l"F'Ll\ik:bI!P_\I“'”‘!

‘tense lffbgk . GUARDIAN

Y'- “Olllllj Dill; (Founded In lll") lulhorllrd no Ilanunu Cline Null. Pun Olflro Department, Ottawa.

The luliuiil (lunrillun hililliililn; Co. lllltor and Managing lllrerlor, J ti. Burnett. , - ‘IIIWBIIO Editor. Frunli Walker. "The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than

i, .

l the "Weakest Ink."

YHARLOTTETOWN. FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1949

'fhe Federal Budget

More than ordinary interest hos been arous- ed in the contents of the speech which the Hon. Mr. Abbott will deliver next Tuesdaycvening when he presents his budget for the coming year. lt is likely that the Dominion Government will again have a large surplus of revenue over ixpenditure, but whether this will be used to relieve the hardly pressed taxpayers or to finance increased social_legislati-on is a matter of con- jecture. lf the decision is made to red-uce taxa- tion, it may take the form of a cut in the geneffll rote structure or more likely in the increase of exemptions. The latter would mean that a large number now paying would become tax-free. Ono thing is certain, those who advocate economy and sharply curtailed government spending together with reduction of the tax bur- den on business, are doomed to be disappointed. With an election in the offing there will be no drastic curtailment of government payrolls nor will the government vacate any of the OfflCCS which it has mushroomed. _ There is much justification for this atti- tude, War with its vast expenditure of money and manpower for uneconomic goods and services re- sulted in the prosperous conditionswhich Ca-n- adian agriculture and industry e\,oyed du-ring the past few years. Few have complained and fewer have been inclined to listen to the pro- phets of a time of reckoning. lf this expenditure on war should be channeled into social services the result would be equally beneficial to business, say the hopeful politicians. The P'l"‘9 "P Pl llle national debt is not likely to be an issue in any election where the opposition must go_wari~ly l,‘ 5u§go5ting any reduction in the services to which the people have become accustomed.

Within The Gate

Parliament discuss

While our leaders in g _ what should be done about Communists in our midst (Prime Minister St. Laurent says that Communist activities are "under constant suir- seillance"), the following appears in the March 4 issue of the Winnipeg Free Press:

"The night school of the Labor Progressive (Communist) party enrolled 79 students at the opening session of the course Monday in the party headquarters,"607 Main street. The courses ending April l8, are: Philosophy and Practices of Communist parties, with W. C. Ross as in- structor; Marxism and Trade Unions, with W. G. Gilbey and Muni Taub as instructors . . . The women's classes are to start in two weeks, ac- cording to Morley Zelig, director of the school. The course on the philosophy and practice of Communist parties includes the structure and organization of Communist parties, their poli- cies and relationship to other organizations of the working class; working class strategy and tactics in capitalist countries, etc."

Time was, comments the Ottawa Journal, when Canadian Communist leaders were trained in Moscow at the famous Lenin school. Now, ap- parently, that is unnecessary; teachers are ev- ervwhere, including Canada. Canada, judging by this news item in the Winnipeg Free Press, is satisfied to let the training go on. Whilo we l-olk of joining an Atlantic Security Pact to stop Communists in Europe we take no action to stop them in Canoda—.permit them instead in train- '"9”Y°"fh l’? fomept strikes, to create discontent — tactics in capita-list countries"-—to build on chaos and misery,

Penny Wise Pound Foolish

_ln the discussion on Public Works in the Legislature, the Minister, Hon. Mr. Barbour, in reply to Opposition criticism declared the non- publication of details of expenditure with reference to roads and bridges, etc., was to keep down the cost of printing. This attitude is opposed to the policy of his predecessors, both Liberal ci'nd.Con_seryative. The saving in printing would be infinitesimal compared to the loss possible through incorrect returns on actual expenditures. ln the view of successive governments, the great- est preventive of losses in this respect was the check which the publication of detailed expen- diture in each district provided. Indeed, in the opinion of -the late Premier Bell, it was duo to the publication of these details, which all inter- ested could re-ad, that gave the Province the de- served reputation of being free from major gav- ornmental financial scandals such as had char- acterized administrations in some of the other scandals. It was Hon. Mr. Lea who once claimed that there was no need for an official external auditor, because all over the Province we had unpaid outside auditors who- eagerly and care- fully scanned the details given in the Public Works and other reports. Again and again at- tention has been drawn in the Legislature to errors, and explanations demanded. For all the idditional cost to be paid the printer, it seems unbelievable that the Government should seek to deprive themselves and the public of this very doslroble protection.

vlviiltlffllllflllllfl Administration

. , Thoreau various rumors afloat as to the persons who will ewiiriin the niniim more. trotloiyof- Newfoundland, pending the first gen- eral election in the country when it becomes a prwincoof- Canada. Several‘ names have been currently reported as. the ministers of the dif-

min iiiportmvnri. 1 join q itlofl tin si. John's imiir.) is doei‘thl_ choosing and on whet a, . a ~ .~ ivjgytnipilo. l_t_is not on unimport- "gf * inertia ‘d! rellwoii,

s - ~ ~

country as the Government.

