PAGE FOUk THE GUARDIAN

Morning uuiiy (Fnlllldlll la M87) author-mu n Iita-ulill u». u-ii, Paul Ollie: Urpnrtniena, Ottawa.

Thu Inland tiuarlllaia ltubltiihlnfl CO. llltur and Managing Dirac-tor. J. ti. Burnett Aaaorlata Editor. Frank Wallet.

,'Tho Strongest Memory is Weaker Thal the Weakest ink."-

cunanorrurown, MONDAY, Jfiu‘ 2s, 194a The Transportation Hearings

Prince Edward lsland extends a cordial wel- come to the distinguished members of the Royal Commission on Transportation, which opens its hearings in Charlottetown this morning. The Commissioners are already appraised of the na- lure of the representations which will be made, and much of the ground has already been cov- ered in"the brief presented by the Mflrifime Boards of Trade through their own Transpor- tation Commission manager. Nevertheless, there are special problems concerning this Province to he dealt with, and several witnesses to be heard ‘in connection with our claims for readjustment and improvement. These have been discussed on several occasions in these columns recently.

No better commentary an the Commission haarings can ba offered than the introductory itatement in the brief filed by our Provincial Government, which takes the stand, politely but firmly, that this investigation "does not relieve the Canadian Government of its direct duty to ‘ake such immediate measures as may be neces- iary to ascertain the true economic position of Prince Edward lsland in relation to transporta- tion ond to supply adequate remedial measures. Any recommendations which this Commission may be pleased to make, however favourable to this Province, and however completely im-ple- mented, will not discharge the continuing duty of Canada to rectify the inequalities and disad- vantages to which we have been subject."

At the New Brunswick hearings, the Gov- ernrment of that Province offered several recom- mendations. Among them it asked for lowered railway freight charges, broadening of the Mari- time Freight Rates Act benefits, rate revisions to encourage more traffic through Maritime ports, and construction of the Chignecto Canal. These points are also covered in the Prince Ed- ward lsland briefs, which concur with New Brunswick in asking that horizontal freight rate increases be ruled out by statute, and that the permanent Board of Transport Commissioners be given authority to consider "economic, geogra- phic and tariff factors" in its rate decisions, and also to recognize prevailing world market condi- tions. Strange that such demands should have to be made at this late date, and that Commission rulings should ever have been made without taking these elementary principles of fair treat- ment into consideration!

A New British University

Until a few days ago there were only eleven universities in England, four in Scotland and one in Wales. The new one is the University of Not- tingham. The original of this university was Not- tingham College, which was greatly helped by the late Sir Jesse Boot, head of a chain of drug itores, who made a gift of $4,000,000 for ex- tensions. His son, Lord Trent, was installed as the first Chancellor of the University. The Col- lege was opened in I877 by W. E. Gladstone, who then predicted that it would some day become a full-fledged university. There are about 2,000 students, and it is hoped that it will become completely residential, there being a magnificent "campus."

Eng-land had only five universities until the beginning of this century - Oxford, Cambridge, London, Durham and Manchester. Since I900, the universities of Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol and ‘Reading have been add- ed.

Social Security Schemes

According ta an Ottawa correspondent in the Financial Post, the first major move by the St. Laurent Government to implement its elec- tion mandate will be a direct approach to the Provinces asking for a constitutional amend- ment to validate a nation-wide system of con- tributory old-age pensions. It is expected that a move in this direction will be mad-e as soon as the Prime Minister returns from his vacation. Also, that the Provinces will b: asked individua- ly to give approval to a constitutional amend- ment giving the Dominion new powers in the field of social security. The proposed amend- ment may thus be broader than merely an au- thority to administer a fc:leral old-age pension program. lt is believed that all but Quebec are axpected to react favorably. What Premier Du- plessis will do is uncertain. The proposal for this amendment will most likely be accompanied by another request: Permission to amend the Constitution so as to strengthen the dual lan- guage guarantee .of Section I33 of the British North America Act.

Assuming that all ten Provinces give con- sant to a constitutional amendment on social security, the next big question to arise will be: What kind of old age plan? On this point, says the Post correspondent, there is for from unani- mgu; agreement among the Government and its advisers. lt is recalled that in the ill-fated pro- posals submitted by Ottawa at the i945 Domin- ion-Provincial conference, the Government at that iima suggested an all-out non-contributory “hm; payable as a matter of right to all Can- adians at 70. In addition, there were to ba non- contributory pensions subject to means test for also“ batvlaen 65 and 70. These would be simi- lar injtypa to tha present joint Federal-Pra- mgigl yogram which is supported 75 per cent by Fadavai fund: on o minimum $30,-a-month h“; The present estimated cost of implement- “u-gm; ropoaals would be $200 to $225 mil- flug for Ibo iltiorial schema, plus 32S millions j] aha Fulfill Govarnmant’: ihara of joint pro- . , " "I that thara ara graat difficulties

a univaraal "contributory" schama a. ha racaiiraa ta tha highly aa-

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popular "poll tax." Also, it is argued that a con- tributory system tends to clash and overlap with the extensive individual pension arrangements in Canadian industry and business. These plans now cover an estimated 630,000 employees — about one third of the total payroll of report- ing companies. This is exclusive of educational, public administration and privately owned in- stitutional schemes.

