PAGE FOUR

THE GUARDIAN

Iarnlrrg Dally (Founded in i881) Authorised as flee-unit Clan hlnll, Poet Office Department, Ottawa.

' ‘Ibo lalnnd Guardian Publishing Co. Idltor and llaneglug Director. J. ll. Burnett;

Associate Editor, Frank Walker

fTlre Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest Ink.“

cuAnLorrerowN, MONDAY, JUNE an, 194B

Saskatchewan Politics

2.1.

A great deal of phoney speculption accom- panied the recent political campaign Ill Sask- atchewan. The C. C. F. victory by a reduced ma-

jority was for from being the result of a cosmic‘

test between Socialism and free enterprise. Rath- er-in the opinion of the Hamilton Spectator which cites some interesting information on this point —it was a typical western struggle between hard- boiled and adroit politicians. There ore no real

.- bonds, in spite of frantic efforts to crea-te them, between the agricultural C. C. F. forces in Sask- atchewan and the urban labour-union C. C. F. drive in the ind-ustriol east. In any test the two would he in direct conflict, as they have been in fact since Saskatchewan was carved in 1905, with its sister province of Alberto, out of the old Northwest Territories.

From that day until Ju-ly 10, 1944, with the exception of one five-year gap, Saskatchewan was a monopoly preserve for the Liberal Party. Under such aggressive leaders as Martin, Dunn- ing and Gardiner, the voters held fast to a low tariff, anti-East gospel that never conceded an inch. And when for a spell between 1929 and 1934 the Conservative Party held power, it was through no close tie-up with the party in Ottawa. A general revolt against the "Grit machine," too long in power, was coupled with a violent religi- ous issue. A former school inspector of Ice- landic descent, J. T. M. Anderson, became a prime onachronism-a Conservative premier of Canada's most Liberal province. '

The victory was a catastrophe for the Con» servative Party, for it was coincident with one of the worst periods of world depression.

For every dollar a farmer got for his wheat in 1926, by 1931 he received 35 cents and by 1932 he was receiving only 27 cents. That was only a part of it. In a time of a world wheat glut Saskatchewan's farmlands were burned by the most searing drought in history. Where wheat had grown as tall as a man, sand filled the ditches and miles of telephone wire reached out ‘over wind-blown desert. There was no debating the status of the Saskatchewan farmer by 1933; he was broke, flat broke.

In 1935 they had another election. Not a Conservative was elected. "Jimmy" Gardiner was back with the old gang and Saskatchewan seem- ed normal again. Wheat prices went up and crops turned green. Even those who didn't lay it all to the good auspices of the Grits felt bet- ter. Gardiner left to become Federal Minister of Agriculture and a Baptist preacher, "Tommy" Douglas, ca-ma to the fore with an all-western type campaign that flowered in his decisive 1944

l victory.

What aided th-e Government was not Social- ism, in the Spectato/s opinion, but the fact that Saskatchewan, which is groin and nothing but grain, hos had four years of singular prosperity due to world conditions. lt has had steady mar- kets and good prices for its grain—-and that is Saskatchewan's lifeblood. Fate has favoured Premier Douglas witlr_good crop years; in that way he has had an easy row to hoe.

But down deep Saskatchewan, C.C.F., Lib- eral or Conservative, is all Saskatchewan first. Any one of these parties is often closer to its riv- als in the province than to its friends in the east. The Progressive Party that swept the three prairie

. provinces in 192i has lost its identity, but it is

the most real svmbolical force ever to show in the west. The farmer resents a lot of things out there, and most of all it is that he must sell his grain in an open market and buy in a protected eastern Canadian market.

A Railway To Alaska

Another chapter in Canadian-United States relations seems to be opening with the decision of the United States Senate to consider the con- struction of a railway to Alaska. Under the new Senate programme, the President will ne- gotiate with the Canadian Government and, through it, with the government of British Col- umbia, for some arrangement by which the Pacific Great Eastern Railway may be extended northward to Alaskan ports.

The British Columbia government has been trying for thirty yen: ta sell _the P. G. E. to some- body, for this white elephant of a railway has been, since its construction, a deadweight around the necks of the provincial taxpayers. The suc- cessive provincial governments have vainly tried to induce the Canadian Pacific or the Canadian National Railways, or both, to take over the P. G. E., but without success. The transcontin- ental systems have never seen how the P. G. E., running from an isolated point north of Van- couver, to Quesnel, eighty mil-es south of the C. N. R. at Prince George, could be of any use to them.

