f do! and have prominent

mars _F§)_UR

i? .i____-._____ T H E G U A R D I A N llornln; Dally llloulldorl In llli) Autbarlwrl u ales-unit Clan Shil- Poel Office Department, Ottawa. The lelund Guardian Publlehlll C0.

Illbor and Aleu- log llIrn-lar, J. Ii. Burnett Aeeoollfe- ltnr. Iran! Waller.

“The Strongest Memo y is Weaker Than the Weakest Ink."

CHABLOTTETOWN, WEDNESDAY. MAY 4. 1949 Polltloal Tlmlng

British Columbia, which is having a provin- cial election on June i5, is naturally pleased by the Transport Commission's decision, which has the force of law, of abolishing the Mountain Differential in freightratesThe change will as- sist Pacific Coast producers and manufacturers to compete in markets further east than they now reach.

The principle fact of the Board's ruling looks sound enough, comments the Globe and Mail. But the hard question to answer is why this was done now, seeing that a Royal Commis- sion was appointed las~t December to look into just such grievances in a nation-wide survey. That Com-mission, headed by Mr. Justice W. F. A. Turgeon, an eminent jurist, famed as an in- vestigator of Canadian economic questions, was instructed to study, among other things, "sec- tional d-iscriminations" and "disadvantages" suffered by different parts of Canada.

The Mountain Differential was only one of these. Prairie Canada complains, not without cause, that the actual rates it pays are exces- sive because af its lack of water and long-dis- tance road haulage. The Maritimes gre by no means content with their position in the trans- port picture. All these problems were to be with- in the purview of the Turgeon Commission.

l1t is entirely possible that Commissioner Turgeon and his colleagues would have recom- mended, after their inquiry, that the extra charges for carriage over the Rocky Mountains be eliminated. But this proposal, if made, would have formed part of a coherent general scheme for making transport costs fairer and at the some time enabling the railways to make ends meet. The Transport Board as butted directly into the Royal Commission's- field, as its dis- senting member said. Its vote was two to one. Armand Sylvestre of Quebec, in his mi-nority opinion, agreed that the differential was "no longer justified," but felt that the decision should be delayed until the Royal Commission ‘had done its work.

What Governments Take

Government in Canada is more costly than people realize. The reason is that they never see it as a whole. The Federal Government, the Provincial Governments and the municipal coun- cils take their "cuts" separately, and as there are many hidden taxes the individual citizen has no means of ascertaining precisely what the triple governmental machine takes out of his in- come each year.

Official statistics compiled in the Do- minion budget papers disclose that in i948 the national income from salaries, wages, invest- ment income and the produce o-f agriculture amounted to nearly l3 billion. Of this tota-I the federal, provincial and municipal governments extracted $3,26l,000,000. Reduced to everyday terms twenty-five cents out of every dollar in the people's national income went for govern- mental purposes of one kind or another.

The tax burdens of today would not have been bearable in i939 when the national income stood at $4,289,000,000. lt is only by reason of the rise in the notional income to three times its size ten years ago that the Canadian people are able to hand $3,26l,000,000 lo their Govern- ments and still manage to live.

But Canadians will do well to bear in mind the fluctuations that are possible in the na- tional income. lt stands at near thirteen billions today because of boom conditions and the in- flation in the dollar. These are transitory. Next year or in succeeding years the national income may fall steeply. If it dropped to nine billions and government expenditures remained at pres- ent levels of over three billions it requires only Z a simple arithmetical calculation to discover

that ‘instead of taking 25 per cent of the na- tional income the Governments would be tak- ing 33%.

0orn 4.000 Years 0ld

A clue to the origin of corn, a mystery which has puzzled botanists for four centuries, has re- portedly been found by two yo-ung Harvard stu- dents. Corn is one of the world's rhost abundant and important grains, but where it originated an-d what it looked like as a wild plant is not k-nown. Today co-rn is one of the few plants that

‘can grow only when cultivated. The expedition organized under the auspices of the Harvard University's Peabody Museum, while seeking not corn but traces of early American man in the Upper Gila River a-rea of New Mexico, discover- ed cobs and pieces of corn that are both the old-est and most primitive variety known to mod- ern man. They were under a layer of refuse 4,000 yea-rs o-ld.

Although the nevdy discovered material is at least 1,000 yoors older than the 3,000-year- old com found in Peru last year, botanists are more interested in the relative age of the speci- mens uncovered in different strata of tlledobris than in the extreme age of the oldest specimen.

' By carefully removing the debris which consist-

‘ld ofoehes, animal bones and other refuse in six strata, the scientists obtained a complete sequence of 3,000 years of corn evolution.

Primitive corn was both a pop and pod corn ‘and was not, as many botanists have supposed, derived from teosinte, a Central and South

American grass closely related to corn.

