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c Editorial Comment Sigh of Relief for Farmers Ontario's farm community will be breathing a little easier as the result result of the Liberal government's plan to provide $50 million towards the debt load of the family farm. The program, announced August 8, was the fulfillment of an election promise and represents a shortterm shortterm scheme to help those hit hardest hardest by high interest rates and low commodity prices. In announcing the interest relief, Agriculture Minister Jack Riddell noted that the Ontario Family Farm Interest Rate Reduction Program (OFFIR) will bring interest costs to eight per cent on up to $200,000 of existing long-term farm debt for one year. It is estimated that up to 10,000 farmers will benefit from the program. program. It's commendable to see the government government act so quickly on an election election promise. But one cannot help but wonder what the long-term effects effects will be. Although the minister made it clear that low interest rates will apply for only one year, it's rather obvious that the program will be difficult to cancel once farmers have received help for the first 12 months. The government could be embarking embarking on a permanent subsidy program for the agricultural community. community. Then, again, there's the old question of government interfer ence in the marketplace. If the family farm is entitled to a break in its interest rates, why not the family-owned grocery store or small industry? The only justification in special treatment for the farm community is the fact that although the businesses businesses are small when regarded on an individual scale, they collectively collectively represent a major industry. If a single industry responsible for the livelihood of several hundred thousand individuals was in danger, the government would work rapidly to provide assistance. Moreover, farms were at one time actually encouraged to take' on higher debt loads to modernize and upgrade their operations. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, no one could foresee the spiraling spiraling interest rates which would place so much of the agricultural industry on the brink of bankruptcy. bankruptcy. Interest rate relief seems to have been the single greatest need for Ontario farmers. It might be argued that other options could have been explored--options such as increasing increasing prices or new marketing strategies 1 for farm ^products. But the government has stuck to its campaign campaign promise and delivered a $50 million reprieve for the agricultural agricultural community. Only time will tell whether the interest interest rate reduction was the right move. Sports are for Life As the average age of the population population increases, some surprising discoveries discoveries are being made. ; For one thing, we know for a fact that those in their sixties, seventies and eighties can continue to participate participate in competitive sports. And that fact is clearly proved in the first ever world Masters Games being held this month in Toronto. Of course, participants in these unique athletic competitions are not necessarily pensioners or retirees. retirees. Some of the masters competitors are in their thirties, for example, and most sports are arranged so- that competition is by age group. The philosophy behind the games is based on the simple idea that sports are for life. Those who are over 30 may be no longer young enough to capture an Olympic gold medal. But within their own age group and within the population at large, they are still superb athletes. Keep in mind, of course, that the thousands of athletes in Toronto for the Masters Games are by no means Saturday morning exercisers. They are serious competitors who continue continue to train rigorously and compete compete regularly. All of this sounds a bit much for individuals who reach middle age. And, indeed, there used to be a tendency tendency towards avoiding exercise and athletics on the part of more "mature" men and women. But, of course, this was only a recent recent phenomena. Go back a generation generation or two and you will find all kinds of tales of hale and hearty middle aged individuals who knew nothing about retirement or taking it easy. The old-timers may not have been active in sports but often they would walk for miles, shingle a roof, or run a farm while still in a time of life that some have unwisely labelled as "sunset years". Roland Mitchener, former governor governor general of Canada, and Honorary Honorary Master of the Masters Games, is a living symbol of what can be accomplished accomplished by a master athlete. A scholar, soldier, lawyer, statesman, and sportsman, he was a contender in the tennis competition of the 1985 games. He also happens to be a spry 85 years of age. It stands to reason, of course, that the accomplishments in sport may very well be matched in other fields of endeavour. One cannot help but think that a person who can run a marathon in his mid fifties or sixties sixties is capable of just about anything anything else he or she might set a mind to do. So, next time you think that over 30 means over the hill, think of Roland Roland Mitchener and all the other thousands of masters athletes who are proving how much can be accomplished accomplished at any age. Letter to the Editor Dear Editor: Re, the argument Mary A. Morris put forward in the August 15th edition of the Canadian Statesman regarding regarding the Darlington Generating Generating Station. Although I feel her asinine suggestions and arguments concerning Darlington do not merit comment, some of her vague inaccuracies and descriptions of the project must be remarked on. First of all', when Darlington is completed, it will not be "the largest Nuclear Station in the world." Secondly, more than a "few minor jobs of short duration" have resulted and will