. 1-

PAG_E__F_‘QUR_=___________ , THE GUARDIAN

Ioratag Daily (hailed ia Ill?) latlorilld aa leroaa Clue lull. Poet Office ' r Department, Ottawa. I

A The lelaall liaardlaa Publishing Co. ldltov and Iaaaeing Dire-moor, J It. Burnett. . Annotate ldlinr, Irlal Waller.

“The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest lair."

cnauorrusown. TUESDAY, nmncn 1, solo

Canada's income

' Canada's productivity is reaching new lev- els, even above those of the war years ‘when in- dustry and agriculture were strained to unpre- cedented operations. Just before the war start- ed in i939, gross notional production was valued at less than five billion dollars and net income at about four and a half billion. in i948, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics says, Canadians produced $i5,350,000,000 worth of goods and services-almost two billion dbove the i947 total. But it is to be noted that this two billion advance, representing a gain of i5 per cent, merely reflected price increases of about the same ratio over the i947 levels. In production, therefore, these two years, i947 and i948, show no change although the output for each repre- sents a new high record.

The net national income is of course based on gross production, and, according to the meth- od of computation followed by the Bureau of Statistics, is arrived at by deducting from the latter indirect taxes (less subsidies), depreciation reserves, and similar bus-iness costs. Canada's net income for i948 amounted to $2,802,000,- 000 as compared with $l0,98l,000,000 in i947. These figures represent the net earnings of the nation for the two years mentioned, the categor- res including salaries and wages, investment il- come, and the net returns from agriculture and other unincorporated business.

Civilian labor income, together with military

_ pay and allowances rose from $6,300,000,000 in

i947 to 9,200,000,000 in i948, and accounted for 56 per cent of last year's national income. in i947 the proportion was 57 per cent. The national income from agriculture iumped from $i,200,000,000 in i947 to $l,700,000,000 in i948. This means that, out of last year's national in- come of $l2,802,000,000, no less than $8,900,- 000,000, or almost 70 per cent, went to Can- ada's wage-earners and farmers. Such a distribu- tion of the nation's turnover leaves little argu- ment for the regimented state envisioned by the Communists and Socialists.

Fluil-iiull Financing

British Columbia closed its fiscal year with a surplus of $3,600,000, so the B. C. Legislature lhas been told. Actually the surplus was in ex- cess ~of $9,000,000 because a quarterly payment of about $5,500,000 from the Dominion govern- ment under its fox agreement with the province was not received in time to go into the year's revenues.

Manitoba has a somewhat similar story. A year ago in presenting his estimates, the provincial treasurer of Manitoba predict- ed a surplus of $89,000. His successor as treasur- er- the other day stated the actual surplus was $4,425,000. The Winnipeg Tribune calls his "flab-dub financing" —- to underestimate re- venues and over-estimate expenditure, so that the administration can pose as "a little Jack Horner." . ‘

If such surpluses are used for the reduction of public debt, there may be some justification for the tax system that produce them; but there is a clear temptation for a gove-rnment to spend with a free hand if it had millions more than it expected and needs, and this temptation is not confined to the legislatures.

llewfoundlanlts Gaso

Judging from discussion in the Legislature, there is still a good deal of misunderstanding regarding Newfaundland's entry into Confedera- tion. Both BritishColumbio and Prince Ed- ward island — not part of Canada in i867 — were later received into Confederation without consultation of the Provinces. Why should this be thought necessary, it is asked, in the case of ‘Newfoundland?

The answer, says the Globe and Mail, is both simple and obvious. The Atlantic and Pa- cific coast members came into the notion in ac- cordance with the British North America Act. The British Columbia Legislature in i870 and the Prince Edward island Legislature in i873 asked for union at the some time as the Canad- no need to ask the original Provinces for their joining thus followed automatically. There was no need to ask the original Provinces for their views because they were consenting parties to the BNA Act whose provisions were being car- ried out. -

Nowfoundlondk entry into the federation is most distinctly not in accordance with the Act. Newfoundland is not at present, and has not been for fifteen years, a self-governing country. It has no Legislature and no responsible Gov- ernment to speak for it. it is being ioined to, Canada by the decision of a Commission op- poirriad by the British Government, a Commis- sion which was not elected by the people of Newfoundland and mokes no pretense to be rep- retoniotivo.

Canada is lllus annexing Newfoundland on ‘tlle strength of a plebiscite whose results In open to various interpretations. This is o wholly new experience for Canada. The irregular pro: , was, some may aigue, practically (med upon Canode by the British Government's decision lb moire "Confederation" one of the chilled hi ion year's referendum. Canada did lot frilly decide, to acquire a tenth Province

f the method that has been adopted. This, _ II wiry alters the fact that the M unprecedented llld vulnerable

l EDITORIAL NUIESI,

‘The Legislature. Tomorrow, Ash Wedne " y, the beginning of Lent.

