Staff Reporters

“Come, fill the cup, and in the fire of spring,the winter garment of repentance fling.”Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

AUSTRALIA is at a crossroad in terms of effectively and efficiently using its energy resources, says Epic Energy CEO Jay Holm.

THESE days it seems almost everyone has heard of the world’s largest bookstore business, Amazon.com. That is remarkable testimony to a business that did not exist in 1994.What is also well known is that Amazon has yet to return a profit.

The world’s squillion dollar public relations juggernaut is resting easier this week after squashing the ill-placed notion: “We don’t need public relations when we’ve got marketing”.

THE new Franchising Code of Conduct has a number of requirements that will benefit both franchisees and franchisors, says Australian Competition and Consumer Commission small business officer Siobhan O’Gara.

POOR global market conditions for high-quality diamonds has forced the De Beers controlled Central Selling Organisation to cut back sales in an attempt to stabilise the market.

ATTRACTIVELY landscaped verges and 200-year old Tuart trees are attracting home buyers to Woodleigh Grove, where more than half the 42 blocks on offer have been sold to date.

THE recent controversial ideas design competition by the City of Stirling will be the prelude to a multi-million development on the Scarborough foreshore to attract tourists and more visitors.

Funny, corporately speaking, has become big business. While Peter Holland can be assured there are still places on the speakers’ circuit for the serious MC, the wise-cracker gets the bigger round of applause.

THE mandatory Franchising Code of Conduct introduced last year is seeing growing acceptance from the industry.

EVER wondered just how your retail business is going? How do others pinpoint the areas in their store which have fallen down? How do they set their standards, their goals and their budgets?

THE impact of a goods and service tax on property prices may be part of a driving force behind the increased levels of residential property sales, especially in the luxury bracket.

PERTH-based Glengarry Resources NL has launched a big drilling program to consolidate its position in the Tanami Desert.

MOVING from the security of the small primary school class group can often cause considerable anxiety to students starting high school.

REGARDLESS of their size, industry or financial health, a majority of major companies around the world are suffering some version of executive talent shortage.

PROPERTY analysts gazing into their crystal balls have forecast a relatively stable property market for the CBD during the remaining months of this calendar year.

THE Brumby’s bakery franchise has grown to 35 branches throughout WA in the past five years — with another seven planned by the end of the year.

SOVEREIGN Resources (Australia) NL has reached a significant milestone in the development of its SRDC manganese sulphate project.

WESLEY College recently launched WA’s first interschool student tabloid publication, xiBit, involving 10 other independent Perth schools.

BalthazarLawson Apartments buildingCnr The Esplanade and Sherwood Court, PerthThe BuzzBistro food that holds its ownagainst the best.Intelligent, deftly constructed food that you remember well after you’ve left the restaurant.A wine list to

Gold Corporation CEO Don Mackay-Coghill and WMC executive general manager, Peter Johnston are among those maintaining faith in gold. As you would expect.

THE 1999 Business Opportunities and Franchise Expo at Burswood Dome in May should attract around 5,000 people.

STRONG gains in the value of shares on the Australian bourse during March were driven by the energy, resources and banking sectors.

WESTERN Australian students have suggested that Year 12 exams stay in place, but all subjects — not just TEE subjects — should be tested.

The Premier looks at a new report on the oil and gas industry, the New Living program in Balga and healthcare developments in Bunbury.

OUR trading pal Singapore, we can report after a three-day excursion there, isn’t about to roll over under the weight of Asia’s economic collapse.

ONE of the main criticisms of the franchising code of conduct is the cost of providing disclosure documents.

POLICY makers need to think carefully about the consequences of defining what type of food should be exempt from a GST.

THE growing attraction for property with redevelopment potential in South Perth was demonstrated recently when six housing blocks came under the hammer.

SERVICE station operators are digging in their heels to fight for survival against new conditions in the industry that could put them out of business.

HYDROCARBON producer Bligh Oil & Minerals NL has drastically reviewed its modus operandi after recording heavy losses in oil and gas production.

JOHN Curtin Senior High School will be renamed the John Curtin College of the Arts next year as the final part in a 1989 plan to sharpen the school’s focus on the arts.