'. p" fig§ghfijé§fiflqtjifi_fiiifiifif§'4f~¢l‘bui 377“-T~'""'“‘ “"“"‘”" ""”*““ ‘

‘ ..-,r_...<.. ..

_'.~.-‘1-f&~; ‘~_;;-—-‘ y - 0e Laws-

THE GUARDIAN

, IIIIII‘ Dull] (Founded ll Ill!) Authorised ee Second Olen lle-ll, Heat Offlee Department. Ottawa. v The lulu-led Gnu-dim xubllehlng Co. Idltor and Managing Director, J. B. Burnett]

Aeloalute Editor, Frunls Willie!

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

CHARLUTTETOWN. ‘IRUBSDAY, JULY l5, 1948 The Railway Situation .

The settlement of the threatened railway strike on the basis of a I7-cents-an-hour increase has averted a major crisis in our transportation system, and perhaps in our whole industrial econ- omy. So dependent have we become upon con- tinuous railway operation, that the very threat of a tieup is enough to cause widespread loss and inconvenience. No other Provinceln Canada is more affected in this reg d than Prince Edward Island, and the question ses whether this con- dition of affairs can be permitted to go on in-

definitely. No doubt when the Premiers of the seven dissenting Provinces appear again before

the Dominion Cabinet on July 20 in connection with the freight rates increase, they will be met with the argument that the railway strike settle" ment has made the rates boost imperaive. This point—that the railways need more revenue —is not the essential one though it has been so mis- represented in the Central Provinces. In asking for the appointment of a Royal Commission to make p full inquiry into the rail transportation situation, and for the suspension of the order of the Board of Transport Commissioners putting the 3I per cent rates increase into effect, our Maritime spokesmen plainly indicated that they were protesting against the discriminatory na- ture of the Commissioners‘ findings.

The discrimination so far as Prince Edward ls- land is concerned is strikingly obvious. Our farm and fishery products, except for a small percent;- age moved to the mainland by water, must go by rail and as cl result pay full freight charges. At the same time the production of other Pro- vinces—and particularly of the Central Provin- ces-can reach large consuming centres over paved roads adapted to the use of large trucks that can be ‘operated profitably on a mileage basis. The railways cut their rate to meet this competition, operating this service at a loss, while they reimburse themselves by collecting the full additional increase from the long-haul carload traffic already paying its way.

This means that the mainland farmer —par- ticularly the Central Canadian farmer —enjoys a special rate to move his produce by rail, be- cause a truck can do the work at less cost, while Prince Edward Island produce, by reason of the lack of truck competition, must pay the full rate every time. With every increase in rates impos- ed, this discrimination becomes mare marked.

Hence the increase in railway wages is beside the point so far as our objection to the so-collsd "horizontal" freight rates increase is concerned. Pending an adjustment of the rates situation through a Royal Commission inquiry, any prov- en financial need of the railways should be met by interim subsidy from the Federal treasury. ln this way the burden would be distributed equally, and not left to be shouldered —as it undoubted- ly will be under the Transport Commissioners’ findings —by the Provinces farthest removed from the big centres of wealth and industry.

No Government can flout the just demands of seven Provinces with impunity. lf the King Government persists in its stubborn refusal to face the issue in this case, it may provoke a crisis even more serious than that of a temporary rail- way strike, involving our whole Confederation Setup.

An Island lihampion The late Hon. R. B. Hanson, former leader of the Progressive Conservative party in the House of Commons, was not only a distinguish- ed parliamentarian but one to whom Prince Ed- ward Island owed a very special debt. During the months and years immediately follow- ing the loss of the 5.5. Charlottetown, Mr. Han- son was outspoken in pressing ourltransportation grievances on the floor of the House. At times his was the only voice raised on our behalf, and on every otheroccasion, when the subject of our car ferry requirements was brought _up, he promptly gave his support. He even incurred criticism for not minding the business of his own constituency, in his constant advocacy of our claims. \ A former Mayor of Fredericton, N.l., Mr. Hanson entered Parliament in 192i and under the Bennett Government held the portfolio of Minister of Trade and Commerce. He become acting Conservative leader after the retirement of the late Hon. Dr. Manion and held that post until the appointment as House leader of Mr. Gordon Graydon. In Mr. Graydon also, and in Mr. J. R. MacNicol, of Toronto-Davenport, ‘this Province has had able champions on many oc- casions. ‘

Business llot ‘lo Ilene

Of the report of the prices committee of the House ef Commons, Mr. Max Freedman, Ottawa correspondent of the Winnipeg Free Press, writes:

"Attempt is being made to lay the blame for

increased prices on Canadian business. The overwhelming evidence cited in the report, to- gether with its own conclusions, emphatically disprove this charge. Only a small and unrep- resentatlve minority sought to exact unreason- able or unjust profits. The influence of hoarding or speculation by business firms as a factor in driving up prices was found to be negligible. Prices have risen not because of wicked indivi- deals-er because of ‘profiteerlng’ but primarily beeleee of deep-seated economic causes, both in this colntryand abroad. ‘That is one of the re- eortslngior conclusions."

