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PAGE FOUit THE GUARDIAN

Dally (Ioaadod in ism Second Oirias Mail, Past Gffioo

Morning Lllisorlaad aa _ Department, Ottawa.

v ‘Ilse Island Guardian Publishing Co. Editor and Managing Director. J. B. Burnett;

Associate Editor, Frank Walker

' {The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than tho Weakest ink."

CIIARLUTIETOWN. TUESDAY. JUNE 15. 194B

Living Gust index

Industry, publication of the Canadian Mariu- lacturers Association. QXPINI“ “if 11" D°,','""'°“ Bureau of Statistics arrived at an average Can~ adian family. First of all, says industry. "it Bureau made a surveY °l “Plmmmfllell 151000 homes in 12 cities across Canada. From t is the Ottawa statisticians picked 1.439 17111991 i911" ilies with earnings between $600 and $2.509 ° year. Then they helped eaclvof these fflmlllei prepare a careful record of living expenses from October 1, 1937, until September 30, 1936- The result was an "average" family containing 4.6 people and an annual income of $1,453, of which amount $1,414 was spent on items which could be included in the actual cost of_ Iiving.- Thus the Bureau knew what items to figure on clnd what importance or "weight" to give them-

The next step was the collection of regula: reports on prices in different parts of the coun- try. Problems arose in collecting accurate in- formation on prices because of seasonal changes and rates of consumption. So 47 food items were selected to form the basis for the food figure. ln the case of clothing, a group complicated by style and season changes and consequent sud- den changes in price—witness the price nose-dive at a millinery sale-the Bureau selected alsmoll list of 31 items of standard clothing on which to base its figures. _

There were many otherproblems besides food and clothing, but altogether they helped makeup tho "100" with which the monthly cost-of-Iiving figures an compared. However, these figures, always confusing and sometimes not an entire- l=y accurate measuro of the cost of living, serve a useful purpose in marking the course of in- flation.

insurance Benefit

Claims for unemployment insurance benefit filed in local offices of the Unemployment Insur- anca Commission during April totalled 59.265, compared with 76,248 in March and 44,351 in April lost year, according to figures released by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. These totals

_ include 10,302 revised claims in April, 12,379 in March, and 8,492 in April last year. lnitial and renewal claims, representing mainly new cases of unemployment among insured persons, numbered 48,963 in April, 63,689 in March and 35,859 in April, 1947.

At the end of April there were 105,441 act- ive ordinary claims on the live unemployment register as against 136,356 ot March 31, and 82,- 276 at April_30, 1947. In addition, there were 6,347 other claimants on the live register at April 30 compared with 5,249 at March 31, and 3,794 on April 30 last year. During April, 66,- 649 claims were disposed of at adiudicating centres.

During April, 139,177 persons were paid one or more benefit payments amounting to $5,178,- 519 as compensation for 2,631,964 unemployed . days compared with 154,754 persons who receiv- ed $6,629,826 for 3,364,791 compensated unem- ' played days in March and 100,285 persons paid $3,780,749 for 1,943,793 compensated unemploy-

- ed days during April last year. The average dur- ation of the unemployment compensated was 18.9 days in ApriI,_21.7 days in March and 19.4 days in April, 1947. Tho average amount of benefit paid per beneficiary was $37.13 in April,

_ $42.84 in March and $37.70 during April last

year. The average amount of benefit paid per

» compensated day of unemployment was $1.97 in April, $1.97 in March and $1.95 in April, I947.

So iiisinteresteii!

As suitable campaign material for the ' Saskatchewan election, the Financial Post passes along the following forecast, under the name of Mr. Kenneth Wilson, the Ottawa editor of that publication: "Ottawa: Sometime between the Ontario election and tho Saskatchewan election, the Gov- ' ernment will remove all embargoes on the ex- port of livestock, livestock products, and feed grains to the United States. This major move won't bo before tho Ontario election because of the possible adverse effect of higher grain prices. It certainly will be before tho farmers of Sask- . atchewan go to the polls." f_ The emphasis of the word "before" is the Post's. \

Britain's liirthrate

Ono of tho most encouraging items ol

news from Great Britain is that the highest

‘ birthrato in twgnty-six years was recorded in

i. 1947. According to official statistics, more

" babies were born in England and Wales last year than in any year since 1921. The infant mortality rate was 2 por 1,000‘ below the prov- ious lowest figure recorded in 1946.

