{THE GUARDIAN

llorning Dolly (Founded in 1187i. Authotleed as Second Clue Hell. Poet Office _ Defrost-snout.‘ Ottawa.

_ The lllllld Guardian Puhllahing Co. Proficient. Ion A. Burnett; Vice-President. Win. B- Butnest; Soap-Trees. G. l. Barnett; Editor and Managing Director, .i. n. n , Amooisso Editor. Flush Walker.

' (‘The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest ink."

CIIARLOTTETOWN. TUESDAY, APRIL 27. 1948

l_ Deficits Anti Freight Rates

Transport Minister Chevrier rang the ‘changes on the "deficit" of the National railways in deal- ing with the freight rates issue in the House of Commons last week. In doing so, he was but ' echoing Mr. Vaughan, the president of the pub- licly-owned system. And later, Mr. J. H._ Mat- thews, Liberal M.P. for Brandon, in speaking of the freight rote increase referred to this $l5 million Notional railways deficit. His point was --should the Government tax for it or should it be paid in freight rates? _

Actually, says the Winnipeg Free Press (Lib- eral), there is no deficit of this kind. The Na- tional railways in i947 had an operating sur- plus of $27.9 millions and paid the $23,821,909 o7 interest due on bonds held by the public. The remaining $20,002,434 of fixed charges is inter- est due on debt owned by the Government itself if there were no payment here by the National, the Dominion Government would have no reason to tax to pay itself. This debt, surely, should be placed upon an income basis. There should be a payment on it only if the National has sufficient surplus to pay. "Talk of this kind," says the Free Press, "is hurtful to the National railways because, for iron-clad, inescapable reasons, the National can- not be the measure of freight rates. To take care of National railways deficits by_ freight rates would create conditions of unwarranted. profit for the C. P. R. "To take care of the needs of the C. P. R., as approved by the board, an increase of 2i per cent in freight rates was deemed necessary. To place the National railways in an equally favor- able position, on the calculations of the board (page 64-5 of the freight rate judgment) would have required an increase not of 2i per cent but close to 50 per cent in freight rates. You cannot have one set of low rates for the C P. R. and another set of high rates for the Na- tional. The same freight rates must apply to both railways. Thus to provide for the National railways’ deficit would give the C. P. R. more than twice the increase in rates that it has been found to be required." Obviously, it would be better to‘ pay a C. N. R. deficit out of the public treasury than to pay twice the amount of that deficit in freight rates. There is no way by which the deficit of the Na- tional railways can be paid by higher freight rates without compelling the public to pay a corre- spondingly large sum unnecessarily to the Cari-. adian Pacific. Hence successive Governments and Transport Boards have always decided that National railway deficits are not acceptable as a reason for higher freight rates.

Sales Tax To lo Gut?”

The Canadian Grocer, trade publication, re- ports "inside" information from Ottawa to the effect that the coming Dominion budget may show a cut of 2 per cent in the 8 per cent Fed- eral sales tax.

if the Federal Government, contemplating its 1947-48 budget surplus of some $750 mil- lions, decides to offer some measure of tax re- lief to the Canadian public it could hardly find a more effective way than by cutting the sales tax. Besides offering tax relief, it would be an important step toward halting the present in- flationary trend.

The Federal sales tax is bad because it is a "hidden" levy on almost every purchase made by the customer. Worse, it has a tendency to pyramid, as successive middlemen make their legitimate "mark-up" on goods, so that the ulti- mate consumer may be paying as much as i5 per cent more on an article because of the existence of this 8 per cent tax. '

The Public Health liurse

The nurse today occupies an increasingly significant position in the extension af modern inedicioo, says Dr. Raymond Fosdick, president oi the Racko ller Foundation, in his annual review recently pu Iished. The growth of public health services and of hospital programs, in the more fortunate parts of the world, and the new stir- rings toward better standards in countrbs still marked by poverty and illiteracy, are creating a deniand'for her services on a global scale.

