i l l l l i 5..

THE GUARDIAN

Published over: wonk-any i-mu-Inn; II no Prunes street. char lntutovtn. P E. l.. by Rn Thomson Company Limited. "DIVIII Prince Edward Inland l.lku In non" Editor Frank Walker General labour. In A. Burnett lnnch offices at summonido. Ilonuluo and Aloerton. Autbol "ind In Second CIIII Hall by tho Poll Office Department.

Ottawa.

By Curler: Charlottetown. Summenido 815.00 per nnnum. Illu-

II-iero in P E. l 39.00 ome: Province: and U I. A. I110! per llllllull. -

"The strongest memory is weaker than the weakest Ink." I - TX I

FRIIDAY, DEC. 31, 1954 l

A Momenlous Year

The year 1954 may well be remembered as the one that saw the H-Bomb brought to the testing stage by the United States,l showing conclusively that it is now within the power of man to wreak unlimited havoc on earth. It is to be hoped that it will, also be the year from which can be dated the determination that war itself must be vanquished. Significant on the political sidci is the readiness with which Britain agreed to give up her right to maintain armed forces in ligypt, indicating that the day of such garrisons is now past. i

There has been much of interest besides, the survival of the human race. In this country the first spade has been turned to commence the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway in partnership with the I.'nited,- States, a development of great magnitude and unforsceable results. A Canadian girl conquered one of the Great Lakes in quite; another way. Marilyn Bell made herselfy a popular hero by swimming across Lake, Ontario, maintaining the tradition of Cana-ly dian girls in sport established by Barbara Ann Scott. l

Prime Minister St. Laurent carried the, message of Canadian friendship and co-op- oration on his Commonwealth tour which went well beyond the technical bounds of Commonwealth. This country has made it clear that it desires the friendship .of all but is prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoul- der with members of the United Nations and NATO who may be subject to aggres- sion. Fortunately no Canadians are doing any fighting at the moment a1though.they are making it clear at home and abroad that they can be counted upon when the chips are down. Instead of building shel- ters, however, Canada has constructed its first subway.

This year has seen the United States farmer approve of greater flexibility in price supports and although the immediate effect has been slightly depressing the long- term result should be healthier agriculture in many parts of the world.

This Province, after weathering one difficult year, has enjoyed A measure of prosperity for which we should be thankful, particularly as it would seem that we are in for a satisfactory year for farmers which is perhaps more to be desired than a dizzy boom. Charlottetown, of course, stands at the threshold of its Centennial Year. The Guardian wishes all its readers a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Railway Passenger Service

The application of the Canadian Nation- al Railways for permission to reduce its passenger service in Prince. Edward Island should occasion no surprise. In 1952, in ap- plying for provincial permission to operate buses in lieu of mixed trains, spokesmen for the railway made it clear that those trains were considered uneconomic. Briefs from other sources were presented opposing the application, but the Charlottetown Board of Trade went into the matter. very care- fully and recommended that if the Govern- ment could be assured of performance by

the railway of its undcrtakings, the busl franchises should be granted. The briefs and testimony bcforc the

spccial Legislative Committee indicated not only a marked divergence of opinion on the subject, but considerable misunderstanding of the railway's proposals. These were clarified by railway witnesses, particularly with respect to rail freight services, employ- ment of railway men and retention of ex- isting railway stations.- The Committee, however, reported unfavorably on the ap-

plication and the Legislature approved its

,9 report. -One membe r, however, the present Premier, warned the House at that g time that the change in passenger trans- ' portation from rail to highway was bound to come. In the end.

