The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Report from Q ueen's Park By Geoie me, MP.P. The media has been speculating quite a bit during the past few weeks about proposed increases in the price of alcoholic beverages and I think it would be timely to review the facts surrounding this issue. About August of last year, when the value of the Canadian dollar was dropping daily, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, and through it the Government of Ontario, was faced with a major dilemma. The policy has-always been to increase the selling price of the different products from time to time, if the purchase price was increased. Usually such changes were occasional. But with the decrease in value of our Canadian money, combined with a sudden upsurge of some European currencies like the German mark, the purchase price of dozens of imported wines and spirits increased each week. The LCBO decided to absorb for the time being, any increased costs of importing wines and spirits, with the hope hat the Canadian dollar would soon stabilize. In the meantime, the cost of purchasing some products, like white French wine, has increased dramatically, and this has presented several problems. First of all, the mark-up price on imported wines is geared to encourage and support the Ontario grape and wine industry. Quite frankly, this is a policy which I personally support, although Iknow many people do not. As long as we continue to absorb the increased cost of providing imported wine to the people of Ontario, our own domestie producers will suffer. In addition to this, without question the revenue the Provincial Government receives from. the sale of wine and spirits, totalling some $350 million, is very important to our overall economy. While the LCBO has been absorbing the increased cost of imported wines and spirits over the past seven months, Ontario's overall revenue has of course dropped off. If the taxpayers do not want us to raise these very necessary funds through the sale of alcohol, then we must find that money someplace else. Our choices then are one of three: we can return to the normal mark-up policy, Wè can raise some other area of taxation, or we can reduce services. Although whatever choice is made will undoubtedly displease some people, it is clear to me that the LCBO must return to its normal mark-up policy, now that the Canadian dollar has stabilized. In comparison with other Canadian provinces, distilled ITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1979, PAGE 19 spirits like rye have a iower mark-up in Ontario than in any other province, and imported spirits have the second lowest mark-up. Admittedly, Ontario has traditionally charged a high mark-up on imported wine ithan most other Canadian provinces, but our domestic wines are marked up dramati- cally less than in our sister provinces. Beer is priced lower in Ontario than in any other province. I do agree that the mark-up on wine and spirits is high. But it is not much higher than the mark-up on other luxury items such as jewellery or styled clothing. To me it makes sense to have luxury goods like alcohol and cigarettes taxed more heavily than necessity items. DuPont president predicts new period of growth Du Pont of Canada sees better prospects for the Canadian manufacturing sector. "If Canada succeeds in bringing inflation rates down to more acceptable levels in 1979 and 1980, the manufac- turing sector may enjoy an extended period of good growth," stated President J.E. Newall in the Com- pany's Annual Report. He gave several reasons for the improved environ- ment for manifacturing in 1978. "This was due in part to a number of constructive stens taken by government in recent years and in part to the depr'eciation of the Canadian dollar. The committment by govern- ment to spending restraint, a series of responsible federal budgets -- some containing important incentives to sti- mulate the private sector -- and a major effort by the federal government to con- sult closely with business and labor and respond to their concerns, have had a significant impact on busi- ness confidence." Mr. Newall reported that Whitby Curling Club results MIXED 3rd DRAW WINNERS Friday "A" winners: 1) Greg Stevenson, Andrea Lawes, Dave Lawes, Helen Stevenson. 2) Andy Pater- sen, Elizabeth Patersen, Tom Dodge, Flo Dodge. Friday "A" winners: 1) Keith Lawes, Judy Lawes, Bill Armour, Sandra Armour 2) Stan Brownlee, Yvonne Brownlee, Ted Gibson, Pat Gibson. Friday "C' winners 1) Dave Werry, June Werry, Terry* Stanley, Eleanor Stanley 2) Ron Ennis, Char- lotte Ennis, John Woodraw, Arlene-Woodraw. Wednesday winners 1) Toley Wozniak, Shirley Hutton, Paul Rycroft, Mary Rycroft 2) Mac Binning, Ev Bonnetta, George Campbell, Mary Ann Campbell. manufacturers in 1978 recorded a significant gain in volume of shipments and in new and unfilled orders; use of capacity reached the highest level since 1974 and investment intentions rose sharply. There were also signifi- cant negative factors, he said. These included the un- certain outlook for the U.S. economy, the impending Quebec referendum, high interest rates, and a slower growth in housirig construc- tion. Other problems were the continuation of a large deficit in the balance of international payments and the high levels of unemploy- ment. On balance he looked for a growth in the gross national product of now more than 3.5 percent this year and "mod- erate" growth in Company sales. As reported earlier, the Company had sales of $661,581,000 in 1978, com- pared to $534,479,000 the pre- vious year, a gain of 24 percent; export sales were up 83 percent. Net income was $10,236,000, equivalent to $1,28 a common share, com- pared to $7,622,000 or 94 cents in 1977. "This improvement is a source of some satisfaction; however, our results repre- sent a far-from-adequate return of three percent on average total 'investment," Mr. Newall reported. DuPont of Canada has op- erated a factory in Whitby on Dunlop Drive for the past 20 years. Whitby Community Bingo e Jaycee • Kiwanis e Kinsmen D Optimists 2 $- JACKPOTS EVERY MONDAY NIGHT Monday, April 16, 1979 FIRST JACKPOT AT 50 NUMBERS SECOND JACKPOT AT 54 NUMBERS 7:15 p.m. NO ADMISSION CHARGE! HEYDENSHORE PAVILION (Corner Water St. & Duhlop Dr., Whitby) R.R. 1 Whitby, Ontario Bayly East and Durham 23, Ajax Phone 668-9454 LANDSCAPING IS DUR BUSINESS WHITBY DISTRICT BOY SCOUTS PAPER DRIVE NEXT SATURDAY A pril 14,1979 PLEASE HAVE YOUR PAPERS OUT BY 9:00 A.M. I Lie, No.. 235481 No càHdren under .16 admitted. *