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The Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-08-08, Page 3• Cardiff is grilled at federation meeting Murray Cardiff, Huron -Bruce MP and parliamentary secretary to Don Mazankowski, agriculture minister and,. deputy prime minister, was grilled by farmers at last month's Huron County Federation of Agri- culture meeting at Clinton. From topics such as crop insur- ance to the Farm Credit Corpora- tion, the 40 farmers attempted to press Mr. Cardiff for changes to fed- eral farm policy. FCC loan policies brought the sharpest debate of the evening as farmers urge the federal agency to become more aggressive in helping farmers with financing. Chris Palmer of RR 5, Wingham, federation president, said FCC loans have dropped from $700 mil- lion in 1983 to $200 million in 1987 and $100 million last year. He asked why the FCC is cutting back its activity. FCC loans of the early 1980s were used mainly to refinance existing farms, not get new farmers into the business, Mr. Cardiffskplied. The County -wide water system not practical, says PUC A county -wide water utility would be a financial burden for small towns like Wingham. That's the concensus of Wingham Public Utilities Commission, faced with a provincial proposal to amal- gamate the water utility adminis- tration in Fill_mn County. The proposal is included in the county restructuring report released in April. Last week Wingham PUC voted to endorse a letter from Exeter Pub- lic Utilities Commission to Oxford MPP Charlie Tatham, one of the authors of the county report. The letter strongly opposes implement- ing a county -wide water services management system, and points out that in Mr. Tatham's own rid- ing, utilities have been left at the municipal level. We have the same concerns here that the people in Exeter have," said PUC Manger Ken Saxton. "Municipalitie can do the job more efficiently(and more reason- ably -priced than a county -wide sys- tem can operate." He also noted that towns such as Wingham, with well-maintained utility systems, will end up paying higher water rates to cover costs of updating systems in municipalities that have not been maintaining their own utilities to the same level. "We'll be paying for systems in smaller centres like Belgrave and Whitechurch as well," he noted. Mayor Ian Moreland, a member of the commission, said the endorse- ment should also note that Wing - ham already has a reliable and cost- efficient water system in place for its residents. "If it goes county- wide, we'll end up paying a lot more for the same service." Airmen are invited to Dunnville reunion For the past 43 years, Canadian Airforce personnel who were sta- tioned at No. 6 SFTS during the war have gathered in Dunnville to cele- brate their station reunion. This year marks the 44th get-together and it takes place Sept. 15, 16 and 17. The weekend kicks off with a "mood -adjustment hour" and receptttin on -Friday evening, a 'golf tournament and visit to the Canadi- an Warplane Heritage Museum at Mount Hope on Saturday morning, followed by a parade, Harvard aeri- al salute, memorial service and ban- quet. The weekend winds down with a pancake breakfast Sunday morning. Robert Collins, author of many books, notably "The Long and the Short and the Tall", will be guest of honor and will take the salute on Saturday afternoon beneath the Harvard Memorial. This service is conducted in memory of the 47 Commonwealth, American and Canadian airmen who paid the supreme sacrifice while serving at Dunnville from 1940 to 1944. The parade will be led by the pipes and drums of Branch 142 of the Royal Canadian Legion and the memorial service will be preceded by a formation fly-past of Harvard aircraft led by Norm Beckham of Canadian Harvard Aircraft Associ- ation of Woodstock. A banquet will follow at the Legion auditorium at which time Mr. Collins will be the speaker and will reminisce on his early days in the RCAF. All veterans and all ranks of No. 6 and their spouses 'areinvited. If you are ,not, on the mailing list, please contact, Frank Scholfield, Adjutant -General, 646 Alder Street West, Dunnville, Ont., NIA 1S5. Morris has no objection to severance Morris Township Council has no objection to a severance application for Ron Cook at the east end of Bel - grave. The severance would create one new lot for a residence at Brandon' Street. Council has no objection as the application complies with the township secondary plan. The severance application has been forwarded to the