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Times-Advocate, 1982-02-03, Page 1Area unemployment figures increase; but soma' Area firms are recalling Though area unem- vice-president in charge of ployment figures show a operations at Dasbwood, significant increase in the Industries. numbers of unemployed, He said 58 workers would some area companies are be recalled Mot*day. beginning to recall Workers He said the cow took an extended shutdowq over Christmas returning to work on January 18. Layoffs on October. 2 and November 20 put about 184 people out of work. Rankin said the company had begun aaggressive marketing pr am and is now building ntory for the spring. . He added tt*t. the com- pany hoped to recall more workers late in Ptbruary. General Coach in Hensall also took an extended Christmas shutdown. General manager Andy Imanse said that 78 em- ployees were recalled January 18 after a 45 -day_ layoff. The company's remaining 90 employees remain on an indefinite layoff. "Due to the economic situation," Imanse said, "several manufacturers were forced outof the in- dustry during the past two years." ``., The result has been a larger market share for General Coach. The general manager said the company was finishing off an order, from Saudi One Hundred and Arabia and is filling orders for spring delivery. The company will also be showing their recreational vehicles at a trade show in after a winter slump. Susan McKee of the Canada Employment Centre in Exeter said 'that 923 persons were registered with the centre as unemployed in January. This is up from the 549 people reported as registered unemployed in November and up from 661 people registered unem- ployed in January of 1681. "We're building win- dows,"said Alan Rankin; the federal government for calling an Canadian for .restraint, then accepting pay raises u high os 50 percent. He said the story on MP's wages should be front,page in every newspaper inCana. "People want to work," be said but added that there may be more layoffs at Custom Trailers, "unless Mr. MacEachen and his henchmen straighten out the budget." Tinny said a small order could keep the company busy, but he had doubts about other area businesses. The plant manager of Fleck Manufacturing in Huron Park, Bill Leaver, said he was upset at the T- A's story December 2 saying that 68 Fleck employees had been laid -off in November. He said the story indicated the company did not have a positive outlook for 1982. Fleck Is "hiring like crazy at the moment" Leaver said, that the 68 workers had n recalled and the company hopes to hire another 30 in the next few weeks. "Aggressive marketing and a good quality product, delivered on time," Leaver said has increased Fleck's market share. He added that this ap- proach of marketing and product can create jobs and the company is optimistic about 1962. The company makes electrical harnesses for .the automotive Industry. Leaver said the company employed about 80 people two years ago and now has over 230 workers. Even though there Is a slump in the -automotive industry, Leaver said Fleck has "a bigger piece of the pie." Another Huron Park company, Trail Manufac- turing, laid off 28 workers on Friday. General manger Matt Berg said the winter was usually a slow time of year and the company usually lays off workers before Christmas. The company manufac- tures chainsaws and small engines and had been building stock for orders. The layoffs were prompted when an order was cancelled at the last minute. "Our business can change in a couple of weeks," Berg said, adding that orders were unpredictable. Berg said that the com- pany's biggest market was in Europe where economic conditions are no better. Susan McKee said the Please turn to page 3 t TEACHER RIDES — Teacher Wally Webster is about to get a push from Deb Taylor, Dove Woodward, Wayne Smith and Joanne Malone in the bed race event at Winter Doze at SHDHS. Serving South Huron, North Middlesex 1 Toronto this week and hopes ' CLEANING UP — Dan Regier and Dan Creces wash dishes for orders from the show. after the cake baking contest during Friday's Winter Daze ac- "I remain optimistic that tivities of SHDHS. T -A photo sales . will increase as the spring selling season draws near," Imanse said. There is a possibility of further layoffs at. Custom Trailers in Exeter. Office manager Dwayne Tanney said it was very unlikely that laidoff workers will be back before April. His company laid off .17 workers in September. The company's remaining 16 workers are finishing off work on existing orders. Tinney said it was im- possible to keep 30-40+mobile home units in stock, as the company did 10 years ago, Three people get fines of =300 each Three fines of $300 each were imposed by Judge J.M. Seneshen when he presided at Exeter court, Tuesday. The fines were for assault'. 'causing bodily harm, posses= sion of drugs and for driving with an alcohol level over the legal limit. Alvin Ross Gould, RR 1 Exeter,,,ReatinedlIQ926,,a days on the driving charge, ,•j. Eliminate parking ' Exeter council have ap- proved - a recommendation from the parks and parking committee to eliminate parking on John St. W. between Main and William St; Committee chairman Dorothy Chapman said the recommendation was made on the basis of several ac- cidents which have occurred between the town's garbage packer and parked cars on jhe narrow street. She said the vibration of the packer has caused the vehicle to slide into the parked cars._ Another recommendation. approved was to renew the contract with Durk Bakker to plant and maintain flower . beds in Riverview Park and the downtown parkettes at the rate of 810 per hour, which is the same- as last • year. The committee also an- nounced they would look into the matter of the slope of the f sidewalk in front of the municipal office. A verbal complaint about the slope t had been passed on to the committee through Coun- d cillor Lossy Fuller. laid on January 17. The court learned his pickup was to the ditch and the key was in the ignition. The accused was asleep in the vehicle- and a subsequent breathalizer test gave a reading of 200 mgs. Gould had his licence suspended for three months, after pleading guilty to the because of today's Jftig rge, • ;, ;,F '; inter •riftia.