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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWingham Advance-Times, 1980-04-09, Page 2Times, April 9. 1900 'mers nnust stick t et through financ•. must etick they are to over- tenons finarriatand ealOgrProblems they face in 3 its was the ineersageRalph Barrie, newly -elected president of rthe 23,000 - member Ontario Federation =e4 Agricultare, brought to the Huron County Federation of Agriculture last week_ In a meeting held at Ethel, Mr. Barrie remOded about 100 federation members of the OFA's ' past successes and urged them to get behind the group as farmers face some of their gravest challenges ever. "Sometimes I'm too pessimistic," be said, "and I'm not sure well get tough this without all going broke-" He said as he travels around Ontario he sees the many faces of OFA and is surprised to find that the concerns of farmers are not all that dif- ferent from one part of the province to another. "Today we're looking at problems and challenges we never dreamed of a couple of years ago," he noted, listing interest rates, energy, transportation, rural severances, the Agricultural Code of Practice, imparts and tariffs, foreign ownership, pollution and market value assess.ment among them. Interest rates are creating major problems for many farmers, he noted. The rate increases nearly every week — it's now up to 17 per cent for many farmers = and is having a disastrous effect on farm incomes. Farm indebtedness has increased nearly 400 per cent, ina to an average of over $40,000 per .farm, during the past decade in Ontario, he reported. 'lois, coupled with the dramatic rise in interest rates, is having quite an impact Oil the farming community. Mr. Barrie reported far- mers are funding their cash flows have dried up and, because of increased prices and shortages in the farm supply business, there are no longer many bargains available. He predicted that Unless the situation is changes it will stop investment in farming said he hada recently asked a tax accountant with a large number of farm clients what the best operations are returning on their investment, and was told it would be about 12 per cent, with the average return in the order of six to eight per cent. "Why would anybody invest in a business and pay 14 to 16 per cent to get that kind of a return?" Mr. Barrie asked. He told the group Ontario needs to come up with a "dramatic, new approach" to protect farmers. Twelve to fifteen thousand new rural lots are severed each year, he reported, and this has a big, negative impact on farmers, who are restricted in any new additions to their operations. He said the OFA had received a "fairly sym- pathetic" hearing from Ontario Agriculture Minister Lorne Henderson, who seems to .want to make a deal regarding farm severances, but `added, "We certainly don't want more severances." • He said one of the federation's greatest concerns is in the area of property tax reform, noting it is over 19 years since the OFA first became involved in this issue. Treasurer Frank Miller pro- mised last winter to have a new, long-range policy ready by July, he reported, but he now knows there's not much chance of having it by then. "The situation, instead of getting closer to a solution, is getting more complex," he commented. Mr. Barrie told the farmers not to expece any easy an- swers, but sad if they hope to have any success they must achieve it by working together. He reminded them of the OFA slogan, `Farmers Working for Farmers', and told them they must "buy 'e commitment in the OFA and our future. You pay a price for involvement in the OFA and for what you achieve." It is obvious there will be many changes to marketing boards in the '80s, he told them, "but they will basically be determined by the deter- mination we as farmers have in working together." A vigorous question and discussion period followed Mr. Barrie's address, and he used it to further elaborate on some of his points. He said the federation is lobbying to prove its case to society and called for "a real show of support for our cause". He also noted that part of the problem the OFA is having in getting federal support for its complaints is created by programs other provinces are using to help their farmers. Quebec is subsidizing interest costs far farmers to the tune of $30 million and British Columbia, $20 million, he reported. Consequently part of the OFA lobby must be directed toward the provincial government. A number of farmers at the meeting, in particular former OFA president Gordon Hill and Bev Brown, a Turnberry Township pig farmer, declared that banks rather than government are the real culprits behind farmers' financial dilemma. What do you hope to ac- complish by going to the government? Mr: Hill inquired. You have to get after the banks and finance compa- nies if you are going to get relief. They are the ones who are going to cripple agriculture if allowed to continue with their "usurious rate of interest", he declared. Miss Brown also condemned the "irresponsible behavior" of banks, which she declared, have been "flogging money" to people who shouldn't have had it and now are getting shaky and foreclosing too quickly. "When this is over, if you can get money anywhere else don't get it from the banks," she urged people, suggesting they should "have a long meniory, like elephants". She also claimed that far- mers are being unfairly burdened with the current financial crisis. "No one across the country is being asked to take even a 10 per aternent shows Turnberry receive its` financial statement for 1979 ta-t week with *res sheaving a good finaricf al year for the township. Starting off with a $,712 deficit from 1578, Ta--sy managed. to finish the year$30,683 tone good. Total expenditures for 1979 were $301,184 compared to 6,7119 in 1978. Including transfers to the county and school . boars, the numbers increase to $53L814 last year; $A979 less than in 1978. Revenue to pay for municipal purpeses rase to$353,901, from $309,229 in 1978- . Thetownehip auditors were not presait,at the last general meeting to discuss the statement, but they will meet watch council in the near future_ Dining the Meeting': cmmeiI did receivea letterl`rom board of directors: of the Wingham and District Hospital asking for a nomination to the beard. Before ung its decision the township would blue to see a copy of the hospital bylaws. The came request was made last year, but they have yet to be received_ The frenal decision was that council would not make a nomination at this time, however it does hope to have -a copy -of the -bylaws for the next general meeting, April 15. Deputy Reeve Harold Elliott did not vote on that resolution. Councillor Doug Fortune reported that the Rural Development Outreach Project is looking into available grants to fund the township's . proposed road 'dosing investigation pro7ect. Regarding the matter, the Huron County Planning Department advised that it would be willing to supervise such an undertaking. Turnberry's road em- ployees announced they would like a 10 per cent salary in- crease this year. After a discussion it was moved that they be granted a 50 cent per Hour wage increase, or $7.50 per hour until April 1, 1981. That would be a hike of 7.4 per cent. The township is interested in straightening out Helena Street, however some land Would have to be purchased from the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. Council viewed the site on a road tour, . April 3. A representative from the MVCA was to meet thein to ONO The Loan Arrangor 11r11 help yon"Pronto" Your heroic Branch Manager is able to save you a 112% on Personal Loans over -- $2,500.00. Offer ver.,$2,500.00.Offer valid to April 191h. The Loan Arranger can help you look forward to that terrific trip, gel behind the wheel of, that new car, or take home that colour Tee And that's only the beginning . , POO Qin' Contact us in Listowel at Main St E 291-1450 Eta a ood yr. discuss the matter.Turnberry accepted a chloride tender from Pollard Bros. 1t was set at $118.25 per flake ton, subject to the Ministry of Transportation and Communication's ap- proval. Ther tender was received last month, but confusion occurred when council learned that Culross Township is paying a cheaper price to thesame company. Since then it has been reported that the price is set by the county and Huron County is $118.25. Farm rental tenders were also received. The one from John Eadie, for $3,250 per year for three years, was accepted. Apparently the only other lender 'received ` was from Nelson Underwood, however it was not accepted becaSuse the lease agreement form was not completed as stated in the advertisement. Jim Thompson, represent- ing the Bluevale Hall Board, visited council and requested that a street in Bluevale be closed for one day this August for a street dance. He asked council to pass a bylaw that would close Jacob Street to Orange Street, and Queen from Clyde Street to Duncan Street. It was decided to first find out if MTC approval is necessary for such a bylaw. In correspondence from the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority it was reported that Ken Westman was appointed general manager and the 1980 1 for' is set at levy TuurnberrY, ... . ;►'693:07. its 1980 levy for the MVCA .1s $2,900.99. Credit Union doing well members told at meeting The North Huron Credit Union is continuing to grow and in general is operating well, members were told during the annual meeting March 28. Auditor Barry Reid sum- marized the financial state- ment, which showed the credit union with $1,133,972 in assets for 1979, up from $1,019,.109 in 1978, and reported he gave the credit union a clean bill of health. In his report, Manager George Michie said he would like to see the credit union expand its business by half. It could handle $1.5 million with the same staff it has now, he said, and that would allow a larger dividend than the six per cent declared for 1979. He commented that if all the members were doing all their business with the credit union it would improve the profits. He said there are still some problems with bad debts, noting there has been an average of one bankruptcy each year among borrowers, but said the sale of registered retirement savings plans in February was very en- couraging. He reminded members that credit unions have been leading the way in such things as daily interest and no -fee RRRSPs and urged them to promote the credit union in the community. in business at the meeting, members elected one new director and two new mem- bers to the credit committee. MOM ghadie was elected teinn as directoras a, sand Clifford Coultes was returned for another three Years. Mr. Elmslie takes the place of William Stevenson, who retired from the board this year. Other members of the board of directors are Peter Chandler, Robert Gavreluk, a Archie Purdon, John Taylor anti clang Walker. Mr: Taylor is president of the North. Huron Credit Union and Mr. Chandler is the secretary. Robert Wittig and Harold Metcalfe were elected to the credit committee to replace Gerald Belanger and Scott Reid who retired this year. John Nixon was reelected to the committee for another three-year term. Other members of the committee are Ross Anderson and Kenneth Wheeler. The meeting was a dinner meeting held at the Wingham Golf and Curling Club and it was followed by a dance. Approximately -50 members of the credit union and 12 guests attended. SACRED HEART EUCHRE Fifteen tables were in play at the Sacred Heart euchre April1. High man was Gordon Carter, with Irene Bosnian the high lady; low man was George Marklevitz and Jean Currie was low lady. Agnes Williamson won the door Prize. Lunch was served by Agnes Caskanette, Florence Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Campeau. I ,cent of in pay exce the fairrnga,;'' she decla . "I don't mind. tightening my belt, but. 1 brant everyone else aeross the country to take a eut; n pa too! " She suggested that, "with= ou4 gett►og militant", farmers shottfd find some way of sa1ng.to'people in the cities: `Staltile, attd see if you like it.' Hgu►eyer Mr. Barrie disagreed, saying the far- mers"- .fight is not with the consumer but with the P0.1 ti*lansand bankers. Carl Hemingway, a retired pig farmer from Brussels, suggested farmers could take a page from the banker's book. A year ago it would have cost $15,000 to fill his barn with pigs, he reported, while now the prices havirdropped to the point that it would take only .$6,000 to fill the same barn. He suggested the hog producers should follow the bank example, produce half the number of pigs and charge twice as much for them. Another farmer, Doug Cameron, who raises feeder Pigs, said the reason pork is in trouble is because pig farmers overproduced their market. However Miss Brown denied it is that simple. She and her sister didn't increase their own product by one piglet, she declared, but a few years ago the banks created a tremendous in- crease in the number of pig barns around the country by flogging money for pig barns and refusing to lend for ex- pansion beef or other commodities, She reported that 30 new pig barns went up in one Huron County township alone in one year, .saying that what is needed IS supply,rnanagement in the banking business. o A number of suggestions were put forward- op 'how to save farmers, who have seen their average incomes drop by between 25 and 40 per cent this year. Merle Gunby, president of the Huron federation, said that in the short term funds must be made available for emergency financing. For the mid-term, farmers require comparable interest rates with their counterparts in other provinces, he said, meaning . subsidized loans, while in the long term they should be able to count on a fair return for then' c m- modities. At the end of the meeting farmers were urged to attend the OFA mass rally off farmers in Ottawa April 24. About a dozen- of those present in- dicated an interest in at- tending, with most favoring the option of chartering a plane from London at a cost of $100 per seat. This would enable them to make the return trip in one day. Walter Elliott of the East Wawanosh Federation of Agriculture reported oo a previous Ottawa rally he had attended and urged as many as possible to go. "I think if enough people go 'we'll get something done," he said. 471, 4 rmers prefer a roe White ie of -standard fenures,includil • • 1 lOw profile heamdutypciiyeth l allowingOetter Visibility,, I .. . five year ro•rated Warranty 46 • complete ange of yodels includin ^fli r ;,;;tri • six t; poiinthitt and four sizes* • saddle tank . e. parts and service, you -can count Qui_, r. • ' full length. adjustable sparge tube . t *agitation.. T-290 Trailer Sprayer ..ff f.•.• - ae - .UflffjVl/flf JJffJ GEORGEITIC. 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Efficiently dis- solves away stubborn dirt, grease, etc. Operates easi- ly' with any compressor supplying pressures from 40-150 PSI. An essential tool for all farmers, truck- ers, garages, etc. Light- weeight ... only weighs 11/2 lb Lightweight Rope 1'h" x 20'. Light, easy -to -carry. Long last- ing polypropylene with two eye splicers. work! load to 3240 Its. No back- lash . 56573 High Test -- , Logging Chain %" x 16' chain -with grab hook and slip ,;nook. Lighter in weight, but approx. 1% times stronger than 1/2" proof chain! Heat treated to withstand impact loads. Safe working load 4600 lbs 561-046 Multi-load Grease Gun '179 eaa, An all-purpose grease gun for cartridge or bulk load- ing. Plunger allows loading by cartridge, dispenser or any hand method. Devel- ops 10,000 lbs. pressure. 571-001 • All-purpose 1_229 WD -4012 oz. Multi-purpose lubricant stops squeaks, protects metal, loosens rusted parts and frees sticky mechanisms. Lightly re- apply for longer protection. 548-100 FINANCING AVAILABLE THROUGH WINGHAM 357-27111 -BRUSSELS 8874453 1