Loading...
The Huron Expositor, 1984-07-11, Page 2ositor h _ .. SI NCE 1860, SERVING THE COMMUNITY FIRST Incorporating Brussd Qs Post 10 Main Street Published In SEAFORTH, ONTARIO Every Wednesday morning JOCELYN A. SHRIER, Publisher RON WASSINK, Editor KATIE O'LEARY, Advertising Representative Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc Ontario Communit, Newspaper Association Ontario Press Council Commonwealth Press Union International Press Institute Subscription rates: Canada $18.75 a year (in advance) Outside Canada $55.00 a year (In advance) Single Copies - 50 cents each SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1984 Second class mall registration Number 0696 527-0240 Quotas mean money The issue of supply management and marketing boards Is far from over following the announcement by the London diocese Catholic Rural Life Conference. The Conference said it supports supply management boards on moral and religious grounds. The reason is to protect the family farm. The conference consisted of 20 rural and urban church members. They issued a white paper supporting supply -management marketing in principle but at the same time, rejected the concept that production control quotas or licences have any value placed on them. In recent years, pork and beef producers have discussed supply -management and when a vote was taken, a motion to accept such a marketing system was defeated. Farmers have their own reasons for wanting such a system. The overriding reason is a predetermined price for their products. Such Is now the case for the dairy, egg and broiler industry. When the quota system was formed for dairy producers, such quotas were to have little or no value placed on them. It was the exact same concept which was proposed at the recent Catholic Rural Life Conference. But in dairy, it didn't work. Instead, quotas are worth their weight In gold. The quota system, while providing a steady Income to dairy farmers, has backfired. Greed has over -taken the system. Farmers who wish to expand, pay high prices for quota which is sold by retiring farmers or farmers lured by the thought of getting rich -quick. This has resulted in prospective young farmers from achieving their goal --being a dairy farmer. They simply can't afford to get Into the 'business. And those who do manage to save enough money for a down payment, are struggling. Thus the average age of dairy producers is nearing toward the 50 mark. The London Catholic diocese is the second religious group to jump on the "support agriculture" bandwagon. The first was the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario. But the Catholic stand to support supply -management boards to protect the family farm, is false when such boards make it almost impossible for the young, generation of farmers to farm. It's time all farm groups take a long hard look at the future of agriculture. Marketing boards and quotas would work, if the system wasn't changed from a free -quota system to a money maker. But because of this, money hungry greed may mean the end of "the family farm". - R.W. Plunge could influence others Some people will do anything for attention, even if It means risking their lives. Karel Soucek, a Hamilton stunt man, who recently plunged over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survived seems to be such a person. And now he hopes to cash in on his death -defying deed. t More foolish than Mr. Soucek are the media and other groupies who will transform him into a hero. A 30 minute documentary is being produced by a Toronto film company and discussions are underway for appearance on Ripley's Believe It Or Not, That's Incredible and PM Magazine. Film has been reported as selling for $2,500 to $4,000 a minute, but Mr. Soucek refuses to guess how much he might make. Perhaps In these times of unemployment, the man should be praised for finding an innovative way to make money. But Niagara Falls park authorities are worried about his Influence on others who may also attempt a similar plunge. They were also concerned about possible Injury to tourists who could have slipped while straining for a view or taking a photograph. With his stunt, Mr. Soucek Joins the ranks of Evel Knievel and others who walk high wires, jump canyons in rocket powered cars and generally risk their lives for money. What they do is fine as long as they are only risking their own necks. Mr. Soucek has warned kids and amateurs not to imitate him. But, if in the next month, a child is killed attempting the same glamorous stunt, we'll know where he got the idea. - S.H. Businessman or farmer COUNTRY CORNER by Larry Dillon it made me angry. As a matter of fact it made me darn angry. I know. it was just a little thing and not meant to antagonize. but enough is enough! The last straw was when 1 renewed my farm insurance policy. The policy obviously includes the farm property". but it states that the insurance does not apply "to any business use of the premises . This policy goes on to define "business" as a "trade, profession or occupation What the heck do they think farming is if it's not a business. if farming is not a "trade, profession or occupation". 