| She Oshawa Funes Published by Canadian Newspapers Limited 86 King St. E., Oshawa, Ontario T. L. Wilson, Publisher SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1964--PAGE 4 Vandalism At Schools Problem For Parents Vandalism at the schools of the city was the subject of a discussion at the last meeting of the Oshawa Board of Education. The issue was raised by Trustee Robert Nicol, a separate school representative on board, but his feelings of an- - = in ' time to policing the schools of the xiety regarding this problem were shared by other members of the board. It is generally agreed that the amount of damage done to the schools by vandals, mostly in the younger brackets of age, is deplor- able. One thing with which we cannot agree, however, is that the police force should be singled out for criticism because of its inability to put a stop to this damage. No harm can be done by a committee of the board meeting with the police commission to discuss ways and means of dealing with this problem. But we do not agree with the suggestion that a strong letter of protest be sent to the police commission and the chief constable, blaming the police for not giving the schools sufficient protection. The complete answer to these acts of vandalism does not lie in police patrolling of the school areas, even if that were possible, which it | is not with the number of police constable at the disposal of the chief. If they were to devote their city, -- over 30 in number -- every night, there would be very little policing done anywhere else in the city. It would require a greatly enlarged police force to make any impact at all on the problem of school vandalism. The root of the problem does not lie with the police force. Rather does it lie with the parents of the children who are committing these acts of vandalism. The fact that it exists is a definite indication of lack of parental control, and of the teaching of habits of responsibi- lity. The home is where the cure for vandalism must begin, with the police taking its proper place' in controlling it in cases in which parents have failed to do their duty. Death Penalty Abolished The British House of Commons, by a non-partisan vote of 355 to 170, has voted for the abolition of the death penalty for murder. Sub- ject to this decision being upheld and ratified by the House of Lords, this decision will become the law of the land, and no more murder- ers will be executed in the United Kingdom. The significant thing is that the bill to abolish the death penalty was a private member's bill, in- troduced by Labor member Sidney Silverman. For 30 years he has been fighting to have capital punishment abolished, and now he has achieved his objective. His bill was carried by so substantial a majority because the members were allowed to have a free vote, to follow the dictates of their own consciences. In voting as they did, we believe, they correctly inter- preted the opinion of many deep- thinking British people. This action by the British House of Commons is likely to have a atrong influence on the decision which will have to be made by the Canadian parliament on the same subject after the session is resumed on February 16. The government has given an undertaking that a free vote will be allowed when the proposal to abolish capital punish- ment in Canada comes before the Commons. This is*as it should be. This is not a question to be decided on a political partisan basis, but it is a matter for the conscience of the individual members. There are arguments both for and against the abolition of capital punishment, but one of the most telling is found in the fact that in countries where the death penalty does not exist, there has been no increase in the murder rate. This would make it appear that the death penalty is not the deterrent to murder that it is sometimes held to be. All that executions does is to ensure that the person hanged will never again commit a murder. This leaves only the argument of revenge on the murderer for his crime against society and his fellow-man. That, to us, is hardly a valid excuse for taking the life of a human being by process of Jaw, even if the old injunction of. "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life' is taken into con- sideration. Germany's Vain Hopes State Secretary Dean Rusk of the United States has announced that he will be meeting with the foreign ministers of Britain, France ' and the Federal Republic of Ger- many next. month. What is impor- tant about this meeting is the sub- ject which is to be discussed. The four foreigr*ministers are to try to work out a formula on which they can make a new approach to Russia on the vexed question of the unifi- cation of Germany. From the practical standpoint, which is to produce some plan to re-unite Germany and which Russia might be willing to accept, it can be predicted in advance that, noth- ing of any real value will come out of this meeting. It may be She Oshawa Times T. L. WILSON, Publisher R. ©, ROOKE, General Monager C. J. MeCONECHY, Editor The Oshawa Times combining The Oshowo Times (established 1871) and the Whitby Gazette and Chronicle established 1863) is published daily Sundays end Statutory holidays excepted). Members of Canadian Daily Newspaper Publish- @rs Association. The Canadian Press, Audit. Bureau ef Circulation and