‘mas Jefferson said of a United States of Am-

' n" You.

of I947 dnd any dsclinss ' be relatively small compared to

PAGE FOUR TllE OllARLOTTETllWll Gllhlllllhll

' Morning Dally (Founded la ill?) Authorised as Second Ciaaa Mail. Poet Office Department. Ottawa. 4

President. lnn A. Burnett; Vlce-rreaident. Win. I, Barnett; Sousa-Troll, G. M. Burnett; Editor and Managing Director. .l. B. Burnett; Associate Editor. Frank Walker.

“The Strangest Memory ie Weaker Than the Weakest Ink."

MONDAY, risaiuisny a, isii

Wliy iiot A Conference‘!

Our Prince County representative in the House of Commons, Mr. J. Watson McNaught, is always in full agreement with his Federal party leoder, Mr. King, and it is therefore not surprising to find him expressing this sentiment in moving the Address in reply to the Speech from the Throne. Notably is Mr. McNought in agreement with the Prime Minister as to the in- advisability of reconvening the Dom' ' --Pro- vincial Conference on the new tax proposals. But there are other prominent Liberals-Premier Macdonald of Nova Scotia, for example-who hold contrary views. So do inany newspapers, including that staunch old Liberal watch-dog, the Halifax Chronicle. Of a less partisan stripe is the Hamilton Spectator, which offers cogent reasons as to why the negotiations should be conducted openly,

Whatever force wtbs originally behind re- quests of a conference on taxing powers, it says, has now been handsomely multiplied. Revela- tions of horse-trading and devious political stro-

v

tegies have obscured o-principle and concept of .

state spending that is of enormous concern to ovary Canadian.

Surely the public wants first a broad picture of taxation adjustments and COmPEllSOiiuin be- tween the Federal and Provincial Governments. They want to know because they pay the taxes and get the alleged benefits, in proportions laid down by wizards in high places. Most of them prefer to see it all in block and white. They are still from Missouri and not a little skeptical of that magic formula "social security" which can mean so much on paper and so little on the plate.

What is involved?

It is highly‘ unlikely, no matter what hap- pens, that any Province would again impose a personal or corporation income tax, even if they did not relinquish the power to do so. As it stands now tho staggering weight and extent of those direct taxes as imposed by the Dominion are such that an added strain is out of the quas- tian. They have increased to a point where they endanger our whole economic set-up.

A much more pertinent query would be this: What guarantee is there that a more exclusive grip on taxation powers by Ottawa would not maintain an unwieldy and costly bureaucracy like that built up in war-time? ls not each dol- lar taken by taxation spent the most wisely when lt is under closest observation of the taxpayer from whose pockets it has come? ls there any comparison on the watch kept by, say, a muni- cipal authority on its spending and on that kept by a growing ivory-tower army of officials who‘ seom able to plan everything-but rarely de- liver tangible goods to the taxed?

People want to know what all this "social security" will mean to them. There is no reason why the Provinces should be induced to sell out their independence to a Federal power that even in the past few days has hedged by making a bigger cash offer while conceding that the Do- minion would not expect to contribute as much to this new social security program as had been originally intended. What does that mean?

Nearly a hundred-and-fifty years ago Tho-

orica that then numbered under five-and-o-half million souls: "Our country is too large to hove all its affairs directed by a single government. Public servants at such distance, and from under tho eye of their constituents, must, from the cir- cumstances of distance, be unable to administer and overlook all the details necessary for the good government of the citizens, and the some circumstance", by rendering detection impossible to their constituents, will invite the public agents to corruption, plunder and waste."

Just ten years ago the Royal Commission on Dominion Provincial Relations, on the heels of a tragic depression, still felt that the Dominion, while retaining its unlimited taxing powers, must recognize "an obligation to respect the remain- ing revenue sources of the provinces."

Premier Mucdonald of Nova Scotia wants a conference at once. So do Premier Drew of Ontario and Premier Duplessis of Quebec. What, has any Province to lose by having, as Mr. Duples- sis expresses It, "a frank, loyal and constitu- tional collaboration openly arrived at"? Prime Minister King doesn't approve, and our Mr. Mac- Naught warmly approves of Mr. King's disap- proval; but when all is said and done, what legi- timate obiection can there be? There has been none raised openly by any Provincial Government loader, which is a fact of high significance.

It would be very ungrateful for Premier Jones to do so, inasmuch as all the Premiers agreed in opon conference that Prince Edward llland is entitled to special consideration.

_ Cuddles liiiii ll. S. Prlcos

downward readiustinent of Canadian (business activity this year, which is expected- . will be relatively inild, according to a special up». of-tlio International Statistical Bureau, of

The ‘report indicates that Canada's economy-will be» buoyed by a high level of for- eign trade drid by the relatively small increase in Jovontorios and prices. Furthermore, the “It claim, Canadian prices will continue to

i.

dished States. Prices iii Canada lovols even otter readiuit-

Foil onriniio to iinpm

non-ferrous metals even during the period of readjustment, but prices may be forced ~down later in the year, according to the Bureau. Pro- duction of these items, even after a decline, will be 5O per cent above pre-war.