Our St. John's contemporaiy odds: "ln the opinion of this paper, the ministers selected tem- porarily to fill the offices should be men who by their proven ability and integrity in one walk of life or another would command public confi- dence. Their political affiliatioip should not be o determining factor‘. They will be required to carry out the responsibilities, probably for some months and during a transition period in which inany intricate problems will call for careful consideration. ln addition, during that time, since a standstill policy is out of the question, various activities such as the highroads opera- tion, matters related to health and welfare and to the general economy of the Province will have to be administered, and unless those in charge of affairs could bring to bear a wide knowledge of conditions and soun-d judgment, confusion might result.

"More important than anything else to be considered should be the appointment of a pro- visional ministry who would not be regarded by one section of the public as partisan. The soon- er that prejudices fade out, the better, and old oni-mosities would merely be rekindled by an administration which was selected merely on the basis of political affiliations.

1 EDITORIAL NOIESI,

The Legislature. St. Patrick's Play.

Nova Scotia has at last decided to take ac- tion prohibiting the export of babies to the Unit- ed States lo be sold as ‘chattels. A considerable trade in this unsovoury business had developed

in recent years. w

v-

lt must be news to our exporters to learn frcm Maine potato growers that the Federal Government pays all the freight on ccisignments of potatoes, by both rail and water, to the U. S. A

x s w

What the eight nations working on the North Atlantic Pact are really doing is to de- clare their determination to hang together ra-

ion gets around to them. The public speaking contest being sponsor- ed by the Junior Farmers’ Fede-ration may well disclose some of the future leaders of this Pro- vince. More important, it may give a start to some who otherwise would not take the plunge.

No taxes on what? asks the Sydney Post- Record. Premier Jones hos announced "there will be no new taxes imposed by his Government this

of deceased persons, or corporations. Because, 'tis a common proof, that even Governments cannot eat their cake and have it."

.. .. .

Newfoundland is already reaping some of the benefits of Confederation. She will have to wait until March 3lst. for old age pensions and family allowances but already more than 600,000 pounds of frozen B. C. herring is authorized to be shipped-to relieve a serious bait shortage. The Dominion Government is paying most of the transportation costs.

i i W

The high standards set by the Chartered

quent problem today, far instance, is whether to replacement cost or on some other basis.

i‘ i * season 1948-1949 an adequate supply of

wide publicity in previous years.

potatoes and turnips were from the Island Division, Canadian Nationa responding month of i948, with the supply a

demand.

1r * w

Minister in l72l, and retained office for

Mackenzie King.

party successes.

w I

mitting crimes if he could not gain wide public attention through them. His sotisfactions are riot in the results of his crimes buf in the infla- tion of his ego bythe notice he gets. Although it seems more dangerous to conceal the extent of crime than it is to reveal it, it is possible that juvenile crime would decline if newspapers omitted to give the names and addresses of the young broggarts who band together to gain ot- tenticn. It is so much easier to become notor- ious than it is to achieve fame, that indolent ycung people who have not acquired satisfactory purposes iri life resort to crime as o moans of ‘getting into the limelight. A complete lag: of newspaper publicity might prove to be the best datum“ t; those whose tendency to show-off should hz-xa been directed earlier into useful mean! of Qflpllflfl distinction."

the appointed administration would ‘go to‘ the

ther than hang separately when the Soviet Un-

your. Certainly none on incomes, or the estates

Accountants of P. E. I. may surprise some. Ac- counting is not a mere matter of correct fig- ures but requires wise decisions on policy. A fre-

provide depreciation reserves on the principle of first cost, actual use in the period covered,

lt is worthy of note that during the shipping re- frigerator cars has been available at all times, removing all cause for complaint which was given During the month of February i949 a total of 815 cars of loaded and ferried

Railways, in comparison with 6l8 for the cor-

refrigerator cars being greatly in excess of the

Sir Robert Walpole, Earl of Orford, British statesman, died this date i745. Became Prime 2i years, the longest period in Imperial history, only exceeded recently by the Rt. Hon. W. L. One of the greatest British statesmen, he s: sght to bring the‘_ King and the House of Commons into a working alliance, to unite the nation by keeping as free as possible from foreign alliance, and to make the nation prosperous, and succeeded in these aims; at the some time he was a man of coarse fibre, gross pleasures, and no intellectua-l tastes who un- doubtedly gave a low tone to politics, and did not hesitate to stoop to corruption to secure

