i."

IBQEEQQR THE GUARDIAN

blorulng Dally (Founded In I581) Poet Office

luthorhrd in nor-unit Clan: Stall. Urpnrlment, Oltnwn. The Inland (lunrdlnn Puhllnlrlnl Co. “n” ‘my Ma"¢‘|n| Inna-tor. J If. Burnett- Aurwlato Edltnr. Friinl: "other,

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than ti: Weakest Ink."

FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1949

OHARLOTTETOWN ,

Potato Industry Goinmlttee

The Prince Edward Island Potato Industry Promotion Committee, the personnellof which was announced in yesterday's Guardian. [i U19 first of its kind in Canada, bu-t already a bill_has been introduced in the New Brunswick Legisla- ture to provide the machinery for a similar or- gonization in our sister Province.

In this Province the fund which the Com- mittee will administer was established original- ly as a plant disease indemnification fund. It helped to Ii-nance a ring-rot survey and other activities out of a contribution of one-half cent per hundred pounds on all potatoes, both seed and table stock, shipped from the Province. The Department of Agriculture collected the money, which was administered through . the Treasury Board. At the last session of the Legis- Iaturo this arrangement was changed; the fund was re-allocated for promotional purposes and provision was made for an administrative Com- mittee to comprise the Minister of Agriculture as chairman, three representatives of potato pro- ducers, two representatives of shippers and deal- ers, two members of the Dominion Department of Agriculture staff and one Provincial Depart- ment representative. The levy from the indus- try into the fund has been increased to one cent per 100 lbs. on all potatoes shipped. This sub- stantial revenue, which may amount to some $40,000 annually, wi-ll be expended for educa- tional and publicity purposes, for the extension of markets and the development of policies cal- culated to promote the best interests of the pa- ta-Io industry. _

Growers and shippers in the State of Maine have been operating under a similar promotional scheme, which has been productive of good re- sults. In New Brunswick, the legislation intro- duced by Agriculture Minister Taylor provides for the raising oif a fund for the some P"'P°5e by means of registration fees. The N. B. Potato Growers’ Council, on the recommendation of an Advisory Committee comprising one member of the N. B. Department of Agriculture, one mem- ber of the Dominion Department a-nd three members of the Council (two to represent the growers, one the shippers) will determine the use of the fund. The bill also provides for the setting up of disease control a-reas in which all potatoes planted shall be certified seed, arid authorizes the Government to establish regis- trotion areas.

A Panlo Decision?

Prior to an-nouncing the dissolution of Par- lioment this week Prime Minister St. Laurent told reporters on retu-rn from his trip to the ‘Pacific Coast that he had found "a general feeling that there should be an election soon." This, comments t-he Globe and Mail, is surely a very disingenuous statement for the Prime Min- ister to make. How exactly does one discover a fgeneral feeling" on such o point as this?

What Mr. St. Laurent meant, presumably, was that after looking over the West, judging audience response and talking th-ings ov-er with Liberal Party advisers, he thought soon would be a better time than later for electing Liberal candidates. To make a decision on this basis was standard tactics. The privilege of choosing elec- tion dates is normally used by our Governments with an eye on party advantage. The interesting question is how Mr. St. Laurent arrived at the opinion that his pa-rty would stand a better chance of winning in early summer than in the airtumn—-the two times between which he was likely to make a choice.

As our Toronto contemporary sees it, the chief reason fc-r an early vote, from the point of view of Liberal strategists, wqs a panic ap- prehension that they are continuing to lose ground. The Ivy-elections in Digby-Annnpolis- Kings and Nicolet-Yam-aska showed them that they had lost control in seats regarded as Lib- eral strongholds. The Quebec result, revealing a swing in the Province which has been the main- stay of the Liberal regime since 1921, was es- pecially significant. This was a serious setback and the eviden-co is that the downhill trend of Liberal prestige and popularity continues.

