The Birmingham Post from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 6

6 SATURDAY July 4 1992 The Birmingham Post COMMENT Hi-tech is going for gold The Birmingham Post Founded John Frederick Feeney 1857 Amalgamated in 1956 with The Birmingham Gazette (founded 1741) 9 Terry Page Editor Nigel Hastilow Deputy Editor John Lamb Danny Barton David Wallis AisUat Editor Assistant Editor Niijht Editor priceless cache They found a tunnel a pyramid-shaped pile and a small lake that appeared to have been man-made all possible hiding places adventure is Indiana Jones" said Mike Mancusi an American TV producer filming the expedition is in real life what Hollywood spent millions to depict" Garces is realistic about his chances of getting rich knowing Ecuador's claim to Inca antiquities position is the gold belongs to the government We want to keep some of it" There is a bigger reason to find the lost gold to shed new light on the Incas In May Garces led a 65-member team including four dozen porters carrying equipment in the first hi-tech exploration into one of the wettest areas on the South American continent They spent two weeks searching for the landmarks described in Brunner's journal: a mountain shaped like a reclining woman a cross of rock a lake like a butterfly a natural formation in the shape of a four and a cave full of gold They found all the signposts but not the cave Infrared scanners probed dense brush to find hidden caves Ground-penetrating radar searched 300 feet (90 metres) into the rock for a hint that they had found the said in an interview as he prepared for his departure An estimated 60000 Incas were marching to the Spaniards' stronghold when they learned Atahualpa had been executed The Incas hid their treasure in a cave or perhaps under a lake and returned to avenge their dead ruler in battle In 1984 Garces says he discovered the journal of a German explorer named Eugene Brunner who spent parts of five decades searching the Llanganati range The 80-page diary includes photographs notes maps and sketches of a site near Cerro Her-moso "Beautiful Mountain" a 16000-foot (5000-metre) peak in the Llanganati range "I have to do this I have no choice" The treasure said to consist of gold statues masks ornaments jewellery gold ore emeralds and other gems is believed to have been hidden in a cave in the Llan-ganati Mountains in central Ecuador by followers of Atahualpa The Inca king was captured in the 1530s by Spanish conquistado-res under the command of Francisco Pizarro who demanded a ransom for his return The Incas paid room full of gold" but Atahualpa was not released by the Spaniards Hoping more treasure would buy the king's freedom the Incas assembled a golden caravan Garces From Jim Loney In Miami A team of treasure-hunters leaves on Sunday on a hi-tech search for the legendary lost gold of the Incas believed to have lain hidden in Ecuador's mountains for four centuries The team sponsored by more than two dozen LS companies is led by Oswaldo Garces an Ecuadorean who says he can trace his roots back to the family of Ata-hualpa the last great Inca ruler He believes fate set him on the trail of the treasure I was a kid I dreamed of this cave and this gold" he said John Bonnott Eileen Howdle Patrick Sexton newspaper Sales Display Advertising Classified Advertising 28 Colmore Circus Birmingham B4 6 AX Editorial: Tel 021 236 3366 Fax: 021-233 0271 Little interest When a grunt raises a groan then an outcry in a small cut More than a year ago John Major's closest advisers were insisting the worst of recession was over and recovery about to take off Today almost every new economic statistic makes that optimism sound utterly hollow and fraudulent Unemployment is heading unerringly towards three million 48000 businesses went bust in the last year 75500 families lost their homes house prices arc still dropping and public spending is spiralling out of control Nor is there anything but the faintest sign that any upturn is in prospect Much of the misery is directly attributable to painful levels of interest rates which although they have fallen over the last 18 months arc still far too high at ten per cent They are snuffing out sound businesses hampering any expansion by firms that should be the powerhouse of recovery forcing people to hand back their house keys and depressing the property market So the clear hint yesterday that the Bank of England was poised to trim its lending rate next week can only be seen as encouraging But it also appears that a reduction of just 025 per cent to 975 per cent is being contemplated That would be such a slight cut that it would have almost no impact The Bank doubtless hopes such a reduction would be a reassuring gesture and a sign of fiscal responsibility in the European money