'1' .. act 52-12.‘;

PAGE FOUR

THE GUARDIAN

fliirnlnl Dally (Founvleil in rim) Authorized us set-rind (inn Mull, Punt Office Iis-irnrtmi-nt, Ottnnn. The lstniiil (lunrillisii Publishing Po. Editor nnii Managing Diri-i-tiir, J. It. liurnett. Anson-into Eilltur, l-‘risrils Wtlllsor.

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest Ink"

CHARLOTTETOWN. THURSDAY. OCT. 1S, 1M9

The Means Test

There appears to be pretty general agreement at Ottawa that removal of the means test in the payment of old age pensions would be a desirable thing. The difficulty is one of cost. lf it can be solved by a scheme of contributory payments it might conceivably go through at an early date, but hardly otherwise. At present only some 43 per cent. of all persons 70 years of age or over in Canada are receiving old age pensions under the means test. This test limits total income, includ- ing the $480 pension, of an unmarried person to $600 a year; a married person with a sighted spouse to $l,080 a year, or two married persons each receiving a pension combined at $960 also to SL080 a year; and a married perscn with a blind spouse to $l,200 a yoar.

Federal census figures as of i949 estimated the total number of persons in Can::.la seventy years old and over at 581,900 in the nine Provin- ces plus about l3,000 in Newfoundland and the Yukon, a total of 594,900. lf each were receiving the pension of $40 per month or $480 per year, the total cost for the Federal and Provincial Governments would be $285,552,000.

ln the fiscal year ending March 3l, l949, the total number of old age pensioners in Can- ada was 25l,865. The total Federal payment they received were $64,232,2l0; but since the Federal payments are only 75 per cent. or three-quarters of the total, the nine Provinces paid another $16,058,052 bringing the last fiscal year total to $80,290,262.

For the first quarter of the new fiscal year, April, May and June, i949, however, the total number of pensioners increased to 257,485, on increase of 5,620. That was largely due to the entry of Newfoundland into Confederation and inclusion of the Yukon. More important still, the maximum of the old age pensions was raised from $30 to $40 a month, an increase of $l0 per qualified pensioner. All nine Provinces have agreed to pay their 25 per cent. share of the increase. Newfoundland remains on the $30 a month base. =It is fair to estimate that this 30 per cent. jump in the pension monthly payment maximums add probably another $20,000,000 annually to the S80,000,00 bill, or Sl00,000,000 a year figured on the number of pensioners os 25l,865 for last fis- cal year. But the number itself has already risen in the first quarter by 5,620 and Newfoundland has scarcely begun the task of classifying all its old age pensioners.

With removal of the means test old age pen- sions would begin to run family allowances a very close race. For the fiscal year 1948-49 ending March 31, last, family allowances cost the tax- payers of Canada $27l,307,704 as against the previous fiscal year cost of $264,073,28l. And for the first quarter of this fiscal year, i949, Ap- ril, May and June, the family allowances cost rose to $73,080,726 compared to $67,028,688 for the comparative quarter of the preceding fiscal year.

The percentage of old age pensioners to the total number of persons over 70 years of age in each of the nine provinces is as follows: Alberta 45.2 per cent., British Columbia, 41.54. Manitoba, 46.16. New Brunswick, 68.50. Nova Scotia, 54.26; Ontario, 34.26; P.E.l., 43.35. Quebec, 50.96. Saskatchewan, 45.89. Northwest Territories,

10.93.

Favourable Events

‘Not all of the events affecting world trade in the last year were of an unfavorable charac- ter, says Monthly Letter of the Canadian Bank of Commerce. World trade as a whole has in- creased to the point where it is close to the pre- war level, partly because of the progress made in the restoration of Western European agricul- tural and industrial production, a progress, in lact, more rapid than after the first World War. With few exceptions (Germany is the most hot- able) industry in Western Europe is slightly more active than before the last Great War, while the output per man in industry has also risen (it was 9 per cent. higher in i948 than in the preceding yearl and in some cases is above the pre-war average. Certain European countries have developed measures to liberalize trade be- tween them. Thus tho Scandinavian and Benelux (Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg) groups are well advanced in projects of customs unions, and early this year France and ltaly agreed'to the abolition of tariffs within one year and to an economic union within six years. ln July the Organization for European Co-operation, operat- ing under the aegis of the European Recovery Programme, announced that its member coun- tries had pledged themselves to attempt to abandon or modify import licensing measures. Improvement is also to be noted in the general ‘European financial system, particularly in meas- ures taken to check inflation and in the balancing of Britain's budget. The renewal of the Recipro- cal Trade Act by the United States Congress, which permits the President to make new trade treaties on his own authority, should also be re- garded as a helpful development. Most important of all, however, are the co-operative efforts by tho throe leading nations in international com- morco, Britain, the United States and Canada, in Washington to devise measures not only to ease tho storling area's immediate problems, but also to plan to stimulate trade betwoon them _and so strengthen tho ontiro world economic system. Thoso progressive developments point tho way ti) astlll grootor task, namely, tho reconstruc- tian of world trade on a multilateral and com- mercial oxchango basis. This task can hardly be ~ oniplishod in a short time or by temporary

