PAGE roux THE GUARDIAN

Authorized as Second Clan Mull Post office ' Department. Ottuwu. The island Guardian Publishing Co.

Editor and Managing Director. fun A. Burnett, Associate Editor. Frunk Walker.

CIRCULATION "Coven Prince Edwurd island like the dew”

"The strongest memory is weaker than the weakest ink”.

CHARLOTTETOWN MONDAY. NOV. 2. 1953

SP. 0. W. claims

'l'hel'e has been a protest by the National Council of Canadian Prisoners of War against the Federal Government's accept- ance of the report of chief war claims com- missioner Chief Justice Thane A. Camp- bell's report on the payment of compensa- tion to forlner Prisoners-of-War. The ob- jection taken is tllat the recommended formula will require servicemen to file in- dividual claims ill order to receive more, than the minimum of 20 cents per (lay. Thei Council would like a flat one dollar award as in the case of Far Eastern prisoners and tllose ill the cllstorly of criminal organiza-, lhlllS. it is also objected that arbitraryi alvarcls for sllzlckling, forced marches and? other maltreatment are bound to result in: individual injustices.

The Council, of course, has the welfare. :)f the former prisoners at Jleart. but the Ill)jPCll0llS do not seem to be well lal(Cll.i triad the finding been otherwise and a fixed amount set for all who were in enemy hands, the Council would almost 'certainly have felti, bound to stand up for the right of individ-l uals to prove special hardship as a basis? for additional compensation and had thei basis for all been fixed at the salne time! there would certainly have been the ob-l jcction that those in the Far East were; confined in far worse conditions than thosel in Europe.

It could well be argued that all the com-l pensation is inadequate for the hardshipsi that were llnrlergone but the Council is onl far from firm ground ill suggesting that alll necessarily suffered alike and should but compensated on the same scale.

Bill Number One

There is at least one respect in which ollr Provincial Legislature could well adopt the practice of Parliament at Westminster rather than the variation which has come into use at Ottawa. "When the Queen or her representative has summoned Parlia- ment and declared in a Speech from the Throne the reasons for its summons, it has long been the practice to introduce a "pro forma” hill. . ,

The practice became a Standing Order; of the British House on March 22, 1603 when it was ruled ”That the first day of every sitting -in every Parliament, some one bill, and no more, receiveth a first reading fol” form's sake.” That practice has been continued to this day. The bill is intro-, duccd by a private member and is for the purpose of asserting the right of the Housep to deliberate and pass legislation without reference to the call.-"es of summons ex- pressed in the Speech from the Throne.

In Ottawa it has become the practice for the ”pro forma” bill to be introduced by the Prime lvlinistcr or other representa-, live of the Cvf)Yl'l'lllilClll, a change which dc-', prives the ancient. practice of its signifi- cance. In this day, when the Government is acquiring more and more authority, it is at least as important, as in 1603 for the llouse to assert its independence. At the recent special session there was no ”pro forma” bill introduced and no objection to its omission. The reason, of course, being; that a bill introduced in the Wily which- we have copied from Ottawa is meaning-, less. lts introduction or omission signified; nothing. A similar bill, introduced by a' private lnclnber of the House, would carry c lnost important significance.

idem. llle Spud

The very name SPUD comes from the Society for Preventing Unwholesome Diet or something similar and the humble potato has been subject to bitter attacks over the years. Its defenders are ever ready to rally to its defence, however, and the Frederic- ton Gleaner ls in the forefront of any such melt.-e.' Our sister Province is as proud of thepotato as is Prince Edward Island and knows-that the delicious, full-bodied, glor- ious potato is innocent of economic wrong- doing.

Dr. Radcliffe Salaman, a nutritionist of Cambridge University, has given what he calls; the'"sinful'f potato a dreadful mashing. The spud, he says, has been a conspicu- ouufhhductor in the world's social develop- iment for-centuries. It has encouraged lazi- 'nesay;,ubetted poverty and has contributed

7151': the, extinction of at least one .- ' l Option of South America. The , , rough "laziness, became staple lith019th century, and when"

ion and mass emigration

Dr. Salaman even dates the beginning

of Anglophobia in Ireland from 1588, when i

Sir Walter Raleigh introduced the potato to the Emerald Isle. Worse still, it became the base for the powerful ”poteen", be- wildering the Irish into rash migrations to Glasgow and Liverpool.

The doctor is wrong. The potato is not to blame for the ills he names. The eater is the culprit. Reliance on a single food crop has led to famine and poverty every- lvlllere, as the peoples of Asia know too we .

The impressive explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki were followed a few years later by greater atomic bombs exploded by the United States and British and these in turn were followed by the even more

l

powerful hydrogen bomb produced by the .