The P. G. E.-, starting nowhere, as the say- ing goes, and ending nowhere, is not much geol ln its present condition to anybody, except the few mines and cattle ranches which it serves. But as part of a railway to Alaska, a new route linking the north with the whole railway fabric of Canada and the United States, the P. G. E. might carry o large volume of freight and as- suredly it would form an essential part of the defences of North America.

The cost of extending the railway to Alas- lra would be large, but in all probability, the original cost will not ba the sticking-mint. What the Canadian and British Columbia government's

will require in the negotiations about to open

is an arrangement by which they will not be saddled with any operating losses incurred by the extended railway for losses there may well be, especially in the early years of the project- losses which should be charged up to the cost of defending America.

- EDITORIAL NOTES —

m Plebiscite—from l ram. ‘to 9 rm.

The Boy Scout Movement is off to a good start for another year. ~ Ir t I I

Islanders are everywhere-even among soa- men strikers in Ontario Lake shipping dispute. , w e o e

School is out. ' Entrance exams are over. What could possibly be wrong with the world? I‘ X k i’

Don't let us blame the other fellow for the way the plebiscite goes. Vote ourselves and see that others do likewise.

Ir I I I

The Treaty of Versailles this date 1919, which was to make the Allied lands "fit for heroes." As a matter of fact it prepared the way for heroes of a younger generation. ‘

I i I

Conservative opposition succeeded in causing the Government to withdraw some executive pow- ers from the Customs Act. The section empower- ing the Government to eliminate British trade preferences without reference to Parliament was deleted.

i I I I

Parliament has adopted legislation tighten- ing the import restrictions imposed in December to preserve American dollars, but promises, if serious set-backs do not occur, to give some re- lief before the end of the current year.

I i‘ "k i‘

A notable feature of the floods which plagued British Columbia and other provincbs recently was the absence of outbreaks of disease. The

health authorities concerned are entitled to commendation. Their precautions must have been prompt and effective.

W i "R I

An American doctor states that we should be thankful for occasionally having "the blues." His view is that an even emotional keel would result in boredom. The depressed one, however, should try to force himself into a cheerful stale of mind, and above all not blame others or cir- cumstonces.

I I I I

A new drug which has proved effective against sleeping sickness in cattle hos just been announced in Britain. Field tests are expected to prove that this drug, known as M.7775, gives im- munity for at least six months. lt is hoped that its use may open up the vast fertile areas in East Africa, so for denied to white farmers by the pre- valence of the tsetse fly, carrier of sleeping sick-

I18“. a w n e

Regret will be felt at the serious illness of Mr. Rand Matheson who was thus prevented from attending the annual meeting of the Transportation Commission at Digby on Friday. Mr. Matheson did yeoman service in connection with the recent freight rates inquiry, and the labours proved too much for him. A speedy re- covery is hoped for him by his many friends and colleagues in the Maritimes. \- Ir w a , Although Britain's merchant navy lost more than 11,000,000 tons of shipping during the war it is now only'1,000,000 tons short ofpre-war strength. This was stated by Mr. Alfred Barnes, Minister of Transport, June 8th at o press con- ference in Landon. Great Britain, he said, enter- ed the war with 16,900,000 tons gross shipping. At the present time, and after substantial re- building which reflected great courage on the part of owners to order at present prices, the country possesses 15,700,000 tons gross.

In the passing of Mr. H. S. Henderson, the City loses one of its most enterprising business men. In company with Mr. Roy Cud- more he established the well-known successful firm of Henderson and Cudmore, and until ill- health compelled him to withdraw, tcok an act- ive part in many of our local organizations. More than ordinary sympathy will be extended to Mrs. Henderson, who not only shared in her husband's public work, but has herself been the ruling spirit in the running of that well-conducted and highly successful charitable organization, the Protestant Orphanage. I '

i i W I

The Federal Government USKS for time to consider the proposed Canadian Bill of Rights —not on their own account, but in order that proper and informed public opinion may be de- veloped on the subject. It is easy trgmake such a man-ifesto so centred and confined within the four corners of an act, that it would result in impairing the freedom now enjoyed. Like the British Constitution our rights are not restrict- ed by precise legal ph,oseolo9Y. but admitted and ehjoyecl without let or hindrance until something occurs which demands parliamentary interference-as happened in the recent Alberta

case. ' I I I I

Student veterans contend that living costs have "forced many to the wall" under the state allowances they receive to continue col- lege educations. Douglas McVie of Bishop's College, president of the National Council of Student Veterans, asked the Veterans’ Commit- tee of the Commons to recommend increases beyond the present monthly rates of $60 for sin- gle and $90 far married men. "All -the facts and figures show the need of an increase for all veterans and for more than the additional Sill recently granted married men", he said. Nor- mal boarding rates, even in small towns, ha risen until they ate up the whole $60. - '

\ I

g-llotos By The Way-l?

{A

1f people are to continue to tn- heblt the earth, they will have l.o learn to tolerate people, svhothcr they like them or not. - Kitchener- Waterloo Record.

Arnblttoua youth will continue to answer the beckoning of opportun- ity. The United Slates offers great- er lucrative inducements and more rapid advanced-front. Ta counter- act. those magnets, Canada. must show more definite appreciation of and confidence in the abilities of those trained here, be they engul- eera or specialists tn any other line. If that. course is not follow‘- ed, the paradox will continue. Some of our most skllful and best.- frained mm will cross the llne w acquire the recognition which places them in demand in their own country. - Victoria ‘Times.

Motorcycles are not noted for their silence, but neither ls there any reason why they should u: permitted to make the maximum rumpus of which they are CBDGblCl The rules are simple. If motorbike operators will refrain from moh- keying with the motor muffler —- gadgets that. seem l.o invite mo:.- keying —and 1f they will stop press- ing the shark levers on and off, their machines will run with pro‘- bably a maximum of bangs, Jpaps and roars. ‘Ilia-t. assumes, of course, that the machines are in proper working order. If they are not. "he proper authorities should have them removed from the streets ITIJ roads !— Brent-ford Expositor.

A forest fire hasn't n single re- deeming feature, one la likely w conclude upon reading that about. the only forms of wild life not. ad- versely effected by if are the flying insect pesto which make bush life miserable in Spring and early Sum- mer. The forest. fires, far from do- ing anything to mitigate this nuis- ance. simply have driven the black files and their ilk into the open, where they hover in t-hivk black clouds. Stories from up the Algania Central Railway call the black fly situation the worst. in AIZOIIIBT: history, and tell of displaced per- sons new to the area. "slowly going mad" under the insects’ hurrying, which some of them describe as far more agonizing than the can dd-tlons under which some of them had been forced l.o exist. in concon tratlon camps. - Sault Sic. hIflriP» Sher.

When a. woman teacher marries she usually quits her profession. When a male teacher marries no merely takes on new responsibilities and keeps on with his job. It was probably with this In mind, and for the purpose of attracting men to enter public school teaching that. in 1946 the Board of Education added $200 l.o the maximum salar- ies of male teachers. Prior to shat- date men and women had been paid on the some basis. The Silvie- ory committee on salaries has now recommended that. parity between the salaries of men and wonlen teachers be restored. By o vote 0f 6 to 3 it. has advised that. $500 DB added to the women's maximum, on the ground that salaries are no‘ a platter of sex but of the war-r done. This recommendation now goes to the board. -- Toronto Tele- gram.

The iii-bell carillon at the Rain- bow Bridge has pealed out. ‘no melody for the first, time. It is the greatest set of bells in the Domin- ion, and the beauty of its rnusln will add much to what is already one of the most. beautiful scenes in the country. It is hard Lo imag- ine anything more delightful t.c the senses than to sit in Queen Victoria. Park as the shadows lengthen on a Summer eveninfi- A- cross the green grass and the wide gorge are the majestic Fells, mun d-erlng as they have for countless ages. The slanting mellow rays of the sun catch on the Lumbllng waters, are held and reflected. Ev erywhere there is the beauty of green grass, colorful flowers and peace. Then, over all this panor ama, comes the peallns 0i the bells, clear and melllfluous in the Summer dusk. The enchanted music, fllluig the air, sings 0f r119 beauty which man has created a- mid evil, of the dreams and aspira- tions which man may hold if his soul ls free, of the peace which may be his for the grasplng- SL- Catharlnes Standard.

It ls no use pretending that e chance collection of Englishmen in frock coats or morning coats _o. different cuts. carrying umbrellas or not. carrying them, wearing lop hats or can-ylngthcm or with I10 "hats at. all, forms a peculiarly im- pressive spectacle. That reflection must. have struck everyone who ivltnessed the laying of the foun- dation stone of the new House oi Commons. It. was a notable cere- mony nonetheless. The prime tilin- lster, with manuscript, dwelt. effec- tively on the continuity of the House of COYTIIIIOIIo as nu entity, whatever might. hair-pen I0 We structure in which it. meets; Mr. Churchill, noleless. rose lo an occa- sion which made compelling ap- p93] to his sense of the histou: and his passion for freedom; and Mr, speaker. when the time far action cna-rr, spread the morlst and banged the mallet as vigorously as 1f he was on piece-work. There the atone stands for genera-flan af- ter- future generation to survey. The new fabric la not likely WP" ready before the present. perha- menf. ends. and meny of the mem- bers of this parliament will ncier take their seats in it.. Some are standing down for reasons of age afhealfhi some are being extruded by decision of their fellow-urem- bers; more will be extruded bsfcze 1950 is outjby their present. coa- etltuents. Bur. however much ln- dtvtdual membership may chemo- the institution persist! and whi go on persisting, with its ancient. tra-

ditions on the whole slnluliirlr little modlfied- urndon lpectofoh

é .

PUBLIC, FORUM

/ §Thl| oolumnla open to I

é the dhculolon by orreopon-

r l dents of questions of interest 5 The ChlrlottetovrngGllrdlnn l- does not necesoorlly» endorse F the opinion of w" pand- ants.

l» \',\C¥A\C<\G‘-T \§ r \T‘£;';*¢~C\'-\9(.\\:

ISLANDS OI‘ OREIBSION

Slim-All natives of Tasmmla, the heart-shaped island lust so- of Australia, will have a fel feeling with the people, of P. L. .. about. the way in which PtiLct. Edward Island is left. of! the ma» of Canada. Official and unofficial maps of the Australian Common- wealth are a-pt to leave out. Tas- mania, a State of the Common- wealth or, at. host, to put. it into a blank space on the map about. 1200 miles from its real position.

This ls not. the only thing in common that the two islands have. Tasmania produces Australia's best. potatoes. And though it. l not so strong omoysters its seal ops are sent. as far afield as New York. Tasmanlans tend to think of the Australian continent. as a. large assertive island with a poor clim- ele lying or! the north coast of Tasmania.

I am, Sir, etc,

THOMAS DUNBABIN.

Australian Press Attache. Office of the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia 24 Sussex street, Ottawa

PARENT-TEACHER. neutrons

8ir.—There have appeared re- cently in your paper letters signed "Parent", which have interested me very much, Parent. seems to have many grievances against the De- partment. otEducatfon, the super- visors and the teachers-especially the teachers.

Apparently in this district the pupils and the parents are perfect.

"Parent." tells 110w one child was promoted wrongly. Where a ere the parents of the child at. that time? Certainly no interest. was taken in the child's education at. that. time, so why all this criticism now? Had the parents co-aperated with these teachers this wrong grading would not. have taken place.

It. ls my firm belief ‘that. when a child falls ln school If. is seldom, i2 ever, the child's fault. It, is nau- ly alway the fault. of the teacher, or of the parents, or both. We of- ten hear it said that the beache. makes the school, and this o! course is largely true. But. it. is also true that. the parents make tho school. The very best teacher in the world can do Little without the co-aperafion of the parents.

During recent years psycholo- g-lsts have learned that all basic attitudes are planted in the human mind before the age of six, Parents must. therefore use great. care and thought in educating the your-g child to be able l.o wpe with all the responsibilities and influences of school‘ life. Parents loo often forget that the teacher stands for the time being in the place of one parents, and ls invested with the: authority. How many parents fr; to uphold this authority?

Too many young teachers aze leaving the profession on account of the will-mannered pupil, who nearly always feels sure of i418 support of his parents. The pal- enfs’ attitude towards the teacher largely determines the char acler of the discipline in the school, and not oniy the quan-flty but. l.he qual- ity of the work done there.

Thus by upholding the teachers‘ authority and exercising more dis- cipllne in the home parents can do a great deal to make our schools more efficient. ._

No department. can recommend a teacher because he or she has met. the technical requirements of a teacher's certificate, not. know- ing what knowledge he or she has beyond that. ln the prescribed text. books. Then again a teacher ma; have all the wisdom to be found in the books, but. without. the essential tools t.o apply that. wis- dom. Perhaps lt. ls only by eroperi- ence that. one can become n good teacher.

I hope “Parent? attends the sir- nual school meeting in his or her district to help choose an efficient teacher-and then co-operalee

with her during the year I am. Sir, ere. MRS. JAS. CHAMPION, Principal ‘Travellers Rest School

VALLEY DWELLER

The sun to late arriving and leaves early;

The eastern mounts-tn and the western one,

Dork neighbors and implacable, and surly,

Delimlt, our experience of sun;

The abbreviated day, intense and bright,

fa blue and eager, desperate of ifn

our, Knowing its brief apportionment

of light,

lo quick and meagre la a valley flower,

It ends abruptly - nothing flow- ers, then,

Between the dark and dark on either side;

The sun, arriving late, has left. ngein~ '

And left. these sturdy ifelghboro . . . These eblde,

As constants, half-forgotten in the noon

0t llg-hf. and its intoxicating boon. '