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OPINIONS DA THE DAILY TIMES -GAZETTE OSHAWA WHITB TJE OSHAWA TIMES (Established 1871) THE WHITBY GAZETTE AND CHRONICLE (Established 1863) MEMBER OF THE CANADIAN PRESS The Canadian Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news despatches credited to it or to The Associated Press or Reuters in this paper and also the local news published therein. All rights of republicatior. of special despatches herein are also reserved. : i The Times-Gazette is a member of the Canadian Dally News- papers Association, the Ontario Provincial Dailies Association, and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Delivered by carrier in Oshawa, Whitby, Brooklin, Port Perry, Ajax or Pickering, 24c per week, $12.00 per year. By mall, outside carrier delivery areas, anywhere 'n Canada and England $7.00 per year, $3.50 for 6 mouth: $2.00 for 3 months. US. $9.00 per year. Authorized as Second Class Matter, Post Office Dept., Ottawa, Can. Net Paid Circulation Average Per Issue 7,91 5 NOVEMBER, 1947 MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1947 a Appeal Was Heeded As never before in the history of Ontario, the slogan "If you drink don't drive, if you drive don't drink" was pushed this month by practically every newspaper, magazine and radio station. It is pleasing to note that the drive to make drivers conscious of the ehance they take if the try to mix gasoline and alcohol bore fruit. In Oshawa and Whitby the Christmas holicay was re- markably free of accidents. Whit)y reported one small acci- dent while in Oshawa and surrounding district 'here were only three accidents. Three drivers have been charzed but in their reports of the accidents to the press police officers gave no indication that there was any suggestion that drinking had played any part in them. It was gratifying also to note that there were no serious fires in the district which is an indication that parents and others took note of the appeals by fire departments and fire officials and took the precautions necessary to prevent out- breaks which might have marred the holiday season. Thursday of this week will be another big holiday. New Year's Eve is always marked by a round of parties and dances to usher in the new year. It is to be hoped that the same common sense will be exercised as was the case at Christmas so that the holiday will be happy for everyone. Commander Blamed When the Canadian destroyer "Micmac" collided with the freighter "Yarmouth County", off Halifax Harbor last July 16, eleven men, including a Pickering Township man, were killed and sixteen were injured. The destroyer was seriously damaged and required a great deal of rebuilding to make her gerviceable. Following the collision an exhaustive enquiry was launched. On December 21, an official report of the accident was issued in which the captain of the destroyer, Com- mander J. C. Littler, D.S.C., of Victoria, was blamed. The report in part stated: "The damage, loss of life and injury to personnel was caused by the default of the commanding officer". Commander Littler will not be charged with criminal negligence, although he apparently trusted too much in his radar equipment and his ship was moving at more than moderate speed when entering the harbor in fog. It was revealed in the evidence that in the heaviest of fog, the Micmac picked up the merchantman, 500 yards dis- tant. The destroyer was travelling at 28 knots, the freighter at 12. Make that in miles for 2 motor car and you get 32 or 33 one way, 14 or 15 the other way. It thus called for mighty prompt decision by the skippers. Several officers of our acquaintance, serving on lake * freighters, speak with pride of the job radar does in assisting in navigation. The equipment will pick up objects a thousand yards away and while not of so much use when very close to shore, it picks up islands and other vessels. Skippers swear by radar and think it is one of the big advances in navigation. There Are Two Sides London Free Press) There will be a good deal of sympathy with the plan of the Ontario Command of the Canadian Legion to ask the Dominion convention on May 