PAGE FOUR

i‘HE GUARDIAN. CHARUJTTETOWNA

APRIL is, 1950

THE GUARDIAN

|IornI'n| Dally (I-‘ounuui In nun)

Auilmrlnui II Second Clnn Olnll Post Office Department, Ottawa The lolnnd tiunrdinn I'|l|JIlIIIIlI| Co.

Editor Ind Ilunnglng l)|POl‘l0P. J. R. Ilurueu

Auuwlnlo I-Jilllnr, I":-Ink Wnllnrr.

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker The

the Weakest Ink." ‘ cuAiu.o'r'rI::'rowN

THURSDAY. APRIL 13. I950

Railway Improvements

At long last, the new diesel locomotives for the Island division are beginning to ar- rive, and from all indications we may ex- pect to see the line completely dieselized within the iiext few months. This is a plan which the railway has had under considera- tion for a long time. and it must have been a disappointment to local officials as well as to the public when the earlier trial engines proved unsatisfactory. and new orders for the equipment had to be placed. By all re- ports, the new engines, of about 600 horse- power each. are of first class workmanship Ind should result in a considerable improve- ment in railway service.

It is also i'e2is::iii'iiig to note that the reefer car situation at present is well un-

tier control. The supply, representing ii considerable increase over previous years. is now sufficient for all purposes al-

though it is difficult to estimate what may happen within the next few weeks. 'l‘l:ere is still a large amount of exportable potatoes to move, and when rush orders come in they must be handled expeditiously or the sale is lost. This was the difficulty complained of earlier in the season, and it is one which may arise at any time.

Shippers for the most part are highly appreciative of the efforts made by the local railway officials in grappling with the reefer car problem. It was a particularly difficult problem to meet this year. and it is we‘.l that our requirements in this respect were brought to the attention of Parliament when the temporary shortage threatened to be- come acute. Nothing is gained by camou- flaging situations of this kind, and it is one of the prime duties of our representatives at Ottawa to see that our farmers‘ and ship- pers’ interests are safeguarded. Our local officials can always be depended upon to give the very best service within their pow- er, but they are not responsible for railway policy. In matters over which they have control, they have proved their efficiency and conscientiousness time and again.

Party organization

The Progressive Conservative Party is not losing much time in starting reorgan- ization. a convention for this purpose open- ing at Ottawa on the 17th inst. They seem to be going about the objective very cauti- ously, ccrtainly without any flourish of trumpets. Who the delegates are, apart from M. l'-’.'s and Senators, is not generally known, but no doubt each Province will have its rank-and-file complement on the scene.

It is as simple as learning the A. B. C.'s to discover what is, and has been, wrong with the party—-lack of organization. For too long practically nothing has been done between elections, and then when parlia- ment dissolved, shovelfuls of money were sent to party stalwarts with which to buy votes, and the mails choked with party liter- ature which usually found its way into the wastepapcr baskets. The Montreal Gazette's Ottawa correspondent has been interview- ing Mr. Motherwell. Leader of the C. C. F.'s on political planning and organization. Mr. lvlotlicnveil emphasized the necessity for re- organization—from the foundation up. He pointed out in the recent English election wherever the Labour Party organization- had been maintained in a state of more-on less efficiency, the Government candidates won. “The Socialist party won," he said, “wherever there was conscious planning, through the local unit and up to the parlia- mentary caucus.”

That is the sum and substance of win- ning elections——efficieni organization from the bottom up.

Jury Trials

According to a recent press report, :1 Quebec lawyer, Dr. Rosario Fontain, charges that jury trials are out of date and “citi- zens don‘t want to be jurymen anyway." The medico-legal expert writes in the Mont- real Police Constable’s Review that “the jury continues to flounder in its own in- coherences and mistakes."

There is, of course, a certain amount of truth in these charges. Most people do find fury duty a nuisance and eagerly grasp at any excuse for avoiding it. That, however.

reflects discredit on the lack of civic virtues

the necessarily technical view of a judge. In addition, there is agreat field in which the ultimate decision depends upon the “reasonableness" of ‘some kind of be- havior. In such cases the rules are of little assistance and a group chosen more or less at random from the county have a decided advantage over one man more or less re- moved from the current of the daily life of farm and market place. --

EDI |URIAl NUIFS

It would seem that marbles are not a really reliable sign of Spring after all. They had already made an appearance before the great storm. '

0 tr 0

The weather of the past week has been far from pleasant but the widespread havoc amongst vessels of the smaller sort reduces a landsman's inconvenience to proper per- spective.

O O

A city‘of civics. There are 33,000 civil servants in Ottawa and their average sal- ary is $2,369.40. Treasury Board officials announce. They said this represented the nearest approximate figures of the number of Government employees. This means an annual payroll of $78,177,000.

