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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-04-05, Page 1to anyone you like these ead any newspaper you atch any news program television station. The is food prices, most par- lv meat prices. no different in Goderich. ne's talking about the ost of meat these days. wives, some hostile, are g about ways and means lance the household 1. A few are even con - g a boycott. Financial Times of •a this week quoted -1 Agriculture Minister 'e Whelan: "1,o‘v food 'meant that the consumer iled.•HenrY VIII at his extravagant ,never ,dined 11 as a Canadian' con- . Why do consumers such a fuss , when food rise? Farmers just,. will accept this kind of ion. It would be easier for to buy government bonds ive off the interest than up to $100,000 in far - and work.,, :365 days a al butchers, • whatever political persuasion, seem ee with Mr. Whelan. Joe en's Meat Market was the ,vocalj e farmer nsumer for yea en. "He is only or his produce what he d have. If this thing had ,•,*(,"4": traffic duties over -the past the Goderich Municipal department investigated motor vehicle accidents f which resulted in minor 'es to two Goderich men. es Farrish of 113 Cam - Road North and Wane ,r of 93 Wolfe Street suf- cuts and bruises when car in which they were ngers went out of control ambria. Road striking a d car owned by Margaret of 133 Nelson Street. ivey of the car was rdJohn Sowerby of 58 Igar Street. He lost con - Of his vehicle striking the d car and causing a total ,000 damage to the vehicle as driving as well as an tonal $500 to the parked e mishap occurred at 2:05 March 31. rch 28 a two car collision corner of Maitland Road East Street resulted in damage to a car driven by on Rita Austin of R.R. 1, annon and $150 damage 'Second car driven by ge Barwick of 150 Keays t. There were no injuries. e third traffic accident oc- d March 29 at 6:45 p.m. cars driven by John Allen worth of 192 Sunset Drive •oderich and Doris Jean at of Carleton Place On - were in collision at the r of Bennett and South ts. mages were estimated at to the Duckworth Car and to the Moffat vehicle. No ies were involved,. happened as it should have, over a period of years, the people would not now be get- ting so upset." O'Brien defended the packing houses, saying they were operating efficiently and at a "very low mark-up". "And they're putting out one fine product," said O'Brien. Ben Sheardown at Goderich Frosted Foods concurred. He said beef prices are not high in Canada compared to other countries in the world. He said the Japanese, for instance, are paying $6 a pound for steak • while in Europe it is impossible to buy steak for less than $3 per pound. Sheardown said the Canadian spends about 17 per- cent of his income on food while in some other countries,14, probably it goes as high as 60 percent of standard the total income for food. And. of Max Cutt of Cutt's Red and White said consumers have to start thinking about meat prices "in a world concept". He said there has been a "big demand for protein in the Orient" which has driven pork • prices up. Now that Japan has quit buying pork, the prices have come down again. • "It is supply and demand," said Cutt. Cutt claimed, government .policies in 1962 have caused the shortage of beef in Canada today. "If the government would stay out of it, it would correct itself," said Cutt. "They are in- terferring with,the normal sup- ply and demand." Meanwhile, Canadian. far- ming is still'heavily subsidized by taxpayers, through the federal government. Govern- ment spending on agriculture adds up to a total of $348 milliona year and subsidies and other payments to farmers account million a year. WHAT ABOUT BOYCOTTS? While teal homemakers are considering whether or not a boycott of local meat counters would help bring down the price of meat, the Canadian Association of Consumers has come out strongly opposed to any such action. They say it will drive prices higher. Local retailers seem to agree, although they admit the con- sumer wilI hardly expect them to advise, a boycott of their stores. "Boycotting is basically a good idea," says Max Cutt. "If a product is too dear, why buy it.'' "But with beef, people will have, to change their of living," adds Cutt. course, nobody wants ,to do it because they enjoy it. In the long run, boycotting beef' will make it scarcer and dearer 'than ever." Jack Dampsof Canada Packers in Toronto says that boycotts of any kind will work if they are "widespread and lengthy": But -he ,doubts if a boycott of the meat counters can he extended too long by a "beef