1 would tike to know what it is? We are not out there investing our money and working our butts off as a hobby. i've checked several dictionaries and none of them mention any specific exclusion of farming from the definition of business. if the differentiation between farming and business was just an idea by one insurance company. I wouldn't be so upset. The reason that it bothers me is that the idea is becoming more and more accepted. We read government documents and press releases that raise a distinction between farming and business. With the exception of the articles and news items specifically aimed at the farm audience. newspapers and 4 television shows use this subtle method of classing farming outside the limits of "business". We think that we are running a business, but it seems that no one else does. This is a poor image for the farming community. The suspicion that we are not part of the business community of this country will raise false images in the eyes of the people we are dealing with. Government policies formulated on the concept that farming is not a business will not need to consider the vital need for a profit by farming operations. They can worry about other sectors of the economy and plan on farmers continuing to operate at a loss. if this situation continued, it would benefit the rest of the country immeasurably, but it's based on faulty logic. Is it any wonder that bank managers look suspiciously at us when we are 'negotiating loans. They can understand the operation and the profit motivation of a business, but if the money is being borrowed for a hobby or our "contribution to the economy" they will become worried about how we will ever be able to repay the loan. BUSINESSMAN/ ON PAGE 3 Learning to swim Photos by Hundertmor'k Use common sense - be safe We can't talk enough about safety on the farm and the more we talk about what could and what does happen, the more we should realize that farm safety is a matter of life and death. Today farmers and their families are aware of safe operation of farm equipment, but accidents still happen. People are killed, some are injured and the lucky ones have one hell of a scare. But we still take chances. I'm a real advocate of farm safety. Judging from my past experiences on the family farm and what I've seen since entering the newspaper field. I often wonder why people can be so dumb. A couple of years ago we were all shocked when we heard a seven-year-old girl near Listowel had her arm cut-off in a swather accident. And we were amazed when doctors re -attached the limb. That accident happened approximately five years ago. But farm accidents still happen and farmers and their families still lose their lives because of a tractor roll over -• or a tractor run over. In 1983, there were 40farm related injuries in Huron County. An equal number die each year in Ontario because of farm accidents. Statistics shoal that the highest number of injuries occur in the 25 year and under category in Ontario. The next highest age group was 35 and under. Another interesting statistic is that most farm accidents occur in August and September. ONE SEAT Evetytime I see two or three people riding SENSE AND NONSENSE by Ron Wassink a tractor. either in the field, of on the road, 1 shudder. I'm often tempted to stop and yell out to the tractor driver that a tractor is Tike a bicycle -- it only has one seat. And most accidents happen on or with tractors. The most common is failing off and twisting an ankle. it's when the ankle continues to twist, that a person falls under a tractor wheel. 1 recently attended a 4-H safety meeting in Seaforth. The story of guest speaker and accident victim, Kevin Semple of Brussels. not only made me stop and think, but had quite an effect on the 4 -Hers in attendance. The public was invited, but unfortunately only a few farmers showed up. Am 1 to assume that most farmers in this area are safety conscious? The story of Mr. Semple being wound around a pro shaft brought back many memories. Like myself. I'm sure most farmers and their families have had close earls. i'M ACCIDENT PRONE 1 worked on a farm 111 the end of highschool and I'm still amazed I have all my forgers, toes, legs and arms. 1 should be missing four fingers, and at least one leg. I'm accident prone, but I'm also careless -- always in a hurry when it comes to field work. My first accident was when 1 was only five. i was hooking a wagon tongue to a ,tractor which was driven by the hired man.. I didn't realize 1 wasn't supposed to hold the longue-wtttrtw6`middte'fittgers betiveett file two pieces of metal where the draw bolt slides in. The tractor driver backed up too far, my middle finger was crushed, and almost cut off. The family doctor sewed it back on, but the darn thing is misformed, has a scar and still looks pretty gross. Another time, 1 was starting our Allis Chalmers WD tractor. it was a brute to get going because it had to be cranked. 1 was about 14, not that strong and the tractor motor was hard to turn over. My way of cranking was to jump on the crank with both hands and bear down. The odd time the motor backfired, and unlucky for me, it did when i didn't have time to get out of the way fast enough. 1 broke my wrist. But I'm a brave sort and never admit to anything. My parents didn't know I broke it until four hours after the accident -- i couldn't butter my bread at supper time with the useless appendage. BE CAREFUL I've always loved field work and my dad always warned me of the hazards and "to be careful". 1 took off most of the corn when on the farm, and was always told that if the harvester plugged (and it always did i wet weather), to shut it off and pull the n out of the corn head. But 1 found an easier ay -- climb on top of the machine and pu h the corn through with my right leg. T e odd time, something would tug at my pant leg, but 1 never got caught. 1 was damn lucky -- I still have my own legs. - • Tete -last -time 1 -hada dose call was with a corn harvester and 1 was 17. The darn thing plugged again and all the belts stopped moving. 1 idled the tractor and thought if 1 just gave the feeder belt a careful pull, the harvester would un -bung itself. 1 grabbed onto the belt and pulled. Before 1 could yell, "Help", my hand was twisted around a v -pulley. 