Tho birthraio for 1947 was 20.5 por 1,000 which shows an increase of 1.4 over the figure for the previous year. Tho infant mortality rate .was 41 par 1,000 rolatod live births and tho pro- portion of still-births to total births was 3.2 ba- bolaw the‘ previous Iowost figure recorded in 1946. _

' Thoso new records aro disclosed in tho Registrar-Generals return -for the last quarter in 1947 which horiiist boon published. Tho ef-

_ foctlvo reproduction rate is provisionally assass- " od M11. This is estimated to bo 21 per cent in excess of that required nioroly to maintain

Mild! the highest roto rocordod since

I - EDITORIAL uoTzs .- Tomorrow Auto Convention. heartily welcomed.‘ t

Delegates

The Holstein breeders are meeting in Prince of Wales College today. i i O I

Progressive Conservative public meeting In Whelan Hall this evening. O fi I I The Federal political situation is becoming more tense. Four of a majority in the House iif Commons and a rebellious Quebec section does

not promise well for the Government. i t I w

It surely is a novelty having this Province import lobsters from Newfoundland. But it.is not so much because of the scarcity here as the increase of our conning industries that brought 36,000 live lobsters to Souris. ' * i "k I

The sun reaches its most Northwordly posi- tion at 8:11 a.m. on lune 21st. There is some doubt whether it is then mid-summer or the be- ginning of summer but the local weather would seem to indicate that it is here the beginning. i‘ i ‘k i

Mr. Trygvie Lio has broached the critical question in U. N. history. His call for the forma- lion of an international police force will either result in that body becoming a real world gov- ernment, or degenerating into on international rlbating society.

any.

Island formers have mode great strides raising the quality of their own products and are contributing much to the improvement of Canadian stock generally. With strictly limited acreage a premium has been put on using land and feed economically with consequent benefit to all. < I I I Canadians find it difficult to understand how the United States continues periodically to carry on with a Government which does not have the confidence of Congress. With us a Presi- dent or Governor who did not select his advisers from the dominant party would have short shift. i‘

It

i

Magna Charta sealed at Runnymeade this date 1215. It took the political power from the King to the Peerage; a preiude to 1832, when the Great Reform Act took the power from the Peers to the Middle Classes; followed in 1945 when the present Government are endeavouring to transfer power from the Middle, i.e. the capital- ist, classes to the Labouring classes, or artisans

o- a

New Brunswick is becoming lively politically in view of theelection on June 28. With 125 candidates for 52 seats there should be plenty material from which to choose representatives. The Liberal leader is Premier Hon. John Babbitt McNair, K.C., and Hon. Hugh MacKay, Presi- dent of W. C. Pitfield 8i Co. Ltd., investment brokers, is Conservative leader. The C. C. F.

have yet to choose their leader. i i U’ VI

O i

The camping and- hiking season is with us again with more and more people finding the joys of the outdoor life. Proper leadership and train- ing are necessary to make the most of our op- portunities and both will be developed by tho P. E. I. Camping Association's Leadership Camp and by the Boy Scout Association's Gillwell comp. Another pressing need is for a really good Island guide book to bring to light the many delightful by-paths and points of. historic interest.

I‘ i I i

According to official reports employment is good on the island with a scarcity of competent help in specified occupations. More and more it is becoming evident that youths setting out in life, must be prepared to begin at the bottom of the ladder by learning at least the rudiments of a trade, and that means they must be satisfied with light remuneration till they prove their worth.

I I I i

Ways and means are being sought to facili- tate British manufactugers in establishing branch plants in Canada. At the present time and for some years past, it has been impossible to transfer capital, in any volume, from the United Kingdom to Canada. Now it is proposed that British manufacturers who desire to mi- grate or to start branch plants here should be financed by Canadian financial houses. The Financial Post reports that some deals of this kind have already gone through and that im- portant developments will soon occur. The tech- nique suggested is that the British firms must undertake to repay the loan received in Canada and, as security, place sterling funds to the credit of the Canadian company in United King-

dom.

O I Q I

That familiar standby of the British house- wife, the herring, held the limelight in a recent debate in the House of Commons Tho subiect was the Fish and Herring Industries Bill which was having its second reading, and in a talk in tho General Overseas series "The Debate Con- tinues", Princess Indira of Karpurthala described one of its lighter moments. The two main char- acters in it, sho said, were Robert Boothby, the brilliant and burly economic expert, BBC Brains Truster and Conservative M. P. for Aberdeen East, and soft-spoken, practical Mrs. Jean Mann who represented Labour in tho Scottish con- stituency of Cootbridge and sound common sense on her own biick bench. "Both apparently con- sidered themselves exports in the art of "How to Cook a Herring," said Princess Indira. Ac- cording to Mr. Boothby, “You split the herring, you take tho central bone out of it, you dip it 4n a barrel of good Scottish oatmeal and fry it." According to Mrs. Mann, ‘You never fry it, you grill it.‘ Upon which such an argument develop- od that,ths whale Houso of Commons rociiod with laughter. But Mrs. Marin and Mr. Ioothby hotly wont on debating tho pros and cons of friod vor- sus grilled horrings until tho Deputy Speaker had to point out that this was not tho occasion for a

been in cookery," __ q

"m5 GUARDIAN, CHARLOTTIFPOWN '

.-ii_otes By The Way-

_ Barbara Ann Scott is known lo more Canadians, according to a public opinion poll. than is Albert lltlnsteln. They find her idnd of fig- ures s. lot. easier to understand. — Hamilton Spectator.

