Loading...
The Huron Expositor, 1977-02-03, Page 12"" He vasn't feeling, well, he told me. He was resting for the day, fighting a cold and the flu, His attractive, W busy wife as deeply involved-..in the conversation although she kept right on• ironing -and, preparing 'the supper' for her family throughdtit the conversation. • ‘. Shortly- after '4 p'cloCk, the two alder boyS af the family 4 :.„ • carfie trooping ja from the high school bus. They gave „a cheery greeting, asked their lather how he' WaS feeling, • learned he w.a's still under-the--Weather, changed -.clothes and disappeared to the barn.- • Almost two hours later, 1- left by the summer kitchen after declining a sincere invitation to stay for the evening meal. Which is an-indication of the friendlinesS.of rural people. I was a perfect stranger until two hours, before that. • • ;i:Y, HAVING A WORD WITH, EUGENE-; The:Gordon= Hill night in TororitO'`OVe several local people• the' chance chance to discuss prbblems with the men at the top. Above Jake Van Wanderer of Varna chats with ,Federal MiniSter of Agriculture Eugene 'Whelan. (Expositor Photo) For. 1.977 „.prrts. 'sets salqties Salaries were „set and ' Wm. Stevenson and Sam --- itED cir.FiNTA'fito • . . . • . ' TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED OPIIPIP101111 Power planners hear fo o a • Farmers wi4es- work to 0 has been written in regent months about the hard - and arduous work'done by farmers. And much has been written: about the,•share farmers" wives should have in, —far pperations. -During Christmas- week, I heirlAie• teen-ager argue for 20 minutes with his mother when asked to take two bags of garbage to the front walk for pick-up-the next day.. Fie -complained it was too heavy, then it Was, too cold out- OnitheiWay to' the car, I stopped into 'the barn because farming and fairre'animals have always fascinated me. The two teen-agers were cheerfully doing the ehores,, working like grown men. They„had milked 40 cows, fed 500 chickens, two saddle horses; the barn cats and the dog.. 'As well, they had .cleaned stables, thrown down enough feed for the ifeaitam:cerHing-and had that milking parlor as clean as cellophane, the equipMent shiny as newly-mint- '. ed qUarters. This anecdote is not an isolated case. Thousands of farm children,.-man-y much younger than those mentioned -have - dailY..cheres •on_the farm thal_would be appalling• to most city children. A few years-ago, I spent a pleasant afternoon with-a farmer in Huron County. I was interviewing _him on the, high-handed methods used' by Ontari9 Hydro. in' acquiring land fora hydro jine, Some provisions of the. Ontario.• Agricultural Code of practice are already contained in the kuroh County , . plan, but , municipal. councillors werk. advised this week they should —Cionsider:. insti- tuting the Ccide in their"restricted area zoning , That was the, message given a handful of area council members who attended a meeting • in' HensallThUrsday afternoon when the Code and its'accoinpanying 'certificate: of compliance . were ' outli ned to. them by representa- , lives of •three 9ntario, ministries, agriculture and food, 'Yerditonment and housing. • One of Ocilla:in speakers at the' session,' which attracted less than 26-interested farmers and con dell front walk.' I know. This is an isolated case and most young people Will accept responsibility when 'necessary. But I still- be- lipVe farm children deserve a. special -niche in the hearts of Canadians fol- the work they do on a family farm • . - 'Hundreds of family .ta.e rms in<this province would be out of .business without the help at-the family. I know of a cash crop farmer whose wife and teen-aged daughter become :.,his best---.and .only field hands during the harYest-sea, ble,parposely makes his bales smaller:Therefore light er, so, his wife and daughter can handle them. - " Farm children, I•belleve, learn , tolerance and love ear- lier fhan,,, city children, Farm -children are at home with animals and the vagaries of nature -from the time they learn .t6 walk and talk. 