‘These signs may have persuaded Mr. St. Laurent and his colleagues that del-ay can only mean further losses in their vote-getting powers. At one time it was said the Quebec Liberals were anxious for an October election so that they could spend the summer recouping the ground they sow they had lost when the Nicolet- ‘Yamaska returns caime in. Now this hope has apparently been abandoned-

Meanwhile, the Globe and Mail notes that the work of the present session of Parliameirt

- -8 not half d-ono. The Budget is yet to be passed.

Estimates have not been considered. Little im- portuit legislative business, except the New- foundland union and the Atlantic Pact, has gone through. In asking for a speedy dissolution the

' Government ll in effect proposing to rule the

Ordor-ln-Couricil while paying expen-

c. aviator-General’: warrant.

on: by

Irwfllldland’: Population

Th: lunar: of Statistic: at Ottawa has iust ‘.1 _' reload

iinrmsrmrowrhwitrmrtlqv- comes, token In I945. The population ' o _ at 321,819 we: 1gp“ cont’ h3g1 .. “ ‘ “who or con e

p 220,904.

I

whlcliharlsteodat

to 44,603 as compared with 39,886 in i935. But the Greater St. John's area, including a number of adioining district and settlements, had a total of 57,496. The populations of the remaining cen- tres of more than 2,500 in 1945 are thus listed: Bel-l Island, 8,171; Bishop's Falls, 2,522; Botwood 2,744; Ca-rbonear, 3,472; Corner Brook, 8,711; Grand Falls, 4,552; Windsor, 2,772.

Newfoundland‘: population increase since the 1945 census can only be guessed, but it must have been considerable, and it would probably be well within the mark to estimate the total now at 350,000, or about three-quarters of New Bruns- wick’: present figure. The new Province's next census will be taken, along with that of Canada as a whole, sometime about the middle of I951. It is likely the I951 census will show Canada's population to be in the vicinity of 14,000,000. It was 11,506,665 in I941.

J tDlTURIAk NOTES].

Polish art treasures, like favourite volumes in a library, are not easily recovered, far less restored, when once they are lent to friends for whatever purpose thfiey ‘may have in view.

In Saint John, N. B. an attempt is being made to make a Saturday half holiday in stores compulsory with the right of the stores to re- main open on Friday till 9 P.M. The Common Council has adjourned to enable a proper all- coverage by-law on thefiubiiect to be drafted-

Ice and weather conditions seem to be favouring fishermen at the opening of the sea- son. If similar conditions hold for the lobster season opening Monday it should go far to off- set the comparotivelytlov‘: piices.

Now, with the dissolution of Parliament, there will be many expectant, more-or-less de- serving Liberal democrats made happy with jobs; while as many times more will be in the dumps through being somehow over-looked as the ripe fruit falls. to the ground’! missing their clutches.

Beware of swee-pstoike salesmen. The police of Montreal have just arrested three men on the eve of their departure for the Maritimes with between 20,000 and 25,000 fake tickets to sell at from 50c ta'$2.50 each. They already had 10,000 receipt stubs for tickets sold in their pos-

session.

I I R

The National Research Council has an- nounced the development of a wax-like rain-re- pellent substance to eliminate optical errors caused by rain on the windshield of an air- plane. Perhaps in the automobile field it might do away with the necessity of using a wind- shield wiper.

I I I A new feature of Liberal policy since Prime Minister St. Laurent assu-med office is a turn- ing away from isolationism. Unlike his predeces- sor and the "Little Englanders" of the Old Country, Mr. St. Laurent is a supporter of such things as the Atlantic Pact and, in spite of his absence from the present Prime Ministers’ con- ference, COIIPIIIOIWIKILIPIuCO-DPQNFIOII. I

‘Numerous experiments have been attempt- ed in transplanting fis-h from the East coast to the Pacific. The most recent such test has been the dropping of Arctic cod into the warm waters off California. The U. S. Navy and Stanford University are interested in how the codifish will adapt themselves to the change.