Editorially it was pointed out in these columns that we have no special guarantee with regard to railway passenger service within the Province. In all matters touch- ing upon this service we are In the hands of the Board of Transport Commissioners, from whom we have had several adverse judgments. most of them hinging on the factor of uneconomic operation of the par- ticular service In dispute. It was pointed out also that we would be in a more unfav- orable position than ever by rejecting the um:-nmve which the nilwly was then im-

wav transportation as the Provir.ce IS to' enjoy for eight months of the year must be provided by I. M. T. One favorable change suggested is that Summerside would con- tinue fo have mixed train service connect- ing with the daily service between Char- lottetown and Borden. There is also some! concession in the railway's undertaking to continue the mixed train service from mid- December to mid-April, when highway; transportation is apt to be at its worst.l This was part of the 1952 proposal but it, was contingent upon the C. N. R. operating its own buses during the rest of the year. The case, of course, has still to be argued. It is for the Transport Commis- sioners, not the railway, to determine how the local travelling public can best be serv- ed and whether no alternative steps can still be taken to maintain and improve the service within the limits of legitimate econ-, omy. The railway as a public utility, own-ll ed by our taxpayers, has obligations other; than those of balancing its budget. It mayl well be that the Commission will recom-i mend a reconsideration of the whole mat-l ter as between the Province and the rail-, way. Certainly there is no justification for assuming .that the issue is closed.

Vive Mencles-France!

Premier Mendes-France won an out- standing victony yesterday when the French National Assembly reversed its stand and approved a composite measure which will ratify a Western European Union, includ- ing a re-armed Western Germany. The vote also kept the French Government in office.

When the measure has the approval of the upper house and of other signatories it will bring into being a coalition of British, French, Belgium, Dutch, Luxembourg, Ital- ian and West German forces for the de- fence of Europe. Had it failed, there was a scarcely veiled threat that the .United States and perhaps Canada would lose in- terest in defending a continent which ap- parently did not feel inclined to defend it- self. V

In fact, however. the proposed union should considerably ease the burden of Eu- ropean defence. The addition of twelve West German divisions is in itself an im- portant factor and being able to include German territory and resources in strategic planning should simplify the problem even more. Not only is there another shoulder to share the burden but a weak point in the wall of European security has been strength- ened. -

Premier Mendes-France has had many notable successes in his term of office which has been brief by any standard except that of French politics. Under his skillful guidance France is once more becoming a vital force in the world rather than an un- ipredictable factor on which no reliance

could be placed.

EDITORIAL NOTES

New Year's Eve.

0 a

Q .

Vwhile his articles entitled "The Passing Sccne" are being discontinued. our readers lwill be pleased to learn that Observer has ,agreed to contribute more actively than ever to The Guardian in the form of reg-

ular editorial assistance. 0 O O l

I

London, Ontario, has taken a leaf out. of Charlottetowns book by sending outl 1”summonses”, couched in legal phraseology, to Londoners across Canada and the United States reminding them of their duty to visit their native city next year during its cen- tennlal.

O o I

l A Canadian archaeologist, Dr. Richard ' MacNeish. is trying to prove the theory that I North American Indians came from central I Asia by way of Siberia and Alaska. If tests

show that tools found there are of the same

agc as others in Asia the trail will be trac-, ed through Siberia back to Lake Baikal inl the north of Outer Mongolia.

0 O I

John Wycliffe, English schoolman and reformer, died this date 1384. He. carried scholastic hair-splitting to extremes and al- though his desire for practical reforms was -sincere and justified, he was largely a de- structive force. He translated the complete Bible into English, but the fear of violent change which he produced caused future translations to be discouraged. His follow- ers. known as Lollards were largely eradi- cated shortly after his death.

Administrators of the l-'lutger's College of Engineering are asking A few of their more brilliant students to put their Imagin- ations to work on ways and means of con- verting solar energy into electricity. The hope is not that they will be able to out-do

that in thinking up ldeu. no manor how fantastic, they will cultivate a flair formic- lnal and unconventional thinking. It h lint

- and wnhlngiton increased and in-

scientlsts in an extremely difficult field, but u

it Page 4

srirrml if

Healr Ye! 9

(C

I suppose that New Year's Day 5 euenrlslly, like. any other day. in that it brings new hopes, new hears. new resolutions. B new chap- ter In life's story. It is the new day, not the new year. that counts the more; and if we could only lget into the wise practice of liv- lmz one day at a time, without burdenlng it with the loads which properly belongs to tomorrow, we should be the better for it. "Take no htought for e marrow, for the Imorrow shall thought for the things of Itself."

l Actually. newness is I relative quality, and it never lasts more than a day. 'Ilhe ageing process, we are told, begins at birth; once growth has stopped. decay begins to set. in. That is the way of all things that live. Within A few min- utes of midnight. Jan. 1. 1965. an- other year will have come under the pressure and the routine of time. It win go unnoticed for a few weeks; but the trend is un- mistakealble. Nothing remains new for long.

