FRIDAY. JUNE 7.

Strange Situation

In the maze of controversy re- specting the dangers .of radiation from nuclear tests, there is one ques- tion which must be puzzling people everywhere: Why is it that those charged with responsibility in such a grave matter are not, all of them, men of science? Whatever the situ- ation may be in Britain and the Soviet Union. in the United States, whele nuclear testing is on as large a scale as anywhere. laymen are in charge of the work. Admiral Straus, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, knows no more about the subject from a scientific angle than anybody else. Reports say that only one member of the Commission, Dr. F. W. Libby, is a scientist, and it seems that his competence is in the field of pure science rather than in biology, the department under which most of the problems come. The Commission, of course, does have expert advisers. most of whom, incidentally. are agreed that nuclear tests present I very grave danger to public health and especially to fut- ure generations through genetic transmission of the poison. The point is that these scientists can only ad- vise. They have no authority of their own; and the commission of laymen is under no compulsion to accept their counsel. In fact. so far it has not accepted it in any important particular. It seems strange. indeed, that at a time when humanity is facing its greatest historic challenge. decisions involving issues of life and death are left to men who must Ict-or not act, as they see fit-on second hand knowledge. A comparable situation, though if anything I less serious one. would be the placing of ordin- ary medical decisions in the hands of sophomores.

Time To Proceed

Britain's decision to develop I more realistic trade policy with Com- munist China ought to encourage the Canadian Government-however it may be constituted after Monday's election-to take I similar step. It is. of course. true that nothing much can be done in the matter of trade so long as Canada follows the Amer- ican example of refusing diplomatic recognition to the Peiping regime. From time to time Federal author- ities have vaguely hinted that Can- adian recognition was in the offing;. but each time the American position hindered them from making it of- ficial. Perhaps this is the time to proceed with it. It could scarcely do any harm. and there is a possibility that it would help in a small way to ease international tension.

in any event. the Communists arc in control of China and are like- ly to be in the foreseeable future. That is an unfortunate situation, and Canada can never approve it. All the same. failure to recognize it docsn't make it any less a political fact. The British have recognized the fact from the beginning; and ccrtainly there is no indication that it has contaminated British political thought in the slightest degree.

That Hidden Burden

Mr. Nehru said this week that he doesnt know what his salary as Prime Minister of India is. All he knows is that he receives 1,600 rupees I month, after deduction of taxes. This, comments the Montreal Gazette. is an interesting confession. mt perhaps Mr. Nehru may not be quite alone in this ignorance. For mostpt-ople,whIt.theyIrepIidiI what they are Illowed to take home. The figures for what is deducted at source Ire rather Ibstract, remote, unreal. flow can they miss whIt they never had? How can they Isa-n what they never Iswf

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Perhaps there are few humane measures that governments have been as eager to adopt as Mr. Ruml's "pay-as-you-go" plan. If the plan were ever ended. cries and maledic- tions and unspeakable groshings would arise every year, when the sum total of taxes had to be paid. The very fact that the taxes would be so great as to cast hundreds of thousands of citizens into debt indi- cates how great the hidden burden has become.

But the "pay - as - you - go" plan makes pain painless. Many pay their taxes with money they are never allowed to have. No wonder that Mr. Nehru doesn't know what he is paid. But this unconsciousness only means that people care icast about what affects them the most.oIt is one of the strangest of democratic develop-

ments.

Many Lost Ballots Dclving illlo past general election figures. the Canadian Press notes that in the last federal contest, ill August 19.33, only 67 per cent of those wllose namcs were on the lists cast their ballots, which meant that Parliament u as chosen by only two- thirds of the votcrs. In previous elections the percentage was higher. It was found that in 1953 urban residents were much more lax about voting than were those living in rural areas. Only 64 per cent of the city dwellers cast their ballots, while in the country areas 70 per cent voted. Again, in percentage terms, this means that although 55 per cent of the voters listed were urban. they comprised only 53 per cent of the total voters. Conversely, 45 per cent of the eligible voters were in rural polls. but they accounted for 47 per cent of the total vote. The difference. though not large. could be significant in I close decision. Another aspect of voting that should be cause for general concern is the relatively large number of bal- lots spoiled in each election. Taken on I national basis. the figure of lost votes could be as high as 60,000 in the current election. In 1945, for instance. 59.063 ballots were spoiled out of 3,305,193 cast. Next election. in 1949, 54,601 ballots were spoiled in I vote of 5,848,971. and again in the 1933 election the same number were spoiled although the number of voters was smaller. This year the total vote should pass 6,000,000. for the first time. With I fairly good response it should run much higher. That would be barely 67 per cent of the names on the voters' lists. and it is disconcerting to think that through their own carelessness 60,- 000 of those voting might as well have stayed home.

