PAGE A4, THE HERALD, Tuesday. May 17, 1977,
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the herald

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‘PUBLISHER
GORDON W. HAMILTON

MANAGING EDITOR
ALLAN KRASNICK

NOTE OF COPYRIGHT
The Herald retains full, complete and sole copyright In any
advertisement produced and-or editorial or photographic
content published in the Herald. Reproduction [Is not -
permitted without the written permission of the Publisher

KAYE EHSES

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Se a aS

Cashless
madness

With subtle quickness, Canada is becoming a
cashless society, a country in which the familiar
paper bearing the picture of our queen may. soon
become obsolete. It will be replaced by the
Chargex and Master Charge cards, the credit
cards, the credit cards distributed by the oil
companies and tavel and entertainment firms, and,
we would suspect, a new computer-controlled
mechanism that would expand the uses and values
of bank and credit union cheques.

*

Whether or not we are prepared for this tran-
sformation is a matter of growing conjecture. But
because of this proliferation of charge cards, we
are bing pulled inexorably towards becoming a
cashless community. The Canadian government,
with the strong support of the country’s major
banks, is making dramatic, though not yet entirely
visible, strides towards this goal.

*

The question we ask: does it reflect the desires of
the people? Today, there are over five million
Chargex cards, 1.5 million Master Charge cards,
five million department store credit cards, eight
million oil company cards, and 300,000 airline
credit cards. The credit mentality has long been an
unavoidable part of North American life, but it has
also been the downfall of many individual and
family finances, creating personal and marital
break up.

*

Can anybody really know what are the '‘means”
within which we should live if he buys and sells.
through an artificial, usually pleasantly designed,
plastic card that hides the real importance of the
Do you know how much
money you have left in your savings each time you
buy a new piece of furniture, perhaps some
clothing, gas, or lodging when you aren’t dealing
with cash? With the convenience of the card, the
full impact of particular purchases are not always
recognized.

soap oisiantneneoonansnaane teas

*

One is reminded of a gambling casino. The house
is always quick to change your pocket money into
casino chips, small round tokens that are easy to
hold, easy to play with, but seldom viewed with as
much mental impact as a fistful of dollars. Use of
the tokens makes it so much easier to place that
larger wager, to take that bigger chance. For the
veteran gambler, it may mean little. For the couple
out on the Las Vegas strip for the first time, it
transforms the anxiety of a $50 bet into a simple
physical action - the tossing of a tiny, two-
dimensional chip into the middle of a table.

*

The charge cards have a similar psychological
effect. It almost appears as if the arbitrary credit
limit stamped on the card represents the limit of
one’s real purchasing (hence, borrowing) power.
The bank will slap a $400 ceiling on one’s monthly
expenditures witht eh card. Is that after a careful
view of your earnings, level of debt, spending
needs, and buying patterns? Usually not.

*

Yes, there is the long talk with the loans officer.
Yes, the banker checks you out. But more often
than not, the limit you are assessed is based upon a
standard procedure, used by the banks because of
the tremendous volumes in which they deal.

*

Often the buyer figures that the card says he can
spend up to$400, then he should stay near the limit.
The intention subsequently becomes not
necessarily to pay off the whole debt but only the
interest charges, And that’s where the banks make
their profits. Not in the service but in the charges.

*

There can be little doubt that the proliferation of
charge cards and the tremendous dollars
generated in interest are prime causes of inflation.
If we move towards a cashless society, dealings
under the new rules will ‘prove inflationary, ex-
tremely confusing, and certainly counter-
productive to the average family.

*

The innovation might be a good administrative
one from. the banker’s and governmnt maker's
pers tives, but it could wreak havoc on the in-

vidual.

Wheat price

WASHINGTON (CP) —
Diplomats and other
government officials are
racing against time to
ba y shield wheat pro-

ucers from what may
develop into a sharp drop in
world wheat prices.

As important as the
negotiators’ success or
failure will be to the
Canadian economy and
Prairie society, it will be
even more important for the
millions of people in other

countries who live on the
verge of starvation.

