The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

There’s no more effective way of “putting your neck in a sling,” to use a somewhat everyday but still expressive phrase, than to suggest that something should be paid for by somebody else. - But at times such suggestions are necessary. In a world in which both international and local conditions are changing with lightning-like rapidity the old and the accepted have to give 'place to present realities. What was perfect in 1800 was outmoded in 1900 - the thing that worked effectively in .1901'fails miserably in 1951. In its day and generation the old school section system was workable and effective. It turned out good citizens. Those who paid for educate ion in the school section managed it. When a central authority in Toronto was a long way off, in terms of time and space, from a sohoolsection on Lake Simcoe the. thing worked beau- tifully. Those who _were _taxed_ had a major part in deciding what should be done with their money and, with native commonsense worked out a reasonably sound solution. But as has become in recent years, the day of the school section has gone or is going. In many districts the school area is taking its place. Espec- ially is that the case in districts where population is growing rapidly. There it is becoming realized that the problem of providing educational facilities- is more than a local one c that “busting-at the-seams” districts must get together to ensure equal sharing of the load. Farm owners, in this district and many others, are becoming increas- ingly concerned over the amount of taxes they have to pay. They are particularly concerned with the pro‘ ortion of those taxes Which is app- lied to education. Their outlook is understandable. In many cases they have, at the cost of considerable selfâ€" sacrifice, provided the best education in their power for their children and those of their neighbours. But a new tide is“ washing over them. They find themselves asked to pay for the education of a new family - the children of those who decided to make one oneâ€"time country roads their home. With a conmderâ€" able amount of j ustificatxon they feel that they are being asxed to do a job tWiceo “l . midfi.‘ Take education for instance. And take especially that angle of it which is concerned with dollars and cents. Take, above everything else, the queâ€" stion of who pays for what. The man who is moving out to the country, sv'veating and working to build a home and bring up his child- ren properly in the same spirit and with the same energy that the pion- eers displayed in hewing farms out of the bush, is on another horse on the same merry-go-round. He’s fighting for education for his- kids â€" is deter- mined that they shall have the best chance that they can get. Examine all these viewpoints. And what have you got? In two words --â€" a problem. The Canadian who is a farmer â€" the Canadian who is net a farmer, both desirous of do- ing the right thing for their children but both somewhat bewildered by the problem which is on their doorstep. One man moves to the country to es. cape high taxation â€" the other man, living in the country, finds himself faced with high taxation because of the other man’s motives. A “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” proposition if ever there was one. The hundreds of big red trucks which inundated the district some months ago have, as we pointed out previously, gone south even as the swallows. Outward symbol of con- version from 25 to 60 cycle power their loss is not regretted. The swall- ows we hope to see back soon â€" the trucks never. One conversion is en. ough for a lifetime â€" at least the particular type of conversion we are referring to. The wave of soreness and dissat. ,isfaction which swept over this dis- trict as residents and business men Were discommoded by wha‘t; they con- sidered bad planning and lack of or- ganization 9n the part of those res- Take the situation in Richmond Hill. Those living in the sections of Markham‘Township and Vaugnan menship Where the youngsters go to school in Richmond Hill contribute LESS, on the basis of school figures, than‘the citizens of Richmond Hill. Roughly fifty 'per cent of the children THE LIBERAL} Richmond Hill, Thurs, Feb‘. 22, 1951 Then go a step further. J. E. SMITH, M.P., Publisher fin Independent Weekly â€" Established 1878 Subs'cfiption Rate, $2.00 per year; To the United States $2.50 Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association "New Deal" In Education Needed ? Gone But Not Forgotten in Richmond Hill Public School come from outside the municipality â€" sev- enty per cent of the cost of the school is paid for by Richmond Hill taxpay- ers. But those children receive the same education, in the same room, by the same teachers. MoV’ing south what do we find? A real contradiction! Thirty of Tor- onto’s eighteen hundred school rooms were unused at the end of December. Many more, it has been stated, are unused or are being used as store- rooms. Eight classrooms in one school are rented to a suburban authority, which is waiting for its building pro- gram to catch up with its mushroom- ing school population. Rooms are rented to suburban" school boards at three other schools. Classrooms at other schools are rented to a. bank for personnel training; to an art school; to the Public Welfare Department for a nursery centre; to the Ontario School Trustees’ Association for an office. On top of that school admin- istrators have admitted that the av- erage number of children per class~ room is