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THE GUARDIAN

Morning Daily (Founded in 188T».

Authorized as Second Clan Mall. PM! 9m" Department. Ottawa.

Tho lsland Guardian Publishing Co. Preoldont. Ian A. Burnett; Vloo-Preoident. Will- 3- Burnett; SCCL-TICIL, G. ltL Burnett; 5W"? In“ tlaaaglng Director. J- it. Burnett; Alluclfl" Elm“-

Franli Walker. '

”TI|e Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest Ink.

"unituirr r, APRIL .1753

ilow To lleal With Freifilli R3199 A meeting of the Transportation Commission sf the Maritime Board of Trade is to. be held tomorrow to consider the railway freight rah! boost. Seven provinces vigorously protest against the increase, holding it is unwarranted at the present juncture, and a bold endeavour Wlll'li9 made to have the Government suspend the im- position of the increase for at least thirty days. till the whole question be reconsidered from the evidence already submitted. lt is generally ad- mitted that the loss sustained in running the 'ailways is not on the long carload traffic across Canada, but in the inefficiency and inadequacy if local services. Were their railways run in q“ up-ta-date business like manner, such as private enterprise would insist upon, there need be no loss, but a tremendous increase iii pro- fits. We have but to look to our own local con- ditions, and then to multiply the outcome as ap- plicable to similar areas all over Canada to real- ize how economically wasteful the system ha: become in the course of many years. Take for instance, say the service between here and Mur- ray Harbour or Murray River. A train carrying a crew of five goes one day and returns the next, with but an insignificant patronage in freight and passengers; whereas a jitney service with one employee could do the journey, two or three times o day at a minimum of cost. We have dealt with this in the past, but the reply is merc- ly that railway employees have votes, and it would never do to ieopardize these even for the sake of economy and public convenience be- tween elections. Nevertheless there is where the shoe pinches and accounts for the loss sus- tained by the railway systems. Another source of waste is in attempting to compete with the busses in pick-up and carry traffic. For 40c or thereby a big railw-ay truck will call at an ad- dress to convey a comparatively small parcel, to say, Kensington, only to find in not a few in- stances that meantime a bus has called and of- fered to deliver the goods at thq home of the addressee instead of having it left at the sta- tion. lt is in this way that the cost of running the railways has got out of hand, and not in the long haul heavy traffic, and it might be well for the Transportation Commission to dir- cct the attention of the Government to this angle with a view to securing remedial meas- ures in the interest of all concerned. Do not let there be any mistake. The railway service is costly, and getting more and more so, but it is not due to the long haul but to these local inefficient conditions which must be remedied; and now is the time lo make a start by convinc- ing the Government that action is necessary in the interest of all concerned.

Motorists’ Tax Burden

Figures quoted in the current issue of the Manitoba Motorist, publication of the Manitoba Motor League, give some inkling of the size of the tax burden being carried by motor car own- ers and operators in Canada. In December, 1946, there were 1,584,889 passenger cars, trucks and buses registered in the Dominion.

The following is a breakdown by provinces of the amounts paid by motorists in licence fees and gasoline taxes during the some year:

Licence I-‘ccs (ins Tax

Alberta. $ 3.689.906 5 5.403.921 B. C. 3.809.231 5.682.094 Dfiuiitobu 1.775.635 £1,320,949 N. ll. 1.616.683 2.832.391 Nova Scotia ._ 2,135,677 3.498.181 Ontario . 13,541,325 31.300377 l’. E. 1- 199.407 465.618 Quobi-c .. 7.861.000 ('45) 16,027,000 $85k. . . 3.429.325 4.724.071

$38,091,189 $73,214,632

Under these two headings alone motorists poured $111,305,821 into Dominion and provin- cial treasuries in 1946. Federal authorities claim- ed $29,482,040 in excise taxes collected many millions of dollars in excise and sales taxes on automobiles and automobile parts.