It is argued therefore in some quarters that there is much to be said for the Government as- suming a blanket obligation to pay pensions to everyone at 70 as a matter of right and continue to encourage individual contributory schemes by private individuals and corporations outside this basic plan. The great objection to this is the heavy obligation which would fall on the Fed- eral treasury. This would be especially true if political parties continue to outbid each other- and they probably will—-to increase pension rates.

JEDITURIAL NOTEsi Feast of Sf. James. ‘

The Royal Commission on Transportation in

action.

i a u e

We are advised there has been an increase of l0 per cent in the Maritime tourist traffic in June compared with last year. Of which we had our full share. »_~

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While the Federal Liberal party has select- ad a French Canadian, Hon. Mr. St. Laurent as leader, the Quebec Liberals have returned the compliment by selecting an English Canadian, Mr. Marler as provincial leader.

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Churchill in his Saturday speech on the British Conservative Party's policy‘ combined the realism which recognizes that the omelette of nationalization cannot be unscrambled, with a call for united action by Commonwealth coun- tries which will evoke response in all parties.

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This is midwinter down south, and twelve inches of snow, the heaviest fall for 20 years, covered Canberra, Australia's capitol on 19th. inst. The weather bureau issued warnings of more and heavier falls of snow in southern New South Wales, which is having an unusually cold winter

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Production in United Kingdom industry and agriculture is now Z5 per cent above the prewar level according to official figures recently. This remarkable rise in output is due not to longer working hours —- the average working week is indeed some one and one half hours shorter than in I939 — but to a sharp decline in unemploy- ment and above all to IIICFsOSGO productivity.

A museum collection that is very much out of ordinary is being assembled in London at the Imperial War Museum. lt is made up of news- papers, magazines and wall news sheeti; produc- ed by soldiers all over the world in both world wars. It is the only collection of its kind. The thousands of exhibits already assembled include handwritten sheets issued each day in German prison camps and secret journals distributed by members of resistance movements at the risk of their lives. They give a vivid Impressjgn of fire drama, humour, ‘boredom and indomitable cour- age of_ soldiers in all phases and conditions of warfare.

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New devices specially designed to detect the presence of harmful rays following the ex- plosion of atom-ic bombs were demonstrated in Britain recently. They were shown at the Open. ing of the Government civil defence training school. The latest defence measures against atomic warfare are being taught at this college to men and women from all parts of Britain. After completing their training they will act as anucleus of instructors for recruits to Britain's Civil Defence Corps. Instruction is based on the lessons learned from the scientific study of atomic warfare and a close liaison is maintained between the _callege and the national atomic re- search station.

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An excellent special edition of the St. John's, Newfoundland, Evening Telegram has made ir; "Ppeflfflfl". fifliifflifliu much information about the history of Canada's tenth Province, as well as of its present conditions and future prospects. The issue was scheduled to appear on June 30, to coincide with Newfcundland's first celebration of DominiorvDay, but was delayed. Featured in ihe publication is a message of greeting from Hon. J. Walter Jones, in which he states that it is his ambition, as Premier of Prince Edward lsland, to foster a two-way trade with Newfound- land to the fullest possible extent.

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Tho Earl of Balfour (better known as Prime Minister J. A. Balfour) born this date I848. He was one of the Cecils and a nephew of Lord S°ll5b"'Y Wlwm he succeeded as Prime Minis- ter. He won his political spurs as Secretary for Ireland, and handled with an iron hand the rioters and rebellious Southern Irish partisans who made things warm for the British rulers in those days. Mr. Balfour was a politician Mr. Mackenzie King admired and he followed close- iy the tactics Balfour adopted._Wherv the Home Rule split in the Liberal Party occurred bringing about a coalition of Liberals and Conservatives as Unionists, Balfour quietly kept in the back. ground as a Conservative; when the Conservative party was split in two by Tariff Reform, Balfour again remained steadfast to the Party principles refusing to endorse the new policy as dangerous to the unity of the Party as a whole; again, when a coalition of Liberal, Labour and Conserva- tives was forrned to carry on World War I, he refused the Premiership, lest the identity or‘ the Conservatives would be lost in the amalgamation. The Party first, foremost, and all the time was his motto. it was on this principle that Macken- zie King during the last war when urgad to form a coalition with the Conservatives declared: "l favour a coalition, but it must ba a coalition of Liberals. l don't want a collaa ua in my government to stab nia in a back." a- liaiaaaat at vrbat laaar Lav’ did to Aaauitb.

