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m d the Canadian Weekly NWWS’ W Circulation tor 12 months. 1.400- PAGE 4. THAT HYDRO REFUND We were rather astonished last week to see the following editorial in the Hanover Post under the heading, “Playing Politics ?” _ regargiing the Hydro ML- Dnn‘ “There is a suspicion voiced in some quarters that the Ontario Hydro Commission is ‘playing politics’ in some of their actions. This week, for instance, the daily papers prominently displayed the refunds of over $100,000 to municipalities in the ' In addition to the fact that the Hydro is just now trying to have Southampton get on the band wagon, it must be remembered that no particular credit goes to the Hydro Commission for these refunds. They collected this money in excess of what was requiredâ€"certainly erring on the side of generosity in setting the original rateâ€"- and then they come along and say: ‘Here’s $100,000 for you,’ which they shouldn’t have collected in the first place. Hydro is a fine thing without a doubt, but the Provincial Commission could well afford to keep in closer touch with the smaller centres and be more considerate of the local Commission’s requests. Stooping to petty politics hardly does them credit.” Surely The Post wrote the article quoted above without thinking! There may be a possibility that the Hydro is playing politics. Of that we cannot say as we are not in very close touch with them. But to say that they are playing politics with no more proof than that they have given us a “rebate” on our hydro rate is hardly fair. This is not the first time that the Hydro Commission has done this thing, nor the second. Last year Durham hydro - ‘ . _:__n_ .: 4.1.5:- 1007 km: Hung, HUI. but; oouuuu. .......,- d---_ _ users were returned one-Sixth of their 1927 bills, and on other previous occasions the Hydro has re- duced our rate and given rebates as circumstances would permit. The Post’s contention that in giving back to the municipalities the sum of $100,000 the Hydro has given us “something which they shouldn’t have collected in the first place” is not very sound reason- ing. The Hydro is supplied at cost, and our rates at the best are only an estimateâ€"â€"and it is reason- able to assume that those who are responsible for the estimate aim to make it high enough. What would The Post say if the Hydro were to come along and say: “Last year we fell down on our es- timate and find that we were too low. As a result Hanover owes the sum of seven thousand dollars. Pay up”? Naturally, Hydro rates are estimated high enough to carry the overhead and at such times as it is practicable these surpluses are given back. We know of no other way in which it could be done. but we are not averse to The Post showing us if it has a better plan. In the case of Durham with its refund of over sixteen percent on 1927 rates, the Hydro Commis- sion will not allow a reduction in rates. Their ar- gument, and it is a good one, is that some time in the future Durham Hydro Commission may need a sum of money for extension or repairs, and in staying with the present rate they will have it. By reducing the rate there is the possibility that if these increased charges do become necessary there would be insufficient money in the local hydro treas- ury to take care of it and the Commission would have to raise the rates to make it up. The Ontario consideration. The list enumerates - all holders of this office from 1854 to 1929 inclusive, and if it is a correct list then Bentinck Township has not been considered for the highest office in the gift of the county since 1883, slightly over 46 years ago. Bas- ing our opinion on the oft-made statement that the to see this done next year. It would hardly be fair to place the blame for this apparent neglect wholly on the County Council- lors. We think ourselves that Bentinck must also take‘part of the blame, if any there is. Bentinck Township has long been noted for turning out its township officials fast and often and it may be that this has had something to do with passing them up in the selection of a Warden. While the honor be- longs rightly to the municipality, the representative of that municipality must have had some experience before he is considered capable of guiding the County Councillors. We would like to see Ben- tinck’s claim recognized next year, but she cannot -1... With the exception that the sales tax has been reduced from three to two per cent, the Robb Budget hasomade only minor changes in the tariff is it anything to worry about. To all practical purposes it is the same old thing as in 1928. It is true that the tax on railway and steamship tickets has been abolished, the tax on cables and telegrams has been thrown overboard, and a few minor changes made, but this will not be noticeable to the general run of citizens whose transportation costs are almost nil and who possibly do not send an average of two telegrams a year. Frankly, the would have noticed it more had the budget cut off the present tax on matches or aianges made, but this general run of citizens are almost nil