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

SAMUEL FARMER. Editor and Publisher, Salvage Plan, Port Perry and Distriet PORT PER PORT PERRY STA RY ONTARIO, THURSDAY, APRIL EDITORIAL "Buch is the patriot's beast, where'er we ream: His first, best country ever is at home.* 3 = - - - - "MUNICIPAL ASSESSMENT AND ADMINISTRATION ; A study of municipal assessment methods throughout Ontario, and. doubtless throughout "Canada, would reveal much of the need for re- vision that exists to-day, The value of property fluctuatés for many r , but it frequently happens in most muni: * cipalities that the assessment remains "fixed" in spite of fluctuating values. ; This is not remarkable, for it is much easier to re-write an assessment roll from year to year, than it is to make a just assessment of property values, In small municipalities the assessor is seldom paid sufficient salary to warrant the making of an honest-to-goodness assessment, He is generally paid little, and gets by with as little work as possible, Rapidly changing modern conditions have ac- centuated this 'weakness in our asgessment sys- tem, In the good old days, when taxes were much lower, it was natural to suppose that an ex: tensive property (house or otherwise) was proof of ability to pay higher taxes, To-day the ten- dency has been to have a much smaller. house, and an automobile that in its original cost and upkeep represents the price of another small house, The latter piece of property is not assessed by the municipality. ) When sale is contemplated, the owner of the sinall house wins, and the owner of the big house is left holding the house, Some Revolutionary Changes Contemplated. Such assessment difficulties are of long stand- ing, and now comes the revolutionary possibilty that the whole matter of assessment and taxation may become a Provincial business through - County Councils, .and be removed from local municipal control. "Naturally, such-a possibility has aroused violent opposition; and it is quite possible that the pro- . posed Act to turn over control of assessment and taxation to the Provincial Department of Muni- cipal Affairs, may be withdrawn or greatly modi- fied. : But the fact remains that preparation for this drastic move has been quietly going on for years. Primarily the reason has been that the Province .-has become responsible wholly or in large mea- sure for matters that in former times used to be of local concern. This is notably true regarding highways and the care of the sick and aged. When money is spent by the Province for these purposes and others like them, there must be an accounting, and the Department of Municipal Affairs has assumed increasing power in advising and controlling expenditures for civié improve- ~'ments, : . There has in some cases been real necessity for this control, where municipalities have spent beyond their: means to pay. In such cases a business administrator has been placed in charge --and-finances have been put on a sound basis, ._ With the growing complexity of municipal ac- counting, the Province has been at considerable > effort to see that proper book-keeping methods are used, and that the clerks of the municipalities are instructed in the new methods of accounting. "An Unwatched Growth It can be taken for granted that revolutionary movements 'of any kind do, not spring up like mushrooms overnight. They grow in a well pre- pared 'seed bed, and often attain great propor- tions before we recognize them for what they are. Quite frequently the people' have iousl done much to cultivate the seedbed and are im- / & mensely disturbed when "they suddenly realize what it is that they have been cultivating. f 4) oe 8 It is to be hoped that in the controversy that is sure to arise over the proposed action of the De- partment of Municipal Affairs, something con- crete may be evolved that will result in definite assessment and taxation reform. / Certain it is that locally it is difficult to secure thorough-going reform in any municipality. There are too many personal contacts and inter- ests to be considered. Councils hestitate to face the opposition of interested parties, who may con- sider that a revised assessment is unfair to them. Nor is this personal interest problem far re- moved if assessment and taxation are turned over to County control. Community rivalries within the County may raise many barriers against a real equalized assessment. ' Who Shall Do the Spending? The real problem in the new proposal is not so much in assessment and taxation, but rather in the spending of the money after it is collected from the ratepayers, What right of decision "Shall they have as to how and by whom the money shall be spent? . This question brings to the fore the whole sub- ject of municipal administration .For quite a number of years past there has been in many municipalities a movement to place a business manager in charge of municipal affairs, with the Council acting only in a consultive capacity, This policy is highly praised by many. It removed [from the shoulders of the Council much of the . petty squabbling of insistent ratepayers who "fail to obey the municipal laws, or who demand cer- tain privileges. Our Own Neglect Gradually our lives are being controlled