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Zurich Citizens News, 1975-02-20, Page 6PAGE 6 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1975 Huron F of A meet with politicians (by Adrien V os) The Huron Federation of Agriculture held their annual Members of Parliament meeting last Saturday in the Clinton boardroom of the Ontario Min- istry of Agriculture. The feder- al member Robert (Bob) McKinley and both members of the Ontario legislature, Murray Gaunt and Jack Riddell were present to listen to and comment on concerns expressed by rep- resentatives of the federation and by various farm commodity groups. Doug Fortune chaired the meeting and stated in his opening remarks that farmers must learn to find answers to their problems themselves and their organizations in co-oper- ation with their local members and governments. The Huron Pork Producers by their President Eric Monre, of Goderich, pointed out that the park board doesn't set prices, but that the price is set by aipply and demand. The pork board then should not be subject to the blanket criticism that has been levelled at marketing boards in the last half year. Another concern he expressed was the effect of strikes on innocent parties and he stressed that a solution to this widesp- read problem must be found. The pork producers, together with the bean producers, the Beef Improvement Association and the Huron Power Plant Com- mittee asked the members to do any thing in their power to prevent the building of a power plant in Huron County as this would be detrimental to the growing of plants, particularly white beans, but to other crops as well, and that further develop ment in the wake of the plant construction would crowd out livestock operations because of objections to the small of such operations. Allan Walper of Grand Bend expressed concern about the continuously dropping of the Water table. Some wells that were free flowing only twenty years ago now need a deep Well pump, Mr. Walper stated and he asked for research in this area, if for instance tile drain water from the fields could be safely led back into those wells. A lengthy discuss- ion brought out that farmers themselves are much to blame for the lower water table as they easily succumb to the tem- ptation to enlarge their farms by,cutting down wood lots which are excellent places for holding water. Warden Anson McKinley pointed out that Huron county has an excellent law which forbids cutting and removing more than two acres of wood lot and the cutting of trees with less than 54 inches circumference 18 inches above the base. Any one violating this law is liable to get a hefty fine. The Bean Producers Market- ing Board devoted their entire brief to the contemplated Power Plantin Huron County. They explained through Philip Durand, their chairman, that 54, 000 acres are used for the production of white beans in Huron County with a total prod- uction in 1973 of over 63 mill- ion pounds. With the building of a power plant this production will almost certainly be decim- ated, there by depriving the world of an enormous amount of high protein food which can be stored for a considerable period of time. Both MPP's assured the meeting that they would do everything in their power to prevent the contempl- ated development. They also stated that there is a good poss- ibility that such a plant v`vuld be built in or near the Bruce Peninsula instead of Huron County. The problems of the beef producer were presented by George Adarns of Wroxeter and he wondered if more farming would go the way of the sugar beet industry and the conseq- uences of not having our own sugar industry have been made painfully aware in the last months. If a commodity was discussed in a brief from Jake VanWonderen of Varna who wondered if governments couldn't do more to help beef men to become even more efficient. Some farmers in some areas are living a subsistence existence he claimed and he asked the government to help so they can help themselves. Mason Bailey of Blyth expl- ained the Land Use Policy of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. This is often quot- ed out of context he said. We want land preserved for food production. but on condition that the farmer can make a living off that land comparable with the rest of society who have the same investment and the same managerial ability. Paul Steckle, chairman of the Huron Farm Safety Assoc- iation said that compulsory roll bars on all new tractors would probably soon be introduced. The railroads are now applying reflective devices on the sides of railway freight cars and are studying the use of revolving lights on the top of locomotives on recommendation of the Safety Association. He warned further that anyone who hires labour is responsible to have the employee covered with Workmen's