HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1970-04-16, Page 12PAGE TWELVE
ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS
The International Scene
(by Raymond Canon)
I recently received a letter
from a Swiss friend of mine
who went to the same school
I did, and who is interested in
working in Canada, if he can
find a job where his training
in economics will be of value
to him. Like many another per-
son wishing to immigrate to
this country, he asked what
Canadians were like, in fact,
what the country was like in
eneral. This is a tough quest-
ion to answer in a letter, and
I spent considerable time think-
ing about it before I answered,
I know he won't mind if I quote
from what I wrote. Needless
to say I try to be as realistic as
I can, but the opinions expres-
sed in the letter are certainly
my own, and not something I
read somewhere in the. past.
"You ask a difficult question
about Canada and Canadians,
and I doubt that there is any set
answer that I can give you.
Linguistically speaking the
country is divided into three
groups - English speaking, French
speaking and the rest immigr-
ants whose mother tongue is
neither of the two. The percent-
age of these groups is about
4b, 30, 30, so you can be sure
that there is far more even bal-
ance that there is in the three
main groups in Switzerland. The
truth of the matter is, however,
that not all the English -Canad-
ians are any ways unified in
their thinking. We are certainly
too big a country for the pop-
ulation we have, and most Can-
adians understand and appreciate
only the region in which they
live. Add that to the fact that
the federal androvincial govern
ments are still fighting over
what rights each should have, and
you will understand that we do
have our problems.
We have often talked about
the Swiss approach to the three
minority groups it has - it ac-
cords them special privileges,
but we find this hard to do to
our French Canadians, and some
of them make it worse by their
outrageous demand which are
based on half-truths. The result
of all this is one big hang-up
on a national scale. Quebec is
not sure of what it really wants,
nor is the rest of Canada sure
of what to give them. In addit-
ion, many Swiss would blanche
at the horrible wa we teach
French in some of our schools.
The students come out knowing
1001 rules, 200 irregular verbs
Plans Ur der Way
For Another Season
Of Rec League Rf a l l
All softball players are asked
to conte to the work bee on
Monday night at the Zurich soft-
ball park. Bring your hammers
and rakes,
Rec League Softball League
held a meeting last Monday
night and decided on May 6, as
the starting date of the 1970
s chedule. The schedule will be
printed in next week's paper.
Four teams will again be part-
icipating in the league, Blue -
water, Barber -Boys, Charlie's
Auto Sales, and Gingerich's
Sales and service.
Teams have been working
out in the last two weeks. A
pre -season exhibition game has
been scheduled for the 29th
of April, between Gingerich's
and Charlie's Auto Sales.
Charles have signed new
coach Bill Bedour and manager
Doug Meidinger. The only play-
er signed is Ron Corriveau, star
catcher of last years Zurich Lum-
ber Kings.
Tony Bedard is taking over
the coaching duties of Ginger-
ich's Sales and Service.
George "Butch" Sweeney will
be acting as chief umpire. He
is looking for two or three more
umpires. Any one interested
should contact him within the
nett two weeks,
and little else.
I am trying to avoid painting
too bleak a picture, but I know
what rosy pictures are often
painted of Canada in Europe,
and I want to acquaint you with
some of theroblems with which
we are faced, but which freq-
uently are not known abroad.
In defense of our country, I can
honestly say that it is one of
the freest I have ever lived in,
and while it is not a country of
unlimited possibilities, the
chances 6f getting ahead here
are about as goocFas any place
in the world, especially for
someone who is not afraid to
work. As a Swiss you would be
remarkably qualified in this
respect.
Our standard of living is a bit
higher than in Switzerland, and
so are our wages, but be prep-
ared to find slums in the bigger
cities, something that, as you
know,ou will not find in Swit-
zerland. The truth is that, for
some reason or another, we have
quite a few people who have
failed to share in the national
prosperity, and this is true in
some provinces much more
than in others, or even in parts
of certain provinces. We are
also battling inflation which,
together with what we consider
to be rather high taxes, doesn't
make the average Canadian
any richer.
What it all adds up to, in my
opinion, is that, in spite of the
reputation that we have among
many Europeans, this country
is no Eldorado. If you can rem-
ember that when you get here,
and concentrate on the many
benefits that Canada has to offer,
that chances are that you will
not be disappointed.
0
Wheat Producers
Rick Ne' '.'Slate
The Ontario Wheat Producers'
Marketing Board recentlyan-
nounced that its slate ofexec-
utiw officers for 1970 have been
elected.
D1,R. McDougall, R,R,2,
Blenheim, was elected chairman
of the board for the coming year.
Mr. McDougall, prominent Kent
County farmer, has been assoc-
iated with the marketing board
since its inception and takes
over the position of chairnman
following two years as first vice-
chairman.
He succeeds James O'Shea,
R.R.3, Granton, who served as
board chairman for the past two
years and remains on the board
executive committee as immed-
iate past chairman.
William Brander , R. R.1,
Mahon, was re-elected to the
executive committee as first
vice-chairman, moving up
from the second vice -chairman's
position which was filled with
the election of Ray Bellamy,
R, R. 2, Chatham.