The oldest ‘specimens are small and elon- glrrmes, or cholfy cov- thie variety is about the size not much more than two . The lremols-ef, this earliest chicane-third the of" those o = ' and are enroll end ~lrard

imam mm

erllgl. The cob

of its kernels. Ears of the primitive variety were not enclosed in shucks, but each kernel hod its covering of chaff. ln the course of centuries of cultivation by man, the chaff disappeared and shocks developed.

./ EDI IURIAL NUI ES f,

Musical Festival.

Stands Newfoundland where s-he did? Evi- dently, not withstanding recent political inva- ‘sions.

U U O

lt is a bit premature to mourn the passing of the .303 Lee-infield. The Ross rifle was sup- erced d-uring World War l but sow service a quarter of a century later during a time of terrible need.

U \ U

In Britain the Ministry of Agriculture is investigating the extent to which horse meat is being served and eaten. The enquiry, however, is not from the point of view of t-he consumer, but of the horse.

I I I Friends of the Salvation Army, and their name is legion, are always awed by the way in which funds and other gifts are made ‘to stretch so far. As an investment in human happiness a donation to the "Army: is hard to beat. I Q

Perhaps it serves little purpose to single out projects left in the air by the dissolution of Parliament. But a clear defining of what the Trans-Canada Highway is to be would have en- abled the Provinces to go ahead with their own

plans. O

Mr. J. Whitaker F.S.A. compiler a-nd pub- lisher of the standard work Whitaker's Almanac, born this date i820. From a small publication and edition, it gradually developed to be the most popular and accurate book of reference of its kind to be issued with each recurring year.

i I

U U I

What the Maritime Provinces require in the matter of freight rates is not merely equality, although that might be some advantage, but to be put in a competitiveposition in central Ca- nadian markets to compensate for the tari-ff pro- tection that o-ur highly centralized industries have always enjoyed.

fi Q

The King's and Prince County finals of the Junior Farmers’ O-ratorical Contest will be held tonight and Friday night respectively. lf the standard is up to the Queen's County finals, P.iE.l. Junior Farmers will have little difficulty speaking for themselves at the Drama Festival at Summerside in the Provincial finals.

U I G The operation of aircraft in sparsely popu- lated areas or large bodies of water calls for some means of locating ‘planes that get in-to difficulties. Fishermen already make use of a device which send out automatic, radio ignals which can be readily p-icked up a-nd over water,

at least, accurately located.

I l I Even Labour peers become forgetful in the new atmosphere of aristocracy. The wedding of Lord Uvedale, 64-year-old Labor member of the House of Lords, to Mrs. Joyce Lees-Smith was delayed for half an hour because he forgot the ring. Both waited at the church while an automobile sped home for the wedding, bond. Lord Uvedule is a prominent surgeon and hos- pital executive. His bride is the widow of Rt. Hon. H. B. Lees-Smith, former postmaster-gen- eral. I The late Mr. R. A. Macdanald was one of those dependable people who could be absolutely relied upon to do any job entrusted to him. And he was an Islander at heart and in actuality, notwithstanding that after the First Great War he resided for a time in both New York and To- ronto. He was greatly interested in the young, and when The Guardian for many years conduct- ed its Alias Santn Claus and Santa Pals scheme, Ray shouldered the bulk of the work in getting and checking the necessary lists and seeing to the despatch of the then much appreciated par- cels to their destination;

I I

Where there's a will there's a way. Britain has agreed to buy all the beef and mutton Aus- tralia can produce during the next l5 years under new schemes to step up production in the Dominion's huge undeveloped areas. "A joint statement issued after a 45-minute discussion between Prime Minister Chifley of Australia and John Strochey, British food minister, said plans are under way to extend cattle production in Western and Northern Australia involving road- making, stock route improvements and schemes for water conservation. These developments needed substantial supplies of materials, par- ticularly steel products, beyond those available in Australia itself. Britain, in return for an 'un- dertaking to promote these development schemes, was willing to guarantee a market at reasonable prices for the whole of Australia's exportable meat surplus for l5 years. A minis- try of food spokesman said that no details of prices and quantities had yet been settled with

Australia.

