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PAGE 8, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982, WHITBY, FREE PRESS 550 to be laid off. Sklar elosing down for one week. Sklar Manufacturing Limited, Whitby's largest employer, will lay-off about 550 of its employees for a week starting next Monday. This will be the fifth ime in the last three, months that the Victoria Street plant has shut down. To make matters worse, the 100 workers who were indefinitely laid-off during the first shut clown in November cannot look forward to an early recail. "I don't think there bas been a time when it FLO'RI DA VACATION Club Internation*al wiIl guarantee. you and your, family, every year f or the rest of you r1lIf e, f u n in the suni at a beautiful resort hotel with a fullyequlpped kitchen in each suite. AIl for a ONE lIME ONLY COST 0F $1,250! Bank financlng available. Cali colleci 416-'482-6447 Club In ternational 10 a.m. -9 p.m.,daily FISHER REFRIGERATION & APPLIANCE PARTS NEW STORE OPENI-NG Hwy. 12 - 1 mile N. of lights next to Manchester Credit Union COMPLEEUNE 0F APPLIANCE PARTS, NEW & USED stove elements, washer & dryer parts, etc. WE BUY & SELL NEW & USED APPLIANCES Open 9- 9 AMPLE PARKING 655-3233 has been this bad, " John O'Connor, business agent for Local 50 of the Uphoîsterers Inter- national Union of North America, said last week. "The problem is it doesn't look like the end is near yet," he.added. "I'm anticipating more." O'Connor said that short work weeks have also been experienced. Bob Donald, the corn- pany's spokesman, said that the layoffa, can be blamed on the sagging Canadian economy and high interest rates. "People are watching their dollars at ail levels and furniture is a dis- cretionary type thing," the spokesman said. "You can always wait for another month to bu1Ç ldalso claimed that the last federal budget not only created uncertainty in the eco- nomy but reduced dis- posai incomne as well. WhMile dealer ware- houses are "plugged" Donald said that the> company is stili receiving custom or- ders. He could predict what the future will hold.' "If interest rates stay down and cash in hand is there, people wilI start to buy high-ticket items," Donald said., The spokesman said that he could flot foresee cancelling next week's shutdown and it is flot likely that the 100 inde- finitely laid off workers will be recalled before March. "We have a finely- tuned production machine and to keep it going, you need or- ders, " Donald said. The layoffs are not due to the firm's products which were recently given major awards at a- national furmiture show. But the company, he stressed, is concerned. IlWe have talented employees who have skills that are hard to find, " Donald said. "We want to keep them em- ployed."' Many employees are having financial diffi- culties O'Connor said, pointing out that they have no supplementary unemployment benefits fund. He added that many have neyer had to apply for unemploy- ment insurance and are Pot familiar with the procedure. LASCOwokr stil off job The Lake Ontario Steel Company Limited <LASCO) bas no imîne- diate plans to recaîl 100 workers who were laid off on December 24. Last week, company spokesman Tony Howells said he could not say when the workers would be back on the job. "It depends on the market," Howells said. "We'd like to caîl them back tomorrow. " He also did not know whether or not -more lay-offs could be expect- ed at the steel factory.. LA CONTESSA HAIR SALON *SALES* MONDAYS ½/ PRICE PERMS FOR ALL THIE FAMILY TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS INTRODUCING SUSAN BOLDUC OUR N EW HAÏIRSTYLIST ½ 2PRI'CEON EVERY HAIR SERVICE AVAILABLE 668m9262 "We aren't any differ- ent from anyone else. " When the, lay-offs were announced, the company said that the steel market was sof t. LASCO also supplies steel to the construction industry which is also experiencing troubles. The company and the United Steelworkers of Amerîca are also in the midst of negotiating a new contract. Bridge resuits The following are the results of last week's' play at the Whitby Duplicate Bridge Club. North and South: Dereck Aistein and Paul Beischlag, 98½/; Mr. and Mrs. Pat Davies, 95; Mr. and Mrs. Har- vey Winter, 84½; and, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Ketchell, 