eating, meat • eating nation such as Canada". • Some retailers interviewed expressed the fear that by boycotting meat counters, the farmers would reduce the production of meat and because it would be in such short sup- ply, all meat, but especially beef which runs in a two to three year cycle, would become much more costly than it presently is. Norm Fitzsimmons of Blue's Market says that boycotting is definitely not the answer. •"Housewives should just go along with the high price and let 'Aupply and demand work it out," says Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons claimed it is the search for "convenience" which is helping to boost food prices in general. Max Cutt agreed. "Today's housewife wants built-in maid service for,, white bean economy," says Cutt. He said that since the advent of more 'and more working women, the trend is toward convenience foods, items which have been peeled, cooked, sliced, strained., diced, ch'opped _ etc. He charged that many of today's pre -packed foods do not giVe the "quantity, nutrition nor taste" that less expensive foods cooked by the housewife provide. - "I think people .are going to have to decide what they want," said Cutt. "They can still make meals pretty cheap but it -takes work." Cutt said one prime example of the high cost of living was the way consumers 'waste Money" on prepared cereal. Cutt de,scribed t his as paving "69" cents for a box of air with a bit of sugar in it". He •;aid porridge was much less expen-, sive. much more -nutritious but yonsaderably more work. Where meat is concerned, Cutt said few consumers under- -tam' the retailers prolgems. He .aid, for instance, if the but- cher huvs a 551) side of beef, he must "throw away from 25 to 35 percent" in bones and fats etc. He went on to say that not all virts of the beef sells equally well. He said that many houseWives prefOr to buy blade roast --.,.ti considerably less cost than tip or rump roasts At rc re money even though there ,A)II he more waste to the e\iiens6;.e blade roast after cooking and more pure eating from the more expensive sirloin tip or rump roast. • ' Cutt explained that in ad- dition to the loss on the meat through .cutting, the retailer must add at least 15 percent for labor costs, occupancy. cost, wrapping, housekeeping etc. "That's if you sell all the Meat," continued Cutt who noted that meat is, a perishable product. "Most meat counters now are operating at a loss. High prices are murder because you can't get your profit out of •the product." DOWNWARD TREND Degpite the feelings of local retailers, many housewives are boycotting meat counters this in Toronto and Sarnia. And the price of beef is coming down. • Pork has already drop- ped. Jack Dampsy 'of Canada Packers said he thinks the housewives have begun their boycott action too late. "Pork is on the decline," said Da m psy, 'and t he beef market has peaked. I think we'll see a declining trend over the next few weeks." But local butchers aren't cer• tain it will last. With the bar- becuing season coming up now_ steak and ground beef for ham- burgers is expected 1-0 Stay at a high price. "But pot roasts will go down and boiling ribs will 'be real "cheap," says Joe O'Brien. Max Cutt also expects spareribs, another barbecue favorite, to stay -fairly constant price -wise.. Poultry, particularly chicken for the barbecue, isn't expected, to come down •too., much in price. Right now locally, ,4--hicken breasts and legs are / running about 99 cents a pound compared to beef at- anywhere from 95 cents to $1.60 per pound; pork at about 85 cents to $1.05; and lamb at about $1 per pound. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Pork Producers' Marketing Board has appealed to farmers to market during the next two weeks 'only those animals which are fully -finished. "Hog producers should weigh (Continued on page 14) For t he second t ime t his .year, - was im'reased two cents •per ,(eritt to the consumer. Beginning Monday, home (Hivery priCeS, at both Andrew and Gardiner Dairies are $1.1-1 for a hree-quart bag of homogenized milk: $1.09 for a three quart hag of two percent: .ind .95gents for' a three -quart hag of ,kimmed milk. By t he quart, homogenized milk is 12 cents; two percent is • 19 cents-, and skimmed milk is ' ;7 cents. - • Pints of milk thorn()) Also went up two cents, but. at cording to Gary Sutchard of Andrew's Dairy this is because it takes very close to the same amount of .work to process a, pint of milk as a quart. He, ad- ded there has not been an in- crease in the price of pints of homer milk for sometime. (marts (4 chocolate