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The Huron Expositor, 1968-10-31, Page 38• . 1 . , 411 -,-,THE HURON EXPOSITORSEAFORTM CINT OCT 31 19611 rth F of A Presents (The following includes ex- cerpts from a brief recently. Presented to Mid -Western On - 141,r10 Development Area Colw- ell on behalf of Perth Federa- tion of Agriculture, by Gerald Carey and C..t. Dearing). Introduction We welcome this opportunity to present some of our thoughts and ideas for consid- eration In the formation of a general regional planning pro- ' gram. We expect. some variance in the reception "of these' ideas for many of them are new, having neither the benefit nor hind- rance of previous expression. It is our hope that, -emanat- ing from this submission, Wheth- er the quality is good or bad, is the fact that we care what happens to our people, our nat- ural resources, and our econo- ••,...•-•••••••• I ,,S4r Provincial Land'Us• Plan We expect that all pi society will agree that we need a prov- incial land use plan. This is a primary requirement if we, in Perth, are to plan our resources in the light of the provincial structure, We can no longer af- ford to neglect the countryside by neglecting to institute a broad based plan. We have not yet seer* a master plan in On- tario, or Canada for that mat- ter, which gives sufficient at- tention to agriculture. Perhaps the use of the term "land use plan", is too vague to have real meaning. What is in- volved in a master plan? Soine things that must be considered are: desirable food production „areas, outstanding wild lifeand "Intestry 'areas, areas needed for urban development, areas' of outstanding beauty, areas of special recreational value, areas for rural service centres, areas which need special treatment since they are, in present form, not suited to the purposes men- tioned but nevertheless are in- dividual and ,distinct. A plan is simply a set of co- ordinated policies for people, land and money, as opposed to the present lack of foresight and jumble of contradictory pro- grams. ' Rural planning, in particular, is the neglected aspect of our regional planning. We have nev- er defined the role of agricul- ture in what has now become a predominantly urban society. We have tended to forget that land is the basis of all human activity. We have permitted the growthof the _belief that large metropolitan centres exist inde- pendently of the surrounding countryside. We have clung to the misplaced attitude that, in- dividually, 'people are free' to use their land as they like, even if they produce wrecked coun- trysides, inefficient cities and extreme social costs in the pro- cess. It is true that most farmers have a strong attachment to their land but it is also true that most farmers realize that land is a trust from one gener- ation to another and that a man who does not leave land in good heart, or in better condition than he received it, has failed other members of his society. We, as a rural organization, 'are ready and willing to assist in the formation of a land use plan based on the knowledge -rot . and sympathy for, the people iniNlved. We recognize • that city dwellers need the whole- someness of the countryside to re-create the spirit. We realize that iirban problems must be solved in terms better than rib-. bon development. We are aware that the impact of urban rec- reational demands must be met in terms better than spoiled shorelines and unimaginative overcrowded parks run for pro- fit. We must conserve, our re- sources of agricultural land and solve the difficulties in the in- dustry by methods better than continuous subsidy and irration- al grants. In a boom economy, such as ours, the typical attitude is that all growth is good. But we also live in a world where popula- tion pressures and land re-' SKATE EXCHANGE SKATING SEASON Ig ALMOST UPON US Now is the time to get your family ready HOCKEY PLAYERS Wear Bauer Skates as the NHL Stars do BAUER SKATING OUTFITS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY READ'S SHOES & LUGGAGE Phone 527-0690 Seaforth sources seem to be at danger- ous margins. Until scientific ad- vances prove us wrong, it is our belief that we should hold onto our best agricultural land and only sacrifice it where there is real benefit to be gain- ed. On the other hand, we are convinced that provincial con- trols are necessary and that land must be used for the great- est benefit to society whether it be for food production or