PAGE FOL?

Trill.._GUARI>IAIS,_EH_§§!<QITETQWN

DECEMBER 6, 1948

THE GUARDIAN

Morning Dally (Founded In I851)

Authorised in demand (lluu Slull. Pun Otllco Department, Omens. The lalnuil (luursllau Publishing Co.

Editor and Managing Director. J. ll. Burnett-

Annnr-inta Editor. Frank Walker.

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker ‘Than the Weakest lnk."

CHARLOTTETOWN, “ONDAY, DEC. 6, l948

llon. Mr. Martins Vlslt

Prince Edward island welcomes o distin- guished visitor today in the person of the Hon. Paul Martin, K. C., Minister of National Health and Welfare, who is scheduled to speak at the Charlottetown Rotary Club luncheon and at the annual meeting of the East Prince Liberal As- sociation at Summerside this afternoon, and at a dinner function at The Charlottetown this evening under the auspices of the Queen's Coun- ty Liberal Association. On the latter occasion Mr. Martin will review the progress of the health programmes inaugurated by the National De- partment of Health with the health departments of the various Provinces. His address will be of special interest/here, as Prince Edward lsland has made outstanding progress in this connec- tion and has been among the very first Provin- ces to have had its health plans coordinated. Several announcements from Mr. Martin have recently appeared in our columns, approving of various important health schemes proposed by our Provincial planning commission.

In the case of family allowances, the Fed- erol policy was first put into effect in Prince ‘Edward lsland, and it would appear that a simlar course is to be followed with respect to the Do- minion health grants. As an lsland Province with a comparatively unmixed and stable population, we present obvious advantages in this connec- tion, of which the Dominion authorities are fully aware. No doubt the Minister will gather fur- ther first-hand information with regard to this phase of the programme during his present visit.

Apart from the important portfolio he holds at Ottawa, Mr. Martin is a distinguished Ca- nadian on his own account, and was among those prominently mentioned to succeed Prime Minis- ter Mackenzie King until he withdrew his name from the contest. He was outstanding as a law- yer and educationist before entering politics in I935, and in I938 was one of Canada's delegates at the Assembly of the League of Nations. HQ is being accompanied here by one of the direc- tors of his department, Dr. Fred Jackson, who, until a few months ago, was Deputy Minister of Health for Manitoba, and to whom also a warm welcome is extended.

The Fate 0f The Senate

It may be recalled that the appointment of the late Mr. J. J. Hughes to the Senate was delayed because he refused to give a pledge to Prime Minister King that he would support a resolution for the abolition of that august body. He maintained a senator should be free and untrammeled, and not tied iii advance by Party pledges. He won out when he hinted he Would publish correspondence on the subiect.

Now again the abolition of the Senate, or drastic changes -in the principle of representa- tion in the Upper House, are being discussed by members or supporters of at least three of the political parties in the House of Commons, according to the political correspondent of The Gazette.

"These discussions have been warmed or brought to a head by the present composi- lion of the Senate, and by the dismal ‘prospect of that representation becoming steadily more lop-sided. Out of a total membership of 96 there are now l8 Progressive Conservatives and 65 Liberals, with I3 vacancies. Should all those va- cancies be filled at an early date the party line- up would bb 78 Liberals and l8 Progressive Conservatives, or a majority of 60 in d lvlfll membership of 96. _ _

"This is the most one-sided party situation in the Upper House, in the memory of most peo- ple on the Hill, and it is bound to be that way as the result of the long tenure of office by_an,y party. Even in the early years of Mackenzie King s career as government Iiead he was confronted by an opposition so formidable that it_was able to frequently and completely destroy important iegislaive pieces, such as the Omnibus Bill to approve a lengthy list of Canadian National Railways branch lines.

"Many times a few senators of both_ par- ties insist that the Upper House is really |udic- ial in character, that can be and often is above party consideration, but this develops so rare- ‘lv that little attention can be paid to the ar- gument, for it is notable that whenever govern- ment legislation of real importance goes to the Senate from the House its consideration .is on

rty lines. _

"The C. C. F. Party has for a considerable time been on record as advocating the_aboli- tion of the Senate, but other parties, while im- patient .with the present situation, agree that the Upper House can be mode an imporlflfll‘, an indispensable branch of the governmental and legislative machinery, and that for this reason abolition should not even be consider-

"Those who have given the problem serious thought argue, at the outset, that the Senate was conceived as a moons of protecting the rights of the provinces in Confederation. That was not to be its sole reason to exist, but it was an important consideration, one, incidental- ly,\that has since been almost completely ignor- ed, because of the policy of successive govern- ments in appointing purely party men, and fie- queritly those who have seen long service not only in the House but in the Cabinet.

