Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-04-09, Page 1You ng farmer problems discussed at session Problems facing young and starting farmers was one of the topics discussed at Saturday's Members of Parliament Day in Clinton, sponsored by the Huron Federation of Agriculture. In presenting his brief. Bob Coleman said, "The young farmer of today faces a high wall of exorbitant interest rates, runaway inflation, increased in- vestment coats, high land prices and poor returns. He 'continued,"Statistics indicate more and more potential young farmers are leaving the farm to take secure jobs in other areas. Without help those that stay face an insurmountable task. The young farmer of Ontario has even more CHECKING OFA BRIEFS -- Joe Miller of Zurich representing the Ontario Bean Producers, Huron MPP Murray Cardiff and Huron Ag Rep Don Pullen check some of the briefs presented by the Huron Federation of Agriculture in Clinton, Saturday. T -A photo difficulty, since every other province in Canada has better agricultural programs than . Ontario for young farmers. The only substantial assistance this province offers farmers comes from the .tile drainage program. This is of lit - the solace to the young farmer who can't afford to buy a farm in the first place. Ontario does however offer the -antiquated Ontario Young Farmers Credit Program, to assist in borrowing bank funds at prime plus one. Since most of us can get this at our bank only eight individuals en- dured the red tape for this help in 1980. In contrast to Ontario, Nova Scotia young farmers can borrow up to $200,000 at 6 to 8 and a half percent for 30 years and Quebec offers up to $250,000 at rates of two and a half to eight percent for 391/2 years. Most other provinces also offer significant low cost, long term rates to their young farmers." Huron MPP Murray Cardiff said, "We have been pushing for changes in the Farm Credit Corporation. I feel something is in the works. I get concerned with the time sometimes as long as three months in getting an answer on a Farm Credit application." The new Huron -Bruce MPP Murray Elston. com- mented "All three can- didates in my riding cam- paigned for young farmers. We know Quebec got rid of 67 million dollars ininterest rate help. It's about time wenade Toronto realize we are a very important aspect of the industrial cycle." Visiting NDP MPP Donald MacDonald added, "Ontario is stuck witb hopelessly inadequate capital grants assistance. We started a farmer interest assistance program of $25 million, but the project was ended with $20 million unexpended." Allan Campbell asking if low interest Farm Credit mortgages could be tran- sferred on purchases by foreign interests was told by Elston who is a Wingham lawyer, "I know of some that were stopped." On the same subject, Ontario F of A vice-president Ron White said, "I would hope mortgages could be transferred at the original rate except in cases of ab- sentee foreign ownership. know Farm Credit doesn' like continuing those earlier low interest rates." In concluding his brief Bob Coleman said,"Sine one in every five jobs in Ontario depends on Agriculture it would make sound economic sense for both our provincial and federal governments to support our young farmers so that the agricultural in- dustry can continue to be as strong in the future as it has in the past. FIRST WITH LOCAL NEWS Trustees want strap retained If Huron county School Board trustees get 'their way, the strap will remain in. the school system. At it's regular monthly meeting Monday, the board endorsed a motion stating its opposition to the general abolition of corporal punish- ment in schools. A second, qualifying point, to the mo- tion insists the use of cor- poral punishment should be left to the discretion of each board. A revision of the use of corporal punishment was prompted by a memoran- dum from Minister of Education Bette Stephenson, who proposed an ammend- ment to the Education Act asking teachers and prin- cipals to refrain from the use of physical force in dis- Loses licence over speeding A Zurich area man was given the maximum fine and had his licence suspended after being convicted of speeding at a rate of 70 km. over the limit, in Exeter court, Tuesday. A fine of $227.50 was levied against Dale R. Conlan, RR 3 Zurich, by Justice of the Peace Douglas Wedlake. Conlan was convicted of speeding at a rate of 150 km. in an 80 km. zone on February 22. The court learned that he had 12 demerit points and his licence was suspended for 30 days. Suspensions can be levied when the speed limit is exceeded by more than 50 km. David S. Walzack, St. Marys, was fined $503 for be- ing the owner of a motor vehicle and allowing its operation without insurance. The charge was laid on March 14. A fine of $28 was . levied against Julia A. Brown, Hen- sall, after she was convicted of failing to wear a complete seat belt assembly on February 26. cfplining a pupil, except to protect himself or another pupil. But the ammendment, ac- cording to Huron officials, wreaked of ambiguity and was prone to interpretation. The key words in the ammendment were 'physical force' a term which Director of Education John Cochrane said was am- biguous, adding that simply grabbing a child by the arm and leading him to the office could be considered physical force. To properly evaluate the situation, Cochrane asked all county principals and