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PAGE EQLJR

THE GUARDIAN.

THE GUARDIAN

llornin; Dell; (Founded in ilifl) Author-mu n rlea-uuu Clan nail. Pun Office ' l-WDIIIIIICIII, Ulsnvru» The Island Uunrsllnn Publishing Co. Illtol and Managing Dlrousur. J. B. Burnett Associate Editor, Frank Wallet.

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakesflnk."

EHARDOTTETOWN, SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1949 II. S. Farm Subsidies Proposed

, W-hart is regarded as "the most for-reach- ‘DQ overhaul of agricultural legislation since the ea-rly New Deal days" has been proposed at Washington by the Truman administration. lf effective it will remove the price floors from under milk, eggs, vegetables and other vital per- ishable food crops and create a new system of subsidies to producers and subject farms to drastic controls. The direct subsidies would be paid by the Federal treasury, financed eventual- ly out of taxes. Ai-d to farmers would take a different form for storable crops such as grain and cotton. Their prices would be kept up through loans and purchases to take the sur- pluses off the market, as is done now. The pro- posal is now before a join-t meeting of the House of Representatives and Senate agriculture com- rnittees, and will be backed with an unspecified number of "broader farm controls than ever."

There was a general understanding that floor prices for farm products would be raised this year in the United States. The " ""

new method of subsidies to producers is nothing new ln Canada, where it was in operation during the war and immediate postwar years. One great drawback to this system from the producers’ standpo-int was the failure of the Federal Gov- ernment to adequately publicise the fact that food products were being subsidized, with_ the result that when subsidies were withdrawn and prices soared to their natural level there was a violent consumer reaction. No doubt the U. S. authorities are familia-r with the result of the subsidy policy in this country, and will take steps to improve on it.

Oysters And Thelr Ways

Most people have heard the old song which states that "a noisy noise annoys an oyster," but Captain Owen Cunningham, who spoke in the BBC's "ln Town Tonight" programme, says that it is true. And Captain Cunningham is a breeder w-ho has sold over four million oysters, so he should know. He told listeners that if there is any disturbance over an oyster bed the vysters shut up at once, which means that they stop feeding, and also growing, so that if any- one tries to cultivate oysters in a noisy area, they are wasting their time. Oysters have quite a history, and the ancient Britons used to send them to Rome according to Captain Cunning- ham. "Whenever a Roman camp is excavated in this c " try," he said, "you can always be sure

gifg piles of oyster shells, no matter how far inland the camp may be. And Colchester is still the traditional centre of the oyster trade, as it was in Roman times."

Captain Cunn-ingham was not. always an oyster farmer, for it was intended that he should join his father's laundry business. But dirty clothes did not appeal to him and he found fish, and especially oysters, much more interesting. He developed an abiding interest in oysters, studied their origin, cultivation and treatment and made up his mind to breed his own oysters for the London connoisseur. He gave listeners his views on the age-old controversy of how oys- ters should be eaten, saying that, in his opinion, there is no better way than to eat them raw and straight from the shell, so that you get the liquor. "And," said the expert, "they should be chewed to bring out the real flavour." He also raid, most comfortingly, that there was no need for oysters to be a rich man's dish. Lack of breeding facilities has created a shortage which has forcedprices up, but he looks forward to the time when oysters can be bred again in large quantities so that they cari be bought, as of old, in London, fresh from the street barrow at a penny a time. .

Parking Meters

Still a live issue in Charlottetown is the question of installing parking meters in the business district, and in this connection the re- action of the Town Council of New Glasgow to a similar experiment should prove of interest. At the Council's last regular meeting, the sub- ject came up for heated debate. Some 108 met- ers have been installed in New Glasgow at a cost per meter of $67.50, the contract stipulating that 75 percent of collections be sent to the company until the meters ore paid for. Over $2,000 hos beencollected to date, but since the contract has not been signed, no payments have been made. According to the New Glasgow Eve- ning News, "at least half of the CounciFors are all for tossing them out right smartly."

"Like everything else," says the News, "there is something to be said for and against these modern hitching posts.’ They prevent one car owner from hogging a space all afternoon or evening; silently the little ticking machines do a policeman’: job and, while railed against, cannot be 'fixecl.' They are impartial. On the other hand, installation of the meters has rot resulted in the streets being kept clear. Scottish as most of our people are and hating to plug in a penny or a nickel if it can be braided, the fact is they d-ig down and do it in many cases rather than walk up from the parking grounds, uniquely close to the. business district.

