| —{the herald } PAGE 4, THE HERALD, Thursday, September 8, 1977 Published by Sterling Publishers i General Office . 635-6387 Circulation (Terrace) - 635-6357 (Kitimat) - 632.6209 PUBLISHER... W-R. (BILL) LOISELLE MANAGING EDITOR... STU DUCKLOW Published every weekday at 3212 Kalum St. Terrace 8.C, A member of Varified Circulation. Authorized #4 second class mall. Registration number 1201. Postage pal. 1 cash, retirn posiage guaranteed. NOTE OF COPYRIGHT The Herald retains full-complete and sole copyright In any advertisement produced and-or any: editorial or photographic content published In the Herald. Reproduction Is not permitted without the written I f Publisher. written permission of the — Careful buying ‘The deal was irresistable. A great big, brand new fridge at nearly a. hundred : dollars off the regular price just because the finish was scratched on one side. And that side would be up against ‘ g kitchen wall and wouldn’t show. There was one problem. ‘ The fridge wouldn't go through the door between the . kitchen and the living room. A remodelling job by the previous owner of the house had Jeft the door an inch and .&@ half narrower than the others - not enough to be noticeable until you tried to push a fridge through it.. No . matter which way it was tipped or turned, the fridge remained in the living room. ‘Faced with the prospect of laying it on its side and disguising it as.a coffee table, the consumer called the ‘ store and explained the problem. Fortunxtely . the store was willing to make an exchange on a smaller fridge. '(“Fortunately”’, because the store was not obligated to make a refund or exchange.) The consumer had just assumed the fridge. would fit - after all, the kitchen already contained a fridge, along with. the other usual applicances. What she hadn't realized was that the old fridge was slightly smaller than @ new. one. ; As this consumer learned, successful shopping for . _ major appliances requires a certain amount of pre- purchase planning. To keep from having to abandon your bargain, measure before you buy. Arm yourself with a careful calculation of the space. available for the new appliance. Write down the dimensions and take them and your tape measure along to the store. Measure the item you plan to buy to see if it will clear hallways. , doors, stairways, or other obstacles. Another point to consider is the cost of installation. When replacing her old electric range, one consumer was faced with a choice between another electric range, ora gasrange on sale for $70.00 less. She was tempted to select the gas range since she had a gas furnace, until she discovered the cost of bringing the gas line up from the basement would far exceed the $70.00 saving. Since the electrical connection was.already in existence, a simple and relatively inexpensive hook-up was all that was required for the electric range. Had the cost of gas in her area been significantly less than electricity, the gas tange-might-still have been the better buy, as cheaper operating costs would in time have offset the more ex- pensive installation. , One of the best ways of preparing for a major purchase is to read up on it before you buy. Your local library will probably have an assortment of consumer magazines (if not, suggest they subscribe to some) which describe and compare various appliances. has, the higher the price will be. Try to select a model which meets your needs but isn’t loaded with expensive extras you don't require. For example, you may find adjustable rackg.in a dishwasher a useful option for which you're willing to pay extra. On the other hand, an ice water dispenser on a refrigerator may be something you'll never use. ' All warranties are not created equal, so read them carefully. Generally .speaking, the . manufacturer's ‘responsibilities are limited to the promises made in the warranty, Find out if local.servicing is available and who pays for pickup and delivery if required. A freezer which has to be shipped. hundreds of miles for repairs is no | bargain, especially if you have to pay the shipping rges. If you're buying freight damaged merchandise, be sure to enquire if the warranty still applies. Have the salesman write on the bill any verbal promises or representations as to the condition of the appliance. Check the store's reputation with the Better Business Burealt or a local consumer group before you commit yourself, Once you've decided on the make, the colour, and the amount you can afford to pay, remember that your only assurance of getting a good price is to comparison shop. Spare yourself the depressing discovery that you could have bought the same thing just down the road for a third less