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Getting out of

Last of a series

BY JULIETTE PROOM
HERALD STAFF WRITER

giving yous sinking feeling
ving youa 5! eeling
every time the end of the |
month rolls around? Do you
wonder if you will ever have
savings in the bank instead
of a barrage of NSF.
cheques? Do you want help
gett ng out of financial
ouble?

There’s a Debt Counsellor
in Terrace to help people out
of their personal finacial
woes. Bill Godden deals
with personal debts only—he
cannot assists with business
debts can hechange existing
mortgages or debts to the
government. .

Private debts include
bank loans, credit cards
purchases, finance com-
pany loans and bills. Loans
guaranteed by the govern-
ment but borrowed trom a

BCR’s

VANCOUVER (CP) —
Spokesme ;

for British Columbia
Railway disclosed Tuesday
for the first time that they
are negotiating with the

ovincial government to-

termine the future of the
Crown railway's operations
from North Vancouver to
Prince George.

Ron Holton, BCR research
supervisor, told the
McKenzie commission
studying. affairs. of the
railway that the question of
continulng passen er
services as 4 public service
was. being ussed with
the government.

‘Holton said ‘absalute
minimum” losses on

assenger services have

crepsed to $635,000 in 1976
from $430,000 in 1974, The
first six-month period this
year has realized a loss of
more than $383,000,

Recent fare increases of
more than 30 per cent to six
cents a passenger mile from
4.4 centa mean the railway
is still a long way off from
meeting the 1978 projected
break-even cost of 9.4 cents.

“The board of directors
has resolved that if the
provincial governmen!
directs that the passenger
service must be continued,
the provincial ‘government
should assume direct re-
sponsibility for it, and the
railway would operate the
service on a contractual .
basis, ina manner similar to
the current practice by the
U.S, and Canadian govern-
ments,” said Holton.
CHANGES LITTLE

The switch from BCR to
B.C. government respon-
sibility would mean little
change for taxpayers—they
would still have to cover
service losses.

The railway gave five
reasons why Victoria should
take over responsibility:

—projected losses;

~—significant ‘capital
needed to buy new equip-
ment; | ;

~—potential traffic growth
lies in tourism and
therefore, promotion should
be through co-ordinated¢
government programs;

Amtrak and Via are
examples of the desire by
other governments. to
continue passenger
operations;

—need for co-ordinated
approaches to passenge!
systems by all leveis of
government.

REPORT STUDIED
Holton said an $8,500
report by five commerce
students at the University of
B,C. showed a high leyel of
community interest 5 in
BCR's passenger service,
although he agreed that
while on-line residents have

’ testified they like the ser-

vice, very few use it—44 per
cent of passengers are
tourists.

Cost increase forecasts
and a desire to avoid service
culs, led BCR to decide to
continue current services.

The inquiry continues.

~ bank

‘contracts,
- creditors and monthly gas

fall under his
jurisdication. ;
When a person comes into
his office, Godden makes
him promise to return for
counselling after the im-
mediate problem is solved.
The whole family is taught
how to make up a budget
and live within limitations.
Before tackling the actual
problem, Godden assesses
e situation. He requests
proof of all debts--loan
bills from

and utility statements.

He also likes to see
monthly pay stubs. This
gives him a true picture of
the client’s financial
situation. ;

Together, the client and
Godden draw up a realistic
estimate of household: ex-
penditures. Everything

goes on to this estimate,

including cigarettes
laundry and entertaiment.

Once the size of the debt
and the client’s ability to
pay is determined, Godden
Starts his leg work.Often
he'll visit creditors to
confirm debts and see if
they will settle for a slightly
lower inferist rate. : ost
prinepe inlsing, at Leaat tt
me money is better than
no money.

If the total debt is under
$2000 Godden will put the

,

_ Even when help is free

client into his pool account.
The client tums over his
income to Godden who in
turn, pays the debt and
manages the money.

“Most People on this
system don’t owe too
much,"’ said Godden,
“Usually the people just
can’t manage the money on
their own.” ©

For more serious cases,
Godden suggests Orderly

Payment of Debts (OPD) as

Bankrupcy Act. With
OPD,the client does not
decalre bankrupcy. His
money. is managed
throughout the government,
and his debt are paid off in
three years.
“To put a client of OPD, I
file the information obtained
in the assessment stage with
a Supreme Court Judge in
Prince George.
bers, the judge will decide

how much money the client

‘described by part 10 of the is capable of paying every

In cham: ’

PRITINCIAL LIBRARY

YASLIAMEN
VICTORIA

money and assigns a siable
rotion of that to debis. At
@ judges discretion, the

interest rates be reduced.

"the interest of OPD is to

pay off debts as soon as
Peuaily, the fie period
‘Usually, iod i

three years but fit ‘special
circumstances the judge
‘will expand it to five years.

said Godden.

Some people need to

declare bankrupcy. Thier
debts are 50 big that there is
no realiste way of paying.