down to 34.5, just under the board’s stated objective of 35 per classroom. In the Oak Ridges-Lake Wilcox area there is another bad situation. There one school section has been split to make two. The new section is facing real difficulties in providing school accommodation. The cost of building a new school of the right size will create an almost unbearable tax load in an area where assessments are low. The Oak Ridges school is packed to such an extent that classes are being held in entry-ways. The trustees have been forced to tell the new Lake Wilcox school section that they cannot take care of children from the Lake. In the new school area district which takes in the former Thornhill, Thornlea, Langstafif, Richvale scnool sections the trustees have been for- ced, as one of the first duties, to start on the building of a new school on Yonge Street. New accommodation is needed in the worst way at Thornlea, and must be provided soon. We have no hesitation in saying that there is. And in giving what we believe to be the answer we assert that we have little liking for central- ization, for “controlled economy,” for anything which robs the average in- dividual or community of its initiative and. the direction of its own affairs. But we have equally little liking for the sort of situation which we are facing in connection with education at the present time. Consequently it becomes necessary to sink some pre- judices for the sake of economy, of efficiency, and for proper sharing of the load. What an anomalous and contradico tory situation! One educational au- thority renting its classrooms for of- fices â€" another a few miles away tell- ing parents that it hasn’t space tu ac- commodate pupils. Surely, in a country which prides itself on its initiative, on co-operative efforts which are rapidly bringing it to the forefront among the nations, there must be an answer to such things. If children were educated in one municipality, stayed there all their lives, then the education which they receive would be of value to that munâ€" icipality only. But the opposite is true. Canadians, notoriously venture- some, spread out to all parts oi the country. Therefore the education for which Richmond Hill taxpayers foot the bill becomes an asset to the country at large. ponsible has subsided somewhat. But apparently all is notyet well. Under those circumstances doesn’t it appear that education has become a matter requiring even broader admin‘ istrative balance -â€" of a more equit- able distribution of both cost and fac- ilities? ‘ ‘We suggest again that if the scads of prpmotignal matter emanat- The chairman of Richmond Hill’s Public School Board found it necess- ary to state to trustees at a recent meeting that the Board and its em- ployees had been put to considerable expense and inconvenience because of failures in connection with the changeover at the school. Men were forced to sleep on the premises to safeguard them. Efforts to have the situation adjusted had, according to Chairman James Pollard â€" and he is not a man given to over-statement â€"- proved futile up to the present time- The day of the school section, In Ontario at least, has passed or is pass- Teiephone, Richmond Hill 9 F. J. PICKIN G, Managing Editor ing. The day of the school area is here. But Isn’t an even wider picv ture necessary? Hasn’t the time come when. the cost of education should be regarded as a Federal affair? Or, to go part of the way along the road, hasn’t it at least become completely a provin- cial responsibility in order that the present imbalance can be corrected? There is, too, another angle. It concerns that outstandingly impor~ tant part of our educational system â€" the teachers. As it is now their treatment can and does vary widely according to the area in which they work. Doing exactly similar duties, the teacher under one authority finds him or herself working for a striking- ly different rate of pay from the con- temporary of a few miles away. Be- cause of that school boards find them. selves in a box. . If they wish to re- tain good teachers they are always under the implied threat of having to raise salaries in order to compete with other and wealthier boards. And, in many instances, that threat is a very real one. In other words, assumption by the province of the complete direc. tion of schools might have a sound secondary effect in ensuring balanced and fair treatment for all these who make the education of the young their profession. As stated previously we have lit- tle use for centralization. There is always the fear that bureaucracy may run wild â€"â€" that the power of the taxed to control, their own destinies may be lost to those who sit in “ivory towers” and spend money without having to worry about where it comes from. But facts are facts â€" and until they are faced we shall continue to have contradictory situations where school rooms are empty in one area â€" where passages are used as class. rooms a few miles away. Both in finances and facilities we shall perpet- uate the present unbalanced state of affairs. The rift betwen farmer and urban residents, both feeling that they are hard done by, will continue to grow. I Summing up, it can be said that our present state of affairs is a chaot- ic one. It appears to be completely lacking in balance and in proper dis‘ tribution of costs, and facilities. Some form of equalization is desperately needed â€" and it would look as if about the only place where that can be found is on the provincial level. Should the provincial Depart- ment of Education