O

The cost of a pension of $40 a month at 65 without a means test was given by the Hon. Paul Martin as $421,008,000. The figure is perhaps more frightening than it need be. A great many such pensioners would pay a substantial amount back to the

Government in the form of Income Tax. 0 O I

I

The prospect of a seven million bushel potato shipping season is certainly most encouraging for this Province. Prices are not what they might be but the striking efforts of the C. N. R.,in providing addi- tional rolling stock has enabled shippers here to take advantage of markets as offer- ed. ‘

Mr. David A. Croil, M.P. (L-Spadinal gave the House of Commons an excellent history of divorce la\vs in this country. He seems to have erred, however, in saying that the law of England as of 1870 was in- troduced in Prince Edward Island as well as five other Provinces. Our Court oi Divorce and the law it administers date from 1835, a time at which England granted divorces only by private act of parliament, much as Ot- tawa does today.

0 :

First bookstore on McGill University campus will be opened next session at 3480 University street to sell textbooks and stu- dents’ essential supplies and to develop grad- ually a trade book business, it is announced by Dr. F. Cyril James, principal- and vice»- chancelior. Mr. Ray Verrey, B.A.. man- ager of State Teachers‘ College bookstore in New York for some years, has been appoint- ed manager. University administrators hope to see the store open well in advance of the 1950-51 session.

It is dangerous not to put a stamp on one's cheque as a tenant in Toronto found the other day. A Mrs. Catto lived in 3. house for twelve years, but on January 1 it was purchased by Dr. Martha who want- ed possession but could not under the Rent Control Act. Mrs. Catto sent her cheque for the January rent, but neglected to put a stamp on it. Judge Frank McDonagh is- sued an order for possession, because the bank refused to cash the unstamped cheque.

0 0 0

Her Majesty the Queen will launch Britain's latest aircraft carrier, H. M. S. “Ark Royall” at Birkenhead on Wednesday, May 3. The new aircraft carrier, which has been built in the Cammell Laird yards. will be the fourth Royal Naval vessel to bear the name “Ark Royal". She succeeds the gallant and ever-to-be-remembered “Ark Royal" of the Second World War, which the Germans repeatedly claimed to have sunk before she was ultimately torpedoed in the Mediterranean in 1941. The first “Ark Royal" was a tiny ship which played a con- spicuously valiant part in the Battle of the

Armada.

O O O I

Following other Legislatures. It was Ottawa set the pace. The Manitoba Legis- lature_ has approved pay boosts for its 57 members. The Legislature, after more than three hours of hot debate, decided to raise members’ indemnities to $2,500 from $2,000. In addition, ministers’ incomes are ‘to be raised to $8,500 from $7,288 while the Pre- mier will receive $10,500 compared with $9,- 050. The totals for ministers and the Pre-. mier include lndemnitles‘. The antl-Coall- tion group headed by George’ C. Renouf (OG—Swan River) opposed the measures. 8. E. Burch (LP-—Beout:lful Plains) was the only Government supporter to record his op_- position. No cabinet niininter spoke for or Itllnst. Duff Ifoblin (O_-Ind-PC-Winnipeg south) said he felt thIt,$2.000 was quite enough for the eight‘ weeks members spent

PUBLIC FORUM

’i‘l'xiI column ll upon to the dlseuulun by cmreopondontn of «mention; of interest. The (I-uIruiIn does not racecour- ily undo the opinion oi wrreopondentn.

uV%%% FERTILIZER PRICES

Sir.--Please permit me to cor- rect. “Still Eiuhused." Muiiiaguc, who in his letter in your Public i-‘orum of April 5th stated that lcrtilizer is $5.00 per ton cheaper than last. ycar.- My information on this subject is as follows:

All mixed fertilizer, $1.00 per ton cheaper.

Ammonium Nitrate, 33 p.c. $0.00 dearer.

Sui. of Ammonia, 20 p.c. $5.00 dearer.

Super - Granular 20 p.c. 40 cent: dearer.

Muriale of Potash 60 p.c. $5.00 dearer.

I am, Sir. elc.. . FAIR PLAY Mount Stewart, P.E‘..i.

BRIGHTON BRIDGE ECONOMIES

Sir.-in your issue of April llih "Motorist" made clear what may it would be if the bridge across the North River were placed at either Beech Grove or Lewis’ Point instead of at Brighton, by drawing altcntion lo the incl mat the extra distance would cost. many merchants, produce dealers and truck owners at least an ad- ditional $50 per year travelling expenses.

And by accepting the argument. of the opponents of the Brighton site that to .build it. there would cost half a million dollars more. one-half of which would be borne -by the Dominion, leaving $250.000 to be paid by this Province, “Mo- torist" has shown that by sub- tracting the cost of building the extra miles of highway the extra cost would only be $15,000 for lweiity years.