— EDITORIAL NOTES -_- '

1-1

SF. Swithin.

Governor-General In residence. i i i I

I Q I

Scooters’ Gilwel-l Training Course at Camp

.Borden. I There was heavy emigration of commercial travelers and others yesterday in anticipation of the railway strike. k

Sir Charles Dalton would have been delight- ed to honour the international Fur Breeders‘ Conference had he been spared to be here; as it is he was present in spirit.

I I Q C

The jokes about the plumber and his tools are legion but a news story from Toronto tops them all. This particular plumber borrowed a car to go back for his tools and was away for

two months.

l‘ I O I

strikes always seem to be in fields that harm t e public even more than the parties concerned. Now a strike of tax collectors or alarm clock makers would probably raise’ unions in public esteem. I I I I

Perhaps the most memorable speech the late lamented R. B. Hanson made in Parliament was that in which he bitterly declared he had to bar- row money in order to pay his Income Tax. lt touched the heart sympathetically of all--and their name is legion—-similarly situated.

i‘ "k i fr

An exchange reports that after playing for eight hours a large console type radio melted filling the house with smoke but doing no other damage. This marks a real advance in radio construction. Any radio played for eight hours on end should be designed to melt into scrap.

It i i!

A major cause of fires both indoors and out is the cigarette carelessly dropped in inflammable material. The ready-made cigarette is treated to continue burning so that it provides a high- Iy effective igniter. There would be a decided drop in the number of fires if all cigarettes burned only as long as the smoker continued to draw as is the case with hand rolled ones‘.

‘U i i i

The Democratic convention at "Philadelphia does not appear to be so noisily exuberant as its predecessor there of the Republican blend. This may be because delegates are not over-en- thusiastic about shouting for the only candidate apparently available, President Truman, who was alleged from the outset to have the nomination "in the bag."

i O

Due to political pressure, it is alleged, the Pownal St. site for the proposed new public building is to be abandoned, and an endeavpur made to secure the block of property at the cor- ner of Prince and Grafton, running back to Hensley St. Possibly expropriation will be necessary. The foimer site had already been approved by the Provincial Government and City

Council.

I o i i

An agricultural authority advises that the Swiss fighting cows, known as Val Dherens, are not to be confused with the animals used in the bull ring. These are trained on bran soaked in special white wine in preparation for the tourna- ments every spring in the Alpine valleys to de- cide which shall be christened "Queen of Queens." The winners are traditionally reward- ed with the best grazing grounds from which other cows are excluded. They must be the aristocrats of the farm world.

i i i ‘I

The fact that Australian rabbits climb trees is now officially confirmed by Sir George Jenkins, South Australia's Minister for Agriculture. He said the other day that he would not have be- lieved it if he had not seen the rabbits doing it during his recent tour of the bLorth, where rain has not fallen for seven mont s. The rabbits climbed to a height of eight or nine feet and stripped the bark fro-m the branches. Other rab- bits were below, waiting for the leaves to fall when disturbed by the operations of the top rab- bits.

I

1 Q O Q

Quite a long time ago (says The Printed Word) the kindly people of the western world de- cided'that no person would starve. From the Elizabethan poor lows, designed to help only the indigent, poor relief has developed until there‘ are now no real fears from the cradle to the grave, except the fear of work; at least fear of work of the kind mentioned in the third chapter of Gene- sis after Eve acquired that New Look. Yet there is another fear—the fear that Canada, about the healthiest nation on earth, will not be able to acquire hospital beds fast enough for the people who will climb into them at the tax-

payers’ expense.

I Q I

Hegira. History of Islamic legal system ls divis- vible ipto four periods: (l) Legislative commencing with Hegira, or the Prophets Flight to Medina this date (A.D. 632); laws divinely revealed and pro- mulgated in thl Koran, and in Hadith or Tra- ditions, inspired precepts of Mohammad. (2) From A.D. 632 to 8th century A.D., a period of-col- lection and interpretation. (3) From the 8th to the 10th cenaury A.D., foundation of thp four Sunni schools of jurisprudence, differing chiefly in details. (4) From l0th Century A.D. to the present: development of previous work. Islamic law regulates the errtire public and private re- lations of Moelemr mutually and with non-Mos- lems. Among the more interesting legal institu- tions are Wagf, transference of usufructua rights without property vesting in any individual; iehad, religious war declarable against a hostile, non-Moslem state; inheritance laws, marriage laws, permitting four wives, but entitling each to equal treatment, to separate properly, to dow-' er from husband on marriage, to paternity of all children born in wediocln-gnd to divorce.

o

' ch14!

lt seems a pity that strikes and threats of'

' can GUARDIAN, CHARLOTTETOWN

down on people ls high praise. — Kitchener-Waterloo Record.