I I

Britain's alltime steel record for i948- l4,877,000 tons — depended partly on the huge success of the drive for steel scrap. Today Brit- ain's e-ffort to wrest steel scrap for industry from the sea-bed extends over three oceans. Un- der Britain's Notional Health Scheme, everyone is entitled to free medical service and free hos- pitallzation. The problem was the number of people living in scattered country districts. To- day, they too, are finding there is a way out. Mobile surgeries will go out into the countryside and take ‘the doctor's consulting room lo the patient. With Government backing, a cabinet- moking tinir has just finished o fully-equipped medical caravan for visiting remote hamlets and villages. The first coravan-coneulting-room-of- fice will eoon be in action in Yorkshire. Doctors will be olsle to oorry out minor operations in the

O

f corovangwliiclr will simplify the working of the

Health Act in‘ lonely areas. The all-metal, streamlined caravans contain a reception room

lord trdoctofs Abmlllfiflfl room. freernr the moun- tmrorn no to Mgrgnml

mm wml Mair. mu MAINLAND ‘ __

MAIL FROM QTREET BQXES

._THE GUARDIAN,‘ CHARLOTTETOWN

b" a

MUCH OF

M0 REMAINS ouoiswtaeo

qr d

THE rodowmo x r , . DAY

Tucson AFreRrooou AT Lenora s-rArzrs

ARRIVI o» ITS MAY -

I HOOPAY.’ ‘me eno 0F

ALWAYS CAUSE ANYM°RE FOk

5TATION MUCH ‘IUOLATE FOR

RvRAL peuvERv.

no A1’ r. runes co.“

NIGRT.’

rue TPAiLI-Bur rs rr Reaoicrue?

Toesliev? Gone , LIKGwISE

r-rsviu<£ro b%Qbi"y PUBLIC FORUM

This column le open to the discussion by correspondents of questions of Interest. The Guardian does not eoeesur’ |.Iy endorse the oplnlun o! correspondents.‘

MULTUM IN PARVO

l

Shy-The "Musical Festival" ls in progress this .week In Charlotte- town. 1t struck a “responslvr: chord" ln this tight little Island community in lts lnltlal perform- ance. It is assuming larger pro- portions yearly'—and the end la not yet. It may be sold with proprlet that the original promoters “build: ed better than they knew". It ls probably another example of~ blg movements starting ln this smallest Province of a great Dominion un- d?!‘ the 5981s of the British Com- monwealth of Nations.

It was recorded ln “Old Char- lottetown" (Guardian history cal- umn) that slavery was abolished by decree of the Governor ln Coun- cil ln 1826—one of the first ex- amples of P. E. I. initiative. It was perhaps the first to outlaw traffic ln slaves.

In all modesty and deference to learned commentators and theolo- gians ln the Province, would it be criminal presumption to suggest that “muslc" be used instead of "muslcal"? It ought to be obvious per se that the production of mu- sic from inanimate Instruments, or human chords would be “musloal" —t.o n greater or lesser degree. Fur- ther the writer deposeth not- wllling to leave it in "the lap of Mlnerva"—the intelligentsia.

Some time ago a quondam writer in the Forum gave a “lament? on the short comings of radio an- nouncers, and followed with quite an unrnerciful castlgatlon of all un-l sundry. This writer ls well satis- fied (speaking personally) and thinks that all school children-and in fact the hol pollol should do their best to emulate them ln articulation and renunciation. It ls hard to achieve elocutlonal perfec- tlon in the human species. Occas- ionally they fall from the pinnacle of Mount Parnassus.

I enjoy readln! lhe Forum let- ters l mensely. Llke to see their “John Hancocks" (or at least in- ltlals attachem-for better under- standlng-less suspicion.

l am, Sir, etc. JAMES PENDERGAST.

North Atlantic Pact Result Of U. N. Failure

By W. N. Ewer It ls pure coincidence that the Nations should have met ln Flush- ing Meadows the day after the Ar- laxrtfo Poet was signed ln Wash- ington. For a-n April sitting of Lhe Assembly was only necessary be- cause the autumn seesion in Paris fallen-to complete its work. But‘ the coincidence ls in a way symbolic. The Assembly meets out of season becaruse of the failure of UYNO. The Atlantic Pact. 1s signed for precisely the same reason. When the charter was signed in San Franclsw, if. was assumed that the United Nat-ions would be an 1n- strument of collective security for the whole world. The charter, un- like the League Covenant, was to have "teeth tn it". The Security Coimsfl, in the event of an o3- gresslon, would be aible at. once so order unmedlste action. It would be able at once to call upon the Armed Forces which the Member States were lo place at. its disposal. Om paper that should have suf- floeél not merely to deal effectively with any would-be aggressor butto deter hlm from any thought of ag- gression. Overwhelming force would be at the service of the world community against any possible breaker of theyepce‘.

There were. it 1s true, subsidiary Articles 1n the charter. Article 51 recognized the right. of individual or collective self-defence. But-as its wording makes clear-At was really intended simply to legailse resistance during the short per-lad elapse (in the case of a sudden. surprise attack) before the secur- lty Council and its military re- sources oould come into action.

Articles 52 and 53 provided for "regional agreements". But again ll ls plain that they were, ff made. W be entirely subsidiary. Such ex- isting treaties as the Anglo-Soviet Treaty or l.he Anglo-Turkish Treaty would continue. But. they would be ‘subordinated to the greater con- cept. of the United Nations.

