P.‘.G E FUU R

THE GUARDIAN

\' Morning unity sl-‘unndul la rum llllhnrlu-d Ill net-lino ("Inna \latl. Plus 0mm Dvpnrlmrnl, Ottawa. The hlrurcl liuardinn l-‘ublluhln; Cn- Idllnr and Managing lblnvtnr. J B. Burnett. Anni-idle Bdllnr, Frank Weller. f‘The Strongest Memory rs Weaker Thal

the Weakest Ink.” SATURDAY. JULY 16, 1949

fuAnLorrerm-rs,

Spoils And Transportation

Of the total cash income of $18,978,000 from sale of farm products in Prince Edward ls- land in 1947, potatoes and turnips represented approximately $5,000,000, livestock (cattle, hogs and poultry) $7,500,000, dairy products 12,575,000, eggs $1,750,000. An analysis of these and other production figures in recent vears shows the principal income from agricul- ture in this Province to be derived from the ex- tort of high quality seed potatoes. This fact s highlighted lll the brief presented on behalf if the Prince Edward lsland Government to the loyal Commission on Transportation, in which ihe following interesting comparisons appear:

ln the year 1920 there were only 886 acres so Prince Edward lsland entered for inspection ior seed potato certification, as against 38,743 acres in the year 1948. Similar figures for New Brunswick which were 1413 acres in 1920 and 20,784 in 1948, show an increase of 19,335 acres as compared with the Prince Edward lsland in- crease of 37.857 acres over the 28 years period. ln the Province of Quebec, the 1920 acreage was 3369 and the i948 acreage 2560. This shows a decrease of 1309 acres entered for seed pota- toes certification. ln Ontario in 1920 there were 472 acres and in i948, 2536 acres~—an increase of only 2064 acres.

The reason for the decrease in Quebec and the small increase in Ontario is due to the fact that a better quality of potatoes is grown on Prince Edward lsland and the growers of Que- bec and Ontario depend largely on Prince Ed- ward lsland potatoes for planting each year. The same condition holds true in many of the southern States. and even in the potato State of Maine quite a number of cars oi lsland seed potatoes are sold each year for planting.

This illustrates the tremendous factor in the economy of the Province which our potato crop represents, and in which, of course, must also be included table stock potatoes which are not expected to be of the same rigid standards as seed, but which in many cases really are. Freight rates in both cases have a most import- ant bearing. in the 1947-48 season, 8873 car- loods of potatoes were shipped from the Province -3344 of seed and 5529 of table stock. ln ad- ilition 990,000 bushels, the equivalent of 1320 cars, were shipped by boat. A large part of the seed potatoes were actually shipped to other parts of Canada, mainly Ontario and Quebec, with a consequent high freight charge.

These are statistics which it is hoped will be carefully digested by ,the Royal Commission. They represent only one side of our agricultural economy, but they indicate the vital stake we have in the Commission's findings, and in the subsequent actions of the Government and Par- liament in implementing them.

Senate Reform

Several newspapers have been urging Prime Minister St. Laurent to make a generous gesture which might have for-reaching and beneficial consequences—nomely to appoint from among the rnore prominent of the defeated Conserva- tive candidates three or four members to the Senate. -

The Financial Post calls attention to following points in this connection:

In recent years the prestige of the Senate has sunk alarmingly lo-w. In detecting a few flaws in too hastily passed legislation some ser- vice has bccn received by the public from this extra and expensive form of government. On the whole, however, the Senate has been but a weak echo of the House of Commons. Where’ real, nonpartisan leadership was needed, it has failed to produce anything effective.

Though it doesn't have to face elections the Senate has proved just as vulnerable as the Commons to pressure from special lobbies.

And there is little hope indeed of any im- provement il the usual policy in regard to Sen- ate appointments continues to be followed. With a few notable exceptions cnly retiring stalwarts of the party in rrwer have had a chance. The result, after fourteen years of continuous Lib- oral administration, is a Senate predonderantly of one party only, (74 Liberals to 15 Progres- live-Conservatives) with no substantial correc- tion possible in the foreseeable future.

Average age of Senators now sitting is 69.2 years. Their average life expectancy is 10.9 years. Unless Mr. St. Laurent goes outside his own party, there is very real danger that the Sen- ate will become virtually a one-party house. For many reasons that would be bad. Then, un- der government of a different stripe, the cry for Senate abolition would indeed rise high and 'oud.

