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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1982-08-25, Page 6sditorlal Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 28, 1982-P •6 LUCKN, SENTINEL Laebiumv*., "Th. Sapoy. Town" . getabWhad 1073 THOMAS A. THOMPSON • Advertising Manager SHARON J. DIETZ • Editor PAT LIVINGSTON • Office Manager JOAN HELM Compositor MERL ; ELLIOTT • Typesetter Hus ness and Editorial Office Telephone 828.2822 Mailing Address r,l, Box 400, Lueknuw, NOtJ.2H0 Second Chis Mall Registration Number OHO • Subaerlptlon rate, $14,50 per year In advance Senior Chinon rate, $12.00 per year In advance U.S.A. and Eorelgn, $38,00 par year la advance Sr. CII, U.S.A. and Foreign, $36.00 par year in advance Farniers angered Area farmers have reason to be angry over the federal government's 6 and 5 waSe and price restraint program, after: meeting with Federal Agriculture Minister Eugene Whelan. What seems apparent is that the governs ent's proposal is an attempt to put bandage on a large clot. The government is asking farmers to follow the program gu defines in respect to their gross incomes, while nothing is being done to offset the real problem faced by farmers, rising input costs and. high interest rates, Over the past year farmers have registered and had to digest large increases in the cost of energy, fuels, .chemicals and other production costs which cut into badly needed profits for the farmer. Coupled with staggering inflation, the farming sector is bearing the brunt of the current recession, Depressed prices on farm produce have done little to help the plight of the farmers, With all these variables taken into consideration, representatives for Canadian farmers had hoped that the federal governittent would institute programs that would help the ailing agricultural sector of the economy. What they are looking for is a break in, interest rates or at least a program that would offer refinancing to farmers at affordable interest rates: • When we realize the importance of agriculture in our daily lives and in the Canadian economy it is disappointing to see that little is being done to help farmers. In fact' Statistics Canada reports that farm bankruptcies have increased by 60 per cent over last year.. It would be foolish' not to acknowledge that all sectors of the economy are suffering and that . sacrifices have to be made, Farmers would be the first to sacrifice wages for a common goal of bringing the - economy under 'control. Hoawever, onewonders how far the federal government is prepared to let Canadian agrleulture slip. before :proper first-aid is deemed necessary. • • K.S. Fair fun There is something .about a fall fair that brings out the child in many of us and the a 123rd Dungannon Fall Fair, held over the weekend, was no exception. \. A perfect combination of fine weather, several competi- tions, games, food and superb parade all contributed to making this year's fair a success. • Fair time is a time_ to have fun and judging from the number of people ha attendance at the Dungannon Fair that is exactly what the people did, Diets are discarded for a sufficient dose of hot dogs, hamburgers, candy floss and home made baking: Brawny men try their luck at tug ofwar, chainsaw` and saw cutting contests. Children play games and the women rummage through the flea markets .in hopes of finding a bargain. Horses, cows, bulls and a variety of animals are on display, and in competition vying for top honours. To top it all off this year's event was supported by a large 32 entry parade, The central figure of the parade was the first Miss Dungannon Fall Fair, She was followed by a variety of floats sponsored by local and area businesses and groups. , The baby contest was a highlight for many proud parents with 'children up to 12 months of age. The judges had a difficult time choosing the winners, However to the people in attendance both relatives and supporters, each child was a winner. . The Dungannon Fair gave everyone a little diversion from their daily routines, After all we are all children at heart, Spending defended Ontario Premier William Davis is once again defending the purchase, by his government, of 510.6. million jet, The issue came up on an open -line radio program in Sarnia last week. According to a story in the Toronto Star, Davis told callers that the jet will not only: be used by cabinet ministers. to 4 cruise the province but it will also be used for air ambulance service which has been very successful in the northern parts of the province, - However, there is one hitch which could seriously hinder the plane for such use, particularly in Northern Ontario, The jet can only land at 27 of Ontario's 137 airstrips, making it totally useless to residents of many remote northern communities. • Davis also acknowledged that the plane - is being refurbished at a cost of 52 million for use as an air ambulance, Criticized by many groups for its jet purchase, the