82. East and West: Mrs. Ben Harlander and Mrs. Larry Ruest, 81; Don MacLean and John Tith- erington, 801h.; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Cassidy, 79; and, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Barker, 77. ST Sun Re port from Queen's Park By THE HON. GEORGE ASHE, MP? (PC - Durham West), Ontario Minister of Revenue Rebate worked The Retail Sales Tax Rebate Plrogram for 1981 model cars, announced by Treasurer Frank Miller early last November and« administered by the, Ministry of Revenue, has proven a great success. The program called for a full rebate of sales'tax- paid on purchases of. 1981 model year cars and'light trucks. The maximum rebate of $700 was available, for vehicles delivered bêtWeen November 6 and December 5, 1981, provided the vehicle was' pur-, chased before November 29,1981. The program was designed to stimulate the auto industry by reducing dealers' inventories. Hligh in- terest rates had caused a dramatic reduction in con- sumer' demand for new cars which left many dealers with a large inventory of 1981 vehicles. This, in turn, prevented full production runs of the 1982 model year, resulting in layoofs and job losses. The President of the Automobile Dealers' Asso- ciation of Ontario reported the following resuits of the program: - The average number of vehicles a dealer retained at the end of the program was 18.0 com- pared to.50.1 when the program began; - An estimated $6 million in wholesale interest costs was saved because of depleted inventories; ' Retail sales volume increased to more than $320,000 on average, per dealer. Industry executives also found that November sales reflected the program's effectiveness. The vice-president for sales at Ford of Canada said the combination of company. discounts and the Ontario rebate provide the best bargains in memory. Ford's Ontario car sales rose 35 per cent in November, and truck sales were up 13 per cent. General Motors reported a 15.9 per cent increase in November car sales, and Chrysler reported a 5.8 per cent increase. Other points of interest resulting from the Asso- ciation's survey are that 99 per cent of the dealers reported increased showroom traffic on 1981 models, and 80.3 per cent of the dealers reported an, increase in interest on 1982 models. The tax rebate proàgram bas ýaccomplished ite ob-ý jective of helping the automobile inidustry continue its recovery. That is good news both to the Govern- ment, who initiated the policy, and to the almost one million people in the province - one out of every six workers - whose Iivelihood depends on the auto in- dustry's well being. While on the subjeet of'cars, the time to renew your licence plate stickers is fast approaching. .The deadline for driving with a 1981 sticker is mid- night, February 28, and if you're caught beyond that date with an old sticker, the fine is $28. The price thisyear is $30 for a four cylinder car, $45 for a six cylinder car, and $60 for an eight cylin- der car. For 1978 and newer model cars with engines over 6.5 litres, the price is $80. New licence plates are. also available for $2, and the new plates bearing the "Ontario' Yours to Dis- cover" slogan will be available this summer. Roman Cathollc Churches . HOLY FAMILY r. JOHN THE EVANGELIST Saturday Masses at St. PauI's Sohool 903 G if fard St. 668-3676 200 Garrard Rd. Sunqay Masses at Anderson Collegiate, 400 Anderson St. MASSES Oust above Dundas St.> 576-2098 Saturday, 7 p.m. MASSES rîday, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m. "Know that I arn wlth you aîways; yes to the end of tlmeo." VVeaiH& R Block wish you a Happy New Vear and would lke, to remnind you to visit us early for the preparation of your 1981 income tax return. By getting ready now for 1981 (taxation year) you wdll have a more relaxed and happy 1982 (calendar year). H&RBLOCK THE INCOME TAX SPECUAUSTS I Perîsioners:I Ask about special rates. THE INCOME TAX SPECIALISTS OSHAWA WHITBY 15 Bond St. E. 122 Dundas St. W. 1343 King St. E. Pickering 82 Kingston Rd. W. Open 9 A.M.,- 9 P.M. Weekdays; 9 -5 Sat. OPEN TONIGHT - NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY 7232217 Aloln thes. locations durlng thoir regular houru the eag, Sears OSHAWA CENTRE E ATO N YS SHERIDAN ML SOFFICIE) FURNITURE WARIEHOUSE*FULL IN AJAX