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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-12, Page 31Food commission report Iluron can control its own future growth BY JEFF SEDDON Huron County has the means to control in- dustrial and urban ex- pansion here but if that control is not taken county. residents may have to take what others give them. That was a warning from Alex Crate, an in- dustrial consultant from Toronto. Crate was in Goderich recently speaking to represen- tatives of farming organizations, politicians, industrialists and businessmen at an economic development seminar sponsored by the county. Crate warned that farmer's concerns that industry and agriculture can't exist side by side may not be enough to prevent industrial _ ex- pansion here. He said industrial expansion in Huron' may be an economic fact of life that the agriculutural com- munity has to accept. The consultant hinted that farmer opposition to any industrial expansion in Huron was not the reason no expansion had taken place. He said Huron was. "not situated in a prime industrial area inthe province" adding that it was on the fringe of developed areas near Toronto, Hamilton, London and Windsor. He pointed out that while counties to the east and south of Huron had prospered from in- dustrial development Huron had "not wit-. nessed a high rate of industrial growth or spill over from other in- dustrial areas". "But that may be in your future if you want it," he. said. He told the seminar Huron county was looked upon as 'a county with highly productive land and as a very attractive recreational area. • He suggested the county look at developing that, recreational potential. The population of counties surrounding Huron has risen due to industrial growth and Crate noted' that in- dustrial expansion goes hand in hand with urban growth. He said Huron county's agricultural base -has not provided futures for enough people and that fact is born out in population figures. He said while other areas have grown Huron's population growth has been "modest and in fact has slightly declined". "I'm not saying in- dustry and nothing else," Crate explained. "I'm saying industry diver- sifying the base of recreation and agriculture not shifting from one economy to another.' He suggested that groups or individuals with concerns about the future of the county get together and formulate a plan. He explained that with proper guidance any industrial and urban expansion in Huron could be done in such a way that it would blend right into the present land uses. The consultant suggested that with proper planning the in- dustrial potential of Huron county could become reality. He said once a future is decided on the county could begin to promote itself. He told the seminar any industrialist thinking of locating somewhere in Huron county would have a tough time. He pointed out it "wouldn't be easy to determine where preferred industrial sites are and where serviced areas are". ' He said Huron is in competition with other municipalities in the province. He said en- ticing industry to Huron would be no small chore and would require promotional skills. He suggested the county attempt to make people aware that industry is wanted here. "I looked for signs as soon as I arrived here and even in Goderich I couldn't find one that told me who 'I would call for information," he said. He added that when he drove through Clinton he noted . that the town "promoted harness racing but not industrial growth or the sale of serviced land". Crate told the group that the promotion of the county•must be active. He said that by showing up'at the seminar the county indicated an interest in industrial growth. "It isn't good enough to tell me by your presence here or by the fact that you employ a develop- ment officer that you're interested in develop- ment if you're not going to tell the man in in- dustry." He suggested that if recreation is what brings the most visitors to Huron county that may be where the promotion can start. .He said visitors to Huron are "more than tourists" explaining the man visiting Goderich harbor for fuel for his boat may own his own company. "Sell him more than gears for his boat. ' Tell him when his company expands Huron county is a good place to locate:" Crate said it appears quality of life in Huron county issomething municipalities are working -hard to ensure. He suggested the .county use that high quality .as part of its promotion. He pointed out' that when a company sends someone to an area to search for potential expansion sites that person looks for more than just serviced land and low taxes. He looks at recreational facities, homes, schools, -churches ans stores. He looks at those facilities both from. Ole company's standpoint and his own. "As an employee he looks to find land but as a person he looks at the community to see what it is like to live in," said Crate. He added that if two GLEN GREEN '1J'1'1 Forage Mixtures and Seeds C.` r Pasture; hay pasture, haylage, green chop, straight seeds and lawn grass mixtures Available for Immediate Delivery HARVEY CULBERT 529-7492 R. R. 6 Goderlch ELDON BRADLEY 528-2214 Lackner/ Alex Crate ...Huron's industrial growth not high municipalities have comparable •• industrial sites the deciding factor may be life in the town. Crate stressed that any promotion the county takes on would cost money. He added that if Huron wanted to lure A industry here it better be prepared to foot the bill. He said national organizations • such as senior levels of gover- nment, ban•ks and railways may recom- mend'Huron county sites to expanding industries but he warned that those groups cannot be relied on. He said they may support the county but added county officials shouldn't "look for them to send you trade because if you do you will only be frustrated". The consultant said county officials shouldn't be "impressed with cocktails and luncheons" those groups hold oc- casionally. Hesaid if people in Huron "hold your breath waiting for industryto come you will be blue before it gets here". "Look for a much broader base. Promotion costs money and you'd better face that fact," he; added. Crate suggested