The goal is an in-
ternational agreement,
involving both producing
and consuming countries,
that would stabilize wheat
prices and establish a
system of reserve stocks.

Similar efforts have failed
in recent years but the
Canadian and U.S. govern-
ments appear determined to
succeed this time and have
indirectiy threatened cartel-

type action by themselves if
a comprehensive agreement
cannot be reached.
Achieving such an
agreement will be difficult
since it would involve
complex and contentious
de as well as touching
on such tough issues as
world food planning and the
relationship of developed to
developing countries. ;
The wildly-varying cycle
of wheat shortages and
surpluses is beginning to

ik PM ravorcnerseer,

f

s heading for

favor the wheatimporting
countries, but the exporters
hope their customers wil
realize that the grain short-
ages and soaring prices of
recent years will return
some day without a
stabilization agreement.
The U.S.. agriculture
department is predicting
food world crops in 1977-78.
creasing inventories an
declining prices. World
wheat carryovers are ex-
pected to total 104.3 million
metric tons by May 31, up

- You mean you haven’t heard of the predicted drought for this summer?”

WESTERNERS BULLISH ON FUTURE

Pioneer spirit lingers on

SASKATOON (CP) — The
Hall commission on grain
handling and transportation
said Monday two years of
study have shown the oP
timism of pioneers persis
undiminished in the West
but that many Westerners
are frustrated and disap-
pointed about the develop-
ment of their region of
Canada.

“Feelings exist that
Western Canadians are the
source of someone else's
affluence and to a degree

they blame the trans-'

rtation system for their
rustrations,’' the five
member commission
headed by Emmet Hall of
Saskatoon said in its report
to the federal government.

The commission heard
more than 1,600 briefs at 120
hearings in more than 90
communities on the social
andeconomic impact of rail-
line abandonmentn

The commissioners said a
recurring concern ex-
pressed at public hearings
was the detrimental effect
of discriminatory freight
rates and other transport-
related situations affecting
the economic development
of the Prairies.

“An analysis of freight
structures confirms that the
Prairie provinces have been
victimized
discriminatory rates from
the beginning,” the com-
mission said.

The use of technology In
agriculture meant larger
farms and less labor, and
raw materials continued to
be shipped out with the
result that opportunities for
employment and population
expansion had not kept pace
with growth in the rest of the
country.

The system developed to
open the West had “served
well’? but some of the

olicies associated with
ransportation had per-
mitted the system to drain
the West of employment and
job opportunities.

Noting that flour milling
in the West declined to 39
per cent of the national total

1974-75 from 48 per cent in
the 1950s, the commission
said the industry shoula be
allowed to enjoy the natural
geo raphic advantage of
ocating in the West.

Itadded that the Canadian
wheat board should assess
its costs for the services
provided the industry and
ensure its pricing practices
do not distort the regional
locational advantages of
this industry.

The commission also sug- |

gested the wheat board dis-
eontinue the
“discriminatory”. practice
of paying interest and
storage costs on wheat held
for milling at any point in
Canada.

Freight rates on rapeseed
andits derivatives should be
set at levels which do not
discriminate against the
locational: advantage of
prairie rapeseed crushers.

The upgrading of existin
lines and the construction o:
new tracks was estimated at
between $448 million and
$615 million by the province

while the commission said it
would be about $500 million.

The commission, noting
the province's enthusiasm,
said the prophecies made by
governments have ‘‘a
tendency toward  self-
fulfillment.”’

“Tn the 19th century it was
Canada’s dream to build a
nation by building a
railway, and so it did,” the
commissioners said.

“Seen in that context Al-
berta’f vision of northern
development through
railway reorganization is
fundamentally appealing to
this commission.’ ;

The commission said it
had been persuaded sub-
stantial railway traffic
increases will occur in
northern and northwestern
Alberta and appre riate
measures must be taken to
provide, ‘‘in the national as

well a3 the provincial in-
terest,'? for its ac-
commodation.

Both Canadian National
and CP Rail said the concept
was undesirable, with
Rail saying the proposal
was beyond the com-
mission’s terms of refer-

ence.

’ “We must empbaticall
disagree with the: Rail
opinion. ...”