teachers to submit opinions on corporal punishment. The response from schools was disappointing, (11 out of 27 schools responded) but the general theme of the responses indicated a willingness to retain the strap in the system. In the submissions from the county teachers and principals, Cochrane read pertinent quotes that said the strap "should be kept as a last resort," another said it "should be retained and used with discretion," one submission siad "it is a sym- bol of authority that deters deviant behaviour." Cochrane pointed out that a major point for considera- tion came from the principal of a trainable retarded school who said, "there is a time and need in a trainable retarded school to protect the pupil from harming him or herself." Secondary school prin- cipals suggested that use of the strap was not a signifi- cant issue in high school and that it has not been used for many years. The use of force, a report said, is sometimes necessary but in- frequent. The elementary school principal's association said the strap should be main- tained only as a last resort adding that there were several alternate methods for controling students. In the county's elementary schools the strap has been used 14 times in the last 61/: months and the principals in- sist its use should be the perogative of the school Beekeepers gather at Zurich apiary About 60 beekeepers from across Ontario attended a meeting of the Commercial Beekeepers' Club (Ontario Beekeepers' Association) at Ferguson Apiaries, Monday. The group toured the new honey house, operated by Bill Ferguson, on Highway 84, east of Zurich. A lunch was held at the Pineridge Chalet and the group met in the afternoon for guest speakers on topics pertinent to commercial beekeeping. Melmut Speiser, from the Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology, spoke on solar energy for honey houses. F.R. Abraham, from the economics branch of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, spoke on costs of production study. For the ladies in at- tendance, Elaine Gottschall from the department of zoology, University of Western Ontario, spoke on honey and how the body uses it. • Ferguson, who is chair- man of the commercial club, said the group meets about three times a year. He said beekeepers from as far away as Ottawa attended the meeting. board and not a unilateral decision of the Ministry. The report said the public views discipline as one of the most pressing problems in the system along with increases in vandalism. Despite a direct plea to the public to offer submissions on the use of corporal punishment, Cochrane only received one letter from a Goderich ratepayer who op- posed the abolition of cor- poral punishment and suggested it be left for in- dividual boards of education to make the decision. The motion passed by the board also requested the education committee to develop a draft policy and adequate set of guidelines on the use of corporal punish- ment in the schools which will reflect the concerns of the board, the staff and the public. Price Per Copy 25 Cents WARDEN AND MPP — Huron Warden Fred Haberer chats with newly elected Huron -Bruce MPP Murray Elston at Satur- day's Members of Parliament Day in Clinton sponsored by the Huron Federation of Agriculture. Stoff photo Erb enlightens CofC meet Carol Erb spoke of her recent experiences in Afghanistan, as guest speaker at the Zurich Chamber of Commerce meeting, Thursday. Ms. Erb had been em- ployed as receptionist - secretary at the NOOR Eye Institute in Kabul, for the past eight years. As she talked, Ms. Erb showed slides of the people and country. The group for which Ms. Erb worked, the Inter- national Assistance Mission (IAM), evacuated its workers from Afghanistan in early February due to continuing unrest in the country. The country un- derwent a coup in 1978, and is resently occupied by Russian troops. The chamber held a short business meeting after Ms. Erb's talk. The treasurer reported funds were depleted due to expenditures for the sauerkraut supper. Mem- bers were reminded there were still tickets available to be sold and tickets would be sold at the door. Plans for Wednesday night's supper were said to be well in hand and the chamber planned to ad- vertise the event in a flyer sent out by local stores. The community awareness committee reported the Lion's Club had offered their assistance with the planned summer playground. It was suggested special insurance may be required for the playground. Members were asked to donate their time and ideas to build a float for Zurich's 125th anniversary parade. The chamber was reminded they were requested to provide man- power for a Friday night dance during the 125th an- niversary celebration. Members will be selling tickets, handling the tables and bar, and policing the dance area. A young people's dance, and a licensed dance will be held. It was suggested the chamber could have a local artist make up a sketch of Zurich, to be reproduced and sold as both a souvenir and money making effort for the anniversary. Don Beauchamp told the chamber he would like to help sponsor the baby show at the Zurich fair. Beauchamp would like to build a float co-sponsored by the chamber and Don's Food Market. He said salesmen from Gerber Foods had promotional items that could be used as gifts for the baby show. The chamber will discuss the proposal at their next executive meeting.