The proudest possession of a young hoodlum who fancies himself as a budding gangster says Mr. John Atkins in The Secoe from Shingwauk Farm, is a scrapbook of newspaper clippings re- garding his exploits in crime. "The friend who told us about this case feels that this young ex- hibitionist would quickly lose interest in com-

17-9)‘

PUBLIC FORUM

This column In open to the dlaoiuoloii by correspondents of questions of interest. The Guardian doc: not Maelstr- lly endorse the opinion of correspondent!-

O%C SHUT-TNT DAY

Sin-May we be permitted space ln your paper to acquaint. your shut-in and handicapped readers with the shut-in’: Day Association which is operating in their interests? This l.s a non-pro-

iifs Day, held annually one first Sunday of June - a day set ii- sideWb encourage the plublle to lake thought. of the handicapped. There must be many shut-ins 1n Charloiietown and vicinity and we should like to get. iii touch with as many as possible so that. they may learn of the s. I. D. A. and its plans on their behalf. If any shut-iii, or for that matter any person interested in the sick and disabled, would kindly drop us a llflf! we would be happy to Send full particulars about the Associa- tion. Membership ls free to the shirt-ins and incurs no olbllgltlon whatsoever. ‘Thanking you for any considera- tion you may care to give fills npwenl. I am’ Sir. etc.,

THE SHUT-INS DAY ASSN.

Ernest Barker _ Secretary.

Box 474. Goderlcli, Ont.

“A FORGOTTEN LAND" Sir, - All iliat. part of New London lying ilorih of Clifton Bridge is often referred to iii so far as our politicoiis are concerned, its a. “Forgotten Laird," that l5 un-

wus exemplified within llie last few days when the snow plow was turned back at French River comer instruct of being nllowod lu 1:0 lllrougll the Spring Brook rlislricl. Lu Cliffuil Bridge, n illstnnic of only 3 or 4 miles. This ivould have given rcsidciits of that district a chance to truck thous- iinils of bushels of potatoes to mnrkul which have been bagged and ready for some time; not only that but ll: would have given residents; of .Fl'6ll(‘l\ River rind Park Curllvl‘ free nvCo-‘is to a. good Yflllfl tliixiugli hlargnte or Grahamls Road to sny place they wished to

0.

It seems that. an official in Prince County controls the move- ments of those plows, and neither requests, persuasion, cajcilery, nor even pie-ending would induce him to allow the road to be opened. Ho was reported 1o have said this rand was “not. on the map.” If that 1s so it should have been before this. Just before the last. provincial election o. meeting was hold iii Spring Brook Hall to dis- cuss ivlizrt. could be done to have the road from Clifton Bridge lead- ing north widened and improved. All lilo candidates for election were present rind all promised ll their party was returned to power that. the road would be built; with- out delay. Hon. Mr. Large told the meeting, “No mailer ivhat. parry is returned to power when the spring comes you people insist on getting your road, there is a surplus right now of eight hundred thousand dollars, so there will be no shortage of funds." When the spring came we were fold that. the "funds" had disappeared. Almost two years have passed and now we are told that. the road we have ls "not on the map.” It ls rather a sirange thing that before the elect- ion if one of the Liberal committee just. whispered they could be heard iill the way to Charlotte- town, but now their loudest shout- ing ls like unto the buzzing of a. fly, or at teas‘. of a. sflngltss hornet. We are liopng though, that y reception will improve with the

coming of a Dominion election. I am, Blr etc.,

f OBSERVER

Qjcr/sv-ioQ-oé Old Charlottetown (And r. is. l.)

TOURIST FARE

“Island beef is not par excellence, hut the liimb ls simply-well, I halo to cnrve it, l ' like cutting babies. You buy n la l for two dollars, sr-ll the pelt for sixty cents; three quarters for fifty cents each; so you make your own quarter and ten cents profit. And Lobsters are high this season, twenty-five cents per dozen. And such lobsters! . . . Cod is coil-fen or fifteen vents will huy them, rind mackerel at the some price. Clams cost nothing but the digging, and we have the broth- oh, so unlike Broadway brothl~ every morning before the bnth.