the Ontario Provincial Dailies Association, The adion Press is exclusively entitled to the use of republication of all news despatched in the paper credited to It or to The Associated Press or Reuters, ond also the local news published therein. All rights of special des- patches are also reserved. Offices:_ Thomson Building, 425 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario; 640 Cothcart Street, Montreal, P.Q. SUBSCRIPTION RATES Delivered by corriers in Oshawa, Whitby, Alox, Pickering, Bowmanville, Brooklin, Port Perry, Prince Albert, Maple Grove, Hampton, Frenchman's Bay, Liverpool, Tounton, Tyrone, Dunbarton, Enniskillen, Orono, Leskard, Brougham, Burketon, Cloremont, Columbus, Greenwood, Kinsale, Raglan, Blockstock, Monchester, Pontypool and Newcastle not over B0c per week. oy mail in Province of Onterio) outside carriers delivery areas 12.00 per year. Other Pr ond Cor e Countries 15.00, U.S.A. ond foreign 24.00, that Chancellor Erhard of Germany has his eye on the general elec- tions which his government must face next year, and he sees in this meeting, with all its implications for Germany, a handy political weapon which might help him' fo retain his office as head of the government. But so far as pro- ducing a plan that will reunite the Federal Republic of Germany, which we know as West Germany, and the People's Democratic Republic-- East Germany -- is concerned, we cannot see any hope of any useful plan being developed at this four- power conference. Germany's aim, so far as unifica- tion is concerned, is to secure the return of all the Germany territory lost to Russia and Poland as a result of Hitler's war. This includes what is now known as East Ger- many. Deeply-rooted in the official German mind is the determina- tion to' have these lost lands res- tored to German sovereignty, under the Bonn government. To that Rus- sia will never agree. The Soviet leaders will never accept any plan which would again place a free Ger- many on the Russian borders. In blunt words, Germany could secure a return of the lost territory only by becoming strong enough to take it by armed force. Knowing that to 'be essentially true, we are inclined to regard next month's meeting of foreign minis- ters as a debate exercise from which nothing useful can emerge. FLAT WHEEL FLASHBACK TO 1940 Evacuated Children Canadian Army Guests In the ranks of the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery in the Second World War there was a large contin- gent of Oshawa volunteers, not the least notable of whom was Sergeant-Major G. M. Thomp- son. He, and the others who served with that unit, will re- call with nostalgic feelings the Christmas they spent at Sala- manca Barracks in Aldershot in 1940, On that Christmas Day, they and théir comrades of the regiment set a pattern which was followed in later years by many Canadian units overseas. At that Christmas season, I was attached to the 4th Field Regiment, RCA. The padre of that regiment was Captain the Rev. Ray McCleary, minister of Woodgreen United Church in To- ronto, He was one of the finest padres over there, always full of ideas for the welfare of the troops of the regiment, Early in December, 1940, he came to me with an idea for Christmas entertainment, and as a result of our conversations, we worked out what seemed like a novel plan. In the Aldershot area there were some 150 chil- dren who had been evacuated from their homes in London to escape the terrors of the blitz. Our plan was to hold a great Christmas party at which these 150 evacuees would be the guests of the men of the regi- ment, to brighten their Christ- mas Day while away from their homes and parents. SPLENDID RESPONSE The idea was put before the officers, and other ranks of the regiment. The -response was splendid. There was no difficulty in interesting the men. Each bat- tery, each troop, vied with each other in planning special treats for these English kiddies. For instance, by mutual agreement, these men pooled all the candies, chocolate and chew- ing gum they received in their parcels from Canada, so that every child could have a gift of a package of these. They made donations from their scanty army pay to buy gifts for the children. A day or two before Christmas, a competition was held in which a handsome cash prize was awarded for the best decorated barrack room. The men in the winning room unani- mously voted to donate the prize to the children's Christ- mas fund. : BROUGHT TO BARRACKS At last the great day of Christ- mas arrived. At the appointed hour, a fleet of the regiment's lorries left the barracks to pick up the children at their foster homes. Early in the afternoon the large Canadian Legion War Services concert hall was filled TODAY IN By THE CANADIAN PRESS Dec. 26, 1964... U.S. troops captured Pa- lompan, the last Japanese stronghold in -the Philip- pines, 20 years ago today-- in 1944--during the Second World War. With the cap- ture of the Japanese post, Gen. Douglas Mac- Arthur announced that the Leyte Island campaign was closed. The U.S. had. in- vaded the Japanese - held Philippines. on Oct. 20. Gen. MacArthur proclaimed the liberation of the entire is- land group in July, 1945. 1791 -- John Reeves was appointed first chief justice of Newfoundland. 