Compensation. If he doesn't he can he held resp- onsible if an accident occurs. He suggested to the MP's that fanners be made more aware of the Workmen's Compensat- ion through the tax Offices and Winners at euchre party The Zurich Women's Instit- ute held a Euchre party in the Township Hall on February 17, with 12 tables in play. Winners were: most lone hands, Gloria Adkins; high ladies, Mrs. Annie Finkbeiner; low ladies, Mrs. M. Ravelle; high men's, Mrs. Milton Oesch (playing as a man); low man, Henry Adkins. A contest for the most pennies in a man's pocket was won by Bill Mc- Laughlin. Accounting departments. Too many accidents take place on the farrn, he said, and sooner or later the agricultural industry will be required to operate under the Farm Safety Act with regard to safety equipment, which will mean regular inspe- ction of such devices. Maurice Bean of Auburn concluded the MP meeting with Budget beef Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan congratulated M. Loeb Ltd., and the IGA retailers, on the decision to offer budget beei throughout southwestern Ontario, "The decision by M. Loeb Ltd., to give the consumer the choice of C Grade beef as tie11 as the higher grades norm- ally sold in supermarkets isin line with the government's pro- gram to promote the sale of a wider range of beef quality, " Mr. Whelan said. He said it would help the beef industry as well as the consumer. "1 congratulate M. Loeb Ltd. and the IGA retailers on taking this initiative to stimulate the sale of C Grade beef, " Mr. Whelan said. "It provides a better market outlet for this type of beef and gives the con- sumer an alternative to the Grad A beef customarily offered. "The production of beef carry ing less finish than has tradition- ally been the case may well be one of the' answers to the cost problems facing beef prod- ucers, " said Mr. Whelan. Mr. Whelan wrote to the major meat retailers urging them to take steps to promote the sale of ground beef as well. 0 Chiselhurst UCW On February 11 the Chiselhurst UCW held their monthly meeting in the afternoon, after a day of quilting and a pot luck dinner. The meeting was opened by prayer with the vice-president Dorothy Parker in charge. The worship service "The perfect foundation" was conducted by Mary Brintnell. The study was given by Dorothy Brintnell. The roll call was answered by each of the members read- ing a Bible verse. Correspond- ence was in the form of a letter from the Area President at List- owel, and also a letter concern ing sending parcels to Angola. There were thank you notes from Mrs. Sararas, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Block. The World Day of Prayer will be on March 7 at 3 p.m. in Hensall United Church. Members were reminded of visiting the Queens. way Nursing Horne during the month of March, SHAW'S Dairy Store MAIN STREET - ZURICH' featuring a complete line of Groceries * Confectionery Novelties PHONE 236-4930 - ZURICH a brief on the salary increase to be asked for federal members of parliament. He quoted a Blyth Council man as saying in discussing councilman's salaries:' unquote. Mr. Mc- Kinley replied that provincial members in Ontario and Quebec have a higher salary than the federal members and explained some of the costs a member is obliged to incurr. If a municip- ality build a pool, the MP donates $50, or if constituents visits Ottawa, the member takes them to lunch. Murray Gaunt said that on occasion a school class with maybe seven- ty children visits Queens Park and the least it costs him is seventy bottles.of pop or maybe seventy box lunches. Mr. Bean pointed out that the MP also has to make sure that there will be money in his savings to fight the next election. The danger of too low a remunerat- ion is that only the rich will be able to run in an election and that would put the representatior of the not so rich in their hands. At the conclusion of the meet. ing the MP's declared that they wouldn't like to miss this yearly exercise, as it provides them with material in debates. Huron County Board Of Education KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION AT Zurich Public School THURSDAY, MARCH 6 9:00 - 12:00 Heusi,' Public School THURSDAY, MARCH 6 1:00 - 3:30 J.A.D. McCurdy School WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 9:00 - 12:00 1:00 - 3:30 Exeter Public School WEDNESDAY, MARCH s 9:00 - 12:00 1:00 - 3:30 Huron Centennial School WEDNESDAY, MARCH S 9:00 - 12:00 1:00 - 3:30 Usb®rne Central School TUESDAY, MARCH 4 9:00 - 12:00 1:00 - 3:30 Stephen Central School MONDAY, MARCH 3 9;00 - 12:00 1:00 - 3:30 Children eligible for registrat- ion will need to be 5 years of age on or before December 31, 1975. Please bring birth certificate, OHIP number, immunization cards and any other pertinent health records for the School Nurse.