l’ .315 FUUR

THE GUARDIAN

Ainraing Dally (Founded in H151) Authorised as Second Clans Mall, Post Office Department, Ottawa.

Tho Island (Iuarsiian Publishing Co. Iiiltor and Managing irirr-ctnr, J. it. llurnett. Alaoclato Editor, Frank “Hslker.

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest lnk"

CHARLOTTETOWN,

FRIDAY, OCT. 7, 1949

Ilew Pensions Scheme

A compulsory system of old age pensions an a contributory basis, and payable without the means test, was foreshadowed by Health and Wel- fare Minister Martin in Parliament the other day, in a manner which indicated that only constitu- tional difficulties were ot present standing in the way of implementing this policy.

The Minister recalled that steps are now being taken to give the Canadian Parliament power to amend the constitution. When that has been done the Provinces will be consulted as to their attitude toward endowing the Federal Gov- ernment with the power necessary to enact the old age pension scheme.

In warning members that social security schemes cost a great deal of money, Mr. Martin declared that "nothing would be more dangerous than to embark suddenly upon a particular so- cial security measure without a full appreciation of all the economic factors involved." Canada today, he asserted, was second to none in the nu-mber of security measures provided. Reviewing oll the benefits which the Canadian people now enjoyed, from family allowances and old age pensions to veterans allowances and a national health program, he pointed out that in the cur- rent fiscal year the Federal Government alone will have allotted more than $800,000,000 for. social security measures. "When you consider what oth- er countries are spending an social security and compare it with what Canada is spending," he declared, "l am sure no one on serious reflection will dou-bt that we have indeed a program of the greatest proportions, of which we have every reo- son to be proud."

The Minister stressed the desire of the Fed- eral Government to co-operate with the Provinces, and said that despite the breakdown of the Da- minion-Provincial Conference there had already been a great measure of co-operation particular- ly in regard to the present old age pension scheme and to Unemployment Insurance.

For any federal state like Canada to try to centralize administration or even to assume full financial responsibility, he maintained, was neith- er realistic nor desirable. ”The moment we take away from the Provinces or, in some instances, from the municipality, some responsibility in the matter of social welfare," he said, "to that ex- tent I think we shall seriously prejudice the de- velopment of a system of social security in Can- ido."

Iiheat llnd Ilevaluatlon

Although devaluation of the Canadian dollar row entitles Canad-a to sell wheat, under the in‘- :ernational wheat agreement, at a maximum price of $1.98 Canadian, instead of the former $1.80, it is said to be still too early to conclude that the farmers are going to profit much from devaluation. To begin with, the maximum price will be received only if impartin-g countries in the agreement demand wheat from Canada. l>f they consider the price too high and Canada, as it is entitled to do, demands that they buy, then they may pay the minimum price, which for the present crop year will be $1.54 Canadian. Secondly, the farmers depend on much of their equipment—com- lsines, tractors, vehicles and other machines —on U. S. manufacturers. For these they may now have to pay a higher price.

For the time being, Canadian wheat grow- rrs will continue to be paid the initial price of 51.75 Canadian by the wheat board. If the wheat roard sells the grain at a profit, the extra money will be distributed in the form of participation payments. A five-year fund covering profits from the 1945-1950 wheat transactions is being built llp by the wheat board for this purpose. There- fore it will not be‘ known until next year whether the farmers profited from devaluation.

If demand remains what it is, there is ex- oected to be a large extra payment to farmers when the participation payments are distribut- ed. Under the contract with Britain, Canada is selling 140,000,000 bushels of wheat at $2 a bushel during the present crop year. Under the international wheat agreement, Canada should sell 200,000,000 bushels ta importing countries at a price that may reach $1.98, but that will not fall below $1.54. Canada's open market prifl. that is the prics to countries not signatories to the international agreement, is today $2110- N0} much of this Class III wheat, as it is called, is availa-ble for export, as contract commitments will probably take care of most of the surplus wheat Canada will have this year from its 390,- 000,000 bushels. But even though wheat sold _by long-term contract is fetching a lower price than open market wheat, the contracts are a farm of insurance against a sudden, disastrous

lull in prices. __________ Franco Taolilss Food Prolrloni

Tho French government has made a decision, first, on a plan for storing and freezing moat in order to rsgularizo the market and second, to authorize imparts of agricultural and indus- trial products to retard tho rise in pricss or es- tablish a floor. The Ministry of Agriculture has supplied some details of this programme. Meat- lniflqlly, IQGD tons of boof will bo frozen and rod. This will lro carriod out by tho National ' it Society. This Body was recently reorganiz- filming tho olocilon of a now administra- earned gt roprosontatiivss‘: ONT"?