1941--Prime Minister Win- ston Churchill addressed a Joint session of the U.S. Con- gress. with chiidren. Many were moth- erless and fatherless, All were separated from their parents, but happy and smiling as a Ca- nadian soldier became, for the day, the foster-father of each boy and girl. First, they had a program of special motion pictures, and then a_ variety show, with a magician and a ventriloquist as headliners on the program -- provided by the Canadian Le- gion War Services. The program over, refresh- ments were provided by the men, and by some miracle they managed to produce ice cream for each child. How these chil- dren revelled in it, for this was something that had long since been removed from general cir- culation in Britain. GIFTS FOR ALL Refreshments over, Santa Claus appeared and began his distribution of gifts to the chil- dren, each gift being individual- ly addressed. Two large Christ- mas trees were laden with these gaily - colored packages, and were festooned with colored electric lights, In the midst of all this gaiety, Major-General Victor Odlum, then commander of the division to which the regiment belonged, came on the scene. He mingled with the troops and the children. Before long, he was sitting on a: chair, with a little girl on each knee, posing for a picture. His comment was: 'This is the most Christmas-like scene I have seen today."' It was, truly, a home- like Christmas and I never knew whether the children or the men enjoyed it most. When. it was all over, the happy children were taken home again in army lorries, with joy in their hearts inspired by the good things which these Cana- dian troops, at great sacrifice to themselves, had provided. MANY PARTIES IN 1941 This party of the 4th Field Regiment, RCA, set a pattern which later became general. When Christmas came around in 1941, this kind of party was repeated on almost every area where Canadian troops were lo- cated and where there were evacuee children. I can recall the officers of the Royal Winni- peg Kegiment entertaining a large party of these children on Christmas Day in their officers' mess, The party which to me scem- ed to reach the heights was one held in the town hall of the love- ly little village of Lindfield, in Sussex. There the men of the headquarters staff of the 7th Canadian Brigade staged a won: derful party for the 125 children billeted in that village. All of the 00d things that could be round- HISTORY First World War Fifty years ago -today--in 1914--severe winter weather called a halt to operations between Russian and Turk- ish troops in Asia Minor; Austrians lost ground in Ga- licia, with Russians taking Krosno and Jaslo. Second World War Twenty-five years ago to- day -- in 1939 -- Australian airaten arrived in Britain; U.S; church leaders ac- cepted President Roose- velt's invitation to co-oper- ate in peace efforts; the British freighter Stanholme was torpedoed with the loss of 14 lives; the Finns re- ported they had repulsed a heavy Russian attack in Ka- relia. ed up from Christmas parcels from home again went into the pool, and the children learned the true meaning of the Christ- mas spirit from these men of Canada. LETTER OF THANKS Among the mementos of war days which I prize as I look at it in one of my scrap-books is the following letter which, a few days later, I received from the headmistress of the school which these children attended: "Words seem to me very inadequate to express all I would like to say, so I am writ- ing on behalf of the evacuee children billeted in Lindfield, to thank you, your fellow-officers and men for all your kind hos- pitality and generosity to the children on Christmas Day. "It was a wonderful party, and I felt that. the . friendly spirit evident between the chil- dren and the troops must in some way have compensated them for being so far away from home at this festive sea- son. I would be glad if you would pass on my gratitude to all concerned, and tell them how much their kindness was appre- ciated. Yours very sincerely, "A. L. BREWER "Headmistress." At this Christmas season of 1964, it is not untimely to re- call these Christmas parties in wartime England, because there must still be in Oshawa a num- ber of the men who were with the 4th Field Regiment, RCA, and will recall that 1940 party in Salamanca Barracks at Alder- shot. We would like to hear from them if there are, MAC'S MUSINGS As we relax after the Christmas festivities, And that wonderful dinner With children all around We cannot refrain from Dedicating today's space To a message of thanks ot. To all of those who have Contributed so much to The happinéss of our Christmas season with Their messages of cheer And their surprise gifts Which brought a sense Of appreciation greater Than we can express. The kindly friendship Which was shown by the Flood of greeting cards Is what has made this Christmas outstanding, And we want to voice A sincere "thank you," To those who deemed it Worth while to remember Our existence in this way. Of all the many gifts. that We have received we value This gift of friendship More than any other, And particularly the Tokens which came from People whose names were Unknown to us, but who Daily read this column, And desired to show their Friendliness by sending us Their season's greetings, Friendship like this Cannot help but make The world a brighter place For those who share it, And we can assure those Unknown