Split wood better value than round HELP’S AT: Hand, by North Shore Community Services (NSCS), is a forum for discussing government policies and _ pro- grams, benefits, consumer and legal rights, taxation and public services. Answers are intended only as 2 general guide and should not be -applied to individual cases without further consultation. Question: This winter bas been so cold that f am looking for any - way to warm up my house. I have a wood-burning fireplace that I _ have rarely used, but would like to try it. ‘ » -Tsee ads in the paper for firewood, but the prices vary a lot ‘and I don’t know how to tell if . Pm getting a good deal. Can you offer any suggestions? . Answer: With the unusually | cold weather we are experiencing -:you are probably not the only person wondering about ways to make your home warmer. .» When you buy. firewood, you ‘should know how it is measured. “In. Canada,’ firewood should :be- sold bythe cord. A cord equals: -{28. cubic feet of: stacked’ logs ei- her whole or split. A stack. of “roundwood”- dogs that have not been split} i in'a 4’x ~ 4°x.8" pile is equal to one cord. ‘Split: wood is, usually” cut into Yenc lengths. 1f- itis. stacked four feet high, you requiré a pile 24 feet tong to make one cord. - You: should. check’ the. amovnt of wood you receive by taking the’ ~ time:'to.- stack. and - measure. it . yourself. Pile the logs neatly. and inthe. same direction. Also, be ‘sure: to ask for a zeceipt- from the. seller, which .-lists’ the unit .. of“ measure and the price. 7; When : purchasing -a cord,“ you get better value for your money if - you ouy split: firewood instead of oundwood, assuming: ‘the price is the- same. This is. because when ied, “there.are large air. Spaces: between whole logs, w whereas split wood has _ _ less air space when ‘stacked, Beware of firewood that is sold = 4Sace,”” “stove,’’ “single,”* ‘bush,’ “‘short,’’ or .‘‘apart- ment”? cords: as well as “pick-up ' ‘loads.’”. These measures are not egally acceptable and usually con- ‘ain much less than a full cord. ‘A dealer may: sell: firewood in malier’ amounts,’ such as one- ‘third or one-half. of a full cord. It S.up-te@ you -io be sure’ that you “receive what you pay for. If you: believe that..you have received less. fircwood than you “paid for, you; should discuss this. with the. seller. This is where your _ contact: the nearest office of Con- ‘sumer.«and Corporate Affairs Canada, Weights and Measures : Division. In the Lower Mainland, athe number is 666-3934. In other ‘areas you will find the number in “the blue. pages of your phone book, 2S. | This column is prepared with financial. assistance. from the Notary Foundation. For more in- formation call NSCS at 985-7138. . : Correction note AN STORY in the Jan. 31 issue of ‘the News, ‘‘Actor has a nameless job and a familiar voice,”’ (p. 28) . mistakenly reported that Jim Conrad .was the voice of ‘The : Fox Rocks.”” That honor belongs to David Kaye of CFOX Radio. : They'll Show You How To Retire Richer Through Monthly RSP-MATIC Contributions. fter you’ve contributed as much as you can to this — Your RSP grows faster because your money _ year’s RSP, talk to your Royal Bank RSP Specialist _ is invested sooner. Your earnings start growing about the RSP-MATIC Savings Plan. with your first contribution and continue growing Right from the start, Royal Bank’s RSP-MATIC ., all year long. Savings Plan will make it easier for you to contribute RSP-MATIC helps make i it convenient for you to. your maximum next year. retire richer. If you're not getting this:kind of attention » ‘It gives you a head start because RSP-MATIC for your RSPs, come and talk an RSP Specialist at any lets you make your annual contribution in regular Royal Bank branch. Or call. instalments. You decide on how much and how often. It could make the difference between just retiring It’s that simple. - and retiring well, - ; a foot Call 665-8613 in Vancouver or 1-800- 663-2193. More Canadians Choose Royal Bank For RSPs. ROYAL BANK @ Registered trade-mark of Royal Bank of Canada. *