"The meters have done one job: they have chased persons who work ln rho business area into parking‘ when the NW1? Provides the spa“; rnlcksl every hour by the hour just corms to

m much, especially when the worry or won- dering whether thfhollr- ls up ls counted in. Bur, usr the some thsdolitrlekvstoinglardsmgzsr: lips .m°'0 P”'F, ,-..' J-lgbllflm levy; toll t go: m even ~ a » _ s r y,

meters ."have been so-so. Given time, ‘they will pay for themselves, but they will not make the town rich. Which is fair enough; they should never be looked at from a revenue point of view. They were installed as a' means of controlling traffic» and if it is decided to_keep them, they should be kept for that reason only. Personally, we can take them or leave them. They don't bother us very much. At times they are a nuis- ance; at other times they are worth their pay."

'./ EDITORIAL NOTESf

Tomorrow 6th. Sunday in Lent. Palm Sun- day.

If the Mountain will not go to Mahomet, Mahomet must perforce go to the Mountain

when visiting Ottawa. r

t i

ln union there is strength we used to be told, but now with two unions rivalling for con- trol of seamen, we have the maxim brought into

c o-n tem p t.

i I I

We have had one of the finest Winters on record, and now the St. Lawrence is open. for shipping twelve days earlier than last year, and two days better thar: the record to date.

It comes as a shock to realize that the h- habitcrnts of the starvation-threatened Labrador village, St. Mary's Bay, are fellow Canadians. Along with population, territory and bases Ca- nada has inherited not*a few problem.

Prime Minister St. Laurent’: venture into the pen-pal field has at least the merit of novel- ty. How he would be able to carry on his duties if a large proportion of Canadian women took him up on his proposal, a problem that the good sense of the fair sex will make it unneces- sary ta solve. -

Q I I

T-he refusal of the House of Representatives to match Canada's vote of $30,000 for study of the Passomaqucddy tidal powers project is not aqdeath blow to hopes for Maritime-New Eng- land power development, but unless the Maine legislature decides to put up the funds instead, there will certainly be no steps taken.

Q - f

While It costs only $15 to appeal to the newly instituted Income Tax Appeal Board, the Chairman, Mr. Justice R. F.,Grahan1 draws a salary of $l3,333 per annum, and the other two members, Messrs. Fa-bio Monet and W. S. Fisher $10,000 each. So far only l3 appeals have been heard.

I

The Fire Marshal's report ftidkflkl that, as always, the loss from fire is largely unneces- scry, that fires do not happen, they are caused. Careless smokers, defective heating equipment and wiring, lack of lightning rod protection in the country and other carelessness were the main causes.

V4 i O

Ex-Prime Minister Mackenzie King hasten- ed to deny the newspaper report that he had disposed of his memoirs to the Rockfeller Foun- dation. Now he qualifies his denial by stating "the Rockfeller. Foundation of New York will finance, and McGill University sponsor the pre- paration and publication of his memoirs." The ruling passion of subterfuge is strong in Mr. King's retirement, as it was in his days of politi- cal activity.

Q I i ‘

Five years ago, on Easter Sunday (April 9, 1944i, Major-General Chris Vokes, at the time a divisional commander in ltaly, stood on the slopes of a hill over-looking the Adriatic and read the lesson of an Easter. service to members of his headquarters. Not far away the war went on as usual. It was the Canadian soldier's first Easter in the field. The weather was mild with a warm ~rain laying the dust on the roads. Men from the battalions in the line also observed Easter but in a different fashionJChaplains went from one company to another, occasionally un- der fire, leading the men’ in brief and simple devotion. The battlefront, that Easter Sunday, was comparatively quiet and action was confin- ed mostly to small-scikalevpatrolling on al-l fronts.

Francis, Lord Bacon, English lawyer, states- man a-nd philosopher, died this date l626. He was a nephew of William Cecil, the great Lord Burghley, the founder of a line of scholars and statesmen which still flourishes in the literary educational and political life of England. In spite of adverse criticism of Bacon, both in his lifetime, and for years subsequent to his pass- ing, it is conceded by later historians uninfluenc- ed by the iealousies and controversies of his time, that Ba-con was bath wise and good, the victim of his own heedlessness under intense preoccupation. lt is hardly drisputab-le that as a statesman he was extremely sagacious, and as a judge thd most aosiduous and faithful of his age: "There is no power on earth, which sc-tteth up a throne, or chair of stats, in the spirits and souls of men, and in their cogitations, imaginations, opinions and beliefs, but know- ledge and learning};

g s

The trouble in the British Labour Party over the latest austerity budget may have repercus- sions. If Mr. Herbert Morrison, depu prime min- ister, persuades his pa the way o moderation is right he may- be e to drop the "deputy" within a few years. lf he fails, hard-hitting Health Minister Aneurin Bevan may become leader of a new labor government pledged to aggressive nationalization and similar ventures. ll Mr. Morrison and Mr. Bevan cancel each other out, then Sir Stafford Cripps, chancellor of the exclrequer, is expected to be Prime Minister Attlee’s successor. Thus runs the new burst of speculation about British Labor Party leadership, a constantsubiecr of discussion ln Wlvlrehal. The one certainty in such ‘discussion is‘ that Arrlse, chosen as a compromise louder ln rhs midst of labor divisions in the '30s, can continua or long as he wants. The wiry former social worker who never madman exciting. speechln his ‘yo has led tlrdgll-dror Government through an: us years and thirds his own place more