Witt-an. ___-

EDITORIAL NOTES

City Hospital Bazaar. I I Q fire Prevention Week. .. . . The City Council is walking warily regard- ing auto meters. The delay of a yea_r will not matter much now that we are already behind the times anyway. - It may be supposed the appointment of a new City Chief of Police will be delayed till the proposed new civic pension scheme goes into ef- fect. I I I Japanese have offered to build ships for Britain at prices well below those possible for shipbuilders in the United Kingdom. This is where we came in. I i I A new non-technical man as President of the C.N.R. has roused some opposition, but sure- ly the most technical thing about a railway is its finances, and Mr. Gordon rs more than usually competent to handle these. i: s . The ruggedness of the human body has long astonished doctors. The numerous drugs and medicines available today would be largely un- necessary if mankind realized the oxtont of that toughness. ' I I I The unsuccessful try of an Ontario taxpayer to treat himself and his wife as two single persons, cach with dependents, indicates the existence of a flaw in the Income Tax structure. To be penal- ized only for being rtrarried seems absurd.

U I Drake's defeat of the‘ Spanish Armade is explained at last. A Soviet professor writes that, "The English ships were made of Russian wood, they sailed under Russian sails, with Russian ropes and were painted with Russian tar." But what of the tars. I I I The fate of the S. S. Noronic has brought a demand for the use of fire-resistant paints in passenger ships. There may be good reasons why that is not practical, but if it.is, there would be even greater saving of life and property by us- ing such paints generally.

ln London toys made of celluloid have been condemned as "death toys" by delegates at a conference of British firemen. They passed a resolution urging that it was absolutely necessary to abolish this type of toy whose basic content is said to be similar toigun cotton.

I I

England is up against oyster trouble bs well as Canada and U. S. A. ln a laboratory at Burn- ham-On-Crouch scientists from the ministry of agriculture and fisheries are trying to save oyster culture in the district's once-famous beds. "There are many things that annoy an oyster," an official said. "They must have suitable beds to lie in, and even then they may be smothered in bed by a pest known as the Amerifican’, slipper limpet."

‘l’

According to Lord Webb-Johnston, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, speaking in Toronto, a national health scheme in Canada as in Britain "is coming and we might as wiell be prepared for it." This is the second such procla- mation to the medical profession within the past three months. lt was thought that the Government with its big over-all majority would forget or de- lay introduction of such a socialization project, but evidently not, or they would not consent to such pronouncements by distinguished visitors.

i’ I I

General Sir lsaac Brock, K.C.B., soldier, died this date l8l2. A native of Guernsey he entered the army at the age of sixteen, and at the early age of twenty-eight he was Lieut. Col. of the 49th. Regiment. After service in Holland and Copenhag- en he was sent with his regiment to Canada. Here he was stationed at Quebec, Niagara and York until l8l2. He was administrator of Upper Can- ada, and the heart and soul of its defence, de- feating the invaders at Qucenston Heights. Dur- ing the engagement, however, Brock fell mortal- ly wounded, and diedithefame day, Oct. l0. l8l2.

Two persons who have been prominently identified with the field of refrigeration engin- eering both in this country and in the internation- al sphere, have been announced to be the chief speakers at next Saturday's fourth annual con- vention of the New Brunswick-Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotio chapters of the Refrigera- Ho" gej-yjce Engineers’. Society. The convention sessions are to be held in the Admiral Beatty Ho- tel, Saint John next Saturday afternoon and eve- ning. The N.B.-P.E.l. chaptcr will be the host or- ganization, and its president, Mr. Sterling Bar- rett, Charlottetown, will Plflldl-

o is a

For several weeks the Pasteur Institute has been deluged with requests for information about the so-caIl-ed "long life" serum which was re- ported to have been perfected by Dr. Bardach of the staff of the Institute. An official correction, signed by the Director of the Institute, has just been published. Following is the text: "l am un- fortunately obliged to deny the fantastic and pre- mature reparts published in the French and for- eign press on the subject of the ‘long life’ serum. The Pasteur Institute has undertaken research on the antireculo-endathelial cyto-taxic serum, but this research is at present limited to labor- atory experiments."