28, to strengthen the constitu- tion by instituting a ban on Communists, Since the Red purge at Ottawa and the Gouzenko revelations the Commun- ist has appeared as a full-fledged enemy of our way of life and a threat to our national safety. We may expect to see the Legion policy adopted by other groups in Canada. Yet there is another side to group or national action against Communists. Fruetuoso Plans, former professor at the Cervantes University in Spain, and a supporter of Gen- eral Franco, now visiting Canada, proclaims the virtues of a state in which the Communist is given precious little free- dom. Speaking in Toronto, Professor Plans stated that Franco's police know every Communist or suspected Com- munist in Spain, and that at any time whenever necessary, these people can be picked up. He expressed his support of the Franco regime because it is a bulwark against Russian Communism, Now Franco's Spain is quite as much a totalitarian gov- ernment as Hitler's or Mussolini's was. The little general came to power through rebellion against the duly elected government of Spain and only succeeded in fastening his Fascist grip on the country through the active military aid he received from Germany and Italy. Certainly, we should be aware of Corimunism and work to defeat it, but we should we quite as careful to avoid being led or pushed. into some sort of totalitarian police state such as that so ably maintained by "El Caudill" in Spain, LY TIMES-GAZETTE EDITORIAL PAGE reatusss By HAROLD DINGMAN Ottawa Correspondent Ottawa, Dec. 20 -- Section 12 of Magna Charta, as explained in an historical treatise by Boyd C. Bar- rington, specifically provided that "the King could not levy any scut- age (tax) without the consent of the Great Council". The Great Coun- cll was the parliament of England 700 years ago. "This Charter of John," said Barrington in his book published in 1899, "stopped all levies of these taxes by either the King or his barons, and they were not again levied without the consent of the Council." Messrs. King and Abbott have turned back the block some 732 years. On November 18, 1947, a 25 per cent excise tax was imposed on the Canadian people. They are pay- ing it now. Parliament was neither consulted about the tax, nor has Parliament yet approved. Magna Charta was signed in 1215. Almost all our constitutional guar- antees and freedoms can be traced back to that document signed by King John. Mr. Abbott said in the Short Par- Ifament of 1947 that Parliament would approve his taxes; so why all the fuss? No doubt Parliament will ap- prove, The Liberal Party is not go- ing to be thrown out of office on this issue. And if it were a Tory government or a Socialist govern- ment, the same situation would probably develop. More and more Parliament is be- coming subservient to the will of the executive, the dozea men in the back room. There is not much fire or spirit in the Canadian Parliament any more. Not even in the Opposi- tion, with some rare exceptions. A newspaperman who returned a short time ago from England, and who watched the Short Parliament before Christmas, said he was "stag- gered and bewildered" by the Ot- tawa performance. In England, he said, where the Labor Government has an overwhelming majority-- and therefore is strong and cannot be thrown out of office easily--Par- liament is a fiery, explosive place. The Labor members themselves raise the very devil with their own government. On a vote on a major issue the party lines up belind the Cabinet put the party is not sub. servient and the executive doesn't try to shove things down its throat. The Cabinet consults the party in caucus before bringing down new major policies. Was the Liberal Party consulted before the new excise tax was im- posed on November 18? Of course not. There was no more bewildered group of people than the Liberals. They didn't know the tax was coming and when they tried to explain to their electors they were hopelessly lost. They came down to Ottawa confused and perhaps even angry. But they did nothing about it. The finance minister rose in his place and gave his usual excellent per- formance. "I am not claiming the right to tax the Canadian people," said Mr. Abbott. "It is nothing more than a notice that the tax will be imposed if Parliament ap- proves, and if Parliament refuses to impose it nobody is under legal ob- ligation to pay the tax today until Parliament does approve." But you are paying the tax today. You've been paying it since Novem- ber 18. You paid it on many Christmas gifts. In 1215 King John signed away his right to do this. ® 15 Years Ago Of four 'nominated for reeve of East Whitby Township, only Reeve W. A. Lavis had qualified to run for office. The 6thers--John Ross, F. L. Mason and Lt.