county plan- ning and development committee. TAUNTED Glitte—lattet kikaynn, daughter of Dave and Joan McGlynn of Kitchener and granddaughter of Joe Tiffin, took to the stage at last weekend's Teeswater-Culross Old Boys' and Girls' Reunion during the music jamboree at the arena. corporation still is attempting to .recover from the problems of the over -expansion of that era. Doug Garniss of Morris Town- ship asked Mr. Cardiff if he felt it is acceptable for FCC to only be loan- ing out $100 million per year. At such levels, he claimed, the corpo- ration should be laying off staff and closing offices. Mr. Cardiff said the message is that FCC is not meeting the needs of farmers. The government has made a commitment to change and is looking at the situation. However, Paul Klopp of Zurich, past president of the federal and former New Democratic Party can- didate, said that while the govern- ment claims it must take time to study FCC, it could make an overnight decision to bail out a Western bank. "You're in a. position to do some- thing," he challenged Mr. Cardiff. "Treat us (farmers) like a bank out West." The government could insist that FCC have a good farm credit policy. It would show confidence to young farmers who are getting out of the business now, Mr. Klopp said. Another farmer agreed with Mr. Klopp's complaint about high inter- est rates. The mart said his two sons cannot continue to farm with high interest rates. "You've got to act and do something," he told Mr. Cardiff. Crop insurance brought more criticism. Bob Down of Hensall asked when and if crop insurance covering 90 per cent of loss would be implemented. Mr. Cardiff said the government would like to see a "safety -net" program composed of crop insur- ance and tri -partite stabilization in effect by the 1990 crop year, but this will require participation by the provinces. Gordon Hill, a member of the provincial crop insurance commis- sion, challenged the federal govern- ment's concern for long-term pro- grams for farmers. Currently the program is paid for 50 per cent by the farmers and 50 per cent by the federal government with the province picking up the expenses of administering the pro- gram. However, claimed Mr. Hill, the federal government has been pushing for a system whereby the farmer would continue to pay 50 per cent, while the federal and provincial governments would each pay 25 per cent. Mr. Cardiff argued that the new agreement would not be so unfair to the province because the cost of administering the program would be included in the total program. And, he said, lower costs for insur- ance might increase the overall costs of the program because more farmers would be included. Mr. Hall said that when a com- mittee was set up to review the crop insurance program, it recom- mended that there would be more coverage11(currently farmers can recover only 80 per cent of the value'of their crop) and more pub- lic funding. But the federal govern- ment is going the other way, he said. "Let's work out the plan we want and we'll come up with the money," said Mr. Cardiff. "I've got the program. You give me the money," countered Mr. Hill. D s.! I I 1 INTERNATIONAL TRACK MEET, Shaun Gedcke, centre, of the Wingham Optimist Track and Field Club, recorded personal bests in the 100 -metre and long jump at a recent meet at Buffalo, New York. (Track club photo) CRIME STOPPERS I-800-2654777_ Pf.men$11114111,""" ;MAW It is suspected that two trailers at the General Homes yard in Hensall were set on fire and the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Provin- cial Police and Huron County Crime Stoppers are seeking your help in solving this matter. The fire occurred in the early hours of Sunday, July 9 and three youths were seen in the area at about 1 a.m. These youths ranged from 14 -to -15 years of age and were either intoxicated or acting as such - pushing each other and laughing. They were seen by the east fence of the General Homes yard by wit- nesses. If you have any information about this or any other crime, call Huron County Crime Stoppers at 1- 800-265-1777 or 524-6851 and you may be eligible to receive a $1,000 reward. Remember, crime doesn't pay, Crime Stoppers does. STAINTON'S CUSTOMER PARKING TO THE REAR OF OUR STORE — JUST OFF VICTORIA ST. VISIT US TODAY ! EXTERIOR woob STAINS for patio furniture, decks, siding, etc. OFF STAINTON HARDWARE (WINGHAM) LTD. 357-2910 Home hour/wale olivetti • TOSHIBA • COMMODORE Bluewater OFFICE EQUIPMENT LTD. 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