Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1974-09-05, Page 3a By Jack Riddell r �omy' prig There is not likely to be much if any, relief from fast rising food prices over the' next .6 months:* ' .Except for beef prices,' which are, expected to decline by the end of the year, the consumer - can expect to pay, more for most food itetns during the, next ` 6 months or even a year. The Food Prices , Revie` v Board said in July that it "tees reason for some optimism in respect to the overall food prices, picture The Board based its ,conclusions on the belief that "forces of supply and demand now appear to be workingtheir way into a better state ofbalance which`, is decreasing the rate of price ..in- creases." • However, although food prices are unlikely to keep moving up at the speed seen in the last 2 years (37 per cent from June 197Z to 4une 1974) some further large increases are' clearly on the way. Rising costs of ingredients, packaging, transportation and labour will provide some,of the push in keeping food prices high. ' The area where the biggest price leaps can be expected is in • canned goods. • The food processing industry has predicted retail price in- creases of 30 percent to 4Q per- cent for canned and frozen vegetables by this autumn. These big increases in canned yegetable prices is coming almost a year later than most food price increases• because last spring when the 1973 • prices were being negotiated, the prices were set before it became evident how sharply otherr-.ces in the economy wouldtise, The growers settled lastar for increases of about 5 percent, his' year, the growers feel TThat they have to. catch` up for underpayment for their crops in 197'3 and to keep pace with prospective inflation this year. , In, Ontario, the largest vegetable producing • province, the, price of peas, delivered to' the processing plant will be up. .65 percent to $300 a ton, corn - on -the -cob will be up 75 percent to $55.75, torr#atoes will .be up 44 percent to $74 a ton, and cucumbers will be up 80 per- cent to 140 percent over 1973 prices. The prices of other vegetable crops such as beets, carrots, cabbage, pumpkins, beans and asparagus will rise proportionately. For the consufner, this will probably -mean that a 1 once tin of fancy grade peas will likely increase to 35c this' fall from 29c. A 14 ounce tin of choice grade corn, now e27c will • sell' for about 34c. Prices on By Jack Riddell More i• nformation about drug plan As of September .1, 1974, the Government of. Ontario .will be providing prescribed .drugs without charge to more than 548,000 residents of Ontario --, including 334,000 recipients of • the Federal Guaranteed In- come Supplement., 10,060 recipients of Ontario Guaran— teed Annual Income, as wehl_as 204;000 recipients of Family Benefits Allowance. The Drug Benefit Programme, in addition to the 'Government's new Guaranteed Annual Income System -(GAINS) will provide an ad ditional $95 "million to those ,citizens_ whose standards of living .are sq, severely, eroded by the effects of inflation. ' " The free drug programme will complement the several will- be sent out, in the form of measures introduced by. -the cheque' stubs'" on 'a monthly .Government of Ontario in 1972 basis. . . to reduce the burden of health Residents' of Ontario who care costs. These measures in- receive only the Federal Old eluded ,the abolition of health Age Security payments but not insurance premiums for per- in receipt of the Guaranteed' In= ,sons aged. 65- or oyer, 'the come Supplement are not broadening of -premium .eligible for the .,Drug Benefit assistance to low income'.. Plan. Only by receiving the GIS families and ' individuals and will ,a person aut.Orhatically the introduction •of extended.' receive `the benefits of the drug care for the elderly in nursing benefit programme. In order to. homes and, homes for the^ aged. apply for the Graranteed In - With the introduction of :the come Supplement, correspon- Drug Benefit Plan, pensioners • dence should 'be directed to: will be entitled ,to -a'_full range' Guaranteed Income Sup- of health care services at no plement, cost to themselves. , " P.O. Box • 6000, �. -The Drug Benefit Plan will Postal Station io -automatically 'embrace those Toronto, Ontario, who's receive the Federal The .telephone number to call Guaranteed Income Sup- (continued on page 13) rospect �h�a most canned ►,vegetables will in- crease by 6`c to 10c a `tin. Canned fruit prices will also increase because tin cans, sugar, fuel and labour .,cost more. The cost Of cans is up 11 percent over". tamstn year, card- board cartons 6 percent, fuel an -estimated 60 percent and prin- ted waxed cardboard boxes for frozen vegetables are up 32 per- cent in, addition to labor cost increases The growers also deninded higher prices for their crops because they say they can easily • n1 dred weight have ,been as' low' as $45.00 as compared with a peak of $62 last summer. By late fall, prices could be in the mid $40's. or maybe lower. This ` decline in price from about $66.00 to $4.5.00 means an. average saving . at the retail : level of around 15c to 30c per, pound, depending on the -cut. Fish prices are expected to remain fairly stable (except for lobster add shrimp). The most substantial decrease has been for fresh and frozen "ocean perch. Among low income families and those on fixed incomes'but sub- " 'stitution is not as much help as it used to be. It use to be possible 'to siubstitt".t.te poultry for beef and hamburger for steak but now these substitutes haveµgone up too. " Although this article may not strike the most optimistic note front, a ,. consumers standpoint particularly those on low and' fixed income, -it is only on the basis of an appreciation of the situation that together we can begin io work toward 'switch into alternative crops •;' Indications' are that pork reasonable solutis. which are more attractively prices may be headed for large If you have anyonideas about priced. Ton•1atoes, for example, increases: The glut of hogs -on this matter of inflationary are a highly profitable crop but the market appears .to be ,prices and how the situation they are also risky- and finished-, might he rectified would yob troublesome. So when corn. can The constant spiral in food kindly send me your comments be sold for $3 a ' bushel and prices ' has prompted sortie ' either to my home or my office soybeans for .