‘doln tnikle ‘holsossrronglnhls-sset dleeegal asbvlrlljlsyo’ mestwalt

PUBlJCi tORUM This autumn is open to the disounion by e-rreeponrisnte of questions of interest. flu Guardian. does not neoeQr-

‘ liy endorse the opinion of correspondents.

mums-r manwa! '

Sin-Jr wu with [ms-t intend that I reed the recent letters in the Guardian regarding the cement highway ‘ ” Summorelde, and it was pleasing to see that. such pron-imam men were lending their support to this typo of pavement.

Many citizens were reminded of the greet controversy which raged when tune first concrete was laid on Water Si. ln 19W. during the ten- ure of office of the late ex-Meyor W. J. Lldstone.

Certain critics claimed it would be cracked m: 1nd outed sway 1n e very few years. but, so it looks now, going into its 33rd year, it will be the crltlog who will be flint. aer-

rled away. _ I em Sir. Ole. E

ROAD OONDIIIONI

Blr. —- I sew e letter in The Guardian a few days ago signed "Observer." He spoke .of the con- dition of the roads in Spring Brook District; I agree with Observer but he should have (one hustler aud told the whole story. The farmers of this vicinity hurl po- tetoes w moi and they waited the snow plough to came through from French River to New London, but instead it only came. half way. We wired the officials and machine Qllerator and the "yard we got was “you pro notion the mop." New the farmers have to haul their potatoes 1n relays from l. sleigh to s. wagon end then to o truck where the snow plough stopped.

I cannot understand why we are used in this manner. We pay our taxes and the fishermen on the North Side psy more toward the gasoline tax which Premier Jones said would be used for breaking winter roads. 1s Providence putting a judgement on up for electing Messrs. Stewart and InrgeTWe dld ‘not expect much from Mr. Brewer-t for he reminds ue of Leap Y r, we see hlm only every four ye ; but. we expected greet things from Mr. Large. He gave ue an eloquent speech before election and told us the wonderful things Mr. Jones was going to do. He told us he was a self-mode men. All I can odd to that ls: “Some hunk of unskilled lsboal" _

From “one not on the map."

I I-m. Sir. eta, R. M. COLEB New London.

REPLY T0 MR. MCINTYRI

Sir, — I have reed the report of Mr. J. E. McIntyre, C. N. R. agricultural representative. in The Guardian of April 8th, heeded, "Po- tato Prospects and Prices Dia- cussed at Association meeting." In replying. I run quite aware that the well-lmown Mr. McIntyre hss been known, year alter year, to give e little pep talk to different agricultural meetings throughout the Province. He ls e past master at making everybody believe they had made a. good job ln growing and grading their potatoes rather than ln facing the fact that. we ere slipping: also reporting to the rall- wey at Muncton that the our situat- fon was satisfactory on P. 1E. I. rather than facing the foot that it was disgraceful.

In his report. he used statistical Hell-Yes that are dlfflorult to cron- check and deny. They are oepebly prepared tn such a way that wea- ther conditions, eta, have to be figured in. There ls one very true part of his report and that. la, “Your future ls in you: own hands."

I would like my friend Mr. Mo- Intyre to look at the U. S. A. crops over a period of the last six years. Each year the acreage has been out -. each yea: th e is a sur- plus greater than th year before. This year they started to dump potatoes ln Florida on the 10th day of January; in 1948 they were up as far as the Caroline; and ln i947 they were very nearly into Jersey before it was necessary to dump. I think the trouble with we Isl- e-nderr l3 that. we pay t-oo much st- tentlon to these pep talks rather than getting down to brass tacks. I_ spent a lot of time organizing the P. E. i’. Potato Shippers Ad- visory Association; it was to deal with transportation directly or tn- dlrectly connected with the po- tato industry and other problems. On my wey horns from Ottawa. three weeks ego Sunday, my friend Mr. McIntyre was lobbying around the hotel in Monoton and ln quite a loud voice he wanted to know all the particulars u to whether my trip has successful or not. ln respect to s. pertlculsr duel. I ex- cuoed myself and told hlm that if he ‘ ‘ to " , * * 1 wu in company with e. high rank- ing agriculture official from Ottawa who would be plea to meet hlm and discuss some in private. A date-was set. and my friend re- ferred to u "the qrlmutwgl of. fllclel" and myself were lem- told by Mr. menu-m how runny po- tatoes would be planted in the U. B. A. next your, who the price would be and whet the tare tied in store for Oeneds. es e whole. But. to my timber surprise he

sold us how many out of ' solos: were left on). t1. ups

bun oomios over yser otter-ant and in ind have! been out“

ro-ttu irreverent cm on P. I. 1.. ‘.

