= Sluggish economy strains European currency markets Though the world economy has shown an encouragingly good recovery in the past year, one of the continuing areas of malaise has been in the European currency markets, says The Bank of Nova Scotia in the latest issue of its Monthly Review. This in turnhas brought new strains upon Europe's so- called currency ‘‘snake™ and on hopes for European economic integration in general. . : All through the first half of this year, the Review notes, European exchange rales have fluctuated sharply and currency realignments have been the largest since the breakdown of the fixed parity syslem in 1971-73. Althaugh the six national leaders who met at the so- ‘alled stimmit meeling in Rambouillet, France last November had agreed upon coordinated central bank intervention in support. of arderly exchange miurket conditions, they had not anticipated anything like the degree of strain that has aetually emerged in: the exchange markets sinee then The muarkel pressures, in lacl, were so great as to call for the extension of large special credits to both Italy and the United Kingdom. And when a second summit meeting wus held in Puerto. Rico in fate June the question of what further stabilizing steps might be needed formed an important part of the agenda. The Bank altributes the renewed bout of currency inslability to the widely differing rates of inflation being experienced in dit- ferent countries, a situation compounded in key cases by relatively disturbed or uncertain political con- ditions. The sharp weakness in the Italian lira has been largely due to domestic economic and _ political conditions. Although the decline in the pound sterling also is an obvious response to developments in the United Kingdom itself some favourable — considerations ~ including slrong in- creases in the volume of exports, a tighter incomes policy and the increasing flow of North Sea oil — should help to provide a firmer basis for sterling in the period ahead. . Keven though neither the pound nor the lira had been able for very long to con- jorm to the fairly rigid structure oof | Kuropean currency ‘‘snake’, their problems this year have obviously had serious. in- plications for some of the remaining snake members. As throughout most of the history af the snake the Deutsche mark has remained relatively firm. Bul the Dutch guilder, the Belpian frane and the Qanish kroner have all been unsetlled, though retaining the formal linkage to the D- mark. ‘Phe French franc, in turn, tas had even greater dif- ficulties, as the government has continued to be torn between the aims of in- tegration and the pursuit of independent national policies. In the summer of 1975 it has. re-entered the snake al a level which tailed to give adequate recognition to prevailing price trends: and this year, after talks about joint rate adjustments proved abortive, the franc has been allowed to float down below the lower in- tervention margin of the snake. The Review suggests that even though it might have been difficult to sustain the snake's rigid relationships inthe best of circumstances, there was virtually no chance of it at all in the kind of inflationary conditions that have actually developed in the past few years. Thus. a major casualty has been the hopes once held for a gradual move towards [ull-fledged Kuropean monetary union, perhaps by as soon as 1380. The nine EEC members. in fact, have been having enough dilfieully caping with their own immediate problems af inilation and uncmployment — without having to undertake major long-term) = currency com- mitments. And even more striking. perhaps, is the strain that reeent exchange developments have placed onthe Common Agricultural Policy, one of the main vehicles of European economic and monetary integration, In its conclusion the Bank says there will al least have to be a breathing-period in which the European Community can al best hope to mark lime. And certainly any meaningful attempt at economic and monetary integration can only be made in .a context that allows for unavoidable differences of national economic performance and that envisages a greater bending of national interests to the policy objectives of the EEC as a whole. Canada's citizenship act receives Royal Assent. Canada’s new nationality law, Bill C-20, has received Royal Assent and will be ready to be implemented by early 1977. oe The new Act was described by Secretary of State, J. Hugh Faulkner as an “equitable, logical ‘and liberal piece of legislation, which effectively removes the inequities and in- consistencies of the Citizenship Act of 1947.” Under the new Act, discrimination based on sex or country of origin is eliminated as is the possibility of arbitrary. exercise of authority. Mr. Faulkner also stressed that the Actis a “new and unique Act, not justa revision of the old one, and is one that will, make Canada a leader in the. field of nationality law’. ~ For example, a principle feature of the new Act is that citizenship now becomes a Tight upon satisfaction of certain conditions and cannot be arbitrarily withheld. : Another feature of the new Act is the reduction of the residency requirement from five to three years. - The Act also implements several recommendations of . the Royal Commission on the Status of Women. They, include the following: - The residency requirement of three years ap lies equally to applicants of both sexes. ; - Either parent may now ‘apply for citizenship on behalf of a minor child. This includes adoptive parents. Under the former Act, in most cases, only the father could apply. ; - For the next two yeark, a parent may apply for citizenship for children born abroad under the. present Act to a Canadian mother. Such children are not now Canadian citizens unless their father was Canadian at the time ‘of their birth. - Women who did not acquire Canadian citizen- ship under the 1947 Act because of marriage to foreign nationals may ‘automatically acquire it upon notifying the Minister. , Previously these women had to complete the full citizenship application procedure. - The rights of children born abroad, in or out of wedlock, are now protected. The right to citizenship will be automatic in the first generation and will be af- forded to the second generation provided that by 28 years of age, the person has either resided in Canada for one year or has established ‘‘a substantial connection