A6-Sunday News, April 27, 1980 editorial page NEWS VIEWPOINT Money well spent Mayor Don Bell got into hot water last week when he proposed a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the vandals who destroyed Capilano Community Services Hall. But despite the ruffled feelings of North Van District aldermen -- who felt they should have had prior notice of the mayor's motion -- we think the reward concept is on the right track. The senseless and vicious devastation of the volunteer centre nine days ago caused damage estimated at up to $20,000 and could put much-needed community services out of action for as long as a month. However, it is only the latest (and worst) example of the almost weekly vandalism of public property which has been plaguing the District for far too long. Last year’s study and report by the citizens’ task force on van- dalism, set up by the mayor, appears to have done little or nothing so far to combat the scourge. Monetary rewards for information could well prove to be the most effective (as well as« the cheapest) method of getting to grips with the matter. A thousand dollars, or even half that sum, is a strong encouragement these days for anyone with knowledge of a van- dalism incident to talk to the police -- who will protect him or her by treating such information in complete confidence. If a standing rewards policy for ALL in- cidents involving wanton and_ costly destruction can finally get the District's chronic vandalism problem under control, a few thousand bucks a year will be money well spent. Lonely world ? Move over, Dr. Pat McGeer. From England comes news of a four-year- old boy whose IQ has been found to be 170 (an average bright adult IQ is 115-120). The son of a school caretaker, he taught himself to read at the age of two and is now busy tutoring his 15-month-old sister. By the time he reaches his teens his only problem may be what to do about pals. Come to think of it, though, an 1Q of 170 should be able to solve even THAT! sunday ; news north shore news NEWS 985-2131 1139 tl onsdale Ave North Vancouver BC V7M 2H4 (604) 985-2131 ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED 980-0511 986-6222 Publisher Peter Speck CIRCUL ATION 986-1337 Associate Publisher Editor-in-Chief Advertising Director Robert Graham Noel Wright Erx Cardwetl Classitied Manager & Oftice Administrator Bern: HMitiaro Production Tim Francis Faye Mc Crae Managing Editor Andy Fraser News Editor Photography Chaos lloyd Elsworth Ore kson Accounting Supervisor Barbara Keen North Shore News founded in 1869 as ann ‘Wlepenaent o cenmian fy Dewspaper and quatihed under Schedute It Past it bar agragt Wot the fecise Tax Act os putblsned each Wednesday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press bid and csstibuted ta every Goo on the North Shore Second Class Matt Re gratration. Nurntser SHH Sobrenphons B20 per year batie ¢orntents 19H) North ‘ihore bree Press Lig Albaghts reserved Nac certsg pcr sel abt yy tec pitas) Foxe cree scatne leech oo rrasabece cal re teachin, Vat Pot ad ge Tares wire be Piccolo me Tapered obey on haere) addressed + Fatty esti verter ses VE RUE HEF) CRI UE ATIOON 50,8670 Weescirrertscsary 03 Ga SIN FE wihiday a an” THIS PAPER IS RECYCLABLE » Will that be cash or...? By W. ROGER WORTH The burgeoning use of credit cards seems to have reached a crescendo, which is probably a good thing. As a result of consumer credit restrictions in the U.S., many = smaller businesses have already stopped accepting plastic money and bigger retailers and hospitality related businesses are joining the trend. With high interest rates, its only a matter of time until the same thing happens in Canada. A couple of examples of belt ughtening in the U.S. In Florida, many major restaurants have outlawed the use of cards and some franchised service station operators have even stopped accepung the plastics issued by their multinational parents. The reason for the change in policy, particularly among smaller businesses: firms ac- cepting credit cards pay a percentage of each tran- saction to the instituuion that issues the card. SUDDEN DEATH iast Thursday of The Citzen, aged 22, didn't surprise Ralph Hall, its editor for 19 of those years, one bit. Ralph. who worked with owner-pubhsher Hal Seraight dunng the sixties to make The Citizen at thatume one of Canada’s top) community newspapers, resigned unexpectedly last Noverm- ber to run for alderman in North Van City (he missed being elected by a two or three-volte whisker after a recount). But it’s no secret that Ralph was less than happy under the Sterling group) which bought out Straight: seven years ago and he also forecast at the time of his resignation that the demise of Straights pride and yoy only a matter of months tf nolweeks away former was In the event: the end took a luthe lonper and, when it finally came you may find at odd to learn there was some fechnp of sadness around the News office ReNuine One likes to Compete One strives fo oulpace one’s Competitor But one hates to see him drop dead tn his tracks Meanwhile happen to should you hear of any in t(niguing new developments on the North Shore