I I I

The question of scholars doing one hour vol- untary study immediately after the close of the school day evoked considerable comment at a meeting of the Montreal Catholic School Com- mission. Proposed elimination of this hour met with opposition from Msgr. P. E. Coursol, o mom- bor of tho commission. He declared that aftor- schoal study hour should be continued becauso children could not study properly at home owing to radio, lack of space and various nolsos around homo. Sinco there were divided opinions on tho subject it was decided that a mombor of tho commission would meet with members of tho Council on Hill!!! Studios. . , _ _,;

vTHE GUARDIAN. CHARLUVFETQWN The Charlottetown Family llas ll ltrolloo

hofw,

‘FANTASIA

The happy men heads

They find their heads in heaven. As cherub heads with cherub wlrigs, And cherubhaloes even;

Out of the infinite evening lands Along the sunset sea.

1'95"": the purple field-s behind, The cherub wings beat. down the

wind

Back to the groping body and blind As the bird back to ihe tree.

that lose their

Whether the plumes be passion-red For him that truly dies

By headsmerfs blade or battle-axe. Or blue like butterflies.

For hfcn that lost. it in a lane

In April's fits and starts.

His folly ls forgiven then;

The men that. lost their hearts.

Is then not pardon for the brave

And broad release above, i Who lost their heads for liberty ; Or lost. their hearts for love?

Or ls the wise man wise indeed | Wham larger thoughts keep whole?

Who sees life equal like a chart. j Made strongito play the seiner part.

And keep his head and keep his

heart. And only lose his soul.

—G. K. Chesterton

‘l

l ' l

Old Charlottetown . (All! P. l. L)

‘-

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP

"By reference to the proper coi- umn it will be seen that the well- known tobacco manufacturing flrm f‘! HFRPY 4! Stewart have admit- ted Mr. Donald Nicholson as a partner ln the business, which will hereafter be carried on under the firm name of Hickey & Nicholson. Mr. Nicholson's many friends throughout the Province will be greatly pleased to hear of his well-, deserved promotion. For some years he has performed the duties of buslnesa manager with marked success. winning the respect and confidence of his employer and the‘ public generally. The senior part- ner ls certainly to be congratu- lated on the wise step he his! ta- ken. Mr, Hickey started on Tues- day for the Southern States, to select new tobacco leaf for the season's trade. Last year the flrmi turned out 182.000 lbs. of tobacco. which plainly indicates the popu- larity of their brands. We are told that Island lovers of the weed in, far away lands frequently ask of new arrivals from home if they, have any of ‘I-Ilckcy's Twist‘ with them.“

--Island Guardian, May 9, 1890.

The ZMare Nostrum" Of A New World

IBy Albert Mousset) _

If the Atlantic Pact. appears b0- day as a defensive measure and thus a passing expediency, it nonetheless fore-shadows a new durable form of international solidarity in which the Ocean will play the part which ivas that of the Mediterranean in the Roman world,

Until the fifteenth century. the Atlantic prevented any mental or physical communication between the groups of human beings established on its opposite shores.‘ It was a barrier which could not be crossed in spite of Scandinavian ralds_on Greenland and Labrador 1n the Middle Ages.

Christopher Jolumbus changed the whole situation: instead of dividing the world into two planets which are strangers to one another, the ocean has become the great. path for the migration of modern times. Asia had colonized Europe; Europe was to colonize America.

But- scarcely was this route open when those who charted the seas. at that time Spain and Portugal, quarrelled aver the supremacy of the ocean. It. was the Pope who settled this rivalry: his intervention was occasioned by prospects of evangellzatlon and a desire to avoid a conflict between the two Iberian monarchles. At the request of Ferdinand the Catholic. the Pope Alexander VI, who was is Spaniard, effected the division of the world in the simplest possible way by making B stroke of his pen over the globe from one pole to the other. But. ln the face of the pro- tests of Jean I1 of Portugal. it, became necessary to find another arrangement. This took the form of the Ztllspano-Portugueco Treoty of Tordesliliss, which, moving tho line of demarcation 310 leagues to the west. o1 Cape Verde and the Azores, gave the Lusltanions pos- session of Brazil.