$5 to $6—(the buyer substitution, especially in Toronto. present prices), growers will not grow tomatoes or any other vegetable crop unless they are offered good price. Most far- mers in the vegetable- growing areas, are not , highly-,„;, specialized, let alone wedded to a single crop.„ They tend to switch refidily into the crops at offer the highest return. Price increases in. milk and milk products are expected to • be large also, Farmers are seeking price increases both for industrial (butter,cheese, milk powder)' and fluid Milk which they must have to meet their ever rising cost of production., If the consumer had to pay directly for the requested in- crease, butter could go up, 18c - per pound (it is now around 90c per --pound depending on the type) and a pound of powdered skim milk by about 8c from 79c. - Sugar -based products will also continue to rise in price because no letdown of sugar prices seems in sight. .Retail price in the Toronto area of a 10 pound bag of white sugar Was $1.43 - $1.49 early last. fall. It rose,to $3.35 $3.49 -by late winter and has stayed there ever since: The price increase is a result of demand exceeding supply the last three years and of, •consequent speculation in sugar futures. Sugar prices will likely stay high .primarily because Brazil's crop was damaged by heavy rains and most of Cuba's crop is expected to go to the Soviet Union..Fruit canners, bakers, confectioners and soft drink manufacturers are all hard hit by the high price of sugar. " e Canadian egg 'and "'turkey prices- said to be the highest in the .world and about one third higher than' in the 'U.S.;will probably remain at this peak. Bread will move slightly up- ward because of rising ancillary costs in flour production and plastic bread bags. Baking flour bought in the supermarket by the consumer will probably in- crease about 5 percent because of the rising costs of flour millers. Cake mixes will likely increase by 10 percent.- 12 per- cent p'rimarily due to sugar • prices but also because, of in- creased labor, packaging and shortening costs, ' For the past year, beef has been the focal point of con-. sumer • discontent over escalating food prices. • Beef • prices now seem to, be on a downward path; however, this may ,not be_very long-lasting, In Torpnto, beef prices per hun- plement; GAINS or provincial Family Benefits.' Each month, beginning 'in ' September 1974,, Family Benefits Allowance _recipients will automatically receive their, Drug Benefit certificate in the form of a cheque stub attached. to their Family Benefits cheque, Those' persons eligible for the Federal ' Guaranteed income Supplement and/or the new On- tario Guaranteed Annual In- come benefits ' will automatically receive their drug cards in September for September, October, November and December. Drug cards sent. .• out in January will cover the next, threemonth period of January„ through March, 'in - elu'si've. Subsequentdrug cards C CHUCKSTEAK ■ P"ORKCHOPSTT HEADE CHEESE • • Ainslie Market- Limited 106 THE SQUARE 524-8551 LrTo—p.r-st ROUND STEAK It ROASTS :1.49 WHOLE OR HALF . • an - FRESH HAM ROAST PORI( lb. 79c q GENUINE' SPRING 'HURON CoUNTY LAMB At POPULAR PRICES ,, ;_ Custouii.KiDing and Processing our Specialty )b. 99'i lb. 88c, lb, 99c (continued from page 2) I drove them up town to Ander- .y son's. Book Store. Upon' entering the store I found ' it quite 'crowded. I- told 'my daughter to ask •period of a week that would school year presents particular Mr. Anderson if he had any mean over 400 patients a day, hazards. glue. He told .her in a very sar- Say a doctor worked 10*hours "The first days back at castic way that he did not have - a day in the office that would school are an exciting time for time to wait on her, and to mean 40 people an hour. How youngsters," Mr. Rhodes war - M cn c t GODIRXCH SIGNAL STAR, THURSDAY, SEPT MBER 4,'1974, --PAGE 3 It's Back To School Time! On urban streets watch out for youngsters, trying to get across the. road. In the country, keep an eye out for the yellow schoc! buses. Traffic safety is everybody's lob Watch out! Area youngsters need your care, protection Fast •,year in"Ontario 194 chil4ren were killed and 12,000 injured in, traffic accidenis...95 of . the children were, pedestrians, 36 were riding bicycles "and others were in pear to be busy enough as it is. motor vehicles. If there are to be five or six In announcing these figures, doctors=•for every 15,000 people Minister of transportation and that would mean .3,000 people' Communications John R. per doctor, working with the' Rhodes reminded all motorists figure of five doctors, Over a that the opening, of a 'new 'come„ back ,to-morrow..I then proceeded to ask him as he was passing by if he, had any glue.I was also told the same rude an- swer. When my husband