milk went up three cents per quart and this is due to the increased costs of chocolate'syrup and id ditional processing expense as well as the increased price of Sutchard says he doc1n't an- ticipate another increase for sometime particularly if the. farmers get a good crop 'yield this year and do not have to. buy hay and other feed for their . cattle. Sutchard said -the reason for this most recent increase got - back to. the first of 'January 1973 when the Ontario Milk. Marketing Board \:,vas pur- sd uaed by briefs from the On- tafio Dairy Council to take a smaller increase than requested. "They took half of what they requested and this time they have ignored briefs fr om t he Ontario Dairy Council so that • the price of • milk to the producer iS•tnkanother 511 cents per hundred weight," said Sut- chard: He said the farmer gets f:irje and one:third cent per quart in- crease while the lair gets two- thirds of a cent per quart. He claimed the dairies should not be •expected to absorb the loss when'the price of milk goes up, Suggestions that the latest in- crease of milk prices to the far- mer need liot have been passed along to the consumer were ter med by Sutchard is "hogwash". At a meeting of the Huron County Milk Committee in Clinton Saturday, charges were made that the dairies are profiting by the recent fluid • _ milk price increase. . Jack Armstrong of RR 2. Auburn said the two increases granted to producers by the On- tario Milk Marketing Board since Jan. -1 are being borne by, the consumer. The actual increase to the fluid milk producer, claimed Mr. Armst rang, is slightly more than two cents a quart. However, the cost to the con- sumer is aboutfive cents, he said The dairies took from two to three jflts a quart when the first increase was granted •Jan. 1, an(l another two cent in- crease March 31. Mr. Armstrong felt 'the dairies should have been capable of absorbing the last increase. "I can't see whc- they needed an increase out of eyery deal -- they aren't the ones payingthe high price of protein sup- plement," Mr. Armstrong said. A Hrillett Township milk producer. Boss Trewartha, said producers are just where they were one year ago. The two in- creases granted to the producer have been almost entirely eaten up by feed costs, he said. "I still believe milk is a good buy," says'Sutchard. He added that more and more people are switching to' two percent or skimmed Milk: Save the Jail Society their draw on Friday ng of, last week for the a beef and whole hog. na Fisher of Goderich find her grocery bills in the meat depart- having,..won the beef and Shirley Dustow of R.R. 6 rich will find the hog she a help as well. draw was conducted by ve the. Jail Society as a raising venture to help legal and other costs they • new -ring in their. fight to •the former Huron County The circus is coming to town. Under the sponsorship of the Goderich Police Association the Garden Brothers Circus will be in Goderich for two shows Monday June 4 at the Goderich Memorial Arena. - Garden Brothers is Canada's largest, oldest and best show according to organizers and although the 1973 program is not complete as yet the circus promises to uphold its tradition duringthe new season. The show will feature twenty five different acts including the circus traditions of animals, clowns, acrobats and so on. Garden Brothers will be in Goderich as part of their cross Canada sweep and Goderich will probably be the smallest community on their tour. Every year since 1938 Gar- den Brothers has played Maple Leaf Garden& in Toronto for a solid week and will be ap- pearing in London, Sarnia, Windsor, Hamilton, and Owen Sound while in this part of On- tario before heading north and west through • North Bay, Saskatoon, other western cen- tres and on to Vancouver. Garden Brothers play all the major cities across Canada from Newfoundland to Van- couver Island. The Goderich shows will be at 4:15 p.m. and 8:01) p.m. Tickets will also be going out free of charge to students at Queen Elizabeth School, the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital, and to the underprivileged through the Children's Aid Society. Organizers from Garden Brothers Circus are in Goderich now arranging for the June show and groups or in- dividuals wishing further infor- mation may contact Ahem at their .office 524-9235. There was at least one housewife did not have to worry about the price of groceries and meat in particular. Mrs. Sarah Larder shopped or five minutes at Blues Supermarket Tuesday .morning, filling' five shopping carts, and picked up a total of $253.43 worth of food but imm -771; c....7;vs ;frof WOW 41143-1165111...mili SW III INV* V Ito 0111011111 00.11711. 