EDITORIAL NOTES

If an idea developed by the Police Commission in Tampa. Fla., is allowed to spread. policemen are going to be in for hard treatment. The directive forbids their "walking the streets with hands in pockets."

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An American inventor has pat- ented I self-rocking hammock. Now, if some smart fellow would come along with a device for pushing the would-be occupant into the ham- mock without any effort on his for her) part. one might be inclined to talk business with him.

I I C

It has been thought that sleeping sickness was carried from horses to human beings. The American Veter- inary Medical Association now re- ports that it isn't so. Horses, the report reveals. carry the virus in such diluted amounts Ind for such brief periods that it would be diffi- cult to spread the disease from horse to horse and almost impossible to spread it from horse to man. The real source of infection appears to be wild birds. Insects carry the virus from bird to bird and from bird to man. Wild pheasants In the chief offenders.

A spokesman for the American Iron and Steel Institute says that the new highway system now being built across the nItlon will enable motorists to drive from coast to coIst without spotting I red light Indtossvoacqltnmllelnfueland

costs. He notes further

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PUBLIC

FORUM '

IIOME Sir.-The last day of May and lulch I lovely one weather-wise! Although that cannot be said for In any of this month's (lays. We really had for the most part April weather - sunshine and showers --- till the week-end of the ltlth when we were deluged by I regu- lar winter rainstorm which not only destroyed some garden flow- era. but more important was ruin- nus to some of the farmer's crops. it was especially hard on the straw- berries. and hot sun on the wet cherries tends to split them. The one cherry tree here bears evi- dence of that. Although the cher- ries are edible. and delicious. for marketing that's another story. and those who depend on them for part of their livelihood suffer. Yesterday. "Memorial DI y" here. and i believe called "RI- melnbrame Day" in my nativn land - different words but the same meaning - I had planned to write ”hnme" bllt did not seem to have the necessary inspiration. it came with today's Guardian. and the account of the one hundred

and twenty-second annual Convocn- , lion Exercises of Prince of Wales j

College. The address of the Prin- cipsl. Dr. Frank .llIcKinnon was most excellent as I would expect it to be from such an outstanding ed- ucationist - my information glean- ed from some who worked with him. elc.. and Ill tho finI things I've read about him in your public- Ition. May he and those who work closely with him, long continue to guide the youth of P.E.l- on the upward wlyl

The excerpts from the address of PE. lslInds' first woman Sens- tor. the Honourable F. Elsie in- man. were exceptionally fine. Like my mother. I'm not too enthused with politics especially big. power politics but since such is I necessary evil. it is fitting to hIve women in high political plac- es. Perhaps they could change things I bit for the better: but I have disgressed. I like the emphas- is Senator lnman put on the ”home' and the order in which she listed them. "Home. Church and School." That is exactly the way I think of them. If homes were what they should be. the world's problems would take care of themselves. However. unfortunately. Ill peo- ples of the world aren't Christian. and many who profess Christian- ity do not practice it. live heard fine folk say. "the hardest place to be Christian is in the home." Righlly or wrongly. i feel if one

THOUGHTS

is not. Christian in the most im- portant instilutioll in the world -- lbe Home - then one is not Chris- tian in the true sense It all.