Americans. Despite all this we have re- peatedly heard and perhaps taken some grains of comfort from reassurances that the energy released in the largest of these explosions is almost infinitely slight com- pared with that of a minor earthquake or even a fair sized rain squall.

The cheer which these scientific state- ments ellrzelldels will be short lived, how- ever, if the report can be believed of the interview which a well known contributor to Punch, Mr. Christopher Hollis, had with one of the physicists employed at Britain's atomic research station at Harwell. Scien- tists, as is well known, are not given to overstatement. It is well, therefore. to ponder the implications of what a spec- ialist in atomic energy has to say about these violent disruptions of the very bricks and mortar of. the material world.

The savant assured the journalist that,

1'!!! QUAkUlAN. ulinfuAJ.A-Af'4iO”NiV Boy i: 'Here's A Quick Way To Make A. Dollar.

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”a lot of people have very exaggerated ideas about these explosions. There is no real reason to think th'at, they would Incre- ly destroy all human life." ,

This would seem to be the point all which theologians should get into the pic- ture. Perhaps they can tell us, if the scientists cannot, just what the consequen- ces are apt to be in addition to annihilation for the human race.

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EDITORIAL NOTES

All Souls' Da y.

It

Medical men have long taken an inter- est in the diseases that attacked ancient people. Plant pathologists have a similar interest, which is not altogether academic. The plagues of Egypt, for instance, which are recorded ill the Bible were probably attacks of smut on wheat according to Dix! J. R. Booer, an insecticide expert froln

London, England.

9 I O

In the interest: of safety the Summer- side Community Planning Association has recommended putting a limit on the height of hedges and so forth at street corners and driveways. Toronto had the limit set at

-three feet but recently lowered it to two

feet six inches because of the introduction

of low slung cars.

0 0 0

November is so named because it was aneiently the ninth month of the year. The Roman senators, for whose servilities it is said that even Tiberius often blushed, wish- ed to call the month after him, in imitation of Julius and Augustus. The emperor de- clined the offcr without thanks in the words: "What will you do, conscript fath- ers, if you have thirteen Caesars?"

0

India had hoped to make Hindi, the language of 44 per cent of that country's population, used universally withill 15 years of the attainment of independence. Her -leaders now recognize, however, that the goal for a people speaking 179 different languages and 544 dialects cannot be at- tained. Hindi was made the official lan- guage but 14 are recognized in the consti- tution. English continues to be the lan- guage of higher education. l

O O O

Accepting the freedom of the city of London, the Queen Mother had some wise words to say about freedom in general. After pointing out the necessity of the willing acceptance of discipline, she added, "Nothing stands out more clearly amid the discord and conflicts of our age than the danger of that misuse of language which preaches license in the name of liberty or uses the phrases of democracy as a cloak for the most cruel tyranny."

O I O

The wisdom of having new industrial plants well dispersed and outside potential A-bomb target cities is being realized in the United States. The Office of Defence Mobilization has reported that the an- nouncement Russla has the hydrogen bomb has "cured a lot of dcoffers". The mobil- ization agency has been deluded with calls by anxlousbusiness men showing increas- ing intereat,in the dispersion program. This frealistfc attitude should be adopted in Can- ada and also be reflected in civil defence preparations. I

I O

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PUBLIC FORUM

This column In open to the discussion by correspondent: of questions of interest. The Guardian does not necessar- lly endorse the opinion of wt . eapomlcnfl.

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SCHOOL i)lS(.'-IPLINE

Sir.-I am sorry ”Gastric” could not digest my advice on discipline. also sorry he missed the point which I had hoped to make clear with respect. to teaching.

From his references I assume he (or she) has never taught school, If I am right, then the best and most philanthropic advice I ('.'lll give according to the small portion of wisdom aflordcd me, is "Don't." 3

I must. confess. however, that at fellow with horns, tail and pitch- fork,as I give this advice. lurks in

the shadow of my conscience urging me to seE7c and tie up ”(;:lstric", place him, willing ur-

not. in a school of from thirty-iivel to fifty mungsters, ages 5-10. andi see that he teach and grade every one satisfactorily in one year-no reniging. Then, that done, have him write us up nn account of how he did iti I think I said-"Get thee, behind me Satan." I am, Sir, etc. ULRIC

BUS TRAFFIC QUERY

Sir-A facetinus American com- puted the hours he spent in lchurch and shaving for church over a period of yours. The total aggregated two years and some months. Had I calculated the time I spent at Enrlcr-.lld Junc- tion vlnitillg fur li'.llllS, and the; endless sessions on the Tignislli run, I doubtless would be cha- grlned to realize the impressive percentage of my allotted spun that was dissipated in such :1, colollr-ss ma-lner. Of course, thzlt wlls tn the long ago. The nrlvent. of the blls did away with those grim patience tests.