friends of ours [hat they 'have helped In no small measure To make this Christmas A memorabie, happy. one --Dec. 26, 1964 Recalls 1914 Christmas Day On Salisbury Plains By M. McINTYRE HOOD In this column last Saturday, dealing with the life on. Salis- bury Plains of. the First Divi- sion of the Canadian Expedition- ary Force in the First World War, I invited any survivors of that memorable winter of 1914-1915 to get in touch with me. This produced a visit from one of these old-timers, and one . who won distinction in his war service, This old veteran was. Acting Sergeant Fred Orville Mother- sill, MM. member of a well- known Oshawa pioneer family, who in 1914 enlisted in the Mechanical Transport Corps, served with the 1st Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column, and was later transferred to the First Canadian Division HQ. He served continuously throughout the war until his discharge in Toronto, where he had enlisted, On May 19, 1919, WON HONORS Mr. Mothersill brought with him to my office some interest- ing documents. One of these was a certificate signed by Winston Churchill, secretary of state for war, testifying that he had been mentioned in despatches by Field 'Marshall Sir Douglas Haig for gallant and distinguish- ed conduct in the field on April 7, 1918. Later, Mr. Mothersill was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in action, this honor being published in the London Gazette of February 11, 1919 Another document which Mr. Mothersill prizes is a_ letter from Buckingham Palace, sign- ed by King George V, reading as follows: "The Queen and I wish you God-speed and a safe return to your home and dear ones. A grateful Mother Country is proud of your splendid services characterized by unsurpassed devotion and courage." And still another is a copy of the final order of the day issued by Major-General Sir A. C. Mac- donnell, commanding the Ist Canadian Division, when it was demobilized at the end of the war. RELIC-OF SALISBURY To get back to last week's story of Salisbury Plains, how- ever, one of the most interest- ing and timely mementoes which Acting-Sergeant Mother- sill produced for my. inspec- tion was a copy of the menu for the Christmas dinner in the sergeants' mess of the division- al headquarters staff at Bustard Camp, on Salisbury Plains, on December 25, 1914, 50 years ago yesterday. This menu is worth reproducing here as indi- cating that, in spite of wartime conditions and the wretched weather, the troops were not forgotten on that Christmas day. Here it is, just as it was printed. SOUP Mulligatawny '"Dyball'" : FISH Boiled Cod "A La Tytheridge" FOWL Roast turkey "Canada's Best' Boiled chicken "Delaney's" READERS WRITE... WANT PEN PALS The Editor, The Oshawa Times. Dear Sir, I have been anxious for many years to have some pen pals in Canada. Your address was recommended to me by one of my best friends in Lagos, who said that you are among the best publishers, My intention in writing is just to ask you to poner my name and address n your widely-circulated news- paper, -- I am an African young man seeking pen pals. I wot like to correspond with both sexes, men, women, and also boys and 'girls. I am also willing to ex- change African products for pr Boiled Ham Sausage ROAST Roast Beef of Old England VEGETABLES Brussels sprouts "A La Purdy" Mashed parsnips --"'Clifton's Choice" Mashed potatoes --'Irish Diamonds" SWEETS Christmas pudding --"A La Bustard" Brandy sauce "Chenay" Mince pies "Mysterious" Jellies "A La Jellicoe" DESSERT Apples Oranges Muscatels and almonds Mixed nuts --The Chauffeur Squad" Ices Tea Coffee Caterer Sgt. Erest H. Bradlay Chef Set. Harry Watson LONG REMEMBERED It does not require much imagination to conjure up the scene at that Christmas dinner 50 years ago at Bustard Camp, with the whole of the surround- ing area deep in mud and water, but with the atmosphere inside the sergeants' mess one of real Christmas merriment and good- will, in spite of the fact that these young Canadians were 3000 miles awayfrom their homes on. this festive occasion. For Mr. Mothersill, the Christ- mas season is filled with nos- talgic memories of that Christ- mas dinner of 50 years ago, and of the comrades, many of whom did not return, with whom he shared it. I am grateful to him for add- ing this personal touch to my story of last week .on that win- ter on Salisbury Plains. Red Ensign For Ontario The announcement by Pre- mier John Robarts that the On- tario Government will. recom- mend the adoption of the Red Ensign with the Ontario Coat of arms as the official flag. of the province will be welcome news to many who had wished to sce it retained as a national flag and to many others who regarded the maple leaf design as a more acceptable national symbol. It is common ground to both groups that the Red Ensign still has an honorable claim to the affections of Canadians and that its displacement as Can- ada's flag should. not lead to its total eclipse. : Premier Robarts took pains to make it clear that the deci- sion to adopt a flag for Ontario would in no way detract from the official Canadian flag and that, to a large extent, the use of the provincial flag by individ- ual citizens and others would be a matter of personal choice. If there is. no legal reason why Ontario should not ap- BY-GONE DAYS 25.YEARS AGO Dec. 26, 1939. Tenders were called for the proposed new post office to be built on the corner of Simcoe and Athol .streets. Oshawa Generals defeated Guelph Biltmores to take first place in the OHA league stand- ing. Mayor Fred T. Rowe and Reeve A. Mansell Irwin were re-elected in Whitby by acclam- ation. I. T. Ormiston and Oscar Downey, reeves of East Whit- by and = Whitby Township respectively were re-elected by acclamation. 