Whatever happened
to those gas prices?

IT WAS great while it lasted. But as motorists
wonder whatever happened to the North Shore
gas war which ended with such a jolt last week
after cutting prices by more than five cents a litre,
many service station owners are breathing a sigh

of relief.

The week-long war saw
prices at some gas stations
dropping several times each
day, to a low of 37.3 cents a
litre at full-serve stations.
And it came to a close only
after service station owners
who were selling gas for less
than they paid, just to
compete, decided they'd had
enough.

Original explanation for
the price war given was an
excess of gas at a Burnaby
refinery. But chairman of
the Petro Canada Dealers
Association Terry Higgins
says it is now clear the
markdown was started by
Gulf, to compete with
stations such as Pay 'n Save
who offer full service gas at
self-serve prices to cash-only
customers.

Self-serve stations, where
managers are employed on
salary or paid according only
to the volume of gas pum-
ped, were quick to follow as

By CHRIS LLOYD

they had nothing to lose by
marking down prices,
however low they fell.

But for owner-operators,
buying their own gas stocks
earlier and then selling them
at less than cost, the price
was crippling.

Higgins, who owns the
Petro Can station on Marine
Drive at 17th in West Van
decided he wasn't going to
drop his prices any more, no
matter how much lower the
Gulf stations went.

He called a few owners of
other gas stations and they
all decided to stay put. The
next time the Gulf station
nearby marked down its
price, the Petro Can, Shell
and Esso station owners
didn't budge.

First Higgins knew that
this move had ended the
price war was Monday last

draperies
by S. Laursen

Custom Draperies, Bedspreads
lL Venetian, Vertical and Wooden Biinds

‘‘In-home Service’’
FREE ESTIMATES GLADLY GIVEN
All biinds 20% off list

Labour per panel $5.50
(unlined). $6.50 (lined).

FOR THE FINAL TOUCH
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thru Saturday

call 987-2966

Fy

week, ‘when with his price
stable at 37.3 cents a litre he
suddenly found he had lines
of motorists on Marine Drive
waiting to be served.

“I drove down Marine
Drive to find out why
everyone was fighting to get
into this place and saw
everyone had put their
prices up to 43.2 cents for
full serve. So I hurriedly put
up the price.”

Though he sold gas at 37.3
cents a litre to the two dozen
motorists who had been
lining up before he changed
his price signs, the gas war
had ended in West Van.

Word spread like wildfire
among the trade. “Within an
hour, it had gone up in North
Van,” said Higgins.

INtrOauUCINg

© Wolking Rendbitty.

® Cushion insole comfort.

® Naturaftly shaped tee room.
FOR MEN and WOMEN

WE GUARANTEE FIT!
or money refunded

GREAT
OUTDOORS

201 LONSDALE
980-3313

A3 - Wednesday, July 28, 1982 - North Shore News

JUBILEE BABIES share their birthdays with North
Vancouver City’s 75th anniversary and are being
honored by the City council. All four babies were born
May 13 in Lions Gate Hospital and were brought
together this week to receive silver spoons from the
City.: Pictured left to right at the presentations are
Tanis Porsche with Eric Peter, Jane Beveridge with
Jenna Jane, Diamond Iuhilee Celebrations Committee
Chairman Alderman Frank Marcino, Kathryn Hughes
with Danika Mae and Sandra Isernia with Shannon
Gayle. (Ellsworth Dickson photo)

All branches closed
July 31, August 1&2

For the B.C. Day Holiday, all five branches
of the North Shore Community Credit Union will
be closed Saturday July 31, as well as Sunday
August 1 and Monday August 2

Open Friday night
"til 8 PM

For the convenience of our members, all five
branches will remain open until 8 O00 PM on Fri
day July 30. Regular business hours resume on
Tuesday August 3

North Shore

Comununity
Credit Union

five branches serving North Vane ouver

Culture
Caravan
PAGE A15

at's
going on
PAGE B8