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THE GUARDIAN

Morning Dally (Founded in i881) Aullsorhed in [sitcom] cum mil, rim Office Department, Ottawa. . The lslnnil (lulsrollnn Publishing Co. Editor and Messaging Director, J. ll. Burnett. Anoalnto Editor, Frank Walker.

"The Strongest Memory is Weaker Than the Weakest Ink.”

THURSDAY. OCT. 2B. i948

CHARLOTTETOWN,

lln Extraordinary Situation

.n extraordinary lack of coordination in a matter of vital importance to the Province was revealed at the Boards‘ of Trade meeting called to discuss the need for an auxiliary Borden ferry. This subject had been dealt with by Premier Jones in a letter to the Minister of Transport, dated May 27 last, in which it was stated that a suitable boat was- then in sight at a ready-to- run cost of approximately $125,000, capable of carrying fifty motor vehicles, and that with the construction of small wooden docks at Borden and Tormentine the service could be placed in operation "in the late summer as l understand she is available immediately to go into dry dock which would take about six or eight weeks." The Premier urged "that immediately an investiga- tion of the proposed boot be made, that a grant be placed in the estimates for this work, and that a contract be given at Borden and Tormen- tine for the building of suitable docks and pos- sibly some light dredging which might have to be carried on." The Premier recalled a promise given "some six years or more ago" that an aux- iliary boat service would be provided at Borden "as quickly as possible," and concluded by stat- ing that he was forwarding copies of his letter to the members of the House of Commons for the Province and also to the Press, as he consid- ered this to be "a matter which is of the great- est interest to the people of Prince Edward island, and possibly is the livest question which we have to face at the present time."

The letter also dealt with other phases of our transportation problem and constituted in itself a very effective brief. Apparently it received no attention at Ottawa; at any rate, the Minister's reply, if any, was not released nor has any pub- lic reference been made to it from that day to this.

At Tuesday night's Boards of Trade meeting Hon. A. W. Matheson, who represented the Gov- ernment in Premier Jones’ absence, was queried by Mr. McLure as to the disposition of the Pre- mier's letter of last May. He"was asked if.it was not similar to the brief now being discussed, and to state the nature of the reply received at that time from Ottawa.

Mr. Matheson, while assuring the meeting of the Government's interest in their brief, said he could not answer Mr. McLure’s question as he had no personal knowledge of the matter.

Mr. Matheson took office as Minister of Health and Welfare on March i2, i948, and was therefore a full-fledged member of the Cabinet at the time of the Premier's communication with the Transport Minister. His lack of knowledge of a matter which his leader regarded as "the livest question we have to face at the present time"—and which was the particular subject of discussion at the Boards of Trade meeting he was attending as Government spokesman—is altogether inexplicable.

Surely, if the Health Minister lacked all knowledge of the matter, it would have been advisable to have had another Government re- presentative present—-preferably Hon. Mr. Bar- bour, who as Minister of Public Works must surely have possessed information that would have enlightened the meeting. As it was, the meeting proved quite ineffectual in accomplish- ing any concrete purpose. lt must have been obvious to everyone present that if a brief pre- sented directly to the Transport Minister by the Premier of this Province could be treated as a matter of no importance, and its disposition a matter of ignorance even to his own Cabinet colleagues, then the chances of a similar brief from the Boards of Trade receiving favorable attention would be very slim indeed.

Containers lire Important

An Upper Canada visitor to Nova Scotia was hungry for a few famous Annapolis Yallcy apples. On asking for them, he was told tlic store didn't have any. But he was able to buy British Columbia apples. "Why," he ask- ed Canadian Grocer, "couldn't I get Nova Scotia apples in Halifax?" No doubt the answer lies in the packings. British Columbia apples are packed in attractive boxes, not barrels or bas- kets. The fruit is invariably uniform in size, not large on top and small on the bottom. Other provinces have talked about improving appear- ance of containers. Nevertheless, most of their fruit still is in six quart baskets (and a lot of it is sold in that way). Some still is displayed in open, unattractive barrels. "We must not forget that Canadians are earning plenty of money these days," the grocery business paper observes. "Their standard of living has greatly improved. They want quality in the foods they buy, and they want to buy them in attractive packages or containers under inviting surround- lngs."

~— EDITORIAL

-—-_-L Feast of St. Simgn gndft-Jude.

NOTES

The Liberals have now nominated their stan- dard-bearers in two counties, leaving only Prince to be heard from, and their sitting member is

certain of re-nomiilatipii.

I O

it is somehow appropriate that the British steel nationalization bill should be introduced at a Parliament opened with regal splendor. Some one predicted that if Britain ever went Communist it would b: a: His Majesty's Soviet.