With thirteen vacancies still to be filled and rome outstanding timber among his defeated opponents, Mr. St. Laurent has an unusual op- portunity now to begin building a genuinely nonpartisan, experienced and useful upper house. By breaking with the old tradition, the Prime Minister could start restoring the Senate to its original role of acting as a mature, advisory body, free from party subservience. He would also be doing something worth while to offset perhaps the greatest weakness and danger in the next Parliament. This is the numerical weak- ness of the official opposition.

Finally in a rnost practical manner Mr. St. Laurent would be carrying out the pledge he mode on election night "to ensure to all Canad- ians, in every province, of every race and crud and clan, and of ell political portlu, the clon- orr-pouiblo approach to equality of opportunity and to o fair share of the bounties with which provldoncohoo endowed our favored long;

the

JEDITORIAL NOTES!

Tomorrow Fifth Sunday after Trinity.

Lord Dufferin, Governor General, visited Charlottetown tomorrow's date 1873. i i * Most welcome week-end guests to Char-

lottetown are the C.O., officers, cadets and men of H.M.C.S. Iroquois. i N The Roman Catholic excommunication de- cree for Communists is some confirmation that Communism for all its anti-religious dogma, is itself a religion, a heresy of Christianity. i i k

One aspect of lsland transportation facili- ties, our wharves, has not progressed but gone back, so that it is an agreeable surprise to have Alberton selected for long overdue development in that direction.

I U I

Trygve Lie, Norwegian lawyer and diploma- tist, born this date i896; joined the Norwegian Labour Party 1912, appointed legal adviser to T.U.C. 1922, and became chairman; entered parliament in 1937, and appointed Minister of Trade, etc., and then Minister for Foreign Af- fairs; became General Secretary of United Na- tions in i946; has published two books on La-

bour Law.

U U l

Welcome visitors to the Province this week are Defense Minister Claxton, Mrs. Cloxton and daughter. Though their visit is regrettably brief, they were able to see something of the beauties of the lsland in their motor trip yester- day from Summerside to Charlottetown. The Minister had good news for Summerside in the announcement of the contract being let for the erection of 150 housing units at the air station.

a w n n

Stores are busier than usual these days. De- parfment store sales rose sharply during the week ended July 2, the all-Canada figure averag- ing 27 per cent higher than in the same period last year, the Bureau of Statistics reported. Large gains were shown in all provinces except British Columbia where a small decline was re- corded. The gain in the Moritimes was 34 per cent, Quebec 35, Ontario 4i, Man-itoba 28, Saskatchewan 47, and Alberta 33. The decline in British Columbia was two per cent.

U l I

With grandiose defence schemes the order of the day, perhaps it would be possible to elim- inate ne of the really great strategic weak- nesses of the Western world, the week-end. Hit- ler made devastating use of the knowledge that so many people take off the some days of the week. Charlattetown's Wednesday is a break in the general pattern, but what is need-ed particu- larly in the armed forces, is such a staggering of holidays that an emergency can be dealt with whenever it may arise.

a or a

A movement toward creating a greater Saint John, N. B. is now being promoted. A Lancaster survey commission reports: "Wisdom, foresight and commonsense dictate that this community on both sides of the mouth of the St. John River should move forward as one politi- cal unit for the administration of civic affairs. The incorporation of the City of Saint John and the urbanized portions of Lancaster, into a new and greater City of Saint John, born of co-opera- tion and goodwill, is not only desirable, but im- perative for the well-being of the citizens of the whole area."

Austerity ‘has so affected smaller villages in England that quite a few have become depopu- lated. A particular case in instance is that of Stoke Pages in Buckinghamshire where it is now realized that there's more poetry than truth in the famous line "The curfew tolls the knell of parting day." Thomas Gray put that phrase about the bells of Stoke Poges Anglican Church into his "Elegy Written in a Country Church- yard" back in 1750. For two centuries tourists have flocked here to hear the ringing which inspired the poet. Now, says the vicar, Rev. D. H. Bryant, curfew no longer rings. The village has run out of bellringers.

a a a

The R.C.M.P.'s faces at Saint John were more scarlet than red when they discovered their premises and the county court had been br en into and equipment stolen. A youth identi ed as Louis Joseph Wrigley, and who police say is also known as Louis Bastarache, was remanded in city police court on a charge of breaking, en- tering and theft from the R.C.M.P. office at Saint John. lt was the second break into public offices in Saint John within the last few weeks. Still under investigation by city police is a break July 5 into the Saint John County courthouse, Sydney Street. Offices were ransacked and a number of articles taken. R.C.M.P. said that en- try to their office was gained through a window. A .45 calibre Colt pistol, a set of handcuffs and other articles were taken. Wriglcy was remanded at R.C.M.P. request while their investigation continues. .