People who wish to reduce should do it under professional guidance to avoid injuring their health. physicians say. Even if loss of weight is desired, there are cer- tain foods the body must have to keep operating efficiently. A acc- tor ls best qualified to say what. foods a person can afford to do without. He wlll also be able in determine just. how first. and how far a person should lose weight. self-imposed diets often weaken the body without getting rid of much superfluous weight. - Kitch- cner-Wisterloo Record.

The cheapest Soviet cigaroto cast. two rubles a package —isbout l0 per cent of the 15 to 20 rubles earn- ed a day by a low-paid worker. Medium-priced cigarettes run from six to nlno rubles, while expensive varieties cost. 10 t/o h) rubles. Last. month the trade-union publication Trud reported a. speech by one Pronin, Food Industries Minister. revealing the extent. to which the cigarette industry had moi; its plan- ned production. The Industry had turned our. 12 per cent of the plan- ned production of the cheap cigar- ettes, 49 percent of the medium. and 14L per cent. of the high-priced varieties. -- Newsweek Magazine.

Tho numbe of new permanent houses built. in Britain during March has sel. up is fresh record — 20.357 were completed, which is 2,500 more than the previous best. monthly achievement. in December last. This good news ls disclosed in official returns published recently. Of these new homes 18,800 were constructed In England and Wales with 1,500 in scotlaud. Figures ln- ‘clude the rebuilding of houses de- strayed during the war. In addition to this record number of perman- ent dwellings, more than 3.200 tem- porary houses were also finished in March. - UK Information Office.

Ono thing is now clear- any area which has population and industry close to the rivers which can go on a. rampage should make its voice known and heard in succeed- ing years to the end that. o. master plan be developed for our rivers. It should be shared by the Domin- ion, the Provinces and by the mu- nlclpalltles that. may be benefited. 1n the case 0f irrigation resulting from water conservation. then the farmers on the land benefited should bear some share. This years floods have been so eaten- slve that. we should now have a realization that. a heroic scheme, national 1n scope, must be evolv- ed. - Iethbrldge Herald.

A good five-cent cigar is pleas- ant. enough, to be sure, but what this country really needs ls a. dzsh- washing machine which will retail for $1. Any reasonable home will be willing to provide kitchen space and lo supply all the water that. ls required. Any reasonable home alsoavlll be willing to stand for long periods watching lh admira- tion as the machine scrapes. washes, rinses and dries. It. 1r n. little odd final. a nation which prides itself on the invention of calculating devices jumping Lwo yards beyond infinity has not. yet. found the washing machine for retell at. $1. The dlshwashlng ma- chine at $1 clearly 1s to science what. the common cold ls to medi- clne. Dishwashlng and the corn- mon cold are a good deal alike, as ll: happens. including the facts that. both are inevitable. both are unpleasant. -_ New York Times.

Curved. padded. plush or inrnup seals. similar to those 1n the ahea- tres. caused quite an uproar in some churches when they were ln- trnduced for the first time ln some parts. But progress continued, and those churches where they were tried out. found them is good idea. They are a far cry from the days when the vigilant. worders patroll- ed the aisles with poles to tap ll.- wake sleeping members of the con- gregation, or the days of gates at. the end of the pews which were. to quote some oldtlmers, w keep the children from running our. lnto the aisles, plus the additional pur- pdse; perhaps humorously suggest.- ed. of keeping the family dog out of the aisle should he have per- chunce followed the family to church. None the less we firmly believe one can worship just. as reverently and sincerely 1n the more comfortable oasis arid. at the sumo time, get. a lot more out. of the sermons. — Owen Sound Suri- Times.

Yet another traditional occupa- tion seems in danger of becoming extinct. The town crler of Hut.- lrigs recently retired after 2i years’ service, and the corporation of that ancient. borough is reported to be at lta wile’ and to find a successor to him. The town clerk, indeed, has publicly deplored the lack hitherto of any suitable srppll- cant. — The qualifications needed for the post. have not been stated. but. presumably one ofthe moat. important. is o. atentorlsn voice capable of holding its own amid the dln of modern traffic. The du- Lies include not only that. of "cry- ing" in the streets when so direct.- ed by the corporation, but. also at- tendance st. municipal functions and the distribution of all notices and nandbllls issued by the var- ious departments of the local-gov- ernment. The attra lions of the of- fice are s salary o 100 gulncas a year. together with a picturesque uniform provided by the municipal- ity. Moreover, the town arler is permitted to receive fees from pri- vsto persons who wists to employ hliri in announce fates, garden ar-

PUBLIC FORUM

This in open to the discussion by oorrspon-

‘$0M

dents of , " as ‘ The Charlottetown Gnrdian does not rieoonarily endorse tho opinion of ova pond- ants.