system But our bcleagured economy needs more than gestures it needs bold action Interest rates should drop by at least one per cent immcdiatelv Stomping great There was a big band playing swing with all the musicians wearing pyjamas a banjo player serenading guests in the lift and a combo blowing through breakfast at Birmingham's Holiday Inn hotel yesterday It was the launch of Birmingham's great annual jazz festival The music was happy the musicians were happy and the guests were happy Welcome to a foot-stamping stomping ten days in fun city Grunting: Monica Seles runs the risk of a code violation the harder she hits the ball and the louder she assails opponents and spectators alike with that maniacal three-syllable grunt Huuh-ihhh-IHHHHH! Connors was a grandmaster among grunters and so is McEnroe in his advancing age Seles is in a different league Male grunters have been around tor years on the world circuit Women's tennis though is such a high-profile sport that Seles no longer fits into the general image But does she do it on purpose? course she insisted have said a million times that I can't help it and that I want to stop I can do without the pressure of players reporting me at a vital stage in the match It's not pleasant for me" Curiously Seles is able to control herself in practice matches she scarcely grunts at all As Navratilova said if she doesn't do it on purpose she can stop it on purpose When the noise is so loud that a player can't hear herself think it really is time for action And verbal warnings arc not enough One breach of the sound barrier in the Wimbledon final today should result in a code violation warning for unsporting conduct Take that Monica sential to timing Both umpires upheld the appeals and for the first time in Wimbledon history a player was warned albeit informally for excessive noise As Navratilova put it after losing a thrilling semi-final on Thursday: was back on my heels several times because I thought Monica had hit the ball hard and there was no pace on it at all The reason was that I just couldn't hear when she made contact the noise just gets louder and louder as the match becomes more tense Then it becomes very difficult to judge the speed of the ball It's not sour grapes because she is a great player and she would have beaten me anyway But she doesn't grunt in practice so why should she do it in matches 44T she wants to make I herself more attractive JL commercially she should cut out the least attractive side of her make-up" From Seles' point of view it is understandable that a player who consigns balls to oblivion is inclined to strain the vocal cords with the sheer effort Aggression and power are the key factors in her game and the more violently she wields that racket the louder she has to grunt Her tactical approach is to batter opponents into submission The greater the pressure By MICHAEL WARD The Birmingham Post Wimbledon had never heard anything like it Monica Seles in full cry literally was a sound more offensive to the cars than the grunting of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe put together If you watched the French Open final on television three weeks ago you would have got some idea of the shrillness and ferocity of her blood-curdling screams The closer the match the louder it became Wimbledon passed by peacefully without the world No I in 1990 but she was back with a vengeance this year How we wondered could she get away with making such a dreadful din in public? Well the plavers provided their own answer this week The resentment previously confined to the Ladies' locker-rooms wh lobbed out into the open when first Nathalie Tau-ial and then the nine-times Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova complained to different umpires that the noise was ruining their concentration The sound of her screeching was so loud they argued that it prevented them from hearing the ball whenever she hit it As any tennis or squash player will vouch sound is es LETTERS New Street only five minutes late We were again greeted by a member of staff who inquired whether we had had an enjoyable dav Everybody on the trains guards etc were cheerful and polite Thank you British Rail for an enjoyable and cheap (LX90 return) dav out I) ELLISON Shirlev a higher level of To a degree possibly but the human ear has not changed over the years in its ability to cope with noise and theatre-goers arc NOT disco dancers: they pay to sit in comfort and to listen in comfort So as long as theatre managements continue to insult hearing long may your critics warn reders when these catastrophically deafening productions come to town RO Avon Deafening noise forced walkout killed after borrowing the ear the night before the victim carrie'd no ID card They are an urgent