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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-06-09, Page 38I .. PAGE 14A--QQDERICH SNNAL-STAR, TlitiASPAY, JUNE 9, 1977 st ti 4 's 4 r Ty - v#, mfr ne�foot.'t inth[e„c Trying to educate consumers that food in Canada is a bargain is almost impossible. Even Gordon Bennett, deputy minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Ontario, has admitted publicly that his department has failed. "How do we convince consumers at the end of • the food chain that they aren't the victims of a rip-off?” he told members of the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario when he spoke to them recently in Waterloo. His department has been trying but has not found a convincing method. How do you explain to consumers that some food prices rose because Russia bought huge quantities of grain in 1972 or because there was a drought in Europe last year? How do you explain that the price of sugar went sky- high a year or more ago because of the great demand when other sweeteners were banned? Or because successive governments allowed the sugarbeet industry in Canada to die,ind Canadians had to depend completely on imports? Bennett made a point that. this column has been trying to drum into the minds of consumers for 10 years. He said consumers here get a good deal on most food products. Consumers here pay between 18 and 20 per cent of their disposable income dollar on food, he said. In some coun- tries consumers spend up to 80 per cent of their disposable income dollar on food. About 20 per cent of the jobs in Ontario — and goodness knows. this province needs all the jobs it can get these days — are linked directly with agriculture.. Ontario ac- counts for a third of all farm receipts in Canada, in spite of , the huge amounts paid to Prairie grain farmers. Ontario's gross farm receipts totalled more than $2.6 billion last year. 1 read not long ago that approximately 43 per cent of the gross national product is generated thtoughout the food industry . Without that important aspect of the GNP. Canada would be literally bankrupt. Letters ate appreciated by Bob Trone, Eldale Rd Elmira. Om N3a 2C7 Which means that the industry itself is of paramount importance. No wonder the Canadian Federation of Agri- culture has chastised -the federal government for not in- cluding farm representation in the so-called tri -partite talks between government, business and labor on the fu- ture economic shape of Canada. Personally, I think farmers have a legitimate complaint when they request equal representation on basic social and economic policy issues. Statistics Canada figures show that net farm income is forecast to increase by only, 11.6 per cent over the de- pressed levels of 1971. That certainly is not much of an increase in six years. I know of no other sector of the economy which has had such a low return on labor and investment in those years. Before the Anti -Inflation Board, huge segments of the labor force were getting raises between 10 and 45 per cent, sometimes in one year. Yet farmers have had increases of less than two per cent a year since 1971. It hardly seems.fair that an industry of such importance should be struggling to make ends meet. Thousands of farmers have been forced out of business in those six years. Thousands more will be forced into bankruptcy in the next few years. It is also tough for a great many farmers — about 42 per cent of them in Waterloo County, one of the most diversified farming areas in the province — who have •to work at another part time job just to remain on the land. Bennett told the Federated Women's Institutes — most of them farmers' wives — to help convince consumers that marketing boards are necessary to improve stability in the farming sector of the food industry, the sector that has traditionally borne the most risk along the food chain. I can only echo Bennett's statement. This corner has been prodding farmers and farmers' wives for years to come out of the boondocks and stand up for themselves. Nobody else will do itfor them. Before War'`' Hydro wires i ok ly We are conte the public work',;: Hydro lines' Hainbrtdge� .t a. Qhtario Hydp'l;� Region to Lo there were,N*>° ,. within a we"' f °y total of 17, w ` contacted and the ured" Accidents°e. easily. preventech b x ; minute to look ""Contact ttie' office if us n < extension eq overhead '';' Bainbridge ad hydraulle'1" Quick;Cp" Pumps ygys Transfer pua+ ps. water pdniov" pumps. Bluewater Centre residents helped to Clean up the Tiger Dunlop tomb area last week in conjunction with Jubilee 3. Here, Raymond