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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-09-29, Page 5daveyk GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBIbR 29; 1977—PAGE 5, 1 February has traditionally been given the nod as the most blase month of the year but September may set some people to re-examining what months are best for deep depressions. But while I sit and watch rainfall accumulate in record proportions day after day, what sets my mind back to February is the realization that shortly it will transform into snow. And my snow tires haven't recovered from last year's deluge. But now fair folk, it is timeto stoke the fire and rekindle that friendship with the oil man who seem.s•to spend more time at your home than a teenage son or daughtelr. Face it, summer is over. And we probably missed Indian summer as well without realizing it. Nobody has even sighted an Indian. They're smart. They stay indoors. However, in the wake of last year's vicious winter, prognostications for the next North American winter wonderland have meteorologists grabbing at each other's throats. for the most extreme predictions. Everyone wants to cash in on little glory by predicting the worst winter ever inflicted upon mankind or by claiming that Canada will become the newest winter resort. It's difficult to sort out but even my naivete hasn't sent me dashing into the basement to rip out the furnace and cash it in on an air con- ditioner. The confusion began when one noted meteorologist boasted that our winters will gradually moderate. Rumor has it that his subscription to Kilopascal quarterly was cancelled and govern- ment officials absconded with his barometer for torturing a credulous public. , Others in the weather game, not so prententious, have flat out stated that we haven't seen a winter like the one that's coming. Another climatographer cast his fate to the westerlies and claimed that otir chances of a repeat per- formance of last year are 30-1. Hardly something you could take to the bank. Our longshot will always come through. But still others toss their climagraphs into the air in frustration and then gather the mess into a neat pile that translates into a five day forecast. Technically, five days is the best they can forecast so looking ahead to the winter is fair game for a'nyone. If you trust the men who work the land then the farmers almanpc is as reliable as anything and their outlook holds -little promise. But if you really want to get the facts you have to go right to the source. The Indians. Seem reasonable, they have been here the longest and weathered a winter or two. Well wise old Indian lady was asked . about the winter and said she had no sympathy for us. Seems thatelltale signs are in the hickory nuts and corn tasslds. Well who would have thought. So the sage Indian lady, gauging by her usually reliable sources of hickory nuts and corn silk, says the winter will be more severe than the last. And she shows no mercy for the white man because the Indians know how tb keep warm during such winters and will not divulge any trade secrets. But there are only a few accurate gauges in determining the .sederity of winter. You know the winter will be harsh when the snow tires you thought would last another year give out in January, the family wagon -that was good , for another 20,000 miles "'expires after Christmas and the kids lose the lining out of their winter coats that looked good enough to wear for another winter. I think 1'11 buy an extra shovel. WEEK AFTER INFORMATION, BACKGROUND AND OPINION • ent, r the sal m incon ier to tical han HERE IN HURON the weather begins to yield of beans this year. He said that the a little bit the white bean quality of the yield can still be main - Huron County could be bad tained if there are three or four warm, dry days within the next week. small percentage of the Pullen explained that farmers ex- 000acres of white beans have perienced the same difficult with the vested and farmers are weather last year,. but a week of warm a.little anxious about the rain weather was the, salvationjor the bean ade harvesting impossible so- crop. but this year the weather is not as ation promising and it has farmers more than 1 lock' anxious at this point. there Pullen is trying to remain optimistic about the bean crop in the county but his abo optimism is dashed by the weather map. mune the ness? e of rnt and we of nscalt lo s n County ' • agriculture tive Don Pullen, said that great potential fora very fine any9 ;were ,(itieri 05 ell quaint and sly a itit'es Premier William Davis put men into his cabinet Wed - a reshuffling scheme and veteran minister to deputy rossman, MPP for the Toronto Andrew -St. Patrick, is now ter of consumer and com- lations; Frank Drea, MPP for gh Centre is the correctional nister and George McCague, erin-Simcoe representative government services. Culture and Recreation Robert Welch, ,who is also the t house leader, was named Local farmers claim that it would require at least two warm days to dry up the land so that equipment could be used on it. There is little chance of