must in the health field alone Miss RACHEL FINNEY Alcester Warwickshire Carers unite against VAT Sir I appeal to all your readers who are the sole provider relative parents or the person who needs care in their own homes to join us in our campaign to prevent VAT being charged on nursing services I am the director of the Warwickshire Nursing Agency in Hall Green The Independent sector in homecare is growing rapidly to meet the needs of the increasing number of frail elderly people disabled etc in their own homes But providers in this field face a minefield of complex law regulations and practice governing whether they are treated as agent or principal for VAT purposes and hence whether the care services Letters to the editor ere welcome In a variety of forme Names and eddreeeee must be given though not necessarily for publication WRITE to: The Editor The Birmingham Post 28 Colmore Circus Birmingham B46AX It It regretted a letter cannot be acknowledged unless a stamped addressed envelope Is enclosed The editor reserves the right to edit letters FAX The Birmingham Poet Letterline on 021-233 0271 TELEPHONE 2pm to 11pm Mondays to Thursdays 2 9 30pm on Fridays If possible cell in the evening Callers should ring 021-236 3366 and ask tor The Birmingham Post Letterline extension 231 Sir Perhaps Mr Paul Steeples and his colleagues at the Birmingham Hippodrome Birmingham Post June 27) should reflect that theatre patrons arc in the main intelligent enough to distinguish between music that is loud very loud or reaches a level of absolute tort tire? Friends of mine found the sound level at the musical Chess which I understand failed after its tour to be in the latter category during its Hippodrome run last year nd other acquaintances who saw the show in Bristol found Chess to ful lady doing what she has done ever since her dear Bertie was called to be King her duty How the young royals about whom we hear so much could take a lesson from her A recent correspondent Mr Turn-er-Fayne Birmingham Post June 25) wrote about Philip telling Charles from his experience Perhaps Di Fergie and sometimes Anne should take example from Her Majesty We could see being so close she was a little frightened by the demonstration but she went on Mrs FLORENCE DOUGLAS Stoneleigh Warwickshire Print a role of for the big earners Sir Once again may I congratulate the Birmingham Post (June 29) on drawing attention to the astronomical salaries of a million pounds a year or more now apparently being paid to so many of Britain's bosses" May I suggest that the Birmingham Post itself makes a start by ridiculing these preposterous salaries by launching in its columns a new order of honour or dishonour (whichever wav you look at it) namely the Order of Tycooncry I would be inclined to make the Order start with salaries of half a million reserving for those getting a million plus the Order of Ty-cooncry Two Star Of course it would be necessary to have much stricter accountancy laws so that a tycoon's salary was what he actuallv got and not swollen by hidden ranging from a free (chauffeur-driven?) car to all sorts of rights to buy the concern's shares at below market prices Greed is a terrible corrosive thing Perhaps one way to combat it is by ridicule The chief satisfaction in doing a job should be doing it well provided you arc adequately paid One final point: What on earth do they do with all that monev? MASON Albrighton Wolverhampton British Rail is getting there Sir It appears that in this day and age British Rail is always being heavily criticised After a day out at Chester let me give them praise I recently organised an outing for a party of 15 from New Street Birmingham to Chester Some of my party were a bit apprehensive about travelling by rail I am pleased to say the opposite was the coach On departing from New Street on a brand new sprinter we were met by a railway official to see if we were comfortable We left on time with a trolley service (not advertised) arrived at Chester on time approximately two hours Our departure in the evening was on time admittedly old DMU stock hut nevertheless arrived at added to the bill nursing hours are great lv reduced even further It is reduced further still when we have to charge VAT on National Insurance contributions which you must all agree is an unfair double tax The crucial factor is determining whether an agency is an agent or a principal It has taken HM Customs and Excise three years to make a directive as to what categories our agency falls into They are saving that we are a principal which we strongly oppose FAHY Company Director Warwickshire Nursing Agency Ltd Hall Green Birmingham Creosote fears are unfounded Sir Wide coverage including that in your paper which has been given to the ease of Dr Muhammed