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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-10-16, Page 14ThERQN • ,..•, • • :•,•.. •EXPQSTOR OQTQBER1•• crt'l $ There has been coneid- • treble ifieettesten teeently on • the subject of consumer pro- tection, nere.ja OntVlo, the Previneial etiVernment seems *to adhere to tile erinelele that the conettriter ehould be Themiipo1icing force in the marketplace, and that the consumer should be provided svith the wherewithal to carry out that function. The gov- ernnaent's role appears to consist of providing certain statutes and supplying in- formation for the consumer, particularly with respect to legal rights. One area in which the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations has become involved is in the investigation of suspected fraudulent practices through the Business Practices Divi- sion. There seems to have been a long-standing cam- paign against auto trans- mission and repair shops. The idea that the consum- er should be the main polic- ing agent in the marketplace only makes sense when allowance is made for (a) the realities of the marketplace, (b) the difficulties inherent in a public information distri- "Raton process, and kc) the barriers which prevent con- sumers from exercising their legal rights. Frequently these problems call for a positive govern- ment response. This is the case, pot because the con- sumer cannot protect his or her own interests, but be- cause the nature of the marketplace and our legal processes are such that it is often not worth his or her while to take action to assert a consumer right. BUYER BEWARE Let's take a look at the realities of the marketplace. Vr4t, ri;C:! The orighlai aePteaeh In eseteraet taw to resolving dispute between two parties was the legal maxim caveat, emptor" -"Let the buyer beware". Today we r arely hear that saying raised to the level of a prineiple. This is because the conditions of the maritetplace. have, - - changed. — Years ago when this rule was originated, the buyer and the seller were usually on an equal footing. Nowadays, the consumer is In et_ far _weaker_ position vis-a-vis the seller: the con- sumer has no ability to negotiate either as to athe price or to the quality of the footle being sold. The fact that the seller is several stages removed from the manufacturer means that the seller is rarely intimately familiar with the peculiarities of the product or the partic- ulars of the manufacturing process which went into its production. The nature of advertising • and marketing practices are such that little valuable information is relay- ed to the consumer. With the great diversity of manufact- urers and retailers, the con- sumer stands little chance of becoming better informed, and his or her individual protestations will have little impact on the marketplace as a whole The other problem with the marketplace is that at the stage of buying a product or service, the consumer re- ceives very little information about his or her.contractual rights, and such rights of which he/she is informed are non-negotiable. Standard - form sales contracts and warranties are unintelligible to the average consumer, and even when deciphered • cannot be changed because , that's either "store policy" •or because that contract has been adopted lodustry,wide an.d there's no relief to ,be had from anv seller. 7071,07.•.7.7 7,, -1- '14 kie Watthwhile; or will have pos. tive results. " •,Marketplace proc,cases need to be made Inere.uader. Then there are the diffi- culties which hinder inform- • ation-dissemination • pro. grams. A study carried out 4, • under the auspices of the,..