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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1973-12-06, Page 12PAGE 12 ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS; THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1973 The International Scene THE ORIGINS OF THE MAFIA Somebody asked me recently if I knew whether or not the Mafia was in Canada. I don't think anybody really knows where this nefarious organization is and where it isn't but we assume that it has a foot -hold in Canada. One recent article in the Financial Post claimed that one of its members is oper- ating a hamburger stand in Tor- onto. Since the Mafia is highly reticent about discussing its business affairs or its member- ship list, we cannot be sure just what else they own or oper- ate in Toronto or Montreal. Perhaps the O.P.P. or the R.C. M.P. have a pretty good idea but they aren't saying too much either. What I can do, however, is tell you a bit about the origins of this outfit. You have to go all the way back to the thirt- eenth centnry, 1282 to be exact. in the city --of Palermo in Sicily. On the thirtieth of March of that year a revolt known as the Sicilian Vespers broke out against the French rulers of the island. The incident that is said to have caused the revolt wasan attack on a Sicilian girl by a French soldier. At any rate it wasn't long before those in revolt against the French had a motto; "Morte Galla Francia Italia anela. " Translated into English that means: "Death to the French is Italy's cry." If you look at the first letter of each of the Italian words, you will see that they form the word MAFIA. This uprising led to the mass- acre of most of the French in Palermo and the rest of Italy. After the French had gone, the Sicilians had little else to do and the story goes that they con- tinued their activities in the form of a secret society to prot- ect the welfare of the poor or ill-treated. At that time it wasn't a bad idea at all for there were certainly enough people being exploited one way or another. When Italy became united in the 19th century, the island ( BY RAYMOND CANON) of Sicily became somewhat isolated. Having played out its role as a saviour to the people, the Mafia turned about face. It discarded its ideal of fighting oppression and began an unceas- ing reign of terror that over the years has been exported to many countries, principally the United States as that was the destination that Italians usually chose when looking for a new home. Part of the reason, however, was the fact that in 1907, after the murder of many people in Naples, the police started crack- ing down. This resulted in many of the local hoods fleeing to America and continuing doing there the only thing they knew how to do. Their way of life is almost a religion and revolves around a little known Sicilian word "omenta." The word originally meant humility but to the Mafia it became and still remains "golden silence." This is why it is so difficult to ascertain any large number of facts about the organization. Enough is known of it, however, to realize that it is one of the most corrupting forces in our entire society. Record corn crop The second largest comrnerc• - ial corn crop on record is the claim made for the 1973 Ontario corn crop now almost complet- ely harvested. An official of the Ontario Grain Corn Council, in making the statement, added that the yields are not only better than expected but moisture levels at harvest were among the lowest recorded and the quality about the highest. Despite the prices offered, at what is considered some of the highest levels in history, farm- ers are holding corn either inex- pectation of higher prices or for tax reasons, the spokesman said. "Ontario prices eased down- ward in erratic manner during the last half of October but have more than regained any losses during the first part of November he said, "Western feed grains, on a nutrative basis, are priced well above corn. Significant bookings of U.S. corn into eastern Can- ada have been reported primar- ily due to cost but also to the absence of advance pricing on western grain." "Those holding for tax reasons might want to review the auto- matic tax averaging provision in the Income Tax Act." He said many buyers in East- ern Canada have been unable to find the quantities of Ontario corn they desire to purchase. According to the spokesman, border point elevators in Mich- igan have been offering farmers 30 cents under the December Chicago option, thereby making it profitable for U.S. producers to pay duty and transportation and sell corn at Ontario border point elevators where the price is 15 cents under the December option. He said U.S. prices dropped during October mainly due to a larger than expected U.S.S.R. grain crop, favourable harvest- ing conditions, a U.S,D.A. report suggesting world grain prospects in major producing countries had improved and continuing transportation probl- ems. 0 Canadian buckwheat is grown mainly for human con- sumption and for the export market, especially Japan. In Canada, buckwheat was first grown in New Brunswick and Quebec. Today, about 70 per- cent of Canadian buckwheat is grown in Manitoba. Japan has been Canada's biggest market for buckwheat since 1967. In 1972, Japan im- ported 1,200,000 bushels of the crop. The Japanese eat buck- wheat in the form of soba (buckwheat noodles). YOU CAN'T BEAT THIS FOR COME IN AND SEE OUR VARIETY OF BARBER- ELLIS Gift Stationery ATTRACTIVELY BOXED FOR CHRISTMAS GIVING Priced From $1.25 To $11.50 0 CID ewA.. 236-4672 Zurich NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS OF HAY MUNICIPAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM Since the Hay Municipal Telephone System began oper- ations in 1911, the management have endeavoured to prov- ide the best possible service available to its customers and looking into the future, our plans are to continue improving our telephone service with the interests of our customers in mind. • We have recently placed an order with Northern Electric Co. Ltd., to supply equipment extensions for all three of our exchanges; the equipment being necessary to meet the requirements of existing and potential customers. We are continuing to replace our existing pole lines with under- ground cable; our goal being to have all major lines replaced with underground cable. We are continually work- ing with Bell Canada and other independent telephone companies in regard to establishing Extended Area Service to neighbouring communities. As we are all aware the costs of materials over the past years have increased substantially including those required in the telephone industry. To meet the costs of equipment and cable necessary to supply the demands of our customers we find that we must look at our rate structure which has not increased since 1971. The rate increases we propose are in line with other telephone companies in Ontario. Application has been made to the Ontario Telephone Service Commission for authority to make the following charges for telephone service, effective January lst, 1974. EXCHANGE RATES - All Exchanges Per Month Individual line Business $ 7.75 Residence 4.30 Two-party line Multi-party line PBX Trunk Business Residence Business Residence GRAND BEND ZONE RATES Zone 1 Individual line Business Residence Two-party Business Residence Zone 2 Four -party line Business Residence Multi-party line Business Residence 6.25 3.35 4.65 3.25 11,00 8.50 5.05 6.75 3.85 5.75 3.45 4.65 3.25 If individual or two party line service is required outside the Base Rate Areas of the three exchanges or Zone 1 (Grand Bend), excess circuit charges will apply. SUBSCRIBER RATES - A paid-up subscriber shall pay 50 cents per month less than the above listed renter rates. - a new subscriber shall pay the sub- scriber's rate plus $1.50 per month for ten years at which time he will be considered to be a paid-up subsc- riber. SUMMER SERVICE RATES Application has also been made to the Ontario Telephone Service Commission for the cancellation effective April 1, 1974, of "Summer Service Rates" which provided that the system charge full rates for seven months and $1.00 per month for the five winter months. It has been found that more and more people use their cottages and summer homes all year round and in any case the cost to the system is the same when the phone is used during only part of the year as it is when it is used on a year-round basis. Customers may still cancel their service in the Fall and have it re -installed the following summer, but the system could not guarantee that they would be assigned the same telephone number or that their name would appear in the telephone directory. Furthermore, installation charges would apply if a customer wished to re-establish service. This application will be heard before the Commission at its next regular meeting in Toronto. Any representations to be made to the Commission with respect to this applic- ation should, therefore, be submitted on or before Decem- ber 24, 1973, and addressed to the Chairman, Ontario Telephone Service Commission, 1201 Wilson Avenue, East Building, Downsview, Ontario, M3M 1J8. if you desire any further information in reference to the need for increasing the telephone rates, you may apply to the undersigned either personally, by telephone, or by letter. W.C. Horner, Secretary -Treasurer, Hay Municipal Telephone System, Zurich, Ontario.