and wh expect it VLCOt‘A. . ‘-vvo____ - ,_ it with a new reeve at ihe helm. Thursday, March 14, 1929. CANADA’S NEW BUDGET is afraid of submitting gm] question, away Vith. The stamp on cheques is another thing we should have been pleased to have seen scrapped. There are many of these smaller taxes we would like to see dispensed with, including the Provincial Government’s Amusements tax on every ticket costing over 25 cents. Since the war we have been taxed for this, that and the other thing until the man who owns a small business is com- pelled to spend altogether too much time in free bookkeeping for the governments. Citizens of Toronto have asked for a one-cent rate on all drop letters, but their request has been denied by the postal authorities gt, Otawa. And why not? Compared with the smaller towns, Toronto and other places where free delivery is in vogue are doing very well. A city dweller, or5 one living on a rural route in the country has the privilege of free mail delivery. Residents of the smaller tawns do not have that privilege, and only a few months ago the postal authorities doubled the rental of post of- fica bdxes to them. “v- Iv vwâ€"vâ€" This to our mind 'is unfair. Why should the dwellers in the smaller towns be penalized for the privilege of going to the post office and taking their mail out of a rent-paid box while their brethren in the cities and country have their mail delivered to their doors free of charge? There should be several changes in the postal regulations before the oneâ€" cent drOp letter postage is adopted. EARLIER START SUGGESTED The suggestion of A. P. Mewhinney, the Liberal member from North Bruce that the On- .tario Legislature commence its daily session at 'mittee, and he afterwards explained to ,news» papermen that he cannot sleep after half-past five in the morning. The Bruceite may be telling the truth but we were always of the opinion that next to policemen the country’s politicians liked their “shut-eye” period. best. Mr. Mewhinney’s suggestion made us think of the story of the farmer who remarked that he was always up and about by four o’clock in the morning. His friend, another farmer, avowed that that was not a bad time to get up, but that four o’clock was rather late for him. He was always up not later than two o’clock. The first light in the kitchen, and Bill’s wife opened the door. She was up to her elbows in the wash- tub, and to the inquiry, . “Is Bill around?” ans~ wered: “Well, he was around early this morning but I don’t know where you will find him this time Mr. Mewhinney may not sleep as long as some of us, but we would like to wake up some morning at five-thirty, call at his room and catch him in ANOTHER NUISANCE? . Is the Starling to become a nuisance similar to the English Sparrow? It would seem so, judg- ing by what those who claim to know tell us. W Allyn.- wrv-uw vâ€"- v _ __ tack ’the fruit buds in the spring, and as once they get a start in a community they increase rapid- ly, there is a pOOr future outlook for fruit. At present the complaint comes from the Niagara peninsula. Starlings are also said to be detrimental to other bird life. They remain here all season, and, being on the ground in the early spring, the other birds must seek other quarters or fightâ€"and the starlings are good fighters. These birds were re- leased on the continent at New York in 1913, made their first appearance in Canada about 1920 at Port Hope, and now are beginning to spread up English sparrow, there is little thanks to' the man or society who released them and it would seem that even now is too late to hope to get rid of them. We may pay for this interference with Nature. Hail Nature wanted the starlings or the SP3TPOW§ And isn’t it the truth? The man or woman who doesn’t know his place is the most hurt when placed in it? coming vogue. Now, who can discover some belles who will be covered with dresses? There is another revolution going on in Mexico. This is not intended as news. Just an- other chapter of a continued story. The breaking up of the Thompson ring seems to be Chicago’s next big job, and if she can choose a chief magistrate who is law-abiding and sincere, he can, in a few months, make the Lake Michigan city rather unhealthy for the law-breakers and force them to move on to pastures new.’ A Spanish woman named Sofia Hernandez Mol- peceres gave birth to quintuplets last week and gains a place in the news pages of the world. A mere nothing. A woman with a name like that is liable to do anything. An exchange tells us that the pupil of the eye of a poisonous snake is semi-elliptical, like that of a cat and that the non-poisonous snakes have circular pupils. This information will be useful to Chronicle readers. Look ’em in the eye. If it’s circular, stand still; if it’s semi-elliptic, scratch gravel. _ “Ontario Government Extravagant, say Mem- bers of Opposition”. This is a newspaper heading covering a dispatch from .Toronto. Nothing to get excited over here! It’s not news. When the oppo- sition members are satisfied with the Government’s expenditure and commend them for