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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1980-08-14, Page 4Page 4 Citizens New uupnagleauTHTHWIpgNµNau Miscellaneous Rumblings 1 By TOM CREECH Making the news When it comes to making news, farmers or the act of farming seems to be hitting the headlines quite fre- quently these days. Locally. we have the example of the Hay -township secondary plan where -it appears that most members of the farming community are quite adamant about maintaining as much agricultural land as possible. On an international basis we've heard about ex- treme weather conditions especially in the southern • United States where the temperature continues to stay above 35 degrees celsius range. While farmers in this area are concerned -about the excessive amount of rain which we have had, you can imagine the plight of the farmer in Arkansas where his crop is quite literally disappearing into the large cracks on the land created by the drought. One wonders if the farmers in these stricken areas who lived through the depression and the dust bowls of the 30's are coping mentally under similar conditions. Closer 'to home, we've had remarks by a former member of the Liberal cabinet that he's concerned about the relationship between the government and big business in terms of prices paid by consumers on necessary items. Warren Almond mentioned that his former depart- ment, the department of consumer affairs hadcon- siderably less clout than departments such as the department of agriculture when it came to allowing a rise in the price of goods which affected every citizen of the country. Turning to that land which we lovingly refer to as Ontarrriioo (you know, that place which has as its slogan, `Preserve it, Grit or NDP it') we have an ex- ample where farming is paying big dividends both in - terms of reducing costs and providing some excellent therapy. According to corrections minister Gordon Walker the ministry's farming program has trimmed the penal institutions' food/budget by $183,000. Prisoners at 27 jails and detention centres now farm more than 440 acres of prison land and keep 1,448 chickens. 35 pigs, 17 cattle and 14 calves. At the Chatham jail, thanks to the efforts of four inmates and three guards, 1,600 pounds of Lake Erie smelt were landed. This will provide enough smelt for a meal once a week for one year at the Chatham facili- ty plus 700 pounds of fish for two other penal in- stitutions. • When asked if farmers felt threatened by the prisoner's entry into the food business, Walker replied that most seem pleased with the program' as the jails are hiring local farmers to operate the heavy equip- ment. A date of 1985 has been set by the ministry to reach self-sufficiency in food supplies.It's a good idea from both taxpayers and prisoners' standpoints. One of the difficulties which a prisoner faces after a release from aninstitutionis getting adapted • to the "real world". Any agriculturalist will tell you the business of farming is quite real. Would you believe this is in Stanley township? Favourable economic -signs If we are really in a recession, why do Canadian and American stock markets continue to go up? Sure, there are some retreats, but mainly market averages increase. in the past, it has been said the best way to tell what the future - six months hence - is going to be like, is to watch the stock market. If it starts to fall, you know leaner times are about a half year away. The converse is also true: if the stock market in- creases, better times are ahead.' The latter is very consoling, if, indeed, it happens., But judging by the way the stock markets have acted in the past there is definite reason to believe the worst of what has been termed a recession is over. And that is not only the case in the States, but in our country too. While both countries have had to undergo con- siderable doom and gloom the past few months, there are many indications nearly everyone has faith we will be able to turn the situation around and return to the good life we had before. But will we? If the ;good life" means a big, gas -guzzling car, and plenty of money with which to buy inexpensive fuel, forget it! Other than that, life looks pretty good, particularly from this area, which is nearly recession -proof. If it weren't for the big premium we have to pay for imported oil, we would be flying high. Several things affect the current recessionary situation. chief of which may be that the US's Democratic government cannot afford to let the country sink into deeper recession in an election year. So. riding on the American coattail is having a favorable effect on our economy too. But the weekend's announcement that our June trade surplus amounted to $892 million - more ex- ported than imported - was good news, and there will be more such favorable news ahead. So while some are concerned about the _ "recession", indicators are that we are already out of the worst of it, with favorable signs for great im- provement in the, next few months - using stock markets as indicators. At least he's consistent The reluctance of Canada to send an official representative to the big state funeral in, Egypt for the Shah of Iranis perhaps understandable. The man has been blamed, and correctly from reports of torture victims coming out of that coun- try, for oppressing his subjects and amassing wealth for himself and his family at their expense. Iran under the shah was not a pretty place, and whether conditions will improve for the masses there under the confused and fervently Moslem, Khomaini regime remains to be seen. Whether things will get brighter with the death of the shah for the American hostages in Iran is also a moot point. There's certainly been no evidence of a forgive and forget more relaxed policy from their student captors. But it's strange to reflect that just two years ago, when the shah was still in power in Iran, on a New Year's visit to Washington, he was being hail- ed by President Jimmy Carter as a great man, a true friend of the United States and the Iranian peo- ple. Before the year was out, the shah had fled Iran ff7P,I,W/`" West Lorne Sun and the revolution the American CIA had failed to predict was victorious. The United States, of course, *as not represented at the shah's funeral except by former president. Richard Nixon, in a very unofficial capacity. Mr. Nixon has been quoted from Cairo as criticizing the American government's handling of the Iranian crisis and its lack of compassion for the late shah. Given the fact that the American citizens are still held captive in Iran, it's hard to see how the U.S. could have supported the shah with open arms. But you have to hand it to the former president in his continued support of the former Iranian dic- tator. in good times, bad times and even at his funeral. Whatever you say in favour of Mr. Nixon, and given his' record it isn't easy to say much, at least he's consistent. • Huron Expositor '¢.� l•r�%S?f...:J %moi MST WITH IOCAI NEWS Published Each Wednesday Sy J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Member: Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly Newspapers News Editor - Tom Creech Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rotes: S8.50 per year in advance in Canada 519.50 per year outside Canada Single copies 25c • Asbciation • A recent agreement by the governments of Canada , and United States should provide farmers concerned about the effects of acid rain on their crops with a reason for some cautious optimism. The "Memorandum of intent" signed by U.S. secretary Edmond Muskle and Canadian environment minister John Roberts binds the two countries to seek- ing a solution about the problem of acid rain and other internationalai `r pollution concerns. As Stanley township farmer Philip Durand will tell you, it's been proven that air pollution can cause the premature ripening of white beans. Needless to say, any x eduction in air pollution would benefit farming, albeit the effect would be many years down the road. One American official said the agreement would be in jeopardy if Jimmy Carter is not returned as president. "This all goes too hell if RonaldReagangets in there." he told a reporter. If you're a farmer and have relatives or friends south of the border It might not be a bad idea to urge them to vote for anyone aside from Ronald Reagan. How about a write-in campaign for former "Laugh -In" performer Pat Paulsen?