that anyone. Who felt Huron Open house by "Ma" Bell Bell Canada will be showing off its facilities in Clinton next week as they are having an open house. The public will be allowed to tour Bell's exchange building at 12 Rattenbury Street, Clinton on Wednesday, April 18, and Thursday, April 19, from 7 t 9 pm each night. county survived solely on agriculture should take a look at the economics of the county. He said that there was no doubt agriculture was the prime industry here but suggested thatfarm incomes be investigated. He said he thought even farmers would be sur- prised -by their f"ind'irigs_----'-'- He said he realized how prime agriculturalland had been squandered in other areas of the province but pointed out that farm land "was not taken from the farmer but was sold by farmers wanting to get out of farming". He said Huron may not have any alternative' but. to promote industrial expansion. He said he was not sure the county ,could stand still adding theg rowth could be. managed to protect. farming interests. • "Both can survive in a county the size of Huron," he said. 2.7 GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1979—PAGE 11A F'ood bond between urban, rural BY GRACE AUSTIN The following is part of a submission by the National Farmers Union to the People's Food Commission presented at Toronto on February 24, 1979. "We hope that your Commission will attempt to convince •urban and rural people that in food they have 'a common bond and should have a common goal, that they can strengthen or destroy the most efficient producers of food, the family farm. We believe that we should treat food. producing land as a resource, not as a commodity. Traditionally, we have always taken for granted that there would always be plenty of food in this country. This may have been true when farm families were the dominant superin- tendents of land and of food production. The people of Canada should not be complacent about the dangers of becoming more and more dependent on imports. Our fruit industry in this country is becoming strangled for lack of processing facilities and by imports from canning companies and closed them down. The NFU is very concerned about •the annual Toss of thousands of acres of prime farm land; leaving more ' un- suitable. land for food production. The NFU believes that the Niagara fruit land should be preserved, even if it means zero growth in this area. Consumers would be advised to take a look at the benefits to be achieved from a marketing system for beef. Because of very low prices between 1974 and 1977 many producers started to deplete their herds. Now we have a reverse situation anc prices have changed from too low for farmers to too high for consumers. Value on quota traded among farmers is an added cost to production which is unnecessary. It is a restrictive element to young farmers. When a New open trading. could hurt some A study recommending open trading among farmers for the transfer of marketing quotas could have serious ' im- plications for average family farms and young people wanting to farm, if adopted by marketing boards. The study was done by two university professors. - Joe Casey, NFU Co- ordinator for Region 3, (Ontario) told members attending a District Annual meeting in Monkton, April 3, that if press reports ,,of the study are correct, it means quotas could eventually end up in the hands of those with the money, and , that won't necessarily be farmers as we know them today. "I was disturbed to hear radio interviews when several marketing board officers indicated they favoured easing restrictions on the transfer of quotas. This could mean we would allow the dollar bill to dictate who will produce farm commodities in the future." Casey said there should not be a price tag on any quota transfer, and that when a farmer wishes to give up production the quota should revert back to the respective board to be made available for reallocation, preferably to young farmers and those with the lowest amount of quota. "Let's face it, much of the quota in some com- modities did not cost the present holders anything. Having to purchase quota creates an unnecessary cost of production and is a deterent to young far- mers becoming established," he said. "Quotas should be available to a wide sector of producers for the purpose of orderly marketing of farm commodities, not to aid a few to be the only producers," Casey said. farmer retires the quota should automatically return to the respective board. • The NFU is concerned over the irresponsible actions of food processors and retailers in using minimal increases in raw materials as an excuse to raise prices significantly. For instance, the in- creased cost to millers "(based on 2.2 bushels of wheat required to make ..100 pounds of flour required to make 135 - 20 - ounce loaves of bread) amounted to two cents per loaf of .bread. This increase was translated to seven cents a loaf at the retail level. The NFU is concerned about the un- derdevelopment of agriculture in Canada. The price of becoming self-sufficient will be much' cheaper than becoming a net im- porter." FARM CLASSIFIED A. FlAc sale BALED STRAW. Phone 529-7989 evenings. -15- 16X '56 INTERNATIQNAL 4 row planter with fibreglass boxes; 14 ft. Kewanee disc with cylinder; 171/2 ft. Kongskilde cultivator; 3 wagons with Turnco V - bins;. 500 AR bean win- drower with cross con- veyor. Phone 523- 4260.-15 B. Custom work BULLDOZING, Allis- Chalmers No. 650, with six way hydraulic blade. Bill Robinson, RR2 Auburn,1529-78 57 .-13 tf C. Wanted LIGHT WEIGHT hay wagon with or without rack. Phone 524-4141 after 5 p.m. -15 Complete Automotive Machine Shop and Radiator Repair Service Let U5 do the work.... IDEAL SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED 145 HURON ROAD, GODERICH 524-8389 CLAY — • Silo Unloaders Feeders Cleaners Stabling Leg Elevators Manure Equipment Hog Equipment BUTLER — Silo Unloaders Feeders Conveyors FARMATIC — MIIls Augers, etc. ACORN — Cleaners Heated Waterers WESTEEL-ROSCO Granaries B & L - Hog Panelling LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS RR 1, Kincardine, Ont. 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