-The education of the nurse is, therefore, o mitter of depp social concern. The traditions of tho-apprentice system have a-dignified past. To- day, however, they ar'o too frequently employed to justify a training scheme whose principal but unacknowledged aim is the provision of a con- stunt supply of cheap labor. There is scarcely a score of institutions in North America whore the tebching of nursing is basod on modern educa- tional principles. Even today large medical cen- tps are bOlfl"plIll|lOd VIlPlFIO realisation of the cossity of including adequate schools of nurs-

i . t "More important still," . says Dr. Fosdick, 4 "ihoreis tgrlioo little awareness oi tho new pot- ' of medical practice in which the nurse is "mindlspjeilsabl part." Everywhere around the

ll is» shifting‘ from sickness to.

tive medicine. In this vast development the nurso has a place of strategic importance, and- the time has come-indeed, it is long past due- ta discard the compromises and half measures which have too often marked the course of nurse training, and-to base the profession on educa- tlonal principles broad enough to sustain the new promises of the .future." ‘

- EDITORIAL notes‘-

The familiar inconvenience of conflicting -times is again being felt but it will be even more irritating as people move about more_witli

_the warmer weather. i

wit:

Last year the city went energetically about providing parking space in the business district. Unfortunately in the process it created an eye sore, especially along Kent Street, which neither city nor adjoining owners have done much to

relieve.

niece

In ‘ltaly a thunderstbrm broke up a Coni- munist demonstration after police using conven- tional weapons had merely added to the com- rmotion. Perhaps the results of the various rain- making experiments should be turned over to the R. C. M. P. for riot quelling.

w e

The Gazette piously hopes that the P. E. l Government will modify the present labor union low, and that’it will not be imitated elsewhere. But it is the Legislature not the Government that enacts and amends laws here-not the Govern» ment, though recent happenings would indicate otherwise. . -

1t l’

Scotsmen in London, Ont., are wondering if the "Macs" are declining. St. Andrew's Society reported that at its initiation last week for sev- eral immigrants from Scotland, names like Rob- ertson, Young, Johnstone and Maxwell were given. There wasn't a "Mac" in the lot.

i‘ k

w w

A CP correspondent suggests that London may copy Ottawa's new procedure ‘of permitting cabinet ministers to speak in the Upper House in order to introduce and explain bills. The sur- prising thing is that Ottawa has not had more parliamentary ideas worth adopting in its eighty

yea rs.

O O O I

Autoists and oil burners generally will be pleased to learn the United States has enough potential gasoline and oil in shale beds in the west to run its automobiles and machines for 150 years, according to a report to the American Chemical Society. This oil-bearing shale is esti-' mated to contain about 300,000,000,000 barrels

of shale oil.

n Ir a w

The policy of providing technical training oven where there is no existing industry has paid off. Instead of going elsewhere many gradu- ates of the technical schools have established their own business. This seems to be the way to establish provincial industries. We need more trained men, our own, if possible, but skilled specialists from outside where training is not

available here. i Why a University education? A Philadelphia correspondent recently sent Business Week the following clipping from ‘the help-wanted column oft the Inquirer: "Bricklayer—Master Mechanic iiot less than i0 yr. exp. to supervise apprentice training for local institution. Sal. $4,500 yr. State age, education, exp. T-372 |nquirer." Perhaps balanced between embarking upon a career as a bricklayer or professor of engineering, the corre- spondent asked: "How many colleges could offer this much for a full professorship in any of the‘ engineering courses?" I I I

O k

Ontario Provincial election is slated for June 7, and the question is being discussed whether Quebec will follow suit or delay till July. A factor which would favor election later than in lune. lload work will just get under way by June. Much depends on weather conditions. When gangs at men are at work in various parts of the prov- ince there is a quickening of economic activity, with resultant benefit to the country merchants through whose tills flaws a good part of tho money, and this always helps a government.

i‘ 1r i k

Ferdinand Magellan, navigator, murdered this date l52i; was originally sponsored by Portugal, but transferred his allegiance to Spain, and won support for a new attempt to reach Asia by the West; he sailed down the east coast oi America and in I519 turned intostroits, after- wards called Magellan; he then crossed the Pacific Ocean (so named by him) as for as the Philippines, undergoing terrific sufferings, and subsequently being treacherously slain by a native chief of Motan; his ship the Victoria reached Spain in i522, having circumnavigated the globe, the first expedition to do so.

i Q I i

Rt. Hon. William Lyon Mackenziekirig has broken many records in his lifetime, says Montreal Gazette. But he has added to his achievements the remarkable fact that he has now surpassed all previous prime ministers of the British Com- monwealth of Nations in the length of his ad- ministration. This record is not only remarkable in itself but it comes as tiio crowning piece to the pyramid of records gatliorod thiough the years. Mr. King had previously broken the long- est records for the prime ministorship in Can- ada which had been established by Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. He had bro- ken all previous records for tho leadership at -the Liberal Party. l-lo had become tho senior member of the House of Commits? And. with tho single exception of Sir Allen Aylosworth, he is the senior member among the Canadian privy councillors. in -lato years Mr. King has had the unique prestige that comes to those who are alroildy figures out of history. His life has been a groatpageont of personalities and happenings.

