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The Citizen, 2005-10-20, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005. Editorials Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Advertising, Ken Warwick & Marcie Riegling The Citizen The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $30.00/year ($28.04 + $1 96 G.S.T.) in Canada. $85.00/year in U.S.A, and $)00/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40050141 PAP REGISTRATION NO. 09244 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO CIRCULATION DEPT. PO BOX 152 BRUSSELS ON NOG 1H0 email: norhuron@scsinternet.com Canada We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP) toward our mailing costs. P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com Website www.northhuron.on.ca Aocna(S«« > Member of the Ontario Press Council ■■ESEBH We are not responsible for unsolicited newsscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Reversing Henry Ford From teachers in British Columbia to meat packing plant workers in Alberta labour disruptions are getting national attention these days. In a world where global competition means salaries and wages no longer automatically increase every year it may be a sign of times to come. The case of the the workers seeking their first union contract at the huge Lakeside Packers meat processing plant at Brooks, Alberta is a traditional union/management standoff of workers trying to improve working conditions and pay, but it also may be a harbinger of the world to come for workers as companies try to cut costs to compete globally. It may be no coincidence that 70 per cent of the workers on .the picket line are recent immigrants. In his book Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser points out that packing plant jobs in the U.S. once provided middle-class jobs but after U.S. food giants broke the union, the wages dropped to poverty level and migrant workers, many of them illegal immigrants, filled the workforce. But if the packing companies wanted to pay as close to Third World wages as they could, they wanted First World speed and mechanization. Schlosser was sneaked into one plant by workers who wanted working conditions exposed. Twenty years ago new slaughter plants in the U.S. killed 175 cattle per hour. Now they must handle 400 each hour. The speed and the dangerous tools workers use, add up to injuries. In the U.S. injuries among slaughterhouse workers are three times as high as for other factories. Lakeside Packers is owned by Tyson Foods Inc., one of the largest farming/processing companies in the U.S. Packing practices there are likely its desired model for the largest plant in Canada. It will not want a uhion that can force expensive improvements in wages and working conditions, so the fight for the workers in Brooks may be lone and bitter. But Tyson Foods Inc. is not alone. In trying to turn around the bankrupt U.S. giant autoparts-making Delphi Corp., CEO Steve Miller has demanded wage cuts from $27.50 per hour to $10. Miller’s demands would reverse the pioneering thinking of Henry Ford who, in 1914, decided he’d pay his workers more money so they could afford to buy the cars they were building on his assembly line. One economist warns if this cost cutting spreads throughout the auto industry, the people making cars may not be able to afford to buy them. If we shrink our standard of living to compete with the Third World, where will consumers come from for the products companies are making, he wonders. Is anyone even thinking about these ramifications? In a global world where companies are only thinking about maximizing their quarterly profits by minimizing their costs, is anyone taking time to wonder where their customers will come from if incomes go into a downward spiral in North America? Sure it’s great to dream about the potential of a billion Chinese with more buying power but do you want to give up on North American buyers to reach for that brass ring? — KR Hespolonffgmall.com jg. V "" - *1 The Promotion xjs-s.—.—4.___________ _ - * ■ -r /Z Al/J w ' M ~jr ; Looking Back Through the Years Commentary By Paul Mistele, Vice-President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture The Ontario Government’s speech from the throne contained a number of encouraging indicators for Ontario agriculture - such things as an acknowledgement of the importance of agriculture’s $30-billion contribution to the provincial economy. It was good news to hear our lieutenant governor give details of lhe government’s focus on three priorities for agriculture - innovation to support research and development; marketing Ontario food as the government works with the industry to develop a new branding and marketing strategy; and improved farm income through a joint effort with OFA and our commodity partners to improve our system of safety nets. Sometimes the farming community gets the sense it isn’t being heard by government, but the throne speech provided an echo of what the Ontario Federation of Agriculture has been saying to government officials for years. The speech referred to “massive agricultural subsidies in Europe and the U.S. hurling our farmers and making it difficult lor them to compete.” This is a clear indication the McGuinty Government understands what’s behind our calls for new risk management and production insurance programs for Ontario agriculture. The agriculture industry is ready to now sit down with our government officials and work to get approvals for proposals already tabled. With this in place, Ontario farmers can have confidence they will be able to compete with unfair international subsidies. The speech was described as a ‘speech for the people of Ontario: the millions of Ontarians who get up and work hard every day to reach higher, to build a better life for themselves and their children, and a brighter future for their province and their country.’ These words provide an accurate description of the thousands of Ontario farm families. However, without an adequate income from their farming operations, the hopes many farmers have for their families’ futures will remain simply a dream. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture and its partner commodity organizations want to help farmers realize their Continued on page 6 Oct 20,1948 The Londesborough United Church was holding a Jubilee Service in honour of its anniversary. The festivities included the special services with guest speakers as well as a large turkey supper for the community. At the annual meeting of Londesborough LOL No. 863, held in Londesborough, several officers were elected for the forthcoming year. They were as follows : W.M., Bro. Saundercock; O.M., Bro. Lyon; Chaplain, Bro. Hesk, recording secretary Bro. Webster; financial secretary and treasurer, Bro. Nott; Marshall, Bro. Mains; 1st Lecturer, Bro. Fothergill; 2nd Lecturer, Bro. C. Bromley; 1st Commiteeman, Bros. F. Little, W. Bromley, G. Johnston, T. Adams, M. Youngblut, H. Bromley, and A Weymouth. Oct. 18, 1972 Two Bluevale men had died after suffering injuries in a two-car crash on Hwy 86 on Thanksgiving Day. There were also four others involved who were taken to hospitals around the area to be treated for their injuries. One man was in fair condition at London’s Victoria Hospital with a crushed chest, broken leg, various cuts and bruising. Wingham OPP said that both cars were demolished in the head-on crash. Misses Carol Wheeler and Susan Langlois were to appear on CKNX TV when they were to contribute to the programming with their talent for dancing. „ On the subject of dancing, two girls from Brussels placed very well in the Highland dancing competitions held in Goderich. Catherine Cardiff was awarded the gold medal in the novice class, and received the trophy for most points. Susan Langlois placed third in the same class. Carol Wheeler placed .fourth in two classes for Goderich-area dancers and also received the intermediate trophy for most points irrthe open amateur class. The three girls competed against dancers from London, Brantford, Kitchener, Bronte, and other centres. Ella McIntosh had an unexpected visitor to her residence when an Esso fuel truck rolled back down a hill on Tumberry Street and came to rest against her verandah. A comer of the verandah was smashed but there was little other damage. After 42 years of service with the Canadian National Railways, Russell Fox, otherwise known as Foxie, retired. The railroad wished Mr. Fox a happy retirement. There were to be four candidates on the ballots of voters in Huron for the 1972 elections. They were: T. Edward Bain, native of Goderich; Robert E. McKinley of Zurich; Charles H. Thomas of Brussels and Mrs. Shirley Weary of Goderich. Oct. 17,1973 Ed Davies of Auburn presented a giant of sorts at The Standard office. He brought in his prize tomato, weighing in at a whopping three pounds and measuring 20 inches in circumference. Mr. Davies grew the giant from a seed that he found in Florida. Londesborough United Church celebrated its 75th Anniversary. Auburn’s Knox United Church celebrated its anniversary as well. Oct 22, 1986 After viewing a rain-ruined bean field in Exeter, federal Minister of Agriculture John Wise contemplated what aid the government could provide for Huron County fanners whose crops had been devastated by six weeks of record rainfall. Also taking the tour were Huron- Bruce MP Murray Cardiff, Lambton MP Sid Fraleigh, and Bev Hill, spokesperson for the Huron Federation of Agriculture-supported committee for disaster relief. Despite assurance of safety from both the Ontario Hydro and Ministry of the Environment, Blyth village councillors are not thrilled about the prospects of accepting three barrels of soil contaminated by a spill from a hydro transformer in Hullett Twp. to be placed in their waste disposal site. Further discussion was to take place in the following weeks to come to an agreement. The Blyth village council voted to contact the Wingham OPP concerning acts of vandalism taking place around town. The various senseless acts included the smashing of a prize pumpkin, a daylight burglary of one house in what seems to be an annual fall ritual, and the theft of flags from the Radford Construction planter at the comer of King and Queen Streets. Oct. 11,1989 Marlene Albers of RR 2 Bluevale was crowned the new Huron County Dairy Princess. Ministers from all over the Huron Diocese were on hand at Trintiy Anglican Church in Blyth for the induction service for Rev. David Fuller, rector of Trinity and St. John’s in Brussels. Among the priests taking part were Rev. Doug Fuller of London, father of the new rector. Plans for the reconstruction of Hwy 4 between Blyth and Wingham were to be unveiled at the public information session in Blyth. Huron County Pork Producers were considering an appeal of the ruling of the Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board that would see already low pork prices hit with a $2 levy. Blyth councillors voted to press the LCBO to change its decision against opening an outlet in Blyth.