than you paid, And don’t be afraid to bargain, Even the biggest and . ‘e not normally averse to a little negotiating to secure a gale. If you're not sure how much of a reduction to seek, try offering 10 percent less than the asking price. You'll develop a feel for the right amount to offer after a little practice, Acolumn by the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. — Interpreting the News Western powers try to bolster economies london cp-The. pace of economic recovery has failed to impress the British government and Prime Minister James Callaghan has publicly called for fresh strategy by the major non-Communist in- dustrialized countries, In two economice summits-in Puerto Rico last year and in London last May-leaders of the seven countries tried to draw a blueprint ’ for bringing mush of the world out of economic recession, without buil new inflationary fires. In the May summit, growth targets ‘were developed which Callaghan new says have not been met, .- He aks called for a fresh start and senior authorities from the seven contries, including Canada, will - meet in Washington later this . monthe to review economic progreas and achievements and see what -Measures can be taken. - Callaghan has singled out the United Stated and West Germany a3 countries, inclu avoid the two major countries which have undershot their growth targets. In Washington, criticism usually has been aimed at Japan as well ag West Germany, two countries which have managed to build up large orelgn payments surpluses throug heavy .exports while most other Canda, have reported big deficits which have - tended to undermine the value of thelr currencies, Both Japan and West Germany have announced reflationary plans and .by ‘the time the Washington meeting opens at the time of the International Monetary Fund conference-the two countries may be able to demonstrate that they are ‘trying for fulfil their economic promises while cautiously seeking to the inflationary pitfalls. . The situation in the United States is more soubtful. Earlier en- couraging signs that the U.S. economy is picking up were followed recently by reports of a slowdown accompanied by U.S. monetary measures which suggest the Cater administration may be deliberately reducing the economic pace with defence against inflation taking priority over world trade growth. Over the years much of the world depended on the United States as the leading. market for exports. Prosperity in the U.S, also had led to heavy American investment abroad. — Now large quantities of American furxds are following a single track- to cover the cost of heavy imports of high-priced oil. Some economists question whether..growth targets set at the ecoromie summit last May could -have been reached, in any case, in a short period of months. It usually takes a great deal of time for government measures to stimulate the economy to shaw major results, such as. heavy reduction of unem- ployment. Callaghan claims that the growth targets represented formal un- dertakings by the summit leaders, including measures to fill any gaps if the targets are not met. The summit leaders did agree to make periodic reviews of the pace of economic recovery and the Washington meeting likely will concentrate on the role of monitoring progres, along with recommendations to governments on what further action might be warranted. ; However, while national leaders have a vital interest in the economic health of the entire Western com- munity, political survival requires these leaders to five prior at- attention to national self-interests. Some ountries may try to bring pressure. on the Carter ad- ministration -to. move faster on American reflation but the current indications suggest that Carter intends to move cautiously, with the defence against inflation remaining the key to his own economic strategy. ACRAAN Z ©5977 Unieonnol Freee Syricone | T/p * “The Marquis of Halifex writes, ‘The vanity-of : teaching doth oft temp? man to forget ; he is a blockhead’.” By LOUIS D. BOCCARDI PEKING. (AP) - Chinese Vice-Premier Teng Hsiao- ping said Tuesday that efforts .to normalize diplomatic relations bet- ween the U.S. and -China suffered a setback during the visit last month of U.S. State Secretary Cyrus Vance. ; ; In an interview with The. Associated Press, Teng said the Vance discussions represented a retreat from proposals advanced by former president Gerald Ford and former state . secretary Henry Kissinger. Teng made these points in the interview, his first since returning to office in July: - Former president Ford promised in December, 1975, that if-re-elected he would break diplomatic relations with Taiwan, seat of the Chinese Nationalist