THE GUARDIAN. CHARLOTTETOWN

Zésu-fi;

FROM "FRAGMENTS"

In some green island of lhe sea.

Where now the shadowy coral grows,

ln pride and pomp nncl empery

The courts of old Atlantis rose.

In many a glass The Atlanteans wantleced there: The paleness of their faces was Like ivory. so pale obey were.

gilt faring house ol

And hushed they were, no noise of words

ln those bright cities ever rang;

Only their thoughts. like golden

birds About their chambers thrilled and sang. They knew all wisdom. for they knew The souls of those Egyptian kings Wlho learned, in ancient Babllu. The beauty of immortal things.

They knew all beauty -— when they thought,

The air chimed like a stricken lyre;

The elemental birds were wrought,

The golden birds became a. fire.

Ancl straight to busy camps and mZiTIS The singing flames were swiftly

gone;

The irembling leaves of human hearts Hid boughs upon.

for them to perch

And men Ln desert places. men Abandoned. broken, sick with fears. Rose singing, swung their swords

again. And laughed and died among the spears.

The green and greedy seas have drowned '

Thai city's glittering walls and” towers.

Herr sunken minarets are crowned With red and russet water-flowers.

In towers and rooms and golden courts The shadowy ooriil lifts hei-

sprays: The scrawl hath gorged her broken

arts, The shark doth haunt hei- hidden ways.

But, at. the falling of the tide, The golden birds still sing and gleam;

‘Iibe Aiianieans have not died, Immortal thing's still give us dream.

The dream that fixes man's hearts to make,

To builil, to do, to sing or say

A beauty Death can never take, An Adam from the crumbled clay.

-John Masefield.

LOW B Old Charlottetown ‘And r. n. n

COLONIAL POSTAL SYSTCM

The manner in which our Coi- oninl postal system operated a Pen- lury ago is thus described in a letter by Thomas Owen, Charlotte- town postmaster, in the Hon. T. H. Havlland, Oct. 12, 1847:

"The number of inland post of-

fices in the Colony are twenty- seven. To six of these mails are forwarded from the post office, Charlottetown, and receive, twice each week; and ta and from the others once a week. The rates of postage, and general instructions, are the same as those of Nova Scoiia, except that a uniform charge for inland P051886 0f (WW KIOIICE, CUITEIIC)’. PEI‘ T818, I18! been demanded upon the local cor- respondence of the Colony, with an addition of two-pence per rate upon iiII Colonial and American letters forwarded from the general post office, Charlottetown. into the in- tcrior: and the same inland charge has also been paid upon all letters forwarded from the country offices to Charlottetown, for transmission in ilc-r Majesty's Colonies in North America, rind the United States. "The whole proceeds of postage. British. Colonial and domestic. after paying the respective post- masters and wav-office keepers their commission, and some other charges for assistance in the zen- ornl post office, Charlottetown, of- fice rent, and oihr-r expenses, have been paid into the Colonial trea- sury towards disbursing the amount for ihe conveyance of the mnils in the Colony, for steam and winter communication with the mails be- tween this Island and Nova Scotia nnri New Brunswick. "The whole proceeds of ihe posi- nge heretofore received have fal- len short of the amount paid by the Colony for the mall service.

"The persons conducting the nos! offices In this Colony "e paid by commission upon ihe oath!!! l1" celved by them:'and a reduction of the Colonial rates of pOlllEe ‘B! proposed by the Legislature) will materially reduce their income, and at ihe same time very-much in- crease the duties to be Plfmrfmd- from the additional uuafGlp0fld9flcF which it. is expected will reault from n reduced charge of postme- If such would be the case. salar- ies will have to be provided. 0|‘ competent persons will not be ab- tained to do the duty."

The gi-oirisiory y

Bleaml la he vvhoaa aloa la forgiven. whaaa Ila la aav- ererl. Ilaaaad i: the man unto whom the Lard lmplteth not iri- iqalty. no ll waaaa aplrit than i: no (Ilia.

A wasp can sling reveral times

Toiiay: Tho ilorseless Carriage Anil lloiihin

THOUGH THE SLGEK LINES OF THE NEW CARS

ARE ADMIRED AT LENGTH HERE ON THE ISLAND, HORSEFLESH STILL HOLDS A SPOT HIGH IN OUR ESTIMATION -

as. i.'s "senator- KINGS’ is FAMOUS can mo WIDE.