"Most of the inhabitants of this beautiful pliice are kind, generous and hospitable, though some are not quite so unsophisticated as they were two years ago. Every new- comer from the State: lpolla them, and where an article of consump- tion once cost five cents. it ls now ten cents. Everything he! ‘gone up’: even nails and lumber. to any nothing of butter and eggs. In their regular season wild strawberries, raspberries, blueberries end mush- Povmfl- Brow lri’ profuelon. The butcher calla twice a week, arid you earn your beef and mutton by the anxiety you expend ln picking our a choice out ahead of your nefgh. ban. Although Isolated from the WW" It"! winning for our llvlna. we do not vegetote, for at preoeiic as guests of a near ‘neighbor an sly- Louli and Lady Davies-chomping people, without rperlfcle of ‘the ‘aide’ a title usually cello for." -I-‘roin e letter try Ilia-Charla Kent in the New York Mirror ad- dressed from "Arden Collage, BeeehmfljltuFar-m, Ailken’! GIN.‘ Poi-lune Bridle. KlngTCoiinty, ~P. E. 1., Canada," September, 1

tit organization sponsoring Shut- .

less on election is pending. This‘

\

1

opposition Luau

-wii|ie THE HOLE KEEPS GETrlNG

THEAGPABPJANC-Qiélii-OTT ~

ROW THEY WjERE ARMEU WHEN Tlli 809051’ W35

IBRDUGHTDOWN \-

knee‘;

‘i

,l

j Lenten Meditations l

Tho Times, London THE UNKNOWN FUTURE

SWEET DAY SO COOL

gwoer, day, so coal, so calm.

bright

The bridal of the earth

The dew shall weep night;

Fkir thou must die.

and sky".

breve Bids the rash gazei" wipe hi5 9Y9? Thy root ls ever in its grave, And thou must die.

Sweet spring. full of

and roses,

And all must die.

Only a sweet and virtuous soul, Like seasorfd timber, never gives;

f0 c0 . - 'I'lioii chiefly lives.

The Need For An Atlantic Pact

(By WTN. Ewer)

as ft arose. a real storm.

in question.

pressing that intention in

treaty formula.

ment to fulfil the obligation. as strong as possible:

judge the ‘intention. In such conditions,

there should be simply accords" reached hy the

In such and such circumstances

British, American

Europe.

ant.

over one sector of the land fron

"high seas fleet."

merit noted

operative.

tontlori to come to the

S0

thy full to-

sweet rose, whose hue angry and

sweet days

A box where sweets crmpavted lie; A music shows ye have your closes.

But. though the whole world turn

--George Herbert.

The storm over the U. S. A. Sen- ate Pact has died down as swiftly It was never, indeed,

The Pact was never (as some rather wild Yl/afiilngton correspondent suggested) ln danger. The American will and intention to resist-and at once—uny new ag- gression ln Europe has not been There has been the inevitably difficult problem of ex- the Such ii formula of obligation must not be stronger than the legal power of the g0V€§f1€

e ln such a case as this, it must be so that n potential aggressor shall not mis-

some com- mentators —- notably Mr. Walter Llppmann-have suggested that the \vhole idea of a formal treaty ls a mistake: that instead of a treaty "military

general staffs, as to the action to be taken

plus ad lioc agreements about the and Canadian (but mostly American) contribution to tho "preparedness" of the con- tinental democracies of Western

This ls a tempting thesis. I have at times been inclined to ft. my- self. And there ls n good preced- In 1914 Britain had no for- mal obligation ta help France if she were attacked. But the whole of the French plan of defence had been worked out on the assump- tlon—-based on "military accords”- thet the British Army could take

and that the British Royal Navy would guard the French coasts and ~lf necessary deal with the German And when the moment come the British Govern- wlihout hesitation- even before Belgium was invaded and the treaty obligation become

Why not ttien the same sort of arrangement now? The answer l: also given by 1914. The British fn- ald of France was ln fact absolute. But It was not embodied ln a formal pub- llc treaty. And because of that. the German government dld not. be- lleve in it. They thought (as pub- lished documents show) that there

Just as an eptpress train forges relentlessly ahead along the track laid down for it. mankind-find each individual member of the hil- mnn riioo~forgos ahead, but into on unknown future.

Whereas the future course of the train la known, and for all prac- tical purposes can be foretoldpthe course of human history, and of each life within it, cannot be fore- told, except within certain very broad limits. Moment by moment. the course of history ls being de- cided. The row stuff out of which history ls made fakes its form and sols.

A few practical moxims may he relevant at the present time, when there ls a fear that the course of world events may got completely out of hand. Emphasize the per- sonal element in life. Even in a world whose future ls trembling ln the balance, family affections, friendships. comradeshlp remain. Just because all else ls uncertain. personal relationships become more vital.

Look out for the things of abid- ing worth. The course of world history may (lepcnd on decisions in Moscow or New York, but here and now the Spring sun already fore- casts the budding chestnut leaves: the frosty alr will soon be sweet with the aroma of bonfire smoke; the stars still shine: music has not lost its chm-m. To value these things ls not n sentimental escape from harsh realities.