SUE THE LIQUOR STORE?

Comox District Free Press ~-
There are hundreds of laws
in this country which are not

being strictly enforced be-~
cause they are almost unenfor-
ceable,

One such law, and very re-~
cent at that, is the amended
B.C. Litter Act as far as it
involves disposal of cans
and bottles.

Not only is this law being
contravened, spurned, bynass~
ed or iqnored, but it seems
many stores are unaware of its
content.

The Litter Act in part
states: ''No person shall sell
or offer for sale beer, ale,
carbonated beveraqes, or
drinks in a qlass, plastic,
or metal container for con-
sumption or use off the
premises on which they are
sold or offered for sale un-
less the person undertakes
to refund to the purchaser on
delivery of the container
the sum of not less than two
cents for each container,"

Niithout limitina subsect-
ion (above), a person may
make arranqements with an
agent, or with a wiiolesaler
or a distributor in the same
locality, to provide a depot
convenient for his customers,
for the acceptance of cont-
ainers purchased from him,
and for refunds to the pur-
chaser as required,"!

"This section applies to a
government liquor store under
the Government Liquor Act.''

Admittedly this sounds a
lot of jargon, but at least
its intention is very clear.

Take the last part first.
Accordina to this the liquor
store must take back hard
liquor bottles. Yell, they
won't.

Many people are attemptina
to obtain refunds of two cents
on cans and bottles and are
being refused at some outlets
that sell these commodities.

In some cases, Comox
Valley merchants are re-
fusing to give money and
insist that the person take
the refund in goods purch-
ased from the store. Other
merchants are saying that
they will not aive refunds
as the item was not oria-~
inally purchased from their
store.

According to the act, it
would seem that anyone pur-
chasina say, a can of
oranaqe juice, tomato juice,
or any drink can demand a
refund. It is equally true
that the merchant will not
aqive it, anymore than the
liquor store will refund
on hard drink bottles.

All of which makes the
act farcical.

What can the public do?
That's what we would like
to know. What should the
police do? That.'s what they
would like to know. We have
come to the conclusion that
the act is either impract-
ical or unenforceable. The
onus cannot be left to the
retailer. We have also
come to the conclusion that
the act will have to be
changed. We cannot nave the
sovernment liquor store
being sued, can we?

| od alah RES iia a ielioncarcabshecalet hued tens

11

HUNTING

Oct. 7 -— Nov. 26, 1972
Cow Season
October 31, 1972 - Goat and
stone sheep season finishes
November 26, 1972, Deer season
over, as well as
Migratory bird season,
ducks and geese.

kik ok &

Our game warden, Brian
Baldwin informed us that manv
people are carrying fire arms
in their vehicles without a
fire arms license. This
license is mandatorv as of
April 1, 1972. For example,
carrving your gun(s) in your
truck on a rack with no inten-
tion of using it. Mr. Bald-
Win has been warning the vio-
lators of this recent legisla-
tion, however a word to the
wise is sufficient!

The license may be purchas-
ed at 185 Zimmerman Street
for $1.00.

It is said that Moose and
Cariboo are still up high due
to good weather. Bulls are
nearing the ending of the rut.

kkk

Residents from the southern
parts of the province are
leaving with very few trophies
Most of the animals have been
taken from Bob Quinn Lake
south.

KKK KK K

Remember when the mine
valley was green and horses
grazed along the roadside?
The well known foxes and
their den are located in
the vicinity of this photo
also,