Canadian exporters may find increased com- petition from the United States in some mar- kets as the year progresses. In some cases United States‘ products will be of inferior qual- ity, since they will represent merchandise that will not sell on the domestic market. Such items were not designed for the export market and c petition will not be organized nor sys- tematic. Price levels in the world market, however, may be temporarily depressed.

According to the Bureau, the long term outlook for the Canadian economy is optimistic, as it is for the United States after the read- iustment.

ln comparing the economies of the United States and Canada, the Bureau points out that the trend in the United States exerts a great influence on Canadian tendencies. So much of what happens in Canada is closely related to events in the United States. Differences and modifications as well as similarities must be heeded if the underlying economic relationship between Canadian and United States activity is to be used successfully as a tool in conduct- ing individual business affairs. The Bureau points out that it may be possible to ignore these close relationships and to operate profitably on a hit or miss basis, but it is highly unlikely that this type of haphazard operation can be success- ful indefinitely, especially during these times of readjustment when sudden changes cannot be counteracted very easily or quickly.

- EDITORIAL NOTES —

The Hon. Member for Prince did himself, his constituency and the Province great credit in his splendid speech moving the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne.

W i Oi i

Both Captain J. J. MacDonald and Mr. J. A. Gillies, the newly nominated Progressive Con- servative candidotas for 3rd Queens, are making their initial bow to political contests. They will have uphill work making a serious impres- sion on a district that was so well nurtured and politically developed by Mr. McGuigan. I I

e I

Sir Owen Seaman, English author and jour- nalist, died this date i936; was on the editorial staff of Punch for nearly forty years, the great- er part as editor-in-chief; he had a remarkable gift for humorous verse and parody, and pub- lished some dozen volumes of verse under such intriguing titles as Horace of Cambridge, Tillers of the Land, ln Cop and Bells, A Harvest of Cliaff, Salvage, War Time, Made in England, From the Home Front. One of his happiest hits was at the expense of London's fog:

"There must b-e something good in you, l know, Or why does everyone abuse you so?" i Dr. Robert W. Seliger, authority an the re-

hobilitotion of alcoholics and who for many years has been associated with the Johns Hop-

ir w w

"kins University, reports that approximately 30,-

000 Canadians are suffering from alcoholism, which he termed a disease, resulting in emo- tional maladjustment. ln America, he said, more than 750,000, or in proportion to Canada, morc‘ than twice as many people suffer from the some type of maladjustment. Dr. Seliger pointed out that the difference in the number between Canada's and America's alcoholics was mainly explained by‘ the fact that Canadians drink more beer than Americans, apart from the greater ability to absorb alcohol found among the various racial types in Canada.

Q w

Ii x

China is in o desperate state, millions starving or on the verge of starvation. This is no primary fault of the Chinese, but the outcome of a long series of mismanagement on the part of Europ- ean powers which permitted Jopan and Russia to obtain a foothold on that ancient Empire, which led the way to revolution, rebellion, the downfall of the Empire, and the constitution of two re- publics, one democratic, the other Communist. These two have been at war for years, and this added to the consequences of World War ll, has practically brought o large percentage of the population to beggory and despair. The Canadian Fund for the relief of the distress has been organized, and the Hon. Chief Justice Campbell has been appointed local represent- ative. No canvas for aid will be made, but it is hoped there will be a generous response on the port of our citizens, the various Banks having 'opened subscription lists for the purpose.

I

Sidelights on the dismissal of Dr. T. H. Hogg as chairman of Ontario Hydro are given by the C. P. in despatches from Ottawa. Mr. P._ D. Rosspclioirman of the Ottawa Hydro Elec- tric Commission, said the commission believed that in its negotiations with Dr. T. H. Hogg, re- gording purchase of Ottawa assets of the Ottawa Light, Heat and Power Company, that the On- tario Hydro- Electric Power Commission chairman had been acting in full accord with the pro- vincial government. Commenting on on an- nouncement by Premier Drew at Toronto, that Dr. Hogg had been asked to resign for failure to provide the government with information re- garding expansion projects, Mr. Ross said it was thought that Dr. Hogg was keeping Premier Draw fully advised of the Ottawa deal. Mayor Stanley Lewis said so far as Ottawa was con- cerned "wo acted iiy good faith." He declined further comment until Dr. Hogg "has had an opportunity to present his side of the case- that is if he cores to do so." The Mayor added, however, he believed Premier Drew should issue a statement to the effect that the corporation and council of Ottawa acted properly in doalin with the purchase of the Ottawa Light, Heat and Power Qflts. "l think, in fairness, ho- owes that to us. We were given a dcfinito proposi- tion. It was discussed by council and it is well known -that it was given a great dool of public-

n w w

pulp wood, and

m."

