em STRATFORD MIRROR Published Weekly by the Stratford Mirror Press, 123 Ontario St. BENSON JOHNSTON. EDITOR --e STRATFORD, NOV. 16, 1945 No. 46_ a David M. Rae, Manager The Stratford Mirror It is with considerable pleasure we announce the appointment of Mr. David M. Rae as Manager of The Stratford Mirror. He is well qualified for the position after fourteen years experience on the staff of The Hamil- ton Spectator. For some time we have been en- deavoring to secure someone who could manage our paper successful- ly, but we were also anxious that the appointee would be one who would be able to carry out certain ideals we have felt should be embodied in a weekly publication such as The Strat- ford Mirror. Since making regular visits to the city we have been more impressed than ever with the progress Stratford has made in recent years, which has been accomplished through the splen- did co-operation of many _ public- spirited citizens. Stratford is ideally located in many respects, and being a railway centre has many advantages over other inland towns. We were further impressed, however, with the fine group of young people who will soon be called upon to take their places at the controls of our civic management. To this group, we feel every encouragement, direction and help at our disposal should be given and with this in mind, we were espe- cially glad to have David Rae accept this important place in our midst. Mr. Rae, who has already taken up his position with The Mirror, is prim- arily a young people's man. In Ham- ilton he was active in the Junior Chamber of Commerce and St. Giles United Church and was particularly interested in 'teen age groups, having some very practical ideas along these lines. In fact. the opportunities for service in these avenues through a larger proposed circulation of The Mirror, did much to influence his de- cision, being anxious to have a part in making our paper 2 potent factor in the business and cultural life of the city. Mr. Rae is anxious to take up resi- dence in Stratford and is hopefully looking for a house so his wife and two young children may soon join a ee Stratford Chit-Chat . M. Happy Time For Those Who See Not the Light It would have warmed the cockles of your heart to have dropped in at the Y.M.C.A. last week while a party was in progress for the Blind of this city. You'd never guess it was for sightless folks without being told, for they were the gayest and happiest group one could find anywhere. The artists who added to the hap- piness of the evening were richly re- paid by the deep and sincere appre- ciation of their audience, many of whom will have few outings and pleas- ures during the coming winter months. Those taking part were William Schoedel, accompanied by Marion Schoedel, who fvaored with several violin selections; vocal duets by Misses Ann and Marie Reinhart, accompan- ied by Angelene Conway were also well received; as were the numbers by Russell Carnegie on piano accordian, accompanied by William Hadfield on the banjo. Many feet beat time to the old-time dance music played by M.r Edgar Wilker, accompanied by his. daughter, Miss Gladys Wilker Games were played and contests with just as much or more enthusiasm as if all could see. The community sing- ing was truly worth hearing for they ~ it. The carefully planned menu of wieners, hamburgers, tarts, ice-cream bars and coffee disappeared as if by magic. Each person was accompanied by a friend who for the evening was "eyes" for them. We feel sure that those who did this kindness would be quite as happy as those whom they sought to help, for happiness given always re- turns to the giver on the rebound. The make these Fall and Spring parties possible were well rewarded for time and effort spent in planning such a happy evening for those by whom. it was so greatly enjoyed. A Musical Treat The musically minded folks of this city are being well entertained in a variety of concerts to suit all tastes. The St. John's Church is rightfully proud of fthe splendid organ recital given by their organist, Gordon Scott, A.C.C.O., A.T.C.M.,. also the very fine work of the Junior Choir, of which he is the leader. Assisting him a former Stratford- ite, who since leaving the city has served in the armed forces, gave the large audience a real treat with his violin selections. Misses' i Children's 3 a Men's " 'e si Boy's 7 "4 = Misses' Children's " - Good Shoes Properly Fitted. RUBBERS AT BOYD'S Ladies' Plain Over Rubbers......... ihre Toe Men's Low RUDHES 405555... 00 veers. ---2- pete A : ae Ladies' Rubber Galoshes, Dome........-...--. io hae Men's Heavy Storm (Rolled Edge)..........-++++++ 1.35 Ladies' Fur Trimmed Cossacks.........-.----4.45--4.95 Men's All-Wool, genuine zippers.......-..--- Men's Rubber Boots ....... Men's Lumbermen's (some more) .......---++++0++ 1.99 Many other lines not mentioned. EP Res LR ARIE. See 59c See One wed held i - ts di dee cce te Z Re NE obsess DD j ccna 239 2 2B8: Bae 99 ONTARIO ST. him. put their hearts and souls right into, Stratford-Perth Advisory Board, who | Planned Economy Of Canadian National Ry. In an address to the members of The Quebec Rubber and Plastics As- sociation in Montreal recently Mr. S. W. Fairweather, Vice-President, Re- search and Development, Canadian National Railways, made some rather interesting remarks regarding the railway industry as an example of a iplanned economy brought into exist- ence by the necessity of controlling la vital part of the national economy lin the public interest. In part Mr. Fairweather said: "This is a truth so simple that it is 'apt to .be overlooked. The stark l reality of war, he said, had removed |any doubts as to the basic necessity of railway service and had pointed out, iin no uncertain measure, its value. But long before the testing time of war, economic analysis of the rela- _tionship of the railway to the com- 'munities it served --a_ relationship 'which was not properly evaluated by the mailway income account and bal- ance sheet -- demonstrated that rail- ways must remain the backbone of the nation's transportation system. "These studies showed how complex |the relationships between the railway and the community are and how dif- | ferent they are from the economic ;factors which affect those industries | which operate competitively in a free 'market. The railway industry has only a limited control over the ser- vice which it renders or the price at which it is rendered. It cannot with- ;draw from unprofitable services as a imerchant can drop an _ unprofitable line of goods. Its whole existence is conditioned by convenience and ne- cessity, not of itself but of the com- munity." The impingement of highway com- petition upon the planned railway economy had brought about astonish- ingly paradoxical results. The rail- way can carry freight at an average cost of one cent per ton mile or less; the truck carries freight at a cost of five cents per ton mile, yet the truck operating on the highway has been a factor much more destructive of rail- way net revenues and credit than was the great depression of the thirties." "The situation was not explainable on the basis of a better quality of ser- vice. Studies have proved that ship- pers who ship by truck do so almost invariably because they find on com- paring tariffs that it is cheaper to ship by truck than rail, which makes the situation even more paradoxical than ever. How can the higher cost medium sell its services cheaper than the lower cost railway operation ?, Obviously an economic fallacy is pres- ent somewhere; plainly someone must be paying the excess cost of highway services. Here is plainly a field for economic research to ensure that the community which, in the last analysis, pays the bill, gets the truly cheapest and best means of transport. The problem is one of adjusting a planned railway economy to a laissez faire highway economy." "Jt was a problem, in which one section of the Canadian National's re- search and development department was specializing. Other activities he mentioned were a scientific study of the potentialities of the territories search into organization and the se- (Continued on page 8) my oe served by the railway, the budgeting -- of railway revenues and expenses, Pee: aoe Sse es i FESR DET DE se pe ite BE ini ss ke Fk akee Seite oo Saw ge PAT rg cee Si 7 t ig ele ' 3 ; rt et a nena Janne: ¥ a 2 coon oe ae SS See -- = "a = ae aoe a