Once the decision has been

the

“herald

Serving Terrace, Kitimat, the HazeHons, Stewart and the Nass

, VOLUME 71 NO. 122,

Price: 20 cents

BATmobile arri yes

One of B.C.’s first four Batmobiles (breath anz., is

testing mobile units) go on duty this week from its:
base in Terrace, covering communities from Houston

to Prince Rupert.

Sgt. Bud Cummings, stands beside

the new vehicle, above, and, with Cst. Errol Schell,
(inset) shows how the system works. Drivers caught

in road blocks suspec

lof being impaired blow into
i

the breathalyzer machine which indicates the con-
centration of alcohol in the blood, ~~

Cummi
anywhere

8 says. road blocks will be staged
the coverage area and the van wil) be

operated about three hours a day, He says he hopes
the BATmobile doesn’t result in an increase in im-

5
z
a
ma
3
E
2.
Z
F
3
J
3
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e
=
a

and

Last yearmore than 306 people were killed in drinking

impaired driving conviction carries a maximum -

penalty of $2,000 plus six months in jail.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1977 J

et

Cancel agrees on clean-up

Federal and Provincial
Environmental authorities
and Canadian Cellulose
have reached agreement on
lan to seal and contain
olychlorinated Biphenyl
(PCB) found in a small area
of Porpoise Harbour near
Prince Rupert, says a
Cancel news release.

The first phase of the
sediment containment plan
is to place a layer of surplus

wood fibre know as Leached
Hog Fuel in a area ex-
tending just over 200 feet
from a drainage outfall in
the company’s Log Pond
area. The land fill will vary
in depth but will be about 35
feet thich at the deepest
part. Cost is expected to be
In excess af $200.000.

The cover is designed to
prevent any possibility of
chemical from migrated

Test cancer cure

TORONTO (CP) — A
spokesman for a drug
company said Tuesday the
company will test a formula
which an 99-year-old woman
from Bracebridge, Ont.,
says is useful in the control
or cure of cancer, .

David Fingard of Respirin
Corp. Ltd., Toronto, said the
company will spend six
months testing the formula,
developed by Rene Caisse in
the 1920s from an Indian
herbal remedy. |

Finguard said his com-
pany will decide following
completion of the tests

whether to seek permission
to market the formula,

called Essiac-Caisse

spelled backwards.

Miss Caisse said a long-
time friend, Dr. Charles
Brusch of Cambridge,
Mass., who is acting as a
witness to the agreement

‘with Respirin Corp., is one

of several doctors who ad-

Minister Essiac under her
guidance.

A bill to make use of the
formula legal in Ontario was
defeated by three votes in
the legislature in the 1930s. |

from the Log Pond to an
area where it might enter
the food chain.

4 Weather

Donald P, Best, Senior
Vice President, Operations
for Canadian Cellulose, said

homeowners.

réadings

to municipalities,

costs remain the same,

New assessments ©
to change taxes

A more equitable way of collecting taxes was
discuasedat Terrace council last night which could
“result in tax reductions for 65 per cent of Terrace

An assessment amendment by-law was given three
and needs only to be adopted before the
agsessment changes take effect.

Ald, Helmut Giesbrecht, chairman of the finance
committee which drafted recommendations for the
new assessment by-law, explained to council that the
changes were in keeping wi

provincial options given

The actual outcome of the by-law is not known at
this time, Giesbrecht stated, and it cannot be
predicted that the changes will affect next year's
taxes. However, the changes will find 65 per cent of
homeowners getting a tax reduction while the
remaining 35 per cent will have taxes increased.

Giesbrecht added that reductions would come only if

In commercial assessments, there will also be
changes with 47 per cent of commercial property °

nga decrease and 53 per cent an increase,

Skies will be overcast all
day with occasional
showers. Today's high, 7
degrees, the low tonight, 4
degrees, ;

y,

T BLDIS
BC

made to do this, Godden
advises his clients of twe
routes to take,

If the client doesn't have
more than $2000 worth of
assests and hasnt’ eamed
more than $600 in the
previos 12 months, he is
referred to the federal
trustee in bankrupcty ih
Vancouver. Here
proceedings are handled for
a flat fee of $50.

However, everyone else
wishing tol decalre

nkrupcy must go
alawyer. The fee varies but

it usually starts at $760.

In declaring banrupcy,
debts have to be varified. A
public hearing is held where
all creditors have the right
to dispute the debts and the

value of assesst the client
owns.

A few months later, a
second hearing is held,
discharging the petittioner

from bankrupey. In effect,

work in the project will start
immediately with the first
phase expected to be
completed by year end.
After a one year
stabilization period, more
fill will be applied then
capped witha layer of rock.’

Best said the land filt will
start from the perimeter of
the cover area and work
toward the shoreline. A
pplication of fill material

ll be controlled so as to
disturb the sediment as litle
as possible. Special in-
struments will be used to
measure the stability of the
sediment at all times, he
noted.

