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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-06-01, Page 1No Regional Government Davis accuses Riddell ofnot Ieve!Iing with Premier William Davis this week accused Huron -Middlesex Liberal candidate Jack Riddell with not levelling with the voters in the riding. During an address to about 400 people at a picnic in Exeter's' Riverview Park on Friday, Davis chastised Riddell for con- tinuing to say that the Progressive Conservatives would force regional government on the area if they again form the government, "Tell him from me that he doesn't know what he's talking about," the Premier suggested to PC candidate Anson McKinley who earlier in the day had been in a debate with Riddell on the topic at a meeting at Goderich Collegiate. The Premier was also critical of the Liberal candidate's suggestion that *an election was not needed or required at this time. It was pointed out that Riddell had voted on the non- confidence issue "knowing full well that his actions would force an election" The audience heard the Premier say that he doesn't usually get involved in local issues, but he had broached the two subjects to set the matters at rest. He said that anytime one's op- ponent gets difficult or fails to level with the people, it suggests to him that that candidate is in trouble. "He's concerned about what's going to happen to him on June 9," Davis remarked in a final , reference to Riddell. He went on to point out how pleased he was that Anson McKinley had decided to contest the election for the Conser- vatives, noting that the former Huron warden knows the problems of the riding and how to solve them. Terming the June 9 vote the most important election in On- tario's history, Davis said he was seeking the support of every resi- dent of the province — not just on a partisan basis — because a strong Ontario is vital to the future of Canada. He said the Liberals were not demonstrating any sense of direction in their campaign and he predicted the people of On- tario did not want to follow in the path that the NDP were suggesting. "I believe in young people, and they don't want handouts," he said in reference to the NDP policies. "Tell your friends and neighbors how important this election is and that Anson's party knows where it is going," he urg- ed the partisan supporters at the noon picnic. NO. FIRST WITH LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1977 Please turn to Page 2 Price Per Copy 20 Cents Me�ls on Wheels to start in Zurich . We plan on starting this service on Tuesday, June 7. This is for someone who is a shut-in, or who is not able to cook themselves a hot meal. We will be serving meals Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you want a meal on Tuesday, phone the Co-ordinator at 236-4280 .on Monday between 9 and 12 a.m. and if you want a meal Thursday you phone on Wednesday bet- ween 9 and 12 a.m. If you want your name to stand as a standing order, just let the Co-ordinator know and you don't have to phone each time. The price of the meal is $1.40. HELP - If it would suit anyone. to help deliver these meals at noon please contact Leroy O'Brien at 236-4396. Many volunteers means that no one person has to drive very often. Co-ordinator - Tanya Erb, Secretary Treasurer - Kathy Steckle, Ticket Distributor - Ahnie Finkbeiner, Driver Co- ordinator - Leroy O'Brien. MEET BILL DAVIS — Throngs of people had the opportunity to shake hands with Bill Davis and chat with Anson McKinley, PC candidate for Huron -Middlesex, cis both men and their wives attended a poor boy luncheon in Riverview Park, Exeter. Staff photo Candidates t and debate in South Huron Distract High Sch The provincial election cam- paign trail hit South Huron District High School Monday as the three Huron -Middlesex candidates fielded questions from students on preservation of farm land, unemployment, regional government and nuclear energy. Conservative Anson McKinley criticized the NDP policy of freezing farm land and described the NDP figure of 26 acres of farm land going out of production per hour as "ludicrous". "There is no shortage of farm land and I see no shortage of land in the future", he said. "There is a lot of farm land we consider marginal that is only marginal until someone decides to work the land". "Naturally I disagree", said Huron -Middlesex NDP candidate Shirley Weary. "I don't think the NDP party has. any intention of hurting the farmer but the overall picture of the people must be considered", she said. Liberal candidate Jack Riddell outlined the difference between land going out of production and land being "paved over". "There is all kinds of land• going up in weeds and this is the kind of land Agriculture Minister William Newman talks about being brought back into production". "Probably we can bring marginal land back into production but it will cost the farmer twice as much more", he said. "The cost of purchasing prime land is more than marginal land so the costs equal out", said McKinley. "A farmer on marginal land can produce results if he can buy the land, drain it, and work it at a good price", he said. The provincial candidates also debated party policies towards unemployment. Riddell criticized the Davis charter and the Conservative promise to create 100,000 jobs a year for the next decade. "If Davis is going to perform this miracle in the next ten years • where has he been for the last ten years?" he asked. "What Davis doesn't tell us is that the economy is already creating about 90,000 of these annually by itself." McKinley said expansion of the private sector is the only way to provide more jobs. "Profit has become a bad word but our country lives on profit", he said. "Government jobs are a deadend street". McKinley criticized the NDP proposal to increase •the minimum wage to four dollars an hour. "It would put people out of work right, left, and centre", he said. Weary defended the NDP $4 minimum wage proposal and said some people find it difficult to live on starting minimum wages. "I don't think those of us who are well paid should be too quick to say the other fellow shouldn't get too much", she said. Regional government and nuclear energy provided the candidates with some basis of agreement. The candidates disagreed over provincial party o0 policies towards regionalization and nuclear energy but agreed that the two issues would not influence the Huron -Middlesex June 9 election results. "I question very much whether we need to fear the construction of a nuclear power plant in this area", said Riddell. "There is really no need of another nuclear power plant in the area", he said. Grade thirteen, twelve, and grade ten history students at- tended the panel discussion• SCIENCE GRAD — Miss Joan Forrest, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edison Forrest, RR 2 Hensall, has graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry. She has accepted a position with the Syncrude Oil Company at Fort McMurray, Alberta as a laboratory techni- cian. YOU MEAN THERE'S MORE — Angie Chipchase, 1 1/2 of Huron Park was all eyes as she watched crowds of people helping themselves to mounds of food during the Hensall United Church supper. Photo by McKinley Only one accident, two acts of vandalism Only one accident was in- vestigated by the Exeter OPP again this' week, It occurred on Thursday on Highway 4 just north of Hensall. Drivers involved were Donald Hooper, Exeter, and Robert Reid, Londesboro. Damage was estimated at $1,150 by Constable Al Quinn. No injuries were reported. During the week the detach- ment officers laid 37 charges under the Highway Traffic Act, four under the 'Liquor Licence Act and three under the Criminal Code. Two acts of vandalism were reported. Some time during May, the ministry of environment shed at the Hensall sewage lagoons was shot up by a shot gun. Some damage was also reported to equipment inside the building. Over the weekend, a beer bottle was tossed through a window at the Usborne Central School. Polling Days Ontario voters will have three opportunities to vote in the province's 3lst general election. While a voter may cast only one ballot, the franchise may be exercised on any one of three days: June 4, June 6, and June 9. The first two dates are advance polis, available for any qualified voter who expects to be unable to Please turn to Page 2