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\ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1948 THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTs Year Saw New Highs ® By Business Indicators Montreal, Dec. 24--"While some recessive tendencies appeared tem- porarily in the spring and others have developed in later months, the year as a whole has seen new advance of "at least 12 per cent" has been attributable largely to the power, materials and plant capa- city, have been smaller than last terms, has probably been about three per cent." Noting the appearance of "im- portant new frontiers of expan- sion" during the year, the B of M cites. spectacular discoveries and | $461 _ production in Prairie oil fields, progress in exploring and devolop- ing valuable deposits of titanium and uranium-bearing ore, and the proving up.of high-grade iron ore bodies on the Quebec-Labrador border. Capital Goods Industries At Peak of Expansion - "The capital goods industries have been operating at boom levels,' the bank states. "Expenditures in 1048 on new plant, equipment and housing are expected to reach a record $3,000 millions, 25 per cent more than in 1947 and 87 per cent more than in 1946." This expansion, while of great significance .from the standpoint of future production, has undoubtedly had "near-term inflationary impli- cations," the review notes. The heavy diversion of manpower and resources into produgtion for cap- ital ° purposes inevitably tended, throughout 1948, to "widen the gap" between spendable income and consumer goods. "For most of the year the broad upward trend of prices continued, the movement being accompanied by the stresses and distortions that rapidly changing values engender," the B of M comments. "The as- cending curve, however, has been less steep than in 1947, while to- . ward the end of the year there have been signs of stability in the gen- eral price level and some declines in agricultural prices. During the first 10 months of 1948 the index of wholesale prices rose by 11 per cent to 2065 (base 1935-39 equals 100), whereas in the corresponding period of 1947 the increase was 24 per cent." The wide gap between wholesale price levels in the United States and Canada that developed during mid-1946 has by now virtually clos- ed, the review says. Canadians Spend More For Fewer Goods Generally speaking, the review commented, Canadians have this year been earring more and spend- ing more but getting fewer goods and services based this on the observation that, although dollar aggregates of retail sales were running consistently higher than in 1947, sales in terms of physical volume during 1948 appeared to be somewhat lower than last year. The value of Canada's foreign the B of M stresses. For the 10 months ended October, merchan- dise exports amounted to $2,465 millions as against Smpons of $2,167 millions. While year commenced amid Wale pre- occupation with problems of the US. dollar shortage, there has been "a gradual improvement." At Sep- tember 30, 1948, the Dominion's official holdings of gold and US. funds amounted to $855 millions as against the postwar low figure of 1 millions reached on December 17, 1947. Of the increase of $394 millions, however, $150 millions was the result of borrowing by the Do- minion Government in New York. It is apparent, the statement emphasizes, that a satisfactory level of Canadian report trade, has this year been 'increasingly dependent upon demand either directly from, or financed by, the United States, Bethlehem Star Features Show At Planetarium New York--Science and religion are joining hands these nights in a spectacular show depicting the Star of Bethlehem--the heavenly body that directed the Three Wise Men to the manger where Jesus was born, And for the first time, motion and: color are being used in the Hayden Planetarium = Christmas show. Seven theories of the Star of Bethlehem are offered. They are: 1. That the Wise Men may have seen the plant Venus which is unusually bright at this time of year. 2. That it may have been Halley's Comet, which appeared in the time nc. known as 11 B.C. The exact year when Christ was born has not been determined. 3. That it may have been Donati's Comet, which appeared in 7 B.C. 4. That it may have been a clus- ter of three planets--Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. Astronomers believe that the planets were 203 DUNDAS ST. W. Merry Christmas We send our warmest greetings for a very happy Yuletide holiday and a prosperous, healthy New Year to you. * TERMINAL TAXI PHONE 380 With Best Wishes for CHRISTMAS We've a round of good wishes for the New Year that we ex- tend to all The BEAUTY SPOT BROCK STREET SOUTH WHITBY They Can Hardly ' Wait For Santa --Central Press Canad These two youngsters, like thousands of children all over the connie, can hardly wait to get a glimpse of Santa Claus with his fur-trimmed coat and pack of parcels for good little boys and girls,"With infinite care they hang up their stockings Christmas Eve. close together, probably in the form of a triangle at about the time Christ was born. 6. It may have been a fire ball, a very brilliant meteor. 7. That it truly was a miracle star --supernatural star put in the heavens for that sacred event. The 1948 Christmas show at the Planetarium already 'is attracting record crowds, Gordon Atwater, curator, said today. The increased interest, he be- lieves, comes from two new scien- tific additions to the show. At the start, children are particularly surprised when they see Santa Claws and his reindeer parading around the horizon, The "trick" is done through use of two miniature carousels located on the great in- strument. The other innovation is the pro- jection of moving carol singers and in color on the sky. The finale is the showing of the miracle star with a brilliant ray of light lead- ing to Bethlehem. A typical Beth- lehem scene is projected into the heavens in color, with the miracle star sending its brilliant ray to- ward it. Atwater designed the technique of sending color projection to the artificial sky, but the parade of | the reindeer was designed - by Walter Favreau, staff artist for the Hayden Planetarium. Atwater said that it is the first time any planetarium has used motion and color. The trick of it, he said, is the planetarium's secret. High Octane k Too Powerful = Columbus, O., Dec. 24 -- (AP) -- Seaman Beryl Smith of the Colum- bus Naval Air Station learned something yesterday about the fuel that supplies air power. In fact, it blew him out of his automobile. Smith was driving his 1936 Ford car downtown. The tank was filled with 110-octane aviation gas "As T started to stop for os traf- fic light the door blew open and threw me out into the street," Smith related. X A bus driver handed tam, a ire extinguisher, but it was o e value in coping with the blaze. The car was destroyed by the-time fire- men arrived. Firemen said the explosion was caused by a backfire in the carbur- Smith's only injury was a slight bufn on the index finger of his right hand. CHRISTMAS GIVING Giving alms at Christmas origi- nated in the belief that the Christ came sometimes to the door dis- guised as a beggar during thé holi- day season, and it was feared that he might be turned away unrecog- nized. There is an old legend that tells of the Christ child going from door to door on Christmas Eve in search of those who were kind, and dese: . His test was to plead for aid and often he was turned away 4rom the door. This story led to alms giving on Christmas Eve and it was rare that a beggar was refused. The Staff of the Whitby Office THE TIMES- GAZETTE. EXTENDS a Mowry. Christma 4 | Robert Corbett, Joseph Sherrer. ~~ SNS ~ A Joyous Noel May the star of the wise . men which shone from above, reflect down the J. years bringing goodwill to all pW. C.TOWN +9 , and SONS HO U. § E Che Other Christmas Christmas--a time of candle-light flickering on happy faces, a time of carols and good cheer, of brightly-wrapped gifts and tinselled trees. Oo F And deep within us all is still another Christmas, the Christmas guiding our every day-- a Christmas born for us of a tolerance and understanding that goes beyond words; born for us so that men may live in harmony, with purpose to their lives and benevolence xX. in their hearts . ; : This is the other Christmas, the spiritual Christmas. S EA GRAM May you enjoy a Yuletide crowded with hap 4 piness . . . a Christmas tree heavy with the gifts you've looked forward to. BEST WISHES TO YOU ALL SOUTH -END GROCETERIA L LAW -- BROCK ST. 8. --- LHRI THAS GREBTING AND [WI Bright as the red poinsettias on Christmas morn are our cheerful greet- ings to you. VIGOR OIL CO. BEN LAMBERG, Prop. Our cheeriest Yuletide sentiments harmonize with the merry notes of | Christmas bells as they ring out-Joy! to the world and Happiness to all. | Ht