The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

i farmers unite to protest higher land assessments the acton frea press wednesday september 18 1968 37 tf zezzweexjsxssifsai haltoni farmers dont plan to accept their 1968 assessment increases sitting down about 275 of them demonstrated their opposition during a packed meeting near milton last week and most of them signed up to support halton federation of agriculture in a mass protest they threatened to carry as far as the ontario municipal board the federation called wednesdays meeting at the masonic hall to allow county assessor robert beach acid the assessors of esqueslng nassagaweya oakvule and burlington to explain why farm land assessments are doubling tripling and even quadrupling this year the five snei revealed another from esqueslng said he moved to halton when etobicoke doubled farm assessments we thought that was the first shot but theyre still shooting he said and forcing the farmers right out of the township a burlington man wondered if the government was at fault for forcing the legislation orr the assessors people are drawing the manual who dont know a thing about farming he charged mr williams suggested he should address those remarks to hilton east mpp jim show who was also in the audience the sime man said the government forced farmers into a milk marketing plan hich farm land assessments have been givesthenithj same milk prices too low for too long and a readjustment has been made over the past two years to put assessments back where they belonged bona fide farmertofarraer land ales in the past two years were studied and average figures gleaned from these sales were used to establish the new values in 1966 mr beach revealed studies showed farm land was assessed for 20 to 24 per cent of resale value while the correct percentage should be 33 or onethird of market value the study was launched at the insistence of the minister of municipal affairs the hon j w spooner who told the 196s assessors convention that 62 per cent of 950 municipalities the department studied had serious deviations and discrepancies in assessing but the farmers who jammed into the hall and spilled out into a hallway protested the planned increases and indicated the assessors had used some speculative land prices a market gardener from burlington pointed out his assessment was going from s400 to si 200 an acre a 300 per cent increase and if hit taxes went up accordingly he wouldnt be able to continue gardening another when someone asked for a definition of a bona fide farmer suggested it was the man in the squeeze burlington assessor ernest williams spoke first to the farmers in northern and eastern ontario vho can buy land for s 100 an acre or leu an esqueslng man charged the assessors didn t know a thing about farming and were making their assessments on the basis of how green the grass is in answer to a nassagaweya man who felt industry should be hit with higher assessments mr beach said the assessment act calls for equalization of assessing not who can best afford to pay mr dunham added that industry was already paying its way with assessment on land and buildings plus a 60 per cent business assessment plus a mill rate nine or 10 mills higher than farmers pay several farmers expressed concern that the rising taxes which they expect to accompany increased assessments will squeeze out every small farmer and leave the door open to large farming syndicates our land isnt worth anything until we want to sell it said an oakville woman she said the assessors and municipal officials expected the farmers to keep up with those who sold land in etobicoke or malton for j 5 000 an acre and bought new land in halton at 2000 an acre another oakville man wondered if i a rid sales were the true method of establishing the value of farm land if i held stocks and my neighbor sold his stocks would you penalize nie for owning the saitti stocks even if 1 didnt sell them he wanted t6 know his simile drew cheers and guffaws from the audience r would be glad to pay the extra taxes if you could assure 1 everyone in this room they could make as- much extra money to pay it suggested a burlington man several tdid how the casts of operating a farm are increasing daily yet the return on their products is not rising correspondingly when the assessors left the meeting mpps jim snow and george kerr spoke briefly mr snow said he was sorry the meeting was not being held a week later as the government committee studying the smith report on taxation was presenting its brief to the government monday morning as chairman of the committee s agricultural subcommittee he said there were changes coming but he was not free to reveal them at the time i feel we will do a considerable amount to relieve the load on the working farmer he promised its in farms near guelph international site the 1968 international plowing match and farm machinery demonstration the urged annual outdoor agricultural event of its kind in canada will be held near guelph from october 16 to 19 the gathfring reporting- there arj mltclf tn 6 tented been little changes in farm land city and many more acres of assessments over the past 10 years orchard land was being increased from si 80 an acre to a maximum of s3s0 while market garden land was going up from s400 to a maximum si 200 per acre perfect land would be classed as 100 per cent and points would be deducted to give a lower assessment for rocky or flood lands oakvilles assessor ed dunham told the audience he said assessments in oakville would range from s60 to slts per acre this year added farm assessment would represent only a small fraction of an estimated 30 to s40 million the town would be adding he said art benton of esqueslng said 46 farm tales were analyzed to find an average price per acre and in 1967 the average sale value was s267 per acre now esqueslng land suitable for crops on rotation would be assessed from sss to s8s an acre while nonarable land would range from si0 to s40 nassagaweyas assessments are s30 to 70 per acre for arable land and 10 to 25 for nonarable assessor cal mclntyre explained all four assessors invited every farmer to visit their office in company with their neighbors if possible to compare their new assessments and have the system explained in answer to questions from the floor the assessors pointed out vacant farm lands and residential lands held x6r development will be four times higher than normal farm assessments residential land assessments will be upped to 33 per cent of market value throughout halton this year but the increase will