-. lntlonaparty all. l ~ _ lo for purchase and hand- sgh“ "dorwrits tho programme. ioeloly will not snloy a monopoly. jflllillll ass iindortalio ti‘)! 17M

THE GUARDIAN. Cl-[ARLOTTETOWN l Addod lnpotss

of‘ storage, but at their own risk. Milk Products— The government, confirming decisions already reached, will undertake immediately the import- ing of butter and cheese as anticipated in exist-

land; 4290 tans of buter from Denmark; 4,000 tons of cheese from Holland; and 800 tons of Gruyere from Switzerland. A programme for milk stocking will be undertaken by the administra- tion with the approval of the milk association to stabilize the market at a fixed price level which will correspond to the price guarantee giv- en to milk producers. Vegetables — Imports of fresh and dried vegetables will be authorized. The Official Gazette recently announced a quota for 1000 tons of vegetables from Denmark (car- rots and onions). When necessary imports of po- tatoes will be authorized.

EDITORIAL NOTES

,___

The Potato Festival has once more proved a success, something to be appreciated by all Spud Islanders at home and abroad.

O O I Governor Robinson arrived here this date 1870, the last British Colonial appointment which continued till the Island entered Confederation in I873. I I I "Pigs is pigs" and "Eggs is Eggs" here these days, not to mention "spuds" being potatoes, all flourishing and proving remunerative to the grow- ers, as shown in the various official reports. I i I The remarkable success of our tourist at- tractions was attained while prices here were frequently higher than in the United States. With the advantage of a premium on American funds next year should show even better results. I O O It is reported that an extraordinary number of overseas visitors to Scotland have succumbed to the lure of the bagpipes. New York among other cities will soon be the owner of 4O new sets and Australia will have Z0. I O

Canadian merchant shipping has suffered competitively by the devaluation of the sterling block currencies, but the complaints of shipown- ers seems exaggerated considering that at the some time they have acquired an advantage over American bottoms.

.-

The Defence Cbm-riiittee and the Military Committee of the North Atlantic Pact countries have been meeting in Washington with the great- est cooperativeriess. l~f the U. N. only had some outside danger to threaten it, perhaps unity would come there too.

O i

Deserters should, of course, be punished but the fact that as long ago as August, I946, Can- ada granted amnesty to those who deserted in this country makes it high time that the some generosity should be shown to those who gal overseas before deseiting. ‘I

Television, when it comes, will not be an un- mixed blessing .The N. B. C. is suing over certain unauthorized televising of Mack Sennett com-e- dies. lf these are being used as programmes riow, it gives one pause to think what will be used as

fillers later. O I O

Britain's purchases of Canadian tflbflflfli were cut almost in half in 1948 compared to I947, but she has indicated that the quantity to be purchased this year will be "somewhat larger than in 1948," Charles D. Coyle (PC—Elg"1l. W05 101d in the House of Commons. The 1948 tobacco ex- ports to the U. K. were worth $5.33°.°°°-

O O O

The Temperance Federation seems divided between those who want the Government to do their work, and those who believe merely in let- ting Georg-e do it." The Prohibition Act having b-een to all intent-s and purposes scrapped, the Government loo-k to the Temperance forces_to inculcate temperance principles and to bring up the young in the way they should go.

or n n

Researchers are seeking ways of economiz- ing on the transmission of redundant elements in speech, writing, radio and television. For III- stance, "h" can be mathematically predicted to follow "t" in a number of cases and in vidfl. The background is unchanged for varying PFHOdS Md for that time redundant. Old time editors had an expression for the principle. It COIIIICIIKIEd with "when a man bites a dog it is new!-

O I O

‘Edgar Allan Poe, American _paet_ and prose- writer, died from wounds in a Virginian election riat, this dots 1349- HI‘ 1"" 11'1"" 9°91? 9',‘ "The Raven," "The Bells", ”Annabel Leo ; his prose tales include The 3106* C". The 5°“ 3'49. The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The M054” of the Red Death, William Nelson, a, double par- sonality prefiguring R. L. Stevensons lellYl ""4

Hyde.