â€"â€" the one central body which can exercise an overall view of conditions and of needs, now take over, assisted, of course, by local boards of management? There are, it is admitted, distinct objections to that solution. But it looks to be about the only one which will take us away from the present state of affairs, where under existing methods we are dealing with a number of local prob- lems on a piecemeal basis, each solu- tion being based on local conditions and bearing little relations-hip to the overall plan of education in the prov- ince. As we stand now we have a jig-saw puzzle without any master hand fitting the parts together to make an acceptable and finished whole. The suggested Solution is by no means a novel idea. Not so many years ago, for instance, Great Britain, where problems are very much less than they are in this far-flung land, found itself forced to take steps 830mg similar lines in connection with the centralization of educational control. ing from Hydro’s head office in the big tower on University Avenue were discontinued for a time â€" if their cost and the labour involved in pro- ducing them were replaced by an ef~ fort to satisfy those people in. the province who are, as we are told so blithely on so many occasions, the real owners of Hydro, said owners would feel a lot happier about con- versionthan those in this district do. In any event, provincial govern- ment is now a major factor in local education. Through provincial grants, through departmental control, the De- partment of Education exercises a major influence on all school affairs. It would seem logical that that con- trol should be extended in such a form that present contradictions, present imbalances, should be wiped out. We repeat our expressions of sympathy with those who yet have to suffer conversion in other parts of Ontario, that is unless there is a con- siderable change from what happen- ed here. ‘ 9 First of all, I shOuld like to thank members of the Richmond Hill Business Men’s Association for the co-operation and good will I have received during- the past year. I am happy because m the things we, as an association, have been able to accomplish for the good of Richmond Hill as a whole and in particular for the mem- bers of our association. There may be some, whom I have missed mentioning by name. If so I hope they will forgive me. I do appreciate all that has“ been done by all citizens in building up not only the business of our municipality but its goodwill. I Ships from nine nations form the United Nations Blockading and Escort free, in Korean waters, and a ship from a 10th nation 13 on its way. More than 400 vessels have taken part in support of UN. efiorts to repel armed attack against the Republic of Korea and to restore international peace. Above are shown seamen of the Repub- lic of Korea readying an ROK minesweeper for service with UN. I am grateful too for the co- operation we have received Irom other organizations especially the Women’s Institute, which plays a great part; in our town and ,in our history. Also to the war vet- erans, who gaVe us their support in our first Trade Fair and again in the campaign for the Winni- peg Relief Fund. I should like to thank our churches and our schools for their help in making Richmond Hill a better place in which to live and for the training of our children, who will be leaders in a greater Richmond Hill. To the Lions Club I want to say “thank you” for the service its members are rendering to the community and for the many things they are doing to help both young and old. To the members of the Horti- cultural Society, also, I want to express appreciation of the outâ€" standing co-operation which their organization has always given, both in connection with the 'lrade Fair and in many other construc‘ tive ways. To The Liberal I should like to say thank you for the great 'uork it has done in backing the town, its business men and all its cit- izens, and in publicizing Rich- mond Hill so favorably outside. I would like to do a littie ram- bling or reminiscing, or what- ever you like to call it. And to the village council I should like to express my apprec- iation of the courteous and kind< 1y way I have always been re- ceived when I had to go to them on behalf of the association and to recall the friendly introduc- tions by our great leader in civic affairs, the late Reeve J. A. Greene, which gave me a very warm feeling for our council. I would like to pay my tribute to a man who ‘loved Richmond Hill deeply, and who died in its ser- vice. The depression of the early years of the “dirty, thirties” did a lot of things to a lot of people, includ‘ ing Ken Tomlin of Richmond Hill, subject of this week’s front page “Know Your Neighbour” picture. Because of it he is wearing the same type of collar as the? or- dinary man on the street instead of the clerical collar ‘of a Church of England clergyman._ r Born on the banks of the Humber, educated at Hum'bercrest Public School and at Humbercrest Colleg- iate, where he gained his senior matriculation, he, like many other graduates of those days faced a world where opportunities were limited to the point of being almost non-existent. So he took the first job he could grab â€"â€" a five dollar a week one with the well-known firm of Mills and Hadwin of Toronto’s northern Yonge Street. For that big sum he spent half a day as a clerk in the com- pany’sof‘fice â€" the other half a day making deliveries. However, the connection must have been satisfactory to both parties; for after nineteen years he is still with