.__lQ25wA&%N% V “ Russia; Policy

The difference between a steseo mun and e poiiticla , the former serves his country. the latter makes the country serve him. - 5t. Oath nrines Standard.

__.._

1n other doyo it. woo quite oom- mon for notions to hire mercenar- ies from other lands‘ tn fight. for them. and so it; is interesting to note the suggestion being mode n- cross'the line that the United States should recruit and maintain a foreign legion in Europe. ready for action and thoroughly trained. ‘It is probublethut if present pay rates and allowances were made available, there would be no dearth of recruits and a great force mighr he ready and not too far‘ from any possible conflict. - Niagara Falls Review.

That "flaw do you do?" is ot~ ten just a casual and meaningless phrase. Health authorities say first, if people took it. seriously. the) might well question their state of being. So, say the experts, since suggestion has undoubted power. how much better some such suin- tntioii as “You're looking very well today!" That's not likely to became gust a liecicrieyed saying It's so much more personal anii pleasing. Try it. once in a while foi effect and enjoyment. - Kitchen- er-Wuferloo Record.

Some people who shudder at the mention of cancer, heart disease and cerebral hemorrhage will take needless risks while driving ant. walking. And 1f they get. hurt. they will often say, "Oh, well, accidents will happen." Of course they will happen if common sense precau- lions are ignored. Remember traf- fic accidents can be prevented if reasonable precautions are taken. Don't. shudder at the thought of lingering death by disease hiie sticking out your chin for su deii

‘death by traffic accident. - Chat-

ham News. , ‘

When she celebrated her 100th birthday, Mrs, George Williamson. a. Sootswonian who emigrated w Ne\v Zealand tn 1877, received the congratulations of two other cen- tenarians. Mrs. Williamson's home is at Weikouaiti, Otago Province, 30 miles from Dunedin. and her 100th birthday aniversury coincid- ed with the centenary celebrations of the city and province. Her guests, both aged 101, were Mrs. Susan McFarlane, also a native of Scotland: and Mrs. 0. Neilson. born in England. Recipes for long life given by the three centeriariens were:— Mrs. Williamson -- Quiet living, high thinking. Mrs. McFar- iane - Plenty of hard work. Mrs Nansen-Good, natural food. no tinned stuff. - Edinburgh Scots‘ man.

The merchants of the little city of Douglas. Georgie, designated the week af April 1 to 8 as “Leave Us Alone Week." Eighteen appeals for funds during February final-y strained their patience pest: the breaking point. Their reaction is completely understandable. Appeals for funds by means of door-to-daor canvassers, direct mail advertising. sales of special stamps, collection tins on store and office counters, sales of tickets, polite office calls on wealthier citizens who get ear- marked in "special names‘ lists tag days and other methods have become so muitltudlnous that it's almost. impossible to keep track or them all, lei. alone contribute to all of them. - Vancouver News- Herald. .

London's statues ore undergoing their spring-cleaning.‘ The clean- ers - there are n baker's dozen of them and before _the war ‘M0 statues engaged their attention - are skilled workers. Except for Nel- son ut. the top of his column, they have the figures in Trafalgar Square in their care, and the loft.- iest; memorial which claims their attention Ls that. of the Duke of York, whose position 1n Waterloo Place makes American visitors ask whetherhe is the Duke of Well» ington. It. takes a month to clean the marble groups of the Vicianu Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. Bronze statues are scrub bed, washed with diluted ammonia, and greased to prevent their turn- ing black; marble statues are clean- ed with soap powder. Lead statue» -the only one is that of Queen Anne -—-ure oiled. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens is frequently dusted. and treated once a month with beeswax and turpentine. Ir. these austere times there is no need to remove the cakes of chocolate which trusting children used to leave for him to est.» Manchester Guardian.

First, inoongruousiy. iiiie o. hob

goblin leading o band of fairies. comes the skunk cabbage, apathy- emo foetidus. malodarous mephitte forerunner of the Spring. Then in April the first of the fairies coma. the trailing orbutus. (for those for- tunuie enough to find it), the iro- pat-ica, the bloods-oat. In the ooun- tryside around Toronto the blood- root is blooming now. This flow- er-fairy unfolds its wings.- it comes like o butterfly from a chrysnifs -but. ouch e modest white butterfly, such o frsil foity ft hos neither the colors nor tire strength of the hepotiao. ft is. fa foot, e poppy; Kipling. forgetting about the skunk csbboge. referred to it oe "fsint. ond frail ond first." nomed it so the flower by which Canada ir identified. After s11.'tt is the ssnguineris Oonodenoh. The chii en bloody their fingers whh lte s p. They do not. pause to think of i so nature's reminder that human 1m is sioo troll: “Ao for rrsn . so s flower of the field so he fiourisheth. The wind soo- oih over it and it. is no. the piece thereof shell at! is no more." Sat there ls ll ash

v , ore {pp tion from tho pol flip/ore" . remodel; and n» l‘ ' ,, t lrrsrlirrrvlttl ..-. v .1 g. g] yjdgy

: A res" resend] so society ‘a , y importance of proven-

igffu =1

tiiniiotios and triumphs. doleys and liopos. Few rnon have travelled o moroevontful lif ' road.

