Home gardening The. state of the world each New Year 1s traditionally depicted as a gloomy one. The eve of 1981 is no exception. ‘ Iran ts still plucking the American eagle's feathers with its impossible demands for the release of the hostages. Russian tanks ringing ’ the Polish border threaten a renewed cold war. The economic sneezing in the US is spreading economic flu germs throughout the western nations. In Canada, the constitutional hassle continues to bruise national unity. Energy self-sufficiency plans are still in disarray. Inflation at over 11% eats its way upward. But maybe we look too far from home at the turn of each year. For most of the North Shore’s 140,000 residents, the outlook for 1981 is much more positive. By and large their three councils are doing s sound: and responsible job. Major new _ projects to enhance the quality of living and the local economy move steadily ahead: North Van. District’s community plan; the City’s Lonsdale Quay development and Low Road planning; West Van's Heritage Square and Capilano riverbank schemes. Trae, taxes will be up — in step with universal inflation. But many North Shore taxpayers may still reckon that a modest price to meet for the unique lifestyle. they enjoy. Amid the tangled overgrowth of - problems -elsewhere on the planet, our own little Garden of Eden is in pretty good shape. Nor is this thought mere smug parochialism. “Cultivate your own garden,” advised Voltaire. If more individuals and com- munities around the world concentrated on that task, the prospects for 1981 might be a whole lot brighter. Sobering thought Just in time for New Year's Eve come details of a scheme sponsored by a com? munity newspaper in Georgia. Drivers who plan to drink tonight can sign up to become eligible for a free funeral. We hope the very idea's enough to make even a pink elephant turn pale — and head for the orange juice. THE YOSCE OF NOETTR AND WEET VANCOUVER sunday news north shore news NEWS 985-2131 1139 Lonsdaie Ave North Vancouver BC V7M 2H4 (604) 985-2131 AOVERTISING CLASSIFIED CIRCULATION 980-0511 086-6222 986-1337 Publisher Peter Speck Associate Publisher Editor-in-Chief Robert Graham Noet Wright Advertising Director tru Cardweli Classified Manager & Office Administrator Berm Hithasd Creative Director Tim Francis Production Hick Stonehouse Faye McCrae Managing Editor Andy Fraser News Editor Chis (loyd Photography bE itswortt On keer Accounting Supervisor Barbara Keer Maowth Stvovre Mews coded YAU as a ’ wm aoe rat de atietige y Ferg rerencJarst LPET OO NG gt der Soe Preschate He bag Hn rN et oat Wek ealay, Harageagr mt we be ome Tae At 8 aed) Sytdery toy . Vetot. te em, Veoreare ve Pee Ma be oat Noenties yeneyt Sa a a a fo i a to - Oey Nee tt Sata ore 7 AP gh tn ese oe hh. rn ee bee Be fee “ene wee ee! ann VE RR EC tha Aye 60 B70 Wevkee sia, AWOL day go . e wi, a 3 Go gs a THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE OTTAWA (SF) - There's a terrible misunderstanding —bdetween the -west and the federal government over the western separatist move- ment which could prove fatal for Canada. In the west, British Columbia and Alberta in particular, there is a strong feeling whether the federal government, dominated as it is by central Canadian politicians, and weighted with Quebec Liberals, will understand the feelings of the west. Look at the separatism issue in Quebec, say western Canadians. They've been there. They know we are seriaus about considering the possibility of going it as a nation alone. . But in Quebec, the separation support was largely bluff on the part of the people. Had Quebec Premier Rene Levesque phrased his referendum question as a hard choice between independence and continuing as a part of Canada, the vote balance would have been tipped heavily in’ favor. of federalism. With the softest question he could produce, Levesque managed to win 40 When it gets quiet in the BY PETER WARD per cent of the vote, but only because he was asking for authority to negotiate special status. On a straight independence question, the _vote might have been 25-75 in favor of remaining in Canada. Westerners don't ap- preciate the bluff aspect of the Quebec movement, which has won for Quebeckers a much better deal within the Canadian confederation. Quebeckers, considering their own example, don't realize that the west is not merely “I thought I'd better mention that somebody's foot fs sticking through our cefling.” ar bluffing for a better deal. The western separatist movement, which is sq strong in the boardrooms of corporations enough for $100,000 to be collected from an audience of 500 merely by passing the hat appears to be spreading to tha grass roots of ordinary citizens. If a leader of stature emerges, political contributions will flow into