Now we can syirilpaihidie with British Colum- bia and California.

it may or may not come in like a lion, pro- vided it does go. out like a lamb.

St. David's Day —- his burial place is St. Davids, Pembrokes-hire; the patron Saint of Wales.

ana

In addition to other things, this is the month in which compulsory savings for i943 and i944 are to be returned to Canadian taxpayers.

‘ e in a Mr. Brooks M. P. for Royal stated in the House of Commons that taxes in New Brunswick alre the highest of any place on the North Ameri- can continent. The gasoline tax there is the highest in Canada. i i 0' The prospect of a short session of the Legis- lature is_ in many ways a pleasant one, but mem- bers could hardly have complained had they been required to consider a few more consolidat- ing acts to help bring simplicity and order to the statute book. I fi I The announcement of a joint plan for ad- vanced medical training for the Maritimes marks an important step forward in the fields of psychi- atry, psychology,‘ public health nursing and soc- ial work in these Provinces. It is also another milestone in inter-provincial co-operation.

According to tlie Ottiiwa Journal the Na- tional Film ‘Board has released pictures of the Governor General receiving copies of the New- foundland address wit-h cut lines saying that the ceremony confirmed "annexation of Newfound- land." For an official source, the word seems singularly ill-chosen.

i ‘i I

Sir Samuel Ronlilly, English legal reformer, born this date i757; he persistently advocated reform of'the criminal law by closer restriction of capital punishment, and the reduction of pen- alties for lesser crimes. His pfinCipql-pubiicqtiun was Observations on the Criminal Law of Eng- land.

Reconstruction ‘Miriister Winters told the __l'l0use of Commons that the Government is not in favour of a Dominion-provincial-municipal conference on housing at this time. That the success of_ such ci move appears to the Minis- ter to be improbable ls to be regretted but the record of municipal cooperation seems to bear him out. ’

Annuities are popular but not so pOpu-lqr as they might be. A total of i3i,835 Canadians held government annuities at last Dec. 3i, it was shown in a return tabled for Mr. Stanley Knowles (CCF-Winnipeg North Centre) in the Commons. Of these, only l27,300 held individ- ual contracts. The remaining i04,535 held an- nuities through group contracts. Of the 708 group plans ln operation last March 3i, some 72 were Government groups.

i‘ fi l‘

. No fewer-than 248,289 persons were receiv- mg old-age pensions in Canada at last Dec. 3i, compared with 223,364 a year before, a Com- mons return tabled for Mr. Angus Meeinni; (CCF-Vancouver East) showed, Pensien; {qr m; llnd were being paid to 9,425 person; qt 99¢ 3i, compared with 7,872 a year before. Average amount af the old-age pensions in i948 was a little more than $29-, and varied only a few cents from the i947 rate, while pensions f" blind persons were approximately the same. i

o a a

More’ schedules for farmers to fill up? Re- "‘_’""°_M'"'"‘e' Mccflif" fflld the House that a directive put out by liIS department and dealing with the taxation of basic herds is being recon- sidered. He made the statement after Mr. Gor- don Graydon (PC, Peel) asked if the minister had any comment on representations made by the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. The depart- ment's directive, issued last November, was n technical document outlining the definirion of a basic herd. lt provided that sales of cattle were taxable unless the cattle formed part af- the farmer's basic herd. Sales from the basic herd were not taxable.

' I l I

‘Four years ago, on March l, i945, two com- ponies of the Essex Scottish Regiment launched the initial attack of what turned out to be one of the bitterest battles of the war. Shortly after eight o'clock that morning, they moved in on German troops strongly entrenched in the Hoch- yvaid Forest. The officer who led one company

C ' Compony- was Maior Frederick A. Tiiston, of Toronto. He was the first to reach the enemy position, first to take a prisoner and one of the first to be seriously wounded. In all, he w; wounded three times in the attack and lost both lil$ legs as a result of his injuries. For his "calm cpurage, gallant conduct and total disregard for hrs own safety" in the highly successful attack, Mfllor Trlston was ayrorded the Victoria Cross.

Q I

The restoration of the St. Peter's Chapel shows a ‘if ruownlbilnv by members of that congrega- tion. These works of art by a dlstl lshed artist and native of the province are reasures which have been entrusted to succeeding generation; for the enjoyment ofoll. Though we have not many such paintings ill Charlottetown, there ore a few. ln the Council Chamber of the City Hail are paintings of former mayors, several of these

Harris paintings in

on irreplaceable. lrmigllt be opportune, m that Mr. Woodley is in the city, for the Mayor and Councillors jto have a report on the condi-

.; proceeding filth their restoration.

m. 6f m» paintings and n». missionary u

commendable seine

are masterpieces of the painterg’ art, all of them, 1

ITHE GUARDIAN.