tour- ism. Any plan must -include, for the benefit of tide region, at least these basic points: (a) areas to be preserved as the best productive agricultur- al land,. (b) areas needed for urban expansion, (c) reserving of recreational sites and holiday areas, (d) master plans for develop- ment of rural towns, (e) policies for resource de- velopment. Natienal and Provincial Agricul- tural Policy: There is an urgent need for national and provincial agricul- tural policy and plans so that Perth can plan agricultural pol- icy in relation to national agri- cultural goals. Our society has never establisheda national pol- icy in relation to ir6sources, land or countryside. Intelligent con- servation and expansion of our agricultural resources have been hamstrung by lack of policy and by short term, national tariff and marketing policies. What is needed fa a realistic agricultural plan, based on econ- omics, clearly setting out the social, econotnic and physical problems that must be consider- ed and evolving A directional program for reaching a satisfac- tory economic balance. Unfortunately, different seg- ments of society have widely conflicting views of the situa- tion in agriculture and its re- lationship to the total economy, Urban people usually think—that land is just another commodity, whereas rthial people believe that lazid'o„ basically a resource. Urban people, although fascin- - ated by the ability of agricula ture to produce more food from less land, are not familiar with, or concerned about, the very real problems created by the agricultural revolution. Cana- dians, generally, have been daz- zled by the majesty of a huge, land, tending to forget the pion- eers' struggle with stones and stumps and, in many cases, be- ing unequal to the task, farms were abandoned. ' We submit that agriculture does not provide a return to management and labour com- parable to other industries. We see displaced farmers in older age groups with "little prospect for the future. We see the dif- ficulty in securing sufficient capital for family farm opera - lions. We see the need for some re -adjustment -in revolutionis- ing land use, keeping in mind that human consequences are sympathetically handled. We see the need for marketing' pro- grams for reorganizing farming systems. We see the .need for 'greatly increased efforts to as- , sist farmers to reach highet standards of management ensur- ing that those entering, the in- dustry are qualified.. to farm. Agriculture is an industry, a very scientific and demanding one. It's an industry where na- ture plays an important role and nature, being moody, can strike back, suddenly and vig- orously with terrific force causing severe econonlic loss. c• • Brief 'to MODA. Couticil l'he ills of agriculture cannot be cured overnight nor can they, in our opinion, get permanent relief until the development of a federal long range agricultur- al policy, which will assess our needs and explorer potential markets as a guide for regional production. Conservation and Tourism Perth is unique in that it is the source of several river sysa. terns. These headwaters are comprised of springs and marshes developing into streams and on to enlarged water sys- tems. This natural resource should be preserved for future generations for recreational, educational, and aesthetic val- ues. Instead, these natural res- ervoirs are rapidly being des- troyed by tile drainage and re- moval of shrub and tree cover. Preservation of these areas cam only be achieved by incentives and/or penalties administered senior levels of government or by purchase by government, the representativeeof society. These areas offer ideal oppor- tunities for conservatien pro- jects. Unfortunately, water con- trol and conservation projects in areas of low population den- sity, such as ours, are impeded by the relatively high per capi- 1 meet the needs of students with special talents or 11414- caps. The new school divialons will be supported by a broader tax base of more stability' re- ducing some of the variations within the. area. Members of the new board should be carefully chosen by the electorate. With an organiz- ation equipped to secure the in- formation, data, statistics and, other knowledge for sound pol- icy-making, the capabilities of board members becomes in- creasingi important. The establisiunent of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology is an exciting new innovation in continuing programs of educa- tion and