6 - Wednesday, October 11, 1989 ~ North Shore News INSIGHTS Britain’s VAT warns us of GST suffering ahead “THIS HARDY ISLAND RACE,” said Winston Churchill of the British. Revisiting my native land after 16 years, I found his words still apply to them. weekly wage ia London is about $290. In the north and Scotland, $200 or less. Price levels are largely determir- With traditional stiff upper lip they battle all the familiar woes of modern society: drugs, choked ur- ban traffic, night-time street mug- gings, racisma, terrorists, cellular phones, computers, a 25 per cent illegitimacy rate and a punitive sales tax (of which more anon). Yet away from the inner cities, with their horrendous parking problems and squalid working- class tenement ghettos, litte has basically changed. In middle-class suburbia life flows on serenely and decorously. The lovely centuries- old villages, clustering around ‘church and pub, are still gentle havens of peace. And in this istand home of 54 million people, only one-quarter the area of .C., the verdant rolling countryside often seems to stretch out forever. During a 1,200-mile car tour three things impress after so long an absence. Firstly, the vast net- work of six-lane, 112 kph motor- ways now blanketing the country. Secondly, in contrast to North America, the skill and courtesy of most British drivers — qualities vital for survival in a country whose speed limit on single-lane highways is officially 96 kph, unofficially 105-110 kph. Thirdly, pub food. Drunk driv- ing convictions (bringing a mini- mum 12-month suspension) have ied Britain’s famed watering holes to concentrate heavily on meals, ed by the VAT (Value Added Tax) — Britain’s version of Michael Wilson’s GST — and it confirms one’s worst fears about the latter. The VAT started ir 1973 at 10 per cent and is now 15 per cent. Al- though invoices and counter cards inform you that the prices ‘‘in- clude VAT,” it’s essentially a hid- den tax, in that you are told nei- ther the pounds-and-pence amount nor the percentage at the point of purchase. Shady dealing but smart politics! Without the VAT, prices would be 15 per cent lower and thus much more in line with what the average worker earns. Small wonder, therefore, that inflatien (now eight per cent) and basic in- dresen of 390 Monteray, North Van — met Allison, daughter of Paul Kissack, 382 Monteray, and quickly popped the question. West Van Rotary celebrated the unique event by presenting the nuptial couple with a crystal vase. ean WRAP-UP: Recently inaugurated 1989-90 president of the West Van Kiwanis Club is Bill Davidson — supported by past prez. Jack May, veepees Derrick Humphreys and Tom Little, treasurer Bob Iskander and secretary Gordon East... Other 1989-90 directors are Brian Hanna, Terry Higgins, Ken Mcln- tosh, David North, Ted Schoot- from hearty lunches to full-course dinners. Quality is invariably ex- cellent and the prices are much lower than in regular restaurants. All pubs also now advertise non- alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks — 0.9-per cent ale tasting just like its five-per cent cousin. Thus, as with most other constraints, the “hardy race”’ has learned to sur- vive the breathalyzer. How it survives financially, however, is still a mystery to the Canadian visitor. The prices of most consumer items are roughly the same as in Canada, though gasoline costs twice as much and accommodation of all kinds — especially in the prosperous southeast — is also considerably dearer. House prices isave soared 25 per cent in the lus: couple of years, with a further its per cent MICHAEL Wilson ...‘hardy peo- hike 2ow expected. pie’ needed. Meanwhile, the top average Sex reality HE NUMBER of people diagnosed with AIDS on the North Shore is 19 and growing. These Statistics, recently released by the North Shore Health department, are a sobering reminder that the deadly epidemic knows no geographic or social boundaries. Although it may be frightening te face the reality of such a threat, to try to ‘‘shelter’’? oneself or one’s children from the facts surrounding the disesse is short-sighted folly. Parents must realize they are not helping their children by mystifying the subject of sex. Putting the topic om a pedestal, speaking of it in hushed tones or avoiding a child’s frank questions do not encourage a healthy, educated attitude towards sex — quite the opposite. Studies have shown that in countries such as Sweden, where the subject of sexuality is treated much more openly than in North America, factors such as the teenage pregnancy rate are lower. Knowledge has not been shown to promote pro- miscuity, nor does it compromise one’s morality. Parents are right to be concerned abowt their children's sexual practices — but rather than stifling the flow of information, they should enhance it with family discussions of the emotional and ethical issues that their children will face as they come to terms with their sexuality. Some parents will find it difficult to overcome the notion that sex is a ‘‘taboo’’ subject — but they must remember that the ramifications of their child’s ig- norance may be deadly. terest rates (nudging !4 per cent) have both almost doubled since 1988. Canada’s government isn’t the only one to screw things up. Yes, I had a good vacation, thank you, but it’s nice to be back home — where the big question now, if Mr. Wilson hangs tough with his GST, is whether we WANT to become as “‘hardy”’ a race as the long-suffering Brits. Or is ‘‘foolhardy’’ a better word? nee CUPID'S LOTTERY: Seldom do two Rotarians live next door to one another — let alone one with an unmarried son and the other with an unmarried daughter. And it’s even rarer for their two adult children to meet purely by accident and say: “This is IT!’ But that’s precisely what happened this summer when Uwe Andresen, on a chance visit to dad — Hank An- Allison Kissack and Uwe Andresen . .Peter Speck Managing Editor... Barrett Fisher Associate Editor Noel Wright Advertising Director .Linda Stewart Moth Shore News, founded in 1969 as an independent suburban newspaper end qualiied under Schedule 111, Paragraph 11) of the Excise Tax Act. 1s published each Wednesday. triday and Sunday by North Shore Free eres ud aad gsinibuted 0 every door on tne Howth V7M 2H4 ore. Second Class Mail Registfation Number 31 Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year, 99,170 (average, Wednesday jailing tates available on request. Submissions are idé weicome Sul we cannot accept responsinilidy for Friday & Sunday) unsoliciied matenal including manuscnpts and pictures s which should be accompamed by a stamped. addressed envelope SDA DIVISION Publisher array 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C. Entire contents © 1989 North Shore Free Press Ltd. Display Advertising Classified Advertising Newsroom Distribution Subscriptions Fax man and Jack Wilks... Local his- torian Roy Pallant tells North Van District residents all about ‘‘Your Town’? with his historical slide show tomorrow evening, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. in Capilano Library, Highland Boulevard... And belated good wishes for many happy years ahead to Kay Camp- bell who retired Sept. 14 after 21 years with The Coach House, Park Royal. ett WRIGHT OR WRONG: Whoever said ‘‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire’’ obviously never owned a fireplace. Photo submitted _ ROTARY ROMANCE...celebrated with an early wedding gift for TRAS COMPANIES CLEARCAT a ~-AQO BAN FINISHED OFF THE REST. 980-0511 986-6222 985-2131 986-1337 986-1337 985-3227 MEMBER North Shore owned and managed All rights reserved.