I.

Lenten Meditations The Times, London

THE DIVINE NATURE .

There ls a sense in which all be lleve in God, until the word is further defined: llrere Ls Dowel‘. neither human no: in human con- trol, at. work in the universe. The question is not. about. the exist- ence of such power but about its nature; and 1n this religious issue the epiphany or manifestation of Christ ls all-important. for Chris- tians and a challenge to all re- fleeting men. '

The late Dr. Temple used to say that the Church's central doctrine of Christ is made unduly difficult by the way in which believers tend to state it. Whereas it. is funda- mentally n doctrine about God it is made lo appear as if it were pri- marily e. doctrine about o. Illstoric person. The story of an actual life

asked whether or not the one who lived 1c is divine.

Doubtie-ss all who use the word "divine" slouch some meaning to n, but the essential point is how far the meaning is right. Man had always tended to make God in hLs own image or in the like- ness of other images within his experience; and indeed, though 1n theory it is possible for man to conceive, it is not possible for him imaginatively to reallre, the nature of God as inffxlltiely above the best he has known.

Hebrew prophets and Greek thinkers had done much, from dif- ferent angles. to purity and elevate the idea of God. But the author of the Fourth Gospel, who was ignorant neither or prophets nor of philosophers, held that no one had attained a truly worthy can- ocpllon. "No mail hath seen Clod at any time; the only begoltenm. he hath declared him."

In much the same way St. Paul writes of Christ. as “the portrait. of the invisible God." They thus leach that if the‘ true character of God ls to be known it must be soueht. not‘ ln otherwise derived ideas of what. the divine must. be like, but in the life and character of Chrlst- "God in mun made manifest."

This ls the opposite ol what is common. People often start. with some other idea of what. God must be and insist. if Christ la to be held divine, the! the constltuenta of their idea must. be found in him. The historic Christian way in to look first. at what the life of Christ was like on earth, assimilate ill spirit, and thence infer what. Gad 1e like in heaven. .

The most urlportani upeci of the Infinite, and the moat essential tor man to know, is its moral quel- lly and purpose; and if these exist. at. all they must constitute what the Greeks celled lie ouela or el- lence. It la not easy to conceive how this could be “colonel! at a lower level of creation man a hu- men life. And if Ch: t is tn this sense the express l e of God, other images are idols not because they are wholly taiee but because they are inadequate.’ _

is presented and the question ls.

"News nleume comm rr-Anunl eon our. GUESTS ms YEAR'-

AND LETS-Phases THEM too mm some REAL PRINCE ,, romeo rsnann DISHE3/

ll§>0 Old Charlottetown (All! I. l. U

JAILED DEBTOBS

In 1829 the Legislature took cog- nizance of the fact that it had "be- come a subject of just and general complaint that. persons confined in the Jail of Charlotte-Town for debt are kept within such close limits as to endanger their health, and aggravate severely their misfor- tunes."

An Act was accordingly passed. allowing such prisoners to go at large within the boundaries of tile town. They had, however, to give "good and sufficient security against escape." The Chief Justice was authorized to make regulations for the due and proper conduct. of prisoners taking advantage of this privilege.

No Crisis In Atlantic Pact Negotiations

(By W.N. Ewer)

Some of the .ep0rl.a which have gone round the world in the put week or so have given the im- pression thnt there is n "criilS" lii the Atlantic Pact. negotiations: that. there may be no pong, at all: or that any pact. to which the Americana IBTGQ will be 11188113118- less and valueless.

Nothing could be more mislead- ing. Nothing could be further from the truth than this melo- dramatic picture of the ENTOPWH Allies insisting on rigid and det- inlte commitments which the Am- ericana - and the United States Senators 1n particular -— r0108! to accept.

The intention of the seven gov- ernments (the U.S.A., Canada. Britain, France, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg) is entirely clear. Nor is there My 11158911! from it by majorities of Congress or Parilrments, 1i is that, an mm- ed attack against any at lhcm, uvhelher in Europe or in America. will be regarded as an attack against. all: and will he ml by the full power: of their united forces- It ls further that they will in ad- veme coordinate their plans for meeting such en attack. And that they will give each other all poss- ible ald in equipping themselves to meet. ti.

‘This! intention stands. And noth- ing said or done during the past. week or two in any way changer it or weakens if. And. nvhatover the tlnel wording of the pact. that will be its mpanlnd and its purpose.