government, and establish ‘them with Peking. - Vance discussed setting up a U.S. liaison mission in Taiwan and a_e full CNR fears corporate strait jacket Ottawa . CP-Roberts Bandeen, president of Canadian National Railways, says he fears recent federal proposals to tighten control over publicly-owned companies would “put Crown cor- porations into a strait- jacket,"’ . Bandeen said in an in- terview that CN is a com- mercial operation and should be free to adjust to changes in the economy. Crown coporations should have strong boards of directors to keep and eye on spending by corporation executives and prevent poor investments, the CN president said. . A federal policy paper, announced Aug. 18, recommended increased government control over budgets of Crown cor- porations. It also sald that ~ SOME DAY, SON, THIS WILL. LLBE SAYS VICE-PREMIER U.S., China cool to each other diplomatic mission. in Peking, but the Chinese rejected that. ., “the Chinese regard Taiwan as ah internal problem that permits no foreign in- terference, they would take into. consideration . the special conditions prevailing on Taiwan. in trying to solve the problem with the U.S. . Teng made the comments ina ® minute meeting with executives and directors of The AP who are ona 16 day visit to.China. . No direct quotations were permitted because, Chinese officials said, there was no official translation, Teng spoke through an in- terpreter. ; Teng said Ford promised during his .visit 21 months ago that if re-elected he would resolve the Taiwan problem the same way the Japanese had. Japan severed diplomatic relations with the Nationalists. on Taiwan but have maintained. non- government contacts, in- cl - substantial trade with the island. Teng said the U.S. had promised to take the three actions China has demanded for normalizing .relations:. breaking .diplomatic relations with Taiwan, abrogating the U.S.-Taiwan defence treaty and with- drawing the. 1,200 U.S. troops on the island. Teng said Vance came to Peking with a proposal that was a retrogression from that position. He said Vance discussed establishing full diplomatic relations with China while at the same time establishing a diplomatic liaison office on Taiwan, . . In effect, this would reverse the present situation, The U.S. has full relations with Taiwan and only. a liaison mission in Peking. . .Teng said the reverse liaison proposal is wunac- ceptable because it would NEW REGULATIONS corporations like CN should comply with governmen directions “of a gener: nature.” . Corporations would have to submit detailed capital budgets for such items as equipment and would need cabinet approval for any cahnes in these budgets, “You can't argue with their intentions-there have to be controls over finances of Crown, corporations,” Bandeen said. “J don't think that removing some of the power of the board of directors and turning them over to the cabinet or cother bodies will create the degree of conral that is anticipated. A better step might be to increase the authority of the directors and hold them responsible for the operation of the corportaion, he said. The governmer’ policy, developed after more than three years of work, would seriously reduce the powers of boards of directors. . “I guesa what I fear more is that turning some of these to the cabinet and then through the cabinet to the or the senior officlais would tend to put corporations into a straitjacket.” CN .would outline with certainty waht would happen in the economy. CN should have the freedom to adjust its budget to meet changing con- ditions, Bandeen said. It is not possible to prepare the detailed capital budgets anticipated in the government policy paper. “It could lead towseng in- ‘vestments,” The government has announced plans to in- troduce a Crown. cor- mean continued diplomatic links between the U.S. and Taiwan, Teng stressed that the Vance meetings had been cordial and useful for ex- changing views but that reports of progress. were wrong. The vice-premier, who is also vice-chairman of the Chinese Communist party - wider Chairman Hua Kuo- feng, reiterated the Chinese ‘iz an internal problem. He said the U.S. had been responsible for creating an impression after Vance's visit that the Chinese would be flexible about promising not to take Taiwan by force if the U.S. withdraws. ‘ He said there is no such flexibility on the part of the Chinese. Asked what would happen if the people of Taiwan resisted a takeover by the Chinese. government, Teng said this would lead to a conflict. porations bill in Parliament this fall. The policy paper was released in August to allow time for comment by the Crown corporations, Auditor-General J.J. Macdonell