Thoee of ne who heve trouble cleaning our glasses will sympa- thize w1th whoever has to keep that 200-1nch telescope lens ln Call- forniu clean. —- Edmonton Journal.

emu; amen lioak rooetere. m; months old, are advertised for sele. I-f you have neighbors you don't. like and who love the early morn- ing qulet. buy 'em and put 'em la your back yard. -- Port Arthur Men's-Chronicle.

It le surely e. in: of the modern spirit when the Church of England decides lt needs and must. possess 1n its service a “publicity agent," notes the‘ London Free Press. In any case the church assembly In London has approved such an ep- polntment. The actual title of the new appointee 1s to be chief infor- mation board. Total costs of board and secretary have been estimated at. $52,000 anhually and no less a prelate than the Archbishop at Canterbury has approved, the pro- posal — Sydney Post Record

A new scientific discovery which guarantees permanent moth-proof \voollen cloths has been announc-

‘ ed 1n Icndon by the International

Wool Secretariat The discovery hinges on years of research lute means of making wool indlgestlbie to moth grubs The usual method of mothproof g has been to add antl- mot-h chemicals to the surface of the fibre and this has always had the drawback that. the chemicals eventually washed off Now, by soaking wool in a certain solution, the fibres can be rapidly changed from the moth grub‘s. favourite food to something ft can't digest at all — Fredericton Gleaner

John Gould, In "The House That Jacob Built." (Morrow), cells of a brace of M.I.T. professors who spent. a whiter night ln e. Maine cabin-They were impressed by the way a native guide ‘red set up his stove four feet off the floor on chunks of wood, from which ft did a remarkaible Job of treating the room. A computation of_ the floor area and cubic content. shaw- ed that the stove‘s heat output was tremendously increased by ifs position. Amazed that an unedu- cated Woodsman could have figm-

ed out a. thing like that, they questioned hlm. “How did you manage ta figure it so closely

without. referring to any mathe- matical tables?" they asked. “Wel1," the guide answered, "I just had so much pipe and wnere the pipe ended I had to prop the stove up and attach 1t." -- Sutur- day Review o1 Literature.

Tow Dewey has learned a lot In four years. He has learned, mainly, about hls own strength. He ls sure of himself now, and he wasnl. tour years ago. Today his deep laugh 1s slow and easy. Four years ago there was a. nervous and uneasy quality about 1t. The voters then sensed there was something wrong lll the Denvey personality. Franklin Roose- velt, with thatslxth sense of his. knew it and worked unmercifully on Tom Dewey's weakness. Close friends of the Governor explain that. the death of Fknnklln Roose- velt. —- the one man who could hurt. Dewey —hus made him calm-

hls own satisfaction that he has been a gOOd Governor, efficient and fectlve. He has learned how to make government administration seemingly as effortless as fishing in a sleepy country stream. lle has discovered how to poke and per- suede a legislature into action. — Tris Coffin, 1n New York Post.

Although there hue been e greet increase 1n hunting in North Arn- erlca since the end of tne war, the suggestion made 1n Parliament that Canada and the United States should declare a closed season for duck may not. be practicable. For one reason. many states across the border have no financial approwrla- tlon, as 1n Canada, for their game commissions, but. depend upon re- venue from hunting and fishing licences. An International close sea- son treaty would mean financial loss and thus lessen such game protection ins-already exists. For- tunately, there ls little cause for alarm as yet. Officials of the Ce- nadlnn Government say that-far two years past. hunting restrictions both here and in the United States have become ' progressively more severe, and the prospect. le that both the reason end tihe beg will be further limited this your. Thus, they hope not. only to maintain but. even to increase the duck popula- tion without stopped hunting. — Otto/we Citizen.