”To restore the idea to its original position it is contended that half the membership of the Senate should be named by the provincial lo lslatures or governments, and that those ap- po ntees should remain in the Senate only dur- ing the life of that particular legislature. This

bers and these would be distributed as follows: Quebec l2; Ontario l2; Nova Scotia 5; New Brunswick 5; P.E.l. 2; and 3 from each of the four Western Provinces.

"Such a plan would have a double value; it would get away from the ludicrously unbalanced party position which could never, especially in existing circumstances, be regarded as a fair representation of the nation's views; it would also destroy the notion that once in there a Senator had a seat for the duration of his exis- tence.

"Still another change, frequently‘ urged, is the imposition of an age limit. One scheme is that none over 50 years of age should be ap- pointed to the Senate and that there should be compulsory retirement at 70 years. The Senate frequently in the past has been almost dominat- ed by octogenarians and nonagenarians and be- cause of this fact some who have carefully con- sidered the age limit proposal are inclined to raise the compulsory retirement age to 75. "But most who are carefully considering the anomalous Senate situation seem agreed that some kind of reform can't be long delayed unless the Government is resigned to running into a rcal storm in the next general election, for short of some constructive reform plan people across the country can be easily fanned into a flame for the Senate's abolition, which is not the hind of reform Mackenzie King had in mind‘ dur- ing his first parliament."

EDITORIAL NOTES

The cold war is getting hot according to revelations at Ottawa—and by internal combus- tion.

e n w

A new technique of combatting the mos- quito has been developed in the Canadian North. lt has been found that sowing DDT on Arctic snow from aircraft is an effective means of keep- ing down these pests. i! N i I The Alberta Social Credit league, having abandoned the peculiar social credit creed, now feels that there is iio reason why it should not become o national party. There also appears to be no reason why it should. i I! fi

The Associated Boards of Trade have re- quested that an additional ferry be provided be- tween Borden ond Tormentine as a part of the Trans-Canada Highway. This, of course, is riot the Island's sole requirement under the scheme. The Highway must link this Province with its two neighbouring provinces. I Q I I

Mexico ls reported to be desperately short of steel and particularly sleo-l piping to increase her oil production by making use of natural gas for her own needs. lf this country could supply the required steel it seems likely that much of the additional oil would come here in

return.

noon

Architect F. L. Wright told a Toronto Uni- versity group that North America was being jeopardized by "an overdose of education," that it has given us too much brain with too little searching for the verities of being. There is something to his criticism; it is not actually condemnation of education but of the quality of the education we have beer: satisfied with. i 4r

British Labor Minister of War Emmanuel Shinwell has little sympathy with pocifists. He told a recent meeting, "I've just come back from seeing thousands of war graves on the contin- ent and l have resolved to do everything pos- sible to avert another war. But we must have adequate defences, and l tell the Communists in this country that we are not going to dis- arm merely to please them."

I Q "I fi

This year's number of the BBC Year Book contains a wealth of interesting information about broadcasting in Great Britain. In addition to eighteen leading articles, there are sixteen cameos of British radio personalities, including speakers, artists and staff members. The BBC's main activities during the year are reported on, and a much extended reference section gives a complete picture of the BBC's organization.

IIIR

Martin Van Burcn, eighth President of the United States, born this date I782, was first elected senator from New York in l82l; Gov- ernor of New York State in I828; Vice-President of U. S. in I832; succeeded Jackson as President in I837; continued a financial policy to which the crises of I839, when many banks stopped payment, was attributed; opposed the annexa- tion of Texas; was defeated when running for the presidency in 184i and I848.

