Commission Held Not Cai pable: Government Loans at Extremely Low Interest From Our Own Montreal, May 30.
Progress at Ottawa has not been rapid. and there remain many matters of Importance on the agenda before the members can look for the summer recess, A number of items are under consideration by committees, and until they report to the House the country will be somewhat in the dark regarding their deliberations.
'There is a good dear of thought being given' {othe future of the Canadian Radio Broadcast Commission, which has not giveh. all the Teadership that might be desired "on the air." There have been but few changes In its basle administration for several years and the general opinion seems to be that the Commis-Sion programmes are inferior to those "originating from commercial stations, 'Some of those who are working on the present committee feel that the establishment of a company under public surveillance, but not neces-Sarlly responsible' to Parliament, would be wiser than the present Com= mission, 'The B.B.C. would probably taken as a guide in working out any new administration, although this country is hardly in' a position to organize quite along its lines, One of the serious charges that has been levelled against the Canadian Commission is that there was political misuse of the radio connection with last. Federal election.
The matter has not been thoroughly, but, enough been given to show that there Is room for a clean-up in this regard, It has been suggested that the use of the radio for political ends should be under the restriction group representing all parties, the same time, the influence of the radio. in swaying public opinion in political matters is not ranked high.
"The whole question of the radio in Canada Is an extremely dificult one. The best programmes, with but very few exceptions, come from the 'United States' stations, and include such items as the presentations from the Metropolitan Opera House In New York, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, fine dramatic hours and trans-Atlantic hook-ups. Tt is small wonder, then, that the slow to enthtise over any night jeopardize the tainment that is available.
Alberta Treasury Act Premier Aberhart and his Alberta Social Credit government have: at ast taken the bull by the horns and passed the Alberta' Treasury Act. under which there will be a compulsory cut of the interest obligations of the province to 2% per cent. The whole public debt, amounting to about $160,000,000, will come under the new rate, with the possible ception of the $25,000,000 owing to the Dominion, This move, which has been anticipated for some weeks, is not looked upon with much favour by the finanders of Eastern Canada. or by the Cabinet at Ottawa, Alberta has been a thorn in the side of Mr. Charles Dunning, Federal Minister of Financ fever since he assumed his duties last autumn, He has tried to negotiate with Mr, Aberhart, but all in vain. The Montreal "Gazette," leading morning newspaper in, the Eastern provinces, says that, "Alberta con celvably soon may have very real cause to regret an arbitrary action which will endanger at once its own credit; and as the reaction abroad is bound to be harmful to the interests of Canada, tending to lower the credit position of the whole Dom: union, the bold initiative of the Alberta Government, though it was not unexpected, will be disturbing in its national effect."
It Is rather doubtful to what extent the dire predictions of certain interests wilt be justified. There has been a steadily downward movement of Interest rates for several years now, and the Dominion Government has taken advantage of it to place its new loans at extremely low. figures. The Canadian banks have gradually lowered the rate of interest on deposits from 3 to 1% per cent neither ease have there been results which were noticeably damaging to the credit of the country.
Tt may well be that the position is rather that. of a" surplus of capital for investment in most of the large industrial countries. Because of the oversupply the rate offered for It tends to drop naturally, even though: there will. be halts" while those who have capital consider hoarding it, "the irksome feature to all in the Alberta move is that it Is compulsory, and this is the point of which much Is being made, Actually. the indica tions are that' Mr. Aberhart is planning to open negotiations with bondholders' protective committees before the Act Is rigidly enforced.
New Contract for the "Quints The world-famous Dionne quint-upsets have had their second birthday, and the event was marked by party in their honour at thie little home in Northern Ontario. On their birthday, oe, a film contract was! signed on their behalf which will put them well on the road to being the millionaire class.
The five litre. French-Canadian girls are stil! carefully watched over by their guardians, and specially by Dr, Allan Dafoe, whose skill brought them into the world alive, and whose sound commonsense has been a tower of strength ever since. The doctor makes daily visits to his little wards, except when he is away from the district. His nurses are said to like him almost as well as the children do; they never fail to show their delight when he comes into their nursery.
Tt was Mr, David Croll, Ontario Minister of Welfare, who announced that the new contract had. been signed with one of the large flm companies. By its terms the sum of $250,000 was paid in advance, and by the end of 1938," when the three 'Alms stipulated shall have been made, another $30,000 will be added, as well og 10 per cent. of the net proceeds of the pictures. 'This is all providing that the five babes live; but even' should they not. the Arst amount be-Tongs to them.' From other sources the quints have an income each year of about $80,000, of which "ap~ proximately $15,000 is spent in maintaining them. It is thus estimated that by the end of 1938 they should worth $880,000, On their birthday the name of the Dafoe Hospital, where they live, was discarded. The building will now be Known og the Dafoe Nursery, which more in keeping with their age, All the film work will be done in the nursery under the supervision of Dr. Dafoe, os the health of the: quintuplets is still the primary consideration of the guardians. 'The "party", to which the babies' parents refused' an invitation, was broadcast, over the radio; all' that could be heard of the infants was discordant yelling, and beating of small drums.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.