result from the construction construction of the site. (To the tune of some 4,800 workers.) The thousands of spin-off jobs created, the construction itself, as well as the permanent permanent staff needed to run the plant, will by far make Darlington Darlington the largest employer in the region for years to come. The effect that a Nuclear power plant has on the environment environment is negligible when compared to the thousands of pounds of containments that the coal-fired plants currently use to provide Ontario with electricity dumped into the atmosphere every year. Ms. Morris stated that the demand for electricity has drastically decreased since last predicted. In fact, the oemand for electricity has more than doubled Ontario Hydro's most recent predictions predictions of some 2 percent annual growth. It may be just me, but I don't seem to understand Ms. Morris' reference of the unfortunate unfortunate bombings of Hiroshima Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the construction of a generating station which will produce energy for the people of Ontario. Ontario. As for her brilliant idea of utilizing some of the structures structures of Darlington for a training training school: Well, I said some of her suggestions did not merit comment. Sincerely, Brad Bonikowsky <&i\t (Eatrabian fctatteman 623-3303 0k Durham County's Orest Family Journal Established 1M yeare ago In 1854, Also Incorporating The Bowmanrllle News The Newcastle Independent The Orono Newe Second clasa mall registration number 16«1 Produced every Wednesday by THE JAMES PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED 62 55 King SI. W., Bowmenvllle, Ontario L1C3KI JOHN M. JAMES Editor--• Publisher GEO. P. MORRIS Business Mgr. RICHARD A. JAMES Assistant Publisher BRIAN PURDY Advertising Mgr. PETER PARROTT Associate Editor DONALD BISHOP Plant Mgr. All layouts and composition ol adverllsemenls produced by Ihe employees of The Canadian Statesman, The Newcastle Independent and The James Publishing Company Limited are protected by copyright and must not be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. 115.00 e year -- fl months *1.00 strictly In edvancs foreign -- 150,00 a year A!|liotii|h ovt'iy luocmilion will bn taken to avoid error, Tim Canadian Ctatnamnn accept?» advertising In Its columns on the undeihlniiding that it will not he liable lor any error In the advertisement published hereunder unies?» a proof ol tinch advertisement »'» reriuented in writing by the advene,er anil returned to The Canadian fîlaler.man burilnm olline duly t.ii|i»ed by Ihe mlveiliner and with miel» mint or corrections plainly noled In willing llmioon, and In that cane it any error ».n noted is not collected by Ihe Canadian Statesman itn liability shall not exceed nuch a |nation ol Ihe erilire rosi ol sin h ndveih'.lmenl as the space occupied tiy the noted error beam to Ihe whole «pace occupied hy null» adveih'.ciiienl Section Three The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, February 20,1985 3 Steel Reinforced Hose and V-Belts Produced at Goodyear Plants SUGAR and SPICE Roughing it in the Bush V A fey Sill Smiley Little old Susannah Hoodie, the gentle, iron-hearted, misplaced English-woman, whose diaries have ' become the touchstone of Canadian Literature, the archetype of survival in the Canadian wilderness. A She wrote the title of this piece. She was about as Canadian as my great-great-great-grandfather, who was digging peat and potatoes about the time she composed her literary masterpieces. And about as Canadian as Frederick Philip Grove, a Finn, Swede, German - take your pick - who wrote interminable stories about snow, after he moved - or escaped - to Canada, Everyone, except me, begins, his/her CanLit course with those two. They're dull, after a taste or two. But poor little old Susie's scenario would have crumpled into wept-over ashes if she'd gone along with me on a recent "roughing it" weekend. True, there was bush. True, there were some weird characters about. True, the flies and skeeters were hostile, but roughing it? She'd have torn up her manuscripts and got on with making bread or maple syrup or digging a new backhouse, or whatever turned her crahk. The roughest part of the trip was fighting the holiday traffic. The second roughest part was listening to non-stop stories about deer that were shot at 600 yards, bear that were 12 feet tall, and giant fish that required three men and a block and tackle to get them aboard. Yes, I went on a fishing weekend, as I threatened in an earlier column. Boys oh boys, it was rough. Drove 60 miles. Flew 20 minutes. Camp had a fridge with ice cubes, hot and cold running water, a E ropane cook stove, and - you won't elieve this - a carpet sweeper. The only concession to the primitive was an outdoors john, and even this had a touch of the exotic: a wild rose growing between the two seats. Night before I left, one of "the boys y ' phoned and told me to bring some heavy line, because the muskies were moving in and gobbling up those five-pound bass. I might as well have taken a piece of cotton thread from a sewing machine. Now, I'm not knocking it. I had a fine weekend. But it's a bit much when you have to keep moving your feet because someone wants to clean the carpet under them. And it's entirely too much when you see guys washing their armpits, at a hunting camp, in hot water. Last time I was at a hunt camp, the only thing we ever washed were our hands, and sometimes our feet, when we fell in the lake. I was expecting to rough it, and Dear John: Thanks for the note in your July 24 issue about our summer summer campus tours at the University of Guelph. I am glad to report that a good number of people are taking advantage of thçm, We do appreciate the fine support that we always receive from the weekly press in general ' and The Statesman in particular. particular. I also thought that you might like to