training to our citi- zens. The officials of Conestoga College are finding their Iden- tity in serving that segment of our society that is inadequately served by the university or, more correctly, serving those students and adults who failed to recognize the applicability of the humanities, languages or abstract mathematics to their own lives. We see a treme ous future for these institutions of learn- ing both for post secondary and adult education. With admission requirements based on the abili- ty of the student rather than ta cost,' Water controand con - entrance requirements, the scope of guilding basic capacity, servation projects benefit the whole of society so, in all fair- ' energy, experience and mptiva- ' ness, assessment of costs, per tion improvedrs g , skills,increased bet - capita, should be approximately teaintoeedetaod iIl equal, whether the • public tax- payer lives in a high or low knowledge, alteration of values and an enrichment of the adult population density area. We urge that senior levels of gov- life is infinite', eminent bring about this equili- The viability of the communi- ty college program depends on brium by the introduction of a 'liding scale of payments te- innovations, . its acceptance of curriculum s wards these projects. 'father than con - Perth is ripe for the develop- sfoprineotill. Itomf euxstteposroiovoidepraogbr,raomads ment of tourism. We have large toincludeclassshieft areas of pleasant open country- staggered tim eeg for tvaebnliens side having a special attraction : workers, correspondence courses to motorists. Keeping in mind —sand, at least, satellite Zourses the growing urban population and the fact that a drive in the family auto is still the most popular form of family, recrea- tion, the need for preserving open countryside as an urban retreat is apparent. Our concern. for the -desicca- tion of • natural reservoirs is equalled by our concern for the disappearance of tree,s and, par- ticularly, farm woodlots. The ragged Ontario skyline and un- sightly dead elm trees in our woodlots caused by the ravages of dutch elm disease are 'readi- ly appirent to 'all observers. A less- obvious but insidious des- truction prevails as farm wood - lots disappear from Ontario farms at alarming rates. These woodlots are being bulldozed to bring the land ihto production of more profitable crops. Agri- culturists, conservationists, nat- uralists, foresters and planners usually agree that at least 10% of a given land area should be left in tree cover for water hold- ing propensity, recreational pos- sibilities and control ,of, wind velocities. These woodlots have imnieasurable worth for their aesthetic value, nature study possibilities, ,scenic beauty, wild, life habitat, etc. With soaring land values, farmer -owners find inadequate inducement in present assess- ment concessions to keep good agricultural land in tree cover. Since aociety, as a wbole, would benefit from any program which preserves a percentage of land under tree cover, some measure of encouraging reten- tion of woodlots are necessary. From discussion with represen- tatives of the Ontario Depart- ment of Lands apd Forests, an objective of 20% of land in tree cover seems' reasonable. One thing is certain, it costs much more to replace woodlots by re- planting than does a sensible progratn of controlling deetruc- tion. Let us not, by a laissez- faire attitude. in this region, permit removal of woodlots to the almost non-existant levels noticeable in parts of South- ' western Ontario. We suggest that property owners, who leave a percentage . of good agricultural land in tree cover, be, compensated to the extent of a minimum of $10.00 per acre each year, and, further, in the interests of so - CO -OP FALL SALE -THURSDAY, FRIDAY- and SATURDAY OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 1-2 STORM WINDOWS • • • • $11.69 Ph" ALUMINUM DOOR $26.99 60 United Inches Self Storing 'Window and Screen AIR KING BASEBOARD HEATER $22.89 SAMSONITE FOLDING TABLE AND FOUR CHAIRS ....... • $49.99 23 Cu. Ft. Co-op VISCOUNT FREEZER $229.99' 7.5 Cu. Ft. CO -013 VISCOUNT FREEZER 6 -Ft. ALUMINUM ) STEP LADDER ' $10.99 GALVANIZED GARBAGE CAN $3.29 ' With Locking Lid $159.99 160 -oz. WINSHIELD WASHER ANTI -FREEZE $1.19 FORCED AIR ROOM HEATER- $19.99 fl -Ft. HEAVY DUTY STEAM.and DRY BATTERY BOOSTER IRON $13.89 CABLES per set $3.69 5 -FORTH FARMERS Phone 527-0770 Molitor& ciety, that this program be ap- plicable to owners who return a