hewspaper scene in the weeks ahead remember to check firse with this ¢olumin wm could save you time and Confusion Bach fora fast week busy sia davs ooking atter the problems of has Comsatucats In Canada, for example, the bank-backed Visa and Master Charge promoters charge businesses 2% to 6% for the service. Naturally, smaller firms pay the highest percentages. In addition, the financial institutions receive 21% interest on accounts that aren't paid within 30 days. Smaller Canadian busi- nesses forced to pay card promoters $6 on a $100 purchase are in a bind. They feel obliged to offer the same convenience as_ larger retailers, even if they have to pay the money out of their own pockets. Litthe noticed in the debate over the use of plastics is the fact that cash customers are subsidizing the army of credit card users. When a customer pays cash, there is no kickback to Visa or Master Charge. When a card 1 - cessed, the business loses 270 - 6% on the transaction.. So overall prices must be higher to maintain profitability. Perhaps it is Canadians took a time second look at the socalled “cashless society.” It may be as highly overrated as the Edsel when it first hit the market. Roger Worth is Director, . Public Affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Business EE ETT oa a : Se coos Soe sunday brunch by Noel Wright was North Van-Burnaby MP Chuck Cook, accompanied by his indefatigable lady wife Dale. He finds the Canadian unity issue more than a little disturbing at the moment — and not just because of next month's Quebec referen- dum. What really stymies him, says Chuck. ts the con- tinuing attitude of influential eastermers towards the four western provinces — “they just dont seem to grasp whats happening here. they stall think of us as colomies ~ In the same vein. he descnbes the arrogant Marc Lalonde as “just about the Person they coutd chosen” to argue oil preoing with that tough blue eved shctk Peter Lougheed of Saudi Alberta Hell as the late Jean Paul Sartre seid is people worst have NEW SHINGEERS: The dean of Vancouver PR tolk West Vans Dean Miller, tas yoned forces with Swart Wilson Of Meek Wilson Lcd to form oa new PR and ad agency Miller Wilson & Company Limited Wailson is president oof the renamed outhit while ohamman Maller contribules his lonp trae afftihatvon with the Enters national Publry Relations Group of Compames Tne the worlds biggest PR organization with NU) member firms an) 40 coun triacs As an catra touch of class the pew Company has taken offfees in the recently refurbished CPR station oan Cordova Tf you ve an tmage problem give them a ding If you've a house-sitting problem, give Kathy Redmond or Debbie Tucker a ding at 986-7066. These two enterprising young North Shore ladies have set up in business to look after your home and pets while youre mopping up the sun on Maui or wherever They accept assignments any: where from Deep Cove t Lions Bay on a live-in basis during and they love dogs. cats. horses and most other animals — though there's no mention of feenagers Finally. under this heading, a welcoming bowl of consonmmme for Sandy Bennett who's opening her new specialty kitchen shop your absence this Thursday in Park Royals South Mall Kitchen boutiques and cookery schools have been starting upoall over Greater Van couver in the past year or two bul Sandys is the firse of ats kind oon the North Shore She describes her Cook s Nook as “the sort of refuge for everyone in terested in Cooking to drop tr tae regular Cooking displays tall Cooking courses lots of padgets and beautiful old kitchen and dining room antiques © Sounds puse the place tor the hamburger battabon ho upyrade ther skulls Gtr Guide Cookte Week onec apain and you coubkdnt hand over your buck to oa meeer cause Hut oh how ft wish the dears would learn te bake thear Ow Comohies however oddly shaped, instead of offloading George Weston’s prepacked excess inventory on me ... MERRY-GO-ROUND: If you want to know what a provincial ombudsman does for a living, go listen to Dr. Karl Friedmann in_ person this Wednesday (April 30) at the annual meeting of the North Shore Division of the United Way. It starts at 11:30 a.m. at Frank Baker's Restaurant in West Van with lunch tickets ($5.50) by phoning 985-7138 Rub shoulders there with North Shore gmayors) and other local bigwigs Send your blazer and white pants to the cleaners in preparalion for the annual sail past of the Deep Cove Yacht Club, May 10 at 230 pm. with Commodore lan Hopkinson taking the salute . Big Sisters of Greater Van couver are holding their 20th anniversary reunion month and want to contact as many former members as possible eal) North Van's Barbara Emo a} 929-5821 Noted artist Alan Edwards “Impressions of Greece” in next watercolors and otls is well worth a visit Monday and Tuesday at the International Plaza trom noon to 10 pm and from Wednesday on ward at Ganffin’s Gallery West. 1450 Marine, West Van And Happy Anm versary wishes (sorry (hey re a week lat*) to North Van's | yan and Dave Bonner. WRIGHT OR WRONG: If you're convinced there ts bo problem incapable of being solved.) try striking a wet match on a piece of soap