with Canada’’, Other features of the new Act: - The age of application for citizenship has been reduced from 21 to 18 years of age to correspond with the voting age. - The Minister and Cabinet may forgive certain qualifications, reward people for special services to Canada or relieve cases of particular hardship. . Mr. Faulkner remarked that it is the hope of the government that this new Act will encourage potential cilizens to acquire Canadian citizenship. ee Understandably annoyed bittern bittern, here being released near Lakelse Lake by, an official of the Terrace Fish and Wildlife Branch. The bittern, a small marsh bird related to the heron family, walked in the back door of a shoe store on Lakelse Avenue early Friday morning and became cor- nered in among the shoe boxes at the back of the store. {t was finally coaxed into a large cardboard box by a Herald reporter who suffered is this juries to pride in the process. The’ bird (who was nearly successful in scissoring his way out of. captivity again) was finally taken to members ~ of the Fish and Wildlife Branch, who made a special trip to take the bird to a new and more suitable home. How the bird made its way into town is not known, nor the reason for its going into a shoe store. As one branch member put it, “‘Perhaps it needed some hip waders?“ PROVINCIAL FIRE REPORT Cloudy skies and shower activity over the province this past week has reduced the forest fire hazard in most areas of the province. The Vancouver Foresl District (south-west corner of B.C. including Vancouver Island) reports a moderate . to high hazard with all other areas reporting low to moderate. To date this year, 715 forest fires have occurred. ‘compared to 2,249 for the corresponding period last e ; year. Estimated fire sup- pression costs to date are $2,043,589 compared to $3.668.082 for the same period in 1975. THE HERALD, Wednesday, August 11. 1976- PAGE A3 OXFAM report OXFAM-Canada West Regional Director Roger Rolfe recently announced assistance for two recon- struction projects in Gualemala, the Central American nation stricken by severe earthquakes earlier this year. . OXFAM, through its International Disasters Unit, has responsibility for reconstruction work in the towns of Santa Apolonia, San Martin, Tecpan and San - Jose Poaquil. The programs in those areas will focus on ‘the building of strong, earthquake-resistant housing to replace the houses and building demolished by the quake. In Sanla Maria Chiquimala, a small town in the northwest highlands, OXFAM will assist CUSO! volunteers in a program to rebuild the water system, the irrigation, network, to establish health care facilities and to provide equipment and tools for general reconstruction. “Both projects emphasize a self-help approach to development, rather than a welfare approach,’’ Mr. Rolfe said. “Local people have primary responsibility ~ for the direction of the operations, villagers con- tribute all the labour and local materials are used, wherever possible. — “In this way we hope to avoid the failures of some previous relief and recon- struction efferts where’ outsiders came into town and villages and arrogantly took charge of rebuilding programs creating a lot of indignation and resent- ment,’’ the OXFAM spokesman said. “The response of weslern Canadians to OXFAM's appeal for aid in February and March of this year has largely made these two | prajects possible."’ Rolfe added. PRIORITY NOW RECONSTRUCTION The earthquake that struck Guatemala on February 4, 1976 was the worst earthquake’ in recorded history. It caused severe damage in most parts of the country. The thirty-second quake and the ensuing 1200 tremors left an estimated 30,000 dead, 120,000 injured, 40,000 children orphaned and over 1'2 million people homeless. The urban poor and those in the rural areas - were the hardest hit, often never receiving aid destined for them. By the end of February the priority had passed fram immediate relief to reconstruction. Houses, offices, schools and health centres had to be rebuilt: water, sewage and irrigation systems had to be restored. With damage estimated to cost three times the GNP of the country, the recon- struction task has heen | horrendous. ‘ “Guatemala may no ‘longer be making the front pages of newspapers in Canada,"’ Mr. Rolfe said, “but the situation is still very critical”, “|l will be years before the Guatemalan people will recover what has been tost.’” Rolfe concluded. | Twenty-eight new fires were reported this past week, 20 fires are still burning in the province, all fires are under patrol, Lightning..was blamed as. the major cause of the new fires, of Canada. Rupert, H.A. Stevenson, CANADA : DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT PACIFIC AIR SERVICES REGION ‘SEALED TENDERS, addressed to’ the Department of Transport, Regional Manager, Construction Services, 73? West Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 1A2, and marked, “Tender for Reroofing of Maintenance Garage at Prince Rupert Airport, B.C."’, willbe received up to 3:00 P.M., PDST, August 5, 1976. . Plans, specifications and other tender documents may be examined at the office of the undersigned, 7th Floor, Prescott Building, 549 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6éC 2Cé, and copies obtained on deposit of a certified cheque for $25.00 made payable to the Receiver General Plans and specifications will aiso be on display atthe Amalgamated Construction Association of B.C., 2675 Oak Street, Vancouver; Construction Plan Services, 37485 Myrtle Street, Burnaby, B.C.; Bulkley Valley-Lakes District Con-. Struction Association, 45 N. Broadway, Box 2258, Smithers, B.C.; Prince Rupert Construction Association, 535 - 3rd Avenue West, Prince B.C.; and Terrace Construction Association, 4931 Keith Avenue, Terrace, B.C. Regional Manager, Construction Services, Canadian Air Transportation Administration SESSSESS SSSI ITS Lorne (Marty) Martin aca oo cea 1973 BRONCO = 4x 4 Auto. Trans. V-8 1973 FORD F100 Pickup. Six cyl. standard. 1975 FORD — $5895 Bee F250 Camper Special, V-8 Auto. Trans. : 11974 ECONOLINE $4295 E100 Van. Completely carpeted inside. . 1974 VOLKSWAGEN $3395 i Dasher. 4 speed trans., radio. 1973 DATSUN 610 St..Wagon ¢ Speed. “1972 COURIER rise $2195 Excess welght makes your heart work harder and causes three times as many heart attack deaths, says 8.C. Heart. VANCOUVER ISLAND: HELICOF ens LTD.