The study of classics and mathematics is in- creasingly neglected in Canadian "schools load this represents "a very serious loss, Prof. a ll Hughes, Macdonald ‘Professor of Education and chairman of the Department of Education at McGill University declares. Hs_said that I'll! study of classics and mathematics should bo r:- tained [or all children talented enough to)" ll’ by "mm "Ngbgdy can disputetlyeir value in the development of tho gifted puPll. IIQ fWI- 7'91; Hughes applauded schools fonprovtng spocio training for non-academic pupils. T non-loca- dQMiC pupil, he said, had been neglected too orig and his needs overlooked "to his own loss onil that of the nation." He warned however pgsllrist providing for the average child and overoo "l! tho bright child. "Hero is potential leadership contribution" ho said. "ln our concern for tho average pupil lot us not overlook tho s\lP"""°""“l child. The live-talent youngster is an invaluable asset to Canada and we must not forgot him Ill our concern for ths average or sub-normtrl typo- Lot us not abolish the tough and exacting dis-

ciplinos from our schema of study."

ing agreements: 9,200 tons of butter from Hol~"

I 74c fiiezdéwn

Til-I ROAD

Because our Ilves are cowardly and sly, Because we do not dare to take or

B ¢. Because we scowl and pass esch

other by, We do not IIve; we do not dare to live.

We dive. each man. Info his secret ouse.

And bolt the door. and Ilsten In af- fright,

Each timid man beside s tImId

spouse, Wllh tl-mld children huddled out 0f sight.

Kissing In secret, fighting secretly! We crawl and hide like venrnln In a. hole,

Under the bravery of sun and sky. Ws flash our meannesses of face and soul.

Lot u: go out and walk upon the road.

And quit. for evermore the brick- bullt den,

AM lock and key, the hidden. sly abode

That separates us from our low-men.

fel-

And by contagion of the sun we may

Catch at. a spark from that prlme-

vml fire.

And learn that we are better than

our clay,

And eqiual to the peaks of our die- s re.

—James Stephens

Old Charlottetown (And r. a. r.)

i-

aliid

STRANGE PORTEN TS

“The following singular fact has been communicated to us on such Hllihorily ns leaves us no doubt of its awurarv- A Eoose which IIIICI Previously lald about fifty eggs this season, Iairl a few days ago four eggs In one day,—a circum. stance we believe unprecedented In ornlthology. A person of good character Whose house ls wlthln a mile of Charlotte-Town, to whom the goose belongs. has left his mime at this office and Is pre- pared tn vouch for the truth of this statement. , , .

"For a Bear to have more than two cubs at a time is, we believe. of rare occurrence; be that, ns it may. a Bear with three young ones was seen at Truciidle Port- age on Tuesday last, and all shot. In the course of the some day "W? were brought to town In a cart, for the purpose of obtaining the reward offered by the Legis- lature for the destruction of these animals."

~Prince Edward Island Regis- ter, June 10, 1825,

Sir Stafford Cripps On Revaluation

(United Kingdom Information fflce)

Sir Stafford Crlpps, Chancellor of the Excheqquer, said In the United Kingdom House of Gom- mons on September 27th "II: wIII be necessary, no doubt, to divert goods from other markets, home and export, In order to Increase sales In the dollar markets, There should be no hesitation In doing this. Dollar eamlng must have first. call on our resources for the present even If It. means disappoint- ing some of our older customers. There Is an urgent need for quick action If we are to establish new markets or expand old ones whIIe the going Is at Its best".

He opened by stressing the ser- iousness of lowering the exchange rote of the pound sterling, and said “we must make II: abundantly clear that what we all do now Is of supreme Importance, and will determine whether the alteration of the exchange rat/e Is s futile dangerous gesture, or the hopeful begInnIng of o. new era of stabil- Ity for sterling, during which we can gradually reach equilibrium In trade between the dollar nnd ster- 'IIng areas".

He pointed out that. the aenlals In July, of an Impending change were justIfIed, but that. by August. 19th when ho returned to Enjfand It was obvious that. the adverse tendency noticeable earlier In the year was persisting. His Majesty's

woo communicated to their USA. and Canadian colleagues by CrIpps and Bevin on arrival In Washington, but the actual figure was not disclosed untII Septem- ber 14th.

‘”The Government have been un- der no Illusion as to the gravity of the decision, nor did they under- estimate the affect It would have upon the IIfo and livelihood of the people at many points. We appre-

every other national

er national economy

smrnents." O O

gold and dollar reserves, prices In sales, an attack

summer - on t.ho

market for "ohonp sterling", th

Intndollsrnssnrslost

Government's Intention to devalue

elated also that It was bound to have an Impact upon practically economy throughout. tho world. It was an Impact upon practically avcry oth- throughout the world. It was because of thIri that. we gavo prior notice an that Friday to all Commonwealth Cov-

Ths avanis leading to revalua- tlon were s rapid diminution of falling America and Canada leading to felling sterling area launched in the spring and developed In the sterling ox- ehnngo rote, which caused a fall- Ing of! of business. and a progres- slvo Inoronso In the volume of overseas transactions‘ In the block b! w ch some goods originating In lllfllflfl arcs and In domand In North America, wars usod" as the moans of converting starting

sin-Jasm-

considerably below the rate.

