Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 14, 1978, Winnipeg, Manitoba Vive Lafleur weekend putting jazz into words 25 daily comics strips letters to the editor now in Leisure satellites keep earthquake watch Leisure the Bronfman dynasty two part series starts today Page 10 target received per cent if goal 29.5% Quebec Levesque and the referendum 81 inside anytime.1 classified.59-80, 84-103 deaths.5, 5j finance.10-21 for people.25-44 movies.42-43 weather.5 sports.49-54 Jumble winners.45 puzzle.61 wee Clearing Low 0, High 9 Sun rises sets 6m1 . Moon rises . Sets . Winnipeg free press saturday october 14, 1978 final 15 cents coloured comics vol. 86 no. 13 business blames City land tax for flight from downtown area by Ingeborg Boyens outdated City land assessment is causing businesses to move out of an already deteriorating downtown a spokesman for the downtown Winni Peg association said Friday. City property assessments set at 1958 real estate values have resulted in some businesses paying too much land tax according to current values said Mel Michener president of the merchants and businessmen s association. The outdated assessment rates coupled with More attractive suburban locations Are chasing Many retailers and businessmen out of the downtown area. And that is the last thing a deteriorating Core said Michener. A recently completed investigation of 100 property assessments in Winni Peg s downtown has shown some strange anomalies in rates said Michener. Owners of the mall hotel at 469 Portage Avenue pay More taxes on the property than do proprietors of the prestigious Winnipeg inn at por Tage and main. See exodus Page 4 a photo Elaine Dale 18, of Grimsby England a thalidomide victim has child. Changes diapers with her feet thalidomide victim gives Normal birth Grimsby England a an 18-year-old thalidomide victim born without arms gave birth Fri Day to a Normal baby. Girl. Mrs. Elaine Dale and her 8-Pound-4 ounce daughter Sarah were doing Well at nun Thorpe maternity Hospital a spokesman said. Mrs. Dale said she has used a life sized doll to practise changing diapers with her feet. She has Learned to Cook clean and write with her feet. She is the second British thalidomide victim to become a Mother said the thalidomide Trust which aids victims of the drug. The first birth 18 months ago was kept secret at the family s request. The drug thalidomide a sedative produced by a West German firm was distributed in West Germany Britain United states Canada Australia and several other coun tries Between 1958 and 1961. It was found to have disastrous effects when taken by pregnant women and the babies of Many who took thalidomide were born without limbs or with other deformities. A Long court Battle with the drug s British distributors distillers co., resulted in settlements with about 350 families. Other Dis satisfied parents still seek compensation. Mrs. Dale whose Maiden name is Hufton went to Public school and became the first British thalidomide victim to pass a driving test. She used a specially adapted car with foot controls. She met her husband Peter Dale a 23-year-old television Engi Neer at a Folk music gathering and they were married last year. Elaine wears her wedding ring on a Chain around her neck. Bank of Canada increases interest to record 10 v4 Ottawa up opposition critics greeted Friday s move by the Bank of Canada to increase the Bank rate to an historical High of 10.25 per cent As a sign of government desperation to Rescue the sinking Dol Lar. The Central Bank announced Friday evening after the close of Stock and Money markets that the Bank rate which is used As a base for chartered Banks in determining their interest rates would go up by three quarters of a per cent its largest increase this year effective monday. This was the fifth time this year the Central Bank has increased its rate which stood at a Post War High of 9.5 per cent before the latest increase. The new rate of 10.25 per cent is the highest the Bank has Ever set since it was created in 1935. This is madness in economic policy. They be already tried this tactic four times this year and it obviously has had a negligible effect on the Why Don t they Ever said a new democratic party spokes Man. Progressive conservative my Walter Baker Grenville Carleton said it is doubtful the Bank rate increase will stabilize the Price of the Dollar on world currency markets. The world sees the kind of eco nomic trouble this country is in. This is the strongest indicator we be had so far of just How bad the situation really he said. Gerald Bouey Bank of Canada governor explained in a statement that the interest rate margin Between Canada and the United states had to be widened because of Canada s Exchange rate difficulties and balance of payments deficit. The increase in the Bank rate will provide room for the necessary adjustments in Canadian interest rates to he said. The Dollar closed on the International Market at 84.52 cents . Friday unchanged from its level one Day earlier. Postal workers will be ordered Back Ottawa up leaders of the Canadian Union of postal workers cup gathered this weekend to decide whether to fight or negotiate in the face of the government s threat to introduce Back to work legislation monday. Prime minister Trudeau told a High school audience Friday i give you my word that postal workers will be ordered Back to their jobs if strikes continue. The government held off the introduction of a Bill until monday to give a new negotiating Effort Between the Union and acting labor minister Andre Ouellet a Chance to work. Jean Claude Parrot president of cup met Ouellet briefly Friday and agreed to talk monday after consulting his National executive Board. Parrot did not say whether Ouellet asked him to Call off the Legal