Several ‘‘Clean-up’’
alternatives were con-
sidered, Best noted, in-
cluding the feasibity of
removing the affected
material. Dredging was
rejected because disturbing
the bark and wood residue
at the bettom of the Log
Pond cou'd cause the con-
tamination to spread beyong.,
the current 200 foot seni’
cireu'ar area, he said. ©

the debts are wiped out. If

debt is harder than getting in

the debts were covered by
collateral, the creditor has
the right to collect the
collateral. Bankrupcy also
means the petitioner may
not recieve credit for seven

years.
When a person pays on
OPD, or takes proceding
toward bankrupcy, Godden
takes drastic action with
their affairs. He asks for all
credit cards and cuts the in
two in front of the client.
“Credit cardsa present a
great temptation to people,”
said Godden. “It’s so easy to
spend money not thinking
at it must be paid back.
Godden services are of-
fered free of charge. He is
paid by the provincial
epartment of consumer
services. The money is
administered by the
Terrace Community Ser-
vices Society.
Godden can be reached at
638-1256. His office is beside
the Terrace Answering

Bureau at 4503-D Park Ave. °

Kitimat still
favored site

VANCOUVER (CP) —
The West Coast oil ports
inquiry was told Tuesday
that Ashland Oil, a member
af the consortium seeking to.
build a port at Kitimat, B.C.,
stil considers that project
the best means of getting oil
to midwest refineries, even
though other means are
being explored.

William Perrine,
Ashland’s vice-president for
goverament affairs, said the.
cutback in Canadian crude
exports means Ashland
won't be able to feed its
Buffalo, N.Y. refinery this
winter, and its Finley, Ohio
plant by next summer,
wently, Ashland is
considering a number of

these are
“economic _ possibilities,”
none would solve the oil
transportation problems as
fully as Kitimat, said Per-
rine.

Louise Mandell, counsel
for the Union of British
Columbia Indian Chiefs,
pressed Perrine for most of
the day to admit that the
United States could solve its
oil shortage problems by
proposals other than by a

a

j port at Kitimat an

pipeline to Edmonton.
‘HOSTILE’ AREA

Perrine drew some wry
smiles when he said Ashland
had participated in a study
of a pipeline ‘through
hostile environment” from
Fairbanks, Alaska to Ed-
monton—i.e. the Yukon and
northeastern B.C.

After studying a iot of al-
ternatives, Perrine said
Ashland is “still in Kitimat”
because “‘we still think that
eventually we'll need it.”

Perrine agreed to provide
figures to compare the cost
of Kitimat with other ways
to move oil to the midwest
through U.S. gulf ports.

land gets much of its
crude from the Persian
Gulf, It arrives in the
Caribbean on super tankers,
and is pumped into smaller
ships which then sail to St.
James, Miss. on the gulf
where the cargo enters Ash-
land’s pipeline to southern
Minos,

That satisfies Ashiand’s
Kentucky refineries, bul
places like ‘Buffalo, Canton,
Ohio, .and St. Paul, Minn.
cannot be so served now
except by Canadian crude.
Hence Ashland’s support for
Kitimat, since Edmonton is
the point from which all
these places can be reached
by existing pipelines.
URGE SWAP

During a break in the pro-
ceedings, Perrine said some
American oil companies
have urged Ottawa, so far
without success, te ship
Alberta oil to the northern
midwest in return for In-
creased shipments of off-
shore oil through the Por-
tland, Maine-Montreal
pipeline which can handle
240,000 barrels a day more
than is being shipped

’ through it now.

He said using Alberta oil
to heat and power Quebec
may be a_ unification
Bes , but it precludes a
logical way to resolve an
immediate supply problem
in such places as Montana,
the Dakotas and Minnesota.

Budget
crunch
hits
_home

VICTORIA (CP) — The
British Columbia. goyern-
ment has “cuy''into gn

unexpected budg/:t problem,

because federal gavernment -
revenues will by $3 billion
less this year thga/jorecast,
Finance Minitg#* Evan

Wolfe said today.

“The provinces will be left
with about $688 million less
than they expected to
receive, and B.C.’s share of
this shortfall will be about
$122 million,” the minister
told the annual meeting of
the industrial relations
section of the Canadian Pulp
and Paper Association.

“This means the B.C.
government will have to
restrict its planned ex-

enditures during the
alance of this year,
although we are, at the
moment, running a surplus
which will help soften this

impact.”

olfe said the provincial
government will attempt to
restrict spending next year
to 12 per cent of the gross
provincial product com-
pared to 17.6 per cent in
1975, 16.3 per cent in 1976
and 15 per cent this year.

He said the cut-back is

necessary to prevent ‘too
large a drain on the private
sector.”

The minister said the

statement by federal |
ste

Finance Minister Jean
Chretien last week
demonstrated to the
Canadian people “that we
have reached a crisis in our
national life.”

SPENDING EXCESSIVE
“For the first time in two
decades or more, we have
been jolted to the certain
realization that we have
been living beyond our
means,” Wolfe said.

“We have been spending
without thought of
tomorrow. We have been
building a gigantic govern-
ment that consumes an
awesome chunk of our

roductive effort and is still

manding more.

“In the process, we have
stripped the productive
sector of the economy of
much of its muscle and-
perhaps more seriouslyof its
will, or determination to
expand and grow.

He added that where the
deficit is financed by

prigting money, inflation
willbe further fueled.

,