1 stared at my hand in amazement because it was numb. But no forgers were missing. My first reaction was to run to the house -- 1 never ran as fast before or since -• and soak my fingers in cold water. Even today, 1 still can't believe my luck. Everyone i've talked to has been involved in at least one farm accident, but most have never been hurt. They've been like me, or my brother who rolled the Allis had the wits scared out of them. People say experience is the best teacher, but that's not true in farming. Even after an "experience" we take chances, and we're still not as careful as we should be. Maybe it's time we slowed down a bit on the farm. Let's be careful. Haste makes waste -- wasted time because of death or injury. Camping is a major consumer industry in an effort to escape the hustle and bustle of the everyday world our family recently took a few days to go off on vacation and once again it was proved to me how naive I've been all these years. We went camping. it seemed such a nice break from the regular world. Mention camping and visions come to mind of people gathered around a Ione tent on a birch -tree - lined lonely point of land. water burbling all around. That's the way they show it on television with the boys sitting around the campfire laughing over beer. That's the way they show it when they sell sugarless gum and margarine on television too. But real campers, thousands and thou- sands of them, are people who live in crowded suburbs and escape on weekends to suburbia in the woods. They exchange their back -splits on postage stamp lots in Etobicoke or Cambridge for even smaller lots in camp - BEHIND THE SCENES by Keith Roulston grounds. in any one of these campgrounds you're within earshot of 300 people (and unfor- tunately you're still in earshot at 2:30 in the morning when the boys are sitting around their campfires laughing, very loudly over their beers). Camping brings images of simplicity - just you. a tent and nature - sort of the way cross-country skiing was supposed to b'b simple. But not to real campers. The people who camp regularly know better. For them. the simple canvas tent went out with narrow ties and the mini -skirt (whoops they're back in again?) Who wanted to sleep on the ground and have to put up that tent night after night? So people bought tent trailers. But who wanted to set up the tent trailer so people moved up to luxurious travel trailers. But who wants to be bothered with dragging a trailer around so a lot of people moved up to motor homes that cost about as much as a farm did a decade ago. Real campers also have tents for their picnic tables co the flies can't get in. They bring along gas barbecues to cook on. One brought along a microwave. And I knew sooner or later I'd see it: somebody brought along a battery -powered television so he wouldn't hay e to miss sonunrr tilts Real campers may complain about the high cost of heating the house at home but at camp they buy firewood from local entrepreneurs at prices that would make an oil sheik blush. This they do to avoid extreme shock of living in the country. How could their lungs survive long in clean air so they each start a campfire and before long their air is safely thick enough to cut with a knife. Besides bringing the air back to a normal level of foreign matter content. the fires provide the chief entertainment (other than drinking beer). This is staring into a fire, This is why we drove 100 miles. it's just not like watching a fireplace at home. ( It also had an added blessing on the days we chose for camping: it saved us from freezing to death.) Ah yes. camping taught me much about the endless capacity we North Americans have for making the inexpensive. simple things in life into a major consumer industry. Summer can be compared to falling in love Summertime in this country is a mixture of so many wonderful things that 1 would happily leave for the next world, at once. if someone said to me, "Sorry, old boy, but you'll never be able to spend another summer in Canada." Perhaps the fascination of a' Canadian summer might be compared to falling in love, once a year, with a passionate, unpredictable woman. Just as you are never quite sure where you're at with such a dame, you are never sure of what a Canadian summer has in store for you. She might greet you with the warm, seductive scents of June and, just as you are about to seize her, retreat into a frame of mind so chilly that you're diving for your recently dikcarded woollies. In July, she turns on the charm full blast, clutching you in a sizzling embrace that 0 SUGAR AND SPICE by Bill Smiley makes your head reel and your feet falter. But when you throw caution to the winds and submit yourself entirely to the affair — in short, when you go on your. holidays — she has a change of mood and weeps for two weeks without pause. When August comes, her murmurous langor, the sheer, delectable sight and smelt of her, sends you running once more into her round, golden arms — and her perfume gives you hayfever. On Labor Day, leaving you frustrated, exasperated, exhausted and broke, she smiles once, enigmatically, and heads south to took for fresher tovers anti nigger bankrolls. Ah, she's a bad one. old Mesmeranda Summer. She delights in making kids whiny or sick. giving them sunburn, and directing them into patches of poison ivy. This for the sake of tormenting their mothers. She doesn't like women, you see. that is. young women. And her malice towards them is easily grasped by looking at the costumes she persuades them to wear at the beaches and in town. 1 wouldn't be surprised to hear her chortling merrily about the topless swim suit silliness. which she doubtless started. Teenagers she likes to tease. She fills them with mysterious urges and yearnings which make them drive like retarded orangoutangs. dance in their bare feet amid broken bottles and rattlesnakes, and fall in love with people who should be put away in institutions, She's not pure evil, though. She has a rather soft spot for the older folk. She warms their arthritic joints with her hot tender hands. She fills their lonely hearts with pleasures in her Loveliness. And she reminds them, in subtle fashion, of the days when they knew het long ago. when they were young and passionate themselves. Every time 1 feel the cool, smooth hands of children after swimming, every time 1 walk a lonely beach and see lights across the bay, every time 1 hear the silken rustling of her garments in the evening trees. 1 know 1 am once again in thrall to that wonderful witch — the Canadian summer, And I'm glad.