` a.' �:4 b„, Fined 8.100 or 30 days for .Tinny blamed the federal assault causineaodily, harm budget and high interest rates for the slow economy and the layoffs. "We've built a good product, efficiently, for over 18 years, but here we sit,” Tinney said. He was critical of the was Thomas Anthony McVeeney, RR 3 Exeter. He was given 30 days in which to Pay - Judge Seneshen was told it was the second offence of this nature for the accused. He was charged on October 16 after being involved in an altercation in 4Crediton, when a resident of that com- munity ended upj with a sore nose. sore eye and three teeth knocked out. The victim said he was pushed over a railing at his One of the invitednests residence and then hit and for last night'sSportsmen's g ' kicked in the face. g Sportsmen s The other 9300 fine was Dinner was unable to attend. imposed on Rodney John Dave Shaw, son of Mayor Dobson. Exeter, who plead- Bruce Shaw, was a late ed' guilty to possession of addition to the Emms narcotics on September 6. division team for last night's He was given 30 days 'in Junior "A" all-star game in which to pay. He was charg- Brantford. ed after police checked a The Exeter minor hockey parked vehicle and found product is in his first season two hand -rolled cigarettes on the defensive corps of the containing marijuana and Kitchener Rangers, after also a plastic bag with seven toiling last year with the grams of marijuana. OHA Junior "B" finalists, It was Dobson's second Stratford Cullitons. offence of this nature. Shaw was enroute to his Charged with him was Exeter home for the dinner Murray Charles Atthill, when his coach called to Woodham. The latter was report that he had been - ined 9100 or 10 days, it being selected to play in the all - his first offence. He too was star game. riven 30 days in which to pay His father reported that he fine. the young defenceman was The total value of the happy about the situation, rugs the two youths had preferring to play hockey was ILsted at 920. over speech -making. Pick _Shaw for all-stars F. r c rnlil4itJtii!ts' ', iid;4jti;i'•�•, RRE DESTROYS BARN — A Mondaymorning fire destroyed a barn on the Stephen township farm of Wayne O'Brien 'on oncession 3. A quantity of hay and straw and 60 goats were lost. Huron Park fire chief Norm Hyde estimated Toss at -8125,000. T -A photo Fire destroys 60 goats About 60 goats were lost as fire destroyed a -large barn on the Stephen ' township farm of Wayne O'Brien at Lot 10, Concession 3, Monday morning. Huron Park fire chief Norm Hyde said O'Brien was alerted to the fire by a passing motorist at about 6.45 a.m, Hyde said, "Wheq we got the call I immediately called the tr'editon brigade for backup help along with a Stephen township snow plow. At the time I didn'tknow how badly the lane would be drifted and the plow cer- tainly came in handy." Flames were coming through the roof when firemen arrived. The goats were the only animals In the building. A number of cattle were shipped to market about a week ago and a new shipment of cattle was on order and scheduled to arrive in the very 'near future. The Huron Park fire chief said the cause of the blaze had not yet been determined. Two adjoining silos were alto empty at the time of the fire. & North Lambton Since 1873 Ninth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, FEBRUARY 3, 1982 Wage hike retroactive ka Workers at the Bell Aerospace plant in Grand Bend have voted 80 percent in favour of a new two-year contract Thursday night which gives them a wage increase of 81 percent in the Price Per Copy 40 ants ell Aerospace pact first year and.63 percent in the second year.. The first wage increase Is retroactive to January 4. The settlement was reached between the firm and local 1767 of the United Auto . Workers Thursday afternoon after a '25/2 -hour session. Union concerns about plant relocation were resolved by a protection clause which guarantees the same wages and benefits in GETS SERVICE AWARD — During Friday's annual meeting of the Exeter Agricultural Society former secretary Garnet Hicks presented a long service certificate to Dalton Finkbeiner who has been a fair board member since 1949. T -A photo New agriculture buildin adds to fair's success The new agricultural building at Exeter Com- munity Park was given lots of credit for the success of the 1981 Exeter Fall Fair a the annual meeting Friday night. Poultry director Clif Pepper said it was a pleasure to set up cages in the new building and Bruce Shapton of the feeder calf club echoed the same sen- timents saying, "the new livestock pavilion might be the lifeline of our club." Secretary Pauline Sim- mons' financial report showed attendance was down somewhat from the 1980 fair. Admissions were down by 8485 for the Friday night activities and 930 for the Saturday part of the fair. Fair board members learned that the Midwestern Rodeo Association had turned over a cheque for $4,111.39 to help in the cost of the new agricultural building. These monies were left over when the rodeo group folded. Directors decided to invest 81,000 of this amount in, a short