‘i d . Everythihgl politically at present hinges’ on the decision not of Ottawa but of Washington after November second-even o floor for island pota-

toes. That is how closely allied we now are with our neighbours south of the border. The visit of U.5. warships is not unconnected with the aligning of Canada and the U.S. in face of Soviet threats of war.

a it 9r a

The continuing spiral of mountingwages and prices is rather like having a bear by the tail, disagreeable and dangerous to hold on to but even riskier to let go.

‘k i

n

Halifax is to discard its ancient trams in favour of troliy-coaches by December ist. There will be those who regard the passing of the street, railway with sentimental regret but we welcome Halifax to the fraternity of modern cities which move their citizens on the pneu-

matic tire.

new:

The Very Rev. Hewlett Johnson, Dean of Can- terbury, has caused quite a stir in this country and the United States before even arriving herc. lt must be gratifying to the "Red Dean" who, at home, is accustomed to being regarded mere- ly as a sort of harmless freak.

i k "k ‘A’

lt has been announced that the Jewish and Arab Communist parties have been formally united as the "Israeli Communist Party" with the aim of fighting "for a binational state of Palestine." There is no doubt but that Russia would enthusiastically welcome a puppet state practically on the Suez canal.

i fl I K

lf Mahamet will. not come to the Mountain, perforce the Mountain must go to Mahomet. Froaf of this is found in the fact that though through indisposition Prime Minister Mackenzie

Conference in London, all the other Premiers and representatives have visited him and con- sulted with him during his confinement in his hotel.

0 n

John Locke, English philosopher, died this date i704. His reputation rests on a treatise called An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, in which he argues that every intelligent person should investigate matters for himself and not take another man's word for it. "l can n'o more know anything by another man's understanding than l can see by another man's eyes. Know- ledge is a treasure which cannot be lent or

made over to another." i fi

a n

e e

One may "miss the bus" by being in time as well as being late. Amelia Garcia went to La Guardia Field in New York Thursday to fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The some afternoon she arrived in London. Slie had been in good time but settled comfortably in the wrong plane. The woman, who speaks no English, could find no one at London Airport who could speak Spanish. However, someone put her aboard another plane. Ari hour later she was flying back to New York to start all over again.

s i.

The joint Bo_ards of Trade have decided to fall into line with the Provincial Govern-ment in the matter of increased shipping facilities on the Borden-Tormentine route. But to be effective the Boards must do "the pushing and the shoving", for governments proverbially de- light in delays, and usually stall unless high pres- sure is brought to bear upon them. In the wards of poet Holland:

"God give us men. A time like this demands

Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands! whom the lust of office does not kill, whom the spoils of office cannot buy, who possess opinions and a will, ' who love honour, men who cannot lie."

k

Men Men Men Men

it a vi

All is not gold that glitters or silventlhat shines as beauty show sponsors are realizing. Hamilton Lions club has voted against backing the Miss Canada pageant in i949 and it is be- lieved the beauty contest will leave Hamilton, Ont., where it originated in i946 during the Hom- ilton Centennial. No reason was given by the Lions for dropping the show, although after the pageant last August members stated the Lions had "lost $3,000 to $4,000." lt is reported the contest might go to Halifax, N. S. Betty Jean Ferguson of that city won the crown this year. It is the second time the pageant has been without a sponsor. Shortly after the i947 show, the Hamilton Police Amateur Athletic associa- tion voted against sponsorship after backing it twice. Officials said privately at the time they had lost money.

e w

Seven years ago, on October Z7, i941, the British troopship "Awatea", carrying a Canadian Expeditionary Force of almost 2,000 men under Brig. J. K. Lawson, sailed from Vancouver for Hong Kong. The force was comprised of two battalions of infantrv—the ist Bn. Winnipeg Grenadiers, and the Royal Rifles of Canada — and a brigade headquarters. Officially known os "C" Force, the contingent arrived in Hong Kong on November l6. Three weeks later, on December 8th, the Canadians found themselves with the rest of the Hong Kong garrison en- gaged in a full-scale war. The Canucks dis- tinguished themselves during the bitter two-day battle of Wogneichang Gap but suffered heavy casualties. Practically the whole of the Brigade HQ staff, including Brigadier Lawson, were kill- ed and one company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers suffered 80 per cent casualties. By the 22nd the position was all but hopeless. Members of the garrison, after two weeks continuous battle, were-desperately tired, and the supply situa- tion, especially water, had become critical as the chief reservoirs had fallen into Japanese hands. On the 23rd, one day's supply was all that re- mained, but the defenders continued to cling to their positions through the 23rd and 24th. On Christmas .Day, with all hope of warding off disaster gone, the valiant Hong Kong garrison surrendered. Of the Canadians taken prisoner, I37 died through malnutrition and other causes in Jap prisoner-of-war camps, bringing the total

of Canadian dead in defence of Hong Kong to 555.

