Pill»; noun gwmgg

r

'f‘tl,E GUATR-DIAN

_ llsbfllllll null; tflounqeir lu lain) blrtharinnl in N's-unit (‘lun- llisli. Poss Ulllra . llvinerlrirenl, Dllrewis. The lnliiiiil l-uursllisn llllrlinhlll| (‘a lllltur urril hliniuglri; him-tor. J If lsurnells luau-title lfrlllnr. Frunis WukrL "The Strangest Memory rs Weaker Than

the Weakest Ink." cuanuorreiciwiv. MONDAY, MARCH 2s, 12-10

orurn Pllllllo Accounts '1

Several times during the Budget debate in the Legislature the question of Ontario's finan- cial position was m-entianed. lt was contended that that Province had gone behind as a result of failing to accept the Dominion tax agree- ment terms, and the Opposition leader's state- ment as to a substantial debt reduction was challenged. Since the conclusion of the debate a copy of the Public Accounts of'On~tario for the year ending March 31, 1948, has been re- ceived. lt shows a net decrease in the provincial debt of $26,333,518 a's well as a surplus on ordinary account of $25,628,452,

Incidentally, the Ontario. Public Accounts show detailed expenditures in every department, including 48 closely printed pages of sundries in connection with the Department of Hig-hways. Many of these items are smciil, but in the ag- gregate they come to $62,510,117. Why cannot a similar practice be followed in this Province, where the expenditure could de detailed in much less space, and wherethe public, surely, is just as keenly interested?

The Housing Situation

i

A spring survey by the Associated Press r_e- ports over 15,000 unsold houses in 46 American cities, and this at a season when normal house buying approaches its peak in the United States. These are all brand new dwellings, ready and waiting for buyers to move in. They are largely in the $9,000 to $15,000 brackets. Homes Il'l the lower classifications, it is reported, are still selling about as fast as completed but in the larger U. S. centres as in Canada, the great bulk of the new houses offered today are above the $9,000 figure. ~ _

While no similar survey ls available for Canada, says the Financial Post, there are some lndica-tians that we may be facing the some sit- uation here in a few months time. Certainly the background picture in the two countries is al- most identical. »

Prices of newly constructed houses in both Canada and United States are two to three times the level of prewar, having jumped about 50 per centin the last three years. Both coun- tries have been building at a tremendous _ratc since the end of the war, though on a basis of population the pace has been foster in Canada.

1n the United States last year housing units completed numbered 926,000. Making the usual allowance for the difference in population this would be equivalent to 78,000 for Canada. Act- ually we added 82,000 new units last year and 79,000 the year before. For 1949 a total of around 90,000 is expected. H

"lt is perfectly true," says the Post that economic conditions in the United States |ust now are not quite as buoyant gs they are _in Ca- nada. There are a lot of capital goods, includ- lng, houses that are not selling as fast as they were a few months ago. Buyers are not d5 8096i‘ or as desperate to take the first thing offered. But that not unhealthy attitude might well be duplicated on this side oft-he line as we move Into spring. lt is well to remember that the econ- omic cycle in the United States usually rung from three to six months in advance of ours. For those who will note it there is surely abun- dant warning here that the days of our house building boom are numbered. Sooner perhaps than we think supply is going ta catch up with

, a frantic demand."

i.liierai'iliew 0f Mr. Drew

How the new Conservative leader at Ottawa looks to party opponents from tltg press gallery . is indicated, in the following excerpts from an article in the Winnipeg Free Press by Grant Dex- ter, one of the ablest Liberal journalists in Ca- nada.

"The fact of first importance on Parliament Hill these days is that Mr. Drew is proving to be a much more formidable and successful lead- er af the Conservative party than anybody, not excepting his own lieutenants, expected. Indeed, it is the truth that Mr. Drew has been the sen- sation of the session to date. He is showing himself to be an effective and skilful debatcr and a strategist of daring although, as yet,-of /unproven wisdom." After commenting on the Conservative leader's early political record Mr. Dexter sap

"Mr. Drew took ever a party which had been dying on its feet since 1935 when Mr. Bennett, having been defeated, really ceased to be an ag- gressive leader. After six weeks of the session, he has transformed it into a hard-hitting, fight- .lng force, full of confidence and eager for bat- tle. Not only was the Conservative party under Manion, Hanson and Bracken lileless and ~dis- pirited, but it lacked cohesion and loyalty. lt was incapable of following a given line of policy. It was riddled with jealousies and hatreds. Feud- ing among the members was constant. Many of them were more interested in hurting each other than in opposing the government.

