The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-04-16, Page 34• ,,C•,'!.•
• Page 6—Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 23,. 1986
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"The Sepoy Town"
C MC LI t AT 10 NI
Legs ttlyangtaung
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It's that time of year - big. T-41ne, Those who haven't
thrown in the towel by -lugging all the information they can
lay their sweaty hands en, into, their accountant, or
neighbourhood tax form specialist, are turning to their
telephones.
They believe Revenue Canada when it tells them
assistance in making out their income tax forms is only a
call away.
Don't believe it.
At least one newspaper, the Toronto Star, has proven
what most Canadians have suspected for years to be the
case.
When it comes to filling out the old tax form, the experts;
at Revenue Canada are no smarter than the average John
or Joan Canuck.
A reporter, identifying herself only as a taxpayer
needing assistance, called the Revenue Canada line 14
times over a three-day period. She spoke to 12 people,
asking each about four questions. -
According to the Star, the reporter's questions were
common, straightforward queries - the kind of thing any:,
taxpayer might ask. The questions were not designated to`,
be tricky.
The • answers received from Reventre.. Canadawere
checked by a panel of four chartered accountants who
specialise in taxation. Canada Revenue scored 315 out of
55 for an error rate of 43 per* cent. •
Of the 55 questions, Revenue Canada correctly
answered 25, incorrectly answered 25,,incorrectly answer-
ed or did not answer 17 and gave partially correct answers
to 13. A correct answer received one mark, a partially
correct answer was worth half a mark, and &wrong answer
got zero.
Informed of the newspaper survey, Revenue _Minister
Elmer MacKay said he is "puzzled and disappointed" by
the results.
He is probably the only person, in Canada who is.
It isn't that the Revenue Canada experts are stupid, or
ill-informed. The trouble lies with the tax form. It, has
become too complicated. Indeed it- borders on being
incomprehensible.
Instead of taking another look at Revenue Canada's
telephone service, Mr. MacKay should have his depart-
ment simplify the form - at leastto the point where his oWn •
experts understand it.
If the government has to take all that money from us; the,,,,
least it can do is make the operation as painless as
possible. --Listowel Banner
Thomas Thompson, -Adveitaing Manager,.
James Friel -Editor .
Pat Livingston -deneini Minader
JeartHehri -Compositor
Merie Elliott • -Typesetter .
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••••••••••••••••Toom ommmudomm
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irt the ntz
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By all outward appearances, Hamish
Murdoch was a man contented with his
life. After all, his settlement in the new,
land had brought a prosperity beyond his ,
vvidlest dreams. He had a hundred acres of
cleared land, a fine herd of 'battle and a
stone house which, was the envy of hik
neighbours. So why did he live in the past,
dreaming about his small rented croft in
the. Highlands .of Scotland and the ,,days
before he, his first wife and children had
emigrated to Canada? Perhaps there are
some things which wealth can.. never
replace - the honest devotion Of a good
Was unjustified but most; not ivithOut god
cause. Katie too had, begun to get on his
nerVes. Whenever he could,, during the.,
P3ng wintPrt, be went. to .the, large bay!,
window in the drawing ro-4in and spent his
time reading'. At night, he lit one Of the
new oil lamps, which not only flooded the
room with Jight, but also shone down the
driveway so that -,he could see' anybody
who approached the -front .door.
One very cold t4ht in march; the meow
not only. illuminated the driveway,_ but the
countryside for miles around. So it is not
surprising that furnish recognized the - hae mare right here than you have, '
coat to hand.enthe clothes. stand. She gave
Hamish a weak, forced smile, but he
ignored' her attempt. to be friendly.,
'My Ood,'Yere brazen hussy,"
he said angrily, c ye think ye can stay.
awa 'frae montbi;r*Vout sae: Ouch as one
letter tae say *here 'ye are and what ye ar
dont", an' then walk in her as if ye'd just
come in frae the barri?"''
The expresSion on Annie's face changed
and•revealed her true feelings.' She pot her
hands on her hips and ,Confronted Hamish
With defiance.
Hamish pointed to the tell-tale of
the girl's body,
"It doesnacmatter thtnoe.where she hae
been. All the world- can see. what shies '
• been (loin!' This is the second time she hae.
brought the fruit o' her lust back hame trite
us tae deal wi. If had My way; I'd kick her
00t:into the snow, an' tad helliWi 'erik*
tlamisltstomped off back to the drawing
woman and children of one'sownblood. It sleigh which chine down to his hOuse as not 'the said tossing her head'• aggressively. rot:401:0e paced the floor, 'wondering how,
seems that 'famish forever grieved about belonging to an inhabitant of Redfrees. It
The death of his only love and the 'bairns was far too elaborate, with a canvas cover
who had died of cholera in some and drawn by twchof the finest horses he
God7forsaken isolation camp on the banks had over seen. It paused only for a few
of the Saint Lawrence hear Montreal. seconds by the front ,door to allow a
His marriage to the widow Katie passenger to alight. The: driver (whoever
,MaeQueeir-Was one of convenience for both he was') did not have the, charaeter of a
ofthe, and although he had.tried desper- gentleman. He allowed a'ybung woman to
atelY to raise her children as his own ;' he 'carry a largecarpet bag 'ite the hefise- The
could never quite find a place for thern in Woman was his stepdaughter, Annel
his heart. In recentleart;' both Teddy and . -;;!--fty, the time Ittinish, had •walked to the
had caused tee Much tosStp, Some., Ilway,, Annie was already removing her
1;;poolli'like-,‘- a withered , prune,`ill.9t)1eHr,. IY:d.,.:(1-t',Itatisell,',.bsr---ee',
,. .:''.'.....tii44'-iilfic:tSWicleei°',”na:ari9.°tfi„j'd.v.:.-:.6411,,4113'eS:ritic-911*eal:11'; n'''aC-'
i,......:stomditif ott:ih6 docks --of,1v191?-yietab!reoll?;
' ii -4•1•11' Oot an- ' • • -
of'deo'::t!::s_';':irPor'i:,,e11, ,intil,,,',i)'.' r®
ti, .1ii4. htit,,it,,,it:ath.tisF16cimaprtipi•„,:eue,‘:3,,,,,,i,
The paisu. VoiCesH, ,
her scurrying
,ttO•'.-,_i.h4:1ecirw' uhri6h4es'1t.r.i' stairs., a '.'.... ,...sitte
'*Cicli lais, lini- sae glad tae- se. ye a,
,' I've no slept at night. wondering where ye
• were at' What ye Were (loin .
he 0010400 with the results of another of
Artrile'S Wild!. escapades, Most ,of all,' '11e,
was bitterly :huinilitited and infuriated by
what his stepdaughter had said to ,him. It ,
was true Katie had saved ,Ilitn from 4
dreadful fate .when she married him, but he
1140tetiaid tier a thousand times by the ,
sWeat?oCbuildictlig,,a;OW life at Itedtrees.,
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Sometimes, i*114,grief, he Wished .he t(i)
11441, - died on the l tiatiftsc. of the Saint,
Lawrence. At least he could haVe!jOined'his-
first loving wife and children,
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