• Ministry of Consumer and : Commercial Relations en- • titled a Survey of Consumer Issues among the People of. _Ontstrin _ was _reiertseel_ in • August 1978. It indicated • that most Ontarians cannot • • mune a single consumer .• protection law. The actuual figure was 62% On the other:: side of the ledger, among '• those who knee7 something : of consumer protection, itot • one of the laws was well known by a large percentage. • Ten per cent of the respond- -• ents of the survey could : name the protection offered • by the cooling -off , period. : That provision of the Cons-,. sumer Protection Act re- ceived the highest recogni- • tion. Let's face it, ten. per cent is an embarrassingly • low figure! • bir THE LEGAL PROCESS There is also , of course, the matter of the legal pro- cess. It would almost certain ly be safe' to say that most laypersons are either ig- norant of, or intimidated by, our legal system. Indeed, it Is probably true to say that the majority exhibit both of these reactions. A number of other factors deter people from seeking redress in the courts. There Is the question of cost, of work hours lost, of doubt as to whether the exerdse is Hensall minister busy with visitors The singing of "Come Ye Thankful People. Come" opened the Thanksgiving service at Hensail United Church on Sunday morning and throughout the service to the dosing hymn. "Thank You Lord. on this Day" the dominant note was Thanks giving and Praise to God for His goodness to us. A large congregation heard Rev Stan McDonald speak on the subject of "The Dominant Note of Rea/ Religion" He stressed that the dominant expression of every Christian should be that of thankful- ness: as the Apostle Paul gave thanks for all things, so we need to give thanks for all circumstances.othe clouds as well as the sunshine. the darkness as well as the stars. The choir sang a ,-ery • beautiful anthem. "A Thanksgiving Prayer" with Mrs. Man Moffatt at the organ. The children's story was. "Count Your Many Blessings- and then the congregation joined in sing• ing the old loved hymn. "Count Your Many Bless • ings .•' The church was beaetsfuli% decorated on the Harest theme. by the Unit To ladies of the C.0 W Bill Fuss greeted the congrega- tion and David Row cliffe and Scott Jesney were the ushers. Next Sundae ce,ening, a special Evening Fellowship Service will be held at 30 p.m. with MissItis Castle. -a missionary to New Zealand, as guest speaker: she will also show her slides of her Mission work. Mr. and Mrs. Allen Inglis and Mrs. Vera Smith of Regina, Saskatchewan and Mrs. M. Oldham of Coiling - wood visited this past week with Mr. and Mrs. Bill Fuss and Rev. McDonald. The visitors are cousins of Mr. Mrs. Fuss and Rev. Mc Donald. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Hoffman of Exeter and Mrs. Tont Melvin and Mary Ann of Walkertoe visited this past week at the Manse with Rev. McDonald and his mother, Mrs. Carl McDonald white their cousins Mrs. Vera Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Inglis of Regina visited in This area. Mrs. Smith was born in Stephen Township, a daughter of the late Charles Hoffman and Fanny Williams. and moved to Saskatchewan as a small girl. She has not visited this area since 1938. The Interdenominational Bible Study sessions opened on Tuesday morning at the United Church with an excel. lent attendance. Following a period of Gospel singing. the group began their study of the Gavel of St. John with getting to know "John. the man" and the purpose and some of the characteristics of his writings. The group meets every Tuesday at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hail. Around 40 women from Huron County gathered at Wesley Willis United Church, Clinton. on Thurs- • day, October 9 for a work- shop on the duties of the Secretary -Treasurers and Public Relations Govenors. Under