Friday, July 12, 1974—THE BULLETIN—9
WORLD DtUGAUS MASS FOR BBYO
B.B. BUI1DIII6 EXPANDS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Four hundred delegates, representing chapters of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization in Great Britain, Ireland, Colombia, and Israel as well as the United States and Canada, will assemble at Camp B'nai B'rith, Starlight, Pa., for the Golden Anniversary Conventions of Aleph Zadik Aleph and B'nai B'rith Girls, the boy's and girl's components of the world-wide Jewish youth movement.
A special contingent of 25 young persons from Israel, members of the Israeli counterpart of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, Noar L'Noar (Youth-to-Youth), will join the conventions, representing their country, as the culmination of a month-long study-tour of east coast communities in the UniteCStates and Canada.
These Israeli youngsters will visit in Montreal, Connecticut, New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. before proceeding on to Camp B'nai B'rith.
In addition to participating in lectures and discussions on various themes of North American Jewish life, the Israeli teenagers will be housed in private homes, the host families having sons and daughters in BBYO.
At the Golden Anniversary Conventions, delegates will assemble not only to reflect on the 50 year history of the organization, founded in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1924, but also to chart the future direction of the organization, which has served over 650,000 young people in its five decades of existence. Accord-
ingly, the theme of this year's Golden Anniversary Conventions will be "Machar" (Tomorrow).
SYRIAN JEWS
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protesting jigainst the holding of the conference as interference in Syria's internal affairs.
Mr. Poher said that he intended to reply to the diplomat that the aim of the conference 'Was to defend persecuted Jews in Arab countries and to make known the situation of Syrian Jews. The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights was being ignored in Syria.
Among resolutions passed by the meeting was one calling on the Syrian Government to allow Jews wishing to emigrate to do so freely and to allow all human and civil rights to those Jews who wanted to stay in Syria.
The resolution also urged the release of all Jews jailed in Syria as a consequence of the discrimination practised against them in the country.
Both the Israeli and Lebanese Embassies here have denied the London Daily Telegrai* report that American and Lebanese intelligence agents helped 92 Jews who had escaped to Beirut from Damascus in small groups to fly to the West.
The paper said the 92 refugees from Syria made contact with American under-cover men through a prominent member of Lebanon's 2,000-strong community. Arrangements were then made to take the Syrian Jews to Beirut airport in a large refrigerated van driven by a Lebanese Army officer.
At the airport, the Jews were transferred to a charter aircraft, which took off for France a few minutes later.
Stories like that in the Telegraph have been circulating here for some time.
It is well known, of course, that Jews have been escaping from Syria individually for years, but one Syrian Jewish escapee to whom I spoke and who does not want his identity revealed - claimed th^t 150 Jews had managed to flee from Syria since last December.
JCNiS.
WASHINGTON - B'nai B'rith broke ground for a $1.2 million addition to its international headquarters here. ^Thej|»ewjjing^^cl^^
completion within a year, will double the work area of the existing B'nai B'rith Building that was opened in 1957. It will also provide for ex-
panding the_ Klutznick Exhibit Hall, a Ihuseum devoted to American Jewish history, and the Four Freedoms Library, a research center on Judaica and human relations.
Finding out ymfw been cheated is bao.Finding out
legal is even worse.
Most deals are good deals but too often unsuspecting consumers have been taken for a ride by unscrupulous businesses. What seemed like a fair deal turned out to be a raw deal and to make matters worse it was legal. Now all that's changed because of the Trade Practices Act — the first of its kind in Canada. It s designed to stop 'sharp" practices and in doing this it also helps honest businesses who've had to put up with unfair competitors for too long.
Now the law can
helpi^iistaiMlup
forJ«)tirriglits.
The Trade Practices Act is now law in British Columbia and will be administered by the Department of Consumer Services.
Its aims are quite simple: to stop misleading and deceptive practices quickly and to help consumers recover their losses if someone has taken advantage of them.
