The Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-07-27, Page 9aL1411I'
one foot in the furrow by bob trotter Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 27, 1983—Page 9
watchdogs barking at supermarket heels
Supermarkets are being as cautiolis
as they can be within their huge buy-
ing groups.
They do not want to run afoul of the
anti -combines act. The federal Con-
sumer and Corporate Affairs Depart-
ment has warned these volume
buyers to live within the letter of the
law or the watchdogs will be barking
at their corporate heels.
Lawson Hunter, head of the depart-
ment's anti -combines unit, told the
press recently that he is particularly
concerned by the concentration of
buying power in the hands of a few
retailers. Abuses of this power, says
Hunter, could hurt manufacturers;
lessen retail competition and increase
consumer prices.
Although he did not say it, this buy-
ing power concentrated in the hands
of a few could also cripple agriculture
in this country, especially among
those sectors of the farming com-
munity which are not protected by
supply management marketing
boards.
Hunter is especially concerned
about two buying groups, the one
created by Dominion Stores Ltd. and
Steinberg Inc. and the one created by
Canada Safeway Ltd. and IGA
Canada Ltd. He says these groups
were created so members could
negotiate larger discounts from
manufacturers. The volume discounts
given to such huge conglomerates can
be as high as 25 percent of the
wholesale price.
Last year, 86 percent of all retail
food sales in Canada was funnelled
through five buying groups. These
groups controlled 14,000 stores and
had gross sales of $21.3 billion.
The consumer and corporate affairs
people are so concerned they have
sent a bulletin to these buying groups
because officials are worried about
the tremendous growth of volume
buying groups. I'm no longer worried
about the growth. That growth has
already taken place. I'm concerned
about the tremendous power, the huge
stick, the massive clout these groups
have. Why, they have the power
within their hot little hands to make or
break literally thousands of suppliers,
including farmers.
Buying groups are legal unless they
bring about reduced competition,
price discrimination or the formation
of an illegal merger or monopoly.
The whole thing smacks of
bureaucratic bungling.
It is somewhat like locking the
stable door after the pigs have ruined
the wheat field.
The anti -combines law has about as
many teeth as my old Aunt Katie who
has been gumming it for 40 years. If
the law was strong enough, these buy-
ing groups would never have been
able to organize to such a great ex-
tent.
I cannot help but feel sorry for peo-
ple such as Lawson Hunter and Bob
Lancop, an anti -combines staff in-
vestigator. They are probably more
aware than the rest 'of us of the poten-
tial 'for abuse that such groups can
have but they are forced to stand
helplessly while these groups form.
The law, as written, can do nothing to
prevent them. And those who form
them cannot be faulted. They are
simply being good businessmen try-
ing to buy products as cheaply as
possible and sell them as cheaply as
possible.
But so much power in the hands of •
only five groups is enough to frighten
the rugger pants off anybody.
Lord Acton's admonition, hoary
with age and over -used, still holds •
true: Power tends to corrupt; ab-
solute power corrupts absolutely.
JOBS
CARS
APARTMENTS
REAL ESTATE
PLUG INTO I
'CLASSIFIEDS
••..•••••••••••••••••.•••••.•••••••••••••'
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NOW PLAYING•
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WED. THURS.AT 7 8 9:15
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Suggest Huron County sports hall of fame...
•from page 2
Mr. Creamer told county
council. "All we want is a
vehicle to let these athletes,
or their families, know that
the county recognizes what
they've done and that the
county is proud of their ac-
complishments."
Mr. Creamer indicated
that Mayor Palmer had ob-
tained the constitution and
bylaws of the Glengarry
Sports Hall of Fame which
could be used as a
framework for Huron's.
Mr. Creamer said the list
of Huron County athletes
goes on and on.
"When one starts to recall
names of sports greats from
Huron County, names like
Ron Feagan come to mind.
He was the Canadian
Harness race driving cham-
pion and he hailed from Col-
borne Township. Danny Wig-
gins was the world roller
skating champion after
beating the Australian
champion William Correy by
10 miles. Wiggins travelled
163 miles on roller skates in
10 hours.
"Rosy Stoddart is another
St. Helens lady wearing cast after fall
by Kathryn Todd
Lila Rintoul is sporting a
cast these days. She fell off a
ladder and cracked her
ankle bone. Get well wishes
are extended to her for a
speedy recovery.
Roger Pannabecker and
Elsie are welcomed to the
village. They are residing in
the home formerly occupied
by Mr. and Mrs. Bob
MacGillvray. Roger is a
former native of St. Helens
and is welcomed back to the
neighbourhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Todd
enjoyed the company of Mr.
and Mrs. Rick Humphrey of
Clinton on Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. John Siecker
Jr. of Owen Sound spent the
weekend visiting with Mr.
and Mrs. John Siecker.
Huron County native who in
the 1930s excelled in track
and field events as well as in
hockey."
"I am not here to ask for
any money - only that you
take this information back to
your councils, local hockey,
baseball, soccer or other
sports groups. Give them the
information and have them
contact us," he said.
Construction is being car-
ried on in the village this
week. Mr. and Mrs. Green
have added a utility room to
their home and Allan
Cranston is adding a new
storage shed.
Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information
Starts Friday July 2
Showthiles Friday and
Saturday, 7 & 9:30 p.i
Sunday to Thursday
at 8 p.m. ONLY
9
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PARENTAL
IT GUIDANCE
A•tl•••lb In.
• - .•••••••••=•••••..wwsn ro. UOwn W •
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STARTS FRIDAY JULY 29
THE MOVIE OF 1983
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NIGHTLY
6:45 - 9:15
SAT. - SUN.
2:00 P.M.
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Mus-TIin
Drive -In
Huey •
ooa.IIIA
Alcon Rd
John Travolta
ALIUE
SI. 9931
NOW PLAYING
BOX OFFICE OPEN 8:30
WED. - THURS.
2 GREAT
MOVIES
FOR THE PRICE
OF 1
�ADU
ACCOLTYPAMIYf Mt
c o. nl I ...ou 4-04
LA«I« A--.• Oma.
STARTS FRIDAY
1.1r1 driL41 Y17,kr i,=1)
ALL new
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ADULTO
1\ ACCMPAMI0[MT
Ei VILJ Ill* Ili tl :FV:):441%;
Sflli'� V,iG.FTA[gt '1lh ;jSu.1 if SA\ f,'., SII' 1; .i. 1'IPPUh'rIITT
A, AN PvtR ai r'NNE dii''. ' N"'' ah 'kiI: BI R±; '1i`444i I I' IUVI
2 ND FEATURE
With
& Dolly
fhb much nen
ince couldn Y
A IPR.2RML IRO Walla
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WOR IP•COMMIP•OSID POO CIOLD••M
JAWS 3 CANNOT
BE SHOWN IN 3D AT
DRIVE INS
ADDED
SUNDAY
NIGHT
DAN AYKROYD
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�R. DETROIT•
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2 CHEECH & CHONG •
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NEXT MOVIE
SUNDAY BOX OFFICE
OPENS 8:00 P.M.