i i‘ fi i

Mir. R. M. Warren, M. P., for Renfrew North loudly declared he had discovered dishwashing, instead of baby kissing and the glad hand, was a better political technique. The Ottawa Journal thereupon sent a reporter to interview Mrs. War- ren with the following result: "Does he wash the dishes at home, Mrs. Warren?" The Journal reporter asked. "What?" she screamed in amaze- ment. "Does Daddy wash the dishes at home? I shoiild say not. I look after that chore. The only time l can get him to do any dishes is in pub|icl"

fl i‘ I I

Here is a typical case of the Canadian ship- pers’ troubles. India is buying 300,000 tons of wheat from Canada, but the Indian Govern- ment, with largo quantities of blocked sterling on hand, wants it shipped in Indian or British bottoms. The Canadian ship owner is unlikely to get a dollar's worth of the business. Evan if he did, he would find it difficult to pick up a re- turn cargo that would be paid for in dollars. While the United States, being the donor coun- try, has been able to make a firm stipulation that 50 per cent of European Recovery Program exports shall be carried in United States bot- toms, the Canadians are not in a position to do so. Being anxious to sell surpluses vat they have

TlVO WENT UP TO THE TEMPLE TO PRAY

Two went. to pray? Oh, rather say. One went to brag. the other to pray;

One stands up close and treads on hlgh . Where the other dares not send h

9Y6;

One nearer to God's altar trod. Tlie other to the altars god.

-Rlcherd Crashaw (1613-1850).

'Q>M%¢ Old Charlottetown (And r. a. u

UNWANTED EMIGRANTS

In 1829 lt became y, In the opinion of the Legislature, "to prevent passengers brought Into this lslaiid by any persons engaged in the business of transporting passengers to the Colonies. from becoming chargeable to the Gov- ernment of this Island." An Act was accordingly passed empowering Justices of the Peace, on the arrival of any vessel containing passengers, to station constables to prevent their "clandestine landing." The constables were to be paid by the ship masters "for their services In attending, until permission Is ob- falncd to land the passengers. or if they do not. intend to land, until the vessel shall sail."

Masters of vessels arriving with passengers an board were required to enter into bond before the Col- lector of Impost and Excise. and were liable to the amount of ten pounds and casts for each passeng- er who became chargeable on the Government or any parish of the Island wltliln o. year after having landed.

The Acl: specifically exempted “any of llls lifajestyfs ships or ves- sels of war, or other vessels em- Ployed in the Transport service, or transporting of Troops, or Packer Service. or ln the service of the Honorable the East lndla Company, or ln the service of the Government of the Island."

m Age-Old snry

O

And they shall build houses and inhabit them. and they shall plant. ilnernrds and eat the fruit. of "Ism- They shall not. build. and another inhabit; they shall not DIP-ht. and another eat. For as the llflyl of a tree are the daya of My PWDlQr Ind Mill! elect. shall long enjoy the work of their hzndg. Tl!!! Ihall not. labour in vain, nor llPlllI forth for trouble, for they are the seed of the blessgrf or the Lard. and their offspring with them.

Notes From hiother Island

By "Anson"

LONDON. Emgland:

November In England is trad. ltlonnlly the month of fog, drizz- llng rain. damip coldness and a certain amount. of apprehension over the Wproaah of winter. In the last. few years also it has marked the beginning of specu- lation over one or two things such as, for instance. will the Minister of Food allow us any extra rations for Christmas; and. since our great fuel crisis ln the early par-t of 1947 will there lie another severe winter. and if so, ’l\'lll our coal supplies hold out?

For, in our English W8)‘. we stlll go iii for the 200d old coal fire in the grate. And 1f the house or apartment isn't. bullr. for that. 1t. is usually a gas 0'1‘ electric lire to koeip us from freezing. But that's where some of Lite speculation comes in, for it is all part of our great recovery long term plan that

ply isn't all it might be just yet. what with a shortage of new equipment. Consequently, lif the load becomes too much for the stations to cai-ryn, something has lo go. The lights dlm, and the DCHVBI‘ drops. and the toast ln the electric toaster takes an age to brown. I O O O

11f. Ls a blt upsetting. early on a cold morning. but 1t all seems to have become so’ much a part. of our country and our ways that. it. ls accepted as an evil that has to be endured it only because there doesn't seem to be much we can do about it. Besides, fr. gives the newspaper cartoonists plenty iLn-aterlal to work on. l think we would all bo rather disappoints ff we didn't have a regular quota of cartoons showing some Englishman and l-ils family sit.- ilng at. home, dressed up in over- coal and gloves. blue-nosed and shivering before a fireplace that

llary candle. Few people, really. have ever found themselves In such a and plight.