By familiarizing yourself with the Act you'll become an informed consumer making it far more difficult for you to be the victim of an illegal practice. And if you should become the victim, the Act will help open the doors to the court so you can stand up for your rights."
Consumer tnuis-actkms defined.
Doing business in the marketplace of the 70's is often more than just the straight saleof merchandise. So the Trade Practices Act also defines the leasing of goods, the supplying of services and the granting of credit, as consumer transactions. This definition applies where you've entered the ileal ilfter July 5>. 1974. Only dealings governed by real estate! insurance and securities -legislation are exempt.
1^ Of illegal business practices.
Two basic types of practices are prohibited by the Act: deceptive and unconscionable.
Deceptive practices include everything from a dishonest sales pitch to misleading advertising and phone solicitations or exaggerated repair estimates. In other words if it's misleading, or has the tendency to mislead -it's deceptive.
Let's say you were told your new car will get ".10 miles to the gallon" when in fact you'll probably have difficulty in getting 20 miles to the gallon — that's deceptive.
Another example is T.V. repairs. YouVe told you need a new S75 picture tube when all your set needs is some minor adjustments.
If the court agrees that you've been misled, then you have a right to recover any loss or damages suffered and the decfeptive practice will also be stopped — for good.
An unconscionable practice is one that involves high pressure tactics and slippery, tricky deals. You've been conned, the business in question knows it and the court won't enforce the "bargain". Or to put it more politely, if the agreement is so highly unreasonable as to^ be unfair, or the circumstances surrounding the transaction are overly harsh, the court may declare the entire transaction to be unconscionable. If so, the supplier cannot enforce the contract but you may sue him if you have suffered any loss.
An example might be an elderly consumer who has literally been badgered into a long-term contract. Another possible situation may be, where you are led to believe you are renting a colour T.V.. but in fact you are committed to buy the set from the start.
These are Aniy a few examples of the type of selling tactics and other misleading practices that are the target of the Trade Practices Act. To help you the Act lists examples covering a broad range of deceptive acts or unfair schemes.
Whols in charge?
A Director of Trade Practices will be appointed to handle consumer complaints and investigate possible wrong-doings by suppliers.
The director will have a number of options available in order to settle a dispute.
First of all, an attempt will be made to discuss the matter with both sides and amicably resolve the matter. We're confident the great majority of cases can be handled this way.
If it appears the law has been broken, the director can ask the supplier to sign an agreement promising to abide by the Act and, for example, give the consumer back any money lost in the transaction.
If the supplier refuses, the director can ask the courts to settle the matter quickly and fairly.
Putting an end to^caieat emptor".
"Let the buyer beware" is a saying that's thousands of years old and the Department of Consumer Services will do everything possible to help you become aware of deceptive and unconscionable practices so that you will know when someone is trying to take advantage of you.
Service Centres will be opened at several locations in the province torecejye and act oh complaints. The centres will be staffed by counsellors, researchers, investigators, specialists when necessary and volunteers — all ready to help you. They'll be located in areas where you shop, close to public transpt>rtation and equipped with library/resource facilities.
Get in on the act.
One of the most important aspects of the Act is that it makes it easy to help yourself.
The Act catalogues traps for the unwary, loopholes and common abuses to watch for and what you can do about them... and there is a lot you can do. You can pursue a complaint on your own, and if necessary, go to court on it. You can ask the Judge to stop the illegal practice and to help other consumers in addition to yourself who may have lost money due to the same sharp practice.
So learn all you can about the Act and don't forget to use the valuable services of organizations like the Consumers' Association of Canada, Better Business Bureaus, the newspaper help columns as well as the Department of Consumer Services.
Now responsible consumers and honest businesses can stand up for their rights. With the help of the Trade Practices Act you've got what it takes to get yourself a fair deal.
If you're interested in learning more about the Act just write to the Department of Consumer Services in Victoria, B.C. Be sure to specify whether you're a consumer or business so you'll get the pamphlet that concerns you most.
British Columbia Department of
CONSUMER SERVICES
The Honourable Phyllls\buna Minister