King was unable to attend the Dominion Premiers"

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Pola toes With Thorns

(Ottawa Journal) Canada's bumper potato crop this year has caused what amounts ai- most. to an international situation. and somewhat of a domestic up- roar as well. The Government. here hardly know which way to turn. Canadian potatoes have become a thorn in the flesll of New England politicians. Our crop is selling like hotcakes in the U. S. while their own spuds remain ln ware- houses at supported prices. As a result, the politicians are urging Washington to place an embargo on further imports and Washing- ton would. no doubt, like to do something because the supported price is costing them a lot of money besides filling Federal stor- age wlth potatoes for which there ls no market.

On the other hand if the Govern-

ment here heeds the demands of

potato surplus provinces, and the

growers, and places a floor price

under potatoes, which would of

necessity have to approximate the

U. S. price less import duties, it

VWJlllfl mean a sharp advance in

prices and consumers’ organizations

would ba on their neck. Growers

teal" that if‘ the U. S. market. is

closed to them prices will decline

sharply as the supply ls consider-' ably in excess of domestic require-

menls.

It is understood Canada has used

up her quota for potatoes entering

the U. S. under the reduced tariff. l but even at the higher rate of

75 cents per hundred pounds our. product can still undersell U. S.

potatoes at the supported price. In

New Brunswick growers are get-

ting about one dollar a hundred

while the support. price ln Maine

is $2.60. Naturally grower! and the

Government in the U. S. would like

us to keep our potatoes at home‘, 8nd. as this is election year down

pressure to have them kept out.

The Marco Polo's Bell (lion Sclanders in the

Saint John Telegraph Journal) You can see the Marco P0103 figureheecl at the New Bruns- wlck Museum ln Saint. John _- a gaily-Pulrlted wooden man who recllnes with a hand on cue hip. And, as you loo-k at his impish pink-checked face, you nhink how many mrirlorles he would have — if wooden men had minds. To be- gln with, he'd remember the ex- citement. and heartbreak of one launching. l That. was buck in April, 186i. in‘ Nllsrsli Crcck, which flOWsr into Courtenay Bay. There was a crowd around the mayor and other dignitaries - because the Marco Polo was the biggest. vessel that had been constructed at snlni, John up until fhen_ She left Saint. Jnlm May 2il on her mnldrii voy- ulrc. ivith a cargo at tli-nber and scrap iron, and l5 days later she was in Liverpool. She seller! fro-m there to MOhlIe for n load of cot. ton and Inns back at. the English Dori. in 30 days.

She was 1M fcet long and her breadth umldshlPS was 36 feet. She had three decks and a half-poop, with a height of elglhi; feet be- tween decks, and rwas stoutly built of hard pine, hackmateck, cak and other woods. She was not. a clip- per in the true sense of t/he iemi. and was lofty and somewhat box- llke above water. But. her under- water lines were sharp and stream- llncd. .

James Baines decided she was just what ho wanted for hle rap- tdly-growlng Black Ball Lino of Australian packets. He bought. her and had her refitted as a passen- ger carrier, equipping her with elaborate saloons for first-class passengers and converting her ‘tween decks into berths for 1,000. Gold had been found in Australia and thousands were seeking pas- sage to that, country,

Balncs appointed Juries Nichol Forbes - "Bully" Forbes, he was celled — as her captain. Ami nn- olher skipper asked Forbes joking- ly whether he really believed he could go to Australia in a "fan- eled-up" lumber carrier. "I'll be there and beck in six months," Forbes replied. And the funny part of it. was that his boast more ‘iv-- came true. Five months and 21 days ter the Marco Polo .‘- -.:.l

from verpoc-l she was back, hav- ing encircled the globe and dil-

wlierc the

charged and loaded at Melbourne. In Australia. Captain Forbes had taken his crew ashore in irons fa prevent them from desertlng to try their luck in the gold fields

They must. have been an odd sight},

visiting the waterfront tethered together like n gang ln a prison.

President Balnes c-l’ bile Black Bail Iilne had ideas about public- ity which, for the period in which he lived, were fairly advanced. Be- fore the Marco Polo set out on her first trip to Australia be billed her as “a great frigate-built. clip- per ship." But after her record run, he simply styled her “the fastest ship in the world" - which she undoubtedly virus.

l-ler fame spread, and so spread the fame of Saint John as a. ship- building centre, and James Smith as a shlpbullder. Orders poured in. Looking back you can see that it was this amazing vessel, more than anything else, that ushered in the li3lC_\'Oll clays of shipbuild- ing in New Brunswick. For vnhcr- ever the Marco Polo went she ad- vertised the skill of the marine designers and builders of the province.