0 0 op

There will be many predictions made for 1955; but even the few first-rate prophets among us - they seem to be getting scarcer every year must. indulge in guess-work. They know very lit- tle that is definite. And isn't. it Just. as well? Who would want the future laid out in little unerrlng charts and maps?

As A matter of fact, the years are very much alike - taking one with another over a long period of time - in the things that are really important. Progress and set- backs, hopes fulfilled and hopes

1954 In R

By Heath

There is always a tendency to look hopeful toward the future at this season of the year. but We also spend 3 good deal of time in reliving and reappraismg the twelve months which have just pas- sed. It is altogether appropriate that the first. month of the year is called for Janus the ancient Ro- man dlety who was represented with two opposite faces.

On the international scene there were a. good many significant hap- penings in 1954. The eight,-year old war in Indo China came to an end, and If we pass lightly over the skir- mishes in Malaya, the Phllllplnes and Kenya. we could say that as 1954 closed, the sounds of warfare had ceased all over the earth. Such I. condition of affairs has not. ex- isted for many years.

There were other notable settle- ment: during the year also, especi- ally in the disputed Suez and Iran- lsn questions. For many months these two quarrels were highly charged and explosive and it was I great victory for western diplo- macy when peaceful agreements were reached. But other tensions In the Middle East; continued and the whole question of Israeli-Arab relations remains as far from set- tlement as ever. And while the British withdrawal from Suez and the Soudnn satisfied the demands of Egyptian nationalism, and resi- dents of Cyprus became more and more impatient with the restrict- ing bonds of British Colonialism.

The Dutch in the half-island of Irian also ran Into strong antl- colonlslist. sentiment as did the French and Portuguese in their tiny holdings in India. This resistance to European domination of Asiatic and African people: is one of the most. powerful forces of the pres- ent. clay and will doubtless continue to show itself, with French North Africa a most. likely arena, in the months ahead.

I O O

In 1954, as in every year since

the end of the war, the German

elrospeci

Mnoqunrrla

denying the extent of the Comm- unist gain in Indo China, nor can it be argued that the new plan for German rearmament. is as sub- lafactory as EDC. On the other hand the settlement in Iran. Suez, and Trieste are significant entries in the credit side of the ledger. And while there were tin”; r W1 the western alliance showed ascri- ous lack of unity, as it did at me Geneva conference, the year closed with the anti-Communist, allies standing closer together than they have for many months. The new steadiness of the American govern- ment has brought about a. resurg- ence of confidence which had been somewhat shaken by the occasional rash utterance of Mr. Dulles and other policy-makers in Washing- ton. The condemnation of Senator MoCart.hy by his coleagruel has also increased American prestige.

Of course most. important, of all, 1054 was posed without; the out- break of B. general wait, the horrors of which were terribly demonstrat- ed by the hydrogen bombs explos- ions in the Pacific. Amid all the tensions, strains, and hostility the fact. that we were able to keep the peace is surely sufficient cause for sbundant rejoicing.

Tho Ago Old Story

And they shall be no morn two nations. nelthor shall they be divid- od into two kingdom: my more At all: neither shall they defile themselves any more with their Idols. nor with their detestable things, not with any of their inns-I grresslom: but I will in them out of oil tlwlr dwelling places. where- ln they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so dull they be my. people, and I will be their God.

YOUTH HOSTELS

OSLO (CF) - Dclcnalcs from youth hostel organizations in '30

question was the most important cinsiderntion in the diplomacy both of the East. and West. When thel French National Assembly lulled tfncl European Army Plan more was gloom in the free world and re- joiclng in Moscow. But the diplo- mats of the West. moved with uri- usual speed to find an a.lc1'nntlvc to EDC and the London nnd Paris treaties. pr riding for West Ger-

countries are ox,--c: J here next August marking the 25th anniversary of the Norwegian as- sociation of youth hostels.

blighted. contentment. discontent. faith, disillusionment; these things tell the common story.