'They are Closer to the finer; more esthetic things of -life:, They learn resourcefulness early. They learn 'ghat it is like to be alone, to, commune with nature. They.. learn to respect machinery: and use it. for the benefit of mankind rather than asceurge for mankind. , are as muchaware —perhaps even more awa is going on around them, and in the rest of t any City dweller,, , . Which is why the family farm_must e uyed in this provinCe, in this...country.' tidal oat legislators understand this, farmers will have.to continue their struggle for eCon- omic' parity with' the rest of the'world: I hope they make it. • - • the -front door where the teen-ager, finally but reluutantly - ' Few farms are as isolated today that farmers Nand farm children have to rernaitr cou/rtry. bumpkins: -They — of-what e World as ractice IS CUSS ever-y .step of the way-, took the bags to the .,..„,/' ' %C-----...-----. -----,:„--------"-'''''''..,--,4 0-We!--,,,. ----- , W-, ' "../-.--"--- ,*-"_.-- • -, .--,5- . ,,-- ----rt, -,----,-•-- ,-,15. i.--_,,,, who Teemed, $10 each- .and • the M,V.C.A.. for a 2 ,year terM:. ' mileage are .Niarthwest - John Boyd Taylor Was appointed to Nixon, ,•Milo Casemore, . Bert the Blyth Union Cemetery Board.. -. - HastingS. "Northeast ,;, John lullhorne,•Riddell 4 Co., London Cardiff, . WM. Peacoct; James'will be auditors for 1977. . ' n.... Bowman; SOuthwest - JaMeS Membership to the Ontario. Richmond. Southeast - Kenneth paid: Wilson,: Will: Souch, 'Bruce .- Good Rodds Association will be McDonald,.George • Blake, - ..Mrs:;:ileien Martin be paid one ', Clarence Iviecatcheom. _ " ' ' -month's salary., MiS". 'Martin .was Gradernfili"..9.-'-die jetties •retired as township; ,clerk. ' - , • Casemore and John- Smith at —Aceonnis -in ,,the •amount of' $5.40 per hour.. ;Labour, wages $11,119.14 were paid. were set at $S.75 per hour. Dthiations Were approyed.to the Tile 'Drainage inspector - .Geo. ; following: ' * 7 „ 1+ffichie will receive '0.2.00 per March,of Dimes --$10..; Menial inspection. Waste „ ..Disposal Health Aasodation .- $25.; ' Supervisor - Adam Smith will be Municipal World 4 One gab-strip 4 '' .:.• paid $3.75 per hour, , - - .... ,-,ptioti - $15. 9 1- - 4Viri. ,McArter,' ro supeOP- ';,--,A.by-lavir authorizing the reeVe• hour ancl:2J-cents " mile and credit of the municality 4 to pi, terldent will. receive. $5.40 per and' treasurer to borrow oil the , $25.00 „ .. per month' . for ..theiniti of $225,000,000 from the i,,,,Oldtteiting. itenanneration ,,fer, Canadian ' IMperial , Bank or council nipmnerb,waS se ,.t ,, Itkeve ' Commerce, Witighant was Illip5; ,t)eptityi6ev6.-$,600;? and ' passed; '"' * ' -' ' Councillors $690' etieli- per year-. . "Obi/tot& Mill allil . tia110. edtlliiitithi' .'00,eflOS for. were' 'bile# "ap.,!the.tovdishiP's, attendance at one- convention *Ilk.,.:10110f4,1, . ' Feb. ,, ' be $15 per' clay pins' expenses.' :041fititMll inOt again .1.`61)',.-6... .-... t . „ wow *WA titlik • CL15710* 'KILLING' DAYS., VEEP VVIMAEStIAY AttE41401)Ng • ApPOWisit . tween counteg children and. city children disgusted mother lugged -the bags from the basement to cipp -... • farmland.' In its brief to the Royal Moore, the. Food `LandSteering Committee alsb said additional information is needed on the "electrical effects of transmission on.lines human s, animals and Another farmer observed that urban centre'oh to good,land and this is ,where the 'transmission lines will end up." • ._ Prof. Pearson said the concern was a valid one. "But I feel more hopeful than yoU. -I think energy and food are going to be the •gut issues of the next 50 to 100 years. The urban society is going to get a terrific shack as , far as energy 'and food aie ceiicerned and I have a feeling We'll be able to, educate the urban dwellers much quicker when they find out the facts. Up to now we have beer able td take cheap energy am cheap food for granted, but w can no longer do that," In " general. Prof. Pearso recommends that the 'agricul- tural heartland" of the province, namely the _top producing t'Ounties of Southwestern Ontario, be Preserved intact" at all possible. would be• 'advisable On agricultural grounds to keep major energy developments off the 'agricultural heartland', especially those involving therMal plants* or massive" investment," he states. • -, "Because of the-environmen- tal: in ovement, social pressurs have tended to push transmission lines on to farmland. • In the high-machinery areas this creates special locational and adjustmept probleing." While the location at Mitlear statienV"- fsueb as Nanticoke) gene` sty- ci agriculture in Prof. Pearson's opinion, the same is "not true, 9f thermal stations.