by central authorities, largely because we as a people have grown so negligent of our duties of citizen- ship. Our municipal public meetings have been very poorly attended; and it is becoming increas- ingly difficult to secure men who will fill the - municipal offices, We shall 'have to take our democracy much more seriously if we are to retain it. Mr. Moore's speech on this subject early this year is pertinent. But the day has come in our demo- cratic life when we need not only to be willing to serve, but capable of serving efficiently. Such a requirement is not easily filled. It needs careful study of current municipal conditions and responsibilities. It also needs familiarity with business procedure in Council meetings. LE TE I The future, discussion of this very thorny sub- ject of municipal control versus Provincial con- trol should bring to light much that the public has been too indifferent to learn. _ 3 Otie of the chief studiés should be the relative cost of Provincial control as against municipal control... And the other important study "will he the ultimate results in municipal betternient that can be achieved under these two entirely different : " methods of administration, ! } : "% % * * ; > One thing is certain--competent persons, -who are conversant with the facts of municipal ad: ministration should express themselves clearly in this matter, This is no time to remain silent if we really value local self-government," and believe it can be operated efficiently and fairly by local ad- ministrators. "A Salvage Collection Plan for Port Perry is being worked out as follows: "The town will be divided into three s Lilla Street to the Lake. No. 2, West of Lilla Street ections--No, 1, all that part lying East of No. 8, West of Lilla Street, North of Queen Street. © "| meeting, and matters to be discussed. and South of Queen Street. 2 8econd Wednesday, Collection Days--No, 1 First Wednesday of month, No, 28 you have anything to be collected. : No. 8 Third Wednesday. Call Phone 211, i Sink All Salvage must be in shape for immediate pick-up. Time is inigoreant where a truck is being used, Papers must be tied in bundles. Where the collecting, continue to save for them. y Scouts are One business man, Mr. S. Griffen, has offered the use of his truck twice 8 month. Two other such offers are needed. : Who will volunteer? WHAT IS NEEDED? Rubber is vital, so vital that it is becoming a major factor in our war effort. Paper, tied in bundles. Rags and bones, must be hammered out flat. the welfare of the Empire and het Allies. FARMERS will find a fenced area b place their scrap iron, hey come to town. Phone 211. © Gather the scrap and do you : 0 Every scrap is needed--old tires, rubbers or rubber boots, Briefly, any discarded rubber. VOLUNTEERS are needed to help With this work. whole or in pieces, worn rd Old iron, or other metals. bundled or in containers. Tin cans, but Housecleaning ig a good time to hunt out: this which has become useless where it is, but is an essential need in promoting v the weigh scales into which they can They are requested to bring in their contributions when ' r share to help win the war. If you can lend a hand, 2nd, : 942 . IN CH Joan Frances Austen, "God comfort those who parson prayed. - / the organ played, God take heed? ple bleed." . And as [sat remembering The victims of the devil's © thé seas; - diers' pain; A hundred Spitfire pilots r child; spirits undefiled;. Ten million willing, outst less, hungry folk; actor's joke; White helmeted young do shower of death, failing breath, And, humbled, deep I bo The sun shone in through coloured glass; vibrant, Deep in my foolish heart I asked, 'How much does Thousands of hearts are broken and A thousand nurses stooped to ease a thousand sol- Many a foster mother kissed some little orphaned Smoke-blackened firemen fought huge fires with 'A fired crowd underground laughed at a wounded Binding up hurts, speaking kind words, restoring 'Oh thou of little faith," He said; URCH ? in "The Blue Bell" ' suffer ip this war" the a million peo- only such things as these: work were rescued from ose to clear Ltheskiesagain retched hands fed home- ctors.braved a screaming Fo) wed my head. i Safety Education Charlie Carter, of Bowmanville Lions Club, came to Port Perry last Friday evening and addressed the local:Litns on the subject of "safety". It was one of the best talks along this' line that we have heard, because it was not just a preachment, but was | the story of what had been done to promote "safety" among the young- sters of Bowmanville, This was the Bowmanville Method. " "Early in the spring of 1040, the; Lions Club of Bowmanville decided to form a Bicycle Safety Club for the youth of our community. May 4th was set as the date for the first meet- ing and the schools, boy scouts and girl guides of the town were notified that such a meeting was being held. In addition we put an advertisement A in the local paper. | At the first meeting we outlined the aims of our club and the Chief -of "| Police spoke to us on the importance of cyclists becoming safety conscious.' At this meeting nominations were called for the offices of President, two Vice-Presidents and Secretary, and, from these nominations were elected