a I U

Legislation may be introduced at the first session of the new Parliament to provide for the celebration of most statutory holidays on a Mon- day. The change would apply to all holidays except Christmas and New Year's, and certain religious days, such as Good Friday. The Gov- crnment has received many requests for the change to prevent confusion in business estab- lishments an to provide workers with long week- end holidays. This year, May 24-Victoria Day- fell on a Tuesday and there were complaints that many who went away for the week-end took Monday off as well and did not return to work until Wednesday. Dominion Day —-July 1—foll on o Friday and there were complaints among business men that confusion had resulted. Pro- posed legislation to fix certain Dominion holi- days to fall on Monday has definite attractive- ness, but after all it would be merely patching up a hopelessly irregular calendar when what is needed is the adoption of o new and rational Gills

THE GUARDIAN. CHARLOTTETOWN

ills lllresitv'—ll Problem

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‘£00m 0 Old Charlottetown (Arm r. r. u

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DAVID STEWARTS JOURNAL (The following excerpt and oth-. ers which will appear weekly fn this column are from the journal of David Stewart, Esq., grandfather of the late Mr. D. B. Stewart, Char- lottetown. and great-grandfather of the Hon. W, F. A. Stewart, Minis- fer of Agriculture. Mr. Stewart was proprietor of some 80,000 acres ‘ in this Island, and his account of his visit here in 1831 in connection with the affairs of his estate ll of exceptional interest.)

“Thursday, 16th June, 1831: This night is very fine and clear, We set sail (from Plctou) ln the peck- er. for Prince Edward Island with a light. wind, and cleared Pictou harbor without interruption: there is a bar at the mouth of the har- bor which stretches nearly across it. We cleared the bar and had a fair wind till we came to the Wood Islands. Prince Edward Island lay before us in the distance. 1t ls a gen- tle, undulating, waving surface at B distance, and appears nearly en- tirely clothed with wood.

"We were now becalmed, and I had abundance of time to look at the long-looked for Island. It ap- peared beautlful in the distance, and now that. we were close to it, if appeared still more so. We lay between the Wood Islands and Point Prim all night. I lay on deck. It. was very warm on deck in the night. Towards morning a breeze sprang up and carried us into Char- lottetown harbour about 5 p.m. on Friday, 17th June.

"I now enquired for lodgings. Having obtained lodgings at the principal inn, I was immediately surrounded by a set of persons whom I never saw before. and I could not obtain private lodgings. There were officers of a ship of war and inhabitants of the Island came into my room: amongst others I ivas visited by Mr. Lawson the Solicitor General and Mr. Theo- philus Stewart. After hearing what each had to say in my bed-room, I made up my mind to leave the house next morning and to pro- ceed to Captain Jnck Stewart's. Mount Stewart. I made my ar-, rangements accordingly and order- ed n horse and gig, to lake me (here, to be at the lnn door by 6 o'clock at furthest-end went. to bed.

“Saturday 18th June: This morn ing ls beautiful and clear, the all delightful and soft. At 5 o'clock fn the morning got breakfast and wnltecl untll6. Mr. Theophllus Stew- art. Mr. John Stewart's nephew and his lawyer who was to attend me at 6 o'clock did not come. I waited until 7 and than went and called upon him: he was not ready: said he could not get a horse. I ihen met Lawson. the Solicitor Gen- oral, who had been employed by Capt. John Stewart in my business at East Paint and whom I had en-l gagetl to follow me to that place (70 miles distant) the evening before. He was ready. I ordered my matters accordingly and set off, with him, requesting Mr. Theo-' phllus Stewart to follow us and to cell at his uncle, Capt, John Stew- art. at Mount Stewart (about 18 miles from Charlottetown), where he would find us. as I intended to. take the Capt. the Solicitor Gen- eral and him, Mr. Theophilus Stew- art with me in order to see what, they had done with the tenants at i East Point. l "This being arranged. Mr. Law-, son and myself set off and soon‘ reached Mount Stewart: found the i Captain Very unwell and feeble, but i quite willing to attend me to East? Poirit. Found him and Lawson at variance with each other ln the highest degree. We, however, got some refreshment and proceeded for East Point in about two hours.l Mr. Thoophllus Stewart. arrived at] Mount Stewart before we left. and was to follow us to East Point. "We then rode on to St. Peters where night overtook us. and took up our quarters at a farm house, ri Mr. McKenzie’; After lame time Theophllus joined us. I found lt quite. impossible to reconcile thel parties, and could only lnslat upon;

l

‘ views excellent; there are not. any

. loral position.