the guidance of Mrs. Alice Porter of Goderich, the duties were reviewed and informal discussions were held and all left with a dearer understanding of the "do's and don'ts of their jobs. We thank Wesley Willis for the use of their hall. • Huron WI rally hears florist speak on plants The Women's Institute Huron County Rally was held ai Gorrie United Church on Monday. October 6. When nearly 100 women gathered to hear Miss Flora Nabrotzkyi florist, speak on the growing of house plants and to discuss business. Miss Nabrotzky said to use imagi- nation with plants using small figurines etc, to make attractive displays. and had many attractive plantings to show her audience. Mrs. M. Batkin spoke about Huron County Histori- cal Society's meetings which have been well attended in spite of a small drop in membership. 13 books have been donated to the Huron Ceunty Library in memory of Mrs. Robert Simpson of Hensel. Mrs. Simpson had a large collection of clippings regarding the pioneers of Huron County and her daughter has donated these to the Ifistorical Society -they are irreplaceable. The gen ea logical society is to begin a study of cemeteries next year. Speaking on behalf of the Family and Children's Society of Goderich, Mrs. Peggy Rivers told of the use of the Huron County Wornen'e Institute Bursary this year; two girls are being helped through Cornmunity College. She also informed us of a volunteer programme which is helping the society financially to fulfill their duties. In the absence of the Home Ectitiomist, Mrs. L.auralee Maeshall, her re- port was read and the members were told of Miss Grace Bird's transfer to, %.fiddlesex. During tne afternoon, a gift wet given to Karen Whitmore of Seaforth who has completed 24 4 -II pro- jects and the Women's Insti- tute Scholarship was pre- sented to Diane Godkin, Walton. The rally will be held in Huron West in 1981. R. K. PECK APPLIANCES "In the heart ofdowntown Varna" VACUUM CLEANERS sales and service of most makes * CB RADIOS AND ACCESSORIES • SPEED QUEEN APPLIANCES • rvrOFFAT e.PPLI A NCES • SMOKE SENSORS * INSECT LIGHTS' AND FL * HAND CRAFTED Gins Varna, Ont. Y KILLING UNITS 482-7103 • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • .0 • 0 standablei Many Vendotiuse standaid.forin contracts. The., government coold require tIiesq.b0 written in ,plain • • • • a • 7 .777,9,7•!, 717,77,7r., -eiioieei eve English, additioni .the applicabilit,YL ;- of ; penalties could' be extended to breich. • es of speclflc _provisions .ot " • ...... • 98119 • 1196 111* *9 • VI • 19.0.11 die • • 091';• ** 10. • • • • • * • • • * *** • ** ** * ...•. —Fr .7","•-77,707,7.^7,7'.."-,70,7..-7,`,77-'77.-7,,,, ▪ Im•yric•••419 conatuner protiction tion, Consumer protection laws COUM be irkutde more ac§e.0140 • and Mom., ig.sitY understandable, Ratrters which presently inhibit con- • stutters Anal asserting their litikation could be retnoved. For example, there could be,. • provision fat' minimum Judgement avvardea :usiivegs .. OPTICIAN David Lortg$_toff Ltd Optician 87 Main St. S. Seaforth OPTOMETRISTS AND OPIMIALMOLOGISTS Prescriptions FilledPromptly HOURS: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. Closed aft day Wed. COMPLETE OPTICAL SERVICE ' S27-1303 PAIN PAINTING Exterior and interior *Reasonable rates •Ouality Work C011 Tom Burke 345-2756 LLicensed MechaniC CAR CARE GORD'S GULF Service to all makes of cars HOUSE CALLS AVAILABLE 527-0333 ranSHARPENING ---N All types of saws, knives d scissors sharpened Specializing in Carbide saws and tools STAY SHARP SALES AND SERVICE Gordon Blienchard RR4, Walton S27-1806 FARM SUPPLIES r Cp+, F , C5 1, Coe. szr Seaforth Co-op 527-0770 DECORATING E t)Pr - • - Ca.o.pes 'COv Sairo, HILDEBRAND PAiNT AND PAPE c27 '5 fvcao" Sf