U U U

Britain is establishing air corridors ten miles wide. They will form a system of aviation high- ways ait heights of between 5000 and 11,000 feet. This will ensure safer flying and prevent collisions between aircraft even in poo-r visibility. Boll: civil and military plans will be expected to conform to this new form of traffic control. The move- ments of the aircraft will be organized from ground radio stations which will transmit instruc- tions to the pilot.

i

The Hon. Mr. Abbott, Finance Minister has been of all ministers the most unfortunate in the comebacks to his lpse dixlts in the House. His latest: Commenting on Mr. Drew's protest that time did not permit close scrutiny of esti- mates, Mr. Abbott was claiming that no member cver really discussed the separate estimate items. "Let us not try to fool ourselves even if we are trying to fool the public," Mr. Abbott exclaimed and the I-louse rocked with laughter.

I ‘k

Sir Thomas Beecham, English musical com- poser, conductor and operatic impresscrio born this date 1879. Has done much by the establish- ment in London of a notable opera company to spread musical culture and to educate and elevate the public taste in music. As an orches- tra conductor he holds a unique place in the musical world, his services having been obtain- ed ‘in all leading cities where orchestras an maintained to conduct festivals of classical m_u- sic. Has a hasty temper and does not hesitate to exercise it when he thinks occasion de- mands. He was born a pill millionaire, but early in life gave up the art of» the physician for the art of music, and had a hard row to hoe before -he attained to the top of that profession.

Boys and youths who-do not do well at school and college or: apt to quote Winston Churchill o: a proof that the boy is riot neces- sarily the father of the man in this respect. Winston. went on record as having been on in- different scholar who could never nvaster Lorin or Greek to be able to read or quote with facility the master-minds of literature. Now w: are told B. L. Montgomery, aged 17, was ‘hallm- bockward for his age." In divinity and English he was_"fair on the whole, may: rather wodi." flis mathematics were “backward but improv- ing," hi: drawing "faIn-doos all Iie can," and his science "backward but tries and improvu." However, said the St. Ppul’: school report stern- ly, "to have a serious chance for Sandhiint, he iriurt give more time to work" for "he I: too easily satisfied with hi: work." At a National Book League exhibition of classroom relies, Lon- doner: first work got this enjoyable 44-year-old scholastic sldellght or: the comr of l. L., now

rniii MarlhalVilcount

Montgomery.

;...

rim _G_IJARDIAN._

PUBLIC FORUM

This column l: open to the dllouulon by correspondent: o! queatloiu of interest. The omen» doe: not neoxr- Ily endorse the oplnlun oi relpondeau.

ME. DOUGLAS‘ QUALIFICATIONS

Sun-The recent Interview with

Mr. J. Lester Douglas, M-I-X- re- speotlng the appointment of Sen- ators on Prince Edward Island, 1n which Mr. Douglas remarked that "his own political record spoke for Itself regardlni a claim to the above-mentioned post", Qongflturgd the greatest pilece of under-slate- ment yet published In your news- paper. ' MMBIY ls s. virtue pratsewor- thy In ell men. Mr. Douglas did not enumerate this own and ht: family's Ilfelong loyalty and sup- port of the Liberal party. and what Iii more commendable the service to the country rendered by his fii-ailly through two world wars, when four brothers, one of vnhom paid the supreme seer-Inca. servedInWbrIdWsi-‘Luidln nddltton to his own son no less than time nephews 11nd slx cous- Ins served over-sens with the Cm- irdlan Forces In World War II.

If service to lane's Province and the nation as a whole merits re- ward. certainly the record _crf Mr. Douglas and this family hhould not para without recognition of the highest order. ouch as might be conferred by his appointment to the Senate of Canada.

I om, SIr, etc, "tum PLAY.”

