A6 - Sunday, March 28, 1982 - North Shore News Ab Sunday, March 28,1982 North Shore News BEES editorial page SAAS ne eee NEWS VIEWPOINT Logic vs. politics It is difficult to fault the logic of Bank of Canada Governor Gerald Bouey in his defence, last week, of continuing high in- terest rates as the only long term solution to inflation. But alas, logic and politics do not always mix well. Mr. Bouey’s argument is that inflation feeds on itself. When everyone expects inflation to continue and _ increase, everyone who can naturally strives to keep ahead of the game -- workers in terms of wages and businesses in terms of prices. As a result, continuing or rising inflation becomes a self-fulfilling pro- phecy. The Bank of Canada's tight-money, high interest rate policy is designed to halt this psychological phenomenon. The policy aims to discourage unnecessary spending and -- as Mr. Bouey puts it -- “to moderate the expectations” of Cana- dians. The current real estate market is proof positive that inflation is not inevitable. For months buyers have been convinced that prices must drop. So that's exactly what they have done -- in some cases by a dramatic 30%-40%. To that extent Mr. Bouey is obviously right on. But in the short term, unfor- tunately, a lot of other people get hurt in the process -- as thousands of homeowners and unemployed workers today can testify. So the question isn't whether inflation can be beaten. The question is simply whether we have the political stamina to beat it. It’s spring Bus fares are going up. Hydro rates are climbing. The unemployment figures are soaring right alongside interest rates and costs of services. If you want to use your credit card it will soon cost more. And of course we can't forget the preal enerpy deal we have with more and more in- creases. Even the flowers and plants are petting higher. It must be spring. Lory waa ve POs C lasstfiod Aibvortiss 7 YHOO OV 2. Newson YRS gt Cotee aslaticse YAD 1 950 VVIYlonsdale Ave North Varnes os Aoyrta aren a ‘ tobe 7 Laooorat Morn, oe povetatralion A Pee ew. tA tan 4 ‘ on t toe o ae > ' pogtts PARE rs som bd, Department store bashing? By WALTER BLOCh In the winter 19S] issue ol Maternal Health News. a small circulavon published by volunteer workers, Diana Mumford took issue with several large department stores and shopping malls in the Lower Mainland area Her beef?” Although women with infants in arms are their biggest customers. these stores do little to provide for their special needs mother’s rooms. with counters for diaper changing, a chair for breast feeding. and a sereen for privacy. elevators or ac- cessible escalators, and signs and directories in prominent places. announcing the availability ot these amenities When the journalists in some of the larger Wan- couver newspapers got wind of this story, all the stops were pulled Mothers were urged to write. to mobilize. to radicahize themselves. to get militant. to protest en masse. to picket if need be, and to call and or write department store managers to make sure that the changes were made Now there ts nothing at all wrong in any of this The beels are legiumate mothers with voung babies are the customers and the customer aus always tight It consumers are unsatisfied their patronize quarterls they van use dollar votes to other suppliers Experts - today’s night By FELIZ ABE LH MILBURN Phere was taster and Hist. ber whree died oat ogy Sutbeat foo Lavtipresy. Bo | Threat we ate dike iv be tae toy atte 4 ps \ The only puszele is that management should have to be prodded in this way For surely the essence of our tree market system aw that en treprencum would anticipate the needs of consumers, and stand ready to fulfil them. atten belore people were even aware of any deficiency The problem with this little story, so far, is that it lacks balance Based on the media coverage, one comes away with the impression that here 3s yet another instance of the failure of marketplace institutions The department stores cant. or wont, supply a service highly regarded by their customers. Perhaps. if the protest fails, the public authorives ought to be broughtin to set things meht But there are preat flaws parently there isa wtrole new Pre dah copretrerig: stg) re gearcderta hhoildre on Hohe tata fooewaitey free vith Meow to erver pee te rer tigi ce pith t whiiie vattye Aoawiry tarde! Brunch returns next in this view For at looks at only the private sector, and concentrates only on the warts When we contrast the record of public and private enterprise with regard to sauistying customers it becomes apparent that the marketplace need not take a back seat lo any alternative organizational principle For an authonmty on this claim, we need look no further than Diana Mum- ford. the author of the omginal critique of — the department stores [ asked why her survey only ine cluded private shopping centres. not public buildings And her reply was mostinstructive “When you want stores to change their policy. vou can hit them in the pocketbook. by threatening to shop elsewhere But whereis a Poised to hhase a fayvesate tathh ostherm cere thre tadace 9 hhedpe tie wathomiy co tore Tha fheos' wot ede tiastaaty, 2 ee es re whe watt laws toe ot Tread ts tlle Aro t yg ris eonte prov, ; syed Naess rreboay vive! b N hatte ge in) ed cr re tos re i, t similar lever that can be used to improve the management of pubhe buildings” Some of the worst offenders are in the publhe sector the Vancouver aimort and our public hbranes are horrible examples of disregard for mothers’ needs. I'd hate to think about government buildings in this repard | worked in a public school where the elevator was always broken. It's easter to start with the private sector because there at least change 1s possible Woodwards has already sent out memos to all BC managers to install chars. changing tables and screens in mothers rooms And Sears is installing signs for elevators and = washrooms (although it has sull to resolve an elevator permit problem with local authorities) “TL wouldnt expect any such response government We have gone through the Year of the Child’ and public have made no all” Its a lot easier viscerally salistving to become enraged at. store managers for lacking in perfecnon [to is someumes from buildings changes at and more more difficult to see the story from oa halanced perspective Bui Diana Mumford has told tt like itis ({)r Biack Is Senter Foonomtist of the Van oourer haved Vitfute ft Fraser In mare where aN von nN Hho Reel Nyy ae Na) Se cp bara tha vai! ee wish. clavelitny o's . pois toy ptr ote ow Pe ee taba wk res Work Eb teah othe Sy ty Mayne cava ba bens pork APRIL FOOL: Soe body who sits around all spring!