‘Oonntleee admirers of the lovely end historic St. John River. who liynent the passing of the pictures- que passenger steamers from he scene, can find some consolation at least tn one traditional end un- changing feature of travel on the big at urn: this Bummer. u for more hen-half e century of Sum- mers pest, fntrqild Dr. William Macintosh le personally guiding e flotilla. of canoes on an expedition that combined vacationing pleeeure end the thrill of oolentlffo dleoovery In hte elghtlettr year, the retired dkeotor of the New Brunswick Mu- seum tr ea keen ee ever to emlore the landscape of the river end ltA ninnerous bydweys for reiloe of fu- dlen deye end the period of Hie- lleh-French etrlfe. Dr. llecfatorh -ls not allowing rcproeohful Father Tlme to rnodfly the ‘eoape oi hie 1MB itinerary. Already hie first party 1s peddling lte wey up ta the 5t. John on e two-week out- ing, and in July he will take en- other canoe excursion from Poklok Fella, above Fredericton, on l month-long, devlaue, leisurely course. -8elnt. John ‘lbleereph- Jourrv‘

er andmnrer, He has learned to _

F Notes From ‘nuns B! way‘ Another island

g, ..um. It's more pleeeent when the low- ..___

IONDON. lhklnnd - The novel Borough. of Kenslngton, that pert of London to the west. of the ex- ~ponelve West md, hu e. large pop- uletlon of people who ere often called the “arty-crefty" types.

They ere the people who heve the most. "English" of mgllsh ee- oeutn and ere very much concern- ed wlth the cultural erte. 1s either because they esrn their 11v- lng (or at any rate try) es musl- elans, artists, poet-s, sculptors and such llke, or because they feel that as they llve 1n Kenslngton they ought to abide by the accepted Kenslngton tradition and be fam-

lllu- with the erts as l. hobby and chief interest.

There's nothing wrong with them, of course-they are mostly very nice people-but not. generally the klud I mean when I speak about “ordinary folk," the solid, down-lo-eurth chaps who prefer a pint of beer to a. Rembrandt por- trait, or, a. game of footba to an exhibition of modern sc-u ture; the chaps who like to be left in peace and not. messed about, end who have a hearty dislike of any kind of sffectatlon.

Consequently it. may have seemed unusual, lf not down-right peculiar, to see thousands of these ordinary chaps one evening rec- ently 1n Kenslngton. There were so many of them that they stood out all the more from the general Kenslngton population. They were nearly all dressed neatly but quiet- ly 1n their Sunday best, many Wen-Yin! the sort. of standard-pet.- tem suit. that every deimobflfzed servicemen was Issued with.

They all crowded into the Royal Albert Hall, Kenslngtans masslw concert hall, and though that wa- unusuol, too, it. supplied the rea- son for the violation of the Royal Borough's "arty-crafty" atmosphere. It was Burma Reunion night, and these ordlmirymen were all ex- mermbers of the not-so-ordlnary 14th Army and its attendant forces, who fought one Jops yord-by-yard out oif Burma.

They gather for e. reunion each year to sing their favorite songs together. hear o. concert by some of the performers who entertain- ed them 1n the jungles, end to hear speeches by their old commanding general and their old Supreme commander, Lord Louis Mountbat- ten, coualn of King George VI. They talk over old tllmes. recall In- cidents in the campaign and en- joy drinks and smokes 1n the sort of comfort they used to dream about three years ago.

The Royal Albert Hull has seen a good many of the most. disting-

uished personages of the world in its history. but surely never a gath- lng so steeped lnbashful glory as on Burma Reunion night. Perhaps to call them ordinary folk ls ai- most. an insult! O I I _

A remarkable old man come to vlslt us lest. week-flan old friend of my wife's family. He has been most things In his lifetime, from London l-drlver to deep-ecu flshemnan, ut. one thing he has never been is miserable, desrplle more than a fair share of mis- fortune.

A terrible accident. many years ago, followed by attacks of sev- ere rheumatlsm, left l‘1'."n crippled

has?

rAs-rounrl _

Summer ts standing still along this road Y

Where wild blackberries hang from dusty vines,

An ancient wagon creaking with its load

Complains to distant hills and lowering pines.

Time stops for Just o. moment to record ‘Tranquility against some future

day.

A reservoir of peeoe that oen be stored

And drawn upon slips away.

when mirmme

-Vlney Wilder in the mi.- York B’.

I 6 6 1

Old Charlottetown (And P. I. l.)

"-r— PIOIDGATION IPIICH

“In remarking how little hps resulted from the present meet- ing of the General Assembly, I em bound to declare my sense of your " ‘ attention to business, and of your perfect readiness to oo-operete in every eelutery mcesute. .

"f heve hed great satisfaction in affording you ample time end opportunity for examining end investigating wlutever reletee to the public expenditure. In this, end in ell other reqieoie, I heve been actuated by the moat sincere desire to pay very marked etton- tlon to your privileges. I: this conduct on my pert. hee not been altogether-met. on youre by e correspondent. degree of llherellty, end confidence, it le e. mutter that, however It rney form e ground for polftloel regret. l. imon ooaatltutioael principles,

etenoee, the detaining you lame! together rloee not elem likely to loea to any beneflotel end, It be- oomee expedient to release you from further attendance, eua to terminate the seeelon - ‘