the same firm, but now as office and personnel manager. After his early days of clerking and delivering he spent seven years as a salesman before going back into the adminstrative end of the concern with which he has spent all his business life. - It was nine years ago that he came to Richmond Hill, â€"hotfooted it to R. D. Little and rented the house which That happened because he saw an ad. in a Toronto paper he later bought. “I liked the house,” he says, “I liked Richmond Hill, and I didn’t let go of Bob until he had my cheque for the first month’s rent in his pocket.” \Since then he has taken an active part in village affairs. In 1946 he made his first bid for village council, running sixth in a field of nine. He tried again in 1947 -â€" was elected. An acclamation put him back for 1948 and in 1949 he went down to defeat. Trying again last November he headed the poll for councillors. Chairman of the Hydro committee for the 3 years he has served on council, he is also the municipality’s representative on ~(Continued in next column) It had been his intention to go into the church but necessity forced a change of plans â€" the necessity of earning some money instead of being“ able to spend it on further education. ‘ "Know Your Neighbour” "Dear Mister Editor” On Sea Duty 16ft}; U.N. Natâ€"ml Forces I’d like to point out one thing‘. The village council is not a body separate and apart. from all oth- er citizens. In itself it is a. body of citizens, elected by the others to carry on the work of the municipality. Those elected'c1t- izens have a. jd‘o and it, too, is one which demands the co-oper- ation and the good will of ev- erybody. I should ike to assure all our residents that the coun- cil’s desire is to do everything in its power to carry out its job for both. economy and efficiency. Richmond Hill and its coun- cil are facing a. trying year. It is a year which, even more Lhan its predecessors, will mark the ‘changefrom the old to the new. Everything cannot be accom- plished overnight as we go on with du‘f' job of ' Building our municipality. It will take pat- ience, 'thinking, and abow: all, coâ€"Uperation. kfiow that they will continue along those lines. I should be glad if you would let me have a, little space in your columns this week to address a short message to Richmond Hill citizens. If, on our own home front, we can continue the spirit of good will and co-operation which have been such an outstanding feature of life in Richmond Hill in re- cent years then I am sure that we can do much to further the inteiestsmf the municipality of which we are all proud. The year which is facing us will be a difficult one in many ways. On the international front we are faced with problems which may wreck the peace of the world â€" problems which we must meet if we are to retain our freedom and all those things in our way of life which we value. But, fortunately, the na- tions which stand for peace and freedom are united and therein lies our hope. Dear Mr. Editor ue. We have problems there too â€"â€" but they are problems of building up and not of destruc- tion. Like the others, they can be met and solved iii we all work together on a united front ~. for the welfare ofl all. It is something the same on the “home front" â€" except than we are not facing an enemy who would like to destroy all we val- President, Richmond Hill Business Men’s Association ARCHIE MURRAYI WILLIAM NEAL Reeve of Richmond Hill The manpower question or con- scription issue which unfortun- ately has been a. sort of boogey‘ man in Canadian politics for many years was brought before the House last week by a Social Credit party amendment calling for compulsory service in the re- serve forces for home defeme. The amendment was decisively defeated with the official oppos‘ ition lining up almost solidly with the government. These plants are used very much as a. foundation planting around the home“ and the first year or two give the effect of a neat tidy planting. However as time passes they become over- grown and untidy having a ten- dency to thin out in the centre or the plants as the outer branches continue to grow. To control this and maintain their original beauty they can and should be pruned ‘back. The early spring, March or April is the best time for this, before the new growth starts in June. At the very outset of this ses- sion the Prime Minister mace a statement on the manpower issue which was well received through- out Canada and which inspired favourable comment among mem- bers of all parties here on Par- liament Hill. The P.M. in- de- ploring pro-conscription or anti- conscription appeals based on ra- cial or religious prejudice said, “Let us be men and let us face realities and do what we think will be,the most efficient and the most effective as our contribution to the lip-building of our inter- national forces.” Continuing and speaking of Canada's defence plans Mr. St. Laurent said “So far there has been brought to ‘my attention nothing that would in- dicate that the institution of national selective service at this time would be beneficial. 