it, that will be real news nad worth at least a column. General Umberto Nobile, commander of the dirigible I talia, lost in the Arctic, has been cen- sured and the responsibility for the disaster placed on his shoulders. The commission was appointed by Premier Mussolini and further censured Gen. Nobile for allowing himself to be saved while his crew perished. Evidently the high morale of the seguis tggefifiim into ihe air force. NOTES AND COMMENTS ONE-CENT POSTAGE THE DURHAM CHRONICLE as the M1. John Schenk of Frown is a pa- tient in Durham Hospital, where he underwent an operation for appendici- tis on Tuesday. Drs. J amleson and Sneath were in attendance. Mrs. R. G. Hopkins 0! Bentincl: un- derwent an operation for removal of tonsils in Durham hospital on Tues- day. We are pleased rpoert that she is recovering nicely from the op- eration. A sultan at odds with his harem Thought of a way he could scare ’em; He caught him a mouse Which he freed in the house, Thus starting the first harem scarum. COW FOR SALE BLACK COW, PAST DUE; ALSO Holstein cow, farrow; good milkers; good heavy wagon .â€"Apply Mrs. Peter Robins, Durham, R. R. 3. lpd. ,* OWING TO THE STORM 01“ LAST week the annual At Home of the Dur- Ianâ€"James Edge, Glenelg. Ianâ€"Samuel J. Lane, Owen Sound. Ianâ€"Hugh Reid, Sydenham. 1874â€"James Pattegson, Euphrasia. INSâ€"George Jackson, Bentinck. 1876â€"-Joseph Rorke, Collingwood. 1877â€"Robert McGee, Melancthon. 1878â€"James Murdock, Egremont. hem Women’s Institute has been post- poned until Thursday night of this week, when it will be held in the Town Hall. mooâ€"Finlay Mache, Glegelg. 1881â€"Dr. w. s. Christoe, Am 1882â€"0. R. Sing, St. Vincent. 1883â€"David McNichol, Bentinck. 1884â€"J ames Cameron, Holland. 1885â€"John Chisholm, Owen Sound. 1886â€"Victor Lang, Normanby. 1887â€"Nicholas Read, St. Vincent. 1888â€"John Clark, Keppel. 1889â€"R. McNaught, Sarawak. 1890â€"Charles Mofl’at, Glenelg. 1891â€"Thomas Gilray, Euphrasia. 1892â€"James Cochrane. Derby. 1893â€"Samuel Rodgers, Proton. 1894â€"Joseph Pringle, Sullivan. 1895â€"Georgo Binnie, Glenelg. 1896â€"J ames Anderson. Sullivan. 1897â€"James Allan, Egremont. 1898â€"M. Richardson, Artemesia. 1899â€"Char1es Gordon, Owen Sound. 1900â€"John McDonald, Chatsworth. 1901â€"6. A. Brown, Meaford. 1902â€"Chas. McKinnon. Durham. 1903â€"D. K. greston, Osprey. 1904â€"Joseph Pringle, Sullivan. 1905â€"- J ohn McArthur, Artemesia. 1906â€"J. M. Thompson, Sydenham. NOVâ€"Henry Pedwell, Thornbury. 1908â€"Robert J. Ball, Hanover. 1909â€"Robert Agnew, Meaford. 1910â€"Andrew Schenk, Normanby. 1911â€"8. R. McKnight, Collingwood. 1912â€"John’ Johnston, Keppel. 1913â€"Dr. W. A. Mearns, Hanover. 1914â€"William Breese, Chatsworth. 1915â€"Wm. Calder. Durham. 1916â€"E. A. Cordingly, Shallow Lake 1917â€"loseph Goodfellow, Proton. 1918â€"John A. Boyd, Markdale. 1919â€"John McQuaker, Owen Sound. 1920â€"Irwin Morrison, Osprey. 1921â€"William H. Sing, Meaford. 1922â€"Robert Howey, Holland. 1923â€"Emerson Brown, Collingwood. 1924â€"Daniel McTavish, Flesherton. 1925â€"T. R. McKenzie, Anemia. 1926â€"John T. Miller, Euphrasia. 1927â€"Chas. Holm, Normanby. 1928â€"Neil Calder, Egremont. 1929â€"Hector C. Moody, Dundalk. ’ It Pays To Deal Here GREY COUNTY WARDENS LOOK OVER _ THIS BARGAIN ' LIST: Children’s heavy ribbed Cotton Hose, pair .............. s .25 Ladies’ Heavy Cotton Bath Towels, good size and quality .................................... _ Strong Silk Elastic, 1/4 ins. wide, 6 yards for ................ New Silk Gloves, heavy double silk, with new fancy cufi‘s, in all new shades, Jackie Coogan Fountain Pen, 50 c. value; 12 school scrib- blers, 35c. value. 85c. value for ..................... The Variety Stow~ Lustre Egg Cups, all colors, 3 for ........................................ R. L. Saunders, Pr0p. PHONE 4 DEBRA] HOSPITAL NOTES SPECIAL! West 'i-ife ‘ ‘Feeding and Better Livestock” is a book- let issued by this Bank to help the Canadian farmer increase his profits. Ask for a copy. Durham Branch - - J. A. Rowland, Manager Durham Pontiac Sales «DURHAM. ONTARIO HE Pontiac Big Six is a low- priced car yet in performance, in beauty and style, in luxury, it ofl'ers all the advantages of a truly fine, big car. Its big, new L-head engine de- velops the speed, power and acceleration of a big car. Its new, noiseless internal f our-wheel brakes provide big car safety and control. It ofi'ers the big car sym- metry and beauty of stunning new Fisher bodies, flaring fenders, high, narrow radiators and fins car proportions and lines. Learn by investigation what a de- cidedly advantageous “ buy ” it represents. Roman: OF Bellâ€"In Durham Red pull. with 11. 1929. to I A, M. Bell, a son (Alexand Cookâ€"In Detroit. Mich; 1939. to Mr. and Mrs. Erna Cle GE DURHA CROWN BRAND m the puts} nug!‘ able Syrups (M! an" (or gene“! l1 wd nod puma oed for childn GOLDEN is a flu Syrup than Cro- BENSON'S P7 For ave! 70 years I PARED CORN h: u a househoid m In; ddlcious 65: ”ring sauces. It In finest and 901 W. ' mama cl the economical 0". u used ton lag and that}: olhe oil lot ma! of (age Ire: Honda, a BORN .E-N‘ and 14