“I. F. W." QUESTIONED

BIL-I note that “J.F.W." has

token up tits role as forecasting ream for the Liberal Party. He refers to Mr. Robert McKeown (not McEwen as he states) and 111s writings. Apparently he does not know much about Mr. Mc- Keoiwn either or he Iii just. play- ing down the facts that he ls a Liberal and wrItes with e strong Iilberal bias. If he wants to get. a good picture of Mr. St. moment's chances let. him read last week's "Time" and get o. good report on lust how flat his Western cem- palgn was and how promising the outlook Is for "the up-and-comlng Progressive Conservative Party". Actually he should have been at. the Commonwealth Conference with all the other Prime Mlnls- ters at the time but that mlgrit be offensive to his still-British followers. In one of rhls former letters he raised a storm of protest by et- temptlng to instlt/ute a. smear campaign against a. men who by his eblllty and seIf-siwrlflce for his country holds n position of very high esteem es a Oenndlan citizen. "Spectator" says that "he made a. mistake In hls guess". It ls true he does ii lot of guessing but this Is down-right political prejudice. He either knew noth- ing about the man he attempted to wrlte about In public or deIIb- erately misrepresented the facts. As he shoubi know one may be eXCIISEd for being wrong In his opinions but never for being wrong In his feels. If he were Interested In having them correct In this case It would have been very easy to get the necessary tn- formation.

Ph-om his veiled Inslnuallons one mtg-til think that. his party's cam- palgnlng as shown In the Inst Provincial election here and In the recent Federal by-eleotlons could be nothing but above reproach. H55 he forgotten or did he just. c1959 his eyes to the disgraceful over-expenditures In Public Works and Welfare. the Flshennens Loan scandal and the huge slush fund so evident everywhere?

In the two recent Federal by- glergtlgns (no doubt he predicted I-he Liberals would wln those too) which were definitely "the hund- wrItIng on the wall" 1m’ thfll party we see further exarnvle! ‘l! what B. desperate group will do. In Nlcolet-Yemaska It has been (qtlmabed that the LI-laerals spent. $135,000. Thrv used three Cabinet. Ministers and thlriy Federal mem- bers of Parliament, plus all I11! racial and religious haired f-hflv could faster. In their srnsaiionol upset’ the prggfggslvQ-COHSQPVR- lives are estimated to have ex- pended $35.00!) and their effoiws were practically 100% 10681-

In Diaby-Annapolls-Klngs the some pattern was In eyldenc! ihei-ei The Prime Mlnlstere pre- sence Iri the constituency, act-Ive aartlclbatlfih by ml! '1 dwell Cabinet Ministers and mm!’ m0" Dominion and Provincial mem- bers Including the Premier of ‘fie PTqf-nce. an ,;,-__\:i.-\i~l-I-,' lzirsrro ist- ibie supply of resources. n crim- patgn of abuse and mlsrebflienl" atlon. yet the Pfvlffifil" CW‘ servettves with their compariihlve- iv modest means won a resound- Iniz vlctorv In n stron! 1459"“ i-ldlng. There were some rel faces around Ottawa. some limb ago when It was polnted out that double the amount of the has! estimate for tree conversion had been spent lest fall. Hon. Robert Winters, Minister of Recamtrue- gon from ms. nod-there shit»- ments to mike In n text 1:118:10! t.» that lay-election: ‘GUN-hf votes Is not .1 meta; ogmmlgrr! handouts. 0f Wm” ' selves to outsoelsltu the Bootst- ists. More we: done fair this eon- st-Itxieney by WW 0f direct flann- ctnl boneflolmca, iiim whirl! any ottier mummy In ven- ode. and you know what hm!“- ed’.

1 would suggest that "MP-WP dlzeofllltttlb wrrlnr M: he“ I" the rend like the oaMab-lnd ll?‘ the mu and dent with them feti-Iy. In vlnr of Ill lull hll lotion:

LUIJI

I om, Btr, do.

cnxnuqrrerown

. "igneous CONTIIIUAU-Y srrnoiuii

oil ‘rim itmoitnoo, new A8001’ once AND no: ALL eaioome Tllli c-AP r soracwiiree y

tlvate the-Canadian blueberry on

tlc to beused In ouch en experi-

wIiIch will put to useful

upon which nothing else of value wlll grow. —— BrockvIIIe Recorder and Times. '

Despite the fact that surface Irrl- fallen: occur between the elected representatives and the hired staff. the point should not be Ignored

loyalty to the clty and the cltl- zenii who compose It. The mayor and alderman, of course, are Inter- ested In seeing that the portion of the tax dollar which goes Into wages and salaries brings the best return possible. The employees, on the other hand, are just as natur- ally Interested In acqulrlng a! large a share of that. tax dollar as they can. -- Vlctorla fflmes.