- ..„ """Thermal stations burning oil &coal present distinct problems in all areas and particularly in Southwestern Ontario, where westerly locations Combined with the air pollution effects of U.S. stations in the lower' Great-Lakes can adverSely effect •specialty crop areas which „have-•already -had to ,adjustab such conditions,,, "However when one balances this (need for corridors) with the air'pollution problem, perhaps we can-• deal with transmission lines.'" According to Prof. Pearson, the problems posed, by locating generating' Slade/ma in faMiland.„ areas are not's° Mueb related to :Safety, as: to the "strong economic impacts;' theyeereatei "I wOuldn't hesitate to live next door to a nuclear power station. However this fear of the unknown is difficult to deal with." • mentalized planning," ,Prof. Pearson Noted. "I see agriculture in retreat in municipal planning and' it -cOnCerns me and municipal planning has ordination with energy planning.." While power stations can be built to serve the needs of urban centres Prof. 'Pearson said there is _no doubt but what sites like the Bruce station have a-, disruptive effect on raral areas. , "The development of a station like Bruce is • equivalent to dropping the development of 10 to 12 townships in one area in one or two years — it's phenomenal for la small community to absorb,. —The economic impact • is tremendous, especially on wages and services. The Public Service are good employers, they pay • good wages. It's a big job for:ap agricultural community, to service this kind of development ...Mind you there are benefits; they' are vey • real• and very, evident, such as the direct and indirect effects - of the massive .investment involved which includes improved, shopping facilities,' road systems . and retailing.• The rate of change is a key factor." Prof. -- Pearson said, it' is „somewhat unfortunate that the developMent of the Bruce atationi,,, just happened M coincide with major changes in agriculture thus increasing the problems involved. . • ' Our effluence and resulting heed for more energy arrived at the same time as the. Specializa- tior of farmland, the great shit for• example telarge areas, of corn growing and, the shift to, dairy, 'farming. 'The speeiajization was in areas where a great dell af .amachinery isneed2d.": _ Ail7a4440-iiii§7sag Prinle farmland, said Prof. Pearson, is the fact that at the same time urban .centres are pushing transmission lines op to, agricul- tural ateas, they are also pushing housing on areas within a tWO -hour drive of major cities, on to prinie fatraand areas. This point was also made by- -Mr. -Van Donkersgoed who said that in• 1975 "close t o one:quar- ter of all new housing• construe- tien was in rural areas.'! polie5r ." and not supporting excellence in farming in general, -We' could, find some excellent farina' struggling to„ survive and this concertS Ope of .the' inajor concerns raised by farmers during the,_ question period was the posalit_e_ She asked members of the ROW Commission if they were of studies done on ,the.effects pf making any attempt to get copies transmission lines on humans in Russia and if so, could the copies be sent to their family.