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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-11-21, Page 22Page 8—Crossroads—Nov. 21, 1984 ainstream Canada The real cure for del illness By Tony Carlson There is no doubt our un- employment insurance system is ill. And workers and em- ployers alike, who pay the bills, are getting tired of feeling like sufferers of old who were bled to relieve the symptoms pf their illnesses. Depending on whom you talk to, UI has paid out $4.2 - billion to $5.5 -billion more than it has taken in. With prospects of a jobless rate close to 12, per cent for the foreseeable future, that deficit tumor is not likely to shrink without some strong medicine. For some that means large injections of money in the form of higher premiums, at least a 9 per - cent hike observers say. Much of that will cover a most generous rise in the ' benefit ceiling that clicks in Jan. 1 — a maximum payment of $276 a week, up 8.2 per cent. This is the result of the fact that various federal govern- ments have for too long made no effort to keep UI in time with cost -of -living in- creases, which this year will be about 4 per cent. Nor has much been done about another major hemorrhage in the patient — over- payments. Last year alone they amounted— .to $82 - million. The system doesn't need only fine tuning; it cries out for major surgery. The fundamental problem. is that there are just too many clients. The reasons for this are many, including the fact that we allow people who voluntarily quit to collect benefits. But one basic observation remains unchallenged: to decrease the drain on Ui funds, there must be fewer claimants. To accomplish that, there must be more jobs. Where will they come from? There are many possible answers, but any plan must consider the fact that small businesses create more than 70 per cent of new jobs. They have the ability to innovate to meet the shifting demands of our world. They will do so, given room to manoeuvre. But growth in that vital sector is easily stymied by increases in payroll taxes such as UI which hit small businesses disproportionate- ly hard. Consider: UI premiums and other payroll taxes must be paid whether a firm is profitable or not. New firms, up to about five years old, often are not in the black. Thus, the taxes must be covered directly out of equity and growth is stifled. Also, small firms tend to be more labor-intensive than technology -rich corporations and a tax on payroll has sig- nificantly greater impact on companies that employ people, not machines, to get the job done. In a survey last year, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business asked its members how they re- acted when UI premiums jumPed 50 per cent in 1983. Of those responding, 7.4 per cent said they laid off people; 15 per cent post- poned hiring; almost 16 per cent hired part-time rather than full-time staff; 3.5 per cent replaced workers with machinery. That's a lot of jobs either lost, altered or never offered because of what amounts to, a tax on job creation. To increase it unreason- ably now . would put the patient at risk. Gem minerals Authorities say there are considerably fewer than 2,000 different mineral spe- cies and of these perhaps only 100 occur in specimens suitable for cutting into gems. INDOOR-OUTDOOR—Desert beige frames combine with blue acrylic upholstery in this Chromcraft set designed for indoor or patio dining. By Barbara Hartung Q. Our older home has .00 dining room — just a long living room with space at one end that can be used. for dining, although it is not large enough. We are considering en- closing an 11- by -15-foot out- door walkway -patio to create �Mizar Phecda Alkaid I URSA MAJOR (BIG DIPPER) National Museums Muscles nauonaux of Canada • du Canada Canada &IRGIZING A map with the star Polaris near its center is called a northem circum- polar map. It differs from the maps usually featured here because it can be used any hour of the night and any night of the year Our map shows the brighter stars that circle within 50` of Polaris; that is, the sky that is always above the horizon for an observer fac- ing north from our mid -northern Canadian latitudes. (Circumpolar maps showing a full 180" of sky may be confusing to anyone unfamiliar with the seasonal changes in the sky This is because only part of the pe- rimeter of the map is above the horizon al a given time or season ) To use the map tum it so the current month is centred at the top Face north and hold the map vertically , against the sky. It shows the sky as it is about 9 p.m around the middle of the month Turn the map counter- clockwise by one of the 24 divisions radiating from the center for each hour it is later than 9 o'clock. clock- wise for each hour it is earlier Polaris -near the center of the map. is the only star that stays in the same place while all Others circle around d This is because i1 lies close to the point in the sky toward which the earth's axis points While the stars ap- pear to circle around Polans. what we are seeing Is the result of the earth's daily motion about its axis NOVEMBER LESSER (� • BEAR r(4 GREAT BEAR Polans <' Patens provides a natural "compass" to help us find tree north 11 is not a brilliant star, nevertheless it is rela- tively easy to locate First find the constellation Ursa Ma)or, the Great Bear of Greek mythology It is easily recognized because its seven bright- est stars (the hindquarters of the Bear) outline the familiar Big Dipper Extend a line outward from the two bowl stars opposite the handle of the Dipper These stars are called the -Pointers' because they point in the general direction of Polaris Polaris is in Ursa Minor, the Lesser Bear, and marks the lip of the handle of the Little Dipper. Unfortunately only its three brightest stars can be seen from the city so it is difficult,16 dis- tinguish the Dipper shape, but it can be seen from