not be so noticeable because most residential areas are presently assessed at closer to 33 per cent than farm lands are mr williams used burlington as an exanipletesidentiilii currently assessed about 32 per cent while farms are running 19 to 21 per cent of value so when both are upped to 33 per cent the farmer will see the largest difference i think youre squeezing us out charged one esqueslng farmer speculators are forcing land prices to skyrocket in the south part of the county so farmers there are selling out a high prices and heading north arid inflicting the same high rices there he added etuiwhile farmers are malting no profits on their operations just making a living off their crop and machinery demonstration areas the location will be the farm of jack gilchrist and his neighbors six miles north of guelph on highway 6 the site for the 1968 match will be officially proclaimed by the hon w a stewart minister of agriculture and food at a special ceremony in guelph the match will include plowing competitions and machinery demonstrations and also events such as sheep shearing horseshoe pitching an antique power machinery display an exhibit on farm safety and various films a tented city complete with its own mayor will occupy 60 acres and will include exhibits by farm machinery manufacturers and suppliers of goods and services to farming the match includes an active and complete program for all members of the family besides the many acres of exhibits and demonstrations and the numerous competitions a miniature airshow is scheduled for october 18 and 19 it will attract model airplane flyers representing clubs throughout ontario to try their hand in the flying of the radio controlled model aircraft the ladies will also find many items of interest at the plowing match arrangements have been completed for daily fashion shows flower demonstrations cooking schools beauty demonstrations and gardening exhibits the 1968 international plowing match october 1619 will bring an exciting unique atmosphere to guelph everyone is invited to visit the match to watch the competitions to see the many demonstrations and displays and be entertained watch for warning this fall as every year there will be hundreds of farm tractors combines and other machines on our highways as of september i 1968 the triangular red and orange slow moving vehicle sign becomes mandatory on the rear of farm vehicles travelling public roads watch for this warning sign its used for your protection leave your films with us join our rr film plan lrt us develop and print vour films black white or kooacolor guaranteed expert processing plus a new fresh film free the ante elze and type of your original roll in sltas 127- 126- 12062035mm only fcii 1 films cameras supplies acton pharmacy ltd 2 main st s bill yundt 8531620 manager the taxation not the assessment where the changes will be made mr snow agreed with one farmer who suggested this area of ontario the golden horseshoe had seen the greatest increase in taxation yet no increase in incomes he also agreed taxation of farm land and buildings should be equal across the country tiot unrealistic in comparison with other parts of the country 1 mr kerr charged it was no the act but the assessors interpretation of the assessing act and the manual that were at fault he noted farms in northern ontario are not hiving tfjis problem i feel- the local assessors are being influenced by speculators who pay an inflated value for farm land are they really using only bona fide farm sales delayed taxes are one answer but most farmers would find it distasteful he said solicitor ray ptante of a brampton law firm was present to hear the discussion and represent the federation of agriculture if there is a need for a mass protest of assessments he felt the first step should be for each farmer to appeal his assessment to the municipality and perhaps even agitate at the municipal level for special concessions on farms if this did not work a provincial law might be changed to aid the farmers he felt it might be profitable to take one farm as a test case have the farmers in the county support an extensive appeal to the high courts and force the courts to make a ruling that would benefit everyone as the meeting ended those favoring a united effort to appeal assessments signed up to pledge their support the federation meanwhile is scheduling an executive meeting for tonight wednesday to review the while paper on the smith report with the halton east mpp and both president denzil lawrence and property committee chairman harold middlebrook who conducted the meeting promised to keep the farmers informed on future developments farm page rzcl raaarmrtfflinswbsp working farms protect the farmer a working farm has been defined and a recommendation for the cstablishnwnt of a county farm classification board made in the teport on taxation by the select committee jfutlie legislature should equal 30 per acre the farm classification board is empowered jo consider the suitability of this guideline for its area- not acceptable they may apply to the qnlarip municipal board for adjustment grace bird wins halton safety contest again the rcportwas released monday the board would hear appeals llaltoiv federation of within 0 days following the agriculture president denzll lawrence commented on a brief reviow of he report the plan looked fair it seems to offer protection for the farmef who operates a farm or who wishes to retire on his farmand rent ins land for agricultural production the proposals he noted were quite close to those suggested by the halton federation halton mpp jim snow a member of the select mailing of assessment notices and would be empowered to change the assessors decision arid reclassify tbe property if it was considered within he intent- design a safety poster grace has by j jenkins when 14 year old grace bird- of- ft r 2 georgetown- was named the winner of the halton safety council scrapbook competition last tuesday evening it was little more than a pleasant surprise this is the third consecutive- year that grace his won the competition in the previous two years participants were required to of the definition the seledt committee also sets out other basis on which the working farm classification may be continued for assessment purposes failure to meet the 3000 minimum of agricultural production would not affect the been very active in extra 411 committee was chairman of the v tax status of a working farm subcommittee on defining a working farm the select committee endorsed the smith committee recommendation that the