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Zurich Citizens News, 1980-07-24, Page 15Citizens News, July 24, 1980 Pogo 15 r 1 411111. By JACK RIDDELL. MPP Huron -Middlesex The controvertia1 question of computer pricing in supermarkets has been very much in the news recently. Just last week two major Toronto newspap.ers spotlighted the issue, one in a special column, the other in an editorial. Computer pricing is already in the supermarkets. Some stores are ex- perimenting with the system 'by showing the prices on the shelves only. At the cash -out desk, the computer scanner reads the prices which are shown in computer code only on -the goods being bought. My colleague, Bernard Newman (Liberal MPP for Windsor-Walkerville) has proposed a simple amend- ment to Ontario's Consumer Protection Act which states: "No retail seller shall offer for sale a product that is marked with a computer code unless the individual purchase price of such product is clearly expressed on the product, its wrapper or container." This brief, but clearly understood amendment, is all that is requiredby way of legislation to put a stop to the kind of difficulties which might arise in the wake of computer pricing. Similar measures have been taken in some U.S. states and in in- dividual U.S. municipalities. In fact, this clear-cut amendment has been' in- troduced in the Ontario Legislature on five different occasions, between April 1977 and March 191;0. On one occasion in June 1978, it was debated and received sup- port from all those who spoke. At ,that time, Mr. Newman recorded support from such large groups as United Church Women and labour unions. He went as far back as 1977, when the then Minister of Consumer and Com- mercial • Relations (Sidney Handieman) was quoted as !o:rnputer pricing saying; "Over the last year and a half my colleagues and I have received literally thousands of com- munications ranging from expressions of mild concern to, outright alarm over any suggestion to remove in- dividual pricing." When introducing his Private Member's Bill, Mr. Newman said he had proposedsuch legislation "irr response to the concerns of many consumers, especially senior citizens and others on fixed incomes, and union members, who have formed a caoalition with the express purpose of doing whatever is possible to ensure that in- dividual prices remain on products in stores using the U.P.C." He stated at the outset that he was not opposed to the principle of computerizing "check out" in the super- market. His entire interest was in the fact that the consumer might not have the opportunity for, comparison shopping. As he pointed out at that time, for some years the increasing concentration of the retail food business into fewer and fewer hands, the increasing size of food stores, the increasing number of check-out counters and the longer and longer check-out lines had led naturally to the retail industry seeking a way for automation to speed up the check-out time ofthe in- dividdal shopper. In this new electronic age, with the advent of the laser beam and scanning devices, and the- development of product identity ,,codes, a way to speed up check-out was finally devised. The new method of the UPC - the Universal Product Code '- finally finally reached the market. But as this occurred, the retailer assumed that the universal product code was sufficient and decided not to market individual items with - a price tag. The Universal Product Code is, of course, the symbol on boxes, cans or jars represented by 10 numbers and a series of lines and spaces. The first five numbers represent the company selling the product and these numbers are assigned to each company in the United States and Canada by a data bank. The last five numbers are selected by the manufac- turer to represent a certain product. Each of the numhers in the universal price code is represented by two black lines and two white spaces. The scanner reads the width of the lines and the width of the. spaces. It does not read the numbers. There are no prices on the UPC, universal product code. This code only identifies the manufacturer and the item. The Consumers Association of Canada has pointed out that an error in pricing cannot easily be caught when computerized pricing is used exclusively. It is possible for prices to be transposed - for cents to be translated into dollars. 'While most shoppers are always on the alert, it is difficult to keep track of all the prices and to pick up errors which are made by a fast operating electronic machine. Most shoppers consider it very imporant to be able to comparison shop, to have printed -out receipts with all of the articles marked so that one can compare them. This is the only possible way that consumers, if they are wilting to take the time to study those articles that are reduced somewhat as loss leaders to encourage people to buy, can.save. Old age pensioners are particularly concerned about the possibility of computer pricing. They are, for the most part, forced to live on limited incomes and they watch all prices very carefully. Computer pricing would make this task very difficult indeed. Our provincial govern- ment has conducted a survey of shoppers and has discovered that something like 90 percent of those surveyed prefer that goods be individually marked. In the Province of Quebec, there are laws to ensure that this is the case. Bernard Newman's proposed amendment seeks. to provide similar protection to Ontario consumers. ELECTRIFYING DUO — Jeff Masse and -Jamie Lesperance provided the audience of the Zurich Fair talent show with a fine demonstration of their skills on the electric guitar. Seek sing�rs at Blyth The Blyth Centre for the _ Arts is pleased to announce tithe formation in Huron County of a community choir, to be known as the Blyth Festival Singers. Members are currently be- ing recruited. and rehear- sals will begin in Blyth in September. • The Blyth Festival Singers will be under the professional direction of Mr. Laurie Rowbotham of Listowel, Mr. Rowbotham has a degree in Honours Choral Music from the University of Waterloo, and is presently director of music at the Listowel High School and organist and choir master at Trinity United Church in,Listowel. Mr. Rowbotham recently made an Ontario tour with the high school choir. which included a performance at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. The high school choir,• which is nationally known also sings with the London Symphony The repertoire .chosen for the new choir has been designed to appeal to all age groups and musical tastes. It will include selections as diverse as renaissance madrigals and New- foundland folk songs. as well as pieces from the classical repertoire. No audition is necessary, but a nominal fee will be charged to cover sheet music expenses. The new choir will meet every Mon- day evening in Blyth at 8:00 p.m.., beginning on September 8. For further in- formation about the choir, contact Lynda Lentz at 519- 523-9569. CLASSICAL PLAYING — Providing the audience of the talent show portion of the Zurich Fair with some classical piano elec- tions was Kim Redick of Zurich. Staff photo ,STRONG LADIES -- The wrist wrestling competition at the Zurich Fair had a number of ladies entered. Competing in the medium weight category were Alice Masse and Valerie Glanville. '`* Staff photo SKYFIGHTERS — Children of all ages htid fun time on the many midway rides at the Zurich Fair Saturday. Going for a • spin on the Skyfighter were Melanie and Melissa Masse.