However, the commission
said it did not agres a new
railway organization was
needed and that Canadian
National ‘‘is to be
preferred” over CP Rail as
the organization to be vested
with managerial control
over the prospective en-
tity.”

The commission added
Canadian National must
combine its northern
Alberta operations with the

LONDON'S SAVOY HOTEL

from 63.3 million a year
earlier. Next year the
carryover may. total 115
million metric tons.

In theory the solution js
simple: Keep enough of the
surplus off the market 50
that prices do not drop to
unacceptable levels.

The difficulties come in
determining what prices are
to be maintained, what
organization would operate
such an International
mechanism, who would pay
storage costs and how to

drop?

avold bitter charges of

price .

The impetus for a new
agreement came last
February when _US.

Agriculture Secretary Bob
Bergland. was visited by
Otto Lang, | minister
responsible for the
Canadian Wheat Board.
The two agreed to for
a new international wheat
agreement, one that would
work better than ita inef-
fective namesake of a

decade earlier.

PRIESTS IN DANGER

Human rights
pope's concerns

VATICAN CITY (AP)
— in many parts of the
world, Roman Catholic
churchmen are becoming
human rights activists.
Vatican sources say they
are exposing themselves to
harassment, detention and
even assassination. -

They are emboldened to a
large extent by encyclicals
and recent pronouncements
by the Pope, who had made
human rights one of his
major planks long before
U.S. President Carter made
it a. pivotal part of U.S.
policy.

The subject also is
creating debate within the
Church on how far it should
be pushed by the religious

_ who fail easy prey to

authoritarian regimes.

In the last few months,
information obtained from
Vatican sources shows the
clergy's involvement. in
romoting civil rights and

eir supression has been
widespread and systematic.
They cited these examples:

Priests a:c reported to
Lave secume Signatories to
Charter 77, a document
drawn up by human rights
activists. One bishop, Jan

Kores, was threatened with

Northern Alberta Railway
in a major new Northern
Development Railways
Department.
he department must
encompass the Arctic
railway to minimize conflict
of interest and costly
duplication.
uch a project cannot be
undertaken without the co-
ei pals Tao
ul ations following
consultations.

The North is changing and
development is inevitable,
the commission said. Un-
controlled development
must be avoided with the co-
operation of the Dene and
Inuit peoples.

Northern development in
which the “‘rights and
cultures of native people are
respected and fostered can
be mutually advantageous
to both Canada, as a whole
and the native populations,”

In midst of sick economy
plush hotel staying healthy |

LONDON (CP) —
British businessmen were
startled to learn that, in
spite of the financial crisis
and a sagging pound
sterling, the plush Savoy
Hotel made a clear profit of

$9,237-173 last year—
highest in the hotel's
history. ‘

“How do they do it?”
asked the manager of a rival
hotel in central London.

Part of the answer is that
the stately ‘hotel built by
Richard D’Oyly Carte in
1869 has always moved with
the times, From being an
exclusive establishment,
patronised by kings, queens
and princes, leading
statesmen and film stars, it
has developed into what is
today a cosmopolitan hotel
catering to all types of

ople.

In the words of an aging
Savoy porter:

“We ‘aven't got The Tone
we used to ’ave, Y’see, sir,
we used to get The Quality—
the Cream of Sir-ciety, as
you might say. But now, sir.

5

we gets all kinds of odd
fish—jockeys, journalists,
chorus girls, people selling
vacuum cleaners...

“No, sir, we ‘aven't got
The Tone, sir.”

This view was shared by a
veteran Savoy band leader
who once played in the
theatres of Alberta and
British Columbia.

“It’s still a great hotel,”
said Ramon Newton, leader
of the famous Sayoy Havana
Band in the '20s and ‘30s,
“but it’s not nearly as ex-
clusive as it used to be.

“T can remember when
King George and Queen
Elizabeth and the Prince of
Wales danced regularly to
our music, But we never
recognized them officially.
Hf they called me over to
their table to request a
particular song, I would
address them only as sir or
madam, That was an ab-
solute rule. —

“King Edward VIII once
asked for a song he had
heard in America. We didn’t
have it, but mext day the

management cabled across
the Atlantic for the music.
That was the kind of service
we gave,” Newton said.

