AlO - Sunday, November 20, 1983 - North Shore News

inquiring
reporter

by
Ellsworth
Dickson

As you may know, the North Shore News is
going daily in February , 1984. Naturally, we
are hoping the public will accept and enjoy
our new efforts.

Today’s question is:

*‘What do you think

about the NEWS
going daily?’’

Joe Lucas
North Vancouver

I think many people
would be interested in a
daily paper for the North
Shore. I think my wife
would be interested in
daily shopping
information. It sounds
like a great place for
merchants to advertise.
Maybe it will help stim-
ulate business on the
North Shore.

Robert Wood
North Vancouver

Frankly, I’m happy
with your Wednesday and
Sunday issues as they are
I like to sit down and relax
with a paper on the
weekend For daily news,
I like to listen to radio and
TV

Joyce Munro
North Vancouver

Po tike your
and Sunday

Wednesday
issues and

look forward to reading
them oJ think you wall
have strong competition
from the ‘Sun’ and
“Province

Owe Wetzimays:
North Vancouver

l
publi wall react to oa
North Shore daly |b like
Wednesday

don t hnow how the

yout and
Sunday ussucs | hkhe to
teceive the flyers stuffed

inside for sales

Mrs bitegerald
Nocth Vancouver

Vt Verurrads

like oo

Rood
Whew = The News oan the
only paper Toocnpoy it
would be uscful to have
darly wnhotmatron
regarding sates and
shopping Yes bo would
read your new chaity

ICBC head talks
‘hidden’ benefits

THE HIDDEN benefits that ICBC brings to the
provincial economy were identified by Insurance
Corporation President Tom Holmes, addressing a
group of North Vancouver businessmen and com-
munity leaders Thursday.

Speaking to the North
Vancouver Chamber of
Commerce in his first public
address since the Corpora-
tion moved its head office to
Lonsdale Quay, Holmes out-
lined the role of ICBC and
the financial advantages of
an organization that is ‘‘B.C.
based, B.C. nurtured and
B.C. controlled.”’

Noting that ‘‘there is some
legitimate concern’’ over the
future of the Corporation,
Holmes said:

‘Our operation is for the
benefit of B.C. — not Toron-
to, Montreal, Hartford, New
York or even London. Last
year our $112 million invest-
ment ecarnings lopped an
average of $61 off every
motonst’s policy. Left to
private industry, those earn-
ings would flow back to head
offices, wherever they may
be.’”’

ICBC returns in claim pay-
ments, 96 cents of each pre-
mium dollar it collects, com-
pared to 74 per cent returned
by private industry, Holmes
said.

‘*Last year, private in-
surers would have needed
$883 million from motonists
to meet B.C. claims costs of

all’ of our
support

patrons

FREE

North Vancouver

2 5. Anniversary

Celebration

Its our 25th Anniversary and we'd like to thank
for

To show our appreciahon, we're offering a

“You can’t aftord to miss this offer’

25%

DISCOUNT
DRAPERY & BEDSPREAD
CLEANING
NOVE MBER ONL Y

Pick up & Delivery
North & West Vancouver

ROY’S

DRY CLEANERS
987-3431 987-3233
648 Queensbury Ave.

$670 million. ICBC required
only $658 million - $225
million less than _ private
industry.”’

ICBC has 2700 employees
and an annual payroll of $80
million in the Lower Main-
land and 30 communities
across B.C., Holmes told his
audience. Without ICBC,
over a thousand of those jobs
would be lost to Eastern
Canada or the states and pay-
cheques worth $38 million
would be spent outside
British Columbia.

Last year he said, ICBC
also. benefitted individuals
and business in B.C. by:

@Paying $2 million in
grants in lieu of taxes to B.C.
communities;

@ Purchasing 82 per cent
of its $5.4 million in office
supplies and printed forms
from 1,154 B.C. suppliers;

@ Paying $275.7 million to
3,000 small auto-related busi-
ness on a guaranteed twice
monthly payment system;

@ Providing $2.5 million
funding for CounterAttack
and traffic safety programs
in B.C.;

@ Giving grants to seniors
and handicapped. vehicle
owners.

their confidence and

ICBC PRESIDENT Thomas Holmes spoke to the Chamber

of Commerce Thursday about some insurance benefits most
aren’t aware of.

: Len Macht

How strangely history turns back on itself even as
we speak, the United States is doing its level best to
bail Arafat out of the tight sneakers he’s been caught
in this week in Tripoli The same Arafat they would
have gladly strung up just a year ago And here | am
defending ICBC

Shouting From the Fence, Dept.

I guess Pm not so much taking a stand as making a
comment How's that for artfully straddling the fence?
Back when ICBC was created, no one moaned louder
than I did — a great ghastly tower of bureaucrats bab
bling nonsense -- that’s what | saw them as That
was before they got the gliches worked out Now they
have thetr act down — our latest survey indic ates that
91% of our customers are satisfied with thetr service
And that ain't bad When ts the last time 91% of the
people were satisfied with anything?

The Ayes Have It, Dept.

Another vote of confidence cames from the recent
Automotive Retailer's Association convention in Pen
ticton They gave 100% endorsement for the con
tinuation of ICBC in tts present form On one hand
they were saying that, although ICBC ts not overly
generous, they are fatr) and respond to reason The
people get good service On the other hand, | know
from experience that any automotive retatler would
now rather deal with a single entity. rather than
dashing between Safeco and Fireman's Fund and the
good hands people Its easier dealing with a one
headed monster than a stx headed monster

Fair Dinkum, Dept.

After all, ICBC people are public servants and in
theory more accountable They are also the only ones

tn the game. and a pretty easy target to hit —- if
something does go wrong, you know who to yell at
Let’s keep it that way.

facrass frome.

Park S Tilford)

1315 Cotton Drive

980-4581