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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-09-29, Page 4Page 4 -Citizens News, September 29, 1976 L KNON 111E MEW. MO41(10 tdIW.611rW1N rWK It 40TAfiU "We've got enough money to pay this month's bills — trouble is, we can't afford to mail them now." Otf4 October 14 is drawing closer and it is still debateable how many unions are going to join the Canadian Labour Congress in the day long strike against the anti-inflation policy of the federal government. We are as much against big businesses making undue profits at the expense of the laborer as anyone, but we are also against the laborer making undue profits at the expense of the businesses. Labor unions have been very useful in the past in contributing to the general rise in living and working conditions of the working classes, but perhaps this time they are trying to go too far. The federal governments anti-inflation program is definitely curtailing salary increases, curtailing, but not destroying, so although everyone may feel as if they are suffering under the program, no one is in serious trouble because of it. So we believe workers should not go out on a one -day strike on October 14. We always thought when a contract was agreed to and signed, both parties in the agreement were expected and in fact promising to abide by that contract. No mat- ter how wrong they think the government's methods may be, the workers of this country will be breaking their pledges to their employers if they go on strike. They are not only doing something immoral, they are doing something illegal and very dangerous. For if the unions can flout contracts at any time they wish, which is what they will be doing if they strike October 14, then what is to stop the companies who employ them from flouting those same contracts when the workers return to work? To our mind, this could lead to a very dangerous situation. If unions can break contracts and the law, so can eveybody else. If you want to protest go ahead, but try to keep on the right side of the law. The ballot box in 1978 may seem a long time in coming, but in the long run that will be the place where your protest will be most keenly heard and felt by the government—and that is perfectly legal. fair trade The poorer nations continue to demand a fairer share of world trade—yet their hopes will not be realized for many years. The Third World countries had hoped to estab- lish a common fund to stabilize wild price fluctuations in 10 key commodities. They pressed the issue at the recent United Nations Conference on Trade and Develop- ment (UNCTAD) held in Nairobi. But the rich countries, led by the United States, had grave doubts. Washington in particular did not commit itself in any way to a common fund for financing buffer stocks of raw materials. Most of the free enterprise nations felt it would be difficult for them to support any trading system that requires a prior commitment to the kind of commodity agreements that are based on a system of government -administered prices. In other words, the -capitalists traders of the world were lined up against those nations controlled by Communist regimes and military dictatorships. It would be of great benefit to the world's nations if such trade issues as commodity stabilization could be removed from the realm of ideology, and examined on their practical merits. Statesmen have stressed that the aim must be to preserve an open environment for world trade in most pro- ducts, but at the same time to build certain safeguards for poor nations. These countries simply cannot endure the erratic swings in the world market for their few exports without seriously endangering their econo- mies—and sometimes even the health and the lives of their population. Clearly, the rich and the poor must work toward a compromise in regard to trade issues. The Western system of basing most international trade on market demand often hurts the poorest among, nations. This system must be modified gradually. But in trying to achieve their demands for a radical restructuring of the global' economic order, the poor nations ,should move away from their present "strategy of confrontation. The more conservative among the Western trade exports say why should the taxpayers of rich nations put up a $3 million fund to stock- pile commodities in order to help govern- ments and countries that expropriate private investments and in some cases even sup- port terrorists. Yet understanding must prevail. And trade—fair trade—is one way to bridge the horrendous gap that still separates the rich from the poor nations. The iIbrd by Cathy McKinley There ' are only 73 shopping days left before Christmas! Now, before everyone begins to hate me for bringing this up, I would like to say I am only pointing out how fast time flies. In the mail this week, we received the Sears Christmas catalogue complete with Santa Claus on the front cover. Then in the bathroom I discovered a copy of this year's Avon Christmas catalogue. Feeling rather uneasy I decided it might be safer to watch television when on came a commer- cial informing me that the turkey the Smith family loves to come home to in the "festive season" is la -de -da. So, I turned off the television, went to the calendar, start- ed coufnting and came up with the startling result of only 73 shopping days until Christmas. Now some of you may think that gives you plenty of time, but don't be deceived. From now until December 25 time begins to pass very rapidly indeed and the closer Christmas gets the faster time flies. Oh well, there is one good thing about this. At least I know I have 72 shopping days left before I am going to worry about any Christmas shopping. It's amazing how much faster you tan buy presents if you just wait until the 1,:• minute! I watched part of a television show the other night that really got me thinking. The show was a documentary, and it involved taking teenagers from several large cities in England and Europe to Africa for a glimpse ofnature. Now, you may feel this is going to an extreme to show teenagers who had never ever been in the country some nature, but it did serve a purpose. After being in the African environment living in tents, hunting for their food and water, the teens came up with some remarkable statements. They said they were overwhelmed by what they saw, that when they were alone in the bush they felt so insignificant, and it reminded me how lucky most of us are. Here we have nature all around us and if we want to be alone we only have to walk into the bush which most farms still have and except for the odd cow we will be alone. There too you can get the feeling of being insignificant in such a remarkable world. Or we can feel the strength of the wind, or watch the power in the lake or feel how truly helpless we are in a raging blizzard or driving rain storm. Here we tend to take these things for granted, things like storms seem only to be a nuisance and nothing more. Oh, the ice storm last winter woke a few of us up, that was no laughing matter and every- one was conscious of the fact that nature can be mighty powerful, but probably that feeling was soon forgotten. Maybe, just maybe it would be better if we didn't forget but rather took a little time out to thank our lucky stars we were born where we were and appreciate what we have. We are pretty lucky people, let's not forget it. * 4 By the way, if you have never considered getting a lock for your car's gas tank, maybe you should. With the price of gas rising so often, the siphoning of gas tanks is bound to happen more frequently than in the past. In fact, at least two cars in Zurich had their tanks siphoned dry over the weekend. Keep yours eyes open for such culprits, put your car inside a locked garage, get a lock on your gas tank, or be prepared to pay the consequences. MarO©th dezve {Nciw6 Published Each Wednesday By J.W. Eedy Publications Ltd. Member: Canadian Weekly. Newspapers Association Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association Manager - Betty O'Brien News Editor - Cathy McKinley Second Class Mail Registration Number 1385 Subscription Rates: $6.00 per year in advance in Canada; . in • sited sta a and Forel n• sin le ca les 2 r1 NCNA