'Ilhere are. of course, questions which we wish someone could answer fairly accurwtely before 1956 get: well under way. And the biggest; question of all, as befits this generation, has to do with the possibility of war, There is some rejoicing these days that, as 1954 goes into history, there is no all-out war being waged anywhere in the world; but the peaec, if that is the right. name for it, is so uneasy and so precarious that it differs from war only ln degree.

AT THE YEAR'S PASSING

The old year Slips out. of sound, rolls into 811- ence

And is gone.

The past folds over it,

The ripples close . . .

As if the rose had never bloomed. No bird had ever sung,

No dawn come up to tell the tale

Will wax come my closer in ' M 3”)”''h- . . 1955? Time alone will tell: but NO day of 5””m'"3 wmd and avoidance of war, though it is to

tumbling cloud

To lose itself in peace at. dusk. be deumd' 1'! only T negative V”-

tue at best. What. we really hope for is the positive fact of good friendly relations among the poo-

tlw ”"l3.l."tI'l'."....... 'ine -Passing Scene

B; Observer THE NEW YEAR -,

Bloom from

that at present. nor is there mtich hope for it in the lrnmediat.e;fu- Lure. ,

0 I 0

There are signs here and then, however, that the Ideal of at com- mon humanity is gaining B little ground, though it is beinz sorely premed at every turn. Perhaps fear of what the slernntlve would al- most certainly bring In due course will yet force the peoples of the world to think more sanely and act. more wisely. To be sure, fear is not the best, motive In the world on which to base a. better life; but it is better. or at all events, more reasnoable, than cynicism; and there have been many instances where. after being purified by fire. it has led to faith.

We are all hoping. naturally, that 1065 will be better than 1964; we shall be fortunate. consider- ing the many irritations Abroad. if it, turns out to be as good. At any rate, as long as we can keep on hoping, we are not lost: and as long as we can see new and fresh beauty in I sunrise, in 3 sunset, in the changing glory of the seasons. and In the accumulat- ed good thoughts which come to us from the treasury of the past, we can lift up our hearts and be- lieve, nobwihhstandlng some Indian. tlons to the contrary, that the

my New Year's Eve article two years ago I used I quotation from An essay by Helen Keller, surely one of the most u- Asoaua soul: of our generation, and I little poem from an unknown sailoo. I out do no bettor now.

The quotation: "ll! 1 had not faith to think with and Ilo suffer wihh, I could not boot tho Inocu- sam wrenching at my mind caus- ed by the revival of bubnlnn and intolerance, the multllstlon of mankind by war Ind persecu- tion and tyranny. Faith in the red blood that braces when all oloo fails".

The Poem: V "Only I night: from old I! now! Only I night And lo mud:

wrought! The old You”: hurt all won-y

grew, But said. The Now You rat. has ,

brought. The Old Year: hurt its hopes laid

down As in I. grave; but. trusting The blosoms of the New crown

. aid. Your":

the Adieu d to

so all this Being, tenuous and frail

A tldeilifting. to a tideless shore, P195 of "'0 9""1- W9 t10 not MW

A sudden wind shaking;

dead"

0 r

A dream dreamt. before dawning. A sleeping

And a waking . . .

Dissolves into infinity at last.

Now is the midnight tremulous with hope. ' ,

And quick with shadoyv-shapes of things to be

The velvet wings in June

Are stirring in time.

The poppy's flame is wrapped in the unfallen show,

And the faint. glow

From cold unwakened moms

19 but 3. presage of the rose.

The music of the bells comes clear;

A passing and a. birth . . .

How strange that what the dark- ness takes

that wui be Jay the chrysalls of 0 I 4

His Honour Lieur.-Gov. T. W. L. PROWSE

will receive at

r .GOVERNMEN'I nousn ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 1955

from 3:15 P.M. to 5:15 P.M.

Each gentleman should provide himself with two visiting cards.

L. E. PROWSE, Private Secretary.

The darkness gives;

Courage and faith to keep the heart '

like a white I light

throughout, the days.

The mists lift long enough to show a star . . . - The young year with 8 shout strides undemeath.lhe llntd Like a. laughing boy.

-William Whitney.