111111..11:8:".114611: Ski .111111111;r1,-;:soL C • e in &owe ir,1111. paid the Larder was the winner of five minutes free -Shopping in the Pepsi Cola promotional "Shop- ping'Spree." As might be expecled the lucky winner hit the meat counter immediately after her time started. (staff photo) A brief calling for c'Om- prehensive land -use planning on a province -wide basis and compensation for farmers affec- ted • was presented to local Members of Parliament when they met for their annual meeting with. Huron county farm organizations Saturday in in Clinton. The dinner and conference, sponsored by the Huron Federation of Agriculture. brought together represen- tatives of various commodity groups to . meet Robert McKinley, MP., Murray Gaunt, M.P.P. for Huron - Bruce and Jack Riddell, M.P.P. for Huron. Thoeickie ef,cpredse7ited bys9dotigt rate will The March session of Huron County Council was a somewhat low-key meeting despite the fact that several in- creased budgets in the county's various departments were presented for approval. Although the 1973 budget has not yet been finalized, there was good news for county ratepayers in the Executive Committee report. It was stated there is every indication there will he no increase in county rates this year. As well, the report promised that in the event the county en - ters upon a building program at the Huron -Perth Regional Assessment office, there will also be sufficient fiindfor this purpose without any increase to county ratepayers. When budget is brought in next month it will show that $25,000 has been set aside in the Hospital Reserve Fund; an employee benefit reserve;"as well as another $50,000 *for the working capital fund. Several proposed budgets were approved in Thursday's session. All* are up. The Children's Aid Society stay .constanti.(,---r-t-i-c„„,,re sr.::: (di e 731t i arucir es °off • owl farm land is being lost , budget is $297,087. Last year's budget was estimated at $291,906 and last year's County of Huron share was estimated at $91,847 ($91,678 actual). 'rhe Planning Board budget is tip $25,214 to $72,150. Con- sultant fees for the study on Ur- ban Development in Rural Areas (MIRA) is one of the major reasons accounting for an estimated additional $8,000. The budget for the Huron, County Library is up over $15,00t) to $193,850. The Huron County Pioneer Museum budget is also up by about $4,000 to $39,000. The road budget is also higher this year at $1,987,000, hut will he financed with the same amount of county funds, $738,000. Extra allotments from the provincial government was cited as the explanation. This year, the province is paying 62.9 percept of the total road budget while the county is picking up only 37.1 percent. The budget of the Land Division Committee remains (C6ntinued on page 14) every hour to urban develop- ment. Between 1961 and 1966 the rate had been only three. acres per hour. But while something must be done to stop this trend, the brief said something must also be done to help the farmer in areas of high growth who has been forced to pay high taxes for Years because of the poten- tial worth of his property for development. If the farmer can not count on receiving a high price for his land when he sells it he should have some kind of compensation for the taxes, the brief said. "British Columbia has already promised this compen- sation and land use planning. will not get the full support of Ontario farmers without it," the brief said. Mr. Gaunt said the govern- nrent has taken the first step in its speach from the throne, promising land -use controls to protect farmland. He agreed that the second step should now he taken to protect far- mers. He trued farm organizations such as the Federation', to really start pushing for compensation and said 'it would become a really big issue in the years to come. "There has got to he some form of compensation," he said. "Otherwise the farmer will kx, sacrificed on the altar of land -use planning." 3 M McKinley noted that planning people aren't very popular these days, but too of- ten they are right. He said it is easy to talk about planning but hard to implement it because if elected people do it, they won't be erected very long. Don Pullen, Agricultural Representative for Huron from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food noted that after the recent land -use conference held in Clinton it appeared the people of Huron were "tuned in" on land -use planning. The brief also called for (Continued on page 14)