know that those tours arc planned and organized organized by Leslca Dalrymple who is a very valued member of our staff. Sincerely, Don W. Jose Dear Sir: We are concerned citizens of Ontario, namely, C.D.N.S., Citizens For Darlington Nuclear Nuclear Survival. We wish to respond to the Honourable David Peterson, Premier of Ontario, whom on July 2,1985, stated there would lie a review of Ihe closure of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. There are always those pessimistic pessimistic (ample who la all sincerity simply do not trust the future, Sir Adam Heck faced the same critics when lie founded Hydro in Ontario. What we are seriously concerned concerned about here is a possible possible negative impact on the plant, simply as a result of pessimistic panic arising out of present economic conditions. conditions. It is necessary to take a long term view. There are currently five thousand full-time jobs at Darlington Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. Out of these, 80 percent percent are people from our area, and 20 percent have relocated into Durham Region. Many local businesses, the housing industry, the educational field, and community services would most assuredly reap the benefits if the Darlington Station's Station's plans came to fruition. Basically, it is our position, Hint hy the time the plant is on stream, the economy will he ready to absorb hydro at cost. There is a definite economic economic point of no return. Even if a study were to conclude that because of the present shape of the economy, a project, project, the magnitude of Darlington, Darlington, would new bo inappropriate, inappropriate, that conclusion would nut justify cessation of the present Darlington program, as it Ims already passed wlmt we have termed the economic point of no return. A slowdown slowdown may or may not be a practical consideration; but abandonment of the works at this time would surely be un-' thinkable from the technical, economical, and psychological psychological point of view. Such a lack of confidence in the future of Ontario would be horrendous and irreversible. We do not deny that we arc partisan in the matter, since the construction of the Darlington Darlington plant is of immediate and far-reaching economic advantage to our entire community. community. The power of the Darlington Darlington plant is not only the forerunner of this area, hut the future of Ontario and to a degree, the future of Canada, If we have no confidence in the future of atomic energy, how can we convince the world that they should? Wo ask Hint the government's decision to review the closure of Darlington, ho based upon reasoned optimism as opposed to irrational pessimism, Our basic position is that wo must trust the future of our great province and press on will) cautious optimism!! 11 Sincerely, Representatives of C.D.N.S, contemplated that the food would be camp food, mostly canned stew and stuff. Expected to eat some fish. Know what we had for dinner, first night? Young, tender leg of lamb, and not that frozen stuff. With mint sauce naturally. Fresh young carrots and potatoes. Dessert. Wine with dinner. Second night was pretty ordinary. Just two pork chops each, with apple sauce, and again, fresh vegetables. And wine. And it wasn't just thrown on the table. The cooks served you at your place. All you had to do was push your wine glass or coffee cup past a big, hairy arm, and it was filled immediately. Roughing it! Lunches were pretty rudimentary, though, and by the second day I was getting sore that I had to make my own. There was nothing but sardines, tuna, cold lamb, ham, and eight pounds of salad, plus Campbell's soup du jour and fruit salad, with a bit of old cheese to top off. Breakfasts were sparse, however. A mere four cups of coffee, three eggs, half a pound of bacon, and a big portion of fried spuds, plus toast and the best homemade marmalade in North America. Nobody was able to fish until mid-day, by which time the bass had also eaten and were sulking in the depths. Certainly didn't get sick of eating fish. Seven of.us caught two smallish bass, just before the plane arrived to fly us out. I know it sounds like a weekend at a big, rich resort. But it wasn't. The moment I arrived, I began to feel uneasy. And my feeling grew. These other guys weren't there to fish. They were there to work getting the camp ready for the fall hunting season. To the great dismay of myself and another guest, the regulars pulled out paint brushes, lawn mowers and other such horrors of civilization, and went to work. They painted and piled wood and slashed underbrush, and generally did so much manual labor they'd have all been on strike if asked to do so at home. The other old fighter pilot and I retreated into the kitchen and did the dishes. My hands are still all shrivelled up from doing dishes. Aside from that, I came home in pretty good shape. I thought I'd gained at least eight pounds, but the deer flies and skeeters took care of that. I lost two. My arthritic foot is destroyed for the summer. I've lost the hearing in my right ear from trying to clout a mosquito with my left hand, while holding a five-gallon can of gas in it, and my fishing tackle in my right hand. But that was nothing, compared to the evening poker games, in which everything is wild except the joker. the Editor ) CITIZENS FOR DARLINGTON NUCLEAR SURVIVAL (C.D.N.S.) is seeking support from individuals or groups interested in opposing opposing the government's proposal to abandon completion of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. Please register your opinion in this poll on or before September 6,1985. C.D.N.S. is planning to present their position at Queen's Park. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT Keep Darlington Open Yes □ No □ Name: Send your reply to: Tho Canadian Statesman 62 King SI. W„ P.O. Box 190, Bowmanvillo, Ont. L1C 3K9