Loading...
Zurich Citizens News, 1976-06-02, Page 1Lorne Henderson dells PC's Huron farm acreage increased since 1965 Ontario, and specifically Huron County, is not losing prime agri- cultural land, according to Lamb - ton MPP Lorne Henderson. In fact, he says the total field crop acreage in Ontario has increased since 1965. Mr. Henderson was addressing the annual meeting of the Huron - Middlesex progressive conser- vative association in Dashwood last Wednesday night. In 1965, Mr. Henderson says Huron County had a total pro- ducing farm acreage of 377,470 acres with a total value of $23,545,700. In 1975 the total producing acreage had increased to 475,000 acres and the value of the total producing acreage had increased to $79,066,700. This shows an overall increase over the 10 years of 125% in total acreage in production and a 335% increase in crop value. For Ontario as a whole, the increase for field crop acres be- tween 1965 and 1975 was 102% with a total increase in value of 258% according to Mr. Hender- son's figures. Says Mr. Henderson, "If there has been an increase in the field crop acres in Ontario, how can it be disappearing at the rate of 26 acres per hour as the opposition claims?" Mr, Henderson also put a plug in for the oil producers. He believes the oil producer must be given a fair share of the price paid for oil in order to make it profitable for private exploration and refining to continue. If the price is right, says Mr. Hender- son, then the companies will go in and develop areas such as the Athabasca tar sands which Canada needs to continue supply- ing at least some of her oil needs. Previously, at $8.00 per barrel, the producer received $3 and the provincial and federal govern- ments got the rest. According to Mr. Henderson the oil com- panies need $5 a barrel to econo- mically harvest oil frotn the tar sands. The price of oil is now going to rise, but Mr. Henderson doesn't feel the oil companies will receive enough to make ex- traction from the tar sands economically feasable. It's like agricultural land, if it's worth enough then the sons will stay home and take it over from their fathers. If it's worth enough to the oil companies, they will harvest the oil from the tar sands. As it is now, the pro- vincial and federal governments are taking too big a share of the price per barrel. LORNE HENDERSON GUEST SPEAKER—Lorne Henderson MPP for Lambton was guest speaker at the annual Progressive Conservative meeting in Dashwood last week. Seated next to with him on the platform are, president Elmer Hayter and secretary Mrs. Ruth Hili. News Photo Zurich a4 News. NO. 22 -FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1976 20c PER COPY STANLEY PARK NEARS COMPLETION—Work is nearly finished as the bulldozer adds some finishing touches to the parking lot at the lakeside park in Stanley township.' Facilities will include washrooms, picnic areas and easy access to the beach. News Photo School boundaries may change for Stanley residents The Huron County Board of Education is sending out a letter to parents of school stu- dents living in Tuckersmith and Stanley townships regarding the possible changes in school boundaries in the county. The letter reads as follows: A committee studying school boundaries in the county is attempting to inform residents of enrolment problems that exist. It should be noted that no arbi- trary decision is being made at this time, but that parental opinion will be solicited before any final decision is made. Because of declining enrol- ments in some schools, and overcrowding in others, the Huron County Board of Education has appointed a committee to study school boundaries in the county. As you are aware, there has been a large influx of pupils from Vanastra during the past few years. These pupils are attending Clinton Public, School. This has resulted in overcrowded conditions at that school to the point where one portable class. room has been added, and the need for more additional space is becoming evident. At • the sane time, Hensall Public School has experienced a large decline in enrolment over the past few years. Enrolment has also declined at Zurich Public School. The committee is of the opinion that families in the southern part of Tuckersmith and Stanley townships would agree to have their children attend Hensall or Zurich Public School if their home is closer to one of these schools than to Huron Centennial School. If these pupils did attend Hensall or Zurich, the schools could continue to operate ef- fectively and Huron Centennial School would be able to accom- modate some of the Tuckersmith pupils presently living in Van- astra.. Correction Zurich clerk Betty Oke inform- ed the News that the repaving contract for the village was 75 days from May 1, not April 1 as stated last week. e aof 1 } "• f Stanley township open to public A lakefront park in Stanley township is nearing completion and is open to all the people in the area. It is located on Stanley sideroad number 10, about three miles south of Bayfield. Don't let the sign at the end of the sideroad fool you. It reads "Houston Heights South, Pri- vate" and points toward the lake. It's true the land along the lake to the right of the road is pri- vate, however the road itself, the picnic area and the beach in front of it are all public property. The park has been dubbed "Stanley Park" although no official name or date of opening has been decided on. Located on five acres of bushland, it features 30 rod of lake frontage plus picnic areas. Stairs were built down to the beach by SWEEP last summer and along with walkways provide easy access to the beach area. Facilities will include a picnic building complete with changing rooms and washrooms, picnic tables inside and out and a good- sized parking lot. At present, Stanley road superintendent Bill Taylor is busy making sure work on the facilities are completed. "The sewer is supposed to be in next week, but I can't really promise when the washrooms will be ready. There is also a problem with the plumbing which has to be fixed before the water can be turned on," says Mr. Taylor. However, the building itself is almost completed, the picnic tables are set up, the well has been dug and work on the parking lot is. underway. The area in- cludes some fairly rough bush which will have to be cleaned up a little as well as cleaning up down on the beach. The park is separated from a subdivision on the north by the township road, and on the south by a large ravine. There is some worry that the park might be swamped if more subdivisions are allowed in the area. According to Stanley township reeve Anson McKinley, there are two OMB hearings scheduled for June of this year to decide on two subdivision proposals in the area. One is for a large exten- sion of the existing subdivision to the north to the park, and the other is a proposal for a new subdivision to the east of the park. In any case, the park is nearing completion and is now open to all members of the public. Says Reeve McKinley, "The towns and villages of the area supply arenas which we use, Stanley township has decided to supply a lakefront park." Conservation area o ens The Port BlakeConservation Area, located at the junction of 83 and 21 highways, 2 miles north of Grand Bend will officially be opened between 1;00 p.m. and 2;30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9. This area has been developed under argrecment with the Ministry of the Environment on land owned by the Lake Huron Water Supply System. After the opening ceremonies, a tour of the Water Supply System adjacent to the Conser- vation Arca has been arranged. The Ausable-Bayfield Conser- vation Authority cordially invites the general public to attend this opening. We also hope area residents will frequent this area during the summer and become familiar with the picnic, swim- ming and sun bathing features it offers. TOUR ROOMS—The Zurich Golden Agers held an open house at the Hay Township hall facilities Mon- day night. Seen in the kitchen are Mrs. Ed Gascho, Mrs. Mary McKinnon, Mrs, Lorne Klopp, Harvey Hohner, Mrs. Eileen Consitt, Lorne Klopp. News Photo