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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1971-10-14, Page 110.10.1.141 No, 41 - First With The Local News 1110603.1.16/0.*.111 Zurich, Ontario, Thursday, October 14, 197? PREMIER VISITS EXETER - Ontario's Premier, Hon. William Davis, paid a brief visit to Exeter last Friday morning during a whirlwind tour of Western Ontario, and was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of adults and children. The Premier is seen in this photo as hundreds of admirers surround him in an attempt to get his autograph. Along with the PC candidate for Huron, Hon. C. S. MacNaughton, Mr. Davis ate a hearty pancake breakfast before leav- ing the area for Wingham and then on to Toronto. In a few briee remarks, the Premier assured the crowd that Me MacNaughton would be back in Toronto after October 21, as the Minister of Transportation and Communications, the portfolio which he now holds in cabinet. Band presents brief to c A delegation of about 25 persons, representing the Zurich Centennial Band, appeared be- fore the council of the Village of Zurich last Thursday night to present them with a petition asking for an annual grant and use of the Community Centre for practice purposes. The del- egation was headed by Keith Westlake, president of the group and Rev. A.C. Blackwell, who read the petition to the council. Also representing the band in an executive capacity was Mrs Lorne Klopp, secretary, and Milford Doerr, treasurer. Along with them were other directors of the organization, as well as numerous members of the band itself. Following the presentation of the brief and a discussion of the requests, council approved the use of the Community Centre for practice sessions, on the condition that the band committee take over the resp- onsibility of maintaining order in the building while they are using it. For some time now the band has been practicing in the Zurich Public School auditorium, but the delegation explained to council that the acoustics in that place are not satisfactory for good results. As far as an annual grant for the band is concerned, it was pointed out to the delegation that it is too late this year to work any such items into the budget, but the matter would be considered early in the new year when the budgets are drawn up for the year ahead. The brief presented to counc- il read as follows: Dear Sirs; As representatives of the Zurich Centennial Band and its organizational committee we respectfully submit the follow- ing request for your favorable consideration. First, let us say that we feel that a constructive cultural activity is a valuable asset to to any community. We cite as examples the National Arts Centre in Ottawa supported part- ly by funds from the Canadian Government and Ontario Place promoted and supported by our Provincial Government. Many cities and other municipalities u�cil put forth special efforts to promote the welfare of their citizens by means of cultural develop!' tints including music and otl ,orms of recreation. As an organization sponsoring the Zurich Centennial Band we feel that this Band is such a project and that it deserves the material and moral support of the civic authbrities. The Band provides a pastime for persons who are musically talented (continued on page 3) 10¢ Per Copy Housing for senior citizens isp0551 A representative of the Ont- ario !lousing Corporation met with the council of the village of Zurich at their regular meet- ing last Thursday night, and outlined details of senior cit- izens housing units, as it would apply in a community such as Zurich. It was pointed out to the council that such housing units are designed specifically for persons over 60 years of age with a low income, or practic- ally no income at all. They are not meant for people with a fairly healthy income, even if their age qualifies them. The representative explained that senior citizens housing units are built in the form of apartments, either on a single or two-storey basis. The mini- mum number of units which can be built is 10, and each unit consists of about 475 square feet. There is one bedroom, a living room, kitchen and dining area, as well as a complete bath in each unit. For a person or persons with a monthly income of $192 or less, the rent would be about $35 to $40 monthly, while a person or persons with a monthly income of $275 would have to pay about $59 rent each month. To discourage wealthier persons from renting the units, the rate for a person with a monthly in- come of $500 would be about $125., or 25 percent of their income. Included in the rental fee is heat, electricity, appliances, hot water, TV antenna and other services. Also included in each development of senior citizens housing is a large activity room for the residents to gather to- gether. This type of housing is erect - Huron F of A sponsors debate (by Keith Roulston) The economic situation of the Huron County farmer is either rosey or gloomy, depend- ing on whether you axe looking at it from the side of the govern- ment or the opposition. So it appeared during the meeting of candidates