Communist Tactics

The British Labor party in a statement en- titled "A warning and a lesson to democratic socialists," points out that the Communists "consider as enemies all those who do not sur- render unconditionally to their slightest whim." Then it continues: "But Czechoslovakia teaches us something more. Communists cannot achieve their aims without support from a minority with- in tho camp of democratic socialism."

The Communist tactics aro, thus, to attach themselves to the left wing section of loft wing parties, detach this section if possible and then ride to power, as they have dono in eastern Europe, in the thinly veiled disguise of coalition government.

This appears also ‘to be tho party lino in Canada. After years of abuse lovollod against tho C. C. F., tho party has swung round and

_ annauncod its support of Mr. CoIdwolI's group.

Tho noiit stop is to wean away tho loft wing oi tho C. C. F. from its parontibody. This is tho lino 1n lritain wlioro tho 20th national congross of tho Communist party sought to split Labor and farm a "piogrosilvo" or "loft" govornmont as against what tho Communists toiin tho pm- ,oni "right wing" lobar ioadonhip. This is wiiat hopponod in Cooclioslovalrio, in- Poland and In ltolv.

‘ i

EUIIURIAL NUI CS -

Red Cross booming. i

All will regret the sudden indisposition of Rev. G. Carlyle Webster, and wish for his speedy

recovery.

O I I I

lt is about time for our annual clean-up week—so that everything should be spick and span for ourselves and the in-rush of tourists.

I Y! i i

For every $4 a Briton earns his Income Tax is $1.80-—no wonder the new budget was eagerly looked for, but disappointing when brought down.

I i I I

It seems strange that after Russia had ari- nounced to the world that she had developed great new oil fields from the Urals to the Pacific she should come out of the Austrian negotia tions with numerous oil wells at the expense of control of Danube shipping. ‘

* 1r i

The best medicine in the world-children's laughter. A much travelled English actress in an interview on her return to London for a pan- tomime said: "l couldn't miss playing principal boy. You can't bottle happiness and sell it to people, but to listen to children laughing is bet- ter than all the tea in China. No wanderbug will ever prevent me coming back to England for

pantomime."

O C Q I

A man of nerves and nerve. A woman rec- ently lost possession of a flat in_ Southend for a very original reason: the noise of her high heels tapping on the floor so annoyed the man living below her that he applied for her eviction and was successful--the judge holding that she might have worn slippers or rubber soles-or even gone about in her stockinged feet. i i i i

The case for the Maritlmes in the matter of freight rates chiefly concerns policy rather than merely legality. This country was found- ed on a railway policy that was to enable its geographically diverse provinces to become an economic unit. With the abandonment of that policy Confederation itself is being abandoned. Q i

w a

William Wordsworth, English poet born this date 1770, friend of Coleridge who collaborated with him in Lyrical Ballads. He was the chief of the Lake poets, and one of the leaders of roman- tic survival. He made nature—-and man as part of nature—his great poetic theme; at its best his poetry combines sublimity and purity:

Methinks "Wisdom is oft-times nearer when we stoop Than when we soar."

o w o a

More coldwar and infiltration. A number of prosecutions have taken place in Montreal Re- corder's Court for buying tickets on an Italian lottery. The money raised from sole of the "tic- kets was intended to be used in the national elections in ltaly on April l8, itwas stated by police who believed a link existed between the Italian Communist Party and the Labor Pro- gressive Party in Canada.

I ~o w l

The Alberta prosecution for "conspiracy" to publish a defamatory libel has been amend- ed but the accused publishers have been put to unnecessary trouble and expense in meet- ing the charges which had they consisted of "publishing" rather than "conspiring to publish" would- have been triable only in the province where the publication had its origin.