-Col. R. B. Smith-- had not made their position clear. Deputy Reeve Everett C. Warne had qualified and was assured a contest for his post when Charles A. Spar- row also filed qualification papers. Mrs. J.'T. Dalby and her daughter, Mrs. Cameron Murray, suffered fatal injuries in an auto accident. They were returning home from a Christmas family reunion. Mr. Dal- by was in hospital, seriously injured. W. E. N. Sinclair, KC. MLA. was elected mayor of Oshawa by acclamation when Mayor Thomas Hawkes announced his decision to retire from office. ~ , Mr. and Mrs. Frank Guy, Brock Street East, were honored by rela- tives and friends on their goldén wedding 'anniversary. Mayor Hawkes disclosed at a meeting of electors that relief ex- penditures in the city totalled $233,- 612 for the period January 1.De. cember 27, 1932. Of this amount, the city paid out $68,811 while the federal and provincial governments bore the remainder of the expense. oA Bit of Versee NOT LONG They are not long, the weeping and the leughter, Love and desire and hate; I think oey have no portion in us after We pass the gate, They are not long, the days of wine es. . and roses, Out of a misty dream Our path emerges for a while, then closes Within a dream. ~--Ernest Dowson. -------- ® A Bible Thought What gifts did you receive at Christmas ?-- "The gift of God is eternal life | through Jesus Christ our Lord." y (Rom. 6:23.) 'Columibia Lib:cral leader and Pre- o Other Editors WHO IS SPENDING? (Victoria Times) We hate the high prices forced on us by greed, but let's talk sense. If the people are suffering, who is spending billions for luxuries? LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT (Lethbridge Herald) Those people who are always talking about how much better things would be under government planning and government monopoly are,not getting very much encour- agement of the news from London. MUCH THE SAME (Windsor Daily Star) "Western Powers Leave Door Open for Future Co-operation with Rus- sia." Then, of course, there was the man who had locked the hangar door after the jet-propulsion plane had been stolen. HOME SAFETY (Port Arthur News-Chronicle) Make your home-fire-safe for the. It is not comfortable run. ning to the neighbor's in night | clothes during the cold season. And how are you going to get out if the fire comes up the stairway as it most often does? DEFENCE STATUTES. (Niagara Falls Review) { One measure which should not prove controversial in Parliament is one calling for consolidation of 'all the defence statutes, to take the place ;of 'the many now in effect, separately for the army, navy, air force, militia, with many different codes of discipline for members of each. It seems sensible to oconsoli- date all defence statutes into ene clear act. OF ICELANDIC DESCENT (Brockville Recorder and Times) | Byron Johnson, the new British mier-glesignate of that province, is the first individual of Icelandic des- cent. to rise to such a position in the public life of the Dominion. Actually he was christened "Bjorn" by his parents, that name being anglicized into "Byren." NO TANTRUMS! (Ottawa Citizen) A lady teller in a Los Angeles | bank threw a handful of silver dollars jn a bandit's face, slammed her wifidow and screamed. Thus rebuffed, the poor frightened fellow | ran out. Why don't banks caution their help not to indulge in tan- | trums! . NO PROTECTION (Winnipeg Tribune) In Winnipeg, as in every other large city, known degenerates roam the streets at will. Their records are on police files and the potential danger to children is