The Rural Voice, 1993-12, Page 29now continues her work on Prince
Edward Island, where she also sells
work locally. She works in one of the
plants where the wool from
Philosophers is spun and dyed.
The company sells about 350
sweaters a year with the knitters also
producing scarves, toques, tams,
socks and other accessories. In recent
years they have focused on sweater
design and this year three magazines,
one in Canada and two in the U.S.,
will feature their designs.
The Bourgeois today take their
wool to a plant in Pennsylvania for
the special cleaning treatment. It's
then brought back to Canada and
shipped to various mills across the
country, including Spinrite in
Listowel, to be spun and dyed. One
mill might have a better blue while
another has a better red. The
Bourgeois select each mill for its best
colours, Ann says.
Free trade has created more
problems than it has solved in taking
wool back and forth across the
border, Eugene says. Before
negotiations on free trade between
Canada and the U.S. began "We used
to be able to just drive down to
Pennsylvania to get the fleece
washed". Once free trade began, he
suddenly had to provide paper work
and have the wool weighed going in
both directions. Because the dirty
wool weighs more than the clean
wool coming back, American
officials claim he might be selling
wool in the U.S. and he must pay
duty on the difference in weight — a
tax, in effect, on dirt. On one load
this meant $170 in duties.
In another case he took sweaters
to a show in the U.S. and was
advised by a broker how to handle
the situation crossing the border. The
broker was wrong and it cost $800 to
get his unsold sweaters back into
Canada.
"I really believe we should have
free trade. It's the only way to
increase wealth and freedom,"
Eugene says. "But if there is going to
be free trade there should be free
trade for everyone, not just free trade
for the big companies so they can get
around labour and environmenta.
laws."
Eugene's political beliefs are as
strong as they were when
Philosopher's was founded. Back
then, he recalls, the sheep marketing
agency had released a study that
showed that even if sheep producers
gave the wool away, Canada couldn't
have a domestic industry processing
wool.
"If we can't get the price from the
market then we have to change the
market," he says. "If we don't, we
don't have the right to complain.
"We have to just believe we can
succeed. If there are problems you
can get around them. You have to
know what the rules are, then make
sure you play the game properly."0
Thanks to the farmers who have supplied us
with excellent wool
and to all our
customers who
purchased yam for
their knitting projects.
Merry Christmas.
The Philosopher's Wool Co.
Inverhuron, 519-368-5354
Joy
and
peace
Friendly wishes for a
Merry Christmas and a
Joyous New Year from the
Directors, Management
and Staff.
McKILLOP
MUTUAL
INSURANCE
COMPANY
Established 1876
91 Main St. S. Seaforth Phone 527-0400 1-800-463-9204
DECEMBER 1993 25