our officers for a three months' period, : Prior to each meeting we mail a letter to each niember calling at- tention to the time and place of the We feel that by mailing this letter it is more likely to come to thé atten- tion of the parents and in this way we maintain their interest and co-opera- tion--so important to the Club's suc- cess, As can be understood, it is essential to have as many members as possible take an active part in these meetings, such as reading committee reports, to move or second a vote of thanks to a speaker, and we have a period each meeting devoted to free discussion, which really * encourages youngsters to get up on their feet and speak their mind. As frequently as possible we invite members of the Safety Club to attend our Lion's Club meetings and in this way. they get an idea of how meetings are conducted. Any boy or girl owning a bicycle is elegible to become a member of' our Club, providing they pass the test given by the Chief of Police of Bow- manville,. This is a test of knowledge of the cyclists' ten commandments; all of which 'are based on rules of the road. 'Each three local policemen are appointed to watch for traffic offen- - | the offender is summoned to court. A - | certain period." "self or Harry "Red" Foster will be terrible death, that man was ders and if any cyclist is caught breaking any of the commandments, local citizen is appointed as judge for the trial and the guilty one is brought before him. The offender may be reprimanded, put on probation or have his or her bicyele taken away for a We have the promise of Mr. Carter that should Port Perry wish to form such a Club here the services of him- available to assist in this work. * * * There is ample room and need for such a movement in Port Perry. Youngsters like to be doing something "on their own". If it is not a whole- some something, then it will likely be unwholesome, 2 That is why the Boy Scout Patrol is such a blessing. The Safety Club takes in-both girls-and boys, and fits them for starting on the road to good citizenship. We thank Mr. Carter for his ad- dress and hope it will bear practical fruit in Port Perry. The promotion of this Safety Move- ment has been greatly fostered by the Walter M. Lowney Company, Limited. They, through Harry "Red"" Foster | have helped to organize Children's Safety Clubs in about forty towns in Ontario. h ' a II A Serious Accident Gordon Reesor Cut by - Circular Saw If ever a man had a nar- row escape from sudden and Gordon Reesor, Port Perry. On Thursday morning of last week Gordon was cutting firewood with a circular saw. A considerableyaccumulation of wood had piled up behind him. Suddenly the pile slid and fell against Gordon, pushing him overthe running saw. It was all over in a matter of seconds; but examination showed that the -muscle of the upper right arm had been cut, and a severe slash had been made across the upper chest, Fortunately no bones were cut. Gordon i8 now in the hng- Watch your label; it tells when your subscription expires $1.50 per year in advance. 5 centg a single copy India has the centre of 'the stage to-day. = Sir Stafford Cripps has one of the most difficult jobs to do ever given to a single man. War is compelling most unexpected alliances; and is piling up obligations that will have far-reaching influences on the lives of generations yet to come. It is hard to visualize India's millions as a self-governing people. But we need India's help, and the future must take care of itself. V V V In a straight from the shoulder talk Donald Gordon told the Canadian Club in Toronto that we shall never have a "total war" effort so long as we continue to maintain our normal stan- dard of living. The sacrifices that the Germans and Japanese have made un- der compulsion, we must make volun- tarily--OR ELSE. = One feature of the behavior of the Canadian people needs correction "ac- cording to Mr. Gordon. That is panic and greedy buying whenever there ap- ity. Such conduct is the surest means to bring on price inflation with its at- tendant evils. There is no need for pan-- ic so far asliving essentials are concerned V VV . Lord Beaverbrook gave a stirring radio address a few days ago, the gist of which emphasized the importance of a trained fighting spirit in our soldiers, and a thorough determination to win' the war on the part of the civil popula- tion. War equipment is important, but this kind of spirit is more important. V V V Selective service preparations are going forward, and the provisions of the Act are as reasonable as possible in view of the country's need. The country's business is divided into essential and non-essential cate- gories:= Men, between the ages of 18 and 45, can be taken from the ranks of the non-essentials to the ranks of the essentials to fill requirements, also for military purposes. : Men now on the farms must stay at their work there. V V V The outstanding war exploit of' the week was Commando raid on St. Naz- aire, the German U-boat dock in north- ern France. The only harbour that could accommodate the largest warships --a terrific blow to German naval effi- pital, and doing well, AN of strategic warfare. ciency, and a spectacularly heroic piece i pears to be a shortage of any commod- ~~ --