assessment of the land and structures of a farm property be separated into working farm assessment and residential assessment the farm dwelling and the other parts of the farm holding not qualifying as working farm would be classified as residential property the committee rejected the principle of full utilization as the basis for defining working farm forseeing difficulties in the interpretation of the definition of a working farm the select committee proposed establishment of a county farm classification board the board would consist of three members appointed by the ontario department of agriculture to resolve disputes on interpretation a working farm was defined as a unit of 100 acres or less which had sales of agricultural products of at least 3000 where the acreage is over 100 the sales which continues to be used as a farm where the farmer has spent at least five years on his farm the farmer having attained a minimum age of 60 years is retired or semiretired or the farmer is infirm the committee rejected any preferential tax status around major urban centres to maintain farming in areas of rapid urban development lower tax burdens would permit a particular farmer to farm his land longer than would otherwise be the case but when he does decide to sell his farm it will go invariably to the highest bidder if farming is to be maintained in these areas of rapid population growth it is lines by l g denby your telephone onanager if talk la becoming more of a convenience and a bargain all the time blame it on the telephone companies once again long distance rates have been reduced this time bell canada along with the other members ol the transcanada telephone system has lowered rates on nationwide calling now after midnight until ajj a coasttocoast threeminute call that you dial yourself costs si or less where direct distance dialing is not yet available the operator will place your call for you at the same low rates midnight at the calling point governs the new rate over the years as improvements in equipment increased direct distance facilities and the growing use of long distance services have made it possible we haye continued to voluntarily reduce long distance rates in fact long distance telephone service is one of the very few costs that have been decreasing rather than increasing over the years staple foods services luxuries and even housing have all shown fairly large increases in the past 20 years in 1931 it cost ttjs for a three minute coast-to- coast call by 191 we were able to bring that cost down to ssjs and in iw to 1s90 by 1mi the price for the nationwide call was ttm our last reduction in ims brought the cost of a coasttocoast threeminute call to s19s the new reduction makes long distance calling a bigger bargain than ever especially for any of you who have family or friends living in western canada a storv we heard recently concerned a couple from ohio on vacation in canada they were trying to locate iornc relatives who had recently moved to a small town in quebec he noticed a telephone truck just around the comer and mopped but before he could say a word one of the men came oxer to the car and asked if he was looking for the robinsons how did vou know the traicllcr asked i didnt rcahze the telephone company knew i was coming but two telephone men did seems the young robinson boy had spent some time on the com er waiting for them and watching the men at work when he left he asked the men to look out for a car with ohio license plates the travellers were quicklv directed to o happv famiu reunion this is the yearglrls 198 one ol the years which comes under an act of scottish parliament passed in i2m for mb years law and twwilllori are on your side la leap year just remember there are only a few months left heres the ancient law it is stalut and ordalnt that during the rein of hlr malst bllsslt mageste for like year known as lepe yeare oik raayden ladye of bolhe hlghe and lowe estall shall hae liberie to bespeke ye man she uke albeit he refuses to talk hlr to be his lawful wyfe he shall be mulcted in ye sum of ane pundls or less as his estalt may be cr sc4t our view that a landuse policy will be necessary in addition to taxation policies continuing on taxation the select committee endorsed the smith report that all property be assessed each year at 1 00 percent of actual current value a single mill rate would be applied calculated at varying percentages for different classes of assessment committee proposes a property tax at 60 percent on residentjal and business property recreational properties and nonworking farms a 40 percent rate on a working farm was proposed industry and commerce will be subject to a graduated business tax on a taxable business assessment of 10 percent on the first 10000 of assessment 20 percent on the second 10000 30 percent on the third and 40 percent on any amount in excess of 30000 competitions this year she was the top junior public speaker in the june competition and was recently awarded a frize for her top miscellaneous 4h project second prize in jhe safety scrapbook competition went to verrla thompson of r r 1 burlington with 3rd and 4tti prize going to lome wilson georgetown- and carol somerviue- acton respectively gerald carton president of the halton farm safety council and mis w webb secretary hid high praise for the calibre of the scrapbobks entered in the competition the top four scrapbooks will be on exhibit at milton fair actoa precest concrete supplies manufacturers of septic tanks all shws 36whtiu amllma culverts 12 and if sidewalk slabs pig slats phone 8531529 sage advice from the quick mown fox quick known cox tjj students be foxy learn to type now on a brand new smithcorona let us show you how easily you can acquire a skill youll value for a lifetime the corsair 6995 i the clipper 11295 super sterling 13495 electra 120 11995 a model to suit everyone rental ownership plan available on all models let us show you these and how easy it is to own onei thfylf smart plaid binders 295 2 ring for tang folders wide selection of colors 5 for 95c paper refills bookkifimno mm a nlll ranoi 25c to 119 pkg lauuotlan color pencils pouch packs 79c 109 219 bic pens- medium fine 19c 25c 39c typewriter ribbons 1 for most models only acco ratssaoaib binders several styles 59c to 98c sheaffer buck-to- school pens only 98c typewriter erasers 10c to 45c felt tip nylon tip markers 25c to 89c wa carry a ledger sheets ledgers pull saudtow account books columnar books and other office needs rubber stamps mabto okob piaasjil l stamp pads inks 5lcc3 stationery 56 mill st acton j