stripped and ssla that lie-lied‘

2 their a freotionvof 15, to poof: ,

_ gnsmlorrepwis

sonar - 009 .0? IT-

: Old Charlottetown

(And P. B. l)

' BISHOP PLESSIS’ VISIT

.

The following extract from n “Journal of two Apostolic Voyages tn the Gulf of St. Lawrence In 1811 and 1812 by MOIIBlBHEIn Joseph Oc- tave Plessls, Bishop of Quebec". gives a good idea of the hospitality of the people and how Charlotte- town appeared to an intelligent stranger tn the early years of tho last century. The translation from the French tr by the late Judge Alley: .

“It was on Tuesday morning, July 14th, 1812, that we landed ut Charlottetown, where the Bishop knowing that he was expectedr by the Lieutenant Governor and de- sired by General Fanning, decided to appear ln clerical dress, for- seeln: that he and his companion would be respected, and that if the Protestant portion of the citizens were estonlshe’ at the eight of this extraordinary costume, he would be for them merely an object of curi- oslty without provoking any kind of censure. The result proved hlm to have been right. in these con- lectures.

' O O

"Of the three towns projected in St. John's Island, two are still ln grass-namely, Princetown or Mal- peque Bay and Georgetown on that of Three Rivers. The latter, how- ever, ls on a veryadvantageous site and it tr to be hoped that lg will become populous, as soon as mer- chants, Innkeepers and mechanics come to establish themselves there. In the meantime Charlottetown takes the lead. Its elevated situa- tion, fine prospect, the breadth of its streets, of which the widest are 100 feet broad and the narrowest 60, the elegance of many of its pri- vate houses, and of the few public buildings that are already erected. tell that one day this town will oc- cupy n piece among the most beau- tiful cities of North America. Al- ready ftylelds the palm to none in Canada though lt has not the air of opulence that ls so striking in Montreal.

“There to en English church. n Court House, e hall‘ of Justice, quite new and very elegant bar- racks for the soldiers and officers of the garrison, which consists at present of e hundred men, part of the Royal New Brunswlcks. They are commended by Capt. Shore, an officer whose worth was lately tested by a court martial from which he retired with honour to the confusion of those who had ac- cused hlm.

"Near the barracks and on the bank of the rlver ls a battery of 6 or 7 pieces of cannon, and a mile further, on the end of the point jutting lnto the rlver, la a Block House with some pieces of artillery. These two batteries are all the pro- tection of the town-An default of better. At the first news of the de- claration cl’ war, the Lieutenant Governor, DesBnr-rer, wrote to Halifax for ammunition that has been lent for hlm. This veteran. B5 years of age, but active enough to pen for 60, was occupied ln re- viewing the town rnllltle. conslstlnn of 300 men, when the Bishop lend- ed. ‘

O I i

"The Bishop wee welcomed by Comrnlesloniry General Holland end asked at once to be permitted to pay his respects to the Governor who gave him hls choice, either to come and see hlm er. once on per- sde or to welt until the next day,

In our-conversation he stated eeeh person living oh P.

our ' ion Ind to pay no st.- tentlon whatever to Mr. Mc- . Intyre.

rus smash

..-»'-§B.Z'l'.'i’sr=r» Ml. "NW WASTID” ti M8,? '

when he would receive hlm at Gov- ernment House. The Bishop pre- ferred tlre latter plan and with- drew ln the meantime tan decent inn kept by a Methodist family o! the name of Bagnall. There hete- ceived the visit of General Fanning.

formerly Governor of the place, of’

Chief Justice Colclough and of the principal per-lounges of the town.

“The Chief Justice on the follow- ing day lnvlted the Bishop to cele- brute Mess in the Court House that he had cleaned out expressly, as the workmen were stlil. tn it. It was there that; the Catholics of. the town and vlclnlty met on Thursday. ‘The Bishop agreed ell the more willingly, that on the previous day he had been obliged to celebrate the Holy Mysteries ln n Catholic tavern in the absence of a. more convenient. Place.