Fergus Young, R.R.1, Ennis -
more, was appointed as fifth
member of the executive com-
mittee.
Elections took place at the
marketing board's inaugural
meeting Meld in Toronto. At-
tending their first meeting as
newly elected directors for
1970 were: Russell rogers, R.R.1,
Kingsville; Gary Clinton, R. R.7,
St. Thomas; and Euclid Martin,
R.R.1, Inwood.
Mr. Rogers, representing
Essex County, replaces Ralph
Davison, R.R.2, Maidstone,
Mr. Clinton replaces Morris
Taylor, R.R,8, St. Thomas
as the Elgin County director,
and Mr. Martin replaced Oliver
Dawson, R.R,3, Sombra, Lamb -
ton County.
Remaining directors of the
twelve -man board include:John
Cochrane, R.R.2, Colborne;
Sam Chambers, KR.1, Burgess -
vile; A.R. Coulter, R.R.3,
Campbellville and R. T. Bolton,
R, R,1, Seaforth,
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1970
. Consuti er
news and views Irr'�. *►:
tea`, I M ll' 11
by oe 1 � •
Consumers' Association of Canada per' 165`.
"Credit cards have been the
debt of me, I charged when I
should have retreated."
Are those innocent -appearing
little cards which promoters
claim will "uncomplicate" our
lives a blessing or a curse? Are
they an aid to keeping track of
our finances, or an open invit-
ation to disaster?
From a rather slow start less
than 10 years ago, these plastic
cards are today bulging wallets
across the entire continent. Con-
sumer's Association of Canada
became concerned when hund-
reds of letters flooded in to pro-
test the receipt of unsolicited
credit cards through the mail.
Their efforts to control this by
legal means or through post
office regulations were unsucc-
essful.
So now the Association advises
you to destroy or deface, at
once, any card you do not wish
to use. A useful follow-up is a
letter to the issuer, stating your
objections to this means of ad-
vertising and enclosing the mut-
ilated card.
But if you feel you need such
cards, to help you live with
them and stay solvent Consumers
Association of Canada suggests
the following precautions:
Guard your credit cards well;
never leave them in glove comp-
artments or other spots from
which they may be easily stolen.
Check frequently to make sure
that they have not been lost if
you make limited use of your
credit cards and if you find they
have disappeared, be sure to
notify the issuer at one --by
registered mail. Most companies
will not charge the purchases
made on an unsolicited card if
you have never used it, but
once you have used or signed the
card, you are completely resp-
onsible for all purchases made
with it, unless the issuing com-
pany is notified. Keep a record
of your card numbers and the
address to notify.
If you make many purchases
at a store which promotes the
use of credit cards you may wish
to obtain the use of one. You
are paying for credit on each
purchase and by using the card
will gain a month's interest on
the money you have on deposit
in the bank. Use if purchasing
large quantities. You gain not
only a month's use of your
money, but the opportunity to
inspect the purchase and have
any defects remedied before
you are required to make pay-
ment. The wise use of a credit
card will also help you establish
a good credit rating.
Never impulse -buy just be-
cause it is so easy to charge a
purchase. Remember the pill
will always arrive with the first
of the month, Don't let your
credit cards become the "debt"
of you!
To prevent unpleasant surp-
rises at the end of the month,
try keeping a list of the amounts
charged. This way you can be
more certain that you have not
charged more than you can pay
when the bills come in. Check
your bills when they are receiv-
ed to make sure they are accur-
ate listings of your purchases.
Even computers make mistakes!
1f you have questions regard-
ing your account, or if charges
are recorded after a card has
been stolen, get in touch with
the issuing company immediat-
ely to state your case and have
an investigation made, One of
the greatest dangers of credit
cards is that the holder must
assume legal responsibility for a
debt incurred in their use, whe-
ther or not authorized. To av-
oid mistakes in billing, notify
all companies of your change
of address immediately when
you move.
Whether credit cards are good
or bad depends on the uses of
which you --the consumer --put
them. Consumers' Association
of Canada suggests that you
remember that careless use of
credit cards can lead to serious
personal debt, It may be a fact-
or in continuing inflation and
can be a severe shock at the
end of the month. But, care-
fully employed to make the best
use of your money, they can be
a useful family financial tool.
So it's upto you -- don't let
credit cardbecome the "debt"
of you!
Verfre G1I6lail Nome
Due to inclement weather, Our Giant Paint Sale
will continue for One More Week!
Take Advantage of These Special Prices ! !
re pleased to announce the appointment of
/.1
9C
As Their Exclusive Dealer in this Area!!
EXTERIOR HOUSE PAINT
EXTERIOR LATEX
EXTERIOR PRIME
INTERIOR ENAMEL UNDERBODY
2 GALLONS 2 QUARTS
®95 $
INTERIOR LATEX
INTERIOR LATEX PRIMER
2 GALLONS 2 QUARTS
095 $ 35
SATIN FINISH ENAMEL
HIGH GLOSS ENAMEL
2 GALLONS 2 QUARTS
$ 1 Z.95 $3.95
spring ...
it's time
to paint