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The Rural Voice, 1978-08, Page 41nace eemotO edeizAltiagail "fricateete Hannam speaks to members NEWSLETTER Peter Hannam was the guest speaker at the Bruce Federation of Agriculture Semi-annual banquet. He spoke before more than 200 members at the Elmwood Community Hall June 27th. He started his speech with a story of a foreign visitor to Canada attending a banquet. The visitor noted three things. First, more food was prepared than served. Secondly more food was served than was eaten. His third comment was that more food was eaten than necessary. This Mr. Hannam stated "underlines the bount iful supply of food provided by farmers in this county." Agriculture is our provinces biggest industry and directly or indirectly provides twenty five percent of all jobs in the Province," he said. In his speech Peter Hannam criticized the marketing practices of large super- market chains. He stated these chains artificially inflate food prices and reduce competition. "It is a spectrum of the food industry which is under no scrutiny whatsoever," he said. "There are some terrible things going on."Some processors pay a 26% discount, plus listing fee's and advertising tarriffs to get their products on supermarket shelves. These policies, established by three major retailers are seating artificially high wholesale prices. The prices, in turn are friving small retailers out of business and small processors out of the province. He stated Canadians take food for granted and urged farmers to change that by stepping to the front of food policy discussions. He pointed out that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture had done just that in their march on Ottawa. He stated the Ottawa meeting had made a lasting impression on many people in- volved with farming and the food industry. Hannam explained the reasoning behind the Federation's publishing of the Farmer Price Index. "We should make other people in the food industry defend what they are doing" he stated. "Price differences between the farm gate and the supermarket shelf are a revelation" The Farmer Price Index points out that chicken increased $.02 at the farm gate but $.20 at the retail level. Ammendments The Federation is pressing for am- mendments to the line fence act but is very disturbed that government ammendments proposed exclude Ontario Hydro, Govern- ment, Municipal and Conservation authorities from the act. In closing Mr. Hannam stated "It isn't good enough to wait for a crisis in agriculture and react. Farmers must maintain a constant realization of the importance of the industry. Our vice-president Eldon MacKinnon introduced Ross Kentner who in turn presented the Tommy Cooper award to Bill Wolfe. The award was given to Bill for his service to the agricultural community and was well deserved. Bill has served the community in many ways. He served the Federation as President d the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture. He also served for two years as the second vice-president of the Ontario George Smyth builds the bean cutter in his Auburn we . ing shop and various Western Ontario dealers sell it. Mr. Smyth is selli g his machine direct to dealers. "We are too busy making them (cutters). If a customer needs a service call, it is easier for the dealer to make the call than us," he pointed out. Mr. Smyth employs five men who do various other welding jobs as well as making- the cutters. This year the Smyths have put in two acres of beans that they'll demonstrate the Smyth Bean Cutter. - Dealers offering the Smyth Bean Cutter are:-McGavins Farm Equipment, Walton; H. Lobb and Sons in Clinton; George Wraith, Goderich; G. & E. Sales and Service in Lucknow; Hyde Farm Brothers Farm Equipment in Hensall; Tye's in Tharndale; Perth Machinery Ltd. in Listowel; Gilmore Farm Supply in Harriston: Doupe's Equipment Ltd. Kincardine; and Logan Farm Equipment in Mitchell and A.G. Farm Equipment, Woodham, Ont. - George Smyth Welding & Machine Shop Federation of Agriculture. In accepting the award Bill thanked his mothe and father. his wife Gail and them children. He stated the friends al acquaintances he made while working for the community were very rewarding.'; feel 1 have been the real winner over time" he said of his service contributions. With" that warm and moving moment the, mecting closed and those present moved` upstairs for an evening of dancing and: socializing. Emergency Information Meeting Held A very large and somewhat boisterous crowd attended an information meeting at the Bradley School in Greenock township sponsored by the Bruce County Federation d Agriculture. The meeting was called. because of the ratepayer concern over the, , recently distributed proposed township. zoning bylaw. Comments made at the meeting ex- pressed the view that the proposed zoning' bylaw be "thrown out" completely. It was,„ brought to the attention of the crowd that there are serious errors in the maps to which these by-laws would apply and'_ maybe this was one of the problems overcome. After a lot of vocal expression, it was ' decided to allow the elected council a " chance to carry out their mandate and':' rewrite the bylaws after reading the ratepayer objections. A meeting would'" then be called for the ratepayer's ., participation. The meeting was chaired by 1st vice-president Eldon McKinnon. ' Perhaps this is an example of a need for ratepayer communication with their elected council. "WE BUILD THE BEST AND REPAIR THE REST" Phone 529-7212 R.R. 2, Auburn, Ont. THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1978 PG. 41