. O U O O

But tile wording of such an ag- reement fa always, for dHIWCfBl-ib countries, difficult. No :mocret.io Government oen ever gt e an un- conditional and absolute pledge of any kind ls to its future ac- tion. For ll does not.‘ panes: ab- aoliite power. Whatever the word- ln: of a promise, the implicit condition ls there: “We will do tllb or this, providing that when the occasion arises our Pertinent and our people agree". It cannot be otherwise. »

Takg the specific cue ot e treat-y which bivalves a war in certain rcsmelenooe‘. A British Government can locally and ousetitutioneily give auetl a piodlt. It can‘ dealer; we; h m. (fluent-of Iuch a pledge. Bu: notifier it nor any other democra- iio Government could, in feat, carry on ouch war tor 3t hours wtmoue the approval end mppofl of tu Parliament. Nor oen a Perl- innant be bound or in any my oonunittea in eavonoe by any un- deriairlne elven by a Government.

‘that. le one point. Another to this. A treat/y of alliance --" or

- ‘mum: m - provides that m

certain circumstances country "A" will oarne to theaumort of coun- e

eeeue. toederh-ia-ielei lueuuo,

ledge to doohre up

in "n" 'rn dimensional-home

" svermsiuo ww ATTRACTION A GOOD Mull. cm llave/

WINTER THAW

(After reading Thoreau)

The tawny sedge, the oak leafe clinging leather,

The maples’ gray, like fag across the swamps;

This April sun in February wou- lhor.

Hos left no white tents where the field mouse camps.

Man, looking South, can feel the warmth grow stronger;

Man, facing North, confronts the snows delay.

What it cold deepens when the light is longer?-

Sprlngks sunny fingers hold this winter day.

Yet on these cpen fleids and dark blue river.

New flakes will fall. the wind- heaped drifts build slacks:

Below the baughs where now the brown leaves quiver,

The crust will ‘ridge, the fox make

careful tracks.

And some snug field mouse, under roof of while.

Will sleep in miilcweed blankets every night. x

—Adin Ballou. in New York net-ans"

‘I‘rl.bune._

may be loosely or strictly. dcflped. But if and when gm moment comes, somebody i to decide whether or pol the casus foecierle has in foe; arisen, Ana in feat.

dechslon must resl." with the Gov- ernmcnt which will be slvinz 11w assistance. vial-h r'" he voliilil-

liy going to o'er. The (We met‘ be entirely new, viii-J (lIJIJlSlOH in- escaplblb. But it has i0 be token. Ami it can only be taken by the Gdvernmeilt Wiiilli b; called upon to fulfil the obligation, ‘That has been an implied condition of cv- ery alliance and every treaty of mutual pla that has ever been made. It. cannot. be otherwise.

Now these two points - that of the decisive authority of Por- llnmeni (or Congress) and that. of the figiig to decide wllvlhtlr 0i‘ n01 the aasus foederls has arisen are precisely those which have been ralaed in the U.S.A. Senate.

The Senators are urging (and

this ' liy because the rlzhl to declare arm- is constitutionally vested I Congress) that ll be

made quite plain that nothing in the pact shall seem to infringe eihler the right of the United States Government lo decide whe- ther the ceuue tocaerls has arleen or the right of the United Stole: Congress lo malsg the decision to go to war. ' O O O i

Now these are in form reserva- ilana or restrictions on any agree- ment. But they are reservations and restriction; which er; in any care implicitly there. The? hre re‘- nervntionl and restrictions which (whatever the form of words) ev- ery eieuator, in fool, accepts and, indeed. upon which every sterne- cary openly or tacitly in fact l‘-

ll. »

There is no question of "weal-- lninl" or "weterin: down" or "whittiing away" the pact. 1g Will be (whatever the plifllilll) a ‘firm denier lion of national Intention. No ty comet-nod with. future possibilities can ever be anything om.

The danger in all this in that it may be misconstrued and mil- tnrerpretea in other quarters. Thou may Be read lnia this can- corn for pbrnll. Jute this deattl for clarity, eotno indication that the, United Sh"! lilo beodltle lieatlent. to drawing-beak, u em. loan to avoid commitments: and about misfit be eofo to lllipbio an

...... ~ra~ar..'@......-~ we

tion.

throughout 1948 showed that about. half cars inspected had defects which made them hazardous other motorists and pedestrian! or At some examin- ing points the number of care re jeclad on the first test substantial- ly exceeded 50 per cent. At one centre in rural Manitoba only 170 cars and trucks passed the fella on the first trial, while 465 were furn- ed down because of failure to com- ply with accepted llflfidlflil. Great‘- er Winnipeg had the highest. per- centage of cars that received OK stickers an the first test, But even here 40 per cent of the can failed to make the grade on theJnttiai trial. -—- Winnipeg Tribune.