3 uf Fy 4 4 t af ia Loar gidbgated Sahoo Mie eal Sunday shopping criticized by David Martyn Like so many things in our society, we have Sunday shopping in Terrace, and we don’t knew how it started, Some people encourage it, some go along with it, and some fight it. But it is a ‘question that we, asa society (or at feast as city or province), need to consider, There are three different approaches to the issue: the Judeo-Christian theological approach, the sociological and the concern for justice, The first approach Is familiar to most. Stated quite simply it is the Biblical requirement to have a day set aside as holy. Exodus 20:6 "Remember the sab bath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore BY LOCAL MINISTER the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.” From the sociological point of view, we must examine the effects that Sunday shopping has on us as a society, It could be argued, with tongue in cheek, that in our consumer culture where consumerism is the unstated religion, that we should have Sunday shopping so that we can practise our religion on the seventh day, as well as the other six, But for some people there are other things that are important. Sunday shopping means that insome families where both parents have to work or the single parents has to work, the family might never be together for a full day at any time. This effect of reduced family time has already been noticed in the late night shopping already in practise in the Skeena Mall. The third perspective arises from the concern for justice. It has been pointed out that Sunday . shopping actually makes goods more expensive, in that it adds to the cost of doing business, This happens because the same amount of consumer spending is spread over Ministers society opposes open stores on Sunday | Dear Sir: At a meeting cf the Terrace Ministerial Association, the following resolution was put forward and passed. “Whereas our society moves at such a frantic pace, Pputiing much pressure on individuals and family, leading to social and mental breakdown, incwring much personal and economic cost. And Whereas, there ure businesses with the stated BAY OFFER LOST OUT Simpsons to merge with Simpson OTTAWA cP - Th cabinet Thursday approved a controversial Dy ekean dollar pro mpsons Ltd. 5 energe with the American controlled Simp- sons Sears Ltd. The proposed merger would mean an increase in foreign contro] of the department store business and could also spell the death of a competing offer by Hudson's Bay Company Ltd. to take over Simpsons. Industry Minister Jack Horner said the Foreign Investment Review Agency FIRA had determined the merger would significantly benefit Canadians. Simpsons Sears Ltd. is about 40 percent owned by Sears, Roebuck and Co. of Chicago. The bid by the Canadian owned Bay would © not have needed FIRA ap- proval. Donald MeGivern, president of The Bay, made it clear in an interview hours before the cabinet decision that by giving the green light to the Simpsons- Simpsons Sears p' }, the govern- ment would almost force him to withdraw his compan’'s takeover bid. Horner said cabinel's decision inno way interferes with The Bay's offer. “The Bay can still buy Simpsons or Sears can still buy Simpsons,’’ he told reporters. . ‘‘Whatever happens after this will be determined by the marketplace." Simpsons and Simpson ‘Sears have both scheduled share holders’ meetings for oe aibility 2 mid January. At those meetings, shareholders from both companies will be asked to approve the proposed merger between their two stores. The new unit-which would be called Simpson Sears would be two thirds Canadian owned. , McGivern, who arrived in’ Ottawa on the eve of the . cabinet ruling and left early Thursday morning, said he would find it incredible if the cabinet approved the Simp- sons-SimpsonsSears merger proposal. "But I am told it is possible, in which event we might either forget the whole thing or maybe we'll think about a new offer,” he said. ““T haven't even started to. Brapple”"* “with "7° the, He said it would be unthin- kable to pursue The Bay's November offer of $9.30 per share of Simpsons stock following.a merger between Simpsons and Simpsons- Sears. MecGivern said Simpsons’ previously-announced commitment to distribute its interest in Simpsons-Sears among Simpsons' shareholders would drasti- cally reduce the value of these shares from his company's point of view. This would force him to with- draw his offer. Horner said in a news release the cabinet decision should not be interpreted as a sign the government sees more merit in the Simpsons- Sears offer than in the $388 ‘all = businesses, objective of remaining open seven days a week, We, as the Ministerial of Terrace, feel that it is in the interests of society’s health that Sunday remain a day when only essential and recreational services con- tinue in operation, Therefore, we recommend that Sunday closure hours be maintained with respect to except essential and recreational services.” million takover bid by The Ba y. He said the government's intention is to leave both companies to compete freely for ownership of Simpsons. The minister listed the following benefits of the proposed Simpsons- Simpsans-Sears merger: \ ‘—The compagies have promised the merger would lead to the creation of about 4,500 fullor part-time jobs within the next five years. —The merger is ac- companied by a com.open at least 10 new department stores and 100 catalogue offices by the end of 1933. —Under an agreement be- tween FIRA and Simpsons- Sears, Canadians. will be given an opportunity to acquire up to 75 per cent of the merged retail chain and will be allowed to double their ownership of the Canadian branches of Allstate Insurance to 50 per cent. Allstate is owned by SimpsonsSears, —The two stores have promised to preserve their separate identities, while meshing some of their operations for increased efficiency. —The application