from all three parties in the upcoming provincial election held in Clinton Thursday night. The meeting, sponsored by the Hur- on Federation of Agriculture, drew about 300 persons to hear Charles MacNaughton of the Progressive Conservatives, Paul Carroll of the New Democratic Party and Murray Gaunt of the Liberal Party. Mr. MacNaughton and Mr. Carroll are from Huron riding while Mr. Gaunt is the present member for Huron -Bruce, Speaking first, MacNaughton concluded his speech by telling the audience he admitted his party's agricultural programs were not perfect. "I doubt if they ever will be, But I can say to you, with conviction, that the government I represent will continue its efforts to perfect them to the greatest extent possible." During his 15 minute address, Mr. MacNaughton reviewed some of the benefits which had come to Huron while he was its representative. He informed the audience of the growth of Cent- ralia College of Agricultural Technology from 76 students in 1967 to 250 today and of the good work of the Veterinary Service Laborator located at Centralia. Under the government's farm tax rebate, Mr. MacNaughton said, Huron farmers have re- ceived almost $700, 000. Added to this, he said, was the shelt- er grant exemptions. "Ultimately, " he said, "and if we can secure the co-operat- ion of the federal government, our objective is to provide substantial relief against prop- erty tax through the income tax which more accurately measures the ability of each taxpayer to contribute to public program." In the meantime, he said, the government is making changes in stages to take the burden off property tax. In Huron the province picks up 71 percent of the cost of ed- ucation. He later pointed out that the Liberals were promising to pay 80 per cent of education costs but in Huron, with 71 per cent of costs picked up by the province and the shelter and farm tax rebates, the province was probably paying more than 80 per cent already. Mr. ManNaughton said his government is studying ways to combat problems in egg production and said the hog and corn market problems were because of pressure from out- side the province which could only be combated by action by the federal government. Action to increase the quota for industrial milk was being considered by the government, he said, but before premature action was taken, a full study of present and future market trends should be made. Mr. Gaunt said the fact that 3000 farmers are leaving the land each year is evidence that farming is not attracting young people, There isn't enough money for young people, he said, and many older farmers are being forced right out of the (continued on page 15) 1 ed at no capital cost to the municipality. The federal gov- ernment, through Central Mort- gage and Housing, lends Ontario Housing Corporation 90 percent of the capital cost and the pro- vince lends 01 IC the balance. Both governments are repaid, with interest, by OHC. The Corporation makes an annual grant to the municipal- ity that is the equivalent of normal municipal taxes. The federal government bears half of any operating losses; the provincial government pays 42 1/2 percent and the local mnicipality the remaining 7 1/2 percent. It was pointed out however, that the municip- alities' 7 1/2 percent is most usually less than the grant received in lieu of taxes, so the local community is not losing any money on the overall operation. After a careful and lengthy discussion of the idea, council agreed to ask the Ontario Hous- ing Corporation to conduct a study of the village to determinf the interest on the part of sen- ior citizens living here now. It was the general feeling that after a sewage system is const- ructed and the water system (continued on page 16) 0 Huron member ubo t CF CHM n Huron County Council has not given up on the possibility that the govenment may do some- thing to keep the former Canad- ian Forces Base, Clinton as a unit. Last Friday Defence Minister Donald MacDonald told R. E. McKinley (PC - Huron) he is willing to meet with responsible elected bodies on the question. At the same time, Transport Minister Donald Jamieson offic- ially informed the Commons that the base has been turned down as an air traffic control school or for some related act- ivity. The base has been up for sale for a month through Crown Assets Disposal Corporation, October 14 has been set as the last day to accept bids. The base includes housing, schools, churches, recreation facilities, workshops and adm- inistration buildings in a comp- lex which was once home for more than 1, 000 people. Mr. McKinley questioned the two ministers in the Com- mons in an effort to get an answer to a letter written by John Berry, Huron County clerk - treasurer, asking for a meeting with Mr. MacDonald. For his own part, said Mr. McKinley he had no reply from Mr. Jamieson about the possible use of the base as an air service school though he had assumed it had been turned down when the base was put up for sale. "Thanks to the representat- ions the honorable member has made on innumerable occas- ions I have had the most ex - (continued on page 2)