YX

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cuooi. rescuers METHODS

Sin-When the regrettable con- ditlons caused by lack of o. unl- form method of teaching 1n rural schools are brought to the atten- tion of the Department of Edu- cation, the first reaction is to re- fer to the Supervisor's report, which I have shown ln previous letters to be of little practical consequence and which invariably are: Teacher Satisfactory. etc.- Those calling at the Department are informed of the Supervisor's report and are then asked the ages of pupils 1n certain grades. If the pupils are far advanced for their ages, because 1n previous years they had “hlgh-apeecl" teachers. then those interested are advised to overlook the fact. that. the cur- rent term ls being practically lost. because the pupils are too for ad- vanced for their ages anyway.

If it is the other extreme, where the pupils are not for enough ad- vanced for their ages. caused by the "go-slow method”, then the Department; will maintain that the situation is caused by the pupils’ inability to study.

In such circumstances what are pupils and parents to do’! Disagree with the “hlgh-speed" teacher ln on effort. to have the work brought Lo a normal pace. or do likewise with the “slow-speed" teacher 1n an effort. to have her speed-up and complete the studies?

This certainly ls the duty of the Department, then why does it. full to guide and effectively supervise the teachers, and just. as long or. 1t continues to fall 1n this import- ant duty, just as long will there continue to be practically an many methods of teaching as there are teachers. with all the regrettable consequences.

I maintain that. all teachers could be given the necessary guid- ance at. a. total annual cost. ad not more than $2,000.00. All that would be necessary would be a pamphlet mulled quarterly stating clearly whet the amount of studies of each subject, for each grade would be during that period.

Ii. would be similar, though much more condensed, to instruc- tions of studry given by corre- spondence bo children not attend- lng schools. This method has Proved so successful 1n guiding children who have no teacher, surely it. should be even more of- fectlve when given to teachers. The supervisor could easily check to learn if or not. the teacher was YOIIOWIH! the instructions and 1f not. determine why.

Apparently the teachers them- selves devise some such guidance. bocause at their annual provin. oral convention two years ago, a resolution was passed requesting the Dept. to provide. "s Hana. book supplement to the course-of- studies." This resolution was re- heated at many. lf not. all, local conventions, and these requests have not been fulfilled by the Dept.

In another letter. 1 will exam- ine the apparent attitude of the Debt Io such guidance.

I am, Sir, etc, "Pmmr."

Unexplojied Resources

(St. John Telegrnlph Journal)

Uncountable “ousande of toneoif eels abound lri New Bnmawloics coastal waters and rlveirs and. un- lu-cklly for trout anglers. in a good many lakes as well. They are a natural resource that; is hardly being commercialized iii: all. simply because tihe eel is a fish that. evokes an involuntary dhudder when most. of us even hhlnk about. the twisty critter. "

It may he a happy circumstance for the eels but. it. ls unfortunate for us, if we relish them that little. Because eels are n highly nutritious food. as a pecent. report published by the Scottish Fresh Water Hdtierles Committee plainly shows. The re- Pofi ilfeded ten fish in order of their health-giving proportion-and the eel headed trhe list. followed in turn by the cairn-ion. turboi’. and herring. The author of the survey deplored the fact. that so few Scottish people eat eels, they are plentiful in Scotland. wihile Englishmen like them co well that. they have to import extra. sisppllea.

For many years New Brunswick has exported a few tons of ice- ‘Pmsked live eels annually by rail, high/way and boat. to New York, where they are bought. up eagerly by the Danish. German. Italian. Ohlneeo and other ‘new American" oolonles. some Saint John fisher- rren have made their livelihood for as lonl as thirty-five years ‘by moire-trapping eels in the river for export. earning anything but o handsome living but finding tho work too fascinating to quit.

Hare st. home in New Brunswick eels have remained unhonoted, unsung and unoatcri-ot. loot until about. three Years ago. Then fish stores began to notice o gradual ln- creaae in demand. one store, for instance, discovered it could sell five totoripouridssweek. The some store now market-l from fifty to 1i!) pounds a week. its customers include some Old Country people French-Canadian, Danes and others who appreciate the eel as I "If! dilh and say that 1t ra- earnbloa chicken moni. closely though ll. has a distinctive flsrvar of its own.