"All this is now changed. Mr. Drew exer- cises complete control over the 68 members who follow him. His discipline would do credit to a military establishment. Even such irrepressible lnterruptors as Mr. Gordon Graydon obey, in- stantly, Mr. Drew's slightest nod.

"To one sitting‘ in the press gallery, the Conservative party often appears to be not un- like an orchestra with Mr. Drew as the conduc-

,.-tor. At one wove of his hand, the sixty-eight silent-At another, heckllng and general rearing-jacks out in such voiunwai to‘ drown

1' snt. Yet even in the midst ofsuch

‘ new“?

t ls saying, he merely raises three score and more adult men 1r wind pipes llllil been slit.

speeches. The applause never comes at the wrong time for him. But let an opponent cross him and the faithful roar angrily bcross the gang-way. They give their man all possible sup- port whereas in the pie-Drew days it seemed that most of the Conservatives wished their leaders t5»; worst of luck."

./ EDITORIAL NOIES f,

Britain declared war with Russia this date 1854 — the beginning ‘of the Crimean War. i‘ I

The city taxes are to remain unincreased, tliough a deficit in revenue over expenditure has been budgeted for by the City Council.

i‘ i I

It is still being rumoured that a change in the occupancy of Government House will take place this coming summer.

i i i

Some 300 world scientists, experts on atomic energy, meet in Britain to compare notes. The week-long conference will not discuss the Bomb, which more or less seems like playing Hamlet

without Hamlet.

I G

If Mr. Mackenzie King were leading the Liberal party in the forthcoming election he would almost certainly have uncomfortable mem- ories of sliding out of power on New Zealand butter. His successor apparently must learn the

hard way.

O i Q

The idea of a general amnesty has fallen out of favour as a means celebrating important national events, It seems a pity that it should be so. There can be few expressions of public rejoicing more noteworthy than a general throw- ing open of prison doors.

l‘ i

Premier Jones’ suggestion about demonstra- tions by youth groups at the Provincial Exhibi- tion evokes memories of such activities by the then reserve naval division, P.E.l. Light Horse, Riding Club, Boy Scouts and others. They did not take the place of vaudeville, however, but formed a very attractive addition to it.

i

I I

Lawyers explain that animals are either wild or domestic, and that the one never moves from its classification. Since the heyday of ti’; fox industry here the Island fox has been unique in being transferred to the domestic category by act of the Legislature. it marks the end of an eia that he now reverts to his previous status.

is i I

A New York professor of anthropology, Dr. O. W. Junek, wan-ts women to be given a try at ruling the world for the next 1000 years. The professor's theory is that women are natural pcacemakers, and that we would riot see many wgrs. He doesn't make a bad peacemaker him- se f.

The decision of‘ thb Fisheries Council of Canada to stimulate the domiztic market of the industry by advertising shou result in much improved demand and consumption of fish and fish products. As the campaign will also save money for the Government, which would other- wise have to pay heavily to support prices, it would appear reasonable to assist the project with public funds.

I I

Shediac is booming as a summer resort. A new ca-ndy factory and another new building to house the New Brunswick Liquor Control Board store, will be built during the current year while a number of private homes‘ and cottages will be erected. Mayor Leblanc states that the build- ing now housing the confectionery company has been ou-tgrown and the construction of the new plant will start at an early date.

Q i i '

When communication was slower and each country carried on its own research more or less independently except for scientific journals it did not greatly matter that 1,000,000,000 was p billion to the American while to the English- man a billion was a thousand times as great. Today, however, the need for standardization of the language of mathematicians is no less im- portant than the matterieof icrew threads.

l‘

Q

Stephen Leacock, Canadian economist and novelist, died this date 1944; was head of the Department of Economy of McGill University, but was better known as a humorist; his publi- cations include: Literary Lapses, Nonsense Nov- cls, Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town, Behind and Beyond, Arcadian Adventures with the Idle Rich, Moonbeams from the Larger Lunacy. Further Foolishness, Frenzied Fiction. Besides he published several serious works.

l’ "I w

Per capita library expenditures annually, exclusive of capital charges, should run to $3, according to U. S. opinion,‘ but, says Mr. An us Mowat, Ontario Library Superintendent, e thrifty Canadians can operate an less than that," according to agn item published in Canadian Bookseller. "There is no question, though, that $1 is not more than enough." Ontario library statutes permit a maximum expenditure of $1.25 per capita.