So. step by step. quite deliberate- ly, the United Nations as conceived m ms has been aenroved- To wh-atena? To anybody familiar wlth Cctnmunlst. wishful thinking the answer ls clear. There would be "owe camps", Orr one hand the solid Pmonolithlo" Soviet. "camp". s. closely organized. firmly dis- elpllnea phalanx. On the other hand the rest. of the world riddled by "the contradiction; of Cnpftal- ism," spilt by inevitable quarrels. my "class struggles fnslde each country" by "imperialist. rivalries‘ between countries. And in such

m Age-0Irl s:

Thu slllls the Int-d God; ll- "wash I have out them far off among the heathen and although f have neutered them among the eounlrlee. yet wlll I be to than n a little sanctuary, In the noun- lrfee where they shell eeue.

t-

FIDM DEATH GILL TO HOSPITAL

MONTREAL, May 3—(CP)-Don- old Porrenult, as. scheduled to be hanged July 8 for the slaying of n Montreil police officer tn a baht: holdup lees September, wee taken from trle death cell es the Montreal Jill to" to hospital for medical examine on. Ne details of hls lll-

General Assembly of the United _

Jrhen blooms

- criticized for undue reluctance

-_ Notes By

Dunne, new Independent. after a long struggle by natlonullste, now pleads for a big loan from Great Britain. .!t might be made, but wltl-r strings attached. — St. Cath- arlnea Standard. .

Oenedlnn former-e grow one erap that always goes up ln smoke- Jobaceo . Tobacco has been, grqwn ln Canada for over-ADO years, but lt was only ln 1720 that production totals were first recorded. In that year the "yield was just over 48,000 pounds. In. 194B It was about 121 mlllfon pounds. Ninety per cent of the 1948 tobacco crop was grown in Ontario which specializes ln flue-cured, burley and dark to- bacco typel. Quebec province makes a specially of tobacco for pipes and clgsrl. and ln 1948 grew all of the Canadian crop of plpe tobacco, ‘.18 per cent of the cigar tobacco and only flva per cent of the clgaret type. — Amherst News.

Flogging lie ‘olent treatment. but some cases must be so treated because they r pond to nothing else. It ls for too valuable ln ex- cepllannl cases for fr. to be remov- ed from the 11st of punishments available. Our courts are cartalnlv not lavish ln handing out sentence!‘ of the lash; perhaps they might be to order corporal punishment. Be that as lt may. we can feel pretty confident that when flogging has been added to any sentence, the cl-oumltancel have been carefully considered and lt ls well justified. Our penal system ls ln no danger of becoming foo savage. and when it does show some sfernness lt should have public support. -- Saint John Telegraph-Journal.

It seems llmoet luoredlblo that a flying fortress which performed heroic eervlee ago‘ ‘ the-Japanese fn fhecsrly days of the Second World War ls now so outmoded and outdated as to become a museum exhibit. Yet. that ll the fact. The Swoose, built ln October, 1941. flown to the Philippines a month before Purl Harbor and famed for her exploits during the darkest and most trying period of the war, has now taken her place in the Chl- clto branch of the Smithsonian In- stltuws National Alr Museum. Al- though less than eight years old, the gallant Swoose would appear old-fashioned beside her more mod- ern successors. Her days of pos- slble combat duty have ended in the foee of the tremendous advances made ln the field of aeronautical

SPRING

spring. the sweet. sprfnz. ls the year's pleasant king:

each thtng. than maids dance fn a. rlnfl.

Cold doth not. sting, the pretty birds do sing.

Chuckoo. Jug-lug. pu-W. l-O-Will-l- woo!

me palm and may make country houses gay.

Lambs frlsk and play. the sheph- herds plpe all day,

And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay.

Chuckoo. jug-lug. pu-we. w-wtl-lr- woo!

The fields breathe sweet, litre dale- les kiss our feel.

Young lovers meet, old wives aroun- nlng sit.

In every street these ears do greet.

Quckoo, jug-jug, pu-wc, fo-wltte-

wo . spring! the sweet. Spring! --Ttsomus Nash (1567-1601),

Old Charlottetown (And P. l. L)

LEGAL NOTICE

Mr. Henry Palmer having served his artlcled Clerkshlp to hls Fath- er, but not. yet. having attained 21 years of age, which prevents hls ad- mission as an Attorney, Intends to take hls passage for England by tho ship Atlantic, now at West- morland Harbor, Lot 29, and to re- turn by some of the earliest Spring Ships: He will be happy to execute any Commissions at London or Llv- erpool. and requests early intima- tlon of such addressed o rum at. hls Fathers Offlpes, Char one-Town.» Prince Edward Island Register, Oct. 31, 1826.