and the royal commission on financial management. The audito-general was strongly critical of Atomic Energy of Canda Ltd, ABGL and its nuclear reactor sale to Argentina. AGEL hag said it will lose about $13 million on the deal. . AECL’s handling of nuclear reactor deals with Argentina ans. Korea through forelgn agents eome under scrutiny of a Commons committee. And the government launched a royal commission to look into financial management of Crown corporations. Schools for crime — VICTORIA CP - The provincial government’s planned juvenile con- tainment centres will be little more than schools for crime, former attorney- general Alex Macdonald NDP-Vancouver Eaat’ said Thursday. - Macdonald told the legislature during second reading debate of Bill 55, the Corrections Amendment Act, 1977, that the four contres for hard core juvenile offenders would give young criminals a crash course = in sophisticated city crime. He said that juveniles from small communities “the whole scene’ of ostitution, homosexuality, arugs and viclence. Attorney-General Garde Gardom, however defended the plan for setting up the centres as the only possible answer to the question of what to do with the hard core juvenile offenders. Gardom stressed that the four centres, and fais the overwhelming majority o juvenile deliguents would not have to be incarcerated in such an institution. He said later, though that if the number of serious juvenile offenders in- creased, more centres could be set up. Macdonald said the bill was retrogressive, that it would take the province back to the pre-1863 days of the Brannon Lake centre for delinquent boys. “A heck of a lot of young people were unneccessarily jailed...and brutalized,” he ‘said. “Let’s not go back down that path.” The solotion to the problem, said Macdonald, was recommended by the Family Law during the term of the New Demon- cratic Party government. and was being initiated when the NDP was defeated in December, 1975. He said serious offenders needed “swift, sure and short attention...at the local level.”” He said this would involve incareration for only two days, for example at a local hospital. Other possibilities, “Macdonald: said, ‘were in- stitutions on island or on large boats, where the of- fenders “can’t run away, but it’s not jail and doesn't have the criminal sub- culture it promotes.” “Give them a little time on the good ship rehabilitation,’’ said Macdonald. _ The general problem of juvenile delinquency, he . Said is very serious, but ‘to take the wrong step is to threatén society in the future..and to spoil lives,’' he said. No more retro-tax Any more retoactive tax legislation such as is con- tained, in Bill 84 would ‘totally disrupt” business reporting systems, B. C. charteered accountants have told ‘Premier Bill Bennett. Bill &4, the Mineral Land Tax Amendment Act (1877), seeks through retroactivity to block minig companies in British Columbia from persuing court action to recover monies collected under the Mineral Land Tax Act in the 1974, 1975 and Dennis F. president of the Institue of Cahrtered Accountants of British Columbia, asked the Premier on a letter tp remove jn reircactive aspects of the legislation or withdraw the Bill, Culver said the Institute's concern was based on a matter of principle which ’ Js fundamental to the social and political structure of our province. “Our concern is with retoactivity of Bill 94,0 concept which appears totally hostile to your government’s policy of fair play and equity,” Culver wrote. “Futhermore, retroactivity in such legislaton in- validates the financial reports upon which our business system is depen- dant for management, in- vestor and government information and action, Culver, Only a modest extension of such retoactivity would be required to totally disrupt our business reporting system.” Fastest bed SEATTLE AP - Local dentist Dr. Patrick Fleege- has one of the fastest beds town, He calls it Tough - wee : th leege was among the winners Saturday in the third annual Mattress Mayhem Bed Race, Tough’ Teeth was made from a Rolls Royce chassis with a toothpast roll on the front end, The custom bunk took two years and $1,500 to assernble, . ; The race is conducted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Each of the 26 teams paid $300 to enter, and other contributions the charity's total receipts to more than $8,000. A rebuilt double bed from Tacoma took the state championship, cruising through the course in a record 45,09 seconds, Seahawk quarterback Jim n was in charge of en- forcing racing regulations for the event. Zorn, the 1976 NFL rookie of the year, checked for ‘‘bedbugs, _ hospital corners and illegal sheets on mattresses.