Notes By Tho ' Way

A plolipooiiet, "working" the Tao- lcinham Court Rood. London. sldied up against a well-dressed man and put an experienced hand into his pocket. But, with a yell of fear, the plckpocket tnre off down the road, dropping hia illegal flpoiln as he rim. Hg hm picked the pock- et of Sirdani. the BBC uusglcian, 11nd his loot was a small. non- polsonous snake, which Slrdemi virus training for use la one of his acts. -—BBC lxmdarrbelter.

A new miniature motor-car spe- clully ccsistructed for disabled ex- servlce men and crippled persons, hm, been shown in London, reports Empire Digest. The car is a single- seater and its construction enables the controls to be worked in ac- cordance with the driver's disabili- lies, either by foot or by hand, or by a combination of both. It should have a cruising speed of 35 miles per llOlii‘ with it gasoleiie oonsumrp- tion of 65 miles psr gallon. The chassis is so narrow that it can enter o. gateway 2 feet 6 inches Ln breadth and can be garaged in the smallest shed. The selling price of the cm‘ is £198 ($792).

A British anatomist ha: oomc fcrivai-d with n new “ape man."

‘Kissed Oil a creature that followed

lhe hlun-au pattern, although liirger and with a brain one third the size of present-day man. From the location of the discovery of the bones. he deduce; that the transition from ape to maxi tool: place ln South Attica. Future axi- thropologlsts will have better evid- enoe for their conclusions. They will need only to read history to know that the reverse transition from men to bii-ute began in Ger- many in the early '30s. in the neighborhood of the Dachau cori- oemrallon camp. ~Chlcago Daily News.

As become more plenti- ful and rules on their twee are relaxed, rwe hear a good deal of gobble about the future fashion of men's clothing. Some designers n-ant them to wear suite of pink. yellow and other bright colours; somebody else wants them to wear girdles. no doubt to "he up some of the elastic which was formerly so scarce and which soon may be- ocme surplus. None at these pro- 1705815 amuses our enthusiasm. The greatest need-la men's clothing, it seems to us. is a full adaptation of the principle of camouflage. A mixed (weed. partly soup-coloured pflflly ash-covered, would be a. fine fhimz. saving on the cleaners bills. —-Chicago News.

Although some denizen of Tin Pan AllCy likely has turned out. n dilly in which he calls his sweetie a tomato, the big red fruit itself should be theme for a stirring song. Arid the ballad ought lo be linked to August. remarlm the Minneapolis Slai- and Journal. You may have tomato juice and canned tomatoes and the hot house varieiy all through the year, but August is the time when you pluck them from your garden-it‘ ycu had the forcsighi to sot cut n few dozen plants late in Spring-and lake them fresh to la-ble for one of the imcsi delights within the reach of man. When someone CCdflpllllllS about the Summer heal. just i-e- mlnd him that hot weather is neces- sary to produce sweet oar-n and tomatoes: two of man's greatest solaccs ln a scmellmes unfriendly universe.

Let's have a little more pain, dignity and restraLnt. in consign- lng Christmas trees to the rubbish heap! When (he Christmas tree goes out, ll rakes with it top many spiritual things. when it leaves the fireside the spirit qt Bethlehem leaves. Toss the tree out rudely and you toss out the symbols of faith. love and generosity. With each candle or bulb goes something of the bright light that. lllumlned the manger. When you dismantle the (rec you dismantle weeks of preparation and anticipation. The light in children's eyes la dimmed. The dismantling should never be a mailer of a. half hc-ur‘; work. Lt should take two or three clays at least. The dismantling should be so gradual that it is hardly 11011006. And no rude tossing out of doors vim. it is stripped bare! Edge the tree towatd the door- way slowly. Lei it. Silly on the slviis ii while. MOVe it down lnlo i110 backyard a few yarde at a lime. It. will then seem to have 135w inlo_n mist. like ii. lovely memory Diissmg in a slumber. --H. I. Phil- llm in Chiollo Daily News.

There was an outstanding steam- ship pilot during the last. war- who Jiroved definitely that he may the secret of dodging lorpgdqgg, Whenever ri torpedo was fired at his vessel, his ship simply _"WI.S!l'l ‘there!’ The enemy swim baffled in every instance. "How didfyou do it?" the wrlterlasked. "Very easy," he replied. “I\Xld_ it ngvq- w" g n-illltaty secret. Before the w“ I W!" a Wflll Stred broker, and While encased in that bimlrieis I teamed that there- l; nothing mom uncertain in the world than the °l°°l< mflfktl- Nobody ever knows whether the curve la going to go

1 found in the newspapers. Th dllfln! one votille I would use old 1914 chart and an the ret trio I uaed 1018. And so on. such charts are dlffkeut and Predict-able. ooaiequmily the oouid not possibly tell what tie ship was going to do iievrt. I neqer used the some chars twles and my fialars were llwlys cross to be sure. but thayfees remains at all ship by o wide

vusuc ‘FORUM

‘Iiila column is open to

aoassdoisu of qaaafloas of Interest. The Charlottetown Guardian does not aeaetr- fly endorse the opinion of correspondents.