The Pope Julius 11 ratified this treaty but. the i-ioly ‘See refrained from recalling its text when new colonizing powers, France, England and the Low Countries entered the scene.

Indeed, all the developments of which the pontificsl decision con- tained the gen-n, were not. foreseen. To contemporary minds the affair appeared u a nee to roach the island from which oomo pepper, ginger, cloves and. nutmeg.

O I O

Moreover tho mop on which had been drawn tho division of tho hemispheres was brazenly fanciful. And even two centuries ago, geo- graphers’ idea of the Atlantic woo more than value. According to Morerib i’ dictionary, somo govo this nus-lo to tho sou which bathed the shoroo of Bpoin and Africa as to those vrolhing tho coast. at the Gunny Island and Oupo Verde, whilst othoro extended to the cool which scporote mirorpo

Ocean ohd the Equator boyand which lioo tho Southern Oooon or tho 80o of Ithlopto".

Tho eortoorophy of tho NOW World was no loco uncertain.

Those who negotiated the Treaty of Boris! in i700 nooordlng

But higher. and far beyond our ken.- Is the healing of the unhappy men.l

‘possible a form of

IT’ WOULD B€ CMCARAQMNG‘

l

4r 09130! suauw auagr min’ our oruis cwmes-uiuxwirv

State Farming

(Financial Post)

In two day's mail from the United States Department. of Agriculture last week no less than nine out. of l7 pieces received dealt with price and production controls.

One can well imagine what the fathers of the present. generation of American farmers would have thought of this sort of thing from their national government.

One directive dealt with the it-srketing of hazelnuts in Oregon and Washington. Another un- nounced an increase in sugar quo- tas permitted certain outside sup- pliers. Another named a new committee to control the market- ing of raisins. A fourth announc- ed the saleable and surplus per- centages fixed for prunes. The other dealt with changes in sup- ports for hog and flaxseed prices and fixed government loan values on holdings of cottonseed.

For a country which prides it- self as the world's foremost up- holder of private enterprise. this flood of orders from Washington seems strangely out of place. The fact is, of course, that American agriculture is now so hamstrung with government regulations that the individual farmer has mighty little to say about what he will or will not grow and even less of what or when he will sell.

Instead of several million farm- ers making their own decisions a handful of bureaucrats now do that for them. If they blunder as they did when they fixed certain mini- mum farm prices far above the normal cost of production or what most consumers thought they could afford to pay. then the blunders are of mammoth proportions.

In Canada. fortunately. we have not advanced so far into this fan- fastlc field as they have ln the United States; but we are heading in that direction. In one major commodity. wheat, marketing has been completely taken out of the hands of the individual grower and tri-ider and turned ova" to a government board which is highly vulnerable to political and regional pressure. At several times during the last five years the prices fixed by this board have borne no re- lationship to supplies. have actu- ally discouraged production when more was needed. And wheat ls\ not the only line where Ottawa and not the farmer dictates the price.

If Canadian farmers would like to know where this trend toward state marketing leads they should get their names put on the official mailing list of the American De- partment of Agriculture. To read all the directives. they will then

_recelve, will leave little time be- tween morning and evening chores but lt may save them from getting

to a map drawn in England by the geographer John Mitchell who had never set; foot. in America, And at the time of the emancipation of the Latin-American republics. the Spanish frontlers were so badly marked out that the delimltiitlons gave birth to interminable quarrels as to the exact. division.

But the aeroplane. which has provided geographical prospecting with on invaluable instrument, has at the some time destroyed all dimensional prejudices. It makes international cohesion in which the ocean, for from being arr-obstacle, symbolizes on tho contrary that freedom of movoment which was tho source of the greatness and prosperity of the Maritime democracies. It is thus that o mus of water covering a million square kilometers is tending to booomo on inland lake whore otter-cross the bond! of civlllziitlon which link South America and the Homonco world: ond North America and tho Anglo-Saxon world.

A aoooruphlcsl revolution and o political revolution: whilst. otrltnly obnoxoo the polar regions, the world which is the heir to Christian humanism and tho thought of tho philosophers is moving to the

it wont». At the time vrhon on ideolo-

glcol borrlor is isolating Western

from America between tho Arctiojmropo, tho barrier which ooporutiod

it: from Amos-lea is disappearing. Tho new aifspter in tho history of the world. in which the notion: of "continent" on: "hamtaphoro" ore dlsoppeorlng la opening before our eyoc. The time o! the finite

strangled in the same sort of red tape that now beolevll: their fol-- low workers in the United States.