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| < EE OPINIONS DAI Y TIMES-CAZETTE EDITORIAL PAGE FEATURES THE DAILY TIMES-GAZETTE USHAWA ; WHITBY THL OSHAWA TIMES (Established 1871) THE WHITBY GAZETTE AND CHRONICLE 4 (Establifhed 1863) An independent newspaper published daily except Sundsy by The Times Publishing Company of Oshawa, Limited, Arthur R. Alloway, President and Managing Director. . COMPLETE CANADIAN PRESS LEASED WIRE SERVICE The Times-Gazette 1s a member of the Canadian Dally Newspapers Association, the Ontario Dailies Association, and the Audit Bureau of Ofrculations. Authorized as Second Class Matter, Post Office Department, 'Ottawa, Canada. 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 in Canada and Englana $7.00 per year, $3.50 for 6 months, $2.00 ford months. United States subscriptions $9.00 per year. Net Paid Circulation oecemser, 1016 7,83 9 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1947 A AJ What Is "An Act of God'? The death of Ernest Pope of Toronto Island, in the blazing cab of his transport after it had plunged through the Rouge River Bridge, continues to be a topic of conversation wherever truck drivers and those who use the highways meet. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding the accident in which he lost his life will be held at Pickering on Feb. 11, but we doubt whether much information other than what is already known will be brought forward. J. D. Millar, Deputy Minister of Highways for Ontario, has voiced the opinion that the accident was "an act of God." This is a term used in legal parlance. A search of reported cases brings to light the following definition as stated by one learned judge: "The term 'act of God' is strictly limited to those classes of inevitable agcidents which- are occasioned by the elementary forces of nature unconnected with the agency of man or other cause." Another reported case gives the defi- nition as fellows: "A phenomenon, in order to be 'an act of God,' need not be unique, It is enough if it is extraordinary and such as would not reasonably be anticipated. An 'act of God' must relate to an event which cannot be foreseen and which cannot be guarded against." Much of the criticism arising out of the accident has centred around whether the highway was sanded. Officials of the Highways Department state that one of its men trav- elled over the road a short time before the accident and did not consider sand was necessary. The driver of one of the passenger vehicles at the scene of the accident is quoted as saying that he did not realize it was slippery until he applied his brakes suddenly. While the Highways Department has an obligation to see to it that the road is sanded, it would have to do so con- tinuously under some circumstances in order to prevent accidents. The same situation applies in cases of accidents involving falls on sidewalks where, if it is shown that the municipality took resonable precautions, ft is absolved of blame. Police Radio System The announcement on Saturday that a short wave radio system would be set up to link divisional headquarters of the Provincial Police was very gratifying. From time to time in recent years The Times-Gazette has advocated just such a system to assist in the apprehension of criminals and to bring about a reduction in the volume of crime. While most of the police radio systems in the United States operate on short wave, the Ontario system will be much improved as it will be of the frequency modulation type. ° This will prevent the majority of radio listeners from "rubbering" in. Some police departments use a code but this will not be necessary in this instance. The system will bring about a reduction in the number of cases of robbery in small communities which have inad- equate police protection. It will now be possible to throw a barrier around the area in which these robberies occur and also around the large cities from which the thievesfemanate and so check on every car. The system will sound the death knell for much thievery. Settlement By Statute Canada's recommendation that the peace settlement ,®ith Germany take the form of a statute rather than the usual peace treaty is one worthy of careful consideration by all nations concerned. . Unprecedented in world history, such a move would at least be a concrete step in the development of international Jaw, a field which it would appear must become a reality if there is to be stability in international relations. As is pointed out in the government's submission, the statutory apprgach would guard against saddling a German government with the responsibility of accepting voluntarily an imposed treaty which is bound to be unwelcome to the people of Germany. Also, in view particularly of the present lack of political organization within the country, it would be - a safeguard against any subsequent claim that the settle- ment was agreed to by a government which did not properly represent the German nation. There would remain, of course, the danger that it would be looked upon as a dictated peace in which the German people had no say but it seems unlikely that any practicable settlement could be effected which would not leave room for Looking Ahead In Ottawa By The Canadian Press : Feb! 3--(CP)--Its work Minister Mackenzie and now Lib- eral Leader in Saskatchewan. His status in the new session now is under government consideration. Pairs: The system of pairing which in the past has sometimes prevented defeat of the government in the Commons is to be strictly limited this session and as a result most government members will forego the long weekends they have taken in other years. The Progressive Conservative and C.CF. members have decided that they