0n the contrary the information we have is that it would hamper what is being done at this mom- ent. Now that does not mean that the situation cannot change, and it does not mean that when and if it does change there will not be changes in which the man- net in which our resources will be contributed to the pool or in. tern-ational strength.” This was accepted as a very statesmanlike statement by a national leader and it was hoped the conscrip- tion issue would not be a. politi- cal issue in our current defence plans. Speaking for the official ob- position Major Gen. Pearkes, V. C., rejected the suggestion in a speech which won‘applause in all sections of the House. The” Con- servative member from Nanaimo, B.C., speaking with the long ex- perience and training of a. mili- tary man said sincerely, frankly and without any tinge of partisan consideration that he didn’t think the adoption of such compulsory training at this time would be a The Oa're 0! Evergreen The amendment put forward by the leader of the 10 man Social Credit group did not call for con- scription for national service. It called merely for compulsory ser- vice in the reserve force for home defence. As the feeder roots of over- greens are near the surface of the ground and like it moist and cool they should have a mulch of man- ure and peat moss as soon as the snow has disappeared. This will cut down on maintenance, and as the peat moss tends to hold the moisture they will require less frequent watering. African Violets When they have quit blooming An ardent conservationist and fisherman, he is a‘ member of theI‘oronto Hunters and Anglers Association, the Gravenhurst Game and Fish Association, and is a deputy game warden. It’s no use looking for him on summer week-ends _â€"â€" not around Richmond Hill any- way -â€" for he’s up at his cottage near Gravenhurst en. gaging in his favourite outdoor activities. ‘ The artistic streak in his nature finds expression in piano playing, painting water colours, sketching and colour photography. And once on a time, he confesses, he was an amateur theatricals fan. He started out as a Sunday School teacher at a pl‘et' ty early age â€"- fifteen and kept it up until he was twen. ty-three, afterwards being superintendent of St. Mary’s Anglican Church Sunday School in Richmond Hill for a couple of years. It was through that activitiy that he met the lady who is now Mrs. Tomlin -â€" then Kathleen Earl. Incidentally, both of them were christened, con- firmed and married by the same Rector. With the boy and girl who make up the Tomlin family they expect to move to a new home on Centre Street West in April- The photograph of Mr. Tomlin was taken by Garnet cu VJ vvuunvu' A member of the Lions Club since 1944, he served for two years as secretary” He is a member of Richâ€" mond Lodge, A.F.'and A.M, also.- the York County Health Unit -â€" a project for which he fought hard when it "was first_ inaugurated. He was, too, chairman of the first planmng committee establish- ed by council. - .. 'r' r“ 1 “2A., 1AA] L_ -m...vnA The photograph Barrager of Aurora. 7,22 Gardener’s Column [IT'I‘AWA “BETTER by Jack smfih; MP. North York (By Al Rice) dred other representatives of t Last week along with one hug House 70f Commons and Sena help to our defence efforts, a on the contrary he thought would be a. hindrance. Onnadair Visit we visited the famous Canada} plant at Montreal. We made 1:1 trip from Ottawa in RCA planes, leaving here at 9.30 a.r and returning in time for the p.m. opening of the House. and are stooling- out, producin all foliage they become too crowded in their present pots. It’ advisable to divide them. Separ ate into single crowns, repot in- to 3 inch pots, using a mixture of 2 parts loam and 1 part sand and give fertilizer once a month. It is better to water from the bottom as water dropped on the foliage when in the sun wil leave spots. Questidn Construction of the presei Canadair plant was completed i 1942 and now is engaged in t} manufacture of the R86 Sabr jet plane. The plant now -en ploys 5500 persons and more wi be added as production is steppe up in keeping with Canada’s ne defence program. The F.86 S- bre has a possible speed of 6’ miles per hour and a demonstr; tion of its flying ability given: Cartier Field greatly impresst us. The large expenditures on de‘ fenceare brought about by th< staggering cost of modern waJ equipment». f My mail indicates there is pre ty general satisfaction with th announcement of Canada’s d fence program. Some misgiving- no doubt inspired by misleadin: press articles that Canada wa neglecting the all important .16 of adequate defence, have bee: dispelled by the clear cut p7 gram announced by the Mini” of National Defence. costs over $8 million, and a 1; engine fighter, $750,000; a Sin engine jet interceptor nearly hali a million, a new airfield with run. ways and equipment $20 million a radar station from $3 million to $6 million. A new anti-submarine veii 8’ It is primarily a high speet high altitude fighter and ma also be used to attack ground c naval objectives with gun firl bombs or rockets. The plane i powered by an axial flow turh jet engine. The cost of one c these high speed fighters. is a; proximately a half million do! ars. Defence Costs This is a three year program t involve the expenditure of som five billion dollars. Many time it has been said that while war 1 not inevitable, neither is peac certain. This large expenditurt is felt to be justified as an in creased premium to ensure peace The government program is bas ed on the view that the chance 0: maintaining peace will increas: as the forces to oppose aggressiox grow stronger. As this is a chewing 'insect feeding onbuds and pant foliage use 50% DDT powder as direct- ers ‘! Answer ed. If you have a gardening or plant problem and would like expert advice write to “The Gardener’s Column, The Liber- al, Richmond Hill.” The reply will be published in this col- umn, which is writien by Al. Rice, Rice’s’ Flower Sh0p, Rich- mond Hill. What do I do for Rose Chaf-