Absent - ulndedneu, especlnlly where one I: engligecl in a hazard- ou: undertaking, Is always danger- ous and often fetal. The other day the operator of a loading crane lost hi: Ilfe because he was absent- minded. He forgot to block the wheels of his machine and when he

World Traffic Code

(B; Kathleen Tettsch In the New York Times)

Lake Success - The tiourtzig American motorist who fInds film- self abroad, confronted by be- wildering foreIgn sIgn-posts and unnmfltar traffic laws. may noon fInI conditions more to his ltktng --'I the United Nations has Its "Q"

This summer. for the first time In hLsboi-y, European and Amer-I- can travel experts wIII all down together to draw up a new set of rules and regulations for the road which wlll be xecogntzed on both sides of the Atlanttc. These ex- perts, from sixty-eight different. countries. have been Invited by the UnIted Nations Jo attend n world-wide Conference on Road and Motor ‘lvexisport.

Out of this conference. ll Is hop-

ed, wIII come a simplified signal system, standardlzed and easily dlscemlble danger and dIrectIonaI sign-pasta and more exact regula- tions as to the type of headlights, brakes end vehicular appliances needed for foreign travel. Under the present haphazard arrangement n European tourist motorlng- In this country might find, for example. that. In some,of the forty-eight states the head- lights on his particular lturopenn- manufactured automobile are deemed too small and, therefore, Illegal.

WhIIe U. N. experts do not ex- pect to reconcile all the variations In traffic laws, they hope to make a beginning at. least In thls field. The conference has been given e. twofold Job: to remove handicaps to free foreign travel and, sec- ondly, to promote safety -by reduc- ing accident r‘1k. U. N. officials feel that If they can make headway on these two points, the calling of a global conference wIII be more than justIfIed. -

The conference, which wlll open In August, wIII be held In Geneva, where the League of Nations first. trled to draw up Internationally acceptable rules for _t.he road. While the League did succeed In drafting a proposed convention governing highway travel In I926, the Untied States never approved the program.

Attempts to revise the League's old convention were Interrupted by the ‘war and It has finally been decided that the obsolete conven- tion should be scrapped entirely In favor of new. modern road rLula- tlons.

The experts w‘ro wlll undertake to ivrlte the I949 convention wIII not start. from scratch, however. During the last year specialists of the Economic Commission for Europe have been preparing e pre- liminary convention. A second "working paper" has been submit.- ted to the conference by signator- Ies of the, Inter-American Auto- motive Trafflc Convention signed In Washington slx years ago.

e o

Using the two papers as the basis for debate, the members of the Geneva conference expect to cc/iplete tn slx to etglii weeks an fiIILIILlY new and compact conven- Llon. Both drafts contain ‘certatn baelc provision: whtch must be‘ Included In this yeiu-‘s convention. These cover such requirements as horns. emergency brakes, mufflers, mttrore and wlndehteld wipers.

Aside from thlii, however, the draft. of the Eoonomtc Commission for lhirope contain: a detatled analysts of safety requirements. It considers also the need to adopt mInImum . Iiulldtng requirements for bridges and underpssaer, :0 that truck: or oar: wtth lirstler: uxbv?tllzlmlibllu.ltylfjbh

y <1, It e e . bhbjpltl- toilets of the commlaslw also ex- Plored the possibility of fur-tho:- etondudfzlnl the dlffersnt alga nyrtsm: ‘Whllo letter-n! sign: are ulld Imus-all! In the Unlted State: It he: been found that than dure- us»: create difficulties In lira-ope. Wllfiimllllfltlokteusnglztitgnu con- flonl; o mo a 0st eve troubles ' » q

I I l ‘i... lhto- reasonJJ-ie rpsolnlfm bevs- that. s system ‘of Plflllfl‘ I

"W" us“. m:

Jmoking locomotive would worn

nexes wIII be observed generally,