Many observers say the
Savoy began to lose its
“tone” during the Second
World War when legions of
newspaper reporters ib-
vaded its marble halls and
gathered round the Ameri-
can Bar in the foyer.

But the hotel still has a
glamor for writers and
moviemakers and has been
used in many films and

books including. Arnold.

Bennett's famous novel

Imperial Palace. Its history
goes back to the glittering
days when Peter, Ninth
Count of Savoy, came to

London from France~ and |

built a sumptuous palace
where the hotel now stands,
between the Strand and the
Thames Embankment.

The hotel has been a
cradle of dance music since
Johann Strauss, the Waltz
King, brought his Viennese
orchestra to London and
played for many months in

‘the Savoy's main ballroom.

banishment by the Com-
munist government but is
said to have opted for the
offered alternative of first
sweeping the streets and
then holding a manual job.

Populous Roman Catholic
country, Rev. Joad Bosco
Burnier reported hearing
women scream as_ he
strolled by a police station.
He walked in to plead fo

mercy and is reported to -

have been shot dead in front
of his bishop, Don Pedro
Casaldaliga.

Claiming to help the poor
in social work are rounded
up, foreign missionaries
expelled and the locals
jailed, by a mainly Roman
Catholic government which
lables them subversives. -

Catholic schools decided
on integration despite
apartheid regulations.
Earlier this year,

Rhodesia’s white Bishop

Donal Lamont was foun
ilty. of refusing to act as

informer on black

terrorists. He was expelled.

Much of the Roman
Catholic Church’s recent
militancy in the human area
is traced to the Pope.

His methods vary, from
open and direct warnings to
Latin America to cajoling in
Eastern Europe, where
freedom of religion and
other rirhts are embodied in
constitutions but are subject
to Communist party in-
terpretations.

echnically, the Pope has
his “peace corps’ in the
human rights field. He has
cardinals, bishops and an
increasingly justice-
oriented clergy in addition
to foreign missionaries in

African huts, South
American hinterlands and
in Asian slums, The
Jesuits—an elite order in-
formally called the Pope's
private army—count 7,000
missionaries, among the
most active and, by their
account, the most per-
secuted.

_A local Jesuit, dupped a
Communist, was
assassinated March 11 in El
Salvador.

“W e are persecuted both

by the right and the left,’ .

says Rev. Pedo Arrupe,
father-general of the Jesuits
in Rome. “I fear we'll
suffer more in the future.
They accuse us of being
radical leftist while we are
only citing the encyclicals.”

The fl ates to recent
ods his.

and current human
activity by the

Second Vatican Councll
declared: ‘With respect the
the fundamental righls of

e persons, any type ©
discrimination w. ip to be
overcome as contrary to
God's intent.”

it said the Church has the —

right ‘to - pass. moral
judgment even on matters
touching political order
whenever basic rights ..
make such judgments
necessary.” ;
“Last January, in his
customary New Year's
speech to diplomats here,
e Pope pledged that he, his
bishops and priest
“throughout the world
would expose all forms of
injustice and yiolence, even
at the cost of imprisonment

. and death.”

Court asserts law on bands

OTTAWA (CP) — The
Federal Court of Canada
ruled Monday that it has
urisdiction over Indian

nd councils and
councils are an arm of the
federal government.

A ruling
associate chief justice A.L.
Thurlow said band councils
are “a somewhat restricted
form of municipal govern-

that the’

signed by

ment” on federally-con-
trolled Indian reserves and
should therefore come
under the court's
juriadiction.

_ The Federal Court, estab-
lished to rule on disputes in-
volving the federal
government and its various
agencies, was asked to solve
a dispute among members
of the Oka reserve in

Quebec, about 30 miles west ,
‘of Montreal.
Louis Gabriel and six

others, members of the
Kanesatakeronon Indian
League for Democracy,
have asked the court to rule
the .eleetlon of the existing
band council itegal, The de-
fendents are Peter
Canatonquin and eight other
band chiefa ~~

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