And bum

will recelvb at

TS-TEADY POST

OSLO ICPl7Nl('lS Odcgnard has been re-elected to his 33;-d term as chairman of the municipal coun- cil in Gjovik, -infirm-n Norway.

The Honourable

ALEXANDER w. IMATHESON. o.d.. Premier of. Prince Edward Island

18 CRESTWOOD DRIVE, '. ON.SATURDAY. JANUARY 1. 1955,

from 3:15 P. M. to 5:15 P.M.

his residence,

SAFETY

DEAR CITIZEN:

man rc-armament. and admission to NATO an" the Brussels Pact. were drafted. As the year el1.I"('l the prespect nf 1'at:ilicutmn : ur"d brighter in France althougi old suspl flu IS of Grrmnn mill in remained :.i'ong. Within West .

A

many Cil".'J -rellnr Adenha-uer-'5 p troubles mul:ip.1::l as some of h.s coalition sunpa ..c-rs dcvclcficfl 1

strong objections to his azrcen "ital with France on the status of the Saar.

. . .

There was mr-sh talk of "cnexist- l ence" in 1954 And many visits across the Iron Curtain with Mr. Attlee and his Labor colleagues Irousing considerable com;.1cnt, by their extended tour of China and Rusln. There were other signs of I slight thaw in the cold war with the Molenkov regime continuing its un-Ertnllntike approach to many lanes, But, on occasion the old ord- er retui-mad as In the case of Molo- tov'D grim warning to France on the question of German rearmn- ment.

But. if Russia occasionally be- wlldercd the Western allies by its moderation there was none of this ingredient in Chinese-American re- lations. Hostility .between Pelplng

cldento like the imprisonment. of the American fliers gnd the moon- in; down of aircraft brought angry cries for retaliation from many Americans. senator Knowlrmd and his supporters wanted a naval blockade of the ohlnese mainland but the Eisenhower administration

Some sixty Canadians lost their lives in motor accidents Christmas and New Year weekends. , -An important cause of this tragic death toll has been ill; the large number of holiday revellers who have persisted: At The i in getting behind the wheels of their cars after over-indulg-N lng in alcoholic beverages at various Yuletide festivities. III is the belief of safety experts-bolstered by experience overl the past several years-that anything which can be done to t people from driving while under the influence of

just during last years

I nreven

liquor will help to reduce holiday fatalities. I would, therefore, urge you to heed

safety t.ips:

attend holiday parties. 'or on foot, especially coholic beverages.

If alcoholic beverages

tion. Make that final drink

alcohol.

0 drive from wheel. As

. A ost's and either take rive you home.

Stay alive in, "say.

1- Avoid as much as possible using your own car to

holiday parties, let this be with care and modern-

for the road"-strong, hot coffee instead of some- thing "stronger". It is a medically established fact that coffee has a sobering effect when taken after It may not sober you completely, but It will help. You'll be better off with a'cup of strong,

black coffee than with a last alcoholic beverage. t ' is too often the last alcoholic drink that spoils fun and leads to danger. ' Prevent anyone who appears to even putting his hand on the steering I host be thoughtful to your may be even a bit f'high". taxicab or as passengers of non-drinking guests.

If you have over-indulged And warn your driver, even If

-. he is an old friend. not to go over 20 miles an llbur in towntond 35 miles an hour on the highway-

NOTICE

the following

Itis safer to travel by taxi if you expect to drink al-

Boord Of

are served or consumed at

at holiday parties--the "one

His Worship

MAYOR J2 DAVID STEWART. D.s.o.. E.D. will hold his NEW YEAR'S nacernon

-CITY HALL ON JANUARY It, 1955 from 3:00 pm. to 5:00 pm. J. A. FULLERTON, City Clerk.

GIIARLOTTETOWN .v. M. D. A

NEW YEAIV3 DAY RECEPTION 3:30 p.lil. - 5500 plan. - All Gentlemen Cordiolly Invited

4......

Directors '

(J4

be In no imeio ts-who

Send them ome In it

. I Allllnllg co.

.pork your car at your a cab or have a sober friend

,1. DAV!!! s'n::,wAIu',

nvNnMAN

lIN.lslpnA,!iCF

LIMITED