percentage of good agricultur- al land to tree cover. lids ap- proach to the problem would, in our opinion, be less costly than public owtiership. The idea of using public funds to retain the status quo (for the benefit of society) is not without precedent. The state of Wisconsin has what it calls an 'aesthetic easement' whereby the state re-imburses property holders for non-inter- ference with views of impor- tance. if not a satellite -campus in the Huron -Perth area. Besides the credit courses fpr regular day -time students and evening students there should be cultural and recreational courses to fulfill community needs for leisure -time activities; e.g. music appreciation, and art and art appreciation,' ' We have 'made some effort toward encouraging courses for adults such as: human ecology; Political science; conversational French; reading with under- standing; conservation, ad wat- er management; tourism and, vacation guidance; training pro- grams for farm labour and farce lidueetlen The scheduled switch to coun- ty beards of education, al- though not an automatic pana- cea, should create educational jurisdictions capable of exten- ding equal opportunities of pd. mary and secondary school ed- ucation in this region. At the present time, some -jurisdictions, because of the limitations of too small a student population, too small a geographic area, or too narrow a tax base, are unable to provide sufficient variety of school peogr-am to meet the needs of individual differences In ability, background, and ex- " perienee. The larger units should permit provision of a comprehensive range of pro- grams permitting classes to ........... equipment ragehanies, • Ideally, the college program will Pedovide a leardink atms- pbere where students will feel eerafo ,rtahle emotionally, soc- ially, edueationally arid econo- mically, Service Ccirridors: Our final euggeation as ail es- sential consideration in a pian - ting program, is a vital one. We have, across Ontario, a veritable jungle of transportation lanes, communication lines, power transmission lines, , pipelines, etc. This maze of networks has developed with little thought for any consideration except ex- pediency of expansion. Left un - ,(41 checked, —3 ilaiieefotzsigrowth his in -hr 1 thOUSAII6 of On- tario p,..;r.erty holders in nego- tiations for easements or expro- priation procedure. We hope that any long range planning program will provide for the purchase of ribbons of land between major built-up areas for locating all the neces- sary services"such highways, railreaCti, telephone, gas Pipe- lines, water pipelines; telegraph, hydro and others as required. This approach will go at least part way towards leaving our countryside bearing some sem- blance to what was once popu- larly known as God's country. •.`:1 No Smoke; Ne Odolir 'HEATING OIL Walden & Broadfcwit phon, 527-1=4 — Wei% 11011~11;11008101011gagafM"PlaggraIIIMI A CHECK-UP IN TIME CAN SAVE'YOU' $.1 $ THIS WINTER! Drive In Today For A Thorough Fall Check-up Our Complete Check-up Includes: * BRAKES and TIRES 14 ANTI -FREEZE * TRANSMISSION * DIFFERENTIAL * CRANKCASE * LUBRICATION * SPARK PLUGS * RADIATOR * BATTERY ROWCLIFFE MOTORS Phone 527-1670, Seaiorth •••• H 5250 for each $100. That's what you can get with this year's Canada Savings Bonds. Here's how. The new Bonds have fourteen regular annual interest ' coupons which can be aShed each year as they come due. The first pays 5.75%; the second, 6.50%; the next three, 6.75%, each, and the last nine- a big 7.00% • each. Total regular On ual interest amounts to $95.50 on each $100 Bond, If you choose you may hold all thee rcgular annual interest coupqns uncashed until your Bend matures. If you do, yob will ;hen get interest on your interest totalling an additional $54.50 on each $100"Bond. At maturity, therefore, you can get back, total interest of $150 plus your original $10-0 investment. This way each $100 Canada Savings Bond becomes worth $250. 'Other denominations can ,grow at the same exciting rate. Adults, children, businesses and institutions—all may buy Canada Savings Bonds. They are avail- able in convenient amounts of $50 up to $50,000 for cash or on inSlalments, wherever you work, bank or invest: And, as always, Canada Savings Bonds are cashable any time at full face value plus earned interest. Few investments are so pr fitable. None builds more surely for the futur Canada ,Savings Bonds and make your savings really grew. 4 4q, • .1 • r•