salvaging the beans that have been pulled and are still in the fields but Pullen claims that those still -standing have. good .potential again, if the weather dries up. Despite the fact that many bean crops are turning black beans in the pods remain -white and will maintain that quality if dry, sunny weather invades the county soon. a The losses may be heavy in the area if the beans are not harvested and Pullen explained that insurance will only cover the cost of production, if that. While the bean:,growers in the county anxiously await a break in the weather, the corn producers in Huron and Bruce counties are experiencing a problem of a similar n-ature. The wet weather has delayed the corn harvest and combined with the prices thathave increased by 50 percent this year, farmers aren't that enthusiastic about their chances. Pullen said that the corn is of the best quality in all parts. of the county this year but will make little difference if the rain prevents har- vesting. Hay crops are suffering from the same disease and while the yield held promise earlier in the summer, many farmers were only able to rescue half of their first cut hay- off. Now with the frequent ^rain, only farmers with high moisture silos will be able 't6 store it for use as feed during the winter. Farm specialists in neighbouring Perth county talk in the same terms. Pat Lynch, soils and crop specialist with the PROVINCIAL POINTS deputy premier, a position with status but no authority. Davis said that he had seriously considered a major shuffle in the cabinet but decided that with the ministry budget estimates still pending and legislation on the order paper, he would have to wait until completion of the current session before making drastic changes in portfolios. The legislature is expected to resume October 17. When asked about his cabinet ap- pointments in which _nine of the' 26 positions are filled by Toronto politicians Davis replied that he never thought of the appointments in geographical terms but did say he tried to maintain a balance among the regions of Ontario. With the three new appointments Davis fills vacancies created by a resignation, a retirement and a defeat. Sidney Handleman, the consumer and commercial relations minister retired a few months ago because of the problems of minority government in Ontario and ' also that he wanted more time for his family. He will remain as the MPP for Carleton. Arthur Meen, former corrections -minister chose not to run in the last' election and John Smith, minister of government services was defeated in the June 9 election. Cabinet Ministers in Ontario make $18,000 a year on top of their regular salary of $24,700. Of the $24,700, $7,500 is in the form of a tax-free expense allowance. Parliamentary assistants make an additional $5,000 on top of their salaries. Grossman is probably best known for the stand he took against his own government's attempt to close Doctor's Hospital in Toronto. The hospital is located in Grossman's riding, and he is the former vice-chairman. His side eventually won that battle and the • hospital stayed open. Frank Drea has been a backbencher since 1971 and has been parliamentary assistant to the consumer affairs minister since 1974. Drea, one of the more colourful sitting members is a former journalist whose efforts in the public accounts committee have been praised by all parties. McCaguc is the former mayor of Alliston and was first elected to the Of Drea, Lewis said it would be one of legislature in 1975. He was then ap • the more colourful and unorthodox pointed parliamentary assistant to the tenures in contemporary politics. "'atratford agricultural office, has estimated that one .third of Huron and Perth's $250 million bean crop has been ha rvested. _ There were some specialists who estimated that as much as 50 percent of the bean crop would be lost. Brian Melady of the Ontario Bean Growers Co- operative said the crops that were ripe weeks„ ago would be the hardest hit by the rain but that beans that were not yet ready for harvest may not be affected. The crops in Huron and neighbouring counties account for the majority of the economy treasurer last March and is a former farmer and businessman. The two opposition leaders were complimentary about Grossman's appointment and NDP leader Stephen Lewis said Grossman deserves the appointment and is a minister to watch. Liberal leader Stuart Smith" said Grossman and McCague both deserved a chance but of McCague, Lewis said, "Who can say?" claim that in the not too re, Canadian motorists will as ration coupons. ceCouncil of Canada warned CANADA IN SEVEN James Kates, chairman of the science council, claims that by Ahe end of the, century the known reserves of useable petroleLin in the world will have dried up. He added that even if reserves twice the amount now known are discovered they will only delay the drying up time by about 16 years. Canada's export of petroleum peaked in 1974 to $4 billion but Kates insists that figure will drop to zero within ten years because there won't be enough ll3N1 for our own use. The report predicts that gasoline