separatist coffers like the river. The move- ment could become irreversible. In any working class bar in Italy, Spain, or France, you can hear some verbal alter- cation off in a corner which, involves strong opinions expressed, noise levels rising as fists are shaken. Things invariably quiet down on their own. It’s a Latin way to express strong feelings loudly. - In a western working class bar, look out when things get quiet. It means trouble: is about to happen. There can be bottoms broken off beer bottles and blood on the floor in a matter of seconds. Culturally, the govern- ment doesn’t understand the west, and the west doesn’t understand the government. That's dangerous. So you plan to start a business? By FRANK WATTERS An operating forecast is the key for success of a new business, just as it is for the expansion of an existing enterprise. However, great time and effort are required to prepare a forecast in the case of a new business, betausé there is no record of experience to use as a basis for the projection. Any operating forecast for materials, wages and a new business will show the benefits, depreciation, over- revenues and expenses head including utilities, which could be expected equipment and_ repairs. during the first year of delivery expenses, adver- operation, thus eliminating some areas of uncertainty. Before an _ operating forecast is prepared, it may be worthwhile to study available literature on the type of business planned and to talk to people engaged in tising, insurance and taxes, rent, interest on loans taken to start the business, cash withdrawals, etc. FOCUS similar enterprises. This research can provide some guidelines which will be (stranded up useful, although key factors north by floods) will remain the specific location, physical facilities. type of product, market served and capabilities of the owners and employces of the new business. In preparing any operating forecast, major areas of interest’ will be those of revenues and expenditures Projected revenue would be based on the unit pnce likety for the product and the amount expected to be RETURNS NEXT WEEK But beyond revenues and sald expenditures, there are a A hist) oof expenditures number of other factors would include cost of which must be considered Katherine Hepburn was the first motion picture actress to win three Oscars. The Academy Awards for 1968 made Miss Hepburn the first three-ame winner with an Oacar for her role in “The Lion in Winter” oee and which must form part of an operating forecast. Such questions as these must be answered: Is the market growing or contracting? Who are the potential customers and what location, advertising and sales force can serve them best? With what frequency do customers order and what does this mean in terms of inventory? What delivery times will be required? What kind of facilities and equipment are needed? Should they be bought or rented? How relirble are the suppliers who will be used? What delivery times can be expected? What are the cost factors involved in production? What regulations will govern the business? What skill level will employees need’ Is there such a labor pool in the area being cdénsidered? What wages will have to be paid, to meet local conditions? Who will be the competi tors for Uhe new business? What prices are they The Russian space dog. Laika, sent into orbit around the carth aboard Sputnik I] in 1957, was the first living thing known to travel in outer space Celluloid, invented in 1869 by John W Hyatt. a printer charging and what discounts are they offering? How are they likely to respond to the new business? What system of financial records will have to be kept for the business? What size of staff will be needed to keep them? What loans are likely to be needed, or available? How much inventory in ~ raw materials will be required? At what level should accounts receivable be established? What should be the payment terms for bo customers and sup- plyers? - Answering those questions correctly, and acting on the information, will solve many problems that otherwise might cause carly difficulties for a new business. There always will be business failures, from a number of gauses, and preparation of an operating forecast will not eliminate all of the risks of failure. But an operating forecast will provide insight into the possible risks involved and a more informed basis on which to judge them. (For further information abour small business, write to Frank Watters, c/o Federal Business Develop ment Bank, PO. Box 1087 Station H. Montreal. Quebec, H3G 2N1. of Albany, NY, was the first synthetic plastic. Sir Walter Raleigh was granted an estate of 12,000 acres in Ireland by Queen Elizabeth. It was on this land" that ho first planted the potato in 1596. strong