was | accompanied by an un- derlaking to increase pur- chases of Canadianmade producis. In addition, Simpsons-Sears has promised to provide financial and other as- sistance to Canadian com- panies which appear capable of developing into Simpsons stock trading halted TORONTO (CP) — The Toronto Stock Exchange suspended trading in shares of Simpsons Ltd. on Thur- sday, citing a breach of a dividend bylaw. The exchange's board of governors said Simpsons discussed with its shareholders on Tuesday a distribution of Class B shares of Simpsons-Sears Ltd., with which it is proposing to merge. The exchange — said the distribution was discussed in terms of a dividend to share- holders’ of record Dec. 14. The exchange said it considered the discussion to be notice of a dividend, but POLICE NEWS Kelly Marsh, of 3 Dunn SL. in Kitimat, reported to RCMP the hit and run of his WEATHER] A cool onshore flow continues to give clowy skies and showers lodsy. A more active disturbance is approaching the coast an oheuld bring overcast skies and wet snow tonight, The weekend will continue to be cloudy wilh snow flurries. The temperatures will vary from a high of 1 degree this afternoon to an overnight low of -2 degrees. car while it was parked on Teal St. about 11 pm. on Dec. 13. Police are in- vestigating. Terrace RCMP said Wednesday that Straw Machine Shop was broken into overnight but nothing was stolen, the notice did not meet ex- change requirements. “After consideration, the exchange declined lo accept notice of such dividend and requested the company to fix a record date which would permit the intervat following notice to meet requirements of the general bylaw, “The company declined to S50. iT) Trading had been halted earlier in shares of Simpsons Ltd. and Simpsons-Sears Lid. at request of both companies. While the companies are proposing to . Merge, Simpsons is also irying to stave off a takeover bid by Hudson's Bay Co. The federal cabinet ap- proved the proposed merger Thursday and sharehoiders of Simpsons and Simpsons- Sears are to discuss the proposal next month, Simpsons shares last traded at $7.75 and Simp- sons-Sears Class A shares al $7. t FIGHT THE LUNG CRIPPLERS Emphysema Asthma Tuberculosis Chronic Bronchitis Air Pollution USE CHRISTMAS SEALS it was also moved and passed, that the following resolution be sent: to the following groups and per- song: The Herald, The News Advertiser, Brian Greig, the Terrace Chamber of Com- merce, K mart, General Furniture, Woolworths and the District of Terrace Council. ; Yours sincerely, Rev. D.B. Martyn, Secretary, Terrace Ministerial Assoc replacements for foreign suppliers. If the merger goes ahead, it is estimated by financial analysts that the new company would have a $74- million profit next year. This compared with a combined profit for the two companies during the current fiscal year of a projected $¢5- million. This would be an increase of 14 per cent, reflecting both ; increased efficiency and higher total sales. Earlier this week, the director of the government's combines investigation branch said the government has no objections to the proposed merger between The Bay and Simpsons. This followed a two-week inves- tigation’ -'t6' determine whether the takeover would concentrate 50 much power in the hands of a single owner that competition would suffer. After receiving a written assurance for The Bay that it would maintain Simpsens- Sears as an independent and competing chain in the event of a takeover, Robert Ber- trand, director of the in- ‘ yestigation, called off his inquiry. The fate of Simpsons has been up in the air since last October when the merger between Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears was first proposed. A month later, The Bay surprised market ob- ‘servers by submitting a competing offer. The outcome of the takeover contest will not be decided until January when Simpsons’ shareholders vote on a course of action. Simpsons shares last traded at $7.75. The Bay was prepa to’ offer shareholders: $8.30 per common share under the Simpsons-Sears merger plan, Simpsons shareholders which creates a higher cost The Herald, Friday, December 15, 1978, Page 3 seven days instead of six, for the business, which is passed on to the consumer. Sunday shopping creates a serious hardship for the owners of small retail stores who already are open six days. For the small business, the owner would have. to. work seven days a week, For the person who asks, rightly, “I thought there was a law against it, why doesn’t the government step in?” Weil, there is a law — the Lord's Day Act, But that Act is 70 years old and the Maximum fine allowed is $40, which is simply not a deterrent to a major chain store, In some cities stores are open 24 hours, they never close. Was the decision actually made to open 24 hours. Probably not. Some stores thought by opening for longer hours they would increase their income, especially if they did so before other stores, The process was gradual, but greed works in funny ways. Nowis the time to consider the implications for our lives and our enciety. i, moder SNVs esa mall e ye Ss - 928-4741 LAKELSE AVE, > . TERRACE, B.C. vaG 4A9 | -optica Sears receive a Simpsons-Sears common share plus an elght per cent preferred share valued at $1.25 for each Simpsons share, PHONE 635-9225 ee ‘Great taste with half the calories. A beer for ail i eierleoccone 1... betwoon 5 Y Sunday for just : (Mininnam charge 28¢ a cull.) weekend. Fast talk’s cheap ~ itthis weekentl. LONG DISTANCE WEEKEND RATE LO MOSt PE AVCES TN Ho f FRIDAY SUNDAY tanto PN ew AUT 18h \N _S And talk it up while rates are dewn, Rate does nat gpply on calls trom hotel, motel or coin telophones or lo some Northern points not served by B.C, Tol ("BC TEL B.C. Tels weekend vale is really cheap. You enn dial direct (112) to most places in vn. riday and 5 pan. mf or less per minute. So call someone long distance this