However, because he did not make any estimate of the total cost to the public by travelling the extra distance to and from Charlottetown if the bridge is not placed at. the Brighton site, I will here-by do so.

Supposing an average of only 500 veichles use the bridge for the return trip daily, (which would be a very conservative estimate). that would be 1000 crossings. 5000 miles, at 5 cents per mile would be $250.00 per day, or $250,000 in l00(l clays. which is less than three years.

'I‘horciorc'. taking as a basis for ihis calculation the conservative csliinute of only 500 vehicles mak- ing a return journey by the bridge daily, if it is not built at the Brighton site it will cost the pub- lic in extra ‘travelling cost at lrasl as much in less than three years as the extra cost to the Pro- vince to build it at. this site.

Furthermore, with» the likely increase of motor trafrlic while this bridge will be used. it. is quite probable that in one year the additional average travelling cost. would equal the additional cost of building to this Province.

with these glaring facts, sure- ly the Government. will not blun- der and build the bridge at any of the other proposed sites. instead of at the Brighton location.’

I am, Sir, etc., “WEST RIVER"

C.C.I-“.—AND COMMUNISM

Sir,—A very prominent man in Charlottetown is reported in The Guardian of March 1st. as distin- guishing three steps in totalitarian evolution in this country: ist, C. C. F.; 2nd. Socialism; 3rd, Com- munism. These evolutionists are always confused. Not in the far distant past he called the C.C.F. "Communism."

When (5. K. Chesterton was dis- puting with the evolutionists who said that men came from mon- keys because they rescmlblcd one another, he said the thing to con- sider was not their points of likeness but their points of differ- rnce. Not how like man is to the brulcs. but how unlike he is- the monstrous scale of his diver- gence. That a monkey has hands is far less interesting to the piiilosopher than that having hands he does next. to nothing wil.h them: docs not play cribbage 01- play the violin; does not carve stone or carve mutton.

Thus. when our opponents wish lo identify us \vith Communism, they choose to forget the colossal points of difference. The sor- rowful fact about Communist par- ties everywhere is. they set just like Communists. They come to power by force and by bloody revolution. —- by deceit, black- mail and violence. The C. C. F. comes to power in the most: dem- ocratic and Christian manner noi. ever by bribery of liquor or money on election day. ‘

The Communists do not hold free elections. Neither 0 our old line parties when they use pm!- sure — alcoholic or financial. How consistent some of our opponents are may be judged by the follow- ing quotation: "I am for reform. and reform menns government in- tervention, it. means government control and regulation, it. mean: the sand of ‘lune:-fIlre'." Sounds like Woodlworth or Coldwelll The voice is the voice of Mr. King - hls speeches Ind doctrine: Ip- plnuded Ind espoused by Liberals in P.E.l. Ind Icrou CInIdI.

When it camel to calling the C.C.F. names Hon. Wilfred Arson- ault must feel that he bu I spe- cial talent. for nIrnes. ‘

The Bonntoriul hope Iprings storm! in the poiiticll brout. It nouns in! tho consuming desire of Ill our political Iei-vIntI in this: When the inllrmitiu of old In come upon them. they must spend their reclining yours in the and Chamber. with eye: forlvor

rod on the lunch. the Gov- rnmeni House, or the Senate, in

The Iluollflltn call, For A lllrllr, .

it much wonder that our paid re- presentatives have been negligent in their duties as servants of the people. Premier Jones should ex- perience a homelike atmosphere in Ontario among the hundreds of economic exiles who have gone from P.E.I. to that Proving ’ the result of his political cconomic maneuverings.

I am, Sir, etc.,

C.C.F. VOTER LOT 18

and

WHO SHOULD GO TO OTTAWA?

Sir,—Please permit me a few lines of your valuable columns for a few mere suggestions. I see by the press that Premier Jones and his public works en- -gineer are slated to sign up the agreement. for our National High- way wilh the Dominion Govern- ment within the next few days. We are very well aware that Pre- mier Jones represents the major- ity of the voters and taxpayers of this Province. On the fol- lowing dotted line. who does the engineer represent’? Undoubtedly he may be very clever in his own line and class, and his signature may be considered very valuable in some places, who knows?

When the election ballots were counted in Dec. i947 our present Government had plenty. voles here and there to elect 26 members to parliament, under the leadership of the Hon. .1. Walter Jones, not- withstanding his royal opposition, under the leadershipoi ihevlrion. Dr. W. J. I‘. MacMillan who re- presents 49 per cent of the intel- .lig('nt voters and taxpayers of this Province. Why not our 1W0 noble lcaders go arm in arm to Ottawzron this big deal? This grave matter should be a full united front in every way pos- sible especially under those pre- sent day crises. when our farm- ers. fishermen and schoolteacher: are so unsettled on wages, mar- kets and facilities for all con- cerned.

