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The WEST VAN. NEWS A Weekly Newspaper Circulating in the District o f West Vancouver--Amb/eside, Holly burn, Weston, Dundarave $1.00 per year. Caulfetld, Wliytecliff, CypreSS Park, Etc. Newsstands 5c per Copy Vol. II EIGHT PAGES HOLLYBURN P.O., WEST VANCOUVER. B.C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11th. 1927 No. 32 The Dignity of Public Service One often hears it lamented that the best men do not take a sufficient part in public iife. The statement is unquestion­ ably true, and one hears it repeated sc often that we wonder what there is in public life in this country that it does not attract to itself as many men of high calibre of intellect and capacity as it ought to do. We have many capable men in of­ fice, but unfortunately we have also many who are very evid­ ently out of their place. It argues "something rotten in the state of Denmark," when this fact is so self-evident and so notorious. It is all very well for men well qualified to take a great taxes--we all owen it a certain amount of public service, and, therefrom on the ground that the sordid element in it is too conspicuous. Is that element likely to become less conspicu­ ous if the men, best flitted to ennoble and invigorate public life hold determ'inedly aloof from it? In any case we all owe something to our country besides taxes--we all owe ita certain amount of public service, and, unless we seek, in some manner or other, to discharge that debt, we are neglecting an obligation that, with a good citizen, should be held a binding one. What then, to put the matter at its lowest, is the mini­ mum--the irreducible minimum--of public service that anyone who aspires to be a good citizen owes to his country? It is surely that he should keep a close and vigilant eye on political and municipal affairs, that he should inform himself of them in all their bearings; that he should give help to the men who seem to him to be worthy of help, and that he should oppose the men whom he thinks worthy of condemnation. That, it seems to us, is the irreducible minimum of public service that a citizen owes to the country--and if he pays even that minimum, such payment is more important to the country and its interests than the superficially minded think possible. There are few worse signs in a country than widespread apathy over public affairs; and there are few better signs than an intelligent and alert interest in such affairs. But of course the more we are, each of us, imbued with the spirit of public duty and public service, the better. -The better for our country and also for ourselves. For it is the most en­ nobling human motive that can guide our actions, and, while we shall help the country by observing it, we shall also help ourselves. There is nothing that can give one's life a higher complexion than the resolve to do something for his country, to discharge for it some public duty or to offer to it some public service. West Vancouver since its incorporation has been fortunate in that the great majority of its elected representatives have been men of sound judgment and who were filled with the desire to be of real service to the community. Graft and personal advancement are things which are practically un­ known, but just the same we have other men in our midst who are capable of giving real service to the community, and who have not interested themselves specially in municipal matters. Good citizenship demands their interest. We are on the eve of a big expansion. Our reeve and council will, we expect, welcome constructive criticism and suggestions for the welfare and development of the district. We want more of the community spirit, more co-operation, and more intense work for the general good. Destructive criticism, innuendo, and whisperings are evil things, and should be disregarded entirely. Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day has passed, that day on which we are called upon to lay our business worries aside for a short time and acknowledge the blessings that have been ours throughout the past twelve months. And when we consider what has befallen many others in other parts of the world, we in West Vancouver have indeed many reasons for feeling thankful. We live today in a disturbed world, both politically, social­ ly and even physically. Our globe appears to be undergoing a number of profound changes in its physical structure, result­ ing in earthquakes, floods, and other cataclisms taking place in many places and over wide areas. Thousands have been killed in these disasters, notably in Japan, and disease and destitution have inevitably followed in the stricken localities. West Vancouver has had no earthquakes other than a shock that was not an earthquake and did no damage, no floods, and no epidemics of any kind. Our summer was not so long or so hot as usual, and that is all. Europe is engaged in a life and death struggle to rescue itself from the financial and economic morass left by the Great War. Asia and the colored races generally, fired by Wilson's fourteen points and egged on by Communist propaganda, wish to throw off the dominance of the white man, and, un­ schooled in rule, yet wish to rule. Hence wars, riots, and other disturbance's have occurred, and are still occurring, resulting in starvation and misery. We in West Vancouver have had none of these things to contend with. All of us have had a good roof over our heads, and have had sufficient to eat and not a few pleasures. We have lived in safety and security under a responsible govern­ ment set up by ourselves. True, we have not had the boom years of the pre-war periods, when many of us made a lot of money--and quickly lost it. Instead, we are going steadily forward in the knowledge that we are living in a place with a bright future in which we shall share, and, most of us, work­ ing in a city, which is bound to become one of the most im­ portant business centres in the Empire, in which future we shall also have our share. Truly, when we consider the suf­ ferings of other peoples and then loot- upon our m ordered and tranquil existence, we have indeed cause to be thankful for our many blessings. Election Rumors Musical Society Hold Splendid Concert There was a concert in the Hollyburn Theatre last night. It was a good concert. Had the charge of admission been $1.50 or $2.00 and the concert been given in Vancouver there would have been a packed house. The West Vancouver Musical Society has a famous choir. It is recog­ nised throughout Western Can­ ada as being a musical aggrega­ tion par excellence, whilst such artists as The MacIntyre Quart­ ette, Miss Anne Ritchie, Mr. Wil­ liam Sparrow and A. J. Addy are a compliment to any platform. Musicians recognise their worth and appreciate their talent, but evidently there is truth in the saying that "a prophet is with­ out honor in his own country." The concert was a success from every artistic point of view. Hol­ lyburn Theatre should have been packed to capacity. It was not. We are proud of our choir. We are proud of having in our midst such talented artists but--the choir will have no special reason to be proud of West Vancouver if it does not receive better sup­ port than it received last night. Those who were fortunate enough to be present very evid­ ently enjoyed the feast of music served to them and great credit is due Professor Morgan for the high state of efficiency the choir has attained and to each mem­ ber of the choir for the effort they put forth. NORTH VANCOUVER BOARD OF TRADE WANT P. G. E. COMPLETED Following General Sutton's vis­ it to the North Shore last week, the council of the North Van­ couver Board of Trade Tuesday passed a resolution, a reiteration of a former resolution, that the government complete construc­ tion of the P. G. E. railway. Failing this the government is asked to give every consideration to any legitimate proposals to complete the line to the north. W. W. LEFEAUX Ratepayers to Hold Meeting Next Tuesday Address by W. W. Lefeaux Next Tuesday night at Amble- side Hall, the West Vancouver Ratepayers' Association will hold their regular monthly meeting. Mr. W. W. Lefeaux will be the special speaker for the evening, taking as his subject "Propor­ tional Representation." The in­ tricacies of this method of count­ ing votes has mystified many people, and there are, compara­ tively few people who can thor­ oughly explain the workings of this modern method of balloting. Mr. Lefeaux will give a detailed explanation at this meeting, and, apart from the other activities of the ratepayers' association, this address should ensure a good attendance. The meeting will be thrown open for discus­ sion and an invitation is extend­ ed to all residents and taxpay­ ers to be present. " Hush" "Hush," as the silence deepens, Surely we hear the beat, Memory brings so clearly, Marching of Soldiers' feet.-- "Hush," as we hear a footstep, That once we often heard; With what a throb of gladness, Our hearts again are stirred. "Hush," as we feel a handclasp, Tender and warm and strong; And words we vainly cherished, "Parting will not be' long." "Hush," as our eyes are blinded Swiftly, with unshed tears; And though our hearts are breaking, Echo those farewell cheers: "Hush," as a prayer is spoken Over an earthly bed; There, where the soft winds whisper, There, where the poppies spread: "Hush," as our faith is lifted Up to our God above; Then, we are brave remembering There is no end to love. "Hush," as the silence deepens, Surely we hear the beat, Memory brings so clearly, Marching of Soldiers' feet. --IIONORIA TRAILL Election Day is still two months away, but already there is promise of this being one of the hardest but most interesting elections that has yet been fought in West Vancouver. The recent voting on the road and bridge by-law and the proposal to bring this matter up again in January is going, as one man de­ scribed it to us, to be "the cause of some fireworks." The pros and cons seem equally insistent upon having their desires put into force. Rumor--always a most unreliable thing--has it that many candidates will be in the field for the different vacan­ cies. Reeve Vinson will be strongly urged to stand again, and, in view of his attitude regarding the road and bridge by-law, it is almost a certainty that he will be a candidate for re-election. It is probable that Councillor Leyland will again seek office. William McQuaker and J. J. Dutton have a host of followers who are willing to work hard to put them in the council. Coun­ cillor Ray may be out of the country at the time of the elec­ tion, and possibly this may in­ fluence his candidature. Many friends of Miss Gwladys Davies feel certain that she will be a member of the 1028 council. Four names have been mention­ ed as possible aspirants to the reeveship, Reeve Vinson, Coun­ cillor Leyland, Ex-Reeve Proctor and Ex-Reeve Morgan. Of course this again is rumor, and we have made no effort to get the views of these gentlemen on the mat­ ter. The reeve and two council­ lors have to be elected. So far as the School Board is concerned trustee Elgar is al­ most a certainty for re-election, and the chances are that Trustee Curtis will not be a candidate. Mrs. Robinson is the other trus- te whose term expires. The name of Mr. Gamage is being mentioned in connection with the School Board, and several friends of an Aitamont lady, who, how­ ever, stated to THE NEWS that she would not be a candidate, in­ tend exerting some pressure to bring her out. On the whole it will, we anticipate, be an inter­ esting election with the expecta­ tion that a large vote will be polled. ELEVEN MARRIAGES DURING LAST MONTH With births, deaths and mar­ riages given in the order named, vital statistics for the Nortn Shore in October follow: West Vancouver, 2, 1, 3; North Van­ couver City, 10, 2, 5; North Van­ couver District, 4, 3, 3; totals, 16, 6, 11. COUNCILLOR RAY CRITICISES POLICE Considerable adverse comment was voiced by those who attend­ ed the service at the Memorial Arch this morning at the lack of police supervision over the traffic on Marine Drive during the service. At times the noise of passing vehicles prevented those taking part from hearing what the ministers said. Coun­ cillor Ray has requested us to publicly express his severe crit­ icism of the Chief of Police for not arranging for police super­ vision either personally or by one of his constables.