I

other spring in Ilildfwflbldbl- root blooms onto. e4 “N!!! “It.

CHA_R_I__JLYI‘TETOW

Of “Pin Pficks" O

(By W. N- Ewes)

Soviet tactics in Germany since Maribel Sokoiovskyb theatrical exit, from the Allied Control Goun- c11 on Much 20th. hove been in- teresting end revealing.

‘the Russians have in fact pus on end to e11 that. remained of Gamma unity. For the Council is the enwodimeat. of s11 that perv. of the Potsdam Protocol which was intended-Ito ‘preserve the unity of the country. 1t 1s (or wee) toe one organ competent to teke do- cisions or to make lows for oil Germany. Unless it functions. or at least makes on appearance of functianins. Germany is complete- iy partitioned. And Marshal Balco- lovskyu “walk out" effectively pre- vents the Council from meeting again. For the Marshall, 1n his own presidential moat-h, refrained from coiling another meeting: while his colleagues will be netirr ally unwilling to invite a new and perhaps even more insolent Sovtéi. announcement on non-cooperation.

So the Russians nope to bring uuodriperiite controrof Germany to on end-es they long ago re- duced it to impotence-while evad- ing open responsibility for doing so. They do not abolish it. They prefer to sabotage.

_And when, as they must, the Western Allies replace the essen- tial- parts of the sabotaged Four Power machinery by institutions that. can function in the three Western Zones. thejtusslans will violently accuse them of "destroy- ing German unity." There will be another attempt to inflame Ger- man nationalism and to direct 1t against. Western Europe. It. is in a new form the policy which inspir- ed t e Rapaila Treaty of 1922, and Stein's first, though unsuocessfui, attempts so form an entenie with Hitler in 1933 aria 1934.

That is the wider purpose. The narrower and more inunediute is to force the Western Allies to withdraw from Berlin and Vienna, so make impossible the presence or British, French and American troops in these enclaves whose only lines of communication run across, or aver, many miles of Soviet-oc- cupied territory.

not. so- much for any direct od- ventoge which the undivided con- trol of the two capitals would give them. as because of their intense and burning desire to register o dramatic political victory at. the expense of the Western Allies: to show the world that the “power of the Soviet. Union" can force Brit.- uln and the United States and France to u. military withdrawal without firing a shot.

This indeed is one of the most dangerous features of the whole world situation today. The Soviet leaders are obsessed by the lust for prestige. They are filled by a desire to demonstrate to their own people and. to the sat-cliff“ that Russia can successfully defy the outer world.

They are seizing every opportun- izy for such demonstrations. The studied and deliberate insults which brought the work of the Council of Foreign Ministers to b close: repeated provocation; of the past. few weeks in Germany and in Austria: the provocative and quarrelsome demeenour of the Sov- iet representatives in. every inter, national body which still exists: the encouragement to the Govern- ments of the satellite states to seize every opportunity for similar be- havior: all these are part. of a whole. . " They believe that. they can count. upon the deep desire of the West- ern democracies for peace. and their still remaining desire for co- operation. tro prevent. any "inci- dent." from developing dangerously. They believe that. they can count. on their continued patience in the face of provocation. of their con- tinued courtesy in the face, of in- suit. _

And they hope in this way not. only to gratify their own vanity- which is no smell factor in the whole situation-but. to create everywhere the belief that, ii; l! dangerous to quarrel wit-h Russia but. perfectly safe to quarrel with the Western powers.

They will go only or for as they think they can go in safety. Rus- sia is certainly» not. planning or

Q;

\ The Ruulam mm w d° uusrsioop-of-wsr ‘Halifax’ arrived lThree Rivers, and one morning the .qaptain of the ‘Hope was surpris- led by a visit from an officer ind

desiring a major conflict. Bur

liiilclrios

l didn't expect to Want Adi"

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y noorrrnruooicln mo l.. S. STEVENSON

g v Manager . I40 llqtMOND ST.

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A SCIIOOLMASTEB IIETIBES

_.._._

Reluotently he shuts the school- house door. A life's‘ work ended and a quest