"It was after reviewing all these points and many others, Including the effect upon our own standards of living, that we came to the conclusion that. the developing sit- nation demanded a change of pal- Icy and, once we were convinced of the necessity, we did not hes- itate to change our policy and ct. In a sense contrary to that. nnounced In July".

A floating rate for the pound was not. adopted because, “owing to the pre-eminent position of the pound sterling, It. Is neces- sary that. It should set. an exam- ple of stability so as to provide a. firm anchorage for a, large num- ber of nan-dollar currencies, A floating rate would have conse- quences for our whole economy and social structure quite Impos- sIbIe to contemplate."

To provide _a substantial Incen- tive for exporters and to convince the world that revaluation was a,

official

B B

made from dollar raw materials. "The alteration of the exchange rate Is part of a deliberate policy in substitution for the alternative policy 0f severe deflation. 1t Is, therefore, of critical Importance that nothing should be done to In- crease personal Incomes arising out 01 profits, wages, or salaries". There must. be no Inflation, either from demand for Increased wages or from the rIImInutIon of the volume of goods In the home market. caused by Increased ex- ports. "We must IImIt our Inter- nal expenditure, and not allow cur desire to have more than we can afford to endanger our present standards, as It. wIII do unless we reduce the Inflationary pressure".

The Investment. programme must be reviewed, as must Government. expenditure, and Industrial prod- uctIvIty must be Increased. "I have spoken of two sets of tasks before Industry and the nation _ an In. crease of productivity and of dol- Iar exports, and restraint as to

lInaI and completed operatlon and not. a, tentative first. step, It. was necessary to go >011 below the 3 dollar rate - to 2 dollars 80 cents to the pound.

The Washington talks, which upheld the essential value of the sterling area, and underlined the urgent need for the creditor na- tions to make it possible for the debtor notions to earn by export- ing, were an unqualified success.

Sir Stafford Crlpps outlined Britain's efforts to achieve a sta- ble balance of overseas payments; slnce the war “our total increase In volume of exports, and the pfO~ portion of Imports for which they paid, were In advance of any oth- er European country, as was the proportion of dollar Imports paid for by dollar exports".

"I now burn to what. Is the most Important part of what. I have to put before the House and the country - the steps whlch we must now take to preserve the ef- fectiveness of the change of the exchange rote, and aerlve full bene- fIl; from It. We should not. fIInch from the necessary economic re- stralts Imposed upon us. We must make a. success of It now, for faII- ure would Land us In that. very mass unemployment. and low stan- dards of IIvIrrg which we are ae- termIned to avoid". "Our first need Is to our competitive position In the North American market, and to Introduce Into that market. IInes of goods we have never sold bhcre before. The change In the dollar rate has suddenly opened Immense possibilities there for many thous- ands or manufacturers, as well as to esbabltshod exporters to those markets". Proflts would not. be too small nor risks too great, and "we must put-aside old fears and doubts as to the market, whIch are a survival from the days of very high tariffs". changes In taste In North America since the war, and movements of popuIatIon, op- cnea possIbIIIes for new lInsa, and salesmen should develop rnprkets aggressively. The market would have to ba_atudlod intensively by all exporters since "Americans and Canadians do not buy goods. goods have to be sold to them against very keenast selling competition."

O O O

Improve

"The primary objective of our policy Is to earn the maximum number o! dollars possible. We should, therefore, maintain the dollar prices of our goods wher- ever possible, though we must, of course, take account. of our desire for friendly market relations and the value of lasting goodwill. In some cases, whore tho volume of supplies Is already a limiting prion In others. o. moder- nto lowering» may give us the expansion of sales Jro neod, whIIa In yet other assoc, the MAXIMUM reduction possible In tho price may be necessary. What f have said about. United xlnsdom smarts so- pIIss, of course, wIth equal force to exports to tho dollar countries from other part4 ot tho sterling area. Those are equally vital to the future health and strsnflh of tho sterling arcs _sl a whole, and to each member of It. Dollar economy Is of course as essential as over. We must all do tho utmost to save wants of, or to do without, raw mater-Isis that cost dollars".