arrived home from work he phoned Mr, Anderson and was -also told the ''same answer. Does Goderich have to put up with this kind of service on The Square? • I hope' the rest of the mer- chants in town' db not take this attitude that Mr. Anderson has taken. Kay Lounsbury Editor's Note: Upon calling Mr, • Anderson it . was discovered that between 300 and '400 youngsters passed through the store in about three' hours on Tuesday, the first dad of school, Most of the young customers understood the problems and patiently waited their turn in line. Mr. Anderson admits that du'ting those few hob ts,J,personal-'ser- vice was •riot�mpossible due to the ,•extreme numbers of children in the store. He was kept busy stocking /the shelves a d said he could not have go ten to the glue' shelf at that particular :time because of the crowd in his store. Mr. Ander- son further admits that he might have displayed a short „temper due to the added stress of the moment, but suggests that if .•Mrs. Lounshury and/or her daughter had gotten in line, they would have •received the glue they. were after in .due • course: ' *1 Urges comment Dear Editor, Thank you for your concern and also for printing .ou , letter regarding late papers. We received the August 29 paper today,` which is how it should" be. Along with the Signal -Star came T.V. Signal -' a. very good idea for those interested oin T.V. watching. We have been following with concern 'the proposed restruc- tured health councils. We called Mr. Riddell M.P.P. and gave him. our ' views and he requested a letter which we have written. We only hope many more citizens of) Huron County are concerned enough to contact Mr: Riddell. There' is no need in "crying aver • spilled milk". Complain `now while you have the chance. If the proposed •does come -to -be at least we know we have tried. And if the proposal dogs come it will certainly be against our wishes, How can some man in Toronto tell us what we 'deed air want? We now have .a fancily doctor in Goderich whom we, trust and -respect. How can you trust, respect and get to know your doctor if you can't even choose the doctor you want? Why should' the doctors be told where they 6n practice? That doesn't sound very democratic to me. All personal contact would be ggAe. • The doctors in Goderich ap- ned. "The often become for et - can you possibly be treated' y . g properly that. way, and how can ful about the traffic safety, a doctor's own physical, 'and rules. Thus; -•all' motorists must mental' health stand it either. be constantly alert when If this proposal is adopted in driving in school areas, They Huron county and we are must take extra caution where 1 there are irked cars, schoo treated like children • being P told what to do, the crossing, zones or playground Thompson family will be Mighty sick areas." before we .make a visit' to the "In rural districts, adult clinic. drivers must be very cautious • We are'quite satisfied with when .they see a yellow school health care as it is and the care bus If the bus is stopped with our ,doctor is giving us at,. present. •- Brenda and Jim Thompson , RR 2 Seaforth. pr« ices paper Mr. Robert G. Shrier President and Publisher The Goderich Signal -Star Box 220, Industrial Park Goderich, Ontario • Dear Mr. Shrier: On behalf of Ford of Canada i would like to extend .to -you my heartiest congratulatici'ns on the high honours recently awar- ded to the Goderich Signal -Star at the 1974 CCNA Better Newspapers Competition. The high calibre of editorial writing exhibit.ed,in:the Signal - Star reflects a continuous inter- play between the newspaper and its community. Such in: teraction makes an important contribution to the intellectual vitality of the -community it sen. ves. Slo organization succeeds in today's complex business world 'without high level - teamwork therefore we congratulate your entire organization on this achievement. • We expect this recognition Oill be matched by your future.' success. Yours sincer4jv,' •' Earle H. Weichel Executive Director, public Affairs' Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd, . Readers are cordially invited to express their opinions of .local, provin- cial and feder'bl ' issues through the Letters to the Editor column of The Goderich Signal -Star. All letters must be signedto be published,,, although pen names are permissible providing it is understood that upon request from another reader, the letter writer's true name will"' be revealed. • While there is no limit to -the length of a letter which can be offered for publication, the., editor does reserve the right to delete portions of any: copy submitted for in- elusion in this newspaper: Take an active interest in your hometown newspaper. Write a letter to the Editor today. 1,0 vas • red -signal lights. flashing it means children are getting on or off the bus. The onus is on , ':a -ll drivers to see that children , cross the road safely," he stated. Parents must; ,help too, Mr. Rhodes -'adder "Check ' the route ,your children have to follow to get to school and discuss any par- ticular hazards with them. And find .out what they are learning about traffic safety at school so you can reinforce these messages at home," he' said. "Let's all do our best to make sure that a child's forget- ful moment does not result in a tragedy." GM's Economy Car i 97 cH¢v. Necn • Hatchback, xaclo, four speed, four cylinder, standard tran- ' emission, finished In gold with complementing brown interior. Lic. , FHS -064 184, EAST ST. •GODERICH 524-7212 ' ro '14 The quare Goderich* - Archie Barber, PHM.B. •Ltirr • Rieck, PHIIA.B• • s Itt ix •