In the buses you can see the drivers name displayed, and you cnn read his qualifications: Safe - Reliable Cnlll'tv-cits, After two )eai's of c.nlsiderabll- bus travel. I am hrlppy to be nrlo to say that every driver measured up to those high standards of efficiency.

On nne occasion, however, I was somewllat surprised at crrtnln driver's reaction to n re- quest: which several other drivers had considered quite in order.

The first. time I came into Cllnrlottc-town from points west. when the bus reached the out- skirts of the city. I asked the driver to let. me off all. the inter- section of Elm avenue and Eus- ton. He complied very graciously I had been doing that reuglnrly until two weeks alzo when the driver said: "I am sorry. but. I can't stop nt. Euston Street on account. of the, trnfllc light. I'll let you off at the corner of Chest- nut."

I am wondering whether that pal-tlclll.-up driver was complying with Bull Company remllatlons, or nrbllrarlly deciding that a bus stop could not be made at in street where there is a traffic light.

I am Sir, etc. WONDERINO WANDERER

if

But mic dlllunf heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moon the Iervunt of the lord ohu-(ed you. to love the lard your God, lllll In wulk in all llll wuyu, und to keep his oommundmoutu. and lo eluvo unto him. and to serve him with all your hurt end with all your soul. X

.-A-J-A-:2: ANCIENT GAIIDINII

Landscape gudsnlrlg was pne- t.l:e:l in Early times by the Assyr-

Who's Out. Of Step?

(Montreal

A high school principal in Phil- ndelphia finds himself in trouble. He made a suggestion that has

been roundly denounced as "un- democratic." What did he propose? It was

only this. It might. be a good idea, he thought, if a special pro- gram of studies were prepared for outstanding boys and girls. He felt. that they could get along fast- er, and get more out of their years of education, if they didnt have to keep pace with those who were slower. But this, it appears. was a most. un(len'locrutic proposal to make.

Fortllllately, this high school principal has not. been without his supporters. After the first wave of attack had been launched against him, the other presented by those who thought there was ll good (tool to be said for his proposal.

One of those who came to his support was the eminent American educator, Seymour St. John. He pointed out that the freedom to be one's best is surely just as much a freedom as any other. There is no moral or social vir- tue in pulling people down to the

average. As Mr. St. John said by way of reminder: ”ltllchellingeio did

not learn to paint by spendinghis lime doodllng. Mozart was not an accomplished pianist at the age of eight, as a result of spending his (lays in front of .1 television set."

It is always necessary to be on guard against absurd ideas that may be presented, for the time being, with all the seeming au- thority oi proved fact. At the present time there is n curiously real possiliility that democracy is coming to be identified with mediocrity. As -ll result, the edu- cational process is in some danger of being kept so well within the capllcity of the mediocre that the child of unusual intelligence must almost. he encouraged to assume nledlocrity.

No doubt it is very true that lit.- tlc good comes of forcing people to do more than they are able. But this is quite a dif rent thing from trying to induce people to do less than they are able. For whereas the simplified and easier studies may be suitable for those incapable of anything better, they can lend the more talented to believe 'illXlL being shirtless and taking it easy are somehow socinl virtues, deserving of moral ac- clnim.

Yet there is little purpose to a theory that education should be without tears, when life can- not guarantee similar concessions. Whnt Mr. St. John was lmylng has been said also by Dr. Sydney Smith, the President of the Uni- versity of Toronto. In his last.

report, Dr. Smith used these out-

spoken words: "Education -- real

education - is no easy matter. . .

It. is a process not without pain.

side was '

Gazette)

the of

late. I just can't overlook fact. that Rameses II is out step."

Fortunately that high school principal in Philadelphia has not yet. fallen into this way of look- ing nt: things. He doesn't see any- thing undemocratic or anti-social in students who are out. of step with the group. if they are a step ahead. Nor does he see why they should be compelled to keep in step by Dragging their feet. Per- haps he isnit. convinced, as yet. that democracy and mediocrity need be the some thing.

etown (And r. 1. D

NEWSPAPER ITEMS

From the Examiner, Dec. 0, 1379:, Mr. I. C. Hall purchased on Tuesday, from Mr. Andrew Smith. Royalty, B. carcass of park which

- ,1. Notes

against the solid green of

Quebec hillside presents I i'ru.s. tntlng subfecb for the but altalsts. And. if it be A late after.

the artist may turn toward

Monterul Gazette.

skin are being produced in Run. guy. and this ll as senntble an idea as has coma out of It coun- try since the wax. 'rur y Ihoes

harassed sntarlllte world needs. and shouldn't: remain in file class any longer than necessary. The report adds that the turkey

.5 almost; as strong, Many will rec- ognize this type. Those who have bitten into it during the festive season will recognize its source as an old gobbler that etrutted out. the wrong door at the pr ' - centre, and was mlaclauifled as a young tom.-Windsor Daily Star.