rationing will be done on a two price quota system, a system that should be prepared for very soon. If gasoline was $1 per gallon then a motorists would be issued coupons for the amount of gas needed in daily transportation to and from work, He could byt gasoline at a pump with the coupon's. But once a motorists had used all his quota of coupons he would have to pay the full pump price which may then be $1.50 or $2. Kate's explained that the ration systeen should have a marked effect in encouraging conservation of • gasoline. ^ The report also recommended the staggering of working hours to make full use of transportation systems and reduce the 'need for peak hour equip- ment. Electricity rate,s whould also be revised to encourage people to wait for non non -peak hours to use their elec- trica,1 appliances. The, council, who assesses the coun- try's resources and makes recom- mendations, said solar entrgy has a major potential for industry but that research should begin immediately or Canada will become dependant on foreign firms. The council a Iso lauded the efforts of home instilation programs in reducing our energy consumption in horne heating. According to the report,. is 70 per cent of our homes were insulated in the next 12 years. the saving by that time (1990) would be the energy equivalen't of almost. 40- million barrels of oil per year. Provincial governments have to adopt energy saving building codes and the governments must then promoto in- centives for energy efficient homes, factories and other buildings. The federal government has already and ken tive tates director of the office of t and Budget, Bert Lance, om that position Wednesday versy of his handling of his finances and his Georgia crisis of the Jimmy Carter tion Lance insisted he was Georgia with a clear con- cl witlt his good name Lance said he was con- ould have continued to be an rector but said he was WORLDWEEK stepping down because of the amount of controversy and the continuing nature of the /natter. I4e insisted that his con- science was clear. The resignation ended months of controversy over his personal financial affairs and an end to the senate hearings. Carter accepted the resignation with the "greatest sense of regret and sorrow" and described him as a "good and honorable man." The loss was a major one for President Carter as Lance was his.closest friend and confidential adviser. Carter read the letter of resignation • from Lance at a news conference that was delayed two hours.until the letter was completed. The president stumbled on the word resignation and his eyes were downcast throughout the questioning period. He ended the news conference abruptly and left. Senator Sam Nunn, Lance's principal defender in the senate's governmental affairs committee, claimed Abe at- mospher6 in Washington made it im- possible for Lance to perform his duties. Senator Charles Percy, who asked some of the harshest questions during Lance's three days before the committee, said the President and Lance made the correct decision. The Senate Democratic majority leader, Robert Byrd of West Virginia, said that the United States could not afford to have as director -of the Office of Management and Budget, a man whose personal problems were so great that they detracted from his performance. Former President Gerald Ford ex- pressed surprise at the timing of the resignation but claimed ifwas inevitable in view of what has happened over the past six months. Lance returned to his hoine in set up a seven-year home insulation progrsm beginning with pre -1920 homes this year. It offers homeowners up to $350 to insulate their homes. Each province is supposed to provide a backup $150 loan. Ontario's program is awaiting cabinet approval. The report said that Canada has to become a conserver society and if conservation is practiced properly then there would not need be a big drop in the standard of living. The council has also recommended the recycling of garbage and wastes which 'would be encouraged through taxation. Washington before the press conference Carter did not ask for Lance's and was greeted by thousands of sup- resignation but simply asked him to porters. Moments after the news con. make his own decision. When asked if he ference Lance's wife, LaBelle. told would have demanded the resignation reporters her husband did not have to Carter said it was hard to determine. resign and that he was an honest and Carter did say that the affair probably good man. damaged his own credibility with the A merican people to some degree. But he in his letter to Carter, Lance insisted was still firm in his support of Lance and that the three dhys before the senate defended his appointment to a key ad - comm ittee cleared his name and Carter ministrative position. agreed that his honor and integrity had Carter did not say if he had a suc- been proven. Carter said the allegations cessor in mind but made it clear he was against I.ance were unproven and unlikely to find someone with whom he blamed himself for. some of Lance's could share the same relationship that financial problems. he enjoyed with Lance.