40 YEARS AGO Dec. 26, 1924. Cecil Bint, mayor of the Local Boys' Council, was elected as Minister of the Lapp Cabinet, without portfolio, at the final session of Older Boys' Parlia- ment held in Toronto. Rev. C. R. de Pencier, rector of St. George's Anglican Church, was honored by being made a canon by Lord Bishop. Mayor W. J. Trick presented the Royal Canadian Humane Society Medal to Edward Hol- land for his bravery in having saved Howard and Stephen Saywell from drowning in the Oshawa Creek, The act of bravery was earlier in the year. BIBLE THOUGHT "With good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men." Ephesians 6:7 Beware lest you go all! out to please man at the expense of displeasing God. propriate the Red Ensign, it would make an_ admirable choice. We can only hope now that its adoption can be ac- complished without wrangling or controversy, --(Toronto Globe and Mail) Social Welfare Gobbledegook A social worker once said of some children on a day nursery school waiting list: "They have not been processed for eligibility yet."" Asked "Do you mean we don't know whether they should have day nursery care or not?" she replied, "Yes." In the current issue of Cana- dian Welfare, Mrs. Lois Fraser takes a disapproving look at jar- gon in social welfare, giving such examples as: If the family could get free from debt, their 'emotion could be reactivated'; The trouble with the street- corner boy is that he is "'lack- ing in motivation". Which somehow reminds of this story in the current issue of "Canadian Doctor': Patient: "Doc, tell me in plain English exactly what's wrong with me." Doctor: 'You are just plain lazy," Patient: "Now.could you give me the medical term to tell my friends?" Jargon is a lazy, pretentious device, Mrs. Fraser fights a worthy battle. In fact, one might say she has identified a problem area, the minimization of which will require massive re-orientation of motivation to- wards employment of words of a more miniscule nature, in . terms of syllabification, that s. (Ottawa Journal) PAPER MISSED? Call 723-3783 to 7 p.m. Circulation Dept. OSHAWA TIMES I will be grateful if you can grant my request and publish this letter as quickly as pos. sible. Thank you, Mr. Editor, for your space, Yours faithfully, ROSSEK OKUNOLA, 55 Evans street, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa, OPINIONS OF OTHERS PATRONAGE IN QUEBEC GUELPH MERCURY The average citizen, concern- ed about charges of bribery and coercion at Ottawa and stoop- ed under a crushing tax load, will applaud Mr. Pearson's order outlawing patronage. He will approve it on moral grounds and he may be par- doned for hoping that its polic- ing may help-to cut down the cost of government. He will also support the PM's accom- panying edict against ministers, MP's or civil servants letting favoritism influence their ac- tions. In terms .of realism, how- ever, it is questioned whether Mr. Pearson can enforce it without exception upon the Que- bec federal wing, and unless the French block is held in line the order will progressively be eroded, Patronage is not peculiar to Quebec but among Quebec politicians it is a way of life, a tradition, the accepted thing. Even during the war, Quebec patronage and the cultivation of the Quebec political garden were not overlooked. The de- fence department payroll car- ried a number of political camp followers whose real duties had little or nothing to do with any aspect of defence, Some of them were at defence department headquarters and others back home in Quebec, It will be a miracle against that background if Mr. Pearson makes his order stick. It may be impossible to do so without a working majority in the House. WALLOWS IN WOE (Orillia Packet and Times) Canadians, both French and English-speaking, are not by any means the neurotic, self- doubting, worried people they are represented to be in Cana- dian magazines, television com- mentaries and newspaper columns. The trouble is that all Canada's so-called "national" media -- the CBC, the trade papers, Maclean's Magazine, Saturday Night, the principal newspaper and radio commen: + tators--are based in Toronto, and the atmosphere in which they operate is peculiar to that city. For Toronto is the mecca of the professional controver- Sialist, the fellow with the per- petual chip on his shoulder, and as a result, all the belly- aching normally spread across of Babylon of Wind. a vast nation has become con- centrated in Toronto, a sort NO LOCAL INTEREST Does the average Canadian care how well (or how badly) his or her community is govern- ed? If interest in local govern- ment elections over the years is any criterion, the answer must be a resounding No. Hardly more than 30 per cent of those eligible to. vote in such elections usually do so, against 50 to 50 per cent in provincial elections, and 70 to 80 per cent in federal ones. 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