For 15 years slle was in the Australian service. Then she was out. down and converted into a. barque. In 1880, she was sold to Llle Norwegians, and in 1888 she piled up on the beach at Cape Cavendish, Prince Edward Island.

Tne bell which summoned lier first class passengers to their meals fell into the hands 0f an auctioneer at Charlottetown who rang it to attract customers, And one day a Saint. John marl, the late J.S. MncLaren, father of Lieutenant-Governor DI... Mac- Leren, turned up at. a Charlotte- town auction.

He didn't buy any of the goods the auctioneer hail for sale. Ill-

bars rlll chain-

bell.

So the bell came back to the Marco Polo's home port. - and today it's the dinner bell at the Millionaires‘ Club.

Treaties (Winnipeg Free Press» In the Record Office in London, major ilocumeilts of English history are preserved. a

curious and unique exhibition has

been an display. Treaties dating brick to 1191 ilnil bearing the name

of Richard the Lion-IIcarf begin

the exhibition. which cnils with the postul arrangements of 1934 be- tween Britain and Russia. Tllis is the most cxii-nsivc collection of lrc-zitlcs over to have ilccn shown lHIlJllPl)’ in Grout Britain and pol‘- llups In any other country.

Lord Salisbury uscd to say that llll lrcnlics nrc rnorlul, and those who visit tho exhibition anti count lhc number of solcmu cngnlrcnlcnis that have bi-i-n broken lry nations, will hi: inclined to cclln his mor- dont pPSSimlSIll. Yet some treaties have lasted u long time. England's treaty with Portugal. first. conclud- cd in I386, managed to liurvivc thc stormy interrcgnunl of lhc Armzliln days and ls still the basis of alli- ance between tho two countries.

A more vlvlil, though melancholy, interest attaches to the‘ treaties which record the vnnlty of human greatness or mark the fallen hopes of pence. Veterans of the First World War, it. may be imagined. pause before the treaty of 1835i guaranteeing the safety of Belgium and look at it long and hard: for this ls the famous "Scrap of Pn- per" whose violation by Germany began four years of cnrnugc. There are treaties with Napoleon whr-n lie tow-cred ln arrogance ovcr Europe, and treaties with the some man of destiny when ha had dwin- dled to the narrow compass in- evitably reserved for those who trample on freedom. There is the treaty which Disraeli brought back from Berlin and ln is fit of mis- taken rhetoric called "Pence with llanor,“ a phrase which has passer] into the derision of history and been shunned by English states- men although it was uncd by Nev- ille Chamberlain ta describe the still more monumental blunder of the Munich agreement.

Perhaprthe final impression left by the exhibition on a reflective mind is that. the world has always been e most dangerous place, and that the boat of men have spent the best of their days in the attempt. to

, make it. somewhat. less dangerous.

I

Chiefs?’

THE WOODSPUMIE

The Wllld mapped loose. the “W1 Wits still,

Shaken oufdeacl frcm tree and hill’

I had walked on at the wmdb will- I sat now, for the wind was still. Between my knees my forehead vs'a.s,-—

My llps, drawn lll, said not. Alas‘. My hair was over in the grass, My naked ears heard the day pass.

My eyes, wide open. had bhe run

Of 501119 ten weeds to fix- upon:

Among those few, out of tile sun.

The woodspurge flowered. three cups fr: one.

From perfect. grief there need not

be

Wisdom or even memory:

One thing then learnt. remalns to me.— ivoodspurge has three.

The n cup of ‘D. G. Rossetti.

"f§i'€0l>0®i>0i@0id®4 Old Charlottetown (And r. n. I.)

TROUT NETTING

l "Whose fault ls it that the trout streams of Prince Edward Island ‘are so depleted by netting that it. is

there, there must be considerable stead, he bought. the auctloneefsialmost lmlwfllllle 1° °blain 5 “l?

catch of fish’! This urisportsman-

_ like trick, to put it mildly, is one

of the sllllest and most selfish that can be indulged in, for, if carried to extremes, it means that. in a very short time all the flsh will be driven out. of the streams in which such shameful work ls car- ried on. We have it on the best authority that this netting ls more general than would be thought. to be the case, and that proper steps are not taken to punish those who engage in it. . . . We have facts to llnnd to prove that, in a stream rind pond not far from Charlotte- town, trout were netted ln such quantities that. the fish in excess of what the poachers required were fed to the pigs. . . An associa- tion of our linglcrs would appear to he n good way i0 arrive at some method of having the law enforc- cd."