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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-02-12, Page 6Page 6---Lacknaw Sendzrel, Wednesday, February 12, 1986 "The Sepoy T n" • "' �e�%5:�:.•fl.•':•1....,�..,[.Se.;x� +.,.:..,:,.?/.�r•Sfrlca..:,� Thomas Thompson James Friel Pat Livingston Joan Helm Merle Elliott -Advertising Manager -Editor -General Manager -Compositor -Typesetter Subscription rates in advance: $17m00 Outsiae Canada $60.00 $1 4.00 Outside Canada $58 00 Senior Citizen Second class mailing reg. no. 0847 Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid at the applicable rates. Reduce cost It seems there is always someone to blame for the high price of gasoline. Throughout the 1970's, we had the perfect foreign scapegoat, in the middle -eastern members of the oil -prod- ucers cartel OPEC. This made the high price of fuel easier to bear, because everyone, including the government, the oil refining companies and the average motorist, could shrug off the effect of a $40 fill -up with a few quick curses at "Those money-grubbing Arabs". Fortunately for the rest of the world, the OPEC nations were unable to remain unified and began undercutting each other's prices through over -production. The result has been the demise of OPEC as an effective price setter and a drastic drop in world crude oil prices. Strangely enough, while the government and the oil companies were more than willing to share the former high price of crude with the general public, neither group seems to feel the average Canadian should be included" in the current price break. The government has not lowered their tax share, currently 27 cents on a litre of gasoline, and the companies have declined to cut back their share of the profits. So, the consumer continues to pay through the nose. The Federal Energy Minister has stated in the House of Commons, the extra revenue derived from the lower crude prices is needed to pay off the national deficit, left of course by the Liberals. What the Conservatives seem to have forgotten, is the deficit was run up during the heyday of OPEC; when there was a genuine need for high gasoline prices. Since the need for high prices no longer exists, it follows neither should the high prices. The Tories have been in power for more than a year now and their continued tactic of blaming the previous administration _- for every unpopular action has long since worn thin. The consumer has suffered far too long, with gasoline prices which have a prohibitive effect on their travel plans. In a country as vast as Canada, it is essential to the economy the public be mobile. No one makes any money sitting around waiting for the price of gasoline to drop. The government should see the lowering of world prices as an opportunity to get the country moving again, not only on the roads and highways, but in the factories and businesses as well. Economic growth, not economic repression, is the key to lowering the deficit. Hopefully the present government will come to this conclusion in time to get pump prices reduced, before another producer -engineered shortage drives them up again. -Huron Expositor Quiet slumber Neil MacCrimmon wasted little time in Toronto. As soon as he had seen the Jamiesons and their luggage safely aboard the ship bound for Saint John, he headed back to Redtrees. Meanwhile, at the general store, Chippy and Flora were managing to keep pace with the business. Unaccustomed as they were to this type of work, they were always thankful when the time came to put up the shutters, padlock the doors and go back to their own homes. Even so, Chippy was perplexed at the thought of the gypsies so close to the unguarded general store overnight. He always glanced suspiciously to where the firelight flickered across the gaily painted caravan, to see the little brown man and his "daughter" sitting near the glowing coals. "1 dinna care what the Reverend says," he told Flora. "It was a mistake tae let them people stay in this community!" But apparently, the behaviour of the gypsies was beyond reproach. The girl visited every farm in an attempt to sell the baskets she had woven, or the silk scarves embroidered by her own skilful hands. She was always alone, of course. Such menial work was beneath the dignity of the little brown man! Chippy's mind was partially put to rest when MacLeod came to inform him of the gypsy's plans. "They will be leaving on Saturday," the minister said in his I -told -you -so tone of voice. "There now, Mr, Chisholm, I don't see what you have been worrying about. In my experience, a little Christian kindness is rarely abused." Chippy Chisholm scratched his grey beard and his old blue eyes narrowed. "When they are fifty miles up the road, Reverend, I'll no worry about that foxy pair anymare." he said sternly. About ten o'clock on the Saturday morning, the gypsy girl took in her line of washing and the man hitched his horse to the caravan. When they finally headed north, the Reverend Duncan MacLeod shouted after them: "God bless you and good luck my friends!" "Wi friends like them, yell no be needin` any enemies," Chippy said in utter disgust. But if the community of Redtrees believed they had seen the last.. of the gypsies, they were sadly mistaken. Adjacent to the sixth line was a tract of land which still belonged to the crown. It was located on a comparatively flat piece of terrain, probably gouged out of the hill by a glacier long before man inhabited the earth. A constant flowing spring made the terrain marshy and absolutely unfit for agriculture. Here, cedar trees, swamp grass and rushes thrived in abundance. When he reached this area, the gypsy looked for a place where he could gain access to hide his caravan amongst the trees. It was not easy. He had to chop down several young cedars before he could drive his vehicle far enough so it would be hidden from view. He used the cut lumber to further camouflage his caravan so there was no possibility of it being seen from the road. "There'll be no fire today," he told his daughter. "We will eat cold meals and drink from the spring. Stay away from the road and only. leave the caravan when you have to!" The girl did not question the little man's reason for hiding amid the trees and during the day, as she busied herself weaving a large clothes basket, she watched him prepare for yet another of his illicit enter- prises. The gypsy cut two narrow trees and dressed away the branches so that they formed long poles. Using the string he had purchased from the general store, he secured shorter logs between the two, so that when he finished, he had made himself a litter similar to those used by the Indians. "What is that for?" the girl asked. "It is to carry goods," the gypsy said with a crafty smile. "But can't we put any goods you might purchase in the caravan?" "Where I am going, the sound of wheels will hinder my business," he said in a superior 'tone of voice. "and I can assure you lass, I have neither the inclincation nor the money to purchase anything!" While it was still daylight, the little brown man carefully tied sacking around the hooves of his horse and removed any item of harness regalia which might jingle. It was past midnight before he made his move. He hitched his horse to the litter and stealthily made his way back to the sleeping community of Redtrees.