least corner—1,720,000,000 kilowatts

are of wood except one which is brick: the streets are broad and at right angles. The country we have passed ls finely wooded. and re- sembles the country about Reading ln Berkshire. It is very beautiful and about the Bay of St. Peters it is unusually beautiful. This arm of the Sea ls like a beautiful lake. "There ls much of the country cleared on both sides of the road and the land ls fine light loam fl! for wheat, barley, oats, rye, turnips, Indian corn and all kinds of vege- tables. The woods in the highest degree beautiful and many of the

hills more than a few hundred feet in height. In fact it is a country softly beautiful and rich; no stones and the soil easily worked: the. people well fed, well clothed and‘ no appearance of sickness of any kind and fevers not heard of: boys. girls and women barefooted: the houses all wood and many of them very large. with very large barns and stables."

Horse-Power Politics In Australia

(By Thomas Dunbabln)

Heaven tempered the wind to the shorn lamb when 450,000 United States coal miners ceased work on June 13. The country had coal re- serves of 70,000,000 tons or enough l.0 last. six wteks. Moreover. a warm spell was on hand.

Australia ls ln a very different case with her strike of 25.000 coal miners, now in its third week. There are practically no reserves. This is the middle of the Australian winter. While a winter which rare- ly goes down to freezing point may sound balmy in Canada, Sydney-sid- ers can shiver with cold at 40 de- grees Fahrenheit.

Though Australia's coal output has increased 25 per cent since 1938 her demands. especially for her ex- panding industries. have outpaced the rise ln production. It. ls a grim threat. to Australia's industry and to the full employment (with fewer than 2.000 unemployed in a popula- tion of 7.800.000) which Australia has had for some time past, which particularly perturbs the Austral- ian Government.

Nor can the Government over- look the fact that u general elec- tion is due this year-in fact. Saf- urday, December 3, is tipped as the date. However, a firm and success- ful handllng of the strike may strengthen the Government's elec-

As for imparting coal to tide over the crisis the nearest sources of supply are India and South Africa. both a long way rway— for New Zealand has little or no coal to spare. Aformer Canadian vessel. the Hallgonlan Duke. has been held up in Melbourne, Victoria, by a dock-worker's ban on the handllni; of her 6700 tons of Indian coal. ll any case, imports are at best a poor palliative. Australian industries must have Australian coal.

Ir. ls no doubt just a coincidence that the coal strike followed closely on the introduction in the Austral- ian Parliament of the Snowy River Bill. This will set up an authority to develop from the waters of the Snowy and other streams on the roof of Australlrv-the mountains and high tnhleiands ln the. south-

of cheap hydroelectric power. The estimated cost. ls 650,000,000 dollars and lt will trike many years to com- pletc.

This ls much loo long range a plan to worry the coal-miners. But the present strike is an object-les- son in the value of water-power. Tasmania, which has developed n good deal of her water-power, is ab]; to rnrry on mnny important Industries, The water never goes on strike and neither. as a rule, do the few engineers and others needed to keep things running. Tasmania is. with the help of Bolts, Poles and other D.P.'n from Europe, act- ively extending her water-power.

While the Snowy River project is much the largest on the mainland of Australia there are a number of other possible sources in Victoria (the Kiowa, Latrobe and other riv- ers), in New South Wales lnolflbly the Clarence River) and ln Queens- land. Australia's industries are like- ly, however, to need a great deal of coal for along time to come.

Australia's Minister for fhe In-

orover Conduct from both antler terlor (Mr. Victor Johnson) recent- while engaged on my bullnen: this‘ 1y apolle of bringing power from both parties promised, and we pro- ’ Tasmania to the mainland, under

ceeded on the next morning. "There were now three gigs rinrl one horseman, viz: Capt. Stewart and myself ln one, Lawson In an- other, nnr! Theophlluii Stewart ln e5 third. and Donald McCnllum on_ horseback. The hone we: now, left and Donald rode with Theo-v phllus Stewart to be ready to as- sist the Captain his rnnlter, who could neither let ln nor out of the chaise without assistance. We had everything clean and comfortable ln our lodelnel and I slept on the floor.

O I I "Charlottetown ll well situated an a beautiful harbour and port.‘ but has no regular pier: therefore i the landinl lo not comfortable. The