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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1945-05-24, Page 7THURSDAY, MAY, 24, 1945 THE SEAFORTH NEWS Federation President Addresses Farmers President Ken Betzner Tells What The Federation Has Done For Farming Ken Betzner, President of this Ontario Federation spoke to a large crowd of Huron County farmers, in Clinton, on Friday, May 11th, His talk of 1/5th mill and what the Federation has done for the Ontario farmer was most en- lightening and was enthusiastically' received. A summary of his address follows: "I am sure it is a privilege for me this everting to conte up and spend the evening with you and with my friend, Mr. Sturdy. I think I am safe in saying here that the Pro- ' vince was divided into four sections, from each section the executive member was chosen for the Ontario Executive. If it were not that I had come up through the Federation, I am sure that your worthy president her would have been the Izepre- sentative for District No. 2 on the Executive of the Ontario Federa- tion. I will endeavour to give you a picture of the workings of the Fed- eration, both Provincial and Na- tional and touch on some of the national aspects of the Federation. Fi'rst of all I think you will all agree that farmers were the last grosp of people to become organized locally, provincially and nationally, and the need for that organization was most vital. Through the depres- sion period of 32 to 34 when agri- culture represented 1/3 of the pop- ulsltion of Canada they had to be satisfied with an income of only 8% of the national income where they were entitled to 35% of the nation- al income. In the fall of 35 I was called to go to Toronto when Representatives from every Province in. the Domin- i' Ion, gathered to endeavour to set up a national organization ceprosent,. ing all commodity groups and all farmers of the Dominions of Canada, in Ontario we have a Federation of Agriculture with County branch- es. All but three counties, one in western Ontario and two in Eastern Ontario are represented. The two remote counties to the very east border of the province of Quebec, Stormont and Glengarry and one in WesternOntario, Elgin County, along with that they have commodity organizations affiliated with the Ontario Federation. The coarnno'ditY'. organization having a joint inember- ship of 85,000 fanners in the Pro= vince of Ontario besides the County organization which will bring the' total over 100,000. The Canadian Federation has over 350,000 farmers in the Domin- ion of Canada. What has been one of the largest, and I think I may say predominating features in sell- ing the Federation has been Nation- al Farm Radio Forums, by which farmers in a locality in a communi- ty get together" and discuss their own problem and at the same time those problems are d'iscu'ssed from coast to coast. All farmers across Canada are discussing one subject and reporting their findings to their Provincial and National Radio For- um. Many of us feel, "Well, that is something seomebody else can do, but I haven't time." I think the most vivid example of what the Radio Forum means to us economi- cally is a picture of the Ohio Farm Bureau and as you know in the TTnited States they have no National Radio as we have in Canada. Now we put on twenty broadcasts over 11 stations throughout the entire winter with no cost whatsoever to vou, if you don't pay your radio license. There was bureau of statis- tics who report farmers facts and opinions on C.B.G., and it has been of great value to the Federation in finding out the facts and opinions of farmers throughout the Dominion.' I must mention our paper, the Rural Co-operator which has in the past two years become the official organ of Agriculture in Ontario. Commodity ' group organization work has been one of the main functions of the Ontario Federation for some years. Many of you have been affiliated with commodity group of one type or another and know the economic value to you of that commodity group, I know this is not a fluid milk area, but I know it from away back and I want to draw to your attention the example of what a commodity organibation has done for me in the milk indust- ry. In 1932 when milk for cheese was bringing 59e an'd 60e we were reeeiVi'ng for -fluid milk $1.80 through the work of the commo'd'ity organization. Tliat is what we feel should be incorporate'd in every type of agriculture, coinniodities working for your interest and to protect your interest. There are four large organizations or groups of producers in the province which the Ontario Federation feels should be organized for the protection of the farmers in this community. They are beef, hog, dairy and poultry producers. Four of the large group of commodity producers in this Province which are not organized at the present time are getting a scheme to which will be set up in the nay future a Cream Producers organization. The foreman of our Cream Producers committee which has been set up in the past six weeks figured out what he was get- ting for his cream and what he would be getting were he sending to a cheese factory in comparison with the milk from 16 cows for -a month and he said he would receive 390.00 more' and allow $40.00 per hundred for skint milk, Then there is the Hog Producers Liberal Working Phan for Full Post -War Employment,.. For Veterans -$750,000,000 to get them started in good paying jobs in industry, on the land or in business for them- selves as each of them chooses. m® Housing-3400,000,000al 5 to finance the biggest building scheme this country has ever known. Family. Allowances—$250,000,000 a year to lessen the burdens of parenthood and to equalize the opportunities of young Canadians for success and happiness. Espen Credits—We've got to hare exports if we re going to have jobs. Your Liberal Govern- ment has arranged to finance war -wrecked countries' who will be good customers later. - Industrial Development Bonk—Your Liberal Gov, erntnent has set up machinery to help enter- prising Canadians develop new business. 1\ Farm Loans—One man in' every three in Canada works on the farm. To het them et • equipment,your Liberal Government has ar- ranged that they can borrow the money they need for better working andliving conditions. Floor Frites—The-Liberal Government's policy is that when farmers and fishermen prosper, so do other Canadians. It has therefore taken action to put a floor' under the prices of. farm and fishery products. • Reduction' of Loxes—Your Liberal Government believesin jobs first. To this end, taxes will come down to free spending power. * * * These are' jest some of many steps in the Liberal Government's. Working Plan to ensure full employment after the war. In addition it has stimulated tremendous pri- vate savings in Victory B`'onds and War Savings Certificates; pct through Unem- ployment Insurance, set up a special De- partment of Reconstruction staffed by experts. In fact all its policies are directed to the same end—a "high and stable level of employment and income." JOBS! Jobs with bright futures for the young men and women coming out of the Armed Services with the best part of their lives before them! Jobs for all! Jobs with big prospects andgood; reliable money thatewill keep its buying power! After all the hard work, sacrifice and self-discipline which has brought us through the war, the people of this country have earned a brighter future in a better, juster grander Canada than we have ever known! LOOK how muchCanadianshave accom- plished, here on the home front, even without the energy and initiative of all the vigorous young people now in uniform, and their zest for daring! What is there Canada can't do with them back on the home team? Why, with their help, we Canadians are headed full speed for the greatest period in our history! THE all-important question today is the civilian staff -work and leadership which we call "government." The Liberals have a working plan. It's big and bold! Parts of it are outlined for your judgment in the left-hand column. It has been designed with the aid of the keenest minds in every phase of industry, agriculture, labour and learning. The plan will work. In fact it is already bringing results. It will continue to do so! The Liberals can tell you this with confidence because they have had successful experience in operating nation- wide plans. VOTE for your Liberal candidate. Make sure the team which made this plan for full employment shall see it through—and win the peace/ PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL LIBERAL COMMITTEE No Fewer than 94 out of every hundred establish- ments in the manufactur- ing, wholesale, retail and services fields are small, employing less than 15 people. Together they em- ploy 37% of all the workers engaged in these classes of business. (From 1941 census) "small business ISN'! S8 SMALL! O'edinarilji olio Canadian in every six gainfully emp)loyedo earns his livelihood in a "small business." It may he R !farm, a store' or a lumber -yard; an architect's office or a service station. Taken together, these individual enter. prises provide a very' substantial part of Canada's total jobs—must continue to do so after the war, During the years ahead many people who dropped small business for war reasons will want to return to their accustomed or new ways of making a living. Thus old businesses will be revived. Many new ones will be started by returned men and people now in war indus- tries. The commercial banks will do their part to afford assurance that no sound credit requirement need be left unserved in the field of small business. As such businesses grow, they create additional job openings; that has been the pattern of Canadian enter- prises. Most large companies began in a small way. And practically all could name some bank which played a part in their growth by providing the loans they needed to finance their day-to-day operations, Your bank stands ready to serve businesses, small or large, well established or just starting out. Banks do not initiate such businesses—but they do furnish neves• sary working capital and many other forms of banking service. This Advertisement is Sponsored by your Bank organization, which as you know, has been functioning for some two or three years and are endeavour- ing to get li scheme whereby they could operate 'the Farm Products Control Act, Since that time it has conte to light that it night be more practical to form a livestock pro- duct organization. It was presented to the Ontario Departtnont of Agri- culture and received overwhelming support :from the Ontario Depart- ment of Agriculture. I will outline that briefly. The Ontario Depart- ment of Agriculture drew to our attention that there fire about 120,- 000 20,000 hog producers in the Province of Ontario, about 110,000 beef cattle, , . . sheep producers and 70% of those hog producers are organized beef' producers and vice versa. It is necessary to have 66% of the farmers in these commodities. Now if we were to go out and sign up to two organizations the terrific cost and the problems are identical. Farmers today feel the need and know the need of an organization of this type and it is forthcoming, The Ontario Department of Agriculture has promised full support to the for- mation of a Livestock Producers or- ganization and again will be endeav- ouring to set up the organization. Now I come to finances and will endeavour to give you a picture for, the 1/5 mill levy. When 25 farmers in any Town- ship sign petitions askingfor the 1/5 mill to be levied on their taxes the township concerned may pass a by-law whereby on its :canvass in the township will deduct 1/5 mill from their tax rate.. If those taxes are not paid in that year it does not be- come a tax upon the land. There are parts in Eastern Ontario that work on a very low assessment basis and a high mill rate where in Western Ontario we work more on high assessment and ,a low mill rate basis. This will not raise more than 25c per farm in the said townships. In Western Ontario we work on this basis and the 1/5 does net a fair amount per farm for the Federation. I might' say that this amendment which was prepared to legalize the levy up to 1/2 mill in the Township Federations. Also it would make it legal tax on the land, but as you know the government was over- thrown verthrown and we have the assurance that this new by-law will be brought into effect following the new parlia- ment coming into power. There have. been some 21 countries in the Pro- vince of 'Ontario applied for mem- bership cards to work on the 1/5 null basis, • Might I at this time give you a picture of the method of financing in Great Britain. Many of you know there were in this country the past month representatives of the British farmers union. I had plens- sure of travelling with them from Western Canada through to Ontario and again spending all last week in Ottawa. They have au older organ- ization than ours. They collect 12e per acre on all arrable land in Great Britain. 24e per erre on all land used for fruits and vegetables that nets there a stun of It million dollars a year. So that I think you will agree that 1/5 mill which cleans somewhat around $1.00 per farm for the farmers of this country we are certainly not endeavouring to collect too much money for the or- ganization of agriculture in the Province They spend 3180,00.00 a year on advertising, The British .farmers union is the over-all organ- ization and collects all the money at 12c per acre for all the money that is collected for organized agricul- ture in 'Great Britain, I just men- tioned that at this time to show you what organized Agriculture is doing in Great Britain, They feel that there must be an international farmers organization representing fanners of producing countries all over the 'world. That farmers may so work together, internationally as to, guarantee the law of food products all over the world and to assure the fanner of a more edentate return of his produce. Let are take cheese for instance. As you know we ex- port to Great Britain eheeae at about 23c per lb.,• :from NewZeal- and for 12c per lb. plus a subsidy which would bring about 16c per lb.' (Coontinned ) WANTED STUDENT NURSES Student Nurses wanted for the Fall Class. Excellent Training Provided in all Services. Modern, 'Kroll -Equipped Classrooms, Splendid Preparation for All Branches . of Professional Nursing. Apply ^1'IiERINTTNDENT OF' NURSES 134ANTFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL 1.BRANTFORD, ONTARIO, 5x & 3x Shingles Electric Fencers, Fence Wire, Cedar and Steel Fence Posts Gates Grass Seed, Seed Corn, Garden Seeds Fertilizer, Ceresan CO OP FEEDS Chickstarter Plgstarter Growrnash Hog Grower Laymash Sow ration Hatchmash Dairy ration WESTERN GRAIN AND CHOP Finns. Minerals & Tonics Reduced now, Rex Wheat Germ Oil Universal Millers & Parts Seaforth Farmers Co-operative WE Parkdale' Poultry PAY FOR FOWL— B.ROILFRS- 5.6 lbs, 25 cents 2.8 lbs 28 cents 4 - 5 lbs. .... 23 cents 1.4 lbs , ... 30 cents DELIVERED MITCHELL Will pick up for one cent less. These prices to June 1 only Phone 152, Mitchell A I M A L S DDEAD or I AB ED Quickly removed in clean sanitary trucks. Phone collect 219 MITCHELL WILLIAM STONE SONS LIMITED