Sea*,•10., APPLeANCES' Appliance - and Refrigeration REPAIR SERVICE Jim Broadfoot 482-7032 •••••••••••••••• DECORATING • Graves 'Wallpaper & Paint 1144;geheit PAINTS Canadian & imported Wall Coverings 527-0550 Seaforth Featuring ELECTRICAL Fred Lawrence Electrical Contractor HOME FARM & COMMERCIAL WIRING Phone Auburn 526-150.5 or Mitchell 348-8684 ELECTRICAL Geo, A. Sills & Sons HARDWARE ,, MERCHANTS PLUMBING - HEATING & ELECTRICAL EXPERTS Phbne: S27.1620 Seaforth PIANO TUNING • R•poe: , • Rebuitthilg • Kays Itecoyeeed • Demep-Chasets BRUCE PUISIFER 348-9223 Mitchell. CONCRETE 11 READY MIX LTD. 420 SAYFIELD RD., CLINTON, ONTARIO 482-3431 ADVERTISING Boost your income BUY THIS SPACE TO—DAY CalI 527-0240 a-• } , 4 • • 19.11 • • *a, 4,9 "AP•I • FUNERAL HOME-‘ Whitney :Ribey Funerai Home ROSSW. AMEX DIRECTOR 87 Godcrich St.. Scaforth Phone 527-1390 CEMETERY MONUMENTS Sincere'and courteous service INSURANCE SEAFORTH INSURANCE 39 Main St. S. Seaforth .Horne .Business .Farm .Auto • Sickness & Accident . Investments 5271610 A••••••••••••••• SEWING ' SEWING MACHINE SUPERMARKET over too machines on discisv Service loan teases Sales - white. Eina, Husqvarna Midi used machines from SAS& SEW AND SAVE CENTRE LTD. tee tkr•niti St. (2 Capri south of Hud•Cins) \„ Stretford, 271.-9660 "—MONUMENTS Cemetery Monuments Inscriptions Markers Showroom Display - 'WHITNEY • MEI,' • FUNERAL HOW. 87 Goderich St., West Agent far Wingharci Memorisds • Seaforth 527-1.390 2 USTOM BUILDER 1 -4 -61 -mw) FEENEY CONStRUCTCON LTD • Custom bulkier* • Contracting Comptes building New homes Ranovations • Firm buildings 345-2405,.DubIin ADVERTISING—N Boost your Income BUY THIS SPACE TO—DAY Call 527-0240 ,-0 ,INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL and FARM WIRING CALL Brodhagen Electric •GARY DILL 345-2442 JOHN ELLIGSEN 345-2447 APPLIANCES APPLIANCE & REFRIGERATION SERVICE - Authorized factory warranty Service and repairs to KELVINATOR & INGLIS APPLIANCES Service and repairs to all makes HORNE'S MAJOR APPLIANCE SALES& SERVICE 527-0636 Seaforth IMPROVEMENTS MacLEAN HOME - IMPROVEMENTS Phone 527-0032 Free Estimates For Siding - Aluminum and Vinyl, Aluminum Windows, Doors, Awnings, Railings FEED MILL • FLENIING FEED MILL • Bulk Pelleted Peed, • Fast unloading elevator • 2 pits open 24 hrs. a day CLINTON 482-3438 CARPENTRY CARPENTRY Custom Built earns, sheds, houses, renovations, house add- itions, cupboards, spiral stairs. concrete finishing. John Ryon 527-1520 John Peckitt 482-7567 r. MUFFLERS Mufflers guaranteed as long as you own the ear • SEAFORTII MOTORS LTD. • 527-1010 • • • *** :0 'CHIROPRACTOR "N Z,* • . SEAFORTH •o . [ . CH IROPRACTIC—r CENTRE, - : Thomas J. Devereaux 26 Goderich $t. W. Seaforth, Ontario Phone Bus. 527-1242 Res. 527-1942 Mon., Fri., 8-1, 2:30-6:00 , 'Tues., Thurs. 8-1 2:30-8:30 Wsaetd.,89:11 ,----ELECTRICAL K. MURRAY ELECTRIC 24 hour service Farm, residential, industrial and commercial wiring 527-0984 Seaforth T.V. & STEREO —) :Mr Complete L me ZENITH TEL E VI SION AND STEREO SALES SERVICE • Seaforth Electronics 17 Sperling St., 527-1150 CHIMNEY SWEEP Chimney Need Cleaning? can VERN'S CHIMNEY SWEEP SERVICE Seaforth 527-0674 ROOFING -. LARRY M RATH C0NSIRUCTI0N 7 years of usiness in Mitchell & 7 years prior experience *Roofing of all kinds *Chimney & Slasonary Reeisles • sesupentry Work *Conerete Finishing *Exterior House Painting *Siding & Eavestroughing FREE ESTIMATES CALL COLLECT ANYTIME MITCHELL 348-9407 IMPROVEMENTS GERALD COEEM-AN HOME IMPROVEMENTS • Aluminum Siding • Renovations & Roofing 565-5347 FREE ESTIMATES. • • • • • • • • 11,1 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••6••••••••••••••••••••••••••••4•••••••••••••••••000... 01* d*Alit -.le *1*.A.-...alt- ••se -•••••- •