Owl (foreground) and Wayne Sovering (background) tend to the lawn below the tomb. (staff photo) Pork congress at Stratford The Ontario pork industry - from producer to consumer will be featured at the three day Ontario Pork Congress June 14-16 at the . Stratford Fair Grounds. There will be something to interest breeders, producers and consumers. Breeders' Day, June 14, will feature a sale of top performance tested breeding stock including 30 station tested boars, 28 home tested boars and 90 home tested bred and open gilts. In, the evening contestants will compete in a junior barrow show. June 15 will be Feeder Pig Day, including a show and sale. The last day, June 16, is Market Pig Day. There will be a show and sale of per- formance tested market pigs as well as a special carcass show. All three days there W4111 %feature educational seminars and consumer programs. This year there are- a record number of pork industry exhibits and displays. As the 1977 Ontario Pork Congress is shaping up as the best yet, pork producers should make every effort to attend. id Young farmers .know their onions Some 200 young people took their animals and crop samples to the Seaforth Fair Grounds on May 28 for the Huron County 4-14 Livestock and Field Crops Judging Competition. John Van Vliet, RR 2, Brussels was the highest scorer of the day with 844 out of a possible 900 points. With this score he was able to capture first in the senior division which saw 12 com- ptiitors participating. Jim Nivins, RR 3, Auburn came in second with..a score of 836. In the intermediate class 50 competitors from 15 to 17 years of age participate, but Tony Van Miltenburg, RR 4, Seaforth took first place with 808 points. He was closely followed by second place winner, Diana Brand, RR 3, Clinton who ,gathered 804 points. Bruce Godkin RR 1, Walton barely captured the junior championship from Fred Martin, RR 1, Dungannon who was one point behind the winner with 788. First year competitor, Bruce Bennett, RR 4, Seaforth took the novice class with 722 points. Karen Metzger, RR 3, Lucknow came in second with 758 out of a possible 900 points. Twenty-six competitors took part in the pre 4-14 class, which is open to young people 11 years of age. George Alton RR 7 Lucknow collected the most points here to take first place. Brent Van Osch, RR 7, Lucknow captured a close_ second with one point less than the winning 738. Along with capturing the senior division, John Van Vliet also received a trophy from Blatchford Feeds Limited with the highest score in the competition. Jim Nivens was the runner up. Bruce Bennett was also `a receiver of an award from the Canadian National Exhibition for the high novice judge. Karen. Metzger was the runner up from this shield. In the swine section Jim Nivins received the CIL trophy for his high score of,, 142 out of a possible 150' points. Runners up in this, division were: Ted Van Dyke, Colborne township approves four permits Colborne Township council approved accounts totalling more than $28,000 at their meeting on May 3. Six ratepayers approached the council at this meeting regarding information pertaining to their ap- plications for building per- mits. Ben Straughan discussed with council the work in- volved regarding the town- ship's road accounts and the preparing of the term report Colborne special At a special meeting of Colborne Township council held May 24, Mrs. Donald Sager, in the absence of her husband, presented a draft plan of the Subdivision Project involving Part Lot 1 Concession 1 WD Colborne Township. Considerable discussion took, place regarding, the number of building lots, water anti drainage study, water supply, sewage disposal and septic tanks, effect of the water on lower Saltford and Westlake's property, roads and design of the homes. In discussing sick -leave pay, for township employees, it was approved that only the permanent road department employees. namely the road •I superintendent, grader operator and tractor operator, receive sick -leave pay of one day per month. It was also approved that "Gordon Kerr, presently employed by the township as a truck driver should be made a permanent employee. Ben Straughan, township accountant,. reviewed with council the 1977 first quarter road expenditures and subsidy report Eight building permit applications were approved. Joe Morrissey was denied severence. A tile drainage loan application for Jamieson Ribey was approved. The Maitland Valley Con- servation Authority Emergency Measures by-law was approved. WATER WELL DRILLING ,"ii YEARS EXPERIENCE" o MMusBAN •• Ife11US1RtAL •• MUNICIPAilk ESTIMATES • AApITEED WELLS { I00ER$ EQUIPMENTr' • Y & PERCUSSION' DRILLS a: • R EXPERIENCE ASSIIN,S4 !ITT Y ITER 'E4LS for the Ministry of Tran- sportation and Com- munications. Councillor Kernighan in- formed council at this meeting that Eric Moore was dissatisfied with the rejection by an insurance company of his claim for damages to his stationwagon. Leonard Fisher, township cemetery manager, discussed the exchange of various graves, cutting of dead trees and`the use of the lawnmower. Four building permits were approved and three were left for further information. Approval was given for the transfer of a building permit issued to J. D. Jefferson to Peter MciDonald. IBM Council also approved a pay increase for the dog tag issuer. Permission was approved for Shell Oil drilling on' township roadways. Councillor Jewell discussed the progress of the Goderich Housing Action committee of which he is township,;, representative. Reeve;; McNeil spoke regarding the farmstead and homestead improvement competition in connection with the 1978 International Ploughing Match. s Deputy -reeve Durst commented at the meeting that charges for large truck, loads of garbage have been set at $5 per load while pick- up truck loads are free.ISM RR 4, .Seaforth, 141 points; Sharon. Colclough, RR 1, Clinton, 141 points. John Van Vliet had a score of 145, but other major award winners are'ineligible. Jean Siertsema RR 3, Blyth scored 99 out of a possible 100 10 win the 1'-Iu:r`on County Milk Committee award. She was tied with Oscar Meier, RR 4, Brussels, but the tie was broken for reasons by the entire competition. The Cyanamid of Canada Award was_' given to the competitor with the highest score in the sheep section. Margaret .Pym, RR. 1°, Cen- tralia took this With a score of 97 out of 100. Runners up were: Brian Pym, RR 1, Centralia; Diana Brand, RR 3, Clinton; Greg Hackett, RR 3, Lucknow; Gordon Alton, RR 7, Lucknow and Carolyn Dinsmore, Fordwich who all held score of 96. Murray Stewart, RR 1, Kirkton scored 143 out of a possible 150 points in the, beef section to capture the Huron DAVIDSON 4 Mtotal , , ♦ ♦BIZ L DRI yL�Iy�t Vy. �IMItED .: M5ltiir` IT'S BUILT TO LAST Butler chain barn cleaners feature strong forged links, powerful drive unit, positive shear-pinprotec- tion for fast, easy cleaning. Chain fits most Cleaners. Replace your worn chain with Butler Chain. We also install al ey cleaners, stacker!, and Indriure- handling systems. WRY .FA - -Ri2.1 KINjC,ARDIN . . PfiON isi9 at►s S2 Cattlemens Association Award. Runners up, Gerald Martin, Dungannon and Brian Falconer, RR 4, Seaforth also held 143 points but the tie was broken for reasons in the beef class. Once again John Van Vliet 1, Attention Farmers A. For sale 780 JOHN DEERE Swather, pick-up reel, 12' table, in excellent condition. Call after 6 p.m. 529-7314.-23 MODEL 479 New Holland Haybine, used one season, in excellent condition. Phone ■�}p 524-7280.--23 herbick e f or white • qualified for this award with 144 points but was ineligible. The Winston Powell Award was given to the highest scored in . the horse section and Carolyn Dinsmore Fordwich took this with 96 out of 100 points. Lisa Thompson, RR'- 5, Win'gha•m"`and Bruce Godkin, RR 1, Walton' were runners up with 94 points. 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Phone 529-7191. —22,23 OM1.g new doors to small business Financial assistance Management counselling Management training Infor'rttation on government programs for business WAYNE ROUNDING one of our representatives will be at The Redford Hotel, GODERICH on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month; (Tuesday..luna If you require financing to start, modernize or expand your business and are unable lo obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms and conditions or if you are interested in the FBDB management services of counselling and training or wish information on government programs available for your business, talk to our representative, / �E rr<':��/ / ?(/ 4/1\1/ (%rk ) )/ I if, r �n ,,� .l it �4/IIY.� vi Green Cross Patoran controls weeds the start of the growing season. And maintains thateffective weed cont'o1 right up to harvest. You get clean fields and better yielk. When applied pre-emergentiPs directed, Patoran is safe for beans lima, snap, kidney and others. Green Cross Patoran. The quality herbicide more and more bean growers depend on. For more information, write to Green Cross Products, 1 Westside Drive, Etbbicoke, Ontario. M9C 182. RO Slt�� C�r'i've'" lvlslofl:Nbf ,CIBA-G!EwitiNG°:(brEai`ec.i°4A ? MONCl0N ..MONtfEAi l'oRc$To ?e't isteredtrademarlr