 million, primarily due to decreased milk supplies WEIGHT WATCHERS PUTSTHE ' "QUICK" INTO SAFE 1 WEIGHT LOSS WITH OUR i NEW QUICK START 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 PROGRAM. 1 1011 7gsrl Time to tip the scales in your favor. Weight Watchers, for over 20 years the leader in safe, sensible weight Toss, now helps yot.tiose quicker than ever. While you eat 3 well-balanced meals a day, even snacks. You'll see a difference in the very first weeks. Call Weight Watchers now. A thinner you could be right under your nose. tQuickAT PROGRAM FROM WEIGHT WATCHERS 1/2 PRICE SPECIAL January 2 to January 20, 1984 Join Weight Watchers for $9.00 instead of the regular $18.00 on your first meeting and registration fee. $7.00 weekly thereafter. Senior Citizens and students join for $4.50 Instead of the regular $9.00. $4.00 weekly thereafter. New Member Registration Times: Morning - 9:20 a.m. Evening - 6:45 p.m. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: 1-800-265-9291 O We,aht Watchers Intrrnebo,"al In, 1984 nrner Attu. We.oh• Welchers ar.d Quer k Start trademarks • • • • i • • • • iirammoomiootommomois000motmoomosommmodeo1 AFTER —CHRIST iuumnum1uuinmmn�uu/muummunnuui� imuunnmmuuuuuni minnunumnunui1M hurs. Fri. Sat. Only Christmas Decorations including • Winterjockets • Vests • Ski Suits • Mitts • Gloves • Toques • Training Suits • Work Wear Radior0Oralt• Ilhaek alnM(1111 MasterCard 110 Main St. N. 235.0800