will pair with their govern- ment opposites only under very sp2- cial circumstances. For instance, tHey will agree to pair when a man is away on government business. The government has a majority of only five members in the Com- mons and the calling off of the pairing is expected to bring about many close divisions. In the past a member could go away almost at any time knowing that his pair on the opposite side of the House would not vote in any. division, Caucus: Liberal members of the Senate and the Commons are scheduled to hold their first caucus of the new session next Tuesday and it is beileved they will be given a detailed outline of the govern- ment's sessiona] program, As is customary the caucus wil] be held in camera and members will be tight-lipped on what is said and done at the meeting. However, some of the members are predicting that some of the arguments will be heated because the question of price. controls has brought more com>' plaints and grief than ether exist- ing issues, e Other Editors AGRICULTURE ORGANIZED sioner of agriculture, and the work wag left to such organizati ity rather than his knowledge of or interest in agriculture, which in reality was pretty much of a side issue with him. of the Agricultural College and the crowding in upon the government of demands for. greater service in various directions, came the neeu for the creation of a portfolio of agriculture, and the appointment of a minister whose time and thought should be devoted to the work ex- clusively. Under a succession of ministers of agriculture since that time the work of the department has grown by leaps and bounds, until now it embraces many branches and or- ganizations, These organizations are all doing useful and valuable work in their various fields of op- eration, and will continue to do so, perhaps in even greater measure as time passes. There is sure to be need in the future for additional branch- es as the result of new experience, and this need will have to be met when the time is ripe. With the appointment of the first minister of agriculture in 1888, im- petus was given to agricultural edu- cation, a study of problems, the improvement of farms and farming, of grain and livestock and of farm conditions generally. All , things are increasingly necessary if Ontario is to keep in the van of progress and fully realize the utmost possible from its great advantages, amid the strain and stress of pres- ent day world competition, The department has been blessed with a succession of good ministers. It may be said with equal truth that these have been fortunate in having had the support of efficient official heads and other, department officers in carrying out the work. Agriculture is and must always be the greatest industry in this and success of those engaged in it. The province has been far more than repaid by the improvement in farm crops, and stock, and in me- thods which have resulted from ex- periment and investigation made at the public expense, and which it would have been utterly impossible for any individual to have carried on; and this leaves out of consider- ation the educational advantages, province. e A Bible Thought The Dimensions of God's Greit Love--Its breadth .. .. God so loved the world;" its length--"that He gave His only begotten Son;" its depth--"that whosoever believeth in Him;" its height--"should not per- Look Who Wants Us To Disarm e 15 Years Ago Atter 'several preliminary meet- ings, the Oshawa Property Owner: Association materialized with L. V. Disney as first President. R. D. Preston was elected vice-president and PF. W. Hall, secretary-treasur- er, The Board of Directors in- cluded: John Stacey, C. A, Hunter, Jones, H. A. Butt, Victor Peacock and W, J. Sully. Oshawa Chamber of Commerce called for adequate navigation lights in the local harbor in a reso- lution addressed to the Dominion government. It was said that many vessels coming into the har- bor had to wait until daylight be- cause the lighthouse, mark thi Shsunee; was insufficient protec- n. J. T. Milner, who had completed the job of reconstruction in con- nection with the Oshawa gas sys- tem, resigned as manager of the Ontario Shore Gas Company, He was to be replaced by H. F. Wheeler of Moncton, New Brunswick. ° At a mass meeting in the Ukrain- ian Labor Hall, A. E. Smith, avow=- ed Communist and general secre- tary of the Canadian Defense Lea- gue, attacked Christianity as "exploded philosophy created by capitalists for capitalists." Captain (Rev.) 8. ©. Jarrett, Judge of Juvenile Court, criticized the action of City Council in reduc- ing the salaries of the officers of hig court, He claimed that the At- torney-General was the one who had power to fix such salaries. FIFTY YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE fits N 00 efficient administration of your estate by us costs no more than you would perhaps pay to an inexperienced individual. Every executor is ene titled to be paid for his services, the compensation being assessed by established legal procedure. Inefficient or inexperienced management may prove costly in the long run. 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When you support the activities of St. John Ambulance you play your part in saving lives that would otherwise be lost and in reducing the ill effects of injuries and sickness. For Teaching and Service in First Aid and Home Nursing Provincial Chairman: Col. K. R. Marshall, C.M.G., D.8.0.; Campaign Headquarters: 46 Wellesley Street, Toronto, Ontario. Provincial Chairman: Col. K. R. Marshall, C.M.G., D.S.0.; Send Your Donation Today to the St. John Ambulance Appeal, St. John House, 46 Wellesley St., Toronto, On Campaign Headquarters: 46 Wellesley Street, Toronto, Ontario