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y‘ Notes From

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Yr

Another lsland

By "Anson"

LONDON, Engiandz-The year 1066 ls one date in English history that nearly every school child re members easily enough, claiming that it was then that the last successful overseas invasion of England took place. when William the Conqueror landed--and stay- ed

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Well, mast people agree that was the last. time. lf you accept the dictionary definition of an invas- ion as "a hostile attack upon or entrance into the territory of oth- ers." But the word is often used these clays to describe any sort of fairly large scale entrance into people's territory, whether ii is hostile or not. And that being so. we can say that there is a pretty big invasion of Etngland going on right now, for the “tourist season" is in full swing.

Until Hitler's war began, I don't think we seemed to bother very much about attracting tourists. We had our visitors from overseas, of course. Lots of them, and quzic a large proportion of them came from the United States. In gihose days, I remember, it used to be quite a popular subject for car- toonlsis to portray Americans rushing madly through England, looking over Westminster Abbey in about three minutes, the Houses of Parliament in five, and per- haps Shakespeare's birthplace Ill foriy seconds! I suppose we were a bit smug about it—feellng a sort of pride that each and all of iliese places deserved days of close in- spection rather than the short time that our visitors were able to spend on them. Actually, we should have felt flattered that. they found so many things that they wished to see that they had to get around pretty quickly ia fli ihem all 1n the time at their disposal. Nowadays, we are making much more of an effort to attract tour- ists, especially from the States. We make no bones about it, we have to be mercenary-it's their dollars we are after, and our country, with the historic bulld- tngs on it, has proved to be one of the nation's best "exports."

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But in splie of all the urgent need to give the visitor from over- sees as good a time as we can, to make him as comfortable as pcs- sible so that he'll come again and bring some friends. we still have a tendency io lei him find us as we are; as ever, we seem to be re- luctant to make much of a song about ourselves once ihe visitor is here, and the result is that. he often finds that. ihe sort of service he ought to expect as a paying guest. is sadly lacking.

However, the jokes about Eng- lish plumbing. our soild disinclin- nlion to g0 in for Central heritini ice-boxes anti fancy food. and our apparent inability io make good coffee, are so well-known that por- haps tourists would be disappoint- ed if they got here and found that. we bad improved so much that all these jokes had last their point‘ Anyway, overseas visitors do get a few concessions; they can get extra gasoline for car touring, for instance. Arid there are many art- icles of "export only“ quality-the best-which oor John Bull rare- ly sees, but. hich any tourist can get. and fre of Purchase Tax at that. It's hardly surprising that many a hardworking Englishman thinks of emigrating to America. just. so he can come back an n tourist and get. all ihe things he can't gel a: long as be lives in England!

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Well, our adventure with un- rationed candies didn't. last. long after nil. Because too many people svere getting ioo many sweets. leaving other folk with none iii. ail-because there wasn't enough to go round for everybody-candy ix back op the ration agrn as from next month. Then we'll all net four ounces each, per Week. Not a thing more. not a thine ieu. Whether or not. you think the return to rationing is a rrood thing depends on your poli- tic: na much as your appetite for sweet:

There's one thing_we won't have to be quite so nice to the girl in the candy store now. . ..

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MIDBURY. Daribyahlre. England iCPl-Of 170 men aervim senten- cos in ihe izarlasn prison here. n

in rapid succession and live. A lac. XVII ‘III- Qllll k

offered blood transfusion to: ho:- Ila: an

Soldiers Needed

(St. Catharines Standard)

If recent British Army demon- strations are an Indication, the in- fantry still reigns as "queen 0f the battlefield."

Britain's better military brains- the atomic bomb notwithstanding —are working hard at devising better means of supporting the foot-soldier.

They have perfected way: of throwing long-range bomber alr- craft into close support of the in- fantryman, have reached almost pinpoint. control in radar-guided high-level bombing, and have in- troduced new use: for radar in the battlefield.

Rocket projectiles carried unrler the bombers were brought into dir- ect support of ground troops on a recent exorcise.

The rockets easily disposed of heavily-fortified positions obstruct- ing the lnfantrymank progress and the aircraft then returned ta base.

Another force of bombers, fly- ing above clouds at 14.000 feet. dropped bombs on targets the crew couldn't see and obtained hits within 100 yards of the pinpoint.

They were given courses and bombing instructions by control officers urntching tl radar screen 25 miles from the operation.

Rfldflfufll§0 has bven developed to observe the fall of our own artil- lery fire, ris well as ranging, to de- tect enemy mortar bombs in flight and locate them, and not only to tetcct enemy movements in dark- ness or fog hilt to observe fire upon ii.

Although anti-aircraft radar set: were introduced in late 1944 to counter deadly German mortar bursts, Britain has so perfected this weapon that ii can detect a ZF-paunri shell burst. or a truck in motion at 30,000 yards,