British historian Arnold J. Toyo- bee has forecast that if Europe does not unite now it. will ” the "world's playground. museum and aims houae." An interesting place to visit but. bypassed by the highway of world progress. Through a. study of the past. we may gain some inkling of what, given rl certain set. of circumstances, is likely to occur in-t.he.1uture. Few historians are as qualified as Mr. Toynbee to note trends that could bring about the decay of civiliza- tion. Historian Toynbee has epecln; lized in the root causes that have brought to pass the rise and fall of auocemive civilizations and mi- tiona,-1 flowerings in Egypt, Auyrlu, Greece and Rome. He knows the signs and evidence of growth up-I of withering away. He knows that the test of endurance is in the re- sponse or the falling to lesponcl to challenge.-Sydney Post-Record.

The decision of the ' Onturlo Cheese Producers Association to sell 10,000,000 pounds of surplus cheese to Britain at around 26 cents agpound (the actual price is not yet known) will likely re- It in :1 higher price to Canadian consumers next year, This does not. mean the Canadian public will be gauged. Even if the price

of cheese increased by 10 percent.

say nutritionists, the ommodity would still give excellent value in terms of nourishment. But it would perhaps be better to dis- pose of burpulses. and keep.cheese prides at: a firm level. by taking more energetic measures to - crease per cuplta "consumption in Canada. thrill bv sclltnlz surDlu5c3 at: It relatively low price.-Ottawa Evening Citizen.

weighed seven hundred and forty- two pounds. Posts have been substituted for, one set; of rails on the north side. of Queen's Square. opposite Walk-l er's corner. Pedestrians need notl now wade knee deep through the- mud as heretofore. I

The Osborne House was sold at auction by W. Wilson Hlggs on Wednesday, and purchased by the heirs of the estate of the lut.c' James Davis.

I-Iewson, Mcbougull and Seaman announce that they have on hand, at their Charlottetown factory. a. large and select stock of material for the manufacture of sleighs, etc. "They have recently pur ” "l photos of all the latest prlzel slelghs of the Ottawa Exhibition. Parties requiring new sleighs would do well to call at their factoryl and examine before ordering else- where. They keep on hand and make to order Top Buggies, Phae- tom, the famous Dexter Spring Wagons, and carriages of every description. Parties having their wagons repaired and painted in the spring will have them stored free of charge for the winter." 1

Another instance of the great facilities for loading grain at t.h.'s' port is that of the alohn F. Robert.- son', which cleared on Wednesday with a cargo of 35,104 bushels of cats. and 355 pieces of deal, with which she was loaded in four days.

FINCH PLAGUE

LONDON, (Reuters) - British colonial officials are getting wor- ried about in plague of red-billed finches which is threatening grain crops throughout East. Africa. In Kenya. last: year. when the inva- sion was classed as "small," they

of noon sun which lllghtal the slope, the

weal: and experience the some im- potency in what he seen there.-

Luxury flu"... aululof turkey

could be one of the things the luxury

akin looks like crocodile skin. and

g-Wlbikit In

135.:

By The Way 1,

Seen from the ground with 'lho brilliant reds and yellows. alluding into purples. pink: and browtillf, , e conifers laced with the gleaming trunks of white birchel. a sunllt

Deuvu University is offering ;. course. in ”common 8::r.u2". Am one who enrol; might: be tallan as admitting that he looks it, and j; he fails the final exam, he'll be worse off than ever.-Brmtford Expositor. 0 -

The llellenpont must have been reminded of old times wh... in, notable American swimmer. Flor. ence Chadwick, swam alien and shouted "lumen", which in said to be the equivalent of "ox." M1,; Chadwick had reason to be'uu.. tied and jubilant, for mg mg creased from Europe to Asia Mum, under her own power. The paagggg between the two continents, how. ever. me not as lens as some 0: her other trips, for she took the route between Bestos and Abydos, 1 distance of about five miles. This was the route that Leander tool: every night. to visit Hero and every night. until lhut lamentable even- ing when the lighthouse felled him, he, too. no doubt shouted "ox.-' as he scrambled ashbre.-Toronto

l!?oeZIl'

THE DONKEY

When fishes flew walked And figs grew upon thorns, some moment when the moon was blood. Then surely I was born: