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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1941-02-27, Page 6Saving Ontario's Natural Resources G. C. TONER Ontario Federation of Anglers (NO. 31) MICE AND BIRDS The relation between mice and Predatory birds, hawks and owls, to been 'studied recently by Dr. Z L. Allen of the Michigan De- partment of Conservation. Much a:if his findings are of interest tto people in Ontario; for this Iatovince is very like the State 'Of Michigan as far as climate and soils are concerned,In this article I am going to quote free- ly from Dr. Allen's findings. We do know that life all over the earth exists in roughly the tame pattern, although the spe- eies differ from one area to an- other, First we have the plants that turn the minerals of the earth into living matter, These slants are used as food by huge numbers of small animals (and fewer large ones) in whose bod- ies the plant material is turned into animal tissue. These her- bivores do not multiply indef- initely and destroy their food supply because their numbers are held in check, at least in part, by other species adapted to liv- ing upon flesh. In every part of the world these main types of animals have "grown up" to- gether and have developed mu- tual checks and balances to pre- vent any one species from get- ting out of hand. They Do Good, Harm We know perfectly well that some hawks and owls kill rab- bits, pheasants, grouse and other game animals. In Michigan we have been vividly impressed with the fact that the greatest mor- tality among these game species, from upredators," occurs when they are young. and when they are about equal size to the small animals upon which the carniv- eres habitually prey during most of the year. We also know that there is difference in the food habits of. the various species of carnivores. The hawks differ widely in this respect. In gen- eral the larger, slow flying, soar- ing species feed primarily upon meadow mice and other small rodents. However, in the spring they may bring young birds to the nest to feed their young and no one need be surprised to see then pick up a rabbit oeeasion- ally. ' The proposition boils down to this: If we are going to pro- fit by the immeasurable good done by these animals in protect- ing the farmer's crops, we are going to have to put up with some of the things we may not like. There is a limit to how much we can regiment nature, Jack Miner: "A National enefactor" Kingsville Naturalist le Ac- claimed by Head of Canadian Travel Bureau Jack Miner, famed Kingsville naturalist, was last week elected president of the Essex County Tour- ist Association at its annual meet- ing in Windsor, BEAUTIFICATION URGED "Let us see how much we. can put into Essex County by beautify- ing it and forget for the time being what we can get out of it," Mr. Miner urged. in accepting office, He asked for continued b- edification. of highways and farm properties especially those bordering heavily travelled highways. "PERFORM GREATEST WORK" The 46 -year-old conservationist was publicly acelakmed as a na- tional benefactor by D. Leo Dolan, director of the Canadian Travel Bureau, principal speaker. "I have known for many years the value of the work you have been doing," Mr. Doian 'said. "No man le better known and none whore highly regarded' than Jerk - Miner. I desire to pay you public tribute tonight for ,the work which you have done to make Canada known throughout the whole ot 1•torth America. You were at work en this brriliess of tourist promc- tion.long before I was thought of and I Consider, your work in con- servation tp bamong eihe great-. st fter.fo:•med anywhere on the globe'. . Grow Carrots! A liberal planting ofcarrots should be made in evei;y garden for not only is this crop easily grown but they are relished by eveeyone,.and are rich in the vita- ntins so essential to healthy growth in childien, Dominion Seed House, Georgetown, Ont., Wilt tell you how tel grow "cores less" carrots, sweet, tender and 4ree from woody fibre. Send for eir *ea Seed and Ne+:•-eey Book 1041 •-M- today. WORK — SAVE — LEND — TO WIN SPARIMMOVIII010 H.E W A I• W E E K --Commentary on Current Events Events Moving Faster In Balkans, Far East "There is a growing belief in the possibility of a world-wide conflagration involving an at- tempted ttempted invasion of Britain timed with thrusts at Suez and Gibraltar and a Japanese thrust at Singapore,"Prime Minister Mackenzie King. "The United States is in the war, or at least nearly In It, and is preparing for it."—U. 8, Secretary of Commerce Jesse H. Jones. Non-political military experts in Washington expressed last week their cool opiuton that actual in- vasion of Great Britain now seem- ed unlikely—chances 50-50 against it. Instead, they believed, the Ger- mans would increase their opera- tions in the Mediterranean, inten- sify the war on British shipping, concentrating on the objective of "knocking out Britain without re- sorting to invasion, before U. S. lend-Iease aid could become effec- tive. Everything At Once London military Then, not quite o1 the same mind, were consider- ing the possibility of an attempted Invasion of Britain synchronized with thrusts in the Balkans, at Suez and at Gibraltar and a Jap- anese shove on Singapore. They ex- pected that the Balkan and Gib- raltar campaigns might be trig before mid-March. Squeeze Play on Greece Whether the British experts were right or wrong, events would short- ly bear out, it was telt last weak. Hitler's drive through the Balk- aue toward Suez waw gaining, mo- mentum lits domination of the en- tire peninsula down as far as Greece and Turkey, by "peaceful penetration," appeared to have be- come complete with the signing ot &the Turks Bulgarian non -aggression pact, and the journey to Berlin of Yugoslavia's head men, His next immediate aim was to smash Greece, hoping thereby to consoli- date the German military position, end rescue the badly -pummeled Fascists, before the next phase ot the Battle of the Mediterranean op- ened. Hitler's "Or Else .. ," In its pressure for a. "quick peace" last week between Greece and Italy, Germany was said to have given the Greeks two alter- natives: 1. Submit to a quick peace with Italy; 2. Submit to a German military occupation ,elf, Greece be, fore Britain ,could rrislveteitlforce- ments there from the ltiot't11 Afri- can front. Should the Nazis not succeed in forcing the peace,—by cracking Greek morale—they would be faced with the prospect of mak- ing a two -front war {Greece might well become a battleground for the German and British armed forces) or backing down with serious loss of prestige In the Baikane. Creeping Up On Gibraltar Preparations for Hitler's advance upon the British western Mediter- ranean stronghold, Gibraltar, were much less in evidence last 'week, although every sort of behind - scenes work was doubtless being clone. Before he could thrust in this direction, Hitler would have to secure Petain's permission to allow passage of troops across France, Franco's cons en t for passage through Spain. It would be really something, however, if he could gain possession of the French fleet, based at Toulon. Conflict "At Any Moment" • The Far Eastern situation wors- ened appreciably last week. The organ of the Soviet navy, Red Fleet declared the state of affairs in the Pacific was growing more tense day by day and that a conflict might be precipitated ."at any moment." The paper reported that Japan was moving to the south, massing heavy naval concentrations around Saig- on (French Indo-China), within easy striking distance of Singapore , and the Netherlands East Indies. "The Anglo-American bloc," it eon-, tinned, "is equally active, with the British busily placing Singapore on a war footing while the British, American and Australians are re- ported working out concrete de- fence measures for the South Pac- ific." Japan A Stooge? Hitler might be using Japan to create a diversion in the Far East of sufficient magnitude to pre- occupy the United States. But more plausible was the explanation that Japan was seizing what appeared to be a golden - opportunity to achieve her own purpose—:domin- ation of Eaptern Asia. The Fax Eastern picture in more detail: Britain mined the Strait of Singapore to block the main sea routes to Japan, Thailand, China and Indo-China . . , the United States renewed its request to Ana ericans in China, French Indo- China and Japan to go home , . , the Chinese reported Japan had etatloned six divisions in Canton, Hainan Island, French Indo-China and SDratiy Islands, four divisions In I'''orntose , . the Austrailau Government • issued extraordinary waxbingi : of new,grave war stage Japanese charged that the landing of Australian troops et Singapore as a belligerent net . Mustn'wt Touch Singapore Authoritative informants in the United States said last week that Japan was just testing how far she could go, nibble, by nibble, They be. lieved that Japan did not want war with the United States, but that in the event of her attacking Sing- apore, the Amerleau fleet would be cure to go into action, and she wo, , 12 uld theget UniteditStatesanywaywere to en- ter the war, it might very well be ala the Pacific, °'To Lease -Lend" Convoys? Final enactment of the "British Aid" bill, now going through the Senate, was expected the first of the month. As soon as the measure was approved, President Roosevelt was likely to_ mako an immediate request for $1.000,000,000 in approp- riations and coutract authority to build planes, ships, tanks, guns and munitions, much of it to be •'•Teased -lent" to , Great Britain for use in Europe, Africa aad the Far l0ast. If the purposes of the "Lease - Lend' bill were to be achieved, ma- terial readily available would have to be put at. Britain's disposal im- mediately. The United States, then, was certain either to "lease -lend" convoy aid to the British in the North Atlantic or directly engage in convoy protection. Half National income It was a"shocked and dramatic" silence which greeted the close of Finance Minister's Ilsley's speech in the House of Commons last week on Canada's war costs. Never before had. any Canadian legis- lative body been asked to approve expenditure of auele a sum—$2,700,- 0-00,000 lim—$2,700;0-00,000 for the coming fiscal year— almost two-thirds of which would go towards paying for the war. This colossal outlay, ibir. Ilsley in- timated, represented devoting halt our national income to war and oth- er governmental work ($225 for every man, woman and child in the Dominion). "To carry out the war program," he said, "will require for many of us drastic changes In our mode of living and habits of life." Critics of the war effort con- tinued to feel that expenditures for governmental purposes could be mu•eh more substantially cut. Coincidentally with the opening of the sixth session of the 2.0th Legislature at Toronto, came the forecast that Ontario's expendi- tures for the coming fiscal year would be increased by snore than $1,000,000,000, due in great part to the discontinuance by the Domin- ion Government of direct relief con- tributions to the provinces. (Muni. eipalities' relief costs share for 194142 was expected to be advanc- ed from 20 to 33 per cent of the total 33-66 with the provincial government). Canadian National aliways Revenues The gross revenues of the all- inclusive Canadian National Rail- ways System for the week end- ing February 14, 1941, were $4,884,521 as compared with 4,335,727 for the correspond- ing period of 1940, an increase of 528,794 or 12.1% Precaution Lack Causes Blindness Addressing a recent luncheon meeting of the Stratford Rotary Club Col. A. E. Baker, managing director of the Canadian Insti- tute of the Blind, Toronto, said that had proper precaution and care been taken half of the adult sightless in the country today would never have been blind. The speaker told his listeners there are 11,900 blind persons registered with his organization, 30 of whom are more than 100 years old, and added that the in- stitute extends its services to every blind person in Canada, from the youngest to the oldest, The Book Shelf . "THE FAMILY" ($10,000 Atlantc Monthly Prizewinner), By Nina Fedorova This story is laid in China dur- ing uring the• Japan. ese invasion in 1937. The Family is White Rus- elan -- ex -big, ex -great, ex -pros- perous. After going through war and revolution, enduring poverty and famine and illness, flood, fire and even an earth- quake, there are fire of them left: Granny, Mother, and the children o£ the third generation, Peter, Lida and Dime. They try to make ends meet by running a boardinghouse, and they open their doors -- and their hearts — to the strangest collection of "paying guests" ever gathered under one roof. You meet a Bessarabian fortunteller, an Englishwoman who has taken to the bottle, a social climber, a titled lady whose love affair is the talk and wonder of English-speaking China, three Russian nuns, an America doughboy and a collec- tion of hissing and bowing Jap- anese, As the Family widens its cir- cle, sharing new experiences rich in humor and feeling, each mem- ber of the group grows stronger emotionally, and in spirit until, when 'war and separation cloud their lives, they have found a faith that sustains them when they need it most. "The Family" . by Nina Fedorova . , . Toronto: McClel- land & Stewart ... $2.75. Early Ontario Story Recalled Episode of Huronia Reviewed By Author of "The Cham. plain Road" Ontario has a share in the his- tory of French Canada through the attempt of Champlain to form a protectorate in the land of the Hurons (the Georgian Bay dis- trict) Franklin Davey McDowell., author of `The Champlain Road" pointed out in an address last week to the, Montreal ,Women's Club. The building of Fort Ste, Marie, near where . Midland is now, two years before Ville -Marie was founded, was a stroke of statecraft on the part of Cham- plain that approached genius, Mr. McDowell declared, Built some 700 miles inland, the fort was intended‘ as a base from which the Hurons eould invade the Iroquois country while the ENERGY •For V100R 101s o v -T Delicious on Cereals, Porridge, on Bread, in Milk, etc. 45Mt French and Algonquins approach- ed from another direction, catch- ing the Iroquois in a pincer move- ment. If the scheme had suc- ceeded it would have led to a French empire from Acadia to the head of the Great Lakes, the speaker maintained. IN LETTERS FROM PRIESTS Mr. McDowell, telling of his re- search preceding the writing of "The Champlain Road", said that he had read for his material the Jesuit Relations not as church doctrine but as human documents and a Pepys-like re- cord of the adventure into Huron- ia. Vivid descriptions were also given in letters from priests on the trail to Huronia. During the years spent among the Indians in Hurpnia, , Mr. Mc-.• Dowell noted,. the . Jesuit .,fail exir had instituted certain reforms:`"fin ,1_ the primitive life of tlee.;;peeei e..• They began the • first .social, vice work : 'bins the , continent, and attempted to teach ,a ineasure of hygiene, and sanitation. Hueonia had the first "state medicine", with the sey'viee of a surgeon and and, ,free invites from hte phar- macy as far as they existed. The first experimental farm was at Fort Ste. Marie, to which tho priests brought domestic ani- mals, carrying them over nu- merous portages. One ton of cider apples chop- ped up and squeezed will yield 140 gallons of juice, LIFE'S LIKE THAT By Fred Neher (OcTitiDht, Ie3D, byrr, xeh,r) "We can't find the army, sir, since it's been camoirflagod." , WINSTON ,.. CHURCHILL -1V Retirement •aatd E Illness, When the Conservatives won in 102.4, Churchill's return to tite gond graces of the party became complete with his being, tendered the poet of chancellor 0 of the exchequer iter in the new cabinet of Stanley Baldwin, lie served a* enols fru :Liv* yam. Churchill's political career appear"ed at aft end in -1929 and he retired to his home in Kent, to write and paint and to criticize the fumblings of the. intik who had succceclecl him in e:ialtid oiiioea oi palate HU, Always restless and eager to see more of the world Churchill visited the 'United States,i Dur- ing li's stay in ."the States'' it appear eel , that was d America s s delighted with him as he was with Americas ' In 1032 the . heavy hand of illness struck him down.. He was stricken with paratyphoid, But he manager to keep the CtirichIlI smilo through gh it all. Sodni again he was back on his AO, ail Yiirorows and ex ergetiQ ,M .Okvi