O i I

A staunch membe of the C. C. F. Party, Clairie Gillis, (Cape Breton) said in the Com- mon} that if he was ever faced with a murder charge he would engage Donald Fleming (PC- Torcnto Eglintonl as his counsel. He had told Mr. Fleming that once and the Toronto lawyer-mem- ber asked why hs should be chosen. Mr. Gilli: answered: "For the simple reason that l would die 2f old age before the case reached the jury.

fi

I I

Britons may now purchase clothing‘ without coupcns, but have to suffer further rationing so for as butcher meat is concerned. An ‘old coun- try visitor to- Montreal the other day told a rs- porter that the more appearance of the abund- ance of foodstuff on the table of the hotel in, which he was located mode him sick after tho long period of fostlnp he had successfully past-f‘ ed‘ through at homeblt flllfll be admitted, from’ all accounts that the rationing has improved

O

for Mr. Drew's soy-die old Mother Country.

both tho health and the finances of the note

00€>0

0 PUBLIC FORUM

This column is open to the discussion by eu-respondents of questions of interest. The‘ Guardian does not neocons- lly endorse the opinion of correspondents.

TEACHERS LABELLED INEBT

Slr,—I wish to cell the attention of the teachers of this Province to a recent statement labelled against us, viz., "The willingness to work is not there."

Thus, recently in our Legislative chambers did the Hon. A. Math- eson, Minister of Health and Pub- lic Welfare, so designate the mem- bers of our noble teaching profes- slan.

In ail fairness, however, to Mr. Matheson, for whom I have always held the greatest respect, let me hasten to give the context for the statement. First, the speaker in e glowlngly emphatic and apparently self-satisfying attitude declared in convincing tones that the average salary for rural teachers in Prince Edward Island has now reached the one thousand and twenty-five dol- let mark. The hon. member then made whet he considered e start- ling comparison between the pede- goglcal ambition of twenty years ago (a second childhood device) arid that of today. As an illustra- tion, he cited the specific case of a male teacher who twenty years ago earned the grand total salary of $600, and worked an a farm (I believe it was) during summer ve- catlon, subsequently being able to put himself througlrcollege.

What en isolated exception for en intelligently responsible Minis- ter of the Crown to use as the premise for such e far-reaching and derogatory conclusion (One teacher twenty years ago received $600; worked during his vacation; and put himself through» college. Teachers today receive $1025; do not work during vacation; and pre- sumably do. not. put themselves through College. Therefore, teach- ers today do not have the willing- ness to work).

Sir, I should like to know how the hon. member secured this in- formation about; our; teachers. Are so few of us busily engaged during summer vacation? Do so few nt- tericl summer school or work an farms or at other occupations? I honestly believe that should a eur- vey of such activities be available, the facts would speak volumes for themselves to show very con lus- ively that few (if any) fully-quali- fied teachers ere of the lotus-eater type, so cleverly depicted in Hom- er's Odyssey. Rather than express concern about the so-called inertia within our profession, the hon. minister might have more posi- tively suggested (or better still, acted upon) a method whereby the young desirables might. be attracted into our critically depleted ranks. There is no need to labor the point further, as I shall leave the matter for the members of the lri- ert profession to cogitate for them- selves. Let melremind-the hon. Minister, however, that only for those viclims of Summer Inertia we should not all have read in bold headlines the other morning, "P. E. l. Junior Red Cross heads world as greatest organized unit of its kind." What a felt accompll for the Genus Inert.

Is it necessary to emphasize the fect that it is very ill-becoming and imprudent for a leading member of a profession steeped in justice to castlgate unfairly, not only‘ in pub- lic but within the protecting con- fines af n Legislative chamber, the members of another professlon-— one now so broken and bent in numbers and other ways as to be the problem number one in Cen- adrfs educational World today?

Iu conclusion, let me express the sincere hope that. the hon. Minister of Health will not have to expend too wastefully an over amount of his time trying to deletharglze leathers into that active co-oper- ntion so necessary for the cess- ful fruition of his important de- parlmenfal duties.

I em, Sir, etc. FAIRPLAY and JUSTICE. Charlottetown \ |

LET US BE DEMOCRATIC Sir. -— Amid tn».- growing com- munLst menace. both nationally and internationally, it. is well to appraise and, lf necessary, resurrect our democratic values, values which have been fought for and won by men of all freedom loving countries throughout the ages.

The supreme value of democracy ls freedomw- freedom of speech. freedom of the press, freedom of worship. Concerning these much has been written end much yet to be written. The emphatic point. however, must always remain this - particular groups or classes ere not. the'lone possossors of freedom, ti". rather. freedom ls the per-session of every individual of every group and class. _.