To return to Prince of Wsles.

although I wasn't fortunate enough to benefit educationally from its 'class of learning". five out of our family of nine did, and started their independence from the "home next" as school teachers in the Garden of the Gulf. All. except one sister. were lured by the "call of the West." Later my sisters married, but one returned to the "isle" Ifter marriage Ind still re- sides there. although believe she often longs for the West. My bro- lher is in educational work still, and It-cording to report (not fam- ily) he": the finest principal in Ed- monton. He loves his work Ind evidently his pupils bold, Ind held him in high regard I: some so back to visit him years later and take their children. . Two nieces Ind several nephews can claim Prince of Walt: Is their first Aims Mstsr. Only onI no- phew Ind niece taught school on the Island - rural schools - the others went on to other schools of higher learning. However. one niece is still I schoolmarm. First she taught in rural schools in her native province. then Ittendcd Ind graduated "cum laude" from Mt. Allison University. after which she taught in P.W.C. for I period. The West has claimed her Ilso. Il- though she loves the "isle" Ind returns each vIcIllon when she isn't furthering her education in the west.

Thcre bu been much controver- sy re the value of rural versus city schools' training. My niece in- forms me. from personal exper- ience. thnt the rural pupil surpass- es his city cousin Ilwayn in effort it not in ability. That holds true she says both East Ind West. Pro- bably because the country child is taught to work - It least in other days. I'm not sllre about modern ways re children on PT.- I. Then again there's the mat- ter of expense. The city youth cIn board at home. not so the rural one, and most conscientious young- sters Ire Iwsre of the sscrifices parents msk flnsncially and oth- erwise to glv them I better start in life than they had.

According to "Ellen's Diary" one little country lIss has been well-trained in the art of house- keeping and It quite an early age - l0? ii" To undertake the du- lies of I household for I fImlly

Bu-llidozers Of The Sea

Natlold Geographic Ioclety

The biggest Inimal ever known to exist still bulldozers through the sea - but not. perhaps. long .

It is the much-hunted blue whale, I monster that rIn grow more uun 100 feet long and weigh 150 tons. its bulk equals 35 elephants Ind more thIn twice the weight believed Ittsined by the largest dlnooIur.

Blue whales Ire Ible to reach their great size because the water. denser than air. supports them. OI loud their own weiylt would push down on interns! organs Ind kill them.

These whsles get I his sun is life. New borl bsbies Ire up to sI,vs the Nstlonsl Geographic society. The female: nurse their young in the inter. pumping II much In an pounds of milk lnno each in I single day. The milk is much like I cow's. but rich in minersls, protein. Ind fItI.

IAT TINY SHRIMP

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hangs like I Click. fringed cur- tain frnm the sides of the whIle's mouth. The tongue forces out the water. leaving the kill - Ibout the sire of grasshoppers - csughl . in the whslsbmle. As much In I I ton of these creatures hII been i found in one whIle's stomsch. The l leviathan couldn't cIt Inythlng much larger - its ulmst is but 1 six to eight inches in diameter.

Tremendously strong. the blue whale cIn push its bulk through the wster It speeds reported up to as miles In hour. One, hIrpoon- Id off AlIskI. towed I N-foot whal- Ir forwsrd It It: knots for more than eight hours. Much of tho! tfme he host's two engines won going full speed Intern. NUMIIRS DICRIASING

The blue whale was once I great deal more plentiful lhnn it in to- doy. Ovorhunttog for oil. fetllller. ad other pndncts has thinned its Inlnbers.

loch year. however. whalhg from II far Iwny II lun- lnnvfn, llussls. Ind JIpII go in Antarctic waters. nae:

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LNTHAT JUSTICE ?

of three Ind attend school is quite I chore, even with grandmother's

aid in assuming responsibility for

the noon dinner. And what I din-

ner the one she wrote about was! Juicy roast beef and rhubarb pie.

to say nothing of P.E.I. spuds - none finer! And the other home- grown vegetables with soup for I starter. Farmers should have plenty of energy with such excel- lent fare. Poor little Mack! he sure- ly felt abused, but perhaps the In- ticlpation of I new little play- mate ln the not too distant future - they grow so fast - will soon dim his "put-upon" real or lmIg- inary grievances.

Congratulatons, one and all It Alderlea. on the arrival of the new little life straight from Heaven! My son says Ill grandmothers feel that way about new-born babes -- I know this one does. And, oh. to be Ible to write about it in verse Is beautifully as the author of "God's Masterpiece" 'l'lllen's Di- Iry - May 25! would raise one'I spirits to the nth degree.