government is desperately trying to find ways to explain and defend the purchase, ,Whether it will manage to justify the purchase to unemployed workers, fauttering businesses and other groups is highly' doubtful What the boys at Queens Park should do is to keep their .pgliticat ploys in the House and not try to convince Ontario taxpayers that excessive spending is not taking place. KS Buzzzy Fair redtrrees A by Kris Svela by don canpb•ll If it was possible to have lived during that first year of settlement at Redtrees, the smell of .fresh' cut lumber would recall .the atmosphere of those days, Everybuilding was' new, and soft sticky 'resin, oozed from the fibres of the unseasoned timbers, in the small, man-made clearings of the bush, axe chips, sawdust andthe ashes of burnt wood upon the unplowed land, produced an odour which predominated over the natural smell of soil and vegetation. These. signs, the initial thrusts of pioneer life, were also the first wounds in the eve=ntual death of a beautiful virgin wilderness, which had hitherto surviv- ,ed from the beginning of time. - There was one man amongst the "Friends of Skye" however, to whom the smeil and feel of wood was'synony- mous with everyday. life, Quite apart from his skills as a carpenter, hey was gifted with a strong creative ability, and wood carving was one of his special talents, in leisure hours he would sit and puff contentedly on a \�clay pipe, whilst he graduallyfash- ioned a block of wood into an object of beauty. Sometimes, as he worked, his old blue eyes stared into a world gone by, totally oblivious to his wife's disapprovai of the increasing layer of wood trash, which littered the cabin floor at his feet, "Chippy" was indeed a most appropriate nickname for Mr, Joshua Chisholm! - Just prior to Christmas 1843, Chippy . was even more industrious 'than usual, A kind, considerate soul, with a special affection for children, he concentrated his efforts upon making a variety .of simple 'toys. His wife Elizabeth assisted in the project, With needle, thread, and rem'itants of old clothing, she produced rags dolls, They were poor fasclmities. of human infants, but what they lacked in beauty would be compensated, when cuddled in the arms of a little girl l with a natural imagination, Through many weeks of prepara- tion, the Chisholm* assembled suffic- ient playthings to give every child one present each, They would, be taken to the school and distributed just before the holidays, As that day approached, it was not by accident that the Reverend Duncan MacLeod visited Chippy's cabin and offered to deliver the toys, It was about this time that Mary MacKenzie was herself:engaged. in decorating the schoolroom after class, in .preparation for Christmas, and . MacLeod needed " a legitimate excuse to talk to the young lady in private, on a very urgent and personal matter, The minister found the young school mistress standing upon a stool to place the star of Bethlehem on top of a decoration, The "star" was really a piece of copper sheet, shaped and -tinned by the blacksmith to make it giitter, Mary blushed when MacLeod came through the door, conscious of the fact that in reaching upwards, one side of her tong skirt moved to reveal herr ankle; a part of the feminine form which was never shown in those days by a woman of respectability. MacLeod wasted no time in coming to her assistance, Ile moved quickly across the floor and offered his hand to the young .lady so that she could step down front the stool, His touch Made, her blush even more, and as she stood by his side, she trembled just a little, 'This nervousness was not overlooked by ,the minister, Since he was the cause of the young lady's excitement, he felt a twinge of triumph, 1n the thrill of the moment, her forgot to release Mary's hand, There was an embarrassing silence which had to be broken, "1 would have asked you into the house to take tea 'Sir," . she slam mored,"but Doctor and Mrs, Cameron are away, and I would not entertain without their presence. and permis- sion,'' .. • Duncan MacLeod was snapped back to reality. He felt a little ashamed of himself and released Mary's hand, Nevertheless, he had come to this • place for a specific purpose and he had no intention of leaving without. obtain- ing his ob1ective, "1 quite understand ma'am, and 1 shall leave directly, but first 1 must ask a .question; May 1 have your permis- sion 10 call upon you, for the purpose of becoming better acquainted? 1 feel we have much in common, and• 1 should be grateful for the opportunity - to discuss this in some detail," Mary dropped hereyes so that the minister would not sc that she wars both touched and . pleased by his suggestion, that she could not find the words to reply . immediately, "No offense, 1 sincerely hope ma'am/' MacLeod said, fearing he had been too clumsy in his approach, "None taken Sir/' Mary said softly, "And yes,, you may conte scatting if that is what .you wish,"