dark locations or with binoculars d h (Universal Time) .3 South Taund Meteors 8 18 Full Moon 16 07 Last Quarter Moon 17 12 Leonid Meteors 22 23 New Moon 24 14 Mercury 0.1' S. of Moon 24 21 Venus 2° S. of Jupiter 25 23 Jupiter 4° N. of Moon 28 01 Venus 1,6° N of Moon 27 21 Mars 4' N. of Moon 30 08 First Quarter Moon PLANETS: Mercury. Venus. Mars and Jupiter are in the early evening sky, but they are near the western horizon at sunset and. therefore, diffi- cult to see. The planets are not plotted on the map. It shows the sky around 10:30 p.m. about the middle of November when they have set NATIONAL MUSEUM Scicncg + tet no ogy 1867 St Laurent Blvd Ottawa K1A OMR an indoor -outdoor dining room. Please give us some ideas for the room re- modeling so that we, can create a pleasant, con- temporary room without spending a fortune. We have always lived in apartments before and so we don't have a lot of furnitur to bring with us.—P. B. A. To create a lovely dining room with an indoor- outdoor look, consider in- formal but richly textured materials. For example, you can cover a multitude of con- struction sins with a heavy wall covering — a burlap in a pretty soft color or an• equally interesting grass cloth. Both of these provide a handsome background for hanging prints or photo- graphs or personal memora- bilia. A soft: carpeting is the most luxurious floor covering in a home. However, if you are planning carefree living in this space and it would not interrupt the flow of other spaces close by, I'd consider a hard surface covering such as a handsome natural tile, simulated brick or flagstone. This way spilled orange juice 'or an over -watered plant won't be grounds for concern. Instead of a formal dining suite of furniture, you might consider a contemporary garden set — a glass -topped table and .four comfortable chairs . with. attractive 'upholstery would lend soft- ness to your. room. ,Garden furniture can help you stretch the budget right now. You can always retire the furniture to the garden later if you, want a more tra- ditional dining room set. Q. I have recently removed the stain from wood paneling in my large master bedroom. 1 am going to bleach the wood so it has a white cast but the grain will still be seen. 1 plan to use a large Mexican rug in the room at the foot of the bed on the natural wood floor. The rug is red, gold, brown, black and cream. 1 need draperies, a bedspread and two small contemporary chairs recovered. For an interesting and dramatic room, what colois should 1 choose for these pieces?—R,. D. C. A. Your rug sounds as though it might be quite dramatic and dominating. If this is so, I would tead to let it be the most important element and design around it. What about a solid red for the upholstery of the chairs, a soft, light gold or even cream fabric for your bed - ‘spread and maybe shutters at your windows, finished in the same manner as your walls. With wood paneling and a rug such as you describe, you probably will want a heavily textured fabric for your bedspread so that the neutral color doesn't seem to fade away. An interesting texture will give personality without being demanding, JAPANESE PRINTS TO- DAY. By Margaret K. John- son and Dale K. Hilton. Shu- funotome Co. Ltd., Tokyo. Distributed by Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc., Rutland, Vt. 256 pp. Paper. U.S. $9.95. Reviewed by PERCY MADDUX The Japenese print is a lively art form and there are many ways of producing it. The artist works directly on a woodblock, a plate, a silk screen, a metal sheet, or such. From this original the desired number of prints are made and the original destroyed. Margaret K. Johnson and Dale K. Hinton have described this process in their book "Japenes Prints Today", which contains accounts of the leading artists in.Japan in this field today. This, book is informa- tive rather than a work of literature. There are also photographs accompanying the text which explains at- ' titudes and methods. Lightweight oil can In three years of testing in South Africa, an oil "can" made of ionomer resin no thicker than a playing card has proved practical and will soon be introduced in Europe. It reduces contain- er weight 80 percent. Wallpaper Sale from 99 single roll 1000's of rolls IN STOCK StCIair the paint and paper people WATERLOO TOWN SWAGE Waterloo (Near K -Mart) 860-3791 CONESTOGA MALL Waterloo (Near K -Mart) 886.2709 EMPLOYER'S GUIDE TO GOVERNMENT FUNDED TRAINING ARE YOU planning any training activities? Sending employees on up -dating courses? Interested in computer literacy for your employees? Looking for a more productive work force? ' Confused by the myriad of Government Programs? If you answered "YES" to any of the above questions, this workshop sponsored by the Huron •County Industrial Training Committee and Conestoga College, may be able to assist you in your plans. Plan to attend on Wednesday, December 5, 1984, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Clinton Campus, Conestoga College Fee $5 per person Luncheon included (Registration is limited to 25 people) For registration information, please call, Conestoga College, Clinton Campus, at 482-3458 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 .p.m. Monday to Friday, before Friday,. November 30, 1984. Conestoga College of Arts and ethnology YOU KNOW THESE SIGNSI o BOT DO YOU KNOW THESE SIGNS? Life is full of signs. Signs that advise. Signs that warn. And we know most of these signs, because we know they're meant to protect us. That's why, when it comes to cancer there are important signs you should also know. Because the quicker . you can recognize them, the quicker you can take action. Breast lump, persistent cough, a sore that doesn't heal... i f you discover one of these signs, see your doctor. Chances are youdon't have cancer at all, but why take chances. When it comes to cancer...know the signs. Canadian Cancer Society it