term deposit and turned the balance oiler to the town of Exeter for the grounds development project. When the cost of the building was listed at 971,520.60 in the financial statement, fair director Dalton Finkbeiner explained that the original, estimate was exceeded by 613,164.56. Items adding to the extra expense were a new floor at 86,440, an electric panel at 84,236 and some other ad- ditions required by the Department of Labour. In the feeder calf club report, Bruce Shapton said 12 members would be f showing calves atthe1982 fair which is scheduled for September 24,25 and 26. Shapton said implants to the calves done in recent years by the Exeter District Co -Operative were adding about 100 pounds to the weight of each calf. Reporting on grains and seeds, Jack Stewart said it was nice to see that Stephen farmers were still trying to beat those from Usborne. School fair president Margaret McClure who has completed a two year term said entries were up by 70 to 1,876 and thanked area elementary teachers for their help in increasing participation by students. Dolores Shapton who reported for ladies president Shirley Cooper called for more men to take part in the Please turn to page 3 any new Belt plant which may open within a 100 -mile . radius of Grand Bend, ac- cording to negotiating committee chairman Tony Jones. "We hope it doesn't happen," he said. "We would prefer to remain here in Grand Bend because of the poor employment situation in the province. The workers will also get a dental plan in the second year. Benefits for accidental death and tlistnemberment have risen, as well as the company life insurance plan and shift premiums. There was no cost -of -living allowance agreement. The top wage in the highest classification is :699, which will increase 81.70 intwo years. The top wage in the Pay tribute to official Mayor Bruce Shaw paid tribute to former clerk C.V. Pickard, Monday, noting that he had a significant guiding influence on the town. Mr. Pickard, who died last week, served several years as clerk -treasurer of the town. Shaw said that the former clerk had a hand in planning and implementing many community projects over the years. "Let the minutes reflect that council does grieve his loss and Share the sorrow of his family," the Mayor , concluded. ' He was a fine man." Councillor Morley Hall, who noted that Mr. Pickard was the real estate agent through whom he had pur- chased his business when coming to Exeter some 25 years ago. said he always cherished the man's advice and friendship. "He was a real solid citizen," he commented. EXETER FAIR EXECUTIVE The new executive of the Exeter Agricultural Society was named at the group's annual meeting Friday night. Back, left vice-president Gordon Jonec and Ray Conn and past president Norm Whiting. Front, secretory Pauline Simmons, presi- dent Bob Hern and school fair president Mory Dougall. T -A photo bottom category is 97.70 which will be increased 55 cents in two years. "It was a very satisfactory conclusion, and we still have a good working relationship with the UAW," said Ted Bartlett, director of business operations. He said about 60 percent of the negotiations centered on "noneconomic issues" such as the language of the new contract and the potential relocation. There were a total of nine meetings since December 1 last year. The old contract expired December 31. MS APPOINTER Bill Rose, 230 Pryde, has been named by Exeter council to fill the final vacancy on the South Huron rec centre board of management. Rose will also serve as one of Exeter's representatives to the Exeter recreation committee. A CAKE FACIAL -- Henry Vandenburgt appears to be wear, ing more cake than he ate during the cake eating contest at SHDHS during Winter Daze. T -A photo NDP are challenged to build stronger. The key to elect oral - success for Ontario's New Democrats is to build a stronger party between elections, according to Tony :11cQuail, president of the Huron -Bruce NDP. Association. • J1cQuail spoke to a small audience at the Centralia Community Centre Tuesday night atthe Huron -Middlesex SDP membership -meeting. He said that more work was needed in the area to build up party supporters •among. thoxce.w•ho voted NDP in the provincial 'election last spring. "tiinteen hundred people in Huron -Bruce voted NDP last spring," he said, "so we need more contacts to_build a riding association. The battle often seems uphill because it's true that the odds are not good that we can elect an MP or MPP here, but we have to ex- periment with new ways of reaching people." N1cQuail said the mem- hership meeting on January 19 at Huron Park was en- couraging, producing 15 new members. Although membership drives are hard work. "we have too many years of majority government/ both federally and provincially, to let ourselves relax," he said. "I would like to- see riding members working together on these drives. The education process should take place between elections he said, because there is little hope of reaching people during the hectic weeks of campaigning just prior. to . elections. "People are exposed to a lot of expensive and sophisticated media ad- vertising which can often confuse them," he said. McQuail also conducted nominations for delegates to the provincial leadership convention in Toronto on February 5-7. The iielegates for Huron -Middlesex are Drew Ferguson, Charles McKinnon and Jeanette Ferguson. Jeanette,_ McKinnon was nominated as an alternate. • '• • Executive officers for the riding were also nominated. For 1982 they are: President, Drew Ferguson; mem- bership secretary, Barb Arnezeder; chief financial - officer, ' John Wood; secretary, Jeanette Ferguson.