I can Just imagine the pleasure grandmother ll-Tlleni, and yes. per- haps grandfather (James! will do- rive from baby-sitting. However. I trust. they will not be Is foolish Is I've been the past two years. spoiling I beloved little grandson. first by putting him to sleep on my shoulder, then later Itsylng with him Ind patting him Ind trying to sing him to Ileep-csnlt really sing but it works. Now when I tell him he's I big boy (two. February it he still wants me to slay with him till he's off to the "Land of Nod."

Babies were rocked to sleep in the olden days in cradles. and I believe it is being revived in tho Dixon clan tit was ever discar- ed'.'i as they speak of the swing- ing cot. May is indeed I tins month to enter this earthly sphere -long days Ind months of sun- shlue to benefit from in God's great out-of-doors. nothing liner for wec ones! Three in this clsn were May children-this is my son's birthday ihsve only one! and he was old enough to serve in World war ii. so little wonder his "ms" likes pesce and quiet in her "westering year" In Ellen of Diary fame says. Modern Ameri- ca sets too fast. I pace- (Perhaps that's so Ilmost everywhsre to- day! one reason i think. from time to time. i like to turn my thoughts bsck to the "Garden of the Gulf"- to me I symbol of finer values Ind sIner wIys of life--sort of an oasis in the mad desert of this hurly-burly old world.

Gardens are looking up here now - today I counted over eighty

blooms on one of my rose bushes 3 "W the names comma through

- pink bountiful. I norsbunda -- l

Iftrr cutting off several dead and dying blooms. My pclunias are surfing to bloom in the flower boxes on the back porch. in my range of vision as i write. Ibrrsk- fast roomr. The hydrangea: Ire lovclier than ever this year - one would be I prize plant It any flow- er-show could it be uprooted. The fuchsia: also back Ind front In very lovely. and when the other Innusls bloom. I'll have quite I nice little garden.

Mrs. Frsnkin column on .llacy'I flower display was enioysble - in fsct I like all her writing Ind of- ten Im in complete Igreement

; with her ideas. Not only is she I

clever writer but she is I very fine person Iccorcling to report. kind Ind thoughtful. Just received her New York address from I mutusl friend. so must answer her kind in ter I Ipprecisted so much some time In when she was It the "Queen Hotel." I can pay the sumo tribute to Mrs. Dixon Is to Mrs. rnnh. she. too. is I real person. kind Ind helpful to Ill. Ind I won- derful flsir for writing!

I've only scrstched the surface of whIt I wanted to In. but Ilrendy live written too much - lI words It least. All good wlIheI for I fine tourist season - Ind I cheery Hello! to all who may ho htsrested enough to read my Into- Ilve. Mnny than for pIst.eor- tales. Ind III revolt!

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Distorted Sounds, Fromi Hearing Al

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Mnny I uslnl heIri.II lid! for the first time. Ind IOIIIOWIIGI those who bIvI been will "I951 for Iwllile. mIke I common nib take. As I result. they that get the full bonfelt of these Wonder- ful devices. ,

in II effort to unprove intel- ligibility. they turn the volume higher, thinking. naturally. lllll I louder sound will be I Clelrel”

sound. LOWER VOLUME

This is not Ilways the me. how- Iver. Better hearing muniue Id- vises that turning the volume low- er often provides clesrer Ind mo comfortable hearing.

As an aid to those of you who might be inexperienced in tile use of hearing aids. Better Hearing offers these suggestions for mak- ing initial Idlustment-st Have one of your relatives or friends speak in I normal conver- sational tone Ibout five to six feet away from you. Then turn down the volume until the speaker's voice is too low to be heard dis- tlnctiy.

DISTORTED SOUND

Next. turn up the volume slow- ly. But turn it up only to the point where the voice is heard at I com- fortable level. Tuning it in too loud- ly lull often cause distortion.

Such a procedure probably will be very effective in helping you select the proper setting of the vol- ume control.

You may have to set the instrll. ment each time you put it on. Bu with I little practice you will soon learn just where to set the contml wiltmut any trouble.

Incidentally, you may need I new earmoid every so on", 1),. pending upon the individual and changes in shape in less than I year's time.

QUESTION AND ANSWER

Mrs. G.P.: My baby hm . high temperature and I.0llVlllSl0l'lS I- bout four months Igo. What is the 595' Vt"-V lo Will! down I fever in older -to prevent recurrence of convulsions?