trig! o - e November. on the other hand. usually sees a few efforts to dis-

ocmlng winter. There ls always the Lord Mayor's Show. for ln-

our electrical power station sup-

of

P001’

contains nothing more tihan a sflI-'

otherwise the cartoons would not be so amus-

pel the encircling gloom of on-

stance, when a grand parade marks the installation of the new Mayor of London. This parade has iii-ken place since the year 1216. and doubtless Pwple have enjoy-

VISITING US

llon. PAUL Mann, Min-sna- II Mariam. lluuu nip Wei-lull "ro sluvr riser p» A roiicuuu. . WWW-Ml or mo‘ NATicnlAl. iiIAc-rii nim- "

This column Ia open to the

‘ ‘ by cuu , ’ ‘ of questions of Interest. The Guardian does not. neonat- Ily endorse the opinion of LvIICSIDDIIIdCHBI-

O%WGGO%OO%WQ snvnvas norms snuss

Sin-Over 800.000 Canadians have bought $225.000,000 of the new tlilrd series of Canada Savings Bonds. These figures include some W900 employees who subscribed $116,- 000,000 on the Payroll Savings Plan —-a new post-war record. These results have dispelled the doubts expressed during the past. two years by some who felt that tho desire of employees to continue the Payroll Savings Plan would dwlndle away with the dying momentum of victory loan campaigns. ln most. companies the degree of participation has increased over last. year. In some cases the figure was as high as 75-80% of total employees. Overall, participation l: substantially higher in Canada than in other countries with somewhat similar national savings plans. The response this year had been notably better among both employ- era and employees, and not just 1n dollars but in enthuslam. Everyone likes to take part ln a successful activity. particularly one wlilch is national in scope. which makes a wide popular appeal, and which arouses feelings of pride In both in- dividual and collective achieve- ments. The impression we get. from all sides ls quite definitely that Canada Savings Bonds and the Payroll Savings Plan have proved themselves. and year by year play an increasing part In the encour- agement of private thrift. (Excel- lent. results in the sale of Canada Savings Bonds have been achieved even among employees of compan- les which have flourishing savings plans of their own. including con- tributory pension plans and stock purchase arrangements). The explanation must be that people have learned that the Pay- roll Savings Plan really works, and regard the purchase of Canada Sav- ings Bonds in llils way as a neces- sary parr. of their savings programs ——ln addition to whatever other sav- ings or investments (lf any) they may have. 1 am sure that the continued and increasing success of Canarh Savings Bonds ls a source of satia- factlon to all concerned, and an aug. ury of even better results 1n the future. I am. Slr. etc" G. F. TOWERS.

Governor, Bank of Canada

Ottawa, Dec. 3.

CHRISTMAS FIRE DANCERS

Sin-This ls not a warning against the lovely blazing yule log of old England, or the glowing em- bers of sweet smelling pine k110i; around which happy Canadian farm bu“ may be gathered to toast

all IhOne other years as they did last week, though lt was some. thing comparatively new i0 have

marshmallows or pop corn. N0. these flrea rarely, If ever. result in tragedy. while year after year. they add a cheerful note to our Christ- maa celebrations, so too, does a beautiful lighted Christmas tree, but only lf It la safely lighted.

Very rarely does this time of joy and goodwill pass without flre ap- pearing ln some Christmas tree. somewhere, In hall or home, bring- Ing destruction and oftlme tragedy to mar our celebration of this day of days. Lighted candles, on the free. have always been one of the moat dangerous agencies of fire, but fortunately these and the likewise dangerous sparklers are practically a thing of the past. Most of today’: Christmas tree fires are caused by short circuits among the electric tree lights. often the re- salt. of amateur electricians (per- haps Mother herself) connecting cords ln a more or less crude way. considering ft quite all right so long as the bulbs light. Too late they learn of their mistake.

This was the cause of a Christmas tree fire last year ln a hall ln a nearby clty. The fire department was on the scene promptly, but the tree and gifts were destroyed and the piano and other furnishings badly damaged. fortunately only a few early arrivals were present when the tree ignited, so no one was injured. Had the fire broken out. later when the hall was crowd- ed with children, or if 1t had been a rural hall where no fire fighting equipment (perhaps not even wat- er) was available. It would have been a different story, but as it was. all the happy planning and hard work that goes into the pre- paration of a Christmas entertain- ment for a host of anticipating children. was lost, when careful ex- amination of the tree lights and wlrlng would have aafegunr-deg everything.