While we pause and meditnte under a cloud of debt. that has accumulated within those last few years on this beautiful million- acre-farm, millions mean large amounts in cash but don't Idd anything to our acres. From In- other angle this new national highway can be credited to our capital account together with so many other good things that have been done through our govern- ments from time to time; never-

theless all bills must. be paid sometime by . some generation. The most essential thing this

time is a good invcstment_ and a shrewd deal when the business is first done.

The Premier has done some good work with his former cabi- ncls at Ottawa. Dr. Macll/iillan gives him great credit for. the doors be opened for subsidies at that time. and on the some trip he has let. other doors close on subsidies that Dr. MacMillan and the late Premier Mathlcson had opened in previous years. which today amounts to thousands on top of thousands in back pay. Now is the time to pick those rosy cherries. With the assistance of Dr. MacMillan this long standing mat- ter can be rectified.

Should the Premier reconsider this trip and select six live wires who could be called the "big six" in the future such as: Premier J. Walter Jones as leader; ex- Premicr Dr. W. J. P. Mncliilillan, the Hon. Mr. Darby. Attorney General. the Hon. J. Wilfred Arsenault, the second Sir Wilfred Luurlur. to represent Prince County: the Hon. W. A. Mlthuon and Mr. George Seville. .L.A., I typlcIi road builder I d Id- vocIt.e. .to represent King’: Coun- ty. Their ruolutionl. clIimI for Ill old sublldlu. their new plans Ind grIntI up to the int minute can be Iubmntl ‘ ‘ by our four Federal members MIoNIu|ht, Douglu. McLuro Ind Klckhom. _

This trip with their cooperation could well be culled I Public Works cnmpnlgh, Ind wbuld prove" to be I gi-Ind success. Those Ibove mentioned ten stalwart; with-

lhelr unlimited knowledge and foresight mingled with some sturdy Ipponitlon within their

own units would then decide u_ to when this new road will be built. to tilt but udvontuo from I standpoint of revenue Ind the v/elfln of this -generation and of the generations yet unborn.

ii.

i

Council, Monday.

Old Charlottetown (And 5-. r. 1.;

DIJLINQUENT IIIJSBANDS

Legislative March 9, 1346:

Excerpt from discussion in com- mittee on a bill making it com-

pulsory on persons. in certain cases. to support their indigent relatives:

His Honour the President said there was no necessity of extend- ing the operation of the measure beyond the relation of husband and wife. He had never known I single instance in this Island in which parents in I state of destitu- iion had been denied assistance by their children who were in cir-' cumstances to relieve them; whilst. of husbands abandoning their wives and families. and leaving them utterly destitute, he had known many.

Hon. Mr. Brcckcn agreed. It had been a- common practice with some husbands to abandon their wives and children during the winter. throwing them upon public char- it.y for support. It was within his knowledge that a certain man. when earning E7 105. a month, had done-so, applying in no way what- ever Iny part of his wages for his family's support. This instance and others occurred at the time Lady Mary Fitzroy was the pe- troncss of the Ladies Benevolent Society, and the fact coming to her knowledge. she, in order to check the progress of the evil. adopted the plan of publishing the names of such wives as, owing to the desertion of their husbands. were obliged to apply to that so- ciety for relief; and the plan was found to be I good one. for the exposure roused the pride of the husbands, and, in some measure, brought them back to u some of their duty.

Hon. Capt. Swabey said their honours ought to recollect that this was the time when such I meosure ought to be prepared; for the Public Asylum was on point of be 3 opened. Ind it was to be fenre that too mnny would be found anxious to remove from themselves the burthen of main- taining those who were naturally and justly dependent upon them for support, and would look to the Asylum as affording them In op- portunity to do so.

Hon. Mr. Hensley said the bill had originated in an evil palpably existing. and its provisions ought to be confined to the remedying of that evil, which was the deser- tion of wives by their husbands, and the abandomnent of them and their children to the relief to be derived from public charity. With regard to other possible cases of unnatural neglect of impotent and indigent individuals by their na- tural relatives. he thought they ought to deal with them as ancient lawgivers dealt with plrrlclde. in providing no punishment for the crime, under the‘ supposition of the impouibllity of its occurrence.

l

J. A. Mctiuigon

. .__.‘...,.

Will Dul-uni, tho philooophor III robbed of $261300 in bonds. hour oaophy imtaeod —l.ondon Free

Press . I

We do not for 5 moment expect. thst temperance folk who are prohibition-minded will agree-with the Albert: Governments announce- ment of I broadening out of the Alberta Liquor Control Act to Il- low longer hours for beer parlors Ind for sale of liquor in clubs which maintain a. certain standard for their membership But we will say that the Government, Ifter_long experience with a Problem W,N°h has presented difficult. social Ispects throughout time. is taking I realistic view. -- Lethbrtdge Her- old.