I i

or w

lt is an oft heard complaint that the lsland is top heavy in the matter of Government in re- lotion to population. it is extraordinary then that a Lieutenant-Governor and a 30-mombc-r legislative assembly and a 9-man Government are considered by that government to‘ be inadequate. An additional House comprising all the electors on the lsland is being set up to enact liquor

legislation. k if ‘I k

The unreliable potato exporter is a serious problem to the lsland potato industry. The Pro- vincial Government, of course, has little actual control of marketing operations outside the Pro- vince. lt should be possible, though, to cs- lablish a Trade Association with membership restricted to reliable; dealers. Others could not be prevented from operating but at any rate outside buyers would know that they were nor "lsland approved." It is up to the dealers them--

selves to organize for their own protection. I i

w: w

There is no word for compromise in the Rus- sian language, Bernard Cardinal Griffin, Arch- bishop of Westminster, preaching in his Cathed- ral, declared. "Nations and states have failed to come to terms with the communistic leaders of Russia," he added, "because Communism is radically opposed to Christianity and all that it stands for. The Communist wishes to win the world for Stalin and we want to win it for Christ. But it is no use to decry the evils of Communism if we fail to remedy those evils under which Communism can flourish."

Tho sheer drudgery involved in writing books and tho meagre rowards in monoy or in reputa- tion providod by Canada for its writers are the chief reasons for the scarcity of Canadian books, Mr. Roderick S. Kennedy, immediate past prosidont of the Canadian Authors Association, doclaroo. Conditions aro much better in Can- ada today than thoy wore 10 years ago, but authors in this country still faco tho inoscapablo fact that 12,000,000 Canadians provido "a vary small marlrot." Canada can only buy oiio-tonth aomany boolro as tho Unitod Statos and ono- qiiartor as many as Great Britain.’ As a mattor of fact tho picturo is ovoii darlror than that slneo tho Canadian marlrot is split into two

I I

groups ono nonnalty reading only French-langu- agg and oiio only EngIioIi-Ionguago boolu._ .

a ,

Tho first Russian nylono aro re- ported to be on sale in Moscow, so it's only a matter of time until the propaganda bureau comes up with the revelation that the stuff really

was invented

there. - Windsor Star. .

Winnipeg was the first city in Canada to operate a theatre as a municipal venture. The enterprise has paid handsome returns 1n many ways 1n additlou to showing is fl nanclal profit. The Playhouse Theatre ls becoming more and more of a cultural nndxommunlt,"

centre. It. 1s available for school concerts and 1ilays. ~ Winnipeg Tribune.

When Fredericton was originally lald out by British military en- gineers, it was made a square of l. miles, giving 1t an area of 121 square miles. Fredericton may not have grown in population to the degree expected at its foundation. ‘Itoday it may liave to rely on it... quality rather than on its quazi tlty. But when it comes to other cities vauntlng themselves on area, we expect to hear something from the New Brunswick capital. Halifax Chronicle.

59""! llwlile think Vandenber; Ls older than he ls. He ls 47 days older than Truman and 71 1-2 months older than senator Jog Martlfl. All three become 64 this year. MacArthur ls 68. Dewey will be 45 this year. Stassen 41, Warreu 57 arid Taft. 59, Vanclenbergs an nouricement that he would retire at the end of his present term as senator may have given the 1m. presslon that he regards himself n. 888d. l-lls present. term, however has nearly four years to run. To his acquaintances he appcgrg w be 1n excellent health and this was the verdict of doctors last Fall. -- Newsweek Magazine.)

A Pittsburgh mcdlco has dlscov cred that those “head colds" tnat. keep coming back may be an a! lorgy and not colds after all. so jufili Wipe iwvay the tears. forget ll“? 11931186116. blow your nose non chalantly and dismiss the whole affair. You'll have to repeat this whole procedure every few sec~ ands, of course. Wliy worry about whether it. should have this or that name? What people want ls a cure, or. better still, a preventative.- Kftchener Record.

A facsimile of tlie Kitty Hawk, the biplane 1n ivl-ilch ln 1903 one Wright. brothers made the firs: powered flight 1n a heavier-thali- air machine. 1s being made for the Science Museum. South Kenslrig- ton, by the de Havllaiid Technical School at Hatfield. Thlssls to take the place of the original when it ls restored to the United stores shortly 1n accordance with a pro mlse made to the lobe Mr. UTVIIIE Wright. 1n 1944i. - London Times.

Before we are very old. health authorities remind us, we learn that, words can wound! Everyone has seen a "hurt" look on a child's face. Adults, too, they say, can oe “cut. to the quick” by sharp com merits. so, slrioe no one likes to be injured, 1n feelings or in per son, everyone should guard against doing or saying things which make others suffer. A pleasant word, an expression of commendation 1r congratulations. cordial greetings —all these things help, say the health men, and they create hap- piness for those who utter them as well as for those to whom they are directed. - Chatham News.

The free peoples have already learned the lessons of the coup 1n Prague. It. stripped away the last illusions about the Communists and lhelr tactics; they are seen bu be working along the course prescrlb~ ed for them ‘by Lenin-ta plny the parliamentary game for so long as ll. suits them, to use democra- tic profcsslons of faith to win id- lierents, to build up their strengiil‘. n Mira-parliamentary bodies such 11s the trade unions. and than w seize power b_v sudden forceful moans, - The Times. London.

India's new constitution rcprc sents i411 inspiration rrithcf than .1 reality. Like n11 great constitution n1 documents. 1t. promises more than 1t can perform In moasurnbze time. But the promise is important and 1f the new legislatures that aro. to come into belng under the cor- stftutlon can work 1t. with toler able offioloncy. India's teeming millions can look forward to the widest possible opportunity for freedom and security. —Montreal Star.

More than 30 yearn ago Miss Edith Raine lent a small clock "to her sister. Mrs. Reyes Metcalle, oi Palm Beach. near sydney. Neith- er of them thought much more about 1i; until the other day when Miss Raine asked 1f she could have 1t back. Thai reminded Mrs. Met.- r-nlfe that. soon after she'd bor- rowed lt. she had taken it to be repaired. 5hr traced the woven- maker. "I've been __eot.itil Yo" slnce July, 1017,5110 so1d.- Aua trallon News Letter.

Ontopofooqnoi building In Times square, where the block-long chewing-gum sign was situated he- fore the war. workmen aro building a 35-foot waterfall. It. will be 130 rm wide. and some sullen! 1i water a minute will tumble 0v" it-not on to Broadway pedestrians but. lntio o trough whore it. will ho pumped up in tho mp again. rius waterfall lo only one port of a hugo advertising oian - DWI-Willy tho moot apoctooulor in tho militia of bright limo being built- ill Broadway which would motto i!" atroot that. woo dubbed tho ' Great- WtiltoWosWboaiiiitt-ioolloiioiaolt ilko o dorit all". - lion York Tribuno.

[l!__b_‘.__GUARDlAN. “CHAIQLQTTET

OQ-OO O-O-O-O vuiscic’ FORUM

Tlsio column lo open ti. tho diooaooion by corro- opoisdonta of guootlana ai “IONIC. I'll! Uhlllilttelsrii Guardian dooo not nooonor»

endoroo tho opinion or corroopondeuto. .

++oooo+x+ooo+ooeoo+4 FREIGHT RATES INCREASE

Sin-As the decision to increase freight rates by 21% will have u most. disastrous effect. on industry and the whole economic llfc of our- Proviuce, it, ls most. urgent that our case should be carefully stud- led from every standpoint, 1n or- der to safeguard our rights. I would, therefore, like to have tlie privilege of stating certain facts that have an important. bearing on the case.

Over 20 years ago, when I was president. o1 the Associated Boards of ‘Prado of Prince Edward Island. I was appointed on a special com- mlttee of flve, by the Maritime Board of Trade. with a, vlew of securing a traffic expert lo exam- ine into the discriminatlons 1n freight. rates against. the Maritim- es. Eventually our committee call- ed a meeting at Moncton of all principal shippers and manufact- urers in the Maritlmes, and which was also attended by Premier Amnstrong of Nova Sootia. Premier Venlat. of New Brunswick, and Premier Stewart of Prince Edward Island. After n successful all-day session 1n Mont-ton, our committee then held n conference with the three Maritime Premiers, and they were so convinced as to the serf- ousuess of the situation prevailing, that. the committee was authorized to secure the services of a traffic expert. and the three Provinces were prepared to finance the cost on a par caplta basis. Mar. F. C. Cornell, an outstanding traffic authority. was in due course en- gaged. He soon discovered that the Marilimes were discriminated against at; every turn, and 1t was the submission of Mr. Cornell's re- port to the Duncan Commission in 1926 that secured the 20% reduc- lion.

When Lho Canadian National

Railways absorbed the Interrzolon-

lal Railway and the Prince liidwarcl

lsland Rallwo 1n 15-12, the freight

rates were incensed in the Marl-

tlrnes by 92%, and in the other

Provinces west, of the Maritimes

by only 55%. The reduotlon of

20% recommended by the Duncan

Commission was an endeavor to

place the Marltlmes more on a

parity with the other Provinces of

Canada; though no compensation

was allowed for the period from

1912 to 1926, when the increase

had been in effect, and during

which time the Maritlmea had

suffered tremendously.

The Maritime Freight RaiesAct,

i927, sets out that. the Duncan

Commission flmade certain recomr, mendatlous respecting transportat-

ion and freight rates, for the pur-

pose of removing a burden irri-

posed upon the trade and coin-

merce of suchPi-ovlnces since 1912,

which, the Commission finds, hi

vlew of the pronouncements and obligations undertaken at Confed-

eration, 1t. was never intended such commerce should bear."

In giving effect to the recom-

mendations of the Duncan Com- mission, the Federal Parliament included in tho-Maritime Freight Rates Act. as one of its vital pro- visions, the following; "Thepur- pose of this Acts ls to glvo certain statutory advantages to persons and industries in the threePro- vinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scolla and Prince Edward Island. and in addition upon the llnea in the Province of Quebec mentioned in Section Two, accordingly the Board shall not. approve nor allow any tarlfls which may destroy or prejudiciolly iaflect. such advantag- es in favor of persons or industries located elsewhere than in such select. territory."

The principle of the Maritime Freight Rates Act. was to 11ft. from lvlaritlme commerce and industry penalties and burdens that had been operating seriously against. this pair. of the Donilruoii.

The increase in freight rates of 21% now proposed. according to press reports, ls based largely on the increased cost. of operations of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Llielr [cull Department, but, c-x- eluding the steamship, hotel. and other operations. This Province, a partner of Canada, has never had 111a benefit of competition in l'.'!.ll- way service from the Canadian Pacific Railway. but has been eii- tlrely in the hands oi the Canad- lan National Railways.

Perhaps many Islanders are no. aware that. as for back as 1857, during the premiership of Hon. W. W. Sullivan, this Island Province received additional annual subsidy of $20,000 (or. say. 4% on $500,000) for not. having benefited, as ii. partner, ln the limge Government expenditures on railway construc- tion, including tho Canadian Pac- lflc Railway. A precedent was then established which seems to have been lost sight of in pressing ‘the slalma of this Province in recent years. I1 we were entitled to half d intlllon dollars indemnity 1n 1887. quite o. largo amount. should be coming to Prince Edward Island on this basis for tho past. so years. ‘rho Canadian Pacific Railway not having xiended their services to Prime Edward Island, why should this Province become involved or penalised on their account?

Toito as on illustration. when tho p. o and shippers during the post winter were unable to ao- oaro sufficient reefer cors to ship aoed and toblealook potatoes, to fulfil their ooioa requirements. Prince Edward Island could not. coll upon tho Canadian Pacific Railway for relief, whereas New nrutisvrlok and tho‘ other Provinces of Canada could demand o ohu-o of CPR. ooro available. and par- ticlpoio in their other nil lor- vices. which 1o o very important