THE LONDON CONFERENCE

Slr,-—-!n the news frcm Wash- ington and Ottawa. dealing with the decision of the interna- tional wheat, control council to call a conference in London. early in March "in an effort. lo stabilize world wheat prices arid supplies” 1 think I see a significant straw in the wind, blowing in the direction of a sound. humane and friendly order of human society’!

With the sudden winding-up o! the UNRRA mechanism, one can hardly be surprised that, the aver- age man and woman should come to the conclusion that. the menace of widespread hunger and mal- nutrition has been conquered?

"All I know" (as the late arid beloved Will Rogers would say) "is what. I reed in the papers." Fi-cm that source, while it is clear that. the food position iii Europe is def- initely improved on that of a year ago, I see that myrlads of people are liviqig almost an a “field la mouth" basis, at, just. li-ilt‘ llie nu- lrllianal level of the 1521100000 P901316 l" the U. 5.. and Canada, l.e., 1.450 calories per capitu per day. and below it.

Who can measure the agony of the massed millions ln China and India? These are our friends and valiant allies-who bled with us against the common enemy - and unless the Christian Spirit of Democracy meets thla new chal- lenge successfully, lri s err-ape“. tive way and al- the United m- tians level. the war against lymnny can still be lost, Mr. Editor? As you know. better than the present writer, there are powerful ' ant!- sociial forces loose in the world at the amen! hour. who thrive (o: think they will) on turmoil, hun- zer and suspicion. They have lit- tle use for the principle of ‘the 8°95 nfiilhbfif’ and less for "an qr. for! to stabilize world wheat price! 1nd "Phil"? The)’ are aware of the tiact that, if stabilization could be achieved by llie nations, it would be a death-sentence on spec- ulative revenues from this basic food?

III these so-called modern days. freedom from hunger ghould be a fairly easy objective for mgr] and women of goodwill? But pub- llc brotherhood and private greed make a poor "team."

Luck to that London ence!

confer-

I Im- Sir. etc., “OLD RANGER"

Land Planning In Great Britain

(United Kingdom Iriformatiom _The Town and Country Planning Bill, which was published In Lon. don on January 8th in anticipmon Cl "5 early debate by the United Kingdom House of Comm-ens C11 its second reading, is the consummat- ion c,f years of inquiry by success. ivc- governments into (he problems °l Using 18nd lo the best, national advantage.

The Bill's main objects are lo set 11D a Planning system to meet pre- sent day requirements, to produce a comprehensive-solution of the mo. blem of development values in hind and thereby to remove one of the "W" Obslflclcs to good planning. and to provide national grants of money lo help local authorities in the purchase and clearing of land for the execution of plans,

The Bill sets up a new sysiem which, in the view of the Govern- menl, makes practical for the first lime 51ml Drolccls as the recon- struction and redevelopment of old towns. the preservation of green belts around towns, the provision of open spaces in crowded areas, and the allocatloncf land in the right place for new hOUsEg and {act- orles etc, as exemplified ln the A-bercmmbie plan for lnndon and similar projects for other cities. Such things have been impossible hitherto because of the heavy com- pensation due to landowners from local authorities. and because of the static and rigid planning system which gave undue emphasis to local at. the expense of regional and no- tional needs.

The Bill does not nationalist; land '

but deprives landowners of the right to build on their land except. in accordance with planning re- quirements. A developmen charge (betterment) will be lmpqsed nu the owner lf he ls granted pcrnleslaa. to build, thus depriving him at what is oalled unearned increment in land values. The Government hold that owners who thereby lose developme ll value are not necess- arily entitled to compensation. The Government recognise. however, that l_f no payments were made. hardship, would often be caused. and have decided that s collital rum of s1.2oo.ooo.ooo be made avail- able. from which payments may b9

made lo landowner; throughout Britain. ‘

O I O Larsflvwslerl are lo be left in an-

‘loymoul; of

the airline lilo vshn of their laud. The private land dev- eloper woulrl have to pay pas-t of the price of the lead to the Central Land Board as a development charge. The cost of land to the developer would be much the some u now, but a landowner in s It! position would not. be able to hold him to ransom. Private develop- ment would. Is now. hiwe to be in accordance with local and notional requirements. If the developer is the landowner himself. he would Ply the development charge.