Loading...
The Citizen, 1990-09-26, Page 1Lions Anniversary Blyth Lions have been roaring 45 years See page 10 Fair Results Complete Brussels Fair prize list See page 14 Bulls undefeated Bulls end exhibitions with perfect 5-0 See page 25 whmmmbmhhhmi Gearing up for GST costly for local business BY BONNIE GROPP The majority of us have a fair idea of the cost and effect the GST is going to have on us as consum­ ers, when it is implemented in the new year. However, in order to deal with the new tax, merchants and businesses have already begun spending money, primarily on cash registers that calculate tax on tax. Most of these people agree with or at least are resigned to the addi­ tional tax to lessen the national deficit, but few are pleased with the way it is structured. Jim Howson of Howson Mills in Blyth said he feels the GST is very positive as it will make businesses more competitive and bring us back to basics. However, he added it would have perhaps been better if they had combined it with the provincial tax to make it one tax like Quebec has. “That’s the only negative aspect,’’ he said. While he hasn’t spent any money yet. he is aware that it is going to cost the "ompany “some dollars’’. Ron Clarkson of Brussels Village ivlarket and Downtown Variety agrees. “I am not opposed to the GST at all,’’ said Mr. Clarkson. “We have high deficits that require money from other sources. The GST is an all-encompassing tax, where everyone will pay their share. But, if they had combined the two taxes, I think it would probably have been better. Mr. Clarkson was just one of several businessmen who suddenly found their present cash registers would be obsolete with the new tax. Allan Teeft of EMA in Brussels said that $7,000 worth of front-end equipment that was purchased just four years ago is now completely worthless because they don’t calcu­ late tax on tax. Mr. Teeft said that after looking at various options he decided to jump in with both feet and purchase costly new equip­ ment with scanners. These have built-in files to monitor what pro­ duct has GST, what has provincial tax and what has federal tax. “It was our understanding that it would be difficult for cashiers to keep track of everything and the taxes on it so the scanners seemed Citizen wins advertising award The Citizen has won another provincial award, this time for the quality of its advertising design. The Citizen received a third place award for the best special section for newspapers under 6500 circulation in the Ontario Commun­ ity Newspaper Association’s ann­ ual advertising awards competi­ tion. The results, announced last week, will be distributed at the OCNA's fall convention in Missis­ sauga. The section which won the prize was the Citizen’s farm issue published each spring. The Citizen also received an honourable mention for general excellence in advertising in the under 2500 circulation category. Earlier in the year The Citizen had picked up a third place award for best front page in the under 3500 category in the Canadian Community Newspaper Associa­ tion awards. the most effective choice,” Mr. Teeft explained. Also, the cus­ tomer gets an itemized receipt with the taxes broken down so they can see what they paid tax on. On the other side, Mr. Clarkson ' Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. VOL 6 NO. 39 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1990.50 CENTS Friendly hand Courtney Stephenson gets a little help from a special friend as she the Community Centre a few of the hearty braved the wet to enjoy andGrandpaBillridetheswingsatthe Brussels Fall Fairon the midway. Wednesday. Though drizzly weather kept most people indoors at Festival marks another successful season Blyth Festival recorded an atten­ dance of more than 44,000 people for its season ending September 15. The attendance was down slight­ ly from the record-breaking year in 1989 when more than 90 per cent of all available seats all season long were filled with paying customers. This year 84.9 per cent of all seats were filled with paying customers. It meant an average attendance, counting complimentary tickets of and Don Scrimgeour of Scrim- geour's Knechtel store in Blyth opted to buy only what they needed to get by. “We were forced to make a move,” said Mr. Scrimgeour, “so we went the cheapest route we 437 for each of the 101 performan­ ces. In terms of total attendance, “Local Talent” the comedy by Colleen Curran was the top draw with 13,264 paying their way in. Because there were many more performances for the show, how­ ever, (32) the show did not lead in terms of percentage of seats filled. That honour went to “Firefly” by Carol Sinclair, the musical about the coming of the telephone to a could. We felt it was more econo­ mical to buy the least expensive now and in two or three years take another look at how it’s working out.’ In addition Mr. Scrimgeour not­ small town. Firefly filled 87.9 per cent of its seats for a total of 8,755. In terms of percentage “Albertine in Five Times” by Michel Tremb­ lay was a close second with 87.78 per cent but because of the fewer number of performances it drew only 6,994. “Perils of Persephone”, the comedy by Dan Needles that is now on tour across the province, filled 85.14 per cent of its seats for a total paid audience of 6.784. “A Field of Flowers" by Laurie Fyfe had a total ed that they had to purchase 10 new pricing guns at $20 each in order to price the product with a code for the tax on it. “It seems minor, but, it is an extra cost we Continued on page 8 of 6,715 paid for a percentage of 79.32 per cent. Total box office totalled nearly a half million dollars at $487,691. Festival Director of Communica­ tions Jane Gardner said the atten­ dance was above the projections for the season. “We were really pleased with it,” she said, espe­ cially when other summer theatres have reported attendance drops of five to 10 per cent below their projections.