-doctor. "We, will get all the evidence we' can," replied Dr. Porter. "We'Ve heard 'of them (the . Russian studies)• and we already ,.hav,e some of them as- welt...as some from Syraclise Oniversity,p - Dr. Porter said the commission Would gladly forward whatever 'information it has to the Manion's doctor. However,-she cautioned li'ne effect on humans was : one that the. Matter of transmission causing controversy among the . scientists therriselves.' "But it' is obvious, to the- Conirdission that there 'is a Problem here, pepple are concerned 'about it and we are trying Ickfind out as much about it • as possible." • Mrs. Manion also wondered if there, were any studieS on 'the effects of the lints on women, and children. "Anything I've heard has been about hydro linemen." The Fpod, Land Steering Committee,, an ad, hoc committee_ formed from a number of farm groups in .order ccirribibe resources in dealing With the Royal Conimission, was,represere ted, by Lloyd Moore of Listowel, chairman; and by -Elbprt Van Donkersgtied orDraytori, secre-. tary-treasurer. Mr. Moore is 'an organizer of the Concerned Farmers of the, United TownShips and Mr. Van, Donkersped is on the executive of 'the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. Other farm grpups involved in the Steering Committee are, the Bruce-Huron Power Negotiating Committee, the Huron Power %• Plant COMmittee, the National Farmers Union, the ()Marie Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario institute of Agtologists. Representatives from these Organizations were at the hearing as were represesntativeS from Ontario Hydro. (From the ListowelBatiner) Advertising. Letters are appreciated Lay Bob Trotter, Eldeln.Rtt ernott, Ont 038 2C7- autcher Yogi' BEEF or PORK at Cheap energy and cheap food can no Unger be taken ,fok granted, a professor who:. Preseit0 a reliat food land and energy policy to the Porter Royal - ConaMitsaioti ' Electric Power Planning, told a meeting of " the commission in If is.c2!0 last: Commission, presented by-Lloyd: In 's'wer to farmers'problems regardihg- the, location of trans- mission lines, on th-elf-1-ird--- * Pearson agreed with Nick Whyte, ▪ of the "Huron Power Plant Committee that' additional lines would , result— in. additional prOblems; but he also suggested that perhaps farmers should reorganize fields to. accommodate the lines as has been done in france. ' • Mr. Whyte said that "peohtems' inerdase at an increasing rate" as the number—of-lines -increased. "Enough lines will frustrate the farmer until eventually he decides not to work that area any more." As implement width increases, said Mr. Whyte, it is more difficult to gauge the distance from the transmission tower and farmers are how going to "50 and ` ,09.400t sprayer booma." Hans , Feldman, a Wallace Township farmer, said there Was a limit to how much ieorgani- zation• could be done :by farmers.. He also.noted erosion is becoming "the fastest growing problem in agriculture." and that one way of controlling erosion is the use of appointments made at Morris Pletch were ,recoAimerided to be members,: was Keith Clarke, ,an planning department; 'said most'. Council's meeting January 24, appointed to the East W;Wattosh• r with..-the ,midistry, of municipalities fall under pro- Councillor Sam ' Pletch , was Recreation; Parks' andCornmani- • agriculture and foodat Vineland. ' visions of the Code and most - absent. ty Centre Board.' ' Clarke "'was, responsible, for - require, certifieates of ecnimliance Treasurer - George Michie will '''' 'WM:. Elston and "1:1-aitrias Miller , ...designieg the forniulas used hi fcirthe erection of new buildings. receive $1400 a year; up from were appointed' to the Myth • the. Code. - • ' • He predicted that the Code would $1325: - — - District Fire Area Bpard. - The 'formulas establish . the. become_Part of:Zoning .bylaWS, Poundkeepers " ,are Carl Ross Procter and Sam Pletch minimum distance separation of .' A spokesman for,..ffie miniskry . -Johnston; Clarence Goll," lt•Oes were appointed ff) the 'VVin,4h am livestock'.' operations and other et---ihe environment said that Turvey, Harvey Edgar, Joh n and District ,Fir.e. Area. Board. specified land uses andare part of : fewer complaints . were being , *Oman, Wayne • HopPer, . -, „, Mrs. • ISaliel Garniss.„,..was the,•1976 reVisien „of the Code., received where the bide was' Clarence Yuill, Mervin Pipe, recommenclfed fin. appointment These formulas -relate para-.. followed He „ said that—odprs Larry Fear, Ronald Gordon; Wm. to 'the Wingh am , and District ; meters; nainely-ktrid of livestock; would not be eli, ritinated-entifely'- Craig, ' Gep, plake . and Rae" Hospital Board. - . - --, : size,- percentage' change ln- size, from farm operations, but if the. Huether. ' • ... Allah Searle-'was appoint'ed to' , manure. Isystm and manure Code was followed the, odors . Liveatpck 'matter is Glen ' the Seaforth Community Hospital . storage. -.