realized, but they are beyond the law until they commit crimes which can be traced | to them. Many have served mere ! than one jail or penitentiary term | for sex offences, but on expiry of sentence they are again let loose on society. NO GENERAL MISERY IN CANADA (Montreal Daily Star) +The opposition makes a fool of itself when it paints a picture of general misery. Mr. Bracken's dec- laration of the dire state of agri- culture, for instance, fits no known facts. The Government is doing a | pretty good job. It is the function | of the opposition to make it do a | its | better one, but it weakens criticism by gross exaggeration. FREE.OF-DEBT COUNTIES (Toronto Daily Star) Middlesex county is now free of | The 1945 report of the De- | partment of Municipal Affairs listed || 17 out of 38 counties in this favor-.| debt. able position: Brant, Bruce, Elgin, Essex, Haliburton, Hastings, Huron, | Kent, Lambton, Lennox-Addington, Lincoln, Oxford, Perth, Simcoe, Waterloo, Welland and Wellington. Tue addition of Middlesex brings the number to 18, and it may be that others have become debt-free since the report was compiled, LJ greater tor all Keep unnecessary lights switched off. Do not use electric air heaters or grates. Cook complete meals in oven as often as sible. Switch top-stove elements to "off" as soon as pos- sible, and use stored heat. SAVE ELECTRICITY IN EVERY WAY YOU CAN. THE HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER i COMMISSION OF ONTARIO > YEAR-END VALUES for a Thrift-right start in the New Year! onone 02 v ~~ 2 & TOMOKROW . . . be sure to shop at Zeller's for . Print Dresses with a future. Advance 'Fashions for dress-up wear now . .. and style- right through Spring! Of good quality Spun Rayon, in attractive floral and novelty patterns. Store Hours: 9 to 6 p.m. .Wednesday Close 12.30 p.m. Shop at Zeller's for Smart Fashions Styles as Shown (A)--SIZES 16 TO 20; 40 TO 44: background colours are rose, aqua, rowder blue, Classic, slenderizing 'Button ~- fronter" with cardigan ieckline. (B)--SIZES 14 TO 20: Styled with novelty cross-over front and the "New Look" wide skirt. Back~ ground colours: powder blue, grey, aqua, rose, lime, beige. (C)--SIZES 14 TO 20: shoulder style with flare Background colours: grey, beige, maize, aqua, powder biye. (D)--SIZES 14 TO 20: "Gibson Girl" style with tailored collar and black bow-tie. Baekground colours: grey, aqua, blue, ¥ % DAINTY FROCKS for Tots and Teens Flange- skirt. EN = 5 (B) Advance Fashion! "BALLERINA" BEAUTY 2.88 ® Sizes 12 to 18 @ Dirndl.walst styling _@ Sanforized pre-Shrunk ® Pretty and Practical Buy a Cotton-print "Ballerina" for home Wear now ,....for pic- ture-prettiness on the street in warm weath- er! Style shown here As elasticized at shoul- ders and waist, for comfort and attrac- tiveness, In 'a variety of lovely flower-prints and novelty designs «in pleasing colours: Zellers. Dress Section "Second floor Pri ad 7a v - 4 ~~ Dresses in the height of "Little- Girl" Fashion; of good quality tub- bable fabrics; well-made; priced to please the Thrifty! 1.79 - 1.98 STYLES AS SHOWN ' (A)--WIDE - SKIRTED FROCK: sizes 4 to 6x. Rose, blue, maize; trimmed with white lace at sleeves zelter-Vaive .....c...... 1:89 Zeller-Value (B)--PRINT FROCK: pastel back- ground colours, with pretty flower- patterns; white pique front collar; 'embroidered lace ruffle Sizes 4 to 6x, 1 79 Sees ennneve - Zeller-Value (C)--"A JUNIORETTE GAR- MENT": of good quality Slub Pop- lin, in rose prettily combined with pastel blue. Trimmed with narrow lace insertion. Sizes 4 to 6x. Zeller-vValue .... 1.79 (D)--SIZES 7 TO 10: Button-back style, of Slub Poplin. Royal blue, aqua, powder: blue, rose; trimmed with Mexican-design lace. Zeller-Value 1 98 (8) -- "p1amoxp _ vor~ (E) PATTERN! Red, blue or green with white; good quality Cotton. Poplin with white pique at sleeves : and pockets, Sizes 7 to 12. Zeller-Value $1.98 * -- Hy re i y d ltt, ne) powder. Aqua, tose; with white 'rie<rac braid and novelty buttons. o geller<Value - You'll like these Values for Yourself and your Pretty ¥ Little Misses! Be sure to see the Grand Assortments! Zeller-Thrift-Priced! ; ZELLER'S LIMITED S