The success or failure, life or death of our democracy rests vrlth us as individual citizens. We,_wl1o enjoy the privileges of freedom, must first and always contribute to the source. If we tronszrees these privileges. we not only abuse our own freedom but endanger the freedom of others. ‘ ~

blnoe we ere and must. be con- tributors to dOMOOIssCY, let us then survey our contributions tn democracy and compare our oop- trlbutlons with the benefits we have received. We must. be willing to remove the beam from our eyes. be candid and honest with ourselves. ‘

The election of our wlemocrstla government ls our lndfvlausl ex- pression of freedom. Have we l1- lovrca ourselves to place our own immediate selfish interests shove the welfare of bfllitl? Have me beeomlvlotlms __of pores“ fiotlpl who not ‘only arrsy- themselves-he

our fesr ' stifled s

a

of our opponents? ‘Bush action

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auripiuprjusmsmeg, msapnoe- ,.iuie~ ll 1. wimp]: 1' , n mo, to {ins snow: ' engine's. must inmnsurr pl - . r to». . arnerrmx: , _ ole-soar. ¢ r

e-Mtaflnl- . Altflih “l!

‘ash! Fibres! , on .

in or mm u u

s‘? > ; Hove we felted en l ,' smothered the vocal idlciepprotol ,,

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\‘ -,,»...,,///)/// . .

C harlottetown (And r. n. s.)

ii

Nnwsrarrm exonera-

Old

At the military dinner given at the Osborne House an Friday evo- ning by Capt. Moore to the mem- bers of No, 2 Battery, Garrison Ar- tiilery, some interesting excerpts were read by S. F. I-lodgson, Esq., from a copy of the London Times of July 28, 1815. The paper in question was found by Edward B‘. Love, Esq, in the walls of the old “Moi-peth" or “St. Avard‘: House" at. St. Avard's—just beyond the railway crossing on the St. Peter's Road-while tearing it down lest summer 1n order tounake room for his new residence. The paper, somewhat mutilated, contains a graphic account of the surrender of Napoleon Bonaparte to Capt. Mallland, on board H. M. S. Bel- leraphon, as told by a midshlpman. Some of our oldest inhabitants re- member this period well, when pro- clamations were posted up in Char- lottetown thanking the Almighty for the capture of Napoleon.

-Weck1y Examiner, March 3, 38/37.

0i". ...r. for...‘ rs-,._ cacDRES

drum

The moon, Capella, arid the Plei- odes Silver the river's grey uncertain

oar;

Only e heron haunts the grassy

shore;

A fox berks sharply in tflie cedar t

rees. Then comes the lift. and lull of plarigent seas,

fiwoylng the light marsh grasses more eind more

Until they float, and the slow Udc bricns o’er. And then a rlvulet. runs along the breeze.

0' night! thou art so beautiful, so strange, so and;

I feel that sense of scope and ancientness.

01f all the mighty empires thou has ad

Dreaming of power beneath tliy

palace dome.

Of how thou art untouched by their distress.

Supreme above this dreaming land. my hcimc.

-Du.ncan Campbell Scott.

leads not. only to disinterest but lack’ of faith in our way of llfe.

The most prized possession of democracy is freedom of worship — the right to WOIShlp as we wish, without fear or sanction. Have we allowed others ln our midst to worship freely as they wished? 1f we have not, We have robbed them of one of the essential dil- ferences between Russia and the democracies.

In democratic countries, no other than the free press plays such an important role ln guarding and, nourishing true democr-tlo ideals.- Have we allowed our free|press to orcome the organ of political power seeking groups?

Have we refused to prqent the news tn our ‘honest fashion, dis- regarding and abusing whet is the sole possession of the people and in its place substituting our 'own "bought and psld for opinions?"

frhe answer by many or us to these questions, ff truthfully answ- ered. would be an scknowledee- meat that we are obuslna our democrat.‘ way ‘of life. We con- tluo to selflelily sad thouzhtlusly map without giving anything in return. In so doing we ere crest- tng a vacuum in democracy which vre cln scarcely expect to with- stand Communism or onset its ardent disciples. »

If we fur Communism. (we are justified , tn furlni that menace at present) we must in- vest lnuemoorsoy. ~-We'6siseelves hltlll belln to ‘Mflbtlllilie , ll lnolvfdusls to our we! of and

our

rnust rs sins

Md,

Lenten Meditations

The limes, Imndon

nus onnuruvam or restroom-sou

The practical bent in the ne- tlonal character has deeply colour- ed Engllsli Christianity. It ls, broadly speaking, unresponsive to the mystical elements in religion; its primary interest ls in Christian conduct. It has been trained on the duties in the Catechism, the Decelogue, and the Sermon an the Mount. That may be a reduced Christianity, but. its ethical em- phesls has been the strength of much that ls most precious in our heritage.

Yet this approach has its limita- tions. It tends to identify Christ- ian conduct with the average code of rectitude and decency and is blind to more delicate and subtle in- sights. And it falls too easily into the fatal notion of salvation by the works of the law-fatal, be- cause that means, ln effect, con-