• ' . ' , - '. ...., would be reduced for neighboring Casemore at $5:30 per hour and . Board. . ::-''.• , , They , Were established in an propaly -9wners to the point .21; Cents per 'mile. Fenceviewers • , Rebt. grasby was appointed to _ effoct to - isolate 'factors that where they cOuldlive With•them. , - be neceSitrYte get eciaipment to'• move valuable topsoil :back onto , thehigherr, :was of their farms to ▪ counteraci'erosion. ....,, . , •.. griculturai co -e o . d . ' f 'potato" in .this province, Ms, — Ix, Land Use, • Not that 'land use is a hot ,.,. a I Feldman wondered, "Can we ..„ .•• ..• ..have a provincial energy Policy . —without a• provincial. land use -policy?" • i• • • , Energy, devel9pment and contribute' to environmental land use muSt., be, 99-ordinated," conflict's. Prof. Pearspn replied: • Clarke ,, explained that -the, :' • Mr,q Van Donkersgoed formela"s were designed to, reflect wondered about the_ ,'.riandateof expansion 'Of agricultural . this Commission=ja lrgoing to operations. • ' be interpreted narrowly or as He did have a warning for , openly as ppssible?" farmers, especially those who irof. Pearson said he "read had farm buildings that may be a the mandate very broadly." non-conforming-', use under "The ternis'bf reference might present bylaws..He said allow for a broad inquiry, but I'm they should look closely ,at their 'not so sure the terms of reference • insurance policies -t-Olensare that they did not require the buildings . to be rebuilt on their present sites in case of fire logs. hi some Cases, they could not receive permission to rebuild pn their• presesnt ayes and their insurance, should reflect this- possibility, George Penfold, of.the Huron contour plowing. "This is going' to-bc extremely diffiCult where there are transmission towers" Prof. Pearson agreed With• Mr. Feldinan nd suggested it •-might allow for a broad ruling,„" Van Denkersgeed said. sc • - Dr. Porter said he, interpreted the mandate "in the. 'broadest possible sense, looking into planrdng coneepts.y:At the same time he stressed that Royal Commissions cannot rule, "only ., y uur wqrk. We've got o have an overall land use policy, " the ultimate -decision would`be a "political" one. "And what the urban' centres call 'adjacent' to cities have a way of getting pushed 20 to'30 miles out of the 1,1 As for the future of farming in general . in Ontario, Prof. Pearson said he was optimiat.ie in that--:.- "the rural planning _seetor 'is . developing ' very quickly." - wee-Ar4 - , . recommend." . . Prof. Pearson said in Sweden effects or working and hiring ' Professor. Norman Pearson, This point was quickly taken up he saw a town built •around *a under _high 'power transmission who presented his study, done fin. ' by Pat. Daunt, a Wallace power station "arid it made Sense, lines. . • ' , the Food Land Steering Commit- . "Township beef farmer. to me,' such planning utilizes the Leonard and TereSsa Manion of , tee; said farmers will have to - -;•"That'S all we will get is `,`,`proximity--of the power to . the the• Palmerston area said they learn to live with , high power recomMendatipes. There is no, load centre, the -heating capaelty were concerned about •the 250 kv transmission lines but the people provincial land use policy. I of the•station, the acCompanying power lines across their farm. of the province "shouldn't allow believe the gOVernmerit has industrial park and the road' "We'd like to know more about it; urban areas to push lines away abrogated its responaibilly in this • system." we're scared orift" Mrs. Manion But let's take a quick look today at the difference be- side, then he" didn't have proper snowboots. , Finally, his .. . from their nice urban areas on to regard and gk I fear this Iltnee "It's time we sted, depart, said. However, he Said it ;the province continues .with its ..'2,cheap_food RD 1... to better buys. CANADIAN ADVERTISING ADVISORY BOA points.the way -cure rttecrk.