Saeed the doctor" who prescribed creosote tincture for a patient may have given rise to fears about the safety of creosote not just for medicinal purposes but more generally for use as a wood preserver The ease was variously reported in a number of papers some of which gave more details than others But most noted the fact that the pharmacist who was asked to make up the prescription likened the creosote prescribed to that used to preserve wood I his is not the ease as wood preserving creosote is derived from coal tar whereas the creosote most recently used for medicinal purposes is derived from wood Both tvpes have now been largely superseded for medicinal purposes by modern pharmaceutical although coal tar creosote is still used in a number of soaps and shampoos Figures published in the Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances indicate that both types are toxic" However the methods by which thev are now prepared has lessened the toxicity One hundred per cent coal tar creosote is approved by the Health Safety Executive under the Control of Pesticides Regulation 1986 When used in accordance with these safety instructions it will not cause harmful effects Peter Carney CHAIRMAN Creosote Council Clusterfield Derbyshire' Speaking out in debate Sir Until I read the letter from your correspondent Amcy (Post July 1) I had not intended to write to you again on the "gay" controversy! I considered enough had been said about it and kindred issues However both he and your correspondent Gay (Post June 27) have posed me specific questions which can be answered Yes I am a medical practitioner but I was writing to you as an individual and not in a professional capacity I wished to explain the etymology of "gay" and in passing gave an opinion as to the psychology of defence mechanisms that using this language may represent I am indeed aware of Oscar history but I have no knowledge of any equivalent language adaptation by bisexuals as a protection device Perhaps they are less exposed to prejudice and blend more easily with the majority? My earlier letter expressed no opinion on any sexual practices but was intended to be supportive of any person victimised by prejudice against their sexuality The use of in the Good As You sense is not clever post-rationalisation My wife reminds me that on a visit we made to San Francisco in 1988 many homosexuals of either gender were to be seen there wearing large badges that stated am Gay Good As You" She further reminds me that these badges were worn and the sentiments expressed 25 vears' ago Dr A JOSEPH Edgbaston Birmingham Learn by Queen example Sir My husband has collected photographs taken when we went to see the Queen Mother at the memorial They show a radiant land a very wonder- The Hippodrome (see Deafening noise forced walkout) Healthy option of identity cards Sir Mr Stock missed out a very important further area of advantage to the issue of identity cards namely health and emergency If cards were being carried doctors and ambulance crews and hospital staff could very simply someone brought in from an accident The card could have computer recorded information on blood tvpeany risks from proving problem areas risk factors allergy HIV etc It could even record the wishes of a person for organ donations It would save the police the very harrowing tasks of checking vehicle records in a crash I know a mother who was told her son was killed in a crash only to find him drunk on the doorstep next morning his friend of similar age arJ appearance had been The Queen Mother (see Learn by Queen Mum example) be wholly enjoyable Our smaller local theatre transgressed at one of the summer shows forcing three of us to leave the Theatre at the first interval the manager and starring comic were waiting in the foyer persuading deserting dissenters to stay in their seats Preferring cocoa and the Ten O'clock news we declined and have not been back since Remembering that the show Evita was also ruined for us by these Hippodrome zealots for noise I wrote to the producer of My Fair Lady to learn what our prospects for complete enjoyment were He answered quite fairly that are more used nowadays to supplied are liable to an exempt from VAT If a nursing or care agency is deemed to be an agent or principal this affects the cost of care which is provided With the introduction of the Community Care plan where the government are providing funds for people to stay in their own homes and then charge VAT on the nursing service is really giving it in one hand and taking it in another Many of your readers will have qualified for funding by the Independent Living Fund The hours that the fund have awarded may be far below what is needed to support their individual needs in their own lyome but when the VAT is.