strikes that hit several centres Friday but he told reporters i did t give any Ouellet also refused to discuss de tails of his meeting with the Union but said in the commons he had expressed concern about the spread ing strike. Union leaders originally had threatened to Call a National strike Mon Day the same Day As 15 Federal by elections if there was no Progress toward a contract Settle ment. Locals in a number of areas including Montreal walked out be fore the National strike Call. Postmaster general Gilles Lamon Tagne said he Hopes for a negotiated agreement. I must say that the government must take its responsibilities in the face of a potential strike and has Given notice to parliament of introduction of Walter Baker progressive conservative House Leader pressed the government to introduce its Back to work Bill Friday but Ouellet rejected his request. Parrot was accompanied to his meeting with Ouellet by Shirley Carr executive vice president of the Cana Dian labor Congress. Ouellet was assisted by Bill Kelly the labor department s top negotiator. Parrot said Friday the Union would accept intervention from the Federal labor department. But he criticized the government for threatening Back to work Legisla Tion just one Day after the Union was in a Legal strike position. Wave Glowacki photo the threat of National postal strike has customers wondering if their mail will reach its destination in time. Contingency plans prepared by Andy Blicq As Post office employees walked off the Job in Eastern Canada Friday government officials began Assem bling contingency plans in preparation for a nation wide postal strike. A Federal government official in Ottawa said Post office facilities will be used to the maximum for distribution of essential cheques. Old age pension family allowance and Veteran cheques will be delivered by mail carriers in Urban centres while in Rural areas the cheques will be available at depots. Government offices at All Levels in Winnipeg Are preparing for the strike. An employment and immigration official said All unemployment insurance cheques will be issued at 460 main Street in Winnipeg and at offices in Rural areas. Reporting cards May be dropped off at any Canada manpower Centre. A spokesman for the City welfare department said the strike is no problem for people who receive their cheques by mail can pick them up at the City welfare office. In any Case of illness arrangements will be made to deliver the cheques. For landlords who receive rent cheques directly from the welfare office arrangements will be made for them to pick up the cheques at an office on a particular Day. Provincial welfare officials say cheques can be picked up at 880 Portage Avenue or 956 and 600 main Street in Winnipeg and at offices outside the City. For those incapable of picking up see postal Page 4 cardinals gather to elect Pope Vatican City a Cardu nals of the roman Catholic Church begin a conclave today to choose a new Pope for the second time in less than two months. The cardinals wearing red Robes celebrated the pro Elisendo papa mass the Liturgy for electing the Pope. Cardinal Jean Villot who is interim administrator of the Church presided Over the mass. He told the cardinals in his homily that god does not give us some sort of total supernatural enlighten ment we must elect a Bride Groom for the Church we elect a a total of 111 cardinals Are participating in the secret tightly guarded gathering the same num Ber that elected Pope John Paul i successor to Pope Paul i in a 26-hour conclave just 50 Days ago. John Paul died sept. 28, Only 34 Days after his election. The Only freshman elector is an american John Cardinal Wright who was bedridden in a Boston clinic for Eye surgery when he missed the August conclave. An other Cardinal who missed the a gust conclave because of sickness Poland s Boleslaw Filipiak died thursday of a brain Haemorrhage at his Home in Poznan. The conclave ends when the Church s 264th pontiff is elected by a majority of two thirds plus one additional vote of the cardinals present which adds up to 75 out of 111 voters. That might be Sun Day at the very beginning of the voting or it might not be for several Days. School Bells could peal in August by Brian Cole Portage la Prairie Man. Manitoba students could be returning to school in August instead of septem Ber under a restructured school year discussed during a Manitoba association of school superintendents mass meeting Here Friday. Under the proposal the traditional 210-Day school year would be reduced by 10 Days and divided into four 45 Day quarters separated by week Long Breaks. There would be summer holidays during june and july and a month Long Holiday around Christmas Henry Neufeld superintendent of Valley gardens school division said in an teachers May lace Reading counts Page 24 Neufeld who helped design the revised school year proposal said the change would put order in the school year presently divided into three parts with holidays during july and August and Shorter Breaks at Christ Mas and easter. The objective behind the restructuring of the school year is to eliminate the one Day teachers in service training sessions which Neufeld said interfere with students Progress. If i had an Opportunity to teach a Pupil for 45 Days without any interruption other than regular week ends and civic holidays i would achieve More than if i taught a Pupil with numerous avoidable interrupt not All superintendents were enthusiastic about the new school year proposal. One superintendent said August was Harvest month and Many Rural students have to help out at Home. Another said August was the prime work month for students. The proposal was sent to commit tee for further study and will be discussed at the next mass meeting scheduled for december ;