The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PORA'S PLEA Get to work Canadians will have to rediscover the 40-hour work week if they are to get control of the country's economy. That's the sobering message from Continental Mushroom's Nick Pora to Castor Canadians about to slip into the all-too com- fortable year-end holidays. And if 40 hours a week isn't enough, we should be prepared to work whatever it takes to keep from going "downhill with the United States." '"'We are all getting a bit lazy. We have to work harder and pro- duce more," he said. Mr. Pora knows the 'meaning of hard work, having developed the Continental farm into a multi-million dollar business since he established it at Metcalfe six years ago. It is now the largest local mushroom pro- ducer and one of the largest in the province. He also knows what it means to manage a growing business in a country that is subservient to another's economy, resulting in follow-the-leader increases in in- terest rates. The recent interest rate increased to 15 per cent in Canada as a reaction to a jump in the U.S. rate has stalled Continen- tal's expansion. program. Mr. Pora said the rate will have to drop to at most 14 per cent before the family-owned company will proceed with the addition of eight more growing houses for a total of 32. The expansion would mean an increase in production to four million pounds of mushrooms from three million -- and more jobs. The farm now employs 107. "We had to follow U.S. rates to attract capital here but we also have a duty to compete with the world. To do that we have to start working a lot harder. We have to face the music,"' he said. Gertie John Jr. Rose Joann Best Wishes of the Season to All the People of Osgoode ee and the Castor Area on behalf of The Bouwers Family Albert Bouwers Osgoode Township Reeve Page 7 Meg gave her. scarf a final tug. She was to meet Janet and Helen at the bus stop, for a Christmas shopping excursion to Capitol City. Meg had poured' over the catalogue and newspaper ads and had her list all ready. Money from babysitting, gifts, and her paper route made a satisfying bulge in her hand- bag. The. bus was crowded. Fin- ding three seats at the rear, the girls planned where to meet in case they got separated. Helen was not quite her usual bouncy self and Meg ask- ed her if she felt okay. "Oh yes," answered Helen. "It's just that I know I won't be able to buy such nice presents as you and Janet. You know I don't have steady baby- sitting and I am not good at saving so now I have to cut down on my gifts."' "Oh, Helen," said Janet. "Don't worry so much about it. After all it's the thought that counts. I am sure your family will be very happy to get a small token of your affec- tion. They know you love day."' Meg headed for the sheet music department, Janet for the toys, and Helen walked slowly toward the cosmetics counter. Meg, her arms loaded with packages checked the time. An hour and twenty minutes gone already. Janet and Helen would be waiting for her at the é soda fountain. them, now let's have a happy - By M. M. McCallum SHOPLIFTING SPREE -- '"Well," thought Meg, . "I am almost finished; a break is just what I need."' Rounding the corner of the slipper aisle, Meg saw Helen just ahead of her at the per- fume counter looking from side to side. Her lips parted to call Helen but she stopped short. Surely she was mistaken in what hap- pened next. Her mind rejected what her eyes saw. Meg shook her head to clear it. It was true! She had seen Helen take a package of expen- sive perfume and slip it in her purse. "Oh," said Meg, "Helen what are you doing? You put that perfume in your purse in- stead of in your shopping - basket."' Tears spurted from Helen's eyes. "Oh, Meg, you just don't know," she blurted. "You have plenty of money for gifts. What else can I do?"' "But Helen, you know that's shoplifting. You could go to jail! Did you take anything else?" '*Yes, lipstick and panties and...and...'" Now Helen was crying in earnest. '"'Let's put them _ back, Helen," said_Meg. "T am afraid to try now,"' said Helen. "Everyone is look- ing at me crying. Oh! Meg, what am I going to do?" "Well, let's think about it. There's Janet coming to look for us. Maybe she will have some ideas."' "Do we have to tell her, Meg? I am so ashamed,"' said Helen, turning her head away. "'Never mind, that's what friends are for. We'll figure something out," answered Meg. Sitting in the lunch room sip- ping sodas, the three girls talk- ed over the situation. "'Well," said Meg ruefully. "T have had many adventures and I was able to see a way out, but I'm _ stumped about what to do now." 'Hey, I'm not stumped," said practical Janet. "Mr. Green is the store manager and Miss Gwen is his assistant. I am sure we could talk to her 'and tell her what happened. You are sure you want to return the articles Helen?" "*Yes, please," cried Helen. **T wish I had never touched a thing and I never will again." "Then here we go to find Miss Gwen."' Meg and Janet stayed with their friend as she confessed to her crime. Then Miss Gwen asked them to leave and: she talked to Helen in private. We will never know just what she said to Helen, but when she emerged from the of- fice, she was smiling faintly through her tears. "She's not going to tell my parents and I am not going to do such a thing again. And you know what? She thinks I ama very lucky girl to have two such friends to stand by me. It's go- ing to be a happy Christmas after all."' "*Yes," said Meg, returning the excited hugs of her-friends: "*Merry Christmas, everyone!!!" The Adventures of cMeg y, Lorraine Hammond Season's Greetings Courses offered in self-improvement and fashion modelling Lorraine Hammond Agency - 298 Elgin Street - Ottawa Ontario EMBRUN, ONTARIO 443-2021 BRUNET FORD SALES LTD. 674 NOTRE-DAME ST. _ INDUSTRIAL PARK 443-3222 | JOYEUX NOEL Have a Merry Christmas from all of us at METCALFE GENERAL STORE or weekends. WATER DISTILLERS WATER POLLUTION! The instant solution to water pollution is a Portable Home Water Distiller. For further information write Aquapura Water Distillers, Box 11447, Stn. H, Nepean, Ont., K2H 7V1 or call Sharon at 445-5743 after 7 p.m. WA Re: 'a an Gerry, John and Craig Ritchie at the - Merry Christmas and a E: Happy New Year 'Four Corners Confectionery? WISH ALL ay CUSTOMERS